2014 NBA Draft

[INFORMER]

I get what you're saying about acquiring different skillsets, but the point still remains that a player needs playing time to use that skillset. So what I'm saying is, as different as his skillset may be from Plumlee or Len, when is he going to be able to use it enough to make a large enough impact to warrant drafting him in the top 20?

And for me, best player available is not another issue. I'm factoring all of that into this discussion. When I see someone mention Nurkic as a possibility, that's immediately what I think of. I think, "how is that the best option (or even one of the best options) when it's a loaded draft at other positions of need and we already have two prospects at Nurkic's position and we can't exactly put them on the court together?"

[Ring_Wanted]

what I'm saying is, as different as his skillset may be from Plumlee or Len, when is he going to be able to use it enough to make a large enough impact to warrant drafting him in the top 20?

I don't know. For starters, he is supposedly a draft and stash prospect, so 14-15 is not an issue. That gives you one more year to evaluate Len and Miles, and many things can happen. Among others, that Len doesn't develop, or that his ankles don't hold up. Or that Miles' minutes can be reduced because he doesn't improve his FT or scoring in the paint and there is another guy worthy of those minures. And if all of them actually are a plus, that means you have assets to improve in other areas.

And for me, best player available is not another issue. I'm factoring all of that into this discussion. When I see someone mention Nurkic as a possibility, that's immediately what I think of. I think, "how is that the best option (or even one of the best options) when it's a loaded draft at other positions of need and we already have two prospects at Nurkic's position and we can't exactly put them on the court together?"

Mmmh I don't buy this, at least coming from you. Best talent available period has been your mantra for eons and if that talent happens to be Nurkic so be it. Wehter he is or not, well, that's another story. Besides, the same can be said about three out of five positions. SF and C are our holes.

[INFORMER]

Mmmh I don't buy this, at least coming from you. Best talent available period has been your mantra for eons and if that talent happens to be Nurkic so be it. Wehter he is or not, well, that's another story.

But that's what I'm saying. Nurkic is one of many good prospects in a loaded top 20. I don't think he is significantly better than the players that will be available that aren't centers, hence why I bring in the consideration of how much utility will the drafted player bring us. Like I said, we're not talking about Joel Embiid here. We're talking about a good prospect, who is one of many good prospects.

SF and C are our holes.

I would add PF to that list as well.

[carey]

We need upgrades at talent everywhere but PG. I wouldn't get to worried about filling a hole at this draft. Just get us some freakin' talent.

[INFORMER]

Lookout for whoever drafts C.J. Wilcox. He's an incredible shooter. He's be terrific for OKC at #29.

[INFORMER]

And back to Nurkic, I will say this: he might very well be a clone of DeMarcus Cousins. And I mean that in a good way.

[Ring_Wanted]

Funny, Nurkic's body language looks like Cousins sometimes, and is said to be prone to on court frustration like him. The comparison has merit but while offensively Nurkic is no stiff, Cousins' agility as well as finishing is in a whole different class. In Europe Nurkic is a foul magnet as he fully commits to contact, but if NBA refs don't respect him he loses a good chunk of his effectiveness and could become a turnover machine, which would be a common denominator with DeMarcus but in a different way as this one doesn't seem to try to do things he really can't.

[Ring_Wanted]

By the way, did you see Smart defending Exum? He's really tough one on one, but if/when Exum learns to take full advantage of screens watch out. I can't see the Penny comparison though, beyond size. Penny floated around, a mix of lenght and hesitation moves. Exum is like a knife, kind of a young Iverson one on one dynamo with his first step and handles.

[Sunsfan4life]

Exum is the wildcard of the top 8. I have him penciled in at 7 to LA, but can see him go as high as 2 to Milwaukee. Its not that I think he isn't good enough to go higher then 7, its that I think Orlando prefers Smart, The Celtics are locked in on Gordon or another Big. So if he slips out of the top 3 he may fall to LA if Utah doesn't grab him

[Ring_Wanted]

I think I wouldn't take anyone over Exum but the holly three.

