SLAM says we are between 3 players at #2

[Frosty06306]

Barnes, Beal, and Robinson.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/06/report-bobcats-will-draft-either-harrison-barnes-thomas-robinson-or-brad-beal/

[ammofan]

Honestly, Im good with all of them. ThoR is my fav tho. Beal im a huge fan of too.

[Black]

I'm glad to see Drummond and MKG aren't on that list if it's true. Still hoping for Robinson.

[BETCATS]

If we don't take Robinson, we should trade down for Barnes + additional value. I think Robinson is a future multiple time all star. Barnes is going to be an above average player but I dont know how far above average.

[KembaSlice]

I think we are going to take Barnes. It'd be awesome if we could get Cleveland to trade their 2 first round picks for the #2 (assuming they'd take MKG) and get Barnes at #4. But realistically, I don't see that happening.

[Jerp]

With each passing day I feel like wer're going to trade down.

[superb1]

With each passing day I feel like wer're going to trade down.

for some reason I feel we will walk away with 3 draft picks, don't know who but I feel that way

[Potato]

:( nooooooooooooooooooo

[Dcarnys]

I'm down with Kidd-Ghilcrhrist or Robinson while trading to get Barnes.

[Ghost Kat]

I'm a UNC fan and this is the first time I've wanted my team to stay away from UNC's top choice. I'm all abroad the T. Robinson bandwagon. He's so big he probably pulls it himself. I've made my choice. This is what I want. Basketball Jesus will provide

[superb1]

I'm down with Kidd-Ghilcrhrist or Robinson while trading to get Barnes.

that is my choice but T-Rob over MKG though but last year I was all over getting Barnes but not at #2 this year.

[Scrapper1]

I like where the Bobcats stand in this draft.. if Cleveland really wants someone, they can give their two first round picks for them and the Bobcats can still end up with who they really want and have another pick. BUT... day by day im getting more sold on T-Rob being a potential superstar. Ultimately, there are other ways to get another first round pick.. keep #2. Though there are some players with amazing potential like Waiters, Lillard and even Meyers.. T-Rob is looking like the answer.

[ncstamey]

I am warming up to the idea of drafting Barnes but doing it with the #2 pick would just be stupid. If they trade down to draft him and get themselves another first round pick, I think that's a pretty good day for us. 4 first rounders in 2 years paired what we're learning is a teacher in Dunlap to help steer us in the right direction.

All that said I'm really hoping we keep the #2 pick and take Robinson. I am convinced we'll be kicking ourselves if we pass up on this kid.

[CharlotteHornets]

I look forward to next years draft where Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, and James McAdoo will all be available and the Bobcats will almost certainly have a Top 3 pick. I believe all 3 of those players have higher ceilings than Thomas Robinson so I take the player who I think is the best perimeter player in this draft. We have to remember nothing is going to be solved with just this draft. It is a multi-year process.

[Black]

I look forward to next years draft where Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, and James McAdoo will all be available and the Bobcats will almost certainly have a Top 3 pick. I believe all 3 of those players have higher ceilings than Thomas Robinson so I take the player who I think is the best perimeter player in this draft. We have to remember nothing is going to be solved with just this draft. It is a multi-year process.

In my opinion you should never base who you draft this year on who might be available next year. There are too many things that can change between now and then that could change who is and who isn't available. Go with who the best available player is this year, and do the same next year.

[BETCATS]

I look forward to next years draft where Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, and James McAdoo will all be available and the Bobcats will almost certainly have a Top 3 pick. I believe all 3 of those players have higher ceilings than Thomas Robinson so I take the player who I think is the best perimeter player in this draft. We have to remember nothing is going to be solved with just this draft. It is a multi-year process.

Last year at draft time, it was clear "consensus" that Austin Rivers would be the #1 pick. :facepalm:

A lot changes in a year. We need to draft the best player available now. Next year's draft discussion doesnt begin until the college basketball season does.

