hawkeyecub

Neither Flynn or Curry are going to be long-term starters. In fact, I bet both will be the first guard off the bench for the better part of the careers. I like both players games, but neither strikes me as a player who can start for a championship team, or even a contender. I see Flynn in the Nate Robinson/Earl Watson energy guard role for the Wolves. And Curry to me looks like a guy you bring in for a clutch 3 pointer. Both will be solid players, but neither are long term starters, IMO. He's nothing like Nate Robinson. He's 4 inches taller and actually has an idea of how to run a team. He's simply much better than Earl Watson. Curry is more than just a shooter. He'll get an opportunity to run the point. And since when are we only talking about starters on a championship team or contender? There are 22 non-contenders every year who have 5 starters. As Truffle alluded to, people have gotten carried away with how bad this draft class is. There aren't stars but there will be a good number of regular starters on bad teams and nice complimentary players on good teams. And just like every year you'll have your couple guys drafted in the 20's and 30's who become regular starters that no one anticipated. Except for DeJuan Blair.

Normally I would agree with you, but in this yr's class there isn't a sure-fire, you know for a fact, 100% guarantee superstar. Not even Griffin---the best player in the draft---is a player you know will be a superstar. So getting players who can contribute in certain roles in a draft very light in big time college players is prolly the ceiling for this draft. Yep. Outside of Griffin-Rubio-Harden, this was a really questionable draft at best. Expecting your team to pick a future starter this year outside the Top 5, much less outside the lottery, was just unrealistic. Yeah, I'm sure some of these guys will pan out, but this draft was just filled with long term projects and future bench players. If the Bulls got two guys who can effectively contribute from the bench in this draft, I won't complain about it. Yeah it's unrealistic to expect Jonny Flynn or Stephen Curry to be a future starter. Obviously the draft was weak but there are a good number of guys outside of the lottery (especially the top 5) who will be regular starters on bad teams in the next few years. 2000 was the worst draft in recent history and look at how many regular starter's came out of that draft. Jamal Crawford, Joel Pryzbilla, Turkoglu, Desmond Mason, Quentin Richardson, Jamaal Magloire, Morris Peterson, DeShawn Stevenson and Michael Redd have all started more than 300 games. That's 9 guys drafted 8 or lower.

It will be interesting to see how he handles this. He may develop even more of a "I'm all alone in here" attitude and go into a shell. Maybe he'll suddenly play better because he's pissed off at everyone. Or maybe he'll just start hitting like he's capable of and the timing will be a coincidence. But when he's sitting on a 2-0 fastball down the middle from Contreras like he got yesterday and puts that kind of swing on it, I'm not too optimistic.

It's what he does best and I really like a lot of his stuff. This year's wasn't as good as some in the past though. Here are some of my favorites:

Hawkeye seems to think he's all 3 rolled into 1. I think he's better than those 3 combined into 1. You left out Barkley and Rodman. No I just think he's a sure thing to be a beast on the boards and will be a starter soon. Wouldn't be surprised to see him starting alongside Duncan later on this year. And then everyone will again talk about what geniuses the Spurs are for finding a later pick who's a stud.

Really? I think you have no idea wtf you're talking about. I'd love to hear you explain though. Because that's one of the guys his statistical translations compare him to. It's also a guy scouts have compared him to. He's more of an undersized 4 than a 3. His main skill is his athleticism. Johnson is stronger, Thomas was a better shot blocker. Oh and there's this gem from Chad Ford: 'The Bulls have wanted Johnson for a while. He's a good athlete who can play the 3 and the 4 on both ends of the floor. His game needs to develop, but when he gets going, he's something. He reminds me a little of Chicago's Tyrus Thomas in one way -- he'll play great one minute and have his coach pulling his hair out the next. With Thomas on the trade block, Johnson may ultimately be his replacement.' But yeah Ford has no idea wtf he's talking about. Neither do the other scouts who've made that comparison. And you know what, the translated numbers have no idea wtf they're talking about either. If Thomas is on the block it makes sense. But then they take Tyrus Thomas without the upside later in the 1st round is just puzzling.

impressive. tracy smith, aleks maric, sean may. kind of makes you wonder why he went where he did, eh? And look at how far he is from all of them by percentage. Then look at where any of those guys are in defensive rebound percentage. They had another article that showed him as the best overall rebounder in college history. Rebounding is one of the highest translated stats from NCAA to NBA.

Ford says what we were saying earlier with Blair. It's like getting Parker at 29 and Ginobli late in the second. These guys just fall in their lap. He said Summers, Jerbeko and Budinger all had 1st round grades so that's quite a haul in the 2nd round. EDIT: Apparently Budinger is headed to Houston Of course Goran Suton is going to the Jazz.

I've just gotten back to the computer, and I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. Is this the Cavs' pick or is it going to Phoenix? My understanding is it's Cleveland's. He's a perfect fit for them. Great perimeter defender who can shoot from deep.

yeah but defense doesn't translate to the nba if you're a lazy fatass; if you can't get off the couch without gasping for breath then you're probably not going to guard an nba power forward. well, i think work ethic is subjective. robert traylor was pretty much an identical player in college. if traylor's talent in lieu of work ethic put him in blair's class alone.....well, you can't teach talent. No Traylor was not even close to the rebounder Blair was. Blair is statistically the best rebounder in college history. traylor wasn't close? huh? but seriously, where is your link for rebounding statistics? No. http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=580

Danny Green is a great pick for the Cavs. He'll be in their rotation and will improve that team.

The Timberwolves did not just take Calathes. Okay he's probably going to be traded, but 3 PG's? Really?

Buddinger is outstanding value at 44. Would rather have taken Calathes though and let him develop for insurance at PG. Buddinger could play the 2, but we took a lot of 3/4 tweeners. Still Summers and Chase can be solid players and are great value in the 2nd round. Hopefully Daye can develop.

yeah but defense doesn't translate to the nba if you're a lazy fatass; if you can't get off the couch without gasping for breath then you're probably not going to guard an nba power forward. well, i think work ethic is subjective. robert traylor was pretty much an identical player in college. if traylor's talent in lieu of work ethic put him in blair's class alone.....well, you can't teach talent. No Traylor was not even close to the rebounder Blair was. Blair is statistically the best rebounder in college history.

Oh God we just drafted Ivan Drago

Carlos Boozer part 2. baxter, traylor, o miller take your pick. Yeah keep comparing him to guys who were NOWHERE near his level in college. That makes sense.

Unreal that he fell to the Spurs there. Only two picks away from us being able to get him at 39. Calathes would be a steal at 39 but I don't expect it. Or take Derrick Brown.

Carlos Boozer part 2.

I'm starting to wonder if Blair is even going to be taken. To fall this low he must been hiding peg legs during his time in college. he's like the reincarnation of lonny baxter. Except that he was infinitely better in college and it wasn't even close. Seriously even if he had a knee amputated you take him at this spot.

And then laugh when #36 has a better career than #2. Which could be the case with Detroit and #35 compared to #15

And then laugh when #36 has a better career than #2.

He had to say DaJuan and get my hopes up. Wrong DaJuan Joe. I do like the Summers pick though.

Alright Joe, he's right there for you. Please don't screw it up. And then find someone who wants Max and his bloated contract.

Credit to Van Gundy for pointing out how well rebounding in college translates to the NBA. And Blair is only one of the best rebounders in the history of college basketball. Lot of good value still on the board, Pistons have some options at 35.

Watch Morey trade up and steal Blair early in the 2nd here.