<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Paul to Enter Draft Sources informed NBADraft.net today that sophomore point guard Chris Paul will enter the 2005 NBA draft. Paul is considered by many as the top point guard prospect in college basketball and a likely top 5 pick in the draft. Because Paul was on a 3 year graduation plan, and liked college, there was some speculation that he might decide to return for his Junior season, despite the fact that he's widely projected as a top 3-5 pick. Paul had a disappointing end to his college career, first getting suspended for a game late in the season, for a punch to the groin of Julius Hodge. (Hodge would exact his revenge by helping NC State knock Wake Forest out of the ACC tournament.) Then, in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Chris Paul fouled out of the double overtime upset loss to West Virginia. But scouts are still enamored with his package of skills and athleticism and see him as one of the premiere prospects in the college game. Helping Paul is the fact that a number of teams that will be in the mix for top 5 picks, (Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, Utah) are in desperate need for a point guard. No word on when Paul will make the announcement, but according to sources his mind is made up to enter and stay in the draft. </div> Link to Article By NBAdraft.net
I think he is the best PG in the draft, whoever picks him up is going to have one hell of a PG for the future.
I'd think that the Bobcats would make an attempt to try and sign him. Brevin Knight isn't getting any younger, so it's time they bring a young PG in.
chris paul I think that Atlanta would take him if they had the number 1 pick. They need a PG, not a SF or PF. Additionally Bogut would slow them down and would cramp their style. Paul is gonna be a great PG in the league for years to come
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd think that the Bobcats would make an attempt to try and sign him. Brevin Knight isn't getting any younger, so it's time they bring a young PG in.</div> I agree I have Paul going to the Bobcats as well. He should be a great fit there, I think the Bobcats should try to do what the Bulls did in the past draft and that is to draft kids from winning programs. The Bulls got Deng, Duhon, and Gordon all from winning schools in the same draft. The Bobcats can do something similer with their first two picks, picking someone like Sean May or Hakim Warrick to go along with Paul should be nice.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that Atlanta would take him if they had the number 1 pick. They need a PG, not a SF or PF. Additionally Bogut would slow them down and would cramp their style. Paul is gonna be a great PG in the league for years to come</div> I disagree. Just because Bogut isn't the quickest guy in the world, doesn't mean he'll slow them down. It's more likely he'll help them with a fast break style of offense by snagging the defensive board and making a quick outlet pass to one of their ball handlers. Whoever Bogut goes to is getting the best player in the draft. He's got a ton of upside on both ends and Atlanta would be stupid to pass him up if they get the opportunity at him.
aha!! <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I disagree. Just because Bogut isn't the quickest guy in the world, doesn't mean he'll slow them down. It's more likely he'll help them with a fast break style of offense by snagging the defensive board and making a quick outlet pass to one of their ball handlers. Whoever Bogut goes to is getting the best player in the draft. He's got a ton of upside on both ends and Atlanta would be stupid to pass him up if they get the opportunity at him.</div> Thats exactly it, they need the ballhandlers to be able to run. If they had the PG to run with than obviously Bogut would be the choice but they need a PG and Paul is the perfect fit. By addidng bogut you would have talent that doesnt match.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">Thats exactly it, they need the ballhandlers to be able to run. If they had the PG to run with than obviously Bogut would be the choice but they need a PG and Paul is the perfect fit. By addidng bogut you would have talent that doesnt match.</div> Teams can always sign a decent PG through free agency, and the Hawks should be able to do so having a ton of cap room. There will be many quality free agent point guards in the market. However you look at it, the Hawks need a big man. They can't be stuck using Jason Collier if they want to get into playoff contention. Bogut is the best fit for them. You cannot find many centers in the league with the talent and upside that Bogut has. Scouts are saying Bogut should be able to make an immediate impact. Basically, he's NBA-ready. I know it's still early at this stage of the season, but I think the Hawks would be foolish to pass him up.
I agree to pass up Bogut would be CRAZY! Paul is a good point guard and the best in the draft imo but look at whats happend the past few years with the 1st pg's drafted...Jay Williams....Then T.J. Ford..... What centers lead fast breaks anyway????
I don't think it'd be crazy to pass on Paul. The 'Cats have Brezec, and while hardly an All-Star, he isn't a stiff, either. They do, however need a legit PG who can grow with the rest of the young guys on the team. Knight has had a nice year, but he's an UFA, and they need young guys anyways.
did <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">Teams can always sign a decent PG through free agency, and the Hawks should be able to do so having a ton of cap room. There will be many quality free agent point guards in the market. However you look at it, the Hawks need a big man. They can't be stuck using Jason Collier if they want to get into playoff contention. Bogut is the best fit for them. You cannot find many centers in the league with the talent and upside that Bogut has. Scouts are saying Bogut should be able to make an immediate impact. Basically, he's NBA-ready. I know it's still early at this stage of the season, but I think the Hawks would be foolish to pass him up.</div> did you read my post? i already discussed and disproved all the things you said here. Yes, you can get a decent PG through free agency but to be a funball team which they are cut out to be with smith, childress, and harrington you need a great running PG which Paul will be for many years to come. He is a special talent. Bogut is not "the best fit for them" he is a terrible fit for them. In NBA live that might be a good team but in real life you dont just throw together the most possible talent and hope they win or my knicks would be good . Its like a puzzle and you need the right pieces to fit together. Bogut would not fit with the three good pieces they already have as opposed to paul who would.
Oh man, look at the big picture. You did not disprove anything I said. So keeping Jason Collier, Peja Drobnjak, Obinna Ekezie, etc would be better? Are they the quickest big guys in the league? Hell no. Look at the Kings when Divac played for them. The Kings are a fast paced up and down team, especially when they didn't have C-Webb on the floor. Divac, who Bogut draws many comparisons to, is by far not the fastest big guy in the NBA and yet the Kings excelled with Vlade. Hell, the same goes for Brad Miller. Sure, you can also say the Hawks could sign a big man during the offseason. But they won't get much improvement unless they strike gold as in getting a Samuel Dalembert or Stromile Swift who both would fit in well with the system you describe. In a perfect world, they could draft Chris Paul, sign one of those two guys, and be the fast paced one-dimensional team you so think they should be. But what are the chances of that happening? Those guys will demand a lot of money (all big guys do, take a look at Adonal Foyle, Mark Blount, and Mehmet Okur last summer) and will have a lot of suitors. Sure, the Hawks have the cash to pay them, but would they be willing to go to Atlanta? I mean the Hawks have been at the bottom of the NBA for the last 5-6 years just about. And if they don't sign, the Hawks could yet again be stuck with Jason Collier or someone of that caliber in the middle. So why take that chance? That's illogical. Go with the surefire way and draft Bogut. I'm not buying all this crap about Bogut slowing them down. Bogut would actually help them out, just like someone before posted, by grabbing a defensive rebound and making the quick outlet pass setting up the fastbreak. He'd help the Hawks a ton on both sides of the floor. He'd give Atlanta some respect in the middle. Take a look at the 2005 free agent PGs: Jeff McInnis Bobby Jackson Marko Jaric Antonio Daniels (player option) Earl Watson Brevin Knight And those are just a few. The Hawks would have a better chance signing one of these guys. And a lineup of one of those PGs to go along with Childress, Josh Smith, Harrington, and Bogut looks a lot better than what they'd have if they draft Chris Paul. The Hawks would actually have a shot at making the playoffs, depending on how improved Childress and Smith are. Not to mention how motivated the team is.
