Chad Ford's Mock Draft

[SenorSpur]

I like the Batum pick. But I'm praying Brandon Rush somehow falls to the Spurs. I know, I know. It's likely not going to happen, but I can dream, can't I?

[mathbzh]

If we get Batum it is a steal.
This kid as amazing talent on both end of the court.

I really don't understand how the stocks works in the mock drafts.
Last season Batum had one good game at the nike hoop summit and became a potential top 5 pick and now after a good season he falls at the end of the first round. This is quiet stupid.
Batum as struggled earlier this season but he still has this amazing potential.
Yes he is sometime passive and was not ready to be a leader for Le Mans in Euroleague, but he is the best player in the best team in the french league.
What more can you expect from a 19 yo kid playing at a pro level?

12 ppg / 5rpg / 4 apg / 1 spg / 1 bpg in 29 minutes shooting 51 %FG (35 %3Pt) is not enough? What was he supposed to do?

One more fact, this season Le Mans is #1 in Pro A, in games against the teams #2 to #5, Batum stats are: 15.5 ppg/6.3 rpg/4.1 apg/1.1bpg/1.3apg
Actually he had all his off games against poor teams.

In a couple of years, San Antonio will look really smart.

If it happens, I would just say other teams look really stupid (how many players picked in the late lottery have an immediate impact for their team?).

[mathbzh]

Few days ago Batum said in french newspaper that he has 2 options for next year : either playing one more year in a good Euroleague team (in Spain, Italy or Greece), either comming in NBA. Then He said he's made his decision and he now wants to join NBA next year.

He also said it on TV (he wants to join the NBA). I think he should stay one more year in Europe.

[Bruno]

Batum at 26 will be huge steal. I just don't see how a talented player like him could drop that low.
If Spurs wants him, they will have to move up. Denver is said to be looking for money, could they do a trade with Spurs like #26+$3M in cash for #20 ?

The only way I see Batum dropping is if teams decides to draft by need and not the best player available. Batum is a SF and just look at what teams have at SF:
#18 : Wizards -> Butler
#19 : Cavs -> Lebron
#20 : Nuggets -> Melo, Kleiza
#21 : Nets -> Jefferson
#22 : Magic -> Turkoglu, Lewis
#23 : Jazz -> Kirilenko, Korver, Harpring
#24 : Sonics -> Durant, Green
#25 : Rockets -> Battier, MacGrady

All these teams have a long term answer at SF. Batum won't fill a need for them.

[objective]

Batum at 26 will be huge steal. I just don't see how a talented player like him could drop that low.
If Spurs wants him, they will have to move up. Denver is said to be looking for money, could they do a trade with Spurs like #26+$3M in cash for #20 ?

I don't think the Spurs would even pay $300,000 for any pick, can't see them dropping 3 million.

I don't even see how Ford has him this low.

I haven't seen a mock yet that had him lower than 17, but now late 20s?

BTW

Has Claver pulled out? I still don't see him listed in mocks even though his name was on the early entrant list.

[Bruno]

BTW

Has Claver pulled out? I still don't see him listed in mocks even though his name was on the early entrant list.

AFAIK, he is still in. He has no reason to pull out that far from the withdraw deadline. Mock drafts haven't listed his name because they think that he will likely pull out just before the deadline. He should just try to draw some attention from NBA team on him for the future.


In the likely case, Batum doesn't slip at 26, I hope Spurs will draft Zach Feinstein. This guy will be a stud.

[thekingrobert]

Batum would be a steal but i'm hoping Finley retires Barry starts and we draft Richard Roby Brandon Rush or Courtney Lee

[MI21]

Nathan Jawai Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 270
Age: 21
Country: Australia

The skinny: The Grizzlies need a power forward with some real power, and Jawai has that in abundance. He's coming off a big year in Australia, and his game resembles Elton Brand's a little. At this point in the draft, he's worth the risk.

Chad Ford has always been terrible with his hyping of overseas players. Jawai plays nothing, I repeat, nothing like Brand. More like Eddy Curry...

[AFBlue]

Let's give Chad Ford a break, because the draft is still a ways out and this is his first one. , no teams have even seen these players in a workout. I COULD see a scenario where Batum slips...but it's not likely.

I'd fully expect Batum to get picked up in the late teens to early twenties when all is said an done.

Someone mentioned Casspi and I could definitely see that as a more likely scenario.

[manufor3]

Lopez #3????

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

In the likely case, Batum doesn't slip at 26, I hope Spurs will draft Zach Feinstein. This guy will be a stud.

Care to give us the downlow on this Feinstein fellow?

[SPARKY]

Care to give us the downlow on this Feinstein fellow?

The internets are your friends.

