OK... Do not draft a big

[dnbman]

After scanning drafts back to 1994, I have come to this conclusion:

DO NOT DRAFT A BIG, unless he's a no brainer pick like Duncan, Shaq, etc.

Here's why: in the draft, these guys are grossly overvalued. You will be able to pick them up for cents on the dollar a few years later. After looking at the NBA landscape, this is for the most part true. You have a few elite guys who were pretty obvious selections, a whole bunch of solid guys, and then a half dozen guys who are actually better than advertised (Boozer and David West come to mind). Otherwise, most teams trade for the right average guy who fits their system after he's become a solid veteran.

SO, we should definitely not reach on a big this year unless that player is really the best player available.

Before you counter this argument, go look at the last 15 years of drafts and see how often this is true.

[Slam]

I think this holds water. Depending on what you need, rather than draft a big, why not just sign Diop (who is a FA) then use our draft pick on something else of need?

But then again, if you luck onto the right big in the draft, the sky's the limit.

[spectre]

I wonder if the stigmata of Kwame Brown makes MJ worry about this more than most?

Agreed with the point.

[ohara831]

You're right for the most part. It really depends on who is available. Dwight Howard turned out to be a great pick. There are no Howards in this Draft. They thought DeAndre Jordan might be one in the making, but his stock is sliding. Brook Lopez of Stanford is worth a Lottery pick, in my opinion. He's the only one I'd consider anywhere in the Lottery. Otherwise, this Draft is pretty good with some strong PF, SF, SG and PG for the Lottery.

[Slam]

That's just it though ohara831, maybe there is another Howard in this draft but we just don't know it yet? Howard wasn't Howard until last year.

Maybe Thabeet will end up that good? Or Jordan? Or McGee?

My point is, the draft is always a crap shoot and never, ever a sure thing.

[dnbman]

That's just it though ohara831, maybe there is another Howard in this draft but we just don't know it yet? Howard wasn't Howard until last year.

Maybe Thabeet will end up that good? Or Jordan? Or McGee?

My point is, the draft is always a crap shoot and never, ever a sure thing.

Yeah, but Howard was still good right out of the gates. His only real knock was his ft%. There are a TON of bigs who came in the league with high expectations and never were better than blue collar.

I'm just not convinced enough to draft any of those bigs in the top 10, save maybe Lopez at the end of the run. There is that guy Blake that might be o.k.

[ohara831]

Blake Griffin is a PF, only 6-9. Thabeet's value has not done much for me. I am intrigued by McGee, though. That might be something to think about, but not in the top 7 picks. For a Top 7, I have to go with the BPA, no matter the size. I think the way things are going, Brook Lopez has moved into the #3 pick, behind Beasley and Rose.

[ohara831]

Another possibility is to take the BPA with our Lottery - like a Mayo, and then trade someone and our 2nd rounder for a late 1st rounder and move in and take that Serge Ibaka player from the Congo. He is now projected into the 1st round in most places and has a fairly high ceiling. Can definitely play the PF position at 6-10 and his weight is OK, but could use another 15 lbs. I've seen some of my BobcatPlanet friends write about him before so he is not unknown. ESPN says "great shot blocker, strong rebounder and has a jumper out to 18 ft." That is far more production than Okafor has given us.

[Dead_Real]

Blake Griffin is a PF, only 6-9. Thabeet's value has not done much for me. I am intrigued by McGee, though. That might be something to think about, but not in the top 7 picks. For a Top 7, I have to go with the BPA, no matter the size. I think the way things are going, Brook Lopez has moved into the #3 pick, behind Beasley and Rose.

I like Griffin a lot from what I've seen but I remember reading that he plans to return for sophomore season. With that said if Mayo is on the board and we are up it will be hard passing up on him.

[ohara831]

Yeah, for a brief bit, Mayo dropped out of the Top 10, but he is moving back up rapidly. He is moving up while many others are moving down. We'd be lucky if he was on the Board at #7, where I expect us to be. I am certain the Bucks will make up that .5 game they are behind us, but I dont think the Knicks or Clippers will pass us. That 5 game win streak kinda sealed us in at around #7 unless the ping pong balls do some magic for us.

Go and look up some of the 2008 nba mock drafts and hit on one of the database sites where they give you a couple dozen mocks. Read what people say about Serge Ibaka. He seems to be projected anywhere from #15 - #35. Wide range. Kid is only 18 but seems to have some serious Big Man skills. I would really like the BPA in our Lottery and find a way to snag Ibaka late 1st via trade. I'm afraid he wont make it to the 2nd round for us.