What were they thinking? The NBA Draft

This is basically going over every pick in this past NBA draft from last night and give you an idea of the rationalization of the picks. This will just be the first round since it's really a struggle at times to find out any real rationalization with the second round when you consider that many of those players won't even see playing time in the NBA. So here it goes:

1. LA Clippers - Blake Griffin

Could there be anything more obvious? Above and beyond the rest as far as talent goes.

2. Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet

With Marc Gasol there it's a little harder to understand this pick. Gasol's not a bad defender by any means, but by how they talked about Thabeet bringing down low defense to the Grizzlies you'd think that he was the worst defender at the 5 that the league has ever seen. Thabeet will bring little to no offense to the Grizzlies, but there is no doubt that he'll make it almost impossible for other teams to score down low, especially if he's on the floor at the same time as Gasol.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - James Harden

With Russell Westbrook already there as your point guard of the future, passing up on the second best talent in the draft in Rubio. James Harden is an all-around point guard. He's someone who can hurt the other team in so many ways, through his defense, his shooting, his driving, or his passing. He'll always be able to give you whatever you need when you need it. As far as talent, yes, Rubio is better, but Harden is the better total fit and will make the team better than Rubio would.

4. Sacramento Kings - Tyreke Evans

Well, the Kings needed a point guard badly, and even though there was one with more talent available, they got a very good future point guard in Evans, even if he is more of a combo guard. However, I guess there's something in his style that Sacramento likes more, since he does have a different type of game than Rubio.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves - Ricky Rubio

This was beyond obvious at this point. Overdue for Rubio.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves -Jonny Flynn

This is a lot harder to justify. The Timberwolves said that they're planning on keeping both Rubio and Flynn, so it looks like they're expecting Rubio to go back to Spain for a year or two and will allow Flynn to grow into good trade bait during that time, or they're going to use Rubio as bait to trade to a team that needs a point guard. Either way, a trade will eventually go down, only that they're not saying it so that the players involved don't lose value.

7. Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry

Immediate reactions has to be asking how Curry and Ellis will fit together, but when you look at how you score their points, Curry by shooting and Ellis by slashing, you realize that on offense it makes perfect sense. The Warriors have never cared about defense, so that's not an issue. Also, supposedly there's an Amare Stoudemire trade about to go down that Curry will have to be a part of, but there's also rumors that the trade is dead.

8. New York Knicks - Jordan Hill

The Warriors picking Curry actually saved the Knicks from making a bad pick here. While Curry is very good and would look very good in D'Antoni's offense, Jordan Hill will wind up being even better. He brings some defense to the 4 spot for the Knicks as well as a versatile offensive game that just needs to be refined some more. The Knicks are going to love having this guy in the future.

9. Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan

This was an obvious pick at this point. DeRozan is loaded with potential and has drawn many comparisons to former Raptor Vince Carter. While he might never realize that potential, the potential that he does have is too high for him to not be picked here.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings

His attitude seems to be pretty immature still, there's no doubt about that, but there's also no doubt that the kid has pretty amazing talent. If he can just play with his head as well he could wind up being a superstar.

11. New Jersey Nets - Terrence Williams

The Nets struck gold last year with Brook Lopez. They also traded Vince Carter in what seemed mostly like a salary dump right before the draft. In the trade they picked up Courtney Lee, a draft pick by the Magic a year ago who has established himself as a strong perimeter defender and a solid offensive player despite being most known for missing what would've been a game winning lay-in during the finals. Either way, they picked up Williams likely to play the small forward spot, which was a horrible weakness last year after trading away Richard Jefferson.

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson

The fact that Jordan was able to allow his team to pick a Duke player is amazing enough. Henderson brings almost the perfect guy to replace Raja Bell. A tough defender, but Henderson is better at driving and more athletic, so he may bring an extra dimension that Bell doesn't bring and could actually the the starting 2 by the start of next season.

13. Indiana Pacers - Tyler Hansbrough

Some fans gave a lot of heat to the Pacers front office for this pick, but Hansbrought gives them exactly what they need up front. They need energy and toughness up front, as Hibbert and Nesterovic provide neither right now and Murphy provides no energy and barely toughness. Hansbrough is going to breathe new life into that front line and he has the skill and drive to actually wind up starting in the future.

14. Phoenix Suns - Earl Clark

Tons of talent here, his potential is through the roof. The Suns took a home run swing here, and if it pays off they could, with the right moves otherwise, be right back to where they were only a few years ago within half a decade.

15. Detroit Pistons - Austin Daye

A bit of a surprise pick. Daye is very tall and long, but he's under 200 pounds. While due to length he can play power forward for most teams, for Detroit, a team that prides itself on it's rough and physical defense, he's not someone who you can play there. He's clearly a project there, and if he can wind up bulking up he might be able to play some 4 there, but he might be even better fit at the 2 than the 4. With Prince there you really don't put him at the 3. This could be a future trade move too.

