<div class="quote_poster">Quoting taurus515th:</div><div class="quote_post">im taking a sign language class. ill hopefully tape it and watch it from the beginning. wut time does it start.</div> The draft is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.
Bulls #2 Draft Pick Projections NBA.com- Adam Morrison Draft Express- LaMarcus Aldridge SI.com- Tyrus Thomas ESPN Insider- Tyrus Thomas Sportsline- Tyrus Thomas Inside Hoops- Tyrus Thomas Fanball- Tyrus Thomas ProBasketballNews- LaMarcus Aldridge CollegeHoops.net- Tyrus Thomas Sports Insider and Inside Hoops are the only ones that have LaMarcus Aldridge going #1, so most of them think we'll draft Tyrus Thomas even with Aldridge on the board. I'm pretty surprised that most of these sites have us picking Thomas. They probably know more about what's happening with the teams, so I'm worried because I want Aldridge.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SP23:</div><div class="quote_post">Bulls #2 Draft Pick Projections NBA.com- Adam Morrison Draft Express- LaMarcus Aldridge SI.com- Tyrus Thomas ESPN Insider- Tyrus Thomas Sportsline- Tyrus Thomas Inside Hoops- Tyrus Thomas Fanball- Tyrus Thomas ProBasketballNews- LaMarcus Aldridge CollegeHoops.net- Tyrus Thomas Sports Insider and Inside Hoops are the only ones that have LaMarcus Aldridge going #1, so most of them think we'll draft Tyrus Thomas even with Aldridge on the board. I'm pretty surprised that most of these sites have us picking Thomas. They probably know more about what's happening with the teams, so I'm worried because I want Aldridge.</div> The Bulls could have done an excellent job of creating a smokescreen around their true intentions. Often times teams try to lead fans/media to believe one thing, and then come out with a completely different pick. If Aldridge and Thomas are on the board I personally think we would be stupid to pass up Aldridge. In Paxson I trust though so whatever his choice is I will support it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">What is next years draft shaping up to be like? Good, bad, ugly, great?</div> Next years class is looking pretty good Greg Oden, Joakim Noah, the other three members of Florida's fab four, Glen Davis, Curtis Sumpter, Randle from Illinois, etc. it's really deep and filled with talent.
too bad the knicks will do better this year they're more likely to not stink as much next season oh well i dont think the raptors will trade the pick, i dont think anyone wants that no1 pick THAT much and the pressure from bosh to pick aldridge...doubt we'll get thomas, but we'll see, time will tell
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NaKz:</div><div class="quote_post">too bad the knicks will do better this year</div> Don't be so sure of that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Next years class is looking pretty good Greg Oden, Joakim Noah, the other three members of Florida's fab four, Glen Davis, Curtis Sumpter, Randle from Illinois, etc. it's really deep and filled with talent.</div> I hope the Knicks pick is #1 so we can get Oden. But, it's interesting to see if he comes out his freshmen year because he's going to miss half the season with the wrist injury according to that article posted.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Next years class is looking pretty good Greg Oden, Joakim Noah, the other three members of Florida's fab four, Glen Davis, Curtis Sumpter, Randle from Illinois, etc. it's really deep and filled with talent.</div> Not to mention Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Brandan Wright, Kevin Durant, Javaris Crittenton, Darrell Arthur, Daequan Cook and the Lopez'. Could be as good as '02. Do you guys have the Knicks pick for next year too?
I think the Knicks will be improved next year. Not because they have a better team, and not because Isiah is a better coach than Larry. Simply because the players will actually play for Isiah, and give 100% something they did not do for Larry. With that said I think they will get about 30-39 wins next season, and that’s good enough to get us a top ten lottery pick. If that happens I will be more than happy. I don’t think we get Oden.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Not to mention Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Brandan Wright, Kevin Durant, Javaris Crittenton, Darrell Arthur, Daequan Cook and the Lopez'. Could be as good as '02. Do you guys have the Knicks pick for next year too?</div> Can't really say they'll be in next year's draft class because they'll only be freshmen and I'm guessing most aren't going to come out.