[Pepperz]

Actually, you have to take into consideration of next years draft when drafting, if you plan on using multiple drafts. If next year draft class tends to be more bigs than guards, then you might be incline to choose a guard this year because depending on where you pick you might be only stuck with quality bigs to choose from. You are simplifying Cho way. He's an analytical guy that thinks multiple steps ahead. Think of it like chess, while most people are worrying about making one move, the top players are looking at move 2, 3, and 4.

Austin Rivers was never the consensus #1 pick. He was ranked 1st in some leader board for HS, I think it was Rivals but that doesnt make you the consensus. Look at multiple rankings, like ESPN, and you wont see him at the top. He didnt even win HS player of the year that year. Davis, Macadoo and somebody else were in the running for that.

[polarcat]

I feel like when this year started it was a toss up between AD, Drummond and Barnes for the top selection, yet so much changes over the course of the year. I know Cho is beyond analytical and looks at the big picture, but I can't imagine a conversation within an organization that when deciding on a player in the 2012 draft, they kick around the thought of the 2013 draft in their process. Yes, it's important in the big picture, but nothing in college is guaranteed, so at this elite level of decision making, I don't think it's wise to weigh the 2013 prospects when deciding on your #2 overall selection in 2012.

[SJackson1]

each one of those 3 plyers would have an impact on our franchise but i think roninson would make the most impact

[Pepperz]

I agree that AD, Drummond and Barnes were in the running for the top selection. After a whole year, they are still top of the draft, maybe not 1, 2, 3 but def top 5 or 6 players. Some names will rise and some will fall but a good chunk of them will stay near the top. Ill try to break it down even more. Lets take NBADraft.net and use their mock draft. They have 5 people that can play center going in the top 11 picks. Since I expect us to pick within the top 10 picks, one of these guys could fill the big man role. Drafting Drummond could sound less intriguing since he is not the clear cut #2. I personally would draft Barnes at this time. He's big fast and strong with a great stroke. He has alot of room to improve being that he's a top 5 player in potential. He also fills a need at a position.

Are team would be....

Kemba
Hendo
Barnes
BB
Mullens

We go into next years draft with this as our starting line up. There is 1 quality SG and the rest are bigs. By having this team, this allows us the chance to draft Shabazz, if he plays up to the potential, if we win the top pick but say we do a little better than that we get a top 7 pick, maybe somebody like Cody Zeller can fall to us or another top big rises and grabs our attention. When it comes to this type of thinking, Im not looking at specific players but the general look of whos going into the draft.

[SWedd523]

Too many things can go wrong to even consider worrying about next year's draft. what if we trade our pick? What if none of them enter the draft? What if we trade for a young Center at the deadline? What if they all fall?


Trying to get all clever and drafting a certain way just because something MAY happen in the future runs the risk of outsmarting yourself. Just stockpile the talent. If they play the same position then deal with it at a later date.

[Pepperz]

What if a meteor lands on us tomorrow and kills everybody? Whats the point of planning for tomorrow?

You know we cant trade our pick to begin with. I thought you been following this team. I can see a couple wanting to stay but ALL, you need to be realistic. Its called covering your options. I can see you never played chess, hence why you are only looking at NOW and not what could happen this year or even next.

Stockpiling talent even at the same position is such a bad idea. This is forcing us to make trades. If teams already know that we have to make a trade cuz all our assets are in one position, why do they want to trade equal talent. Might as well pay 80 cents on a dollar cuz they dont need to make the trade, we do. We just screwed ourselves. This will force us to undersell.

[SWedd523]

You know we cant trade our pick to begin with.wrong. We can trade our pick on draft night, we can also trade our pick on draft night next year, and so on.

I can see you never played chesswrong again. I like to open with p-k4, you?

Stockpiling talent even at the same position is such a bad idea.and wrong again. Who's to say we pass on Robinson because we're trying to be super smart and he puts up 20/10 his rookie season? I'm sure we could trade him for more than 80c. on the dollar.


