We'll have to see how the draft begins to take shape once the summer hits but the two guys I'd like to see us add are 6'11" C Keith Benson and 6'5" SG Marshon Brooks..They'd be perfect additions for this club...I'm thinking legit skilled center and potent 6th man with these two...Benson could turn into a well-rounded center fairly quickly that could contribute in all areas (score it inside & out, grab double-digit rebounds, best shot-blocker in the country) once he adds only another 5-10 lbs. of muscle (which I think could be done fairly quickly--he's said to be playing at 230 lbs. this year) and a 2G off the bench behind Fields that can basically do it all as well -- score the ball at a monster clip in a variety of ways and at a good shooting % overall, handle it a little, rebound it very well for a 2, plus contribute some steals and blocks with his superior length (not sure about his official measurements but this dude looks very long to me--we'll have to wait for the Combine)...There's a ton a value here when you sit back and think about what both guys can do..As for drafting a PG, I'm not sure there's a good enough one early or late to justify taking -- I like guys like Kemba Walker, Demetri McCamey, Purdue's E'twaun Moore is a guy I've seen a few times now that's impressive even though he's probably more of an off-guard in the OJ Mayo mold, etc.. all for different reasons but in the end I'm not sure any would be that difference-maker/future full-time quarterback we'll need..Plus I think we're fine next year with a Billups/Douglas combo at the point (more than fine actually & maybe Anthony Carter comes back on the cheap too) to bridge the gap to 2012 when Paul and D-Will are FAs (something I'm sure we're already targeting)...I think beefing up other areas makes a little more sense....Adding a legit center with skills and a 6th man via FA would cost a TON in terms of cap room, room we just don't have and room we're gonna need to preserve for the following year -- we have a shot to do it for minimal cost going this route..
As usual I'll be looking for us to max out this draft, meaning we need to add at least one additional pick --- how we go about doing that, I'm not sure -- purchase one outright, parlay our 1st rounder to a team that has 2 later ones, etc..If they don't pursue a guy like Benson thinking they already have something similar coming in Jerome Jordan and instead look to add more muscle & rebounding with a Jordan Williams or a Ken Faried, I'd be OK with that too (although coming away with a J Jordan/Benson center combo for the future with Turiaf going 1 more year as a bridge back-up 4 wouldn't be terrible either---we already have perhaps the game's best PF in Stoudemire anyway..Benson looks to be more skilled than Jerome Jordan..Maybe we grab Benson & then use J Jordan's rights, Andy Rautins, along with cash to grab that extra pick???)..I'd love to get an extra pick and grab this kid Brooks from Providence..Saw him again last night and although he didn't have a great game, I think he's the goods. Dude can do a lot of things and he's had a great senior year that includes several monster games..I think he'd bring a ton of firepower off the bench, even in year one, and for the right price..And I like the fact that he's not just a scorer..
