Posted by TMS:

Posted by earthmansurfer:

Isn't there a decent chance that Phoenix trades thier pick, even if it's top 5? They seem content with their team and are very salary conscious. I only see them liking Durant, otherwise trading the pick away...

what about a package of Marion, KT & the pick for Kevin Garnett? do you think the Suns would do it? the TWolves? i think it would give the Suns a way to match up well w/the Mavs & Spurs in a playoff series, & also gives the TWolves some good talent in return for their franchise stud.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by Finestrg:

Compare Almond to Afflalo for me guys. Are they very similar? Too similar to even bother moving up to get Afflalo over Almond? Who's better right now and who will be better in the future? Who's a better fit for the Knicks?

I think they are very similar players offensively. Almond is a much better rebounder from the guard position and Afflao is a better defensive player. Heres my take though, Afflao is playing at UCLA and playing much better competition that Morris Almond is playing at Rice University. I think Almond fits the Knicks better because he's a more dynamic offensive player and I think his ability to rebound from the guard spot would be extremely beneficial to this team.

I will note though. You look at the 2 biggest teams that Rice has played this year, Gonzaga and Memphis heres what Almond has done.
11/14/06 @ Gonzaga - 4/15fgs, 13pts, 7rebs
2/22/07 @ Memphis - 5/14fgs, 15pts, 10rebs

Cause for concern? I dont know, just figured I'd bring some interesting notes to the table. I'd still take Almond though.

As for Sean Williams, gun to your head, where does he go in the draft? 1st round? 2nd? Undrafted?

Gun to my head, 1st round because he's 1st round talent. This guy has Eddie Griffen written all over him if you ask me though. I mean serious Eddie Griffen issues.

Posted by bigbeast:

I was looking over some stats concerning Almond heres what stood out:

He;s had some really explosive scoring games: 44 (against a good vnderbilt team), 42, 38 and 34.

He also had 3-4 games where he has taken between 18-20 freethrows which is a ton for a college basketball player.

He has also had some big rebounding games.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by EnySpree:

Guys still have tons of time to show and prove. I never seen almond play but he sounds like a lottery guy.

Dequan Cook is more familiar to me. I still don't have a solid opinion p him. You guys have just talked about him in passing. Where do you guys see him going? And can you break his game down like you did the other guys?

I don't think he's gonna come out, but that's just me. The reason I don't think he'll come out is because both Oden and Conley have led that team this year and Cook hasn't really had the chance to strut his stuff the best he can, because he's a huge scorer. Look for him to stay, especially if both Oden and Conley head into the draft. IF he came out this year, I'd see him going right after the lotto, but if he stays another year he can move up into the 5 area, ala Randy Foye.

Cook is an excellent shooter and he reminds me alot of Randy Foye. He's 6'5, so to excel in the pro-level he's going to have to hone his PG skills a bit, alot like Randy Foye is doing with the T'Wolves. He can shoot with the best of them and he's dynamic off the dribble. His defense is average, but he has the quickness and athleticism to be a very good defender. Very nice player.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by earthmansurfer:

Isn't there a decent chance that Phoenix trades thier pick, even if it's top 5? They seem content with their team and are very salary conscious. I only see them liking Durant, otherwise trading the pick away...

i dont think their payroll can absorb another big contract--there are nice players at the top of the draft

i'll tell you another sleeper who will make the nba for sure is strawberry's son. he plays as hard as anyone in cbb and his skill level keeps improving.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by earthmansurfer:

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by earthmansurfer:

Isn't there a decent chance that Phoenix trades thier pick, even if it's top 5? They seem content with their team and are very salary conscious. I only see them liking Durant, otherwise trading the pick away...

i dont think their payroll can absorb another big contract--there are nice players at the top of the draft

i'll tell you another sleeper who will make the nba for sure is strawberry's son. he plays as hard as anyone in cbb and his skill level keeps improving.

So, the question is, do we have what it takes to get that pick (if it's 3 - 8 ish), so we can get a great shooting guard. More than likely they'd want to dump a contract on us, if it's less than 3 years, maybe we should bight. As long as it doesn't F up our salary cap situation...
Ideas?

You could just offer Frye for the pick--Frye seems like he would fit in there darn good. If it cost more-like it terms of taking back Marcus Banks--it depends on how hot the knicks are on a certain guy. The pick is protected 1-3 so your'e looking @ 6-9 realistically. That is a pretty fair trade off for Frye IF the Knicks have a player they want sitting there.

I would start show casing Frye. Jumpsot shooting big men are all the rage in the NBA.....

Posted by Finestrg:

After looking at some video of a few players on You Tube, I think maybe Marco Belinelli might be my man. The kid can shoot it AND he puts it on the floor well too (doesn't look one-dimensional at all - in fact, almost all of his highlights I saw were drives and dunks). But the real key here is that he might be the purest shooter out of any of these guys we're talking about here. I really wanted a shooter at the SF position, more in the 6'6"-6'8" range (and this kid's 6'5"), to team up with Marbury and Crawford all at the same time but at 6'5" he can play a little 3 I guess. Draftexpress compares him to a young Brent Barry and I'd have to agree with that. What do you guys think of this kid?