My early favorite draft prospect

[Blazer4ever]

Trey Burke, Michigan's Point-Guard, saw him against NC state and was very impressed. Nbadraft.net have him as the 35th pick, I think that's going to change.

Here's his player-page from Espn:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56670/trey-burke

 

[RR7]

I know BPA and all that, but I'd rather not use a rather high pick on a PG.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I know BPA and all that, but I'd rather not use a rather high pick on a PG.

This.

When a team has as little talent as ours, it seems to me it's more important to plug holes than duplicate our strengths.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Trey Burke, Michigan's Point-Guard, saw him against NC state and was very impressed. Nbadraft.net have him as the 35th pick, I think that's going to change.

Here's his player-page from Espn:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56670/trey-burke

But we dont need him, we already have Sebastian Telfair. Sorry couldnt resist

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I know BPA and all that, but I'd rather not use a rather high pick on a PG.

This kid could be something special though.

I am getting way ahead of myself but Lillard can play off-guard in small stretches if needed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trey_Burke

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2011/03/24/driven-burke-is-ohios-best.html

ALWAYS draft BPA. Trade for need if required.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Cody Zeller.

PFOTF.

Also, keep an eye on (6'4" SG) Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State.

Combo guard with a team oriented, winner's mentality. A strong, determined competitor ... Tremendous versatility and feel for the game ... Creativity. Great vision and passing ability. A natural playmaker. Strong one on one skills. Adept at creating shots for himself and others ... Strong shooting ability with a polished pull up jumper. Textbook form on his shot. Generates a nice rhythm on catch and shoot getting good elevation. Elbow extended. High release point. Consistent mechanics. Deep range ... Consumate leader ... Unselfish passer .... Seems to always be a step ahead of his competition. Great anticipation ... Extremely confident ... A tank. Strong frame and enjoys using his physicality to overpower opponents ... Can take the ball into traffic and finish with contact ... Explosive leaping off 2 feet ... Shows a willingness to get after it on the defensive end. Takes pride in being a guy that can lock you down defensively. Quick hands lead to a lot of steals ... Polished and advanced all around skills. Has a chance to be a difference maker the instant he steps on the floor for the Cowboys

 

[MickZagger]

There's a lot good players in this draft IMO and its still early. I like Burke, too, I was actually going to mention him in the draft thread the other day. Tim Hardaway Jr. looks nice, too.

 

[Run BJM]

This.

When a team has as little talent as ours, it seems to me it's more important to plug holes than duplicate our strengths.

This is highly contradictory. Shouldn't you just take the most talented guy regardless rather than a less talented player who fills a need?

Aside from that, you have Lillard as PGOTF, a top ten SG (lmao), Batum as SFOTF, LMA as PFOTF, and Myers Leonard as COTF. Obviously if Lillard is supposed to be the cornerstone you need PG less than the other spots, but its not like you have glaring holes among starters.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

This is highly contradictory. Shouldn't you just take the most talented guy regardless rather than a less talented player who fills a need?

Well, that's the $10,000 debate. Some people advocate always taking the person you think is the most talented even if it duplicates what you have. I think it's the majority opinion.

But there is also a strong school of thought, followed by many GM's, that you draft for your needs. Then, if those needs can't be met, take the best player available. I tend to like this point of view.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

The problem with the drafting for needs is that a lot of GMs (in my opinion at least) will actually swear they drafted BPA but that is because they built this kid up in their mind, thinking how great he would fit in a spot they need, that they are somewhat blinded by the fact that he doesn't grade out as good as a player at another position.

 

[RR7]

I think it's as a lot reference, you tier it, and then go by need within the tier, all players being equal.

 

[ABM]

I still think we need a bruising, banging, take-no-prisoners, PF that can also score from the post (Z-Bo and AlJeff com to mind as examples).

Even though he looks good on "paper" (20 & 7+), I'm still losing faith in Aldridge by the day.

Now, who that player might be? I haven't really looked to see what's out there.......as of yet.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I still think we need a bruising, banging, take-no-prisoners, PF that can also score from the post (Z-Bo and AlJeff com to mind as examples).

Even though he looks good on "paper" (20 & 7+), I'm still losing faith in Aldridge by the day.

Now, who that player might be? I haven't really looked to see what's out there.......as of yet.

Isn't he already on our team? Hickson is not a Center. He just plays one on TV.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Cody Zeller.

PFOTF.

Also, keep an eye on (6'4" SG) Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State.

His 13.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 5.8 apg is impressive - but his 3.8 topg, 37.7% fg, 20.0% 3pt scares me.

 

[ABM]

Isn't he already on our team? Hickson is not a Center. He just plays one on TV.

