RUMOR: DeMarcus Cousins is Golden State Warriors guy and Greg Monroe is next

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 20, 2010 8:30 AM PDT in NBA Draft

Can you believe the 2010 NBA Draft is less than 5 days away? The Warriors have a new logo and if the draft rumors and projections are indicating what they're supposed to indicate, they'll also have a new skilled big man to add to their collection of raw, soft, and lost (read: not good) big men "building blocks".

Big, I tell you. BIG!

Jump for the 411!

Chad Ford writes in his Mock Draft 5.0 [ESPN Insider]:

The Warriors are among the most difficult teams in the draft to predict right now. Over the course of the past week, I've heard a number of players were atop their list, including DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Xavier Henry, Ekpe Udoh, Patrick Patterson ... I could go on...

For weeks, the word I've been getting is Cousins is the guy. If he's off the board, the next closest consensus among sources (and I use the word consensus loosely) is Monroe. The Warriors need more size, and Monroe's high basketball IQ and skill level should be a nice fit in Golden State.

Personally, I'd be happy with either Cousins or Monroe. Both got some flava.

But didn't this dance go out of style in the 60's?

[via www3.pictures.zimbio.com]

Crazy shots while being double-teamed? CHECK.

Blanket D? CHECK.

This guy will really fit in here!

[via www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com]

Draft Profiles

DeMarcus Cousins: NBADraft.net | DraftExpress
Greg Monroe: NBADraft.net | DraftExpress

Mo Monroe and Mo

Warriors draft: The case for Greg Monroe [Talking Points]
Larry Riley pre-draft chat: On Greg Monroe, less Don Nelson, and building around Curry [Talking Points]

Community Draft Education

Like it or not, Greg Monroe is our guy (Balance)
Greg Monroe from Hoya Fans (cuse7284)
Case for drafting Demarcus Cousins (bojangles408)

Poll

Which of these 2 players would you rather see the Warriors draft?

DeMarcus Cousins

876 votes

Greg Monroe

315 votes

1191 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I think balance was right. Greg Monroe is our guy. Sac probably isn’t going to pass on Cousins- or rather that take anyone soft. I think they will take Cousins and we’ll end up with Monroe.Didn’t like him initially but now, he’s good.

[Info on Randolph] Would have been valuable at this time... But our management failed.

by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 20, 2010 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

BPA is Cousins

And if he was there, you take him. If he’s not there and Monroe is available, then Greg is our guy. We need beef up front, ’nuff said.

"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis

by ejdacanay on Jun 20, 2010 9:01 AM PDT reply actions

it’s interesting to me to see a good portion of the votes go to Monroe. I think it’s clear that Cousins is the better player but i read somewhere a GM say that Cousins probably won’t get much better. Cousins has a great combination of quickness for his size. That could be his primary advantage and we may see it deminish as he ages and gains weight. Monroe is probably a closer prospect than we are giving him credit for. He’s still significantly improving, he stayed an extra year in college. He has good size and is smart. He’s pretty stong and will probably bulk up. he’s only 20 and it looks like he could add another 15lbs of muscle easly, puting him around 265. if he gets better and bigger……, i’m not sure Monroe won’t end up as the better player. I’ll be happy with either one of these guys and i’m glad we have a chance to add a quality big to our line-up.

by Balance on Jun 20, 2010 9:47 AM PDT reply actions

My depth chart…

1. Cousins
2. Johnson
3. Monroe

One of these guys will be available to us, which is pretty damn cool. I’m not 100% sold on Monroe, but I think his legit C size and unusual skills clearly give him the most value at the #6 spot. Given the uncertainty surrounding the team, best to add the most value now and then take inventory when the new regime takes over. If the new brass love Monroe, keep him and look to dump one of the other 4 bigs. If they’re not sold, he should be extremely easy to move.

Weirdly, most of the best-known draft-mockers (Ford, Givony, NBADraft.net) seem to be rallying around the idea that Cousins is going to be available to us at #6. Being a Warriors fan, I’m not going to allow myself even a glimmer of hope on that front. (1) He’s not going to be there; and (2) even if he is, we’ll find a way to draft Motiejunas instead…

There will be no extra point!

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 20, 2010 9:49 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

I am of the same mind as you Sleepy.

