Rubio calling the shots?

[JE]

Chris Wallace and Memphis are screwed... They won't get any FAs with their cap space, and prospects don't want to play for them. Serves you right Chris.

Karma sucks, doesn't it Grizzlies?-must be the curse of Darius Miles...maybe its time to contract this team, or else move them somewhere else. they had no interest in Vancouver, now no interest in Memphis by fans or potential players-after all, who wants to play in front of 3000 fans every home game?

WILL EVERYONE PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT FUCKING KARMA? ITS FUCKING BUSINESS, MEMPHIS MADE A BUSINESS DECISION TO HAMPER THE COMPETITION. GROW A PAIR.

HOLY SHIT.

 

[Reep]

[/SIZE]
B]HOLY SHIT.[/B][/SIZE]

Wow, someone had too much caffeine this morning.

 

[hasoos]

Wow, someone had too much caffeine this morning.

Or just really bad eyesight, so they have to use large, bold letters so they can see what they typed.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm never sure exactly what irony is, but when somebody uses GIANT BOLD LETTERS to criticize others for overreacting, it's certainly something like that.

"Just business", eh?

[video=youtube;zmNINNJRnbg]

 

[Wheels]

[video=youtube;IOC-hDULX1c]

 

[JE]

"Just business", eh?

Yup.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I actually don't think it has to do with location but the idea of success. Memphis, Clips, and OKC don't really have the history of being successful while the Kings were recently successful with a solid fan base. I wouldn't be surprised if this was more about being in a potential winning situation as opposed to being drafted by a perennial loser.

If it has anything to do with the "chance of success", Sacramento would be at the bottom of his list, not near the top. They had the worst record in the league and aren't exactly brimming with young up-and-coming young talent. Both Memphis and OKC have MUCH better young talent to build on than the Kings.

BNM

 

[JE]

If it has anything to do with the "chance of success", Sacramento would be at the bottom of his list, not near the top. They had the worst record in the league and aren't exactly brimming with young up-and-coming young talent. Both Memphis and OKC have MUCH better young talent to build on than the Kings.

I don't know, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes aren't bad building blocks down low, and Kevin Martin is a young volume scorer. I think there's hope, especially if they get Rubio. I don't deny that OKC/MEM have better foundations though.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't know, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes aren't bad building blocks down low, and Kevin Martin is a young volume scorer. I think there's hope, especially if they get Rubio. I don't deny that OKC/MEM have better foundations though.

You know what's funny? Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson put up these numbers on a 17-win team and are considered decent building blocks:

Spencer Hawes:
PER = 13.0, FG% = 0.466, TRB% = 14.2, ORtg = 98, DRtg = 113, WS = 0.8

Jason Thompson:
PER = 13.9, FG% = 0.497, TRB% = 15.4, ORtg = 106, DRtg = 114, WS = 2.8

Greg Oden puts up these numbers, coming off microfracture surgery, on a 54-win team, and he's considered a bust:

Greg Oden:
PER = 18.1, FG% = 0.564, TRB% = 20.0, ORtg = 116, DRtg = 104, WS = 4.3

I know it's all about expectations. As a former No. 1 pick, the expectations on Oden are far higher, but Hawes and Thompson were both lottery picks and they certainly haven't done anything to help their team win many games. Right now, both look like they could possibly develop into average NBA bigmen - nothing more. I certainly can't see why either one would make Ricky Rubio excited about joining the Kings.

In Memphis, he'd get to play with Marc Gasol, OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay. In OKC, he'd be teamed with Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Even Minnesota has more young talent than Sacramento.

BNM

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It sounds like his agent wants him on the West Coast.

Saying he'd like him in Sacramento shows you that market size isn't a factor.

Combine the fact that Sacramento is a dump. Didn't Jason Quick mention that Sacramento was just as bad as OKC in terms of things to do? Something like "Oklahoma City is worse than Sacramento, and that's saying a lot."

