The Official 2008 NBA Draft Thread Options

[soxfan3530]

I figured there would be a decent number of topics about this year's draft so this is the thread to discuss all things draft (mostly about the bulls.
Here is the info:



NBA Draft Lottery: May 20




NBA DRAFT: June 26 in New York City

[ZoomSlowik]

I don't think I could deal with a Noah-Tyrus-Jordan frontcourt for the next 5-10 years. So many guys with so little offensive ability...

Seriously, the guy averaged like 8 points and 6 boards at Texas A&M and didn't even start most of the year. He's a massive project. Tyrus Thomas was considerably better than him in college, that's a scary thought. MAYBE you end up with Andrew Bynum, but it'll be at least 2 years before you find out, and more likely 3.

[eddog2]

I don't think I could deal with a Noah-Tyrus-Jordan frontcourt for the next 5-10 years. So many guys with so little offensive ability...

Seriously, the guy averaged like 8 points and 6 boards at Texas A&M and didn't even start most of the year. He's a massive project. Tyrus Thomas was considerably better than him in college, that's a scary thought. MAYBE you end up with Andrew Bynum, but it'll be at least 2 years before you find out, and more likely 3.

If we take Jordan I'm done with Paxson. While we may have too many guards and SF's I don't care if we take another one. We need to take a player with star potential. If we get the 3rd pick I think we have to seriously consider drafting Bayless and trading Gordon. If we get 9 it's hard. If Randolph is there we have to take a chance on him. If Gordon is there we need to consider it but only if we can deal the other Gordon. But if Mayo, Bayless, Gordon, & Randolph are off the board I think we have to go with Love if he's still there. He's not likely to be a star but he's pretty good offensively and he's a great passer. Just having his passing ability out of the post should help. He's not fast or athletic but he did post some pretty good numbers as a freshman.

[SoxFan1]

If we take Jordan I'm done with Paxson. While we may have too many guards and SF's I don't care if we take another one. We need to take a player with star potential. If we get the 3rd pick I think we have to seriously consider drafting Bayless and trading Gordon. If we get 9 it's hard. If Randolph is there we have to take a chance on him. If Gordon is there we need to consider it but only if we can deal the other Gordon. But if Mayo, Bayless, Gordon, & Randolph are off the board I think we have to go with Love if he's still there. He's not likely to be a star but he's pretty good offensively and he's a great passer. Just having his passing ability out of the post should help. He's not fast or athletic but he did post some pretty good numbers as a freshman.

Jordan isn't really even worthy of a 1st round pick. I'd be utterly disappointed if we took him with the 9th pick. It would probably be the only pick worse than Tyrus Thomas. He sat on the bench in college so he's a lottery pick in the NBA? My god. If we get #9, Augustin or Love is who I want. If we get 1-2, it's obviously either Rose or Beasley, whichever is there. If we get #3, I want Lopez or Mayo.

[Wanne]

Jordan isn't really even worthy of a 1st round pick. I'd be utterly disappointed if we took him with the 9th pick. It would probably be the only pick worse than Tyrus Thomas. He sat on the bench in college so he's a lottery pick in the NBA? My god. If we get #9, Augustin or Love is who I want. If we get 1-2, it's obviously either Rose or Beasley, whichever is there. If we get #3, I want Lopez or Mayo.

I'd like to see the Bulls get Love too...I know some aren't really that fond of him...but I think he'll be a pretty good 4 in this league.

[Chicago Bulls Fr...]

I'd like to see the Bulls get Love too...I know some aren't really that fond of him...but I think he'll be a pretty good 4 in this league.

I'm not really sure how to read him on his strength attributes. He looks like he's still got some of that baby fat that he can shed off but then again, he's one of the few people I've seen that can launch a full court chest-pass into the basket..

[Wanne]

I'm not really sure how to read him on his strength attributes. He looks like he's still got some of that baby fat that he can shed off but then again, he's one of the few people I've seen that can launch a full court chest-pass into the basket..

From Chad Ford who's traveling around visiting prospects workouts. I'm actually pretty intrigued with getting this guy.

Here's my report from Day 1.

Kevin Love, PF, UCLA


Love was the first player I wanted to see in this environment. We already know that he's one of the most skilled big men to ever enter the draft. His basketball skills, both in the paint and out on the perimeter, resemble those of an NBA veteran.

His basketball IQ is off the charts, his footwork is strong, his jump shot has range out to the NBA 3-point line, his outlet passes are legendary and he has a series of step-backs, up-and-unders and spins that made him one of the top 5 players in college basketball this season.

However, what Love has lacked is explosive athleticism and a chiseled, athletic body. As a freshman at UCLA, he often carried a spare tire around his waist. He seemed to run out of steam in up-tempo games and, at times, looked like he lacked the athleticism to excel in the pros.

Love's strengths and weaknesses have generated a huge debate among NBA scouts and executives about his NBA prospects. Sure, he knows how to play the game. But would that be enough in the up-and-down, breakneck pace of the NBA?

Abunassar has spent the past three weeks with Love and the results are really impressive. Love has lost 13 pounds since UCLA was bounced from the Final Four and he's starting to show muscle definition. He really is getting up and down the floor -- he went through a one-hour, fast-paced workout and finished with plenty of gas left in the tank.

Ford's NBA Dish
Chad Ford chats with Kevin Love about his training regimen, and more. Listen

Love is clearly in much better shape than he was at UCLA and it dramatically improves his game. He's more explosive getting off the floor. He moves better laterally. And he isn't sacrificing the trademark strength that made him one of the toughest big men in college basketball.

Abunassar said a mixture of conditioning and dietary changes have led to Love's improvements. He now eats structured meals several times a day and is working out roughly five to six hours a day. In addition, Abunassar is working on improving Love's flexibility and agility -- which has really helped with his quickness on both ends of the floor.

"Kevin has been working hard," Abunassar said. "And I still feel like we're scratching the surface. He's probably going to lose about five more pounds before Orlando [the NBA pre-draft combines that begin May 27] and we're still working on his explosiveness and flexibility. Every week he's looking better and better."

Love's confidence shines through on the floor. He's taking the lead in drills, encouraging everyone in the gym and going all-out on every drill.

After the workout, he said he's treating basketball like a job. "I want to come in to work every day and put in 100 percent. I know NBA teams expect a lot and I don't want to disappoint them. I love the game and I want to be the best player I can be."

Love admits that he struggled to stay in great shape at UCLA and said he felt that his eating habits were the primary problem. Love said he didn't eat a lot of junk food (thought he mentioned a fondness for chocolate milk) but that he ate large quantities at bad times. Now he's spreading out his meals and it makes a difference.

On Thursday, at least, Love didn't look like the slow, unathletic big man that many NBA scouts had pegged him. He was pretty nimble on his feet.

"I'm telling you right now, I'm going to shock a lot of people coming to the combines," Love said. "Whether it's jumping off the floor or the agility drill or the three-quarter court sprint."

Watching Love work out and seeing his confidence has pushed me to rethink his draft stock. If he goes into pre-draft combines in great shape and shows he has the requisite athleticism and quickness to be a full-time NBA power forward, Love could really move up the board -- possibly in the 5-to-10 range in the draft.

We've already identified the Bobcats, Bulls and Pacers as possibilities. A few other teams higher up in the draft like the Grizzlies and Sonics might also have to give him serious consideration.