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jodystone6467 |
Wednesday, June 24th 2009 (All Posts) |
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Welcome to the Bleacher Mob Forum.
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jodystone6467 |
Kings appear to favor Evans over Rubio: | ||
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Kings appear to favor Evans over Rubio:
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/story/1971983.html The shovel came flying Paul Westphal's way from the start, with his official hiring as Kings coach June 12 followed by the request to help with the rebuilding project and the reality that the NBA draft was just 13 days away. And Westphal, who longed to be an NBA coach again after nine years, has enjoyed every minute. "It hasn't been too hard to fill my days since this hurricane hit," Westphal said by phone with a laugh. "It's a 24-hour-a-day job, but it's been great. I'm really enjoying it. The organization was advertised as being first class, from the Maloofs on down, and I've been really happy with what I've been finding out about the people I'm working with." As for the next colleague he'll be welcoming? The research continues. With Thursday's draft drawing near and the Kings' workout schedule having been completed with Ricky Rubio's visit Monday, the deliberating about the team's No. 4 pick continued internally. And while their list of top candidates is believed to include Rubio, Memphis' Tyreke Evans, Syracuse's Jonny Flynn and Davidson's Stephen Curry, it appears Evans is heading the group entering the final days. Although the 6-foot-7 guard is not the true point guard the Kings had hoped for, his physicality, ability to get to the rim and dynamic scoring ways have enticed the team. He raised his stock in recent workouts, dominating in Minnesota before doing the same in Sacramento. Rubio, meanwhile, may be passed over even if he is available when the Kings' first pick arrives. "I think we'll get a player that can help us," said Westphal, who has been taking part in the team's workouts. "Beyond that, these guys are so young that you have to hedge everything with, 'If he develops … .' After you do all the research...you can't look into somebody's heart and see how they're going to react when they get some money in their pocket and how they're going to react to being in the spotlight." But the Kings, of course, won't fully know their options until the Clippers, Memphis and Oklahoma City select before them. And the Grizzlies, specifically, have some deliberating of their own to do before they're on the clock. After Washington and Minnesota reportedly agreed in principle on a deal netting the Timberwolves the No. 5 pick in addition to their No. 6, league sources said the T-wolves - who also have the No. 18 and No. 28 picks - might look to put together a package for Memphis that could bring them the No. 2 and, ultimately, Rubio. The Grizzlies might not comply and could cloud the picture by selecting Evans, the local star. New York also remains high on Rubio and has had extensive discussions about moving up to get him. Sacramento, meanwhile, has been Rubio's preference if he didn't join the Clippers. They are set on taking forward Blake Griffin. Memphis boasts talented young guards Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo, and has a history of lukewarm relationships with some of its Spanish players. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook manned the point well last season. The Kings were seen as ideal for Rubio in several ways - from the struggles of starter Beno Udrih last season to the California location. Yet the feeling may not be mutual, with Westphal saying that Monday's workout would not sway the decision. "We wanted to get a feel for just interacting with him, watching him up close," Westphal said. "(But) is there anything that's going to tip the scale as to whether we draft Ricky Rubio or not from that workout? Absolutely not. "It was nice for us to be able to spend some time with him, and it was impossible to do anything that would either help or hurt himself, really, in one
hour of shooting around in the gym."