 

[Nikolokolus]

You know what's funny? Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson put up these numbers on a 17-win team and are considered decent building blocks:

Spencer Hawes:
PER = 13.0, FG% = 0.466, TRB% = 14.2, ORtg = 98, DRtg = 113, WS = 0.8

Jason Thompson:
PER = 13.9, FG% = 0.497, TRB% = 15.4, ORtg = 106, DRtg = 114, WS = 2.8

Greg Oden puts up these numbers, coming off microfracture surgery, on a 54-win team, and he's considered a bust:

Greg Oden:
PER = 18.1, FG% = 0.564, TRB% = 20.0, ORtg = 116, DRtg = 104, WS = 4.3

I know it's all about expectations. As a former No. 1 pick, the expectations on Oden are far higher, but Hawes and Thompson were both lottery picks and they certainly haven't done anything to help their team win many games. Right now, both look like they could possibly develop into average NBA bigmen - nothing more. I certainly can't see why either one would make Ricky Rubio excited about joining the Kings.

In Memphis, he'd get to play with Marc Gasol, OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay. In OKC, he'd be teamed with Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Even Minnesota has more young talent than Sacramento.

BNM

To Thompson's and Hawes' credit, they were both able to stay healthy all year and didn't nearly suffer from the foul-itis that Greg did, but I agree perceptions and armchair psychology seem to be driving most of the talk on Oden in the national media.

 

[JE]

I know it's all about expectations. As a former No. 1 pick, the expectations on Oden are far higher, but Hawes and Thompson were both lottery picks and they certainly haven't done anything to help their team win many games. Right now, both look like they could possibly develop into average NBA bigmen - nothing more. I certainly can't see why either one would make Ricky Rubio excited about joining the Kings.

Thompson was a rookie last year. I think he exceeded most everyone's expectations, considering how many people shredded the Kings for taking him at 12 (roughly, maybe it was 13). He hasn't done anything to warrant a bust label or anything close.

Hawes I'm not close to 100% on at this point, since he's been a slow developer, but the talent is there. If Eddie Jordan came aboard as our coach, he would do a terrific job with Hawes, who fits his system perfectly.

 

[andalusian]

You know what's funny? Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson put up these numbers on a 17-win team and are considered decent building blocks:

Spencer Hawes:
PER = 13.0, FG% = 0.466, TRB% = 14.2, ORtg = 98, DRtg = 113, WS = 0.8

Jason Thompson:
PER = 13.9, FG% = 0.497, TRB% = 15.4, ORtg = 106, DRtg = 114, WS = 2.8

Greg Oden puts up these numbers, coming off microfracture surgery, on a 54-win team, and he's considered a bust:

Greg Oden:
PER = 18.1, FG% = 0.564, TRB% = 20.0, ORtg = 116, DRtg = 104, WS = 4.3

I know it's all about expectations. As a former No. 1 pick, the expectations on Oden are far higher, but Hawes and Thompson were both lottery picks and they certainly haven't done anything to help their team win many games. Right now, both look like they could possibly develop into average NBA bigmen - nothing more. I certainly can't see why either one would make Ricky Rubio excited about joining the Kings.

Going a little OT here - but forget about Thompson and Hawes - look at the guy that many people thought last year should have won ROY - Al Horford.

Last year Horford had a PER of 14.7, FG% of 0.539, TRB% of 18%, ORtg = 108, DRtg = 106. The only place he was higher was his WS of 5.3 - because he played 20 more games and 10 more MPG.

The amazing thing about Oden is that still not in game shape, after tons of time off with an extra 20 games of stupid injuries this year - he actually had a better rookie year than Horford had last year...

Greg Oden had 2 miserable years of injuries - it's a real shame - I just hope he gets to finally get fully healthy for next year - because when he does - all the mental midgets that whine about him are going to be very busy trying to back-paddle...

 

[andalusian]

To Thompson's and Hawes' credit, they were both able to stay healthy all year and didn't nearly suffer from the foul-itis that Greg did, but I agree perceptions and armchair psychology seem to be driving most of the talk on Oden in the national media.

If only it was just the national media - it is also people that call themselves fans of this team that are busy shoveling this garbage...

 

[Ed O]

Thompson was a rookie last year. I think he exceeded most everyone's expectations, considering how many people shredded the Kings for taking him at 12 (roughly, maybe it was 13). He hasn't done anything to warrant a bust label or anything close.

He also was a 22 year-old rookie who wasn't able to consistently start on a terrible team. I think it's way too early to call him a bust, but I think that it's still TBD whether he'll ever be more than a bench player.

