NBA Draft 2006: POB- Everything Warrior Fans ever wanted to know!

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 29, 2006 9:33 AM PDT in NBA Draft Comment 10 comments

Patrick O'Bryant Draft Profiles
NBADraft.net
Draft Express
Yahoo! Sports/ Draft Express
College Hoops.net
CBS Sportline

Local Articles
Local fans get another dose of instant letdown (SFGate)

This is a lot to ask from any rookie, and expecting it from a No. 9 pick is unfair. The word on 7-footer O'Bryant is that he's at least two years away from any kind of real NBA impact.

Not exactly what Warriors Nation wanted hear.

Thinking really big Warriors grab Bradley center O'Bryant at No. 9 (SFGate)

The Bradley sophomore had lived in relative obscurity until the final two weeks of his college career, when he dropped 28 points on Pittsburgh in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

POB aka "The Chef" (nickname coined here at Golden State of Mind!) will fit right in. The Warriors have been living in obscurity on the NBA map for over a decade!

Kawakami: Warriors take Patrick O'Bryant, leave me speechless (Mercury)

But O'Bryant made too much sense. And I guarantee -- guarantee -- that he will have a better NBA career than Shelden Williams, who was selected fifth by the numb-brained Atlanta Hawks.

Do Warriors fans have the right to call any other team's brain trust "numb-brained"?

Warriors gain size, a little leverage (Mercury)

If O'Bryant is as good as advertised, and I believe that he is, Mullin can package the new Warrior excess -- Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, Andris Biedrins, Mickael Pietrus, Mike Dunleavy, etc. -- for something great in a few days when the trade window opens.

Or he can wait a few more months and see if the shopping is better in January or February, when Kevin Garnett may be truly unhappy or Jermaine O'Neal truly expendable.

It's time for a little wheeling and dealing!

Warriors go big with picks (Mercury)

While the draft audience might have yawned at the selection, Warriors fans were given reason for optimism as their team may have landed the center they covet, the first 7-footer drafted by the Warriors in the first round since Joe Barry Carroll in 1980.

Optimism? Uh-oh.

Warriors Lucky Number? Call It 7 (Free Lance)

EDIT: Here's some more local pieces on the draft:

First Interview Impression: O'Bryant Sounds Canny and Calm (Mercury Blog)
The Draft In Review (Mercury Blog)

Also, head on over to MVN-The City for a recap of what happened at the Warriors' 2006 Draft Party and his take on the draft.

Join in on the great Patrick O'Bryant discussions on Golden State of Mind at: NBA Draft 2006: YOUR GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TAKE..., NBA Draft 2006: Patrick O'Bryant is our Newest Warrior, and NBA Draft 2006: Warrior Wrapup!

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O'B: Good Choice

Really, once West stole Gay, O'Bryant was the only choice. And he should prove out. He has a lot of strengths (athleticism, good hands, quick reactions, smart kid) and only a few weaknesses (needs weight/strength, needs tougher attitude). Otherwise, he just needs to play -- cuz he's a real quick learner. He also gives BD a new lease on life, since Barron can now toss the ball in the middle without watching it roll out of bounds. Plus, his defense and shot-blocking are already strong enough to allow him to play significant minutes. Unless Mully brings someone else in, O'B should be starting by game 20. Finally, this'll allow AB to move to 4, where he belongs, and allow him to split time with Diogu. Murph has to be history, and I'd see the Bulls as a potential trading partner.
I just don't understand, tho, why the W's didn't go for Dee Brown, or even Hassan in round two; looks like that was a wasted choice. Oh, well. O'B should make up for that.

by johnl on Jun 29, 2006 10:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Serious?

I thought we were both in the Rodney Carney camp?

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 29, 2006 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carney?

I liked Carney (still do) when I thought GS had given up on O'B after O'B wouldn't come in for a workout. (And what was up with that?) After it came out that Mully flew back for an O'B workout on Tuesday, though, it looked pretty clear that O'B had not burned any bridges here.
I'll always believe you've got to take a good big man, if there's that choice, and I'm pretty convinced O'B will be just that. And he's NOT a project in the true sense of the word. Tho he's only 20, he's shown enough lately to convince me he'll be playable soon, tho he might not reach full potential for 5-7 years. (If he were not a minor project he certainly wouldn't have been around at 9; and did you see, once he fell, how 10 and 11 continued the run on centers? And, of the three, wouldn't you rather have O'B?) So what? There aren't any better options -- thru draft or trade -- down low. We did just fine, thank you.
Now, maybe Mully could package Murphy and Pietrus to Philly for Carney and some stiff (for the cap problem); maybe even CWebb, who'd Philly'd like to dump and who has (I think) only two years left on his contract. Wouldn't that be sweet?

by johnl on Jun 29, 2006 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The next Todd Fuller? Adonal Foyle Redux?

What a tremendous disappointment! What's Mully thinking? Another project?! Time is to win now, baby! Win now!

by kirkkazas on Jun 29, 2006 10:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

EXACTLY

Another project? I'm projecting more lottery runs.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 29, 2006 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tim Kawakami is a fucking dumbass

he likes the pick right now but watch when POB starts sucking and he blames it on Mullin

by chimp on Jun 29, 2006 11:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

THE CHEF inspires confidence in no one

In fact, I read on one of these Draft blogs (I think it was Luke Winn's on SI.com) that O'Bryant was messing around with Hilton Armstrong's Hornets cap, taking it off his head and trying to give him his Warriors cap instead.

Nice. Already he's giving maximum effort for the team.

by poxybollocks on Jun 29, 2006 12:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

POB trading hats

it's just a part of the larger article: POB trading hats

Simmons is interrupted by Patrick O'Bryant, who walks over, jokingly takes off Simmons' Hornets hat and switches it with his own Warriors cap. Can you blame O'Bryant? Who wouldn't want to switch off the Warriors to play with Chris Paul?