(only responding because again, a poster on s2 puts words in my mouth. Who knew that would happen.)
First off... I said
average defender, and average shooter. You can't possibly be saying Harkless is an above average shooter can you? While I don't think so, I could see Harkless as an above average defender... But not shooter, Career 31% shooter from three is not average in the NBA. Harkless isn't even shooting a career high from three this year.... And he's still just league average.... If you say, "oh well philly is paying for potential because Harkless is young".. Well there are plenty of young players they could get with that pick... Could they not? I mean it's a "deep draft"............................
But to humor you... players who are better/equal to harkless that haven't/have entered their prime.
Carrol, Barnes, Gallo, Wiggins, Crowder, Batum, Hayward, Harris, Shumpert, Parker, Ross, Turner.
I'm sure if I wasn't thinking of names off the top of my head I could come up with more average defenders/shooters who play SF that haven't/have entered their prime. I wonder if any of the players I named foul as much as Harkless has this year? Maybe I'll look it up later...
Harkless is an average small forward in the NBA... there are plenty in the league... If there wasn't then Harkless would have actually got an offer in RFA from a team not named the Portland TrailBlazers. Instead he received no other offer.
I actually understood it perfectly. What you didn't understand/read is that if the draft is so "deep" then Philly could find a average small forward on a rookie contract. Which, and I'm sorry I don't understand business... Or so I've been told on these boards. A rookie contract is less $$$ than an average of 10.5 million a year correct. With just as many years as Harkless is under due to TO.
Maybe not the top pick? But def anywhere that Protected Laker pick could land....
But hey... Philly could also get a chance at that top 7 pick or did you say 6? I'd say keeping that pick has far more value than letting it go for an average NBA SF when there are plenty of them around... Business + a chance Philly lands in the range "before the big drop off".
(BTW, the "no drop off between 8-20" is really a poor opinion, so far from the draft... To name a few things that can improve draft stock... Combine & workouts. So I just don't believe that.. Rivers is a prime example as to why I don't believe it.. Yes I could name others... Theres at least one on the Blazers)
I find it funny that you're using one of the worst organizations in the NBA as an example... When is the last time(outside of DMC) that Sac drafted a good NBA player? Oh I know, the guy every other organization passed on at least once as well... Yet couldn't play for them... But is now on the Celtics tearing it up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Kings_draft_history
TL;DR
More value for Philly in keeping the pick and having a chance to land before the "big drop off".
More value for Philly in keeping the pick and landing outside the "big drop off", yet still in the lotto.
Harkless is an average defender & shooter, names listed above.
Harkless + pick won't net a defensive stud like Noel + a pick that has a chance to get in before expects say there is a "big drop off".
If WoJ somehow announces in a couple hours on twitter that Portland has acquired Noel+Lakers protected pick for Harkless+pick I'll happily eat crow.
But it aint happening.