I'm thinking if Don Nelson does not change his 4th quarter plan of playing 4 guards and a PF/C tweener, we should tank hard for the #1 pick. This means bench Sjax, don't even play him or let him get healthy enough to be a barometer for a win. Play Mags, Buike, and Crawford hard at positions they cannot play very well! Also bring back DJ Mbenga as another wrench to throw into the works against a possible win. Play more selfish, unmotivated vets so we go from Boston era quality Ricky Davis to current Ricky Davis. I don't care if we use Wright or Randolph as a way to move up to get a sure thing, but if would be nice to get a real consensus top 3 pick that is absolutely nba ready and is quick/athletic/strong and fundamentally sound. For example, if Blake Griffin is as ready as they come, we have to get that #1 pick and make sure Don Nelson isn't in a position to pencil him in at center. Traits like Big, soft hands, coordinated and athletic as hell, coach's son, very physical with a high motor is almost can't miss. Is there any way for this guy to be a bust? Even if he struggles like a lot of first year nba rookie bigs like Kevin Love or Greg Oden, I'm hoping he'll be able to provide a minimum level of impact like an Al Horford or rookie Chris Kaman. If we tank and miss such a bruising player it would be really ironic to grab another mostly finesse SF/PF type of guy like Greg Monroe or Jordan Hill... I mean we'd might as well just pump the effort into getting Wright or Randolph to hit the weights and see what that will do for their games. The other approach is drop Ellis and draft a real point guard. We mostly all love Ellis, but if we get to choose between Allen Iverson in his prime versus a Chris Paul in his yet to be prime, I'd go with the natural, sure thing lead guard to make all other teammates better and to move that ball around. Combo guards are a dime-a-dozen, but pure playmakers are super hard to find like talented, nba ready big men over 6'10" and 240 lbs. I'm thinking it's not good to draft for need, but pg, pf, and c are needed badly. Sorry Biedrins, but we need insurance in case that body never fills out or gets stronger! I just want a physically ready man child over or equal to the height of 6'10 (with long arms) to play our big positions for once... Diogu too slow and short, Wright too skinny and unaggressive... is just driving me crazy. Let's just solve this problem once and for all by getting a sure thing. We need our version of Amare Stoudamire or a Carlos Boozer at the power forward spot. We need that 245-260 pound guy making a statement in the paint because obviously most of our bigs aren't strong enough or talented enough to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor.
You develop your talent. Don't try to trade/sign for it because you end up overpaying for an unknown quality.
It's a crapshoot, I know, but for once we need a sure thing. Even if we wound up with a guy like Al Horford (like a 10/10 player), it would mean something for our defense and inside scoring. Ball movement and toughness is one of our biggest problems. And unless Ellis is decent point guard (doubt it based on his turnovers), we might need a pure point equally as well as an nba ready big guy. It would be nice if we could get somebody as big as Turiaf, but obviously quicker, stronger, and even more polished. I'm not so enthused about getting another 3/4 type of forward, unless it's somebody like Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol.
Man, I need to catch up on prospects to see who is good. I'm hearing a lot of backtalk that there's really no proven draft eligible players that could be franchise level big players. At least the types that are projected to be top 3 overall. For all I know I could be picking Josh McRoberts #1 overall and losing one of our promising guys. I'm just hoping for a 6-10 245 pounder, strong as hell, smart, can play PF or C, and is very quick and motivated.
That's Paul Millsap; sorry Warriors and every other 31 teams passed on him (I admit I did not who he was either).
"They’re not tanking. They’re trying to win every game." Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. It was exactly my first thought. I'm good with Blake, and if we don't get #1, Ty Lawson, who's probably the most ready to play PG. Feel free to pan this pick (I wanted Brandon Rush last year, but am happy we got AR). But I need to catch up on the draft, too, CR2. Last year was the year to draft a PG with Rose, Westbrook, and DJ Augustin (I love Augustin). We'll have to see how Portland did with Bayless trading Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts for him.
I forget who I even wanted last year. I think it was somebody like Chris Douglas Roberts by trading down or Javale Mcgee. I mean there probably wouldn't be a whole lot of use for him with Mags or the development of Wright, but it'd be like a stopgap where we'd get a veteran like rookie and avoid having to spend bucks on a swingman or worry about locking up Azubuike. For this draft, everyone knows it's still a PF/C we're looking for and a playmaking scoring point guard or an all-star swingman. Some folks are saying Blake Griffin is too safe and he hasn't made much impact, but who else is described as a aggressive, tough athlete who is well coordinated, very strong, and has good basic big man fundamentals and good hands? That'd be Blake, I'd think. I don't want no jump shooting power forward! Those guys will always be inconsistent because they start outside in rather than inside out. I'd want a guy like Tim Duncan or Zach Randolph to get dirty inside first and then step out rather than do what Yi Lianjian and Andrea Bargnani do. Besides jump shots don't get you fouled.
You guys know me. I tend to go for players who fit the coaching style, and with Nelson, I don't think he'd go for Blake. He would rather go for the Bargnani or Chris Webber type who can play high post, run, pass and shoot. If the guy can clog the middle, then it would be a plus. Tim Duncan would be perfect because he can play multiple styles. The guy may be boring, but he's great to watch. He will be missed when he's gone. Too many guys don't appreciate what they're watching. Thus, with Nelson as coach, I rather look for a PG. The PG position is the biggest key for a guy like Nelson. Also, we don't have one, so there are two good reasons right there. I think Ricky Rubio is the guy, but since he's not available until 2010, I'd be willing to wait. The 2009 draft looks like a crop of SFs, so I'd look for a guy who can do it all in that regard since AR may be on the way out. I think AR can do that, but once you find a guy who fits the bill, Nelson ends up getting into a tussle with him.
