[Outshined_One]

Ford has the Bulls drafting Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha in his third mock draft today, but he claims it's almost neck and neck between Thomas and Roy for the number 2 pick. If the Bulls take Roy instead of Thomas, he thinks Alexander Johnson could be their guy at 16.

 

Sefolosha seems like an intriguing pick. He could benefit from the new offensively-minded rules in the NBA. Alexander Johnson, on the other hand, is apparently best compared to Othella Harrington. Er...no thanks.

 

I really like Roy, but at the same time, I have to wonder if he'd be available at around 4 or 5.

 

Everyone already knows I love T2, so no need to extrapolate on him. :D

[wolf stansson]

Roy vs. Thomas is intriguing because I think Roy is the most NBA ready player in the draft, but Thomas has more upside.

 

I'd agonize over the differences, but then I realize the Bulls have made the playoffs two years in a row and these Knicks draft picks are all just gravy. Delicious, nearly free gravy.

[1908]

[Alexander Johnson, on the other hand, is apparently best compared to Othella Harrington. Er...no thanks.

Where did you read that? That might have been accurate a year ago, but he shed 25 pounds last summer and scouts have reported him having a 40-inch vert. He wasn't invited to the combine so we don't have access to an official measurement on that.

[Brian]

Is Aldridge a pretty much lock at #1 then?

[1908]

Is Aldridge a pretty much lock at #1 then?

Not at all. Lots of prognosticators expect Toronto to take Bargnani if they keep the pick. They might trade down -- with Portland, for instance -- and draft him later though. If that happened, Portland would tab Morrison most likely.

[srbin84]

I still like Thomas. We need someone who can drive to the hoop and posterize people. The Bulls rarely have aggresive big men.

[Outshined_One]

[Alexander Johnson, on the other hand, is apparently best compared to Othella Harrington. Er...no thanks.

Where did you read that? That might have been accurate a year ago, but he shed 25 pounds last summer and scouts have reported him having a 40-inch vert. He wasn't invited to the combine so we don't have access to an official measurement on that.

 

NBAdraft.net

 

The Bulls really could use a big man who can play D, so I have to think the pick will be Thomas or Aldridge.

[1908]

[Alexander Johnson, on the other hand, is apparently best compared to Othella Harrington. Er...no thanks.

Where did you read that? That might have been accurate a year ago, but he shed 25 pounds last summer and scouts have reported him having a 40-inch vert. He wasn't invited to the combine so we don't have access to an official measurement on that.

 

NBAdraft.net

 

The Bulls really could use a big man who can play D, so I have to think the pick will be Thomas or Aldridge.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Pax nab Roy. Didn't expect him to draft Hinrich, and then I didn't expect him to draft Gordon. Looking forward to finding out.

 

Scouts Inc.'s take on Johnson:

Johnson is one of the more underrated power forwards in this year's draft. He has the body, skill and toughness to play the position at the next level. Although Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge have received most of the hype, scouts covet Johnson. Don't be shocked if gets picked a lot earlier than some of the bigger names.

 

A rugged and strong power forward with excellent hands, Johnson can bump you in the post as well as face up and score from 12-15 feet. He has long arms and is extremely competitive on the block. Think of a less-polished Rasheed Wallace. Although we did not see this at Florida State this year, Johnson has a jump shot with range out to the college 3-point line. The ability to stretch defenses and run pick-and-pops will make him more desirable

[Brian]

I think i'm just going to sit back and see what Pax does, and then I'm going to assume it was the right move.

 

'03 - he knew Wade was the best player (past Lebron since he was #1 pick no doubt)

'04 - he got Gordon, Deng, Duhon and signed Noc... that's quite a load of talent.

'05 - he knew Paul was going to be the ROY before the draft

[Brian]

They aren't going to talk bad in these formats, obviously, but's nice to see that the Bulls are starting to get some respect.

 

Bulls.com: What’s your impression of John Paxson and Scott Skiles now that you’ve had the chance to get to know them?

Roy: “They’re great guys. Just being around Chicago now for a couple days, you can tell that they are hard workers and they put a lot into the team. They make sure that they get the right players out of the draft and it shows in the way that they play during the season. They’re as competitive as anyone and they’ve made the playoffs the last two years. Hard work is written all over the organization and they’ve done a great job with the players and making sure that they get good guys in here.”

 

I like this idea.

Bulls.com: How do you think you might fit in with the current roster?

Roy: “I think I’d fit in nicely as a wing who can bring some size at the two and the one, not only offensively but defensively too. I can be a big guy who can handle the ball and play alongside Ben Gordon as the one, as the two next to Kirk Hinrich, or as the three and play next to both of them. I think I can help out as a big perimeter defender and guard some of the bigger wings in the East to take some of that load off those guys. I would just do my best to step in and give the best effort that I have for the Bulls.”

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow, Shannon Brown a lottery pick now in nbadraft.net's mock.