Hawes I'm not close to 100% on at this point, since he's been a slow developer, but the talent is there. If Eddie Jordan came aboard as our coach, he would do a terrific job with Hawes, who fits his system perfectly.

Hawes is younger than Thompson and I like his upside more. I agree it's too early to call him a bust.

Compared to the Grizzlies and Thunder, I agree that the Kings' cupboard is pretty bare.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If only it was just the national media - it is also people that call themselves fans of this team that are busy shoveling this garbage...

For awhile now I've been thinking that the most important thing Greg needs to work on is his shot mechanics and footwork, but I'm starting to back off of that stance. In the first place he needs to regain the explosiveness and athleticism that marked his playing days in highschool and college, once his body is doing what he'd like it to do I have a feeling his psyche is going to relax and he's going to stop pressing so hard.

The most encouraging thing I heard in the radio interview he gave to that Indy radio station a few days ago is that he sounds like he's planning to work his butt off on just that.

Of course the footwork and refined skills are going to be important in time, but that's more of a two or three year process in my opinion.

 

[andalusian]

If Greg could stay in the game an extra 10 minutes per game - he will be a fantastic upgrade for Portland - we will move from having a very good center combo to a dominant one - and this without him adding any skill offensively.

Regaining his athletic ability will help with this as his body will be able to do the things his brain tell him to and get to places in time, add experience with the game and hopefully some better PG defense from our perimeter guys - and if he stays healthy he is very very likely to be a much better player just from this "natural" healing.

If he also adds some simple skills to his arsenal and the Blazers work on getting him the ball on the pick and roll - look out.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12721

As the news came out this morning from our friends at Draft Express, that Ricky Rubio was upset at the way the NBA draft lottery turned out, a rumor quickly followed behind that the Memphis Grizzlies
would look to trade the pick rather than use it themselves. While Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace has been openly interested in Rubio, we're being told that the Grizzlies would rather have the $3 million they'd likely get from a team looking to move up, as well as a slightly lower pick.

The first issue is, of course, Rubio's buy-out. In order for Rubio to come to the NBA he must first buy his freedom from DKV Joventut, which is proving to be a fairly cut-and-dried scenario. They want 6 million Euros and they won't negotiate. No payment plan, no percentage of endorsements and contracts signed . . .pay it all, cash up front. Rubio is essentially DKV Joventut's version of LeBron James. They're nothing without him. For that reason, they want to keep him around as long as possible, and if they have to give him up they want to have the cash to bring in several players to replace him.

 

[Minstrel]

6 million Euros is $8,334,000. What does the second pick get for first year salary and how much of the buyout can the drafting team pay? That seems like a huge buyout...is it at all likely that Rubio can/will buy his way out his Joventut contract?

 

[oldmangrouch]

If only it was just the national media - it is also people that call themselves fans of this team that are busy shoveling this garbage...

Injuries are a fact of NBA life. When a player misses too many games to injuries, his value decreases. Period.

In his career, Oden has played 61 regular season games out of a possible 164. In about 1/3 of the games he played, he took himself out of the equation with foul trouble.

You can call it "garbage" - I call it hard reality. At some point, the excuses have to stop.

 

[oldmangrouch]

6 million Euros is $8,334,000. What does the second pick get for first year salary and how much of the buyout can the drafting team pay? That seems like a huge buyout...is it at all likely that Rubio can/will buy his way out his Joventut contract?

The team can only contribute $500,000. Under the circumstances, that is almost meaningless.

 

[andalusian]

You can call it "garbage" - I call it hard reality. At some point, the excuses have to stop.

No. What I call garbage is the people that say he is going to be nothing more than a role-player. If anyone wants to complain about injuries - I have no problems with it. Still sounds rather silly to me - I doubt Greg chose to get injured, but I can not argue with the facts that he did.

What I do take exception to is the people that do not see how special of a talent he is when he is not injured.

 

[Masbee]

Although, remember, parts of Spain are pretty desert-y. Check out the movie "Jamon Jamon" (and not just because of a young Penelope Cruz).

No, Penelope Cruz is all the reason you need to see that movie. Wowsa. What desert? There was a background? You mean there were other actors in that film? Didn't notice.

