Kevin Durant

[dvdbumpus]

I was reading up on the guy, and I realize he's 6'10" and is averaging 22 PPG and nearly 10 RPG.

It mentions also that he's a small forward, but also mentions he's a guard.

In the nba will he project as a SG or a SF? If he's a SG I could definitely see that being a perfect fit in our system - some actual size at the 2!!!!!!

Then of course, oden still is super numero uno stupendous.

P.S. Nbadraft.net projects him as the next Tracy Mcgrady :o ;D

I'm pretty high on him right now.

[sc0Nes]

i would rather have him than oden because this guy can score in bunches, which oden is not capable of i believe at the NBA level. really though i would take either one of them. they both have superstar potential which is what we need to get to the playoffs. anything less would be another disappointment in my mind.

[Keetch]

I watched Durant play numerous times during his junior year in HS at Oak Hill with Tywon Lawson, Jamont Gordon (MSU), and Eric Devendorf. Durant was phenomenal then and he is now. That team was truly above-the-rim basketball.

I think he's just too tall and light for SG though, so probably a SF. Watch any Texas game you can and see for yourself. Not sure.

As much as I like Durant; you just cannot pass on Oden if you have the opportunity to get him. We'll see how Greg does at OSU this year as to how strong his offensive game is.

There's no guarantees any of these guys comes out. Both Oden and Noah have stated that they love college; and Durant reeeaallly needs a little weight on his frame.

[Dead_Real]

Kevin Durant is a big guard that can hit the 3 ball his question marks is his body type but I don't see that being to big of a problem is upside is out of this world I'd take him if Oden is gone.

[buckethead]

I watched the Texas / Tennessee game this afternoon and DAMN that Kevin Durant kid is good. Hes like the illegitimate love-child of Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett :wow1:. If the Bobcats wound up with him, he could be their SF for the next 10 years.

[Slam]

I'm with sc0Nes - I'm super high on this kid. More than I am Oden (funnily enough for similar reasons to sc0Nes too!!)

I've been able to watch him 4 times so far this year.

While a lot of people see a mix of T-Mac and KG, I actually see Chris Bosh meets Tracy McGrady (80% Bosh to 20% T-Mac).

If we got him I'd hope he'd play the 4 and EO50 the 5.

The kid has a wonderful face up game with some developing post moves. He's long, fluid and amazingly quick.

I love that he works hard, real hard on both ends of the floor and it doesn't matter if he is included in the play or not, he'll still work hard (boxing out, running the court continnually moving).

He has some handles and his 1st step is nothing short of explosive. He seems really verbal on the court directing traffic and calling things out but not at all over the top. He comes over as a natural leader.

His choice of shot selection and the fact that he forces some things on the offensive end can be questionable at times but at least he's not scared to shoot.

This kid is an out and out stud in the making and next to EO50 and Crash could become the best and youngest front court in the entire NBA IMO!!

[123together]

kevin durant is a stud. he'd be better for us than oden i think cuz of his versatility kinda like KG in his prime

[CaptainCrunch]

I've seen KD play a few times this year and he is a baller. He has future bobcat written all over him. I would love to see him in a bobcat uni.

[dvdbumpus]

I've seen KD play a few times this year and he is a baller. He has future bobcat written all over him. I would love to see him in a bobcat uni.


If we keep playing well we'll be talking about a mid 1st rounder :biggrin:

[Jonathanmartin7]

Anybody out there think that Tyler Hansboro will be gone this year? If so do you think he'd be lottery? I don't think he'd go in the top ten this year even if UNC wins it all, but he sure is a beast.

[Jonathanmartin7]

i would rather have him than oden because this guy can score in bunches, which oden is not capable of i believe at the NBA level. really though i would take either one of them. they both have superstar potential which is what we need to get to the playoffs. anything less would be another disappointment in my mind.

What would give you the idea that Oden can't score in bunches at the NBA level?!
He's freaking huge! Agile! Hands that make Sean May's look like stones! He's another Shaq for crying out loud! :o

[ziggy]

i would rather have him than oden because this guy can score in bunches, which oden is not capable of i believe at the NBA level. really though i would take either one of them. they both have superstar potential which is what we need to get to the playoffs. anything less would be another disappointment in my mind.

What would give you the idea that Oden can't score in bunches at the NBA level?!
He's freaking huge! Agile! Hands that make Sean May's look like stones! He's another Shaq for crying out loud! :o

AMEN!
As good as Durant is... And hes going to be very, very good. You cannot pass on a 7 foot 280 pound dominant center.

