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I don't think it's as much important for foreign players to be drafted in a high position as it is for US kids.
We tend to forget he's only 19 and that's it's quite normal if he has some ups and downs.
I was a bit disappointed by Nico during the season but I still think he has the tools to be a solid player and a still ot of upsides.
The best thing for him would be to be drafted by a team who could afford to let him stay in Europe 1, 2 more years to develop.
I don't think it's as much important for foreign players to be drafted in a high position as it is for US kids.
I doubt Casspi will be available at Raptors second round pick.
IMO, he will only stay in the draft if he gets a first round promise.
What will hurt the most Batum draft stock is that he hasn't played that well in Euroleague. NBA teams will look at first at what he ahs done in the league with the higher level. Dragic will be in the same case.
Calling it now. Brandon Rush won't be a Spur.
I'd have to think Mario Chalmers is on the Spurs' radar. It's more likely now he'll come out, a la Taurean Green last year. Given his excellence as a PG defender, he could be a great back-up.
Agreed. He'll also be a room temperature NBA player.
I know it's a little premature to be talking about the draft, but after watching Memphis and Derrick Rose in particular I was so impressed. In some draft boards he is listed ahead of Michael Beasley. This is a draft that has a lot of quality point guards including possibly DJ Augustin. I'm not sure if we have a 1st round pick this year, but what about Ricky Rubio in the 2nd. I love watching that guy play. To me he may not be as physically gifted as Rose and Eric Gordon and have as pure a shot as Augustine but he just seems to have eyes on the back of his head and he's as good a slasher and creator as I've see. I'd like to see this young kid be the heir apparant to TP. He's 18 going on 19 now, so he can enter the draft. Thoughts?
Looks like the long SF is going to have to come thru FA, because the best candidates Chris Douglas Roberts, Danilo Gallinari (sp), Nicolas Bateem, Donte Greene, Anthony Randolph will be long gone. Brandon Rush may be there in the 2nd round.
I would love for the spurs to draft an athletic small forward in the first round, we already have two big bodies in Ian and Splitter and we need a replacement for Bowen...
There is already a draft thread started. I suggest that we use the old thread which already has a lot of info and opinions. Somebody ought to contact Kori and ask her to pin it since we'll be going there a lot.
My bad, did not see it, but not a bad idea since we will be approaching that time of the year.
Ricky Rubio? is this ment to be a late April fools joke or do you live on an other planet? aside the fact that he's only 17 and can't enter the draft before 2009, he is projected as a top 3 pick 2009, if not no.1.
so good luck when hoping he will he there at our 2nd rounder. what if he's gone. pick DeRozan at 58?
sorry I misread his birthday 10/21/90. Don't be an asswipe, honest mistake. Rubio will be a top 3 pick in 2009, no doubt. If DJ Augustin decides to come out, or Demar DeRozan, or Rubio (whom I like a lot) any of those 3 could be the top pick. Blake Griffin is probably gone, otherwise he would be in the mix for top 3.
Last edited by Demo Dick Marcinko; 04-07-2008 at 09:23 AM.
Kori I didn't see the other 2008 Draft thread started, feel free to merge.
still curious what everyones thoughts are on the SF target; Chris Douglas Roberts, Danilo Gallinari (sp), Nicolas Bateem, Donte Greene, Anthony Randolph or Brandon Rush. Love Damion James too. He is a athletic beast who can shoot from the outside.
With Earl Clark declaring from Louisville -- without an agent, sticking around possibly if he's better than late first round -- it might push a SF prospect down to the Spurs. In all likelihood, however, like every other year, they will all be gone by the time the Spurs pick, as they've played themselves into a high seed once again and will draft late. Brandon Rush is looking more like he's gone by 20, the way he's playing. Tyler Smith might still be around, as will 2nd round-type prospects like Courtney Lee.
Somebody ought to be you? People have been using this thread for a while and no one misses the other.
Agreed, will be slim pickings by the time the Spurs are up, Tyler Smith is not the answer, good defender, tenacious D but shoots 25% from 3 pt range and a very Spurs like 73% from the line. Courtney Lee is a bit on the smallish 6'5" range, short arms; good on the offensive end at a mid major but could be a defensive liability.
