Here it is, the end of the first round of the draft is less than 24 hours away while moves are being made like mad. This is already looking like it will be a very interesting draft with all of the moves being made, so here is one final mock draft with several trades being made. The trades will be mentioned at the first draft spot they show up at. Without any further introduction, here is the final mock draft here:
1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin
This is the obvious pick, no one comes close to the impact that Griffin is expected to have. When you throw in that the Clippers said that they were going with Griffin shortly after they won the lottery, and again, this is obvious.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves - Ricky Rubio
Minnesota has been trying hard to trade up for that #2 pick with the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies have been playing hardball. With the Grizzlies rumored to be trading away Darko Milicic, it would make sense for them to accept the #5 pick and Craig Smith for the #2 pick. The Timberwolves have realized at this point that Sebastian Telfair just isn't an NBA quality starting point guard. He's a guy who would be excellent in backup, but not a starter. With Randy Foye gone, that means that their other option is gone as well. The Wolves need to make sure to move ahead of the Kings in order to secure Rubio, and this could very well do it.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder - James Harden
This is a tough choice between Harden and Thabeet. In the end, Thabeet really seems like more of the Olowokandi type of player. Olowokandi was not drafted as the best player in the 1998 draft. He was simply seen as the best big man, and seeing as how the Clippers wanted a big man, they went with Olowokandi. Thabeet will likely be better than Olowokandi, especially since he is such a good defender, but he's really not as good as some of the other players available at this point, and one of those players is James Harden. Harden is a shooting guard, which is a position that the Thunder are thin at, who has great all-around skills. He will compliment the Thunder very well due to this. He's the best player available for the Thunder at this point.
4. Sacramento Kings - Tyreke Evans
While he's really more of a combo guard, Evans is at least someone with solid point guard skills that the Kings can put at point guard over Roko Ukic. Stephen Curry is another option at this point, but he would not compliment Kevin Martin very well at all. Evans brings great size for a point guard and a very well rounded game. He will be able to fill that void that the Kings have at point guard very well and is not a bad pick at this point in the draft.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Hill
Wow, Thabeet has fallen this far? Despite teams seeming high on him, due to need he could really fall. The Grizzlies, like mentioned seem to be trading Darko Milicic. They're getting Craig Smith in the trade already, but since they were already thing at the 4 spot anyway, getting another 4 with high potential is a good move. Hill has the ability to be a Chris Bosh Lite type of guy. However, his defense is superior to Bosh's, even if his offense isn't quite as good as Bosh's.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Hasheem Thabeet
After an unexpected wait, Thabeet finally gets drafted to play in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are desperate for more size in their front court, and with Love and Jefferson already having good offensive games, they can afford to bring a defensive minded player with a very raw offensive game into their rotation up front.
7. Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry
Monta Ellis has supposedly been vocal about not wanting the Warriors to draft a point guard, but Curry is more of a combo guard. Despite his size mixed in with Ellis' size, he could actually compliment Ellis very well in the back court. The Warriors are almost entirely offensive minded, and while Ellis is more of a slasher who likes to score by the basket, Curry is more of a shooter. They both could also benefit from their scoring skills and be able to find the other for easy scoring opportunities as well.
8. New York Knicks - Jonny Flynn
While it will be tempting for them to take Brandon Jennings here, especially because of his street ball style that is so popular in the city of New York, Jonny Flynn is the type of point guard who will thrive much more in Mike D'Antoni's style of offense. Having him with Chris Duhon at the point guard spot will really give the Knicks a more complete offense.
9. Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan
The Raptors could use two things above all else. A physical big man and a good wing player. With DeRozan they get that wing. He is without a doubt a project, but his upside is way too much to ignore at this point in the draft, especially when he fills a need for your team.
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings
The Bucks are in desperate need for a good point guard and this may be the one for them. While Jennings does have a bit of a street style, he still has the skills to be a good NBA point guard. At this point he is without a doubt a good player for the Bucks to take a chance on.
11. New Jersey Nets - James Johnson
The Nets could use a good small forward. With Johnson they get that and more. He's a small forward who is big enough to play the 4 as well. His tough and physical style of play will compliment both the front court and Vince Carter very well.
12. Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson
While Terrence Williams is the flavor of the week right now, in the end the Bobcats will go with the player who seems to be more of a safe pick. Henderson is a good slasher with a solid jump shot. He's got good size to play the 2 in the NBA, and he is a fundamentally strong player. The only thing that should really stop them from making this pick would be if Jordan just can't stand watching a Duke player get drafted onto his team.
13. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens
The Bulls have been showing interest in Mullens throughout the draft process, and after seeing that he is still available at this point they will pull the trade, giving up both their 16th and 26th picks for the 13th pick of the Pacers. Supposedly it's been a debate in the front offices of the Bulls rather they should go with Blair or Mullens. The bottom line is that Blair has knee problems at the age of 21, he's a very heavy person, he is very limited athletically, and his weight likely won't get much lower playing in a city that has the food that Chicago has. Mullens has his questions, but he's a skilled and athletic big man, which isn't common at all. With both the Pistons and Suns showing interest in Mullens, the Bulls will have to make this deal in order to get their man.
14. Phoenix Suns - Ty Lawson
Steve Nash is getting old and it's not sure thing that Goran Dragic will ever be what the Suns were hoping he would be when they traded for him on draft night last season. Lawson has a very good chance at being a very good point guard for many years in the league. The biggest questions that arrive with him are about his health. However, those questions tend to be highly exaggerated, and he can get over them. Nash is still the guy in Phoenix for at least another year, and in that time Lawson will be able to back Nash up along with Dragic during that time. When Nash is gone, Lawson will be a good option to take over for him.
15. Detroit Pistons - Earl Clark
With Mullens and Johnson gone, Clark is another guy that the Pistons have had their eye on. At 6'10" he is a small forward as far as style goes, but he's tall enough to play power forward, a position that the Pistons are going to have to address since they're losing a key big man in Rasheed Wallace, most likely, this offseason.
16. Indiana Pacers - Tyler Hansbrough
Hansbrough brings a level of toughness, hustle, and energy to the frontline of the Indiana Pacers that they desperately need. After the combine measurements were taken it was found that he's actually got plenty of size and strength to play the power forward position in the NBA. He likely won't bring huge stats, but as a backup power forward he will be more than adequate.
17. Philadelphia 76ers - Eric Maynor
The Sixers could lose Andre Miller this offseason, and if they do they could use someone to take his place. While he might not be a good starting point guard right away, Maynor has the skills and potential to eventually be a very good point guard. He's a complete package and can very well be very similar to Andre Miller withing a couple of years.
18. Chicago Bulls - Terrence Williams
With Minnesota having four first round picks, the Timberwolves may very well be willing to sell picks. The Bulls, after having traded away one of their two first round picks could be looking to buy this pick here, especially since bringing back Ben Gordon is clearly no sure thing. Williams is a shooting guard with great size for the 2 spot. He can also spend some time at the small forward spot as well, which would be nice if Deng is either traded or injured again. He's a very good defender and very athletic. He's a good slasher who should be able to put up adequate scoring numbers as well. His only question marks are his shooting ability and his mental maturity. Both of those can come around.
19. Atlanta Hawks - Jeff Teague
Bibby is possibly on his way out soon and it looks like Acie Law could be traded soon as well. This would leave the Hawks very thin at the 1, so picking a guard with Teague's potential would be a great move here, especially since he'll have a year to settle in. Teague is very athletic and quick, has a good jump shot and is a solid passer. His game will likely continue to develop, and if it does he can be a strong point guard for years to come.
20. Utah Jazz - DeJuan Blair
The free-fall for Blair ends here. After being favored to be a top 10 pick only a couple of weeks ago bad news about his standing vertical, him being shorter than expected, and the news about his knees have really killed his draft stock. However, with either Boozer or Millsap leaving soon they're going to need another down low presence, and is where Blair comes in. Also, it's hard to see Blair falling any further than this. If nothing else they draft him and trade him.
