Big mystery in how the draft will unfold from 4-8

[footey]

I agree that Exum is almost certainly going at 4, if he's still there. 

The REAL question is, who do the Jazz want at 5?  Has there been any leaks about this?  Do they go Smart, Vonleh, Gordon... other?  I honestly don't know, and it worries me because I prefer Gordon over the others that could be available there.   It seems that the proverbial "coin flip" for the #4 spot (which resulted in the #5 draft) has turned out to be a bigger deal than we had expected.

If they are indifferent between, say, Vonleh and Gordon, and have BYU Intel that Ainge loves Gordon, quite possible they would draft Gordon and then trade him to Celts for their 6th pick and future consideration.  This was what Bulls did to Portland in '06 (Adridge/Thomas swap), and what Minn and Boston did to Portland in '06.

[Tr1boy]

 I stiĺl think randle is a possibility at 4. Exum makes sense too if rumor is afflalo will be shopped

I agree who the jazz will pick could be impossible to predict. They can go with anyone really

[Mr October]

Literally all the picks are a bit of a mystery. I think it is safe to say the top 4 stay are off the board in some order though. The big mystery is Utah.

If I am them, i explore Kanter (or maybe favors) trades and draft Julius Randle. They need an impact veteran or two to bring defense and consistency. Then resign Hayward.

[Celtics4ever]

When has intel on Ainge's intentions ever been right?  His name ought to be Mr. Smokescreen.

[Tr1boy]

Literally all the picks are a bit of a mystery. I think it is safe to say the top 4 stay are off the board in some order though. The big mystery is Utah.

If I am them, i explore Kanter (or maybe favors) trades and draft Julius Randle. They need an impact veteran or two to bring defense and consistency. Then resign Hayward.

Yup. In some ways the lakers or kings might have it the easiest. Bc they just have to wait for everyone else to make their choices and at least one of randle, smart, gordon or vonleh will drop to them.

Saric is a wildcard pick.

The wheels start falling off from where hornts pick at 9.  Prospects ranked from 9 or 10 to 35 are considered  to all have similar skill levels/upside but considerbly less potential than the top 8

[Mr October]

When has intel on Ainge's intentions ever been right?

What is more important is Ainge's read on Utah's intentions. And who knows how to speculate that stuff. I like the guys in the 5-8 range. Right now i am just gonna sit back and enjoy seeing who the Celtics pick.

[Mr October]

Literally all the picks are a bit of a mystery. I think it is safe to say the top 4 stay are off the board in some order though. The big mystery is Utah.

If I am them, i explore Kanter (or maybe favors) trades and draft Julius Randle. They need an impact veteran or two to bring defense and consistency. Then resign Hayward.

Yup. In some ways the lakers or kings might have it the easiest. Bc they just have to wait for everyone else to make their choices and at least one of randle, smart, gordon or vonleh will drop to them.

Saric is a wildcard pick.

The wheels start falling off from where hornts pick at 9.  Prospects ranked from 9 or 10 to 35 are considered  to all have similar skill levels/upside but considerbly less potential than the top 8

Saric is for sure the wild card. I have no idea where to place him considering when he might or might not come to the USA, and considering i have only seen highlights.

[Tr1boy]

Literally all the picks are a bit of a mystery. I think it is safe to say the top 4 stay are off the board in some order though. The big mystery is Utah.

If I am them, i explore Kanter (or maybe favors) trades and draft Julius Randle. They need an impact veteran or two to bring defense and consistency. Then resign Hayward.

Yup. In some ways the lakers or kings might have it the easiest. Bc they just have to wait for everyone else to make their choices and at least one of randle, smart, gordon or vonleh will drop to them.

Saric is a wildcard pick.

The wheels start falling off from where hornts pick at 9.  Prospects ranked from 9 or 10 to 35 are considered  to all have similar skill levels/upside but considerbly less potential than the top 8

Saric is for sure the wild card. I have no idea where to place him considering when he might or might not come to the USA, and considering i have only seen highlights.

On top of that he has said he will only play for the Celtics or Lakers. If the Celts or Lakers have other plans i'm guessing he won't play in the NBA.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I agree that Exum is almost certainly going at 4, if he's still there. 

The REAL question is, who do the Jazz want at 5?  Has there been any leaks about this?  Do they go Smart, Vonleh, Gordon... other?  I honestly don't know, and it worries me because I prefer Gordon over the others that could be available there.   It seems that the proverbial "coin flip" for the #4 spot (which resulted in the #5 draft) has turned out to be a bigger deal than we had expected.

If they are indifferent between, say, Vonleh and Gordon, and have BYU Intel that Ainge loves Gordon, quite possible they would draft Gordon and then trade him to Celts for their 6th pick and future consideration.  This was what Bulls did to Portland in '06 (Adridge/Thomas swap), and what Minn and Boston did to Portland in '06.

