<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ARGUABLY THE best center in the draft, Patrick O'Bryant might be available when the Warriors make their pick two weeks from tonight. If they are stuck with the ninth overall selection in the upcoming NBA draft and the Bradley center is there, the Warriors have to take him. Even if O'Bryant never sniffs an All-Star Game, the wisdom of the choice is beyond question. He's 7-foot, 250 pounds, with an 89-inch wingspan. He doesn't turn 20 until next Tuesday. He has good feet, good hands and prefers the low block, where he has a nice drop step and a respectable jump hook. In a league of mostly unremarkable centers, O'Bryant could develop into one of the five best. How does such a player get past the first eight teams? He might not. Atlanta, which has the No.5 pick, makes some odd decisions, routinely defying projection. Boston, which picks seventh, liked what it saw during a workout. O'Bryant could be this year's version of Channing Frye, the Arizona center who left the 2005 NCAA tournament projected to go in the middle of the first round but ended up going No.8 overall.But if O'Bryant is there at No.9, it's because he's not an especially physical presence; he needs to hit the weights. There are questions about his assertiveness. His desire rises and dips. He's a good athlete but not freakishly good. Add it all up, and you see why O'Bryant is the Unsure Thing. more... </div> http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_3934793
I could see the Warriors drafting O'Bryant as a true center. Biedrens is more of a small forward and with Murphy at power forward we could have one of the tallest front courts, unless we don't keep the pick and use it as trade bait.
Biedrens is far from being a small forward. I think Murphy is more of a small forward than Biedrens because Beans has no range on his shot. The guy can barely hit free throws. Murphy is one of our best 3 pt shooting players on the team.
I thought about Murph as a SF as well, but he is so slow he couldn't guard anyone, plus he doesn't pass that much or well, and can't handle the rock. I think Biedrins can be a good center in this league, because, as it's been said a thousand times on TV, that the game is changing and these big, lumbering centers we are used to seeing in the past are becoming less important. Andris has the quickness, agressiveness and hands to become our center. He just needs to learn how to stay out of foul trouble, which he started to get in the second half of the year. I still hope we somehow get Gay, staight up Castro Gay. But you can never have too many big guys either.
Biedrins is definitely a center IMO. He has the quickness to play SF but he doesn't have the skills and he is much better suited to stay near the paint as much as possible. Like Jennings said, centers are getting more agile and less bulky and Biedrins seems to fit the mold of a modern day center. I'd love to get Gay too but I think it's very unlikely that he falls to us. I could see Tyrus Thomas falling to 9 though since guys like Patrick O'Bryant, Ronnie Brewer, and Marcus Williams seem to be increasing their stock after workouts and measurements while Thomas may be sinking due to his hieght (6'8 in shoes) and weight (217 lbs.). There's also rumors of Shelden Williams possibly getting promised by Atlanta or Houston and Tiago Splitter might stay in the draft. On draft day I think at least two of Tyrus Thomas, Patrick O'Bryant, Ronnie Brewer, or Marcus Williams would slip to us and they would all be good picks. I'm starting to believe that we may already have a deal in place to move up or move out of the draft. Mullin does do a good job of keeping his operations in secret but there's been no mention of workouts in any articles, interviews of draft prospects, or workout lists I've read other than a mention of someone from GSW being in attendance at a Tyrus Thomas workout where the only other teams were Toronto and Portland. If Mullin does draft a player on draft day he could just be picking for another team and ship the guy off a few hours later. If we don't hear about any guys coming in a second time in the week leading up to the draft then I think it's very likely that Mullin has something worked out.
I'd hate to think we'd stop at Biedrins as center/power forward. I think we need a classic strong, bulky center with some good upside. It's important to have your 5 spot be imposing and intimidating in the paint. I don't really get that from Biedrins. I mean he's got the mean streak, but he's so physically weak. Same could be said about POB, but he's got the type of body that will mature and get much much bigger than Biedrins. Plus, Biedrins as much as I love the guy as a rebounder and shotblocker with the best set of hands and feet for a guy that tall, his free throw shot really annoys me.
You would think he would move over like Fisher does on the Freethrow line to line it up correctly. I could see Taft being an ok C/PF if he's healthy
Taft looked pretty good on defense and in the transition game when he got some minutes. I'm not really sold on POB being much an immediate impact post presence, especially after his pre-draft camp results show him as kind of a slug/stiff (according to those who've read Chad Ford's latest coverage). Trying to find a center that is just dominating athleticism and strength and skillwise is difficult. I guess pre-draft measurements isn't really that accurate because look at how badly Monta Ellis performed in those athletic tests. Ellis pretty much rocks with his quickness and hops in his limited minutes. Taft also did pretty poorly and I'm not sure if Diogu was that impressive. Last year it was guys like Joey Graham and Hakim Warrick were monsters in those athletic/strength tests, if I remember correctly. I'm still hoping for either of these three guys (counting Rudy Gay as already picked): Patrick O'Bryant (can't teach size and he's got great upside and he did well in the NCAA tourney) Sheldon Williams (terrific defensive, team oriented big man, limited upside) Ronnie Brewer (Excellent athlete, all around player).
