Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

[Major Cold]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I like Walker because he can guard the two with dominance at times. Weaver as well. But if we draft Walker and have Granger, Dun, and Shawne it would appear to be a log jam. SG/SF is a wing in this system. Defensively is a different story. That is why I like Walker then Weaver. If do not pick up a true PG and count on Tins once again...Then Weaver can back up Diener when Tins goes down. But with similar if not worse production than Flip did at the end of the year.

[MyFavMartin]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

If EJ does slip to the Pacers & we have the 11th pick. We must draft him is the thought b/c Simon's are business men. They make more money by putting people in the stands. EJ will put people in the seats next year & the year after that as well. Larry Bird might not want EJ; but w/ The Simons having more control we will draft him at 11 if he slips to us.

As far as DJ; he is in the following pack of players Courtney Lee, Lester Hudson, Jawai, Pekovich, JR Giddeons, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, & JJ Hickson. Some of these players may go late first round and several will be gone by the time we draft 41st but one of them should slip to the Pacers.

That is the whole thing with picking late lottery; players slip but we do not know who will untill the draft in June.

I would be picking EJ at #11 for the fact that he is a top 6-7 pick that slipped to #11, not for the fact that he's a Hoosier. If the Simons were interested in only doing what the people of Indiana wanted, we never would have had the greatest Pacer of all time (Reggie Miller) because we would have picked Steve Alford.

How'd Damon Bailey work out?

[Major Cold]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

Bailey was a 2nd rounder. Not much of an expextation with him. Two years later he showed up at a high school party trying to get some tail.

[MyFavMartin]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I like Walker because he can guard the two with dominance at times. Weaver as well. But if we draft Walker and have Granger, Dun, and Shawne it would appear to be a log jam. SG/SF is a wing in this system. Defensively is a different story. That is why I like Walker then Weaver. If do not pick up a true PG and count on Tins once again...Then Weaver can back up Diener when Tins goes down. But with similar if not worse production than Flip did at the end of the year.

If people don't like Mayo due to off-court issues, do you think the same people would have problems with Walker?

Walker shot 30% from 3PT, which is a concern. Most other facets of his game are good, including shot creation and defense, which this team needs badly. Might have knee concerns but Granger supposedly did too. Appears to be fully recovered.

All in all, it would appear Walker would be a very good 2nd round pick and would qualify as a BPA.

I think a lot of 2nd round picks will be easily obtained through the draft with rosters being very full. Trailblazers have #4 and #5 of the second round. Walker is projected higher than the Pacers pick. Picking up these picks from Portland shouldn't take much and could land us both Walker and DJ White. This combined with a Westbrook would make me happy. Getting another pick for Speights, Arthur, or CDR, would make me cry for joy.

Would like to resign Rush. Think his performance wained due to his hip injury, which people tend to ignore or forget.

[MyFavMartin]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

Two years later he showed up at a high school party trying to get some tail.

The one hosted by Jack Trudeau?

[Jonathan]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

When Damon Bailey was drafted, I believe the draft was held in Indianapolis. That gave the people something to cheer for that stayed around several hours to watch the the thing. He was drafted before the International Player Frenzy came to the NBA.
The point I am making is as follows w/ The Simon's taking a more hands on approach I feel that the Pacers are going to go the more business route and that is trying to get more people in the seats. The majority of our fans are sick of the Pacers tarnished image and with EJ on the roster he will be the face of our organization's marketing campaign.
The Pacers were never going to draft Alford over Reggie.

[CableKC]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I like Walker because he can guard the two with dominance at times. Weaver as well. But if we draft Walker and have Granger, Dun, and Shawne it would appear to be a log jam. SG/SF is a wing in this system. Defensively is a different story. That is why I like Walker then Weaver. If do not pick up a true PG and count on Tins once again...Then Weaver can back up Diener when Tins goes down. But with similar if not worse production than Flip did at the end of the year.

I would take Weaver's defense over Flips TO-prone-fancy-dribbling any day.

[MyFavMartin]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

When Damon Bailey was drafted, I believe the draft was held in Indianapolis. That gave the people something to cheer for that stayed around several hours to watch the the thing. He was drafted before the International Player Frenzy came to the NBA.
The point I am making is as follows w/ The Simon's taking a more hands on approach I feel that the Pacers are going to go the more business route and that is trying to get more people in the seats. The majority of our fans are sick of the Pacers tarnished image and with EJ on the roster he will be the face of our organization's marketing campaign.
The Pacers were never going to draft Alford over Reggie.

Winning fixes a lot of things.

I think most people saw the Bailey thing as a PR move and saw through it. Yes, it was a nice thing to do.

And lastly, I don't think EJ will be there at #11. This team needs to address their needs at PG at #11 if this is possible and they don't reach.

Bird is still in charge of basketball operations, which means the draft. God help us if Simon is picking players.

[Major Cold]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

it was at my high school. It was sad and pathedic. Now he is fat and lazy.

I think we will draft the best possible prospect.

[Shade]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I think Mario Chalmers is the guy. If he decides to declare, he could probably be had with a late first-rounder.

He's almost exactly what we need; an excellent defensive guard with clutch tendencies. He's not a pure PG, but I think he could handle the role adequately.

I'd like to trade into a late first and take Chalmers. We could then take a big (Love? definitely NOT Thabeet) with the #11, and DJ with our second-rounder.

[Gamble1]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

Beware of the Tourny clutch performance. Do you actually think he he can improve as a pg. I thought he was TO proned.

I would much rather have LOVe than chalmers and Lopez over chalmers as well.

[Major Cold]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I would do that is we can't get Westbrook. I really do not want Love for this team. I would take Speights before I take him.

[AesopRockOn]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I think we should draft Stanko again.

[Shade]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

Beware of the Tourny clutch performance. Do you actually think he he can improve as a pg. I thought he was TO proned.

I would much rather have LOVe than chalmers and Lopez over chalmers as well.

I absolutely believe he can improve. And he's an excellent defender, which we sorely need in the backcourt.

Chalmers isn't going to go high enough to conflict with drafting either Love or Lopez (I don't see the love-affair with Robin or Thabeet, honestly).

[Gamble1]

Re: Official 2008 NBA Draft recruiting center...

I think we should draft Stanko again.

Be careful for what you wish for. Draft Express has us taking Nikola Pekovic .

Pekovic blossomed this season into one of the most productive inside men all over Europe, which combined with his youth, made him one of the most attractive players on the European market. Rumors say he was paid as much as 4.5 million Euros (6.55 million dollars net) for three years, which is similar to the type of money this year’s #1 overall pick will receive in gross terms. This move is a clear statement by the player towards a future in the European scene for the mid-term. He hasn’t even waited for the NBA draft to evaluate his options at the American league. In the end, this is certainly a hit to his draft stock. Since any team drafting him in the end of the first round will likely never see him step foot on an NBA court (because of the extremely limiting rookie scale), it’s much more likely that he goes in the 2nd round now.