WHAT THE KINGS NEEDSMALL FORWARD No team can have enough athletic wing players, and the Kings might find one in this draft. It might not be a top priority, but several athletic small forwards with ballhandling ability are available. A player who can create and get to the basket consistently would be a plus, as would a defensive standout. A perimeter player, such as Pittsburgh's Sam Young, would be worth considering at No. 23, should he slip that far. - Jason Jones TOP FIVE SMALL FORWARDS1. EARL CLARK 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, Louisville A good ballhandler who should add flexibility to any lineup. Also a good rebounder. 2. AUSTIN DAYE 6-11, 200, Gonzaga Can flat-out score, but he'll need to fill out his willowy frame. 3. SAM YOUNG 6-6, 220, Pittsburgh Can score in a variety of ways and isn't afraid to crash the boards. 4. OMRI CASSPI 6-9, 225, Maccabi Tel Aviv Plays both forward positions overseas but would need to get stronger to be an NBA power forward. 5. DaJUAN SUMMERS 6-8, 240, Georgetown Has good size for the position. Showed the ability to score from the perimeter in college. - Jason Jones |
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jodystone6467 |
Todays NBA Rumors: Wednesday, June 24: | ||
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Re-signing Andersen No. 1 concern:
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_12675936 Another lottery pick? http://blog.newsok.com/nbainokc/2009/06/24/another-lottery-pick/ Cleveland Cavaliers' draft affected by NBA trades Tuesday: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/06/cleveland_cavaliers_draft_affe.html Bucks trade: http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4450 Flexible benefits: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/48961566.html Pistons pull plug on Amir Johnson project, trade him to Bucks: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090624/SPORTS0102/906240372/1127/ The Utah Jazz and NBA: http://blogs.sltrib.com/jazz/2009/06/tough-trade-day-for-jazz.htm Inside the NBA draft: Shooters: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705312528/Inside-the-NBA-draft-Shooters.html Talk of Grizzlies trades refuses to die: teams discuss possible deals: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jun/24/talk-of-trades-refuses-to-die/ Ainge dealing in reality: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/06/24/ainge_dealing_in_reality/ Latest draft rumors, including new Rondo whispers: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/06/spears_latest_d.html?s_campaign=8315 Some guesses on what Bulls will do with 16th draft pick: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=302520 Bulls have some options in 'pretty deep' draft: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/jackson/1636031,CST-SPT-jax24.article Ex-LSU guard Marcus Thornton's NBA draft stock steadily rising: http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2009/06/exlsu_guard_marcus_thorntons_n.html Pistons could find that pick actually matches need: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090624/SPORTS0102/906240382/1127/ Utah Jazz: Wake Forest's Teague won't shy from workout: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705312529/Utah-Jazz-VCU-point-guard-cancels-planned-workout-with-team.html Sixers on guard at draft: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/126/2009/june/24/sixers-on-guard-at-draft.html |
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ozzie |
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Listened to a little of Napear and Lamb yesterday and both are not in the Rubio as the pick group. Lamb went so far as to say he thought a draft of Rubio and
Hansbrough would be a bad draft night for the Kings. Missed a lot of what they were saying but I got the indication they liked Evans. They had Petrie on later
and this is the total of what he let out..........ZERO.
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JB |
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Evans is amazing... that story lists him at 6-7 now. He's grown 2 inches in the last week!
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BigO |
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Yeah, JB I was about to comment on that. And Amick's not the first Bee reporter to do that. Voisin also listed Evans as being 6'7". He's
6'4" in socks and just over 6'5" in shoes though he does have a have over a 6'11" wingspan. Some talk that he's too small to be
a two guard in the NBA, but for reference he is the same height as James Harden and his wingspan is a half inch longer. And honestly, I think SG is where he
ends up.
I like his insight in football and occasionally other sports but generally Mike Lamb annoys me when he's talking basketball. First he states that people shouldn't be high on Rubio because they haven't seen him play. Then in the next breath he talks about how he's been reading about him and talking to people about him and that soured his opinion. So, it's not okay to like a guy if you haven't seen him play but it's okay to not like him if you haven't seen him play? Then he goes on to talk about how it's better to take an athletic guy because you can teach him to shoot whereas you can't teach a shooter to be athletic. On its face it isn't an outrageous concept, but very rarely does it actually happen. I thought about calling him and asking whether he thought it was a great idea when in the past the Raiders drafted track stars at WR. After all, if a guy is fast you can always teach him to catch but you can't teach a guy who catches well to run faster. Maybe I was just especially agitated by his comments because I'm not at all on the Evans bandwagon but I've never found his comments on basketball to be particularly insightful. Personally I think the Kings interest in Evans is a smokescreen. |
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ozzie |
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BigO wrote: And he really thinks he has more insight than most. Like he's the sharpest tack. Lamb let his cat outa the bag in his first ever interview with Petrie, knowing how Geoff doesn't let any information out, tried to trick him by asking questions in different ways hoping Geoff would slip up. Lamb learned right away Petrie was one guy smater than him. Lamb did ask Petrie who the pick was again this time, knowing full well this time what the answer would be. Petrie said, "the best player for the Kings." Petrie was asked about the hiring of Paul Westphal and responded, "when WE made the descision" like he is hearing the talk of influence by the Maloofs and wanted to set the record straight. I know "i" won't want to hear this but most owners have influence in coaching hires and draft selections. If I was the owner of a team, talk of hirings would not be done without my input just because fans don't like it. That's just the way life is. |
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Hallama |
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I think Evans will make a good NBA pro. A team will have to really buy into him though since he needs the ball to be effective. Lots of pounding. If a
coach/team can break Evans of that, he will have a nice career.
