Stephen Curry might not make it to Friday's workout with the Timberwolves, but that wouldn't necessarily preclude them from taking the Davidson point guard in the June 25 NBA draft.
Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn, who earlier said he would be adamant that any player the team is considering with the sixth overall selection come in for a workout, said today that isn't etched in stone.
"I am (adamant)," Kahn said. "But I don't want it to be so adamant that it's some sort of ironclad, pound-the-fist (rule). I think that would be inaccurate. I think it's important that everybody we look at does come in so I don't want to back off of that. But I don't think it's something that is such an ironclad rule that it can't be violated."
Curry has expressed a desire to play for the New York Knicks, who own the eighth selection, and Newsday reported that he would cut off pre-draft workouts this week after fulfilling a previous commitment with the Washington Wizards, who pick fifth.
Kahn said he still hopes to get Curry in for Friday morning's big point-guard workout, noting: "Today's Saturday. Things could change by tomorrow on a lot of things."
If not, though, the Wolves believe they already have enough data on him to make an accurate evaluation.
"I think that in his case, he has such a long body of work because he's been in college for a few years and we saw him (at the draft combine) in Chicago," Kahn said. "We interviewed him in Chicago, so it's not as if we're missing an interview on him. So I would feel in his case that we at least have a lot of information already. It would be more problematic if it were somebody that we didn't know as well."
Hooray for homework!!! From the PiPress.
almost 3 years ago
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Well. there are a couple of different constituencies here
which is reflected in this rather inelegant hedging.
On the one hand, he wants players to show up for workouts, and his only leverage to do that is to say they won’t draft a player without them coming in.
On the other hand, he doesn’t want to show his hand to the rest of the league.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 14, 2009 7:50 AM CDT reply actions
Inelegant Hedging
You’re right on both counts. I just want our GM to be a wee bit more elegant in how he handles these situations.
First dumb thing I’ve heard out of Kahn. Hope there aren’t too many to follow.
Absolutely
Frankly, he shouldn’t have said anything in the first place. Easy to deflect, just say they are really eager to get a look at all the possible draftees, and hope they can have many players work out, but they are using all possible scouting avenues to gather information on these players, and will consider all possibilities whether of not they bring them into Target Center. Done and done.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 14, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Presumably, if he really wants the Knicks
which I think is probably true.
The fact is, though, that he isn’t going to make it to the 8th pick, almost no matter what. If the Knicks really want him, they will have to trade up—how, I’m not really sure. I wouldn’t trade him for the 8th pick and Wilson Chandler, for example. Maybe the Wolves would, if he even gets to 6.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 14, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
He would fit in anywhere..
….one of the things I really don’t get about the coverage of the guy is that he is a good fit period. He’s a pick and roll type player who can hit the long shot and create his own shot. That doesn’t require a system.
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I think the operating factor for this with Curry..
…is that it maximizes his perceived value, rather than having anything to do with a specific team. The guy is impressing clubs and using that general perception to move himself up in the draft.
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I’m reminded of one of my favorite “Seinfeld” scenes. Newman’s got Jerry under hot lights trying to bust him for mail fraud:
Newman: “Parcels are rarely damaged in the mail!”
Jerry: “Define rarely.”
Newman: “Frequently.”
IOW:
Kahn: “I’m adament against drafting a guy we haven’t worked out.”
“Define adament.”
Kahn: “Flexible.”
The real question is
Did Kahn get the can of ice cold, refreshing pop?
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
And I agree it was sort of a dumb thing to say in the first place. I’m not sure what you accomplish by stating you won’t draft someone you don’t work out. Tough talk, maybe? Maybe you think you’re generating a smokescreen? But I don’t see what you gain. And it’s probably just a matter of time until you get called on it. Obviously, if Harden, Curry, or Rubio fall into your lap at #6, and you take him, you’re going to have to answer this sort of stuff.
The first four years of a rookie contract for the $6 vs. the #8 pick is $11.6 Million vs. $9.7 Million. If Curry can make $1.9 Million more in endorsement money during the those 4 years playing for the Knicks versus the Timberwolves, not an unrealistic goal, the Wolves lose their financial edge. Couple that into the fact that D’Antoni gives a lot of freedom to his point guards and has system allows people to score, he could likely be a 20 point per game scorer, and regardless of how efficient or inefficient he is, he can probably net a lot more than $1.9 Million during the life of his rookie deal.
He would have to compete with Duhon and potentially NateRob if he’s retained for minutes in NY, with the wolves Telfair and possibly Foye.
He may just prefer to be a Knick and doesn’t want to give the Wolves a good performance and have them select him. That being said, Kahn shouldn’t allow this to affect the team’s evaluation of Curry as a player. If they believe he is the best fit and best available player for us at #6, you can’t let that affect your decision. You can’t make a determination of who will want to stay or go after their rookie contract, he is not going to refuse to sign and play here with starter minutes available. Individual and Team Success will keep a player in a place like Minnesota even if they aren’t thrilled to go to Minnesota on draft night.