21. New Orleans Hornets - Chase Budinger
Stojakovic is still there with the Hornets for a bit, but when you have someone who can penetrate like Chris Paul can you really cannot have too many shooters. Having Budinger and Stojakovic at the wings gives Paul two very good options to pass the ball out to once he's able to get down low. Either guy can shoot the lights out from the outside. Budinger also brings very good athleticism and has been said to be a lot quicker than initially thought.
22. Portland Trailblazers - Austin Daye
This is more of a best player available type of pick for the Blazers here. Daye is a bit of a project, but he's almost 6'11" and can play the 3. He'll likely split time between the 3 and 4 due to his height, but the Blazers could use some depth at the 4 and having a player with as much potential as Daye is always nice to have.
23. Sacramento Kings - DaJuan Summers
A do it all, well rounded small forward. Not amazing at any one thing, but he'll be an excellent backup almost right away and a possible starter down the road.
24. Dallas Mavericks - Wayne Ellington
A great shooter, but Ellington doesn't bring a whole lot more. However, having another shooter out there on the floor is not a bad idea at all for the Mavericks who already have plenty of guys who play the more penetration style between the 1 and 3.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Darren Collison
Westbrook is an excellent point guard, make no mistake about it, but he isn't a true point guard. He still can more than hold his own as a starter in the NBA, but having a solid true point guard, especially one that plays very good defense is always a good idea for your rotation.
26. Indiana Pacers - Omri Casspi
A sub for Danny Granger. Casspi is ready to come in right away and will fill the role of backup small forward and possibly occasionally as power forward (though sparingly).
27. Memphis Grizzlies - Jrue Holiday
With Mike Conley and OJ Mayo already running the backcourt in Memphis, Holiday is a bit of a project, but a player who'll be able to really give the Grizzlies a strong rotation in their backcourt. Holiday is more of a combo guard, Mayo is more of a shooting guard, and Conley is purely a point guard. To be totally honest, having Holiday fall this far seems crazy, but GMs are beginning to realize that they're not sure what they really like with Holiday, so the doubt which have seen so many players tumble in the past may pick Holiday as their main victim this year.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jonas Jerebko
Jerebko will feel right at home going from Sweden to Minnesota, despite the lack of fjords in Minnesota. He's a small forward with a world of potential. His all around game is strong with no glaring weaknesses.
29. Los Angeles Lakers - Taj Gibson
The Lakers like to go after the occasional local guy, and that's what they'll do with Gibson, giving some added depth at the power forward position.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Josh Heytvelt
The Cavs are going to need some added strength to their front line, and Heytvelt is a big body that can do just that. He's got solid skills for a big man as well as a good jumper that goes out further than most would expect to see.
Okay, there it is. The second round this season doesn't really seem to have any real rhyme or reason to it, so doing a mock for that is just something that really doesn't make much sense. Early second round picks will likely be Derrick Brown, Toney Douglas, Sam Young, Rodrigue Beaubois, Victor Claver, and Patrick Mills.
Showing posts with label NBA Draft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA Draft. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Another Mock Draft
With 2 weeks left until the draft, there are going to be two or three more mock drafts to come. However, things are starting to work out, and we're starting to hear more and more of what teams are saying. Same trades as last time are going to be in as last time, especially since one of those teams is really a wild card right now as to what they will do.
1. LA Clippers - Blake Griffin (obvious)
2. Sacramento Kings (From Memphis) - Ricky Rubio (assuming the trade this is the obvious move)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet (another pick that, although you may not agree with it, seems to be the move that will obviously be made at this point)
4. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Hill (impossible to see them going for anyone else at this point)
5. Washington Wizards - James Harden (would compliment Arenas very well and is a guy who can come right in and be a very good player)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tyreke Evans (climbing and standing steady on almost all draft charts)
7. Golden State Warriors - Jonny Flynn (Jennings is the second best point guard in the drat, but Flynn fits in better with this team and is considered higher at this point)
8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry (if he hits this point the Knicks and D'Antoni's system won't pass on him)
9. Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan (at this point Toronto doesn't even think of passing on him)
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings (need a good, consistent point guard, and Jennings is clearly their best shot at that)
11. New Jersey Nets - Gerald Henderson (they seem to want to trade Carter, and until then Henderson can still learn while backing up)
12. Charlotte Bobcats - DeJuan Blair (while I don't think much of him, I don't see him going past here. Also seems to be a guy that could compliment Okafor well.)
13. Indiana Pacers - Jrue Holiday (everybody likes him, nobody knows really why. Pacers could really benefit from taking a chance on him here)
14. Phoenix Suns - Earl Clark (project with a ton of upside. Combo forward that reminds me a bit of a weaker version of Marion)
15. Detroit Pistons - James Johnson (slightly undersized power forward who pretty much defines the classic Pistons style of play)
16. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens (Center project who could potentiall change the fortunes of the Bulls as far as centers go)
17. Philadelphia 76ers - Ty Lawson (they could use a point guard, and Lawson is ready to come right in and perform at a reasonable level)
18. Chicago Bulls (from Minnesota) - Tyler Hansbrough (at very least will be a very good role player, after the combine it appears he could wind up being more than that, but we'll wait and see)
19. Atlanta Hawks - Eric Maynor (some tough workouts, but he still appears as a point guard who could wind up being a good starter for years to come)
20. Utah Jazz - Austin Daye (Tons of potential and could finally be the guy to actually add some excitement to a good, but otherwise boring, Utah Jazz team)
21. New Orleans Hornets - Terrence Williams (if he doesn't go to the Bulls, despite how good he is, he's falling all the way down to here. Very good prospect at the 2, and he can play the 3)
22. Dallas Mavericks - Jeff Teague (With Kidd as old as he is they're going to need another point guard. Barea is good, but he's a bench guy)
23. Sacramento Kings - Patrick Mills (The guy tore apart the Redeem Team all by himself, falling just short of victory, when your point guard is Beno Udrih this is a clear improvement)
24. Portland Trailblazers - Sam Young (tough small forward that'll help them out)
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Chase Budinger (adds serious long range threat to the Thunder)
26. Chicago Bulls - Darren Collison (high college experienced backup to Derrick Rose that costs a tenth of their current backup, this pick is assuming the Timberwolves trade is made)
27. Memphis Grizzlies - Gani Lawal (wouldn't hurt to go after 2 big men with that team that only has Marc Gasol and is likely losing Darko (can't believe I said that, but he is decent))
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wayne Ellington (just because he's probably the best guy left here)
29. LA Lakers - Taj Gibson (Local guy who can be a strong player down low)
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Marcus Thornton (Never before has the team with the best record in the league had so much room for improvement, but adding a true point guard would be a start)
Not as in depth with the descriptions, but the rumors and such are starting to be incorporated more and more.
1. LA Clippers - Blake Griffin (obvious)
2. Sacramento Kings (From Memphis) - Ricky Rubio (assuming the trade this is the obvious move)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet (another pick that, although you may not agree with it, seems to be the move that will obviously be made at this point)
4. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Hill (impossible to see them going for anyone else at this point)
5. Washington Wizards - James Harden (would compliment Arenas very well and is a guy who can come right in and be a very good player)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tyreke Evans (climbing and standing steady on almost all draft charts)
7. Golden State Warriors - Jonny Flynn (Jennings is the second best point guard in the drat, but Flynn fits in better with this team and is considered higher at this point)
8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry (if he hits this point the Knicks and D'Antoni's system won't pass on him)
9. Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan (at this point Toronto doesn't even think of passing on him)
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings (need a good, consistent point guard, and Jennings is clearly their best shot at that)
11. New Jersey Nets - Gerald Henderson (they seem to want to trade Carter, and until then Henderson can still learn while backing up)
12. Charlotte Bobcats - DeJuan Blair (while I don't think much of him, I don't see him going past here. Also seems to be a guy that could compliment Okafor well.)
