Back to the draft...

[bleedspeed]

I honestly don't think Randle would be someone that Flip would be interested in.

I actually think you are on to something. I wonder if he would go for McDermott at 6.

[northernhoops [enjin:9491634]]

From an insider article on How Far Embiid will slide
We know that Embiid's injury is serious. Breaking the navicular bone in your foot is a major injury, as our own Kevin Pelton pointed out yesterday.

I've had teams tell me he could be out anywhere from four months to a year. No one will really know for sure until they receive updated medicals after his surgery Friday. Not every break is the same; some are harder to fix than others. Once we have a better timetable on his injury, we'll have a better feel for his draft stock.

But as of Thursday night, here's what we know: The chances that he goes No. 1 or No. 2 are slim to none. There are two other good options on the board in Wiggins and Parker, and neither of them has had a stress fracture in their back and foot.

But after that? All bets are off.

The Sixers took a gamble on Nerlens Noel last year knowing he likely would miss the entire season. Noel is now healthy and ready to play, and many feel he was the best pick in his draft class. The Sixers' timeline can allow them to be patient. Noel and the No. 10 pick could be their rookies this season. However, Embiid isn't a perfect fit next to Noel, and the Sixers have also coveted Exum. So I think the odds that the Sixers take Embiid at No. 3 are less than 20 percent.

The Magic have wanted a rim protector and could see an opportunity here. They too have another lottery pick and some flexibility to be patient. Nikola Vucevic has been more than solid the past two years, but he doesn't provide the Magic with the shot-blocking they desperately need. If Embiid makes a full recovery, he's a steal at No. 4. The problem for the Magic is that they have other needs, too. They need a point guard, and Marcus Smart will be there. They also need a stretch 4, and Vonleh is likely to be on the board. Can they pass on both of them for Embiid? I put the odds of them doing so at 50 percent.

The Jazz are intrigued, as well, but I doubt they'd pull the trigger on Embiid. They went into the tank this season with the idea that they'd bounce back in 2014-15. With Embiid, it would be another season at the bottom of the standings in the West. I don't think ownership signed up for that.

That leaves the Celtics. From everything I can gather, GM Danny Ainge, barring unforeseen complications in Embiid's surgery, wouldn't let Embiid slide past here. If Ainge can't land Kevin Love, I think you'll see the Celtics go into full rebuilding mode this summer, and taking Embiid, the guy who could end up being the best player in the draft, would have to be very tempting.




He's there at 6 I'd call Ainge and wouldn't look back.
I'd even just do Love and Budinger for 6 Ollynk Bogans Bass and future BKN picks

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I honestly don't think Randle would be someone that Flip would be interested in.

Why wouldn't he be interested in him? What gives you that idea?

[mrhockey89]

bleed, that very well could be.

northern, I am afraid of Embiid but also would be afraid to pass on him there. Embiid has both foot and back issues. Those, along with knee, are the worst issues a big man can have, and this is an injury that has crippled many careers. No denying the talent is there, though. Could be Oden 2.0.

If I'm Flip, my choices on Kevin Love options (that we've heard) would be as follows:

#1: Love to Cavs for #1 (try to pry Waiters as well)
#2: Love to Golden State for Klay, Lee, future #1 (of which GS would need to obtain)
#3. Love to Celtics for Sullinger, #6, #17, and both Brooklyn picks (perhaps the latter of which "rights to swap" with the 2nd Brooklyn pick or Celtics pick"
#4 Keep Love

Nothing else really interests me that's out there, although I'd have a mild interest in an offer that Phoenix could put together.

If, at draft time, any of those offers is on the table, I call the teams higher on my list and see if they're willing to make the deals listed, and if not, pull the trigger. If we're trading with Boston, it probably doesn't make sense to announce a trade until the #6 comes though, to prevent teams looking at the Wolves as a threat for their guy. If I don't get any of those offers, then I keep Love, see how the season goes, and if the team is killing it, then keep him and force him to a tough decision of walking away from a playoff team on the rise and a true max contract vs taking less to leave a playoff team. Then we'd really find out where his priorities lie. And if the team isn't killing it, then I'd look at what offers came my way at the trade deadline and only agree to a trade if something ala Klay or better was offered at that point. (unlikely)

[mrhockey89]

I honestly don't think Randle would be someone that Flip would be interested in.

Why wouldn't he be interested in him? What gives you that idea?

