Ford: Spurs may have wrapped up Batum

[bigdog]

Chad Ford seems to think the Spurs will be taking Batum. This is his latest mock draft from today.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ckDraft-080626

[MoSpur]

I hope he is right. I hope he slips to the Spurs. If what he wrote is true, its a good indication the Spurs have made their choice.

[SenorSpur]

If this is indeed true, and I'll only believe it when I see it, CIA TO DA MAX!

[K-State Spur]

Less than 48 hours after Ford had said the Spurs were committed to Ryan Anderson.

Seriously, I guess he figures if he throws enough different data out there, he can claim victory afterwards.

[AA2120]

chad ford is a jackass...

[timvp]

This Batum news is in a lot of other threads including the Batum thread. Here is the report from DraftExpress that has sparked the rumors:

Multiple teams reached out to us today wondering whether we have gotten a hold of Nicolas Batum’s physical yet. Batum underwent a series of heart tests in Cleveland on Monday and was cleared for workouts immediately afterwards, but still his physical is nowhere to be found. Batum traveled to San Antonio immediately after and was supposed to work out for Cleveland today. Some teams openly are wondering whether San Antonio gave Batum a promise and asked him to not distribute his physical around the league, which would make him very likely to slip to 26.

Batum is obviously a great fit in San Antonio, as the team already has two French players on their roster (Tony Parker and Ian Mahinmi) and sport a very aging perimeter with wing players such as Michael Finley (35 years old), Brent Barry (36 years old) and Bruce Bowen (37 years old) who will soon be clearing up plenty of playing time for an athletic, unselfish, defensive minded prospect such as Batum. He appears to be fully healthy, but it appears that only the Spurs and the Cavs currently have his physical. Multiple calls to Batum’s agent Bouna Ndiaye were not returned.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...harlotte-2946/

[AA2120]

in A..

[timvp]

Batum at 26 would be very good value. With no heart issues, I thought he'd go to Portland at 13.

I still say there's only about a 35% chance Batum falls to the Spurs. First of all, this report could be bogus. Second of all, if enough teams sniff out the Spurs' plan, someone will roll the dice ... even without the physical.

[TDMVPDPOY]

what would happen if a team picks him up first b4 us even without physical report on him....probaly draft him base on spurs interest....

[bigdog]

I'm kind of iffy about the Chad Ford report, but after I saw the draftexpress report I feel a bit better about the news. If he actually does fall to 26, I think it's a no-brainer.

[Marcus Bryant]

Perhaps the Spurs can trade up into the late teens by offering some Lux Tax relief with the Beno trade exception...perhaps without moving #26. Batum and Hendrix would be a pretty good draft night haul.

[anakha]

Batum at 26 would be very good value. With no heart issues, I thought he'd go to Portland at 13.

I still say there's only about a 35% chance Batum falls to the Spurs. First of all, this report could be bogus. Second of all, if enough teams sniff out the Spurs' plan, someone will roll the dice ... even without the physical.

Considering this news slipped out before the draft - could Batum be a decoy?

Nothing the Spurs do in this draft would surprise me at this point.

[AA2120]

then we get CDR or lee...hopefully..

[SenorSpur]

Batum at 26 would be very good value. With no heart issues, I thought he'd go to Portland at 13.

I still say there's only about a 35% chance Batum falls to the Spurs. First of all, this report could be bogus. Second of all, if enough teams sniff out the Spurs' plan, someone will roll the dice ... even without the physical.

From several accounts, Portland has seemingly developed an infatuation with Brandon Rush. Who knows?

[bigdog]

From several accounts, Portland has seemingly developed an infatuation with Brandon Rush. Who knows?

Word is that Portland is in talks with the Nets to swap the 13th pick for the 10th so they can grab DJ Augustin at 10.

[tlongII]

Interesting tactic. I haven't seen this one before.

[Spur-Addict]

what would happen if a team picks him up first b4 us even without physical report on him....probaly draft him base on spurs interest....

Which isn't smart at all. I don't care how good a teams FO is.

[Marcus Bryant]

Oops...wrong thread.

[tlongII]

Word is that Portland is in talks with the Nets to swap the 13th pick for the 10th so they can grab DJ Augustin at 10.

That's what I'm hearing too. Jarrett Jack and #13 for Hassell or Ager and the #10. With Pritchard you never know though.

[SenorSpur]

I've seen all previous versions of Ford's mock drafts, so colour me a skeptic. After all, this is the same expert that wanted us all to believe, 3 days ago, that the Spurs were set to select Ante Tonic. I'll treat this with skepticism until I see it for real.

[50 cent]

Batum is the one I wanted the entire time. I hope he slips this far.

[bigdog]

I've seen all previous versions of Ford's mock drafts, so colour me a skeptic. After all, this is the same expert that wanted us all to believe, 3 days ago, that the Spurs were set to select Ante Tonic. I'll treat this with skepticism until I see it for real.

True. Ford has changed his mock draft 7 times now, so that's why I would be iffy about it.

[Mr. Body]

Excellent. Let it be so.

[bigdog]

Also, since San Antonio and Cleveland are the only 2 teams that have Batum's physical, maybe they are working out some kind of trade. You never know.

[Marcus Bryant]

Also, since San Antonio and Cleveland are the only 2 teams that have Batum's physical, maybe they are working out some kind of trade. You never know.

Maybe a trade with Seattle and/or Cleveland. Who of course have dealt with each other this year. And the Spurs dealt with Seattle. The Popovich Posse.