MoonKnight

In the Bucher report I caught at around 7:00ish he mentioned two trade tracks for Amare. One had us giving up #3, #11, and filler. The other had us giving up #3, SW, and filler. Wow, if we walked out of this with Amare and kept the #11 I would be shocked.

sportstalk is reporting the Amare deal to ATL is dead. A poster from RealGm is quoting a radio personality "Gambo" as the source from Suns executives for whatever it is worth. The internet is truly amazing but may lead to psychological problems.

Cap I have been agreeing with you alot lately. Jack is just a better fit here. He is physical, tough, a decent passer, and a good defender. If you compare their stats, Jack actually gets to the line more often where he is a very good free throw shooter. I also like the fact that he is currently cheaper than Ridnour. If we were going to play a Suns type tempo then Ridnour might be the better pick but everyone here knows that is not going to happen with Woody as coach.

Randolph Childress? I have had some lingering doubts about him for some time and Hollinger's article made them resurface. Maybe I am just being nitpicky with less than 48 hours left before the draft. Regardless it appears we will land a point guard. I would prefer Conley, Jack, or Calderon (maybe Critt).

You are completely correct. Barbosa is not a point guard but an undersized 2 guard. The Suns tried to use him as a backup point guard but that experiment failed (remember the marcus banks signing last year). Jack, Calderon, or Ridnour are all better fits here.

Do you realize that Kidd shot 27% from 3 pt land his rookie season in the league? I suspect that Conley could at least match that his rookie season. Instead of attacking Conley you should be making more of a cogent agrument for why someone else should be selected. But don't worry, I would be shocked if BK drafts Conley at #3 and Conley will not fall to #11.

Thanks, Ex. This is one of Ford's better written stories. I think I will be ok if Yi, Conley, or Horford is chosen #3 though Yi is clearly the biggest risk of the 3 choices. Ron's info from today scares me about Wright. I was at last year's draft party and BK had Dominique announce the pick (he had to have known the booing was coming). I will be there this year and if Dominique or anyone besides BK announces the pick then I think we will know Wright is the selection.

Horford> Best case: Healthy Carlos Boozer Worst case: A. Carr Yi> Best case: Bargs Worst case: Skita or Alexander Volkov Wright>Best case: Mikki Moore Worst case: JJ Walker (Dynomite!!!!) Conley>Best case: Tony Parker Worst case: Brevin Knight Law> Best case: Cassell with alittle A. Miller Worst case: Rumeal Robinson Critt>Best case: Billups Worst case: Reece Jaines

It is very rare to see a player of Howard's status traded within the same division. I see the only ways Howard coming here is via free agency or if he demanded to be dealt and we made the best offer.

I have such a rigid view of BK's stubborn beliefs that it is truly surprising to me that he would offer MW in trade for Howard. My statements reflect BK's likely thoughts not my personal opinions about whether we should trade MW (I would offer him in the right deal and would without any doubt offer him for Howard).

longstanding belief held here that MW is untouchable (A belief I also held). If BK is willing to trade MW than our trade options are truly vast.

I sincerely hope that SJ does turn into a legit 5. With that said, I don't think it is good theory to pin our hopes on him given what we know. He is currently a long term project and it would be a mistake to alter our draft philosophy based on his potential. To suggest that he is currently worth a mid 1st round pick in this year's draft is amazing and reeks of homerism. Where are the posters that accused me of homerism when I suggested we could turn the 11th pick to Washington for their 16th pick and Haywood. My suggestion seems quite mild by comparison.

Jones is an interesting project but some on this board believe he is the second coming of Deke. He might be worth a mid 2ND ROUNDER in this year's draft. The Jones idolization is just another example of the desperation for a defensive player at the 5 spot.

Why are you so down on Perkins? He is still very young with upside and a mean streak. He is a likely better combo mate with Zaza than Lo or Shelden. I would consider him and Boston's #5 for the 3rd overall. With Ainge at the helm, we might even get more. What has Perkins done for you to be playahating on him (and don't say what he has not done in his early career).

BK could take advantage of. IMO Ainge will fall in love with a player (likely Yi) and could be fleeced. Kendrick Perkins & #5 for #3? We might even get another player or pick tossed in from Boston. Keep a close eye on Boston.

Let's not confuse Haywood with Bill Russell. For whatever reason he has been unable to beat out Etan for the majority of minutes and he may have some issue with ownership. I think Haywood is a decent player who could compliment Zaza at the 5 spot well but I don't think he has the value you atribute to him either. My suggestion is far from the typical homer trades we see regularly on here.

There could be some 4/5 players available at #11 in Hawes, Splitter, Noah (doubtful) and Sean Williams who is all over the board. This proposed trade does not seem that unreasonable to me.

I don't think we have to give up Shelden to get Haywood. I suspect that the #11 for Haywood and the #16 might get it done. Especially if we did the #3 for CV and #6 and then drafted Conley at #3. At #16, we could draft Byars or Young for insurance if JChillz leaves via free agency or we decide to trade Chillz or Marvin. I am not completely sold on it but it is something to think about.

Regardless of whether you agree that Yi is a more perimeter oriented player than I guess you are agreeing with my original thought that Yi is not an answer for our center problems. Think of it further this way. His agents are micromanaging his every move. Agents and all informed basketball folks realize the current dearth of centers in the NBA. If Yi's agents believed at all that he was capable of playing center than that is what we would hear from his agents and Yi because Yi has far more draft value as a potential center than as a forward. Whether Yi is a pure 4 or a 3/4 combo it appears unlikely at all that he is a future 5.

Quote: Quote: Actually I hadn't thought about it but Bargnani might be the best comparison in the entire league. I don't know if he quite has the same range, but that's the kind of player we're talking about. A perimeter-oriented tall forward. That's a terrible comparison because he's not even close to as perimeter oriented as Bargnani who spends 75% of his time around the 3 point line. Yi is also noticeably more athletic than Bargnani. No one here is such an expert on Yi that they can entirely dismiss the Yi to Bargs comparison. With the little info that we have on him it does appear Yi is more athletic than Bargs but they both seem to prefer perimeter oriented games. Anyway, is being compared to Dirk or Bargs such a bad thing ?

While we still know little about Yi it does appear that he is a 3/4 combo and clearly not a 5. It appears Yi is more akin to Bargs/Dirk than Gasol/JO who are both 4/5 combos. While I have certainly not ruled out drafting Yi with the 3rd overall pick I just don't want him drafted with the idea that he an answer to our center issues.

throw in the 11th pick? I might consider Chillz for Calderon straight up and that is a iffy might but in no way would I throw away the 11th pick for Graham. Players like Graham are a dime a dozen in the NBA. I seriously doubt BK would consider this move but then again we are talking about BK.

Your question assumes Woody has the ability to coach various styles of play. I am not at all certain Woody has the coaching acumen to coach varying styles of play. Hopefully, our next new coach will be able to do this.

There were plenty of people who wanted Deron (or Paul) that year. Deron was the key to that Illinois team that went to the NCAA finals and I had no little doubt that he would succeed in the NBA. He has progressed faster than I ever thought he would. If we has selected Deron we would have been much more likely to have made the playoffs this year (unless Woody kept him on the bench!).

Alaine Digbeau (sp) The first french wonderkid who we selected in the second round of a draft in the early 90s. This French "star" never suited up. Dam, somebody already named my boy Snoop Graham.