This could have been at least a little exciting if we had just not squeaked into that #8 spot.

I got it ready on the DVR.

Cross your fingers for Washington getting #2 or #4. If they get #1, they take Griffin. If they get #3 they take Thabeet, if its any other high pick, they trade it and we'd be in a prime position to make that trade, picking up the pick and a possible big man like Haywood.

So what's the scenario that you doods with the Wizards/Pistons trade pipe dreams are pulling for?

Wiz get #1? #2?

They are locked in at no worse than #5.

IAZAMQ

In After Zek Answers My Question?

The rumor was that if they got #2 and weren't getting Griffin, they'd trade the pick because Rubio wouldn't fit with Arenas.

The other rumor was that if they got #3, they'd keep it and take Thabeet.

It really just gives me something to talk about, I dont think we're getting a top 5 pick in any way.

I think if they really want Thabeet at #3, they'd take him at #2.

Makes sense.

How much different is the guaranteed money between the top 5 spots? Just curious.

I think if they really want Thabeet at #3, they'd take him at #2.

I agree. Unless you can get the #3 slot to trade up you just pull the trigger on who you really want. One spot isn't a whole lot of difference.

I think anything other than #1, they trade the pick.

Geez, Grunfeld really did a number on the Wiz payroll.

At least we know the A/P department won't be facing any job cuts at the Verizon Center for the next half decade.

I think I'll pull for the Wizards to get #1 so they can take Griffin and trade us Jamison.

Jamison is even worse than Boozer imo...if they get #2 i get my hopes up that we can get Rubio...

I think I'll pull for the Wizards to get #1 so they can take Griffin and trade us Jamison.

What good does Jamison do with no post player next to him? If we could swap Max for Jamison (to save them money) and also do a Tay/Amir/#15 for Bosh trade then I'm game.

What are the chances of Blake Griffin staying close to home and getting drafted by OKC? David Stern is all over this storyline. Their pingpong ball has already been "weighted"

Should we root for NY to win the lotto? Griffin might make them let Lee walk (to us maybe), plus it ups the chances the Lebron leaves the dirty Cavs too.

I love how we've resorted to ripping on durable, multi-time All Star big men putting up 22 & 9.

He's a top 10 rebounder, FCS. He can even knock down a three if you need it.

I get that he doesn't block shots, but that's why we'll bring in Chandler or someone similar.

Wilt Chamberlain ain't walking through that door.

Should we root for NY to win the lotto? Griffin might make them let Lee walk (to us maybe), plus it ups the chances the Lebron leaves the dirty Cavs too.

LeBron in NY might be more dangerous than LeBron in Cleveland.

Should we root for NY to win the lotto? Griffin might make them let Lee walk (to us maybe), plus it ups the chances the Lebron leaves the dirty Cavs too.


No. Mark Sanchez is already Joe Namath and he just got there. The Media already has an East Coast bias. Can you imagine ESPN Sportcenter if that happened?

Top Stories
A-Rod's mystery blonde
Sanchez modeling pictures make it into Jet's lockeroom
Mets collapse in 11th
David Ortiz: 0 for 320
Sidney Crosby > Gretzky
Kevin Garnett Injury update
Blake Griffin: Take your pick, Is he better than Patrick Ewing or Wilt Chamberlain?

:chad:

Preview:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=LotteryPreview-090519

LeBron in NY might be more dangerous than LeBron in Cleveland.

First off I don't think he leaves. But, if he did I don't care. All I care is what makes the Pistons better. We could be the only people in a bidding for Lee. Also, I'd rather win the division and not play Lebron until the conference finals (even if the media sucks his teat more).

Agreed on not wanting to hear about LeBron or Griffin in New York for the next 10 years. That would get old really fast.

Griffin in OKC would be crazy. They'd be like Portland but with a potential Top 3 players at SF and PF.

Maybe Griffin would dampen some of the Lebron talk. Think about it. When they talk Spurs it's the big 3. It's not TD this and that. Perhaps if Lebron had a real sidekick they wouldn't hype him as much. (maybe not).

I feel like LeBron is in a different spectrum than TD with the media. Duncan was never the Chosen One that everyone knew would "change the game" or whatever the hell they said about LeBron when he was still in high school. James's media-love started before he was even in the league, so I dont think its because he hasn't had a sidekick. I mean, technically, he's got Mo Williams now and things haven't slowed at all. In fact, they just keep getting worse.

I suppose that is true. But I'll take Pistons wins no matter how much we have to hear about Lebron. If Griffin going to NY means Lee comes here and we have to deal with Lebron hype in NY, so be it. All that matters is wins. I think NY would have to throw a truckload of money at Lebron, which means they'll be stuck with no supporting cast for him.

What's the max he can make? They'll have 18 mil (2 players) on the books in 2010. Griffen would make 5 mil. That's 23 mil. Add in 25 mil+ for Lebron and you're pretty much maxed out. You'd have 10 mil to fill out the remaining 11 roster spots. So you'd have Lebron, Griffin and a cast of complete crap.

