Jonny Flynn Draft Diary

Jonny Flynn Draft Diary, Part Two

[Note: These two video diaries are worth watching.]

[Further note: The only player I could see the Kings taking over Ricky Rubio would be Jonny Flynn without me wanting to boycott. I could see them taking Tyreke Evans, James Harden, and others (like DeMar DeRozan and Hasheem Thabeet), but not with either Ricky or Jonny on the board. If Ricky is not on the board, I will be disappointed if they do not take Jonny; but I will understand if they take Tyreke or James (or DeMar or Hasheem). I just have a good feeling about Jonny from watching him play, his workouts and his interviews. He comes across as a leader (even so young) and a driven, skilled, team-oriented, pass and shoot, and defend, point guard. Again, the only player in the draft I might want more is Ricky.]

Two different sources have indicated to NBADraft.net on Friday that the Pistons have a promise in place to take BJ Mullens if he's available to the them at 15. Mullens works well with the rebuilding Pistons as he's a player with significant upside but will take time to become a contributor. With the Pistons in the process of rebuilding their squad, Mullens offers them a potential center for the future. NBADraft.net

The Knicks love UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday, but they didn't like his pre-draft workout June 10, when he got outplayed by Stephen Curry. So team president Donnie Walsh has succeeded in luring Holiday back to the team's Westchester compound Monday for a second workout, according to a source. Selecting No. 8 in Thursday's draft, the Knicks have narrowed their point-guard search to three guys: Curry, Memphis' Tyreke Evans and Holiday, in that order. There's a strong chance Curry and Evans will not be around at 8, and the Knicks have considered moving up. New York Post

Trade rumors abound. We tried to ask team pres Rod Thorn but he declined to discuss anything specific in any way. He did, however, say a trade of the pick if a definite possibility and indicated trading it or keeping it is about even. "Either scenario is possible," he said claiming the odds were "about the same" for keeping or dealing. Multiple sources though squashed a Devin Harris to Memphis for the No. 2 pick rumor. "No way," said one source. "Absolutely nothing to that," said another. "Just not true," said a third. New York Post

After measuring very impressively in Chicago and testing well in the athleticism workouts, Tyler Hansbrough has been on the rise lately and could go as high as 11 to New Jersey. In fact, New Jersey looks like the likely destination for Hansbrough at this point. NBADraft.net

Joe Dumars has his eye on Toney Douglas and would like to pick up a late first to grab him. San Antonio is likely after Victor Claver who suspiciously remained in the draft, despite a lackluster and injury plagued season. No word on who Houston is after, but Rockets GM Daryl Moray was on hand in Treviso as Swedish SF Jonas Jerebko put on an excellent performance. NBADraft.net

With eight players signed for next season and five others whom they intend to bring back, the Lakers aren't especially interested in using their three draft picks on players who would use up a roster spot and valuable salary cap space. As a result, Kupchak acknowledged he'll likely either trade those picks or use them on foreign players who can remain overseas for at least a year. The player the Lakers draft at No. 29 in the first round would receive a guaranteed contract, while their two potential second-round picks would not be guaranteed. "If we bring back the players we want to bring back on this team, we'll have at least 13 or 14 guys on the roster," Kupchak said. "So it stands to reason if you bring all three draft picks to camp, you're going to have 17 and the NBA only allows 15. We would look to either move a pick, trade a pick, exchange a pick for future picks, or pick players who would play overseas for at least a year." Riverside Press-Enterprise

Well said, BigO. Your post (immediately above) was enjoyable to read. And I agree: it will be an INTERESTING draft. I just hope it is also a HAPPY draft for Kings fans (and Thunder and Rockets and Bulls and Spurs fans as well).

BTW, I am not a DeRozan fan either. I just can see how his athleticism and hype could seduce owners and some GMs with lottery picks.

