Will Ike be available at 25, Adam? Seems like he is really improving his stock in workouts, and his supposed wingspan measurements will only help him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Will Ike be available at 25, Adam? Seems like he is really improving his stock in workouts, and his supposed wingspan measurements will only help him.</div> I think he will...unless he is nabbed by Houston right before us. There are alot of PFs slated to go late in the first and it's all a matter of preference I think. I personally would take Diogu over the rest...but I know alot of people are high on Simien. I think we should probably take a guard in this draft, but assuming Diogu is still on the board I say we steal him.
Well, according to the man himself, Diogu will be working on in Seattle tomorrow. I'm also hearing that we're targetting more athletic guys than a power player like Ike or Simien, but you never know what can happen on draft night.
A couple of snippets from the latest ESPN Insider. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">According to a source inside the Nuggets, Simien measured 6-8 without shoes. NBA teams add another 1? inches for shoes, bringing his height up to 6-9? Diogu measured 6-foot-7? in socks, with an amazing 7-foot-4 wingspan. That means he's nearly 6-9 in shoes with the reach of a 7-footer.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Combine that with the recent revelations about the actual height of Simien and Diogu, and there's a good chance Taft will be sliding down to the bottom of the first round ? and maybe even out of it, according to one NBA director of player personnel who claims his team has Taft ranked as the 10th-best power forward in the draft</div> I miss Iron Shiek terribly.
Right now I'm like the Sonics front office. Just call it the "Quiet Before the Storm." Not too much for me to talk about right now. I'll get more active when the draft nears and I get more definitive information about the status of our free agents. I'm still in withdraw from the season. I honestly feel that the two best teams in the league were the 2 and 3 seeds in the Western Conference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="4"><font color="Blue">I</font> <font color="Magenta">m</font><font color="Red">i</font><font color="YellowGreen">s</font><font color="DarkOrange">s</font> <font color="Yellow">I</font><font color="Teal">r</font><font color="Lime">o</font><font color="MediumTurquoise">n</font> <font color="Plum">S</font><font color="Purple">h</font><font color="RoyalBlue">i</font><font color="Pink">e</font><font color="SeaGreen">k</font> <font color="Red">t</font><font color="Blue">e</font><font color="Yellow">r</font><font color="DarkOrange">r</font><font color="YellowGreen">i</font><font color="DarkOrchid">b</font><font color="YellowGreen">l</font><font color="Wheat">y</font><font color="Blue">.</font></font></div> I agree with pwn3d! here. Diogu shouldn't slip to #25 after measuring so impressively. I've got to quote KicksDaddy on this one - <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-Taft is in for a SERIOUS fall! Yes, dropping him to 21 may not be far enough. Ike Diogu and Wayne Simien have shot up (if you read Chad Ford's article on ESPN Insider, I've been told he didnt even begin to hit where these two are climbing to) and both are being heavily favored over Taft. Simien actually measured at 6-10 and Diogu at 6-9 1/2 with a 7-4 wingspan. Word I got after calls I made IMMEDIATLY after reading that, I heard heavy rumors to LAL interested in Diogu at 10 (moving Odom back to SF). Also Orlando at 11. Simien has gotten growing interest with Indiana (17) Denver (20), maybe even higher but as far as now, it's what I know.</div> If there is any shred of truth to that, then it would be bizarre to see Diogu picked by the Sonics with their current pick. I'd really look at Taft at #25, because let's be honest, you're not likely to be happy with the results "drafting safe" on draft night. When you look at the past few #25 picks, you have Tony Allen, Carlos Delfino, Frank Williams, Jake Tsakalidas, Tim James, John Thomas; and then you have Gerald Wallace and Al Harrington. What seperates the first group apart from the last two? The last two were gambles. They were two players who were young and had a lot of potential and weren't just the safe pick. At this point, it'd be foolish to pass up on Taft's size and potential.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">At this point, it'd be foolish to pass up on Taft's size and potential.</div> Hence the expression "Fools Gold." Exactly who is the recipient of the Voodoo?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Hence the expression "Fools Gold." Exactly who is the recipient of the Voodoo?</div> Do you think you're the only one who has noticed Taft is unmotivated? I've been saying that since last year. I've said was the most overrated player in the draft and shouldn't even be considered in the lottery. However, the #25 pick is an entirely different story. Do you know why Martynas Andriuskevicius and Johan Petro are considered bigger prospects than Marko Tomas and Yaroslav Korolev, two players who have put up great stats in considerable playing time overseas? It's because they have all the physical tools to be impact players. Nobody has seen them play considerable minutes, but their bodies and athleticism alone have made them hot prospects. With the frame that Taft has at 6-10, 260 lbs., you have to be intrigued. Guys like Zach Randolph have succeeded without the greatest work ethics. Besides, do you really know the man well enough to persecute him for something like his motivation or his drive? Was it not Malcolm X who said "respect everyone"?
