NBA Lottery

[Silas]

Seriosuly, though the sonics might do it just because they love to overstack at that position, why does everyone think the sonics will draft a big man?

[jerry]

Well IDK who they will pick, but i trust colangelo to be smart enough...because i know he said that he wont be counting on the draft pick to help us, so he will prob trade pick+james for somebody...so he has to think of someone that a team with a good PG would want so he could trade the pick plus james for a good PG...since raptors need a good center type of guy i think james and the pick will goto the rockets, and OMG I WOULD LAUGH IF WE GET YAO i wonder how he would play on our team...

[iKe7in]

You can't trade James because he's an unrestricted free agent.

[Unrestrict3D]

Good news for the Raps, I read in the paper today that they're considering drafting Bargnani.

Hes dont gunna help us cuz we already have bonner who can play the 3, 4, 5 and CV who can play 3,4 and some 5 Barnani would only play 4,3 and he isnt that strong
I think that we would draft Gay because of his D and he can play SF or SG

Yeah, Matt Bonner is such an elite player. Therefore, I'd pick Bonner or Charlie V. over Barnani anyday.

[Fenix]

Off topic, but funny (at least to me - from RealGM, BTW):

[BIG GREEN]

Thats 'Jaws' from the 70's james bond movies.

[Joe']

I think the Raptors will just go with Bargnani at the 1st round...and...that demonstrates that sometimes Italians can beat the rest of the world (plus I think he's the first Italian player to ever play in the NBA)

[iKe7in]

Raptors-Bargnani talk all a con job
Someone check up Colangelo's sleeve
May 25, 2006. 05:24 AM
DAVE FESCHUK

Publicly mulling his new-found options as the luck-struck possessor of the No.1 pick in next month's NBA draft, Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors general manager, wasn't exactly in the mood to drop subtle hints about his leanings yesterday.

He dropped hammer-over-the-head hints, making it all-too-obvious that he's enamoured with a certain Andrea Bargnani — whose surname is pronounced, at least by this butcherer, Barn-yani. He's a 20-year-old seven-footer from Rome who, in a crop of prospects that lacks a franchise-changing consensus stud, is among a handful of players projected to go anywhere in the top five or six slots.

But yesterday Colangelo tried awfully hard to make it known that the Raptors like him more than anybody else on the shortlist. The GM mentioned that Sam Mitchell, the Raptors coach, and Wayne Embry, a senior executive, were jetting to see Bargnani play on the Continent this week. He mentioned that Larry Tanenbaum, the club chairman, had taken in one of Bargnani's games at Colangelo's urging. And he mentioned — surely only in passing — that the man with whom he is in talks to hire as an assistant, Maurizio Gherardini, is the top executive with the club, Benetton Treviso, that owns Bargnani's contract.

So why would the Raptors feign hyper-interest? Perhaps they're trying to legitimize Bargnani as a No. 1 pick in other team's eyes. The Atlanta Hawks, holders of the fifth pick with no record of genius in their front office, have expressed love for Bargnani, and perhaps they're insecure enough to need someone to second that emotion. And maybe the Hawks would throw in an existing player to move up. There are a couple of point guards, Connecticut's Marcus Williams and Villanova's Randy Foye, who'd likely still be around at five. Either one is a better bet than Jose Calderon.

Any way you look at it — and the possibilities are endless, really — this Italian Job reeks of a smokescreen. A deal's brewing somewhere, even if it's only in Colangelo's head. Raptor fans can only hope they're on the right side of any possible larceny.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... 0081562040

[jerry]

yea they're gonna get bargni cuz mitchell and umh i think jim todd are in italy watching him play

[pHLo]

i know it's not from this year's draft but i think it's worth posting it....


that's how it goes on the NBA Draft xD
(i found that pic on nba.com on last year's page )

i'm cool with the raptors getting the 1st pick

[Sauru]

Thats 'Jaws' from the 70's james bond movies.

lol, thats gotta be the most obvious reply of the day. then again maybe i am just getting old..... whatever if i am then you must be too.

