CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Southeast Divison

[KCattheStripe]

Although we agree with many of the other GM's that some of the moves we made before draft day were a little hasty, we feel our actual drafting and trades during and after the draft was phenomenal.  We were able to draft Rajon Rondo with the 21st pick in the draft and then move him onto Phoenix for Ramon Sessions, James Harden, Marresse Speights and a pick.  We feel this was possibly the shagging of the season (sorry Pho  ).  We then took Sessions and packaged him with Anthony Morrow and got our 2 team leaders - Felton and Outlaw.  

I would be surprised if there were 5 people in the draft who think you fleeced me there.

Who here would not take essentially - Harden, Speights, Felton and Outlaw for Rondo?  Anyone?

:Raises hand:

[johnnyrondo]

Any thoughts on Jason williams?

Wrong thread Rondo2. See the Central presser. J-Will is one of about 20 remaining FA's who haven't signed yet, like Lee, Robinson, Watson, Smith, etc

[johnnyrondo]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Just to be clear we have another SF, we're really high on. He has a long wingsman and we will take it slow with him, but by the spring time we might be able to exploit matchups and throw him in there to post up like a Hinrich. We don't need him to win, but it doesn't hurt to have him as a silent extra weapon.

This David Thorpe tweeting during the Summer:

 

  -James Johnson with the best hesitation move of the week for a bucket.
    -Johnson has scored on a great dribble move, a sweet jumper, and a post flash to the middle of the paint. Very, very nice.
    -I understand why the Bulls drafted Johnson. But not Gibson.
    -I think Ben Gordon taught Johnson how to shoot before jetting up the road. His arc is pro perfect.

To be clear then..who is your backup SF?

Deshawn and Bogans are the backups. Deshawn used to guard Lebron when the Wiz were most effective against the Cavs. They chose him over Butler or Jamison. James Johnson has the potential to be a backup for us. Right now he's like our 12 or 13th man, but like Lee or Gortat last yr for the Magic, I could see Johnson claiming some 3/4 minutes by the end of the season.

 

Johnson aside, don't you think Deshawn and Bogans as the 3 is forcing both guys out of position? Neither guy saw significant mins at the SF, and the playoff series where the Wizards played Stevenson as Lebron's main defender, he averaged 28 pts, 8.5 rbs, and 7.5 assists. The Wiz lost in 4 games.

I think you're gonna need to put JJ out there sooner than you'd like. Against smaller SF's you'll be ok, but against bigger or elite SF's I don't see a guy on your bench that can compete defensively..unless JJ is ready from the jump.

Again this is the wrong presser, so don't want to hijack, but I'll answer your question. Those look like normal Lebron numbers and I know the Magics will have an advantage at the SF position, while the Bulls will have a huge advantage at the pg position, a large one at the sg, a large one at PF and at center.  I doubt you see Lebron posting up our small forwards much.

[StartOrien]

BTW just so that the mods don't think this is personal on my part, because it isn't, I have received no less than 6 PMs from GMs around the league lauding my stance and agreeing that the NY GM only kept his team because he was a mods brother and that it isn't fair that said GM gets to do nothing and have others make his picks for him and yet if someone disagrees the mod brother is going to get defensive and summarily make bad comparisons between your team and that NY team.

As someone who has absolutely no stake in this argument,

I think it's fair that New York gets a pass when he has lost the internet for reasons that are out of his hands. He didn't take a vacation,k he's not blowing it off, he simply can't get to the internet.

I also think that the Knicks are a significantly better than the DC Boxers. I'm concerned with the ability of Jackson and Wallace to co exist, I don't buy into the Ramon Sessions hype and I agree with the statements made about Joel Pryzbilia. I do really like Scola though. But at the end of the day, just my opinion, I don't think this is playoff team, nor do I think they're anywhere close.

There's a surprise! Another GM whom the DC Boxers GM felt had a bad team is saying the Boxers won't make the playoffs. Very original.

Charlotte you may as well join the group as in a little while you will be finding out that I don't think you team is very good either.

I think all GM's, regardless of your thoughts on their team, have the right to assess and in this case criticize your team, Nick. Just like I disagree with your assesment of my team, you can disagree with me:

But I honestly don't see eye to eye with you on your team, and it's completely unrelated to your negative comments on my team. I just don't like it. Personally, I think it's one of the worst teams out there.

I don't see any kind of identity, I think Session and Pryzbilia are way overrated and I question how Wallace and Jackson would coexist based off of Jackson's ball dominance.

And even though he's one of my favorite non-Celtics I think you selected Stephen Jackson WAY too early, especially when players like Joe Johnson and OJ Mayo were still available. Both of those players, in my opinion would've been a much better fit for your team. But if you're that high on Jackson, why wouldn't you trade down?

And even though I like Scola, I think you would've been better off playing Wallace at the 4 and then drafting either a shooting guard (and have Jax play 3) or a small forward which would've given you more of an identity. And this can't even be accomplished, as your best bench swing is a very unproven Julian Wright who was a tremendous let down for New Orleans this year.

Again, this is not anything personal, just my honest thoughts on your team.

