Continuing our preparation for tonight’s festivities
There’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on. But it’s all going on around us, instead of with us. What’s new, right?
What many have been speculating for a while now has been confirmed by the Indy Star: TJ Ford’s heading to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal. Toronto will also send the 17th overall selection to the Pacers, who now get the point guard they have been looking for in Ford as well as two selections (ahead of us) that they can use to replenish their front court – something that many anticipated the Cavaliers to do for quite some time.
So where does that leave us?
Another deal that appears to be on the block is the Charlotte Bobcats acquiring the 20th overall pick from the Nuggets, with the ‘Cats reportedly looking in the direction of Roy Hibbert. Couple this with the fact that the Blazers and/or Kings may now look to move up to acquire a point guard (D.J. Augustin). This sounds similar to when you select first overall in your fantasy league, only to watch player after player be taken ahead of your next selection – only we do not pick first.
Draft Express now shows a huge run on big men immediately before the 19th selection. DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez and JaVale McGee are all anticipated to be off of the board before Danny Ferry’s selection. Kosta Koufos has shot up the board to 11th overall, as the Pacers will need to fill the whole left by O’Neal.
It appears that the decision will come down to two moves. 1) We could finish off the run and snag Hibbert right from the Bobcats’ hopes, or 2) select a swingman with length like LSU’s Anthony Randolph.
Personally, I’m hoping that Ferry tosses the Cavaliers’ name in the hat of teams that could move up to snag a top point guard now that the Pacers traded for one, but I’m thinking that that’s a pipe dream.
I’m not totally opposed to drafting Douglas-Roberts, Nicolas Batum, or Mario Chalmers; but I would hope that the team could move down (and perhaps acquire a second-round selection), while still landing one of of them later in the first.
Tonight is going to be interesting to say the least.