Danny Ferry (Atlanta)
There's a difference between tanking and rebuilding.
Chad Ford (1:24 PM)
Agreed, but when you deliberately, before the season change course and decide to be very bad to get a high pick in the draft -- to me the difference is a very fine line. I can live with rebuilding but c'mon, everyone knows that they're gunning for the top pick in the draft. Is there really that big a difference between sitting good players during the season as opposed to dumping good players or not signing good players in the off-season? A little yes, but it is what is ... we're deliberately trying to be bad so that we can get a higher pick in the draft. I guess the difference between rebuilding and tanking then is timing -- when we decided we were going to do it?
Greg (Montana)
You went on a little mini talk on twitter yesterday about more GMs tanking in 2014. Can you elaborate alittle more on that and whom you believe will?
Chad Ford (1:27 PM)
Here's what I said last night on Twitter: I think we may all be UNDERESTIMATING number of teams considering tanking this year. Been flooded with calls from GMs re 2014 draft class. Interest in 2014 draft class is unprecedented. We're going to have a lot of REALLY bad teams this year. We know Suns, Bobcats, Sixers, Celtics & Magic will be REALLY bad. Sources say add Hawks to list. If they don't get DH12, likely to tank (rebuild!). The Raptors also look like they're heading that direction. The Bucks (unintentionally) could be heading that way. I think it's possible the Blazers (if they trade LaMarcus Aldridge) and the Jazz (if they don't resign Al Jefferson or Paul Milsap or another veteran to replace them) are also writing off the playoffs this year in an effort to score another high pick.
DatDude (Nowheresville)
You've recently highlighted the enormous tanking problem that is about to hit the NBA. How does the league solve this for the future? Such an embarrassment.
Chad Ford (1:29 PM)
I don't think the league can do anything about it. They can't ban a team rebuilding nor can they ban the strategy of intentionally being bad for a year or two to rebuild through the draft. And I'm not totally sure it's an embarrassment. The Cavs got really bad during the 2002-03 season to get a shot at LeBron. I'm sure Cavs fans were miserable that season. But I don't think they were complaining the next year. I also think that this move will make the playoff teams stronger as all the free agent talent gravitates to 16 to 20 teams.
LittleOzzy (Ontario)
Is Wiggins worth tanking for?
Chad Ford (1:31 PM)
Probably. He's an elite athlete. Is very skilled. Has great size for his position. My only issue with Wiggins is that he seems to lack that alpha dog gene that some of the other great ones all had -- he doesn't play with the same drive as Kobe, Durant, etc. He's a little closer to Tracy McGrady in my book. But the talent? Off the charts.
Pete (Philly)
How many players from the 2014 class would have gone #1 in 2013? Wiggins, Randle and...
Chad Ford (1:32 PM)
Wiggins and Julius Randle for sure. Maybe Jabari Parker or Aaron Gordon. I'd say no to Marcus Smart and Andrew Harrison just because the Cavs didn't really need a point guard. But those guys would've gone No. 2 for sure.
Chad Ford (1:33 PM)
In fact, I could go one step further and say those six players I just mentioned would've likely been picks 1-6 in the 2013 NBA draft. Bennett, Olaipo, Porter, Zeller, Len, Noel and McLemore would've been picks 7-13 in some order.
Jason (D.C)
I feel as though people are ONLY talking about Wiggins and not giving Jabari Parker enough respect. Wiggins is a FREAK of nature with his athleticism, but Jabari Parker is extremely skilled and competitive? I think he can be a future NBA All-Star. Why is he overshadowed so much by Wiggins?
Chad Ford (1:35 PM)
Because athletic ability matters in the NBA. Parker is a better version of Otto Porter -- a super skilled forward with a super high basketball IQ. But like Porter, he lacks those elite athletic abilities. Parker is probably a better athlete than Porter and certainly more skilled coming out of high school, but his lack of elite explosiveness hurts his stock just a bit. With that said, Parker is a VERY good prospect and likely to be a Top 5 pick.
John (Kentucky)
Any chance Randle beats out Wiggins for the No. 1 pick?
Chad Ford (1:37 PM)
Sure. In any other draft, he'd be the consensus No. 1 pick. He's a beast of a low post player -- blessed with strength, athleticism, and a very polished inside/outside game. As long as Calapari can convince him not to fall in love with his jump shot, he's got a chance to be the most dominant big man in the country. Teams always covet players like Randle and if Wiggins stumbles, they'll jump.
Seth (SF)
Is Jabari Parker a 3 or a 4? What about Aaron Gordon?
Chad Ford (1:39 PM)
Parker is more of a 3 than a 4. Gordon more of a 4 than a 3. Gordon is the sleeper of this class. He's got a lot of similarities to Blake Griffin. He's just a little smaller and is trying to make the move to the 3 at Arizona this year. If he can make the transition, he'll be a Top 3 pick. If not, he'll still go Top 6. Another crazy athlete with a great, great motor.
Doug (OKC)
Marcus Smart or Andrew Harrison for best PG in 2014?
Chad Ford (1:41 PM)
Probably Smart. Both are big point guards who can play the 1 or the 2. Harrison is probably a better shooter. But Smart is a better leader and has coaches in love with his character. Harrison has a rep of being a bit selfish. If Calapari can beat that out him, they probably both go Top 5. But I think Smart is the better prospect right now.
Frank (SF)
Early thoughts: Will this Kentucky team be as good as the title winner team?
Chad Ford (1:43 PM)
Not sure if they have the same character -- Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were both as high of quality people as you can have on a team. But his year's squad has *gulp* SEVEN players in our Top 30. That's just crazy.
