We worked him out this week, apparently, and I'm wondering why. Surely we're not hoping he'll slip, because that won't happen, not to 25 anyway. Are we thinking about trading up? Otherwise I don't see a lot of point in working him out. Either way I don't want him, just found it interesting.
http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/christaft.asp I dont think we'll get him unless we do trade up, he seems like something we need..Maybe we will trade Radman or Forton for someone + that pick..I dont know why we are workin him out tho, maybe Seattle has somethin up their sleeves. Where did u read about us working him out?..interesting..site please?
Chad Ford mentioned it on Insider (we worked him out this week along with Utah and New York) and I also read it somewhere else, but I cannae remember where.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Taft will be drafted around 12-15. I seriously doubt the Sonics will get him at #25.</div> Of course they won't, which is why I'm wondering why we would have worked him out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course they won't, which is why I'm wondering why we would have worked him out.</div> Teams work out all sorts of players regarless of whether or not they'll be available where they are picking. This happens every year. They want to see if there is anyone out there special enough to trade up or down for. That's all; nothing more to it.
Fair enough, it just strikes me as odd that we'd go to the trouble of looking at a power forward prospect, especially one with the supposed baggage of Taft.
Rick Sund has always been enamored with lively bigs who can block shots. That is one of the reasons why he offered Calvin Booth such an absurd deal. I've seen a lot from Taft being from Pittsburgh and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him drop. There is a lot of hype behind him with little substance. He was the third best player on Pitt last year. Anyone who drafts this kid is going to be very disappointed. We do have to consider a power forward considering that Reggie may leave and that Collison and Fortson's deal is only until 2007. I would say that our primary position of need would be small forward (if Ray returns) but I wouldn't be upset if we drafted another big this season. Not too much to pick from but maybe look at a Ryan Gomes or a Ike Diagu. We've had some success with tweeners.
Since we?re getting closer to resign Allen I don?t see the Sonics trading up. I don?t know if Taft is an spectacular player. Expect the Sonics to take a look at Simien if he?s there at 25.
There should be a fair bit of talent available in the second round too - Diogu, Gomes and Turiaf are all a chance to slip into the second half of the draft, it's just a question of whether they'd last until the first of our second rounders.
Lawrence Roberts could also be a good late pick. 6'9 power forward with 4 years experience at Mississippi State, could be a good bench contributor right away. Good fundamentally sound guy. That said, if any of those three guys you mentioned dropped to us I would be ecstatic.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sonicman:</div><div class="quote_post">Since we?re getting closer to resign Allen I don?t see the Sonics trading up. I don?t know if Taft is an spectacular player. Expect the Sonics to take a look at Simien if he?s there at 25.</div> Love Simien but dont really know if we need him very much. Collision is are starter at pf next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Taft is apparently stinking it up in workouts. DraftCity</div> Sounds like another Chris...Washburn.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Teams work out all sorts of players regarless of whether or not they'll be available where they are picking. This happens every year. They want to see if there is anyone out there special enough to trade up or down for. That's all; nothing more to it.</div> Exactly.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Taft's first contract may be his last.</div> You mean "huge bust danger"?
Apparently is free falling on most draft boards, now even potentially below Simien (who has allegedly measured taller than first though) and Diogu (who has measured a wingspan somewhere between 7'3 and 7'5). It seems Diogu creamed him to the point of embarrassment in a private one-on-one workout for Golden State recently, too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Apparently is free falling on most draft boards, now even potentially below Simien (who has allegedly measured taller than first though) and Diogu (who has measured a wingspan somewhere between 7'3 and 7'5). It seems Diogu creamed him to the point of embarrassment in a private one-on-one workout for Golden State recently, too.</div> Diogu is going to be a really good pick for whoever takes him, especially late in the first round. I'd rather have Diogu than Simien, Taft, or Frye...the only knock on him is his height and like you said Nick, he plays above his size with his huge wingspan. If the Sonics go big in this draft, I think we should definitely have Ike at the top of our boards.
