Iman

Etan Thomas would be a nice target as well as resigning Pryz. We need some bulk, especially if Shaq is heading to our division.

I assume that since David Anderson isn't on our summer team he wont be around next year but maybe it was an Olympic thing or something? If we cant pick up Kenyon then it wouldnt surprise me to see Harrington, Crawford, and even Josh or Diaw getting time at PF. I really see Hansen being a likely player to lose the most PT. I hope Coach Woodson teaches Diaw how to play more of a running game and occasionally we see four of our swingmen on the court together, with a center/rebounder like Pryz as the fifth man.

Wild deal. It appeared we were gonna lose Jax so Harrington seems like a freebie. Not the case, it really comes down to do we want Harrington for two years or Jax for four at similar pay. Both athletic players with upside but sometimes outta control games, Jax more of a 2/3 with Harrington a 3/4. Locking up Jax was kinda out since we hope all the 2/3's that we have will pan out, then Jax would have been redundant, Billy probably didnt want that or the longer contract requirement. Given all that, I like it. It's a better fit. Really, Harrington is similar to an older Josh Smith. If Josh pans out, we just trade or let Harrington go. Jax would have taken PT from players we wanna develop. Harrington gives us a deeper team that I thought we would have this year. Now we just need some bigmen. Even though super scout Hottlanta states it's fact that Harrington is gonna be a big upgrade over Crawford and Diaw at the 3, I'm not that sure but I do like the depth. Harrington seems to have limited basketball knowledge. Hottlanta probably just likes Harrington because best I can tell both are about equal in intelligence..lol. I would have rather had a Battier type player if we were gonna get more swingmen. But no doubt Harrington is an athlete and can be fun to watch. Coach Woodson may get sick of hollering at Harrington and JT's idiotic moves if he keeps them on the floor together too much.

Coach Woodson was live on 680 the Fan with Buck and Kincaid taday. I missed some of the interview, caught about 10 minutes total. I came in right after a direct question about Kenyon but heard him pretty much seem to say he liked Kenyon alot but he seemed to imply we were still looking for players that fit our system, he definitely didnt seem to imply he expected us to get Kenyon at this point or whether management had even made an offer. I missed part of that question/answer, but everything after that was much clearer. Coach Woodson had this slow, deep tone but he didnt seem to hide his meanings like Billy Knight. He pretty much said he thinks JT is a 2 and he'll have to learn to do things much like Chauncey Billups did IF he wants to be part of this team. He brought up Hendu a few times and said we had enough young pieces on this team and now needed more experienced clubhouse leader type players, especially in the frontcourt of course. Coach Woodson said he watched the Hawks draft closely and thought BK did a great job considering. He liked the Josh's but a few times said they really had "no idea how to play the NBA game." Woodson was asked what type/size point guard he was looking for and Diaw was mentioned by the questioner. Coach mentioned he's really only seen the new Hawks once or so but he did seem to like Royal Ivey, although he had a little problem with his name. He coached Eric Snow at Philli and said Ivey was more athletic and seemed to have better form on his shot. Overall Coach Woodson seemed to give straight forward answers and seemed prepared to work 7 days a week to get the Hawks ready. I liked what I heard.

Really it's Howard for JT if you forget about the two overpaid players that no one will take. I wouldn't do it but if Billy Knight did, it means he doesnt want JT and has further plans at the point. It makes us better next year especially if you assume Hendu wouldnt have played and you assume we can find a point guard.

The more I look at it, the more I think Billy Knight is just being shrewd and holding our money until he finds a good piece at a good price. He waited out JT and signed him for less than JT wanted. Who knows, Jax or Turkoglu or of course Kmart may be who he really wants but he's just waiting it out this year since there arent that many teams with much money to spare. I think we probably will offer the max to Kmart but the kicker to me is the Nets may still resign him for more. Kmart's play hard attitude would be great for a developing team. If we miss out on Kmart though I'd just as soon not sign Swift unless it's for more like $5mil per yr, I'm just not convinced that he's anything more than an athlete. Maybe then pick up Rebraca and Collier and assume Crawford and Hendu can give you some PF minutes. Sign Pryz at center and maybe Ekezie or one of our summer league bigmen for IR replacement of Hendu. I'd still enjoy watching that team, especially when we had the two Josh's and JT and even Diaw on the court together.