13. Indiana Pacers - Jrue Holiday (everybody likes him, nobody knows really why. Pacers could really benefit from taking a chance on him here)
14. Phoenix Suns - Earl Clark (project with a ton of upside. Combo forward that reminds me a bit of a weaker version of Marion)
15. Detroit Pistons - James Johnson (slightly undersized power forward who pretty much defines the classic Pistons style of play)
16. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens (Center project who could potentiall change the fortunes of the Bulls as far as centers go)
17. Philadelphia 76ers - Ty Lawson (they could use a point guard, and Lawson is ready to come right in and perform at a reasonable level)
18. Chicago Bulls (from Minnesota) - Tyler Hansbrough (at very least will be a very good role player, after the combine it appears he could wind up being more than that, but we'll wait and see)
19. Atlanta Hawks - Eric Maynor (some tough workouts, but he still appears as a point guard who could wind up being a good starter for years to come)
20. Utah Jazz - Austin Daye (Tons of potential and could finally be the guy to actually add some excitement to a good, but otherwise boring, Utah Jazz team)
21. New Orleans Hornets - Terrence Williams (if he doesn't go to the Bulls, despite how good he is, he's falling all the way down to here. Very good prospect at the 2, and he can play the 3)
22. Dallas Mavericks - Jeff Teague (With Kidd as old as he is they're going to need another point guard. Barea is good, but he's a bench guy)
23. Sacramento Kings - Patrick Mills (The guy tore apart the Redeem Team all by himself, falling just short of victory, when your point guard is Beno Udrih this is a clear improvement)
24. Portland Trailblazers - Sam Young (tough small forward that'll help them out)
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Chase Budinger (adds serious long range threat to the Thunder)
26. Chicago Bulls - Darren Collison (high college experienced backup to Derrick Rose that costs a tenth of their current backup, this pick is assuming the Timberwolves trade is made)
27. Memphis Grizzlies - Gani Lawal (wouldn't hurt to go after 2 big men with that team that only has Marc Gasol and is likely losing Darko (can't believe I said that, but he is decent))
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Wayne Ellington (just because he's probably the best guy left here)
29. LA Lakers - Taj Gibson (Local guy who can be a strong player down low)
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Marcus Thornton (Never before has the team with the best record in the league had so much room for improvement, but adding a true point guard would be a start)
Not as in depth with the descriptions, but the rumors and such are starting to be incorporated more and more.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
New Mock Draft (With Trades!)
Next mock draft is ready to go, the full first round, but there won't be too in depth reasons for each pick. There are also a couple of trades that either very well could or should go down with this draft.
Trade #1 - The Memphis Grizzlies trade the #2 pick to the Sacramento Kings for the #4 pick and Kenny Thomas.
Trade #2 - The Minnesota Timberwolves trade the #18 pick and Mike Miller to the Chicago Bulls for Kirk Hinrich and a 2012 second round pick.
Now for the draft:
1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin 6'10" 250 lbs. Forward
This is the obvious choice for the Clippers. Griffin was already a lock for the first pick, but with his strength and athletic ability shown at the combine (35.5" vertical leap, 22 bench presses), it couldn't be any more of a lock.
2. Sacramento Kings (from Memphis) - Ricky Rubio 6'3" 180 lbs. Guard
The Kings need a new point guard badly. Beno Udrih is just not even close to cutting it. Ricky Rubio is not only the best player at this point, but he fills a need for the Kings.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet 7'2" 270 lbs. Center
Many teams have been very interested in how Thabeet has been in workouts. His combine numbers didn't hurt him either. The Thunder/Sonics have been hurt by drafting project centers in the past (Petro, Swift, and Sene), but Thabeet seems to be much more the real deal. He isn't nearly as much of a project as past Sonics/Thunder center draftees, and he's already been able to prove his defense at the next level down.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (from Sacramento) - Jordan Hill 6'10" 230 lbs. Forward
Memphis also gets something they want here. It'd be hard to pass on a talent like Rubio at the second spot, and while Thabeet is nice, they do have Gasol and really don't have nearly as much at the 4 spot as they do at the 5. Hill is a power forward with a very versatile offensive game, great athletic ability, and someone who can play some defense as well.
5. Washington Wizards - James Harden 6'5" 220 lbs. Guard
The Wizards have not had a decent shooting guard in a little while. James Harden can really help to fill this void. Haywood may not be great, but he's at least a solid guy to have at the center spot, and they have JaVale McGee for the future, who can also play the power forward spot. Jamison and Butler are likely going to be with the Wizards for a little while and Arenas is locked into a long term deal. Clearly the spot to address is the shooting guard spot, and it's either Harden or DeRozan here. Drafting another combo guard will not work well with Arenas. Harden, with his all-around game is the guy to go to here. He doesn't have to be scoring to be effective, and that does work well with Arenas.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves - DeMar DeRozan 6'7" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
The Timberwolves do have serviceable players at the wing spots, but they can do a lot better. DeRozan has the ability to be that man to make them a lot better.
7. Golden State Warriors - Brandon Jennings 6'1" 170 lbs. Guard
Jennings is a guard who can compliment Monta Ellis very well in the backcourt. He can throw some amazing passes to just about any player. While his game is raw, the Warriors are not going to need him to come in right away and play great, although he should be able to at least be serviceable in his first year.
8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry 6'3" 180 lbs. Guard
Curry has supposedly been given a guarantee by the Knicks at this spot, so he gets it by that. However, he also has a game that fits in well with a D'Antoni system and could wind up being the Barbosa of D'Antoni's Knicks.
9. Toronto Raptors - Tyreke Evans 6'5" 220 lbs. Guard
With Calderon at the point the Raptors are just fine. However, at the next two spots up, the 2 and 3, the Raptors are in need of a good shooting guard and Evans has the potential to be a very good shooting guard.
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Jonny Flynn 6' 200 lbs. Guard
Flynn is not only a good distributor, scorer, and very quick. It also turns out that at the combine he unveiled a 40" vertical leap, something that really puts him at a higher level of athleticism than most basketball fans realized. The Bucks have Luke Ridnour and Ramon Sessions as their point guards. Ridnour can't defend while Sessions is horribly inconsistent. Flynn reminds many scouts of a Damon Stoudamire type, only taller.
11. New Jersey Nets - Chase Budinger 6'7" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
Ever since the Jefferson trade (okay, it's only been a year) the Nets have not had much to write home about at the small forward position. Budinger can change that. While he's not the slashing type of small forward, he doesn't need to be with someone like Devin Harris out there who can slash and penetrate as well as he can. Budinger will be a great option for Harris to kick it out to on the perimeter, as Budinger is lights out with any open jump shot.
12. Charlotte Bobcats - DeJuan Blair 6'6" 277 lbs. Forward
While Blair will never be a guy to put up a whole lot of numbers outside of his rebounding, and once a shot's being taken he won't be able to do much on defense, he's still a guy who can body up down low and prevent other team's players from getting too close to the basket. This really compliments Emeka Okafor down there. While he isn't the best player for the Bobcats to pick at this point, he has enough hype around him that this is likely as far as he will fall.
13. Indiana Pacers - Eric Maynor 6'3" 165 lbs. Guard
Maynor really brings a complete package as a point guard. He's a solid defender with good speed and solid athletic abilities. He's a solid scorer and a very good passer. The Pacers could use at least a backup point guard, and Maynor is an ideal guy for the job.
14. Phoenix Suns - Jeff Teague 6'2" 175 lbs. Guard
Nash is starting to be able to play less and less as he gets older and older. He likely doesn't have a whole lot of time left in his career, and possibly not much left with the Suns either. At this point the Suns have Goran Dragic ready to take over for him, and that's not good for them. Jeff Teague will likely be a better point guard, and at this point he has the best chance of any point guards left in the draft to be a good starter.
15. Detroit Pistons - Terrence Williams 6'6" 215 lbs. Guard/Forward
This would be a great choice for the Pistons. Not only brings great athletic ability and a great all around game, but he also brings a good level of toughness, which is something that the Pistons seemed to be missing last season. That's what the Pistons have always thrived on when they've been good, and that's what Williams can bring back to them.
16. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens 7'1" 260 lbs. Center
The Bulls still could use that very good center. Right now they have Brad Miller, who is as fundamental as a big man comes, but he is older and slower than almost every other center in the league. However, if they draft Mullens they will be able to put him deep enough on the bench where he won't have to be depended on, but not so deep that he can't get some playing time. He'll also have Brad Miller to help mentor him, which is a nice added bonus for a project.
17. Philadelphia 76ers - Ty Lawson 6' 200 lbs. Guard
The Sixers are in danger of losing their starting point guard in Andre Miller and could really use at least someone who can come in and backup whoever it is that they use to take Miller's spot. Even if Miller does stay with them for a few more years, he's getting older and is relying more on his veteran intelligence than anything else right now. Lawson is pretty ready to come right in to the NBA right now though.
18. Chicago Bulls (from Minnesota) - Tyler Hansbrough 6'10" 235 lbs. Forward
Hansbrough suddenly opened a lot of eyes out there just by getting measured at the draft combine last week. He went from a great college player who was supposedly too small to make it in the NBA to a legitimate power forward prospect. However, prospect isn't even a great word to use for him. Hansbrough is a very NBA ready player, and one that can really be effective. He's got a solid jump shot, he's strong, he plays hard, and he'll also aggravate players on other teams with his physical and energetic style of play. He won't move up too far, but considering he was predicted by some to fall to the second round before this, he's already moved up an awful lot.
19. Atlanta Hawks - Jrue Holiday 6'4" 200 lbs. Guard
Holiday is fairly mysterious. It's not that he's shying away from workouts or anything like that, but more that everyone feels like he's going to be this very good player, but he really hasn't done anything to show it yet. However, for the Hawks it would be a great idea to take a shot at a player with this much upside at this point in the draft.
20. Utah Jazz - James Johnson 6'8" 255 lbs. Forward
Johnson is considered by most to be a small forward, but he has the overall size to also play power forward. If the Jazz lose Carlos Boozer this offseason it would be very valuable to have someone with his size to be able to step in and back Millsap up from time to time, but he also can spend plenty of time playing small forward, giving the Jazz a versatile and physical option off the bench.
21. New Orleans Hornets - Gerald Henderson 6'5" 215 lbs. Guard
Henderson would be a great compliment to Peja at the wing spot. Paul penetrates and either kicks it out to Peja for the open jumper or to Henderson who's able to get to the hoop before the defense has time to recover. Henderson is a very good all-around shooting guard and would work out very well with the Hornets. It's tough to see Henderson falling this far, but it very well could wind up happening, and the Hornets will be right on top of that.
22. Dallas Mavericks - Wayne Ellington 6'5" 200 lbs. Guard
Ellington is a sharp shooter in every sense of the word. While Dallas does have Dirk who can already shoot from the outside, Ellington isn't someone who's going to be called on in the post too much who can really hang out more at the perimeter. Dallas could use another point guard, but there really isn't anyone worth stretching for at this point.
23. Sacramento Kings - Earl Clark 6'10" 225 lbs. Forward
Despite his height, Clark is better suited to be a small forward. The player he would best compliment on the team though would be Ricky Rubio. He has that versatile game that will help Rubio out no matter who else is out there, he'll always have Clark there who can score in any way possible. Clark also has some good passing skills, and while not a point forward, he can help to facilitate the offense, creating some nice versatility and bringing the Kings back to what made them so good at the beginning of the decade, being a team with great ball movement.
24. Portland Trailblazers - Toney Douglas 6'2" 185 lbs. Guard
At this point do the Blazers go for that one player to put them over to the next level as a team, or do they just go ahead and draft a project who can put them over later? The answer is simple. You're not going to find that player at this point who can put you over the top without just getting lucky. Therefore you go for a bit of a project, especially since it looks like Oden's going to need another year or two before he's ready to be that big man that will be the anchor of a championship team. Toney Douglas is a guy who can run the point, but can also shoot very well, almost like the point guards that the Bulls had during their first championship run, which will compliment someone like Roy, who can run the offense, very well. His passing and ball handling are very underrated by most at this point.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Omri Casspi 6'8" 210 lbs. Forward
He'll be a bit of a project, but he does have the ability to come in and give quality minutes right away. Casspi helped his cause out at the combine and should be a nice pickup for whoever drafts him.
26. Chicago Bulls - Darren Collison 6'1" 165 lbs. Guard
Collison would be to the Bulls much like Chris Duhon was to them in 2004. He's a point guard who put in a good four years in college and is very NBA ready. He won't develop into any sort of superstar point guard, but he's a good defender who is solid at running an offense. With Kirk Hinrich gone at this point (assuming the Minnesota trade goes through) the Bulls will need a solid backup for Derrick Rose.
27. Memphis Grizzlies - Patrick Mills 6' 175 lbs. Guard
Mills would almost be the type of person that the Grizzlies would bring in to replace Navarro or Lowry. He's a small scoring point guard. Mills actually does have the ability to run an offense, but he's so quick and can penetrate so easily that he'll be a great fit as more of a scoring backup point guard.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Damion James 6'7" 225 lbs. Forward
The Wolves would likely go for a point guard at this spot, but all of the point guards worth looking at by this point have been taken. However, now with Kirk Hinrich and Sebastian Telfair backing him up, the Wolves should be pretty solid at that spot. This means that they'll go for more help at the wing spot, and James is a great guy to go for. James is an excellent defender with decent offensive ability.
29. Los Angeles Lakers - Taj Gibson 6'10" 215 lbs. Forward
Gibson won't give the Lakers anything outstanding, but he'll give them a little bit of added defense down low, and of course the Lakers like to pick guys who play in their general area (see Jordan Farmar), so it's not unlikely that they'll grab Gibson with this pick.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Tyler Smith 6'6" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
He's got good size and abilities to play either the 2 or the 3, but what really puts him above other players at this spot is his ability to pass the ball. While he won't be starting any time soon, he'll be an excellent player and possibly even a facilitator off the bench.
Keep in mind that what seems like it will happen takes priority over what will happen at this point, but there's still not a whole lot out there as far as to tip anyone off as to what will happen. When there has been that, it's been included.
Trade #1 - The Memphis Grizzlies trade the #2 pick to the Sacramento Kings for the #4 pick and Kenny Thomas.
Trade #2 - The Minnesota Timberwolves trade the #18 pick and Mike Miller to the Chicago Bulls for Kirk Hinrich and a 2012 second round pick.
Now for the draft:
1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin 6'10" 250 lbs. Forward
This is the obvious choice for the Clippers. Griffin was already a lock for the first pick, but with his strength and athletic ability shown at the combine (35.5" vertical leap, 22 bench presses), it couldn't be any more of a lock.
2. Sacramento Kings (from Memphis) - Ricky Rubio 6'3" 180 lbs. Guard
The Kings need a new point guard badly. Beno Udrih is just not even close to cutting it. Ricky Rubio is not only the best player at this point, but he fills a need for the Kings.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet 7'2" 270 lbs. Center
Many teams have been very interested in how Thabeet has been in workouts. His combine numbers didn't hurt him either. The Thunder/Sonics have been hurt by drafting project centers in the past (Petro, Swift, and Sene), but Thabeet seems to be much more the real deal. He isn't nearly as much of a project as past Sonics/Thunder center draftees, and he's already been able to prove his defense at the next level down.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (from Sacramento) - Jordan Hill 6'10" 230 lbs. Forward
Memphis also gets something they want here. It'd be hard to pass on a talent like Rubio at the second spot, and while Thabeet is nice, they do have Gasol and really don't have nearly as much at the 4 spot as they do at the 5. Hill is a power forward with a very versatile offensive game, great athletic ability, and someone who can play some defense as well.
