Chad Ford thinks Rubio could slip past 5
Here is the story from Chad Ford via ESPN Insider
"Speaking of Rubio, his situation looks a little more precarious Monday than it has seemed. I've assumed that Sacramento at No. 4 was his floor, and it still may be. But if he slips past Sacramento, things could get pretty interesting.
First, Rubio has been avoiding the Wizards. Apparently, his people don't think he's a good fit in the backcourt with Gilbert Arenas. If the Wizards pass on him because of that, I'm not sure where he'll land. Minnesota needs a point guard, but the Wolves seem to be leaning toward Curry and Tyreke Evans. The Warriors need Rubio badly, but they have a pretty rocky relationship with his agent, Dan Fegan.
Of course, both the Knicks and Rubio would love for a marriage to happen, but Rubio would be in a financial bind if he falls that far. He no longer would make the cash to afford a buyout in Spain unless the buyout is really reduced.
I still believe the most likely scenario is that a team will move up into the top two or three to grab him. But if that doesn't happen, things could get pretty crazy."
- via ESPN Insider
over 2 years ago
Sean Fagan
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I don't believe it for a second
however it’s interesting to see that his agent might be hurting him on several fronts.
We can always just draft him and trade him
Maybe we can then get Amare for just Rubio + some bad contracts.
I don't buy this either
but it would be nice. I’m still not completely sold on the guy, but if he’s half as good as he seemed during the brief time I saw him in the Olympics, this wouldn’t be a bad pickup. Even better would be the trade options available to us.
As far as the draft goes, I was taken aback by the poll on what we should do with the pick. Virtually no one thinks we should use the pick. While I’m not completely sold on any player after Griffin, I don’t think any of the trades out there are worth giving up the pick. I like Stoudemire, but I don’t think he’s worth the 5th pick y itself, let alone with Jamison thrown in. Same deal with Hinrich, though I see him as worth even less. On his best day, Hinrich will never be a dominant player. Ray Allen is way too old and broken down, and the Jamison to Cleveland rumor would be a HUGE mistake. While I wouldn’t mind trading AJ for value, giving him to our hated rival who already owns us would make me sick.
I'm starting to think we will hold onto #5
It is seeming likely that Rubio or Harden might be there at #5. I think that if one of them is there, then we will pull the trigger. I think either one would be a good backcourt mate for Gil. If they’re both gone, I think we will make a draft day trade.
There are a lot of potential deals being thrown out there, but most of them are really high risk and for a shooting guard. Most of the rumors have us targeting guards with issues of age, injury, one year deals, not worth the value of a #5, or overpaid (Manu, Redd, Vince, Heinrich, etc.). Other possibilities have us looking at small forwards being converted to SG (Josh Howard, Richard Jefferson). So why trade a young guard for an older guard or a ill fit?
Instead of forcing a trade, get Rubio or Harden and then use our assets to strengthen our bench. We would have a second round pick, future picks, 6 talented young prospects (4 of which were 1st rounders), a foreign prospect, 2 expiring contracts, and 2 solid vets (Deshawn, Songaila). Send a few assets to get the bench contribution that we need. You see how Odom, Pietrus, Gortat, etc. have helped their teams get to the finals.
My Problem With Your Argument
As with every other James Harden supporter, you assume that James Harden is ready to start for an NBA playoff team from day one and be just as good as guys who have proven themselves like Ginobli or Hinrich. I find that very difficult to believe, especially since the guy couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean and hit water in his last two games against college zone defenses.
My other issue is that a lot of you assume that we only need a shooting guard to contend. What about another low post banger to complement Haywood? Without that, we may be second round material, but certainly not contenders. The four conference finalists this year all had a plethora of big men who could defend, rebound, and block shots. We have only one who can do all three, and he only plays 28 minutes per game.
