2009 NBA Draft

Players currently slotted at #15 in various mock drafts (keeping in mind that most of these mocks don't take team needs into consideration):

NBADraft.net
Jonny Flynn, 6-0, 186, PG, Syracuse (comparison: Damon Stoudamire, http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jonny-flynn)

DraftExpress
Same, Flynn

InsideHoops
Al-Farouq Aminu (SF, 6-9, 215, Freshman, Wake Forest, 13.0ppg 8.4rpg) (comparison: Deng/SAR, http://www.nbadraft.net/players/al-farouq-aminu)

Chad Ford
James Johnson 6-8 235 SF Wake Forest (comparison: Andres Nocioni, http://www.nbadraft.net/players/james-johnson)

This is from DX about Jonny Flynn, but if you didn't know better, you'd think it was about Will Bynum (both listed at 6'0", too).

Quote:

STRENGTHS:
- Ability to get to free throw line
- Mix between scoring/passing
- Scoring instincts
- Ability to create own shot
- Ball-handling skills w/either hand
- Change of gears/Hesitation moves
- Lateral quickness
- Aggressiveness
- Confidence
- Potential
- Winning mentality
- Level of competition
- Ability to create for others
- Court vision
- Conditioning
- Excellent first step
- Explosiveness
- Low center of gravity
- Mid-range Jumper

WEAKNESSES:
- Dominant ball-handler
- Efficiency
- Out of control at times
- Shot-selection
- Turnover prone
- Ability to contest shots
- Ability to fight through screens
- Commitment to playing defense
- Average wingspan
- Undersized
- 3-point shooting percentages
- Relies too heavily on outside shot

DX compares Jonny Flynn to none other than EARL WATSON

Not possible if he's really not "committed to playing D"

DX also has Aminu compared to Josh Smith and Johnson compared to Ryan Gomes.

I want no part of Ryan Gomes.

So, a weakness of Flynn is 3-point shooting percentages?

Then I hate the next weakness: Relies too heavily on outside shot.

If he can't shoot from the outside why does he rely on it?

If he's great at getting to the line and his mid-range jumper is sweet why is he relying on his outside shot?

I don;t wanna draft this guy - dude is dumber than a fucking door stop.

IF you can get to the hole and you have a sweet mid range jumper then DON'T fucking settle for 3's.

BTW, if he's good with the ball in his hands (Ability to create own shot, Ball-handling skills w/either hand, Ability to create for others) why does "Dominant ball-handler" appear as a weakness?

Do teams not want a dominant ball handler?

Or

Do they mean the fucker hogs it?

We need a Center or SF, nothing else. That will probably change with trades but we don't know what will happen. I also doubt PG becomes a need at all even after trades.

Pharaoh, they mean he dominates the ball by keeping it to himself, not he's dominates opponenets when he has it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTFchris

We need a Center or SF, nothing else. That will probably change with trades but we don't know what will happen. I also doubt PG becomes a need at all even after trades.

We need the best player available, regardless of position - if that means PG then draft the kid and make a trade later.

We should be able to get a solid rotation player in this Draft - everyone will say it's a weak Draft but we are picking in the middle of the first round and you know there will be decent guys available. I just hope they pick the right one.

I haven't done any Draft research yet - haven't had time. Is anyone on top of their research for the Draft?

If there is anyone on this forum who is can you please call Joe and fill him in cause you know our scouts are fucking useless.

And Zekyl - thanks. I thought they meant he was a ballhog but wasn't sure.

At this point I'm hoping for DeJuan Blair or Stephen Curry.

K, don't you think drafting Blair is too much duplication with Max? Maybe even Amir?

other than them both being 6'6," exactly what does Blair have in common with maxiell?

if you want to compare him to another undersized NBA big, compare him to paul millsapp.

How many young PFs (undersized in the case of Blair/Max) does a team need?

Don't forget Sharpe too, who won't be a SF, if he pans out, IMO. (Not saying Sharp is undersized, necessarily.)

how about some good ones?

And is Sharpe isn't a SF, then he won't pan out.

Blair is a guy that will be starting material in the NBA. Max is a backup.

Judging every big man by his height is stupidity. By that logic, we'd never draft charles barkley because we already have jason maxiell, and every big man under 6'8" is all the same.

That's quite a leap.

Comparing Blair to Barkley is equally as stupid, IMO.

Wow, if we can get a guaranteed starter in the middle of the draft, fucking pull the trigger. I'm shocked he may fall that far.

I know some (like Pharaoh) are very consistent in thinking "always take the best available player", but duplication is a real problem, IMO. Just as it was this year with Rip/Stuckey/AI.

I promise there are no sure starters at any other position.

I've liked Blair since he wrestled the ball from Thabeet...oh and Thabeets arm came with the ball and Thabeet basically went over Blairs back to the court.

We need toughness in the middle

Blair is not bigger, quicker, longer or more of a complete player than Max.. don't be fooled by the weak competition (ie not close to NBA talent)... just trade the goddamn pick... this draft sucks.

http://www.hecklerspray.com/wp-conte.../09/fonzie.jpg

Why worry about duplication when you are a borderline Lottery team?

We need talented players. If we happen to draft a PG and he happens to be better than Stuckey or Bynum then we make a trade.

Same thing if we draft a SG.

We need TALENT - you don't pass on the best guy available because yu have somequality player already. You take the best guy and hope they can play together or make a trade

I can go along with that to an extent, but trading Max might be difficult in this economic environment with that shiny new contract.

While I'm a proponent of roster balance, the flexibility that Joe has this summer might make that less necessary when considering moves because he has the ability to re-balance on the fly pretty easily, except maybe for Maxiell.

My comments have nothing to do with Maxiell (though I know you guys were debating him v other undersized bum) it's one of my Draft Rules.