Butthole factor
I hate to say it, because Curry has never struck me this way prior to this point, but these guys should be overflowing with gratitude that they’re getting a chance to play the game they love at the highest level, and that further more they’re going to become guaranteed multi-millionaires, and (in the case of being a top ten pick) they are going to be given every opportunity to be a starter and a star in the league. And this is all before they’ve even stepped on a pro court and played a single minute.
I agree with SnP that Curry’s management team is probably just trying to maximize his perceived value at the right time (which is now), but he’s also setting himself to be perceived as an incredible dick and neighbors of Shaddy and Starbury, especially if he doesn’t become an above average player.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Chris Duhon and Nate Robertson
…are the two biggest reasons why Curry probably wants to end up in NYC. If he’s good, and he’s in that offense, he’s going to put up some silly numbers that will make his next contract the big one. D’Antoni is an agent’s best friend.
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Speaking of the PG workout that may or may not include Curry, Sacramento had the same Jennings/Flynn/Holiday group a few days ago (it was after this where Jennings called Rubio all hype). Here’s the write-up from a Sac Bee Kings writer:
So Who Won the Point Guard Battle on the Floor?
Apparently he thought neither Flynn nor Holiday could defend Jennings. We’ll see how Round 2 goes in Minny.
Call me crazy...
…but I think it’s becoming more and more likely that Rubio or Thabeet slip to 6. I don’t think Sacramento drafts the kid and I think Hill goes at 5 in a trade.
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You're crazy
I think this happens every year—there isn’t much news, so we start hanging on every scrap and begin creating scenarios where the draft gets nuts. Ultimately, guys settle into their spots. I’d still be totally shocked if either of those guys last to 6.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 14, 2009 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep, I think it looks like this:
The only things certain are that Griffin and Harden will be gone before #6. Rubio (or his agent) has essentially talked himself into a situation where only a couple of teams in the first 5 would take him, and those that want a PG will be looking closely at other guys, like Jennings.
Thabeet could slip to 6, and if he does, he will probably keep on slipping down past the Knicks.
Interesting draft…
One guy..
….can’t play on 1/2 of the court (and he probably can’t play as effectively as we’d like to believe on the other in the NBA with the pick and roll) and the other is a nonathletic teenage EL point guard with no jumper, lots of turnovers, a history of injury, and a buyout deal that was just pawned off to a 3rd party. If Rubio doesn’t go in the top 3, how much does he have to pay on the buyout and would it be worth it at 4 and beyond? I think he is the riskiest pick in the draft with Thabeet a solid #2. Both of them remind me of Ralph Nader. Yeah, it’s kind of fun to say that you’d vote for the guy because of general ideology and a belief that his positive attributes would be able to shine through at the next level, but when it comes down to actually pulling the lever in the voting booth, you go with the guy with a shot to win and who can play the style of game that the big boys play. Even if Rubio pans out, he’s probably 3-4 years away. Who makes that risky investment? Who makes it in a year with a solid point guard crop?
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God knows I do
If he somehow lasts to 6, I take him in a New York minute. I think your criticisms are…well, dubious. The guy competed with NBA caliber players at 17. He has tremendous ball-handling, passing, and game-feel skills. I’m not sure what you mean by non-athletic, but I think that’s not really true.
Classic pre-draft yips. I would be shocked if he lasts to 6, but if he does, it’s a no brainer. He’s the guy in this draft that COULD be a franchise changing talent.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 15, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I think his athleticism has been mentioned elsewhere:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ricky-Rubio-1155/
they call it average and that he plays below the rim. The guy definitely did compete with NBA caliber players but he also couldn’t stay in front of anyone in man situations and…well, we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out. I think Thabeet and Rubio are much better options in the 5-10 range than they are between 1-5 and that’s sort of the larger point I have here. They are both massive boom/bust guys…especially Rubio.
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I just deleted a sarcastic post
about Steph Curry, since I actually like the guy. I don’t want to have this argument in two places, so I am going to stop here, but would be happy to continue in the thread above.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 15, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions
agreed..
….it’s confusing to follow in two spots….i’ll move up top
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BTW:
If I had to predict, here’s what I’m going with:
LAC- Griffin
Memphis- Trade
OKC- Harden or Hill
Sacramento- Holiday or Jennings
Wizards- Trade
Harden and Hill take up 2 of the 3 open spots. The question, I think, then becomes who wants to trade up to #2 and who do they want? If Rubio falls beyond a certain point with his buyout, will he be drafted and what is that point?
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I'm starting to like Jennings
against my better judgement as regards shortish, non-shooting PGs. I like his attitude, at least.
by princelyfrank on Jun 15, 2009 2:10 AM CDT up reply actions
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