2012 Draft Thursday, June 28th: Raptors select Terence Ross

[Rocky416]

Isn't there a problem placing greater emphasis on Rivers' opinion of Toronto, over his actual playing abilities?

Its not a matter of placing greater emphasis. Mindstate nd playing ability are the two most linked characteristcs in basketball. Compare bayless nd jarret jacks attitude too Mcgrady nd turkoglu. Basketball is a team sport better desire for the team means smarter decisions on the court

[Nilanka]

But Rivers doesn't have much playing ability

[themasao]

But Rivers doesn't have much playing ability

Bingo!

[MangoKid]

Latest DX mock has Lillard to Portland at 6 and Waiters to Golden State at 7. They have us taking Lamb at 8 and the Pistons taking Drummond at 9. If Drummond is there at 8, we gotta take a long hard look at him.

[Rocky416]

If rivers is a draft day loss, i feel sorry come thursday if lillard nd waiters are off the board or worst waiters doesnt even want to play here.

[ceez]

i think if drummond falls to us you'll see us trading the pick with a team like the Rockets

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Latest DX mock has Lillard to Portland at 6 and Waiters to Golden State at 7. They have us taking Lamb at 8 and the Pistons taking Drummond at 9. If Drummond is there at 8, we gotta take a long hard look at him.

At the very least we try to trade down even one spot, while picking up some other benefit for doing so. Even something as mundane as trading #8 & #56 for #9 & #39/44 (Detroit has 2 2nd round picks), would be better than just bypassing Drummond. I would be willing to bet that BC will get some pretty competitive calls for #8 if Drummond falls.

[ceez]

If the kings/rocket trade does happen that means lillard or waiters WILL fall to us, which is also good news. Either way, the rockets trading up benefits Toronto.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

If the kings/rocket trade does happen that means lillard or waiters WILL fall to us, which is also good news. Either way, the rockets trading up benefits Toronto.

How so? Portland could still take Lillard @ 6, then Golden State takes Waiters @ 7, regardless what Sac/Hou does at 5. If anything, if Houston were to move up to draft Drummond @ 5, it could mean that MKG is on his way down... wouldn't that be interesting! I can't see Portland picking MKG (Batum) over Lillard. GS apparently wants an offensive SF upgrade, which is the one thing MKG doesn't offer. Maybe the non-tanking karma will work in our favor, for all the fans who've been pining for MKG for months!

Things could get crazy if Beal/Robinson/Barnes were to go 2/3/4.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

The draft - and all the mock drafts - could get totally messed up if/when some/all of the rumored deals start going down!

- Charlotte trading down to swap #2/#4 with Cleveland, while also picking up Cleveland's 2nd 1st round pick (#24) --> Cleveland would likely draft Beal/MKG, while Charlotte would draft Barnes (MJ's NC connection)
- Sacramento & Toronto both rumored to be trading down with Houston's #14/16 picks; rumor has it that #5 & #8 would then get flipped to a suddenly rebuilding Orlando team
- Golden State possibly trading #7 for a wing (although it sounds like they've soured on Deng and his injury risk)
- Portland (#6 and/or #11) and New Orleans (#10) both apparently being open to trading out/down


In a related story, I just read on ESPN that Sullinger wasn't invited by the NBA to their draft green room. Usually the top 12-16 picks or so get invited, so it sounds like they expect Sullinger to drop out of the lottery (at least).


Thursday can't get here soon enough!

Yet another rumor from ESPN:
- Minnesota dangling Derrick Williams as bait to move into lottery

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Good draft article from CNNSI: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...&sct=hp_t11_a0

[Bouncepass]

Draft Express has Lamb (to the Raptors) at #8 and Drummond at #9. I really doubt that Lamb will be picked ahead of Drummond. If Drummond falls to #8, then I think the Raptors trade Drummond/#9 to a team that covets him.

[Bouncepass]

and one of their picks right? AND ONE OF THEIR PICKS?!

Lowry better come with a pick for #8.

[ceez]

How so? Portland could still take Lillard @ 6, then Golden State takes Waiters @ 7, regardless what Sac/Hou does at 5. If anything, if Houston were to move up to draft Drummond @ 5, it could mean that MKG is on his way down... wouldn't that be interesting! I can't see Portland picking MKG (Batum) over Lillard. GS apparently wants an offensive SF upgrade, which is the one thing MKG doesn't offer. Maybe the non-tanking karma will work in our favor, for all the fans who've been pining for MKG for months!

Things could get crazy if Beal/Robinson/Barnes were to go 2/3/4.

fine yeah, even better, we get MKG!

[Chr1s1anL]

At the 1:07 mark he mentions he worked out for Toronto?

One more thing DX has Houston picking Moe Harkless with their #16 and Drummond, Henson(too players that Houston is high) still on the board

Also Green room invites are out

Legion Sports @MySportsLegion
#NBADraft Green Room invites: Anthony Davis, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, Damian Lillard, Tyler Zeller ->

Legion Sports @MySportsLegion
#NBADraft continued: Dion Waiters, Doron Lamb, Andre Drummond, Austin Rivers, John Henson, Meyers Leonard.