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Chalmers will be already taken at #26. Look for C.Lee or CDR to be the #26 pick. #45 will be someone who can contribute at austin such as Moute or Hardin. I agree that #57 will be an international player who will be left overseas.
What the Spurs will likely do with their picks if they keep them all:
26. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
Sure thing point guard who fits the Spurs system. Can defend, shoot the rock, and play under big game pressure. The Spurs will go with a player who can play today. Do not underestimate the KU-Spurs connection. The Spurs don't want a knucklehead and Pop doesn't want another Beno, assuming Chalmers checks out with respect to self-discipline and motivation. Free agency isn't really that appealing for point guards this summer and is using the MLE to address a backup spot really a wise use of available resources?
45. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama
Athletic rebounding big to spend next season in Austin. Even if Thomas comes back that is for the short run. Mahinmi will likely crack the rotation next season. Undoubtedly the Spurs are looking to increase their overall team athleticism, and picking up athletic bigs who can play isn't cheap, unless you catch one before he's polished. Picking up an athletic rebounding big man who can run the floor would be a very wise use of this mid-2nd round pick. DJ White from Indiana will be a possibility if Hendrix is already taken. Hendrix has been worked out by the Spurs.
57. Mantas Kalnietis, PG/SG, Lithuania
I think the Spurs don't leave a draft in which they have two second round picks without one being an international talent for their Draft & Stash Program. His skill set is what the Spurs look for in a perimeter player in their motion offense. If the Spurs are to take a player destined to play in Europe for the next couple of seasons, they'd prefer that he be a 2nd round pick and not subject to the 1st round rookie contract scale.
Chalmers will be already taken at #26. Look for C.Lee or CDR to be the #26 pick. #45 will be someone who can contribute at austin such as Moute or Hardin. I agree that #57 will be an international player who will be left overseas.
I'm not sure there will be the wealth of swingmen which everyone anticipates at #26. Chalmers doesn't have star potential so it's not hard to see him falling to the Spurs.
If Chalmers was not available, then I could see them taking JJ Hickson at 26 and then using 45 on a point guard like George Hill or a combo guard like Jamont Gordon.
Point guard and power forward are positions for which the Spurs can find some suitable young talent in this draft, and are ones for which the free agent selection will be slim in free agency this summer.
I think the Spurs will use free agency to find the replacement for Finley. None of the swingman talent available in the low 1st round or mid-2nd round is ready to start in the NBA next season.
Timvp -- thanks for the response and insight. Much appreciated.
Anyone heard anything yay or nay re: Sonny Weems in the last week? I just checked the thread on him and no recent comments there.
I'm still really intrigued by his speed and overall athleticism at the 45 pick, assuming we keep it. Would love to see Chip Engelland work with him on his shooting confidence and roll the dice on him.
I'd say:
26 -- CDR
45 -- Weems
57 -- I need to think about this a little bit more....
Honestly I'd prefer...
#26 - Chalmers
#45 (trade up to early 2nd) - Walker
#57 - Plaisted/Kaun
But, I think that's too far-fetched at this point. And, I wouldn't be unhappy about the outcome I suggested at first.
Are you assuming CDR will be gone?
I don't think he's going to be able to get into the lane or get his shot off as effectively as he did in college, but the Spurs could do alot worse than him at the #26 pick.
I think the Spurs will take Chalmers if he's on the board. We are thinking about what the Spurs will do with the pick, no?
You made the case in your quote that if Chalmers were off the board, the Spurs would go with a PF, like Hickson. You then said that no wing prospect was worthy of a late first-round pick.
I was just trying to clarify if CDR was still on the board in your scenario and whether or not you think the Spurs will look at him seriously if Chalmers is gone.
BTW, I also think the Spurs will take Chalmers if he's on the board.
If Chalmers is off the board, then they will go with a young athletic 4 at #26, IMO. At #45 I would expect them to pick up a PG then. If Chalmers is available at #26, then they'll go with an athletic 4 at #45.
Hickson would make a lot of sense for the Spurs at #26 if Chalmers is not there. 19 year old athletic bigman with a good wingspan and with some offensive moves who can also shoot the rock? Take him, give him a year in Austin and then start to work him into the rotation maybe in 2009-10.
