Pistons Pick Up a 2nd Round Sleeper: Literally (narcolepsy)

[final.wrath]

Walter Sharpe had a pretty rough college basketball career. He was shot, he was arrested once, and was academically inelligable for his senior season. According to Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press, he couldn't even spell his own last name right. But after being diagnosed with narcolepsy and put on medication, supposedly his life has turned around.

[QUOTE=http://truebluepistons.blogspot.com/2008/06/pistons-eager-to-put-sharpe-to-test.html]Sharpe spoke freely during a Friday conference call about his narcolepsy, a condition only recently discovered by a sleep study that he underwent at the urging of Alabama-Birmingham coach Mike Davis. And he stopped short of blaming the condition

[embersyc]

Good to see at least one other person is being optimistic.

Some clowns on this board, and in the team forum are calling for Dumars to be fired.

If Dumars EVER gets fired I will no longer be a Pistons fan, but instead a fan of Dumars's new team. He won't stay unemployed a week.

[InspiredLebowski]

Good to see at least one other person is being optimistic.

Some clowns on this board, and in the team forum are calling for Dumars to be fired.

If Dumars EVER gets fired I will no longer be a Pistons fan, but instead a fan of Dumars's new team. He won't stay unemployed a second.

Fixed.

He'd be unemployed for however long it took for him to fly from Detroit to his press conference at his new team.

[final.wrath]

Yeah whoever said he should be fired is an F*ing idiot. Joe D is the best thing to happen to the Detroit Pistons ever.

DJ White was a Maxiell clone. We were searching for players that would tolerate playing in Europe, and thats why we passed on CDR and Walker.

[DeuceWallaces]

I don't have a problem with the draft. No matter who they pick they're not gonna play, at least this way he weaseled his way out of a guaranteed contract.

That being said, considering Sharpe wasn't even in the media guide, it seems like he could have signed him as an undrafted free agent and taken CDR and Bill Walker with his first two picks, which would have been a better move.

[kidachi]

I don't have a problem with the draft. No matter who they pick they're not gonna play, at least this way he weaseled his way out of a guaranteed contract.

That being said, considering Sharpe wasn't even in the media guide, it seems like he could have signed him as an undrafted free agent and taken CDR and Bill Walker with his first two picks, which would have been a better move.


that's what i was gonna say.

I still trust Joe D's drafting though..

[flintstone]

They took him when they did, because they thought someone else was about to take him. He's going to be the backup for Prince....they hope :eek:

[Dasher]

You guys are really sleeping on Sharpe. He picked him where he did to send a message to the league and his coaching staff that Walt is here to stay.

He got a steal in Walter. He is a good guy who just kept being put in bad situations by people he trusted. The whole Miss State thing was his high school coach's fault. He was literally sold by his coach to Miss State and that began a mini downward spiral for him.

The Pistons are like the 70's Steelers front office. They pluck guys from right under people's noses. If people weren't unfairly burying and poo pooing CUSA last year they would have seen talent like Sharpe, Vaden, and McKiver just waiting to be scooped.

[Dasher]

[QUOTE]Walter Sharpe may be a surprising name called on draft night, after conducting strong workouts with teams like Cleveland, Denver, New Jersey, Washington and Charlotte, and showing surprisingly well there. Sharpe, a very highly touted member of the 2004 high school class, only played in 12 games this season before being ruled academically ineligible at UAB. He was later diagnosed with Narcolepsy (a sleeping disorder), but has numerous other red flags on his resume, including being kicked out of Mississippi State for breaking team rules, being shot in the stomach, and then later being arrested for disorderly conduct

[Sonic R]

Good to see at least one other person is being optimistic.

Some clowns on this board, and in the team forum are calling for Dumars to be fired.

If Dumars EVER gets fired I will no longer be a Pistons fan, but instead a fan of Dumars's new team. He won't stay unemployed a week.

I am fxcking tired of everyone on the radio and everywhere I go ripping on Dumars. Stupid dip shxt fake fux trashing Dumars. Darko this, Rodney White this. Fuc outta here with that tired ol shxt

[Dasher]

Walter has been better than DJ since they were kids. So quit crying about another undersized PF. Walter brings length and a great deal of skill.

[flintstone]

Walter has been better than DJ since they were kids. So quit crying about another undersized PF. Walter brings length and a great deal of skill.

