Darkwaters:
Brandon Rush
Derrick Byars
Dominic McGuire
Rudy Fernandez
Marco Bellinelli
Morris Almond
Marcus Williams
Daequan Cook
Aaron Afflalo
Note that Fernandez is not a SF. Most the others can play SF. I don't think much of Cook or Afflalo. I have real reservations about McGuire. Fernandez and Bellinelli may likely not come right away, and Bellinelli could just be another Giricek. I think Rush and Byars are the best prospects for us in the bunch. Play both sides of the ball hard, have range and some intangibles, both did well in the NCAA Tournament. Neither will be more than a rotation guy or decent starter, IMO, but they'll be good.
No, particularly because we would have to take back salary worth between (roughly) 4.5 and 8 million, which contract(s) (Sam Cassel - assuming he is not over his injury issues; otherwise they won't trade him or Tim Thomas & Aaron Williams) are you willing to take off the clippers for that much? Also, for the Clippers, there is not enough value on the table for such a pick.
I don't think so. There tends to be an exponential calculus involved in trading up. A 28 is so far less valuable than a 14, it's practically worthless unless a more certain thing was added, i.e. Luis Scola. Whether Scola + 28 is worth a late teens pick is a good question. ...I'd say 'yes, it is.' There will be, IMO, a team that will see themselves not getting the position they need (PF) or see someone like Jason Smith or Josh McRoberts there and think taking the more established Euroleague scorer + a decent shot at a good SG later in the draft, is well worth taking.
Another question is how far up the 28 + 33 will get you. I think to about 21 or 22.
IMO, Morris Almond is the guy to get.
Bring him in, learn the defensive system, he will learn that PLAY D = PT.
I don't know if its worth tanking two spots for 7 spots up in the draft.
I'd take my chances with Almond being at 28, and someone else like Rush at 33.
I realize that Rudy is not a SF. Thats why I said "wings" and not "3's". I really have to think that Rudy is probably at the top of my list. He is a proven winner and has so many things in common with Manu. So, hes a year away. So what? Finley, Barry and Bowen don't expire until a year from now anyways. We need immediate help at the 3, yes. But not the 2 (although, thats not too far away either).
Unless an absolutely great player slips, I agree that it makes little sense to ditch a quality second rounder just for 7 spots up.
Obviously much will change, but I think Rush goes before Almond. If we can get both - aces. (But then... roster spots...)
The reason I bring up the 28 + 33 trade (for 21 or 22) is then that 21 or 22 can be coupled with Scola to trade up. I honestly think you could look at around 12 or 13 at that point.
My ordered preference and some commentary
(This reflects my view of Spurs needs and is not likely to reflect real draft order)
Fernandez (much more talent than just about any other player on the list)
McGuire (Size & athleticism, a player we have been looking for for a long time)
Rush (Do it all but I personally have character concerns
Almond (can really score, but shows lower effort on D)
Byars (Ceiling is a role player, closer to NBA ready than just about all the players on this list)
Marcus Williams
Marco Bellinelli (has regressed this year)
Aaron Afflalo
Daequan Cook
I would be hesitant about spending pick #33 on any of the last 4 players on this list.
Wow...with the 12th or 13th pick we could do some serious damage. And only ditching the 33rd pick (basically, Damir Markota) and Luis Scola...nice!
What about Aaron Gray being there in the second round. The Spurs were reportedly interested in him last year before he withdrew his name. I remember they were trying to nab a 1st round pick so that they could get him. Frankly, I don't like him much at all. But are the Spurs still interested since we got Butler now?
It's just pure speculation getting that high in the draft, of course, but theoretically it is possible. I know Philly badly needs a PF and they could just decide to go with Julian Wright and be done with it, or maybe Al Thornton. Or could trade Andre Miller for one. But if we did manage to get to 20-23, they could find a decent big man there and have Scola, too.
The problem is they already have a ton of draft picks. Actually, just checked: they have 21. And 30. So that trade's not happening...
All this thought for nothing. I don't see anybody in the 12-16 range needing Scola. Maybe the Wizz at 16 and then New Jersey at 17, but by then all the top notch SFs will be long gone, except if you count Thaddeus Young.
i don't think the spurs can move up a lot in this draft because of this draft status and all the prospects we see.
maybe they can do a trade with a player and the no.28 pick to move to the no.20-21 but nothing to have a mid first round pick IMO.
As for Aaron Gray (upthread)... I see him too slow and plodding for the new style Spurs. But then that's the problem with Jackie Butler, too...
Okay, I'm going to do this a little different. I'm going to lump each player into a group and tell you which group I have preference with.
First...it's the international SGs...Fernandez and Belinelli. I love the talent of both players, but more than that I love that each player has the flexibility to come overseas this year or hold off one more year while the Spurs get rid of some rosterlings...keep in mind, no swingman except Ginobili currently on this team has a contract after next year.