Rule:

1: Draft Best Player Available
2: Forget About Needs
3: Forget About Roles
4: See Rule #1

Use this year as the scenario. According to many (and I stated as much too but am taking it back now) we shouldn't draft a PG. Now we're discussing not drafting a PF, or at least an undersized PF. Tomorrow we'll discuss not drafting a SG.

Fuck - how about we just say it right now: we want Joe to draft a C or SF and that's it.

WTF? So we eliminate all other options because of our current roster? That roster could change before the rookie even plays a game.

If we take the best guy available at some point in time it's gonna pay off.

You don't pass on Michael Jordan because you have Clyde Drexler. You don't pass on Kobe Bryant because you have Eddie Jones, you don't pass on Tim Duncan because you have David Robinson (imagine if the Spurs drafted Keith Van Horn!) etc etc

Best Playe Available - work out the deph chart later

I was drunk and trying to be sarcastic here, but I'm so glad to see it's spawned this great talk.

Mock updates (#15)

Quote:

DraftExpress -
DeJuan Blair PF/C
19 years old; 6'7"; 265 lbs.
Pittsburgh, Sophomore

Quote:

NBADraft.net-
Stephen Curry 6-1 180
PG/SG Davidson Jr.

Quote:

Chad Ford-
Donatas Motiejunas
18
PF
7-0
220
Lithuania

What about James Johnson? Is that the guy? SF, I think.

Saw a thing on Eric Maynor too - is he any good.

I've still done no research for the Draft (just like our scouts lol)

what is a guy worth at 15 in a weak draft? whats the point of another useless bench player, just trade the pick!

Steph Curry to declare today

And Morey in Houston is talking about buying his way into the 1st round (for some odd reason). I bet Joe would take that call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gl'enn

And Morey in Houston is talking about buying his way into the 1st round (for some odd reason). I bet Joe would take that call.

Sell our first for cash when we can trade it?

Just more cap room for Joe, if he wants it.

Interesting stuff from DX...

Quote:

Picks turning down money means college hoops hits lotto

Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline, like many NBA executives we’ve spoken with this week, can’t believe how many top-shelf players have decided to go back to school this year.

It's unclear whether they love school, hate money or simply believe the best route to maximizing their long-term potential as a basketball player is to spend one more year on campus. Anyway, the bottom line is the same: The projected lottery picks who are returning to school at an unusual rate have simultaneously killed the 2009 NBA Draft and enhanced the star power of the 2009-10 college basketball season.

That's the story of the week.

Seems like every day somebody is delaying millions.

First Ed Davis confirmed he will return to North Carolina, which was followed by Kansas' Cole Aldrich, Georgetown's Greg Monroe, Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu and Oklahoma's Willie Warren each also promising to spend at least one more season in school. Add it up, and what we have are four -- and perhaps five, depending on what you think of Aminu -- near-certain lottery picks now off the table. And when you consider that fifth-year high school star John Wall has repeatedly insisted he won't try to enter the draft despite the presence of a loophole that could make it possible, what that means is that as many as six of the top 15 or so prospects who could be in the 2009 NBA Draft won't be in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Which is good news for Jordan Hill.

And bad news for the franchise that has to take Jordan Hill third.

"I want to say that people are looking at Blake Griffin and seeing how much he improved himself [by returning for his sophomore season at Oklahoma]," said Jonathan Givony, president of DraftExpress.com, a website dedicated to thoroughly covering the NBA Draft from all angles. "That might be it. But more than anything else, it's probably just coincidental."

More from DX...

-DeShawn Sims, Junior, Michigan- May test the waters as a junior since he has nothing to lose.

-Raymar Morgan, Junior, Michigan State- Rumored to be considering entering the draft

-Kalin Lucas, Sophomore, Michigan State- Tom Izzo indicates that Lucas will likely be back.

-Manny Harris, Sophomore, Michigan- Announced he’s returning to Michigan for his junior season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gl'enn

Interesting stuff from DX...

Which is all the more reason to move Max and Amir with picks for legit big men on teams needing to clear cap space.

Ricky Rubio officially in.

Trade the picks - all of them.

Our scouting department has proven to be fucking useless
we get more cap space
we trade them for proven players

What's not to like?

Quote:

Eleanor (Huntington Woods, Mich.): Would the Pistons draft Davidson guard Stephen Curry since he is projected to be around the 13th pick?

Langlois: They’ll be picking 15th, Eleanor, because they have the worst record of the 16 playoff teams in the field. If Curry is still on the board, he’ll be a consideration because of the long-range shooting he could provide. A lot can happen during the evaluation process, but as of today I would expect somebody would take him before 15.

An article on Yahoo was discussing guys in the Draft and that guy James Johnson (?) I mentiond the other day got a decent review by a "scout" (they didn't identify the scout so for all I know it was Tahoe's opinion. Tahoe posts are everywhere)

Is this dude any good? Or do you guys not watch college ball?

I have an excuse cause there ain't no coverage of NCAA on free TV here in Aussieland. Why can't you guys throw out some names of guys you've seen on TV that were good? If yo don't wanna look foolish then check some sites t get info that could back you up.

Mxy - please help me -does your super stat site do Draft stuff?

I'd go to http://www.draftexpress.com as a starting point.

I haven't really paid much attention to NCAA ball since the Fab Five, except for this year a little because the Final Four was local. I can appreciate it when I watch it, but it's not something that stirs my soul.

Oh, well in that case thanks for nothing. I've already been to DX (I find it funny that they went with that)

I just thought you might have some numbers to back up certain guys that have been mentioned, since you are THE stat guru but it's cool.

I'll just continue to stumble around like a Piston Scout.

see what I did there?