The majority really would take Alexander at number 8 over Kevin Love or Anthony Randolph? I realize many probably saw Alexander take over in the Tourney playing for West Virginia, but please, let’s read the question. Who would you take if available? After reading the earlier “BPA versus need” article the other day, I do not see how you could not take Love with this pick. Please someone explain the reasoning of taking Alexander over Love?

I’m guessing some of the Alexander votes might be people letting the availability issue affect their pick, and obviously if you’re big on picking for need then Alexander fits better in that sense.

I would be fine with Love, Randolph, or Westbrook—all very different players with differing risk/reward levels. Gordon and Alexander might be in there, too, I don’t hate either guy. I just checked and apparently I voted for Randolph…but to be honest I don’t know if I could actually pass on Love if he was there. I think I’m becoming numb to all of this :)

I agree with Westbrook’s fit…it seems like Skiles and Hammond would both love his athleticism, work ethic and defensive presence.

I forgot to mention another reason why people might be voting for Alexander—he’s a great athlete who’s highlight reel friendly. In the absence of real games it’s easy to overvalue those types of skills. Plus there’s the whole athletic white guy novelty factor. I would have loved to see how he compared to Randolph at that workout last week…fortunately the people making the decision have more information than we do.

But only because I think it’d be funny if you guys had to struggle to get your draft pick over again. I don’t mean anything mean by it, and I hate draft picks trying to set their own terms, so it’ll teach the greaseball a lesson; plus future greaseballs will learn that no NBA team cares where you say you wanna go.

Just play.

The Italian kid has a Euro contract, but the lottery rookie scale is worth more money. He isn’t walking away from Rudy Fernandez money.

So you guys like Kevin Love? Aren’t you worried about his lack of height and bad defense? I’d imagine you’d want a stronger defender to go next to Bogut, plus someone much more mobile than Love. Same goes for Lopez, but at least he has good size—though Love has much more skill.

I am not sure who my friends in Bucksville should pick, but I’d imagine you want to get more athletic, better defensively, and not a PF unless you don’t envision Yi there.

Kevin Love. Hmm.

Most Blazer fans want Westbrook, so try not to pick him so he can maybe fall to us. Is it a deal? Shake on it. (shake)

Good luck again in a week and a half!

Mortimer

Alexander and Randolph put up similar numbers last year, and even recognizing that Alexander is a relative basketball newbie, he’s 21 years old. At 18, Randolph has a ton of room for growth. And he’ll develop physically (puts on pounds) as well as fundamentally on the court in time.

It’s funny, Love can shoot and has good fundamentals but isn’t athletic and is too short and fat to play power forward.

Then we’ve got Randolph, who likes to shoot too much and needs more consistency but is absurdly athletic and is too tall and skinny to play small forward.

Supposedly anyway.

I voted Randolph. I like Westbrook too.

Mo Williams is expendable because we need a facilitator on this team instead of a bunch of shooters.

I don’t know if he is completely flexible. Mo is only 24 years old and has an extremely cap friendly long term contract. He could turn out to be a steal with that contract if he improves and does not take a step back. I think I would give him a year under Skiles; hopefully Skiles can mold him more into a defensive player that can be a long range threat (what he did with Kirk Hinrich). I don’t know how the hell he is going to change how many shots he puts up, but I still say give him one more year. If he doesn’t improve defensively or run the offense as it should be run, then it’s time to cut ties with him and trade.

However, like stated before, I highly doubt Love will be available. If Randolph is gone before the Bucks pick (as stated in ESPN’s newest mock draft, http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080609). If both are gone, I think you have to go with Westbrook. He would be served well to start the year as a sixth man and get a feel for the game and allow the Bucks to get a feel if they want to move Mo or not.

On a more personal note to Mortimer, I know the future is really bleak in Portland for you guys and it must suck not having a seven foot defensive beast playing for your team next year, but if the Bucks did draft Danilo Gallinari, the Blazers will officially be my new most hated team in the league for you even suggesting we draft the head case.

I don’t think Alexander counts as a “white guy.” Love yes, Alexander no. I think both guys can play, so whatever.

The idea of trading Sessions is an interesting one. I’d guess he could fetch a mid-first rounder, maybe a late lottery pick. I doubt he’s dealt, but if the Bucks ever had a chance at a big name he would be a good piece to use as a deal-sweetener. Or if the Bucks really liked Mayo for instance, would Minnesota be interested in a deal based around Sessions+8? Maybe not, but it’s a thought.