[iKe7in]

I hadn't realized this and I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but Chicago also has the right to swap their first round pick NEXT year as well with the Knicks. Another part of this is that the Knicks also owe Utah a first rounder (lottery protected through 2010), so if the Bulls decide to swap picks next year, then that pick is gone too.

I know they got a decent player back, but this trade is going to haunt the Knicks for years.

[[L3]1101]

I hadn't realized this and I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but Chicago also has the right to swap their first round pick NEXT year as well with the Knicks. Another part of this is that the Knicks also owe Utah a first rounder (lottery protected through 2010), so if the Bulls decide to swap picks next year, then that pick is gone too.

I know they got a decent player back, but this trade is going to haunt the Knicks for years.

Damn it seems like the Knicks were really desperate to get Curry. Although this years is not an deep draft year, i think Chicago should draft this year because it's not guranteed that Knicks will do as badly as they did this year. So this means that Chicago may not be drafting this high.

[iKe7in]

No it means they have both. The will pick #2 for sure this year, and then have the option next year to swap their first round pick with New York.

[beau_boy04]

I hadn't realized this and I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but Chicago also has the right to swap their first round pick NEXT year as well with the Knicks. Another part of this is that the Knicks also owe Utah a first rounder (lottery protected through 2010), so if the Bulls decide to swap picks next year, then that pick is gone too.

I know they got a decent player back, but this trade is going to haunt the Knicks for years.

Bulls have the option to swap picks next year? is that up to them or do the Knicks have to agree with that? if so I hope they do really horrible and Bulls end up getting Greg Oden

[iKe7in]

It will be the Bulls option, and its not protected, so hypothetically, it could be the #1 pick. But I can't see how its possible that the Knicks will be as bad.

[scrub]

Lottery picks will be:

1 - Toronto
Tyrus Thomas - Its Colangelo drafting the No.1 pick, we can expect him to draft this guy considering the team he built in Pheonix

2 - Chicago
LaMarcus Aldridge - Perfect big man for Chicago to help them inside and will be a decent scorer in the front court which they need.

3 - Charlotte
Adam Morrison - I think they have got a good young team in Charlotte but they need a shooting guard and I think that they will use him at the 2 or the 3 with Gerald Wallace.

4 - Portland
Rudy Gay - I think they would have preferred Morrison because he offers help immediately and will probably put up between 15-18ppg but for the future they will definitely be happier with Rudy Gay. Could prove to be a steal from Charlotte.

5 - Atlanta
Andrea Bargnani - Could prove to be a gamble because of previous European power forwards (Darko, Vazquez etc) but I think he will be different. There are no real good point guards in the draft for them so I see this guy replacing Al Harrington this summer.

6 - Minnesota
Randy Foye - This guy is a combo guard who will add toughness to the backcourt and I feel will form a good partnership with Rashad McCants for the future.

7 - Boston
Patrick O'Bryant - I think they have a good young team and from 1-4 they have guys like Delonte West, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson all to improve for the future so I think they will draft a big man to give them stability at the centre spot.

8 - Houston
Brandon Roy - With Rafer Alston in place I think that Houston should go for this guy instead of Mike James in the off-season. Puts up 20-5-4 in college and should give an all-round contribution to this Houston team.

9 - Golden State
Rodney Carney - Need help in their frontcourt and I think Carney's athleticism will give them that much needed breath of fresh air in their frontcourt. Especially at SF.

10 - Seattle
Shawne Williams - I think he is only getting this far because Seattle will want to replace Rashard Lewis. There would be no point in drafting for a centre because of the lack of good centres in the draft and at PF Chris Wilcox looks set for a good year. I think they will trade up the draft because of the amount of good small forwards.

11 - Orlando
Ronnie Brewer - Either him or JJ Redick and it is Brewer because he is more dimensional. JJ can only shoot the outside shot but Brewer can play point guard also, is a leader, can create plays, tough defender and a very good athelte.

12 - New Orleans
Cedric Simmons - In need of a big man with a solid backcourt. This guy will provide good defensive cover and is a very assured rebounder. Raw but will definitely improve with Chris Paul and their young nucleus of players.

