Team by Team Overviews- Southwest and Central Divisions

Southwest

Memphis Grizzlies

Season Recap: The Grizz finished with the worst record in the league at 22-60 and were rewarded with the 4th pick in the draft, essentially missing out on Greg Oden and Kevin Durant after their horrendous season. There are some positives that came out of the 06- campaign, however. Rudy Gay was named to 1st team All-Rookie after averaging 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Gay showed the ability to be an All-Star within the next few years. Pau Gasol did his job as well, averaging 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Mike Miller had a quiet but very effective year, turning in 18.5 points per contest while shooting 41% from three. Memphis really ran into trouble with its point guard play. Chucky Atkins and Damon Stoudamire are both past their prime and neither showed the ability to run the team effectively.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Kyle Lowry, Alexander Johnson
Grade-B
Lowry cannot be judged yet, as he missed all but 10 games due to a broken wrist. In the first ten games of his career, Lowry showed promise, averaging 5.6 points, 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He may be better served as an energy player off the bench, so Memphis’ PG situation is still in flux. Johnson was a second-rounder who gave Memphis some solid starts en route to averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in limited minutes. Both players will have a part in Memphis’ future, most likely as back-ups.

2005- Hakim Warrick, Lawrence Roberts
Grade- B
Warrick’s play vastly improved during his second season, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He has developed into a reliable PF, although the team would like to see him utilize his long frame and athleticism to block more shots (0.4 BPG last year) Roberts, the 55th overall pick, was traded for on draft day and proved to be a valuable acquisition. He started 18 games and averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

This Offseason: Chucky Atkins is the team’s only meaningful unrestricted free agent. He might be re-signed only if Memphis does not draft or sign another point guard. Rookie free agent Tarence Kinsey came on very strong at the end of the season, averaging 18.1 points over the last five games and 7.7 for the entire season. He will almost certainly be re-signed. Former first-round pick Dahntay Jones is a restricted free agent as well. His defense and athleticism makes him a key role player off the bench, and he will most likely be offered another contract by the Grizz. There have been rumors that the team will trade Pau Gasol, but I don’t see why they would. Gasol is their only reliable big man and they wouldn’t be able to get someone with his talent and youth in return. The only player Memphis should consider trading Gasol for is Jermaine O’Neal. In that case, they’d have to give up Gasol and one other player (Warrick, Stromile Swift) to complete the deal.

Draft Outlook: A lot of mock drafts have Memphis picking UNC F Brandan Wright with the 4th overall pick. Adding his length to a frontcourt that already features long, athletic players in Gay, Warrick, and Swift would be very intriguing, but it also could be like those Red Stripe commercials- too much of a good thing. If Memphis wants to take a big man, it should take Florida’s Al Horford. His muscle and post game will complement Memphis’ lanky frontline. If Horford is gone, which is a strong possibility, the team should look no further than Ohio State PG Mike Conley Jr. Memphis’ most glaring need is at the lead guard spot, and Conley has a chance to be a special player. We’ve seen time and time again that point guard play is necessary to winning. Take for example this year’s NBA Finals MVP, Tony Parker. Conley is a proven winner at every level (granted he had Greg Oden) and has the quickness and burst to get in the lane like Parker does. If, for whatever reason, this pick comes down to Horford or Conley, I think Conley would be the better fit.


New Orleans Hornets

Season Recap: Despite an injury-plagued season, New Orleans narrowly missed the playoffs with a 39-43 record. Chris Paul was the one constant, as he shook off all worries of a sophomore slump, after he contributed 17.3 points, 8.9 assists, 4.4. rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1 lame Sportscenter commercial with Stuart Scott. David West (18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds) played very well but missed 30 games. Tyson Chandler emerged as one of the league’s elite defenders and rebounders. He averaged an NBA-high 12.4 rebounds per game and also chipped in with 9.5 points and 1.7 blocks per outing. As Chandler, just 25 years old, continues to develop his offense, he could emerge as a dominant center in the East. Peja Stojakovic played in just 13 games before missing the rest of the season after having back surgery. He is getting old but proved he can still shoot the ball, as he averaged 17.8 points per game while shooting 41% from downtown in his brief stint last season.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons, Marcus Vinicius Vieira de Souza
Grade- C+
Armstrong and Simmons both disappointed in their rookie campaigns. With David West missing the first 30 games of the regular season, neither player took the opportunity and established themselves. With that being said, keep in mind that both are still very young and have all the physical gifts to be impact players on the interior. If they both develop as planned, New Orleans will have a very deep and talented front line.