There are simply far too many contingency plans to try and account for to even begin drafting this year with an eye towards next year. Too many variables and too much risk for any team, much less ours. There is absolutely no way you can justify to me "we passed on Robinson/Drummond and took Barnes because there are possibly, potentially, maybe, more good big men in next year's draft". Not going to happen.

[dnbman]

I like to open with p-k4, you?

I prefer e4. ;)


There are simply far too many contingency plans to try and account for to even begin drafting this year with an eye towards next year. Too many variables and too much risk for any team, much less ours. There is absolutely no way you can justify to me "we passed on Robinson/Drummond and took Barnes because there are possibly, potentially, maybe, more good big men in next year's draft". Not going to happen.

Yeah, this is definitely a case of over-thinking. To use your chess analogy, this is like playing an overly aggressive opening hoping that the other guy doesn't see what you're doing. Right now, we need to draft the best player we can get. If it so happens that next year the best player available plays the same position, we can trade the pick or just enjoy being stacked at one position.
To do otherwise runs the risk of watering down this year's pick and not getting what you want next year either.

[SWedd523]

Meh, descriptive notation is dying. Never was very good at any kind really other than openings

[Whiz Kid]

I agree with Swedd. You got to draft now for now and save later for later. Us not drafting a big this year in hopes of landing one next year is basically equivalent to us trying to strategically plan to get the #1 rated guy in the class of 2015 because he's a point guard and we don't have one (hypothetically speaking) . That means we could miss opportunities to find other diamonds in the rough. Yes, as cliche as it sounds, our actions now affect our future. But we can't reverse that and base our current actions on the future because its really uncertain. Who's a currently underrated guy won't show up and take the college world by storm? Who's to say the hyped up guys like Shabazz Muhammad or Nerlens Noel will live up to expectations? You never know. But we've been able to evaluate the guys in front of us now so it's crucial that me make the best decision for us whether it be to trade down for 2 picks, draft a big in T-Rob or Dre, draft a 3 in Barnes or MKG, or even draft a guard in Beal or Lamb.

[teej]

Drafting a certain player this year in anticipation of what might be good next year is like a diehard Republican voting for Obama because they might have a better candidate in 2016. It's stupid. Yes, you want to be aware of things, but if we picked MKG even though Trob was determined to be the best available, then Trob leads his team to the playoffs? Who looks analytical then? You take the best available fit, and if you have to make a trade in the future, that's better than having a bust.

[SJackson1]

if we don't get this pick right we are in real trouble in my opinion, we have made some very very poor picks in the draft over the years we canot afford to pick the same again.

[polarcat]

if we don't get this pick right we are in real trouble in my opinion, we have made some very very poor picks in the draft over the years we canot afford to pick the same again.

Bingo! 10char

[murphman]

I think more things are coming out showing this SLAM report to be spot on. Based on different tweets made over the past week, team execs are saying Beal is a top four talent, Barnes or Beal are locks to Clev. at #4, & Beal, Barnes & T-Rob have declined workouts at Sac. at #5 rumored because they each have a top 4 promise.

One thing that may happen over time is that Beal emerges as the true #2 in this draft. If so, I think we should take him even though it is the position we have lowest need. If Washington wants him bad enough, we can trade him to them for #3 and #32. Getting T-Rob and the 1st two picks of the 2nd round would be amazing (we could package them and move up into the teens to get Harkless or keep them and hope to find a starter). If Washington doesnt take the offer, we still get the 2nd best player in the draft.

[dnbman]

I think more things are coming out showing this SLAM report to be spot on. Based on different tweets made over the past week, team execs are saying Beal is a top four talent, Barnes or Beal are locks to Clev. at #4, & Beal, Barnes & T-Rob have declined workouts at Sac. at #5 rumored because they each have a top 4 promise.

