Spurs' future draft picks

[AFBlue]

Looks like both Green and Hibbert are testing the waters. Both should get a good indication for lottery to mid-round pick....so I expect both to stick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=2836799

Hoyas' Green, Hibbert to submit names for draft


WASHINGTON -- Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, the juniors who led Georgetown to the school's first Final Four appearance in 22 years, will submit their names for the NBA draft.


Neither player will sign with an agent before the early withdrawal date, the Hoyas said Friday, which means they will retain NCAA eligibility should either or both decide to return to college.


"Both young men have worked extremely hard to position themselves for this opportunity," coach John Thompson III said. "They have begun a process of information gathering which is necessary for them to make educated decisions."


The early withdrawal date is June 18. The draft will be held June 28.


Both players would likely be lottery picks. Thompson said earlier this week that Green and Hibbert wanted to get an idea as to how high they would be picked before deciding whether to turn pro.


Green was the player of the year in the Big East and most outstanding player of the NCAA East Regional this season, and his versatility would make him a coveted player in the NBA. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Hoyas in scoring (14.3 points) and was second in both rebounding (6.4) and assists (3.2).


Hibbert, a 7-2 center, could become a strong post player in the NBA but still needs to polish his game. He led the Hoyas in rebounds (6.9) and averaged 12.9 points. He also blocked 90 shots.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[mountainballer]

DX rated SF Danilo Gallinari right after Jeff Green and ahead of Rush, Tucker, McGuire, Young, Chandler and other players we've heard more about:

DX just rated all players who would be old enough to enter this years draft.
I didn't hear that Gallinari intends to do so. he will wait another year, probably even 2 years.
this young Italian players are usually well adviced, when there is the right moment to enter the draft. (Bargnani could also have entered earlier and would have been a lottery pick)
right now, in terms of maturity, Gallinari is much more developed than Batum for example, but another year in Italy (in the best case with a team that plays Euroleague next year) will be the best for him. he will be a top 10 pick for sure, with top 5 potential if he waits till 2008.

[wildbill2u]

Yeah, but I want him NOW! Oh well, we'll probably wind up with another Euro project that doesn't have any skills right now to come into the league.

[AFBlue]

It looks like USC coaching staff expects to lose Nick Young. He would be a valuable 2/3 combo to many teams, and he should go in the mid-late first round. Even if he's not the Spurs' pick, he makes this draft even deeper.

Also, there's a note about Gabe Pruitt possibly declaring as well, though it doesn't make a difinitive statement either way. He's a PG/SG prospect in the Devin Harris/Leandro Barbosa mold.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=2839924

Updated: April 16, 2007, 9:17 PM ET
Trojans' Young set to declare but may not get agent

Andy Katz
ESPN.com


The USC coaching staff expects Nick Young to announce his intention to declare for the NBA draft at a Tuesday news conference, sources told ESPN.com.

But as of late Monday night, the Trojans were holding out hope that Young wouldn't sign with an agent. One assistant coach told ESPN.com that there was a chance Young would wait to sign with an agent to see where he stood in the draft.

A 6-foot-6 swingman, Young averaged 17.5 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Trojans this season. He caught fire in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 20 points in a first-round win over Arkansas, 22 in a second-round win over Texas and 15 in a Sweet 16 loss to North Carolina.

The Trojans may get hit again with an early entrant if Gabe Pruitt decides to declare as well by the April 29 deadline. Members of the USC coaching staff told ESPN.com that they're still unsure of Pruitts' intentions and don't know if he'll sign with an agent if he does declare.

The Trojans exceeded expectations this past season by going 25-12 and finishing 11-7 in the Pac-10. The addition of O.J. Mayo and the likelihood that Taj Gibson won't declare makes USC a favorite to win the Pac-10 next season, but much of that depends on having Young and Pruitt available for their senior season.

