<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Golden State Warriors Pick(s): 1.4% chance at No. 1 Team Needs The Skinny Athletic shot blocker Low-post scorer For the first time in a decade, it looks like the Warriors are ready for a playoff run. The addition of Baron Davis at the trade deadline, combined with the development of players like Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy and Mickael Pietrus give them a formidable core. Last year's first-round pick, Andris Biedrins, looked very promising toward the end of the season, but they are still a tough, athletic big man away from dominating. A player like Chris Taft would be perfect if he were available (this is why Insider's been maintaining he's a top-10 pick). So would guys like Fran Vasquez. However, if both are off the board, they may have to reach a little to get a player that fits that bill. So, they could just grab the best player left on the board. Though Dunleavy improved last season, sources claim they're high on Danny Granger. Granger is tougher, more athletic, a much better defender and has the same versatility that Dunleavy does. If they went with Granger, they might be able to package Dunleavy in a deal that got them size back in return. Maybe a Dunleavy for Chris Wilcox swap? </div> Someone's thought to draft Granger might come to fruition.
It sounds like a good deal in principle since the Clippers' coach might want his son, Mike Dunleavy Jr. to be on the team and Chris Taft/Chris Wilcox might ending up being the same thing, maybe. Wilcox has shown flashes of being a 20/10 guy but the lack of consistency, basketball IQ, and lack of polished skills might be an issue. Everything he does is based on his athleticism and getting feeds from his teammates, but he can sure run the floor and throw it down. I actually like Granger but I don't think he'll be a star or anything. But what's important is that aspects of his game that are comparable to what guys like Joe Johnson, Eddie Griffin and Josh Howard do really well, we kind of need. Plus he's tall and decently athletic and he's shown he can be unselfish and intense on the floor. I don't think his playmaking is out of this world, but he sounds like he would be a good complimentary player that can hit some shots, handle the ball some, get to the foul line, finish at the rim, defend, and help Murphy out by blocking shots with those long arms of his. It could also be the reason why the Warriors were even looking at some prospects like Joey Graham who could be swapped for Dunleavy if the Clippers draft him or Danny Granger for us at #12.
All this SF talk in the draft is not looking good for Dunleavy. I think Mullin's looking for some insurance. Granger is the opposite of Dunleavy. He's agressive and has a mean streak. I do think he needs to get stronger but with him & Pietrus we should be tougher at the 3. Just Imagine a lineup of Biedrins, Murphy and Granger. Both those guys can cover Murphy's ass. I'd like a big man but I doubt Taft, Splitter, Vazquez are going to slip. Getting a project like Petro would be interesting but we need a propect who isn't so risky. Next year it's Playoffs or bust. Getting Wilcox would be nice but Wilcox is also in the last year of his deal. Makes no sense to trade for him now. What money do we have to sign him?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting upsidedownside7:</div><div class="quote_post"> Getting Wilcox would be nice but Wilcox is also in the last year of his deal. Makes no sense to trade for him now. What money do we have to sign him?</div> You're probably right. Plus with Foyle, Murphy as locked up starters and we want to reserve cash for Biedrins as the big man of the future. It probably makes no sense to start spending on him. But you never know if some team like the Nets will want him at trade deadline next season. I'm not sure what type of deals would come out of it but we could get more value out of an athletic big man, rather than a small forward. I'll have to think up some scenarios where a team would do this, but I can't right now.
I still hope we get Brand somehow. Its more than likely a pipe dream but i would do it for Murphy, Dun, and our first round pick. If we want a Wilcox type guy we might as well draft Taft, though i definately wouldn't mind drafting Granger in order to replace Mike.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">I still hope we get Brand somehow. Its more than likely a pipe dream but i would do it for Murphy, Dun, and our first round pick. If we want a Wilcox type guy we might as well draft Taft, though i definately wouldn't mind drafting Granger in order to replace Mike.</div> I completely agree...
