With the season ending on such a disappointing note, let's talk about a more optimistic subject: the NBA Draft. The Grizzlies currently have the #24 pick in the first round and are without a second round draft choice. The great thing about this draft is that while it may be weak at the top, it's deep, to the point where at #24, we could get a player that's just as talented as the #10 pick. What do we need? - Defense. - Point guard help; preferably a pass-first, true point guard. - Size; preferably someone with some bulk. My Top Players Possibly Available (based on our needs): 1) Mardy Collins - Patient, good decision making point guard who plays lockdown defense; sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Small chance he's available at #24. 2) Cedric Simmons - A 6-10 big man who'll likely be able to play PF and C on the next level; raw offensively but a great defender, especially as far as shotblocking is concerned. Small chance he's available at #24. 3) Jordan Farmar - Not as good of a defender as Collins but a better playmaker and more of a true point guard. Good chance he's available at #24. 4) Leon Powe - He's had knee problems, but if he checks out medically, he'd be a steal. He's amazingly strong, explosive, and athletic. His long wingspan makes up for being undersized for a PF at 6-7. Very good chance he's available at #24. 5) Kyle Lowry - He could be a liability on the offensive end, as he lacks a consistent jumper of his own and isn't an amazing playmaker, but he's like Earl Watson in terms of the on-ball defense he plays. Depending on workouts, decent chance he's available at #24. 6) Saer Sene - After seeing him live, I can attest to the fact that his offensive game is very, very raw. However, he's a great shot blocker, has great defensive instincts, and with his huge frame, he could develop into one of the better defenders in the NBA. Good chance he's available at #24. 7) Dee Brown - Not exactly what we're looking for in terms of a playmaker, but his defense is much better than what Bobby Jackson and Chucky Atkins bring to the table. Very good chance he's available at #24. 8) Paul Millsap - Undersized for a PF at 6-7 and from a small conference but still an intriguing prospect because of the intensity with which he rebounds; his size could limit him defensively on the next level, but in college he was a decent defender. Good chance he's available at #24. 9) Eric Hicks - Only 6-6, but if he were three inches taller, you'd likely see him going in the top ten. He's arguably the best rebounder, best interior defender, and toughest player in the entire draft. His size is a huge issue though. Pretty much guaranteed he's available at #24. 10) Rajon Rondo - He's amazingly quick, and his huge wingspan makes it so that he gets a lot of steals, but he's not exactly a pure point guard; shaky decision maker. Decent chance he's available at #24.
How bout someone like Paul Davis, I think he'll be there at the 24th pick. He's a post player that could be very good, that everyone is overlooking. He's been improving a lot the last 2 years, considering he was a bust until Final Four Run. It also would put a smile on VC's face considering he's getting a player from his favorite college team. I wouldn't be shocked if somehow J.J. Redick slips though, he'd be a steal IMO this late. I really like Lowry, he'd be a stronger version of AI in a few years. He's pretty young too, considering he's only a sophomore. A name that I could see being called here on draft day is, perhaps Sergio Rodriguez. He's be an insane pick for the Grizz, talent wise he's good but I hear he's the 2nd coming of Jay Williams You want size, pass first PG, a true PG, watchout here he comes, the 2nd coming of Milt. Mustafa means "The Great One', so no fear, Mustafa Shakur is here. He's just wanting a guarantee to be drafted, tell him you'll give him money even if he isn't drafted. Mustafa Shakur has height and the potential to be much like an Antonio Daniels type player. You should definitely consider him, if you want a playmaker, minor warning. He can be the top PG Prospect like he was in his class better than Shannon Brown but he can also be making very dumb decisions trying to force stuff over driving and stuff. Well I hope you guys like my opinion, you need some more fans here man.....
Can't stand Paul Davis. I really don't see what the big deal is with this guy. The guy is decent on offense, but lacks hard toughness to attack the glass relentlessly. Also he's too foul prone and looks to set the record to foul out in most games. Here's a draft board link so everybody can keep up on the latest news on future draftees and how they are doing in the pre-draft camps. www.draftexpress.com
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Cold Eclipse:</div><div class="quote_post">Can't stand Paul Davis. I really don't see what the big deal is with this guy. The guy is decent on offense, but lacks hard toughness to attack the glass relentlessly. Also he's too foul prone and looks to set the record to foul out in most games. Here's a draft board link so everybody can keep up on the latest news on future draftees and how they are doing in the pre-draft camps. www.draftexpress.com</div> Channing Frye was foul prone in college too! Everything you say except for the decent offense, is what Channing Frye was in college. Sure he could block shots but half the time he was on the bench! Paul Davis will be a role player in the NBA BTW--VC and others here no about draftexpress, I'm on their forum too....
