Is it me or did this moribund franchise just get its prayers answered? I've been wishing, hoping of the #2 spot. Hoping for #1 would have been greedy. #2 was a stretch but within comprehension. And look what happened...
I can't even process this right now, but just a couple quick thoughts:
1. We're back in the hunt for attracting the best coach available.
2. We can now jettison Elton's terrible contract if we chose to trade the pick (not saying we should, just sayin' we could)
3. We've got the rights to the best shooting guard in the draft, and perhaps the best in the last few drafts.
4. If he's a leader, Evan Turner could be our franchise player for the next decade. If he's a leader, and a potent scorer, we just got a lot better with the roster we already have.
5. I'm getting tickets to the opener.
2 comments:
Agreed across the board. I love -- LOVE! -- Evan Turner. I had Ohio State winning my bracket, just because I couldn't bring myself to bet against Evan Turner at any stage (not against Kansas, not against Syracuse, etc. -- all better teams, btw). When you fear a guy, it's a good sign.
But let me just say this...let me explore the greedy tip for just a moment...
Ernie Grunfeld, dipshit that he is*, might -- JUST MIGHT -- draft Turner with his #1 rationalizing that Gibert is his PG. In which case, we would not only land John Fucking Wall, but we would land John Fucking Did-You-Really-Not-Pick-Me-#1? Wall, who would spend the first year of his pro career straight eviscerating muthafuckers out of vengeance.
(Huh? Whaa? Oh, damn, sorry. I passed out a few minutes ago and woke up next to my keyboard. I'm back.)
Just saying.
G.
*This is the same GM, let's remember, that just sent Caron Butler and better-than-you-think big man Brendan "Dwayne" Haywood for Josh Howard's attitude and a QP of kind. Oh, AND sent Jamison to the Cavs and somehow didn't get J.J. Hickson in return. (?!?!) Dude, it could happen. John Wall could fall into our laps.
(Just passed out again.)
noncratIt's what we haven't had in a very long time as a franchise: a no-lose proposition. Watching Wall in the tournament game they lost you could see 1) a player who was significantly better than everyone else on the court 2) a guy who can and will put his team on his back when they're fighting for their lives and 3) someone with ball skills I haven't seen since I don't know who. His dribble drive penetration was deadly quick, slight of hand wizardry. The dude can get to the rack, and FINISH at will. He's going to break down defenses every single night.
And for as special as Wall promises to be, I can't say definitively that Turner won't be better. Wall's got more upside, but Turner's got some competitveness and some killer in him that I like a lot in my potential franchise guys. He was smart enough to stay in school and develop his game, yet he's bold enough to say "I think I should be the #1 pick". I really, really like that. If we get him at 2, we get Evan "I Shoulda Been #1" Turner. I don't think people are excited enough about this incredibly good fortune. We have a chance to turn around this franchise in one fell swoop and build a long-term winner. I love the Doug Collins hire, btw. This is the best week the Sixers have had since 2001.
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