One thing that may happen over time is that Beal emerges as the true #2 in this draft. If so, I think we should take him even though it is the position we have lowest need. If Washington wants him bad enough, we can trade him to them for #3 and #32. Getting T-Rob and the 1st two picks of the 2nd round would be amazing (we could package them and move up into the teens to get Harkless or keep them and hope to find a starter). If Washington doesnt take the offer, we still get the 2nd best player in the draft.
R
I think as long as we stay in the top 6, we'll get a player that really can help us. The more we can acquire with one of those picks, the better. T-Rob is still my favorite, but I wouldn't be disappointed if we got, say, Barnes or Drummond at 6 and picked up the 11th or some other assets. I think there is more of a decline in the prospects over the rest of the picks, especially after 8 or 9, but the top several guys all offer significant skills, though certainly have some issues too.

[spectre]

IF we think Beal is the best talent then to hell with Washington. Keep him.

[SJackson1]

we need to pick the best player possbile in this draft, our coaches and scouts need to work hard and asses each possible player

[Pepperz]

I totally disagree. There is no clear cut #2 in this draft. You can make a case for any of these guys; Barnes, Thor, Beal, MKG, and Drummond. Im not saying you base this whole draft on next years but you do have to take it into consideration. And dont use the "what if Thor goes 20 and 10" cuz I could say the complete opposite and say what if he goes "10 and 5" than that idea of equal value goes out the window. Remain consistent with your logic. If you are going to use "if" statements to try and debunk my idea, dont use a "if" statement to back yours up. Being that this team is going to be based on player development, potential might be something that stands out more so than our coaches of the pass. People like Barnes and Drummond might sound great because of their potential. I rather we have a quality SF and Big to go along with BB and Mullens than two bigs which would create a log jam down low since we already have BB and Mullens. Only when you can say that "so and so" is the clear best player can you just take the best player available but thats not the case. Look at Minnasota last year, they took Williams even when they had Beasley but we are not in the position.

P to K4 is a common move that grandmasters would make. Its an aggressive move that looks to take center control. Its an even better move if your white considering that you have the 1st move. My first move depends on who im playing and the color I am but its best to take center control so you can have more options to cover. You wont restrict yourself by staying near the sides.

Cho is trying to build the best team possible to win that title. You dont need the "best" players to win that title but it does help. I wont deny that. He is looking for people that have particular skill set that complement each others skill. Were Westbrook and Harden the "best" players in their respective class? NO. He seen something in those guys that made him draft those guys. Dont stokepile players of the same position because you think they are the "best" players in the draft.

[Mustachio]

Its a draft. You take the best player available EVERYTIME. Positional need is a minimal part of the process. Only if its a split decision between two BPA's do you even consider positional need. And you never make the current draft decision based on next years. Next years draft is next year, the order will be flipped upside down and turned over before we even get there. You factor next years potential players in of course, but it should never affect what you do this year.


Thomas Robinson is the only player that offers an elite level skill, that no one else in the draft offers. So. Robinson is the clear cut #2. You want a SF... you can have your pick between 3-4 great options but you don't need to waste that pick at #2 as none of them offer anything the other can't potentially offer. No one rebounds like Trob, just like no one blocks shots like Davis. There isn't a PF even close to Thomas Robinson. He is the best value at 2.

[ammofan]

Draft robinson.

[spectre]

Just because there's no clear cut #2 in our eyes doesn't mean there's not one in Cho's eyes.

[ncstamey]

Thomas Robinson is the only player that offers an elite level skill, that no one else in the draft offers. So. Robinson is the clear cut #2. You want a SF... you can have your pick between 3-4 great options but you don't need to waste that pick at #2 as none of them offer anything the other can't potentially offer. No one rebounds like Trob, just like no one blocks shots like Davis. There isn't a PF even close to Thomas Robinson. He is the best value at 2.

