The NBA Draft FanPost
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:03 PM PDT
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PrintToday is the NBA draft where the second of Seattle's two competently run franchises (from an on-field standpoint) sets to determine their future. There are a lot of hot rumors surrounding the Sonics right now, who were originally linked to Arizona combo Jerryd Bayless, but now have apparently completed a trade down to #7 where they're expected to take Stanford C Brook Lopez. They've also been linked to UCLA combo Russell Westbrook at 4.
I was planning on using this post to semi-blog the first round (but I won't be in front of a TV, so I was just going to make fun of whoever ends up picking Anthony Randolph and his 6-11, 200 lb frame)
On the draft, I will continue to maintain that OJ Mayo is the best player in this draft IF he's allowed to play point. He's got great court vision, and the only reason his assists aren't higher is that his teammates at USC legitimately sucked.
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OJ Mayo did/does seem like a good fit for the Sonics
with my limited knowledge.
And speaking of... the details of the trade:
The Clippers and Sonics have agreed to swap picks as long as the Wolves take O.J. Mayo at No. 3. If Mayo isn’t drafted at 3, the deal is off according to two sources close to the information.
So it sounds like either the Sonics want Mayo or they’ll get a better offer for the 4th pick should he be available there.
Yup, that's what it sounds like, which means that Presti probably targeted Mayo sometime ago
and used Bayless as a smokescreen hoping Mayo would fall.
I LOVE Mayo’s game in terms of fit with the Sonics (and remember where this is coming from… grrrrrr). I really doubt Mayo falls though. He seems to be pretty entrenched at 3 regardless of who ends up making the pick.
I’m not gonna lie – I’m intrigued by the idea of pairing Beasley and Durant though, given that they’re best friends and while both are genuinely horrific defenders, they both have the athleticism to eventually grow into good defensive players.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't like this pairing at all.
It’s tough to win with two of those kind of guys. They both need the ball to be succesful on offense, and they both suck at defense. Plus, that keeps Jeff Green on the bench, and he was a First Team Rookie.
True - from a basketball standpoint it doesn't make a whole lot of sense
unless you’re utterly convinced that Durant can handle the two or that the two of them will get along so well (because of their friendship) that they’ll defer to each other for better shots.
I still love Mayo’s game – what do you think of him? (Though I’m guessing you haven’t seen too much of him)
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm sure they'd get along
But playing two no-defense guys is recipe for disaster. Even if Durant/Beasley put up 50+ a night they will still give up 45 on the other end. We have too many other holes (see: rest of roster). Assuming we don’t get Mayo, I don’t think we’ll get someone who will be a superstar. All the guys after the top 3 have significant flaws. But that’s not a terrible thing, we can still get a very useful player. I hope it’s a guard, for a couple reasons. The bigs that will get drafted high (Love, Brooks) are NOT going to be any good in the pros. And the NBA is more and more becoming a guards game. And if we get some guard who can be a useful PG, that’d be great.
I haven’t seen much of Mayo. Not enough to really judge him, just 2 games. He didn’t shoot well when I saw him, but apparently he has supposed to have a good jumper. His past scares me, I don’t see how this guy doesn’t have more questions than Michael Beasley.
Mayo's actually answered a lot of the concerns - the biggest thing with him was always the handlers
rather than the kid himself. From all accounts, he was an absolutely model citizen at SC (aside from a well-publicized practice scuffle), and seems to have gotten rid of a large portion of his posse over the past year.
I’m gonna disagree on Kevin Love (this is the homer glasses talking). I think he can be a solid contributor in the NBA provided he doesn’t get destroyed on defense. His outlet passing would go really well with a running team, and he’s not quite as slow as people say he is – he just looks more awkward than he actually is.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions
His skills will prevent him from being a bust
I agree with that. But that guy can barely get off the floor. And the NBA has shifted to being guard-and-athleticism-oriented. I think he’s coming into the league about 20 years too late.
Meh... he's not explosive, but I also don't think he's as unathletic as people have pegged him
again, still homer glasses, but I think he has just enough athleticism to cut it as a very solid NBA player
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Somebody's lying...
Percy Allen says, via “Sonics team source,” the trade is bogus
Ian Thomsen also has a “league source” who said it wasn’t final
Also note that Thomsen leaves out the dependency on Mayo not being the third pick and thinks LA is after Mayo at #4, which is just crazy talk. If Mayo’s there at 4, the Sonics take him and watch him and Kevvie-D star for the next decade in… um… the NBA.
And RE: Sonics trade
Yikes, this is a steal
The Sonics will pick up L.A.’s 2009 first-round pick (protected) in exchange for the three-spot drop.
This is what happens when a very good GM trades with a very bad one. The good one gets the player he wants and a free first round selection.
It sounds like it's lottery protected (not even Elgin Baylor is THAT stupid)
so it’s unlikely we see the pick until 2010, but that’s still fine. We already hold two first rounders next year, including (what I believe is) an unprotected one from Phoenix who just might suck next season.
It’s just amazing sometimes how easy it is to build assets in MLB/NBA merely by refusing to give into hype and not showing your hand two months before the draft. The rumors are that LA is trading up to take Russell Westbrook, who is the “hot name” all over the draft right now. Now Russ is a good player, has all kinds of potential, and is genuinely a nice guy. He shouldn’t be the fourth pick of the NBA Draft. Period.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Sadly...