I may have misunderstood your post,,,Dumars said he's a SF. He's not undersized there.

[Dasher]

I may have misunderstood your post,,,Dumars said he's a SF. He's not undersized there. Quit crying about DJ White. Walter is the much superior player, and can shuffle in between both spots in a pinch. He was actually spending a lot of time at the 5 last year. The personal stuff is a bit overblown because it is being thrown out there without the proper context.

[flintstone]

Quit crying about DJ White. Walter is the much superior player, and can shuffle in between both spots in a pinch. He was actually spending a lot of time at the 5 last year. The personal stuff is a bit overblown because it is being thrown out there without the proper context.


Ok, I see now. My understanding regarding DJ White is that he's a Maxiell type of player "only"...Dumars wasn't interested in that skill set in the draft.

This guy can backup Prince (good ball skills)...almost guard like, from what I have read.

[Dasher]

Ok, I see now. My understanding regarding DJ White is that he's a Maxiell type of player "only"...Dumars wasn't interested in that skill set in the draft.

This guy can backup Prince (good ball skills)...almost guard like, from what I have read.
He has Lamar Odom handles, and range all the way out to the NBA 3. He is a bigger, stronger, more advanced Anthony Randolph. He has a back to the basket game. Joey D is gonna piss everyone off again next year when he scoops up Lester Hudson, Ronald Steele, Alonzo Gee, Chris Johnson, or Charles Rhodes late in the first.

[Younggrease]

He has Lamar Odom handles, and range all the way out to the NBA 3. He is a bigger, stronger, more advanced Anthony Randolph. He has a back to the basket game. Joey D is gonna piss everyone off again next year when he scoops up Lester Hudson, Ronald Steele, Alonzo Gee, Chris Johnson, or Charles Rhodes late in the first.

is that a good thing?

he can only go one way?

[KempSonics]

Yup, Dumars is playing Sharpe at the 3. Interesting. I've been reading that his game is like Lamar Odom's. If he turns into something special, I never ever want o hear anyone ripping Dumars. Those that do are idiots anyways.

And watch out for Plaisted too. He'll be in Europe next season, but he'll probably kick a$$ and become a big trade chip.

[Dasher]

is that a good thing?

he can only go one way?
For a guy his height his handles are crazy, they are more compact than Lamar's. He can go left and right. His pull up J will be where he makes his money. He needs to improve at the stripe he left a lot of cake on the counter there.

[Dasher]

Yup, Dumars is playing Sharpe at the 3. Interesting. I've been reading that his game is like Lamar Odom's. If he turns into something special, I never ever want o hear anyone ripping Dumars. Those that do are idiots anyways.

And watch out for Plaisted too. He'll be in Europe next season, but he'll probably kick a$$ and become a big trade chip.
A year getting stronger is gonna be great for him. Take it from yo whoa Dasher if he can get stronger and maintain his purported 4.6 40 speed he could be great in a run n gun offense.

[KempSonics]

Dasher, had Sharpe played at a bigger school and played a full season, where would he be drafted in your opinion?

[Dasher]

Dasher, had Sharpe played at a bigger school and played a full season, where would he be drafted in your opinion?
Potential spots:

15 to the Suns:Replacement for Grant Hill

19 to Cleveland:A dynamic player who could spell LeBron

20 to the Bobcats:Adds size and skill to the wing.

28 to Memphis:Would be great in Iavorroni's system.

29 to Detroit: They wanted him anyway.

30 to Boston: Could add some oomph to their aging bench.

[flintstone]

Well, we'll get to see sharpe in action in a couple of weeks (summer league). I hope he's as good as Dumars hopes he is.

If he can back Prince up...plus play power forward in a pinch, that would be great. The fact that Prince can play point in a pinch is nice too...(just in case we get rid of Billups) and someone has a little injury, from game to game.

We have had to use Prince at point a few times in the past...and he did an ok job.

Just thinking what if :eek:

[final.wrath]

I think its interesting the run and gun direction we seem to be headed. Excited to see Maxiell, Amir, Stuckey, Aflallo play this style more because they all seem well suited for it. Curry did make it clear he won't be banking on a particular playing style, just going to use what brings the best out of the players on the floor. Oh, and I forgot Walter Herrman, who is rumored to have a good chance of coming back to Detroit.