I would be stumped if the Kings passed on Rubio for him though. It just doesn't make sense. Regarding James Harden: I haven't read one article or mock draft that has the Kings taking him, so... |
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ozzie |
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Would Petrie pass on Thabeet if Rubio or Evans wasn't there?
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Hallama |
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I'm also curious to see if Thabeet falls to the Kings pick and if they pass on him as well. If the Kings are happy with drafting one of Evans, Curry,
Flynn, Holiday, or Jennings, than there really is an opportunity to swap picks with the Warriors or Knicks. I'd love to get Wright from the Warriors.
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Hallama |
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Ha, Ozzie beat my post by a few ticks...you know what they say: great minds drink alike. Or something or another...
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BigO |
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I put the odds of Geoff taking Thabeet are slim to none regardless of who is or isn't on the board. Many would point to that as Geoff's aversion to
defense or weakness solely for offensive players, but I think it would simply be a case of avoiding a player that I think will prove to be a bust. Well, not a
complete bust because I think Thabeet will hang around the league for quite a while, but I don't see him being starter on a good team. I'm just not
high on the guy at all.
I'm not high on Evans. I think he's a boom or bust prospect. I agree with Hallama that he needs to be given the keys to an offense and the question is if he's talented enough to be a big time offensive threat on the NBA level. I don't think he's the kind of player that does other things or plays off the ball well enough to make an impact in other ways. He's either a Dwayne Wade type talent or he's not. I could be wrong but I think it's the latter. A rumor out of Memphis (that I found via this sactown royalty link) has the Kings dealing Cisco and Thompson for the #2. Obviously pieces would have to come back to the Kings as well to make salaries work, but my bigger question is what the Kings would do with the #2 AND #4 in this draft if indeed that's the deal being discussed. If the targer is Rubio then who do you take two spots later and how do you replace your starting PF? I think there nothing to this rumor at all. |
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JB |
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I saw the JT & Cisco for the #2 rumor. Doesn't sound like Petrie's cup of tea. But you never know. Who are the two players he could draft that
would make him happy?
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king of the jungle |
Cisco and Thompson for #2 | ||
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Perhaps Petrie's bluff has been called and he feels it's time to aggressively pursue Rubio with #2?
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SactoGreg |
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Wow, no way I'd trade Garcia and Thompson to move up 2 spots in the draft. No way. Unless I am to understand that the Kings would get the #2 pick and not
give up the #4, it just doesn't make sense.
I really think JT is going to be a special player, and toughness is something the Kings have always lacked (Artest notwithstanding). I like his game, and I don't believe he has really come close to his potential yet. If the Kings are really trying to rebuild the team, why would you take two young pieces away for the opportunity for only one? Minnesota is sitting pretty good with four picks in the first round. They appear to have a lot to offer other teams if they so choose...
Last Edited By: SactoGreg
06/24/09 12:46:59.
Edited 1 times.
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king of the jungle |
Potential trade | ||
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From what I understand, the Kings wouldn't be moving up but attaining another top pick, so they'd have #2 and #4 but give up Thompson and Cisco in the
process.
Another thing to remember is that next year's draft is power forward heavy. |
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Cat Man |
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The only way you trade Jason Thompson in a deal for the No. 2 pick is to take Hasheem Thabeet. It might make sense if you need to move up for Ricky Rubio,
assuming you believe he's the love child of Pete Maravich and Steve Nash. There's no way either of them get past No. 4, so you're betting both will
go right after Blake Griffin.
That said, there are a number of acceptable point guard options, but Thabeet doesn't last beyond the second or third pick. However, that just doesn't sound like a Geoff Petrie move. |
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Hallama |
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Givony from DX thinks Thabeet is a lock at number two. That only leaves OKC in the Kings path to have a chance at passing on Rubio...
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JB |
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I think if the Grizz do pick #2, Thabeet is their guy. But they also are entertaining offers for the pick. Givony will change that every hour when new
situations arise.
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king of the jungle |
Would you guys be down for a casual mock draft? | ||
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I'm thinking that since this board is busy again, maybe we do a mock draft and the order is simply determined by whoever responds next. No long
explanations as in years past. I can start it off with a no-brainer. The main rule is that no mobster can claim back-to-back picks. In other words, another
mobster must make a pick before you can get back in the shuffle. In the case that two people respond at once, we can look at the time the post was sent and
whoever was first gets it.
The Los Angeles Clippers select Blake Griffin with the #1 pick. |
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Hallama |
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This is what Petrie does best...he does nothing while the panic sets in with the other GMs (and fans).
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