I cant believe I bothered to read that useless article. It is always interesting to see which players pan out and the same applies this year. Who's to say who will eventually be good or even that if Pete Babcock had drafted someone that they necessarily had to suck. Childress will almost have to look pretty good this year due to all the playing time he'll get. In a few years who knows. As far as Josh goes, I think everyone agrees that very few athletes of his caliber have ever came along. To risk a mid first round pick on a rebuilding team for him seems very wise to me.

We really only had JT and Diaw as reliable assets and could be considered guards. But if you take it further, we will already be paying two PF's, Hendu and CC next year. We paid Ekezie and I think we have the rights to match any offers on Pryzbilla next year so they are both possible returnee centers. Hansen is so far seems like a borderline NBA talent. So what we really needed were 2 and 3's and that's what we drafted. Actually I trust that we didnt take any bigmen in the second because Billy thought those available would not have made the team. If Anderson Varaejo or someone had fell, but mostly I guess Billy wasn't impressed with the Korean prospect Jin.

I think Diaw will always just be a role player, maybe a great one which is sorta what Pippen was, but he wont need the ball. That kinda player fits on any team.

Childress reminds me or an old school kinda guy, maybe a poor mans George Gervin /Dr J combo.

I think we are likely to sign Sura and Pryz and then possibly Swift. I'd be really surprised if we signed Foyle or Okur or someone like that. I think BK will want to play his young guys this year and keep the salaries down to remain flexible. Crawford seemed healthy last year, I bet he gets lotsa time at the 4, we protected him from Charlotte I believe. I wouldnt even be surprised to see Hendu back, he's way overpaid but if he can play and we already have to pay then I bet he'll be out there. I guess even with Swift and Pryz and Hendu we'd still need another bigman but I bet he'll be cheap, Ekezie or I'd like to see Alvin Jones Jr.

I'm with ya MrH, and it wouldnt surprise me if we do it. Billy is very likely to hold the position to see who's available (Livingston hopefully, or maybe he really like Biedrins?). I've heard him mention he likes 6 players but not sure if that was just another fake out. I mentioned earlier, #6 to Utah for #14 and #16. In my mind there are alot of high schoolers and Europeans with huge upside that will fall that low. Maybe even Snyder, Jackson, Araujo, Jefferson, or Josh will fall that low. Pretty likely someone Billy likes alot will. If I couldnt get Livingston at #6, Josh and Vujacic instead would work for me.

I think there's a very good chance we'll go European. Biedrins and then Vujacic is fairly likely unless Snyder, Jackson, or Araujo fall.

Personally I'd rather see Deng than Nelson. I dont think BK will go either of those routes. I see this being the most tumultuos draft ever. About the only thing that seems clear is that Charlotte wants Okafor and we want Howard. The Clippers need a point and Chicago is probably scared of high schoolers. Billy Knight has already found his players. I hope he didnt decide a few of the unattainable players were what we really needed. If he did, it wouldn't surprise me to see us move up swapping who we pick with concessions, etc for an earlier pick. If he likes some of the lower guys then I see us moving down maybe using the #6 to get us #14 and #16 from Utah. Then we move #16 and a second rounder to Portland for #22 and #23. #14-Jameer, Jackson, Snyder, Araujo, Monya-whoever's left #17-whoever's left #22-Vujacic? #23-high schooler athlete (Dorell Wright?) Should be fun either way, and I bet we wont just get stuck with Deng or Nelson, no way.

Nope, couldnt give up JT and the #6. I like Pierce and he'd give us instant credibility but I see much more upside in JT and the #6. Especially if Livingston slides to #6 or we somehow move JT to get Livingston or even Howard or Okafor. I'd just as soon FA sign someone near Pierce's level such as Daniels or Stephen Jackson.

I'm with DocHawk, I'd take Gerald Wallace if I were Charlotte. If they dont want him as a player, he's very tradeable in my opinion. Maybe we could give Charlotte a second rounder or Chris Crawford for Gerald. I think he has tons of potential, especially on a running type team.