[da bears]

I think i'm just going to sit back and see what Pax does, and then I'm going to assume it was the right move.

 

'03 - he knew Wade was the best player (past Lebron since he was #1 pick no doubt)

'04 - he got Gordon, Deng, Duhon and signed Noc... that's quite a load of talent.

'05 - he knew Paul was going to be the ROY before the draft

 

I'm with you. Whatever Paxson does, it's probably going to be the best move for this team and will work out.

 

In other news, I'm still very, very, VERY bitter at Pat Riley for taking Wade from us. I really thought he was gonna be good, maybe not this good, but gah. ANGRY!

[1908]

Loads and loads of prospect video clips

[Mark_R]

Draft Roy and trade Ben for Channing Frye :D

[Mark_R]

Wow, Shannon Brown a lottery pick now in nbadraft.net's mock.

 

I'll always remember the day he flipped off my friend and I at a high school game. What a pimp. Dynamite athleticism. He will be a good role player in the NBA, probably not a star.

[Andy]

Draft Roy at No. 2, or I could also live with the rumored Ray Allen deal involving both picks and Sweetney. I don't have any strong opinion on the 16th pick.

[Mark_R]

Draft Roy at No. 2, or I could also live with the rumored Ray Allen deal involving both picks and Sweetney. I don't have any strong opinion on the 16th pick.

 

That's way too much to give up for Ray Allen.

 

Allen is a good player, but Sweetney and the 16th is enough for a guy who will kill our cap space.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Frankly, I'd prefer Tyrus to Roy but Brandon Roy is awesome. Roy does seem to fit the bill of previous Paxson picks.

 

Hopefully the Lakers don't take Farmar so I can still root for him.

[1908]

Draft Roy at No. 2, or I could also live with the rumored Ray Allen deal involving both picks and Sweetney. I don't have any strong opinion on the 16th pick.

 

That's way too much to give up for Ray Allen.

 

Allen is a good player, but Sweetney and the 16th is enough for a guy who will kill our cap space.

I wouldn't want Allen for much more than that, but I doubt Seattle trades him for a mid-first pick and a 20-minute-a-night PF. I bet it'd take the number 2 pick to get him.

[1908]

Frankly, I'd prefer Tyrus to Roy but Brandon Roy is awesome. Roy does seem to fit the bill of previous Paxson picks.

Roy is more athletic than I thought, but Thomas is still my guy at number 2. 7-3 wingspan, 9-0 standing reach, 40-inch vertical, plays with a chip on his shoulder.

[Derwood]

Wow, Shannon Brown a lottery pick now in nbadraft.net's mock.

 

who is she?

[RynoRules]

Good one.

 

I prefer Roy at No. 2 and trading up from 16 (using one of our curret players) to get Sheldon Williams. Give me guys who are ready to help now, because the East is there for the taking. Roy is screaming Dwayne Wade to me, and Sheldon (in spite of my allegiance to UNC) is the perfect Skiles guy who could be a poor man's Brand. If you follow this logic, you still have cap room to pick up a veteran post presence such as Pryzbilla or Ilguaskas, who is rumored to be on the block.

[RynoRules]

Frankly, I'd prefer Tyrus to Roy but Brandon Roy is awesome. Roy does seem to fit the bill of previous Paxson picks.

Roy is more athletic than I thought, but Thomas is still my guy at number 2. 7-3 wingspan, 9-0 standing reach, 40-inch vertical, plays with a chip on his shoulder.

 

How many college games has he played? Do we have a good enough sample size to know anything other than he is "toolsy" (to use a baseball term)? He looks to be more of an athlete than a basketball player. From what I have read, it sounds like Pax prefers him. If he does, I am disappointed, but I'll hope to eat crow come next season.

[1908]

Frankly, I'd prefer Tyrus to Roy but Brandon Roy is awesome. Roy does seem to fit the bill of previous Paxson picks.

Roy is more athletic than I thought, but Thomas is still my guy at number 2. 7-3 wingspan, 9-0 standing reach, 40-inch vertical, plays with a chip on his shoulder.

 

How many college games has he played? Do we have a good enough sample size to know anything other than he is "toolsy" (to use a baseball term)? He looks to be more of an athlete than a basketball player. From what I have read, it sounds like Pax prefers him. If he does, I am disappointed, but I'll hope to eat crow come next season.

How many college games did Deng play?

[Soul]

Our window of opportunity is opening now.

 

Trade this pick for a vet who can help us inside immediately.

 

I'm just not hot on the idea of grabbing another rook who will need years to acclimatize to the NBA game. That's not where we are as a basketball team anymore. That ship sailed 3 years ago, when we picked up our current batch of guys.

 

Now we're a playoff team who needs veteran help to push us over the top.

 

That's just how I see it----I have no idea how difficult it would be to acquire someone, or how valuable the 2nd pick is. I know it's supposed to be a "down year" in the draft.