Because if there's one thing he would have changed about Kevin Love (besides attitude), it would be his defense..and Flip's made it clear he's looking for 2 way players.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I honestly don't think Randle would be someone that Flip would be interested in.

Why wouldn't he be interested in him? What gives you that idea?

Because if there's one thing he would have changed about Kevin Love (besides attitude), it would be his defense..and Flip's made it clear he's looking for 2 way players.

And Randle's defense is going to be much better than Love's. People keep grasping at the idea of "two-way players" while ignoring the better overall player who may not have that label. Stauskas is a better player than Harris. Randle is a better player than Vonleh. Parker is a better player than Wiggins. McDermott is a better player than KJ McDaniels.

I'd also like to remind you that Flip drafted Shabazz last year knowing that he wasn't a great--or even good-- defender. He was the best player available, though, with a great motor and the work ethic to get better.

You don't take a lesser player just because he has a "two-way" label.

[mrhockey89]

Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels. If the clearly better player is an offensive player, I think Flip would take him, but this being such a deep draft and so many players rated so closely gives him the leverage to make a call like that, especially at #6 if he got it. It's easier to defend as a team when you don't have any extremely leaky defensive players, especially close to the rim.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels. If the clearly better player is an offensive player, I think Flip would take him, but this being such a deep draft and so many players rated so closely gives him the leverage to make a call like that, especially at #6 if he got it. It's easier to defend as a team when you don't have any extremely leaky defensive players, especially close to the rim.

"Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels."

Defense has been a weakness of this team since KG left. Nobody, including Flip, thought we were strong defensively prior to last year's draft and he took Shabazz anyway. It being a year later doesn't matter. Whatever rookie he chooses isn't going to change this team's defense overnight and that's why you take best player available.

"It's easier to defend as a team when you don't have any extremely leaky defensive players"

No shit? But keep in mind that Randle's defensive potential and activity is going to be far better than Love's.

[mrhockey89]

Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels. If the clearly better player is an offensive player, I think Flip would take him, but this being such a deep draft and so many players rated so closely gives him the leverage to make a call like that, especially at #6 if he got it. It's easier to defend as a team when you don't have any extremely leaky defensive players, especially close to the rim.

"Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels."

Defense has been a weakness of this team since KG left. Nobody, including Flip, thought we were strong defensively prior to last year's draft and he took Shabazz anyway. It being a year later doesn't matter. Whatever rookie he chooses isn't going to change this team's defense overnight and that's why you take best player available.

As for the bolded part... No shit? But keep in mind that Randle's defensive potential and activity is going to be far better than Love's.

I meant to mention the other reason he took Shabazz is because that's who ended up being there at the pick. I think he didn't like anyone at the Shabazz pick and took Shabazz because that's the only player they worked out that they thought was appropriate at that pick.

Randle may have higher defensive upside than Love, but are you going on record as suggesting Randle will become a good defender? If Pek's going to be our starting center, then it might be a good idea to get a PF who can protect the rim and has a lot of length.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels. If the clearly better player is an offensive player, I think Flip would take him, but this being such a deep draft and so many players rated so closely gives him the leverage to make a call like that, especially at #6 if he got it. It's easier to defend as a team when you don't have any extremely leaky defensive players, especially close to the rim.

"Flip's had a year since drafting Shabazz to see this team play together and defense was one of the achilles heels."

Defense has been a weakness of this team since KG left. Nobody, including Flip, thought we were strong defensively prior to last year's draft and he took Shabazz anyway. It being a year later doesn't matter. Whatever rookie he chooses isn't going to change this team's defense overnight and that's why you take best player available.

As for the bolded part... No shit? But keep in mind that Randle's defensive potential and activity is going to be far better than Love's.

I meant to mention the other reason he took Shabazz is because that's who ended up being there at the pick. I think he didn't like anyone at the Shabazz pick and took Shabazz because that's the only player they worked out that they thought was appropriate at that pick.

Randle may have higher defensive upside than Love, but are you going on record as suggesting Randle will become a good defender? If Pek's going to be our starting center, then it might be a good idea to get a PF who can protect the rim and has a lot of length.

I don't think Randle will be a bad defender, I'll say that. I think once he continues to get a better feel for team defense that he could very well be an above average player on defense, in the form of a David West even.

I still think Dieng has the potential to be our center. I'm just not trying to rush him into that immediately. I'd rather Flip keep Pekovic, but lower his minutes some and groom Dieng into that position.