I don't know we could actually move up by offering Ike, but if that was possible (and got Roy since it would be highly unlikely that we would got 2nd pick), do you really want this line up? Biedrins Murphy Dunleavy Roy Davis Anyway, it was really bad that Gay didn't slip to us. So close... While we are in a fantasy land... 17th S. Williams 18th M. Bellinelli I wonder if Mullin would have drafted Williams if he was available. 8th Gay 9th O'Bryant Gay in our system? I can only dream. 9th Diogu 10th Bynum The only reason I am not bitter about this pick is because we were able to dump both Dunleavy and Murphy by dangling Diogu. Otherwise, ouch...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vcTmac24 @ Jan 1 2008, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>shouldn't this be in the blazers forum?</div> The interview could be posted in the Blazers forum, but he's reiterating the fact that he wanted to trade up for one of these guys.
I don't think the Diogu draft was that bad, he just needs minutes. It is painful that we lost out on Andrew Bynum, though. How many 7 foot, long, 280 pounders are there with good hands? Aldridge and Roy are just unselfish, nba-ready players that can score the ball. When that happens, the team game happens. Everyone who is on that team tends to get a lot better than they actually are playing individually. It also helps that the Blazers have a lot of pass-first point guard depth (something that the Warriors have almost always lacked since they draft point guards in the 2nd round which end up mostly being combo guards or pure point guards most teams felt that couldn't score in the nba level). The problem with the Warriors is that the team's most unselfish guys couldn't score the ball well and that our best scorers couldn't pass the ball well. A lot of inability to pass had to do with the inability to create an open shot or simply shoot the ball well enough to make other teammates trust the other guy they are passing to. We had very little inside presence because our big guys tended to stay outside or they simply couldn't catch and finish. Then our defense was dreadful... I think it was very hard to have achieved what the Blazers did to rebuild their teams because they got in good position (and got lucky) to get those high round draft picks. Aldridge was probably a no-brainer that you don't give away (similar to how Andrew Bogut was consensus #1 in 2005). In fact, I think I lobbied for Toronto to draft Aldridge (top post player in the entire country) instead of the outside shooting Andrea Bargnani who I thought was too risky to waste a #1 on similar to how Darko Milicic worked out for the Pistons. The Brandon Roy drafting the following year was icing on the cake since he was the nba draft's best, most complete shooting guard and the most nba ready player since he spent 4 years in college. The funny thing was that Charlotte and the Bulls were probably in more dire need of a tall shooting guard that could shoot off the dribble and pass. I think I would have definitely taken Roy over Morrison if I was Charlotte or the Bulls. I mean Adam Morrison was an impressive prospect at the time, albeit overhyped because of the Larry Bird/Chris Mullin comparrisons (both those hall of famers shot better free throws in college). Tyrus Thomas reminded me of a really poor man's lower bball i.q. version of Kmart (but with better passing) or at worst Stromile Swift. The nba doesn't need raw guys like that, but more refined post players with tons of moves and the ability to compete athletically. But... now that I think of it... Tyrus Thomas was actually pretty decent for a freshman player and he wasn't as raw as I think... maybe. He probably can't do certain things because of his body, maybe... Oh well, I liked his passing. So the Blazers ended up getting inside/outside scoring ability, rebounding, defensive ability, athleticism, basketball I.Q., guys who can shoot, and guys who can run point like a pure point guard. Why the heck couldn't the warriors buy into that play? It's like we weren't lucky and we kept trying to take risks on finding the weirdly unique player rather than the guy who could ball now and had very few flaws, and one or two nba competitive strengths.
Hindsight is 20/20 and looking back on the draft selection of POB and then announcing Nellie was going to be the head coach didn't make a lot of sense in regards to timing. Nellie takes a lot of pride in his ability to draft players and it's too, bad he wasn't on board prior to the draft to help scout and evaluate the talent. There were a lot of quality point guards selected later on in the draft including Rajon Rondo, Jordan Farmar, Marcus Williams, Kyle Lowry, Daniel Gibson, and Sergio Rodriguez. Several athletic wing players were also selected in the middle of the draft including Rodney Carney, Shawne Williams, and Ronnie Brewer. Right now POB looks like a wasted pick, but if the Warriors had not drafted him they might have been reluctant to deal Ike Diogu to Indiana since they wouldn't have any young front line players left.
I still like POB. Now Farmar looks like a good one now though. His range on the jumper is pretty nice and he could always pass.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 2 2008, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vcTmac24 @ Jan 1 2008, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>shouldn't this be in the blazers forum?</div> The interview could be posted in the Blazers forum, but he's reiterating the fact that he wanted to trade up for one of these guys. </div> Yeah, I was one in the minority who wanted to trade Ike to try and move up in a weak draft. I would've gone for Aldridge. If he wasn't there, then go for Brandon Roy. We're long suffering Warrior fans, so we like to look back and reminisce about our woulda, coulda, shoulda's. Kwan makes a great point about: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kwan1031)</div><div class='quotemain'>While we are in a fantasy land... 17th S. Williams 18th M. Bellinelli I wonder if Mullin would have drafted Williams if he was available. 8th Gay 9th O'Bryant Gay in our system? I can only dream. 9th Diogu 10th Bynum</div> Rudy Gay would've been a great fit in Nellie's system this year.
I like POB, too, but he doesn't fit in Nellie's system. Once he gets some minutes, I think he'll do okay on another team like the Dallas or Minnesota.
I'm really grateful we made the playoffs finally, but it just raises the bar in a way we're not ready for. We need to abandon Nelly's style of offense and start developing and training young big men talent. This means Biedrins, POB, Wright, and whoever might be a traditional back-to-the basket type of player who can also rebound, pass, and intimidate.
