Hawes In, Miller Out?

Well, it may be too early to tell whether 7-foot Spencer Hawes will be what the Sacramento Kings need to move into the future on a positive note. His build, speed and style all resemble Brad Miller. The main difference is his ability to post up around the basket.

Watching the only video of him on YouTube, I couldn't help but notice flashes of one Vlade Divac. He is a strong passer, often referred to as the best passing big man in the draft, and somewhat of a shot blocker. He has a decent hook shot (a fading art in today's game) and mid-range jumper. His main down side is his lack of mobility and athleticism, something the current roster lacks immensely.

With the kings not selecting a power forward, it is quite possible they will keep Ron Artest. The question then becomes what is the future of Brad Miller? Miller has had two very bad seasons in a row with lower scoring numbers combined with a pitiful presence in the middle. How many times last season did we see players from every position run right through the guy? Even if he is a good passer and decent shooter, the hunting/chew spitting Miller needs to improve his game or hand over his position to a developing talent. This draft choice by Petrie could possible mean a reduced role by Miller or possibly even a trade.

The only argument against that is the fact that Hawes is 19 years old and only played one season with the University of Washington. He did average 14.9 points and 6 rebounds in that one season, but is that enough to bump a one-time All Star out of the starting position, or for that matter replace him, I think not.

The team might have solved the need for a more aggressive big man in the middle, MIGHT HAVE, but even if they did it could take a few years for the kid to mature as he isn't to the likes of the beast the Blazers got in Greg Oden. With all of the experts claiming this to be one of deepest drafts since 1984 when Michael Jordan came into the league, we could have snagged a gem because big men with a fundamental game can be hard to find.

I will leave you with a quote from University of Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar on the Kings' first round draft pick.

"We are very fortunate to have who we feel is arguably the best big man in America at this level. He is not only talented, but he has a lot of toughness. We think he embodies everything that Husky basketball is all about. We expect him to make an immediate impact, We have not had someone who can step in and do the things that he does with his size. As a 7-footer, he is able to score on the low block and able to pass the basketball with a good feel," Romar said on the Huskies Web site.