2005- Chris Paul, Brandon Bass
Grade- A-
The Hornets secured one of the best young guards in the game with the 4th overall pick in ’05. Bass, an early second rounder, hasn’t shown much, and will have trouble finding minutes in a crowded frontcourt if he remains with the team.

This Offseason: New Orleans has some decisions to make on several free agents. Swingmen Desmond Mason and Devin Brown, who combined to average 25.3 points and 8.9 rebounds, are both unrestricted free agents. One of the two will be retained, most likely Brown. Mason would command more money and the Hornets will in the position to draft a shooting guard or small forward to take his place. Marc Jackson is the odd man out in a deep frontcourt and will probably be released. PG Jannero Pargo is a reliable back-up and should be re-signed as insurance for Paul.

Draft Outlook: New Orleans holds the 13th and 43rd picks in the draft. They are fortunate that this is a deep draft, and will be able to grab an impact player at #13. It is possible that a player such as Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Yi Jianlian or Al Thornton will be available. If not, Georgia Tech SG Thaddeus Young will probably be the best player on the board, and with Peja’s injury status uncertain, Young would be a terrific fit alongside Chris Paul in the backcourt. If New Orleans gets a player of Young's caliber (or even better someone like Green or Thornton), they will be a playoff team in the West for the forseeable future.
The Horents will likely spend their second pick on another swingman or a back-up point guard. Florida’s Taurean Green, Oregon’s Aaron Brooks, and Arizona’s Mustafa Shakur will be options. Don’t be surprised if they go for a foreign player and hold him overseas, because New Orleans already has a team full of second and third year pros. There wouldn’t be much playing time for a second-round rookie, which is why Croatian SG Marko Tomas or Lithuanian Renaldas Seibutis will be possible picks.

Houston Rockets

Season Recap: Tracy McGrady still hasn’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs. After a disappointing Game 7 loss on their own court against Utah in the first round, it became apparent that the Rockets won’t be able to win with a two-man show. McGrady (24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists) and Yao Ming (25 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2 blocks) are two of the league’s best at their positions, but Houston has one of the worst supporting casts in the NBA. Luther Head was one bright spot off the bench, averaging 10.9 points per game while shooting 46% from three. PG Rafer Alston started all 82 games and averaged 13.3 points and 5.4 assists. Alston is serviceable, but not good enough to lead a team deep into the playoffs. Shane Battier, who was brought in for the draft rights to Rudy Gay, averaged a stellar 10.1 points per game, but made his biggest impact on the defensive end. Houston severely lacked a power forward to complement Yao, as Juwan Howard and Chuck Hayes struggled to average 9.7 and 5.6 points per game, respectively. Neither is starting material in the NBA.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Traded rights to Rudy Gay to Memphis for Shane Battier, Drafted Lior Eliyahu
Grade: D-
The Rockets knew what they were getting in Battier, a simple role player who plays defense and can hit the open jumpshot. In Gay, they could have been getting the Scottie Pippen to McGrady’s Michael Jordan. While Gay flashed unbelievable potential as a rookie and Battier was average at best for a team that severely lacked a third scorer, I bet Houston regrets making this deal.

2005- Luther Head
Grade: A-
At the time, Head was thought to be a reach at #24, but he turned out to be one of the best shooters in the league. He will be a valuable asset alongside McGrady and Yao for years to come.

This Offseason: Dikembe Mutumbo is a free agent and despite being older than Tracy McGrady’s father, gave Houston some quality minutes. He probably will retire. Jake Tsakalidis is also expected to be waived, and Bonzi Wells has the option to opt out of his contract, a choice that he may exercise. Chuck Hayes is a restricted free agent and Houston liked the way he played enough to keep him around on a short-term contract.

Draft Outlook: The Rockets have one pick, the 26th overall selection. They desperately need a power forward or a wing that can score to take the load off of McGrady. They’ll give North Carolina’s Reyshawn Terry, Rice’s Morris Almond, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols, and Italy’s Marco Belinelli a long hard look. Duke PF Josh McRoberts could potentially fall all the way to Houston, in which case they would probably draft him.