I agree with those three guys, hopefully there is a fall ala Paul Pierce, and Gay or Thomas falls to us, but it's very doubtful. I'd be ok with trading the pick (if Gay is gone). What did Monta run in the 3/4 court test?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mister Jennings:</div><div class="quote_post">What did Monta run in the 3/4 court test?</div> 3.31. I've heard he was hung over though, he ranked the worst athlete among all the guards in the draft.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mister Jennings:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with those three guys, hopefully there is a fall ala Paul Pierce, and Gay or Thomas falls to us, but it's very doubtful. I'd be ok with trading the pick (if Gay is gone). What did Monta run in the 3/4 court test?</div> 3.31 seconds http://www.elitedraft.net/combinetests.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">3.31. I've heard he was hung over though, he ranked the worst athlete among all the guards in the draft.</div> Aww beat me to it, Run. I wonder what is POB's excuse. He ranked pretty unathletic I heard, but had great measurements. Hope to get links up soon. ---- If this guy is available I say we take him http://www.elitedraft.net/ronniebrewer.html if we can dump a swing guy. If not then http://www.elitedraft.net/sheldenwilliams.html Of course, I'm not entertained with the idea of getting another power forward that plays like Etan Thomas. I want a 6'11 center that plays like Etan Thomas. BTW that site must be old and not updated check out their mocks: http://www.elitedraft.net/mockdrafts.html I noticed some of their descriptions on the players was out of date because Brewer actually can shoot a pretty good three when he's forced to, so his range shouldn't be that bad now.
Elitedraft is down right now so noone of those links work. O'Bryant did test poorly but still wasn't that far behind Saer Sene (theo nly other true C i nthe draft and he's considered very athletic). Heres a nice article from Draftexpress about how the combine results are for the most part irrelevant, they even use Monta as their primary example in the 2005 draft for how misleading the results can be. Based on what I've seen and read about him hes a pretty good athlete for his height but hes not an athletic freak. Brewer's shot is ugly but fairly accurate. He shot 34% from 3 last season on 151 attempts which isn't great but its not bad. Hes not going to be a non-threat from 3 in the NBA.
A big factor is that O'Bryant HAS some bulk,whether he's 250 or a bit more,it's quite a jump from guys like Aldridge,Sene,Simmons who are in the 230 zone. It's often an apples/oranges comparison,they rave about Tyrus" speed + hops,yet what he has at 215 and what is there if he's beefed up to 235 can be a lot different. Some guys were comparing C Simmons and Sheldon W. Yeah,Simmons is a bit speedier,he'as 30 lbs lighter. Beef him up to be a bruiser and he's gonna have LESS hops-speed than Sheldon has. Murphy and Foyle each had more speed-spring when they arrived,20 lbs less than what they play at now. O'Bryant is no lock to be anything major..but with centers,a sure thing goes #1...and only appears every few years.. O'Bryant seems to be motivated and he's young.
I would not label Sheldon W as "limited upside" though he has already gained a lot of the tools and skills other players are projected to (maybe) have(someday). That a guy HAS learned a lot,has applied it,has produced in the big time...says he has learning ability and motivation-and what goy him this far-can take him further. 6-9 is somewhat limiting,but his size is not much different from Amare or Ben Wallace,and they manage. Size and D are ALWAYS things this team wants some more of-which makes Williams-O'Bryant frontrunners. Some other teams are also interested. If BOTH SW and POB are gone-someone else dropped. Brewer is a pretty good alternative,plays nice D,nice overall. While there's hints of some PG or SF in him,he's mainly a fit as a SG...and we have J Rich,Pietrus and even Monta there. I could see us moving J Rich to SF,Dun to the Dun-Dumpster,Monta to backup PG and having Brewer-Pietrus fight over SG minutes. I'd MUCH rather have Brewer than Carney. I really hope we acquire another rd 2...or a couple more if we could move Foyle-Fish. Craig Smith-Eric Hicks-Hassan Adams-Solomon Jones-Jose Barea-Mike Gansey-Louis Amundson....there's a lot of budget talent,guys who can be real useful if not stars. Any of those can be better than some of the top 20 picks.
