NBA draft lottery

[Zeste]

When OJ Mayo arrives, he's going to bring the NBA to a whole new level (and by that, I mean a lower level of scumbag).

[Jadaki]

Originally Posted by Zeste

When OJ Mayo arrives, he's going to bring the NBA to a whole new level (and by that, I mean a lower level of scumbag).

I watched him play in the McDonalds game and several other summer all star games, he hasn't even come close to impressing me. Looks like a ton of hype.

[Mario Speedwagon]

Originally Posted by Zeste

When OJ Mayo arrives, he's going to bring the NBA to a whole new level (and by that, I mean a lower level of scumbag).

What basis do you have for calling him a scumbag?

[Akileese]

We used to have a thread on him in general. A lot of people (myself included) don't like how he plays and promotes himself. He's arrogant, shoot first, plus he's a show man. I just don't like his me-first mentality. I prefer guys like Kevin Love who are pass first guys who think of their teammates and understand that basketball is a team game and you can't win by yourself.

As Jadaki said, he really didn't impress me. Ok, he beat up on high school kids playing in West Virginia. He didn't go to one of the highly touted nationally recognized high schools. Personally, I think he's good, but in the college game, he's not going to be that special. I'm not saying this because I dislike him, I'm saying it because I truly believe it.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by Akileese

Ummm, I REALLY doubt that. Considering every team and their mother would sell their fucking franchise to get Oden or Durant. Plus, I don't trust Yahoo for shit.

edit: Actually, it's almost all of the mock drafts that are predicting they take Wright or Brewer ( I think).

Think they are dangling Zach Randolph plus maybe some future pick.

They are hoping to get Oden and Connolly in the same draft

[Zeste]

Originally Posted by Akileese

Personally, I think he's good, but in the college game, he's not going to be that special. I'm not saying this because I dislike him, I'm saying it because I truly believe it.

And what, he was like a 20 year old high school senior?

[Mario Speedwagon]

Originally Posted by Akileese

We used to have a thread on him in general. A lot of people (myself included) don't like how he plays and promotes himself. He's arrogant, shoot first, plus he's a show man. I just don't like his me-first mentality. I prefer guys like Kevin Love who are pass first guys who think of their teammates and understand that basketball is a team game and you can't win by yourself.

I agree with you on this for the most part. He definetly makes some mistakes and turnovers because he wants to hold onto the ball. I think at least some of this behavior though can be attributed to the fact that he is a national star on a high school team and knows he can beat almost anyone he's going to face. I think he won't be as bad about that next year but does need to work on it. That being said he is amazingly talented. He could use some polish but he is definetly going to be an excellent player.

I really don't think being a ball hog warrants being called a scum bag though.

Edit: He's 19. Hardly that abnormal for a high school senior.

[Akileese]

Well yeah, if you fucking failed a grade in middle. Most of the people I know turned 18 either during the tail end or the summer following their senior year. That's abnormal.

Anywho, how do they plan on getting Connolly and Oden in the same draft? Seattle has the #2 and they're almost definitely taking Oden (unless they can move Ray Allen and his horrific contract which is 66,776,860 over 4 years or just under 17 MILLION A YEAR). Allen isn't that healthy and the problem with the NBA season is in order to move someone like that, you either need equal value or a lot of salary dumps (think the Knicks). I don't see the Knicks taking on another humongous contract though.

Personally, I don't see how having two shoot first guard/forward types can help your team, but that's just me.

As for Portland dangling Randolph. Well, that's an easy one. He's owed almost 73 million over the next 5 years and he's nowhere near that good. Luckily for him, he's still pretty young so someone will take him. Portland just wants to rebuild their image and their team. One more thing about Randolph, is his hoopshype.com scouting report which almost describes him flawlessly.

Has talent, size, mobility and good rebounding skills... Great footwork... Great spin moves... Nice shooting touch... Not a great athlete though... A little bit selfish... Must learn how to pass out of double-teams... Suspect defense... Conditioning is a concern.

Now, the positives are nothing special. Those are a requirement for pretty much any decent sized NBA power forward. Now look at the negatives. Selfish, suspect defense, poor conditioning, not a great athlete. So basically, it's 73 million dollars for a PF who's out of shape, can't play defense, and can't pass out of double teams. But like I said, this is the NBA and someone will be dumb enough to take him. If Portland gets Connolly and Oden (I think getting Durant and Connolly is MUCH more realistic though), they're easily a playoff team. But we've got time.

I'll probably talk about shit like this in my blog later.

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Akileese

-lots of sports talk-
I'll probably talk about shit like this in my blog later.

How would Portland not get Oden if they want him? They have the number one pick, Seattle's got number two...not the other way around.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by woqqqa

How would Portland not get Oden if they want him? They have the number one pick, Seattle's got number two...not the other way around.

response to talk that Portland was going to trade the #1 pick. Which was mis-reported apparently. They're trying to trade Randolph and a future first rounder I believe to Atlanta/Memphis (I believe, any way they could land connolly), in an attempt to try and lock up Oden and Connolly.

This is why I don't listen to Yahoo sports, they're fucking retarded and can't even report rumors properly.