TGR 56: NBA Draft 2011 Preview: No superstar? Just bust a move

Ready for this draft to start. Got some real Bozo trade talks and draft pics circulating around here.

On the SG situaton. i think the thunder would be a very attractive team for a veterans minimum player. and there plenty. Nazir said he wants to be back. I'd take good odds that the thunder get Grant Hill over every other team in the NBA except a reloaded spurs

Maybe Johnson has more potential for handles than average for a big man but in general ballhandling is not that easy to improve with big men late in their development.

If they played Johnson at 3 it would have to be when Harden was on the court and the two guards would have to do almost all the perimeter preliminary work.

I don't think you could play him beside Ibaka easily or maybe well. At least Ibaka and Perkins. Maybe you could play with Ibaka and Collison and Harden. You could play him alongside Durant and whoever.

I see Johnson as almost exclusively a 4. I don't see how he has the quickness to keep up with 3s. I wouldn't hate that pick; definitely preferable over Honeycutt/Singler/Mirotic

Shooting and Ballhandling are the 2 most easily taught skills, and they are JaJuan Johnson's 2 biggest weak points. He can already knock down shots, and he can be taught how to handle. He is the best choice we have...he has potential to be a player that can LOCK DOWN LeBron, and bring rebounding and scoring. (and even more blocking)

*Watching JaJuan play

Watching him play, he moved like a three to me. Again, I watched him destroy my Spartans and became a believer.

Bryson :JAJUAN JOHNSON. I’ve been arguing his case for a long time now…his potential is to be turned into a 3, and a BIG 3 at that. 6’10″ with incredible athletic ability and a huge wingspan. He is PERFECT!

He is bigger and more athletic that Harper in every category. I just wished his shot was more consistent.

JuJuan is a 4 to me. He might be able to play some situational defense against a big 3 but I don't expect to see it that much.

Daniel Plainview :Sure it helps, Id prefer Wilson Chandler, or Afflalo, or Casspi. I still want Marcus Thronton.

Chandler would be sweet, but he'd want too much money. Afflalo, Thornton, and Casspi do not play the PF/SF.

I didn't realize Ilyasova's 3pt shooting fell this year, but he usually shoots around 33%.

*topically

@Greg

I admit, topica;;y it isnt feasible, but if the organization can convinvce the players - without coercion, I would love that scenario. I mean, look at the finacial "sacrifices" The big three took to bring in others.

How many times can we go over the fact that signing players like Chandler/Afflalo will prevent us from keeping both Harden and Ibaka? It isn't feasible.

@Bryson

I like him too, but Id like to grab Harper or Honeycutt at 24 and score another pick before 35 where I think we could get JJ

JAJUAN JOHNSON. I've been arguing his case for a long time now...his potential is to be turned into a 3, and a BIG 3 at that. 6'10" with incredible athletic ability and a huge wingspan. He is PERFECT!

Sure it helps, Id prefer Wilson Chandler, or Afflalo, or Casspi. I still want Marcus Thronton.

Using the draft finder tool, it appears that the easiest thing to get in the late 1st round is a decent or better 3 pt shooter.

Also a PF/SF. That is the position I feel we need to fill.

For realistic NBA player for bench role. Does that help?

I'd might trade 24 for Ilyasova. He declined as a 3 pt shooter and I'd want to research that more before deciding but otherwise he is decent at most things. Just turned 24. Low turnovers. Possibly improving defense. Positive on every version of Adjusted +/-. Could fit into some PF minutes and maybe a little elsewhere too. Only one more year of rookie contract is probably a big reason the Bucks are trying to get a 1st rounder for him to get a cheaper employee, along with the apparent penchant of some combo of the owner / mgt & coach for new faces. He might be tempted to go back to Europe. Would have to decide what you'd be willing to pay him and guess whether that would be enough to keep him from all other offers.

@DizzDai

Could you elaborate on your comment, "#1 Choice for NBA players?" Im not sure that statement means what you think it means.

Here's a scout's take on 40 of the prospects in the draft: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/seth_davis/06/22/draft.prospects/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a6

Pretty interesting stuff.

gr8ball83 :Anyone have any interest in trading our #24 pick for this?@jeskeets J.E. Skeets RT @DraftExpress: Heard from more than one team that Ersan Ilyasova is available in exchange for a 1st rounder (even late) or a 2012 1st.

In a heartbeat. Ilyasova is my #1 choice for current NBA players. He is young, can shoot, can rebound, his contract is not crazy. We'd have to resign him after next season.

I wouldn't be against using Maynor to move up, and buying a 2nd round pick to take Norris Cole to be the backup PG.

For teh 100th time, Id liek to score a seond round pick about 42 or higher

@Sammy

I like Ilyasova but not for our pick, maybe for Nate?

@ gr8ball83
I like Ilyasova better than any of the 3s that have been discussed. He's basically a less efficient, better rebounding/defending Jeff Green. But he's an expiring contract and I'd still rather take my chances on a rookie that can potentially play a bigger role for us for a longer period than Ilyasova/Green can.