It’s the Spurs pick next year, Sun’s the year after
Crap, you're correct.
nbadraft.net is listing it as Phoenix’s pick, I forgot to check.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
How are things looking for the Schultz lawsuit?
Captain Raptor and the Space Pirates is one of the greatest literary achievements of the Modern Era.
No fucking clue.
That kind of a lawesuit doesn’t have a whole lot of precedent.
I want to see KP Pritchslap some dudes.
We already bought the Hornet’s pick for straight up cash. Thank you Paul Allen!
And the Bucks trade Yi
to New Jersey for Richard Jefferson and Bobby Simmons. That sure was an interesting year in Milwaukee for him.
That one might go down as the worst lottery pick of all time
they took a project type guy whose national government had no desire to see him in Milwaukee… and wound up dealing him a year later for a guy who’s not nearly worth the dollar signs on his contract.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Which means they basically wasted a good pick (#6) overall in a good draft
Woooo for NBA teams that make terrible decisions! I’m starting to think that Bill Simmons wouldn’t do all that awful of a job…
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
If Bob Brenly can win a WS, Simmons could be a decent GM.
I like midgets more than I should.
This is a very good point.
And it’s pretty safe to say that Simmons wouldn’t think things like “you know what, the Chinese project guy’s powerful national government has expressed that they don’t want him to play here, but I’m going to risk a minor international incident over a fucking basketball player who’s not all that good to begin with.”
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
No kidding.
I’m still torn though. Part of me is excited to see who we get, and the other part doesn’t care because we might not have a team here anyway.
I like midgets more than I should.
I'm going to continue to act as if nothing is wrong
and then letterbomb the hell out of Clay Bennett if they do move.
You know, I seem to remember something happening in OKC in like 1995…
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
That's the mindset I'm trying to take as well,
but it’s tough with all the lawsuit coverage in the news.
I like midgets more than I should.
or 4:30 actually. Predraft coverage begins at 4 on ESPN.
Ready for three hours of Stephen A. Smith yelling nonsense?
I actually drove home from work at lunch just to set my DVR.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Scoop Jackson is really good at his job
4. The Nuggets trade J.R. Smith and a future No. 1 pick to the Sonics for the fourth pick
… And draft Russell Westbrook. How beautiful would that be? Westbrook in the backcourt with AI? The enigma that has become J.R. Smith can move elsewhere, taking the mental mistakes that have haunted him in the past two playoffs. Regardless of whether Melo is in a Nuggets uniform in November or whether George Karl is the coach in January, Westbrook - the second coming of Baron Davis - would fit in Denver as Tim Russert did in the “Meet the Press” chair.
Why would you ever even CONSIDER doing this? JR Smith has less value then Miguel Batista… and he’s worth the fourth overall pick in the draft??! ARGHHHH I can’t believe how stupid you would have to be to ever let that thought reach your mind…
/end self-righteous indignation
P.S. his article is called "Things that SHOULD happen in the draft"
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry, I was so angry when I read how stupid that article was that I posted it without thinking about the consequences
I would kill someone if that actually happened
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps the national media has Presti confused with Bavasi.
And we all know this is the sort of dumb-shit move HE would’ve made…
My layout.spellcheckDefault goes to 11
by PositivePaul on Jun 26, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think even Bavasi would have done this
This is Felix Hernandez for Horacio Ramirez level stupid
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
You shouldn't even talk about stuff like that.
I like midgets more than I should.
Hey my Pacers are "BURNING THE TREE!"
Fuck yes. Please Basketball Jesus…destroy (in the good way) this retched, retched team.
This is not my USC bias speaking at all
but I want Mayo on the Sonics so bad. He’s athletic and a great defender. The Sonics have been awful at defense for I don’t know how many years and Durant isn’t going to learn to play it any time soon. Getting a potentially lock down SG who can also score but is willing to defer to Durant would be awesome.
I think Mayo would love to be on a team where he doesn’t always have to shoulder the load.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
I've already said that
I will jump for joy if the Sonics end up with him. I genuinely think he’s the best player in this draft, and is potentially the answer at point.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Point?
I’m really not sold on OJ as a PG. I think his ball handling is okay for one on one but I don’t think he’s good enough to run the show. He deferred to Daniel effing Hackett a lot last year.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
He's going to have a tough time in the NBA
at the 2. There aren’t a lot of modern 2-guards that are 6’3”-6’4” that were good. In fact, the only one I can think of is Allen Iverson….
Isn't Iverson smaller than that?
Either way the Sonics have huge needs at 1 and 2, so if Mayo can fill one of those for a decade that would be awesome.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
I think the one thing that no one talks about with Mayo
is that even if he can’t handle the 1 on offense, he can guard both guard positions, which frees you up to play any kind of PG you want, kind of like the Clippers with Livingston (they could play an undersized quick 2-guard and have him guard the other teams point)
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I figure this is because
people got sick of his hype and when he didn’t come on and start throwing down 40 ppg people decided to ignore him.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
Cuttino Mobely
and all of the 6-3 SGs that came into the league when execs thought no-look passes and reasonable ball handling skills equaled All-Star point guards (Marbury, Francis, etc.)
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that's because Floyd wanted to run the offense around Mayo as a shooter though
He had the ball in the endgame most of the time.
