Straight up: Who are you sold on at #9?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

You're smoking dope dude.

Nope, I'm just a realist and I don't buy into the hype of this draft class.

Outside of Parker, Wiggins, Smart, and Exum there are no immediate impact players in this draft.

We have a chance to compete now, we don't need to be throwing picks away on 'potential' when there will players with the same amount of potential as Randle, Vonleh, Embiid etc... in drafts for years to come.

This happens every year, fans fall in love with a prospect and they are disappointed when that player doesn't turn into a stud right away.

Power forward is a weak spot on this team but we need a power forward who fits our system (Young, McRoberts, or Gasol) and it would also help if it was a veteran player so Zeller can get some tutelage. Neither Embiid, Randle, or Vonleh have the game to play with Jefferson and with Jefferson getting nearly 35 minutes a game, you are looking at less than fifteen minutes per game for a guy like Randle or Vonleh (I didn't include Embiid because I doubt he plays this year) who would most likely only play when Biyombo is on the court.

That leaves you with an option of a potential starting shooting guard (most likely a backup) in Nik Stauskas or backup small forward in Doug McDermott. With these guys being backups, I think it's more important that they have a complete game because are second unit is what's going to get us over the hump.

Because of this, I'm perfectly fine with trading down with Chicago and acquiring their two picks to take Warren and Hairston.

Note: I'm not saying that Randle, Vonleh etc... won't eventually be good; but I don't see either one coming in and putting up over 12 points per game as a rookie.

[Rick Grimes]

If only

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1813140-best-potential-future-nba-fits-for-phenom-andrew-wiggins/page/5

[chubs2496]

Nope, I'm just a realist and I don't buy into the hype of this draft class.

Outside of Parker, Wiggins, Smart, and Exum there are no immediate impact players in this draft.

We have a chance to compete now, we don't need to be throwing picks away on 'potential' when there will players with the same amount of potential as Randle, Vonleh, Embiid etc... in drafts for years to come.

This happens every year, fans fall in love with a prospect and they are disappointed when that player doesn't turn into a stud right away.

Power forward is a weak spot on this team but we need a power forward who fits our system (Young, McRoberts, or Gasol) and it would also help if it was a veteran player so Zeller can get some tutelage. Neither Embiid, Randle, or Vonleh have the game to play with Jefferson and with Jefferson getting nearly 35 minutes a game, you are looking at less than fifteen minutes per game for a guy like Randle or Vonleh (I didn't include Embiid because I doubt he plays this year) who would most likely only play when Biyombo is on the court.

That leaves you with an option of a potential starting shooting guard (most likely a backup) in Nik Stauskas or backup small forward in Doug McDermott. With these guys being backups, I think it's more important that they have a complete game because are second unit is what's going to get us over the hump.

Because of this, I'm perfectly fine with trading down with Chicago and acquiring their two picks to take Warren and Hairston.

Note: I'm not saying that Randle, Vonleh etc... won't eventually be good; but I don't see either one coming in and putting up over 12 points per game as a rookie.

First off. Last year was a terrible year in terms of talent in the draft compared to this years draft and we kept the pick. Zeller was the 4th overall pick and he didn't have a big impact. Rookie players, unless superstars don't make huge impacts instantly.

One thing u don't do is trade away a chance at star potential talent in randle to to get thadeous freakinh young or pay gasol who's done. Just to try to win this year. U build up a team.

I'm pretty sure whoever we pick they won't start right away unless Clifford feels comfortable with it.

And u definetely don't trade back and pick up more draft picks when u already have too many young players as it is.

Unless u get parsons, Hayward, love or star players u don't trade this years 9th pick for a rental of affalo, or a rental of gasol until all his gas is outta the tank, or thadeous young who I don't like at all.

[davos]

Thanks for having good responses everybody. A lot of cool perspectives on the draft class.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

First off. Last year was a terrible year in terms of talent in the draft compared to this years draft and we kept the pick. Zeller was the 4th overall pick and he didn't have a big impact. Rookie players, unless superstars don't make huge impacts instantly.