[K-State Spur]

I think you're seriously underestimating young Mr. Walker. He's shown a freakish level of athleticism and body strength. He's shown a willingness to commit to putting effort in on D. He's only 20 years old. He's shown flashes of a jumpshot and midrange game. He is a devestating slasher who can get to the hoop. He also rebounds strongly... His game is not very polished, but there's very little wrong with it. He's also shown significant mental toughness, coming back from significant injuries, and he raised his game in the NCAA tournament at crunch time for his team... His at ude problems appear no worse than those of SJAX, and he was really useful...


Also, Batum is, IMO, not ready to come to the NBA now. Bill Walker could survive limited minutes and develop as he went.

listen, i like bill a lot and hope he drops out of the draft and returns to KSU.

that said, i think it's fair to say I've probably watched him more than anybody else on this board. you have some misconceptions.

he's never shown a willingness to commit to defense. his mid-range game is virtually non-existent. and he really only takes the ball to the rim when he is guarded by a big out on the perimeter. the vast majority of his damage was done on the low block where he is typically only guarded by 6'7 guys in the big 12.

i think he'll improve on all of those aspects. but as of today, your analysis is simply not true.

[yavozerb]

Look for a number of this year's lottery picks to be for sale the next few months. Numerous sources have said that the Heat, Timberwolves, Sonics, Knicks, Clippers, Bucks, Bobcats, Nets and Blazers are all open to trading their picks if the right deal came along.


Teams like the Wolves, Sonics, Bucks, Bobcats and Blazers are already loaded with young players. What they need are veterans who can add leadership and depth. Teams like the Heat, Knicks, Clippers and Nets seem to be focused on winning now.


While everyone agrees that the draft is deep and talented, only Rose and Beasley are considered superstar material. The rest of the players in the draft are considered good prospects, but not the type of players who can quickly turn the fortunes of a team.


• If I'm Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, I'm really sweating losing LeBron James in two years. Nets co-owner Jay-Z was at the draft lottery and Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay were absolutely mesmerized by the guy. We know LeBron is a big fan as well and if the Nets can get under the cap and use Jay-Z as a pitch man -- he could very well become one of the most powerful owners in the league.



Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

[mathbzh]

Also, Batum is, IMO, not ready to come to the NBA now.

I agree Batum is not completely ready to come to the NBA now.
I would prefer if he stays one more year in Europe.

But do you really believe that all these 18 to 19 yo players listed in this mock draft are more ready than he is?

[Extra Stout]

I doubt the Spurs keep this draft pick. I bet they use it as bait to dump Matt Bonner and get a second-round pick in return.

[yavozerb]

Possible Bonner and their #1 to move up to early 20's

[BradLohaus]

Memphis


O.J. Mayo Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Age: 20
School: USC

The skinny: The Grizzlies need a power forward. But although they do have a glut of guards, they also could use a guard with the strength, scoring prowess and star quality of Mayo. Team him with Rudy Gay and Mike Conley, and the Grizzlies are a big man away from having a bright future again.

yeah, a Pau Gasol type would fit well...

[T Park]

Why would anyone want Matt Bonner?

[Holt's Cat]

I doubt the Spurs keep this draft pick. I bet they use it as bait to dump Matt Bonner and get a second-round pick in return.

Sadly I think that's where they are headed.

[jag]

Batum would be amazing...but there's no way he slips that far in the draft. I didn't think Splitter would slip as far as he did either, but there's just no way.

[Freeze]

Batum' stats last night in 1st round playoff :
24min, 11pts (5/8FG's, 1/1 3PT's), 7reb, 9 ast

Le Mans outplayed Cholet by 20.
Nando de Colo's stats :
31min, 14pts (5/14FG's, 2/5 3PT's), 3reb, 3 ast

[mathbzh]

Batum' stats last night in 1st round playoff :
24min, 11pts (5/8FG's, 1/1 3PT's), 7reb, 9 ast

Le Mans outplayed Cholet by 20.
Nando de Colo's stats :
31min, 14pts (5/14FG's, 2/5 3PT's), 3reb, 3 ast

highlights from this game:

http://www.msb.fr/videos/3765.wmv

Batum is #5 in blue/violet
De Colo is #12 in red.

[SenorSpur]

Batum would be amazing...but there's no way he slips that far in the draft. I didn't think Splitter would slip as far as he did either, but there's just no way.

Good point.

, I'm even wishing, hoping, and praying that somehow Brandon Rush will fall to us. However, I don't expect him to get past Orlando @ pick #22.

[pad300]

I doubt the Spurs keep this draft pick. I bet they use it as bait to dump Matt Bonner and get a second-round pick in return.

Can't. The CBA won't allow you to trade away 1st round picks such as to lead to a situation where you don't have a 1st for 2 consecutive years. We have already traded away our 2009 1st. To make something like this work, we either have to make an arrangement to pick a player for another team, and then trade the rights to that player + Matt Bonner, or we have to arrange to get another 08 or 09 1st either as part of the deal or in a separate deal beforehand...