RE: his ball handling – I think that’s something that will improve – he’s only 20, after all, and his court vision is very good. If he can stick at the 1 (kind of like how I feel about Triunfel if he can somehow stick at short) with his size and jumper, he’s a plus plus PG for the next 12-15 years.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm a Coug so only watched USC when they played us last year,
but the Trojans’ offense looked to be something along the lines of “stand at the corners and see what O.J. can do.” I didn’t see a plan, or any support or anything else resembling a real offense. Just a talented, raw, probably overwhelmed kid asked to do everything.
Two-game sample size, but I was disappointed in what Floyd had going.
FWIW
I think the Cougs were probably the toughest team for us to play last year, and this is in a year where we had ucla twice, Memphis and Kansas.
For whatever reason the cougits defense just stifled our offense. I want to say we had injuries for one of those games as well. I do remember everyone on the team being cold and OJ deciding to take over after realizing no one else was able to do anything.
In our better games we got a lot more post production out of Taj Gibson, and Davon Jefferson, with guys like Hackett and Lewis hitting open jumpers created by OJ and Davon.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
It makes sense though, because they're the kind of team that gets under the skin of a guy like Jefferson
We had a lot of trouble with them too (the only reason we won both games was superhuman effort in game 2 and a ridiculously hot streak in game 1)
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Bennett would be terrifying if he actually had some talent on that team
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
And they've got Klay Thompson coming in too
that kid can really play
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, they've got some talent coming in.
It’ll never be a top-notch program because, you know, Pullman, but if he can start recruiting at least some B-level classes, he’s going to put together something awesome. He kind of has already, by our standards.
Thompson's a legit national top 50 guy.
It only takes one to get something going…
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions
You bastard... ESPN360 is blocked for us =(
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
And now it seems stable
I love the ESPN never graduate commercials. Come back college football!
The poster formerly known as Matt.
I liked the one where the little Trojan kid gets the door slammed in his face =)
that one always gets a nice cheer at Pauley
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah I've seen that one
excellent depiction of bRuin alums as child hating monsters.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
Eric Gordon
Let’s see….
undersized
poor ball-handler
despite reputation as a great shoot, only shot 33% from college 3 pt line last season
I am totally against Eric Gordon.
Eric Gordon has bust written all over him
Which is why I bet the Clippers trade up for him…
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks Clips for making predicting you so easy
just figure out what the dumbest possible thing is, and predict that. It’s so simple!
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
It wouldn't be the worst thing ever...
but I’ll be about 40 billion times happier with Mayo than Lopez.
Could be worse. It could be Anthony Randolph.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Am I too optimistic to think that Minn might pass on Mayo?
They already have Foye and Brewer…
Bulls take Rose. Surprised face.
I'm really going to laugh if they do something insane
like take Jerryd Bayless or something
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Whew
I thought Miami was taking Mayo.
Captain Raptor and the Space Pirates is one of the greatest literary achievements of the Modern Era.
They play basketball in Minnesota?
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Terrible basketball, but yes, they do play basketball
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Name five Timberwolves not including Mayo.
Al Jefferson… shit.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Brewer, Madson, Walker, Foye, Jaric, shall I continue?
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, I'm aware that all these players suck
it’s for my f-—- league
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Marko Jaric?
Unbelievable. Good call.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I wonder
how many more mothers they talk to at the NBA draft than fathers.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
Just what we need...
Another too-young center prospect from California with funky hair.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I have no idea
someone who’s watching, who the hell is on the clock?
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
ESPN says the Sonics...
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Don't talk about the Sonics, ESPN...
Great job being impartial, fellas.
Pat Riley, tell me how my ass tastes.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
If we're on the clock
PLEASE GOD NOT GALLINARI
Does GTE apply for the draft?
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Westbrook...
Not awful epic fail like we expected.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
OT but brayden...
Which hoops team are you playing for this weekend?
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
My team I work for (Bellingham Slam) are in their league finals...
And they go on this weekend in Monroe.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I don't think it's the same.
I am pretty sure this is a Seattle league. I played in one game at the Garfield Community Center.
Wow, Russ...
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
I know nothing about him
What’s up with him?
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
He's a fantastic defensive player, jumps out of the building and is aggressive
has good form on his shot, but it’s still a work in progress. Court vision and handle are OK… may be able to handle the point part time, but most of us who watched him this year think he’s probably a combo for life – he just isn’t a natural enough passer to be a full time point guard
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions
6'3"
Athletic, good defender. PG.
Can’t shoot well from distance, but this is the best pick we could’ve made at this point.
So Eric Gordon is all hype? I don't really follow college ball as much, but I always thought Eric Gordon was supposed to be an impact player
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
He's a good player... but if you had to pick a top ten guy this year who was going to be a huge bust it'd be Gordon
he’s not the shooter that he’s advertised as, is a bad defender, and is undersized to boot.
All in all, not a can’t miss combo
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions
He got hurt.
Didn’t shoot like he was suppposed to. And he can’t dribble. Not going to be able to create his own shot in the NBA. Too small.
So we get to watch some really entertaining ball again for at least 1 year it sounds
I fucking hate you Mariners
Was the Sonics team assessment "Needs a city"?
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
A Seattle franchise that properly values defense... weird
by LongLiveTheKings on Jun 26, 2008 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I dunno about that
the Sonics now have exactly 1 player capable of playing defense.
