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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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Grading The Draft By Ron Jumper The draft came and went with a few surprises along the way, as well as quite a few picks that we all saw coming. When giving out grades for the draft, I like to look at more than just how good the player they got was since, as an example, it was really more luck Chicago had the first pick and took Derek Rose than anything else. Also, now that there has been a few days to see what free agents were going to be available, I’m going to try to examine the big picture. Grading The 2008 NBA Draft Atlanta Hawks: Grade: A Picks: none But wait, they didn’t have any picks? That’s right, but they have Joe Johnson instead. (On a side note, the Hawks had a great year and made the playoffs but they better not rest on their laurels. The Bulls, Heat, and Bucks got a lot better already in the East so it is doubtful 37-45 will be good enough again next season.) Boston Celtics: Grade: C+ Picks: J.R. Giddens (30), Bill Walker (47), Semih Erden (60) Some people liked their draft, I didn’t. With projected first rounders like Mario Chalmers, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and even Nathan Jawai, how can you take J.R. Giddens? Bill Walker is a risk-reward pick, but at 47 there really is no risk. Walker could be one of the biggest steals in this draft down the road, maybe even enough to offset taking J.R. Giddens. Charlotte Bobcats: Grade: F Picks: D.J. Augustin (9), Alexis Ajinca (20), Kyle Weaver (38) They are allegedly trying to win now, but the jury is still out. So you have Raymond Felton and he has been pretty solid, why in the world do you take Augustin and basically start over? They want to move Felton and turn the reigns over to Augustin, which is fine I guess. I just think it is a very poor decision with Brook Lopez slipping to 9 and you clearly wanting another center. Speaking of centers, they took Ajinca at 20 and he is a big time project. He won’t even join the roster in the next year or so, much less make any impact now. Weaver fits very well, but will struggle to stay on the roster with Richardson, Wallace, Morrison, Carroll, and Dudley. If it had been me, I’m taking Brook Lopez at 9 and then Mario Chalmers at 20 if you just really want another point guard. Lopez would fit very well alongside Okafor, while Chalmers could be a solid defender and roll player right now. Chicago Bulls: Grade: B- Picks: Derek Rose (1), Omer Asik (36) I like Derek Rose and everything, though not as much as everyone else apparently, but I just don’t see what the Bulls are doing. What direction are they going? Are they trying to win now? Are they going to revamp the roster? Keep in mind, they were only 4 games out of the playoffs despite everything. Why wouldn’t you just resign Deng and Gordon, draft Beasley, and win right now? Put Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Beasley, and Noah on the floor and make the playoffs easily in the East. Trade Larry Hughes and be happy if you can get Semi-Pro like value and get maybe a washing machine in return. I guess that would be too simple… Cleveland Cavaliers: Grade: D+ Picks: JJ Hickson (19), Darnell Jackson (52), Sasha Kaun (56) They take all bigs, while having no room in the rotation for any of them with Big Z, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Anderson Varejao already in place. Did they get some solid guys? Yep. Will any of them contribute next year? Nope. The Cavs had better wake up, or all the hoopla about LeBron leaving will come true in 2010. Dallas Mavericks: Grade: C Picks: Shan Foster (51) The Mavericks biggest need is another center/shot blocker. However, asking them to find that guy at 51 is a tall order. I didn’t like the Jason Kidd trade, which is where their first round pick went, but I won’t write them off just yet either. The Mavs aren’t that far away from being right back in the hunt out West. Denver Nuggets: Grade: C- Picks: Sonny Weems (39) In a draft like this one, there is a player that could help you right now at 20. However, I also understand wanting to avoid the luxury tax. As for their pick, I like Weems but why wouldn’t you take Chris Douglas-Roberts instead? They really should have traded up when they saw Chalmers fall out of the first round and try to grab him, as he is what they need because he defends and does the little things. Detroit Pistons: Grade: B- Picks: Walter Sharpe (32), Trent Plaisted (46), Deron Washington (59) This is typical Joe Dumars, as he takes a chance on Sharpe. Keep in mind, Sharpe was a nice 4-star recruit out of high school