[Gainesville Celtic]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Again, I think including Tyson Chandler is mixing apples and oranges.

I see Horford much closer as a player to Chandler than David West in terms of their respective skill sets. David West is a dynamic offensive talent who doesn't rebound as well as he should and who's a (maybe) good defender.

Chandler (and Horford) are very-good-to-great defenders & rebounders who can give you 10-15 points a night.

West *has* flourished offensively playing with CP3, but I would argue that's because he's a better offensive player (i.e. if he was playing with, say, Mike Bibby or Hinrich he'd still get 16-19 ppg off his talent).

On the other hand, Chandler's average with CHI was 7.1 ppg and 10.2 ppg with NOR; He's not scored more than 22 points in a game with CP3 getting him the ball.

If you want to argue Horford scores 14 ppg instead of 11 ppg playing with CP3, fine. But generally speaking, leopards don't change their spots. Horford might improve/flourish, but he's not going to *become* David West.

I lived in Chicago during the Chandler years. Trust me he is nothing like Horford. Chandler has no offense. He has one move and that's catching an alley-oop. His hands are horrible beyond that. He is nowhere the defender Horford is. He is a good week side shot blocker. CP3 was berry berry good for Tyson. His numbers will go down in Charlotte. If Horford was traded to the real New Orleans his numbers would go up a lot. Watch as Okafor's go up.

Interesting point re: Okafor --- we will have a rare real-life example to sort-oftest this out. However Okafor is a career 14 ppg scorer so to prove your point he'd have to average close to 18-20 ppg and i just don't see that happening.

Like i said i simply think your overestimating the overall effect playing with CP3 will have on a guy like Horford (who is a Buck Williams, Charles Oakley type 11/10 enforcer for his career IMO)  -- while seeming to ignore what effect playign with a guy like Lebron will have on the rest of the Magics.

It will have some and Horford will be better but we disagree whether his, say, improvement to 14 ppg, 11 reb means you have a clear advantage over the 14 ppg, 6 reb that Villanueva will get vs. him.

good luck in the playoffs, TP!

[Gainesville Celtic]

I don't think Horford has played with a good pg. Bibby is a good shooter. In Chicago with Paul and the running game, Horford will flourish like West and healthy Chandler did.

Just to be clear we have another SF, we're really high on. He has a long wingsman and we will take it slow with him, but by the spring time we might be able to exploit matchups and throw him in there to post up like a Hinrich. We don't need him to win, but it doesn't hurt to have him as a silent extra weapon.

This David Thorpe tweeting during the Summer:

 

  -James Johnson with the best hesitation move of the week for a bucket.
    -Johnson has scored on a great dribble move, a sweet jumper, and a post flash to the middle of the paint. Very, very nice.
    -I understand why the Bulls drafted Johnson. But not Gibson.
    -I think Ben Gordon taught Johnson how to shoot before jetting up the road. His arc is pro perfect.

To be clear then..who is your backup SF?

Deshawn and Bogans are the backups. Deshawn used to guard Lebron when the Wiz were most effective against the Cavs. They chose him over Butler or Jamison. James Johnson has the potential to be a backup for us. Right now he's like our 12 or 13th man, but like Lee or Gortat last yr for the Magic, I could see Johnson claiming some 3/4 minutes by the end of the season.

 

Johnson aside, don't you think Deshawn and Bogans as the 3 is forcing both guys out of position? Neither guy saw significant mins at the SF, and the playoff series where the Wizards played Stevenson as Lebron's main defender, he averaged 28 pts, 8.5 rbs, and 7.5 assists. The Wiz lost in 4 games.

I think you're gonna need to put JJ out there sooner than you'd like. Against smaller SF's you'll be ok, but against bigger or elite SF's I don't see a guy on your bench that can compete defensively..unless JJ is ready from the jump.

Again this is the wrong presser, so don't want to hijack, but I'll answer your question. Those look like normal Lebron numbers and I know the Magics will have an advantage at the SF position, while the Bulls will have a huge advantage at the pg position, a large one at the sg, a large one at PF and at center.  I doubt you see Lebron posting up our small forwards much.

JR -- you keep saying you have a large advantage at SG (Kevin Martin vs. Jason Richardson). Can you expand on that a bit?

i mean since his rookie season, Martin has missed 20% of his teams games with injury, JRich missed 10% (almost all in 1 season).

Here's a link to a comparison of their career statistics @ basektball-reference.com ... what there says "large advantage Kevin Martin" to you?

As i"ve contended before, Richardson is a good defender and Martin is a weak one, further close (or even reversing) the supposed 'advantage'.

