OperationWTF - Day 6
by Jordan Sams on Apr 25, 2010 12:01 AM PDT
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25 days till the lottery ...
Here's the scenario ESPN's Draft Lottery simulator spit out at me today:
2nd pick and Evan Turner. Now this is where it gets interesting. Evan Turner's the sure-fire number two right? I'd strongly consider taking Favors here. I think he fits better, and I think he has more potential. However; things change if the plan is to get rid of Iguodala. If the Sixers plan on unloading Andre, I think Turner's the pick.
What if Minnesota or Utah got number one in this scenario? Would either team pass on Wall for Turner, Favors, or even Cousins? John Wall falling to us at number two would almost be as cool as us taking him number one.
Might the Sixers even consider Cousins here? I hope not, but there's a lot of things to think about in this scenario. It's a tough decision I'd love to see the Sixers get the opportunity to make!
According to DX's rankings, these are the guys who'd be available to the Sixers at 2: Turner, Favors, Cousins, Wesley Johnson ... the same guys available on ESPN.
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Simulation #1: 6th pick, Aminu
Simulation #2: 7th pick, Aminu
Simulation #3: 3rd pick, Cousins
Simulation #4: 6th pick, Aminu
Simulation #5: 7th pick, Aminu
Simulation #6: 2nd pick, Turner
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I absolutely agree with you. Favors is my pick here. Don’t get me wrong; I think Turner will be a stud in the L. I’ve just always felt that if the talent level is close, you choose the big over the small, particularly when that big is defensive minded & a superior athlete. A stud big beats a stud small almost every time, especially if the small is a wing. MJ is the exception that proves the rule, though Durant might become 1A soon enough.
The comparisons I’m hearing with Favors include Prime McDyess, Defensive-minded Amare even D12. He gets raves for his work ethic, his intelligence and his personality.
IMO, if he reaches his considerable ceiling, he could be the anchor on both ends for this team for a decade plus. Add Favors to Jrue and Dala as a core, you have three plus defenders who can become potentially very effective in Screen/Roll. He and Jrue could potentially be the Payton/Kemp of this era, allowing Dala to play that complementary utility role he naturally fits.
Lol really going to compare Favors with Kemp? Kemp was a beast, could handle the ball, and was an athletic freak. Favors will never be comparable to Kemp
Not when he 1st came out he wasn’t. Kemp was very raw and was not in a regular in the starting lineup until his fourth season.
by MojoPharoah on Apr 25, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
I take Evan Turner at 2 and then take a long nap. The gap is much bigger than you think. You’re hyping Favors up in your head and forgetting what Turner’s shown on the court. Favors is still very very raw, and has as much bustability as the next one-and-done. Turner’s a surefire stud and the shooting guard that we’re painfully lacking. If we get 2, Evan is the pick, no question.
Agree on some, disagree on others. I think Favors “bustability” is very low, just because I don’t see any way he’s not an impact defender. I could see his offense “only” being Al Horford level.
But I would absolutely take Turner #2. Turner has all the skills you can build a team around. I’m not sure I see that potential in Favors offensively.
Derek Bodner
by Derek Bodner on Apr 25, 2010 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree. You better be really high on Favors to pass on Turner.
It’s one thing to draft a potentially dominant 7 footer like Oden over a player who is more polished (and they still got burned.) Favors has a good chance of being an excellent PF or undersized center- but is not nearly the prospect that Oden was coming out of college.
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
I’m not wowed by his D like you are. I think he’s solid and could be very good, but I think Horford was the better player coming out of school (obviously more years) and will be the better player in the end. And it’s still not close Turner over Favors.
by Michael Levin on Apr 25, 2010 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Let’s say you get Turner and he turns into BRoy/JJohnson, then what? You still would need a big to compete, to really become a contender. As bad as we need a 2-guard, we also need a true defensive anchor. If that player can turn into a 2-way threat, so much the better.
by MojoPharoah on Apr 25, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Let’s say you get Favors. You still need a dominant perimeter scorer to compete and a guy who can force a double team and get open looks for his teammates.
