Friday, June 30, 2006
Gucci's Draft Grades
DISCLAIMER: I'm not the biggest fan of draft grades, because I feel they are misinterpreted as a means for projecting the future. The team's grade only reflects my view of their performance on draft day. It doesn't heavily factor in my projection of one's NBA career.
The main criteria here is twofold. First, did teams get good value out of their selections. The New York Knicks, for example, could have had Renaldo Balkman much later than the 20th selection. No matter how good or bad a player Balkman is, it still was an example of a team not getting good value with their pick. Second, do the players selected fit the system. Marcus Williams was a great pick talentwise for the New Jersey Nets at 22, but what makes the pick even better is that he fits in perfectly with New Jersey's up-tempo style.
With those points in mind, my draft grades.
Atlanta: Shelden Williams (5), Solomon Jones (33)
Atlanta's draft wasn't nearly as bad as last year, but they certainly could have done better. The rumor that Atlanta promised Shelden Williams to pick him at #5 proved to be true after all. Williams is a real banger down low. He's the type of guy that will battle inside for much-needed rebounds both on the offensive and defensive end of the court. He's going to open things up for Joe Johnson and the rest of the perimeter gang with his style of play. That being said, he probably could have been had 5 picks later. Atlanta could have traded the pick down to a team like Houston and got their man in addition to another asset. Jones is a big-man project that could eventually be a backup center down the road. Even though Williams and Jones should help Atlanta, they should have done something to address their point guard troubles. I would have liked them to use a second-round pick on a guy like Will Blalock or Dee Brown instead of Jones.
GRADE: C
Boston: Rajon Rondo (21 from Phoenix), Leon Powe (49 from Denver), Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff from Portland, Brian Grant from Phoenix
It was a very interesting draft for the Celtics. Acquiring Telfair from the Trailblazers while leaving Randy Foye on the board may end up being a collosal mistake, but it's worth taking the risk. Telfair, like Jermaine O'Neal before him, should benefit greatly from a change of scenery. He was unfairly scrutinized in Portland after being selected 15 picks too high in the 2004 draft. Boston really needs a true point guard, and Telfair is better than any in this draft. Picking up Rondo gives them another option in case Telfair flops. Rondo is athletic, but his lack of shooting ability should make him a career backup. Powe was good value in the second round and should make the team. Trading LaFrentz for Ratliff was a shrewd move. Even though Ratliff has a bloated salary, his defensive contributions are exactly what the Celtics need on the inside. Overall, I like what Boston did. A lot of people will disagree, but I think Telfair is worth the risk and should play a lot better for Boston than he did for Portland.
GRADE: B+
Charlotte: Adam Morrison (3), Ryan Hollins (50)
The Bobcats opted to go safe and take the most ready NBA prospect in Morrison. He should start right away on the wing and be a marquee scorer. I would not be surprised to see him lead Charlotte is scoring right away. Hollins is good value at #50 as a center project. Despite this, I think Charlotte would have been better off with Brandon Roy or Rudy Gay. Both have more upside and a more diverse array of skills. Roy in particular would have been a perfect fit for the Bobcats. In the end, a safe draft, but it could have been better.
GRADE: C+
Chicago: Tyrus Thomas (4), Thabo Sefolosha (13)
Thomas is an athletic freak at the 4 spot. The safe thing would have been to take LaMarcus Aldridge and plug him into the starting lineup. But considering Chicago's cap room and draft picks next season, taking Thomas was a fantastic move. They can afford to wait for him to develop into a real force. Sefolosha is a great fit at #13. Chicago's biggest weakness, besides interior play, was a lack of a big guard on the wing. Sefolosha fills that need and should play a lot right away. Overall, another solid haul for the Baby Bulls.
GRADE: B+
Cleveland: Shannon Brown (25), Daniel Gibson (42), Ejike Ugboaja (55)
Of all the true contenders in the league, the Cavaliers did the most to help their cause yesterday. Brown and Gibson should immediately replace Damon Jones and Eric Snow in the rotation. Brown is a phenomenal athlete with a solid jump shot and some point guard skills. He reminds me a ton of Wizards standout Gilbert Arenas coming out of college. Gibson was projected to be a top pick in the preseason, but fell off after a so-so sophomore year. His game, in my opinion, is better suited to the NBA than the college game. After spending so much time deferring to LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker last season, Gibson can now focus on being a scoring assasin off the bench for Cleveland with LeBron James. Ugboaja is a big-man project that could contribute in a couple years. Overall, a fantastic draft for Cleveland.
