NBA Draft 2009

[The X]

Watch Rubio play & it's hard not to like him. He naturally is too turnover prone, but at the moment, he can be forgiven for those transgressions as he's entertaining to watch

Images of White Chocolate are haunting me.

I was actually thinking that exact same thing from Jason Williams in his Kings' days when writing this....

[Fresh8]

When everyone says Rubio is overhyped, hasn't he been hyped his whole life since he was a 13 year old playing in like an international under 16s world championship and then signing a pro contract by the time he was 15? Then going to the Olympics when he was like 17 and holding his own against the likes of Jason Kidd and Chris Paul? I think he's already proven a lot. And I'm pretty sure he will turn out to be one of the best Europe --> NBA converts in recent history.

[Andrew]

Adrian Wojnarowski's Draft Notes

A couple of things of note:

- Supposedly Dan Fegan will make things difficult for Memphis if they draft Rubio. Pretty shoddy, but not surprising given the Yi Jianlian debacle a couple of years ago.

- Looks like the Bulls are still trying to trade up, but could still be looking for an opportunity to offload a couple of contracts as they look to re-sign Gordon. I'd have to agree with Wojnarowski, there's surely no way they're moving Jerome James without being able to throw at least one of their first round picks in.

- The Vince Carter rumours are swirling again, with Cleveland and San Antonio both being mentioned. I like such a move a little better for Cleveland but I'm skeptical either way. Elton Brand is supposedly on the block as well.

[The X]

You can't blame Rubio for not wanting to go to Memphis. They have already dubbed Mayo as their PG of the future. They have had a shoddy history with good Spanish players (JC Navarro comes to mind) and they are not getting out of lottery anytime soon. In addition to this, he might have to pay 4 to 5 million Euros (essentially the majority of his 3 year rookie deal net of taxes) for the honour.

If there wasn't a big buyout, I probably wouldn't have such nice things to say. In the end, if I was Rubio & Grizzlies take him & I didn't want to go there, then I would just stay in Europe & play out my current contract. I prefer that option than letting that clown Fegan doing what he does worst.

[Fresh8]

Well, he hired Fegan right? Hmmm, maybe Rubio is a bit of a dickhead lol. Cause I guess he trusts Fegan's judgement and if he didn't, he would fire Fegan.

[Andrew]

You can't blame Rubio for not wanting to go to Memphis. They have already dubbed Mayo as their PG of the future. They have had a shoddy history with good Spanish players (JC Navarro comes to mind) and they are not getting out of lottery anytime soon. In addition to this, he might have to pay 4 to 5 million Euros (essentially the majority of his 3 year rookie deal net of taxes) for the honour.

But then in all fairness, couldn't you say the same of Steve Francis? I mean, we can look at the specifics but at the end of the day it's a player that is openly protesting against a team drafting him and making the threat that he won't join the team if they select him. Admittedly Francis forced a trade and we haven't gotten to that stage with Rubio yet, but it's still a case of a player not accepting the reality of the Draft.

Also, will have to pay out his contract no matter where he goes. If that's an issue, he shouldn't have declared for the Draft when he's still signed to a big contract in Europe. His financial commitments are not the Grizzlies' fault, he's the one willing to break a contract. I don't remember what the Grizzlies did to Navarro that was so terrible so you'll have to refresh my memory there. And at the end of the day, you've still got a player who's entering the Draft but doesn't want to accept the reality that he could end up anywhere, including somewhere he'd rather not be. That's just the way the Draft works.

I just think if we're going to heap scorn on Steve Francis for what he did - and don't get me wrong, I think that's absolutely a fair call to make on Francis - the same should go for any player who publicly campaigns against being drafted by a particular team and makes threats to try and ensure it won't happen.

[Fresh8]

I just think if we're going to heap scorn on Steve Francis for what he did - and don't get me wrong, I think that's absolutely a fair call to make on Francis - the same should go for any player who publicly campaigns against being drafted by a particular team and makes threats to try and ensure it won't happen.

Not to mention the stir that Yi not wanting to be in Milwaukee stirred up. It's a draft so players shouldn't really choose where to go. I mean, they can have a preference but they shouldn't really have a say in it. And the agent has been trying to set up a trade for Memphis, so I guess that's sort of demanding a trade. It's fairly unfair for Memphis because they would struggle to get good value in a trade because other teams know that they are hard-pressed. It's a hard situation and I can't say that I am on Rubio's side in this one.

[The X]

You'll probably find that it's Fegan & Rubio's father who are pushing this move more than Rubio himself. But at 18, he has to step up & be a man.

But while we're on the topic, can we heap shit on Kobe Bryant, who was the first person I remember doing this. He refused to play for Hornets & only wanted to play for Lakers & that's why the trade was made. He's as bad as Francis.

[air gordon]

John Elway did it before bryant . not sure if Elway was the first though

Rubio isn't from a communist country so i'm not cutting this guy any slack

if 'Psycho T' Hansbrough can't make jumpers, he'll just be another glorified hustle player

the Matt Harping comparisons are inaccurate. Hansbrough was a beast in the college but i think it's very unlikely he can consistently overpower NBA PF's.