 

[oldmangrouch]

No. What I call garbage is the people that say he is going to be nothing more than a role-player. If anyone wants to complain about injuries - I have no problems with it. Still sounds rather silly to me - I doubt Greg chose to get injured, but I can not argue with the facts that he did.

What I do take exception to is the people that do not see how special of a talent he is when he is not injured.

OK, I can agree with that. While I don't see Oden ever being a dominant offensive player, he clearly has the potential to be a beast at rebounding and defense. If he fulfills that potential, he doesn't need to put up Shaq-like numbers on offense for the team to win.

 

[Miksaid]

No, Penelope Cruz is all the reason you need to see that movie. Wowsa. What desert? There was a background? You mean there were other actors in that film? Didn't notice.

If all we're looking for is Penelope eye-candy, might I suggest her fairly recent movie, Volver... she is by far the most beautiful woman in the entire world. I love Spain.

In fact, I think I'm going to watch it right now...

 

[gambitnut]

To me, he might not want to play in Memphis because they already have a good young PG, so he might not fit in well.

 

[RoyToy]

He also was a 22 year-old rookie who wasn't able to consistently start on a terrible team. I think it's way too early to call him a bust, but I think that it's still TBD whether he'll ever be more than a bench player.

He'll easily be a starter.

 

[Da_O]

Okay so according to this Memphis is willing to move.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12721

As the news came out this morning from our friends at Draft Express, that Ricky Rubio was upset at the way the NBA draft lottery turned out, a rumor quickly followed behind that the Memphis Grizzlies would look to trade the pick rather than use it themselves. While Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace has been openly interested in Rubio, we're being told that the Grizzlies would rather have the $3 million they'd likely get from a team looking to move up, as well as a slightly lower pick.

I really find it pointless talking about Rubio. There's no way we could get in position to get him without giving up too much. He's the best PG prospect of this draft, but we're not getting him. KP is a wizard on draft day but he's not THAT good.

I think what's going to happen is either New York is going to make an offer or if Rubio falls to number three Golden State could make a play at him.

If New York is going to trade, Memphis is going to want David Lee and the #8 pick. But they can't deal the #8 pick until draft day and Lee is an RFA and can't do a S&T till July 1st. Memphis would have to draft Rubio and wait till Summer to make a deal with New York.

Golden State doesn't have any of those restrictions. So if he falls to #3 then Golden State could offer Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, and the #7 for Collison and the #2. The Warriors might even be willing to move Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins too. We'll see.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Okay so according to this Memphis is willing to move.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12721


I really find it pointless talking about Rubio. There's no way we could get in position to get him without giving up too much. He's the best PG prospect of this draft, but we're not getting him. KP is a wizard on draft day but he's not THAT good.

I think what's going to happen is either New York is going to make an offer or if Rubio falls to number three Golden State could make a play at him.

If New York is going to trade, Memphis is going to want David Lee and the #8 pick. But they can't deal the #8 pick until draft day and Lee is an RFA and can't do a S&T till July 1st. Memphis would have to draft Rubio and wait till Summer to make a deal with New York.

Golden State doesn't have any of those restrictions. So if he falls to #3 then Golden State could offer Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, and the #7 for Collison and the #2. The Warriors might even be willing to move Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins too. We'll see.

Frankly that would be a fantastic trade for both sides, and it's not completely out of the realm of possibility. The two teams would have a "handshake" agreement in place at the draft and the players concerned and their agents would be told the situation and they'd simply have to wait about a week or so to finalize the deal.

The Golden State deal seems less likely, as I can't see many of their players being D'Antoni guys (Maybe Beidrins?)

 

[mook]

6 million Euros is $8,334,000. What does the second pick get for first year salary and how much of the buyout can the drafting team pay? That seems like a huge buyout...is it at all likely that Rubio can/will buy his way out his Joventut contract?

Seems to me he could probably get a loan to pay this off. If he goes to the bank with the $500k from the NBA franchise, he'll "only" need a million bucks to put 20% down on a loan. He'll make more than that on his rookie deal.

Probably wouldn't be a huge amount of interest, given that he could repay it all in 4-5 years.

Sucks to be him, though, if he's an NBA washout due to injury or failure to perform. He could go through his rookie contract and not have a dime to show for it if he doesn't get a new contract.