I was warming to Aminu as well but I now think that the Warriors will take Monroe if Johnson/Cousins are off the board.

by Only In Fairfax on Jun 20, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

we’ll find a way to draft Motiejunas instead

This is what I thought until he removed his name from consideration.

by samuraaaaiiiiiii on Jun 20, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

i think selecting between Cousins and Monroe is closer than us outsiders are giving it credit. We tend to look backwards, stats, college, etc. but teams are looking forward. who will be a better pro, teammate, who has more room to grow, etc. I’m really warming up to Monroe.

by Balance on Jun 20, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I liked this line

One of these guys will be available to us, which is pretty damn cool

It’s nice to see some optimism and excitement. There are some good players in this draft. Hopefully the Warriors go out and get one.

Please note the 11 next to my name. All others are frauds.

by wallywagon11 on Jun 20, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Cheesy, I know

Please note the 11 next to my name. All others are frauds.

by wallywagon11 on Jun 20, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

It would never happen

but Minn should trade down for Monroe.

"It's like Will Smith, remember the Fresh Prince? Get the ball don't let nobody else shoot? That's kinda what the offense can be sometimes, and they're just standing around waiting for Monta to make a play"
-MT2

by golden_solitude on Jun 20, 2010 10:47 AM PDT reply actions

to sleepy…
the kings just brought monroe in for a 2nd workout and they have not brought anyone else (including cousins) back for a 2nd one yet so they obviously have some interest in him so it not a impossible thought to think he can still be there at 6 and Motiejunas pulled his name out the draft….so he is not even in this draft

by Captial DB on Jun 20, 2010 10:48 AM PDT reply actions

guess you Sacto fans have a hard time picking up on Sarcasm.

Set a record by getting banned for the 8th time!
After rehab I saw the light and promise to be kinder and gentler!
Probation is a very slippery slope!

by StinkyFingers on Jun 20, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Motiejunas pulled his name out the draft….so he is not even in this draft

Haha, yeah, I’m aware of that. But I’m sticking with the notion that we’ll find a way to grab him somehow. Just keeping my hopes suitably low. ;-)

There will be no extra point!

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 20, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I favor below the radar types

I favor Greg Monroe who I believe will surprise many NBA fans.

Take Monroe and slot him into Kentucky or Georgia Tech’s front line!

See, Told Ya so!

by jlcdb70 on Jun 20, 2010 11:26 AM PDT reply actions

Since a op 3 is started for GSW choices, here is mine

Opportunity:

1. Cousins
2. Johnson
3. Monroe

Why do people have Johnson ahead of Cousins? Did Wes jump that much in the past month? Wow, W.J. must be worth it good!

by jlcdb70 on Jun 20, 2010 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

West Virginia's D. Butler???

How’s the knee???

by jlcdb70 on Jun 20, 2010 11:32 AM PDT reply actions

Sactown may prefer Monroe

they have bulk up front already – Dalembert, Thompson
They need is someone who can play PF/C – advantage Monroe
If they think he can be a less athletic Chris Webber, or a Vlade type – the temptation to relive the glory days may play a role as well.
Plus, Sactown tends to want more mature personalities (moved on from the JWill era to the Bibby one, choose Thompson over Randolph).

by tjmax on Jun 20, 2010 2:18 PM PDT reply actions

Put me down for Monroe

I think DeMarcus Cousins is probably a better value because of his potential impact, but I just don’t like him. I don’t like his body language and I don’t like his track record. Something about him reminds me of Derek Coleman. He looks like he’s always tired or irritated.

my .02

by Jeremy Belvins on Jun 20, 2010 3:18 PM PDT reply actions

why all the Coleman haters?

He wasn’t a bad player – just in his last five years or so he fell off a lot. But he was a 19/20 ppg and 10/11 rbds guy his first five years. He was injured in his sixth year, and came back strong in years seven and eight. I know he didn’t live up to the hype coming out of Syracuse, but he was an allstar. If he was picked seventh instead of first he’d be given more credit.

by tjmax on Jun 20, 2010 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions

He wasn’t a bad player – just in his last five years or so he fell off a lot. But he was a 19/20 ppg and 10/11 rbds guy his first five years.