Harpring is more solid fundamentally and more versatile- he can pass, shoot better & has more range on the perimeter, and move well without the ball. in fact he plays more like a guard. i can't imagine Hansbrough ever coming off a screen for a spot up jumper lol

[Fresh8]

But while we're on the topic, can we heap shit on Kobe Bryant, who was the first person I remember doing this. He refused to play for Hornets & only wanted to play for Lakers & that's why the trade was made. He's as bad as Francis.

Yeah, you probably could. I didn't even know about that because you only read today that Jerry West was in love with Kobe and made a deal happen. But it doesn't surprise me cause Kobe is a spoilt brat.

[Andrew]

I'm sure that has happened more times than we're aware though. That certainly doesn't make it right, but politics behind the scenes are part and parcel. The very public declarations by Francis and now Rubio's representatives are more classless in my opinion, much the way a player openly ripping his team and demanding a trade seems a lot more unprofessional than privately asking for one...even if the motivation, request and result is the same. So yeah, I think you could fairly criticise Kobe and his representatitives at the time for that move but publicly making those threats and declarations does take it one step further in my opinion.

[Fresh8]

Was Kobe's request backed up by the fact that the Lakers were also pursuing him?

And when Kobe demanded a trade start of last season, that was very unprofessional. I can't defend him for that either.

I just think it sucks to be Memphis because this could be two potential franchise PGs that they will be losing within a 10 year period. I think they have to pick Rubio to show they got guts. If he doesn't play hard, he's fucking up his own future and career. He should be professional enough to suck it up and play the game. I guess that Pau Gasol also has a word in his ear.

[Andrew]

The Lakers certainly wanted him which is why they made the deal with the Hornets. From memory it was more an issue of him not wanting to play for the Nets who were interested in picking him at the eighth spot that year.

[The X]

Kobe should've played for whoever picked him, that's how the Draft works

I got no issues if Rubio gets picked #2 by Grizzlies. I think it's the right pick for them (unless they can somehow get that ridiculous Kevin Love trade that is going around). I don't like Fegan either.

Seems like Thabeet does not want to play in Memphis & hopes to drop to Thunder at 3. Go the Grizz, I think they're now more unpopular than playing for the Clippers

[Dee.]

Well,not thinking of Blake,I think Hasheem Thabeet might be a real superstar in the coming Years,if he Develops His Strength.Then i think he can be something Like Ben Wallace.From what im thinking now Thabeet Looks like a new Dikembe To Mee.

[Andrew]

Kobe should've played for whoever picked him, that's how the Draft works

He absolutely should have and if he'd been drafted by another team and sulked/refused to report/demanded a trade, then we'd have a situation much like the one with Steve Francis. But if there's a saving grace it was power play, negotiations and ultimatums behind closed doors; it doesn't make it right but it's not quite as ugly as the situation with Francis or Yi, or what could happen with Rubio.

[Fresh8]

Thabeet might turn into Michael Olowokandi.

Article

I enjoyed this article comparing Rubio and Jennings. but...

Factoring in the success Ricky had in the Olympics, or the fact that Brandon is the first kid to make the jump from high school to the professional European game, does not set them apar from one another. If anything it works to keep them at a stalemate.

I don't agree with that. It only shows that Jennings made a successful jump and did not get overwhelmed by the culture shock of playing in Europe and being in a foreign environment. It shows he's mentally tough but playing at the Olympics against professional players from all around the World strikes me a more impressive feat basketball-wise. Ricky will have questions about how he will handle being in America and that's fair enough. However, on based on playing experience and talent, I would not say this is a statement.

And comparing moving overseas to play and playing at the Olympics understates the talent/level of competition that Rubio encountered.

[Lamrock]

Thabeet's ceiling is being a rich man's Samuel Dalembert, so Thabeet really shouldn't be getting drafted on potential. He's just your run-of-the-mill project center. Passing on the second most NBA-ready player in the draft, who has a very good chance of being the creme of the crop, just because he's foreign and a lower-profile prospect says so shouldn't make you pass on Ricky at pick 2 or 3.

That said, if he does slide to #4, I'm totally going a Kings association next year.

[Hedonist]

'Spanish chocolate' to Sac-town, they sure like to draft chocolate there.

[air gordon]

Thabeet's ceiling is being a rich man's Samuel Dalembert, so Thabeet really shouldn't be getting drafted on potential. He's just your run-of-the-mill project center. Passing on the second most NBA-ready player in the draft, who has a very good chance of being the creme of the crop, just because he's foreign and a lower-profile prospect says so shouldn't make you pass on Ricky at pick 2 or 3.

wait a sec- how do you know his ceiling? he's only been playing organized ball for a few years. even if centers are overrated... with this draft class it would be hard to pass up on a player of his size, agility, and potential

and how the hell is rubio the 2nd most nba ready player? just off the top of my head- lawson and psycho T are ahead of him on that list

[buzzy]

Griffin, Thabeet and Harden are in.
Still no RUbio, it's getting interesting. Even the Kings are said to favor Evans over Rubio, wonder if he's going to drop to fifth. We'll see.

[Hedonist]

Yes they picked Evans.

[Cartar]

Jefferson
Love
Brewer
Holiday(me thinks #6)
Rubio (me thinks #5)

Future seems very bright for the Timberwolves

[ixcuincle]

Evans drafted 4th...Rubio falls to at least 5

[mvpshaq32]

If by some miracle, the Twolves don't select Rubio, and the Warriors do, I wonder how Ellis would react.
But I still say Rubio is overrated and didn't belong in the Top 3.