5. Washington Wizards - James Harden 6'5" 220 lbs. Guard
The Wizards have not had a decent shooting guard in a little while. James Harden can really help to fill this void. Haywood may not be great, but he's at least a solid guy to have at the center spot, and they have JaVale McGee for the future, who can also play the power forward spot. Jamison and Butler are likely going to be with the Wizards for a little while and Arenas is locked into a long term deal. Clearly the spot to address is the shooting guard spot, and it's either Harden or DeRozan here. Drafting another combo guard will not work well with Arenas. Harden, with his all-around game is the guy to go to here. He doesn't have to be scoring to be effective, and that does work well with Arenas.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves - DeMar DeRozan 6'7" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
The Timberwolves do have serviceable players at the wing spots, but they can do a lot better. DeRozan has the ability to be that man to make them a lot better.
7. Golden State Warriors - Brandon Jennings 6'1" 170 lbs. Guard
Jennings is a guard who can compliment Monta Ellis very well in the backcourt. He can throw some amazing passes to just about any player. While his game is raw, the Warriors are not going to need him to come in right away and play great, although he should be able to at least be serviceable in his first year.
8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry 6'3" 180 lbs. Guard
Curry has supposedly been given a guarantee by the Knicks at this spot, so he gets it by that. However, he also has a game that fits in well with a D'Antoni system and could wind up being the Barbosa of D'Antoni's Knicks.
9. Toronto Raptors - Tyreke Evans 6'5" 220 lbs. Guard
With Calderon at the point the Raptors are just fine. However, at the next two spots up, the 2 and 3, the Raptors are in need of a good shooting guard and Evans has the potential to be a very good shooting guard.
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Jonny Flynn 6' 200 lbs. Guard
Flynn is not only a good distributor, scorer, and very quick. It also turns out that at the combine he unveiled a 40" vertical leap, something that really puts him at a higher level of athleticism than most basketball fans realized. The Bucks have Luke Ridnour and Ramon Sessions as their point guards. Ridnour can't defend while Sessions is horribly inconsistent. Flynn reminds many scouts of a Damon Stoudamire type, only taller.
11. New Jersey Nets - Chase Budinger 6'7" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
Ever since the Jefferson trade (okay, it's only been a year) the Nets have not had much to write home about at the small forward position. Budinger can change that. While he's not the slashing type of small forward, he doesn't need to be with someone like Devin Harris out there who can slash and penetrate as well as he can. Budinger will be a great option for Harris to kick it out to on the perimeter, as Budinger is lights out with any open jump shot.
12. Charlotte Bobcats - DeJuan Blair 6'6" 277 lbs. Forward
While Blair will never be a guy to put up a whole lot of numbers outside of his rebounding, and once a shot's being taken he won't be able to do much on defense, he's still a guy who can body up down low and prevent other team's players from getting too close to the basket. This really compliments Emeka Okafor down there. While he isn't the best player for the Bobcats to pick at this point, he has enough hype around him that this is likely as far as he will fall.
13. Indiana Pacers - Eric Maynor 6'3" 165 lbs. Guard
Maynor really brings a complete package as a point guard. He's a solid defender with good speed and solid athletic abilities. He's a solid scorer and a very good passer. The Pacers could use at least a backup point guard, and Maynor is an ideal guy for the job.
14. Phoenix Suns - Jeff Teague 6'2" 175 lbs. Guard
Nash is starting to be able to play less and less as he gets older and older. He likely doesn't have a whole lot of time left in his career, and possibly not much left with the Suns either. At this point the Suns have Goran Dragic ready to take over for him, and that's not good for them. Jeff Teague will likely be a better point guard, and at this point he has the best chance of any point guards left in the draft to be a good starter.
15. Detroit Pistons - Terrence Williams 6'6" 215 lbs. Guard/Forward
This would be a great choice for the Pistons. Not only brings great athletic ability and a great all around game, but he also brings a good level of toughness, which is something that the Pistons seemed to be missing last season. That's what the Pistons have always thrived on when they've been good, and that's what Williams can bring back to them.
16. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens 7'1" 260 lbs. Center
The Bulls still could use that very good center. Right now they have Brad Miller, who is as fundamental as a big man comes, but he is older and slower than almost every other center in the league. However, if they draft Mullens they will be able to put him deep enough on the bench where he won't have to be depended on, but not so deep that he can't get some playing time. He'll also have Brad Miller to help mentor him, which is a nice added bonus for a project.
17. Philadelphia 76ers - Ty Lawson 6' 200 lbs. Guard
The Sixers are in danger of losing their starting point guard in Andre Miller and could really use at least someone who can come in and backup whoever it is that they use to take Miller's spot. Even if Miller does stay with them for a few more years, he's getting older and is relying more on his veteran intelligence than anything else right now. Lawson is pretty ready to come right in to the NBA right now though.
18. Chicago Bulls (from Minnesota) - Tyler Hansbrough 6'10" 235 lbs. Forward
Hansbrough suddenly opened a lot of eyes out there just by getting measured at the draft combine last week. He went from a great college player who was supposedly too small to make it in the NBA to a legitimate power forward prospect. However, prospect isn't even a great word to use for him. Hansbrough is a very NBA ready player, and one that can really be effective. He's got a solid jump shot, he's strong, he plays hard, and he'll also aggravate players on other teams with his physical and energetic style of play. He won't move up too far, but considering he was predicted by some to fall to the second round before this, he's already moved up an awful lot.
19. Atlanta Hawks - Jrue Holiday 6'4" 200 lbs. Guard
Holiday is fairly mysterious. It's not that he's shying away from workouts or anything like that, but more that everyone feels like he's going to be this very good player, but he really hasn't done anything to show it yet. However, for the Hawks it would be a great idea to take a shot at a player with this much upside at this point in the draft.
20. Utah Jazz - James Johnson 6'8" 255 lbs. Forward
Johnson is considered by most to be a small forward, but he has the overall size to also play power forward. If the Jazz lose Carlos Boozer this offseason it would be very valuable to have someone with his size to be able to step in and back Millsap up from time to time, but he also can spend plenty of time playing small forward, giving the Jazz a versatile and physical option off the bench.
21. New Orleans Hornets - Gerald Henderson 6'5" 215 lbs. Guard
Henderson would be a great compliment to Peja at the wing spot. Paul penetrates and either kicks it out to Peja for the open jumper or to Henderson who's able to get to the hoop before the defense has time to recover. Henderson is a very good all-around shooting guard and would work out very well with the Hornets. It's tough to see Henderson falling this far, but it very well could wind up happening, and the Hornets will be right on top of that.
22. Dallas Mavericks - Wayne Ellington 6'5" 200 lbs. Guard
Ellington is a sharp shooter in every sense of the word. While Dallas does have Dirk who can already shoot from the outside, Ellington isn't someone who's going to be called on in the post too much who can really hang out more at the perimeter. Dallas could use another point guard, but there really isn't anyone worth stretching for at this point.
23. Sacramento Kings - Earl Clark 6'10" 225 lbs. Forward
Despite his height, Clark is better suited to be a small forward. The player he would best compliment on the team though would be Ricky Rubio. He has that versatile game that will help Rubio out no matter who else is out there, he'll always have Clark there who can score in any way possible. Clark also has some good passing skills, and while not a point forward, he can help to facilitate the offense, creating some nice versatility and bringing the Kings back to what made them so good at the beginning of the decade, being a team with great ball movement.
24. Portland Trailblazers - Toney Douglas 6'2" 185 lbs. Guard
At this point do the Blazers go for that one player to put them over to the next level as a team, or do they just go ahead and draft a project who can put them over later? The answer is simple. You're not going to find that player at this point who can put you over the top without just getting lucky. Therefore you go for a bit of a project, especially since it looks like Oden's going to need another year or two before he's ready to be that big man that will be the anchor of a championship team. Toney Douglas is a guy who can run the point, but can also shoot very well, almost like the point guards that the Bulls had during their first championship run, which will compliment someone like Roy, who can run the offense, very well. His passing and ball handling are very underrated by most at this point.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Omri Casspi 6'8" 210 lbs. Forward
He'll be a bit of a project, but he does have the ability to come in and give quality minutes right away. Casspi helped his cause out at the combine and should be a nice pickup for whoever drafts him.
