Do the Pistons have a shot at Acie Law?
by Matt W on Jun 26, 2007 2:11 PM CDT
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Of all the guys the Pistons might have a chance to draft, two guys have become personal favorites of mine: Nick Young and Acie Law. Depending on what mock draft you're looking at, one or both might be available at No. 15, though it's just as likely they'll each be off the board.
When looking at the list of players the Pistons had recently worked out (a list which has since expanded to 32 players in all), I noticed that Law was conspicuously missing. What gives? Chris McCosky explains in his blog:
Why didn't the Pistons work out Acie Law. Two reasons: They know him extremely well. George David has seen him play countless times and Law works out in the summer with Chauncey Billups. Secondly, it would be a minor miracle if he's still around at 15. Most have him going to the Hawks at 11. But if he falls, the Pistons would probably snap him up in a heartbeat.
Well, that's nice to hear -- excepting, of course, the whole "minor miracle" part.
Update: Seems there may have been a third reason: Law canceled his workout with the Pistons. DBB reader Jeff points us to this article from ESPN Insider's Andy Katz on June 11:
"Meanwhile, it looks like you can lock in Texas A&M senior guard Acie Law no lower than No. 14 to the L.A. Clippers. Law told ESPN.com as much in Orlando, and then he canceled his workout with the Pistons at No. 15."
In other Law news, I spotted this tidbit on TrueHoop from Penn's Steven Danley, writing for the NY Times:
When we were preparing to play Texas A. & M. in the tournament, the scouting report pointed out an amazing stat. In the last two minutes of close basketball games, Law outscored the entire opposing team. It wasn't until we actually played him that I understood what that stat meant. For most of the game Law was content to set up his teammates, trying to involve everyone in the game. Coming down the stretch in the second half he went for the jugular and ran off a couple of quick buckets to put us away. Say what you want about his skills or his quickness, but if you have to win a game, you want this kid on the court.
If the Hawks go big with the No. 3 spot, I can't see them passing up on a point guard at No. 11 -- and Law is definitely more a sure thing at a leadership position than Georgia Tech freshman Javaris Crittenton, who has potential but is still raw. Although, for what's it's worth, there's no guarantee the Hawks will even be using their No. 11 pick -- if you believe the rumors coming out of SLAM-ville. So you never know.
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McCosky must have missed it, but Andy Katz reported two weeks ago that Acie Law cancelled his workout with the Pistons:
“Meanwhile, it looks like you can lock in Texas A&M senior guard Acie Law no lower than No. 14 to the L.A. Clippers. Law told ESPN.com as much in Orlando, and then he canceled his workout with the Pistons at No. 15.”
by Jeff on Jun 26, 2007 2:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeff — I missed that, thanks for the note.
by Matt Watson on Jun 26, 2007 3:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
on the other hand, according to john hollinger’s new system, acie law is best to be avoided.
by Ed on Jun 26, 2007 5:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If Dumars really wants Acie Law and Law falls to #13 it would be easy for Detroit to swap picks with New Orleans. Trade the #15 & #27 picks to New Orleans for the #13 & #43 pick. That leap frogs the Clippers. Why wouldn’t New Orleans do that deal?
by joejoejoe on Jun 26, 2007 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
New Orelans might not do that because the Pistons seem to be pretty high on Nick Young, whom the Hornets happen to love. And I also think that you can’t trade picks in the NBA on draft night, only the rights to picks. So if the Hornets take Law, then you know something’s in the works.
by Other Matt on Jun 26, 2007 7:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ed – That new Hollinger system is intersting. It sure did a great job predicting the success of Tayshaun Prince. It had Prince ranked #11 among college players, instead of #18 where he went (#23 overall if you include foreign and HS players).
by joejoejoe on Jun 26, 2007 7:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I dunno, the more I read online the more I get a sickening feeling that Law and Young are both gone by the time we pick. It was nice while it lasted, but it’s really no suprise that these guys are rising as draft day approaches.
I don’t REALLY like Stuckley or Crittenton, but that may have something to do with the fact that people keep using the words “upside”, “potential” and “combo-guard” and we need a damn PG who can pass and run an offence for about 14 mins a game RIGHT now. Neither of those two rank based on what I’ve read.
I’m willing to admitt that Joe D is a way better GM than I am so I’m sure he’s got a contigency plan, but it’s hard not to feel discouraged when all the guys who’d really help us are rising fast, and a bunch of mediocre 4’s and unknown foreign 5’s, are dropping into our draft slots. I just don’t know if I can handle a “Spencer Hawes/Marc Gasol” draft without killing someone… probably an OSU fan because I’ll pop around November.
by PistonsGirl4Life on Jun 26, 2007 8:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wow that hollinger article was really interesting. Im not really a numbers guy but its hard to argue with his results. Stuckey or Thad Young at 15 doesnt sound to bad now. Of course numbers arent the be all end all but they say alot. Ill try and paste this years rankings in case the page gets locked down at ESPN but he also ranked previous years and they are pretty damn accurate. With guys like Boozer, Carmelo, Deng, Cnris Paul, Tyrus Thomas (who outranked Shelden Williams by almost 200pts) being ranked 1st.
