The perfected science of drafting
“The tape” goes public and its Hangtime in Sactown
With the draft approaching I decided to read the latest Chad Ford column. This is the “tier” column, meaning lumping similar typed prospects together. I can’t speak for Chad, but when I was writing my Dirty 30 power rankings columns, I would go to the tier approach when I was feeling lazy. Maybe he’s more scientific about it. I do not know. One thing is for sure, Chad is really pushing himself into becoming the Mel Kiper Jr. of basketball. He’s on the phone with GMs and scouts all day, and I suppose they could be telling him the truth about their thoughts, but I know if I was one of those scouts/GMs, I’d just make stuff up to mess with him and his millions of readers. Is that unethical? We are talking about NBA GMs here. This is the column if you haven’t seen it.
For some reason, I get insider on my computer, even though I don’t remember ordering it. It’s freeeeeeeeeeee!
Anyways, I was about to read the column and get ready for the draft like cramming for Finals when I was in school, as opposed to someone like Chad or Mel Kiper who live 364 days of the year to make their money on the 365th. And then you are hit in the face with this paragraph:
Obviously both lists are imperfect because the draft is a bit of an inexact science. NBA teams do more than just watch prospects play games. They work out players, give them psychological tests, do background checks and conduct personal interviews. All of this factors into the process and could change opinions.
WHAT!?!? An inexact science? Imperfect? Then why the scientific approach? Why the 364 days of build-up until one night? I don’t mean to make this all about Chad Ford, but he is the king of the NBA pre-draft mountain. He’s podcasting, he’s constantly revising rankings, he’s working really hard. There is one factor that makes all of this moot though; most NBA GMs don’t know what they are doing. Having a “war room” makes it seem like they do, or talking about how many phone calls they are making and all that traveling and due diligence gives the impression of a brain at work. Not always the case. You’ll see in a little more than a week. So, you can make a list of what team has what needs and give them a guideline for what they should do, but it won’t happen that way. All it does is provide fodder for post-draft columns about how so and so messed up by taking this guy, who was only supposed to go to his team because that’s how it was predicted by the same writers pre-draft. I like Isiah’s approach. “Balkman isn’t on any journalists radar? I’m taking him in the first round, just because I can.”
Stay tuned (to your computer) for our mock drafts and analysis and pre-rankings and stuff though.
Two other NBA-related stories coming in. First of all, the KOBE tape has reached the mainstream media level, and is gaining momentum as a story. This is perhaps the most public of Kwame Brown’s many humiliations. It is a pretty amusing story. In KOBE’s defense, who hasn’t been caught on camera dropping F bombs and making fun of Kwame and Mitch Kupchak? I know KOBE is completely insane, but his relationship with society is going to push him even further out there. It’s like people are just poking him with a stick, hoping he’ll snap. This is taking on Tom Cruise and the water pistol microphone proportions.
And who are these people that put the video on the web, you might ask? Can they really be KOBE’s friends if they are doing this to him? Personal anecdote time. Some years ago, I was at this rooftop party where there were alcoholic beverages and a video camera running. This one friend of mine has always been very guarded of his “public image” while privately he says some of the most messed up unrepeatable one-liners ever created. I am actually working on a book about him, that’s more of a compilation of quotes. Anyways, on this night the camera caught him saying “Women are only good for two things. Practicing your lies on and getting your…” I can’t reveal the second half until it’s time to build buzz for the book. Just know that it is offensive and hilarious. That video was watched many many times, and if youtube existed back then, it would have been put on the internet. Would we have sold out our friend to put that video in the public forum? Well, how else are you supposed to make money?
So, there you go. “The tape” is out there. Pamela and Tommy. Paris in nightvision. R Kelly. Kimmy and Ray J. Kobe. People love mystery tapes. Our Vince Carter tape is better.
The second NBA story is much happier. Reggie Theus will coach the Sacramento Kings. This possibility was floated about a month ago and I wrote a quick post on why it was so pleasing. Those reasons all hold true (okay one reason: HA-AAANG TIIIIIME! HAAA-AAAANG TII-IIIME!!!), but now it’s even better because it means Larry Brown won’t get the job and his NBA/NCAA/ABA resume couldn’t beat an ex-children’s sitcom star who coached at New Mexico State. Hey Larry, every time you beg another team for a job and get rejected, an angel gets its wings. That’s not a nice thing to say, and I assign blame to the ‘05-’06 Knicks season for it. This is sweet justice.
Alright, now I’m in a good mood!
51 Responses to “The perfected science of drafting”
Jun.20 at 8:54 am
Steve O says:
first, and I hear the Kings training camp has been moved to Deering High
Jun.20 at 9:02 am
backboard says:
link to kobe-tape please
Jun.20 at 9:03 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Good one, Steve O. I’ll never forget Reggie appearing on Oprah back in the day.
Jun.20 at 9:03 am
solly what says:
HANG TIME! Runnin’ together…. puttin it on the line. I hope he works the same magic with the Kings that he did with that girl on his HS bball team!!!!!
Jun.20 at 9:06 am
mpec says:
I think Kobe was joking about Bynum not Kwame
Jun.20 at 9:26 am
nexus6 says:
Larry Brown should coach a WNBA team.