The idea I like the best so far is the deal for Ginobli and Oberto. Those guys may be older, but they have proven to be at least solid contributors on a championship team. Oberto isn’t exactly the low post banger I had in mind, but he is better than nothing. If we focus only on a wing player, we are going to find ourselves killed in the paint next post-season, mark my words.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Wouldn't say I'm a big Harden supporter
I’m more so saying not to force the issue to hire a one-year gun, an injury liability, bad contract, or bad fit. I do think we need more low post presence as well. So draft the best guard at #5 instead of panicking into a bad trade, then use our remaining asset to acquire a quality big that will bring a defensive presence. Now, if we get a good offer, then take it.
I think that Rubio can work well with Gil playing off ball and Harden can work well as the 2 if we take him because he seems to be able to get those clean up baskets instead of needing the offense to run through him. Maybe even one of the other PGs or combo guards in the draft can work with Gil.
Hinrich would be a good fit...
and definitely worth the 5th pick – if for nothing else than his defense. The other things he does (good shooter, great FT shooter, good passer, 3-point shooter) are all gravy.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
I don't see that as fair value
To trade the #5 for a backup. At least when we traded the #5 for a backup last time, we got the sixth man of the year behind Dirk and could unload two bad contracts/team cancers.
Heinrich alone is not worth the #5 or a drop down to #19 in a weak draft.
Hinrich is not a back-up
He has started 380 games for Chicago (out of 440 played); with Career averages of 14 points and 6 assists.
He would be a definite upgrade over the current “starting” Shooting Guard spot (DeShawn Stevenson)
Obviously swapping picks with Chicago is the way to go….
Etan Thomas and Pecherov plus the 5th pick for Kirk Hinrich and the 16th pick.
Chicago gets rid of HInrich’s costly contract…. and moves up in the draft
Washington gets a starting 2 guard, upgrades their perimeter defense and stays in the 1st round.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Plus
Washington needs 3 things – 3point shooting, perimeter defense, interior toughness (rebounding/defense)
Hinrich gives the Wizards 2 of those – plus it saves Mike James’ expiring contract for another trade.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Another Good Thing About Your Proposal
Is that it looks like DeJuan Blair may indeed fall all the way to #16. If we get both Hinrich and Blair, then we’ve done an excellent job of utilizing our assets, IMO.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Yeah
IF that trade happened, and the Wizards get the 16th pick….. That’s a big if..
There are a number of teams that are concerned about Blair’s knees – and his stock has been falling…
Earlier this year, he was in the 19-20 range – - – then he started going up, after his big game against Thabeet, and the tournament – he was around 15-16…. he went all the way up to about 11… but he’s falling again on the news about his knees.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
What's the News?
Weren’t his knees operated on during high school? That sounds like old news to me. If his knees were going to be a problem, wouldn’t that have been the case before his monster season with Pitt, before he dominated Thabeet, and before his big time performances in the Tourney?
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
During the Draft combine -the doctors found problems
He had two knee surgeries in High School and has not had any problems since – but Doctors examined his knees and found Arthritis.
Another weird thing – they did an MRI and couldn’t find his Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL’s)
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/news/story?page=09DraftBuzz
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Thanks For the Link
This quote from an anonymous NBA executive summed up my feelings:
When you look at the cost of rookie, factor in a two-year commitment, and then understand that a guy like Blair can come in and immediately contribute,I don’t understand what people are so worried about. If I had a top-10 pick, I would have to worry about his long-term future. But after that, I think you take him if you think he can help you. The kid played two years at Pittsburgh without a problem and is working out great, so I think he can help you.
Exactly. Although this news may make me think twice about taking him at #5, it would not dissuade me from taking him if I traded down to #16 and he was still available.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
But the good thing (for the Wizards) is
that there ARE General Managers out there that are leery of taking Blair, at any pick.
I think he’s shown in workouts that he’s lost a tremendous amount of weight… he’s more athletic… and he’s still strong. He has that ONE NBA skill that’s needed by every team, rebounding.
I say it’s a good thing that other GM’s are wary – that means he might slip to the Wizards.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Sacramento won't let it happen.
They’ll either draft him or trade down (perhaps w/ the Knicks) with another team that covets him. There are enough teams that really want Rubio that even if the current top-5 don’t draft him, a trade will be made to get him. No team would be foolish enough to squander an asset like Rubio even if they don’t want him on their team.
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Jun 16, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions
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