[dvdbumpus]

i would rather have him than oden because this guy can score in bunches, which oden is not capable of i believe at the NBA level. really though i would take either one of them. they both have superstar potential which is what we need to get to the playoffs. anything less would be another disappointment in my mind.

What would give you the idea that Oden can't score in bunches at the NBA level?!
He's freaking huge! Agile! Hands that make Sean May's look like stones! He's another Shaq for crying out loud! :o

AMEN!
As good as Durant is... And hes going to be very, very good. You cannot pass on a 7 foot 280 pound dominant center.


I agree, I just am finding it unlikely we finish worse than every other team in the nba.

[sc0Nes]

we don't have to finish dead last to get the #1 pick...

the thing that worries me about oden is that he hasn't developed much of an offensive game yet, mostly he just plays defense and relies on his height and athletic advantages to score points. plus he gets fouled a LOT, he just hasn't HAD to learn many offensive moves because he is so naturally gifted. once he gets to the NBA where everyone is bigger and stronger i think he could struggle to score points.

really though i would be happy if we got either player. i just think durant's game is more exciting than odens.

[ziggy]

Take a look at this article (http://www.truehoop.com/2007-draft-69548-kevin-durant-is-the-story.html#discussion)

They are giving some serious love to Kevin Durant and saying that many NBA front office people are considering him as the real prize in this draft.... Yep, thats right. Ahead of Greg Oden.

[dvdbumpus]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. I watched him play in the 3 ot game against Ok. State, and what can I say, he made me :o

[CaptainCrunch]

He struggled a little bit last night but everyone has a bad game every once in a while. but i would be glad to get a player like durant.

[ziggy]

Take a look at these numbers from last night against Texas Tech:
37 points
23 rebounds
5 threes
3 steals
1 blocked shot

I'm surprised that I'm saying this, but I'm dangerously close to moving Durant ahead of Oden on my wishlist for the Bobcats.

[Slam]

Take a look at these numbers from last night against Texas Tech:
37 points
23 rebounds
5 threes
3 steals
1 blocked shot

I'm surprised that I'm saying this, but I'm dangerously close to moving Durant ahead of Oden on my wishlist for the Bobcats.


Welcome to the dark side Ziggy where ScONes and I have been for some time now!!

Jump in, have a swim.............the water is fine!!

[ziggy]

I'm teetering dangerously on the edge of slipping into the darksiide.
The numbers that Durant puts up are friggin ridiculous. 37 points and 23 boards is insane at the college level.

[Slam]

It's not just the numbers either - it's the way he does it and well as the level of intensity he plays with, his killer attitude all while still being quite humble.

I still think he jacks up too many 3's but other than that - wow!!

Have you watched him play? Do you see why he reminds me of Chris Bosh?

[ziggy]

I watched him play and he is as NBA ready as any college kid in a long time. To me he seems like a combination of Garnett and a pre-injury Grant Hill with a steadier jumper.
Which is frightening to think about.

[dvdbumpus]

Yes he is definitely a stud. Him being #1 depends on the team, but it could easily go either way.

He does go after too many jumpers and needs to be more aggressive (as evidenced by his measly 5 free throws against 29 shots)

If he was more aggressive and passed more often (largely the reason he doesn't is probably because his teammates are nothing special) he'd be the next KG.

[ziggy]

DraftExpress has just moved Kevin Durant over Greg Oden for the #1 draft spot on their 2007 mock draft board.
Check it out here (http://www.draftexpress.com/blogs.php?blogid=3)

[dav7z]

The guy is a monster . As much as we need a big i think Durant is just to good to pass up on. Besides i think he would work out just fine with Okafor and Wallace in the frunt court. But the way we playing i dont think we get a shot at either one of those two.

[dvdbumpus]

I say we're now looking at a lower top 10 pick, if we don't make the playoffs. either way, we'll definitely get a top 20 pick.

Marcus Williams anyone?

[dav7z]

OK they got us taking the 4th and the 16 th pick taking Brandon Wright and Tylor Hansboro,
Think ill grt blasted but i would take Wright with that 4th pick right now.
The 16th pick i think Williams will fall 3 spots and us nab him. Or try and trade up three spots to get him. If that dont work i would take the next best sg on the board........... I dont think we need two more power fowards and two more TAR HEELS right now.

[Slam]

Pass on Wright. I'm not a fan at all.

If we had a pick outside the top 2 I would look to trade it along with Ammo to the Grizzles for Gasol.

Then with the #16 pick (the Raps pick) I'd draft who ever was left out of Williams (unlikey), Almond, Young or Affalo.

I'd trade BK to the Pistons for Nazr and their 1st (#19) and with thei pick I'd draft Rodney Stuckey or Acie Law as our back up PG.

Felton - Stuckey - McInnis
Williams - Carroll - Stuckey
Wallace - Herrmann - Outlaw (FA signing from Portland)
Gasol - May - Harrington
Okafor - Jake - Hollins

[Slam]

P.S. Durant missed out by 2pts to have his 7th 30+ point game in his last 10 last night.

[dav7z]

That all sounds good but witch big would you cut. Nazr . He has 4 years and 25 mil left on contract. Or would you get rid of Jake or Hollins.

[sc0Nes]

this draft makes no sense at all...our most pressing need is for a SHOOTING guard. someone who can SHOOT the ball...and they project us taking multiple PFs? umm what the ... ? we are already set at PF with okafor, may, even wallace plays PF a little.

the most amazing thing about durant is that he's putting up all these numbers and when he does it he makes it look easy. he takes so many 3s, but when they're falling like they are then why not? he can shoot over pretty much anyone in college, so why not?

[ziggy]

Scones,
You're right, we need a legitimate SG, but this draft is so loaded up with quality big men, that if we get a pick in the top 5 or 6, theres no way that we could pass one of them up.

And Durant's numbers are just crazy, like I was saying earlier its making me rethink taking Oden with the top pick if we had it.

[dav7z]

I kinda agree with scONes, Its no way in hell we draft 2 more power fowards.

[ziggy]

I kinda agree with scONes, Its no way in hell we draft 2 more power fowards.
The problem with that is that if we wind up with a top 5 pick, there isn't a SG worthy of being taken that high.

http://draftexpress.com/mock.php?y=2007

DraftExpress' mock draft has the top rated SG at #13

[dav7z]

Ziggy i agree if we get a top five pick we have to take a big. But with that 16th pick we have to take the best sg . I think Willians will drop to 16 . shoting guards drop ever draft so ever body can get next big project player.
Ill bet Hansboro goes be for williams in this draft.

[Slam]

That all sounds good but witch big would you cut. Nazr . He has 4 years and 25 mil left on contract. Or would you get rid of Jake or Hollins.
]

Wouldn't cut either. Jake and Hollins both have value for us.

Ely is gone over the summer. Primoz is a FA so we can let him walk or at least S&T him for what ever we can get and Nazr takes their PT.

Piggy Harrington's arse should be shown the door too but he is still under contract for next season.

[dav7z]

SLAM i like your idea better IF we could make all that work. We could be one of the top seeds in the east. But the thing is can we make it work.

[ziggy]

This has been bugging me for a while. When I watched Durant play, his game reminded me of somebody, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But it just came to me today.
There was a college player 20 years ago that was high scoring, played great defense, blocked shots and extremely versatile... That guy was Len Bias.
For those of you that are old enough, do you see the resemblence in his game?

[dvdbumpus]

This has been bugging me for a while. When I watched Durant play, his game reminded me of somebody, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But it just came to me today.
There was a college player 20 years ago that was high scoring, played great defense, blocked shots and extremely versatile... That guy was Len Bias.
For those of you that are old enough, do you see the resemblence in his game?




Name doesn't ring a bell....was he any good?

[ziggy]

This has been bugging me for a while. When I watched Durant play, his game reminded me of somebody, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But it just came to me today.
There was a college player 20 years ago that was high scoring, played great defense, blocked shots and extremely versatile... That guy was Len Bias.
For those of you that are old enough, do you see the resemblence in his game?




Name doesn't ring a bell....was he any good?

Many people say that he was better than Jordan. I was a kid, but I remember him absolutely dominating back at Maryland. He was drafted #2 by the Celtics in 1986, but died of a cocaine overdose before he ever played a pro game. He was phenominal

The Len Bias Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Bias)

[dav7z]

Bias was a great player . But never made it to the NBA He passed away about 2 months befor the season started. He played 4 years of college ball and he was real good . Better than JORDON NO . He was kinda like a G. Hill and David Thompson mix.Remember i saw Bias four years . And Durant just a few times . But i think Durant is a lot futher along at the same stage of his carer.
But hell that dont mean nothing Durant is better than JORDON as a college freshman. But will probely never near as good of a pro as Jordon.

[tamburello]

Len Bias was one of the most tragic figures in basketball history. He died only 2 days after he was drafted. Interestingly 3rd pick Chris Washburn and 7th pick Roy Tarpley had drug related problems and their careers was short. 1986 draft looks as a haunted draft.

[Mustachio]

im really high on durant after seeing him play a lot.

i still say oden is the guy if your in the number 1 great centers win championships. and thats what we ultimately want.

T-Mac is who durant is compared to quit a bit. i could do with out a t-mac on my team.