On Ryan Anderson and Robin Lopez

by Tom Ziller on May 26, 2008 7:31 AM PDT

Much of our attention has been focused on point guards, but we all know this roster desperately needs more youth up front to complement Spencer Hawes and Shelden Williams. With that in mind, local coach/trainer Brian McCormick discusses Cal product Ryan Anderson, a fellow fully expected to be on the board at pick #12 and possibly in the 30s (via TrueHoop).

If Anderson was from Serbia, he would be a lottery pick for sure. He is everything NBA executives crave: a 6'10 power forward with some back to the basket game, mobility and three-point range. Sure, he needs to add some strength, but potential lottery picks Brook Lopez, Donte Greene, Anthony Randolph and DeAndre Jordan need strength as well. However, they possess "upside" and "length" while all Anderson possesses is offensive fundamentals and demonstrated ability in the NCAA's best conference.

NBA execs travel to Europe every year to find the next Nowitzki. However, the next Nowitzki might be from El Dorado Hills playing his college ball in Berkeley.

You might also be interested to see the Los Angeles Times' Mark Heisler has slotted Robin Lopez at #12, with every meaningful PG prospect (Rose, Augustin, Westbrook, Bayless) going in the top 10. Via ClipsNation.

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Robin Lopez

Heisler cites Arthur and Jordan’s (lack of) work ethic as reasons that the Kings choose R.Lopez with them still on the board. I just don’t see that. Whomever the Kings draft will get paid, but their real payday will come three years later. I think any of these guys would be motivated. Furthermore, we are talking about kids who still have room and time to mature. Jordan may be a risk at #5 if guys like O.J. Mayo or Kevin Love or Anthony Randolph are still on the board, but at #12 he’s a much smaller risk. As far as Arthur is concerned, he has a better all around game while Lopez looks like he might be limited offensively and better defensively. I can’t see GP passing on the better player to draft for a need in this case.

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by section214 on May 26, 2008 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

I we decide we want either one of those guys at 12

we should trade down to 15-20 and save a few bucks.

Section 214 is one lucky schmoe

by Kfan in Korea on May 26, 2008 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Trade our 2 second round picks for an early 2nd round or late first round.

That would be a lot better than just picking up 2 random guys with the 42nd and 43rd picks. We could trade both those picks off to move up with 1 pick…say…pick up the 30th pick or so. With the 30th pick, we could either pick Robin Lopez or Ryan Anderson.

by CloudyEyes on May 26, 2008 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

OR we could do this...

Draft Jordan at #12, THEN trade down with our 2 second round picks and pick up Ty Lawson in the late first round or early second round. Lawson WAS predicted to be the Kings’ 1st round pick a few months ago, but then his stock really dropped. Maybe his drop in stock was merely just a fluke, but if we could pull this off, then pick up Lawson, it would really be a steal.

by CloudyEyes on May 26, 2008 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions