SJMN (Kawakami blog): The Jason Thompson bubble

The Jason Thompson bubble: The Warriors like him, but 14 is too high (I
think)

Posted by Tim Kawakami on June 20th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

* Update: SI.com's Ian Thomsen is joining the Jason Thompson-to-Warriors
party. This is getting more than fascinating. Somebody out there is talking
this up big time.

I probably should've put Rider center Jason Thompson into the whole mix of
players the Warriors could be considering, mostly if they move down from the
14 slot, but I didn't.

Just couldn't imagine him going anywhere near the 14th slot (more like 24),
no matter how much the Warriors and other teams have been following him, and
frankly, I didn't ask Chris Mullin about him (or about trading for a lower
pick to draft a guy like Thompson) because I didn't see it.

But now. after hearing that ESPN's Andy Katz talked up Thompson as a late
riser, and someone who could go as early as 12 to Sacramento or 14 to the
Warriors.

Well, here we are. I guess it's possible. Still don't think it's probable. I
believe Joe Alexander, Anthony Randolph or Donte Greene are more likely, if
they're there.

However, I do know that the Warriors have liked Thompson for a while. Not as
a lottery guy, necessarily, but as an under-the-radar, high-production
versatile big guy who might sneak up the draft board on draft night or might
be worth a look-see if they can trade down into the 20s.

Thompson fits the specialized big-man criteria I've repeated countless
times: He has enough offense for Nelson to keep him on the floor with either
Andris Biedrins or Brandan Wright and probably enough bulk and energy to
body up Amare Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer, for at least a short period.

(This is convincing me this might be real: I kind of consider Thompson the
anti-Patrick O'Bryant in the Warriors' eyes. Full college career of
production, blue-collar style with some skill, very happy to be physical,
some fire in his eyes. I think POB has been downgraded far too much by
Nelson and his staff, but oh well. That's not changing. If they see a big
man who in their minds is the opposite of POB, they're going to like him.)

Long ago, when I asked one scout to give me a guy out of nowhere he'd
guarantee was a first-rounder, his answer: Check out the kid from Rider. He'll
be a very good player in any style. That's why I stuck Thompson as No. 20 in
my Final Four period/early rankings for the draft. Figured it was way too
high, but wanted to toss a new name out there.

Little did I know.

Rider doesn't face regular top competition, but Thompson did just fine
against Michael Beasley this season. He's a senior, but won't turn 22 until
July. His numbers are very good (20 and 12, 56% FG as a senior), again,
matched up against mostly lousy competition.

Yeah, I could see Nelson playing him, mixing and matching Thompson with
Wright, Biedrins and Harrington.

So I should've included Thompson yesterday and today. I guess if Alexander
is gone, Greene doesn't quite enthrall Mullin and Nelson and Randolph seems
too risky or is gone at 14, Thompson might be a good compromise choice.

It's very possible that Mullin would take Thompson over JaVale McGee, Robin
Lopez, Marreese Speights, Darrell Arthur and Kosta Koufos. That I could go
with.

But still, no matter how much I believe the Warriors are intrigued by him,
it's a tough sell to take a guy most project as a 25 to 35 guy with the 14th
pick, a guy who supposedly doesn't have a large top end and who may not
officially measure out to be much taller than 6-8 or 6-9.

Give me a few days. I can convince myself of anything right now. Mostly: I
should've had Thompson's name in there for the Warriors, especially if there's
a hint that they could either move out of 14 into the 20s or if they can
keep 14 and pick up another later pick-get their wing and their big man all
at once.

Maybe that TE is going to be very useful, after all.