Shout out to Royce for answering almost all of my questions during the sportsline chat.

First time listening to the podcast as I was excited to hear Givony talk about the draft from the Thunder's perspective... little disappointed. Not trying to be a jerk about it, but it seemed like lack of preparation was an issue. You could even tell Givony was thrown off a bit by it, specifically when one of the guys talked about how drafting Singler would mean Cook is gone. Givony said he didn't see how drafting a 3/4 would mean it's the end for Cook, and one of the guys brought up financial concerns. Under that line of logic, any pick made at #24 would be the end of Cook, which isn't the case. Was hoping for a little more/better Thunder at #24 talk.

I'm not high in Singler, but he does have that character quality that seems to be a high priority to Presti.

Who else besides Singler and Butler would be the character guys in this draft?

1. Butler
2. Signler
3.
4.
5.

Who's 3 through 5?

Anyone have any interest in trading our #24 pick for this?

@jeskeets
J.E. Skeets
RT @DraftExpress: Heard from more than one team that Ersan Ilyasova is available in exchange for a 1st rounder (even late) or a 2012 1st.

justin :BBR has a draft finder tool that lets you sort picks by WS and other things.
Here’s all picks from 22-26 (our pick +/- 2) in the lottery era sorted by win shares. You can definitely get impact players here, without waiting three years for a Euro who might not even come over.
http://bkref.com/tiny/JKKCp

That's much better than mine!

BBR has a draft finder tool that lets you sort picks by WS and other things.

Here's all picks from 22-26 (our pick +/- 2) in the lottery era sorted by win shares. You can definitely get impact players here, without waiting three years for a Euro who might not even come over.

http://bkref.com/tiny/JKKCp

07 draft...

1 21 Cook, DaequanDaequan Cook G United States Philadelphia 76ers (from Denver,[o] traded to Miami)[c] Ohio State (Fr.)
1 22 Dudley, JaredJared Dudley F United States Charlotte Bobcats (from Toronto via Cleveland)[p] Boston College (Sr.)
1 23 Chandler, WilsonWilson Chandler F United States New York Knicks (from Chicago)[l] DePaul (So.)
1 24 Fernández, RudyRudy Fernández G Spain Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland via Boston,[q] traded to Portland)[d] Joventut Badalona (Spain) (born 1985)[32]
1 25 Almond, MorrisMorris Almond G United States Utah Jazz Rice (Sr.)
1 26 Brooks, AaronAaron Brooks G United States Houston Rockets Oregon (Sr.)
1 27 Afflalo, ArronArron Afflalo G United States Detroit Pistons UCLA (Jr.)

2008 draft...

1 17 Hibbert, RoyRoy Hibbert C United States
Jamaicab[›] Toronto Raptors (traded to Indiana)[c] Georgetown (Sr.)
1 18 McGee, JaValeJaVale McGee C United States Washington Wizards Nevada (So.)
1 19 Hickson, J. J.J. J. Hickson F United States Cleveland Cavaliers NC State (Fr.)
1 20 Ajinça, AlexisAlexis Ajinça C France Charlotte Bobcats (from Denver)[o] Hyères-Toulon (France) 1988
1 21 Anderson, RyanRyan Anderson F United States New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)[p] California (So.)
1 22 Lee, CourtneyCourtney Lee G United States Orlando Magic Western Kentucky (Sr.)
1 23 Koufos, KostaKosta Koufos C United States
Greecec[›] Utah Jazz Ohio State (Fr.)
1 24 Ibaka, SergeSerge Ibaka F Republic of the Congo Seattle SuperSonicsa[›] (from Phoenix)[q] L'Hospitalet (Spain) 1989
1 25 Batum, NicolasNicolas Batum F France Houston Rockets (traded to Portland)[d] Le Mans (France) 1988
1 26 Hill, GeorgeGeorge Hill G United States San Antonio Spurs IUPUI (Jr.)
1 27 Arthur, DarrellDarrell Arthur F United States New Orleans Hornets (traded to Memphis via Portland)[d][e] Kansas (So.)

Picks around ours in the 2009 draft. Can definitely get help at that spot...

18 Ty Lawson (traded to Denver)

Speedy and gifted ball-handler who excels in the open floor.
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19 Jeff Teague

Adept at creating his own shot. Excels in transition.
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20 Eric Maynor

Gets into the lane easily. Makes excellent decisions.
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21 Darren Collison

Great change-of-direction speed. Premier defender.
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22 Victor Claver

Athletic and runs the floor well. Possesses a good basketball IQ.
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23 Omri Casspi

Skilled forward who exhibits toughness on the boards.
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24 Byron Mullens (traded to Oklahoma City)

Has tremendous presence. Is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.
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25 Rodrigue Beaubois (traded to Dallas)

Long athletic and very quick. Terrific wingspan.
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26 Taj Gibson

Long and athletic with a developing inside-out game.