It’s draft time!
(Yes, I scheduled this post to go up right before the draft)
I can accept the Warriors won’t find a way to get my new mancrush Ricky Rubio, so the only other person who I’m interested in is Terrence Williams. He’s athletic, can really pass (5 assists per game in college, most PGs can’t even do that), and can defend. He could be the next Iguodala (very similar skill set coming out of college) or maybe even Sprewell (people may say I’m crazy, but Sprewell was rated low in college) He can’t shoot or really score, but I think he can develop that, and when you’re on a Don Nelson team, if you can run, dunk, defend, and pass, you’ll be fine. The Warriors could use more passing and defense anyway even if its considered a reach to get him at #7. He played 4 years at a big basketball program (Louisville), so I think he can step in and contribute immediately.
And yeah, can he dunk……
In the last few drafts, here’s whom I wanted for the Warriors
- 2008: Kevin Love. Good!
- 2007: Don’t remember. Probably Yi or Corey Brewer. Oops.
- 2006: LaMarcus Aldridge and then Rudy Gay when I saw him slipping. Grizzlies got him so the Warriors ended up with Patrick O’Bryant. Enough said. 2006 was seriously a weak draft.
What the Warriors need to do this offseason:
- Trade Jamal Crawford or Corey Maggette. Either would be pretty good as an offense only 6th man. Unfortunately, the Warriors have both, and they both make a ton of $. No way Crawford opts out.
- Keep Brandan Wright. They can’t get good trade value out of him anyway, so might as well give him some more opportunities. He’s not like O’Bryant who was lazy and never could play, Wright’s been injured, but has shown promise.
- Warriors just need to get rid of swingmen. They have plenty of good ones, and they’re probably going to draft another one anyway. So try to burn through Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli if you have to, even if I do like both of them. There’s just only so much playing time to be had. I would guess Kelenna has the most value of the Warriors guards, considering talent, potential, and current salary. Morrow is worth holding on to over Kelenna to see how far he can improve.
- Here’s the list of shooting guards (including non-true points) and small forwards they have that are pretty decent and could probably play 20 minutes a game on a good team: Azubuike, Maggette, Crawford, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Monta Ellis, Marco Belinelli and (maybe he’s a stretch at the moment). That’s 7 guys! You basically add two more guys, and that’s a normal NBA rotation. But out of all them, only Jackson defends, and none really can run the team. They need to find a way get rid of at least 2 of these guys (or maybe 3 if they draft another one)
Predictions! This is all just for fun, like I know anything.
- The Warriors will disappoint me, and do none of the above
- Blake Griffin will not be the best player to have come out of this draft
- There will be no crazy draft deals, though I want there to be. Shake it up! [Edit: I wrote this before the Jefferson and Miller/Foye deals. I guess I was wrong, those were some decent deals]
- At least 3 of the highly touted lottery PGs (Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, JRue Holiday, Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans) will suck (never be starters on a decent team- Sebastian Telfair is an example) or not play that position (that only applies for Tyreke really).
- When I think of Stephen Curry, I think of BJ Armstrong. That’s based on nothing other that ill informed perceptions though. DraftExpress really likes him, so I’d be willing to believe in him as a Warrior
- Ty Lawson, the 7th of the 6 lottery PGs, will be a better player than at least two of the PGs who go in front of him
- Updated busts, these are the lottery guys who I guarantee (again, means nothing, but I say it like it does) will be full time starters in the NBA fo r a decent team:
- Jordan Hill - people think he should go to the Warriors. I don’t know if he’s any good, but I do know he’s an athletic rebounding power forward who can’t shoot, pass, rely on a good low post game, or play good defense. Yeah, he maybe has a better body than Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, but is he really any more talented?
- Hasheem Thabeet – Hasheem will almost have to be a starter by default because he’s 7’3 and a Center, but will not live up to his top 3 draft ranking
- DeMar DeRozan – people should stop using the Vince comparison.
- Gerald Henderson – went to Duke. I’m just saying…..
- 3 of the PGs above
10 minutes before draft: Well, they did trade Crawford. For nothing. They don’t seem to care about Rubio at all. There have been some good deals already as well- Vince for nothing to the Magic. The Shaq deal. I would trade Ellis for Rubio straight up. Truly. He could play alongside Mayo, (Mayo’s a bigger guard who can defend SG’s but will probably man the point) and he’s actually from that area. OK, Rubio + Rudy Gay for #7 + 2011 unprotected #1 (Nelson traded #3 overall + 3 future #1s for Webber in 2003) + Monta Ellis. Gay didn’t exactly impress last year, and doesn’t defend either. People think Memphis might want Harden- is he going to be better or more exciting to watch than Monta?