2015 Nba Draft Discussion: Russell, Nance Jr., Brown

It's great seeing the Rockets losing some games with there #1 pick coming to the Lakers for taking Lin off their hands! It's at 25 now, could make a big difference.

 

what we want to sit through and what's best may not be the same thing. if the lakers don't get a pick this year, then end up in the bottom half of the lotto next year, the transformation into the post-cwebb sacramento kings will be complete.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-draft-predictions-for-top-freshman-prospects

How great would this be?

 

^That would be awesome. And actually quite possible.

 

^ whaaaat? I would be stoked. He's 1a/1b pick to me.

 

Looking better and better if Phil is going to do this:

Greg Monroe to Knicks a 'done deal,' according to report
By Liam Boylan-Pett  @liam_bp on Apr 12, 2015, 3:07p +


Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are targeting Greg Monroe in free agency this summer, and it's likely they'll get him.

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Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the New York Knicks appear to be his main suitor. In fact, one league executive called Monroe to the Knicks "about as close to a done deal as you can get," according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

Free-agent recruiting cannot begin until July 1. So, as Isola notes, this likely means representatives of both Monroe and the Knicks have indicated their interest -- if a deal has been struck already the Knicks could be charged with tampering.

As the free-agency period draws closer, let's take a closer look at the Monroe-Knicks rumor.

Why it makes sense
Chances are slim that Monroe remains with the Pistons. Last summer he signed Detroit's qualifying offer so that he could be in complete control this summer. Monroe and his agent, David Falk, are looking for a max contract, and the Knicks are willing to do just that.

With Phil Jackson at the helm, the triangle offense is always a consideration for New York. Jackson's friend, Charley Rosen -- who has been described as a triangle savant -- told the NY Post that Monroe would be a great fit in Jackson's system.

The Knicks will be fresh off the worst season in their storied history, but, with a likely top-three pick, could add either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor to the mix. A front line with a healthy Carmelo Anthony, Greg Monroe and either Towns or Okafor looks great on paper.

Monroe is having his best year yet as a pro, averaging career highs in points and rebounds at 16 and 11 per game, respectively. Now in his fifth year, the big man has put up solid numbers each year of his career. He would certainly be an upgrade for the Knicks.

Meanwhile, the Pistons would make sense as his second choice given he's spent his entire career in Detroit, but they might let him go to the Knicks for a max contract. Monroe missed 11 games in March and April with a knee injury, and the Pistons played well without him, going 7-4 in that stretch.

Why it doesn't make sense:

The Pistons showed many signs of improvement this season, and Monroe was a big part of that despite the recent upswing when he was out due to injury. This was Stan Van Gundy's first season in Detroit, and once he rid the Pistons of Josh Smith, the team almost clawed its way into the playoffs. Detroit is a team on the rise. The Knicks, meanwhile, are coming off a miserable season.

The chance to play with Anthony is enticing, but being paired with a rookie big man like Towns or Okafor is nothing like playing alongside Andre Drummond, an absolute beast in the paint.

There's also a chance Monroe ends up somewhere other than Detroit or New York. There's a possibility players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and Paul Millsap end up in new locations, and those teams will be looking to reload.

If this season's trade deadline was any indication, there will be a lot of moving around this summer -- and much of it will be unpredictable. Even if it's very likely that Monroe ends up a Knick, he could be provoked to head to a team that's ready to contend right away.

Likelihood of happening (8.5/10)
"As close as you can can get to a done deal" is some strong language. Add that to the fact that New York can offer a max contract, and it seems that Monroe going to the Knicks will happen. However, never count out Van Gundy. He was unable to sign Monroe to a long-term contract last summer, but Monroe does know what he's getting from Van Gundy. There's also that chance that another team swoops in and steals Monroe at the last second. For now, though, it's likely Monroe will be a Knick to begin the 2015-16 season.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/4/12/8393613/greg-monroe-free-agent-rumors-new-york-knicks

 

Towns at 4? Heck yeah...

 

Assuming Philly is smart enough to not draft another big and actually be productive and draft a guard.

 

Philly is definitely a bit of a wild card on this one. No telling what they will do to be honest'

 

Hinkie is building through the draft and a firm believer in accumulating assets no matter how incompatible it is with the current roster... they also have dozens of second rounders which they can use for their pressing need at center.

 

If we could land Towns I'd be pumped. He's my #1 for sure, but I'd take any of those guys and be happy. I'll be devastated if we lose out on our pick.

 

So I'm exploring our options should we land at 5 and the consensus top 4 picks are taken in that order, leaving Winslow, Johnson, WCS, etc; while looking at the summer FA class. It's going to be a lot easier to sign a nice SF than a nice C, it seems. I doubt LMA, DJ, Gasol, Monroe, Jefferson, Kanter, Asik, and Mosgov are realistic. I think the Lopez brothers aren't very likely either, at least for a reasonable price. That being said, are we best suited to draft WCS even though Winslow is, IMO the clear best pick at 5? If we draft Russell, Mudiay, Johnson, or Winslow, and strike out on the top center FAs, are we screwed? I REALLY like Davis and Black, but not as starters.

 

I think we take the best guy available and that's Winslow. I honestly wouldn't hesitate on it.

 

He's my clear #3 pick behind Towns and Okafor. Elite shooting, Elite handles, Elite passing/vision/floor general, Elite swagger/clutchness/intangibles, average defender, and average athlete. He struggles against swarming athletic, long defenders, but in the pros there'll be more PnR, open lanes, less zones, and more isos which he'll thrive against. College half court defense is so congested.

 

Completely agree

 

I don't know .... with all the good bigs going to be in the league next 10 years, we might be better served with the athletic defensive presence of WCS rather than the somewhat indulgent choice at this point relatively speaking..... of spending that rarest of high picks on a potentially very good smaller player.