If all the good tall SF are gone, I say damage control, take Roy Hibbert and Ron Artest in FA (just like Phoenix,Boston = window closing). Pop, Tim and the Spurs culture and organization will make a model citizen out of him, no doubt. Artest is our best opportunity for that difference making SF who is unrestricted and who has yet to taste a championship and may be willing to play for less. Restructure a contract here or there and we can still get James Posey who is also unrestricted. I think it's illegal in San Antonio to get younger. I don't know the laws change so often.
Looks like the two threads have been merged. I just thought someone with a lot of stroke with Kori should ask her it pin it so it stays on the first page.
Sometimes it gets backed up onto the 2nd or 3rd page of threads.
It's difficult to piece the draft and FA pieces into the puzzle at the same time. As I look at possible draft picks and potential free agent acquisitions the complicating factor is the restricted status of so many of the guys the Spurs might have an interest in and the projected available minutes for newcomers, whether young or old.
Next year's team will probably have 18-22 minutes per game available at SG and 15-20 at back up point (assuming Vaughn moves to the end of the bench). They need athleticism at the wing and a reliable 4th scorer, but I don't see minutes available at the wing next year. Where would they come from?
I go round and round, but I'd like to see the Spurs split the MLE and draft two or three guys that *can* play for the Toros next season. Forget moving up. Forget trying to find a guy in the draft to replace Finley. Neither is going to happen.
I've posted this elsewhere, but one way to preserve some of the MLE in order to outbid for a restricted free agent is to use their Beno trade exception to fill another need. Three players I've identified as exception possibilities are Balkman, Crittenton (or Lowry) and Rodriguez. If Memphis gets one of the fist two picks in the draft, they're almost forced to select Rose. This makes Crittenton or Lowry available. They could move either one to save money and give Rose minutes to satiate the Memphis fan base. The Spurs would have a shot at these players.
How much is Calderon going to cost Toronto? Is he too expensive for them to re-up and still resign Delfino? Will Portland match all offers for James Jones? Will the Celts be forced to let Tony Allen walk to retain Sam Cassal? Is Tony Allen worth 3.5 or 4 million? Is Vujacic a darkhorse option? Is he affordable? Is Roger Mason a legit 2nd point? Is there any truth to the Ramunas Siskaukas rumors?
These are the sort of questions I ask when thinking about the draft. The Spurs are drafting for next year's Toros team and the 2009 or 2010 Spurs team.
Draftexpress has summed up who will enter or not on the draft :
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...y-Entry-List-/
I have the feeling that the trend this year is to enter in the draft. The most underclassmen enter in this year draft the better it is for Spurs given that Spurs haven't a first round pick next year.
Spurs pick is the 27th one right now but it could be as high as 23rd if Spurs lost a couple of games. Even if some players will leave the draft, it's possible that some high profile players are available for Spurs' first round pick.
Realgm has published the protection on the Spurs pick send to Seattle :
http://www.realgm.com/src_future_draftpicks.php
So the pick send is :
top 15 protected in 2009
top 10 protected in 2010
top 5 protected in 2011
top 3 protected in 2012
unprotected in 2013
Espn is saying that Barry has a player option for next year contract :
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...2008freeagents
If he decides not to pick it (to retire or to go elsewhere), Spurs will have an extra roster spot.
according to nbadraft.net Budinger and Speights have entered and DX just reported, that Donte Greene enters and will hire an agent. a bit surprising. his stock has fallen dramatically, people would expect he will just test waters and go back to school, if he can't be sure to be picked top 10.
(and Syracuse has a super talented core, if they would finally start to play like a team, they could make big noise in the NCAA next year).
however, each of this three would push down Brandon Rush for another spot, another spot closer to us.
It sounds like Greene is expecting to hire an agent and is in the draft for good. He's likely a late lottery pick at worst.
Next year I fear we'll be asking ourselves why we had to waste that pick.
Considering how weak that class will be? Not likely. Or do you think the Spurs will drop significantly in the standings and draft from a better position?
I haven't even looked at the 2009 board, to be honest. If it's lousy that's one thing. More I was projecting backwards wondering if Thomas will have any great impact enough to have given up a first rounder for him.
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