The 2008 NBA Draft

[AFBlue]

Wings to get w/ first pick....

Brandon Rush, Nicolas Batum, or Bill Walker

Bigs to get w/ first pick...

Nathan Jawai, Alexis Ajinca, or Robin Lopez

[AFBlue]

Wings to get w/ first pick in 2nd rd...

Omri Casspi, Wayne Ellington, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

Bigs to get w/ first pick in 2nd rd...

Joey Dorsey, Trent Plaisted, Nikola Pekovic

[hsxvvd]

Wings to get w/ first pick....

Brandon Rush, Nicolas Batum, or Bill Walker

Bigs to get w/ first pick...

Nathan Jawai, Alexis Ajinca, or Robin Lopez

You couldn't make a bigger mistake this draft.

He has played against very ordinary compe ion here in Australia, and is a loooooooooong way from ever contributing to an NBA team.

You'd be drafting him for the Toros, and he'd be eating up cap space for 3 yrs and be straight back to Australia.

[hsxvvd]

Wings to get w/ first pick in 2nd rd...

Omri Casspi, Wayne Ellington, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

Bigs to get w/ first pick in 2nd rd...

Joey Dorsey, Trent Plaisted, Nikola Pekovic

Now that's a better idea.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He's probably played his way into the low second round by now, and he could go higher. We'll see what his measurements look like. I'm sure the Toros staff saw enough of him to decide if he is worth a workout.

Latest draftexpress.com mock has the Spurs taking him with the Toronto pick . Nice call, Chump.

[T Park]

I'm gonna ask a really stupid question.

Is Brandon Rush the stud from Kansas who pretty much darn near single handidly won the tournament for em?

[tempest186]

yes until Super Mario's heroics in the final game

[K-State Spur]

I'm gonna ask a really stupid question.

Is Brandon Rush the stud from Kansas who pretty much darn near single handidly won the tournament for em?

He averaged 15.4 per game on about 47% shooting in the tournament. Those are fine numbers, but hardly single-handedly winning the tournament for them.

I don't think any of their players really fit that bill - they were really an ensemble the entire way through.

[Bruno]

Bigs to get w/ first pick...

Nathan Jawai, Alexis Ajinca, or Robin Lopez

No to Ajinca. I think he will be a bust and it makes few sense to go after him with Mahinmi under contract.

[T Park]

He averaged 15.4 per game on about 47% shooting in the tournament. Those are fine numbers, but hardly single-handedly winning the tournament for them.

I don't think any of their players really fit that bill - they were really an ensemble the entire way through.

Hmm.

I'll have to wait till closer to the draft to decide who I think would be better.


Would a guy like him fall to 26 though?

Douglas-Roberts too?

[K-State Spur]

Barring somebody unexpectedly falling, I'll be disappointed if we take any of the bigs who are projected to still be available at 26. Anybody in that range is likely to be just a big body and relatively raw on the skills front.

Speaking of Jayhawks, you can probably get a guy like Sasha Kaun towards in the end of the second round, and I don't feel that there is that great a difference between him and a guy like Robin Lopez, who is expected to go in the 20s.

[K-State Spur]

Hmm.

I'll have to wait till closer to the draft to decide who I think would be better.


Would a guy like him fall to 26 though?

Douglas-Roberts too?

I would expect at least one (maybe more) of Rush, CDR, or Courtney Lee are available at 26. Rush is probably the most likely to be gone at that point, but once you get past the lottery, there is no telling who what teams like that they might be willing to reach for allowing other guys to fall (remember that this time last year, Derrick Byars was a hot name. he not only fell in the draft, but didn't even break camp with a team).

I much prefer CDR & Lee - and that's not because Rush is a Jayhawk.

[AFBlue]

You couldn't make a bigger mistake this draft.

He has played against very ordinary compe ion here in Australia, and is a loooooooooong way from ever contributing to an NBA team.

You'd be drafting him for the Toros, and he'd be eating up cap space for 3 yrs and be straight back to Australia.

Sounds like you've seen him play...

I was just going off the measurements and scouting reports. Big body w/ good athleticism and a soft touch....reminded me of Nene Hilario.

Guess that might be hoping for too much.

[AFBlue]

No to Ajinca. I think he will be a bust and it makes few sense to go after him with Mahinmi under contract.

This is probably another one where I have only read the scouting reports and seen the measurements, but he sounds pretty intriguing.

A 7'1 player (7'8 wingspan) with an outside-in game, nice athleticism and a smooth jumpshot. Hard not to see the comparison to LaMarcus Aldridge....no matter how much of a projection it is.

Then again, you're probably more familiar with his game than I am. I do disagree with you that having Mahinmi makes Ajinca pointless. Mahinmi likes to mix it up inside and is developing his outside game, whereas it appears Ajinca has a more developed outside game.

[Spur-Addict]

we have Bowen and Udoka at the 3.....

We need big men. I dont see us bringing back Thomas. Horry is going to retire. We will have Duncan, Oberto, Bonner, and Mahimni next year.

As far as drafting a big man goes.....I want someone who is a rebounding machine and who will block shots.