GRADE: A
Dallas: Maurice Ager (28), Danilo Pinnock (58)
The selection of Ager all but ensures that Marquis Daniels will be shipped out of town in the offseason. Ager was very good value at pick #28. He was overlooked a bit leading up to the draft, but is a proven commodity with legitimate scoring ability, much like Josh Howard was coming out of college. I was disappointed that Dallas didn't draft a power forward to play Keith Van Horn's role next season or a point guard in case Jason Terry bolts, but overall, they did pretty well.
GRADE: B
Denver: Traded Leon Powe to Boston
Taking Powe would have been fishy considering their power forward jogjam. Instead, they turned their second round pick into a second-rounder next year, which should be worth more with the deeper draft. Still, this is a team with plenty of problems that could have been addressed with pick #49.
GRADE: C
Detroit: Cheik Samb (51), Will Blalock (60)
I think Blalock is good value at the last pick in the draft and can help them as a backup PG next season. Samb is a project and shouldn't do much. He was mainly acquired to get rid of Maurice Evans.
GRADE: B+
Golden State: Patrick O'Bryant (9), Kostas Perovic (38)
O'Bryant fills a need at center with the 9th pick. The Warriors will need to wait on him for a couple years, but he may be worth the wait. However, his first workout with Golden State was the day before the draft, making you wonder whether he was really the guy Chris Mullen was after. Perovic is a project in the second round. While Golden State filled a glaring need, I was disappointed that they didn't entertain offers for the 9th pick. This is a team that has settled for mediocrity, and trading the 9th pick in a blockbuster would have dispelled that notion.
GRADE: C
Houston: Traded Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift for Shane Battier, Steve Novak (32), Lior Eliyahu (44)
Battier is a fantastic fit for Houston, but giving up a potential superstar in Rudy Gay as well as a talented player in Stromile Swift is a very high price to pay. Houston was supposed to acquire Brandon Roy from Minnesota in exchange for Randy Foye, but once Portland learned about the plan and picked Foye, the Rockets panicked and traded too much for Battier. I do like the pick of Steve Novak, who should knock down plenty of open shots off the bench. Eliyahu is a personal favorite who could be a good player down the road. Overall, I wished Houston kept their picks and gained assets instead of trading two key ones for Shane Battier.
GRADE: C
Indiana: Shawne Williams (17), James White (31)
These two picks should spell the end of the Peja Stojakovic era in Indiana. Either that, or the Pacers are stupid. I like Williams and I think he will eventually be a very good player, but he doesn't fit in at all in Indiana. In addition, their have been questions about his attitude, and while I think that's a product of his youth, it still raises a red flag. White is athletic, but also plays the same position as Williams. The Pacers should also have held on to Alexander Johnson, who would have significantly helped them inside. Drafting a point guard to solve that problem also would have been a good move. Overall, I think the Pacers lacked direction in this draft. Unless they deal Stephen Jackson or Peja, these picks make little sense.
GRADE: C-
LA Clippers: Paul Davis (34), Guillermo Diaz (52)
The Clippers got great value with both of these players. Davis provides many of the same services as free agent Vladimir Radmanovic at half the price. He should make the roster and play plenty in this league. Diaz is a first-round talent that is still growing into his body. A couple teams almost took him in Round 1, so he is great value at pick #53. Overall, the Clippers did the best they could with the picks they had.
GRADE: A-
LA Lakers: Jordan Farmar (26), Maurice Evans (TRADE)
It was a good draft for the Lakers. Farmar is intriguing with the 26th pick. He should step in right away and contribute as a true point guard in the triangle offense. Considering the circumstances, it was a very good selection. The trade for Maurice Evans was also a good move. Evans should immediately improve the Lakers' depth on the wing. The Lakers didn't do anything sexy, but got good value in this draft.
GRADE: B+
Memphis: Rudy Gay (8), Kyle Lowry (24), Alexander Johnson (45), Stromile Swift (TRADE)
There was no team in this draft that helped themselves more than the Memphis Grizzlies. Trading Shane Battier for two athletic guys in Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift is a fantastic move. They turned a decent role player that clogged up the wing into two athletic guys that will be devastating for years. But it doesn't stop there. Kyle Lowry fills a need a point guard and may even start next season. He's a great fit for the Grizzlies because he doesn't need to score to dominate a game. Johnson is a first-round talent that should help Memphis right away as a backup power forward. Overall, Jerry West officially gained his mojo back after a couple subpar drafts.
