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Because you liked the last one so much, SG's
http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0607ew13.htm
Of particular interest is what he has to say about Byars (who people think might drop to us), and Belinelli...
A great read.
Julian Wright is a very good complementary player who could learn to score better.
We, as a board, went through a pro-Dominic McGuire phase a while back but have cooled on him (via overexposure), but might need to return to him as a prospect - even if the Spurs 'seem' to not have him on the radar.
He is cautionary about Morris Almond.
Thaddeus Young, to him, is a good gamble.
Nick Young is an overrated scorer who does little else - compares him to Jason Kapono.
He is skeptical of Jared Dudley's very good shooting numbers last year.
He thinks Alando Tucker won't do anything in the pros.
Because you liked the last one so much, SG's
http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0607ew13.htm
Of particular interest is what he has to say about Byars (who people think might drop to us), and Belinelli...
Anyone notice how my boy DJ Strawberry (not to mention Rudy) is way up on this guys board? Strawberry at 58 would be amazing!
I firmly believe that whatever team uses a lottery pick on Julian Wright will come to regret it - especially if they want him as a small forward. He's basically Drew Gooden with better defense (because of his athleticism) but a worse handle and less range.
[sarcasm] But Gooden was a starter on a Finals team! [/sarcasm]
I couldn't disagree more. He's a much smarter basketball player than Gooden, anyway.
But how much is smarter worth (especially compared to a guy like gooden)? Yeah, Gooden's a moron, so maybe that kills that comparison in terms of intelligence. But Wright has a horrible handle and his range on his jumper ends at about 5 feet (no exaggeration there).
we lived with malik and rasho who had no range, i think we can live with wright for a few season...
Smarts does make a difference. Fabricio Oberto would be a 12th man in this league if it weren't for his smarts. Instead, hes the starter on a championship squad.
Besides that, the comparison just doesn't hold water...
Drew Gooden is a PF and will be a PF for his entire career. Julian Wright may have played the majority of his minutes at PF (which is why it's understandable that his jumpshot is underdeveloped), but his long-term position in the NBA is SF.
Wright may be a project as a SF, but he's a smart player, hard worker, and incredible athlete with a bright future....I would love him on this team!
"Waiting for Manu" is a great article on Draft Express about the potential--and statistical reality--of International Draftees moving into the NBA.
They hold up Manu as the gold standard of all international picks. Nice.
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2135
Scola rumors on Draft Express:
"Teams thinking about trading a draft pick on Wednesday for Luis Scola should know that he is mulling over a 5-year contract offer for a ridiculous sum of 10 million Euros. After calculating taxes and the exchange rate, we figure Scola will be essentially signing a deal for the mid-level Exception if he indeed decides to take it. That just gives you an idea of how much ground European teams have made up on the NBA in their ability to compete financially over the past few years. Scola reportedly loves playing in Spain and is a long-shot to ever make it over to the NBA."
Scola could give the Spurs the finger and tell the NBA to stuff it. I mentioned in a previus post that we are underestimating the ability of the European teams to financially compete for their star players against the NBA teams.
And it may be more compelling for a Euro to be a big frog in a smaller pond if he is a superstar there and may be nothing but a role player or bench rider in the NBA.
This is being discussed elsewhere on the site, but is good information nonetheless. Still, my guess is that Scola's preference is to play in the NBA and that he will assess his situation this off-season with the Spurs (or whatever team his draft rights are traded to, if that occurs) before negotiating a new deal overseas....
If he actually is mulling over it, we can end any of the talk about how he just wants to play in the NBA and that's all that matters. In that case, it's been/is/will be all about the $.
If the Nocioni trade looks like it is an unlikely occurance then I think our draft plans are ultimately changed. Assuming that Nocioni is out of the question and players like Morris Almond, Derrick Byars and the multi-talented Rudy Fernandez are off the board then I like this idea...
28) Gabe Pruitt
33) Either Marc Gasol, Stanko Barac or Kyrylo Fesenko
58) DJ Strawberry if hes on the board still or any random Euro
Sign James Posey as our SF of the future but plan on drafting a young prospect next season (Marcus Dove?). Look to trade Elson, Barry and Udrih and negotiate to bring Scola over. Perhaps Mahinmi too.