One thing u don't do is trade away a chance at star potential talent in randle to to get thadeous freakinh young or pay gasol who's done. Just to try to win this year. U build up a team.

I'm pretty sure whoever we pick they won't start right away unless Clifford feels comfortable with it.

And u definetely don't trade back and pick up more draft picks when u already have too many young players as it is.

Unless u get parsons, Hayward, love or star players u don't trade this years 9th pick for a rental of affalo, or a rental of gasol until all his gas is outta the tank, or thadeous young who I don't like at all.

- Last year was an anomaly... these next three years will feature some really, really, good players as the talent at the high school level continues to get better (next years draft could feature Mudiay, Okafor, Alexander, and my favorite guy Oubre).

- Secondly you have a reading comprehension issue because I did not suggest trading for Gasol (I simply included him in the discussion with Young and McRoberts)... you can't trade for a free agent.

- Thirdly, Young averaged 18 points per game and fits our system perfectly as a stretch four. There is a chance that Randle never touches that number, not to mention (yet again)... HE DOES NOT FIT OUR SYSTEM!!! There is a reason every power forward on our roster last year was a stretch four (McBob, Zeller, Tolliver).

- Fourthly, potential doesn't always translate and for the most part it's 50-50. Not to mention (one more time), even if a player is a superstar his game may not translate to your system and it certainly doesn't guarantee you a championship (Dwight Howard, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony).

- Fifthly, you absolutely look at trading back. Only a rookie general manager would lock himself into a pick unless it's an immediate impact player. The talent at nine is not much different from the talent at 20. So if that means you can acquire Warren and Hairston for Stauskas then so be it. That also allows us to be flexible with the 24th pick and possibly trade it for a veteran or trade it for a future first.

- Finally, just because you don't like it doesn't make it a stupid decision. If Randle fell to the Hornets could easily get an overpayment by somebody who is in disparate need of a power forward.

[chubs2496]

Ok u say my reading comprehension is bad but not once did I say not to look into trading it. I said not to trade it for junk like affalo and young.

Also I just grouped in gasol bc that's your guy. I know he's a free agent. But it's my point we don't need to go after an aging Player that's done..... just to win this season.

Don't talk to me about what's fits our system when u were Henderson biggest fan and was his biggest supporter of him being resigned and how silly does that look now.

There's people like this every year that wanna trade a top pick for a veteran to win now. Rarely does it pan out.

Also everyone hypes up the coming drafts. We haven't even seen half those players u mentioned in a game yet. So it's yet to be seen.

And just another point. Randle didn't shoot jumpers in college bc coach cal told him not to. They already had a stacked shooting lineup in Harrison James young and so on. They needed him down low to get boards. If he stretched the floor there would be no rebounding. So don't say he don't fit bc u don't know pal

[chubs2496]

Also when trading back that bring up the point I made. Too many rookies and young players. 3-4 this year if we trade back like u said. Plus Zeller MKG Taylor biyombo.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Ok u say my reading comprehension is bad but not once did I say not to look into trading it. I said not to trade it for junk like affalo and young.

Also I just grouped in gasol bc that's your guy. I know he's a free agent. But it's my point we don't need to go after an aging Player that's done just to win this season.

Don't talk to me about what's fits our system when u were Henderson biggest fan time to come to resign him and how silly does that look now.

There's people like this every year hi wanna trade a top pick for a veteran to win now. Rarely does it pan out.

Also everyone hypes up the coming drafts. We haven't even seen half those players u mentioned on a game yet. So it's yet to be seen.

