2014 NBA Draft

[carey]

I still don't know why Payton is climbing so fast. Wasn't Tyler Ennis the best PG outside Exum-Smart and the consumate point? I think he has James Young, Napier and Payne too high as well and Harris, LaVine and Smart too low.

i think it's a combination of things. He had a great season 19/6/6. There's the Damian Lilard factor, in which a small school PG was drafted high & had a great rookie campaign. He's also been fantastic in workouts. He's gone up against both Smart and Ennis and apparently has dominated both. He also won an award for being the nation's top defensive college player last year. So there's that...

[Ring_Wanted]

But supposedly he can't shoot at all, right? Taking him around #8, and above all before Smart could be the kind of pick that gets a GM fired.

[carey]

Why the fuck would Saric torpedo his draft stock by doing this?

@chadfordinsider: Breaking: Dario Saric has agreed in principle to a three year deal with Anadolu Efes a source close to Saric told ESPN.

[carey]

But supposedly he can't shoot at all, right? Taking him around #8, and above all before Smart could be the kind of pick that gets a GM fired.

That's not what I'm hearing, but there ain't a whole lot of ULL tape around for me to look at.

[SwingMan]

Why the fuck would Saric torpedo his draft stock by doing this?

@chadfordinsider: Breaking: Dario Saric has agreed in principle to a three year deal with Anadolu Efes a source close to Saric told ESPN.

Oh wow - at least he didn't pull a Fran Vasquez & wait until after a team used a lottery pick on him to royally fuck a team over.....

[Ring_Wanted]

Why the fuck would Saric torpedo his draft stock by doing this?

@chadfordinsider: Breaking: Dario Saric has agreed in principle to a three year deal with Anadolu Efes a source close to Saric told ESPN.

Because he wants to get his way and end up in a specific group of teams, I have little doubt. For Saric it won't make a big difference from a money standpoint. Efes Pilsen pays very well and that way he makes sure that he has some strenght to scare teams he doesn't want play for.

Remember Yi Jianlian? He also came off as a dick but in the end who cares. And it is not the only case. Scola and Navarro also refused to join the teams that drafted them, and they could afford it easily because they had superstar status and contracts in Europe.

I think this is a clear message to the likes of 76rs, Hornets, Magic etc.

[carey]

Looks like Bucks definitely won't be going with Embiid: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/6/23/5 ... draft-2014

[Ring_Wanted]

But supposedly he can't shoot at all, right? Taking him around #8, and above all before Smart could be the kind of pick that gets a GM fired.

That's not what I'm hearing, but there ain't a whole lot of ULL tape around for me to look at.

I haven't seen a full game so I can't really tell, but from what's available online he looks like he has an inconsistent shot form and release, and his FT% is extremely poor for a PG who supposedly lives at the line. Because I haven't seen him in full action I can't tell how well he takes care of the ball or looks for his teammates, for instance. I don't see top speed but he sure seems like he knows how to break ankles and he is big and long, almost oversized. Maybe this could be a case of putting too much stock into workouts?

[Ring_Wanted]

Looks like Bucks definitely won't be going with Embiid: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/6/23/5 ... draft-2014

It would be so typical if he ended up in the Lakers or Celtics just to have a healthy and spectacular career.

[carey]

@ESPNSteinLine: Hearing: Knicks have explored possibility of swapping Iman Shumpert for late 1st rounder

I think I would give #27 for Shumpert and have our 4 man guard rotation pretty much locked for the foreseeable future.

[Ring_Wanted]

@ESPNSteinLine: Hearing: Knicks have explored possibility of swapping Iman Shumpert for late 1st rounder

I think I would give #27 for Shumpert and have our 4 man guard rotation pretty much locked for the foreseeable future.

What about his impending new contract?

[carey]

Short feature on Rodney Hood: http://www.nba.com/2014/news/features/s ... a:specials

He's on the list of guys I'd like the Suns to consider at 14/18, but I'm not sure exactly where on that list.

[carey]

What about his impending new contract?

Is he not one year out still? Then an RFA or am I misremembering his draft class?

[Ring_Wanted]

He is from the same class as Kieff and Marcus, 2011, so he can sign an extension this summer or become a RFA next year.

[carey]

He is from the same class as Kieff and Marcus, 2011, so he can sign an extension this summer or become a RFA next year.

Right, so we'd have to make a decision on him & Goran simultaneously.

[Mori Chu]

@ESPNSteinLine: Hearing: Knicks have explored possibility of swapping Iman Shumpert for late 1st rounder

I think I would give #27 for Shumpert and have our 4 man guard rotation pretty much locked for the foreseeable future.

What's Shump's contract status? I'd do it if he's not due for a big payday right around the corner. I like Shump and his game (3s, D, toughness) and I think he's almost certainly better than what #27 would fetch us, both now and going forward.

[Ring_Wanted]

He is from the same class as Kieff and Marcus, 2011, so he can sign an extension this summer or become a RFA next year.

Right, so we'd have to make a decision on him & Goran simultaneously.

Yep. And he is not worth the trouble, imo.

[Sunsfan4life]

Shump works well next to Dragic, as INF has stated numerous times, the Suns old regime really liked him not sure how Ryan feels.

[carey]

Shump works well next to Dragic, as INF has stated numerous times, the Suns old regime really liked him not sure how Ryan feels.

I'm almost positive there was some talk about Shump being traded to Boston at some point. I just don't remember if it was last year or two years ago.

[carey]

I still don't know why Payton is climbing so fast.

An article on Payton from Woj over at Yahoo: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/applying-l ... 09857.html

He's mesmerized executives with an old-school blend of wiry toughness and guile, blazing ball-handling and a devastating determination on defense. Those long arms and fleet feet get into players, and it makes Payton, 6-foot-4 1/2, an intriguing two-way talent.

For all the sons of pro basketball players coming out of colleges these days, it is the son of a CFL legend who believes he walks into the gymnasium with the biggest edge of all.

"I think it gives me a little bit more of a toughness," Elfrid Jr. told Yahoo Sports. "I attack. I go at people. I'm a little different than a regular basketball player."