Do you write articles on draftexpress or you read the board like the majority of us? And Channing Frye is better than Davis. Better defense and better offense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">How bout someone like Paul Davis, I think he'll be there at the 24th pick. He's a post player that could be very good, that everyone is overlooking. He's been improving a lot the last 2 years, considering he was a bust until Final Four Run. It also would put a smile on VC's face considering he's getting a player from his favorite college team.</div> I didn't consider Paul Davis for the Grizzlies' pick just because he didn't seem realistic. His size, shooting touch, and just overall instincts should make him a good pro, but considering we're emphasising defense this offseason, and that's the biggest hole in Davis' game, I just don't see us biting on him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't be shocked if somehow J.J. Redick slips though, he'd be a steal IMO this late. I really like Lowry, he'd be a stronger version of AI in a few years. He's pretty young too, considering he's only a sophomore. A name that I could see being called here on draft day is, perhaps Sergio Rodriguez. He's be an insane pick for the Grizz, talent wise he's good but I hear he's the 2nd coming of Jay Williams </div> You might not be shocked if Redick slipped to #24, but I sure as hell would be. I just don't see it happening; we'd probably have to trade up to get him, which wouldn't make much sense because we're overloaded on the wing. Comparing Lowry to Allen Iverson is really exaggerating his talent, especially on the offensive end, but that wouldn't stop me from picking him at #24. We're not looking for an Allen Iverson this late in the draft. We just want a replacement for Bobby Jackson and Chucky Atkins who will do what they never did: defend and make plays. Lowry might not be the ideal playmaker, but he'd be the best defensive option at this point. I didn't include Sergio Rodriguez on the list because I don't anticipate that he'll stay in the draft. However, if he does, I'd jump him to #1 on my list. I can see the comparison to Jason Williams, because he often plays out of control and plays with that 'streetball' style, but that's tolerable; what's not tolerable is a point guard who thinks shoot-first and doesn't play defense like Bobby Jackson ro Chucky Atkins. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Cold Eclipse:</div><div class="quote_post">And Channing Frye is better than Davis. Better defense and better offense.</div> I wouldn't necessarily say that Frye is a better player than Davis, because I think that Davis is more complete offensively. He may not be what the Grizzlies are looking for on the defensive end of the floor, but can Frye hit the mid-range jumper like him, or for that matter, can Frye score with his back to the basket like Davis can? To both questions, I'd have to answer 'no'.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't necessarily say that Frye is a better player than Davis, because I think that Davis is more complete offensively. He may not be what the Grizzlies are looking for on the defensive end of the floor, but can Frye hit the mid-range jumper like him, or for that matter, can Frye score with his back to the basket like Davis can? To both questions, I'd have to answer 'no'.</div> You never seen Frye's hook? He puts Karim to shame He's better defensively but I think they'd be even in talent, but I think Frye has more potential.....
I think we should draft Paul Davis , that 6-10 guy.we need some real-tough guys for frountcourt.we all have seen that Warrick isn't the right guy.Grizzlies lost against Spurs , Suns and Mavs in a row in playoffs.it is a real experience but now we hate to put some real good stuff on it.if we really want a higher step --and i know we want -- we should get tough and min-average talented players in frontcourt. if he isn't available Saer Sene would be suitable for us.hey guys , he has a 7'8'' wingspan!! woahh!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Weezer:</div><div class="quote_post">I think we should draft Paul Davis , that 6-10 guy.we need some real-tough guys for frountcourt.we all have seen that Warrick isn't the right guy.Grizzlies lost against Spurs , Suns and Mavs in a row in playoffs.it is a real experience but now we hate to put some real good stuff on it.if we really want a higher step --and i know we want -- we should get tough and min-average talented players in frontcourt. if he isn't available Saer Sene would be suitable for us.hey guys , he has a 7'8'' wingspan!! woahh!</div> Hey, welcome to JBB! It's great to see another Grizz' fan on the forum... About Davis, even though I didn't have him on my list, I'd still be happy if we drafted him. He won't fix our defensive problems, but we can fix those holes through free agency and trade. One of the big things about Davis that I forgot to mention earlier too is that he shoots nearly 90% from the line. Whenever you have a big man who can shoot like Nash or Redick from the line, you've got a very valuable commodity. He just needs to be more aggressive offensively and start to use that to his advantage, because at Michigan State he didn't really get to the line enough.