26. Chicago Bulls - Darren Collison 6'1" 165 lbs. Guard
Collison would be to the Bulls much like Chris Duhon was to them in 2004. He's a point guard who put in a good four years in college and is very NBA ready. He won't develop into any sort of superstar point guard, but he's a good defender who is solid at running an offense. With Kirk Hinrich gone at this point (assuming the Minnesota trade goes through) the Bulls will need a solid backup for Derrick Rose.
27. Memphis Grizzlies - Patrick Mills 6' 175 lbs. Guard
Mills would almost be the type of person that the Grizzlies would bring in to replace Navarro or Lowry. He's a small scoring point guard. Mills actually does have the ability to run an offense, but he's so quick and can penetrate so easily that he'll be a great fit as more of a scoring backup point guard.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Damion James 6'7" 225 lbs. Forward
The Wolves would likely go for a point guard at this spot, but all of the point guards worth looking at by this point have been taken. However, now with Kirk Hinrich and Sebastian Telfair backing him up, the Wolves should be pretty solid at that spot. This means that they'll go for more help at the wing spot, and James is a great guy to go for. James is an excellent defender with decent offensive ability.
29. Los Angeles Lakers - Taj Gibson 6'10" 215 lbs. Forward
Gibson won't give the Lakers anything outstanding, but he'll give them a little bit of added defense down low, and of course the Lakers like to pick guys who play in their general area (see Jordan Farmar), so it's not unlikely that they'll grab Gibson with this pick.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Tyler Smith 6'6" 210 lbs. Guard/Forward
He's got good size and abilities to play either the 2 or the 3, but what really puts him above other players at this spot is his ability to pass the ball. While he won't be starting any time soon, he'll be an excellent player and possibly even a facilitator off the bench.
Keep in mind that what seems like it will happen takes priority over what will happen at this point, but there's still not a whole lot out there as far as to tip anyone off as to what will happen. When there has been that, it's been included.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Looking at the Prospects for Next Year
Now that March Madness is quickly approaching it's time to take a look at some of the top players expected to be drafted and really start to throw out opinions about them.
This is going to be organized into three groups. The first one is big men, as we will have mainly centers and power forwards here. Some combo forwards would also fit into here as well. Next up is wing players, mainly the small forwards and shooting guards, and combo forwards who fit in here. Lastly we have the little men, the point guards and small combo guards. So here's the top ten from each of those groups as they'll be ranked here:
Big Men
1. Blake Griffin
2. Hasheem Thabeet
3. Jordan Hill
4. BJ Mullens
5. Greg Monroe
6. DeJuan Blair
7. Craig Brackins
8. Tyler Hansbrough
9. Patrick Patterson
10. Jeff Pendergraph
Wings
1. James Harden
2. Earl Clark
3. Al-Farouq Aminu
4. Chase Budinger
5. Demar DeRozan
6. Gerald Henderson
7. DaJuan Summers
8. Damion James
9. Sam Young
10. Terrance Williams
Little Men
1. Ricky Rubio
2. Jeff Teague
3. Brandon Jennings
4. Eric Maynor
5. Stephen Curry
6. Jonny Flynn
7. Patrick Mills
8. Willie Warren
9. Ty Lawson
10. Darren Collison
Now, for the long part, let's take a look at each of those players and see who's really the best for the NBA game.
Blake Griffin has put together one of the best sophomore seasons that I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. He's both scoring and rebounding in huge numbers. However, can his game translate to the NBA? It's an easy yes. Not only is Griffin a very good scorer and rebounder, but he plays with a lot of energy, he's very athletic, and most importantly, he's a very smart player. There is nothing that he's bad at on the floor. The only things that are worries are his body control and his health. While he did miss time after the concussion, the health seems to no longer really be an issue, and his body control has improved greatly since his freshman year. Griffin is the first pick for almost any team in this draft and will be a future star.
Hasheem Thabeet has been watched for quite some time now. He came into UConn as a 7'3" project, and now after his third year he's really improved his game and has become a much more refined player. No, he isn't perfect yet, but on defense he is an absolute monster. When he's by the paint, no one dares try to enter. His timing on his shot blocking is very good, he's fairly athletic, and he's improved his quickness an awful lot since his freshman year. On offense he's still not someone who will demand much attention. Occasionally he could put the ball in the hoop, but he's nothing more than that. For an early lottery team lacking size down low he is a good pick.
Jordan Hill is compared by many to Chris Bosh, and as far as style, skillset, and appearance go, they're pretty right on with him. He's an offensive minded power forward with a decent post game and very good jump shot who is soft on defense. It's doubtful he'll be a player of the same calibur as Bosh, but he does look like he can still be a very good player. His defense is actually not terrible despite being soft. He is an early lottery pick for sure for any team who needs a good power forward.
BJ Mullens came into college with a world of hype around him, and like the past two seasons when centers came to Ohio State with a lot of hype around them, he has been terribly underused and likely has had a lot of his value killed because of that. However, this is a kid that could really become a very good big man. He's got great size, good post skills, and a nice jumper out to about fifteen feet. While he will obviously be a bit of a project, as all NBA big men tend to be, he will still be a good player right away.
Greg Monroe is kind of a combo big man. He could be either a center or a power forward at the NBA level. He's an athletic big man with a nice versatile offensive game. His strength and post skills could really use some work right now, and it really wouldn't hurt him to go back into college for another season to refine his game, which very well may happen. If he goes into the draft right now he's a late lottery pick.
Here's the toughest guy to analyze. There's a number of undersized big men who've been in the league in recent years. From guys like Anthony Mason, Charles Barkley, Jason Maxiell, Elton Brand, and Paul Millsap to guys like Danny Fortson, Mike Sweetney, and Lonny Baxter. There's been a lot of them and with mixed results. Blair is extra small though. At 6'6" he's as tall as a shooting guard or small forward, but he's got the extra girth at 287 lbs. He's only somewhat athletic, but he has a long wingspan. He puts up monster numbers in college, but that's not the pro's where he'll be even more undersized. Look for him to be a middle first round pick, as there is risk involved with drafting him.
Craig Brackins is more of a combo forward, but he's a bigger one who'll work out well as a power forward. His biggest downside is his strength and defense, but he has a versatile offensive game that features a very good jump shot. He could very well wind up in the lottery as it's really tough to say where he'll be picked.
Tyler Hansbrough is another big man with a game that's been great in college, but there's question as to how his game can translate to the NBA. The things that he has are his insane motor, he's got solid post skills, a solid jump shot, and he's got good strength. His downsides are his height, defense, and body control. His height really isn't all that small for a power forward, but he's slightly undersized. He'll likely fall to near the end of the first round though.
Jeff Pendergraph likely will not be picked until the second round, but he has a chance to be a real sleeper. He's got solid size for a power forward and solid fundamentals. He has what it takes to be a good player at the NBA level.
James Harden went from a very good college player last year to one of the top in the country. He does almost everything well. Kind of has scouting reports that remind me of Brandon Roy. Bottom line is that there is no way he isn't a top three pick without a GM getting fired.
Earl Clark is a big small forward with very good athleticism. He still needs to work on his jump shot, and is fairly raw as a whole, but he'll still be picked in the lottery.
Al-Farouq Aminu came into Wake Forest with a ton of hype around him. He's unbelievably raw, but also has a great amount of potential. Think of Luol Deng with more speed, which is where he will likely be when he's at his peak, which is actually something that seems pretty nice.
Chase Budinger is someone that no one seemed to see lasting three seasons in college. He's an unbelievably athletic wing who makes a big shooting guard and an average sized small forward. He's got a great jump shot, but can't really get to the basket due to his weak ball handling abilities. His defense is also very weak still. He should still be picked in the middle of the first round.
Demar DeRozan is another freshman that came in with a lot of hype around him, but he really hasn't been able to live up to the hype so far at USC. He's got all the physical tools to be a success, but he's very raw and is questionable if he's ready mentally. He really should stay in school for another year, but it's likely that he'll still go for the pros.
