General 2010 NBA Draft Discussion

[Darkwaters]

Séraphin injured his knee in his last game.

I've barely watched French league this year (the level sucks), so I can't make you a accurate description of Séraphin improvements (or lack of). Now, he is just averaging 6/4, I guess he isn't that great.

Séraphin's agent, Bouna N'Diaye, also said today that Séraphin should directly come to the NBA and not be stashed in Europe if he stays in the draft.

That sounds like a "no thanks" to me.

[venitian navigator]

IMO, you can put players in 4 different tiers for Spurs first round pick:

Tier 1 : Players who won't be available at #20: (13 players)
Wall, Turner, Favors, Cousins, Aminu, Wesley Johnson, Aldrich, Udoh, Monroe, Ed Davis, Patrick Patterson, Henry and Hayward.

Tier 2 : Players who could be available at #20 but also have a good chance of being gone: (10 players)
Motiejunas, Orton, Whiteside, Sanders, George, Babbitt, Damion James, Avery Bradley, James Anderson, Eric Bledsoe.

Tier 3 : Players who should be available at #20 and look like legit options: (10 players)
Alabi, Seraphin, Lawal, Stanley Robinson, Ebanks, Pondexter,
Elli0t Williams, Willie Warren, Armon Johnson, Terrico White

Tier 4: Players that are a reach to be drafted at #20

I think that's one of the first drafts where we have more than thirty players (also if two of them, montejunas and Seraphin, ill probably opt out) that looks like legitimate nba players...this draft look very very deep.
Looks also that more than one team is willing to spend some money (the maximum is 3 millions, I think) for taking some low first choice and that there are also teams willing to send them (like Memphis, Minnesota for example).

Frankly, I think that, given the age of our best players, if we have the chance to do it, this could be a good year for spending some money for our future...and take potentially low cost/good players for years to come.

[Bruno]

That sounds like a "no thanks" to me.

Well, he is one of these players whose main quality is to have great physical/athletic abilities. You can put him in the same category than players like Orton or Whiteside.

Spurs have an awesome tool with the Toros to develop this kind of players. Even if it hasn't produce good results for the moment (none of Spurs' rotation players have played in Austin), it doesn't change the fact that it's a great development tool.

If Spurs fell in love for one of this player with a great physical upside or if player(s) they targeted are gone, I can see them drafting one at #20 and putting him in the Toros pipeline.

[mountainballer]

http://thehoopsmarket.blogspot.com/2...so-eyeing.html
Kurt Rambis continues his European tour, and attended the game of the Greek finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos. According to the Minnesota Timberwolves coach, his main interest in that game was, besides Nikola Pekovic, drafted by the Wolves, Linas Kleiza and Josh Childress. Rambis watched closely both players for the future, in case they decide to return to the NBA.

I post this in the general draft discussion thread, because IMO whatever the Wolves do, it will somehow affect the Spurs draft options. because of the #16 pick the Wolves own.
overall we should hope that the Wolves target either Childress or Kleiza, because this will reduce their needs and spots in the wing/forward department.
(or also raise their willingness to part with the #16 pick. might not be good news for the Spurs, if a top team with similar needs get a hand on that pick).
Wolves won't get a premium FA anyhow. Childress and Kleiza could be their best option, even if they need to overpay. both would make for them. (and both did really well in Europe this season)
would open one very interesting scenario: Gomes is a likely odd guy b/c of his contract anyhow. if they can trade him for ungaranteed contracts instead of waive him, they increase their cap space AND save about 3 million $. I guess the #16 pick goes to whoever takes Gomes off their hands. (btw. I like Gomes as a player, but he isn't worth the 4.2 million he gets. on the other hand, he would be an upgrade over Bonner and Spurs have use for such a player and limited options via free agency)

what do you guys think: Spurs are willing to spend some tax, they trade their non guaranteed contracts for Gomes plus the #16 pick. they can use either 16 and 20 or trade away #20 in another deal. at 16 they will find either Henry, Babbitt or Paul. and in Gomes they get a solid rotation player.