I totally agree with this

[McBeastie]

Dunlap says he wants to deny easy buckets & create them as well. I think a guy like TRob can be physical in protecting the rim, as well as crash the boards and create transition opportunities. So although he might not drop 20+ a game he can still have a positive impact on our offense.

At the same time I can see where people are coming from with Barnes too; because our offense was just as bad as our defense last year. I just think rebounding and playing defense make it easier to win games than trying and go and outscore teams, and Robinson is a guy I feel like could potentially help us in all three of those areas.

So, I'm team Robcats all the way as of right now :cool:

[Black]

I totally agree with this

Me too. He comes into the league highly developed, and already has an NBA body. As has been said a million times before, there might be players with more potential, but no one has a higher floor than Robinson

[Freshlete]

I personally think Beal is the second best player in this draft and has more superstar potential than T Rob. It's a bit unfortunate that our "best" player on our team is a SG in Hendo, but I think we should still draft Beal.

At first, I was a bit hesitant about this plan but the more I think about it the more I am warming up to it. Beal has claimed he wants to be a combo guard (although I really don't know how well he'll do being the primary ball handler because he rarely did that at UF) which will come in handy if we decided to trade DJ. He's not really a facilitator but neither are half the PGs in this league...just look at Russell Westbrook.

SG is clearly his strength. The one thing I would say he needs to work on his shooting off the dribble. But otherwise, he is such a good shooter and has nice form (can't stand watching MGK shoot). He can drive to the basket and finish extremely well at the hoop even in the face of bigs. He did it plenty of times against UK so his height shouldn't be a problem when it comes to that. His height really should only be a problem when it comes to defending. If we decided to go small we might have problems with him guarding bigger SGs and SFs but he is an agile defender. We saw that his height wasn't a problem rebounding. When UF lost their best rebounder to injury, he stepped up big time and was a machine on the boards.

Wouldn't totally be against T Rob just don't like his offensive game. He is a hard worker and works to get in good position but I think he relies (for a lack of a better of term) too much on his motor.

[BobCatsFanInTx]

I seriously hope they do not take a flyer at #2 on Barnes.

[SJackson1]

TRob or MKG !

[BobCatsFanInTx]

I look forward to next years draft where Cody Zeller, Nerlens Noel, and James McAdoo will all be available and the Bobcats will almost certainly have a Top 3 pick. I believe all 3 of those players have higher ceilings than Thomas Robinson so I take the player who I think is the best perimeter player in this draft. We have to remember nothing is going to be solved with just this draft. It is a multi-year process.While it is a multi-year process the worst thing we could do is pick a player anywhere in the early part of the lottery who is seen as a long term project. I am not saying a player should make an All Star impact in season one but none the less a slightly above average impact. I can not defend taking a player in the early lottery based on some imaginary ceiling that no one knows whether a player will reach or not. Players like Harrison Barnes are scary to pick early because the way I see those type players is they will do one of only two things. Be Super Stars one day or totally flame out. I realize that the draft is a crap shoot and nothing is ever set in stone as to how it will turn out. That being said I am no fan or long term potential. That is even a bigger gamble than taking a player that seems ready to make an above average impact right away. If we are talking about future potential than teams in the middle to lower part of the lottery would be better suited to taking those gambles. Our Bobcats need players who will impact the team from game one all the way through the rest of their careers. Barnes has all the measurable attributes and gifts to be great it is the immeasurable traits that worry me. Those are the things that one can gather based on how a player played in college. Based on Barnes's second season in college I am not sure he is an instant impact player. I know players need to be coached but we need guys who are mentally able to come in and be confident and want to stand out. Barnes seems soft. I could be wrong because I actually am not the All Seeing And All Knowing Cho. It is just my gut talking in regards to Barnes and players like him. Take from this what you will. I would be happy to be wrong if we drafted Barnes and he was showing signs of greatness in his first season. Time will tell what is what.

[Kemba2Hendo]

Beal or bust