And just another point. Randle didn't shoot jumpers in college bc coach cal told him not to. They already had a stacked shorting lineup in Harrison James young and so on. They needed him down low to get boards. If he stretched the floor there would be no rebounding. So don't say he don't fit bc u don't know pal

- A veteran Gasol is still going to be better than what you get out of Randle for the first two years and Gasol will also help Zeller grow as a player

- I was a fan of Henderson, Henderson's biggest fan... hardly. I think he's a good backup and wanted him re-signed over a guy like Mayo (who Henderson is better than).

- You saying that 'trading for a veteran rarely pans out' is like me saying that you rarely draft superstars unless you're picking in the top five. Sure you can nit pick but there are pros and cons to keeping the pick.

- I'm placing faith in those high school players to translate to the college game just like you are placing faith in those college players to translate to the NBA... not much of a difference.

- Now you're just lying, I've searched for that Calipari quote on Randle and I couldn't find one. I've seen the kid shoot the ball before, but he's not a stretch four by any means. His three point shooting percentage of 16% proves that. Oh and a guy by the name of Cauley-Stein plays at UK, they would have been fine on the boards. They could have easily played the typical center-power forward game with Cauley-Stein/Randle but since Randle can't play the game as a stretch four they elected to start the better player down low.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Also when trading back that bring up the point I made. Too many rookies and young players. 3-4 this year if we trade back like u said. Plus Zeller MKG Taylor biyombo.

Then trade the 24th pick for a veteran or for a future first round pick for heavens sake.

You don't have to use it.... drafts picks aren't binding.

[Rick Grimes]

Are the Lance Stephenson talks done with? Not sure he is worth #9, but I like the thought.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Are the Lance Stephenson talks done with? Not sure he is worth #9, but I like the thought.

He's a free agent, you don't have to trade for him.

I'm also a fan of his. He's quirky at times but he has the ability to take over games.

[Rick Grimes]

He's a free agent, you don't have to trade for him.

I'm also a fan of his. He's quirky at times but he has the ability to take over games.

 

Oh I didn't notice that. I definitely would be interested, especially if we can't land a solid wing prospect.

[chubs2496]

- A veteran Gasol is still going to be better than what you get out of Randle for the first two years and Gasol will also help Zeller grow as a player

- I was a fan of Henderson, Henderson's biggest fan... hardly. I think he's a good backup and wanted him re-signed over a guy like Mayo (who Henderson is better than).

- You saying that 'trading for a veteran rarely pans out' is like me saying that you rarely draft superstars unless you're picking in the top five. Sure you can nit pick but there are pros and cons to keeping the pick.

- I'm placing faith in those high school players to translate to the college game just like you are placing faith in those college players to translate to the NBA... not much of a difference.

- Now you're just lying, I've searched for that Calipari quote on Randle and I couldn't find one. I've seen the kid shoot the ball before, but he's not a stretch four by any means. His three point shooting percentage of 16% proves that. Oh and a guy by the name of Cauley-Stein plays at UK, they would have been fine on the boards. They could have easily played the typical center-power forward game with Cauley-Stein/Randle but since Randle can't play the game as a stretch four they elected to start the better player down low.

Ok dude I'm lying. I've heard numerous analysts say it. And literally just watched bill Simmons say it today. Take that with a grain of salt but still.

Cauley stein didn't get a ton of minutes. And cal wanted rankle ti use his athleticism and quickness and strength to his advantage. He was never given a green light to go shoot jumpers from 20 feet and in. He just wasn't so do I know that he's a stretch 4. No I do not. But I know he can be and if that's what we need him to be he will be.

And yeah I am placing faith in these players to translate. Your placing faith in the next crop. Why not use this pick bc most likely we won't be here for those players u bring up in the coming drafts.

I admit I overexaggertaed your Henderson love. But u were a big supporter and thought he was and should be our starter and u wanted him signed.

And honestly no I don't think pau can be any better than randle the next two years. Pau is done. He's old and just not the same but will cost the same.

I'm done going back and forth. We have opinions and they vary.

[chubs2496]

Plus my phones likes to auto correct all my poo and it's really aggravating lol