Thursday, June 26, 2008

2008 NBA Draft

Well it was a good night and there were enough trades to really make things difficult. After the picks were made, I'll take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. How did your team do?


Atlanta Hawks - None.

Boston Celtics - J. R. Giddens (30th), Bill Walker (47th), Semih Erden (60th). Giddens has a lot of potential. Good, long kid with some defensive ability and the ability to score. To me, he looks like James Posey, but not as accomplished yet. I like the Bill Walker pickup late in the 2nd round. This kid is a good athlete, but the only question is his health. If he can stay healthy, he'll be one of those guys that you look back at in 10 years and say, he went in the 2nd round?

Charlotte Bobcats - D. J. Augustin (9th), Alexis Ajinca (20th), Kyle Weaver (38th). DJ Augustin surprises me because they have Raymond Felton on the team. But I guess the rumblings out of Charlotte that he's on the block are ringing more true with this pick. Dj, is short, but can run a team, which is probably why they picked him. Ajinca was a 'hustler' by accounts from Larry Brown. He 'fell in love' with him during a workout. Dude averaged 5pts and 5 boards a game in a French league where he was (in the majority of cases) the tallest dude on the court, that's all I have to say. Brown doesn't do well with rookies, so we'll see how long this love affair lasts.

Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose (1st), Omer Asik (36th), Sonny Weems (39th). We all know what Derrick Rose brings, but it's obvious that someone has to go. Ben Gordon and/or Kirk Hinrich need to pack their bags. Weems is a decent player that needs to concentrate on D in order to get some PT. He's long just like Sefolosha and we see how that's worked out.

Cleveland Cavaliers - J.J. Hickson (19). Good pick for a kid that will grow up and into his body. Time will tell about him. He has all of the tools right now.

Dallas Mavericks - Shan Foster (51st). Will he ever play for Dallas?

Denver Niuggets - None.

Detroit Pistons - Walter Sharpe (32nd), Trent Plaisted (46th), Deron Washington (59th). Is Joe D trying to retool his bench with the expected exit of Wallace? Then guys that they have been bringing along will get some run next year. I don't think that any of these guys make an impact for years to come.

Golden State Warriors - Anthony Randolph (14th), Richard Hendrix (49th). In Randolph you get a young, thin, power forward to run the floor and play some D. Isn't that what they drafted for last year with Brandan Wright? The only thing that Hendrix brings to the team is maybe some old cd's of his great uncle Jimi.

Houston Rockets - Donte Greene (28th), Joey Dorsey (33), Maarty Leunen (54th). Donte Green is a guy that has to work on his game. Joey Dorsey has a chance to mimic Ben Wallace's career (but maybe not find a team dumb enough to give him a 4 year outlandish contract). Joey will give them some heart and soul, and Greene might be able to learn a few things from T-Mac. Not a bad draft for the Rockets.

Indiana Pacers - Brandon Rush (13th), Roy Hibbert (17th). I like the picks for Indiana. They got Hibbert who can fill in adequately for O'Neal, and they got Brandon Rush who is going to have a good long career. Rush will be able to step in immediately and give them some run in the backcourt. Plus by adding TJ Ford and Jarrett Jack to the mix,....this was a good few days for the Pacers. Jamal Tinsley, hope your bags are packed. The best part of it all, they get the phenom in Josh McRoberts (please stop the laughing).

Los Angeles Clippers - Eric Gordon (7th), DeAndre Jordan (35th), Mike Taylor (55th). Nothing tells your star player to pack his bags and get out of town quicker than the Clippers draft. Eric Gordon will be good, but it's going to take him some time to play point in the league, although he can shoot the rock from anywhere on the court. Reminds me of a young Mitch Richmond. Jordan is a project and he's got work to do, and Taylor may make it some day.

Los Angeles Lakers - Joe Crawford (58th). Now the Lakers won't lose any close games by drafting a ref. Why didn't anyone think of this earlier. Wait,...you mean it's not referee Joey Crawford,......oh,...ok......well this Joe Crawford may not even have his 15 minutes of fame. Hope he kept the draft day hat (do 2nd round picks even get hats?).

Memphis Grizzlies - OJ Mayo (3rd) Darrell Arthur (27th). This was a big trade with many pieces, but the big one for Memphis was OJ Mayo. I think he will be good, but I guess this is what happens when you take money while playing ball at USC, you get sent to a cost cutting team with no chance for winning for a long time. Karma is a b****. Darrell Arthur was stung by an erroneous report about a kidney issue and this cost him several spots in the draft, all the way down to 27th. It's never fun to be the last guy picked out of the green room.

Miami Heat - Michael Beasley (2nd), Mario Chalmers (34), Darnell Jackson (52nd). The jedi mind trick didn't work for Pat Riley this time. We knew all of the talk about Beasley was being used to get leverage on McHale, but it didn't work. Sucks, huh? The Heat end up with the best prospect in the draft to play PF for them and then they get Mario Chalmers in teh 2nd round. Great pick for them. He gets to play some point next to Wade, with Marion, and Beasley on the court. This brings Miami off the mat and into playoff contention next year.

