I find myself aligning with
Kam & Facil post-draft, while parting company on a number of conclusions but also seeing eye to eye on some with the
Almighty & Prescient BoD, long may he rain on any and all parades.
FIRST:
Do NO Harm. Surely things that can be debated, and some legitimate head scratching & second guessing, but nothing debased or abjectedly stupid, especially in light of front office moves over the past 20 years.
SECOND: From the diplomatic perspective, some interesting alliances and partnerships, among our competitors and worthy adversaries, pulling off deals with Utah, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles that appear to have been mutually beneficial. Nobody got fleeced, no one got dressed up in a French Maid's outfit and bent over a straight back chair. And among the enduring alliances laid out, again, subject to review and second guessing, a clear alliance/predilection for CAA relationships and the KENTUCKY CONNECTION.
THIRD: Close to the vest calculations. Seemingly nothing was leaked to dumbskis in the press, although our infatuation with Toppin was plainly in view, while the Quickley trade/draft pick was a pleasant surprise,
although I was on the phone pulling for Maxey and Harmpton with forum alumni E-Mann when both went a pick before us, but we both knew that with Morey and Doc in Philly that Maxey was not dropping to us at #23, and cursed when RJ went like low hanging fruit to Milwuakee just before us at #24, although I believe Quickley was a done deal.
FOURTH: The Mystery Of The #33 Pick. Among the second guessing and consternation, one might hazard some speculation, with or without evidentiary back-up. A] The trade-up for #23 > #27-#38 would seem to have been earmarked for a possible trade down for the #5 pick for either Okoro or Toppin. B] The Trade-down for #25-#33 > #23 might have been cover for any number of possible present-or-future deals hertofore unknown
or which failed to materialize. In the end, as per forum head scratching as to why we would have passed on such
ohmyGODtheyarestillTHERE low-hangingfruit as Maledon, Woodard and Jones, well, we may indeed be second guessing those for a generation, but some cards clearly have yet to have been played, and just as clearly our #33 big man pick was selected for the Clippers. Perhaps the backup slot for Mitchell Robinson is being reserved for Kenny Wooten and/or Gibson/Portis should either of them be re-enlisted at a cheaper price. Perhaps.
FIFTH: LOW HANGING FRUIT?
No matter what we did at #8, we were going to be second guessed by friends and adversaries alike. Washington couldn't have been happier when DA fell in their laps, as they have Wagner and are looking to re-up Bertans at the 4-5, so a nice hybrid 3-4-2 to go with 3-4, Hachimura is surely matzoh from heaven, but they might have been just as giddy had Toppin fallen down to them. I was a long-time enthusiast for Haliburton and Vassell, and respectfully disagreed with BoD pissy dismissals of Okoro and Toppin, though I think the latter's selection at #5-#8 would seem to indicate that pro scouts disagreed with Bo's assessment and were more in tune with the judgement of Coach Tom Thumb.
SIXTH: LOW HANGING FRUIT?
This was a WAY BETTER DRAFT in terms of serviceable NBA talent from top to bottom than the geniuses allowed. I mean, Ball falling to Charlotte at #3? Williams moving up to #4. Toppin and Avdija and Vassell and Haliburton and Lewis and Nesmith and Anthony all being there for the taking between 8 & 15? MIAMI with another one of their patented mid-late first round heists at #20 with Precious Achiuwa....I mean, how PERFECT is THAT?Wow. And despite BoD's dismissive Rubio/Flynn metaphor for Toppin/Avdija, I would rather float a more garish hindsight suggestion of Trae/Luca.
Okay, that is as giddy and over the top as BoD's predictable piss take. I will readily grant BoD THIS, though...when Detroit took Hayes at #7, I swallowed hard at the realization that both Toppin and Avdija were sitting there are #8. HOLY SHIT. Clearly the CONSENSUS of
Tom Thumb, Perrywinkle, Thorn Of The Rose, Pass The Salt Walt, Aller Kocker, Zanin The Pass and Double Wide Wes saw something in Toppin [and Immanuel] that they really coveted moving forward in their ostensible grand scheme, which shall reveal itself in stages through the top of next week.
But there would appear to be some sort of commitment in the short term to Knox and Brazdeikis AND Toppin in a 3-4 scheme of things, and a wait and see on 4-5 Randle going forward...I am not as convinced that Julius is click bait or a place holder as the received wisdom would have, a 20-10-3 a game man being something to cherish on any roster, and agree that Randle is a candidate for a Morris-style trade by the deadline. Or NOT?
STILL, Avdija really impressed me in pre-draft interviews and clips for his size and wingspan and skill set and INTELLECTUAL Acumen as a passer and defender, not to metion experience playing against pros and the endorsement of Amare. In any event, don't cry for me Argentina. We will all watch him with considerable interest, even as one needs make no mistake about Toppin's frame, strength, motor, growth curve and explosive inside/outside offensive game AND MOTIVATIONAL FIRE. The kid wanted to be a KNICK and represent New York.
So, upon relflection, all of the what ifs and couldawouldashoulda and Stephen A-MeltDowns, a better than passing grade for Thorn Of The Rose and his Posse. Say what the fuck you want. After striking out on the ping pong balls, we scored genuine talent moving forward.
DRAFT GRADE: B+
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