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

Well I get why Towns is now the front runner for the top pick. At this point, he is more athletic, a better defender, and a better shooter.

I would welcome Okafor with open arms, but I could totally understand it if we had Towns as the top pick on our board and selected him first.

 

I'll trust Mitch on who to pick if we get no. 1. I feel Towns was hidden by the platoon system in UK, playing only half a game most of the time, which made his per 36 projections look tremendous. Okafor on the other hand, was thrust with heavy responsibility from the start and had to watch himself on defense not to get in foul trouble.

 

that's a fair point. one could also argue that, like randle and--quite notably--Anthony davis, some of towns' abilities were hidden by that great depth and need to spread around touches and playing time.

I was super impressed with towns from the get go. I think both guys are going to be good starting nba bigs. I'd take either and be happy. if I were forced to choose one, I'd pick towns--mostly because the way the game is being played/officiated, low post scoring doesn't have the value it once did. mobility from back line defenders has become more and more important.

 

This. We have clearly seen that guys sacrifice minutes and aspects of their game when playing for Kentucky.

 

That would exceed my expectations by far, great offseason. But if we're going to talk about dream scenarios, I'm going far more unrealistic. The stuff that could only happen in dreams. This is going to look like a Morey draft day if Morey won every trade.


- Start off by getting the #1 pick of course.
- A team #11-#14 moves up to #3, say Indiana. Miami's pick is 1-10 protected, so the Pacers moving up causes Miami to lose the #11 pick to Philly.
- We start fielding calls from every team in the league. Some just doing due dilligence, some making real efforts to move up. #1 is highly coveted.
- Minne, Denver, Utah, Phx all make strong pushes to get to #1 to take Towns.
- Philly wanting Mudiay or Russell was a smokescreen. The rumors about them being unhappy with Embiid & his conditioning were real. They desperately want Okafor & see him as their franchise player for the next 15 years.
- Turn 1 fleecing into 2 by dealing with Min & still being able to give Philly the player they want. Min offers #2 + #31 + Pek, Bennett, or Martin. Counter with #2 + #31 + #36 + Lavine + future 1st.
- Draft Towns, then meet Min in the middle with Towns for #2, #31, Shabazz, future 2nd.
- Trade #2, Kelly, Sacre for #5, #11, #37, Embiid.(Kelly & Sacre included to preserve cap space)
- Rumors say if Orlando can't get into the top 3, they're willing to trade down while receiving an established player. They're about to lose Harris' scoring at SF.
- Trade Young + #11 for #6.
- Demarcus Cousins has quietly demanded a trade. Sacto doesn't want Cousins going public so they hand pick us because we have all of the assets they need for a quick rebuild. They wanted to deal with Philly for Embiid but Cousins didn't want to go to Philly. LA, different story.
- Trade Embiid, #5, #27 for Cousins
- With the Stauskusmento Kings picking twice in front of us, atleast 1 top 5 prospect is falling to us at 6. Probably Mudiay or Russell, & I think NY takes Russell.
- Draft Mudiay #5
- Cliff Alexander falls to us at #31, #34 Dakari Johnson, #37 Andrew Harrison

25 Kobe
14.7 Cousins
3.1 Randle
2.8 Mudiay
2 Shabazz
845k Clarkson
845k Black
2nd rounders non-guaranteed

3.5 Cap Holds

= 52.8M (roughly 15M in cap space left)

- sheridanhoops recently reported that execs believe Middleton could sign for as much as 4/40 this summer. That's all? sign me up.
- Sign Middleton 4/40
- Sign Ed Davis 3/15 or 4/20
-

Clarkson/Mudiay/vet min.
Kobe/Harrison/vet min.
Middleton/Shabazz
Randle/Davis/Alexander
Cousins/Black/Johnson

[image]http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1370995648_tumblr_lslmtgYOH71r4num3o1_1280.jpg[/image]

 

I lost you at Hello

 

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/2015-nba-mock-draft-consensus-ver-1-0/

 

• 
  Ryan D

1. How’s it going, David?
   I have a few questions about the two most notable international prospects in Porzingis and Herzonja.
   How worried do you feel teams will be of Porzingis’ frame and ability to add more weight? His skill, mobility, and athleticism are unreal for a man that tall, but he seems to have issues with physicality of the game sometimes. Also, what do you think his ceiling is? Does he have a chance to be a star?
   Herzonja is such an awesome player and it’s truly a shame us in the states didn’t get to see him evolve over the years. I think he would’ve been unreal in college over here. He has all the ability, size, and talent you want in a prospect.
   The thing I worry about with him are his mannerisms and mental side of the game. He comes off as selfish at times and overconfident. You would probably be more in tune with his situation and conclude if this assumption is way off base or not, but I feel like some of his mannerisms come from inconsistent playing time and the fact that he’s a very passionate player who can’t stand sitting on the bench watching. Do you feel like these mannerisms are a result of a bad situation and can be mended as he matures? Or do you feel like this may ultimately hold him from reaching his massive potential?
   • David Pick
     Ryan,
     You’ve raised some great pointers. Good Qs.
     I’m not worried about kristaps Porzingis’ weight. Pau Gasol, NOT THAT I’M COMPARING, was a noodle when he first came to the NBA. He doesn’t come across as a future NBA All-Star. Mario Hezonja is overconfident. And I love that about him. His coach is messing with his PT and tried to screw up his NBA stock with DNPs whenever NBA people traveled to Spain to watch him in the flesh. I’d be ticked off as well, wouldn’t you? According to what Mario Hezonja told me, had he played in college, and he had offers, he would’ve been the No. 1 pick the draft.

Dvid Pick chat from BBI, interesting opinion on both.

 

I would gamble on him if our 1 pick is not a center of course, but in FA we would need to sign someone like Asik, Lopez, Mozgov...

 

I went over the last few drafts, to see some of the mistakes that were made with the focus on the 1 round , here are the notables:

2009: Tabeet picked 2 over Harden, then Minny picks 5 and 6 Rubio and Flynn (2 PG...) with Curry, Jennings, Lawson, Holiday and Teague still on board, argubly all better or in the same tier as Rubio.
2010: Turner and our Wes picked over DMC,Monroe, Hayward, George,Bledsoe,Bradley.
2011: almost everbody from 2-7 picked before Knight, Kemba, Klay, Kawhi, Vucevic, Harris, Butler.
2012: Drummond picked 9.
2013: Bennett 1 pick, Noel 7, Greek freak 15, Dieng 21, Gobert 27.

Last year is way too early to judge, but Grodon at 4 seems like a mistake.

The point is, if we dont make a big mistake (like Minny...) we will be fine, but picks out of top 3 are no sure things. I think we can gamble with the other 2 - take someone like Upshaw or Lucas. Players like Okafor, Towns, WCS and Kaminsky, seem like a sure thing (at least solid rotation guys)-if no injuries come into play. But someone will always think what would be if we have picked...

 

Man, can you imagine us losing the pick? Talk about a kick in the nuts...

 

He is lottery talent, but if he does not go in the top 15, then the question is which team will take the gamble.
I can see Toronto at 20, Dallas at 21, Portland at 23 and SAS at 26 as the most likely.