Pruitt was third on the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game. Outgoing senior Lodrick Stewart averaged 13.8 points per game. That means there's a chance that USC could lose its top three scorers in Young, Stewart and Pruitt.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

[AFBlue]

Yeah, but I want him NOW! Oh well, we'll probably wind up with another Euro project that doesn't have any skills right now to come into the league.

There are plenty of Euros that have the potential to be avialable at the Spurs' first pick and have the skills to compete in this league right now....such as Rudy Fernandez and Marco Belinelli. I guess you're right though....I could see them gambling on a guy like Ante Tomic, who likely wouldn't come over for a couple years.

[Pugglekicker_21]

I think young will enter and stay. Now that SC has Mayo coming, he doesnt want to get overshadowed

[wildbill2u]

This is a REALLY REALLY deep draft. Check out the DX mock draft 2nd round.

Has there ever been a draft with TWO guys named Mirza before?

[exstatic]

nbadraft.net's latest has Spurs picking Dominic McGuire from Fresno at #33 with Milwaukee's pick. He's intruiging. Sort of a Josh Smith type. He's 6'8" 210, but averaged 13.5 pts, 9.8 rebs and 3.6 blks , and shot 30% from downtown.

[Horry For 3!]

Don't we get Chicago's pick too? Since they did well this season.

[exstatic]

Don't we get Chicago's pick too? Since they did well this season.

Not sure if that's been decided yet. NBAdraft.net has it as top 51 protected. Right now, it's sitting at #50 (meaning we won't get it) , but Chicago is going tooth and nail with Cleveland, with #2 hanging in the balance. The loser gets the #5 seed. They'll be trying to win their last game, bigtime.

[Mr. Body]

McGuire has one god-awful ft%. Looks to be a good prospect who could be there with Mil's pick, though. I'm thinking there's a bad roster crunch with this team and the Spurs won't take on two rookies. I'd be disappointed if all they get out of this draft is McGuire.

[mardigan]

Maureece Rice from George Washington declared today too, dont really know much about him either, other than he was their leading scorer

[SPARKY]

Spurs could very well use all 3 (or 4) picks on international players this June. With that many it makes sense to use at least a couple on foreign talent, but I hope they do take a stab at a domestic player who can provide an immediate impact. No sense in waiting if the wait produces a marginally better role player two seasons from now.

[mardigan]

Spurs could very well use all 3 (or 4) picks on international players this June. With that many it makes sense to use at least a couple on foreign talent, but I hope they do take a stab at a domestic player who can provide an immediate impact. No sense in waiting if the wait produces a marginally better role player two seasons from now.

I would love for them to take a college kid, its been awhile. The only two international players I really like this year are Bellenelli and Fernandez, who both could be there when the Spurs pick. The other guy that might is Splitter, who I havent seen as much. Some scouts have him pretty high, but he just seems like a garbage guy kind of player

[Mr. Body]

I think you'd probably take Batum, too, mards. But all those guys are probably gone by 28, possible exception of Bellinelli and Fernandez.

To be honest I don't see any possible chance the Spurs don't actively look at domestic players. I'd be stunned.

[SPARKY]

Not sure if that's been decided yet. NBAdraft.net has it as top 51 protected. Right now, it's sitting at #50 (meaning we won't get it) , but Chicago is going tooth and nail with Cleveland, with #2 hanging in the balance. The loser gets the #5 seed. They'll be trying to win their last game, bigtime.

Chicago has the 7th best record in the league which should put it outside the top 51.

[Mr. Body]

Chicago has the 7th best record in the league which should put it outside the top 51.

The whole question is whether it's top 51 protected or top 54 protected.

[mardigan]

I think you'd probably take Batum, too, mards. But all those guys are probably gone by 28, possible exception of Bellinelli and Fernandez.

To be honest I don't see any possible chance the Spurs don't actively look at domestic players. I'd be stunned.