Tell me again how he's more dangerous there? It would take them a few years of MLE to get enough role players around the two of them to compete at all.

"Woo! $20 Chinese food!"

I think you'd be surprised at how many players would take the vets min to play with him in NY, see Boston.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see him take less to play in NYC, not only due to his Big Apple fetish (~cue Yankees hat~), but he knows he can make it all up and then some on endorsement/entertainment deals, all while allowing them to build a better cast around him.

If he has any common sense at all, that's the way it would work. Trigger that clause in his Nike contract that gives him $80mil to play in NY or whatever it is, then take a smaller salary that lets thing bring in some serious talent around him instead of a cast of scrubs so he can win instead of being stuck in the same situation he was in for years with the Cavs. I know a lot of teams are setting aside money to throw at him, but I feel like he's staying in Cleveland or going to NY and there isn't really any other legitimate option.

If the Suns win the draft lottery and get Griffin, does it make them that much more likely to trade Amare?

If the Suns win the draft lottery and get Griffin, does it make them that much more likely to trade Amare?

I would think so. What if Toronto gets him? Do they move Bosh immediately?

Good for the Clips....good for the league. Get that team rolling.

Now trade us Kaman

Now trade us Kaman

^That

I guess.

ain't that just the clippers for you? the worst draft in YEARS, and they win the top pick! LMFAO

griffin is nice though. but....

I thought the lottery was at the half. Damn.

With Griffin, I'm wondering if the Clips might give up an upcoming 1st of theirs to ditch Zach Randolph.

Do we want Zach Randolph though? How long is his contract?

With the Clips you know that pick is gonna be Lotto.

Memphis Pick Part II?

They'd have to give up more than a future 1st to clear Zach.

Is his contract that bad Herm?

I would happily take a future 1st from the Clips with NO Lotto protection.

You know you're bound to get a good pick within the next 3 years out of them. They always implode, explode or just plain suck

3 years and more than $14 million?

They would have to include Gordon or Thornton for me to take that contract.

Fuck that - we could sign Boozer for less than that!

And y'all know how much I hate that idea.

Yeah, it's a max deal for a guy who plays 0 D (much, much less than Boozer), loses everywhere he goes, and punches dudes in the face right before driving drunk, smoking grass in his car full of loaded weapons, and racing cars on city streets. The guy is a bum and a cancer. You can dump it to him in the post and the dude will score and grab boards. He's a rare talent, but your average thug. It was considered a miracle (or maybe NBA intervention) that the Knicks dumped his deal. I'd want Gordon attached to him. We can do much, much better with our space than to absorb him and miss out on both this years FA and next.

ain't that just the clippers for you? the worst draft in YEARS, and they win the top pick! LMFAO

griffin is nice though. but....

Griffin isn't the worst #1 pick by a long shot though, so that is irrelevant to the Clips.

Kstat is right. In fact it makes it better since the spot the Clips should have picked from would have had a shittier player than usual.

If they'd won the 2nd pick, it would make complete sense.

So when they take Griffin and they can't move Randolph, what do they do? Randolph is not a center. What do they do with Kamen/Camby/Jordan? My gutt says they just let Camby go next year or trade him as an expiring. But what do they do with Randolph? Pay him 14 mil to be a 15 MPG player backing up Griffin? That's the same situation Utah has with AK47 (totally different playing styles of course).

If there's a talent like Blake Griffin available, you take him now and worry about details later.

If Randolph has to be a 15mpg backup, so be it.

I'd make the fat fuck sell popcorn. Camby can play 4/5 off the bench. Perfect.

If there's a talent like Blake Griffin available, you take him now and worry about details later.

If Randolph has to be a 15mpg backup, so be it.
I agree. I know they'll take Griffin. My question is whether Kamen is available or whether they just Marbury Randolph's ass and simply find minutes for Griffin/Kamen/Camby.

If they don't care about Randolph's money, they are less likely to move Kamen. If they do, they'll have to send Camby or Kamen packing this year.

My guess is a notoriously cheap franchise isn't ok with Randolph getting that money to play 15 minutes or less. They'll try to move him and if that doesn't work they'll send either Kamen or Camby packing.

Yeah, it's a max deal for a guy who plays 0 D (much, much less than Boozer), loses everywhere he goes, and punches dudes in the face right before driving drunk, smoking grass in his car full of loaded weapons, and racing cars on city streets. The guy is a bum and a cancer. You can dump it to him in the post and the dude will score and grab boards. He's a rare talent, but your average thug. It was considered a miracle (or maybe NBA intervention) that the Knicks dumped his deal. I'd want Gordon attached to him. We can do much, much better with our space than to absorb him and miss out on both this years FA and next.
I don't see Randolph as being very different than Boozer. Randolph's character issues = Boozer's injury issues, their D is comparable, and if we get Randolph and he doesn't work out, we won't be stuck with him as long and we'll have a tasty pick. Get Boozer and we'll have to extend his to a bigass contract. He's had his biggest success in Michigan, so I think it'd be worth a shot. I'm just not that big into Boozer. If we can't get Bosh, I'm scared.