[mountainballer]

DX just updated their mock.
some radical changes.
(Monroe at #5, Udoh at #8, Babbitt at #12)
has us picking Hassan Whiteside.

[Bruno]

what do you guys think: Spurs are willing to spend some tax, they trade their non guaranteed contracts for Gomes plus the #16 pick.

This trade doesn't work salary wise. Gomes salary is too big.

Spurs have a nice trade asset with all these non-guaranteed contracts but I'm not sure they will use it because a trade would cost them a lot of money with the luxury tax.

[Biggems]

Since, I don't see Ian coming back, and Splitter is not a guarantee, I would love for us to acquire a couple of additional 2nd round picks......

1 - SF George
2 - G Torrance
2 - C Pittman
2 - F/C Koshwal

This way, if we are able to acquire Splitter, we will be loaded with bigs

C - Splitter, McDyess, Pittman
PF - Duncan, Blair, Koshwal
SF - Jefferson, George, Bogans
SG - Manu, Torrance, Gee/Hairston
PG - Parker, Hill, Temple

If this were our 2010-11 roster, that would be sweet.

Then next year, Jefferson walks and McDyess retires. We trade up in the 1st, to get Jordan Hamilton.

2010-11 ROSTER
C - Splitter, McDyess, Pittman
PF - Duncan, Blair, Koshwal
SF - Jefferson, George, Bogans
SG - Manu, Torrance, Gee/Hairston
PG - Parker, Hill, Temple

2011-12 ROSTER
C - Splitter, Pittman
PF - Duncan, Blair, Koshwal
SF - George, Bogans, Hamilton
SG - Manu, Torrance, Gee/Hairston
PG - Parker, Hill, Temple

[Mr. Body]

Hassan Whiteside? Yeeech.

Looks, like usual, like the cream is rising to the top. Interesting to see Monroe, Babbitt, Udoh and others getting sucked into the higher numbers.

[mountainballer]

Givony talks about rumors that Williams might have a promise from Spurs:

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jon...an-Wolken-3489
-The buzz around E_liot Williams and whether he has a promise from the San Antonio Spurs

he also talks about Whitesides immaturity but what a beast he could become if he falls into the right environment. exclusively mentions the Spurs as the right situation for him.

[benefactor]

Note to Pop and RC: The Spurs need a small forward. Say it with me now......small......forward. No more guards. No brick dumb 7 foot projects. Smaaaallll forrrrwarrrrd.

[mountainballer]

hmm. yeah. but but..what if there is a player they think he's so much better than any available SF option.....
and it's guards who win the game these days...

[benefactor]

I know...was being a little sarcastic...just a little though.

Williams has some skills and I wouldn't cut my wrists if they picked him, but I wouldn't love it either. Pondexter is pretty much a lock to still be there at 20 and if it comes down to him or Williams I'd be disappointed to see Williams picked.

[mountainballer]

you still find Pondexter on my 2010 roster sig.........so obviously I feel similar.
however, what I don't share is the opinion that there wasn't any place for another guard on the roster. with Mason gone, there is some room. especially for a guy with good defensive potential. (like Williams has)

[benefactor]

you still find Pondexter on my 2010 roster sig.........so obviously I feel similar.
however, what I don't share is the opinion that there wasn't any place for another guard on the roster. with Mason gone, there is some room. especially for a guy with good defensive potential. (like Williams has)

Oh I agree that there is room for a guard, but Id rather see the Spurs go for a vet at guard(Romain Sato) as they rely heavily on their guards within the offense and draft a SF.

[mountainballer]

nbadraft.net just updated their mock.
damn, I shouldn't even blink.
I wonder when they start to try to consider some team needs.
we pick Sanders at #20 (pass on James, Williams, Pondexter) and Parakhouski at #49. (pass on Hobson). 2 Centers. sure we do. and bring Tiago.

Hayward at #10, Paul at #11, Babbitt at #12, and Henry at #14.

[mountainballer]

rumor that the Raptors have their hands on another pick. (they actually only have the #13 pick and no 2nd rounder).
#13 to Wolves for #16,#23?
#13 to Thunder for #21, #26, #32?

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/bas.../14222586.html
Instead of sticking to some of the more widely known names eligible for the June 24 draft, the Raptors are bringing in just about anybody they can get to agree to come.

Tuesday it was potential late first- early second-rounders’ Devin Ebanks of West Virginia, Gani Lawal of Georgia Tech, Samardo Samuels of Louisville, Latavious Williams of the NBA Developmental League and two players completely off the radar in Tulsa guard Ben Uzoh and UCLA guard Michael Roll.

Though Raptors senior director of player personnel Jim Kelly was coy: “We consider everybody.” It would be a massive shock if any of the six were seriously in the mix for the club’s 13th overall selection

[Mr. Body]

nbadraft.net just updated their mock.
damn, I shouldn't even blink.
I wonder when they start to try to consider some team needs.
we pick Sanders at #20 (pass on James, Williams, Pondexter) and Parakhouski at #49. (pass on Hobson). 2 Centers. sure we do. and bring Tiago.

Hayward at #10, Paul at #11, Babbitt at #12, and Henry at #14.

I don't think nbadraft.net has ever been good at mocking situationally. Draftexpress seems to spend a lot more time talking to actual GMs and scouts and get a better idea.

Like usual, I see, all the best SF candidates are just out of reach.

[mountainballer]

rumor from DX forum (without link. maybe like the TP rumor from the Chad Ford chat)
-Chicago likes D.Jones at #17
-Boston is high on Alabi at #19

if true, good for the Spurs.

[jesterbobman]

nbadraftnet has Patrick patterson at 6.
6!

I've always been a bit wary of their accuracy overall, but 6!
Also, also like both the Boston and Chicago picks as possibilities, both for us and they seem somewhat plausible.

[DesignatedT]

I've always prefered DX over nbadraft.net but mock drafts are so unreliable its hard to take anything away from them. Especially at this point in time maybe about a week before the draft they start shaping up a bit.

[lurker23]

Interesting blog about the Atlanta Hawks and their scouting for their #24 pick:

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/05/2...id=blogs_hawks

One of the interesting up-shots from the article:

After those five, he said the draft becomes “very, very hard to predict” but he thinks teams can find rotation players as low as No. 20 in the order, depending on their needs. “If that player is a worker, by the All-Star break they will be giving you some minutes,” he said.

The talent drops off after those top 15 or 20. So unless the Hawks move up in the order, Pendergraft doesn’t expect this draft to be deep enough for the Hawks to find a player who’s ready to contribute now.

Another interesting point, one that we (as Spurs fans) have already noticed when scouting the swingmen:

Is this draft deep with shooters?

“No,” Pendergraft said. “That’s the [freakin'] problem. There are bunch of guards but not a lot of shooters. There are some good players but they can’t make shots. And the better shooters can’t play a lick of defense.”

[Mr. Body]

That's a pretty sound assessment by the Atlanta press. This class seems overrated to me. Of course there will be exceptions but there seems to be a lot of dross throughout the last two thirds of the round.

[yavozerb]

That's a pretty sound assessment by the Atlanta press. This class seems overrated to me. Of course there will be exceptions but there seems to be a lot of dross throughout the last two thirds of the round.

I agree that it might be slightly overrated, but coming from one of the worst drafting organizations in the league makes this statement pretty much irrelevent.

[lurker23]

Is it June 24th yet?

[Blackjack]

I mean, really.

Hopefully I can get the rest of the awards going pretty soon. A Spurs fan can only take so much of Lakers-Celtics.