As long as Nate McMillan is the coach, I don't want to see the Sonics draft any headcases. Nate can't handle them. Zack Randolph has a fine work ethic, he's just dumb.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Besides, do you really know the man well enough to persecute him for something like his motivation or his drive?</div> Are you sure that persecuted is the word that you are looking for? I am not impressed by anything Chris Taft has to offer--talent included. He doesn't have one reliable post move, his footwork is terrible, his jump shot is awful, and he is not as athletic as he's advertised to be. The best part about his offensive game is his passing, and considering how he'll never be double teamed in the league, that makes that attribute irrelevant. Taft could be a serviceable rebounder and shot blocker, in the Brian Skinner mode. I just don't want us to pick him up. He has the build and maturity of a Kwame Brown. The bad part about that is Kwame is hands down better than Taft, and Brown quite possibly is the worst first overall pick (or draft pick period considering his impact on future drafts) in the history of the league. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Was it not Malcolm X who said "respect everyone"?</div> Was it not Shiek who said "An accurate quote is only as good as its relevance"?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Was it not Shiek who said "An accurate quote is only as good as its relevance"?</div> lol I like that. With that said im not sure picking up someone like Taft is abad idea if he does have the potential some say he does. Overall still think we could use a swingman.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting d00d:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he will...unless he is nabbed by Houston right before us. There are alot of PFs slated to go late in the first and it's all a matter of preference I think. I personally would take Diogu over the rest...but I know alot of people are high on Simien. I think we should probably take a guard in this draft, but assuming Diogu is still on the board I say we steal him.</div> I retract my statements. As for Taft, if he's available at 25 I would love to take him. Sure he's plummeting and has a ton of question marks...but at #25 he would be the best talent available. He has the pro body and who knows...maybe we have the coaching staff and environment to turn Chris Taft into a productive NBA forward. Look at this past season, we saw a transformation from Jerome James and just about everyone on our bench making contributions. If there is a team that could harbor a guy like Chris Taft and change him for the better, I think it is Seattle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting d00d:</div><div class="quote_post">Look at this past season, we saw a transformation from Jerome James and just about everyone on our bench making contributions. If there is a team that could harbor a guy like Chris Taft and change him for the better, I think it is Seattle.</div> Since when has Seattle been known for changing the perceptions of knuckleheads or getting the most from underachievers? Remember Vincent Askew, Vernon Maxwell, Ruben Patterson, Vin Baker, Joe Forte, Shammond Williams, Kenny Anderson, and even our beloved GP? Outside of GP, I've never seen a player with baggage prosper in the green and gold. We do a great job of bringing character guys to Seattle partly b/c we don't have the leadership to control them. Chris Taft was an underachiever in college with a bad attitude. I don't care how much he looks like a good player, I'd prefer to actually have a good player. No matter how low we pick in the first round we are stuck with that contract for at least three seasons. I'd prefer that we use that pick on someone that we know is going to approach the game as a professional for as long as he is employed by the Sonics (or any other team for that matter--for trading purposes).
This is all in the past. Today's Sonics team is much different then the teams containing the players you mentioned...and that is all that matters. Did this team not bring supposed "thug" Danny Fortson in and did he not bring a post presence sorely needed which helped the team to a playoff birth? Chris Taft's only drawback is his work ethic. For a player of his potential at the #25 pick in the draft, that is something that can be worked on. Without a glaring need, and with two second rounders...I see no reason why Chris Taft would not be a good choice.
Fortson has been labeled a knucklehead/thug, but I think that we'd all admit that when he started acting out in Seattle we never got the same production from him. Our stance has always been the appropriate accountability for discipline is strictly to sit. There is no one in a position of leadership that can assist in getting the most out of a volatile player when he hits a patch of adversity. In the case of Taft, when your attitude, work ethic, and production are all in question chances are you have a great chance of underachieving. Taft will be gone well before we pick considering how scared GM's are of passing up potential. This is a very weak draft and I'm not sure that we can fill any needs at pick #25. Pick the player who is most likely to have an immediate impact (Ryan Gomes)and wait for Bobby Swift to develop into a legitimate post presence. Or better yet, trade the pick for a comparable two guard (Jarvis Hayes) and a future second round draft pick. Our immediate holes will be best filled through sign and trades and free agency.