What could the clippers do to win? They seem to have the talent, but none of anything to tie it all together. Durability was an issue. Lacking a point guard for the longest time probably had to do something with it. They've got a promising point guard in Shaun Livingston. They got Corey Maggette who can get to the foul line and convert. Elton Brand is an all-star. Chris Kaman is a promising big (not many 7 footers that athletic and can finish with either hand). Then there's Bobby Simmons who is really physical, high percentage shot when he posts up and uses his footwork. Maybe a forward that plays like a guard is in their interests because Maggette is basically a 6'6 forward, Marko Jaric is forced too often to play point guard instead of shooting guard, and frankly the clipper's bench depth is just okay. They could have used more shooters. Had Kerry Kittles been healthy, he might have produced and play some point guard or spotted up for outside shots in place of Shaun Livingston who was injured for a while. Maybe it is more in their interests to try to land a veteran or a player to act as a chemistry guy rather than Dunleavy who they have a year to figure out. Who on the clippers roster looks intriguing to us besides Wilcox? They probably won't bite on trading their draft pick so it's got to be something that makes sense to us. The clips sure have a lot of free agent money btw. Sorry if it seems random babbling, there's just a lot of variables to how a team with such a low salary and a lot of young talent could make this work in our interests, since Wilcox isn't a player that anybody is really sold on. He's that raw. Then there's Brand's big contract, Murphy's BYC status, etc. It just doesn't work if we were to land Brand. We would need to get the post presence from somewhere else and make sure they're the kind of player that can run the floor.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting upsidedownside7:</div><div class="quote_post">All this SF talk in the draft is not looking good for Dunleavy. I think Mullin's looking for some insurance. Granger is the opposite of Dunleavy. He's agressive and has a mean streak. I do think he needs to get stronger but with him & Pietrus we should be tougher at the 3. Just Imagine a lineup of Biedrins, Murphy and Granger. Both those guys can cover Murphy's ass. I'd like a big man but I doubt Taft, Splitter, Vazquez are going to slip. Getting a project like Petro would be interesting but we need a propect who isn't so risky. Next year it's Playoffs or bust. Getting Wilcox would be nice but Wilcox is also in the last year of his deal. Makes no sense to trade for him now. What money do we have to sign him?</div> I agree. Granger would be great. The only problem I might have about starting AP is that he is a bit too un-orthadox. He knows what he is going to do when he gets the balll, he doesn't adjust to what the defense gives him and he doesn't have the passing skills Dun-Dun does. Other than that, I would start Pietrus if he plays how he has been lately
http://www.hoopshype.com/workouts.htm It looks like the Warriors have a good idea of what they want. They're looking for more talented shooters and scorers that can slip a la Michael Redd, but also guys who can D up and pass. Aaron Miles was looked at probably because he's the purest point guard next to Baron Davis in the 2nd round, which we'll eventually need if DFish isn't playing his role or if Baron Davis gets hurt. Miles is scouted as decently quick, has improved his shot, good defender and he's got court vision and playmaking abilities. He might be a decent pick up if he can keep the defense honest and the team becomes better with moving without the ball. If he can't improve his shooting, he'll probably get cut and that's probably why the 6'2 combo guards get picked over the pure point guards that can't score that well. They have to keep the defense honest and get defenders to collapse on to them. I like the fact they've always looked at combo forwards like Ryan Gomes, Joey Graham, and now they're looking into Jawad Williams. If we're lucky we might find somebody that's gold when it comes to all around defense that could also develop an offensive game. I like the Jawad Williams idea in the 2nd round. That might work for us.
Joe Johnson has all the tools needed to be a star, he should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Josh Howard or Eddie Griffin.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jzblaze:</div><div class="quote_post">Joe Johnson has all the tools needed to be a star, he should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Josh Howard or Eddie Griffin.</div> ???? This is about Danny Granger, not Joe Johnson, so I don't even understand why you'd even bother to make such a statement unless you're taking things out of context. Granger has several qualities about him from 3 different players (the ones I mentioned above: Joe Johnson, Eddie Griffin, and Josh Howard). He plays 3 positions like Joe Johnson and he blocks shots with his length which is where the Eddie Griffin comparrisons come in. He's also a pretty decent defender, rebounds, and is energetic much like Josh Howard.
Granger is a guy with huge "basketball IQ" and a very wide range of skills, He is not the guy who dazzles with a slamdunk contest move...but ain't nothin' in a game. Instead he is a guy with a whole bag of tricks and the awareness to know how to use them. Granger,like Diogu,plays real nice D in addition to scoring,rebounding. Actually,if you hunt down his stats,Granger is mind blowing in that he has strong numbers in every category. I tend to lean to Diogu as I see him as effective at either F most of the time. DG naturally is a SF,and could do well at SG or PF against some matchups,could be an emergency PG even. When imports are discussed,one point in there favor usually is "he's real young and will get much better every year" Vasquez is 22. Diogu is 21 and can play. Granger is probably 21 or 22. Vasquez minor league stats are hardly impressive,and he's the age of a college SR,so what is the deal? Is it that he will actually get really good at age 26? Taft,an underachiever,scares me,but Vasquez may be less ready than Taft. Want a high risk big? Andrew Bynum.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting REREM:</div><div class="quote_post"> Want a high risk big? Andrew Bynum.</div> Now there's a name that intrigues because what is this guy about? Supposedly he's super raw, but not far away from being polished for college ball. He has all the qualities you need in a big man. Size, strength, good hands, and ability to rebound. He dominated high schoolers and he's the number 1 freshman recruit in the nation according to some.