I'd like to say yes? But, long-term, I still kinda think he's off-the-bench material. I'd be happy to be wrong in that assessment, though.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I'd like to say yes? But, long-term, I still kinda think he's off-the-bench material. I'd be happy to be wrong in that assessment, though.

Hickson has performed every-time when given a chance. I am not sure what he has left to prove? Is he perfect? Of course not, that is why you would not be paying a guy like him close to MAX money. He seems constantly underrated however.

 

[Run BJM]

I think it's as a lot reference, you tier it, and then go by need within the tier, all players being equal.

I'd say this is the most realistic way its done. If a PG was the last guy left in a tier would you still take him over the PF in the next tier down? I think in a few years you'd probably be kicking yourself if you didn't, but the draft is a crap shoot.

 

[BBert]

Isn't he already on our team? Hickson is not a Center. He just plays one on TV.

LOL. Hickson is very good at what he does, but he is a one trick pony. He crashes the boards and scores on put backs. He doesn't defend, post up or pass out. Like ABM said, I still think we need a bruising, banging, take-no-prisoners, PF that can also score from the post. Hickson can back him up.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

LOL. Hickson is very good at what he does, but he is a one trick pony. He crashes the boards and scores on put backs. He doesn't defend, post up or pass out. Like ABM said, I still think we need a bruising, banging, take-no-prisoners, PF that can also score from the post. Hickson can back him up.

No LOL at all. I think the game has changed the last few years. I think your PF is the one to do the dirty work and get garbage style points if that is what you need. That is not to say that is the only thing Hickson can do however. When LMA was out at the end of last year Hickson was the starting PF and as such was the focus of the defense and he still put up big points and not just on put-backs.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm fine with LA at PF. His numbers are comparable with decent PF's. That said, a player like JJ is invaluable as he is a player who mixes it up and does the dirty work. I'd love to see him resigned.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

But we dont need him, we already have Sebastian Telfair. Sorry couldnt resist

We didn't need Michael Jordan either because we already had Clyde Drexler.

Not quite the Telfair vs. Paul/Deron scenario but in the end, who would you have rather had? As much as I loved Clyde, I'd take Jordan over him any day.

Gramps...

 

[BBert]

No LOL at all. I think the game has changed the last few years. I think your PF is the one to do the dirty work and get garbage style points if that is what you need. That is not to say that is the only thing Hickson can do however. When LMA was out at the end of last year Hickson was the starting PF and as such was the focus of the defense and he still put up big points and not just on put-backs.

I do think the LaMarcus / PF strategy is the only head scratcher on the team. Everything else is obvious: get the best players we can this summer. And yeah, I hope we can keep Hickson. He's playing for a contract, and he's likely to get one.

 

[BBert]

I think your PF is the one to do the dirty work and get garbage style points if that is what you need.

That's one strategy -- and a pretty good one depending on your roster. But I don't see any evidence that it's Olshey's strategy. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Olshey would like his center to be that guy and have Aldridge be his "Dirk". It's kind of hard to tell though. If we had, for example, Channing Frye to shoot jumpers, would Olshey put Aldridge under the basket?

I'd kind of like to see Olshey try Leonard at center and Freeland off the bench in the LaMarcus role, to see if it helps Freeland's game any.

Edit: I meant Stotts, not Olshey. Those guys all look alike to me.

 

[illmatic99]

Didn't we pass on MJ because we had Clyde?

Is this kid gonna be MJ caliber? Dame is at least somewhat on his way to becoming Clyde caliber. I'm almost always for BPA, but conditions obviously apply on occasion.

 

[ABM]

I do think the LaMarcus / PF strategy is the only head scratcher on the team. Everything else is obvious: get the best players we can this summer. And yeah, I hope we can keep Hickson. He's playing for a contract, and he's likely to get one.

+1

Yep. IMO, head-scratcher is an apt way to describe the LA situation. He may be a decent PF (for heaven's sake, he was an A-S!), but for whatever reason, he seems be be less of a "fit" with this current team than in year's past. Perhaps, because we have (supposed) better shooters than we had, but no real low-post presence as to help facilitate cleaner shots for them?

 

[BBert]

Is LaMarcus doing something other than what the coach wants? I doubt it. I believe LaMarcus is perfectly capable of playing center in today's NBA. More likely it's Hickson that doesn't fit Coach Stotts' vision of a (starting) PF? We just don't have enough personnel this year to make it (Stotts' game plan) work.

 

[jlprk]

We're so used to Aldridge's prima donna act refusing to play center, that some posts in this thread actually think that shooting is a priority for a PF.