Gerald Henderson has gained great fame playing at Duke. He's a slightly undersized shooting guard. He does almost everything well and is very athletic. Look for him to be a lottery pick.
DaJuan Summers is yet another player that should probably stay in college for another year. He's played well at Georgetown and is yet another player that seems to be good at everything, but not great. He is still a little bit raw, which leads me to believe that he'll miss the lottery by a little bit if he enters the draft this season.
Damion James is a defensive small forward with a solid offensive game to compliment it. Very athletic and still a little bit raw, he could be a mid to late first round pick if he went into the draft this season.
Sam Young defines the Pittsburgh style of play. He's a shooting guard/small forward with a physical style of play. However, what he is now is likely what he'll be throughout his basketball career. He really doesn't seem to be a guy with a whole lot of potential. He's a late first round pick.
Terrence Williams rounds up the wing players. He's unbelievably athletic and very strong, but he has no jump shot at all. Late first round pick or early second round.
Ricky Rubio, if he does enter the draft this season (which he actually can do, as the rules for international players differ slightly to the rules for American players due to the schooling system), could possibly be a top 3 pick. He's got all the tools to make a great point guard and could wind up being a superstar in the NBA. He's easily a top of the lottery pick.
Jeff Teague has no defense and is clearly a project, but he's a point guard who could really be a star at the NBA level, loaded with potential. Possibly a top five pick, but not much below that.
Brandon Jennings has been able to get himself into the news throughout the last year. Instead of playing in college he went to Europe so he could get money to play basketball. Right there you have to question the kid's attitude. However, in Europe he hasn't had the best of times. Occasionally showing signs of greatness, he hasn't shown to be a very good shooter and more of a playground style of point guard. He'll still be an early to middle lottery pick.
Eric Maynor is solid all around. He's a late lottery pick who'll likely make a solid starting point guard or a good backup point guard, possibly even better.
Stephen Curry is by no means an NBA point guard. He's an undersized shooting guard, and while his numbers have fallen since the start of the season, the guy's getting triple teamed regularly, it's tough to score when you have that going on. The kid's an excellent shooter and should make a good scoring option off the bench, a microwave scorer type of guy. A middle first round pick.
Jonny Flynn hasn't got the press of many of the other guys, but this guy really can play and will be an excellent point guard at the NBA level. He'll likely be picked in the mid to late 20's, but should start off as a great backup point guard and eventually be running his own team.
Patrick Mills first really turned heads in the Olympics last season when he torched the American team. That right there showed that he can play at the professional level, but it's how well he can play and his small size that'll hurt him. At very least he's a very good backup point guard.
Willie Warren is a very good point guard at the college level and should be able to still be very good in the NBA. He could be as high as a middle first round pick.
Ty Lawson will likely move up in the draft based on his name and being able to play at North Carolina. However, he likely won't ever be much more than a good backup point guard, which is nice, but not great. Likely he'll be a late first round pick.
Darren Collison is the last guy I'll cover. He could've gone in last year and likely would've been a higher pick, but he'll still be drafted in the first round and will be a good backup point guard.
Okay, so now that we've got all that covered, it's time for the tournament to come and completely change everything around. When that happens, that will be covered as well.
This is going to be organized into three groups. The first one is big men, as we will have mainly centers and power forwards here. Some combo forwards would also fit into here as well. Next up is wing players, mainly the small forwards and shooting guards, and combo forwards who fit in here. Lastly we have the little men, the point guards and small combo guards. So here's the top ten from each of those groups as they'll be ranked here:
Big Men
1. Blake Griffin
2. Hasheem Thabeet
3. Jordan Hill
4. BJ Mullens
5. Greg Monroe
6. DeJuan Blair
7. Craig Brackins
8. Tyler Hansbrough
9. Patrick Patterson
10. Jeff Pendergraph
Wings
1. James Harden
2. Earl Clark
3. Al-Farouq Aminu
4. Chase Budinger
5. Demar DeRozan
6. Gerald Henderson
7. DaJuan Summers
8. Damion James
9. Sam Young
10. Terrance Williams
Little Men
1. Ricky Rubio
2. Jeff Teague
3. Brandon Jennings
4. Eric Maynor
5. Stephen Curry
6. Jonny Flynn
7. Patrick Mills
8. Willie Warren
9. Ty Lawson
10. Darren Collison
Now, for the long part, let's take a look at each of those players and see who's really the best for the NBA game.
Blake Griffin has put together one of the best sophomore seasons that I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. He's both scoring and rebounding in huge numbers. However, can his game translate to the NBA? It's an easy yes. Not only is Griffin a very good scorer and rebounder, but he plays with a lot of energy, he's very athletic, and most importantly, he's a very smart player. There is nothing that he's bad at on the floor. The only things that are worries are his body control and his health. While he did miss time after the concussion, the health seems to no longer really be an issue, and his body control has improved greatly since his freshman year. Griffin is the first pick for almost any team in this draft and will be a future star.
Hasheem Thabeet has been watched for quite some time now. He came into UConn as a 7'3" project, and now after his third year he's really improved his game and has become a much more refined player. No, he isn't perfect yet, but on defense he is an absolute monster. When he's by the paint, no one dares try to enter. His timing on his shot blocking is very good, he's fairly athletic, and he's improved his quickness an awful lot since his freshman year. On offense he's still not someone who will demand much attention. Occasionally he could put the ball in the hoop, but he's nothing more than that. For an early lottery team lacking size down low he is a good pick.
Jordan Hill is compared by many to Chris Bosh, and as far as style, skillset, and appearance go, they're pretty right on with him. He's an offensive minded power forward with a decent post game and very good jump shot who is soft on defense. It's doubtful he'll be a player of the same calibur as Bosh, but he does look like he can still be a very good player. His defense is actually not terrible despite being soft. He is an early lottery pick for sure for any team who needs a good power forward.
BJ Mullens came into college with a world of hype around him, and like the past two seasons when centers came to Ohio State with a lot of hype around them, he has been terribly underused and likely has had a lot of his value killed because of that. However, this is a kid that could really become a very good big man. He's got great size, good post skills, and a nice jumper out to about fifteen feet. While he will obviously be a bit of a project, as all NBA big men tend to be, he will still be a good player right away.
Greg Monroe is kind of a combo big man. He could be either a center or a power forward at the NBA level. He's an athletic big man with a nice versatile offensive game. His strength and post skills could really use some work right now, and it really wouldn't hurt him to go back into college for another season to refine his game, which very well may happen. If he goes into the draft right now he's a late lottery pick.
Here's the toughest guy to analyze. There's a number of undersized big men who've been in the league in recent years. From guys like Anthony Mason, Charles Barkley, Jason Maxiell, Elton Brand, and Paul Millsap to guys like Danny Fortson, Mike Sweetney, and Lonny Baxter. There's been a lot of them and with mixed results. Blair is extra small though. At 6'6" he's as tall as a shooting guard or small forward, but he's got the extra girth at 287 lbs. He's only somewhat athletic, but he has a long wingspan. He puts up monster numbers in college, but that's not the pro's where he'll be even more undersized. Look for him to be a middle first round pick, as there is risk involved with drafting him.
Craig Brackins is more of a combo forward, but he's a bigger one who'll work out well as a power forward. His biggest downside is his strength and defense, but he has a versatile offensive game that features a very good jump shot. He could very well wind up in the lottery as it's really tough to say where he'll be picked.
Tyler Hansbrough is another big man with a game that's been great in college, but there's question as to how his game can translate to the NBA. The things that he has are his insane motor, he's got solid post skills, a solid jump shot, and he's got good strength. His downsides are his height, defense, and body control. His height really isn't all that small for a power forward, but he's slightly undersized. He'll likely fall to near the end of the first round though.
Jeff Pendergraph likely will not be picked until the second round, but he has a chance to be a real sleeper. He's got solid size for a power forward and solid fundamentals. He has what it takes to be a good player at the NBA level.
James Harden went from a very good college player last year to one of the top in the country. He does almost everything well. Kind of has scouting reports that remind me of Brandon Roy. Bottom line is that there is no way he isn't a top three pick without a GM getting fired.