San Antonio Spurs

Season Recap: The Spurs had a down year, finishing 9 games back of Dallas in the Southwest Division. Then…Tim Duncan started trying, Robert Horry gave Steve Nash the people’s elbow, and the Spurs cruised to the NBA title. Tony Parker was named the Finals MVP after averaging 24.5 points per contest in the four-game dismantling of Clevland. Manu Ginobili continued to be one of the leagues best sixth men (16.5 ppg) and Michael Finley (9.0 ppg) proved to be a solid offseason acquisition.

Recent Drafts:
2006- No picks.
It was a lame year.

2005- Ian Mahinmi
Grade: INC
It was an even lamer year.

This Offseason: The team could save $4 million in cap space by waiving Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen due to the limited salary cap protection (aka the Allan Houston rule). Horry probably will retire, but Bowen is a key player and the Spurs would be foolish to waive him. Expect San Antonio to use their first round pick this year on a small forward to groom behind Bowen for a year or so. They do have their share of free agency issues as well this summer. Michael Finley and Fabricio Oberto can opt out of their contracts. Finley probably won’t, but after playing very well in the playoffs, Oberto could find himself a with a fat contract offer from a team in desperate need of a center. Unrestricted free agents Melvin Ely and Jacque Vaughn will probably be released.

Draft Outlook: The Spurs have the 28th and 58th picks in the draft and should for the first time in a decade actually draft an American player. They cannot afford to wait for a player to develop overseas because many of their role players will retire within the next two years. UNC’s Reyshawn Terry is a great defender and has all the tools to be a 15 ppg contributor very early in his career. If he is available, San Antonio will jump at the chance to draft him. If not, Rice’s Morris Almond and Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker seem like the type of player they would select.


Dallas Mavericks

Season Recap: Dallas finished with an NBA-best regular season record of 67-15, but, much to the dismay of Mark Cuban, had a record of 2-7 against the Golden State Warriors. Four of those losses came in the most embarrassing first round exit in NBA playoff history. Dirk Nowitzki was the MVP of the regular season, averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, but he struggled mightily against the Warriors in the postseason. While Dallas fans may want to panic, they should not. The Mavs still have one of the leagues best teams, and if they can avoid playing Golden State next year (or somehow find a way to beat them), there is no reason why this Dallas team can’t get back to the NBA Finals. Josh Howard (18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds) was named an All-Star for the first time. Devin Harris and Jason Terry were a good 1-2 punch in the backcourt, and Jerry Stackhouse (12 PPG) gave Dallas offense off the bench. This team still has a good 2 or 3 years to capture a title.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Maurice Ager
Grade- B+
Taken 28th overall, Ager has tremendous potential. He can shoot the ball and has terrific athleticism. He may take over Stackhouse’s role after Stack retires in the next couple of years.

2005- No picks.


This Offseason: Stackhouse, Austin Croshere, and Devean George are all unrestricted free agents. Dallas will attempt to re-sign Stackhouse and George if they plan to keep their team together, but Mark Cuban is pissed and he could do something drastic this offseason. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd have all come up as names that Dallas might be interested in. You can add Jermaine O’Neal and Zach Randolph to that list. The most realistic player would probably be Garnett. A possible trade would be Josh Howard and Devin Harris and Dallas’ 34th overall pick for Garnett. Kidd would fit on the Mavs’ roster, but Dallas does not have any big men to trade for him, and that is the position that the Nets will most likely want in return.

Draft Outlook: Dallas has three picks, all in the second round (34th, 50th, and 58th). What they do in the draft depends on what trades (if any), they intend to make during the offseason. No matter what deals go down, Dallas needs an inside presence, and will likely spend their first pick on a post player. BC’s Sean Williams, Pitt’s Aaron Gray, and Spain’s Marc Gasol all seem like possibilities. With their second pick, they will probably go big again and nab either Herbert Hill of Providence or sweet-shooting PF Jamareo Davidson of Alabama. And with the 58th pick, the NBA’s version of Mr. Irrelevant, it would seem only fitting for Dallas to take a foreign player that no one has ever heard of.


