Could Hornets get the steal of the draft?

[Impose]

Hmmm, some last minute dreaming here, but it COULD happen!

So... Bogut goes No.1

Hawks select a point guard that they badly need and go with Chris Paul who some say has Isiah Thomas characteristics....

Then Portland go for a deal with Utah and trade their pick, Utah does the deal to secure Deron Williams.....

Leaving the player in the draft many believe will be the best long term star Marvin Williams to the Hornets!


I think it could happen

[[L3]1101]

from the things i read, it seems like Chris Paul could get drafted after Deron Williams and Felton for some reason....

[Impose]

yer, ive read that too, but Paul surprised Byron Scott at the workouts and Deron Williams doesnt have the same 3pt range as Paul...

The toss up is.... Do you like combo guards that can give short asses like Francis and Iverson a SG role on a team or do you like pure PG's like the leagues MVP Nash?

[maes]

If Williams is left by the 3rd pick, Portland will take him and keep him. The only reason Portland is trading their pick is because they believe there is no viable big man after Williams, if he's left they'll grab him quickly.

[J@3]

That's just not going to happen... Paul could possibly go to Atlanta, but if Portland deal with anyone I can't see it being Utah. Who are the Jazz going to give them that they could possibly want? The only trade scenario's I've seen involving Portland are with the Bobcats and the Lakers. Trading with the Hornets directly is a possibility though.

[Stevesanity]

Jazz aim higher
Utah trying to move up to draft Illinois' Williams
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune


The Jazz reportedly covet Illinois point guard Deron Williams in Tuesday's draft. (Associated Press file photo )
Having earned the No. 6 pick in the NBA draft with an unhappy 26-win season, the Jazz are close to figuring out what they want to do with it.
Vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor wants to trade into the top three, where Utah would be assured of getting the high-caliber point guard it desperately needs.
The Jazz are drooling over Illinois' Deron Williams - who along with Wake Forest's Chris Paul is one of the top two point guards in the draft - and Utah officials are apparently working feverishly to get him.
A league source told The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday night that the Jazz and Trail Blazers are involved in "intense discussions" about a possible trade.
According to the source, Portland would take Williams with the No. 3 pick. The Jazz would then take one of three players who interest the Blazers - high schoolers Gerald Green and Martell Webster or Arizona center Channing Frye.
Utah would have to throw something else into the deal - perhaps the 27th pick and/or the 34th pick in the draft. But Portland is believed to be willing to move down without asking for more than the Jazz can afford.
than the Jazz can afford.
In recent days, O'Connor has declined to comment on all pre-draft trade rumors.
If Utah can't move up and stays at No. 6, the Jazz won't get Williams or Paul. Both New Orleans and Charlotte, which pick ahead of Utah, want point guards. Neither Williams nor Paul will drop out of the top five.
Barring a trade, the Jazz's decision would probably come down to Frye or North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton.
Though players like Webster and New Mexico's Danny Granger would remain on the radar screen at No. 6, the Jazz would likely find themselves in a position of trying to answer one of the draft's perennial questions: Do you take the highest-rated player or fill a need?
Frye (6-11, 250) probably will be the Jazz's highest-rated player on the board when they make their first pick in Tuesday night's draft.
"He's a pretty talented guy," coach Jerry Sloan said. "It looks like he can shoot the ball a little bit, and he can pass the ball a little bit."
If the Jazz don't take Frye, he is not expected to last past Golden State at No. 9.
Felton's


fate is more uncertain.
After playing three seasons at North Carolina, he is the No. 3-ranked point guard in the draft behind Paul and Williams.
Some scouts rate Felton just behind Paul and Williams, but others rate him several notches below. If Utah passes, he could slide out of the lottery. Felton could end up going to Minnesota at No. 14 or Toronto at No. 16 if Utah decides to pass on him.
Frye has another advantage over Felton, besides being a higher-rated player.
He's bigger - a true center - and that makes him a valuable commodity in the NBA.
Just ask University of Utah product Andrew Bogut. He is considered the top center in the draft and, almost certainly, he will be taken by Milwaukee with the No. 1 pick.
Oddly, Bogut isn't getting much help in his bid to be the top pick from former Utah coach Rick Majerus.
A couple weeks ago, Majerus questioned Bogut's athleticism and hinted that his nearsightedness might be a degenerative-type eye disease that could impact his career.
The Bucks have checked out Bogut's eyesight and found Majerus to be "1,000 percent wrong," a team source said.
Over the weekend, however, Majerus was at it again.
He told the Chicago Sun-Times that North Carolina's Marvin Williams, the consensus No. 2 pick in the draft, would be his choice at No. 1.
"I know that's going against the grain of thought on the streets of Milwaukee," Majerus told the newspaper. "But that's what I honestly feel. And don't forget, I'm a long-term kind of basketball mind. I know all the pluses with Bogut, and I know the minuses. Yes, he is a legitimate big man and he will probably have a more immediate impact that Williams. And maybe that's what the Bucks need. But I have said all along . . . that I think Williams is special."