He could always let it be known that he is going to sign another deal in Europe if he's taken in the 1st. But then again, that could be counterproductive. And the Fed could always start to tighten...
That and Ibaka really has no bargaining position. He doesn't play for a major team and isn't a superstar....so he's not going to get the kind of money overseas that would justify him not taking the rookie payscale, even if it relatively small at the end of the first round.
The only potential "Splitter" issue occurs with Tomic in a year or two, IMO.
Man I wish the draft was tomorrow. Been a long time since we've had any draft excitement like this.
Overall, I'm excited at the opportunity the Spurs have to grab legitimate contributors to the team, whether they be immediate or projection picks. Unlike in previous years, however, I also think the Spurs have a mind to improve via the draft and not trade out of their picks or draft-n-stash a player not likely to come over.
Those are my thoughts ten days out....not sure how it'll end up, but I think it could be good.
I hear ya... I can't wait for the draft to get here... the 26th seems like a loooong time away still.
Manny stop hacking into my computer and reading my posts while I write them...
I think they are more likely to pull a contributor out of this draft as that is the focus now. Before, it was all about potential and finding someone who could develop into something special in Europe in a few years. Everyone's bent about Splitter, but that pick was a gamble when the Spurs didn't want to bring in a player the next season. The only player who really amounted to anything the next season who was drafted after him was Landry. Sure, decisions made once he was drafted can be questioned, and have been ad nauseum in this forum.
Parker and Beno were the last two Spurs' picks who were drafted by the Spurs in the first round and who joined the team the following season. Yes, Beno didn't work in the Spurs' system, but he's still in the league today.
They're drafting for a contributor with #26, not a prospect who's 3 years away. I feel good about their chances heading into this draft.
What is the opinion on these players if they fall:
JaVale McGee
DeAndre Jordan
Darrell Arthur
Kosta Koufus
McGee and Jordan seem to be losing steam as the draft nears. They were top 15 not too long ago and they seem to be dropping toward 20. If one of them is on the board at 26, do the Spurs have to take 'em? It'd be really hard to pass on Jordan at 26, even if he looks like a bust. McGee at 26 is also really good value.
Arthur at 26 is a no-brainer. He's hurt and he has his mom handling his business affairs right now so he might tumble down the first round. But he's too good to go too much past 20, I'd imagine.
Koufus I'd pass on ... I think. He's talented but I think eventually he ends up in Greece.
What sucks for the Spurs right now is the big centers are dropping and the perimeter players they need are rising. Rush, CDR, Lee, Batum and Chalmers all seem to be creeping up, while McGee, Jordan, Koufus, Hickson and Ibaka are falling.
After the lottery many teams aren't looking for guys to step in just yet. Most of those teams have been hovering around playoff contention for a while and have a number of young players moving into starting and rotation roles already, so they are more likely to be interested in scooping up the prospects that have for some reason fallen out of the higher spots. Big men, especially, teams are willing to wait on, since a good big man changes everything. I'm not sure about McGee, but Jordan won't go very far if he's not a lottery pick. New Jersey could snap him up if he's gone that long.What is the opinion on these players if they fall:
JaVale McGee
DeAndre Jordan
Darrell Arthur
Kosta Koufus
McGee and Jordan seem to be losing steam as the draft nears. They were top 15 not too long ago and they seem to be dropping toward 20. If one of them is on the board at 26, do the Spurs have to take 'em? It'd be really hard to pass on Jordan at 26, even if he looks like a bust. McGee at 26 is also really good value.
Arthur at 26 is a no-brainer. He's hurt and he has his mom handling his business affairs right now so he might tumble down the first round. But he's too good to go too much past 20, I'd imagine.
Koufus I'd pass on ... I think. He's talented but I think eventually he ends up in Greece.
What sucks for the Spurs right now is the big centers are dropping and the perimeter players they need are rising. Rush, CDR, Lee, Batum and Chalmers all seem to be creeping up, while McGee, Jordan, Koufus, Hickson and Ibaka are falling.