13 - Philadelphia
Marcus Williams - Didn'expect Williams to fall this far and could have been Atlanta's 5th pick but with Philadelphia he will be the true point guard and Iverson will be the scoring guard. Expetc him to rack up plaenty of assists with Iverson and Iguodala.

14 - Utah
JJ Redick - Will definitely draft a SG in this draft and JJ should fit will because of his outside shot. If this team develops correctly they could be a threat in the next couple of years with Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and JJ Redick.

[[L3]1101]

1 - Toronto
Tyrus Thomas - Its Colangelo drafting the No.1 pick, we can expect him to draft this guy considering the team he built in Pheonix

i never got this, a lot of people have said this. How are we considering the team BC built in Phoniex? This is like drafting another PF when you already have Amare Stoudemire. We already have a great player in Bosh, and Thomas is the last player we need in TO. Don't get me wrong, he's very talented, a lot of potential, but there are other players that have just as much potential ...Aldridge, Bargnani to name a few. The difference b/w Thomas and the other players the raps are said to be interested in is that Aldridge and Bargnani can play C which is the position we need. I'm not saying draft for position, but seriously another PF is the last thing we need. Thomas won't have the opportunity to be a star if he plays behind Bosh.

[J@3]

I wouldn't play Bargnani at C unless you want career highs for every 7 foot stiff you play against.

[iKe7in]

No one is dumb enough to play Bargnani at centre. If thye do end up drafting him, and I hope they don't, he will end up as a combo 3-4 with Villenueva, with Bosh at the 5. With 3 guys 6'11 or taller in the frontcourt who can all shoot midrange jumpers, they will more than make up for their defensive lapses.

[[L3]1101]

I know what you guys mean, but

Nenard Krstic is 7-0, at 240lb.
Bargnani is 7-0 at 225(240 according to nbadraft.net)
Bosh is 230lb.

Bargnani is capable.

[J@3]

It's not a matter of weight, it's strength. Bargnani is younger than both of those guys, I mean Andrew Bogut is 245 pounds but still struggles to guard opposition C's when he plays there, he has the weight but not the strength. David Harrison dominated him, Bargnani would get steamrolled.

[KIG1]

It's not a matter of weight, it's strength. Bargnani is younger than both of those guys, I mean Andrew Bogut is 245 pounds but still struggles to guard opposition C's when he plays there, he has the weight but not the strength. David Harrison dominated him, Bargnani would get steamrolled.

Great point Jae. Bargnani would just be plain too weak. Think of him facing up against Shaq a few games.

[[L3]1101]

But how do you know if he's weak/strong? I personally have only seen a couple video clips of him. From those videos, he looked alright. I say he's about the same as Dirk. Can you tell if Aldridge is stronger than him?
Besides how many players can guard shaq? Bosh can't, Dirk can't, Krstic can't, and Aldridge can't. Didn't Diaw play C? Diaw probably struggled, but that's only like 3 games out of the 82 games. There are plenty other centers that are not exactly strong.

He doesn't have to be gurding other centers 1 on 1. He can always get help. But on offense he will create a lot of mismatches.

[J@3]

But how do you know if he's weak/strong? I personally have only seen a couple video clips of him. From those videos, he looked alright. I say he's about the same as Dirk. Can you tell if Aldridge is stronger than him?

From DraftExpress:

That means that in the NBA he will most likely play as a small forward on offense, but he will probably have trouble finishing at the rim after beating his man off the dribble because of his lack of strength and only average use of his off hand. He has no post game at this point and lacks the lower body strength to play near the basket.

On defense there's no way he can guard NBA small forwards, as he discovered during the 2004 Hoop Summit when he was unable to slow down the much quicker Josh Smith. His lack of bulk will make him a huge liability early on defensively and on the glass, where he's very active, but lacks the positioning and physical ability to box out. This will likely all come with time, considering how much he has improved his rebounding during the season, but how long will the team who drafts him want to wait?

I'd say that's a pretty good indication that he's way too weak to play down there.