I also do not buy into the collective mantra by paid and unpaid bloggers and mocks about how this is one of the worst or one of the weakest drafts ever. With Griffin and Rubio in it, it is much stronger than it might have been without them. Griffin would have been a top 10 pick in the last draft, as a freshman, maybe top 5. But with Rubio and all the possibly worthwhile point guards in this draft, it is only weak in bigs. Since point guard is one of the two hardest positions to find stars or even first rate starters, this makes this strong for point and combo guards and relatively weak everywhere else. If you include combo guards and shooting guards working at playing the point in the NBA, like Evans, Curry and Holiday, there are point guards aplenty - over 20 of them! But if it is pure point guards you want, there are more than usual, but still but a few: with Rubio, Flynn, Lawson, Mills, being the most accomplished and potentially promising. When B.J. Mullens is rated the second best center in a draft, you know you will not be picking up a future starting center in this draft, without miracle level luck. Thabeet is BIG AND TALL and can block shots and rebound; and teams need that. Mullens has height, size, talent but, so far, not much else. James Harden is a good shooting guard; and, with his potential, DeRozan might someday become one. Power forwards? Griffin, Hansbrough, Johnson, Blair, and then a steep drop there after. And lots of small forwards, but rare glimmers of anything to get excited about there - perhaps Omri Casspi.

That said, there are players out there that have not really been scouted that well and some with potential only beginning to manifest to those looking for it - and every once in awhile magic appears from that lot. But Manu Ginobili caliber players are RARE in any draft in the second round. They could however be there - but, with the Kings not keeping their second round picks, how will they ever find out?

In five short days, we will at least know who gets drafted and where; and we will also most likely see draft day trades that will be as interesting as the picks themselves. Hopefully, the result will lead to happy Kings fans this coming season and increasingly so in the seasons to come. But then, all we will see is who is picked, and get a song and dance as to why, not how they will play, or even if they will stay.

I have been hoping the Kings get Rubio for awhile now. It looked like that dream was dashed in the lottery. However, when Rubio's agent, Fegan (sounds like a Dickens' character), said Rubio was NOT interested in playing for Memphis (and OKC at the time), the dream was rekindled a mite. Now, the Grizzlies posturing, the Kings seeming to be unwilling to make the necessary moves, and others trying to move up to get Rubio, the dream is fading a bit. But it is not yet dead. So, there is still a chance. May the dream be realized and prove worthy.

If not, it will not take long for the #4 pick to happen. So, we will know early on, maybe at #2, whether Rubio will play for the Kings or not; at least initially.

If not... well...

It just depends who the Kings pick and how the rest of the draft and draft trades play out as to whether I will be pleased or disgruntled with the result. Flynn, I would like - (not as much as Rubio but) lots. Evans, I could learn to like, in the Princeton offense. After that? Eh. Harden, if Martin is traded and a point guard, like say Kirk Hinrich, is forthcoming, is a pick I could be persuaded to like it.

Goodman's mock draft: Who should get picked

You've seen plenty of mock drafts so far, but this one is different. It's not about who we think teams will take; but instead is about who they should take - from someone who has seen these kids more than just about anyone.

Here's one hint for NBA GMs: Don't sleep on Jeff Teague. (And don't worry about that knee injury.)

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin, 6-8-1/2, 248, PF, Soph., Oklahoma - He's a future All-Star and is as close to a franchise player as there is in this year's draft. High character kid who, at times, appears as though he's jumping off a trampoline.

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  2. Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet, 7-1, 267, C, Jr., UConn - You just don't find 7-footers that run the court like Thabeet every day. He may not be an offensive threat, but he can eventually become a dominating presence on the defensive end in the NBA and is worth the risk.

• 3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Tyreke Evans, 6-4, 221, G, Fr., Memphis - He and Russell Westbrook would be a quality combo with neither being a pure point guard, but both guys being able to make plays with the ball in their hands. Evans is deadly in the open court and his perimeter shot will improve over time.

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  4. Sacramento Kings - Ricky Rubio, 6-4, 180, PG, Spain - The Kings probably have as little talent as any team in the league. They need to get a young point guard that can become the cornerstone of the franchise and the pick here is Rubio - who comes with all the accolades and knows how to make his teammates better

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June 20, 2009

DeRozan workout opening act for Sunday's point guard showdown

USC guard Demar DeRozan worked out for the Kings today, flashing his above-the-rim game and continuing to show why he could wind up being a top five pick.

