Going back to what you said in the "pre draft" thread, I don't know how on board I'd be with Waiters. I mean I like the guys game; it's . pretty. He has real good handles, smooth cross-over, good first step, and a nice shot. But I think he's a bit undersized. He's a bit shorter than D-Wade and has a few inches less of a wingspan. Outside of than, even though he was probably the best player on his team, he came off the bench and had weight issues his frosh year. Those are a couple red flags to me.
Politicians are puppets, y'all. Let's get Geppetto!
I can't really say as I don't follow it all that closely. Being a Gator, I go Beal. I know he can shoot, and that is never a bad thing.
I'd really like a monster in the paint, but I don't know of anybody who really fits that mold. I am big on rebounds and D. It's why I always like Fratello. We played solid D...and had some of our better teams.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Just to clarify something: Wade is 6'4 in shoes and so is Waiters.
Evidently the Cavs have been high on him all year. He's been under consideration all along at 4. Also says Grant is not afraid to take a chance on a guy higher than he's projected. I like that. Go get a player you like and just take him. Better chance he works out in the NBA. Especially the bust rate of the NBA draft. Think TT. We just need a guy who can get buckets.
I was watching the combine last night (replay) and they were talking about how after Davis, there's a whole wave of guys that could be considered 'Second best' and since there isn't an obvious answer as to who is better than who, you'll see teams drafting more on need early in the first round than usual.
4. Barnes SF Verajo and 24 move up to 17 (Dallas) 17. Terrence Ross SG 33. Fab Melo, Draymond Green, or Jared Sullinger 34. Kevin Jones, Festus Ezeli, Drew Gordon, or Kyle O'Quinn
Terrence Ross, Cavs had him in for a last minute workout like TT last year. So something is up, to move from 24 and get Ross, Verajo has to be dealt.
Quote: Legit question...will Anthony Davis be a scorer in the NBA?
He won't be a "scorer" as in like a primary guy, but I think he's an excellent number two. He's not a 25ppg guy. This draft simply doesn't have one of those.
What he doesn't have in scoring ability is more than made up in how he defends and rebounds. He's good on the ball, and with help D.
I just like how the guy isn't robotic with his playing style. He seems to adapt well.
The cool thing with NOR is that he's not gonna take them to the playoffs, because he doesn't take over games with scoring ability. So they should be right back in the thick of the lottery next year. It won't be like the Cavs where LBJ was so good immediately that he changed them from the worst team in the league, to a team that barely missed the playoffs two years in a row (crappy lotto chances) to a playoff perennial (no lotto chances)
Perry Jones may have knee issues By Chad Ford | ESPN.com It looks as if Jared Sullinger isn't the only big-time NBA draft prospect to have medical issues potentially hurt his stock.
Multiple league sources say NBA team doctors are concerned about a meniscus issue in the knee of Baylor forward Perry Jones III.
While opinions among NBA doctors vary on the ramifications of the issue, some teams believe the knee could pose a problem down the road and at some point require surgery.
Not all teams have the same degree of alarm, but the concerns have caused Jones' stock to slide from the mid- to late-lottery portion of the draft into the late teens and early 20s of the round.
No way in hell will we, or should we, trade 24 and Varejao just to move up 7 spots from 24 to 17.
I don't know if the Cavaliers would trade him for 17 straight up.
I should add that there is talk thatv we can move into the high teens by taking on a bad contract or 2 .... so I don't see us trading away one of our better players just to get to the same spot.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I'm seeing more and more reports that if Charlotte doesn't trade out of the #2 spot, they'll most likely take Thomas Robinson. (Which would sort of make sense. They need a PF or a SF, so T-Rob, MKG or Barnes would be understandable)
If nobody trades up to take Beal at #2, everyone seems to have him as a lock for Washington at #3 ... I guess they are desperate for shooters.
Quote: What is the highest pick any of you hardcore NBA guys could see the Cavs getting for #24 + #33 + #34?
I imagine it would have to be a team slim on picks and players.
I don't see us trading anything like that. I suspect that we'll buy a pick in the low teens by taking on a bad contract or 2. Buying a bad contract would have more value than 24 to some teams.