The Seahawks are probably the Seattle team that most values defense.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
Sounders FC
Woo
Captain Raptor and the Space Pirates is one of the greatest literary achievements of the Modern Era.
by Frosty Raptor on Jun 26, 2008 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions
What about them?
I’m not even interested in them. I’ve been in LA for 6 years now with the Galaxy. MLS is made of fail.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
MLS sucks for the most part
I can only get into international competitions.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
I'm excited for that to begin.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Incidentally...
I just found out a few weeks ago that one of my coworkers in my unit is his cousin…
My layout.spellcheckDefault goes to 11
by PositivePaul on Jun 26, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I was too
up until the point where they said he couldn’t guard a chair
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
But then he shaved his head and I started taking
him seriously instead of thinking of him as a hobbit. I still like him anyways.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
But a chair has 4 legs..cut him some slack.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Damn, Seattle has another 1st round pick (24) and 4 2nd rounders..
My heart would be in this if I knew they’d stay..its a shame.
I fucking hate you Mariners
They could draft an all-rookie team
Or just make more trades than Mike Ditka.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Sam Presti and Kevin Pritchard - GMs who get it
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
No joke..two of the top picks last year and all of these picks this year.
That’s an awesome start towards building a winning franchise.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Meh, haha
I’m just happy that Kevin got picked pretty high
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
God I wish I was watching this...
The only question is should I go home in like twenty and take an hour and a half of personal time?
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
"You always know what you're gonna get with me"
A taller skeazier looking K-Fed.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
by bluemax on Jun 26, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also, please God, don't let the Clippers take Lopez
otherwise I’m permanently going to be having a heart attack until I see Russ suit up for the Sonics
Italian kid
good player, going to be a huge defensive liability though. Athletic enough to mayyyybeee cut it in a few years
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions
"He's not going to be a superstar."
Glowing reviews for the Italian.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I hate Italian players
because they make me think about Italian soccer and I hate the way they play soccer
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I love it.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ
NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ NO LOPEZ
ESPN analysis
He’s the rooster… He could be a Derek Jeter/Tiki Barber type person… what the fuck????
by LongLiveTheKings on Jun 26, 2008 5:09 PM PDT reply actions
"I LIKE TO WIN AND PLAY HARD"
The interview at his best.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Dear God, I can't believe Russ went fourth overall
we weren’t even sure if he was going to start this time last year
Hopefully he's like a Morrow
Late Bloomer. I like the fact that he’s great at defense. And for a guy who couldn’t dunk 3 years ago.. He’s crazy good at it now.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Late growth spurt.
He was 5-11 as a junior and grew four inches as a senior (which is why the high majors didn’t offer him until the late signing period)
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, kind of weird. 5'11", can't dunk well
6’3” can now dunk over players with ease.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH
BUST BUST BUST BUST BUST BUST
I like how New Orleans "traded"
their 27th pick for cash considerations to Portland.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
How much does a draft pick run these days?
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
There is a rookie scale
All 1st rounders get 2 yrs guarenteed with team options in years 3 and 4.
1st overall will make something like 4 million in his first season, the last pick in hte first round might make 1 million first year.
I'm not sure how much they paid for the pick.
It just said cash consideration.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I don't mind.
I think Bayless is a surer thing. But I hate when teams take defense out of the equation. I’d rather build from defense and “intangibles” (like doing the little things like Jeff Green, and being good without having the ball in your hands).
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Ah,
Thought you were referencing Westbrook. Yeah I’m not a fan of Gordon at all. He’s not athletic enough, and he has “attitude problems” it seems. Bayless has a bit of an attitude problem in that he whine when he doesn’t win, so that’s not that bad. I’m just not a Gordon fan at all. He’ll score 20 a game someday maybe, but he won’t do it efficiently, and won’t contribute much else.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
God I want them to stop talking about the most freshman ever thing...
The early entry rules changed. That’s it. That’s the whole explanation. Shut up Stuart A Scott.
by LongLiveTheKings on Jun 26, 2008 5:16 PM PDT reply actions
This is Bayless here to MIL, right?
There’s no way they take Augustin at 8…
A big white guy in Milwaukee
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
They like picking guys who speak Mandarin
it’s now an official requirement
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
But they traded "the Chairman" away.
Man I didn’t know he spoke Mandarin, I love Joe Alexander even more now!
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I like Joe Alexander.
Gotta root for the crazy athletic white dude who wasn’t much good 3 years ago.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
"With the ninth pick..."
The Bobcats select Brayden, American University.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I'm calling Brooke Lopez.
Not sure if he’s a great pick, but they need a center.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I heard Brook and Robin come as a package deal
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish that were true.
I never slept on my twin’s floor sophomore year, but we were roommates for every year in college, so I never had the need. Robin seems way too goofy to be Brook’s twin, and Brook seems too cocky to be Robin’s twin.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I love Augustin.
But… I don’t see why Charlotte needs more small guys.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Lopez falling like crazy
No way he gets picked by NJN…
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Not if Nelson is picking.
He doesn’t like playing 5’s ever it seems. Unless their fast or euro.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
HAHAHAHAHHA
Dude what if Robin goes before him?
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Stu Scott (I hate him, btw)
Said, “Brooke Lopez showing some emotion with that pick.”
Cutaway to Brook crying. That was fucking awesome.
These are the moments I wish I had DVR.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
I don't know anyone who likes Stu Scott.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
TOUGH UP NANCY
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Crying when he got picked..or didn't get picked?
