<font size="3"></font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="3">And the winner is ... Golden State?</font> Tuesday, May 24, 2005 By BOB PADECKY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT OAKLAND The chances of the Warriors getting the right ping pong ball today and acquiring the first pick in the June 28 NBA Draft are as slim as a runway model, as possible as Hilary Swank tooth decay, as remote as a Barry Bonds apology. Which means: The odds are still in Golden State's favor! Huh? Why? Because it was just a few months ago that the Warriors already did the impossible. They acquired the best player (Baron Davis) the franchise has had since Rick Barry for the equivalent of a couple suitcases and a bag of donuts. New Orleans bought out Dale Davis, it so wanted to get rid of him, and asked Speedy Claxton to be a backup. If Davis stays healthy, it will be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. If the Warriors can make Baron Davis happen, then anything can happen. The haunting ghosts of Chris Webber, Don Nelson and Latrell Sprewell will be kicked off the island. If the Warriors can go from perennial punching bag to winners of 14 of their last 18, what's so impossible about getting the No. 1 pick? After all, the Warriors have a 1.4 percent chance of landing that top pick. Snagging one of the truly great point guards of the modern era back on Feb. 24, that was less likely. The Warriors have momentum about them, even though they aren't playing. An electric charge surges through the organization right now: We've taken our licks, now it's payback. Jesus can turn water into wine and Baron can turn the Warriors into winners, even turning ol' Stone Hands, Adonal Foyle, into someone who can catch the ball. The joke stops here, now. "We're keeping our fingers crossed," said Rod Higgins, Golden State's general manager. "Because if you win (get No. 1), you win big." That would mean Spike TV will come over and film the party. Chris Mullin dancing with a lampshade on his head, it's a millennium moment.</div> http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dl...001/1010/SPORTS <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Which means: The odds are still in Golden State's favor! Huh? Why? Because it was just a few months ago that the Warriors already did the impossible. They acquired the best player (Baron Davis) the franchise has had since Rick Barry for the equivalent of a couple suitcases and a bag of donuts. New Orleans bought out Dale Davis, it so wanted to get rid of him, and asked Speedy Claxton to be a backup. If Davis stays healthy, it will be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. </div> The article is definitely satirical, but man I had to point out that I feel really, really bad for Speedy Claxton. Equivalent of a couple suitcases and a bag of donuts? Ouch! Harsh! Claxton's huge strength was to break down defenders at will using his quickness and explosiveness off the first step. Claxton's major weaknesses was durability, ability to shoot and finish against stronger defenders, keeping his head up when he dribbled and get the big men involved. He's a good passer in a structured system, but not an open court/creative type of player. Also for some strange reason I predict we'll go against all odds and move up because 1.) we don't really need to move up 2.) Since getting Baron Davis, it'll probably put us somewhere like #7 or some crap where the BAP is a point guard of all things. Doh! No 9th place pre-draft team has ever moved up into any of the top three picks. I don't think we've ever had a good #1 overall pick by ourselves, let alone a #2 or #3 overall pick. So if we beat the improbable and land the #1 overall pick and it's Andrew Bogut, and he ends up being Joe Smith, I'm going to scream.
I didn't know the Hornets bought Dale Davis' contract out, i thought he just didn't report to them. I guess Indiana is thankful for that. I hope Speedy signs with the Heat or Rockets so that he will be on a good team (im pretty sure hes a FA). He can keep up with Tony Parker, AI, and Boykins and had the invaluble ability to break down the defense. I still dont see us getting anything other than 9 and i feel that we are after Granger. If hes gone by the time we pick we could trade down and get Graham. Thats my prediction.
Wtwalker, Zhone and Kwan are pretty scary when they predict certain things about the draft especially on projects or possible trades. I simply hope we might just draft the athletic, more intense, riskier version of Dunleavy in Granger in case Dunleavy doesn't agree to terms with his new contract, but... there's a possibility we might trade the pick if Baron, the coach, and the Warriors brass feels we're going to be sticking to a 9 man rotation. Dunleavy at 7 mil qualifying offer... is that justified or is the Granger at #9 justified?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't know the Hornets bought Dale Davis' contract out, i thought he just didn't report to them. I guess Indiana is thankful for that. I hope Speedy signs with the Heat or Rockets so that he will be on a good team (im pretty sure hes a FA). He can keep up with Tony Parker, AI, and Boykins and had the invaluble ability to break down the defense. </div> <font color="Navy">Speedy has one more year left on his contract... a team option. I seriously doubt that the Hornets will let him go for nothing.</font>
This just in we're #9 still. milwaukee and portland have moved up: new orelans hornets 4 bobcats is 5 utah is 6
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriors Redux:</div><div class="quote_post"><font color="Navy">Speedy has one more year left on his contract... a team option. I seriously doubt that the Hornets will let him go for nothing.</font></div> He is their back-up PG and they are rebuilding, it wouldn't surprise me if they let him go. They want to get rid of salary and have a high pick in this draft of many quality PGs. They could acquire Gilchrist, Robinson, Hodge, Ellis, Stoudamire just in the second round to fill that void.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">This just in we're #9 still. milwaukee and portland have moved up: new orelans hornets 4 bobcats is 5 utah is 6</div> I wonder how the mocks are going to change. I so wish we could have gotten the #1 pick! This team could really use Bogut. Hopefully we get a steal at the 9 spot...
I don't think mocks will change very much, actually. A lot of teams have the same needs, and the players drafted on potential aren't going to change much either.
I think as long as Mullin and the scouts do a good job, we'll be ok Recent NBA History At #9 2004 Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 2002 Amare Stoudemire Phoenix 1999 Shawn Marion Phoenix 1998 Dirk Nowitzki Milwaukee 1997 Tracy McGrady Toronto 1985 Charles Oakley Cleveland
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wild Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I think as long as Mullin and the scouts do a good job, we'll be ok Recent NBA History At #9 2004 Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 2002 Amare Stoudemire Phoenix 1999 Shawn Marion Phoenix 1998 Dirk Nowitzki Milwaukee 1997 Tracy McGrady Toronto 1985 Charles Oakley Cleveland</div> Wow you haven't posted in a year, wild child. I wonder if we'll get a potential all-star at #9, because what about 2003, 2001, 2000, etc. heh. Well at least we're not #8. I think the draft's most mediocre picks were at #8 in recent times. Who was the best at #8? Andre Miller? It certainly isn't Adonal Foyle or Rafael Araujo. Crap, at this point I'd rather get some underrated guy like a Paul Pierce or Michael Finley coming out of college. There's bound to be some guys that deserve to go higher, but didn't.