I don't see Randolph as being very different than Boozer. Randolph's character issues = Boozer's injury issues, their D is comparable, and if we get Randolph and he doesn't work out, we won't be stuck with him as long and we'll have a tasty pick. Get Boozer and we'll have to extend his to a bigass contract. He's had his biggest success in Michigan, so I think it'd be worth a shot. I'm just not that big into Boozer. If we can't get Bosh, I'm scared.

Boozer is a flop, sure, but he'll still be 5 mil less a year for a guy who's a better shooter and has been a solid playoff performer. Zach hasn't been there since 03.

Yeah, Zach has a shorter contract than what we'll give Boozer, but he's making what, 14mil a year? We're not giving Boozer that much or else we're complete idiots.

If I had to choose between starting Maxiell, trading for Randolph or signing Boozer I'd take Maxiell every fucking time.

Boozer is injury prone and I have serious doubts about his work ethic and/or leadership skills.

Randolph is a fucking moron that has refused to grow up because every time he fucks up another team comes calling to try and "tap" that potential.

Fuck the 2 of them.

Yeah, I don't think Joe bit this bullet to get into this position just to take on one of the worst contracts in the game (Zach).

Unless the Clips are throwing in another piece like Camby too, that is.

yeah, he's not taking on Zach. My guess is he'd like to get Lee and Bosh somehow.

Why would Joe want Zach when we've basically played like pussies for 5 years?

Randolph is a fucking moron that has refused to grow up because every time he fucks up another team comes calling to try and "tap" that potential.
Randolph hasn't fucked up teams. I think you're giving him too much credit there.

He's just been vastly overcompensated by them. Everyone knows he's all offense, no defense, and that he's got a low basketball IQ. The fact that he got that huge deal is absolutely idiotic.

He's the PF equivalent of Flip Murray and should be paid as such.

He's the PF equivalent of Flip Murray and should be paid as such.

Cue Glenn in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

Randolph hasn't fucked up teams. I think you're giving him too much credit there.

I didn't say Randolph fucked up teams.

I said every time he fucks up another team is willing to take him on.

It's the same with every fucker that has "potential" or "untapped" talent. They get chance after chance after chance.

Maybe Zach doesn't have any potential left? Maybe this is as good as he's gonna get, both on and off the floor?

I hate fuckers like him who obviously have all the tools but are afraid to devote the time it takes to be the best. And IMO it is fear that stops dudes like Randolph.

Oops -- my bad. I misread that. I apologize to you Pharaoh. It's what I get for being on a phone call working and reading WTFDetroit at the same time.

That said, I don't see any great "potential" in Randolph other than the ability to give a healthy dose of scoring and rebounding at the PF position. His D is mediocre. His contract sucks, but it's for less years than what we'd have to sign Boozer to, and I bet Randolph will be healthier. I suspect that we could actually get Zach AND a future Clipper pick, so even if he doesn't work out, we have "potential" to get some high-grade talent down the road.

Boozer strikes me as a train we don't need to be on.

So Mxy, you saying you'd take Randolph and a first round pick from the Clippers.

In exchange for what?

If we only give them back a second rounder then that uses the majority of our cap space.

Or would you trade them some package of players?

And if you'd send them a package of players what players would you send?

If you get Randolph, you'd have to send Max's 5 mil at least.

And what else? Or do we take the rest with our cap space?

If I'm Joe I'm not looking to use the majority of that space on a problem child. Also remember that Randolph's deal is known throughout the league as being a crap contract.

So our valuable space is eaten up by this dude?

No thanks - not unless something valuable is coming with it.

We'd take Randolph but get Griffin, if I read that right. Randolph and a first from them?

I read it as a future first - not Griffin, which is not enough to warrant using the majority of our space on Randolph.

I think the Monkees wrote a song called "Daydream believer"

Let's talk about real possiblities... Griffin ain't comin' to the D... & we ain't trading for Zack's boat anchor contract.

Kaman & Thornton are in play.

I was thinking of this rumour about Amir Johnson and our pick being dealt to free up more cap space.

I think only Sacramento and Memphis would be interested because:

a) They have the cap space to take Amir and our pick without giving us much of anything in return (a second rounder or future protected first)

b) Amir's expiring contract doesn't really hamper their long-term efforts

c) I think it's highly unlikely either franchise is looking to sign "stars" right now. They're both (re)building and are looking for any talent they can get

d) Either team should be able to draft a reasonable player with our pick to add to their higher pick and current young players to form the core of the team moving forward.

Can anyone here see the Kings or Grizz being interested in Amir/#15?