We also need a SG. Finley needs to go. Barry needs to be moved to backup PG cause Vaughn and Damon need to go. Brandon Rush is who I want at 26. As a fan of the Big 12 and the Longhorns, I have seen much of Rush, too much. He was a complete pain in the ass to us Longhorn fans. I also like Carter from A&M. He has one of the purest jumpshots in college. IMO, as far as shooting goes, he is the Ray Allen of college, he just isn't the most athletic guy out there. However, I think he could be had as a UDFA.

I keep Vaughn as my third point guard. We need a younger point guard with the trio to preserve players during the season. I keep Vaughn at the third position because of his defense. I've watched him lock or give fits to many point guards especially on the contending teams. The back up point guards and some starters (aside from D-Will or CP3). Also, he has shown his ability to knock down the open shot. The only way I lose him is if we sign and trade for a player much more valuable (Slashing 2 guard, wing or big). Bonner must go, hopefully Horry retires, Damon definetly is out and I wouldn't be so quick to dump Finley. If we replace him with someone who can stroke and drive then i'm with it. It's a very hard market.

TD, TP, Manu, Brent, Bruce, Ime, Ian, Vaughn, Oberto-

Add a slashing and shooting sg/sf, A big who can finish, rebound, play D but, must be 6'10, 6'11 with long limbs. We'll need more than Ian obviously. I like the fact that Bonner can shoot but he is so weak. Def not worth 3 Mil on the bench in playoff time.

TD, TP, Manu, Brent, Bruce, Ime, Ian, Vaughn, Oberto- W/ Slash/Shooter, another Large Big with a moderate back to the basket game who can finish and do the intangibles. Then, we'll need that back up point guard who'll most likely be a combo guard since Vaughn is a pass first defender. Someone with good D who can create their own shot. Roughly 6'5 in the stuckey mold. These are all things we can find in the market. I'd also entertain the idea of possibly moving Ime. Only for something unexpected that we'd treasure having. That brings us to 12. A 12 that I would approve of.

[Spur-Addict]

This is probably another one where I have only read the scouting reports and seen the measurements, but he sounds pretty intriguing.

A 7'1 player (7'8 wingspan) with an outside-in game, nice athleticism and a smooth jumpshot. Hard not to see the comparison to LaMarcus Aldridge....no matter how much of a projection it is.

Then again, you're probably more familiar with his game than I am. I do disagree with you that having Mahinmi makes Ajinca pointless. Mahinmi likes to mix it up inside and is developing his outside game, whereas it appears Ajinca has a more developed outside game.

Ajinca is too frail, I weigh more.

[AFBlue]

Now that's a better idea.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of Joey Dorsey. He seems like the Chris Richard of this draft...solid big on a final four team. I just put him up there because he'd probably be a low-risk pick to come in and give decent, albeit unspectacular production.

The one I like the most out of that group...Pekovic. Though I wonder if he'll be content to stay over in Europe and be a stud.

[Mr. Body]

Dorsey will crash the boards like a beast, block some shots, knock people around, miss lots of free throws. We could use a guy like that. I don't want any part of ing foreigners any more. Not because they're no good, but because the Spurs mishandle them.

[Bruno]

Then again, you're probably more familiar with his game than I am. I do disagree with you that having Mahinmi makes Ajinca pointless. Mahinmi likes to mix it up inside and is developing his outside game, whereas it appears Ajinca has a more developed outside game.

Ajinca hasn't a developed outside game. He plays a lot on the perimeter but it's not because he has a good perimeter game, it's because he is too weak to play inside.

[AFBlue]

What do you guys think about DJ White in the second round? He reminds me of a Craig Smith or Paul Millsap type of player.

[Pucho!!!]

I miss the Tayshaun comparison. CDR doesn't have his length or defense. I agree his shooting is better than advertised, however.

I really like this pick, if we can get him. CDR has an excellent midrange jumper and can put the ball on the floor. Like someone said earlier, with Chips help he'll be hittin 3s in no time. He has long arms, a slasher and atheletic; sounds like everything we need in our next wing player cuz the last set of wings could only spot up shoot and that didnt fare so well for us. No disrespect to fin/barry who helped us win it all last year.

[AA2120]

I sure hope that CDR is there at 26...

I like the DJ White pick in the second round..but is he a bit undersized?

[AFBlue]

I like the DJ White pick in the second round..but is he a bit undersized?

That's where I was going with Craig Smith/Paul Millsap.

He's not going to play the 3, but he's tough and strong enough to play the 4...despite being undersized.

[kace]

I would still like Brandon Rush the most given our draft position... but the odds of him falling... are pretty much 0 yeah?

But Batum... i would be absolutely stoked if we could get him

Batum ? that would be crazy. but i dont' think he will be still avaible for us.

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/prof...olasbatum.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT7SV...olasbatum.html

[AFBlue]

Ajinca hasn't a developed outside game. He plays a lot on the perimeter but it's not because he has a good perimeter game, it's because he is too weak to play inside.

Draft stock volatility amazes me...

Ajinca (this year) is a bubble first rounder because he's too frail and has alot of projection to becoming a legit NBA player. The "luster" has seemingly worn off for some reason or another.

Yet, another rail thin forward with good athleticism and length, but alot of projection to becoming a legit NBA player is tabbed to be a top 10 pick. In case you're wondering, I'm talking about Anthony Randolph.

I guess it just amazes me that two players with similar skill sets and equally long projection to becoming productive players can have such a big gap between where they're slated to go in this draft.


Not a commentary on what you wrote....just an observation.