The 2008 NBA Draft

[T Park]

Ginobili
Bowen
Udoka
Barry

Im sorry, but if You draft someone that has the scoring ability and athleticism, then you have to give them minutes ahead of Udoka. Barry is old enough and fragile enough to have to have his minutes cut down on.

[Marcus Bryant]

Who is this magical player? It never fails that talented bigs who can play in the NBA fall in the draft because they fail to have the magical height of 6'10". The Spurs need to pull a guy who can make it in the league at #26 and be a part of their rotation. Chalmers is the best bet to make the rotation next season. Outside of him, I think the bigman crop is much more attractive than the swingmen. Marcus Williams seemed to fit the swingman profile coming out of college and we saw how that turned out.

[T Park]

Who is this magical player? It never fails that talented bigs who can play in the NBA fall in the draft because they fail to have the magical height of 6'10". The Spurs need to pull a guy who can make it in the league at #26 and be a part of their rotation. Chalmers is the best bet to make the rotation next season. Outside of him, I think the bigman crop is much more attractive than the swingmen. Marcus Williams seemed to fit the swingman profile coming out of college and we saw how that turned out.

You think the bigmen in the draft can supplant Kurt Thomas and Oberto along with Mahinmi needing minutes?

[Mr. Body]

Who is this magical player? It never fails that talented bigs who can play in the NBA fall in the draft because they fail to have the magical height of 6'10". The Spurs need to pull a guy who can make it in the league at #26 and be a part of their rotation. Chalmers is the best bet to make the rotation next season. Outside of him, I think the bigman crop is much more attractive than the swingmen. Marcus Williams seemed to fit the swingman profile coming out of college and we saw how that turned out.

What's the magical list of better big men? You saying Javale McGee or DeVon Hardin are better prospects than CDR or Lee? That's a laugh. Only Hibbert has that polish at that point, and he's rising. Ajinca and Ibaka are only distant prospects. I think you're quite wrong here.

[T Park]

Roy Hibbert is rising, and hes crap.

exactly my point.

[Marcus Bryant]

What's the magical list of better big men? You saying Javale McGee or DeVon Hardin are better prospects than CDR or Lee? That's a laugh. Only Hibbert has that polish at that point, and he's rising. Ajinca and Ibaka are only distant prospects. I think you're quite wrong here.

Thompson
Hendrix
White
Hickson
Hardin

will amount to more as pros than any of the swingmen likely available to the Spurs at #26.

Spurs need a starting quality swingman who can score, so naturally all of the available prospects are potential superstars on this board.

And naturally when the Spurs pass on those swingmen and opt for Chalmers or a big then this board will melt down.

[T Park]

Thompson
Hendrix
White
Hickson
Hardin

will amount to more as pros than any of the swingmen likely available to the Spurs at #26.

Spurs need a swingman, so naturally all of the available prospects are potential superstars on this board.

And naturally when the Spurs pass on those swingmen and opt for Chalmers or a big then this board will melt down.

I've stated, if the Spurs pick Chalmers at this point, Im 100% behind it, I think it would be fantastic to get a smart great point guard such as himself.

If they draft a big instead of a CDR or Lee, then yes, I would have a serious problem with that.

[timvp]

Thompson
Hendrix
White
Hickson
Hardin

I think chances are one of these players is going to end up being really good. Which one? It's tough to say. Do I think the Spurs and their less than stellar domestic scouts can figure it out? Probably not ... but hopefully.

This draft isn't getting much pub about being deep but it's one of the deepest drafts I remember. It has decent players up until about pick number 40.

The list of players I'd be fine with the Spurs drafting at 26 is huge. Usually it's only a couple players but this year I'd be happy if the at 26 Spurs draft Chalmers, Rush, CDR, Lee, Batum, Walker, Arthur, Jordan, Speights, Hickson, Hendrix, Thompson, R. Lopez and even Dorsey.

All those players are so close in potential that it really comes down to individual workouts. If they think a rebounding and shotblocking big like Thompson or Hickson is the best player on the board, I'll be fine with the pick -- even if someone like CDR or Lee is still on the board.