RealGM's Mock Draft <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2. Tyrus Thomas Power Forward. LSU Thomas can become a hybrid forward and excel at either position because of his athleticism and timing. Sure, he?s rawer than a decomposed hunk of meat left in the desert, on offense, but he has the tools to be a dominant player in the NBA. Should he have stayed in college and let his game progress? Yes. But when there are hounds of people saying you are a lock for being a #1 pick, why not go for it? He has a lot to work on, but the Bulls can let him develop a little bit off the bench while they go after a temporary replacement at the 4 spot. I cannot see the Bulls taking Thomas, and if they do, a trade is involved. But if no trade is involved, then Chicago gets a kid who can become a dominant player on defense as well as a very effective player on offense. It?s just ahrd to see this pick because he says he?s a 3 and the Bulls have two stellar small forwards. They have the defense and rebounding machine in Andres ?Shaggy/The Nightwolf? Nocioni and the all-around scorer in Luol Deng. But players can be dealt in this league and Thomas is the type of potential-laden player the Bulls can draft and let him grow enough without having to force the issue.</div> Source Don't really get their explanation, unless that's just who they think the Bulls will take, but they don't think that's the choice for them.
I have yet to see one solid reason fro any of these mock drafts to why we should take Thomas over Aldridge. I was watching a Comcast Sportsnet pre-draft show, and they showed a mock that ESPN made recently that had us picking Aldridge, and the Raptors picking Bargnani first. Aldridge makes a lot of sense, but Thomas makes zero to none. Especially after he said he is a true small forward, and not a power forward.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the Knicks will be improved next year. Not because they have a better team, and not because Isiah is a better coach than Larry. Simply because the players will actually play for Isiah, and give 100% something they did not do for Larry. With that said I think they will get about 30-39 wins next season, and that?s good enough to get us a top ten lottery pick. If that happens I will be more than happy. I don?t think we get Oden.</div> that is correct they will listen to Isiah more then they did Larry.
SportsCenter Mock Top Five 1. Bargnani 2. Aldridge (yay) 3. Roy 4. Morrison 5. S. Williams They have Thomas going at number six to Minnesota.
Looking at Toronto's moves the last week, i think our chances of getting Aldridge have become bigger the last few days. Chris Bosh was reacting badly to the news they wanted to draft a perimeter player (Bargnani) by saying they have enough finesse players and need an inside banger. So what does Colangelo do: He trades 2 of his small forwards (bonner and eric williams) for Nesterovic. Now he can argue to Bosh that they got the center they needed, and that they need a new SF. Hello Bargnani or Morison. And we can welcome Aldridge
Please don't get my hopes up. I already got Vince Young, I couldn't possibly have two draft picks that I want in one year.
