duncan228
03-24-2009, 12:22 AM
Why top draft pick may not be so enviable (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Why_top_draft_pick_may_not_be_so_enviable.html)
Mike Monroe
Two bits of news from the nation's capital caught my attention this past weekend.
One involved Gilbert Arenas' ongoing drive to get back on the court for the Washington Wizards before season's end.
The other was a small item about Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, off scouting games in Europe in large part so he can get a first-hand look at Ricky Rubio, the gifted young Spanish point guard.
Arenas' absence all season is the primary reason the Wizards have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, second-worst in the NBA.
With only 11 remaining games, why would Grunfeld, and the rest of Washington's basketball operations types, want their best player back on the court, putting their draft lottery chances at risk of getting worse?
The “race” for optimal position in the lottery looks to be among the Kings, Wizards, Grizzlies and Clippers. The faulty four have long been eliminated from playoff contention. Victories in the remaining three weeks of the season will do nothing but lessen their mathematical odds of landing the No. 1 spot in the June 25 draft.
The answer as to why the Wizards won't order Arenas to remain inactive may be that the difference between picks Nos. 1 and 2 won't be as stark as it might seem at first glance.
Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is the consensus choice to be the first pick, a big man with the potential to be a franchise-changer.
Meanwhile, there are some who believe Rubio can make just as dramatic a difference for one of the teams at the bottom of the league's power structure this season.
Griffin is an athletic 6-foot-10 post man who is solid as a rock, dominant in the college game. He has Tim Duncan's stoic approach, along with Duncan's occasional free-throw yips. The Oklahoma star goes about his business as if programmed, so much so that Texas Tech coach Pat Knight dubbed him “The Terminator” after Griffin dismantled the Red Raiders in a game last month.
But Griffin is no cyborg, whose parts can be replaced. He has had injuries to both knees in his two seasons with the Sooners, one of them requiring surgery.
It's always frightening to use the No. 1 overall pick on a player with worrisome knees.
Think the Trail Blazers' decision-makers would change their minds if given the chance to re-do the Greg Oden-or-Kevin Durant call?
Rubio has had a significant injury, too, a right wrist problem that required arthroscopic surgery last October. That is not quite as daunting as knee injuries for a big man.
Rubio is still 18 but eligible for the draft if he chooses to make himself available. He has a dicey contract buyout with his Spanish team, Joventut.
Considering what happened to the Spurs last summer, when their first-rounder, Tiago Splitter, re-signed with Spanish League power Tau Ceramica, that could be even more troublesome for a potential No. 1 overall selector than any injury.
I watched Griffin in Oklahoma's NCAA tournament games over the weekend and came to the same conclusion most NBA scouts have: The team with the No. 1 pick probably won't pass on such an athletic big man with so many skills.
One basketball decision-maker for a team that definitely will be in the lottery told me Griffin's size and skill trump any fears about his knees. He'll go No. 1, even if Rubio does opt for the draft.
Last summer, I watched Rubio put a fright into Team USA in the Olympic gold medal game. He's obviously got a high basketball IQ and a feel for the game you just can't teach. With today's rules, point guards who can penetrate and create are just as valuable as skilled bigs. Rubio will be a difference-maker for any team that gets him.
Maybe the best position in the June 25 draft won't be the No. 1 overall spot, but No. 2.
Ask Thunder GM Sam Presti how things worked out for him in 2007, when he was in the No. 2 slot.
Mike Monroe
Two bits of news from the nation's capital caught my attention this past weekend.
One involved Gilbert Arenas' ongoing drive to get back on the court for the Washington Wizards before season's end.
The other was a small item about Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, off scouting games in Europe in large part so he can get a first-hand look at Ricky Rubio, the gifted young Spanish point guard.
Arenas' absence all season is the primary reason the Wizards have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, second-worst in the NBA.
With only 11 remaining games, why would Grunfeld, and the rest of Washington's basketball operations types, want their best player back on the court, putting their draft lottery chances at risk of getting worse?
The “race” for optimal position in the lottery looks to be among the Kings, Wizards, Grizzlies and Clippers. The faulty four have long been eliminated from playoff contention. Victories in the remaining three weeks of the season will do nothing but lessen their mathematical odds of landing the No. 1 spot in the June 25 draft.
The answer as to why the Wizards won't order Arenas to remain inactive may be that the difference between picks Nos. 1 and 2 won't be as stark as it might seem at first glance.
Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is the consensus choice to be the first pick, a big man with the potential to be a franchise-changer.
Meanwhile, there are some who believe Rubio can make just as dramatic a difference for one of the teams at the bottom of the league's power structure this season.
Griffin is an athletic 6-foot-10 post man who is solid as a rock, dominant in the college game. He has Tim Duncan's stoic approach, along with Duncan's occasional free-throw yips. The Oklahoma star goes about his business as if programmed, so much so that Texas Tech coach Pat Knight dubbed him “The Terminator” after Griffin dismantled the Red Raiders in a game last month.
But Griffin is no cyborg, whose parts can be replaced. He has had injuries to both knees in his two seasons with the Sooners, one of them requiring surgery.
It's always frightening to use the No. 1 overall pick on a player with worrisome knees.
Think the Trail Blazers' decision-makers would change their minds if given the chance to re-do the Greg Oden-or-Kevin Durant call?
Rubio has had a significant injury, too, a right wrist problem that required arthroscopic surgery last October. That is not quite as daunting as knee injuries for a big man.
Rubio is still 18 but eligible for the draft if he chooses to make himself available. He has a dicey contract buyout with his Spanish team, Joventut.
Considering what happened to the Spurs last summer, when their first-rounder, Tiago Splitter, re-signed with Spanish League power Tau Ceramica, that could be even more troublesome for a potential No. 1 overall selector than any injury.
I watched Griffin in Oklahoma's NCAA tournament games over the weekend and came to the same conclusion most NBA scouts have: The team with the No. 1 pick probably won't pass on such an athletic big man with so many skills.
One basketball decision-maker for a team that definitely will be in the lottery told me Griffin's size and skill trump any fears about his knees. He'll go No. 1, even if Rubio does opt for the draft.
Last summer, I watched Rubio put a fright into Team USA in the Olympic gold medal game. He's obviously got a high basketball IQ and a feel for the game you just can't teach. With today's rules, point guards who can penetrate and create are just as valuable as skilled bigs. Rubio will be a difference-maker for any team that gets him.
Maybe the best position in the June 25 draft won't be the No. 1 overall spot, but No. 2.
Ask Thunder GM Sam Presti how things worked out for him in 2007, when he was in the No. 2 slot.