Jun.20 at 9:35 am
H to the izzo says:
Larry Brown is talented.And Sam shouldn’t you hate Isiah a lot more than you do Larry?
Jun.20 at 9:39 am
Colin says:
I have hears some supposition that Larry Brown wanted some GM powers in Sac and the Maloofs were not willing to take power out of Geoff Petrie’s hands. And if you look at his tenure with the Knicks if LB was not making the decisions and it turned out wrong he would destroy the team in the media. From a Sac fan I say no thank you.
Jun.20 at 9:52 am
Nadav says:
you mentioned “Larry Brown”. big no-no.
Jun.20 at 9:56 am
Esco says:
Post.of.the.year.by.Ryan.Jones. Ryan, you just did a great justice to all of humanity and you should be greatly rewarded if it works. I’m sorry if I posted it here, but I’m not allowed to post on Ryan’s post.
Jun.20 at 9:58 am
Both Teams Played Hard says:
is ron ron gonna stay with the kings? and wasnt he going to kill bonzi? maybe just his agent
Jun.20 at 10:02 am
H to the izzo says:
Since we can’t postt on it I’d like to nominate Ryan Jones for the Nobel peace prize for his efforts to try and rid the world of Chukaz
Jun.20 at 10:10 am
Punisher says:
Are you sure Kobe was trashing Kwame? I heard it was Bynum he was mad about not trading for JKidd
Jun.20 at 10:16 am
white hot eboy says:
Why even bother making a Chukaz only column. It’s almost been an hour and he hasn’t posted in it yet. This fool is going to think he’ll be invited to be a new columnist by seeing his name in “lights”.
Jun.20 at 10:21 am
white hot eboy says:
Meant 1/2 an hour. It’s almost like fishing. Sitting……waiting….no bites…..still no bites…..getting pissed off…..still nothing. Want to see what he posts in response. Wonder if he’ll post..FIRST!!.
Jun.20 at 10:29 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
AH! It was Bynum not Kwame! I got too excited to quote Jackie Childs. My bad. Sorry Kwame. Kobe is picking on the next generation of young centers. Arash had a sitdown with “The Kobe Video guys.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/06/19/kobe/?cnn=yes
Jun.20 at 10:45 am
jk_light says:
@white hot eboy:
That: wonder if he’ll post…FIRST! is an absolute classic.
I don’t like maybe 90% of Ryan’s posts, but this one is great.
Jun.20 at 10:57 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Will Dick Butkus be replacing Reggie Theus as coach at New Mexico State?
Jun.20 at 11:00 am
Ryan Jones says:
eboy: I think he’s in school. I guess we have to wait til he breaks into the computer lab during receess.
jk: But you f*cking LOVE that other 10%, don’t you?
Jun.20 at 11:02 am
Joel O's says:
I guess LB really did piss a lot of people when he went around parading himself in the middle of the Pistons’ run those years back. That wasn’t classy, and it seems like his rep and credibility have been really tainted. It’s tantamount to messing around in a relationship uh, prior to getting “closure”. Okay I think I sound like someone from CLEO now and will stop.
Jun.20 at 11:02 am
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, I’m thinking in Florida school terms. These scrubs down here get out at the end of May. I should have remembered that NY/NJ kids get out in mid/late June. That computer lab line is genius.
Jun.20 at 11:05 am
Blue says:
In honor of Hangtime, Reggie’s decided to sign recently retired star Chamique Holdsclaw and oft slept on free agent Anthony Anderson (because he is familiar with Theus’ offense).
Jun.20 at 11:12 am
Ryan Jones says:
Thank you, eboy. Though didn’t he once say he’s in New Mexico or something?
Jun.20 at 11:25 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
Here are 2 more amusing and in-depth Hangtime Reggie posts:
http://hawgsports.blogspot.com/2007/06/hang-time-in-sacramento.html
http://stopmikelupica.com/2007/06/reggie_theus_to_become_kings_c.php
And once again in an unrelated note, I just found out that the Hillary Sopranos video was filmed in Mount Kisco, NY which is a town that for personal reasons I consider to be the 7th layer of hell. It’s kind of like my own personal twilight zone episode where no matter where I’m going in life, I always end up stuck in Mount Kisco. I know this sounds weird and kind of LOST-ish, but it’s been driving me crazy for like 7 years now.
Jun.20 at 11:37 am
Nothin_personal says:
Being an annoying s** of a b**** is a role that an indivisual has to take up atleast once in his life! I did at school all the time, and it’s really fun to piss everyone off,especially when your big enough not to worry that they might beat you up! Didn’t do that on my bball team though!
P.S. What’s the point writing a column that it’s purpose is to make fun of someone, when you can’t actually post to make fun of him?
P.P.S. You have to be able to laugh with a good joke, even if it’s made on your expence! Calling eachother names on the other hand, is not nice!
Jun.20 at 11:44 am
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, I can’t remember where he said he went to school because normally I can get through a few words of his posts and have to keep scolling down.