Earl Clark is a big small forward with very good athleticism. He still needs to work on his jump shot, and is fairly raw as a whole, but he'll still be picked in the lottery.
Al-Farouq Aminu came into Wake Forest with a ton of hype around him. He's unbelievably raw, but also has a great amount of potential. Think of Luol Deng with more speed, which is where he will likely be when he's at his peak, which is actually something that seems pretty nice.
Chase Budinger is someone that no one seemed to see lasting three seasons in college. He's an unbelievably athletic wing who makes a big shooting guard and an average sized small forward. He's got a great jump shot, but can't really get to the basket due to his weak ball handling abilities. His defense is also very weak still. He should still be picked in the middle of the first round.
Demar DeRozan is another freshman that came in with a lot of hype around him, but he really hasn't been able to live up to the hype so far at USC. He's got all the physical tools to be a success, but he's very raw and is questionable if he's ready mentally. He really should stay in school for another year, but it's likely that he'll still go for the pros.
Gerald Henderson has gained great fame playing at Duke. He's a slightly undersized shooting guard. He does almost everything well and is very athletic. Look for him to be a lottery pick.
DaJuan Summers is yet another player that should probably stay in college for another year. He's played well at Georgetown and is yet another player that seems to be good at everything, but not great. He is still a little bit raw, which leads me to believe that he'll miss the lottery by a little bit if he enters the draft this season.
Damion James is a defensive small forward with a solid offensive game to compliment it. Very athletic and still a little bit raw, he could be a mid to late first round pick if he went into the draft this season.
Sam Young defines the Pittsburgh style of play. He's a shooting guard/small forward with a physical style of play. However, what he is now is likely what he'll be throughout his basketball career. He really doesn't seem to be a guy with a whole lot of potential. He's a late first round pick.
Terrence Williams rounds up the wing players. He's unbelievably athletic and very strong, but he has no jump shot at all. Late first round pick or early second round.
Ricky Rubio, if he does enter the draft this season (which he actually can do, as the rules for international players differ slightly to the rules for American players due to the schooling system), could possibly be a top 3 pick. He's got all the tools to make a great point guard and could wind up being a superstar in the NBA. He's easily a top of the lottery pick.
Jeff Teague has no defense and is clearly a project, but he's a point guard who could really be a star at the NBA level, loaded with potential. Possibly a top five pick, but not much below that.
Brandon Jennings has been able to get himself into the news throughout the last year. Instead of playing in college he went to Europe so he could get money to play basketball. Right there you have to question the kid's attitude. However, in Europe he hasn't had the best of times. Occasionally showing signs of greatness, he hasn't shown to be a very good shooter and more of a playground style of point guard. He'll still be an early to middle lottery pick.
Eric Maynor is solid all around. He's a late lottery pick who'll likely make a solid starting point guard or a good backup point guard, possibly even better.
Stephen Curry is by no means an NBA point guard. He's an undersized shooting guard, and while his numbers have fallen since the start of the season, the guy's getting triple teamed regularly, it's tough to score when you have that going on. The kid's an excellent shooter and should make a good scoring option off the bench, a microwave scorer type of guy. A middle first round pick.
Jonny Flynn hasn't got the press of many of the other guys, but this guy really can play and will be an excellent point guard at the NBA level. He'll likely be picked in the mid to late 20's, but should start off as a great backup point guard and eventually be running his own team.
Patrick Mills first really turned heads in the Olympics last season when he torched the American team. That right there showed that he can play at the professional level, but it's how well he can play and his small size that'll hurt him. At very least he's a very good backup point guard.
Willie Warren is a very good point guard at the college level and should be able to still be very good in the NBA. He could be as high as a middle first round pick.
Ty Lawson will likely move up in the draft based on his name and being able to play at North Carolina. However, he likely won't ever be much more than a good backup point guard, which is nice, but not great. Likely he'll be a late first round pick.
Darren Collison is the last guy I'll cover. He could've gone in last year and likely would've been a higher pick, but he'll still be drafted in the first round and will be a good backup point guard.
Okay, so now that we've got all that covered, it's time for the tournament to come and completely change everything around. When that happens, that will be covered as well.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Revisiting the 1992 NBA Draft
I've always loved to go back and see how things turned out from past NBA drafts. It's fun to go back and look at who turned out great and who were the underachievers. I'll go ahead and start off what should turn into a series with the 1992 draft. I picked this draft because it's the first one I really remember very well. Of course I remember the 1990 draft with Derrick Coleman being picked first, and 1991 and that Larry Johnson was the first pick from that draft, but that's about all I can remember from those drafts. As for 1992 though, I had become a much bigger basketball fan from college through the pros, and I really knew who the players were that were being drafted. So, without further ramblings, I give you my reordered first round of the 1992 NBA Draft, team needs not being taken into consideration. Actual draft number in parenthesis.
1. Orlando - Shaquille O'Neal (1)
2. Charlotte - Alonzo Mourning (2)
3. Minnesota - Latrell Sprewell (24)
4. Dallas - Christian Laettner (3)
5. Denver - Jimmy Jackson (4)
6. Washington - Doug Christie (17)
7. Sacramento - Tom Gugliotta (6)
8. Milwaukee - PJ Brown (29)
9. Philadelphia - LaPhonso Ellis (5)
10. Atlanta - Robert Horry (11)
11. Houston - Hubert Davis (20)
12. Miami - Anthony Peeler (15)
13. Denver - Clarence Weatherspoon (9)
14. Indiana - Byron Houston (27)
15. LA Lakers - Oliver Miller (22)
16. LA Clippers - Walt Williams (7)
17. Seattle - Todd Day (8)
18. San Antonio - Harold Miner (12)
19. Detroit - David Wesley (undrafted)
20. New York - Brent Price (32)
21. Boston - Matt Geiger (42)
22. Phoenix - Bryant Stith (13)
23. Milwaukee - Malik Sealy (14)
24. Golden State - Tracy Murray (18)
25. LA Clippers - Jon Barry (21)
26. Portland - Don MacLean (19)
27. Chicago - Adam Keefe (10)
I used more than just the stats for the players when I picked them. Guys like PJ Brown had long and very successful careers, but never put up huge stats, but I think that there's plenty of players out there who could put up better numbers without having as successful of careers. I used my knowledge of how good they were as players all around to make my decisions. It's probably not perfect, but I'd like to think that it's pretty darn close.
1. Orlando - Shaquille O'Neal (1)
2. Charlotte - Alonzo Mourning (2)
3. Minnesota - Latrell Sprewell (24)
4. Dallas - Christian Laettner (3)
5. Denver - Jimmy Jackson (4)
6. Washington - Doug Christie (17)
7. Sacramento - Tom Gugliotta (6)
8. Milwaukee - PJ Brown (29)
9. Philadelphia - LaPhonso Ellis (5)
10. Atlanta - Robert Horry (11)
11. Houston - Hubert Davis (20)
12. Miami - Anthony Peeler (15)
13. Denver - Clarence Weatherspoon (9)
14. Indiana - Byron Houston (27)
15. LA Lakers - Oliver Miller (22)
16. LA Clippers - Walt Williams (7)
17. Seattle - Todd Day (8)
18. San Antonio - Harold Miner (12)
19. Detroit - David Wesley (undrafted)
20. New York - Brent Price (32)
21. Boston - Matt Geiger (42)
22. Phoenix - Bryant Stith (13)
23. Milwaukee - Malik Sealy (14)
24. Golden State - Tracy Murray (18)
25. LA Clippers - Jon Barry (21)
26. Portland - Don MacLean (19)
27. Chicago - Adam Keefe (10)
I used more than just the stats for the players when I picked them. Guys like PJ Brown had long and very successful careers, but never put up huge stats, but I think that there's plenty of players out there who could put up better numbers without having as successful of careers. I used my knowledge of how good they were as players all around to make my decisions. It's probably not perfect, but I'd like to think that it's pretty darn close.
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