After the Grizzlies were swept in the playoffs, Jerry West said he's going to bring in a killer option to play alongside Pau Gasol. Memphis also needs to boost it's ticket sales, and one player who's been mentioned in the rumor mill is Allen Iverson. Hard to imagine Iverson in anything, but a 76er jersey, but he would address both needs. Eddie Jones expiring contract is going to be the bargaining chip to land a disgruntled superstar in the offseason. Some other names who could be made available or are currently available: Stephon Marbury Steve Francis (there would be some irony if he ended up with the Grizzlies) Corey Maggette Ray Allen Vince Carter Jason Kidd Antawn Jamison Zach Randolph Darius Miles Jamaal Magloire Both Kidd and Carter are longshots, it really depends on how far they can go in the playoffs this year. If they show some signs, the Nets will keep the team together for another run next season with the Kidd, Carter, Jefferson trio. If they get embarassed in the Miami series like they did in Game 2, we could see some changes made. Assuming Jerry West lands one of these high profile scorers, the Grizzlies are going to need a shotblocker, because a lot of them give up dribble penetration with regularity. This draft class has quite a few big men with shot blocking and athleticism. Hilton Armstrong Saer Sene Cedric Simmons Shelden Williams Ryan Hollins
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">After the Grizzlies were swept in the playoffs, Jerry West said he's going to bring in a killer option to play alongside Pau Gasol. Memphis also needs to boost it's ticket sales, and one player who's been mentioned in the rumor mill is Allen Iverson. Hard to imagine Iverson in anything, but a 76er jersey, but he would address both needs. Eddie Jones expiring contract is going to be the bargaining chip to land a disgruntled superstar in the offseason. Some other names who could be made available or are currently available: Stephon Marbury Steve Francis (there would be some irony if he ended up with the Grizzlies) Corey Maggette Ray Allen Vince Carter Jason Kidd Antawn Jamison Zach Randolph Darius Miles Jamaal Magloire Both Kidd and Carter are longshots, it really depends on how far they can go in the playoffs this year. If they show some signs, the Nets will keep the team together for another run next season with the Kidd, Carter, Jefferson trio. If they get embarassed in the Miami series like they did in Game 2, we could see some changes made. Assuming Jerry West lands one of these high profile scorers, the Grizzlies are going to need a shotblocker, because a lot of them give up dribble penetration with regularity. This draft class has quite a few big men with shot blocking and athleticism. Hilton Armstrong Saer Sene Cedric Simmons Shelden Williams Ryan Hollins</div> I would kill to get a lot of those guys you mentioned Shape, especially Kidd, Iverson, and Randolph. How are we going to acquire them without dealing Gasol though? Eddie Jones' contract really only has so much worth. Usually the only teams who trade away their franchise player for an expiring contract are teams who have hit rock bottom and are looking to completely rebuild, and out of all players on the league's bottomfeeders, the only one that intrigues me is Randolph. As for those shotblockers, please no Hilton Armstrong or Ryan Hollins, especially not in the first round; that's just a ridiculous waste of a pick ala Robert Archibald. Shelden Williams would be great, but there's only about a 0.1% chance he slips to us right now, and depending on workouts, it looks like Cedric Simmons could be in the same boat, so Saer Sene is the best one of the players you named I guess. However, I'd still take Farmar or Lowry over Sene even if we were able to get Kidd or Francis. You have to be concerned about Kidd's age, and Francis is more of a two guard in a one's body, so both would be "safe" picks at #24. We've really got more size in the frontcourt than the rebounding numbers show; Fratello just refuses to play Roberts and Tsakalidis, but they're both capable of more than anything Sene could give us in his first few seasons.