Jun.20 at 11:45 am
Nothin_personal says:
Greek Championship finals 5th and deciding game starts in a few minutes. I am so riled up! I hope it’s not as boring as the NBA finals.
Jun.20 at 11:47 am
Rod Strickland says:
Ryan Jones is to posting as Al Pacino is to the Godfather.
Jun.20 at 11:50 am
Nothin_personal says:
Jack Nicholson! He has that evil aura about him, and he is a Lakers fan!
Jun.20 at 11:59 am
Nadav says:
so ryan IS posting?
Jun.20 at 12:04 pm
Rod Strickland says:
^^^^
Yes.
Jun.20 at 12:07 pm
Steve O says:
Reggie Theus is huge in Estonia??? Someone has to make that shirt
Jun.20 at 12:12 pm
white hot eboy says:
Is there anybody else out there who would like to hear a Chukaz/Omar battle? Any topic, anytime?
Jun.20 at 12:34 pm
jk_light says:
@Ryan
you’re up to 20%!!!
Jun.20 at 12:49 pm
Myung says:
I wouldn’t mind seeing Mr. Belding take David Stern’s job. That’d be sweet. Screech could replace Stu Jackson.
Jun.20 at 1:00 pm
Danny W UK says:
As a fan of the NBA I’m loving Coach Fuller being in the L. As a die hard Kings fan, I extremely worried. I think we’ve reached the point of rebuilding, at least with Bibby and Artest, and the many below average Power Forwards. I would try and get another pick in the Lottery to go with the number 10.
Jun.20 at 1:13 pm
Nothin_personal says:
Olympiakos-Panathinaikos 55-49 in a wonderful game, midway through the 3rd period. Really entetaining game!
Jun.20 at 1:31 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Myung, for posting — TWICE — on the Chukas column, you officially suck.
Jun.20 at 1:38 pm
Myung says:
My bad, Ryan. I officially suck.
Jun.20 at 2:17 pm
Hlop says:
Ryan:Methinks you have an alterior motive for the Chukaz column,assuming that Chukaz uses it as his column,you will have a hit count in the region of three million.You are a genius but your column may be a “no fly zone” for about two weeks
Jun.20 at 2:32 pm
WeS says:
So I’m pretty sure Kobe set this whole thing up himself, or had prior knowledge of it. He’s really trying to get out of LA - OR make everyone hate him. Just please dont let him come to Chicago…
Jun.20 at 2:42 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Reggie Theus looks disturbingly like Cheryl Miller.
Jun.20 at 2:51 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Strictly a public service, Hlop.
Jun.20 at 3:37 pm
Mongoose says:
I think all the build up to the draft is a good thing, because no matter how much it blows up it still is nothing compared to the ridiculous attention paid to the NFL draft. NBA needs all the attention it can get.
Jun.20 at 3:59 pm
bigmike407 says:
Reggie Theus was a child star? Didn’t know. He was a star in Orlando for a minute, though. We need a link to this Kobe tape. I have a feeling it will be infamous after a while. This draft is gonna be a good one, maybe not an ‘96, ‘84, or ‘03, but it’ll be decent. But regardless of the sport, all drafts are the same. There are a few players at the top who will go high. One will disappoint. There is always a player expected to go higher who drops. There is always a late-round steal or two that doesn’t manifest itself until a few years down the line, when the guy is getting second-round money with lottery talent, and these lousy GM’s wince every time they see dude’s name on a ticker with a big game. Speaking of GM’s and their traveling schedules and war rooms, I must quote Bill Walton. “Never mistake activity for achievement.” Never said better.
Jun.20 at 7:56 pm
Redrum says:
I like Theus, he played in 1992 for one game for my team Aris Salonica in the the Cup final against Panathinaikos (we lost because the best player not to ever play in the NBA, Nick Galis dropped 40) Dont know him as coach but the linkage to my team makes me to like him. @Sam… whats wrong with you lately buddy? in the video Kobe drops F-bombs on Bynum not Kwame..
Jun.20 at 7:58 pm
Redrum says:
oh… last time a GM listened to Ford for drafting, ended up passing 3 of this generations defining players (Melo, Wade, Bosh) for a big white kid with a decent midrange… all in all Ford sucks….
Jun.20 at 8:00 pm
Redrum says:
seriously… he was rooting so hard for Milisic, that even myself, that have watched him play for 3 years everyweek in the Serbian league, starting seeing a combination of Bird, Shaq, Dirk and McHale in him… all I saw was a 7 foot kid with decent bulk and some power play, with a decent midrange jumper. Ford was somehow seeing an Arvidas Sabonis in his early 20s (possibly the best player in the world at that moment… yes… better than anyone in the NBA… no I am not intoxicated… I know exactly what I am saying…I think…)
Jun.21 at 3:45 am
Chukaz says:
Man, I can’t believe the guy from NMSU got the Kings job. The man coached a crappy team that plays in the WAC (in case you didn’t know the WAC is a conference like the ACC, but it sucks).
Jun.21 at 10:32 am
RedRum says:
But he played one game for Aris Salonika… This should be enough for his CV…
Jun.22 at 8:11 pm
Ty says:
Reggie Theus might be better off playing for the Kings again instead of coaching them.