re: Does Karma come back to even things out in this year's lottery for us?

quote:

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I just don't think there is much of a difference in talent in this draft from pick 5 to pick 20, to be honest.

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That's a lot of lumping, especially with Noel on the board. Looking at the 2008 draft class, the guys like Rose, Westbrook, Hibbert that all got their 2nd contracts this season, the only 1st rounders that are with the same team that didn't get a max contract were Batum and Ibaka. That seems to be the script every year, if you're not a max or near max player you're a future trade asset. So if you're drafting a trade asset, draft the most valuable one you can get.

I have reservations about taking Noel too, but it's hard to deny he'd have more trade value than many other prospects taken in the teens.