Parker, I believe, was the last pick of the first round (a nice pick-up for a conference finals team...) but close enough. Michael Redd was also a second-round pick, I believe. I agree with your point. Even if Carroll becomes a superstar against the odds, he's not currently valued that high, so if one values him differently, it's inefficient not to trade down and pick him up later and get some more value in the process.
Johnny Flynn is bigger than I thought. When you see him, you'd think he's a lightweight like Collison. 6'0" 200 lbs, impressive.
He's got a pretty damn amazing wingspan. Between he and Nicolas it makes you wonder if France puts something in the water to give them arms like that.
Some Youtube footage: [video=youtube;Bbcchx0ipwA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbcchx0ipwA[/video] [video=youtube;S4Xd89OrhLc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Xd89OrhLc[/video]
Hmm, I wonder if the Karl Malone comparison's still stand.. Blake's 8'9" standing reach is SF territory. Malone's reach is 9'2", FWIW.
Does anyone really think Griffin is a PF? He's a classic tweener forward, a la Rodney Rogers and Corliss Williamson.
really? I consider outlaw a tweener. Maybe someone like Antwan Jamison who's played both SF and PF in the league. Griffin is a straight up PF. Maybe undersized compared to some like a Aldridge, but not compared to most PF's in the league. I don't know where you get the idea that Griffin is anything more than a straight up post power presence.
What's that got to do with Griffin? Only because he lacks an outside game... Size, style of play, and skill set. I don't see him overpowering people at the next level, so he'll have to learn to take his game outside more.
Yeah I don't see Griffin playing SF. But I do think it's odd his standing reach and wingspan are less then Hansbrough and he's only a quarter inch taller. Yet people talk about Tyler being such a tweener.
Tyler is a tweener not so much because of the way he operates offensively (pretty straight forward 4) but because of who he'd have to play on defense; he's almost certainly too under-powered/undersized to guard NBA power forwards (the good ones anyway) and he's probably not quick enough to guard small forwards. The closest real world analogy I can think of with psycho T is a guy who's really intense and likes to get into bar fights and can largely kick ass when faced up against other joe-blows, but if he ever picks a fight with an honest to god trained boxer or fighter he gets put on his back in short order. Who knows, maybe he'll end up having a decent career, but I'm just not feeling it.
I really want Blair this draft. He looks like he'll be another tough, Jason Maxiell player to me, which is precisely what this team needs. I don't think his height will be an issue at all; his HUGE wingspan and bulk should make up for that. He is an amazingly talented rebounder, and might help provide a bit more intimidation factor for the Blazers.
Blair can rebound and thats about it. He scored well in college but I don't see that ever translating to the pros unless he gets a jumper. Maxiell scores on dunks and put backs, Blair is not as athletic as Maxiell. Blair is also a poor defender. I just don't agree with how he's moving up in the draft. Maxiell's wingspan is also larger than Blair's.
It could be because of the quality of his league. Or that he had to share PG duties with Nando de Colo http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Nando-De-Colo-5087/