RealGM

Sounds like TA in being a slow learner about keeping out of trouble, but other than his, ahem, bar fight, not injury prone.

It doesn't seem like a trade we'd try to make. Danny likes to select guys nobody expects, for whatever reason.

Realize that Giddens is an All-American level talent. Supremely athletic, a streaky jumpshot, capable of getting to the rim, and capable of playing good defense. He's also got some maturing to do, but if there's one team that he can make it on, it'll be the Celtics. I'd say he'd be out of the NBA in 2 years if he landed in Memphis, but Boston has the type of personalities that can keep him in check, and ultimately hopefully guide him to becoming a very good player. He's a big time talent, and the type of guy who's worth gambling on when you've got an environment that will be good for his development.

TA42 wrote:Kids a crazy athlete....Danny might figure that with veterans around the kid will get his stuff together. Looks like the only thing stopping him from being good is his attitude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoKejSN5hH4

I watched the youtube, a small version of Lebron (IMO). Remember Danny had a 3rd eye in scouting talent. Another sleeper again on this batch 2008.

Gomes3PC wrote:Giddens = poor man's Tony Allen. Long, athletic defender who's a high flyer and a good rebounder. Not a good shooter

If you look at his #s freshman/sophomore year, it would seem he was a very good shooter then

Reading about his supposed strengths/weaknesses, he strikes me as a poor man's JR Smith, or at least a lesser version of JR Smith

But I trust DA for the most part.

Gomes3PC wrote:

Albin wrote:why take him with Gabe on the roster.. I don't see the sense in it with Bill Walker on the board.

Because he and Gabe are totally different players. Pruitt is an outside shooter and a PG/SG who can distribute and be a defensive player against big PGs.

Giddens is a SG/SF (6-11.25" wingspan) who is a good/great rebounder for his height (8.8 RPG) and very active on defense. He is a bad shooter and has had the 'immature' label on him since he stepped onto campus in Kansas, right on through to transferring out. Apparently Thibodeau has convinced Danny that defense is paramount, since I think that is the only place where Giddens will be able to help us significantly in the first 2 years. And at 23 it's not like he's a youngster.

Oh, he was that Kansas kid.. I remember him now. Hmmm... yeah. He was a pretty tough kid if I remember correctly. He was a very good high school player too IIRC... still... *shrug*

We'll see.

I certainly can't see it with Bill Walker on the board.

OMG I REMEMBER THAT STEAL AND DUNK!!! WE JUST GOT THIS KID??!??! HOLY ****!

Maybe we made him a pre draft promise, like we did to Orien Greene?

The Corey's wrote:nba draft = number 58

draft express = 48

how could he jump that high? how could they both be so wrong?

i mean, that kind of span is a little bit weird.

I was hoping we'd pick him at 60 not 30.

But I've hated a lot of Danny's picks.

Anybody gonna watch through pick 60?

From Draft Express:

"Statistically, you’d be hard pressed to find a player who has turned himself around as much as Giddens. His scoring averages remain largely the same as last year, but his shooting percentages have rocketed up to impressive heights (from 44 to 51%), largely due to the fact that he’s attempting quite a few less 3-pointers (5.2 to 2.3 per game), while also getting to the free throw line at a better rate. Giddens is rebounding the ball exceptionally well (leading the entire Mountain West Conference in this category at 8.6 per game), and has unconventionally seen his assists rise (from 2.3 to 3.0 per game) while his turnovers dropped (2.7 to 2.1) simultaneously. He’s also blocking 1.2 shots per game, and picking up 1.4 steals. In case you need it spelled out…all indications seem to be that the light bulb has come on for him in a major way in his senior season. He in fact ranks 2nd amongst all shooting guard prospects in the very interesting “Win Score” statistic."

Giddens has a 6-11.25" wingspan, and by all accounts was a good/great defensive player. Definitely not a good shooter, but he seems to know that, as he chopped down his 3 point attempts as a senior and his FG% rocketed up. I liked this quote from him as well, perhaps he finally has 'gotten it' and could be a nice role player in a few years:

“I want to make guys around me better and win games. I won’t necessarily go out and score a lot of points all the time, but I’ll do all the little things that are important. If I can get an open shot on the outside for a shooter or drive and give my teammate and easy lay up, I’m going to do that. I have a big desire to win, and if I don’t win, I’m going down swinging.”

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/J.R.-Giddens-74/

You know it andy...

Crazy thought and sure be sacrilege here but perhaps the Drafts was Chris Wallace and not Danny Ainge. Either from the scouting side to the picking side, Wallace was known for making prospective recruiting booklets. And did remember seeing a article talking to wallace talking abut how he drafted Jefferson and Gomes that he liked them and scouted them.
Just a crazy thought

Well atleast Giddens is saying the right things. Hopefully it can work out for him here.

The Clippers would pick DeAndre Jordan. L-O-L

andy582 wrote:Anybody gonna watch through pick 60?

I will be there.

I miss TNT though they used to play above the rim afterwards.

Albin wrote:

Gomes3PC wrote:

Albin wrote:why take him with Gabe on the roster.. I don't see the sense in it with Bill Walker on the board.

Because he and Gabe are totally different players. Pruitt is an outside shooter and a PG/SG who can distribute and be a defensive player against big PGs.

Giddens is a SG/SF (6-11.25" wingspan) who is a good/great rebounder for his height (8.8 RPG) and very active on defense. He is a bad shooter and has had the 'immature' label on him since he stepped onto campus in Kansas, right on through to transferring out. Apparently Thibodeau has convinced Danny that defense is paramount, since I think that is the only place where Giddens will be able to help us significantly in the first 2 years. And at 23 it's not like he's a youngster.

Oh, he was that Kansas kid.. I remember him now. Hmmm... yeah. He was a pretty tough kid if I remember correctly. He was a very good high school player too IIRC... still... *shrug*

We'll see.

I certainly can't see it with Bill Walker on the board.

I think a LOT of people are scared to death of Bill Walker's knee. Not to mention he's definitely not a better defender or rebounder than Giddens. Giddens can step in and replace Tony Allen's production by 85% for half the cost or less. I think Walker would really struggle to play at all the first year or more, and his knee would always be a nagging concern. I'm honestly more surprised they passed on CDR, as I thought he was a solid athlete, great scorer, good defender. Not nearly the rebounder, athlete, or even passer that Giddens is though I suppose.

I haven't seen Giddens play, but just looking at his numbers, I like the fact that he averaged 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. This shows me that he knows how to use his athleticism, unlike Gerald Green who had no clue how to use his athleticism for things other then dunking.

I know not everyone loves Hollinger but for what its worth his pre draft PER for Giddens was 9.16 which is epically bad. For comparison Mario Chalmers is a 14.03, Derick Rose 14.69. CDR was 12.78

Well, to be fair, had you thrown Giddens into the NBA at 18 like GMoney, he likely would've failed too. He was the same athletic freak with limitless upside and negative maturity. He never would've been humbled by his experiences in Kansas and never given the time college provides to players to hone their games. Now Green is out of the NBA and unlikely to ever make it, while Giddens is now a member of the defending champs.