Trading down

I think that's the best way to go. None of the upper lottery teams besides New York has a need to attain a big. Milwaukee needed one but they will draft Bogut. Utah, Charlotte, Portland all have 4's for the future. There should be depth later in the draft.

I'd try to get rid of one of our contracts, use Dunleavy as bait and try to land a veteran big man/expiring contract/another pick. We can draft a big full of potential and a defensive minded SF.

I'd be dissapointed if we just sat there at nine unless Green or Starvin Marvin fell in our lap. I don't think Taft is going to go high lottery now that the makeup of the draft has shifted. Taft had a private workout according to a poster on realgm.com with Isiah. It was Taft, Blatche and Villnueva. Villanueva supposedly blew away Thomas. Taft was so-so in that workout as well his other workout for the Sonics, Jazz. Taft is a gamble and Isiah can't afford any more projects.

Some of these guys will slip. Might as well get our some under-rated players and make it worth our wild.

 

I also posted that Taft was a bust according to the NY workouts. Might as well take a look at Taft anyway... We need guys who can be great under Baron Davis and great all alone at both ends of the floor and at one time this guy was #1 overall. If we can't find anything or he sucks at workout, small forward is something we should look at. The guy I think we need is a version of what Ron Artest's defense brings to the table, only with more potential to improve that offensive game. A player that can get fouled repeatedly would be nice. I look at Ike Diogu and see how he gets fouled a lot, but is he big enough for power forward/quick enough for small forward? I don't see him playing small forward at all. None of the guys like Fran Vasquez or Andrisikvius really impress. But 4 sites (hoopshype, nbadraft, draftcity, espn) have Vasquez going from 6-9 and Andrisikvius going from 4-10. I don't know if I agree with that, but hey I'm not sure of what these guys see because I don't see enough of them. They have rare physical qualities and some skill, but I've only have the scouting reports to "buy" into. I get just grainy film footage and no idea how the coach is using them or what they can do in workouts. Not enough to go on because I don't know the context of the team or the way the coach has them play or things they can do but just don't show enough of.

 

Without a question, we do need a shot blocking, defensive and athlathic PF. And, ideally, Taft should be the guy. But, if he doesn't impress Mullin, then there is nobody in horizon that we must get, because rest of them have question marks, too small, or projected to go much lower than 9th pick. So, I am not necessary objecting trading down. If we trade down for few steps, gets extra picks, and still draft types of player we want to draft, sure. After all, that's how we got Murphy for free. But, with this draft, I would love to go for high risk/high reward player, because we have our 9 men rotation set, and whoever we draft probably won't play for quite some time, even few years. If that's the case, there really is a no reason to draft solid player with not much of upside.

And, for dumping salaires... If you do little math, you can hear the train coming in next year or two. And, in order to avoid that train, we do need to prepare now to avoid ugly future. Unfortunately, our recent success really put Mullin a tough spot to dump salary in this offseason. Ideally, we would like to dump Fisher, Foyle and possibly Murphy. But, for Fisher, aside from his salary figure (which he was projected to be a starting PG in future), he really has been a solid backup PG and SG for us, and it would be very tough to replace a player like him. Foyle is even tougher to dump, because big men are too rare to replace to begin with, and he improved his play quite a bit with Davis feeding the ball. Besides, he is the only defensive player we have, so without him (or similiar player like him), our entire defense can collapse anytime. I mean, we saw how our defense absolutely sucked when we had ineffective Foyle in the middle. And, Murphy is not only effective, but he is BYC, so it's virtually impossible to trade him to begin with. If we played bad basketball at the end, Mullin may think about dumping some salaries, but our 9 men core was highly effective, and I doubt that Mullin will trade our core player, including Dunleavy, even if Dunleavy may demand ridiculous contract for resigning.

Mullin does have a serious decision to make. He can ignore the incoming train because of our recent success, and hopes that the train will go away due to new CBA or Cohan's money. And, it is a possible that our money problem can just go away. But, if it doesn't, it can simply smash our franchise apart too. But, if Mullin tears down the core, and this club doesn't meet the expectation of fans at the beginning of the season, you know fans will blame Mullin for altering successful formular. But then, Pistons fired highly successful coach to get Brown, and we know the rest. I guess we will find out what kind of GM Mullin can be in this offseason...

 

Kwan, maybe we can work out a deal for sending Fisher to Memphis for Jason Williams or Lorezen Wright. We basically include any filler or draft picks or swap draft picks to make the salaries work. Jerry West might appreciate a lockerroom presence and a guy that can feed the big man. This is a guy who hired Fisher for the Lakers and spent big moolah on Brian Cardinal, he's got to bite!

If we have an ugly future, heck, more lottery picks to come so we should worry about it then rather than hope what we do now can prevent it. I'm down with potential, but having a good salary structure like the Pistons or the Spurs would be nice. So if it dumps cap space and we lose a draft pick, so be it. Next time we shouldn't draft any danged player who hires a greedy sports agent to represent them.