Only reason I'd be mad this year is if the Spurs pick someone who doesn't fit (think Hibbert), someone that is a Splitter-esque flight risk (think Koufus), someone who is a reach at 26 (think Forbes) or someone who is too raw (think Jawai).

Position doesn't matter as long as it makes sense. I also wouldn't mind a draft day trade like the Spurs did with Felipe Lopez for Antonio Daniels, John Salmons for Speedy Claxton and Tracy Murray for Dale Ellis.

I just hope the Spurs don't do something bat sh!t crazy ... which is possible after seeing some of the moves RC has made in the last year.

[Marcus Bryant]

Looking at the roster, backup point is the one spot where the #26 pick could end up in the rotation next season. I don't see the Spurs using their MLE to target a backup point.

Plus, we are currently assuming that Kurt Thomas will be back. I'd say that's a good assumption, but you never know. I think it will look like a wiser use of draft picks from the Spurs' perspective to use #26 on a point guard or a big. For whatever reason, those are the positions where it can be costly to find quality talent in the NBA.

[T Park]

Jason Thompson is a legit pick?

Wasnt he a couple months ago considered lucky to be drafted at all?

[T Park]

TIMVP, out of all those players which do you think helps out the quickest and improves the Spurs the most.

In other words, the ideal pick.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Jason Thompson is a legit pick?

Yes.

[T Park]

Yes.

He must have done something between now and February to become that.

[Marcus Bryant]

I think chances are one of these players is going to end up being really good. Which one? It's tough to say. Do I think the Spurs and their less than stellar domestic scouts can figure it out? Probably not ... but hopefully.

Now is the time for Dennis to step up.

This draft isn't getting much pub about being deep but it's one of the deepest drafts I remember. It has decent players up until about pick number 40.

The list of players I'd be fine with the Spurs drafting at 26 is huge. Usually it's only a couple players but this year I'd be happy if the at 26 Spurs draft Chalmers, Rush, CDR, Lee, Batum, Walker, Arthur, Jordan, Speights, Hickson, Hendrix, Thompson, R. Lopez and even Dorsey.

All those players are so close in potential that it really comes down to individual workouts. If they think a rebounding and shotblocking big like Thompson or Hickson is the best player on the board, I'll be fine with the pick -- even if someone like CDR or Lee is still on the board.

Only reason I'd be mad this year is if the Spurs pick someone who doesn't fit (think Hibbert), someone that is a Splitter-esque flight risk (think Koufus), someone who is a reach at 26 (think Forbes) or someone who is too raw (think Jawai).

Agreed. I can see them falling into the trap of thinking that everyone is wrong about one of those players and that they really can make it in the league.

Position doesn't matter as long as it makes sense. I also wouldn't mind a draft day trade like the Spurs did with Felipe Lopez for Antonio Daniels, John Salmons for Speedy Claxton and Tracy Murray for Dale Ellis.

With their trade exceptions, that is entirely possible. What would be nice would be if they could end up with a decent player using a combo of their TE and #26 and move up enough to ensure they nab a solid player out of the draft, like Chalmers. Pulling two rotation worthy players with a low first round pick and Beno would help them a bit with replenishing the supporting cast.

I just hope the Spurs don't do something bat sh!t crazy ... which is possible after seeing some of the moves RC has made in the last year.

No doubt. Picking Jawai or Hibbert would certainly qualify. The scary thing is, they have seemed to be on the hunt for that prototypical center (7' 250 lbs) over the last 5 years, regardless of actual ability.

You can chalk up the Scola move to being squeezed by the Lux Tax. Hopefully someone else is forced to make a bad basketball move this offseason due to the Lux Tax Monster that benefits the Spurs.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He must have done something between now and February to become that.

He vastly improved in workouts.

[timvp]

Jason Thompson is a legit pick?

Wasnt he a couple months ago considered lucky to be drafted at all?

He's been in the 25-30 range since about the beginning of the year. He's on the lower end of the players I'd be happy about since he went Rider and it's hard to say whether his stellar stats mean anything.