and signed with Mississippi State. Now for the bad, he was kicked off the team and then was also kicked off UAB. He has been declared academically ineligible twice, missed numerous practices, been shot in the stomach, and even diagnosed with narcolepsy. Putting all the bad to the side, he can play basketball. Golden State Warriors: Grade: B+ Picks: Anthony Randolph (14), Richard Hendrix (49) Keep in mind they made this draft with the assumption that Baron Davis was going to be on the roster. Regardless, Randolph can play and will be a stud someday. Some will argue they already have Brandon Wright, but Randolph can play the 3 and fits Nellie ball much better because of his mid-range jumper and ball handling. Hendrix will make the roster and probably play as an undersized center off the bench, despite being a power forward. I think Hendrix will be this year’s Glen Davis and/or Paul Millsap. Houston Rockets: Grade: A+ Picks: Donte Greene (28), Joey Dorsey (33), Marty Leunen (54) Not very often does a team drafting this far back end up with 2 guys that will actually help them next year. Donte Greene can flat out shoot the basketball and he is 6’9,” while Dorsey will help out defensively and be a great fit as Adelman gradually transitions to his faster paced style. I had Greene ranked as the 4th best prospect overall so, obviously I was very high on him. Indiana Pacers Grade: A- Picks: Brandon Rush (13), Roy Hibbert (17) Suddenly, I’m really liking the moves the Pacers are making. I would have given them an A or possibly even an A+ if they had just kept Bayless. None the less, they suddenly have a solid core of T.J. Ford, Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Troy Murphy, Roy Hibbert, and Brandon Rush. If they can get anything back in return for Jamal Tinsley, they could be reloading instead of rebuilding. Los Angeles Clippers Grade: A+++ Picks: Eric Gordon (7), DeAndre Jordan (35), Mike Taylor (55) The Clippers couldn’t be doing better right now, as not only did they have a great draft but they just solved their point guard problems and actually turned it into a major strength with Baron Davis. The Clippers seem to have it together right now, as they could be amazing in 09/10. Yes, they will be good in 08/09 but they could be dynamic in 09/10. Don’t forget how much of a stud Al Thornton was as a rookie last year, so he will only get better. With young perimeter scorers like Thornton and Gordon, Davis will have athletic running mates in transition. Elton Brand and Chris Kaman will be the key pieces inside. Now for the rest, DeAndre Jordan could be a beast in a year or two. Jordan has so much upside and very little pressure on him to develop quickly as a second round pick. If he takes a year or so and develops his game, Jordan could take the Clippers to new heights. Even Mike Taylor was a good pickup that late in the draft. At 22 years of age, he has played college basketball and a year in the D-League so he is closer to being ready now than most young point guards. Also, don’t forget other guys on their roster that could potentially contribute but aren’t costing the team much at all if they don’t. Shaun Livingston would be a bonus if he could just ever get healthy. They also picked up Marcus Williams (the one from Arizona) and Nick Fazekas towards the end of last season, both of whom have their best days ahead of them. Suddenly, the Clippers look like they are headed in the right direction. When was the last time that happened? Los Angeles Lakers: Grade: A Picks: Joe Crawford (58) They could have picked anyone at 58 and still gotten an A, because their first rounder went towards acquiring Pau Gasol. Memphis Grizzlies: Grade: A- Picks: OJ Mayo (3), Darrell Arthus (27) The Grizzlies had a very good draft without question. Mayo will increase attendance and compliment Conley and Gay. That trio will be a part of what the Grizzlies do for the next decade. Arthur is a very nice get at 27, though not much different than Hakim Warrick. I probably would have gone with a center, with maybe DeAndre Jordan or Nathan Jawaii. Darko is just plain awful and I don’t care what the numbers say, as my eyes tell me everything I need to know. Miami Heat: Grade: A Picks: Michael Beasley (2), Mario Chalmers (34) A lot of people have the Heat’s grade closer to an A+, but I can’t help but feel like they stumbled into this good draft more than anything. They wanted Rose, though Beasley fits their style much better. Chalmers should have gone in the 20s and can step in right away, but fell all the way to 34. Whatever the case, the nucleus of Chalmers, Wade, Marion, Beasley, and Haslem will go a long way towards returning the Heat to the