16. Chicago Bulls - James Johnson

Getting a guy that could've gone 7 picks earlier, the Bulls got a steal here. Anyone complaining about this pick just simply do not make any sense. He's a player who can easily play either the 3 or the 4. He's very strong and brings both toughness down low and on the perimeter. He has developed himself a very good jump shot out to 3 point range and has a game that despite being physical, is silky smooth. Just take Andres Nocioni, a former favorite in Chicago. Add on plenty of athleticism and a more consistent jumper. Throw in a smooth game and more size to add to the physical style, and there you go. This was an excellent pick for the Bulls.

17. Philadelphia 76ers - Jrue Holiday

He didn't fall as far as he could have, but he did fall enough to draw some attention for falling in a draft that seemed to have falling as a common theme. Holiday has a ton of potential, but no one really knows why. He doesn't have much of a jumper, he plays like a combo guard, and his health is an issue. However, there's just something about him that makes teams think that he can wind up being really good, and there's a good chance that they can be right. Great pick by the Sixers, who may likely lose Andre Miller this offseason. Holiday will be no less than adequate for filling in.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves - Ty Lawson

Okay, not so fast. Yeah, it's a third point guard that the T-Wolves drafted, almost like they're trying to make history by drafting so many point guards, but this pick was traded to the Nuggets for a future first round pick. Supposedly the Wolves wanted James Johnson, but when the Bulls picked him they didn't want this pick anymore and that's why the trade was made. Lawson will be an excellent backup for the Nuggets and will provide a player that brings something different than what Billups brings, making him even harder to guard.

19. Atlanta Hawks - Jeff Teague

When they drafted Acie Law a couple of years ago you thought they wouldn't need to be targeting point guards anymore, but that didn't work out. So they traded for Bibby. However, Bibby's not young by any means and could very well be wanting more than what the Hawks can spend, so they go after Jeff Teague, a point guard who isn't entirely a true point guard, but who can shoot the ball. With the depth of this year's point guard crop, even though it's this low, Teague could be the guy who ends the pursuit for a while.

20. Utah Jazz - Eric Maynor

More of an all-around point guard, if Williams has any injury problems from here on out, the Jazz know that they have someone to back him up that won't allow the team to fall to mediocrity.

21. New Orleans Hornets - Darren Collison

Looking even worse without Paul than the Jazz looked without Williams, the Hornets had the same idea, making for the third point guard drafted in a row, but Collison is another very good one, bringing some very good defense along with a solid offensive game from all angles.

22. Portland Trailblazers - Victor Claver

A potential pick, he's a very athletic 3/4 type of guy. It's a good pick, because the Blazers are a pretty stacked team, and they can afford to pick a project. This is a guy who could have a high reward, but also could likely never really ever amount to much.

23. Sacramento Kings - Omri Casspi

This is a good pick in that it at least gives the Kings someone to challenge Francisco Garcia for the starting spot at the 3. Casspi is ready to play right now and will at least be able to back Garcia up very well.

24. Dallas Mavericks - Byron Mullens

Now he's Byron, not BJ. Either way, he's actually a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder right now. The Thunder already have what's looking to shape up as a scary lineup with Westbrook, Harden, Durant, and Green. With Kristic at the 5 they were looking good, but if Mullens can develop into the center that he has the ability to develop into, then the Thunder can just plain flat out be scary.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Rodrigue Beaubois

The other half of the Mullens trade, the Mavs get a future point guard. Both him and Mullens are players that are very high reward, but high risk. If Beaubois fills his potential out, then the Mavs have nothing to worry about when it comes to losing Kidd.

26. Chicago Bulls - Taj Gibson

He's drawn comparisons to guys like Joe Smith and Vin Baker. If he can play like those guys then this is a SERIOUS steal for the Bulls here. He's got a refined offensive game with good versatility on that end and can block shots like it's nothing on the defensive end. I can't think of much more you could ask for at this point in the draft. Sure, they could've gone for DeJuan Blair, but Blair is a very high risk player and his reward is not nearly high enough to go after him at this point. Those who bring up guys like Paul Millsap tend to forget that Blair has nothing that resembles a jump shot.

27. Memphis Grizzlies - DeMarre Carroll

He may have liver disease, but he can play. Drafted as a backup he could wind up being a very strong player off the bench for a very long time.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wayne Ellington

It's not a point guard!!! It almost seems like Ellington is being brought in to fill Mike Miller's spot. Ellington is a great shooter that will be able to have a strong place for the Wolves as a backup shooting guard.

29. New York Knicks - Toney Douglas

He sort of is like a combo guard version of Chris Duhon. He's a very good defender who doesn't make a lot of mistakes, but he's more of a shooter than Duhon is. He's not going to give you a record number of assists, but he'll still be able to facilitate the offense.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Christian Eyenga

Tweener forward...okay, that's all that anyone really knows about him. A pick for the future for a team whose future is now. However, he's also got some solid trade value.



So there it is. Rather you agree with the picks or not, there's the actual logic that is behind the picks that every team made. In fact, that may not be their actual logic, but some logic that actually makes the picks not look so bad.