TIMVP, out of all those players which do you think helps out the quickest and improves the Spurs the most.

In other words, the ideal pick.

Players who could help right away would be Chalmers at point, CDR and probably Lee at shooting guard and Rush at SG/SF. As far as bigs, I think R. Lopez could help right away. Bigs Hendrix and Dorsey could probably help quickly.

But I don't think most ready necessarily equals ideal pick. Chances are one of those "high potential" guys will become really good. The tough thing is picking out which one and whether the Spurs want to wait for the potential to arrive.

[T Park]

He vastly improved in workouts.

Hes screaming Beno Udrih.

[Marcus Bryant]

Here's a list of 4s who were chosen in the low 1st/early to mid 2nd of the past 3 drafts who have made a rotation in the NBA. I'm sure a number of them fell because of their height, or lack thereof. And of course there was Carlos Boozer, who was taken with the 35th pick in the '02 Draft.

2007
31. Carl Landry

2006
47. Paul Millsap

2005
26. Jason Maxiell
30. David Lee
33. Brandon Bass
37. Ronny Turiaf

[Marcus Bryant]

You can get good value between 25-40 from selecting an "undersized" 4 because they're often overlooked in favor of centers or, well, guys who are 7 foot tall and can fog up a mirror. This year there seems to be a fair number of such 4s in the draft.

Ideally, I think the Spurs would be able to pick Chalmers at #26 and then a Hendrix or White at #45.

[K-State Spur]

Roy Hibbert is rising, and hes crap.

exactly my point.

Hibbert's not crap. On a different team and offense, he's close to a 20/10 guy in college.

But I don't like him for this team just the same.

[timvp]

I think right now, the best valued pick in the draft is CDR. A high percentage shooter who doesn't take bad shots, is pretty athletic, has an improving three-point shot and doesn't turn the ball over. I'm starting to like him even more than Rush, even though Rush can probably help right away and gets bonus points his defense and for being able to survive at small forward. The Spurs need a fourth scorer and CDR is a scorer ... Rush is more of a guy who relies on other players for his offense.

Chalmers still makes a lot of sense at 26. I like Lee but I think he's suddenly overrated. 20-22 is awfully high for a 6-foot-5 small school guard who didn't exactly blow the doors off. I'd take him at 26 if Rush and CDR were off the board. Lee vs. Chalmers basically just depends on what the Spurs think they need.

As far as Batum ... eh, I'm starting to lose interest. He's hyped mostly due to his one game in the Nike Hoops Summit. Could be really good but he's a couple years away. I think he could eventually average something like 16, 5 and 5 ... but I don't think the Spurs have time to wait him out. He also has a moderately high chance of busting.

Of the bigs at 26, I Thompson or Hickson may be worth the gamble ... but it'd probably be a better idea to trade down and get either Hendrix or Dorsey.

[polandprzem]

Is there a chance to see those guys in action.

To me right now it's just names and stats. And I don't give much of a intrest to stats.

More then anything spurs needs a good slasher and a guy with good shot, Fook rebounds and D is also very much needed ...

[A.H 21-50]

Is there a chance to see those guys in action.

To me right now it's just names and stats. And I don't give much of a intrest to stats.

More then anything spurs needs a good slasher and a guy with good shot, Fook rebounds and D is also very much needed ...

there're some one minute videos on youtube

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QCNHZAHk28M you have other prospect videos on the related videos

[timvp]

I'm starting to like the idea of drafting a big at 45. Picking one of:

Richard Hendrix
Joey Dorsey
DeVon Hardin
DJ White
Ryan Anderson
Darnell Jackson
Trent Plaisted
Nathan Jawai

Stock the player in Austin. Force feed him for a year a la Mahinmi and perhaps you have a steal when it's all said and done. Even if the Spurs go big at 26, the best value at 45 could very well be another big.

[Marcus Bryant]

Yeah, if the Spurs don't make a move to acquire another 1st round pick, they could take CDR or Greene with #26, a big with #45, and then use #57 on an international who will stay abroad for a while.