Arthur is the most skilled of the bunch but I think he goes to a west coast team that likes athleticism. Hickson may be rising, instead of falling (or Hendrix is): for a while some didn't consider them first rounders, or fringe, and now they're possibly finding teams earlier in the round. Koufos I don't know about; Ibaka has too many questions, as you say. Ajinca may find a spot in the round. Hibbert is highly attractive to slower paced teams and I'd be slightly surprised if he falls past Utah or Houston.
I think it still looks good for CDR, Lee, or Chalmers, if not two of them, to be present with the pick. Rumors have it Orlando will take Lee; regardless there should be one of the guys we've been yammering about available.
What is the opinion on these players if they fall:
JaVale McGee
DeAndre Jordan
Darrell Arthur
Kosta Koufus
McGee and Jordan seem to be losing steam as the draft nears. They were top 15 not too long ago and they seem to be dropping toward 20. If one of them is on the board at 26, do the Spurs have to take 'em? It'd be really hard to pass on Jordan at 26, even if he looks like a bust. McGee at 26 is also really good value.
Arthur at 26 is a no-brainer. He's hurt and he has his mom handling his business affairs right now so he might tumble down the first round. But he's too good to go too much past 20, I'd imagine.
Koufus I'd pass on ... I think. He's talented but I think eventually he ends up in Greece.
What sucks for the Spurs right now is the big centers are dropping and the perimeter players they need are rising. Rush, CDR, Lee, Batum and Chalmers all seem to be creeping up, while McGee, Jordan, Koufus, Hickson and Ibaka are falling.
i don't think it's that bad , it depends wich big the spurs take with #26 If they make the right choice and if potential lottery fall like arthur why not but i doubt it
if they could land someone who can provide quality minutes inside that's not a bad idea and then adjust during the fa with wing players or trading for an early second round
but the best scenario imo is to draft a wing player and move up( 2nd round) to add a youg big like hendrix , hardin , dorsey ......
This draft is heavily bigmen oriented.
In DX mock draft, between the 21th and the 38th, there are 14 PF/C and only 4 perimeters players.
These 4 perimeter players are CDR, Chalmers, Lee and Walker. You can imagine a scenario where Chalmers and CDR are taken before the 26th, Spurs being scared of Walker injuries and Spurs not liking on Lee.
What Spurs will do in this scenario ?
Draft a big ?
Trade the pick ?
Draft Lee or Walker even if they didn't like him ?
Draft a player who is project as a mid second round pick (Weaver, Giddens, Forbes...) ?
Depending on how the draft goes, I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs drafting a big at #26.
I can't imagine the Spurs not liking Lee, to be honest. They'd pick him if available, I'd say, over Walker and any big man, if available. If for some reason all those guys (Chalmers, Lee, CDR) are off the board, they'll trade out of the round. Historically they only have a few players in mind for guaranteed money.This draft is heavily bigmen oriented.
In DX mock draft, between the 21th and the 38th, there are 14 PF/C and only 4 perimeters players.
These 4 perimeter players are CDR, Chalmers, Lee and Walker. You can imagine a scenario where Chalmers and CDR are taken before the 26th, Spurs being scared of Walker injuries and Spurs not liking on Lee.
What Spurs will do in this scenario ?
Draft a big ?
Trade the pick ?
Draft Lee or Walker even if they didn't like him ?
Draft a player who is project as a mid second round pick (Weaver, Giddens, Forbes...) ?
Depending on how the draft goes, I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs drafting a big at #26.
Exactly.This draft is heavily bigmen oriented.
In DX mock draft, between the 21th and the 38th, there are 14 PF/C and only 4 perimeters players.
These 4 perimeter players are CDR, Chalmers, Lee and Walker. You can imagine a scenario where Chalmers and CDR are taken before the 26th, Spurs being scared of Walker injuries and Spurs not liking on Lee.
What Spurs will do in this scenario ?
Draft a big ?
Trade the pick ?
Draft Lee or Walker even if they didn't like him ?
Draft a player who is project as a mid second round pick (Weaver, Giddens, Forbes...) ?
Depending on how the draft goes, I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs drafting a big at #26.
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