Pacers Set To Weigh Options At 11
by Cornrows
on May 21, 2008 6:41 AM EDT
in News
Larry Bird shrugged off the results of the NBA Draft Lottery, happy the Pacers didn't leave New Jersey with a worse pick.
"My main concern was not to go backward," Bird said by telephone Tuesday from Secaucus, N.J., where the lottery was conducted in the NBA Entertainment studios. "We feel like the No. 11 pick is going to be a pretty good one and we're happy about that.
"Obviously, you hope to be able to move up but the odds are better that you could move back. You have a better chance going out and buying a lottery ticket so I don't get too hyped up about it. There's a chance, but the odds are really against you."
Now it's time for Larry Bird and David Morway to prioritize the potential talent that will be available with the 11th pick. Here are some options the Pacers will have to consider:
- Defensive minded combo guard with potential to develop into a point guard. Player: Russell Westbrook
- Undersized, true point guard who can run a team but may struggle defending NBA PGs. Player: D.J. Augustin
- Multi-talented front court player who can provide talented depth at power forward. Players: Kevin Love , Darrell Arthur
- Project Center who will take a few years to develop. Players: DeAndre Jordan , JaVale McGee
These are just some initial thoughts and options, but a good representation of the type of players the Pacers will be analyzing. Personally, I'd prefer going with options 1 or 3 and as much as I love Westbrook's game, going with a talented big who can come in and contribute right away may be more prudent. Picking up a guard in the second round is a better bet than project big.
So, let the draft debates begin. We have a solid month to scrutinize these players and how they'll fit with the Pacers. Enjoy.
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D.J. Augustin Please
Augustin will be the best fit for the Pacers. The guy is a true leader on the court and an excellent person off it. Read this article on ESPN and tell me you don’t think he would instantly be an improvement over JT in terms of character. We don’t need Darrell Arthur, trust me I’ve seen him play in person a dozen times and I’m not impressed. He disappeared in games all the for Kansas and is caught between the 3 and the 4 in terms of position. Kevin Love isn’t even in good shape in college how will he do in the Pros? I don’t have anything against Russell Westbrook but I’d rather have a true point with our pick than a converted combo guard. Bottom line is that we have to start by replacing JT and then we can see where we go from there.
In fact lets just make this an all D.J. draft and pick up D.J. White in the second round. I think he’s going to be a decent back up post player in the pros and he is another high character guy as well.
by ThirtyOne on May 21, 2008 3:10 PM EDT 0 recs
Great article on DJ
Thanks. I’m going to link it as a FanShot.
by Cornrows on
May 22, 2008 11:35 PM EDT
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0 recs
I like Augustin
and if he’s the pick I could support him. I’m just concerned with his size being a defensive liability which would jus add to the other defensive liabilities on the roster. Keep selling though, I may be buying soon. I DO like the idea of having a true PG with the chops to run a team.
by Cornrows on May 21, 2008 4:01 PM EDT 0 recs
My board would look something like this:
1. Kevin Love PF UCLA (Does everything write, underrated shotblocker and athlete)
2. D.J. Augustin PG Texas (Pure PG, would be perfect if he was 3-5 inches taller)
3. Joe Alexander PF West Virginia (A bit under the radar)
4. DeAndre Jordan C Texas A&M (Huge risk, huge reward)
5. Russell Westbrook SG/PG UCLA (Watched him a lot and was never wowed)
6. Chase Budinger (Kid has crazy skills, tremendous passer, shooter, & athlete)
As for the 2nd round:
1. Bill Walker SG/SF Kansas St. (Top 5 pick before knee injury, may not fall this far)
2. DeVon Hardin C Cal (Big, athletic defensive stopper with a chance to develop)
by SethGrandpa on May 21, 2008 4:27 PM EDT 0 recs
I dont like
Augustin defensively. I dont think he can guard anybody and I would hate to have the first line of my defense such a negative.
by njnick on
May 22, 2008 10:00 AM EDT
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D.J. Augustin will
turn into nothing more than Jameer Nelson. Cornrows hit the nail on the head by saying he can’t defend an NBA point guard. Now on the other hand Russell Westbrook has great quickness, and can finish in the paint. He can get to the rim and has potential to become a very solid player in this league. As for those who aren’t impressed—http://youtube.com/watch?v=6FP0ua5xFw4
If we could get DeVon Hardin as SethGrandpa suggested, we would have two very nice players to add to our roster.
by pacers33 on May 21, 2008 8:45 PM EDT 0 recs
The first thing that needs to happen, prior to the draft, is Larry Bird’s termination.
He has demonstrated in recent years a complete inability to scout collegiate talent and has drafted HORRIFICALLY.
I like D.J. Augustin but I would caution against picking the best available point guard for the sake of taking a point guard. Ditto for Westbrook, who appears to me, a better pick than Augustin.
I do have concerns about how Love’s game might translate to the NBA but I highly doubt he’ll still be there at 11.
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by SouthCarolinaIgglesFan on May 21, 2008 10:52 PM EDT 0 recs
Love
I think he will be the steal of the draft if the Pacers can get him at 11. Hard to read where he will fall. I guess it will depend highly on his individual workout. He reminds me of Okur – maybe not as good a shooter but will be a better rebounder and passer.
by njnick on May 22, 2008 9:58 AM EDT 0 recs
Go DJ, thats my DJ
My Board:
1. Darryl Jerard Augustin Jr.
2. Darryl Jerard Augustin Jr.
3. Darryl Jerard Augustin Jr.
4. Darryl Jerard Augustin Jr.
5. Darryl Jerard Augustin Jr.
Reasons and article to be released later this week, but believe me Augustin is the pick, we can only pray he is available when the Pacers pick at the eleventh pick of the draft. The NBA is a league of patterns, and all patterns lately lead to DJ Augustin being extremely successful as a NBA point guard.
Brent Jonathan Beck
by Brent Beck on May 23, 2008 1:19 AM EDT 0 recs
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