The Sixers aren’t one piece away, so that’s not going to affect my evaluation of the prospects.
Derek Bodner
by Derek Bodner on Apr 25, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t disagree with your dominant perimeter player theory – but could Holiday be that player?
by jemagee on Apr 25, 2010 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
You didn’t ask me, but I don’t think so.
by Jordan Sams on Apr 25, 2010 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Not unless he develops the ability to hit jumpers off the bounce. That’s pretty much the only part of his game that is below average right now.
And if you get Turner, you will still need a consistent defensive anchor/paint controller, especially in a conference with LeBron and D12.
So, we agree that you need a dominant big and a dominant wing to really compete consistently. Best case, If you get Turner, you still need a big. Or If you get Favors, you would still need a wing.
by MojoPharoah on Apr 25, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Or you just re-sign Sam for 3 years and 7-8 million per as he does enough in the middle.
by jemagee on Apr 25, 2010 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
You could, but that is still up in the air. There are a couple of reports of how Sam doesn’t want to come back.
by MojoPharoah on Apr 25, 2010 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes well, most players usually take the best contract offer whatever the ‘reports’ say…i expect after this season a lot of guys don’t want to come back cause the coach was a jacktard asswipe who couldn’t help but take shots at players so as not to take blame for his piss poor coaching…
I don’t buy any ‘reports’ from the people who cover the sixers since most of them are (generously) called hacks.
The sixers are multiple pieces away from being even capable of winning a first round game – targeting a position need is foolish when you have more holes than swiss cheese
by jemagee on Apr 25, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
As we’ve discussed elsewhere, I have no problems with bringing Sam back on a deal a couple notches below the extension Camby just signed.
I am not saying you take need over talent. But I do believe you go need@talent over talent, if they are close.
by MojoPharoah on Apr 25, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
But they are not close.
Turner is the best player in college basketball… with a very high ceiling.
Favors is an offensive project… with an equally high ceiling. If Favors was as good as Cousins right now (without the character questions) then you take Favors. But Favors could end up an average starting PF- while Turner is a sure fire excellent player.
Basically, unless you think Favors is on par with Turner you should not take him just because he is tall. And he does not even project to be a physically dominant center- which is much more rare than a highly athletic PF.
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
If only they had a frontcourt player who could rebound- aside from Sam, who is likely not part of their long term plans. Its a bonus to get rebounds from wing players- but if your frontcourt can’t secure the boards you get killed no matter how good your backcourt rebounders are.
I think Iguodala is a better rebounder than Brand, Smith, Thad and maybe Speights.
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
I have a feeling Sam gets re-signed. I’m not sure anyone else really wants to pay him anything much, and they have always valued their own players a little more highly than other teams have. Frankly, I think they will be the only team to offer Sam 7-8M for 3-4 years.
Speights is a better rebounder than Ig, when he wants to be. Speights is better at a lot of things than a lot of people, when he wants to be. Ten-million dollar talent, five-cent head. Where’s Kevin Costner to straighten him out when you need him?
And Thad is a wing, whether anyone wants to deal with that or not. He should be a better rebounder than he is, and he seemed like he was starting to pick up that part of his game later in the season, before he got hurt. He had a number of 7-8 rpg games going in his last bunch. I would take 7-8 rpg on a consistent level from Thad.
Smith…I’m not sure why he can’t rebound, except for the fact that he’s pillowy-soft. He would be a really good player in the Euroleague, where bigs sit out on the perimeter and shoot jumpers all day.
Brand…sigh shaking head
Not saying that these players resemble the analogy, but...
…your explanation of why you’d want to draft Favors over Turner is the same kind of thinking that leads to “Bowie over Jordan”. Turner would HAVE to be a no-brainer pick in that scenario. I’d have to lead a pitchfork and torch brigade to the front office if they went with Favors there.
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