During the lottery tonight I'll be here updating as the pieces fall in place. When the order is decided, I'll have some quick, Sixers-centric analysis. If you're watching at home, join me in the comments. In the mean time, who do you want to see win the top picks?
OK, so this is what I had in mind. As the teams are slotted into place, I'm going to post some info about each one's cap situation, and run some quick figures incorporating the cost of the pick. We'll look at who will be pushed over the luxury tax, how the slot could affect their ability to re-sign their own players and also what type of savings they'd get if they swapped first-round picks with the Sixers. The economy influences everything these days, folks, so don't discount the financial ramifications. Just as a quick example, if Milwaukee was to move up to the #3 pick, the actual cost of keeping the pick would be $6.6M this season because they're over the luxury tax threshold. The pick could wind up costing them much more if the contract actually put them over the threshold (if they renounce Villaneuva and Sessions) Is Thabeet worth that much scratch?
Last year's cap: $58.68M
Last year's luxury tax: $71.150M
Both are expected to either hold or drop a little bit for this upcoming season.
And another commercial break, should be under way in a few minutes...
Seems like they're using the draft to drum up interest in the Lakers/Nuggets game 1.
One last commercial...they promise.
14. Phoenix
13. Indiana
12. Charlotte
11. New Jersey
10. Milwaukee
9. Toronto
8. New York
7. Golden State
6. Minnesota
5. Wizards
4. Sacramento
The Clippers, Griz and Thunder all moved up into the top three. We'll know the rest after the commercial.
3. Oklahoma City
2. Memphis
1. LA Clippers
That's awesome. Donald Sterling is rewarded for being the worst owner in the history of sports. And I even think they might not pick Griffin.
Pick Number 1 ($4,152,900)
LA Clippers
- Cap Number: $60,742,614
- Cap With Pick: $64,895,514
- Free Agents: Fred Jones (UR), Steve Novak (UR)
- Potential Savings: $2,891,000
Pick Number 2 ($3,715,700)
Memphis
- Cap Number: $39,832,770
- Cap With Pick: $43,548,470
- Free Agents: Chris Mihm (UR), Hakim Warrick (R)
- Potential Savings: $2,453,800
Pick Number 3 ($3,336,800)
OKC Thunder
- Cap Number: $44,416,159
- Cap With Pick: $47,752,959
- Free Agents: Malik Rose (UR), Desmond Mason (UR), Robert Swift (UR)
- Potential Savings: $2,074,900
Pick Number 4 ($3,008,400)
Sacramento
- Cap Number: $53,589,660
- Cap With Pick:
- Free Agents: Bobby Jackson (UR), Ike Diogu (R), Rashad McCants (R)
- Potential Savings: $1,746,500
Pick Number 5 ($2,724,300)
Washington
- Cap Number: $76,157,670
- Cap With Pick: $78,881,970
- Free Agents: Juan Dixon (UR)
- Potential Savings: $2,924,800
Pick Number 6 ($2,474,400)
Minnesota
- Cap Number: $52,952,978
- Cap With Pick: $55,427,378
- Free Agents: Jason Collins (UR), Shelden Williams (UR), Rodney Carney (UR), Kevin Ollie (UR)
- Potential Savings: $1,212,500
Pick Number 7 ($2,258,800)
Golden State
- Cap Number: $60,740,991
- Cap With Pick: $62,999,791
- Free Agents: CJ Watson (UR)
- Potential Savings: $996,900
Pick Number 8 ($2,069,400)
New York
- Cap Number: $76,410,183
- Cap With Pick: $78,479,583
- Free Agents: Chris Wilcox (UR), David Lee (R), Nate Robinson (R)
- Potential Savings: $1,615,000
Pick Number 9 ($1,902,200)
Toronto
- Cap Number: $51,731,066
- Cap With Pick: $53,633,266
- Free Agents: Shawn Marion (UR), Anthony Parker (UR), Joey Graham (R), Pops Mensa-Bonsu (UR)
- Potential Savings: $640,300
Pick Number 10 ($1,807,100)
Milwaukee
- Cap Number: $71,035,835
- Cap With Pick: $72,842,935
- Free Agents: Damon Jones (UR), Charlie Villaneuva (R), Ramon Sessions (R), Keith Bogans (UR)
- Potential Savings: $545,200
Pick Number 11 ($1,716,700)
New Jersey
- Cap Number: $59,932,625
- Cap With Pick: $61,649,325
- Free Agents: Maurice Auger (UR)
- Potential Savings: $454,800
Pick Number 12 ($1,630,900)
Charlotte
- Cap Number: $66,877,077
- Cap With Pick: $68,507,977
- Free Agents: Raymond Felton (R), Sean May (R)
- Potential Savings: $369,000
Pick Number 13 ($1,549,300)
Indiana
- Cap Number: $68,357,863
- Cap With Pick: $69,907,163
- Free Agents: Radoslav Nesterovic (UR), Marquis Daniels (Team Option/UR), Jarrett Jack (R)
- Potential Savings: $287,400
Pick Number 14 ($1,471,900)
Phoenix
- Cap Number: $77,252,726
- Cap With Pick: $78,724,626
- Free Agents: Grant Hill (UR), Matt Barnes (UR), Stromile Swift (UR)
- Potential Savings: $420,000
So Washington immediately jumps out at me. They're paying the luxury tax, if they keep the pick, they're probably not looking at a player who's going to solve any of their problems. If I was Ed Stefanski, I'd be on the phone with them right now trying to work something out. Possibly a deal for the pick without giving up #17.
