2010 Draft Talk

[Gilbert's Swagg]

I absoluetly love Vasquez and Donatas Motiejunas, but neither really fill a need as of now. We should def try to package any lottery picks we acquire for proven but still young talent but buying a late first is def possible and we need a youth infusion on this team.

 

[MoFlo]

If im the Cavs and end up trading up im gonna stay away from Gordon Hayward. Nbadraft.net has him compared to Luke Jackson

There's your problem.

 

[dpurcell]

I assume you are talking about DeMarcus Cousins? The issue is not offensive or defensive. The issue lies in work ethic and character. A lazy player with off the court issues is not who you want to waste a lottery pick on, let alone a top 3 pick. See Michael Beasley who is now being shopped for cap space.

Did you follow Cousins this year or are you just going on some of the negative media hype about him? It seems like the latter. If you actually watched him play this year, you would know that the "lazy" bit is laughably wrong -- I've rarely seen a big man play harder and run the floor like he did.

And what are his off-the-court issues? I'll look forward to your answer to this question...because there are none.

 

[retreataccept]

Cousins averaged 10 rebounds in barely over 20 minutes. You don't do that by being lazy. And so far as I know there are no allegations of substance abuse which is what brought down Coleman, Baker, and now Beasley. He's worth the roll of the dice, and I fully expect him to put up close to a double double as a rookie.

Besides, our team has enough choir boys. I like that he's a little mean on the court.

 

[Green Lantern]

The problem these days are these guys don't stay long enough tyo hone their skills and get a good track record ..
Anyway the Cavs are still needing the same two positions filled as they have from years ago..PG/C..it's time for them to actually get a PG..stop saying they need one ,then they get a combo guard..
I argue that every year..they need a real PG.

 

[sam_slam911]

Well Windhorst said Gilbert was determined to get a lottery pick yesterday. Realistically I'm not sure which teams would be making their pick available.

You got the Sixers at 2, which sounds like it could be available, but they'll obviously want alot in return in addition to taking Brand's contract. Although it's unlikely we could get a deal done, by the sound of things I think the Philly pick is on the top of Gilbert's list and he'll be looking for ways to get it.

Then you got the Kings at 5, Golden State at 6 and the Clippers at 8. I think the Kings would want to hold onto their pick, but it's possible if we gave them Mo Williams and took some contracts off their hands that they'd think about it. Golden State would involve taking Ellis, Maggette or both. And the Clippers pick is probably not available but you'd be looking at taking Baron Davis.

After those picks the only other one I could see being traded is the Wolves' 2nd lottery pick at 16. With the 2nd you'd take Turner, with 5 or 6 you'd take Cousins or, if not, Monroe, and if you get a late lottery pick I think you'd have to look at Whiteside-his measurements were off the charts and he has alot of potential.

I also think the Cavs will look at buying a late first round pick if they can, and I'd expect them to go for Bledsoe. He'll probably be a project, but I think that's the steal of the draft after a few years.

 

[Funkmastabuck]

It's sort of disappointing to see Cousins at the top of all of these statistical projections. I'm hoping the Cavs can trade up to the #5 pick and have an outside chance at Cousins.

I think he's the beast the Cavs need in the post. Even if it requires trading JJ in a deal to get into the lottery, Cousins could develop the offensive game to offset playing with Andy at the 4.

 

[Noonan]

And what are his off-the-court issues? I'll look forward to your answer to this question...because there are none.

Cousins showed up in Chicago for the pre-draft camp with over 16 percent body fat, one of the highest percentages in NBA history. Then there's this:

Of the 50 players with the highest body fat percentage heading into the draft over the last couple of decades (DraftExpress.com has a sortable list), only one, Shaquille O'Neal, turned into a perennial All-Star. The remaining 49 have one All-Star appearance among them (the Clippers' Chris Kaman), and hardly came close to achieving what Cousins, the 12th-fattest guy on the DraftExpress.com list, is being projected to do.

I'm not sure if you want to call Cousins' weight an on-court or off-court issue, but acting like the guy doesn't come with legit concerns is absurd.

 

[DuncanMcDougal]

Well Windhorst said Gilbert was determined to get a lottery pick yesterday. Realistically I'm not sure which teams would be making their pick available.

You got the Sixers at 2, which sounds like it could be available, but they'll obviously want alot in return in addition to taking Brand's contract. Although it's unlikely we could get a deal done, by the sound of things I think the Philly pick is on the top of Gilbert's list and he'll be looking for ways to get it.

Then you got the Kings at 5, Golden State at 6 and the Clippers at 8. I think the Kings would want to hold onto their pick, but it's possible if we gave them Mo Williams and took some contracts off their hands that they'd think about it. Golden State would involve taking Ellis, Maggette or both. And the Clippers pick is probably not available but you'd be looking at taking Baron Davis.