I fucking hate you Mariners
HAHAHA, why...he didn't really slide or anything..what a douche
I fucking hate you Mariners
I wish there was a trade... It makes the drafts more exciting if there's
an in-draft trade.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Hmmm well isn't this the exact kind of situation when you're glad you stockpiled all those assets so you can trade up for a guy you want?
I wonder which team could trade up for Bayless right now… Portland, anyone?
Good point.
They can trade their 1st rounders and some of their foreign or young guys (sergio rodriguez and that other spanish dude, that Duke guy, etc.)
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Whooo Brook Lopez, finally
So they have VC, the Chairman, and Brook now (Bobby Simmons too)... drastically different team.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Forgot Devin Harris and Sean Williams
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
When did they get Devin Harris?
We don't negotiate with terrorists.
by Mariner John on Jun 26, 2008 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh jeez I was wrong
There you go Brook, now you can cry.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Yeah, I hope their parents knew they were going to be 7 feet tall when they named them
otherwise it’s just cruel
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I never understood why they have Jay Bilas'
on this thing. His knowledge is a lot worse than Chad Ford’s. And he doesn’t write much on the draft until the actual draft day. He also seems to like everyone…
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Haha, I'd love to be drafted just so I could have Stephen A Smith yell at me.
I’d be like “stop yelling!”
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Though he is better than Stu Scott
Since Stu has NO IDEA who anyone is… when Deron Williams got drafted his remark was “7 tattoos(forget the exact number) on this guy, but he still has character)
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I'd take Smith over Scott anyday of the week.
Stephen A. Smith is fucking terrible. I’m tired of his racist bullshit.
OK, I'm leaving work early and going home
I can’t miss any more of this
Paid vacation, bitch =)
only what, five more years til you get paid for sitting at home on “sick” days?
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Pacers are so lucky.
Don’t trade up and still get Bayless.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Chad ford says this about Augustin
“A little bit of a surprise. We’ve been hearing all day that the Bobcats are shopping Raymond Felton. I guess this confirms it. They passed on a need (Brook Lopez) to get Augustin. He’s an upgrade over Felton, so it’s hard to criticize the Bobcats. Augustin has a chance to be special. The Blazers and Kings wanted him and have to be crushed right now.”
How can he say he’s an upgrade over Felton… chances are that he is NOT an upgrade…
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Hm.. his 3pt percentage has gotten worse every year...
and his fg is hovering at around 40%. Ok, other than shooting he is fairly good. But he definitely should not be putting up 200-300 3’s per season.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I think ESPN is stuck in an infinite loop...
Stephen A. Smith (loudly): People say you aren’t a natural point guard; how do you respond to that?
Player: I just want to play whatever position the team asks me to play.
by busplunger on Jun 26, 2008 5:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Haha, yeah definitely.
I don’t see the point in interviews if they only ask one general question.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Smith: "People say you don't actually play basketball"
Player: ”... You’re not even trying, are you?”
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Jason Thompson THIS early??
Surprise of the draft so far.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Uh, who?
From what college?
Prepare to be back next year, Kings fans.
Jason Ellison, your Seattle Mariners legacy will not be forgotten.
Whatever happened to Kerry Kittles anyways?
Or is he old now… I feel like he was a young good player 5 years ago…
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Old
We don't negotiate with terrorists.
by Mariner John on Jun 26, 2008 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Nevermind
Whoever called Bayless to Portland is right..
“Bayless really slid in the draft, which makes him a great value here. Why would the Pacers draft another point guard after trading for T.J. Ford? We’re hearing Bayless is going to Portland for No. 13 and Jarrett Jack.”
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
But they already have Spanish Chocolate!
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought Randolph could be really good.
Til I found out he shot 46%.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Dickie V has no idea who Gallinari is
and has no idea that he dominated one of the better leagues in Europe this year at age 19. There is no Darko there
He never knows any international players.
All he does is gush over college players, especially Duke and UNC, and upperclassmen.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Not far behind Brook.
I wonder how Brook would’ve reacted if Robin was picked first.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
"Collector of Disney memorobilia"
these two are weird kids
Haha, I noticed that too.
Why even mention that?
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Ooh.. Marreese Speights
I was hoping he’d fall to us, though he’s too short to play the 5. He also can’t spell his first name. Also I’m a bit weary of the Horford comparisons just because he went to the same school… Just like I’m weary of the Robin Lopez/Anderson Varejao/ Sideshow Bob comparisons
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
The person we're hoping for is Donte Greene
there’s no way he gets to 24, but you can hope
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Serious?
He’s Rashard Lewis Light. We don’t need more small forwards.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I want CDR.
Or Courtney Lee, or Kyle Weaver later since he reminds me of Jeff Green but at the 1/2 instead of 3/4. I dont know anything about Alexis Ajinca, Serge Ibaka, or Nathan Jawai, but any of the 3 would be fine with me, expecially Serge since he’s compared to Shawn Kemp a lot.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
CDR is fine
Serge Ibaka is a lot more likely to be Mouhamed Sene than Shawn Kemp
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I said during the NCAA finals that if the Sonics got Rose or CDR in the draft, I'd go to at least five games next year.
Which is funny, seeing as how the NCAA finals were canceled due to that freak asteroid storm and never actually happened.
As a young boy, I dreamed of being a baseball.
by Aaron Campeau on Jun 26, 2008 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Good Roy Hibbert gone.
One guy I was afraid we might get if he fell to us.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Can we just fastforward to pick 24 already...
and then our next 4 picks…
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Good trade for Portland
I like Diogu, still think he can be pretty good, not an all star but great spot starter/bench guy. Better than Glen Davis, better than even Powe perhaps.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I hope we don't take Kosta Koufos
I couldn’t root for a player with that name
Yes that’s how I sometimes judge players, sue me
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:17 PM PDT reply actions
I just don't like his game.
I don’t think he’ll fall to 24 anyways.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Every time Stern has "so and so is not here"
it’s like a slap in the face to Darrell Arthur
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
says* not has
mind fart or something I guess..
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
I didn't know Alexis Ajinca was there
Cool.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
HAHA
“two weeks ago 1 on 0, and he was unstoppable”
well… obviously…
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Stu Scott just looks extremely uncomfortable
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:28 PM PDT reply actions
I hope we don't pick DeAndre Jordan.
He looks athletic, but he could very well be another 7 foot bust that we seem to be so fond of.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Well, we'll get Batum, Arthur or Greene. Me likey.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I like all of them as players
but I don’t see the point in another sf… since we have Durant and Green.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
What have we learned from the Mariners?
Always take the best player, always take the best player, always take the best player
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Baseball's different.
Players are several years away. There are 11 positions.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
With this kind of value at this pick, don't draft for need.
You’ll get burned more often than not. Worst case, they have a lot of value as trade chips
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions
That we can trade for expiring contracts and draft picks!
I love the Sam Presti way
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Woooooooooooo!
Though there are no Japanese people in the NBA
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
He's wearing the jersey, good enough for me.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Top 10
1. Kyle Lowry
2. Jeff Green
3. Emeka Okafor
4. David Lee
5. Johan Petro (I know)
6. Brandon Roy
7. Kevin Durant
8. Dwight Howard
9. Josh Smith
10. Shaq
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Top 10
1. Steve Nash
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Ray Allen
4. Kirk Hinrich
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Luke Ridnour
7. Brandon Roy
8. Nick Collison
9. Rashard Lewis
10. Luke Ridnour
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Where is JJ Redick?
I fucking hate you Mariners
I forgot him
him and Morrison would be there if I had top 15
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
That was sarcastic..but ok!
I fucking hate you Mariners
Your list could kick my list's ass
As long as you have both Luke Ridnours playing
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
HAHA
Didn’t notice that, replace 2nd ridnour with Dwight Howard
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Football top 5
1. Patrick Kerney
2. Julian Peterson
3. Marcus Trufant
4. Lofa Tatupu
5. Zak DeOssie
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
More likely than not
Jazz don’t pick Arthur, and then the Sonics don’t take him either.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Jazz select
Koufas! Arthur and Greene available!
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Man, I'm actually excited about this pick..
Didn’t expect this.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
ARTHUR ARTHUR ARTHUR
I fucking hate you Mariners
I meant cute as a button
He looks like a small child
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions
We are woooing the previous pick..a center...which means a lot of options for us.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Actually I wouldn't mind DeAndre
He is the kind of player who might one day put it together, and if he did he would be really good. Kinda like a live-armed minor leaguer.
Yeah, I know, he's definitely got "potential"
but… he already has the body, and wasn’t that good… He should’ve been better than he was.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Yeah but big guys are different than guards....
Sometimes it takes longer for them to figure “it” out
The honor of playing for the Sonics...
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions
True.
He’s a real talent this late though. I’d be thrilled with Greene or Chalmers too, anyway.
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm surprised they even mention the move at all
I would’ve though David Stern would’ve silenced any talk about it. They’re talking about us for more than a whole minute?
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Jeff Van Gundy speaks the truth!
“the owner doesn’t want them to be there”
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Coming to your 2012
Oklahoma City Thieves (or Ramblers or whatever)
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Sonics pick Serge Ibaka wtf
At least we don't have Zito's contract.
BAHAHAHA...more tall foreigners
I fucking hate you Mariners
SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS IS WORSE THAN JOSH FIELDS
no it isnt
At least we don't have Zito's contract.
SHUT UP LET ME BE INDIGNANT DON'T MAKE ME FLAG YOU I WANTED ARTHUR
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree
At least Fields you can trade down the line for a Lowe/Varitek maybe. If Ibaka doesn’t pan out, nothing will come of it.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Well fuck
there was talk before the draft that we’d nab him but I didn’t want to believe it :(
The poster formerly known as Matt.
"In three or four years, this guy has a chance to be a terrible analyst"
- Me, on Jay Bilas
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Carlos Boozer Rashard Lewis?
I think Gilbert Arenas before Rashard Lewis,
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
He should go "Ichiro" style and have
“Serge” on his back. I’d definitely buy that.
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Maybe Arhtur, Batum, Greene
drop to 32?
I will not let negativity bring me down.
"Do the right thing."
Greene won't, but I'm hopeful for maybe Chalmers
since I’m still not convinced Russ is a PG long term
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions
SERRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGEEEEE
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:54 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Welcome to Lookout Landing!
Have you found Carmen Sandiego yet?
Oh, I didn't play this.
I let my twin play it, we “share” rpgs. I play one and he plays a different one. Divide and conquer or something like that.