GRADE: A+
Miami: No picks
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
Milwaukee: David Noel (40), Damir Markota (59)
The Bucks got good value with Noel. He's a great athlete and has developing basketball skills. In Milwaukee's up-tempo style, Noel is a really good fit. Markota should contribute sooner rather than later.
GRADE: B+
Minnesota: Randy Foye (7), Craig Smith (36), Loukas Mavrokefalidis (57)
Minnesota couldn't really go wrong with either Brandon Roy or Randy Foye, but in the end, they got the better fit. Foye is going to be a great contributor, either as a point guard or a 2 guard. He will play right away and be a fantastic fit in Minnesota. He's my rooke if the year next season. Craig Smith was probably picked too high as an undersized power forward, but he may be useful as a rebounder off the bench. Mavrokefalidis is an intriguing international prospect that Chad Ford speaks pretty highly of. Overall, it was a good draft for Minnesota, from top to bottom.
GRADE: B
New Jersy: Marcus Williams (22), Josh Boone (23), Hassan Adams (54)
The Nets came into this draft needing to strengthen their bench, and they came away doing just that. Obviously, they were lucky that Williams slid all the way to 22 for them. He'll begin as a very good backup to Jason Kidd and should eventually replace him. Best yet, his style is a really good fit for New Jersey's up-tempo game. Boone struggled a bit in college, but he is a banger that won't need to be a top inside option for the Nets. He'll back up Jason Collins and Nenad Kristic next year. Adams will have a chance to make the team as an athletic swingman, but his lack of shooting ability will probably hold him back. Overall, a very good haul for New Jersey.
GRADE: A-
New Orleans: Hilton Armstrong (12), Cedric Simmons (15), Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Souza (43)
The Hornets didn't get any slam-dunk prospects like Chris Paul this year, but they significantly improved their team. They finally have some much-needed size in Armstrong and Simmons. Neither is a star, but both are great fits because they're big and can run the floor. de Souza is more NBA-ready than most international prospects and will provide New Orleans with a shooter off the benc. The Hornets are progressing nicely and look like a possible sleeper for the playoffs next season.
GRADE: A-
New York: Renaldo Balkman (20), Mardy Collins (29)
This will certainly be Isaiah Thomas' last draft. The interesting thing is I'm not so down on Renaldo Balkman as a basketball player. He's a bit raw and doesn't have a position, but is tough as nails and still has a lot of potential as a player. But to pick him at #20 when Josh Boone, Alexander Johnson, Joel Freeland, and others were on the board is simply ridiculous. I think the pick of Mardy Collins is actually worse than Balkman. Lord knows the Knicks have plenty of shooting guards on this team already, and Collins is not going to distance himself from any of them. There were plenty of players available that were better fits than Collins. There's only one grade for this draft.
GRADE: F
Orlando: J.J. Redick (11), James Augustine (41)
Orlando got two proven winners in Redick and Augustine. Redick is a phenomenal shooter and should get plenty of open looks playing alongside Dwight Howard. However, with DeShaun Stevenson leaving in free agency, I would have liked to have seen Orlando get a more well-rounded shooting guard like Ronnie Brewer or Thabo Sefolosha. Augustine is a winner and a good college player, but he's no NBA guy.
GRADE: C+
Philadelphia: Rodney Carney (16), Bobby Jones (37)
I orginally was very down on Philadelphia's draft, but after thinking it over, I like what they did. I was concerned that Carney and Jones played too much like Andre Iguodala, but the reality is that they significantly upgrade a much needed area in the wing. Carney will be an athletic perimeter player in the mold of Richard Jefferson. A starting lineup including Carney and Iguodala will struggle with shooting, but with Kyle Korver in the fold, it won't be a big deal. Jones was great value in Round 2. He should be a lockdown perimeter defender in the mold of Bruce Bowen and Trenton Hassell.
GRADE: B+
Phoenix: Traded both their picks for cash.
I was very down on this move as well, but then I read TrueHoop's post on the subject. Henry Abbott's argument was so convincing that I have literaly nothing to add.