Zach Randolph would be sweet next to Gasol down there in Memphis, plus VC would freak if they got a former Spartan. AI in Memphis would be sweet, but I wouldn't expect a future HOF leaving the only city he's been in his whole career. Marbury and Maggette would be the only other ones that I'd expect to go to Memphis. I really would like to see Saer Sene go to Memphis after he tore up Memphis in that HS All-star game he played in there. He's averaging a near triple-double when he plays in Memphis
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">I really would like to see Saer Sene go to Memphis after he tore up Memphis in that HS All-star game he played in there. He's averaging a near triple-double when he plays in Memphis </div> I'm worried about Sene's offensive abilities. I saw him up close and personal when he came to Memphis, and he looks like he might be a liability on offense in the NBA because he really lacks any fundamentals whatsoever. He wound up with 15 points, but most of them were either putbacks or fastbreak points. He couldn't create for himself in the post. Like I said earlier, we've already got size. Roberts and Tsakalidis are very servicable. Fratello just doesn't play them, so why would he play Sene? It makes more sense to me to get a point guard. As for the trades, I'm making an offseason trade thread as we speak...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm worried about Sene's offensive abilities. I saw him up close and personal when he came to Memphis, and he looks like he might be a liability on offense in the NBA because he really lacks any fundamentals whatsoever. He wound up with 15 points, but most of them were either putbacks or fastbreak points. He couldn't create for himself in the post. Like I said earlier, we've already got size. Roberts and Tsakalidis are very servicable. Fratello just doesn't play them, so why would he play Sene? It makes more sense to me to get a point guard. As for the trades, I'm making an offseason trade thread as we speak... </div> Well, I really like his potential, if I were a team that drafts him, I'd get a big man that could help him out. Or hire a personal coach for him, someone like Kareem, Ewing, or even some guy that had fundamentals. I still think Paul Davis would be good for you guys.
http://www.draftexpress.com/workout.php?sort=0&pid=0&tid=18 VC has been slacking but you guys have some upcoming workouts, all 2nd round players so far......
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">http://www.draftexpress.com/workout.php?sort=0&pid=0&tid=18 VC has been slacking but you guys have some upcoming workouts, all 2nd round players so far......</div> How have I been slacking you pompous jerk? I made this thread, but it's not my duty to update it. Besides, since when do we even have a second round pick? The only player who even merits consideration in this lot is Kevin Pittsnogle, but he's exactly the opposite of what we're looking for.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">How have I been slacking you pompous jerk? I made this thread, but it's not my duty to update it. Besides, since when do we even have a second round pick? The only player who even merits consideration in this lot is Kevin Pittsnogle, but he's exactly the opposite of what we're looking for. </div> Sorry man, I was j/k.....you didn't have a 2nd rounder last year but you guys still got Lawerence Roberts
I wish Sene was a little more refined and ready to contribute on the offensive end but if that where true he wouldn't even last to the 24th pick. I really agree with Mardy Collins if he is available. Very nice PG prospect w/ height. He is a great competitor and if needed will take over a game. No fear in taking it to the basket.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bodiddly14:</div><div class="quote_post">I wish Sene was a little more refined and ready to contribute on the offensive end but if that where true he wouldn't even last to the 24th pick. I really agree with Mardy Collins if he is available. Very nice PG prospect w/ height. He is a great competitor and if needed will take over a game. No fear in taking it to the basket.</div> I have to agree with everything you've said, but I'm not really too worried about Sene being 'raw' on the offensive end. Like you said, if he weren't he'd be picked much higher, but with Gasol in the post, we've got plenty of options as far as interior scoring goes. We need some toughness and help on the glass though, an area which Sene could really give us a boost at. What would everyone think about just drafting the best player available? It might be smarter to draft someone like James White, Maurice Ager, or Richard Roby than to reach for someone like Craig Smith or Leon Powe just because he fits our team needs better. Honestly, does anyone think our #24 pick will get any significant playing time next year anyway? Hakim Warrick was a steal at #19, and he barely gets off the bench this season, so that makes me think that maybe team needs shouldn't be the most important aspect of this draft, because in two or three years when they finally get playing time, we'll have completely different team needs.
If either one of these guys drops into the second round I wouldn't be suprised to JW go make a trade like he did last year for Roberts. I personally would like to see both of them in a Grizz uniform next year. Another player if they drop this far that I think would be a nice pick...Tiago Splitter. Yes, thats right another kid from spain to go with Gasol...doubt he will drop this far but it would be a gift.