playoffs. Milwaukee Bucks: Grade: B+ Picks: Joe Alexander (8), Luc Richard Mbah A Moute (37) The Bucks did a great job acquiring Richard Jefferson and ridding themselves of Yi while he still has trade value, as well as Bobby Simmons’ contract. However, drafting Joe Alexander instead of Jerryd Bayless or Brook Lopez keeps them from getting an A. This is another team in the East that could bump into the playoffs if things fall right though. As far as a draft standpoint, I just don’t understand their fascination with forwards. I look at that roster and see a need for more 3-point shooting, as Michael Redd is the only pure shooter on the roster. With inside players, there needs to be 3-point shooting to keep teams honest and not sag off or double-team inside. Minnesota Timberwolves: Grade: A- Picks: Kevin Love (5), Nikola Pekovic (31) Don’t forget that they acquired Mike Miller through swapping draft picks with Memphis. Acquiring a great shooter like Miller and an all-around team guy like Love will make them much more likely to compete on a nightly basis next season. Love will compliment Al Jefferson very well and, once they get going, Miller could get some nice looks off of inside-outside action. Throw Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes, and Corey Brewer in the mix, and the Wolves might not be that bad next year. As for taking Pekovic in round 2, I didn’t like this pick. It brought them down from an A to an A- without question. Pekovic will not be in the NBA for at least 2 or 3 seasons, not because he isn’t ready, but because he is already making the big bucks in Europe. Whoever drafted him knew going in they would have to pay him like a veteran before he had ever even set foot in the NBA three years from now. New Jersey Nets: Grade: A Picks: Brook Lopez (10), Ryan Anderson (21), Chris Douglas-Roberts (40) The Nets drafted 3 players who could all actually play and contribute next season. How often does that happen? Lopez is a nice center, and would play well alongside either Sean Williams or Josh Boone. Ryan Anderson is a nice all-around player who can player the 3 or the 4. CDR is a wonderful athlete and is ready to play now due to seasoning at the college level. With Devin Harris, Marcus Williams, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, and these 3 draft picks, plus whatever they end up doing with Vince Carter, the Nets could actually be good in a couple of years and have a cap space for that guy with a funny name over in Ohio that’s friends with some rapper that got bored and decided to buy part of the team. (Okay, so obviously I’m talking about LeBron joining forces with his good pal Jay-Z in 2010.) New Orleans Hornets: Grade: C+ Picks: None If they could somehow land a shooting guard like Ben Gordon, this would go to a B+ because they traded their pick for cap space. New York Knicks: Grade: C+ Picks: Danillo Gallinari (6) This will be a solid, not spectacular, player in New York. The Knicks wanted Rose, Mayo, or Westbrook yet they did nothing to go out and get them. No one has more trading pieces than the Knicks. I just can’t believe no one in the top 4 would have wanted to move around if there had been a package involving any of Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry, or Jamal Crawford. The Knicks need to get rid of some of these players if they want to try to run D’Antoni’s system or clear up any cap space. They could have killed two birds with one stone, yet did nothing. Orlando Magic: Grade: B+ Picks: Courtney Lee (22) Lee is ready to play now, the Magic want to win now. Seems like a good fit. Philadelphia 76ers: Grade: A Picks: Marreese Speights (16) The 76ers needed a power forward and Speights is going to be a very good one. He has great size and athleticism, plus a great feel for the game that can’t be measured by statistics or drills. This could be a piece that adds an extra dimension offensively to Philly once he gets settled into the rotation. He should play early because he has the size and ability to defend at the NBA level, which comes first and foremost for Mo Cheeks. Expect him to end up as a steal down the road. Phoenix Suns: Grade: F Picks: Robin Lopez (15), Goran Dragic (42) The Suns need more scoring and they need it fast. They don’t have the personnel to properly utilize Steve Nash anymore. There has to be athletes and shooters on the floor at all times. Lopez gives them a solid backup center, but that isn’t really their problem in my opinion. They can go small with Amare at center or play Brian Skinner in small doses. However, when they have Grant Hill, Amare, and Shaq on the floor at the same time, that just isn’t enough 3-point shooting or speed and