 

I didn't think about the Griz as a possible place to send D Fish,but it's worth thinking about. I'd thought Miami was a possibility,in part because Shaq played with Fish,in part because a late 1 looks good to me for getting Dwayne Jones or Salim. We'd toss in a #2,the lower one,at 42. Miami may look at their spot as gotta give a guy guaranteed $,while that #2,not that much lower is more flexible. They must be thinking now about resigning Wade.

Not drafting anyone who hires a greedy agent would simplify our draft debates here,as we'd only have a few guys still on the list

 

Jones did declare,and if teams are hungry for big guys,he's got rd 1 chances...and NBA Draft net is often way off base,so that doesn't matter a lot.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting REREM:</div><div class="quote_post">Jones did declare,and if teams are hungry for big guys,he's got rd 1 chances...and NBA Draft net is often way off base,so that doesn't matter a lot.</div>
After looking at NBAdraft.net, the only thing I use it for is the "countdown to the draft" thingie at the top.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">After looking at NBAdraft.net, the only thing I use it for is the "countdown to the draft" thingie at the top.</div>

They also do a good job of tracking all the trades that happen. But yeah, jeez; NBA draft.net is why the NBA scoffs at internet reports, because they are so baseless.

 

Last week, Hoopshype was mentioning that the Grizzlies want something for their #19 pick. Would the Grizzlies want our two round number two draft picks for their round one? Having a #9 and a #19 pick would be fantastic IMO. This helps the Grizzlies in that they would get decent players, but would be making no guarantees toward salaries. So far the Memphis workouts have them looking at a lot of second rounders and some fringe first rounders.

That could be a possibility, unless the Grizzlies want a certain player in the first round and they want to swap with somebody who is a higher pick. I remember the headline was that the Grizzlies wanted to get rid of their pick period, not trade up. If that isn't the case and the Grizzlies want a higher pick, I wouldn't mind our #9 for their #19 (If Splitter is off the board) and James Posey (if he is offered) if the Grizzlies wanted to trade up. If we got James Posey, and use the #19 on Ike Diogu, Randolph Morris, Andray Blatche or Wayne Simien or whoever slips that we're interested. That might not be half bad. If anybody isn't familar with James Posey's game, he's an oversized guard that is athletic, can defend, can rebound, can attack the basket, is a threat on the baseline, and has been clutch for the Grizzlies when healthy. Similar to Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks in some ways in that he isn't a star, but he's a very good role player that can deliver in important situations and defend.

If the Grizzlies wanted Mike Dunleavy Jr. for James Posey that would be awesome too. If the Grizzlies wanted Mike Dunleavy Jr. for their #19 with Randolph Morris or some hot project like Roko Leni Ukic left on the board I think that is equally good. I just hope we don't jump the gun and get stuck with another unmoveable contract by extending anyone this offseason. Dunleavy is a fine team player, but I don't really think he's worth the qualifying offer of 6 mil a year for being the #3 overall draft pick in 2002.

 

I would not mind having Posey on this team, but what would we do about Pietrus. He is basically a bigger version of Pietrus. I also would not be against getting their #19 pick, but jeez people; we have enough people on this team that our young guys are getting DNPs. If anything we need to package a guy like Dunleavy, Zarko or Murphy and the #9 pick for 1 person to create more room

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">I would not mind having Posey on this team, but what would we do about Pietrus. He is basically a bigger version of Pietrus. I also would not be against getting their #19 pick, but jeez people; we have enough people on this team that our young guys are getting DNPs. If anything we need to package a guy like Dunleavy, Zarko or Murphy and the #9 pick for 1 person to create more room</div>
C: Foyle, Biedrins
PF: Murphy, Zarko, draft pick
SF: James Posey, Dunleavy
SG: Richardson, Pietrus
PG: Baron Davis, Derek Fisher, draft pick

I'm not really following Mullin's plan at all. Essentially, Dunleavy wouldn't be in it and I'd try to move him before the deadline or just let him walk. Posey would take over for him with Pietrus as our version of Manu Ginobili off the bench or when Richardson needs to rest. Pietrus isn't going to start at small forward until that shoulder thing of his heals up because at small forward he will be taxed by the bigger and bulkier players that are taller, stronger and longer than him. Pietrus doesn't have enough bulk like Bobby Simmons, Joe Johnson or Quentin Richardson to play small forward full time. The difference between a 215 pound player and a 235 pounder can be quite a lot. Pietrus can always bulk up, but his greatest asset is his ability to beat players off the dribble using his quickness and it already seems like his body was meant for the shooting guard position. Plus, if Richardson works on his point guard skills this summer and is beyond expectations, he could play some point while Pietrus mans the two and Posey mans the 3.

