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2009 NBA Draft Mailbag – June 11, 2009
I love it. Although a bone to pick is with this Ty Lawson selection. If he’s not gone by 10 I’ll be shocked. He’s a fluid shooter now and will be a defensive pest. But if the Pistons end up with him in their laps, holy cow what a pick up.
Response:
I hate North Carolina (especially Tyler Hansbrough) with a passion, but I respect Lawson’s game to the utmost. As soon as I found out he would be ready to go for the big dance, I picked UNC to win it all and that earned me the last in-the-money spot in the final standings of the pool I entered. He was the key to that offense and has 1000x more pro potential than Psycho T.
Does Jodie Meeks have the talent to go top 5 if he returns for his senior year at UK? 23.7 ppg. last season, 41% from 3PT range, 37 inch vert…if he improves his handle, defense, and shows the ability to penetrate/score in Cal’s dribble drive motion, what is not to like?
Also, what would the Timberwolves need to trade to move up from #6 or #2 or #3 to get Ricky Rubio?
Response:
Saying Meeks is a top five prospect for next year would be a pretty aggressive statement. Meeks is pretty one-dimensional right now and needs to work on his ability to get to the basket if he is going to be a starter at the next level. He is not the quickest player in the game, but showing he can thrive in the dribble-drive should help his stock. Problem is that Kentucky has so much talent coming in for next season (John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins) and plenty of players returning, so Meeks won’t get the amount of shots or touches he did last season. I have him at #27 right now in my 2010 NBA Mock Draft and think he could potentially move into the mid-first round or late-lottery, but he would have to show some major improvement in the areas you mentioned (defense, handles) to even be a top 10 pick let alone top 5.
In regards to your T�Wolves questions, I defer to my Wolves expert, Andy Weise- he answers your queries in this link: http://www.thesportsbank.net/minnesota/minnesota-minutes-2/
Can the Denver Nuggets repeat this year�s success next year? Any chance they can get Amare Stoudemire?
Response:
I don’t think the Nuggets have the pieces to deal for Amare, mostly because it doesn’t appear they have the requisite expiring contracts. We listed them out here in our 2009 NBA Offseason Needs: Denver Broncos page.
They can certainly duplicate this year’s success if Chauncey Billups stays healthy and this team continues to stay in the mold that George Karl re-shaped them into this year. They made a giant leap forward because Karl got them to D up and stop trying to just outscore people. And of course, Billups is the ultimate game changer. I spoke with UConn guard A.J. Price at the NBA Draft Combine, and he tells it like it is here: http://www.thesportsbank.net/nba-draft-stock-report/uconn-continues-pipeline-to-nba/
�It�s the most important position on the court. It�s like the quarterback in football, you�re making the calls, it�s up to you to execute. You�ve got to be headstrong to play the one, no room for error, to be shaken up or rattled because the team�s going to follow you. Teams understand the need to have a steady guy at the one, who is always under control, a la Chauncey Billups or someone like that. Those teams tend to do better,�
Other questions surround Nene, J.R. Smith and the Birdman, because all of them had breakthrough years and I’m not sure they’re completely for real�.yet. They just might be because the Nuggets’ stock in the West is going up right now, while San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas are in decline. Utah and New Orleans also regressed a bit this season- opening things up for Denver to reach the conference finals again next year.
2011 NBA Draft Mailbag Archive:
2011 NBA Draft Mailbag - June 21
2011 NBA Draft Mailbag - June 19
2011 NBA Draft Mailbag - June 13
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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