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

It boils down to Best Player Available. Towns and Okafor are better than Russell. That doesn't mean they are more skilled, but as it pertains to impact on the court, they are better. But for us, it's not only BPA, it's fit as well. We have a gaping hole at center and a pg that just made the all rookie team. So Okafor/Towns are BPA and BFA (best fit available).

 

Still rather have Anderson than RHJ. His complete lack of an offensive game could be very problematic with Okafor and Randle. A lineup or Okafor/Randle/RHJ/Kobe/Clarkson has zero range. They'd be able to pack the defenses in and collapse on Okafor at will.

 

Oh I know. I just feel that if we have the choice, we should take Anderson because he has a more well rounded game. At the time of the draft, we don't know who we will get yet in free agency. What if we strike out on all the sfs? I know we assume we will get one, but Harris, Draymond, Middleton, Butler and Leonard are all restricted. Green may be important for SA to lock up if Ginobli retires (or even if he doesn't). And Carroll is in a good situation right now in Atlanta that if the money was close, he may choose to stay with the team and players that made him who he is. I do think we will get one of them, but at the time we draft, we need to almost consider the sf we take (if we indeed take one) to be our starter or at the very least a major contributor. I have faith that won't be the case and we'll snag one, but if we roll into the season with RHJ, Wes Johnson and Swaggy as our sf rotation, that's a bad fitting rotation.

 

In Mannix's mock though he says execs are having a hard time nailing down Dekker's shooting ability. He hasn't been consistent in workouts.

If Hollis-Jefferson fell all the way to #27, I take him and I never look back. I doubt it happens, but hot damn! Leave the draft with the best low-post scorer and best perimeter defender in the draft? Yes please. Yes yes please.

 

I totally agree that if RHJ is there, we take him and laugh like giddy school girls all the way home. I like Anderson a bit better, but I like RHJ quite a bit. Imagine leaving the draft with RHJ at 27 and Upshaw at 34 (granted his heart checks out), and Upshaw gets his head on straight. We sign Carroll in the offseason. Then when the other team goes on a run, we simply put Upshaw, Black, Carroll and RHJ out there and they stop the other team like a Mini Cooper running into a brick wall

 

Yeah I get wanting Justin Anderson over RHJ. Anderson's interview was fantastic. I loved his attitude and his drive. I think he could end up being a really solid player in the NBA. I just think if for some reason RHJ is available at #27 the Lakers pick him and pop another bottle of champagne. If Uphsaw is ALSO available at #34 I think they might make that jump too (although all this character driven stuff is kind of a red flag in that department).

Still just because it's Wednesday let's say all that happens...

1. Draft Okafor, Hollis-Jefferson, and Upshaw.
2. Sign DeMarre Carroll, Mo Williams, Wayne Ellington, and Ronnie Price

Clarkson/Williams/Price
Bryant/Ellington/Brown
Carroll/Young/RHJ
Randle/Black/Kelly
Okafor/Upshaw

That's a slick young squad right there. Maybe you also bring in a guy like Ryan Hollins to let Upshaw grow slowly for a year. You give RHJ time to develop and marinate on the bench as Young declines. You keep Brown around if you want for depth behind Kobe. Williams and Price set the tone off the bench with veteran leadership and professionalism. The team has a chance to grow together for the next 10 years and develop into something really special.