Lottery hella less interesting if your team isn't in the top 9 :)
Yep. There's still some analysis to be done, though. So I figured I'd do it live.
I'm not sure much - i don't think the sixers have the assets to move up in this draft
I mainly don!t want our east competition getting top 2. Milwaukee gets Griffin, they may improve bigtime.Indiana and Charlotte, who knows who they would take top three.
any team that doesn't take blake griffin number one is a putz
Of course, I am going for the Pacers in the top 5.
They will probably get the 36th pick somehow though.
bah hah hah hah
clippers
grizz
okc will get 1-2-3
if okc wins - no one will cry fix but it smells like lebron to cleveland
I bet that Wiz pick is for sale right now.
If the Clips get the first, then Kaman/Camby/Baron Davis become available.
If Memphis gets it, then Hakim Warrick is looking for another team to play for.
If OKC wins, then Sam Presti will be found dead in a pile of blow by 2a.m. tomorrow morning
Clips
Memphis
OKC
Memphis gets their point guard
Does Memphis need another guard on that team?
Yes - since none of them are very good...
Would they use the pick on Rubio, considering the pick they used on Conley? Probably.
That high in the draft you take the BPA - and after two years conley just isn't real good so far - shame - i like him though
I know he's disappointed - but would Conley be available you think?
If the purpose of the draft is to hepl the worst teams - the lottery really is broken.
The worst team has a 75% chance of NOT getting the first pick in the draft - that's too much (or not enough depending on how you want to look at it) - I understand that 'tanking' is an issue - (and miraculously look how it worked for cleveland and no one said boo about a fix).
I think it should be at least a 1 in 3 chance fot the worst team in the league - 1 in 4 just is a bit unbalanced
What did they expect when they sent Webber as their rep?
Ford has his first mock up, he has Thabeet going #2 to Memphis and the Sixers taking Maynor at #17.
DraftExpress has us taking Maynor as well, with Rubio going #2.
Conley shot 40% from 3 last year, if Memphis drafts Rubio would a L.Will. for Conley trade work.L.Will. can play next to Mayo and Rubio, and if we get Conley we can get our shooter at #17.
Take a look at Conley's numbers from February on, once they finally started giving him starter's minutes.
If they don't want him, I do.
Brian, 1]is Rubio that good, and if so ,do we try to get the #2 pick if Memphis is looking for a 4? 2]is it easier for us to move up now?[Wash. and Sac.]
I think Washington is the most-likely trade partner. It would cost them basically $5.5M for the #5 pick when you factor in the luxury tax. Anyone available at #5 worth that?
Ford has them taking Harden.
I loved conley before the draft - and would love to get him - no way would it take just lou
Brian, since we are in no man!s land as far as where we are drafting and our cap situation if Rubio is that special player that helps you win AND puts people in the seats maybe you throw the whole ball of wax Memphis!s way and see what happens.That is if he is rated by the organization as a superstar type, in footage he looks like Pistol Pete with the floppy hair.
Can he shoot? If the answer isn't a resounding yes, I'm not trading Speights to get him.
Um, no
With all the p.g.!s coming out, he seems to be head and shoulders better than all of them, according to all the draft boards, but it would be a risk, he is only 18, right.
Honestly, I think the draft boards have him head and shoulders above because he's been playing really competitive basketball in Europe, but he isn't without warts. Every PG in this draft has warts, or at least major questions. For my money, I don't want the question to be "can he shoot?"
and the big negative on him is that he can't shoot
it's a weak draft folks - after griffin, almost everyone is a flawed possibly second 10 pick in a better draft
Looks like we may have our coach in place by the draft, a good thing.I wonder how much input they will be able to give.Thebodeax may want to get his Rondo type defender [Holliday] but Casey,who knows. Any idea what he is known for?
I just hope Thibideau doesn't get his Rondo type shooter (possibly also Holiday :)
If Chad ford is reliable holiday and evans will be gone in the top 10
Would anyone feel more comfortable with a guy like Maynor, Lawson or Collison simply due to age and experience? I mean, chances are if they do draft a point, he's going to be fighting for the starting PG spot.
Curry's my 1st choice, but if he's gone, Maynor the best out of all the remaining points for the Sixers with Holliday and Calathes on my list over Lawson, Flynn and the rest of the midgets.
If we go with Thibodeau, either Maynor or Holliday could fit. Chad Ford's Holliday report sounded like he was making that jumper so that, with his defensive potential, makes him intriguing, especially with a guy with Thibodeau's player development background & Ed committing to hiring a permanent shooting coach. But, I'd prefer Maynor, because I really believe he could start here next year from the jump, and the only way he would not start is if Lou raised his game a few notches, so a win-win. IMO, Maynor reminds me of a blend of Cassell and Billups, and I think he will surprise people.
If I'm any team, I'm looking to trade back or trade for future picks. I don't really like many players in this class. It reminds me of the Kenyon Martin, Mike Miller draft class...putrid.