His first 5 years were pretty strong but that’s about it honestly. Look at those numbers after the injury, they really aren’t that impressive. He never shot 45% from the field after his third year and it really dropped after the 5th. His TS% wasn’t very impressive either. Just looking over his team records and his advanced stats and it’s not that great after that fifth year.

Please note the 11 next to my name. All others are frauds.

by wallywagon11 on Jun 20, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

His first 5 years were pretty strong but that’s about it honestly

haha, but If we can get 5 good years out of Cuz we’ll have 3 rings at the end of them. Don’t worry about years 6-10 , the earth might explode before then or the tea party might ban basketball because it empowers the ghetto? Golden state needs to think Golden state of Mind and go for the gold. Who wants to chant "We’re number 8 " forever?

Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 20, 2010 4:43 PM PDT reply actions

haha, but If we can get 5 good years out of Cuz we’ll have 3 rings at the end of them. Don’t worry about years 6-10.

Well, to be honest I am not sure if there would be 3 rings by then but I get the point I suppose. I just think you should be looking more toward the 8-9 year gap since you are going to want him to be successful through his second contract.

Please note the 11 next to my name. All others are frauds.

by wallywagon11 on Jun 20, 2010 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, the Jesus Lady will have us all playing hockey.

Actually, the thought of DMC playing hockey is hilarious.

by Screwfish on Jun 21, 2010 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Of the guys listed by Chad Ford, I would rank:

1. Cousins
2. Aminu
3. Johnson
4. Monroe
5. Udoh
6. Henry
7. Patterson

I think the Warriors strategy should be to slightly overrate defensive players who can guard, rebound, and block shots. Cousins might be too good to pass up, though he’s most likely Zach Randolph part II. I think Aminu is the best fit. His age, possibilities of improvement, and defensive abilities are what the W’s need. He would seem to fit well with Curry. Johnson looks like he’ll be a professional scorer, though I’m not sure if he’ll be much of a defensive presence. Monroe looks like the best player in the draft on some nights, and kind of invisible on others. This seems like a bad fit for GS, as they have plenty of up-and-down players. And Monroe has some bust potential. Udoh might be a shutdown defensive stopper and shot blocker. But he’s a gamble. Henry is intriguing, but only seems a candidate if the W’s trade down. And Patrick Patterson is not going to happen.

by UncleCliffy on Jun 20, 2010 6:27 PM PDT reply actions

I'd gladly take Z-Bo 2.0.

A legit 20/10 threat who can dominate in the offensive post and use his fat arse well enough to block the lane? Where do I sign?

But yeah, I also like Aminu – but we seem to be the only ones who do around here. Probably because I hate statistics and like what I see of his playing more than anything.

by Screwfish on Jun 21, 2010 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, but you gotta take the bad Z-Bo with the good Z-Bo. Though he is a 20/10 machine, he doesn’t usually play for winning teams, he plays horrific D, he cannot block shots, and he could have some character issues.

For every good season Randolph had (Memphis, one or two years with Portland), he has had a bad season (Knicks, Clippers).

by UncleCliffy on Jun 21, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

My thoughts

I think Cousins will get drafted by the Timberwolves, Wesley Johnson goes to Sac town and we end up with Monroe. Things might get interesting if the Wolves draft Johnson as I can see no way Kings taking Cousins or Monroe. They just traded for Dalembert and they traded away an SF in Nocioni. They clearly need a SF and PG. I think Tyreke is a better shooting guard then a point guard and Udrih is a good backup PG. Kings need Wesley Johnson and if he is not there, I would think they would trade with the Hornets and trade away their fifth pick for Collison who will fit perfectly with Tyreke. They might even trade with detroit that I hear want to move up to grab Cousins. That would help them draft Xavier Henry as seventh overall pick (a reach but not big one).

I would love for us to draft Cousins or Johnson but I think Monroe is the third best option.

Waaaarriors

by puffylove on Jun 20, 2010 7:44 PM PDT reply actions

Dalembert is an expiring contract. He’s a short fix. Cousins or Monroe will take the reins once he’s gone is what i’m seeing.

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 20, 2010 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Cousins is the better individual player but I think Monroe would make the Warriors better. Having said that I’m still not sure who I want. I don’t want to miss out on a star (Cousins) if he actually plays to his potential.

by GoldenSt8OfMind on Jun 21, 2010 9:16 AM PDT reply actions