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If this is true, then Bruce Bowen's ill-begotten career as a spur was a failure
history can teach you some things.
about the draft it teaches you that it's impossible to for sure predict the career and fit of a player AND it teaches that especially in the mid of the first round you have the most significant split between the eventual careers of players.
(I guess that's because on the one hand top talent might trop to that region, if there are some questions and on the other hand many teams start to pick "need and fit" at the end of the lottery over talent)
however, look at almost any draft and you learn this.
(nice example: 2005 from #15 to #18, the picks of Leonard and Singleton, 4 SFs were picked. Wright, Graham, Granger and Green. one is an all star and franchise player, 3 are out of the league or on their way out)
one thing you learn from draft history: being a top defender in college is not enough. (see Corey Brewer for example). the other thing you learn: defense is something you can learn. talent not. some of the best defenders in the NBA didn't enter the league with the reputation of a top defender. (or with the projected potential to become one. see Tayshaun Prince).
so, if you have 2 players and call one the better player and the other the better defender, you should always go with the better player.
If this is true, then Bruce Bowen's ill-begotten career as a spur was a failure
Strawman. Bowen was already a 30 YO vet with one All Defensive team, and a career 35 3G% under his belt. We're talking about prospects.
Yup, missed that one.
Still think its a baloney theory that's ass-backwards.. offense can be learned just as easily if not easier... shooting 3's, post moves, free throws, dribbling, passing, etc etc etc
Defense is more about physical attributes you come into the league with IMO.
Corey Brewer at 6'9" 185 lbs was never going to be able to dominate defensively like he did in college unless he gained weight in the pros. Which he never did. Just kind of backs up my theory, tbh.
Singleton at 6'9" 230 lbs I really don't think is going to have too much trouble transitioning to the pros.
Brewer was a #7 pick. he wasn't picked ahead of Noah b/c of his shooting, ball handling, scoring, passing. it was only his reputation as the best defender in the NCAA.
if weight or "physical attributes" were the only crucial point, the careers of players like Christie and Prince as premium defenders wouldn't have lasted for long.
not every top defender has a body like Artest or Bowen. oh wait, Bruce was just..............185??????????????????????
C'mon man.
Christie was 3 inches shorter than Brewer and 15 lbs heavier, and also played the SG position. Christie was big enough to guard anyone at that position and could slide over and guard most SF's (esp back then no Carmelo or Lebron types).
And do you really think Bowen weighed a buck eighty five? Look at that guys' shoulders in some of the pictures floating around the forum. Friggin' neck like a tree stump. There is no way he was less than 210.
Whether or not Spurs have made the rights picks, they have been great at hiding their hand. For example, there were said to be very high on Nikola Vucevic and they didn't go with him at #15. Cory Joseph was also completely off the radar.
I'm pretty sure they had the deal for the #15 pick in place. question is, if Leonard was the original target. almost all mocks had him picked in the top 10.
so Spurs might have changed their strategy when they learned he will still be there. if they used a tier system (like most team do) Leonard might just have been left from a higher tier like Vucevic, who might still have been the basic idea for the #15 pick. and another possible target, Marcus Morris, was gone.
Joseph was definitely an under the radar pick, b/c none expected him to be drafted that high. much like they did with Hill in 2008.
Bird's comments on draft night suggest that there was no deal in place until Leonard fell.
“We talked to them about George the last two years,” said Bird. “We’ve been talking to them the last couple of weeks. And they didn’t know if they had any interest or not … it just happened after the 14th pick. We was [sic] on the line with them and they decided that their player was still there so we made the trade.”
I missed these comments on draft night, thanks for posting them.
These comments and rumors about Spurs trying to trade
Hill for #10, #11 or #12 confirms that Spurs really targeted Kawhi Leonard before the draft.
Spurs talk long before the draft about this trade with Pacers which mean it was a well thought trade. Spurs plan was to ask #42 to take Bertans while they would use 29 on Hill's replacement. It's not sure that their first choice was Joseph since it could have been someone drafted earlier (Nolan Smith, Reggie Jackson or Norris Cole). It's also possible that Spurs talked with Lorbek before the draft to know if he would be interested to join Spurs.
shame how we didnt try talkin to them about one of their bigs since we need size....
granger was always on the trading block, but i doubt we were going to give them anything outside of the big 3 to tempt them
Oh boy, here we go again... with the CIA Pop bs..
This past year definitely reinforces the C.I.A. Pop concept.
For instance, we drafted, waited several years for, and finally signed Splitter to a deal only to see Pop sit him all year long in favor of short people. He threw me off with that one.
It's CIA baby. Heck, Pop's got CIA "sleeper" plans from years ago that are quietly incubating waiting for their day of reveal to all the joyous fans. Trading Scola to the rockets for Spanoulis for example. That one could pay off in a big way down the line.
Go get laid or something.
Doesn't seem like Pop had much to do with the Scola trade tbh.
"As an organization we felt responsible to let Luis pursue his dream of the NBA and this was the best opportunity to realize his value," said Buford back in 2007. "With our roster intact it would appear unlikely that neither Butler nor Scola would impact our rotation."
Ok, I'm late...
What the is the CIA concept?
Plans within plans. Basically, it's the idea that Coach Pop and the front office never telegraph their moves. They often will feign interest in one player but really covet another. Essentially, rumors in the media are almost always false (planted?) and the Spurs are always after another target. Nothing happens by chance, it is all a calculated move.
Thats basically the theory.
Make sense - I'll buy that.
But what team doesn't do that?
Thanks for proving my point.
"As an organization we felt responsible to let Luis pursue his dream of the NBA and this was the best opportunity to realize his value," said Buford back in 2007. "With our roster intact it would appear unlikely that neither Butler nor Scola would impact our rotation."
Thanks again.
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