Back on realgm I speculated about Exum to the Bucks. Apparently there is a big aussie community in Milwaukee and in terms of basketball, a combo of Exum-Antetokounmpo could be devastating down the road. But the Freak and Embiid would be something too. Parker could be a perfect first option if Antetokounmpo ends up being more similar to Batum than to Durant. Wiggins is the fir I like the least, but in the end this is supposedly franchise talent and you can't make the choicejust thinking about the Freak, who after all is just a project.

[INFORMER]

Exum is the wildcard of the top 8. I have him penciled in at 7 to LA, but can see him go as high as 2 to Milwaukee. Its not that I think he isn't good enough to go higher then 7, its that I think Orlando prefers Smart, The Celtics are locked in on Gordon or another Big. So if he slips out of the top 3 he may fall to LA if Utah doesn't grab him

Exum "falling" to the Lakers at 7 is perfect; then he can be dealt with Nash to the Suns in a sign and trade for Bledsoe.

[INFORMER]

The Atlanta Hawks are bringing Kyle Anderson in for another workout:

http://zagsblog.com/nba-draft/kyle-ande ... ith-hawks/

[Sunsfan4life]

Joel embiid suffers foot injury, may of been a break.

WOW!!!!

[carey]

Joel embiid suffers foot injury, may of been a break.

Givony has him dropping to 4 because of it.

Also, since I'm man enough to admit I was wrong... didn't think they'd actually do it, but...

@SpearsNBAYahoo: Source says Warriors discussing adding guard Klay Thompson to Kevin Love trade talks with Wolves. @ESPNSteinLine first reported.


I'm super interested in what Philly is going to do. Especially now. Do they have the balls to go Exum and then Gordon at 10 if he's there? Or does having MCW mean they'll go Embiid with Noel already there? Basically the future of their franchise is this draft. It's kind of a bummer for them if they don't get which ever of Parker / Wiggins wasn't going 2...

[TOO]

GSW would've been crazy to let Klay hold up a Love deal. Love is a perfect PF for the PnR with Curry.

[INFORMER]

Also, Klay is a little one dimensional to let him hold up that deal. Curry is a terrific shooter, and Love is a good shooter. So they would still have that covered, more or less.

Flip Saunders is a fool if he makes that deal over the Boston deal. Thompson is about to be up for his new deal. And he's going to get PAID. Yet he isn't a guy that can carry a team, nor is he a two-way player. His a special offensive talent, but he isn't a well-rounded scorer. So you're going to have a non-playoff team, without any cap space, bad contracts and few assets. That's not how you rebuild.

This is why you don't let your coach (or a coach) run your front office.

Still, I do like the Rubio-Thompson combo, but it will probably cost more than it is worth.

[Shabazz]

I'd be bummed if GSW snagged Love, but it would help our chances of the Wolves pick conveying. Although that team post-trade smacks of 11th in the West.

[INFORMER]

Joel embiid suffers foot injury, may of been a break.

WOW!!!!

His stock just went up with Ryan McDonough.

[Superbone]

Joel embiid suffers foot injury, may of been a break.

WOW!!!!

His stock just went up with Ryan McDonough.

Very funny.

[Superbone]

Simmons' tweets:

Confirming Jeff Goodman's report: Embiid has a foot injury (origin unclear), getting it evaluated today. Won't work out for any more teams.

Also hearing Cavs were scared off by Embiid's foot, now focusing on Jabari or Wiggins (Jabari is the favorite). Unbelievable turn of events.

If/when Cavs take Jabari, Bucks are screwed (they wanted Jabari) + Sixers are screwed (they wanted Wiggins). Could Embiid drop to Bos or LA?

Also - major ramifications for Boston's potential Kevin Love deal. Can't see them giving up the farm for Love if Embiid might fall to 6.

Also hearing that Arn Tellem wanted Embiid to go first... but if that can't happen, he's going to push hard to steer him to Boston or LA.