Guessing KP's draft/off-season strategy

[Nikolokolus]

Last year KP said the team needed to 'get tougher' and we went out and grabbed a Eurotra ... er Eurostash player and added Dante and Jeff in the high second round, supposedly to address that need for 'toughness.' Even though both ended up not being integral parts, I would agree that both of those guys fit the bill.

This year he says we need to 'get mentally tougher.' I don't see a whole lot of distinction between the two goals, but if you had to guess Pritch's MO entering this year's draft and free agency period would you suspect (like I do) that he's going to lean toward another tough, multi-year college player who can contribute immediately, or do you think he's going to look for somebody with a 'big shot' mentality (a sort of mental toughness)?

Long story short, I think I'd lay cash money on KP taking Pondexter if he's still on the board when we pick. In free agency I wouldn't be shocked to see him offer part of the MLE to a knock down shooter like Mike Miller.

Anybody else have any prognostications or gut feelings about the draft, free agency or trades this off-season?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Funny, just ran across this David Thorpe comment on his draft blog about potential sleepers, posted today:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=5165028 (Insider Only

Quincy Pondexter, senior, Sf/SG, Washington

Pondexter is another guy who is all over mock draft boards, but his game is well-suited to make an impact next year in the NBA -- specifically his combination of a midrange game and his length and effort on defense. The midrange jump shot is the worst true-percentage shot in the NBA, but it's one that many teams settle for or are forced to take as a result of good defense. Having a player with the ability to make this shot, especially a young one, is a blessing.

Most NBA coaches really don't care where a player is drafted; they just care about winning. So even a late first-round pick will get his chance to crack a rotation. There are some quality teams drafting late that could use a scorer/shooter like Pondexter off the bench. If he does get drafted late in the first round, I expect him to be one of the surprises of this draft, but I also suspect that he'll be one of the names I hear about most from other players in the pre-draft process. He might not win any athleticism contests, but he's going to be very difficult to guard in two-on-two and three-on-three contests. In the NBA, I think he can present similar problems. Think Rasual Butler (great midrange shooter) with more than a hint of Stephen Jackson (both second-round picks, by the way).

 

[Tince]

I talked with KP a few times, years before he was the GM, and the one thing he would always say to me was that he felt you can be successful by going after what everyone else isn't focusing on.

So if everyone is focusing on Euros, he wanted the American players.
If the focus was 1 and done players, he wanted the 4 year graduates.
If GMs think this is a great FA class, he'll try and make draft moves.

He's changed since I've known him, but I think he's values are similar.

 

[Rhal]

If were aiming at this guy and want to get him some minutes Rudy has got to go. Not saying we wont trade Rudy but McMillian's exit interview didn't make it sound as if we were thinking of unloading him.

 

[RamblinRod]

I think KP will take a pass on a thug bitch like Q-Tip. We are, after all, supposed to be making it better aren't we?

 

[RoyToy]

I talked with KP a few times, years before he was the GM, and the one thing he would always say to me was that he felt you can be successful by going after what everyone else isn't focusing on.

So if everyone is focusing on Euros, he wanted the American players.
If the focus was 1 and done players, he wanted the 4 year graduates.
If GMs think this is a great FA class, he'll try and make draft moves.

He's changed since I've known him, but I think he's values are similar.

In a radio interview last week on 1080 he pretty much said exactly what you just said, and continued to say he likes the draft class this year and thinks it's a deep class.

 

[Tince]

In a radio interview last week on 1080 he pretty much said exactly what you just said, and continued to say he likes the draft class this year and thinks it's a deep class.

I'm sure he still says it all the time, and that's the only thing that makes me wonder!

 

[Minstrel]

Good executives (in sports and other businesses) profit off of undervalued assets. That was the crux of Moneyball. You don't find unvervalued assets where everyone else is focusing, as that part of the market will either be overvalued (initially) or efficient (later, once the market corrects). It's no surprise to me that Pritchard operates that way.

 

[Blazinaway]

trade Rudy to Chi for the 17 pick and take Quincy?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think KP will take a pass on a thug bitch like Q-Tip. We are, after all, supposed to be making it better aren't we?

I take it that must be Pondexter's nickname ... that must make you a Ducks fan?

 

[LittleAlex]

I am guessing another Euro small forward who will never play one second in the NBA.

 

[hasoos]

I disagree about the distinction between "Tougher" and "Mentally Tougher". Any player can comitt a hard foul if the put their mind to it. But can you weather physical play and execute? Can you impose your will on the other team? That is what Mentally tough is.

 

[Blaze01]

Pondexter isn't even that good....Why trade up and take him when players like James Anderson, Xavier Henry or Eric Bledsoe could be available?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Pondexter isn't even that good....Why trade up and take him when players like James Anderson, Xavier Henry or Eric Bledsoe could be available?

Trade up? He's projected to go anywhere from 28th to 22nd depending on the mock draft you look at.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Chad Ford's latest mock:

PICKTEAMPLAYERVITALS

Portland

Kenneth Faried
Position: PF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 215
Age: 20
School:Morehead State


Analysis: If there's one stat that seems to translate from college to the pros, it's rebounding. Faried was the NCAA's leading rebounder this past season, pulling down 13 per game.


He is a bit undersized but makes up for it with toughness and explosive athleticism. He could be the draft's biggest sleeper.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Pondexter is one of the best defenders in the draft, and a mid-range game much like Dante's, except he can go strong to the hoop. He's not going to be shooting 3's for you. He's played under Romar for 4 years (insert whatever "Right Way" comment you want to here). He's not a superduperstar, but he'll be productive and competent. And at the 2/3 we don't need superduperstar. And at the places we do need it (1,4) we're not going to get it with Rudy, Bayless and the 22 pick.
I'm biased, since I've been pimping him for us for months. So I won't take your bet, Nik.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If there's one stat that seems to translate from college to the pros

LOL. Now I'm getting royalties from Chad Ford. Faried's interesting...I don't know that he's the best pick at 22, but if he's there in the 2nd, by all means take him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

LOL. Now I'm getting royalties from Chad Ford. Faried's interesting...I don't know that he's the best pick at 22, but if he's there in the 2nd, by all means take him.

Draftexpress has Faried going in the early second FWIW.

 

[RamblinRod]

I take it that must be Pondexter's nickname ... that must make you a Ducks fan?

Wow, I don't like a fusky player therefore I must be a duck fan? How ignorant. Go Cougs!

 

[BrianFromWA]

Is anyone else a little wary of getting Bledsoe? I mean, he seems a pretty good PG (which we need), he was only a backup b/c of John Wall...but I just don't get a warm fuzzy about him.

 

[Blaze01]

I like Willie Warren...scoring PG, good size for that role....stock has slipped b\c of a down year, but battled through injuries and frankly new teamates and being thrust on to be "the man"....He could be like an Eric gordon, which is exactly the type of player POR needs to play alongside Roy.....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Wow, I don't like a fusky player therefore I must be a duck fan? How ignorant. Go Cougs!

Oh, big difference