Milwaukee Bucks - Joe Alexander (8th), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (37th). About as good as you can get. Alexander will play behind his new teammate Richard Jefferson, but he'll be in a position to succeed. Mbah a Moute makes the team for his D. Now that Yi and Simmons are gone, there's more playing time. Skiles will make these guys work for it.

Minnestoa Timberwolves - Kevin Love (5th), Nikola Pekovic (31st). They got Love who will be good/great on O, but he and Jefferson might give up more than they score in the paint each night. The trade that got them Mike Miller will help enormously. Miller can shoot from anywhere and he'll play well with Randy Foye. Kevin McHale actually did ok, I know you're surprised.

New Jersey Nets - Brook Lopez (10th), Ryan Anderson (21st), Chris Douglas-Roberts (40th). Not sure why the Nets went with two bigs after getting Sean Williams and Josh Boone over the last two years who actually give them decent production off the bench. Anderson is a scorer, but not sure if his game is going to translate to the pros. He has more offense than Williams or Boone, so maybe he'll get some of their minutes. CDR is a steal at 40th. Great mid range game and he's clutch. He was the best player on Memphis until the end of the year. With the Nets picking up Yi and Bobby Simmons, maybe they just need some folks to rebound.

New Orleans Hornets - None

New York Knicks - Danillo Gallinari (6th). Another euro. I guess it's good to have a father that has connections and knows people. Not sure why the Knicks got this guy and not a point guard for that system that they are going to run. Now they have to find a pg, because Robinson and Marbury aren't going to do it.

Orlando Magic - Courtney Lee (22). This guy was on many people's boards as a guy that can come in and contribute immediately. Orlando is hoping he has some Rodney Stuckey in him, because the Magic need some production from their two guard position. Free JJ Redick!!!!

Philadelphia 76ers - Marresse Speights (16th) gives the 76ers a guy that can run, jump, and play some D. Wow, that is very similar to a guy that they paid a lot of money to in Samuel Dalembert. He has more post game than Dalembert, but to me, they are the same player. Nothing else to say about this pick.

Phoenix Suns - Robin Lopez (15th), Malik Hairston (48th). I'm not sold on either Lopez twin but for this system, I think that they got it right with Robin. He's a defensive guy that will give you some hustle. He'll back up Shaq and can run the floor. Hairston may make the team, but he'll need to work. They still have kids like Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry on the bench.

Portland Trailblazers - Jerryd Bayless (11th), Nicolas Batum (25th). How does the league allow this to happen? The Trailblazers get rid of Jarrett Jack but get Bayless. They get Oden back this year,....this team should be in contention for the playoffs and more. Batum, he's an athlete, but the Trailblazers are stacked at almost every position. I wouldn't be surprised if they made some more moves.

Sacramento Kings - Jason Thompson (12th), Sean Singletary (42nd), Partrick Ewing Jr. (43rd). Jason Thompson was a reach, but I think he pans out. Singletary is a small point guard but he can finish at the rim. Patrick Ewing Jr. should make this team and be a Shane Battier (glue guy) type of player.

San Antonion Spurs - George Hill (26th), Goran Dragic (42nd), James Gist (57th). George Hill is a small guard from IUPUI and he could give Parker a backup that's similar to him. Goran Dragic, we can only expect one or two things, he'll never play in a Spurs uni or he'll come over and be a solid role player. I'm not sure James Gist makes this team, although I think he can make someone's team.

Seattle Supersonics - Russell Westbrook (4th), Serge Ibaka (24th), DJ White (29th), DeVon Hardin (50th), Sasha Kaun (56th). Another team that did well for themselves. They get a guy that can play some defense and play alongside Durant. Ibaka, White, Hardin, and Kaun all have the ability to make this team on defense alone. Seattle can't afford those 135 - 131 games every night. Kaun will probably not play for the Sonics for some years as he will be playing in Russia next year and probably making more than some of the 1st rounders.

Toronto Raptors - Nathan Jawai (41st). Big body, that may help the Raptors as a backup. We'll see.

Utah Jazz - Kosta Koufos (23rd), Ante Tomic (44th) Tadija Dragicevic (53rd). Can we see a pattern here? I like Koufos and think that he can come in and add something to the table (Twin, your bags should be packed if there aren't already). The rest, I'm not sure of. I don't think any of these other two guys play for the Jazz before 2010.

Washington Wizards - JaVale McGee (18th). The word is that he reminds many of Andray Blatche. Blatche finally turned into something this year, but it's taken him 4 years to do something. Let the clock begin ticking. This was one of those 'upside' picks.

So that should be everyone. My winners in the draft were: Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New Jersey (more for the trade they pulled off and subsequent draft), Miami, and Indiana (ditto on trade).

Not saying that everyone else lost, but,....those are the teams that I think did the best. As always your opinion is welcomed.

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