GRADE: A
Portland: LaMarcus Aldridge (2), Brandon Roy (6), Sergio Rodriguez (27), Joel Freeland (30), Raef LaFrentz, Dan Dickau (TRADE)
No team has ever been as active as the TrailBlazers were yesterday. With these moves, the TrailBlazers have made the first big step in turning the franchise around. The one thing that Portland needed more than anything were a bunch of guys that can play right away. Aldridge and Roy will have long, solid, NBA careers. Rodriguez and Freeland are legitimate projects that can contribute solidly in the future. Taking on Raef LaFrentz' contract was well worth the guys that Portland received. Credit Portland for ignoring the "Draft the Stache" movement and instead selecting a pletora of solid players that will help them now and in the future.
GRADE: A+
Sacramento: Quincy Douby (19)
Douby is one of my sleepers in this draft, but Sacramento doesn't need him. This marks the third consecutive year they took a scoring two guard after Kevin Martin in 2004 and Francisco Garcia last year. The Kings would have been better off with a point guard like Marcus Williams or a big man like Josh Boone.
GRADE: C
San Antonio: Traded Damir Markota
San Antonio never gave themselves the chance to find another internationa diamond in the rough.
GRADE: D
Seattle: Saer Sene (10), Denham Brown (40), Yotam Halpern (53)
It was a tale of two rounds for the Sonics. Picking Sene is questionable considering all the inside projects they have already. The Sonics have some glaring needs on the perimeter and could have used a guy like Ronnie Brewer, J.J. Redick, or Rodney Carney. However, they redeemed themselves with two very solid picks in the second round. Brown is a solid player that will replace Damien Wilkins in the rotation, and Halpern will also play a lot for Seattle in a year or two.
GRADE: B-
Toronto: Andrea Bargnani (1), P.J. Tucker (35)
There's certainly a tendency to group Bargnani in the same breath as Darko Milicic because he's European and was picked extremely high in the draft, but the comparisons are very shortsighted. Bargnani was a key player in the best league in Italy and is still extremely young. While I don't think he'll be as good as Dirk Nowitzki, the Raptors did the right thing in taking him #1. I have no doubts that he'll have a series of all-star appearances in this league. Tucker is a bruising forward, but is a bad fit, so he'll probably have to make it elsewhere.
GRADE: B+
Utah: Ronnie Brewer (14), Dee Brown (46), Paul Millsap (47)
The Jazz have had a lot of bad drafts recently, but they did very well for themselves this year. Brewer is an underrated guard that has a very well-rounded game. He reminds me a lot of Josh Howard with his scoring ability and basketball athleticism. I expect him to start right away in the Jazz backcourt. Brown is also great value at pick #46. He could have gone really high last year and is not nearly as bad a shooter as he showed this year in college. Millsap is one hell of a rebounder and should make the roster. My only criticism is they didn't get a true post player, but otherwise, it was a fantastic draft for the Jazz.
GRADE: A-
Washington: Olesiky Pecherov (18), Vladimir Veremeenko (48)
Both of these guys are very good international prospects. Pecherov will be the starting power forward once Antwan Jamison moves on, and Veremeenko is an intriguing prospect in Round 2. However, I think the Wizards really could have used a solid post guy who can play now. They drafted as if they had no holes to fill, when they really needed to get some depth. Marcus Williams would have been a good pick in the first round, and I would have rather seen them get Leon Powe in Round 2. Pecherov and Veremeenko should be good players down the road, but I can't shake the fact that the Wizards didn't do anything to improve their team for right now.
GRADE: C-
The main criteria here is twofold. First, did teams get good value out of their selections. The New York Knicks, for example, could have had Renaldo Balkman much later than the 20th selection. No matter how good or bad a player Balkman is, it still was an example of a team not getting good value with their pick. Second, do the players selected fit the system. Marcus Williams was a great pick talentwise for the New Jersey Nets at 22, but what makes the pick even better is that he fits in perfectly with New Jersey's up-tempo style.
With those points in mind, my draft grades.
Atlanta: Shelden Williams (5), Solomon Jones (33)
Atlanta's draft wasn't nearly as bad as last year, but they certainly could have done better. The rumor that Atlanta promised Shelden Williams to pick him at #5 proved to be true after all. Williams is a real banger down low. He's the type of guy that will battle inside for much-needed rebounds both on the offensive and defensive end of the court. He's going to open things up for Joe Johnson and the rest of the perimeter gang with his style of play. That being said, he probably could have been had 5 picks later. Atlanta could have traded the pick down to a team like Houston and got their man in addition to another asset. Jones is a big-man project that could eventually be a backup center down the road. Even though Williams and Jones should help Atlanta, they should have done something to address their point guard troubles. I would have liked them to use a second-round pick on a guy like Will Blalock or Dee Brown instead of Jones.
GRADE: C
Boston: Rajon Rondo (21 from Phoenix), Leon Powe (49 from Denver), Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff from Portland, Brian Grant from Phoenix
It was a very interesting draft for the Celtics. Acquiring Telfair from the Trailblazers while leaving Randy Foye on the board may end up being a collosal mistake, but it's worth taking the risk. Telfair, like Jermaine O'Neal before him, should benefit greatly from a change of scenery. He was unfairly scrutinized in Portland after being selected 15 picks too high in the 2004 draft. Boston really needs a true point guard, and Telfair is better than any in this draft. Picking up Rondo gives them another option in case Telfair flops. Rondo is athletic, but his lack of shooting ability should make him a career backup. Powe was good value in the second round and should make the team. Trading LaFrentz for Ratliff was a shrewd move. Even though Ratliff has a bloated salary, his defensive contributions are exactly what the Celtics need on the inside. Overall, I like what Boston did. A lot of people will disagree, but I think Telfair is worth the risk and should play a lot better for Boston than he did for Portland.
GRADE: B+
Charlotte: Adam Morrison (3), Ryan Hollins (50)
The Bobcats opted to go safe and take the most ready NBA prospect in Morrison. He should start right away on the wing and be a marquee scorer. I would not be surprised to see him lead Charlotte is scoring right away. Hollins is good value at #50 as a center project. Despite this, I think Charlotte would have been better off with Brandon Roy or Rudy Gay. Both have more upside and a more diverse array of skills. Roy in particular would have been a perfect fit for the Bobcats. In the end, a safe draft, but it could have been better.
GRADE: C+
Chicago: Tyrus Thomas (4), Thabo Sefolosha (13)
Thomas is an athletic freak at the 4 spot. The safe thing would have been to take LaMarcus Aldridge and plug him into the starting lineup. But considering Chicago's cap room and draft picks next season, taking Thomas was a fantastic move. They can afford to wait for him to develop into a real force. Sefolosha is a great fit at #13. Chicago's biggest weakness, besides interior play, was a lack of a big guard on the wing. Sefolosha fills that need and should play a lot right away. Overall, another solid haul for the Baby Bulls.
GRADE: B+
Cleveland: Shannon Brown (25), Daniel Gibson (42), Ejike Ugboaja (55)
Of all the true contenders in the league, the Cavaliers did the most to help their cause yesterday. Brown and Gibson should immediately replace Damon Jones and Eric Snow in the rotation. Brown is a phenomenal athlete with a solid jump shot and some point guard skills. He reminds me a ton of Wizards standout Gilbert Arenas coming out of college. Gibson was projected to be a top pick in the preseason, but fell off after a so-so sophomore year. His game, in my opinion, is better suited to the NBA than the college game. After spending so much time deferring to LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker last season, Gibson can now focus on being a scoring assasin off the bench for Cleveland with LeBron James. Ugboaja is a big-man project that could contribute in a couple years. Overall, a fantastic draft for Cleveland.
GRADE: A
Dallas: Maurice Ager (28), Danilo Pinnock (58)
The selection of Ager all but ensures that Marquis Daniels will be shipped out of town in the offseason. Ager was very good value at pick #28. He was overlooked a bit leading up to the draft, but is a proven commodity with legitimate scoring ability, much like Josh Howard was coming out of college. I was disappointed that Dallas didn't draft a power forward to play Keith Van Horn's role next season or a point guard in case Jason Terry bolts, but overall, they did pretty well.
GRADE: B
Denver: Traded Leon Powe to Boston
Taking Powe would have been fishy considering their power forward jogjam. Instead, they turned their second round pick into a second-rounder next year, which should be worth more with the deeper draft. Still, this is a team with plenty of problems that could have been addressed with pick #49.
GRADE: C
Detroit: Cheik Samb (51), Will Blalock (60)
I think Blalock is good value at the last pick in the draft and can help them as a backup PG next season. Samb is a project and shouldn't do much. He was mainly acquired to get rid of Maurice Evans.
GRADE: B+
Golden State: Patrick O'Bryant (9), Kostas Perovic (38)
O'Bryant fills a need at center with the 9th pick. The Warriors will need to wait on him for a couple years, but he may be worth the wait. However, his first workout with Golden State was the day before the draft, making you wonder whether he was really the guy Chris Mullen was after. Perovic is a project in the second round. While Golden State filled a glaring need, I was disappointed that they didn't entertain offers for the 9th pick. This is a team that has settled for mediocrity, and trading the 9th pick in a blockbuster would have dispelled that notion.
GRADE: C
Houston: Traded Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift for Shane Battier, Steve Novak (32), Lior Eliyahu (44)
Battier is a fantastic fit for Houston, but giving up a potential superstar in Rudy Gay as well as a talented player in Stromile Swift is a very high price to pay. Houston was supposed to acquire Brandon Roy from Minnesota in exchange for Randy Foye, but once Portland learned about the plan and picked Foye, the Rockets panicked and traded too much for Battier. I do like the pick of Steve Novak, who should knock down plenty of open shots off the bench. Eliyahu is a personal favorite who could be a good player down the road. Overall, I wished Houston kept their picks and gained assets instead of trading two key ones for Shane Battier.
GRADE: C
Indiana: Shawne Williams (17), James White (31)
These two picks should spell the end of the Peja Stojakovic era in Indiana. Either that, or the Pacers are stupid. I like Williams and I think he will eventually be a very good player, but he doesn't fit in at all in Indiana. In addition, their have been questions about his attitude, and while I think that's a product of his youth, it still raises a red flag. White is athletic, but also plays the same position as Williams. The Pacers should also have held on to Alexander Johnson, who would have significantly helped them inside. Drafting a point guard to solve that problem also would have been a good move. Overall, I think the Pacers lacked direction in this draft. Unless they deal Stephen Jackson or Peja, these picks make little sense.
GRADE: C-
LA Clippers: Paul Davis (34), Guillermo Diaz (52)
The Clippers got great value with both of these players. Davis provides many of the same services as free agent Vladimir Radmanovic at half the price. He should make the roster and play plenty in this league. Diaz is a first-round talent that is still growing into his body. A couple teams almost took him in Round 1, so he is great value at pick #53. Overall, the Clippers did the best they could with the picks they had.
GRADE: A-
LA Lakers: Jordan Farmar (26), Maurice Evans (TRADE)
It was a good draft for the Lakers. Farmar is intriguing with the 26th pick. He should step in right away and contribute as a true point guard in the triangle offense. Considering the circumstances, it was a very good selection. The trade for Maurice Evans was also a good move. Evans should immediately improve the Lakers' depth on the wing. The Lakers didn't do anything sexy, but got good value in this draft.
GRADE: B+
Memphis: Rudy Gay (8), Kyle Lowry (24), Alexander Johnson (45), Stromile Swift (TRADE)
There was no team in this draft that helped themselves more than the Memphis Grizzlies. Trading Shane Battier for two athletic guys in Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift is a fantastic move. They turned a decent role player that clogged up the wing into two athletic guys that will be devastating for years. But it doesn't stop there. Kyle Lowry fills a need a point guard and may even start next season. He's a great fit for the Grizzlies because he doesn't need to score to dominate a game. Johnson is a first-round talent that should help Memphis right away as a backup power forward. Overall, Jerry West officially gained his mojo back after a couple subpar drafts.
GRADE: A+
Miami: No picks
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
Milwaukee: David Noel (40), Damir Markota (59)
The Bucks got good value with Noel. He's a great athlete and has developing basketball skills. In Milwaukee's up-tempo style, Noel is a really good fit. Markota should contribute sooner rather than later.
GRADE: B+
Minnesota: Randy Foye (7), Craig Smith (36), Loukas Mavrokefalidis (57)
Minnesota couldn't really go wrong with either Brandon Roy or Randy Foye, but in the end, they got the better fit. Foye is going to be a great contributor, either as a point guard or a 2 guard. He will play right away and be a fantastic fit in Minnesota. He's my rooke if the year next season. Craig Smith was probably picked too high as an undersized power forward, but he may be useful as a rebounder off the bench. Mavrokefalidis is an intriguing international prospect that Chad Ford speaks pretty highly of. Overall, it was a good draft for Minnesota, from top to bottom.
GRADE: B
New Jersy: Marcus Williams (22), Josh Boone (23), Hassan Adams (54)
The Nets came into this draft needing to strengthen their bench, and they came away doing just that. Obviously, they were lucky that Williams slid all the way to 22 for them. He'll begin as a very good backup to Jason Kidd and should eventually replace him. Best yet, his style is a really good fit for New Jersey's up-tempo game. Boone struggled a bit in college, but he is a banger that won't need to be a top inside option for the Nets. He'll back up Jason Collins and Nenad Kristic next year. Adams will have a chance to make the team as an athletic swingman, but his lack of shooting ability will probably hold him back. Overall, a very good haul for New Jersey.
GRADE: A-
New Orleans: Hilton Armstrong (12), Cedric Simmons (15), Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Souza (43)
The Hornets didn't get any slam-dunk prospects like Chris Paul this year, but they significantly improved their team. They finally have some much-needed size in Armstrong and Simmons. Neither is a star, but both are great fits because they're big and can run the floor. de Souza is more NBA-ready than most international prospects and will provide New Orleans with a shooter off the benc. The Hornets are progressing nicely and look like a possible sleeper for the playoffs next season.
GRADE: A-
New York: Renaldo Balkman (20), Mardy Collins (29)
This will certainly be Isaiah Thomas' last draft. The interesting thing is I'm not so down on Renaldo Balkman as a basketball player. He's a bit raw and doesn't have a position, but is tough as nails and still has a lot of potential as a player. But to pick him at #20 when Josh Boone, Alexander Johnson, Joel Freeland, and others were on the board is simply ridiculous. I think the pick of Mardy Collins is actually worse than Balkman. Lord knows the Knicks have plenty of shooting guards on this team already, and Collins is not going to distance himself from any of them. There were plenty of players available that were better fits than Collins. There's only one grade for this draft.
GRADE: F
Orlando: J.J. Redick (11), James Augustine (41)
Orlando got two proven winners in Redick and Augustine. Redick is a phenomenal shooter and should get plenty of open looks playing alongside Dwight Howard. However, with DeShaun Stevenson leaving in free agency, I would have liked to have seen Orlando get a more well-rounded shooting guard like Ronnie Brewer or Thabo Sefolosha. Augustine is a winner and a good college player, but he's no NBA guy.
GRADE: C+
Philadelphia: Rodney Carney (16), Bobby Jones (37)
I orginally was very down on Philadelphia's draft, but after thinking it over, I like what they did. I was concerned that Carney and Jones played too much like Andre Iguodala, but the reality is that they significantly upgrade a much needed area in the wing. Carney will be an athletic perimeter player in the mold of Richard Jefferson. A starting lineup including Carney and Iguodala will struggle with shooting, but with Kyle Korver in the fold, it won't be a big deal. Jones was great value in Round 2. He should be a lockdown perimeter defender in the mold of Bruce Bowen and Trenton Hassell.
GRADE: B+
Phoenix: Traded both their picks for cash.
I was very down on this move as well, but then I read TrueHoop's post on the subject. Henry Abbott's argument was so convincing that I have literaly nothing to add.
GRADE: A
Portland: LaMarcus Aldridge (2), Brandon Roy (6), Sergio Rodriguez (27), Joel Freeland (30), Raef LaFrentz, Dan Dickau (TRADE)
No team has ever been as active as the TrailBlazers were yesterday. With these moves, the TrailBlazers have made the first big step in turning the franchise around. The one thing that Portland needed more than anything were a bunch of guys that can play right away. Aldridge and Roy will have long, solid, NBA careers. Rodriguez and Freeland are legitimate projects that can contribute solidly in the future. Taking on Raef LaFrentz' contract was well worth the guys that Portland received. Credit Portland for ignoring the "Draft the Stache" movement and instead selecting a pletora of solid players that will help them now and in the future.
GRADE: A+
Sacramento: Quincy Douby (19)
Douby is one of my sleepers in this draft, but Sacramento doesn't need him. This marks the third consecutive year they took a scoring two guard after Kevin Martin in 2004 and Francisco Garcia last year. The Kings would have been better off with a point guard like Marcus Williams or a big man like Josh Boone.
GRADE: C
San Antonio: Traded Damir Markota
San Antonio never gave themselves the chance to find another internationa diamond in the rough.
GRADE: D
Seattle: Saer Sene (10), Denham Brown (40), Yotam Halpern (53)
It was a tale of two rounds for the Sonics. Picking Sene is questionable considering all the inside projects they have already. The Sonics have some glaring needs on the perimeter and could have used a guy like Ronnie Brewer, J.J. Redick, or Rodney Carney. However, they redeemed themselves with two very solid picks in the second round. Brown is a solid player that will replace Damien Wilkins in the rotation, and Halpern will also play a lot for Seattle in a year or two.
GRADE: B-
Toronto: Andrea Bargnani (1), P.J. Tucker (35)
There's certainly a tendency to group Bargnani in the same breath as Darko Milicic because he's European and was picked extremely high in the draft, but the comparisons are very shortsighted. Bargnani was a key player in the best league in Italy and is still extremely young. While I don't think he'll be as good as Dirk Nowitzki, the Raptors did the right thing in taking him #1. I have no doubts that he'll have a series of all-star appearances in this league. Tucker is a bruising forward, but is a bad fit, so he'll probably have to make it elsewhere.
GRADE: B+
Utah: Ronnie Brewer (14), Dee Brown (46), Paul Millsap (47)
The Jazz have had a lot of bad drafts recently, but they did very well for themselves this year. Brewer is an underrated guard that has a very well-rounded game. He reminds me a lot of Josh Howard with his scoring ability and basketball athleticism. I expect him to start right away in the Jazz backcourt. Brown is also great value at pick #46. He could have gone really high last year and is not nearly as bad a shooter as he showed this year in college. Millsap is one hell of a rebounder and should make the roster. My only criticism is they didn't get a true post player, but otherwise, it was a fantastic draft for the Jazz.
GRADE: A-
Washington: Olesiky Pecherov (18), Vladimir Veremeenko (48)
Both of these guys are very good international prospects. Pecherov will be the starting power forward once Antwan Jamison moves on, and Veremeenko is an intriguing prospect in Round 2. However, I think the Wizards really could have used a solid post guy who can play now. They drafted as if they had no holes to fill, when they really needed to get some depth. Marcus Williams would have been a good pick in the first round, and I would have rather seen them get Leon Powe in Round 2. Pecherov and Veremeenko should be good players down the road, but I can't shake the fact that the Wizards didn't do anything to improve their team for right now.
GRADE: C-
3 Comments:
I'll just say what grades I strongly disagree with...
Yes, Atlanta could have traded down some but they knew they wanted Williams bad and wanted to make sure it happened. I think Williams is a great fit for this team and will be a candidate for Rookie of the Year, trust me.
I would give Dallas a B/B+ with the potential to turn it into an A- depending on how Agers does.
I give Philly a C. Carney seems to be such a similar player as Andre Iggy. Why not draft Marcus Williams there? They need a pg.
I also give Seattle a C. They have way too many big men that are projects.
Otherwise, we are in agreement!
I actually heard that the Suns were planning to take Balkman so he may not have been available for the Knicks later. Mind you it was still a horrible pick.
In defense of the Wizards: I wanted Marcus Williams initially but here's the thing, we're set with Arenas, Williams is slow and has character issues and finally the Wiz didn't need him.
There's a chance Pecherov will enter the league. When he does enter the league and hopefully brings his 20 footer, he'll be opening up the lanes for the slashers like Gilbert.
In short, an appropriate grade for Washington would be B-/C+ barring what happens in the summer.
Granted, Washington found themselves in a really difficult spot in the first round at 18. A guy like Hilton Armstrong or Cedric Simmons would have been a perfect fit, but both were off the board. It was probably too early for Josh Boone, Renaldo Balkman, or Alexander Johnson, so those wouldn't have been good.
With that being said, Pecherov isn't what they need. The Wiz don't need a shooting big men; they already have one of those in Antwan Jamison. The biggest problem with the draft is that the Wizards window is closing. Jamison is a free agent after next season, and Gilbert has said he may opt out in 2008 if the Wizards don't build a contender. They needed to use this draft to get key role players; something that their first-round opponent, Cleveland, certainly did. Going with two international guys; neither of whom really solve any of the Wizards' problems, was not the way to go.
Williams would have been a good selection there. By pick #18, you're not going to get a sure-fire starter. I'm certainly not proposing the Wizards start Williams and shift Arenas over to shooting guard. But with Williams sliding, the Wizards should have picked him. He would have added a new dimension off the bench for this team. In Washington's up-tempo offense, he's a perfect fit. He's a pure point guard, plain and simple. He's not too fat and I'm not worried about his character issues. In lieu of a big man, Williams or Maurice Ager should have been the Round 1 choice and Leon Powe should have been the Round 2 choice. This team has too many flaws and too small a window to be spending 2 draft picks on international projects.
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