Second...it's the College G/Fs...Rush, Williams, Almond, and Byars. Each of them plays a position that is already being taken up by current veteran swingment on the roster, so they would likely be relegated to NBDL or the end of the bench, but all of them have qualities that fit what the Spurs are looking for....versatility, shooting, and defense.
Third....it's the combo forward...Dominic McGuire. I really love his versatility, rebounding, and potential. He's a guy that I think could develop into an impact player down the road, but there is alot of "projection" when talking about what he brings to the table for the Spurs. He's another guy that would get NBDL time for the first year (or two). Another reason he's lower is that he might be there at 33, and I'm talking about the first pick.
Lastly....it's the College SGs...Afflalo and Cook. Both have had their dominant times and both could be good in teh right system, but I don't see either as having the upside or versatility to justify the Spurs taking them at 28...maybe not even at 33.
All in all, I think I would be happy with any of these guys (except maybe the last two), but that's my priority list.
I just picked the guys I liked, not in any specific order.
Dominic McGuire-Scottie Pippen-esque talent and I'm not joking. Has length, size, strength, quickness and fluidity to be a elite level defender in the NBA. On top of that versatile, is a good ball handler for a SF, can rebound, pass, and block shots and could play 3 different positions if he ever learned to score proficiently. His lack of scoring prowess in college isn't a bad thing, as he'd be more willing to take a Bruce Bowen'-ish role on the Spurs. Still alot more about potential than anything else though.
Derrick Byars- Good shooter, hard working on defense, high b-ball IQ, solid intangibles.
Morris Almond- Duncan, Ginobili are in their primes and Tony's has just began, but Finley and Barry are getting old and guys that could replace them on the FA market would be expensive. Almond could fill in for one of their spots. Effortless shooter, with a big bruising body and a high b-ball Iq.
Brandon Rush-Long, athletic, has offense, and works hard on defense
Last edited by EvenFlow; 05-24-2007 at 11:53 PM.
I think we definitely need to take at least one of these guys.
Whoa...666 posts.
i'm high on byars
also i like(in order) stuckey, williams , rush , almond
fernandez and bellinelli looks good but i doubt they will be here with the no.28 pick
from what i saw everybody have raised tucker from their minds
Tucker, I don't really want. I have (much) earlier in this thread expressed the opinion that he plays a PF's game with a 6'5" height. Unless he's Charles Barkley run through a time machine, that is a recipe for a bust; the atheletes he will be matching up with will be much closer in terms of speed and strength, and the will be much larger if he goes post up in the NBA.
Tucker is a smart, tough player, but as pad says, he doesn't have what we need for a SF. I wouldn't be surprised to see him carve out a niche in the league, but expect him to be a 2nd round pick and take a while to get there.
See Desmond Mason
If we had room on the roster for him I'd gladly scoop him up with the 33 or especially the 58. But I assume that either he won't be there at 33 or we'll have already grabbed a swingman. And if we already have a swingman then we have no room for another Badger.
Yeah, I wouldn't mind him at 33 necessarily. But I wonder if having Butler and White will bite us in the butt; maybe we'll dump the pick.
Theres enough euro talent out there that we shouldn't just dump the pick (like Phoenix was selling off their picks last year). With such a high 2nd rounder and a deep draft we could afford to draft a good player across the pond and hope he pans out.
Now, if we traded the pick in a ploy to move up in the first round then I'd be fine with that...as long as we picked up something of quality. Frankly, I'm salivating at the prospect of Rudy Fernandez. I think this guy is a winner and an infectious hustle kind of guy. Rudy! Rudy!
From 82games.com for Desmond Mason
This Year Last Year
Position PER Relative PER PER Relative PER
SG 11.2 -3.9 12.8 -9.9
SF 12.0 -6.3 9.5 -6.7
His PER is below average (15), and it's not like he's a really good defensively to make up. Desmond Mason isn't all that good, and he can't fulfill the roles the Spurs system expects from it's wings - 1) Play good perimeter defense, 2) move the ball well, 3) make open jump shots, 4) slash to the basket when the opportunity is there; don't for it. He doesn't do any of the 4. He's closest to doing the slashing bit, but he forces it more than I like, because it's really his only option.
Desmond plays very quality perimeter defense. He always guarded the biggest perimeter threat for the Hornets this year....trust me, I've been a Hornets season ticket holder the last 2 years. And he has been a very decent slasher, but he has been known to force a lot of shots (but when Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic and David West are all hurt...he kinda has to). Also, hes not a below average passer and hes not afraid to move the ball. One thing he definitely cannot do is shoot. This is the guy that makes Andris Biendrin's free throws look poetic. Albeit, he actually shot an ok clip from the line all things considered...but he still made me cringe EVERY time he touched the ball on offense or especially at the line. Desmond just lived in the paint and tried to post everybody up. He had no game outside of 8 feet. But his defense was solid and his hustle infectious. Hence hes been making 8M per.
His next contract may be as much as 8M total.
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