2011 NBA Draft

[Ridders]

On Friday morning. There's a draft preview at 9:00 am (NSW time) while the coverage of the actual draft begins at 9:30 am on ESPN.

Lottery order;

1) Cleveland (from Clippers)
2) Minnesota
3) Utah (from New Jersey)
4) Cleveland
5) Toronto
6) Washington
7) Sacramento
8) Detroit
9) Charlotte
10) Milwaukee
11) Golden State
12) Utah
13) Phoenix
14) Houston

Looking forward to this. The draft is always good fun. Quite a lot of highly rated international prospects, more so than usual. While it probably won't happen, just for the the lols, I wish that the Cavs would take Derrick Williams at No.1, meaning that the T-Wolves would have to take Irving at No.2.

Utah's probably were the draft gets interesting as I think we'll see an Irving-Williams 1-2. Alot of talk about them wanting to take Jimmer but No.3 is probably too high, and I'm not sure if he'll be there at No.12. Been reading that it'll probably be either Knight or Canter.

Will be interesting to see if any major trades go down as well.

 

[Big Mick]

The Wolves like Williams and as such are unwilling to trade with Cav's apparantly.

Why don't Cav's do a U-turn and say "ok then, #1 pick is Williams...ok now lets talk trade for #2 so we can take Irving"

Then if Wolves trade it out, and Utah take Canter or Irving...then Cav's end up with Canter or Knight...

Personally I don't think the PG talent in this draft is awesome. They'll be solid but no great players.

If the Cav's get away with say Derrick Williams and Enes Canter...that isn't bad to build around. Then next year in either FA or Draft get PG/SG help.

SF - Derrick Williams
PF - JJ Hickson
C - Enes Canter

Then they may be able to trade Jamison and Varejao for a lottery pick and go in and grab Kemba Walker who knows....

But to me that makes sense for Cleveland. They'll still pick high next year of course that's the risk...but its something to build around.

 

[bluesbreaker]

No draft coverage on ESPN afterall? All I see is bloody baseball :\

 

[Ridders]

No draft coverage on ESPN afterall? All I see is bloody baseball :\

It's on tomorrow morning.

 

[Ridders]

The Wolves like Williams and as such are unwilling to trade with Cav's apparantly.

Why don't Cav's do a U-turn and say "ok then, #1 pick is Williams...ok now lets talk trade for #2 so we can take Irving"

Then if Wolves trade it out, and Utah take Canter or Irving...then Cav's end up with Canter or Knight...

Personally I don't think the PG talent in this draft is awesome. They'll be solid but no great players.

If the Cav's get away with say Derrick Williams and Enes Canter...that isn't bad to build around. Then next year in either FA or Draft get PG/SG help.

SF - Derrick Williams
PF - JJ Hickson
C - Enes Canter

Then they may be able to trade Jamison and Varejao for a lottery pick and go in and grab Kemba Walker who knows....

But to me that makes sense for Cleveland. They'll still pick high next year of course that's the risk...but its something to build around.

I like that idea. Although I think that if Irving did fall to No.2, the T-Wolves would be able to find numerous teams interested in the pick. Imo the apparent lack of interest in the No.2 pick so far has been with the assumption that Irving will go No.1.

Imo the T-Wolves are in a bit of a hard place with this draft in the sense that neither of the top 2 prospects are a great fit for them. Irving is obviously not since they just brought Rubio over, and Williams isn't exactly great either considering that they're already pretty deep in forwards. T-Wolves already have Love, Beasley, Randolph and Wes Johnson amongst their forward ranks, so not sure how Williams is going to find his place in there (unless the T-Wolves ship some of those guys out).

 

[Big Mick]

Wes Johnson was pretty much playing SG most of the season and that's where his future should be imo.

The T-Wolves can be really good with good coaching and time.

