But we knew there would be workouts. At this point, we know almost nothing.
Again, I'm not trying to start conspiracy theories...just pointing it out.
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But we knew there would be workouts. At this point, we know almost nothing.
Again, I'm not trying to start conspiracy theories...just pointing it out.
Promise to Burke IMO :cool:
^^Yeah, with Burke coming in on Friday we all know it's just for his informal interview kind of like what AD did last year right? ;)
With the number 6 pick, I'd expect they'd be working out a smaller number of players than they would with the #10 pick. Who knows? The next two weeks won't get here fast enough.
I just looked at 3 mocks and 2 of them (CBS and NBADraft.net) had us taking Burke and 1 had us taking Bennett (DX).
I think our draft board looks as such
1) Porter
2) Trade if offers good
3A) Saric
3B) Len
4) Burke
The Pelicans are drafting #6 in a draft where the top 3 or 4 are pretty fluid. You think any of the top guys are eager to concede they could end up 6th?
The Hornets can schedule KCP, MCW, CJMac, etc... in about 2 nano secs... It's probably a weird coincidence mixed with a tad bit of gamesmanship to keep their big board under wraps.
They certainly aren't always right, but they usually indicate that the bloggers and amateur draftnik websites are catching up with what actual talent evaluators (ie actual team scouting departments) think.
If Len pans out, having a dominant frontcourt of Len/Davis, players that coincidentally compliment each other perfectly, is a much better option for a small market than going with a PG. In today's NBA, PGs are just about the easiest thing to find. 7 footers with Len's potential skillset aren't easy to find. Len has the higher ceiling.
The injury is the major concern, however. Foot injuries/stress fractures in big men have a way of hampering careers.
That's all on the medical staff's evaluation. I don't particularly trust our medical staff, but their it is.
If he checks out...you go with the big man. Let him learn under Lopez who is on a favorable contract and get in the mix over time.
If he pans out, you have a potential dominant frontcourt, which is a major way for small market teams to compete with the glamour markets and their elite wing players.
I agree with this. The premium that is paid to big men can be quite an expensive (although necessary expense) the chance to get a serviceable one a rookie scale deal.. in addition to the contracts of Davis, Anderson, Lopez, and Smith is a tremendous competitive advantage.
I see this both ways really. You could also argue that the league has drastically gone away from true centers period. The game has changed. PG's are like QB's. Sure, everyone has one. But the good ones drive the ship. We were a perrenial playoff team with CP3, and a top lottery team without. Clippers were a perrenial lottery team without, and are a playoff team with. That's the impact a PG can make.
The entire outlook of this team would be different with Burke at point. He can push the fast break as well as play the pick and roll. He's quick enough on the defensive rotations and quick enough to stay in front of oppossing PG's(as oppossed to GV).
While I think Len can be a great building block, I think Burke can be a great difference maker. Time will tell of course.
If something can be both true and false, that is it.
In a totally philosophical sense, you just want good players on your team, that's true. You pick the best players you can, the most talented, with an eye on making it work together.
But some positions are more premium than others, some are easier to find in FA or later in the draft, and some are more of a need.
Teams don't just rank players 1-100 usually, like fans do. They have a much more complex system with tiers, groupings etc. They pick the best player out of a particular tier that fits what they want to do.
First of all, I would argue that since the league is going smaller that having a truly dominant frontcourt makes a team standout, and much more likely to be a mismatch nightmare against small ball teams. Memphis.
Second, your other points are only true if you see Burke as having elite level talent.
Perhaps mastermind Demps loves Saric and has told him he will promise him at 6. The stipulation is he must project that he will pull out of draft so others don't really give him much attention until its probably too late. I know this is a strech, but if I were a GM I would play all kinds of mind games (Especially if I thought I found a diamond in rough that was fairly under the radar).
http://www.wwltv.com/sports/Pelicans...211012141.htmlQuote:
METAIRIE, La. — The Pelicans hold the No. 6 pick in the June 27 NBA draft but don’t ask coach Monty Williams for any hint as to what New Orleans will do.
And it’s not because he doesn’t want to give away any secrets.
It’s because he honestly doesn’t seem to know.
“We still don’t know where we’re going to go yet because it’s that kind draft where they’re talking about a guy could be No. 1 or he could be 10,” Williams said. “I’ve never seen a draft like that, where a guy could be the first pick or he could be the fifth pick. He’s either going to be one or two.
“And this draft, guys are all over the place.”
With a little more than two weeks to go before the draft, the Pelicans have yet to bring in a player for a workout or for an interview. In years past, however, there would already have been several workouts in the books.
Williams said there has been a sea change in that regard, saying players “don’t want to work out.”