After those picks the only other one I could see being traded is the Wolves' 2nd lottery pick at 16. With the 2nd you'd take Turner, with 5 or 6 you'd take Cousins or, if not, Monroe, and if you get a late lottery pick I think you'd have to look at Whiteside-his measurements were off the charts and he has alot of potential.

I also think the Cavs will look at buying a late first round pick if they can, and I'd expect them to go for Bledsoe. He'll probably be a project, but I think that's the steal of the draft after a few years.

I still don't believe that the #2 pick is available. The 76ers are going to slide up in the lottery and then choose to keep Iguodala over Turner just to give Brand away? Iguodala is very tradeable, so I don't think they need to give away Turner to get out from under Brand's deal. They can give away Iguodala instead and get younger and cheaper in the process. Not to mention go with the player with the higher ceiling.

As for the Cavs, if #2 is actually available, what use would Turner be? Is Turner and LeBron a good fit? The other option is Cousins, which is a huge risk. If you're the Cavs, if you're going to take the risk of taking on Brand, wouldn't you want to then take on the lesser risk and proven player alongside LeBron in Iguodala?

What I'm saying is, in a deal with Philly and the Cavs Iguodala and Brand makes more sense for the Cavs then Brand & #2. It also makes more sense for the 76ers as well. So why would they even discuss Brand & #2? Just for money? The Cavs could make it work with both those big contracts by shipping Jamison to the 76ers, which wouldn't be a bad fit for Philly off the bench and to dump at the deadline if needed.

I just dont see Brand and #2 as very realistic right now.

 

[Marcus]

Big Ben?

Undrafted.

 

[MYoung23]

Did you follow Cousins this year or are you just going on some of the negative media hype about him? It seems like the latter. If you actually watched him play this year, you would know that the "lazy" bit is laughably wrong -- I've rarely seen a big man play harder and run the floor like he did.

And what are his off-the-court issues? I'll look forward to your answer to this question...because there are none.

Cousins does get lazy. He has never been in great shape and he will often loaf back on defense.

DeMarcus Cousins, to the Lexington Herald-Leader, on if he played lazy in high school:

"It really depended on the team (the opponent). When I played high-profile players, I came to play. If I was playing against a 'rooty-poop,' I was going along with the motions."

He did have some off-the-court issues in HS.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-cousins031610

Cousins managed to steer clear of trouble until his sophomore year when, midway through the basketball season, he got into a physical altercation on a school bus with a faculty member following a game. Cousins is adamant that he was defending himself, but he also conceded that his own immaturity may have provoked the fight.

He was suspended from the team for the rest of the season and, after finishing out the school year, decided to transfer to another high school the following fall.

He isn't bad kid but he is 19 going on 11.

 

[MYoung23]

The problem these days are these guys don't stay long enough tyo hone their skills and get a good track record ..
Anyway the Cavs are still needing the same two positions filled as they have from years ago..PG/C..it's time for them to actually get a PG..stop saying they need one ,then they get a combo guard..
I argue that every year..they need a real PG.

It's because they have never needed a "real" PG. Any PG that can't play off the ball will get marginalized playing with LeBron James. It is just how it is. Get used to it.

The recent Team USAs had Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams and the ball wound up in James and Wade's hands most of the time especially in the halfcourt.

 

[Green Lantern]

Well they certainly haven't gotten a guard that can do whats needed with Lebron and all have been combo guards..
It's failed...
Now they're looking trade both guards really because one implodes in the playoffs and the other one,has issues..
And Gibson is buried on the bench.
If I remember correctly there were many comments from people how well James played off Kidd(plus his own comments added to it)..so don't try to discount that so quickly.

 

[Soda]

Did you follow Cousins this year or are you just going on some of the negative media hype about him? It seems like the latter. If you actually watched him play this year, you would know that the "lazy" bit is laughably wrong -- I've rarely seen a big man play harder and run the floor like he did.

And what are his off-the-court issues? I'll look forward to your answer to this question...because there are none.

If you watched his combine interview or read his scouting reports, you would not be singing this tune...

Cousins has more of a percentage of fat on his body than Shaq did upon entering the NBA. That is an off-the-court issue in itself. Also, in his interview, a situation where he fought a bus driver was alluded to and all he said was "no comment". This guy is going to have to make hurdles in his diet, attitude, and work ethic if he plans to live up to his hype because the NBA won't be a stomping ground for him like college was.

 

[I.K.W.T]

You guys don't think we are jumping the gun when we don't even have a pick??? :chuckles: