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-
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Some More Draft Impressions
What in the world are the Celtics thinking? Sebastian Telfair is a reach two years ago with the 13th pick. Then in two unspectacular years he falls behind Jarrett Jack and Steve Blake on the depth chart. And now the Celtics give up Randy Foye for him. What are they thinking? Is there any team that would rather have Sebastian Telfair than Randy Foye? Unless the Celtics saw a ton of value in trading an overpaid center who can only shoot three pointers (LaFrentz) for an overpaid center who can only block shots (Ratliff), this move makes no sense.
Speaking of the Blazers, I love what they did on draft night. Sure they might have been able to get Aldridge with the 4th pick without having to give up anything, but he is going to be a good player. I think Jay Bilas was right on when he compared him to Chris Bosh. It's just so crazy how scouts start saying things and they get blown out of hand. Everybody says Aldridge was soft. I think that's crazy. People are looking to criticize and just because he doesn't yell like a maniac after dunks or smash the basketball into his head people call him soft. And yeah, he did get pushed around by the Big Baby a little bit in the NCAA tournament, but that was one game and how many 300 pound guys is he going to have to guard in the NBA.
As for the Blazers other big move, Brandon Roy is a stud. Since the new thing is to compare everybody to Dywane Wade, I'll say that he's the Dywane Wade of the draft. I don't mean that he'll win a championship in two years or even be the best player from the draft, but he is the guy who is going to come into the league and immediately dominate games in unexpected ways. If anybody saw the Washington-Illinois NCAA tournament game he was completely unstoppable. Illinois was triple teaming him every possession in the last five minutes and he still had the Wade like ability to score or get to the free throw every single time. Roy has a tremendous feel for the game and is going to be an all-star for a long time. I think Michael Jordan is going to regret not taking him with the third pick for a long time.
Moving along to another player has been railed by scouts the last two months--Rudy Gay. I can't understand why so many teams would pass on him. Do people really think that in the long run Shelden Williams and Adam Morrison are going to be better players. Do the Rockets really think Shane Battier is better than Rudy Gay--does any other team really think that? Look at it this way---Bargnani, who is older than Gay, averages 12 points per game in the Italian League and is worthy of being the #1 pick, but when Gay averages 15 points per game on a stacked Uconn team he's unagressive and lazy. It just doesn't make sense. He's an athletic freak who can shoot and when he gets to the NBA he's going to work hard and become a superstar. A great move for the Grizzlies who also got a steal with Alexander Johnson in the second round.
Just remember this--in ten years we'll be talking about Battier for Gay and Telfair for Foye/Roy as two of the worst trades of all time.
Renaldo Balkman, Renaldo Balkman, Renaldo Balkman...
Speaking of the Blazers, I love what they did on draft night. Sure they might have been able to get Aldridge with the 4th pick without having to give up anything, but he is going to be a good player. I think Jay Bilas was right on when he compared him to Chris Bosh. It's just so crazy how scouts start saying things and they get blown out of hand. Everybody says Aldridge was soft. I think that's crazy. People are looking to criticize and just because he doesn't yell like a maniac after dunks or smash the basketball into his head people call him soft. And yeah, he did get pushed around by the Big Baby a little bit in the NCAA tournament, but that was one game and how many 300 pound guys is he going to have to guard in the NBA.
As for the Blazers other big move, Brandon Roy is a stud. Since the new thing is to compare everybody to Dywane Wade, I'll say that he's the Dywane Wade of the draft. I don't mean that he'll win a championship in two years or even be the best player from the draft, but he is the guy who is going to come into the league and immediately dominate games in unexpected ways. If anybody saw the Washington-Illinois NCAA tournament game he was completely unstoppable. Illinois was triple teaming him every possession in the last five minutes and he still had the Wade like ability to score or get to the free throw every single time. Roy has a tremendous feel for the game and is going to be an all-star for a long time. I think Michael Jordan is going to regret not taking him with the third pick for a long time.
Moving along to another player has been railed by scouts the last two months--Rudy Gay. I can't understand why so many teams would pass on him. Do people really think that in the long run Shelden Williams and Adam Morrison are going to be better players. Do the Rockets really think Shane Battier is better than Rudy Gay--does any other team really think that? Look at it this way---Bargnani, who is older than Gay, averages 12 points per game in the Italian League and is worthy of being the #1 pick, but when Gay averages 15 points per game on a stacked Uconn team he's unagressive and lazy. It just doesn't make sense. He's an athletic freak who can shoot and when he gets to the NBA he's going to work hard and become a superstar. A great move for the Grizzlies who also got a steal with Alexander Johnson in the second round.
Just remember this--in ten years we'll be talking about Battier for Gay and Telfair for Foye/Roy as two of the worst trades of all time.
Renaldo Balkman, Renaldo Balkman, Renaldo Balkman...
Draft Impressions
What a draft! I think Dan Patrick said it best when he compared trying to sort through all of these draft day trades to, "a man trying to land jets at Laguardia." Anyways, here are my thoughts on how each team faired.
Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics - For a few years it was unclear as to what exactly Danny Ainge was trying to do with this team. However it has now become apparent that he is building for the future, and drafting Rondo and acquiring Telfair really solidified the point guard position for the future. Now that Boston has a core of bright players established, they need to let the kids play and in three or four years the Celtics could become a very good team in the East.
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd's successor may have fallen into Lawrence Frank's lap, when the Nets took Marcus Williams with pick #22. Sure Williams has some character questions, but hey can you think of a better person to help teach him how to overcome those than Jason Kidd? Kidd abused his wife, but now he blows her kisses every trip to the charity strip. Maybe when Williams gets there he can send his computer theft victims apology e-mails from a blackberry? Or at the very least type the word "kiss" on an imaginary keyboard in front of him? I don't think Josh Boone will be anything better than serviceable, but he is a big body, and it seems like any big man can be serviceable in the East. Hassan Adams is an phenomenal athlete, and athletes tend to thrive when they are around Jason Kidd.
New York Knicks - It should be interesting to see the New York papers this Thursday morning. Renaldo Balkman at #20 was certainly the biggest reach of the draft. Not only have I failed to find a mock draft with him appearing in the first round, but he wasn't even included in the NBA's Draft Media Guide, which features over 100 prospects. He averaged 9 ppg and 6 rpg this past year at South Carolina, so to quote Harry Doyle in Major League: "I don't know what the hell he's thinking!" It is almost like Isaiah did this just to see how much scrutiny he could game. It is believed that the kid might have some Dennis Rodman in him. I hope so, cause that would actually make sense given the lack of physical toughness on the glass in New York (Curry and James). Mardy Collins seems to be what this team needs, a player with good fundamentals and is well-coached. Hopefully things work out for Collins and Balkman in New York, otherwise it might equal the end of Mr. Thomas in New York.
Philadelphia 76ers - I think Rodney Carney is a phenomenal athlete who has the potential to be very good in the NBA. Yet, I am not sure how much he can grow in the Philadelphia system, given the 76ers already have their own version of Rodney Carney in Andrea Iguodala. Philadelphia is still in need of a point guard, and Marcus Williams could have been their solution. Their second round pick Bobby Jones, not the golfer, is a solid defensive specialist who can provide some gritty defense to a team that was ranked 25th in points allowed last season.
Toronto Raptors - Well what can you say? Toronto had the first pick and took who they wanted. Toronto is still lacking solid point guard play so look for them to make a move via free agency, but Bargnani should help give the Raptors one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. We do not know much about Bargnani, but if he ends up being more Dirk than Tskitz, give Mr. Collangelo a ton of credit for making the pick. I also think P.J. Tucker will provide a lot to this team. He is one of those combo forwards, while only 6"5, he can rebound the hell out of the ball and will give his team constant effort on the floor.
Eastern Conference, Central Division
Chicago Bulls - I don't know how many times I heard Jay Bilas call Tyrus Thomas a "freak", but it's true. Was this the right pick? The Bulls needed a low-post scorer and I am not sure they got that in Thomas. Sure Thomas could be the next Amare Stoudemire, but he is very raw and will most likely take a few years before his offensive game develops. LeMarcus Aldridge may have been the better pick for the Bulls. He is a more traditional forward and while he isn't as good a shot blocker as Thomas, he has low-post moves. I have no idea about Thabo Sefolosha. Actually that isn't entirely true. I learned that unlike most foreign players drafted, he actually is NBA-ready. He is a swingman who can run the floor, something the Bulls lacked, so this could be a great pick for the Bulls if he is actually any good.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Given Cleveland's position in the draft, I thought both Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson are solid picks for the Cavs. Brown adds a perimeter shooter to the team, and should expect open looks given the double and triple teams Lebron demands. Gibson also shoots the jumper well and could end up running some point for Cleveland this season.
Detroit Pistons - Will Blalock...that sums it up. Blalock is a quality point guard who will learn a lot under the tutelage of Chauncey Billups. Now all he can hope is that he actually gets playing time, unlike Darko.
Indiana Pacers - The Pacers could have taken Marcus Williams but decided on the young Shawne Williams instead. Larry Bird is really on high on Williams and his versatility on the floor. Who knows how longer Jermaine O'neal will be a Pacer, so hopefully Williams can learn the NBA game relatively quick. At 6"7, James White is a tall and athletic shooting guard. He is good in the open floor, and he brings four years of college experience to the table.
Milwaukee Bucks - David Noel is perhaps the best athlete in this entire draft. His game needs a little bit of fine tuning, and his jumper can improve. But his work ethic is unquestioned and he should be exciting to watch on the pro-level.
The rest is coming this evening...
Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics - For a few years it was unclear as to what exactly Danny Ainge was trying to do with this team. However it has now become apparent that he is building for the future, and drafting Rondo and acquiring Telfair really solidified the point guard position for the future. Now that Boston has a core of bright players established, they need to let the kids play and in three or four years the Celtics could become a very good team in the East.
New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd's successor may have fallen into Lawrence Frank's lap, when the Nets took Marcus Williams with pick #22. Sure Williams has some character questions, but hey can you think of a better person to help teach him how to overcome those than Jason Kidd? Kidd abused his wife, but now he blows her kisses every trip to the charity strip. Maybe when Williams gets there he can send his computer theft victims apology e-mails from a blackberry? Or at the very least type the word "kiss" on an imaginary keyboard in front of him? I don't think Josh Boone will be anything better than serviceable, but he is a big body, and it seems like any big man can be serviceable in the East. Hassan Adams is an phenomenal athlete, and athletes tend to thrive when they are around Jason Kidd.
New York Knicks - It should be interesting to see the New York papers this Thursday morning. Renaldo Balkman at #20 was certainly the biggest reach of the draft. Not only have I failed to find a mock draft with him appearing in the first round, but he wasn't even included in the NBA's Draft Media Guide, which features over 100 prospects. He averaged 9 ppg and 6 rpg this past year at South Carolina, so to quote Harry Doyle in Major League: "I don't know what the hell he's thinking!" It is almost like Isaiah did this just to see how much scrutiny he could game. It is believed that the kid might have some Dennis Rodman in him. I hope so, cause that would actually make sense given the lack of physical toughness on the glass in New York (Curry and James). Mardy Collins seems to be what this team needs, a player with good fundamentals and is well-coached. Hopefully things work out for Collins and Balkman in New York, otherwise it might equal the end of Mr. Thomas in New York.
Philadelphia 76ers - I think Rodney Carney is a phenomenal athlete who has the potential to be very good in the NBA. Yet, I am not sure how much he can grow in the Philadelphia system, given the 76ers already have their own version of Rodney Carney in Andrea Iguodala. Philadelphia is still in need of a point guard, and Marcus Williams could have been their solution. Their second round pick Bobby Jones, not the golfer, is a solid defensive specialist who can provide some gritty defense to a team that was ranked 25th in points allowed last season.
Toronto Raptors - Well what can you say? Toronto had the first pick and took who they wanted. Toronto is still lacking solid point guard play so look for them to make a move via free agency, but Bargnani should help give the Raptors one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. We do not know much about Bargnani, but if he ends up being more Dirk than Tskitz, give Mr. Collangelo a ton of credit for making the pick. I also think P.J. Tucker will provide a lot to this team. He is one of those combo forwards, while only 6"5, he can rebound the hell out of the ball and will give his team constant effort on the floor.
Eastern Conference, Central Division
Chicago Bulls - I don't know how many times I heard Jay Bilas call Tyrus Thomas a "freak", but it's true. Was this the right pick? The Bulls needed a low-post scorer and I am not sure they got that in Thomas. Sure Thomas could be the next Amare Stoudemire, but he is very raw and will most likely take a few years before his offensive game develops. LeMarcus Aldridge may have been the better pick for the Bulls. He is a more traditional forward and while he isn't as good a shot blocker as Thomas, he has low-post moves. I have no idea about Thabo Sefolosha. Actually that isn't entirely true. I learned that unlike most foreign players drafted, he actually is NBA-ready. He is a swingman who can run the floor, something the Bulls lacked, so this could be a great pick for the Bulls if he is actually any good.
Cleveland Cavaliers - Given Cleveland's position in the draft, I thought both Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson are solid picks for the Cavs. Brown adds a perimeter shooter to the team, and should expect open looks given the double and triple teams Lebron demands. Gibson also shoots the jumper well and could end up running some point for Cleveland this season.
Detroit Pistons - Will Blalock...that sums it up. Blalock is a quality point guard who will learn a lot under the tutelage of Chauncey Billups. Now all he can hope is that he actually gets playing time, unlike Darko.
Indiana Pacers - The Pacers could have taken Marcus Williams but decided on the young Shawne Williams instead. Larry Bird is really on high on Williams and his versatility on the floor. Who knows how longer Jermaine O'neal will be a Pacer, so hopefully Williams can learn the NBA game relatively quick. At 6"7, James White is a tall and athletic shooting guard. He is good in the open floor, and he brings four years of college experience to the table.
Milwaukee Bucks - David Noel is perhaps the best athlete in this entire draft. His game needs a little bit of fine tuning, and his jumper can improve. But his work ethic is unquestioned and he should be exciting to watch on the pro-level.
The rest is coming this evening...
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
NBA Draft Link Special
UPDATE: Telfair just traded to Boston for the 7th pick.
Also, KG trade rumor?!? According to ESPN's Chad Ford: "The hot rumor floating among GMs this morning was that the Bulls and Timberwolves might pull off a blockbuster Kevin Garnett deal, sending picks No. 2 (Tyrus Thomas) and No. 16 (probably Marcus Williams) along with either Luol Deng or Ben Gordon to Minnesota for Garnett."
This should be interesting...
Here are a few mock drafts out there:
Our own Mock Draft from Monday
Bill Simmons
CBS Sportsline
CNNSI
Draft Express
ESPN (Insider Account required)
Fox Sports
NBADraft.Net
The Gatorade Dump
Squeeze Play Sports
More Draft Links:
Top Ten Sleepers according to Awful Announcing. Awful Announcing is also live-blogging the NBA Draft, so if you want some immediate reaction to your comments, check it out.
Make sure to check out Draft Express throughout the day for constant updates.
The Big Picture has a pretty good drinking game for the NBA Draft, for all of those alcoholics out there.
Also, for our viewers' pleasure...Have a nice day!
Also, KG trade rumor?!? According to ESPN's Chad Ford: "The hot rumor floating among GMs this morning was that the Bulls and Timberwolves might pull off a blockbuster Kevin Garnett deal, sending picks No. 2 (Tyrus Thomas) and No. 16 (probably Marcus Williams) along with either Luol Deng or Ben Gordon to Minnesota for Garnett."
This should be interesting...
Here are a few mock drafts out there:
Our own Mock Draft from Monday
Bill Simmons
CBS Sportsline
CNNSI
Draft Express
ESPN (Insider Account required)
Fox Sports
NBADraft.Net
The Gatorade Dump
Squeeze Play Sports
More Draft Links:
Top Ten Sleepers according to Awful Announcing. Awful Announcing is also live-blogging the NBA Draft, so if you want some immediate reaction to your comments, check it out.
Make sure to check out Draft Express throughout the day for constant updates.
The Big Picture has a pretty good drinking game for the NBA Draft, for all of those alcoholics out there.
Also, for our viewers' pleasure...Have a nice day!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Adam Morrison embraces his crying problem
This is a commercial for the new NBA Live 2007. Just a little clip to get you excited about tomorrow's NBA Draft. Make sure to check out the official WBRS Mock Draft below!
This is a commercial for the new NBA Live 2007. Just a little clip to get you excited about tomorrow's NBA Draft. Make sure to check out the official WBRS Mock Draft below!
Monday, June 26, 2006
NBA Draft 2006: The Stud-less Draft
With the United States out of the World Cup, the NBA season finished, and baseball season about to suffer from the dog days of summer, there isn't so much sports fans can look forward to during this time. One event that is coming up next week for salvation is the NBA Draft. Like Bill Simmons the Sports Guy, I believe the NBA Draft is the most underrated event in sports. We get to hear the ESPN gang annoint Saer Sene as the second coming of Dikembe Mutumbo, Andrea Bargnani as Dirk Nowitzki II, and Randy Foye as the next Chauncey Billups. We get to hear phrases like "upside," "topside," "motor," "wingspan," and my personal favorite, "tremendous upside potential." Unlike the NFL Draft, there is a grandour of the unknown. Nobody has seen guys like Sene, Bargnani, Thabo Sefolosha (who?), or Sergio Rodriguez (who?) play, but we're still evaluating them. Best of all, it's 2 rounds, one night, 5 minutes a pick. And oh the unintentional comedy.
This year is shaping up to be one of the most interesting drafts in recent memory. For the first time, there are no can't miss prospects. There are no Tim Duncans, LeBron James, Patrick Ewings, Shaquille O'Neals, or Chris Pauls. Every top prospect has a flaw. Andrea Bargnani is too soft, Adam Morrison too slow, LaMarcus Aldridge too skinny, Tyrus Thomas too raw, Rudy Gay too passive, and Brandon Roy too unspectacular.
But does this mean we'll see a repeat of 2000, where your rookie of the year was the immortal Mike Miller? I don't think so. This draft is much deeper than everyone thinks. Some of the guys we'll see going in the late first to early second round include UCLA's Jordan Farmar, Michigan State's Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, Villanova's Kyle Lowry, Kentucky's Rajon Rondo, and California's Leon Powe. I firmly expect lots of these late first-rounders to become solid rotation players in this league for a very long time.
With the lack of a true superstar, it's even more imperitave that teams draft the right fit for their system. The most important rule in the draft is not draft the more experienced guy or draft production over potential. It's drafting players that will fit your system perfectly. In 2002, Tayshaun Prince was passed over by many teams, but Detroit saw him as a perfect small forward for their system. The Pistons had plenty of specialists, but didn't have one solid all-around player. Had Prince gone earlier to a different team, he would have had higher expectations and would have been asked to be something he wasn't. Similarly, Detroit made a poor decision in selecting Darko Milicic at #2 in 2003. Contrary to what it may seem, Darko was a worthy selection at the time, but he never was a good fit in Detroit. The Pistons should have forseen Darko's confidence getting killed by Larry Brown, a coach famous for not playing rookies. Now in Orlando, Darko looks like he's getting his career turned around. He's a great fit in Orlando because he can focus on what he does best; being a big guy on the perimeter.
5 years from now, the best players in this draft will be the ones in the best situations. With very little separating the top prospects from the mid-first rounders, drafting based on the right fit is going to be even more important. So, without further ado, if there were no trades, this is how the draft should look like.
1. Toronto-Andrea Bargnani: Assuming Toronto keeps the pick (which isn't a done deal), I believe they'll pick Bargnani. With the recent acquisition of Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors aren't looking to select LaMarcus Aldridge. The Raptors recently hired Maurizio Gherardini, Bargnani's GM, into their organization, so I am guessing they'll take Bargnani. A frontcourt of Bargnani, Chris Bosh, and Charlie Villanueva would certainly be interesting.
2. Chicago-Tyrus Thomas: Personally, I think Aldridge is a better fit, but the Bulls are rumored to be in love with Thomas. Thomas is very
raw, but is already a game-changing defensive presence. I believe his offense will develop and he can be a 3/4 type player in this league for a long time.
3. Charlotte-Rudy Gay: I've heard new owner Michael Jordan is enamored with Gay's ability. The biggest knock on Gay is his lack of assertivness, but if he goes to a team that doesn't need him to be the #1 option right away, he should be very effective. If he can learn to be a shooting guard, a lineup of Raymond Felton, Rudy Gay, Gerald Wallace, Sean May, and Emeka Okafor could be reasonably effective.
4. Portland-Adam Morrison: I firmly believe the Blazers will "draft the stache." Darius Miles is unlikely to return, so look for Morrison to play a lot right away. He's a little slow, but not too much unlike Wally Szczerbiak, a guy who has developed into a solid scorer on the wing. Morrison isn't going to be Larry Bird, but he should be reasonably effective.
5. Atlanta-Shelden Williams: Ahh, the Hawks. They've reportedly made a promise to select Shelden Williams with this pick. This is a very awkward situation. Williams has not been projected to be a Top
5 pick, so the fact that Atlanta would make a promise seems odd. Making matters worse, what happens if LaMarcus Aldridge is still available? Would Atlanta still take Williams. The odd thing about this is that Williams is actually a pretty good pick. The Hawks would be reaching if they took a point guard, and Williams fills a need as a physical inside player. But why would Atlanta pick him at 5 if they could probably get him later? There are still more questions than answers here, and it's going to be very interesting to see how this plays out.
6. Minnesota-Brandon Roy: Many are saying Roy is the best prospect in the draft. This could very easily be a Chris Paul-like situation. I don't think Roy will be a superstar like Paul, but I do believe he has the potential to be a very good scorer. He's not a great fit for any team in the Top 5, so I think he'll be selected here. Those top 5 teams could really regret passing on Roy in 5 years.
7. Boston-LaMarcus Aldridge: I'm predicting an Aldridge slide here. Boston could definetly use another big guy, and they would be extremely lucky to get Aldridge here. If Aldridge doesn't slide here, the Celtics should take Marcus Williams, who would give them a pure point guard. But if Aldridge is still on the board, it's a no-brainer. Look for him to possibly start over Kendrick Perkins or Al Jefferson next season.
8. Houston-Marcus Williams: I actually think Houston will end up
trading down (possibly to New Orleans) to gain more assets for their team. But if they don't do that, they should select Williams. Rafaer Alston is not the long-term answer at point guard for this team. Yao and T-Mac could really use a pure point guard like Williams. Like Roy, teams could really regret passing on Williams in a few years.
9. Golden State-Patrick O'Bryant: O'Bryant seemingly came out of nowhere, but scouts have had their eye on him for a long time. He's still very raw, but Golden State can afford to take a chance on him and hope he develops. They have a pretty stacked roster already, but lack a true center. O'Bryant could be the second coming of Jim McIlvane, but considering the other option is Adonal Foyle or an undersized Ike Diogu at the 5 spot, he's worth the risk.
10. Seattle-Randy Foye: One of the most interesting rumors I've seen is Seattle trading this pick to the Suns in a blockbuster trade that includes Shawn Marion and Rashard Lewis swapping places.
But if that doesn't happen, I think the Sonics should take Foye. I've been a fan of Foye all season. In my opinion, he was the third best player in the nation last season behind J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison. He reminds me a lot of Chauncey Billups coming out of college. Seattle could use him as a backup to both Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen. This could easily be a big-time steal for Seattle.
11. Orlando-Ronnie Brewer: Brewer is a prospect who's stock has really rose under the radar. He tested as the second-best athlete in the Orlando pre-draft combine, which has significantly affected his stock. He reminds me a lot of Josh Howard with the way he plays. He's not a great leaper, but he's got the type of all-around athleticism that Howard had coming out of college. If Orlando gets him here, it would be a really good pick. Brewer should be in the starting lineup with Jameer Nelson for many years to come.
12. New Orleans-Rodney Carney: Carney is an absolute freak athletically. He's probably the most athletic player to come out of
college since Richard Jefferson in 2001. Carney's game looks a lot like Jefferson, but he still has to develop his outside shot and his assertivness. New Orleans is a perfect place for his type of game, and I expect him to have many thunderous dunks off Chris Paul passes throughout his career. Also, I guarantee he'll win at least one dunk contest in his career.
13. Philadelphia-Cedric Simmons: The Sixers have absolutely no inside depth behind Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert. They could go with a point guard, but it's still a bit high to take Rajon Rondo. Simmons is a great shot blocker with developing offensive skills, and he should immediately be the top frontcourt reserve on that team.
14. Utah-J.J. Redick: So this is where J.J. goes. He was all set to go to Houston at #8 before his DUI and back problems, and while he
still could go there, Utah seems more likely. Utah's strength is up front with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, and the underrated Mehmet Okur, but lacks an outside shooter. Redick is a perfect fit, and while I don't think he'll ever be a star, he could be a very good player for the Jazz, a la a veteran Jeff Hornacek.
15. New Orleans-Saer Sene: Sene is incredibly raw, but his wingspan is off the charts. His 7 ft, 8 and a half inch wingspan is the longest in NBA history. The Dikembe Mutumbo comparisons are starting to fly in, and while Sene is incredibly raw, the comparisons are fair. Whether Sene turns into Mutumbo, Manute Bol, or worse remains to be seen, but considering New Orleans was playing the 6'9'' P.J. Brown at center, they should take the risk.
16. Chicago-Thabo Sefolosha: You probably haven't heard of him, but scouts are saying Sefolosha is the prototypical wing player. He's ready to play right now and is rising in the draft. The Bulls are in dire need to a tall wing player to go along with the small Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and Chris Duhon. Sefolosha is a perfect fit for them.
17. Indiana-Rajon Rondo: Jamaal Tinsley is likely to be traded, and Anthony Johnson, despite dominating Jason Kidd in the playoffs, is not the long-term answer at the point. Rondo reminds me a lot of Devin Harris and Tony Parker. He's jet-quick, a good distributor, and a really good rebounder. The biggest knocks on Rondo are his poor jump shot and his inability to lead. Despite those knocks, the positives outweigh the negatives, and Indiana could really use a point guard.
18. Washington-Alexander Johnson: So here's the pick for my Wizards. Nobody's stock has risen higher than Johnson's. He was inconsistent in college for Florida State, but declared for the draft
anyway after his junior year. He signed on with trainer David Thorpe, the same guy that made a player out of Udonis Haslem. After only 2 months, he's been mentioned as the best athlete in this draft. He's been killing everyone in individual workouts and has impressed every team he's worked out for. One of those teams is Washington. With Antwan Jamison in the last year of his contract, it's time the Wizards look for a replacement at power forward. Johnson certainly fits the bill. If he's as good as Haslem, the Wizards will have gotten a major steal in this spot.
19. Sacramento-Hilton Armstrong: Brad Miller played way too many minutes this season and wore down late in the year. The Kings really could use a backup center that can give them 15-20 minutes every game. Armstrong has a limited offensive game, but is a very good shot blocker and can run the floor. Sacramento should take him to be Miller's backup next season.
20. New York-Shawne Williams: Williams is a personal
favorite of mine. He reminds me a lot of Jared Jeffries with his athetic ability. I saw Williams absolutely shut down Adam Morrison when Memphis played Gonzaga earlier in the year. His offensive game is improving by the minute, and he can play both the 3 or the 4 position. The Knicks could use a guy like Williams to play some off the bench. He won't be the savior, but he'll be a good player.
21. Phoenix-Shannon Brown: Brown is the most underrated player in this draft. He's small, but is so athletic and long that it doesn't seem like it. He developed a great outside shot this season and is developing point guard skills. The Suns will not be able to re-sign Leandro Barbosa with their cap situation, so the pick is really a no-brainer. Brown will score tons of points in Phoenix's system. It won't matter that he's not really a 1 or a 2, because Phoenix makes players out of tweenters (see Boris Diaw, Tim Thomas, Barbosa, Shawn Marion).
22. New Jersey-Olesiky Pecherov: The Nets had lots of success drafting Nenad Kristic in 2002 and waiting for him to develop. The same thing could happen with Pecherov. He's raw and European, but down the road, he should start at power forward for a while.
23. New Jersey-Jordan Farmar: Jason Kidd is getting old and Jacque Vaughn is not a legitimate backup point guard. If they can get Farmar in this spot, it would be a major coup. Farmar's numbers weren't spectaculat, but he was bothered by a sore foot all year. He shocked many by outleaping everyone in the vertical jump at the Orlando combine. I would love to see Farmar at UCLA next year, but he belongs in the first round and is a steal for New Jersey.
24. Memphis-Sergio Rodriguez: This jet-quick Spanish point guard has been mentioned in the same breath as
Jason Williams, a former Grizzlie. With Damon Stoudamire hurt and Chucky Atkins leaving via free agency, the Grizzlies really need a point guard. Rodriguez may be unknown, but he very well could be the best in a few years.
25. Cleveland-Kyle Lowry: Lowry is another one of my personal favorites. I believe he could benefit from another year in college, but as it is, he is a very good prospect. He is a great fit for the Cavaliers because he has the potential to dominate a game without scoring. LeBron James would be lucky to have Lowry playing the point in their system. At the very least, Lowry is better than Eric Snow.
26. LA Lakers-Guillermo Diaz: Diaz is a dynamic offensive force that has worked out extremely well before the draft. Another one of David Thorpe's prodegies, Diaz showed great scoring ability for Miami throughout his college career. He's a bit of a tweenter, but the Lakers don't really need a pure point to be successful. Diaz is just as good as Smush Parker and could steal his minutes next year.
27. Phoenix-P.J. Tucker: Tucker is not really a first-round prospect, but remember the motto from the top. The best teams draft the best fits for their system. Tucker has many of the same unique abilities
that Boris Diaw has. He's an unconventional undersized forward, and Phoenix is the perfect place to maximize his talents. With Tim Thomas leaving in free agency and Shawne Williams off the board, I like Tucker in this spot for the Suns. If the Lewis-Marion trade happens, this pick goes to Seattle, but if Phoenix keeps it, I'd like to see them take Tucker.
28. Dallas-Kevin Pittsnogle: Again, probably not a first round prospect, but he is a perfect fit. Dallas should lose Keith Van Horn to free agency, so there is a need for a shooting power forward. Pittsnogle is a fantastic shooter than has the ability to defend on the inside. He's basically a Van Horn clone for a third of the price.
29. New York-Joel Freeland: This British power forward has been rising up the charts recently. I can't really tell you much about him, but the Knicks have a knack of taking power forwards in the draft. Freeland is a better option that Josh Boone (too inconsistent) or Leon Powe (injuries and too undersized).
30. Portland-Maurice Ager: They have to be exstatic that Ager is still available. He's not the best fit for the teams ahead of him, but he will end up as a very good NBA player. He reminds me a lot of Morris Peterson coming out of collge, and will find a place behind Morrison and Martell Webster in Portland for years to come.
Well there you have it. It's extremely unlikely that there will not be any trades. In fact, I expect there to be more trades than ever before. Any trades you'd like to see or picks you disagree with? Take it to the comments section.
This year is shaping up to be one of the most interesting drafts in recent memory. For the first time, there are no can't miss prospects. There are no Tim Duncans, LeBron James, Patrick Ewings, Shaquille O'Neals, or Chris Pauls. Every top prospect has a flaw. Andrea Bargnani is too soft, Adam Morrison too slow, LaMarcus Aldridge too skinny, Tyrus Thomas too raw, Rudy Gay too passive, and Brandon Roy too unspectacular.
But does this mean we'll see a repeat of 2000, where your rookie of the year was the immortal Mike Miller? I don't think so. This draft is much deeper than everyone thinks. Some of the guys we'll see going in the late first to early second round include UCLA's Jordan Farmar, Michigan State's Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager, Villanova's Kyle Lowry, Kentucky's Rajon Rondo, and California's Leon Powe. I firmly expect lots of these late first-rounders to become solid rotation players in this league for a very long time.
With the lack of a true superstar, it's even more imperitave that teams draft the right fit for their system. The most important rule in the draft is not draft the more experienced guy or draft production over potential. It's drafting players that will fit your system perfectly. In 2002, Tayshaun Prince was passed over by many teams, but Detroit saw him as a perfect small forward for their system. The Pistons had plenty of specialists, but didn't have one solid all-around player. Had Prince gone earlier to a different team, he would have had higher expectations and would have been asked to be something he wasn't. Similarly, Detroit made a poor decision in selecting Darko Milicic at #2 in 2003. Contrary to what it may seem, Darko was a worthy selection at the time, but he never was a good fit in Detroit. The Pistons should have forseen Darko's confidence getting killed by Larry Brown, a coach famous for not playing rookies. Now in Orlando, Darko looks like he's getting his career turned around. He's a great fit in Orlando because he can focus on what he does best; being a big guy on the perimeter.5 years from now, the best players in this draft will be the ones in the best situations. With very little separating the top prospects from the mid-first rounders, drafting based on the right fit is going to be even more important. So, without further ado, if there were no trades, this is how the draft should look like.
1. Toronto-Andrea Bargnani: Assuming Toronto keeps the pick (which isn't a done deal), I believe they'll pick Bargnani. With the recent acquisition of Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors aren't looking to select LaMarcus Aldridge. The Raptors recently hired Maurizio Gherardini, Bargnani's GM, into their organization, so I am guessing they'll take Bargnani. A frontcourt of Bargnani, Chris Bosh, and Charlie Villanueva would certainly be interesting.
2. Chicago-Tyrus Thomas: Personally, I think Aldridge is a better fit, but the Bulls are rumored to be in love with Thomas. Thomas is very
raw, but is already a game-changing defensive presence. I believe his offense will develop and he can be a 3/4 type player in this league for a long time.3. Charlotte-Rudy Gay: I've heard new owner Michael Jordan is enamored with Gay's ability. The biggest knock on Gay is his lack of assertivness, but if he goes to a team that doesn't need him to be the #1 option right away, he should be very effective. If he can learn to be a shooting guard, a lineup of Raymond Felton, Rudy Gay, Gerald Wallace, Sean May, and Emeka Okafor could be reasonably effective.
4. Portland-Adam Morrison: I firmly believe the Blazers will "draft the stache." Darius Miles is unlikely to return, so look for Morrison to play a lot right away. He's a little slow, but not too much unlike Wally Szczerbiak, a guy who has developed into a solid scorer on the wing. Morrison isn't going to be Larry Bird, but he should be reasonably effective.
5. Atlanta-Shelden Williams: Ahh, the Hawks. They've reportedly made a promise to select Shelden Williams with this pick. This is a very awkward situation. Williams has not been projected to be a Top
5 pick, so the fact that Atlanta would make a promise seems odd. Making matters worse, what happens if LaMarcus Aldridge is still available? Would Atlanta still take Williams. The odd thing about this is that Williams is actually a pretty good pick. The Hawks would be reaching if they took a point guard, and Williams fills a need as a physical inside player. But why would Atlanta pick him at 5 if they could probably get him later? There are still more questions than answers here, and it's going to be very interesting to see how this plays out.6. Minnesota-Brandon Roy: Many are saying Roy is the best prospect in the draft. This could very easily be a Chris Paul-like situation. I don't think Roy will be a superstar like Paul, but I do believe he has the potential to be a very good scorer. He's not a great fit for any team in the Top 5, so I think he'll be selected here. Those top 5 teams could really regret passing on Roy in 5 years.
7. Boston-LaMarcus Aldridge: I'm predicting an Aldridge slide here. Boston could definetly use another big guy, and they would be extremely lucky to get Aldridge here. If Aldridge doesn't slide here, the Celtics should take Marcus Williams, who would give them a pure point guard. But if Aldridge is still on the board, it's a no-brainer. Look for him to possibly start over Kendrick Perkins or Al Jefferson next season.
8. Houston-Marcus Williams: I actually think Houston will end up
trading down (possibly to New Orleans) to gain more assets for their team. But if they don't do that, they should select Williams. Rafaer Alston is not the long-term answer at point guard for this team. Yao and T-Mac could really use a pure point guard like Williams. Like Roy, teams could really regret passing on Williams in a few years.9. Golden State-Patrick O'Bryant: O'Bryant seemingly came out of nowhere, but scouts have had their eye on him for a long time. He's still very raw, but Golden State can afford to take a chance on him and hope he develops. They have a pretty stacked roster already, but lack a true center. O'Bryant could be the second coming of Jim McIlvane, but considering the other option is Adonal Foyle or an undersized Ike Diogu at the 5 spot, he's worth the risk.
10. Seattle-Randy Foye: One of the most interesting rumors I've seen is Seattle trading this pick to the Suns in a blockbuster trade that includes Shawn Marion and Rashard Lewis swapping places.
But if that doesn't happen, I think the Sonics should take Foye. I've been a fan of Foye all season. In my opinion, he was the third best player in the nation last season behind J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison. He reminds me a lot of Chauncey Billups coming out of college. Seattle could use him as a backup to both Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen. This could easily be a big-time steal for Seattle.11. Orlando-Ronnie Brewer: Brewer is a prospect who's stock has really rose under the radar. He tested as the second-best athlete in the Orlando pre-draft combine, which has significantly affected his stock. He reminds me a lot of Josh Howard with the way he plays. He's not a great leaper, but he's got the type of all-around athleticism that Howard had coming out of college. If Orlando gets him here, it would be a really good pick. Brewer should be in the starting lineup with Jameer Nelson for many years to come.
12. New Orleans-Rodney Carney: Carney is an absolute freak athletically. He's probably the most athletic player to come out of
college since Richard Jefferson in 2001. Carney's game looks a lot like Jefferson, but he still has to develop his outside shot and his assertivness. New Orleans is a perfect place for his type of game, and I expect him to have many thunderous dunks off Chris Paul passes throughout his career. Also, I guarantee he'll win at least one dunk contest in his career.13. Philadelphia-Cedric Simmons: The Sixers have absolutely no inside depth behind Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert. They could go with a point guard, but it's still a bit high to take Rajon Rondo. Simmons is a great shot blocker with developing offensive skills, and he should immediately be the top frontcourt reserve on that team.
14. Utah-J.J. Redick: So this is where J.J. goes. He was all set to go to Houston at #8 before his DUI and back problems, and while he
still could go there, Utah seems more likely. Utah's strength is up front with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, and the underrated Mehmet Okur, but lacks an outside shooter. Redick is a perfect fit, and while I don't think he'll ever be a star, he could be a very good player for the Jazz, a la a veteran Jeff Hornacek.15. New Orleans-Saer Sene: Sene is incredibly raw, but his wingspan is off the charts. His 7 ft, 8 and a half inch wingspan is the longest in NBA history. The Dikembe Mutumbo comparisons are starting to fly in, and while Sene is incredibly raw, the comparisons are fair. Whether Sene turns into Mutumbo, Manute Bol, or worse remains to be seen, but considering New Orleans was playing the 6'9'' P.J. Brown at center, they should take the risk.
16. Chicago-Thabo Sefolosha: You probably haven't heard of him, but scouts are saying Sefolosha is the prototypical wing player. He's ready to play right now and is rising in the draft. The Bulls are in dire need to a tall wing player to go along with the small Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and Chris Duhon. Sefolosha is a perfect fit for them.
17. Indiana-Rajon Rondo: Jamaal Tinsley is likely to be traded, and Anthony Johnson, despite dominating Jason Kidd in the playoffs, is not the long-term answer at the point. Rondo reminds me a lot of Devin Harris and Tony Parker. He's jet-quick, a good distributor, and a really good rebounder. The biggest knocks on Rondo are his poor jump shot and his inability to lead. Despite those knocks, the positives outweigh the negatives, and Indiana could really use a point guard.
18. Washington-Alexander Johnson: So here's the pick for my Wizards. Nobody's stock has risen higher than Johnson's. He was inconsistent in college for Florida State, but declared for the draft
anyway after his junior year. He signed on with trainer David Thorpe, the same guy that made a player out of Udonis Haslem. After only 2 months, he's been mentioned as the best athlete in this draft. He's been killing everyone in individual workouts and has impressed every team he's worked out for. One of those teams is Washington. With Antwan Jamison in the last year of his contract, it's time the Wizards look for a replacement at power forward. Johnson certainly fits the bill. If he's as good as Haslem, the Wizards will have gotten a major steal in this spot.19. Sacramento-Hilton Armstrong: Brad Miller played way too many minutes this season and wore down late in the year. The Kings really could use a backup center that can give them 15-20 minutes every game. Armstrong has a limited offensive game, but is a very good shot blocker and can run the floor. Sacramento should take him to be Miller's backup next season.
20. New York-Shawne Williams: Williams is a personal
favorite of mine. He reminds me a lot of Jared Jeffries with his athetic ability. I saw Williams absolutely shut down Adam Morrison when Memphis played Gonzaga earlier in the year. His offensive game is improving by the minute, and he can play both the 3 or the 4 position. The Knicks could use a guy like Williams to play some off the bench. He won't be the savior, but he'll be a good player.21. Phoenix-Shannon Brown: Brown is the most underrated player in this draft. He's small, but is so athletic and long that it doesn't seem like it. He developed a great outside shot this season and is developing point guard skills. The Suns will not be able to re-sign Leandro Barbosa with their cap situation, so the pick is really a no-brainer. Brown will score tons of points in Phoenix's system. It won't matter that he's not really a 1 or a 2, because Phoenix makes players out of tweenters (see Boris Diaw, Tim Thomas, Barbosa, Shawn Marion).
22. New Jersey-Olesiky Pecherov: The Nets had lots of success drafting Nenad Kristic in 2002 and waiting for him to develop. The same thing could happen with Pecherov. He's raw and European, but down the road, he should start at power forward for a while.
23. New Jersey-Jordan Farmar: Jason Kidd is getting old and Jacque Vaughn is not a legitimate backup point guard. If they can get Farmar in this spot, it would be a major coup. Farmar's numbers weren't spectaculat, but he was bothered by a sore foot all year. He shocked many by outleaping everyone in the vertical jump at the Orlando combine. I would love to see Farmar at UCLA next year, but he belongs in the first round and is a steal for New Jersey.
24. Memphis-Sergio Rodriguez: This jet-quick Spanish point guard has been mentioned in the same breath as
Jason Williams, a former Grizzlie. With Damon Stoudamire hurt and Chucky Atkins leaving via free agency, the Grizzlies really need a point guard. Rodriguez may be unknown, but he very well could be the best in a few years.25. Cleveland-Kyle Lowry: Lowry is another one of my personal favorites. I believe he could benefit from another year in college, but as it is, he is a very good prospect. He is a great fit for the Cavaliers because he has the potential to dominate a game without scoring. LeBron James would be lucky to have Lowry playing the point in their system. At the very least, Lowry is better than Eric Snow.
26. LA Lakers-Guillermo Diaz: Diaz is a dynamic offensive force that has worked out extremely well before the draft. Another one of David Thorpe's prodegies, Diaz showed great scoring ability for Miami throughout his college career. He's a bit of a tweenter, but the Lakers don't really need a pure point to be successful. Diaz is just as good as Smush Parker and could steal his minutes next year.
27. Phoenix-P.J. Tucker: Tucker is not really a first-round prospect, but remember the motto from the top. The best teams draft the best fits for their system. Tucker has many of the same unique abilities
that Boris Diaw has. He's an unconventional undersized forward, and Phoenix is the perfect place to maximize his talents. With Tim Thomas leaving in free agency and Shawne Williams off the board, I like Tucker in this spot for the Suns. If the Lewis-Marion trade happens, this pick goes to Seattle, but if Phoenix keeps it, I'd like to see them take Tucker.28. Dallas-Kevin Pittsnogle: Again, probably not a first round prospect, but he is a perfect fit. Dallas should lose Keith Van Horn to free agency, so there is a need for a shooting power forward. Pittsnogle is a fantastic shooter than has the ability to defend on the inside. He's basically a Van Horn clone for a third of the price.
29. New York-Joel Freeland: This British power forward has been rising up the charts recently. I can't really tell you much about him, but the Knicks have a knack of taking power forwards in the draft. Freeland is a better option that Josh Boone (too inconsistent) or Leon Powe (injuries and too undersized).
30. Portland-Maurice Ager: They have to be exstatic that Ager is still available. He's not the best fit for the teams ahead of him, but he will end up as a very good NBA player. He reminds me a lot of Morris Peterson coming out of collge, and will find a place behind Morrison and Martell Webster in Portland for years to come.
Well there you have it. It's extremely unlikely that there will not be any trades. In fact, I expect there to be more trades than ever before. Any trades you'd like to see or picks you disagree with? Take it to the comments section.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Sunday Morning News
Certainly everyone is familiar with Ozzie Guillen's profane remarks
used towards reporter Jay Mariotti, but things have gotten even weirder, now that John Rocker has entered the equation. Not only has Rocker insisted that sensitivity training is a joke and he only actually went for 15 minutes, but he even supports Guillen's recent comments..."This is a free country. If he wants to use a lewd term, he should be able to use a lewd term. Can't you use a lewd term in America if you want?" With these comments Rocker confirms he's a moron, and this manifests why he doesn't have the mentality to be a Major League pitcher, but instead the former premiere closer must now resort to finding the limelight on teams such as the Long Island Ducks and shows such as "Pros vs. Joes"
The NBA Draft is closing in on us, as it is just a few days away. We will post a preview within the next few days, but in the meantime...Shawn Marion has become the center of trade rumors. To Chicago for Chandler and the second pick? To Seattle for Rashard Lewis? Paxon has vehemently denied these rumors, so let's scratch
the Marion to Bulls proposal. The Seattle one is intriguing. It seems Phoenix is shopping Marion, as they need to free up some cap space so they can offer Diaw a long-term deal as well as trying to stay under the salary cap to avoid the luxury tax. To me, Lewis is a great fit for Phoenix. He seems to be a much better version of Tim Thomas, who Phoenix will lose to free agency this offseason. He is just as good a shooter but is also more athletic, a better rebounder, and a stronger defender. The deal also includes a swap of first round picks, giving Phoenix the 10th pick in the draft. They would need to find some sort of athletic swingman to replace Marion, and in particular his strong defense (the only good defender on the Suns). Rodney Carney could be a good fit at the 10 spot. Assuming Diaw can continue to progress, and if Amare can come back 100% healthy, this trade works for Phoenix. They solve their cap problems and stay just as competitive.
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UPDATE: NBA Draft Preview coming tomorrow, Monday, June 26th. Pick-by-pick first round mock draft.
used towards reporter Jay Mariotti, but things have gotten even weirder, now that John Rocker has entered the equation. Not only has Rocker insisted that sensitivity training is a joke and he only actually went for 15 minutes, but he even supports Guillen's recent comments..."This is a free country. If he wants to use a lewd term, he should be able to use a lewd term. Can't you use a lewd term in America if you want?" With these comments Rocker confirms he's a moron, and this manifests why he doesn't have the mentality to be a Major League pitcher, but instead the former premiere closer must now resort to finding the limelight on teams such as the Long Island Ducks and shows such as "Pros vs. Joes"The NBA Draft is closing in on us, as it is just a few days away. We will post a preview within the next few days, but in the meantime...Shawn Marion has become the center of trade rumors. To Chicago for Chandler and the second pick? To Seattle for Rashard Lewis? Paxon has vehemently denied these rumors, so let's scratch
the Marion to Bulls proposal. The Seattle one is intriguing. It seems Phoenix is shopping Marion, as they need to free up some cap space so they can offer Diaw a long-term deal as well as trying to stay under the salary cap to avoid the luxury tax. To me, Lewis is a great fit for Phoenix. He seems to be a much better version of Tim Thomas, who Phoenix will lose to free agency this offseason. He is just as good a shooter but is also more athletic, a better rebounder, and a stronger defender. The deal also includes a swap of first round picks, giving Phoenix the 10th pick in the draft. They would need to find some sort of athletic swingman to replace Marion, and in particular his strong defense (the only good defender on the Suns). Rodney Carney could be a good fit at the 10 spot. Assuming Diaw can continue to progress, and if Amare can come back 100% healthy, this trade works for Phoenix. They solve their cap problems and stay just as competitive.------------------
UPDATE: NBA Draft Preview coming tomorrow, Monday, June 26th. Pick-by-pick first round mock draft.
Friday, June 23, 2006
And Now, An Easy Minute
It's been a rough week for the Dallas/USA soccer fans here at WBRS sports, so let's all sit back, think about the waves in Hawaii, and move onward...
Ben Roethlisberger has apologized to all of his fans for his recent motorcycle accident. Meanwhile, after seeing all of the national media attention and outpouring of support brought on by the accident, the Pittsburgh Pirates have instructed all of their players to begin riding motorcycles without helmets.
The Heat won the NBA finals this week with a little bit of help from the officiating crew. David Stern defended the officials saying they
did a great job, although he did admit Dick Bavetta made a questionable call when he whistled Dirk Nowitzki for a reach in foul as he attempted to give Dwyane Wade a congratulatory hug after game 6.
J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison are among the players who have been invited to attend the NBA Draft. Both players expressed their delight at the other being invited, saying that now when they wake up next to each other on draft morning, there won’t be an awkward goodbye when only one of them gets up to go to the draft.
Link of the Day: Maria Sharapova Breast Pillow
Ben Roethlisberger has apologized to all of his fans for his recent motorcycle accident. Meanwhile, after seeing all of the national media attention and outpouring of support brought on by the accident, the Pittsburgh Pirates have instructed all of their players to begin riding motorcycles without helmets.
The Heat won the NBA finals this week with a little bit of help from the officiating crew. David Stern defended the officials saying they
did a great job, although he did admit Dick Bavetta made a questionable call when he whistled Dirk Nowitzki for a reach in foul as he attempted to give Dwyane Wade a congratulatory hug after game 6.J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison are among the players who have been invited to attend the NBA Draft. Both players expressed their delight at the other being invited, saying that now when they wake up next to each other on draft morning, there won’t be an awkward goodbye when only one of them gets up to go to the draft.
Link of the Day: Maria Sharapova Breast Pillow
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Yes, America cares about soccer...for the moment at least.
The United States has a big game ahead of themselves this morning, as they take on Ghana. And yes, America cares about soccer! And if the U.S. can defeat Ghana, and get the help needed from Italy, than America can advance in the World Cup! Yet if America loses than it is only inevitable that nobody in this country will care again about soccer for 4 more years. If we do win, hopefully I can get Easy E (or one of the other four people in this country that is a soccer expert) to write up some sort of analysis of the game, as well as a prediction in regard to our chances vs. Brazil. If we lose, or Italy does not defeat the Czech Republic, than soccer will most likely not be mentioned on this blog again. Go Team USA!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Season Over...now what?
Well there goes the season...I thought the series was poorly officiated. Some of my friends insisted the NBA was conspiring against Mark Cuban. I think that is ludicrous. And even though I felt the refs didn't do a good job, I don't want to make excuses for my Mavericks. They won two games this series, but easily could have won five...However that is not the case....I tip my hat to the Heat, the champs.It's good for your soul to invest in something that you can't control...I love you Mavericks.
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UPDATE: Like I said, I don't want to complain and bitch about bad refs. But someone else did, and apparently they have video of 5 phantom fouls that occurred during game 7.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Officiating
The officiating has been questioned by the Dallas Mavericks, specifically in game 5. There are mixed opinions and here are some by the NBA "experts" from TNT and ESPN...
- Stephen A. Smith, ESPN: "That was a bogus foul call on Dwyane Wade. The Finals have been tarnished by officiating. And the Stackhouse suspension? Damn near criminal."
- Greg Anthony, ESPN: "Officiating was solid. There was contact on Wade."
- Charles Barkley, TNT: "Wade has been more of a factor than the officials."
- Reggie Miller, TNT: "Officials are covering for themselves and Wade is getting 'Jordan-like' calls."
Here is Mark Cuban's tirade shortly following game 5.
A quote from Darrell Armstrong: "The way this is going, soon we will be required to play defense with our hands behind our back."
Bill Simmons has a lengthy article on the refs in his page 2 column. If you have 15 minutes to spare, I highly recommend it.
A WWF style prediction for tonight's game 6.
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UPDATE
Mark Cuban fined $250,000 for his comments after game 5.
- Stephen A. Smith, ESPN: "That was a bogus foul call on Dwyane Wade. The Finals have been tarnished by officiating. And the Stackhouse suspension? Damn near criminal."
- Greg Anthony, ESPN: "Officiating was solid. There was contact on Wade."
- Charles Barkley, TNT: "Wade has been more of a factor than the officials."
- Reggie Miller, TNT: "Officials are covering for themselves and Wade is getting 'Jordan-like' calls."
Here is Mark Cuban's tirade shortly following game 5.
A quote from Darrell Armstrong: "The way this is going, soon we will be required to play defense with our hands behind our back."
Bill Simmons has a lengthy article on the refs in his page 2 column. If you have 15 minutes to spare, I highly recommend it.
A WWF style prediction for tonight's game 6.
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UPDATE
Mark Cuban fined $250,000 for his comments after game 5.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Missing Chuck
With Miami winning games 3 and 4, the series is tied up, and for the time being it seems like we may have a competitive NBA Finals on our hands. While the series is starting to turn good, the ABC broadcast crew has been far from it. I think any fan would prefer to see the far superior TNT crew cover this series, but alas ABC has the money and therefore ABC has the rights. So that is that, right? Wrong! What bothers me even more is the fact that it seems ABC assigned their B crew in every aspect of the broadcast to do the NBA Finals. Why are Mike Breen and Hubie Brown doing the broadcast? Everyone would rather see Mike Tirico do it with Snapper Jones and Bill Walton! We got to experience this team for some of the Dallas - San Antonio series and it was a great crew. They speak their minds and aren't afraid to call out the refs, players, or coaches...this is unlike Hubie Brown. Honestly, Hubie Brown has his head so far up Dwayne Wade's ass, I can't tell where he ends and where D-Wade begins....
Is it me or does Hubie Brown look a lot like the guy who plays Silas in the Da Vinci Code?
Also, what's the deal with Mike Breen explaining every rule, every single game as if every viewer is a moron. We know what a lane violation is....
In Tuesday night's game, with 1.4 seconds remaining, when Dallas called timeout, Breen said "for those just joining us", and then summarized the game. Who is just joining the broadcast with one second left in the game?
Also, why is Stuart Scott on the sideline? It looks like ESPN is running out of ways to use him...Hmm let's have him host a game show (Stump the Schwab) that airs on ESPN classic and then why don't we have him do sideline for the NBA Finals...Who cares if he sucks...Where is Jim Gray? I miss Jim Gray? I don't even like Jim Gray...
The halftime crew brings nothing to the table. They really aren't that critical and don't bring up good points. I would much rather have the Saunders, Smith, Legler, and Anthony halftime team. I never thought I would say I miss that halftime crew and Jim Gray, I still can't believe I miss Jim Gray...
What is up with Michael Wilbon's body? Is it me or does it seem like whenever he is doing the halftime show (but not when he is on PTI) and he is behind that desk, his head appears way too big for his body. Seriously he looks like a fat guy that lost a lot of weight but somebody forgot to tell his head. Trust me, next time look for it, it is about as noticeable as Rachel Nichols' inability to blink....
The only bad thing about Miami not getting swept and turning this series into an actual series? We have to experience this ABC crew for more than 4 games.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Dirk shows killer instinct @ press conference
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Damon Jones Gets Hit in the Eye
I am unsure as to which 2006 NBA Playoffs incident is more comical...so please help me decide. Is it Josh Howard getting his manhood crushed by his coach Avery Johnson? Or rather the most recent video, Damon Jones getting hit by Anderson Varejao, who is simply trying to celebrate a playoff victory?
I am unsure as to which 2006 NBA Playoffs incident is more comical...so please help me decide. Is it Josh Howard getting his manhood crushed by his coach Avery Johnson? Or rather the most recent video, Damon Jones getting hit by Anderson Varejao, who is simply trying to celebrate a playoff victory?
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks racked by Avery Johnson
Coach Avery Johnson's intensity is manifested in perhaps the funniest video of this year's NBA Playoffs. Keep an eye on Josh Howard.
Coach Avery Johnson's intensity is manifested in perhaps the funniest video of this year's NBA Playoffs. Keep an eye on Josh Howard.
Monday, June 05, 2006
NBA Finals
One of the most exciting playoffs in a long time, the 2006 NBA Playoffs come to a close with the NBA Finals, beginning Thursday night in Dallas. Do you envision Shaq getting his 4th ring? Or do you see Mark Cuban bawling like a baby as he clutches the Larry O'Brien Trophy?Please include in the comments who will win it all, in how many games, and who is your NBA Finals MVP?
My analysis/predictions can be found below...
Backcourt: Edge for Miami
Both frontcourts are very talented, but D-Wade has been phenomenal throughout the playoffs and the Dallas defense will be focused on him throughout the series. The Heat need an x-factor like Jason Williams to play at a level similar to his game 6 performance vs Detroit (21 pts, 6 ast, 1 to). Dallas also has strong backcourt play, particularly from Jason Terry and Devin Harris. However, you wonder if Devin Harris' playing time will be diminished with Adrian Griffin most likely being assigned to guard Dwayne Wade.
Frontcourt: Edge for Dallas
This is an extrememly intriguing battle. Dirk has seemingly been unguardable as of late and Shaq has played like the old Shaq throughout these playoffs. However the real center of attention in the frontcourt battle is Erick Dampier...yes Erick Dampier. After watching Nash win his second straight MVP, Dampier, the man Dallas choose to acquire instead of re-signing Nash, has the biggest series of his life now. If Dampier can stay out of foul trouble and contain Shaq than perhaps he can quiet the Cuban haters (one of these is none other than Dr. Evil) who stil resent the fact that Cuban choose to pay Dampier $73 million, rather than give Nash an extra year on a contract offer. This is a big IF though, luckily for Dampier, Desagana Diop has emerged as a defensive presence and will assist Damp with this tough task. As for Dirk, I can't find one player in the NBA, let alone the the Heat roster, who can shut down Dirk for more than a game. Miami will most likely take turns with Haslem, Posey, and Walker attempting to guard the big German. However, double-teams seems imminent and that will free things up for other Mavs, including swingman Josh Howard. Josh Howard is no longer an "x-factor" but rather the second option who the Mavs expect to show up and play big each and every game this series.
Dr. Evil, at the age of 17 (Pre-Steroids), shown here extremely excited after witnessing his first Mavericks playoff game, as Dallas defeated the Utah Jazz in 5 games. In Nash's playoff debut, he averaged 18.4 points and 7 assists, leading the Mavs, alongside Dirk Nowitzki, to the franchise's first playoff series victory of the decade. Dr. Evil thought this duo could lead the Mavs to several NBA championships, however after not offering Nash a 6th year, the point guard left in 2004 for Phoenix, and not only has he won back to back MVP awards, but Dr. Evil hasn't had a good nights sleep since then, constantly waking during the night, to the thought of "what if?"
Coaching: Even
Certainly Pat Riley has much more experience coaching in the finals, let alone the playoffs, than Avery Johnson, however AJ not only is the reigning Coach of the Year but he manifested how good of a coach he is with his several adjustments he made throughout the San Antonio and Phoenix series (Devin Harris, then Desagana Diop).
I think this will be a close series, however I will take the hometown Mavs in 7, with Dirk as my MVP.
