04/19/24
May 23, 2006
8.8%? I like those odds!: The Toronto Raptors win the NBA Draft Lottery, followed by the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Bobcats. Meanwhile, the lowly TrailBlazers, who had the best odds at a lottery pick, fall to fourth. Sometimes you just can't win for trying.
posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 07:37 PM - 21 comments
Well after selections like Villeunova and Bosh, its time to see the Raptors look for this years Chris Paul. Anyone see any takers? Or will the Raptors go for an international feel. We shall debate this topic to death over the next month. I just hope Houston doesn't screw up at #8 and take another point guard cuz we have Rafer and Luther.
posted by chemwizBsquared at 08:11 PM on May 23, 2006
I hate the lottery system. I say if you have the worst record, then you DESERVE the first pick. I just don't see the point of a lottery system- it seems like another way to raise hype for the draft.
posted by redsoxrgay at 08:20 PM on May 23, 2006
Figures. There is no out and away stud waiting as the prize this year. Sometimes you just can't win for trying. Time for Colangelo to work his magic and earn his money, no? I just hope Houston doesn't screw up at #8 and take another point guard cuz we have Rafer and Luther. I'm just glad they didn't get a lottery pic. If Yao and T-Mac can ever stay healthy, the SW division is just stacked all around. That said, isn't Bob Sura supposed to be back for the 06-07 season? Make that three PG's. RedSoxFan#1, the main justification for the lottery season is to prevent teams from just dropping games to fight for the first pick and to prevent teams from trying to (illegally, but wink wink, nudge nudge) coerce certain players into entering the draft early. Personally, I think it works just fine.
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:41 PM on May 23, 2006
Yea Ufez, thats a good point- I never thought of it like that- but I still dont like all of the draft hype so soon, the playoffs arent even over yet. lol
posted by redsoxrgay at 09:12 PM on May 23, 2006
Toronto is in a fabulous position. They cleared some cap room by losing Jalen Rose, who wasn't producing anyway. They are in a good spot to resign Mike James, and they just found out they got the # 1 pick. They don't need another PF, especially not a young inexperienced one. That knocks out Tyrus Thomas and the kid from Italy. Bosh's potential is high enough for them to NOT draft another post player, not this year anyway, so LaMarcus Alrdridge is out. They need a superstar type player at the 2-3 position. There is an obvious choice in Adam Morrison. In my opinion this is the best choice to improve for next year. However, if they want to draft for the future.... there is a more athletic, and more defensive minded player available - Rudy Gay. But, they should still pick Morrison.
posted by Snikastyle at 09:12 PM on May 23, 2006
No offense Snikastyle, but are you insane??? Morrison #1 overall??? The kid was a great college player, and will probably be a solid pro. (I'm thinking Keith Van Horn) However he is nowhere near athletic enough to spend a #1 overall pick on. Dickie V and Billy Packer lied to you; Morrison is not the second coming of Larry Bird.
posted by Fade222 at 09:43 PM on May 23, 2006
Snikastyle: I wouldn't take Morrison if the Raptors had stayed at the fifth overall pick. I would have to think long and hard about Morrison if the Raptors had been bumped down to eighth overall in their worst case scenario. What is it about Morrison that convinces you that he's the best pro prospect?
posted by Scott Carefoot at 12:55 AM on May 24, 2006
Rudy Gay should def be the #1 pick i mean come on now people
posted by AirJordan337 at 09:47 AM on May 24, 2006
I don't like Rudy Gay. How can the number one pick in the draft look so ordinary in the Tourney? You couldn't have picked out of a line-up in any of those games. Tell me there's someone better. I have no idea who the Raptors should take here.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:58 AM on May 24, 2006
I agree with you Weedy. But then again, Villanueva looked fairly pedestrian in college as well for a supposed star-in-the-making. I wonder if Colangelo would ever solicit CV's opinion on what Gay is like in the locker room (ie. work ethic, chemistry, desire to win)....things that only fellow players can know about each other.
posted by smithers at 10:49 AM on May 24, 2006
What is it about Morrison that convinces you that he's the best pro prospect? Didn't he lead the country in scoring.