When in doubt...draft a big tall 'project'
I fucking hate you Mariners
That's my point.
I fucking hate you Mariners
Yeah, much better to get a proven big man
in the mold of Jim McIllvane or Calvin Booth… or Vinny Baker
He could end up being Rudy Gay from a few years ago? Shit
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:57 PM PDT reply actions
Wasn't that Mourning's problem?
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, good point, but he's still good
And he’s 35 now. LJ has been gone for a long time, Mourning just retired.
LJ = Larry Johnson?
We don't negotiate with terrorists.
by Mariner John on Jun 26, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Everyone is saying Ibaka could be the next Shawn Kemp
Those people are the same people who said Mo Sene could be the next Dikembe Mutumbo
He'll be better than Mutumbo
You’ll see
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions
And Portland (via NOLA)
get Darrell Arthur… if the Sonics leave… I’ll definitely root for the Blazers.
Who else would I root for?
The Oklahoma team? Did Vancouver Grizzlies fans become Sonics fans? Don’t respond with “What Vancouver Grizzlies fans”...
Bullshit David Stern doesn't have a heart
by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Jun 26, 2008 7:11 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Someone send him an open invitation to a Sonics game*
I’m curious to see what happens/if he survives.
*If the Sonics are around
Considering the "interesting" threats to various people on this blog
I don’t think it’ll change thing. I mean, you can be sentenced to life so many time, but you really only have 1 life so what’s the harm?
Breaking News!
Jay Bilas just said a player needed to get stronger!
I'm TERRIFIED of Walker's knee. CDR or Chalmers, please
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
He pissed a towel. It was pretty hilarious and widely reported
by seattlebruin on Jun 26, 2008 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions
WOW GIDDENS
I actually like that pick, but we’re gonna get a STEAL at 32
BAYLESS IS MORE PROVEN THAN WESTBROOK?
THAT’S THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD
I think he just means Bayless had to carry Arizona more..
and Westbrook could rely on Collison, Mbah a Moute, Love, and Howland knowing what to do instead of the Lute Olsen situation.
Yeah this draft earns a solid 'meh' from me
Aside from the Westbrook pick I’m not really sure what Presti was thinking…
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Why did they pass on Arthur to trade up for White NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
seriously...
The entire Pac-10 is getting drafted. If somebody picks Ryan Appleby I’ll know it’s all a dream.
Twelve Pac-10 players and counting...
And now a guy just got drafted from the NBDL. I give up; I have no idea what’s going on. Except that Jay Bilas says he has a “terrific motor”, which also describes every other player Jay Bilas has talked about. I bet he also has a good wingspan.
Sasha Kaun
Is apparently a curly, white, Russian clone of DeVon Hardin.
Also, ESPN says the Sonics just picked the 54th-best player with the 56th pick. Dude, guys! We got a steal! Guys? Hey, where is everybody?
The more I look at this draft, the better I feel about it.
Russell Westbrook #4
While not a good shooter, he’s a lockdown defender which will be invaluble to us in the future (assuming its in seattle) cause we have to compete with CP3 and Deron Williams out West. Also, he reminds me a lot of Dwanye Wade. Both undersized, didn’t have a position coming into the league, can’t shoot from outside, freakish athleticism, like to get out in transition. This pick could turn out really well. And even if it doesn’t you have a lockdown perimeter defender
Serge Ibaka #24
Who knows with this pick, he’s only 18 and likely to sign a 3 year deal in Europe. I think that’s good, growing up in Africa he’s probably extremely raw (playing on dirt and hardwood are not the same….jk). But he’s big and freakishly athletic, so he could flip a switch in his development and give us a great big man.
D.J. White #29
I love this pick. Good low post scorer, works hard, rebounds well. Undersized and his athleticism hasn’t returned since his knee injuries, but he could turn into a Leon Powe type of energy player off the bench for us. He’s one of those picks you don’t pay attention to and then all the sudden he’s making big plays in an important game (we’re tryin to get 25 wins next year!!!)
DeVon Hardin #50
Meh. This pick won’t matter.
If you had the transcript of the phone call I placed right after that
you would be fearing for the life of every living thing in San Diego right now
by seattlebruin on Jun 27, 2008 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Thoughts on the draft
First, a giant disclaimer – Serge Ibaka has a chance to be a really good player, and I trust Sam Presti. This may have been the right move, given that we don’t have to pay him for a few years and we can just let him sit and develop in Europe, wherever he plays (France, I believe)
Russell Westbrook – I’m definitely going to have the most to say basketball wise about Russ since I’ve seen him a lot. Sonics fans, especially LFoJL are going to LOVE Russ. He goes 100% all the time on the court, except unlike WFB, he actually has talent. He’s very athletic, and is an absolutely explosive leaper. He’s also a genuinely terrific defender, both on and off the ball. I’ve seen a lot of Russ and seen him develop (for obvious reasons), and I can tell you that the sky is the limit with this kid, and that he’ll play with a giant smile on his face the whole time.
The thing with Russ is that his offense isn’t that strong right now, and I’m not convinced it will ever be that strong. After numerous discussions with people who watch every game (we’re even the ones who convinced the store to stock his jersey – his mom came up to us after a game to say thanks for getting the store to buy em), Russ is never going to be an NBA PG, or at the very least, it’s unlikely. You can run him out there at the one for 15-20 minutes a game, but he’s not Jason Kidd, or even Dwyane Wade. He is really only capable of running the team off of set plays which don’t require him to create for someone else, merely to initiate the offense. He’s not a good passer off the drive, and really once he gets going, he’s going to the rim.