[johnnyrondo]

Not sure where you heard J-Rich is a good defender. Scoring like 15 ppg like J-Rich did in Phoenix I believe and scoring 25ppg in Sacto like Martin did is a "large" difference. Career averages mean little. we're talking about this year and going forward. Larry Hughes had a great scoring yr, but then went down a lot when he joined Lebron. J-Rich will get a ton of shots for you, b/c he's your second guy for good or bad, but he's not in the class of Martin, just like Martin is not in the class of Lebron. Kevin Martin will be huge this year running with CP3. Must i post another video? I did see that you ranked Kevin Martin lower on your sg list than most, but that's your prerogative. And maybe my opinion is biased, b/c I'm just not a J-Rich fan. i thought the Bobcats would improve when they traded him for Raja and they did. I also thought he wouldn't be that good with the Suns, even as a third or 4th option and he wasn't. Overall I've been pretty disappointed with his NBA career. He was one of the Warriors that ran sidekick with Baron that one yr Baron went off, along with Monta, and S-Jax, and Harrington, etc, but just not that high on him. If you want some more info on Martin as he is now, I think he was listed in the underrated thread. I heard Nick talking about this. Good luck in the playoffs too. I think you will win your division this assuring a #3 seed. You did well. Not every team with a superstar can say the same.

[johnnyrondo]

Just checked your link. Yes, when Kevin Martin averaged less than 17 a game he was similar to J-Rich. But Martin averaged 25 last year and he loves the pressure CP3 and Gasol will take off him. Defenses can't just double team and triple team him now on Chicago. Please don't sleep on Martin. He's become what many hoped J-Rich would of become. Nick picked him in the 1st for a good reason and Kwit picked J-Rich in the 3rd for a good reason.



Check this out: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=per&qual=true&pos=sg&seasonType=2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dper%26qual%3dtrue%26pos%3dsg%26seasonType%3d2

Martin is 2nd only to Sweet Ray Ray Allen in true shooting %. Kevin Martin can shoot the basketball. We wanted him bad to pair with CP3 and Gasol.  J-Rich fwiw was ranked as the 15th best sg, which makes him average for the position, which I think is fair.

[Rondo2287]

Just checked your link. Yes, when Kevin Martin averaged less than 17 a game he was similar to J-Rich. But Martin averaged 25 last year and he loves the pressure CP3 and Gasol will take off him. Defenses can't just double team and triple team him now on Chicago. Please don't sleep on Martin. He's become what many hoped J-Rich would of become. Nick picked him in the 1st for a good reason and Kwit picked J-Rich in the 3rd for a good reason.



Check this out: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=per&qual=true&pos=sg&seasonType=2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dper%26qual%3dtrue%26pos%3dsg%26seasonType%3d2

Martin is 2nd only to Sweet Ray Ray Allen in true shooting %. Kevin Martin can shoot the basketball. We wanted him bad to pair with CP3 and Gasol.  J-Rich fwiw was ranked as the 15th best sg, which makes him average for the position, which I think is fair.

J-Rich is far from average. And you would be finding obscure stats saying he is the second coming if he was on your team lol

[johnnyrondo]

Well I predict Orlando takes this division, guaranteeing a top 3 seed. I think Nick's Boxers should make the top 8 in the conference giving this division two playoff teams.

[johnnyrondo]

Just checked your link. Yes, when Kevin Martin averaged less than 17 a game he was similar to J-Rich. But Martin averaged 25 last year and he loves the pressure CP3 and Gasol will take off him. Defenses can't just double team and triple team him now on Chicago. Please don't sleep on Martin. He's become what many hoped J-Rich would of become. Nick picked him in the 1st for a good reason and Kwit picked J-Rich in the 3rd for a good reason.



Check this out: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=per&qual=true&pos=sg&seasonType=2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dper%26qual%3dtrue%26pos%3dsg%26seasonType%3d2

Martin is 2nd only to Sweet Ray Ray Allen in true shooting %. Kevin Martin can shoot the basketball. We wanted him bad to pair with CP3 and Gasol.  J-Rich fwiw was ranked as the 15th best sg, which makes him average for the position, which I think is fair.

J-Rich is far from average. And you would be finding obscure stats saying he is the second coming if he was on your team lol

I'm  shocked. Shocked I tell you   Rondo2 is defending the other side. I'm just not a big J-Rich fan. I think him ranked 15th is about right. Obviously he'd be better than average on Toronto as he'd start at the 2 there, but I'm just not a fan. Curious though, did you try and trade Affalo and Varejao for j-Rich? I think that might have been a better move for Toronto.

[Rondo2287]

nah, i didnt make that offer, I knew he was out of my reach with those players. 

[johnnyrondo]

nah, i didnt make that offer, I knew he was out of my reach with those players. 

Maybe I could just be the only one. Do others rate J-Rich higher? He was passed on by all teams basically twice or three times in our draft. Do others see him as a borderline star? I'm curious. I always looked at him as an under performer somewhat. A guy that gets his stats, but doesn't scream winner on the NBA level. Reminds me a lot of Larry Hughes in terms of worth (different game. Larry was better at D and has only recently become as good at the 3) Besides GC and Rondo2, how do others feel about J-Rich?

[johnnyrondo]

Guys sorry I haven't done my conference yet, I am trying to make time.

Iverson on the matter: 

Press conferences? we talkin bout Press conferences? Press conferences? Not games, but Press conferences?

 

[Rondo2287]

I see J-rich alot like Pau Gasol.  Best player on a bad team, then goes to a good team, like the lakers and excells and is a key player in a championship run.