PG - Rubio
SG - Johnson
SF - Williams
PF - Beasley/Randolph
C - Love

Sure that isn't overly great having Love at Centre, but they have decent sized men from SG, SF, PF to compensate as well.

All pretty athletic and can run the floor.

I think they'd be pretty good to watch!

 

[Ridders]

Fair point, that would somewhat solve the issue. Although as you said, Love at centre is a nightmare defensively.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

That would be a horrendous defensive team. Even worse than what they currently are. Johnson can't stay with quicker 2-guards and as such shouldn't be asked to cover them full-time. Beasley doesn't care at that end of the floor and has been a disappointing rebounder through his 3 seasons in the league. Love is atrocious and aside from shot-blocking, Randolph doesn't offer much. Williams might be interesting, but I would guess bigger forwards will trouble him on the block, and quicker forwards from the outside (think Antawn Jamison). And Rubio and Flynn doesn't fill me with confidence at the one spot.

The only way that team would compete would be to play zone exclusively with all those long limbs floating about - but there's a reason no team employs a zone defense exclusively in the NBA.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I don't follow college hoops so I don't know how deep the talent is but if the Cavs draft Williams would you draft Irving to the T-Wolves because he's a prospective top 2 pick and possibly trade him away or take Kanter or somebody you actually need?

 

[Ridders]

I don't follow college hoops so I don't know how deep the talent is but if the Cavs draft Williams would you draft Irving to the T-Wolves because he's a prospective top 2 pick and possibly trade him away or take Kanter or somebody you actually need?

I think they'd trade the pick, and probably get good value for it, if the Cavs pass on Irving.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I read the Philly are desperate to trade for a lottery pick and Iggy is on the block, maybe not for T-Wolves but one of the other teams, Utah maybe?

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I'd actually think Iggy would be fantastic for the Wolves. Solid player, maybe not a great shooter but a legit 2-guard, be able to come in and help improve the defence and not take shots away from any of the other guys. And let's face it, they're not attracting any stars or near-stars through free agency so they should try to get him.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Well there are a few trades mentioned like Odom/Artest to Philly, Chris Kaman and a draft pick, Wesley Johnson and the #2 pick and even a trade with the Warriors. It's reported they want the Lithuanian centre so if they do that and draft him Utah could really win big. They talk about wanting veterans and AI wants to prove his coaching credentials they should sign AI again, fans will love it and AI could be that veteran guy.

 

[Ridders]

Some intrigue before the draft..

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to take Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 4 pick even if Kentucky's Enes Kanter is still available, league sources said Thursday morning.

Link

Although his buy-out issues with his team are apparently a bit of a problem.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

First deal of the day:

Bucks get Beno Udrih, Stephen Jackson 9 & 19. Bobcats get pick 7 & Maggette. Kings get 10 & John Salmons.

Bobcats fans, are you ready for Maggette?

Edit: Story here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6697545

 

[Ridders]

You sure the Bucks get #9 as well? Been reading that the Bobcats keep that pick.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed in principle to a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats, multiple sources said Thursday.

The Bucks will get Sacramento's Beno Udrih, Charlotte's Stephen Jackson and Shaun Livingston and the 19th pick from the Bobcats in Thursday night's draft, while Charlotte obtains the No. 7 pick from Sacramento and forward Corey Maggette from Milwaukee.

The Kings will get guard John Salmons from Milwaukee and the 10th pick in the draft. Charlotte will keep the No. 9 pick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6697545

 

[Tiger Hawk]

So Charlotte gets to pick 7 and 9, Kings move down to 10 and Bucks to 19.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Yeah lifted that from twitter, was confirmed in link that Bobcats keep 9th pick.

 

[Ridders]

Yeah my bad didn't see the edit.

Remember back in the season when Jennings questioned that some of his teammates weren't winners? I think we have our answer as to who he was referring to :lol:

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Well Captain Jack should lift the intensity at Bucks games.....one of my favourite players - WHEN he's switched on.