A ton of mixed messages coming out today from the draft scene Bulls To Take Tyrus <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Bulls appear to have settled on LSU forward Tyrus Thomas as their choice with the second pick of Wednesday?s NBA draft. The only roadblock would be if Thomas is taken No. 1, and there is talk that Michael Jordan might be angling to do just that. Toronto owns the top pick but may be willing to move down a few slots, where the Raptors still would be able to select Italy?s 7-foot Andrea Bargnani. Charlotte has the third pick and for the past several months, conventional wisdom had the Bobcats searching for a scorer and eyeing Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, who averaged 28.1 points in college last season.</div> Source Aldridge, Roy to go in Top 2 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NBA agent Arn Tellem might know something about the Bulls' plans for Wednesday's draft. Tellem represents Texas big man LaMarcus Aldridge and Washington guard Brandon Roy, both of whom are considerations for the Bulls with the No. 2 pick in the draft. Tellem pulled both Aldridge and Roy out of workouts last week with the Charlotte Bobcats, indicating both players have promises from teams at the top of the draft. That move has led to speculation that the Toronto Raptors at No. 1 and the Bulls at No. 2 have pledged to draft Aldridge and Roy, respectively. "I know where they're going," Tellem said Sunday. </div> Source Raptors to Take Bargnani <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Lacking a consensus first overall pick and dealing with the decision to prevent high school players from being selected, Wednesday's NBA draft has been described as diluted. But that doesn't mean it won't be exciting. Toronto hasn't decided what it will do with the first overall selection, and mock drafts have Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge going anywhere from first to sixth. "I think you really could see just about any combination in the top five or six, and that's made for some very interesting talks," said Marty Blake, who runs the NBA's scouting service and will be involved in his 54th draft. "If you're picking third or fourth, you generally have an idea who is falling to you, and that's just not the case this year." The Raptors appear to have zeroed in on 6-10 Italian forward Andrea Bargnani and even hired his team's general manager ? Maurizio Gherardini ? last week as their new assistant GM. Still, Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo said he hasn't made any decision after working out several players, including Aldridge. </div> Source
John Paxson Interview Part 2 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In the second half of John Paxson?s comments on NBA Draft 2006, the Bulls? general manager discusses the possibility of trading one or both of the team?s draft picks, intriguing Italian big man Andrea Bargnani, and countering against the Eastern Conference?s best players and teams. What did you think of Roy?s workout? ?It was really good. Brandon?s a good player. He?s very talented, knows how to play, and does a lot of good things on the floor. He?s a four-year guy who has a strong, athletic body, and he?s a very good player.? Can you tell us about the last week in going back and reviewing everyone, their medical records, and double and triple checking everything? ?This week we spent a lot of time in the conference room as a group, watching the players that we?ve had in. That usually leads to discussion about a lot of different things and how we want this team to go forward. We?ve had great debates about this draft?at the top and at 16. That?s all healthy; it helps me process the information and we?ll continue to do that until the draft. We?ll meet and look over the medical testing that we?ve done and we?ll look at the psychological testing too. I?ll have to have my mind made up by Wednesday night. For me, it?s kind of about letting all this information sink in and then coming up with what I think is the best decision for the organization.? Do you know what you would do right now at number two, depending on what Toronto does at number one? ?I think it is still open to debate. I think that this draft is not that clear-cut, and all of us would sleep a little easier at night if it were. But that?s part of the fun of it. We?ve gone over a ton of scenarios; every team does that. The great thing about being number two is that we know we?re going to get a guy we like there. That?s a real positive. Still, I want to be able to make the decision that I think will help us the most. In some ways, this might be a chance to take a shot at something that maybe we wouldn?t ordinarily do. We?ve got good young talent and we were a playoff team last year. I know we?re going to have to make changes because everyone is trying to get better?and a lot of teams will step up and try and make deals that will get them better?but I like the position we?re in. I really do.? What do you mean by saying you might do something you wouldn?t ordinarily do? ?Just that we could take a flyer on something if we choose to. There is still a possibility of moving that pick if we decide at the end of the day that we would be better off having a veteran that can help us more immediately than a young guy can. I keep those options open. I?ve had discussions with people and we have a lot of time left to break this down. There?s no urgency to do something right now. I talk to teams about that and it?s something they sense. If the situation is right, why not take a shot at it?? How high has the interest been in the 2nd pick? ?It?s been pretty good. But when you get down to it, people can say that they have an interest in it, but when it comes down to putting something down and making a strong pitch, that?s a whole different story. As I?ve found out over the last three years, if that?s going to happen, it usually doesn?t happen until pretty soon before the draft.? What are your thoughts on potentially trading the 16th pick? ?We actually like 16. We think that we?re going to get something there, whether it be a position that we need or a younger player that we are intrigued by that might make sense for the future. I like 16 to be honest with you, and I think it?s going to be a good pick to have. There are a lot of players in the 14-18 range who we like. That?s a pick that, maybe more than anything, we won?t worry about position. We?ll take the guy that we really like.? </div> Source
