Posted by Ira:
Briggs, you make a strong case for this. On the thread about Isaiah on SAS, he said there aren't any top shooters in the draft.
I've heard this a lot from Isiah recently, "...no Allan Houstons in this draft," etc. Now Morris Almond worked out for us a few weeks ago I think. I'm praying Zeke's comments are just a smoke screen to deceive other teams because Almond is as close to Allan Houston as a player can be, only more muscular and a better rebounder. Same size, same game, even seems to have the same type of weaknesses Allan had (lack of overall quickness, footspeed, defense - all weaknesses I'd be willing to deal with right now in the hopes that he can imrove on them eventually btw). This has got to be the guy especially when you consider that:
(A) First and foremost, the plan's got to be to put a more CONSISTENT/HIGHER % perimeter option on the court to team up with and open up the middle for Eddy Curry. Even above improving team defense, this is the #1 deficency in my book. Now Crawford and Richardson are decent but don't fit the bill here, we all know that. They both bring stuff to the table but they are both poor, under 40% shooters. Almond shot something like 48% from the field for Rice this past year. Now subpar conference and all, this kid played big mins. and took the major bulk of the scoring on by himself with a lot of his shots coming from long range with other teams' defensive schemes designed solely around stopping him. And he still shot 48% from the field?!?! Remarkable...
(B) Until I'm told he's 100%, you have to think about replacing Richardson and what he brings to the table - and that's perimeter scoring and rebounding. Coming off serious back surgery, until I here otherwise you gotta go into this draft thinking Q won't be ready to go when the season begins. At 6'6" Almond has the height to play the 3 in the NBA and he looks like he can more than make up for Richardson's shooting and even supply Q's rebounding - a huge plus.
Unless he had a bad workout (I think it was the kid's first NBA draft workout this year - so in all fairness there's a good chance that that was the case and he didn't impress) I can't picture Zeke passing him up if he's there at #23.
Forget all this Kobe stuff. I mean if the deal's on the table for Kobe I guess you gotta pull the trigger, but I'd be perfectly happy if we took Almond at 23 then maybe made a smaller trade (something like Frye to Phoenix for the 24th pick then turn that pick into Sean Williams, something like that. And who know maybe if we get Williams and he shows his head is straight and he has an impact, maybe that opens up the door for a Lee trade. We can get something for Lee in a trade, maybe not Kobe Bryant, but something nice). I'd be extremely excited with the addition of Almond and Sean Williams but in the end of the day, I know Zeke won't go that way. It can't be that easy right? I just can't see using the 23rd pick on a project like Wilson Chandler, I'm sorry, not when you just took two wing projects last year in Collins and Balkman and not when there will be impact players on the board who can jump in and play right away and fill needs.
Who knows what he's up to, I just hope this is all about not wanting to tip his hand to other GMs at this point.
6/18/2007 12:21 AM
