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But do the Spurs think that Pruitt is the answer? If they don't like his play then he won't get PT and will be a waste of a pick. I agree that he should probably be taken if hes there...assuming that the team is as high on him as we are.
On Pruitt, ESPN has him going #20 in the mid-first round. I'm not saying they're right, but the obvious disparity between that prediction and the DX/Draft.net predictions is noticeable. Which one is right, or are all three wrong?
Here's my point...if the Spurs have a chance to take Pruitt at 28 are they doing it, even if Koponen is there? IMO, this would be a mistake. It seems as if backup PG is one of the only positions that the Spurs have legitimate questions about and if they have an opportunity to address that need immediately with a guy like Pruitt, I think it would be best.
But do the Spurs think that Pruitt is the answer? If they don't like his play then he won't get PT and will be a waste of a pick. I agree that he should probably be taken if hes there...assuming that the team is as high on him as we are.
Spurs may simply not like how Pruitt's worked out, which is fine, but if they select Koponen over him just because he's foreign and can stay and develop, I'll do this:
Granted the rumors around draft time are often baseless hearsay, but at least two media outlets reported that the Spurs gave a promise to Pruitt at either #28 or #33. He is also one of the few PG prospects we mentioned that has reportedly worked out for the team.
I would think, and hope, there is definite interest.
Suns notebook: USC’s Pruitt, Finnish guard to get 2nd looks
Mike Tulumello, Tribune
The Suns probably will invite Gabe Pruitt and Finland’s Petteri Koponen, among others, for second looks in preparation for next week’s NBA draft.
“Gabe Pruitt is someone who worked out well his first day,” Suns vice president David Griffin said of the USC point guard. Of Koponen, another point guard prospect, Griffin said, “He was really, really good here.”
The Suns may put together one more group of first-time prospects, but mostly they’re starting to zero in on players for second tryouts, he said.
“We like the guys we’ve had in quite a bit,” Griffin said. “And this is a really deep draft.”
The club has yet to decide whether they will try to package their Nos. 24 and 29 picks to move up in the draft.
I was under the assumption that Pruitt had not shut down his workouts though. That indicates to me that no promise has been made to him.
Pruitt isn't my number 1 choice, but hes definitely one of the better possible selections at 28 and I wouldn't cry a second if we hear his name on draft night. But I want the Spurs to really want the guy and play him if they're going to draft him. I don't want him riding the bench and not playing. If thats what is going to happen then I hope they just take Koponen instead.
well, if I'm a player and I get a promise to be picked at 33 (or also at 28), I also wouldn't stop to try to work myself up the board.
Generally that is the stipulation of the promise though.
Nobody gives something unless they will get something in return. For a player like Koponen or Belinelli that something they give in return would be staying in the draft. For the player like Pruitt that is committed already the only thing he has to offer in return for a promise is that he will shut down workouts.
In essence, its a give and take. The player locks in where he will be taken. He no longer has to fear of sliding on draft day, but he also gives up the ability to rise up the draft boards.
My take. Koponene has gotten guarantee of a first round pick. If he's going back to the Suns for a second look that means he's trying to work his way up higher than the guarantee. Suns have 24 and 29. Philadelphia has 30. Is Phillythe guarantee for 30 he's trying to move up from or is it somebody between 24 and 30?
So the Spurs have promised to both Koponen AND Pruitt?
For general reference, hoopsanalyst is starting his annual prospects review - starting with centers : http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0607ew10.htm
This guy is usually a reasonable talent evaluator, and offers some useful insights...
Perhaps the Spurs didn't issue a "promise" per say, but did let him know that they liked him enough to select him in the first round if he happened to slide to them...essentially making him confident that he wouldn't slide out of the first.
But Pruitt has heard his name all over the mid-late first round and I'm sure he is just exploring the opportunity of being drafted higher with the comfort that he doesn't slide. Maybe it wasn't a promise...more of a "we like you enough to take you at #28 or #33".
See it's different from a guy like Wilson Chandler, who has reportedly received a promise from the Knicks @ #23. Chandler wasn't mentioned as going any higher than that pick, so it was an easy decision to shut down workouts as a sign of good will to the team that will supposedly be drafting him.
If Pruitt did indeed get a promise from the Spurs, he might have hurt his good will with the team by continuing workouts, but he can be more confident as he has a good chance to go before the Spurs pick at #28.
We'll see...it should be interesting.
If the Spurs do indeed draft Pruitt, I think it will be a clear sign that a) they like him, and b) they have enough confidence in him to join the team right away and be a contributor (which also means Beno is history).
Conversely, if the Spurs are okay with re-signing Vaughn (or veteran FA) to back up Tony and keeping Beno as a third-string guy, I think you'll see them go for Koponen.
Either way, I'm not sure they lose....
Thanks for the link. After skimming through it, I'm hoping that the Spurs try to nab Stanko if available in the late second round.
Agreed, at 58, any man named Stanko cannot be bad...
The other interesting guy is Fesenko. Both he and Stanko have entered earlier than neccesary. I think they have promises from someone, but maybe not in the 1st round. I would be happy with Fesenko at #33 or Stanko at #58.
I don't understand the motivation of accepting a promise from a players point of view. If a team offers you a promise, you know they want you at that pick and that they fear a higher-positioned team taking you. I think if a team offered me a promise the first thing I'd do is try to schedule workouts with the next 5 teams drafting before them.
Promises are usually for guys earlier than where they'd normally be taken, like Shelden Williams at #5 last year. A special case was our promise to Mahinmi, who wouldn't have come out that year otherwise. I'm not totally clear on the wisdom of it - you'd think a team wants to keep its options open instead of locking themselves into a position. There have been cases of a promised player not being picked - I think Boobie was promised last year by the Cavs, then was picked anyway by them in the second round.
This tidbit was referenced a couple pages back about Stanko staying in the draft. It appears that Detriot (#27), SA (#28, 33) and Mavs (#34) all have indicated interest.
This guy might be a reach at #27, but the Pistons were looking at a "big" in Hardin before he pulled out, and this guy is compared to Memo Okur, who played well for them and who I'm sure they regretted losing (though his $50M salary was a BIT too much).
My point is...it looks like there's interest for him at bottom of 1st and top of 2nd round. I'm not sure he stayed in because he was assured that he'd be taken at the bottom of the second round...so I doubt he's there at #58.
The Spurs have a Fin, they don't need a Finn.So the Spurs have promised to both Koponen AND Pruitt?
Hasn't Carl Landry worked out for the Spurs?
True enough, but all I'm saying is that while I wouldn't spend #33 for just the name, I would spend #58 solely for having a player called STANKO!
I like Landry, but do the Spurs need a guy that plays his position? I know its just a work out, but...
Put some STANK-On it!
Dude would have to shorten his name to "Stan" just to live a normal life in the States...
I just hope the Spurs don't become so intrigued with one of these bigs that they use up one of their first two picks to get him. They already have lots of options for the front court, especially if they bring over Ian and/or Scola. Plus, they need youth in the back court and wings, not the 4 and 5.
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