Unless Pietrus gets bulkier or Richardson grows taller, we're stuck in a void at guarding the three spot because we know Dunleavy struggles and so does Zarko when forced to play smaller. There is no way in moving Murphy because he's a poison pill contract in the offseason.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Richardson could play SF IMO. He is 6'6 (at least thats what hes listed at) which isn't too short and pretty damn buff for a SG, rebounds well, posts up alot, has a pretty good wingspan, etc. Desmond Mason is listed at 6'5 and 8 pounds less than J-Rich and Quentin Richardson is 6'6 and only 5 pounds more. Q is normally a SG but played SF the whole year pretty well. Obviously it isn't ideal to have J-Rich at SF but Pietrus will have to start sometime and i'd rather keep J and Pietrus than have to ship one of them off.</div>

I can tell you right now Jrich is not even 6'4". He is not listed at 6'6" anymore either. Pietrus is taller than Jrich...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">I can tell you right now Jrich is not even 6'4". He is not listed at 6'6" anymore either. Pietrus is taller than Jrich...</div> Height really doesn't matter unless you're a point guard trying to look over defenders, similar to how quarterbacks in football need to see over their linemen. It's not a requirement, but it helps. Doug Flutie didn't need the height to be an effective QB starting or off the bench. For guys like Jrich or Pietrus it's all about the wingspan, mainly. For those that don't know, wingspan is the distance between the very tip of your extremities when you have your arms completely spread out. if that measurement is bigger than you are tall, it means you have a long wingspan. If you can alter a person's shot while standing further away, it definitely helps, because you can play off your defender instead of getting too close and having him beat you on the angles. Also, you can keep the ball further away in the post and lower on the dribble so you can protect the ball better with your body. Also, this is why I'm not sold on Wayne Simien being more than just a scorer or a Kmart type player, because he doesn't alter or block shots that well and he's not even a long 6'8" like some of these other players. Kmart, Elton Brand probably play a lot bigger because they have the wingspan of players who are 6'11 or 7' feet tall and defenders can't reach for the ball easily. I think Wayne Simen is justified where he is as a late first round because he is the nation's best post scorer when healthy. He's got a lot of moves.

Anyway, I'm digressing. Jrich could play small forward since he plays like a forward anyway, but he needs to pack on more weight to hang with other small forwards. He's about 220 or 225. An ideal small forward should be around 230-240. Not that much difference, but still.I think he'll get killed by Carmelo Anthony or Lebron James who are stronger, quicker and longer than him. Jrich would have to work so hard to defend bigger players, it might take away his energy on offense. I also like Jrich has abilities to shoot over most guards and post them up and basically outmuscle them. Kobe Bryant couldn't even defend Jrich in the post even though he worked his way up to 225 or 230 lbs this season.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Richardson could play SF IMO. He is 6'6 (at least thats what hes listed at) which isn't too short and pretty damn buff for a SG, rebounds well, posts up alot, has a pretty good wingspan, etc. Desmond Mason is listed at 6'5 and 8 pounds less than J-Rich and Quentin Richardson is 6'6 and only 5 pounds more. Q is normally a SG but played SF the whole year pretty well. Obviously it isn't ideal to have J-Rich at SF but Pietrus will have to start sometime and i'd rather keep J and Pietrus than have to ship one of them off.</div> Both Milwaukee and the Suns have have a different philosophy when it comes to defense... But that lineup of Pietrus at the two guard spot and Richardson at the three would be fun to watch. If we played small like that full time, I don't think we'd ever go back to playing defense ever again. Ourfg% allowed is a testament to how bad our D is, but maybe it might be better with a 3rd year vet Pietrus on the floor.

http://www.basketballreference.com/teams/t...htm?tm=GSW&lg=n

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">I can tell you right now Jrich is not even 6'4". He is not listed at 6'6" anymore either. Pietrus is taller than Jrich...</div> <font color="DarkSlateBlue">JRich measured in at </font><font size="-1"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">6-4 3/4 without shoes, 6-6 with... which is how NBA players are measured.</font>
</font>

 

Detroit should be getting some setious inquiries about Darko this offseason. If Detroit would've moved that pick at draft day they would've gotten so much more for it than Darko. I wonder what it'd take to pick him up.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CohanHater:</div><div class="quote_post">Detroit should be getting some setious inquiries about Darko this offseason. If Detroit would've moved that pick at draft day they would've gotten so much more for it than Darko. I wonder what it'd take to pick him up.</div>
Darko seemed like a good pick to any team wanting a big man that was talented in so many ways. He was athletic, aggressive, creative, and well coordinated for his size and he could see the floor well, shoot, rebound, block shots, pass and dribble the ball. If you had a guy that could do it all and was that tall and athletic, that definitely seemed "franchise-worthy" as he could be a quite a player on both ends of the floor and be an inside-outside threat.

Pistons right now don't need to make any moves with Darko since they are already the Champs, and especially since rumor has it that Larry Brown won't coach the Pistons next season. It could be a different team under a new coach and it might be Rasheed or somebody else getting traded before Darko. Therefore trading for him would be next to impossible unless you give them another flexible roster piece that allows them to be sure-fire Champs. Darko is only considered a bust because the Pistons missed out on Melo, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade and all the critics are too impatient to realize that big men take a while to get better anyway, because of the strength condiontiong required and especially players that entered the game playing sporadic minutes and at the young age of only 18 or 19. If Darko is as competitive as they say, he'll be an important player.