NO. PLAYER SCHOOL SCORE CHAD FORD’S RANKING
1. Kevin Durant Texas 870.7 2
2. Greg Oden Ohio State 667.9 1
3. Mike Conley Jr. Ohio State 637.9 7
4. Thaddeus Young Georgia Tech 604.2 14
5. Brandan Wright North Carolina 601.4 8
6. Al Horford Florida 601.0 3
7. Nick Fazekas Nevada 594.3 35
8. Josh McRoberts Duke 566.7 26
9. Rodney Stuckey E. Washington 557.7 16
10. Jared Dudley Boston College 542.6 31
11. Joakim Noah Florida 528.6 9
12. Glen Davis LSU 521.0 25
13. Sean Williams Boston College 511.3 20
14. Jeff Green Georgetown 505.5 6
15. Kyle Visser Wake Forest 503.5 57
16. Herbert Hill Providence 503.0 49
17. Javaris Crittenton Georgia Tech 492.2 18
18. Wilson Chandler DePaul 483.1 30
19. Julian Wright Kansas 481.4 11
20. Daequan Cook Ohio State 470.0 27
21. D.J. Strawberry Maryland 465.5 52
22. Jason Smith Colorado State 464.9 17
23. Alando Tucker Wisconsin 464.3 41
24. Corey Brewer Florida 462.4 5
25. Al Thornton Florida State 447.8 10
26. Marcus Williams Arizona 445.8 33
27. Acie Law Texas A&M 445.2 15
28. Aaron Gray Pittsburgh 440.5 38
29. Zabian Dowdell Virginia Tech 438.2 34
30. Spencer Hawes Washington 433.9 12
Other notables
Morris Almond Rice 425.6 22
Derrick Byars Vanderbilt 421.9 28
Gabe Pruitt USC 421.0 21
Nick Young USC 383.8 13
Taurean Green Florida 350.4 39
Arron Afflalo UCLA 336.1 32
Ramon Sessions Nevada 334.7 37
Makes ya think about taking Young at 15 eh?
by Fel on Jun 26, 2007 9:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
bleh didnt quite come out right but the first 4 digit number is there score in the formula and the 2 digit after is Chad Fords ranking in case its hard to read.
by Fel on Jun 26, 2007 9:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah, kind of an interesting breakdown of numbers. for who we’re probably looking at, his system certainly touts stuckey as a great pick and flags both nick young and acie law as potential busts. it also doesn’t look favorably on julian wright. man, i can’t wait to see how this all plays out on thursday. make it all ok, joe!
by JackDutch on Jun 26, 2007 11:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I bet Acie Law’s gone at 15. I could see New Orleans bypassing Nick Young if a high-rated big man fell to them. But where we are it’s hard to believe we’ll get the best SG or the second best PG.
by Quick Darshan on Jun 27, 2007 3:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thad young is the best talent if available at #15. pistons won’t draft him because he’s labeled as a guy who needs work.
by lccdave on Jun 27, 2007 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Read today that Acie Law could be this draft’s version of Brady Quinn:
I’d be surprised, however, to see him fall past the Pistons. I agree Matt, despite some of the negatives I’ve been reading, Law would be a great pick at #15. I have a feeling that someone is going to fall into our hands that wasn’t thought possible. I suppose we’ll find out who it is tomorrow….
by Brian on Jun 27, 2007 4:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Just an idea from a displaced Pistons fan in Ohio. I understand Joe’s desire for an influx of hunger & youth, and I also understand that Sheed is USUALLY the best player we have on the floor…so Joe’s not chomping at the bit to give him away like some fans are suggesting. But Sheed does have the propensity for the doing the worst possible thing at the worst possible time, and with him not getting any younger, we aren’t going to get the world for him either if we do trade him. What do you all think about this:
-Rasheed Wallace and Atlanta’s #11 Pick to Boston (giving them the veteran stud Paul Pierce wants-w/o giving up Al Jefferson or all their young players—and still the ability to get additional help)
-Sebastian Telfair, Wally Szcerbiak, & 2 future Detroit 2nd Rounders (from Delfino trade?) to Atlanta (giving them the point guard they need, and another solid scoring threat along side Joe Johnson and potential trade pieces for the future…they certainly don’t need ANOTHER PF-Al Horford—without moving one of the 3 they already have)
—Shelden Williams, Speedy Claxton, & Boston’s #5 Pick to Detroit (giving us a backup point, a defensive bruiser to battle for boards and block shots down low, and a potential stud for the future like Jeff Green).
It seems to me this deal makes everyone potentially better in the long run and keeps flexibility for all. Here is what a potential roster would look like.
STARTERS
PG Chauncy Billups
SG Rip Hamilton
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Antonio McDyess
F/C Shelden Williams
BENCH
SF Jeff Green-R (5th Pick)
F/C Amir Johnson
PF Jason Maxiell
SG Rodney Stuckey-R (15th Pick)
C Nazr Mohammad
G Alex Acker
PG Speedy Claxton
INACTIVE
G/F Ronald Dupree
PG Will Blalock
SG Flip Murray
In one clean stroke the Pistons go from one of the oldest teams in the league to one of the youngest. Just thinking about this squad gets me excited…it makes us more athletic, more versatile, and also gives us the chance to take a “project” from Europe with the 27th pick, and let C. Samb stay and develop for another year in Europe…which then gives us even more help in the next few years. GO PISTONS!
by Tyler on Jun 27, 2007 6:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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