Me and Moonknight usually go to these type things. The best were the old Life College Rookie camps. Didnt go to last years party at Espnzone since we didnt really have much to draft but we went to most in the last 10 years or so at the CNN Center. Some are fun, some arent, I guess the JT year was about the best since we had all those picks that year. This should be a good one!

Interesting. I hope this is not just a rumor, I think Harpring is a valuable role player to have on a team. How do the values work out, JT and a second for Harpring and one of Utah's firsts? I like JT but his size causes problems and I think Stephen Jackson wants more than he's worth. If we're considering starting Diaw and Harpring we'll definitely need a scoring guard to go with them.

I agree, you dont wanna try to copy Detroit. I bet they bring all their key players back next year and only advance a round or two in the playoffs. I dont think they would have beat Minnesota or San Antonio. They caught a weak benched due to injuries LA team by surprise. Prince and a swarming defense shut Kobe down and Shaq alone couldnt carry them.

I'm with ya E, I'd like to move up and get Howard but not that much more than I like Livingston then Smith at the #6 slot. I would not be willing to give up much more than the #6 and a second rounder and the future Philly first to move up to #2, especially if the #2 doesnt guarantee Howard. Another option if we are so set on Howard is to get back into a late lottery slot with a trade and then get Smith there. I brought up at post a few days ago but no one seemed to want to discuss it. Phoenix doesnt seem to want their pick, Utah and Boston have multiples. We have tons of second rounders and the future Philly first and tons of salary cap. If Phoenix wants to dump some salary (Jahidi) and give us their pick I'd throw in a second rounder or two to close the deal. I bet we see a deal like that from Billy but I bet it wont be for Josh, more likely some European he's high on (Vujacic?).

Nice update Jaywalker, thanks. Not to put words in your mouth but I read that to sorta imply some thoughts that I agree with, if we keep our picks and dont move around Livingston would be nice with our first pick. If we miss out and take a bigman with our first, Nelson might be our option with our second. I for one could live with that.

It might work, I think Indy would be the doubter, maybe Oneal could talk it through. I'd definitely do it. In effect it would be JT for a cheaper version of himself in Gordon or Harris if we played it safe. Preferably in my mind we'd take Livingston who I see as more a Magic kinda player than a Jason Kidd, but tons of potential either way. I dont mind Robinson if I have to overpay an underachiever, he's got talent and might turn it around under the right coach.

I liked Traceman's idea then I realized his plan gives away #17 twice. It seems to me that if Phoenix doesnt wanna pay a #7 guaranteed contract then they really wouldnt want a #17 this year that much either unless they have someone in mind that they wanna spend that part of their cap on. If the rumors wrong then maybe they'd take and second rounder or two this year and the future Phili first or something more like that. Then I'd make the deal and try to get LAC to take #7 and #17. With #6 I'd draft Livingston if still there, then Josh, then Iggy.

Everyone seems to think we will make the deal with the Clippers and then hopefully draft Howard #2. I sure hope we make that a draft day finalized deal. I like Okafor but I'd rather just try our luck at #6 and #17 if we cant get Howard. Now the next question is what would we or Billy Knight do to move up and draft another got to have player. Diesel wants Livingston. Others dont want two high schoolers. Well I think Josh Smith is on the slide and that would be my second goal if I were GM, try to slip into the mid first and pick up Josh. Utah and Boston are loaded with midfirst picks. Hopefully they wont want who we want and will make a move. Would Utah consider giving up #16 for two second rounders and the future Phili first? They'd still have #14 and #21 left. Portland needs to dump some salary, maybe we can get #13 from them, they'd still have #23 left. If we cant get Josh in the teens, my second plan would be to move up into the 20's probably with Boston or one of the above teams. I wouldnt mind seeing Billy move us up to pick up Luke Jackson or maybe Vujacic? It would not surprise me to see a lot of mid first deals go down this year. What later deal do y'all think may go down?

Lotsa moves like that around during this draft. Where I'd be more likely to do that would be if I didnt really like the #6 position but had a commitment that I could move #6 and #25 or so for #1 or #2. I really dont wanna see us move #6 and #17 but I trust Billy to do it right, hopefully..lol.