Blazers unsure of script as they take draft's center stage
Page 2 of 3

The Blazers could trade the pick and acquire a later lottery pick, along with -- they hope -- a proven perimeter shooter. The Blazers would gamble that the player they covet -- possibly prep stars Martell Webster or Gerald Green -- still would be available.

"That's our greatest need and our most desirable thing, but we're not ruling out the chance of talking to somebody about an All-Star point guard or an All-Star power forward," Nash said. "If somebody wanted to give us a high-level player entering his prime years, we would consider that, too."

Nash said he has conducted discussions with Utah, Charlotte, New Orleans and Toronto.

Utah reportedly has offered the sixth pick along with guards Gordon Giricek and Kirk Snyder. There has been talk that power forward Carlos Boozer might be available, though the Blazers signed Zach Randolph to an $84 million extension at that position last year.

"We're still trying to figure who's going to be there with our pick," Perrin said. "There are a few teams that are gathering information to find out if they can move up in the draft to get who they want."

Bickerstaff's Bobcats want to move up, and they might be willing to trade both of their lottery picks to acquire the right to draft one of the top point guards or Marvin Williams.

"If it gets to a point where there's someone that we really feel good about, I think it's something that you consider," Bickerstaff said. "I think for every organization, when you're in the draft, you have to consider all your options."

Toronto has reportedly offered its lottery pick (seventh) and shooting guard Morris Peterson. The acquisition of Peterson would address a Blazers weakness and the seventh pick would likely still allow them to select the player they want. Getting the third pick would give the Raptors an opportunity to draft a center (Arizona's Channing Frye or prep star Andrew Bynum) or one of those point guards.

"We're trying to move up, down or sideways. Anything to help us improve," said Rob Babcock, Toronto general manager. "When you win 33 games, you have needs everywhere."

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly have offered the 10th pick, along with small forward Caron Butler and point guard Chucky Atkins.

Im not sure that the Blazers want another crappy small forward and another crappy pg, I think the Blazers are gonna end up picking Paul or Green. No trades will happen for that pick, but if their is one Id say it'll be the Jazz that get it.

[zmac]

I dont think Marvin Williams wont be selected later than 2nd, hes too good.
IMO that is.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

In my mocks, I always have Chris Paul going 2nd, so if that happens it'll be vindication to my clairvoyancy skills... but make no mistake, Marvin will not fall past Portland at 3.

[Cu/Clux/Clan]

yeah,marvin is very good,i think atlanta will choose him

[maes]

There are 2 portland-utah rumors:
Giricek + UTA pick for Patterson + POR pick
Boozer + UTA pick for Randolph + POR pick

I doubt Paul Allen will bite on Giricek...his team gets a lot worse defensively and Giricek is known as a giant ball hog, which won't work well on this team.

The second scenario is a sure thing from Portland's side, but Utah is pretty much banking that CP is their savior if they're going to lose all their inside muscle. Okur has height but he can't defend athletes.

Another thing to bear in mind is that if no trade happens, rumors have it that Portland will pick one of the high schoolers, Green/Webster/Bynum. So Utah is probably wondering if they can negotiate for the 4th or 5th pick, not necessarily the 3rd and give up Boozer.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

There are 2 portland-utah rumors:
Giricek + UTA pick for Patterson + POR pick

Actually I've heard that Snyder will be included in the deal, which makes it all the more sweeter since Capt Kirk was a Top 10 pick last year. If I was the Blazers, knowing I have no real SG whatsoever, I'd take the deal and draft Gerald Green, Bynum or Granger. (Screw D-Miles... )