Brian (Toledo,OH): Just curious where Amir Johnson would rank in this draft. Now 20 yrs old, 6'11" and 230, avg. 20,10 and 3+ blocks in nbdl, and 4 nice games at the end of the year for Detroit. No chance the Pistons let someone steal him away as a RFA is there?

Chad Ford: (12:44 PM ET ) He's the other reason I think the Pistons don't need to go big. I think the team will start working Johnson into the rotation next year. If he was in this draft, my guess is he's a Top 10 pick.



Andy (NYC): I'm glad you mentioned Darko because I've heard Yi compared to all sorts of people but from the limited tape of him that I saw it reminded me a lot of Darko's workout tapes, but I think that Darko is good but had his confidence shattered early. Couldn't Yi flourish if he's given support early. Also what's going to happen with Darko this year?

Chad Ford: (12:23 PM ET ) I think for international players, fit is a huge thing. Get a supportive coach and front office that will nurture you the way Houston did with Yao and Toronto did with Bargnani and you've got a real chance to suceed. However, when the coach tries to turn a player into something he's not or just doesn't support him .. there's trouble. Darko could (and still can) shoot threes, run the floor, play the pick and pop. Both Larry Brown and Brian Hill have told him if he leaves the paint he's getting benched. If something like that happens to Yi, I don't think he'll be successful either. He needs a coach that will let him play to his strengths until he gets the confidence to work on other areas of his game.

Chad Ford: (12:25 PM ET ) One quick story on Dirk. Dirk, as most people know, was awful as a rookie. The second year, Nellie told him that he just wanted Dirk to stand in the corner and wait for a kick out and shoot threes. That's it. Every time down the floor. Dirk was good at that. Started making some shots and then slowly started expanding his game as he got confidence. Had that not happened, Dirk may be back playing in the Euroleague instead of being the league's MVP.

I sure hope Amir can play center for us some day. Max is clearly a PF at his hieght. Amir plays well with his back to the basket, it's just a matter of having enough muscle to play down low every night.

I sure hope Amir can play center for us some day. Max is clearly a PF at his hieght. Amir plays well with his back to the basket, it's just a matter of having enough muscle to play down low every night.

I don't know... Amir is not built like a center, and I don't know if he ever can be.

WE HAVE CHEICK SAMB!

Let's put out a massive lineup on the floor with

PG - Draft Pick
SG - Tay
SF - Amir
PF - Max
C - Samb

I don't know... Amir is not built like a center, and I don't know if he ever can be.

WE HAVE CHEICK SAMB!

Let's put out a massive lineup on the floor with

PG - Draft Pick
SG - Tay
SF - Amir
PF - Max
C - Samb

He looks like a center to me, at least as much as Amare and Bosh are. When Shaq and Big Z retire, how many lumbering centers will there be left?

Amir Johnson looks more like a PF with SF speed.

And Max is a center with SF size. So who is the center of the future?

The days of the postup 6'11"+ power center are gone. Even large guys like Yao Ming can be negated by speed and athleticism.

The Pistons don't necessarily need to find some big stiff behemoth to play in the paint if they can field two starting PFs who can create matchup problems and play out to 16 feet.

The league is more about athletes and length (size*genetics*athleticism) versus the traditional model of Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, and Patrick Ewing.

HOF centers are usually only one or two in the league at a time. The Spurs have done quite well playing with Timmy at the 5 and the Suns with Amare at the 5 as well.

The days of the postup 6'11"+ power center are gone. Even large guys like Yao Ming can be negated by speed and athleticism.

The Pistons don't necessarily need to find some big stiff behemoth to play in the paint if they can field two starting PFs who can create matchup problems and play out to 16 feet.

The league is more about athletes and length (size*genetics*athleticism) versus the traditional model of Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, and Patrick Ewing.

HOF centers are usually only one or two in the league at a time. The Spurs have done quite well playing with Timmy at the 5 and the Suns with Amare at the 5 as well.
Same thing when we put Sheed at the 5.