To clarify, Dumars is a class act and did not draft players who wouldn't be willing to play in Europe, because he didn't anticipate a high probability of an open roster spot for them. Thats why we passed on CDR and Walker.

[final.wrath]

I think its interesting the run and gun direction we seem to be headed. Excited to see Maxiell, Amir, Stuckey, Aflallo play this style more because they all seem well suited for it. Curry did make it clear he won't be banking on a particular playing style, just going to use what brings the best out of the players on the floor. Oh, and I forgot Walter Herrman, who is rumored to have a good chance of coming back to Detroit.

To clarify, Dumars is a class act and did not draft players who wouldn't be willing to play in Europe, because he didn't anticipate a high probability of an open roster spot for them. Thats why we passed on CDR and Walker.

[boozehound]

That being said, considering Sharpe wasn't even in the media guide, it seems like he could have signed him as an undrafted free agent and taken CDR and Bill Walker with his first two picks, which would have been a better move.
supposedly some teams were trying to trade up to get him in the 2nd round so joe nabbed him when he could. I am a little disappointed with our pick at 46. really? Trent plastered.

[monthh]

I really like what the Pistons did. They didn't get a superstar, or probably even a starter. What they did do was pick up a few guys that can play a couple different positions (Sharpe SF/PF/SG, Plaisted C/PF, and Washington SG/SF). I think this is a big draft for them because with potential moves in the near future (I don't follow rumors that closely, but I know I have heard Wallace to the Rockets and a Billups trade to get Stuckey in the starting lineup) guys like Stuckey, Maxiel, Johnson, Afflalo, and Hayes may be asked to step up in the rotation meaning they need some guys to fill in behind them. I think this a great draft because the Pistons weren't going to get a star that late anyway, so why not get a couple guys who could be 8th to 12th men?

And I don't understand why teams are attacking Dumars because about 10 of the GM's in the 2nd round took international players (or college players born outside of the US) for the same reason that the Pistons got the guys they did. I think Dumars actually may have been smarter because the D-League is there for a reason and Dumars won't have to send those guys overseas where he can't really control how they develop. You can bet if they are in the D-League he has his people working with them all the time.

[final.wrath]

I really like what the Pistons did. They didn't get a superstar, or probably even a starter. What they did do was pick up a few guys that can play a couple different positions (Sharpe SF/PF/SG, Plaisted C/PF, and Washington SG/SF). I think this is a big draft for them because with potential moves in the near future (I don't follow rumors that closely, but I know I have heard Wallace to the Rockets and a Billups trade to get Stuckey in the starting lineup) guys like Stuckey, Maxiel, Johnson, Afflalo, and Hayes may be asked to step up in the rotation meaning they need some guys to fill in behind them. I think this a great draft because the Pistons weren't going to get a star that late anyway, so why not get a couple guys who could be 8th to 12th men?

And I don't understand why teams are attacking Dumars because about 10 of the GM's in the 2nd round took international players (or college players born outside of the US) for the same reason that the Pistons got the guys they did. I think Dumars actually may have been smarter because the D-League is there for a reason and Dumars won't have to send those guys overseas where he can't really control how they develop. You can bet if they are in the D-League he has his people working with them all the time.

Dumars has done a good job of using the D-League so far. Probably better than any other GM. Maxiell, Amir, and Cheik Samb all have improved from the gametime experience as opposed to warming the bench and just watching/practicing.

I think the DLeague is preferable to stashing players in Europe because the team has more influence over staffing their DL team and less of a chance that a European team will pay to keep your guy.

[monthh]

Plus in Europe they may not get any time. I don't follow the D-League much, but I would assume that everyone gets some time and draft picks are probably among the best players so they get a good amount of time. In Europe you may be playing with some established vets that are better right now and understand the European game better, and get starters minutes while the draft pick sits the bench.

[Baller1986]

http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/globalport-officials-left-fuming-by-photo-of-import-sharpe-asleep-in-parking-lot

http://contents.spin.ph/image/sharpesleeping.jpg

Globalport import Walter Sharpe is pictured by bystanders asleep in a parking lot infront of a row of bars along Julia Vargas in Pasig City early Monday morning.

[went_worth]

Dude scored 2 points in his last game.

Got drunk due to his frustrations and got caught sleeping in the parking lot. LOL. :lol