I don't necessarily see us taking players for this year with all of our picks. We could well use either 33 or 34 (or both) on players who will play overseas for a few years.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: What is the highest pick any of you hardcore NBA guys could see the Cavs getting for #24 + #33 + #34?
I imagine it would have to be a team slim on picks and players.
Maybe high teens? Likely just a few picks higher than #24. I suppose it depends on who gets picked earlier than predicted, and teams deciding to fall back because their guy wasn't there.
I am big on Doron Lamb. I think he's going to be a very good NBA player.
He does look like he has NBA ability. I think that he can help a team.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Sources: Rockets eye No. 5 pick Updated: June 28, 2012, 5:14 PM ET
Trade talks between the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets have intensified in the hours leading up to Thursday night's NBA draft and have put the Rockets in position to acquire the Kings' No. 5 pick if Sacramento elects to trade it, according to sources close to the process.
One source said this potential deal is being "heavily discussed."
Sources told ESPN.com the Kings plan to wait as long as possible before committing to the trade to see who falls to them at No. 5. It's believed that Sacramento will walk away from the trade if Kansas' Thomas Robinson is still available.
Yet sources say the Kings, in that scenario, would be walking away from "a lot," suggesting the Rockets have offered even more than the widely reported package of versatile but disgruntled guard Kyle Lowry and multiple picks later in Thursday's first round. Houston holds the Nos. 12, 16 and 18 picks.
Ford: How The Draft Might Play Out Follow ESPN Insider Chad Ford and his updated mock draft projections of who will get picked after Anthony Davis at No. 1. Mock Draft 10.1
ESPN.com reported earlier this week that UConn center Andre Drummond -- who ranks as the second-youngest player in the draft at just 18 -- is the player Houston wants at No. 5. Still unclear, though, is whether the Rockets would be drafting Drummond for themselves or if they want to acquire him to offer to Orlando in Houston's longstanding trade pursuit of Magic center Dwight Howard.
As ESPN.com reported Sunday night, Houston has been trying for weeks to acquire multiple top-10 picks to throw at new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, believing that Hennigan -- after working alongside Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti for years -- would consider trading Howard if he could get two top lottery picks to start rebuilding his new team through the draft.
The Rockets' willingness to trade for Howard -- even without the All-Star center's signature on a contract extension -- is an open secret around the league. Howard has one season left on his Orlando contract after ending a months-long saga about his future by unexpectedly opting in for the 2012-13 campaign in March in conjunction with the NBA's annual trade deadline.
Houston has continued to aggressively pursue Sacramento's pick this week despite indications that Hennigan wants to take one more run at trying to convince Howard to sign an extension before the start of next season. ESPN.com reported earlier Thursday that the Magic have registered their interest in trying to trade for Atlanta's Josh Smith, who is one of Howard's closest friends and whose arrival in Orlando presumably would affect Howard's willingness to commit there for the long term.
As for Drummond, many scouts believe he has the second-highest upside of any player in the draft behind consensus No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis. The 7-foot, 279-pound Drummond registered an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan at the NBA draft combine earlier this month.
Personnel experts regard Drummond as an elite athlete and shot-blocker who moves laterally especially well, but Drummond's inconsistent play as a freshman -- combined with questions about his passion for the game -- have made it difficult to project exactly where he'll be drafted in the lottery.
The tipoff that the Kings are planning to deal the No. 5 pick has been the handful of players they've brought in for draft workouts who are expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round. Sources say two of those players in particular -- North Carolina's John Henson and St. John's Moe Harkless -- are high on the Kings' draft board.
Quote: So if trading up with our picks doesn't look like it will be particularly fruitful, then who do we like at 24?
First four go: 1. Davis 2. Robinson 3. Beal 4. MKG
SG Jenkins? C Melo? SF Miller? C Ezeli? SG Barton? SG Ross (go much earlier?) SG D. Lamb?
Lamb wouldn't be a bad pickup at all ... a lot depends on who we take at #4. I'm sort of hoping a guy like Ezeli lasts till the second round. I'd love to have a huge center at some point in this draft.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