TP for the great point and precedence.  I'd be completely happy with this, but I'm betting that Utah actually favors one player of another.

[nickagneta]

I am amazed the certainty people have that Exum is a top 4 pick.

Last year Noel was almost a guaranteed top 3 pick in a horrid draft. Didn't happen.

Paul Pierce was supposedly a guaranteed top 3 pick when he came out. Didn't happen.

Players like DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond were talked about as top 3 picks almost their entire season in college. Didn't happen.


These things happen all the time people. I wouldn't be so sure about even the top three going 1-2-3 this year, never mind Exum being guaranteed 4th. Heck, Wiggins was considered the consensus top pick in this draft almost all year. Last fall the thought of him falling to #2 was unheard by some draft pundits. Now........some have him possibly slipping to 4th.

Check out Chad Ford the day before the draft. That's usually the closest you will come to having the correct mock draft order.

[footey]

I am amazed the certainty people have that Exum is a top 4 pick.

Last year Noel was almost a guaranteed top 3 pick in a horrid draft. Didn't happen.

Paul Pierce was supposedly a guaranteed top 3 pick when he came out. Didn't happen.

Players like DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond were talked about as top 3 picks almost their entire season in college. Didn't happen.


These things happen all the time people. I wouldn't be so sure about even the top three going 1-2-3 this year, never mind Exum being guaranteed 4th. Heck, Wiggins was considered the consensus top pick in this draft almost all year. Last fall the thought of him falling to #2 was unheard by some draft pundits. Now........some have him possibly slipping to 4th.

Check out Chad Ford the day before the draft. That's usually the closest you will come to having the correct mock draft order.

Let's see what happens when he works out for the top 4 teams; he is refusing to work out with any others so far.  If he continues to refuse to work for anyone else before the draft, you can be quite certain that his agent got a promise (probably from Orlando) that he will be taken no later than 4. 

[nickagneta]

I am amazed the certainty people have that Exum is a top 4 pick.

Last year Noel was almost a guaranteed top 3 pick in a horrid draft. Didn't happen.

Paul Pierce was supposedly a guaranteed top 3 pick when he came out. Didn't happen.

Players like DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond were talked about as top 3 picks almost their entire season in college. Didn't happen.


These things happen all the time people. I wouldn't be so sure about even the top three going 1-2-3 this year, never mind Exum being guaranteed 4th. Heck, Wiggins was considered the consensus top pick in this draft almost all year. Last fall the thought of him falling to #2 was unheard by some draft pundits. Now........some have him possibly slipping to 4th.

Check out Chad Ford the day before the draft. That's usually the closest you will come to having the correct mock draft order.

Let's see what happens when he works out for the top 4 teams; he is refusing to work out with any others so far.  If he continues to refuse to work for anyone else before the draft, you can be quite certain that his agent got a promise (probably from Orlando) that he will be taken no later than 4.

Or his agent is playing a media hype game and is limiting his workouts to maximize his positioning. If he isn't selected top 4 but he refused to workout for all but 4 teams then there could be two reactions

1. He drops like a stone ala Gerald Green(another example of a guy thought to have been a top 5 pick that fell).

2. Someone grabs him high in the draft without working him out thinking they got a steal that the top 4 teams passed on.


Guys stuck in the Green Room with a camera on them while they fall off the face of the planet happens every year. I don't see 2014 being any different.

[Quetzalcoatl]

This is why I'm glad we have the #17 pick too.  I feel like one of Stauskas, McDermott, Saric, Nurkic or Gary Harris could absolutely fall to us there.  TJ Warren and Kyle Anderson are consolation prizes.  I'm sure the Nets would do that trade over

[Tr1boy]

Exum while quick as heck is not that athletic. So he gets a share of his layups stuffed. In the nba it could be worse. Plus he doesnt have a consistent jump shot.

I have never seen a class(top 7) like this in a while where one guy is almost perfect but cant go/finish left. Or cant shoot fts or is a poor defender. Imo this is why danny is saying there is no lebron coming out of this one. If there was he would of traded everyone by the trade deadline

[LarBrd33]

Exum while quick as heck is not that athletic. So he gets a share of his layups stuffed. In the nba it could be worse. Plus he doesnt have a consistent jump shot.

I have never seen a class(top 7) like this in a while where one guy is almost perfect but cant go/finish left. Or cant shoot fts or is a poor defender. Imo this is why danny is saying there is no lebron coming out of this one. If there was he would of traded everyone by the trade deadline

I use to think this way... that we were sabotaging our tank-job by hanging onto our "quality" players like Rondo.  Turns out, we were worse in the games Rondo played.