He may learn to shoot. He’s got nice looking mechanics, or at the least workable. His midrange is already passable, and I think he’ll eventually be able to convert the NBA 3 at a decent clip.
Serge Ibaka – I hate this pick. I HATE THIS PICK.
This guy certainly has NBA size and athleticism, and originally, I liked the idea of stashing a player with this pick. But when two projected late lotto picks fall down to you at 24, you MUST pull the trigger. At that point, you’ve just got to take the best value on the board, and that was Darrell Arthur. Donte Greene would have been fine too. With regards to Brayden’s concern about the guy not playing hard in college, that’s not really a definite sign he won’t try in the pros. Yeah, there’s always an Isaiah Rider, but then there’s a guy like Rudy Gay who coasted in college and got so fed up with people criticizing his on-court demeanor that he decided he was just going to dominate to his talent level in the NBA. It’s not a badge of honor certainly, but it wouldn’t stop me from taking a guy who had slipped that far in the draft.
I’m a pretty huge proponent of “best player available” because I like to see teams stockpile assets. When you get right down to it, if you have assets, sometimes they turn into real players (Sasha Vujacic) and sometimes you can turn them into something you really want (Jarrett Jack).
DJ White – I like this guy as a player. He’s ready to contribute right now and give the Sonics some toughness in the paint. He’s not overly athletic, but if you limit him to 20 minutes as an energy guy, he could really be an impact player for the team. I dislike the idea of taking White after passing on Arthur because White’s upside seems to be an energy PF/low impact starter while Arthur has a chance to be a very good starting four in this league, and it’s not like the Sonics just need an energy guy for the bench. Also, I LOVE Mario Chalmers’ game and think he would have been a good fit at 32.
DeVon Hardin – Guy’s an athletic freak, but has no clue how to play basketball. He’s basically DeAndre Jordan, but four years and a knee surgery older, so I’m not holding out a lot of hope. His upside is probably Kendrick Perkins, and that’s if he even makes the roster so… maybe Brayden will get to face him in a couple years =)
Thoughts on the rest of the draft
- OJ Mayo is a good player. He’s really, really good. I think he has an extreme amount of value if he can stick at the point, and I think he can handle the position in the NBA.
- There are a couple teams out there who do stupid things year after year after year. The Clippers took Eric Gordon with Jerryd Bayless still on the board. Gordon is 6-3, thick, plays no defense, and isn’t nearly the shooter his rep says he is. Bayless has way more upside and is a better player right now. Inexplicable.
- Portland gets it. They just get it. They stockpile assets, and basically use the 13th pick, cash and a spare PG to acquire two lottery talents. And it’s not even like they were lucky – they just managed their hand well and ran circles around the league AGAIN.
- Memphis is a mess. I’m not even blaming Chris Wallace (even though he’s a horrific GM) because it’s pretty obvious that ownership is forcing him to give away good players for salary reasons. Hey Whiny Fucker Bennett (hey look, WFB) there’s an NBA team that the fans actually don’t care about that’s just giving away players – maybe you should try moving them… dear goodness.
- Sacramento made some really weird picks, but they took guys with real talent, so you never know. I’d bet on them going 0 for 3 on them though (Thompson, Singletary, Ewing).
- Couple guys slipped into the second round who I think are real good players – Chris Douglas-Roberts, Mario Chalmers. And keep an eye on Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (who happens to be my favorite player…) – he’s a legit NBA All-Defense team guy right now.
We’ll see if I think of anything else later. I still hate the Serge Ibaka pick.
by seattlebruin on Jun 27, 2008 1:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh yeah, my other thought
Dick Vitale may be the worst analyst of all time – first he said that Jerryd Bayless, who played one season of college basketball in the Pac-Ten and was second team All-Conference was more proven than Russell Westbrook, who played two seasons in the Pac-Ten and was first team All-Conference last season. Then he decided that Gallinari was a bad player because he was Italian and he had never seen him play (... it was the worst thing ever). He did this while not breathing for two straight minutes and yelling at a camera.
It shattered the unintentional comedy scale… but I want those two minutes of my life back.
by seattlebruin on Jun 27, 2008 1:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Per Stuart Scott, people say that "the Pac-Ten isn't a real basketball conference"
HUH? That’s ALL the Pac-Ten is known for besides UW and SC…
I'm kinda sad I don't like basketball as much as I like Baseball
Kevin Pritchard is amazing at his job. I don’t know how he does it, but he seems to pull off the craziest stuff on draft day. He just collect piles and piles of talent, and he does it well and without giving up anything too good.
Now, comparing this to the Mariners, it’s almost depressing the amount of incompetence in the organization. It almost makes me sad that we’re like last year’s Knicks of Baseball this year.
IN KP WE TRUST!
It’s the closet thing I can think of if you were trying to imagine what Beane could do if he had the Mariner’s budget.
Pritchard is living proof of how a GM can transform a team, a franchise, and a city. If only Patterson and Nash had listened to him when he said draft Chris Paul.
Go Fo Broke!
So...
DaVon Jefferson undrafted? What a dumbass, should’ve stayed in school.
The poster formerly known as Matt.
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