posted by tron7 at 11:03 AM on May 24, 2006
What is it about Morrison that convinces you that he's the best pro prospect? The mustache.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 01:09 PM on May 24, 2006
I don't like Rudy Gay. How can the number one pick in the draft look so ordinary in the Tourney? Totally agree. Gay came into this season with every NBA decision maker watching him in Maui, but what did he do there or at any point during the season? For being one of the supposed talents in college basketball he rarely dominated a game over the course of the season and never seemed to have the desire. After watching his progress I'd rather put my chips on his teammate Hilton Armstrong (or Marcus Williams, for that matter). Going into Maui, Armstrong was nothing but showed the kind of desire and progress you'd have expected from Gay over the entire season.
posted by YukonGold at 01:59 PM on May 24, 2006
I have no idea whatsoever who the Craptors should pick, but the one thing they've done well the last few years is play the draft. In three years, this should be a pretty solid side, as long as Colangelo has kept the scouting braintrust intact. Oh, and Adam Morrison may not yet know anything about defense, but he does have that scoring sense, and right now he's the most marketable face in the draft. (Isn't he from Portland? The Trail Blazers are a mess, but I could see them taking a chance on him.)
posted by chicobangs at 02:30 PM on May 24, 2006
Good call Yukon.....I am hoping that Toronto can trade down and get Marcus Williams at 5-7. We need a (pass-first) PG more than we need a big man.
posted by smithers at 02:33 PM on May 24, 2006
Possibly the worst year to pick 1st, especially for the Raptors. I'd seriously consider trading it for someone already in the league, a 1 or 2, as mike james can play with either. Do that and sign one other guy, and the team suddenly looks good.
posted by Pabo at 02:34 PM on May 24, 2006
YukonGold- Marcus Williams missed most of the season due to the laptop insident. Gay is a beast physically, and a definate leader on the floor. Armstrong will never, ever be a number one pick. Gay has the potential to be the next Richard Jefferson.
posted by redsoxrgay at 02:52 PM on May 24, 2006
Marcus Williams missed most of the season due to the laptop insident. Thanks for the update. He's the best point guard in the nation and was easily the best player on that UConn team, the fact that you think there's a character issue there doesn't change his value. Rudy Gay was basically a non-factor he scored his 15 points a game, but I'd easily rank Williams, Armstrong and Rashad Anderson ahead of him when it comes to guys I'd want on my NBA squad. He may go on to great things in the NBA and I'll happily eat my words, but right here right now, he doesn't look like someone who's gonna come in and contribute more than a few nice jumpshots and the occasional game where you see the talent. A few Rudy Gay facts: 6 double/doubles all season. He scored a mere 8 points with 4 rebounds against 16 seed Albany in the first round of the tournament. A game UConn narrowly won, mainly because Gay was nowhere to be found all game...Against an America East opponent. Season high 28 points against Arkansas, but only cracked 20 7 times. Best game of the season (imo) vs. Syracuse - 10/18, 22pts, 13reb...in a win that turned the season back in the right direction. I like Rudy, he shows flashes of brilliance. But right now he's far from a "beast" and well behind where other UConn alumni were coming out. He's a lot more Charlie Villanueva than Ray Allen (who went 5th in the '96 draft) ...and if you think Armstrong isn't a first rounder, you didn't watch him play. He may be top-fifteen if a team like Philly or Utah sees a match.
posted by YukonGold at 04:18 PM on May 24, 2006
Red's ox, have faith in Yukon's (UConn, get it-- his nick is a clever play on words, unlike . . .) opinion of Rudy Gay.
posted by yerfatma at 06:55 PM on May 24, 2006
Fellas, I don't know where you guys have been. Adam Morrison has a toughness that doesn't come along very often. I realize that he isn't athletic, and I don't believe he will be as good as Larry Bird. But... he will be a difference maker to the team that he goes to. And he will make a big difference the first year. Why would the Raptors draft another big guy. I highly doubt they are going to start Bosh, Aldridge, and Villanueva. Someone tell me who else they could pick, and make a difference this year.
posted by Snikastyle at 11:11 AM on May 27, 2006
Figures. There is no out and away stud waiting as the prize this year. Sometimes you just can't win for trying.