Nash is more comfortable as a distributor in the open floor than as a scorer in the half-court. I just think the Suns have missed the boat the last three drafts. In 2006, they had picks #21 and #27. They traded pick #21 (Rajon Rondo) for a 2007 first rounder and then traded the 27th pick (Sergio Rodriguez) for cash. Either guy would solve their current need for a backup point guard. In 2007, the pick they acquired for Rondo turned into cash from Portland and they drafted Alando Tucker at 29. Tucker was a waste of a pick so, with 2 first round picks again, they end up with nothing. Now, they draft Robin Lopez who, at best, will be a defensive stopper that is a lifetime backup. Out of 5 first round draft picks over 3 years, they end up with Alando Tucker and Robin Lopez. This is why they haven’t won a championship. Looking at the Celtics this year and the Spurs the year before, it wasn’t just the big three that won it for both teams. The Celtics got a big boost from Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, and Glen Davis. What do those guys have in common? They were drafted by the Celtics in the last 3 years. The Spurs drafted Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, but even that wasn’t enough to win it all. It was the roll players that made the difference, guys like Fabricio Oberto, Michael Finley, and Robert Horry. My point is that championship teams have stars, but they also have the perfect role players. The Suns don’t have the perfect role players, though the last 3 drafts presented them with the chance to find them. Portland Trail Blazers: Grade: A+ Picks: Jerryd Bayless (11), Nicolas Batum (25) All I can really say is that if I walked into a poker game and GM Kevin Pritchard is at the table, I’m just going to turn and run. In all seriousness though for a team that started the draft with the 13th pick and some second rounders, they ended up with a top 5 prospect and the 2nd best international prospect and gave up only Jarret Jack. Wow. Sacramento Kings: Grade: B Picks: Jason Thompson (12), Sean Singletary (42), Patrick Ewing Jr. (43) Most hated the Jason Thompson pick, but I loved it. I think he will be a phenomenal player because he has the drive and work ethic to go along with his great skill set. He proved everyone wrong in college and dominated at his level, not to mention against both Kansas State and NC State. He looked great at the combine and in workouts, so I don’t know where the negativity comes from. He has graduated from college, so that says something about his character right there. I do agree that they probably could have traded back to the 20s and still got him, but what they got should not be in question. The same goes for Sean Singletary, as he is a very good player/scorer/playmaker and should make the roster. Some felt he shouldn’t even be drafted, but I liked Singletary all along and don’t blame him for being on a bad Virginia team. San Antonio Spurs: Grade: C+ Picks: George Hill (26), Malik Hairston (48), James Gist (57) It is time the Spurs started drafting for now instead of for the future. The talent gap and age is starting to show. They need an influx of talent and athleticism to compete with the Lakers and Hornets. Seattle Supersonics: Grade: B Picks: Russell Westbrook (4), Serge Ibaka (24), DJ White (29), Devon Hardin (50) It isn’t that the Sonics didn’t add some quality players, it is more what they could have added instead. They could have had Jerryd Bayless, Darrell Arthur, and DeAndre Jordan instead of who they actually got. Hardin wasn’t a bad second round pickup, as some thought he might creep up to the first round. Toronto Raptors: Grade: B+ Picks: Nathan Jawai (41) The Raptors could be tough to beat with O’Neal and Bosh to go along with all those outside shooters. As for Jawai, you already know I was a big fan and actually think he will be the best international player to come out of this draft three years from now. Utah Jazz: Grade: D+ Picks: Kosta Koufos (23), Ante Tomic (44), Tadija Dragicevic (53) They need shotblocking and a defensive presence inside, they got neither. Koufos might be okay, but he is a clone of Okur. They are a piece or two away from competing for it all and this did not get them any closer. Washington Wizards: Grade: B- Picks: JaVale McGee (18) I’m torn because I love McGee, but he doesn’t fit here. They already have Andray Blatche. They needed a wide body inside that could contribute now, not a project. McGee has a huge upside and could be a phenomenal player one day. If the Wizards lose Arenas, it might not be so bad to build McGee and Blatche for the future though. July 2, 2008 |
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