The draft and Sergio Llull

[Guy986]

On draft night 2009, Cleveland offered Denver $2 million for the 34th pick. Cavs GM Danny Ferry thought it was essentially a done deal and had fingered Blair as the pick.

But with just 10 seconds left to make its selection, Denver was offered $2.25 million, a league record for the sale of a 34th pick, from the Houston Rockets. Because there was such a small amount of time left to make the pick, the Nuggets didn't have a chance to give Cleveland the opportunity to beat Houston's offer.

So the Rockets got the pick and instructed Denver to select Sergio Llull for them. Three picks later, San Antonio took Blair.

Of course, Cleveland could have gotten Blair at 30, but it took Christian Eyenga instead.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... eing-a-cav

On draft night, Morey outbid the Cavs just for the chance to grab onto Llull's right. And he was higher on Morey's draft board than Chase Birdinger himself. Sergio Llull must be pretty special.

[texasholdem]

We should have took Blair instead of Taylor or Llull.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

On draft night, Morey outbid the Cavs just for the chance to grab onto Llull's right. And he was higher on Morey's draft board than Chase Birdinger himself. Sergio Llull must be pretty special.

He averages 8.7 points and 3.3 assists in Euroleague. He is a good player but never would he be considered "special" by anyone in Europe. That is for sure.

[Munchlaxatives]

No one expected Von Wafer or Air Bud to be any good. This is Morey, he's probably found a stat that makes Llull as good as Oscar Robertson.

[tisbee]

He plays defense,is a passing point who penetrates. And he has decent height.
He's prob Lowry insurance,if Lowry wants too much money to re-sign.
Long-term,there aren't too many players under contract in 2 yrs and having a combo gd to fill out roster cheap is prob very attractive if the team signs Yao,Scola and FA to be announced.

Re Blair,
The Rockets have enough under-sized PFs as is. Would you have Blair replace Landry? Or team Blair and Landry? More to the point,do you really want the Rockets to draft a player who's knees are prob gonna fall apart in 2-3 yrs? The Spurs are trying to win now,the Rockets are trying to build a core that will contend for next half-dozen yrs.

[roxfashoballin]

sergio lol

but really, he can play . i saw one video of him in transition defense, and he not only caught up to the guy about to layup, he got up in front of him, jumped and contested the shot w/o fouling. thats **** good. he has to have some kind of speed for that, and body control, and his height helped a lot. i dunno why we have this guy but if all goes well he'll be a key bench player at worst when he gets signed ot houston

blair coulda been good, but he's another undersized big, and a possible injury proner. if he was 6'10 id say we shoulda gone for him. lol has 2 years in euroleague to up his skill, 2 yrs from now maybe we'll have a pg situation that needs to be attended to.

[Young_Star11]

Blair wasn't a good fit for us, as we have Landry already.

I hope Llull comes over.

[hipmaster]

I like Landry over Blair. Landry has the best low post game on the Rockets.

[texasholdem]

Blair would have Andersen's minutes.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

You guys here overrate Llull. I assure you that. His entire game is 100% only athletic ability. There is nothing else to his game. He is 100% run and jump player. He is good player but no way is there anything special about him. He is backup point guard in pretty much any top level Euroleague club.

[Fran Vasquez]

^^ that makes him a good fit for a nba team of the bench, specially since he can move and breathe at the same time, something a supestar like v-span could not cope with, greek boy

[aznkillabeezZz]

any undersized pf with defensive and offensive skills blair has at 34th pick is better than a lull or taylor if you ask me.The only reason he went so far down in draft is because of an operated knee or he has no acl.

[moofs]

He plays defense,is a passing point who penetrates. And he has decent height.
He's prob Lowry insurance,if Lowry wants too much money to re-sign.
Long-term,there aren't too many players under contract in 2 yrs and having a combo gd to fill out roster cheap is prob very attractive if the team signs Yao,Scola and FA to be announced.

Re Blair,
The Rockets have enough under-sized PFs as is. Would you have Blair replace Landry? Or team Blair and Landry? More to the point,do you really want the Rockets to draft a player who's knees are prob gonna fall apart in 2-3 yrs? The Spurs are trying to win now,the Rockets are trying to build a core that will contend for next half-dozen yrs.

Nice post. I'd been wondering this question myself, that seems to provide a good possible explanation.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

^^ that makes him a good fit for a nba team of the bench, specially since he can move and breathe at the same time, something a supestar like v-span could not cope with, greek boy

Spanoulis is way better than Llull. Everyone knows that in Europe. And you are trying to tell Rockets fans Llull will be a good NBA player? That is laughable.

[nordique]

^^ that makes him a good fit for a nba team of the bench, specially since he can move and breathe at the same time, something a supestar like v-span could not cope with, greek boy

Spanoulis is way better than Llull. Everyone knows that in Europe. And you are trying to tell Rockets fans Llull will be a good NBA player? That is laughable.

Laughable? I think I'll trust the best coach in Europe in that matter

http://translate.google.com/translate?p ... ry_state0=