Yea, Batum is a nice player, saw him in the world game, he is real fluid and athletic, not much of a shooter but he is young and that could be developed. He will most definately not be there when the Spurs pick. Have you seen much of Gasols brother Body? I have read a bunch of stuff about him, havent seen him play. Do you know if hes any good?

[Mr. Body]

I think you mean Batum WON'T be there, right?

Don't know much about Marc Gasol beyond what I've read on DX. Apparently he's a decent prospect with, I think, good work ethic. There are a number of big men like Visser and Gasol that might be good prospects.

[Bruno]

An update on what picks SPurs will get :

Spurs picks will be the 28th and the 58th.

Bucks pick will be the 33rd or 34th. He will likely be the 33rd but it can be 34th if Bucks win their last game @ Cavs, Atlanta lose their last game against Indiana and Bucks win the coin flip.

Bulls pick can be in the 52-55 range. Spurs will get it if he is the 54th of 55th.
The situation is :
52. Toronto : 47-33; @DET, PHI
53. Cleveland : 48-32; @PHI, MIL
54. Chicago : 49-32; @NJ
55. Utah : 50-31; HOU

[venitian navigator]

An update on what picks SPurs will get :

Spurs picks will be the 28th and the 58th.

Bucks pick will be the 33rd or 34th. He will likely be the 33rd but it can be 34th if Bucks win their last game @ Cavs, Atlanta lose their last game against Indiana and Bucks win the coin flip.

Bulls pick can be in the 52-55 range. Spurs will get it if he is the 54th of 55th.
The situation is :
52. Toronto : 47-33; @DET, PHI
53. Cleveland : 48-32; @PHI, MIL
54. Chicago : 49-32; @NJ
55. Utah : 50-31; HOU

I really don'y understand...the Chicago pick is top 51 protected or top 53 protected ?

[Bruno]

I really don'y understand...the Chicago pick is top 51 protected or top 53 protected ?

top 53.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....2f3c826b.html

The Spurs traded Erick Barkley and $1 million to Chicago prior to the 2002-03 season in a move that helped them avoid paying the luxury tax. In return, the Bulls agreed to send the Spurs their 2007 second-round pick – provided it fell between Nos. 54-60.

That means the Spurs will only get the pick if the Bulls finish this season with one of the seven-best records.

[wildbill2u]

Not sure if that's been decided yet. NBAdraft.net has it as top 51 protected. Right now, it's sitting at #50 (meaning we won't get it) , but Chicago is going tooth and nail with Cleveland, with #2 hanging in the balance. The loser gets the #5 seed. They'll be trying to win their last game, bigtime.

I thought the pick from the Bucks--via the Bulls--was protected and triggered if the Bulls were in the top 8 (or nine) in the standings. I didn't think the trigger had anything to do with the place of the Bucks in the standings.

Right now DX is showing us with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round. A few weeks ago, they didn't show us with the pick. It was only after Chicago picked up in the standings that they gave it to us.

[Mr. Body]

It doesn't have anything to do with the Milwaukee pick. There's simply confusion about whether it is top 51 or top 54 protected. Different sites have different information, with the SA paper saying it is top 54. I am not absolutely sure they are correct; they can get their information from any online source as well as us.

[Darkwaters]

I think that if Rudy Fernandez is there at 28 then you HAVE to take him. He'll have to sit in Europe for at least a year because of contract buyout issues, but he could come in just in time to replace the expiring deals of Finley and Barry.

I like the idea of grabbing Acie Law with the 28th pick as well though. If Fernandez and Law both slip (doubtful) then who do you take? I suppose it really depends on what other prospects fall and who they like. If they see another PG that will be there at 33, then take Fernandez (and vice versa).

There are several decent players that could easily slip to 33 and would be great acquisitions. Alando Tucker and Nick Fazekas both could fall and would be nice additions to the Spurs with a 2nd round pick. Obviously there will be a bunch of decent SFs out there and that would be an obvious addition that the Spurs could use. Bobby Brown is a nice PG that shouldn't be a problem to get at 33 either.