If the Spurs are high on Pruitt, drafting him at 28 may be a necessity, because Presti's sitting there at 31 with two over-priced PG's and may be looking to shore up that position for the future. If we're high on Koponen, I don't think he drops lower than Suns at 29. That of course changes if the Suns trade up, which looks more and more likely considering their workouts. Then either Koponen or Pruitt (not to mention Zowdell and Sessions) would be available at that 33 spot, and we can afford to look at a guy like Dudley or Williams at 28. Either can provide match-up difficulties for other teams and will work their asses off. I totally agree about Posey and Dove, that would be an ideal transition out of the Bowen era - limit his minutes with Posey, who can also rock a smallball lineup and guard Dirk, then train Dove up in the meantime.
Not true. The guy needs to take care of his future. If it's apparent the Spurs won't let him come over to the NBA, the best he can do is entrench himself where he is. Don't know why this means he's about the money.
I have to disagree with you. I don't think the Spurs' draft decisions will change based on the likelihood of an already-unlikely scenario involving a player that it appears the Spurs have not had discussions about (Nocioni). I think the Spurs will draft a combo guard prospect, and the other will be based on who they feel is best available...be it a G/F or a F/C, be they domestic or international.
Again, I don't think the Spurs will change based on what they think will happen with Nocioni, and may very ever so slightly, if at all, based on the hearsay with Scola.
Ultimately, I don't think Scola affects their draft day decisions, unless he's a part of those decisions via trade.
Not saying that there is anything wrong with that at all. Just saying that you can't say all you want to do is play in the NBA and then think about taking the money elsewhere. And, to the best of my knowledge, he hasn't said as much. My post was more directed at the posters who continually say that all Scola wants is the NBA.
I think the truth is probably somewhere in-between.
Scola has proven his ability to dominate in the Euroleague, so he has little left to prove. Unlike in the NBA, where many say that his skills don't translate as well and he's unlikely to be as dominant. I think he's a compe ive person and would like to prove himself on this level.
Having said that, I think he's got a good self-worth and doubt he will come to the NBA for "peanuts" and will be okay with riding the pine for a year....it was much easier for Oberto, who has always been a role player.
IMO, Scola will ask for $2-3M per year and the opportunity to play a signifiant role/be in the rotation for any team that he plays for stateside. Given his talent, I'd say those are not outrageous demands....but I'm also not sure the Spurs will be able to live up to them.
I think it is a given that we take a PG somewhere in the draft. Whether that be Dowdell, Pruitt, Petteri or someone else, I think it matters not. That hole could be filled with a succesful trade for Duhon or the signing of Chucky Atkins. The point is that there are many solutions to plugging that hole.
The situtation with our SFs is vastly different. Not only are SFs often a more expensive commodity but we have very specific requirement for this player. Whether it be a 6'0 or 6'7 PG we will accept either. But this team is searching for a long 3 that that can play quality defense as well and (hopefully) slow down Dirk. Those players are going to be difficult to find without paying far too much. Also, our hopes for a PG are rather simple. We want somebody that can operate our second team while playing decent defense. A young rookie or a past-his-prime vet can easily accomplish this task. Our hopes for a SF include the eventual starting job. This will require a special player and not just anybody.
That said, I don't think that the "Nocioni Trade" is what drives this offseason but rather the "pursuit of the SF". Nocioni is only one of many possible solutions, but he is a realistic solution and a largely ideal one. Scola will be used to fulfill this end. If it is not necessary to include Scola's rights in the acquisition of this SF then I feel that Scola might be brought over. But only once this need has been filled!
Anyone know if Nemanja Aleksandrov is in the draf this year?
If so, I can see the Spurs drafting Aleksandrov with either of the three picks.
He is the long and elusive SF the Spurs have been missing
And yes, I know Aleksandrov has not played in nearly a year due to injury.
I would love to take Nemanja. But I haven't seen anything on him in a while and I imagine that he isn't elligible. I'll have to look it up though.
I think he is elligible.
I thought I read somewhere that he was at some pre-draft camps.
A couple of years ago he was the sure-fire number 1.
He kept on pulling out and eventually got hurt.
The kid has it all though.
7'0....Fluid Jumpshot (nearly perfect mechanics), great ball handling, slashing ability to the basket, and can play defense.
Although, the fire in the first-step has probably diminished.
If he is in the draft....the Spurs should take him, and he should be available.
^Check out his player blog on DX. He was at the Nike Hoops Summit in April. Lost a great deal of athleticism due to injury and shot awkwardly from mid-range, but did two things well: shot the three and rebounded.
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