He won't be picked at No. 4, however, as the Kings have not the positional need or patience to let his game develop over the course of the next couple seasons. But there are plenty of folks around the league who think he'll wind up being one of the best pros from this draft. I didn't videotape any of the action because, well, the portion we saw just wasn't that action-packed. This is DeRozan afterward, however, reiterating that he believes he can jump higher than Vince Carter (at the 3:15 mark) and talking about the June 25 draft.

Before we go the tape, though, it's official now that the Kings will hold their second blockbuster point guard workout on Sunday. Memphis' Tyreke Evans and Davidson's Stephen Curry will now be joined by Syracuse's Jonny Flynn and Saint Mary's' Patty Mills. Florida's Nick Calathes and Florida State's Toney Douglas will also take part. In the spirit of good competition, I've been told that Flynn and Mills both asked their way into this particular workout in a fearless attempt to show their stuff against the very players they're competing with for draft position.

- Sam Amick

Sacramento Kings NBA Draft 2009: What I'm Hearing

by Ziller on Jun 19, 2009 3:43 PM PDT in NBA Draft

More photos » by Dusan Vranic - AP

USA's Jason Kidd, left, watches as Spain's Ricky Rubio beats him to the rim during the men's gold medal basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Browse more photos »

Instead of pushing this stuff out in various comment threads, I figured I'd collect it in one post. Perhaps there will be enough grist for another edition next week.

* Tyreke Evans is back on Sunday precisely because he disappointed in his first visit. If Evans wants to be a King, he needs to blow the doors off on Sunday. I was there for Visit No. 1, and they opened up the last 15 minutes for viewing. You can't take a whole lot from that, but he didn't look like dynamite. Two of the matchups on Sunday -- Nick Calathes and Toney Douglas -- seem tailor-made to test Evans' physicality. I'm sure Evans' defense will be a nice test for Stephen Curry, as well.

* Plenty of teams are actually trying to get the No. 4 pick from Sacramento. This hurts to write, it pains me personally, but ... there's talk the No. 23 or 31 could also be up for sale. Sale, as in selling to the Rockets, Cavs or Spurs for $3 million, Phoenix style. It seems like the scenario would be that the team has two or three key guys they'd like to get at either pick. If they aren't available, the pick can be had for some cash or salary relief.

* The split Chad Ford reported is real in a sense, but perhaps overstated. Neither side has an interest in trading up for Ricky Rubio -- if he's there at No. 4, that's where the battle lines are drawn. The anti-Rubio segment believes the team can't afford to wait for the kid to develop, and that he further exacerbates the problem of a lack of toughness on the team. There's also a concern he might wilt so far from home, especially on a losing team. The pro-Rubio folks have varying reasons: excitement and charisma for some, incredible passing instincts and unbelievable on-court maturity for others.

* How much does the uncertainty about Geoff Petrie's future with the team weigh in on the Rubio battle? I'll let you decide. I do hear, though, that Petrie's above the fray on this one. I also get the sense that it's not just the basketball ops people involved, though the basketball ops people (which at this point is the front office, the scouting team led by Scotty Stirling, and Paul Westphal) are obviously central to the whole scenario.

* The Flynn interest is real, and there really hasn't been internal debate. In other words, if Rubio goes No. 2 or 3 or the anti-Rubio folks win Petrie's support, and if Evans doesn't dominate the practice facility on Sunday, Flynn will likely be the choice. Flynn doesn't seem to have any internal detractors (which is a bit surprising given that hardly any other team in the top nine is rumored to be interested). He must have been stunning during Pointguardpalooza #1.

* Jrue Holiday has no chance of going No. 4. Brandon Jennings is almost surely a no-go, too (and not because of his press conference). I haven't heard a damn thing from anyone about the interest level around Curry. I imagine he'll need to make a statement Sunday to join the club.

* The Kings are trying to set up a last-minute workout with Hasheem Thabeet. Sam Young comes in Monday (with other wings, one would assume), and Tuesday/Wednesday remain clear according to the team's public announcements.