Central

Milwaukee Bucks

Season Recap: Milwaukee finished in the cellar of the Central Division with a record of 28-54. Michael Redd missed 29 games, but turned in 26.7 points per game when he was on the court. Charlie Villanueva, who was acquired for TJ Ford in the offseason, appeared in just 39 games and averaged a disappointing 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. Mo Williams was one of the few players that stayed healthy, as he turned in big numbers in the last year of his contract, averaging 17.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ruben Patterson, Earl Boykins, and Charlie Bell all played well, averaging a combined 42.5 points per game while making frequent starts.

Recent Drafts:
2006- David Noel, Damir Markota
Grade: B-
Noel appeared in 68 games but averaged just 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds. He was not a bad pick in the middle second round, but will probably be nothing more than a defender off the bench for his entire career.

2005- Andrew Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova
Grade- B
The Bucks picked the wrong year to be awful. After winning the Draft lottery, their grand prize was Bogut, who thus far has proved to be nothing more than an average center (12.3 points, 8.8 rebounds). The team didn’t have many other options, however, and since it had TJ Ford, the best players in the class (Chris Paul and Deron Williams) were not considered. Ilyasova, a 6’9’’ 235 lb PF from Turkey, was a decent second-rounder, averaging 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in limited action.

This Offseason: The Bucks have some big decisions to make in the coming months. Mo Williams is a free-agent, and will get some big contract offers from other teams. If Milwaukee feels Williams isn’t worth big money, then it will probably draft Mike Conley, who would become the Bucks third starting point guard in as many years. Ruben Patterson, who proved to be an invaluable role player, also is a free agent. Charlie Bell and Ilyasova are restricted free agents, and Milwaukee will probably choose to re-up both of their contracts. Earl Boykins can opt out of his contract, which would make the Buck’s PG situation an even bigger mess.

Draft Outlook: Though rumors are circulating that the Bucks won’t re-sign Williams, they should. Having a good, young point guard is a privilege that few other teams have, and Milwaukee would be foolish to let theirs walk. If they take my advice, they’ll have a lot more options with the #6 pick in the draft. Their most glaring need as of right now is at SF, where Patterson starts, but is better suited for a role off the bench. Players such as Florida’s Corey Brewer, Kansas’ Julian Wright, and Florida State’s Al Thornton will be mentioned as possibilities. Don’t rule out Yi Jianlian or Joakim Noah, however, because with Charlie Villanueva’s recent injury history, the Bucks could use some frontcourt help.

Indiana Pacers

Season Recap: Indiana finished a disheartening 35-47 and missed the playoffs, something Pacer fans haven’t been accustomed to of late. After trading Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington for Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy and Ike Diogu, the Pacers are officially a team made up of Jermaine O’Neal and a bunch of average players. Though they didn’t have time to gel, this team doesn’t seem to have the necessary chemistry to succeed. O’Neal was pretty much the only constant, averaging 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Shawne Williams
Grade: C-
Williams, the 17th overall pick, clearly was not ready for the NBA after spending just one year at Memphis, and it showed as he averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a rookie. The pick was a bit of a head-scratcher on draft day as well. Indiana needs another point guard take over for Jamaal Tinsley, and Uconn’s Marcus Williams was unexpectedly on the board at #17. The talented New Jersey Nets’ PG would have been an upgrade over Tinsley, but now the Pacers are stuck with the fifth-year pro who shot just 38% from the field and 31% from three-point range and committed 2.8 turnovers per game last year.

2005- Danny Granger, Erazem Lorbek
Grade: A-
Granger was an absolute steal at #17. He continued to show improvement as a second-year pro, and became a reliable starter as he averaged 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He and O’Neal were the only real bright spots for Indiana last season. Granger should figure into the team’s long-term plans.

This Offseason: The Pacers have no important free agents (sorry Orien Greene, Maceo “Fat” Baston, Rawlee Marshall, and Keith McLeod). They do, however, have a big decision to make on the future of Jermaine O’Neal. There will be several teams interested in O’Neal, including the Lakers, Bulls, and Hawks. None of these teams has a young center that would entice Indiana to deal their stud in the middle. If Atlanta was willing to give up their #3 pick for him, then that certainly would be a possibility. The rumor of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom for O’Neal won’t materialize unless the Lakers throw in some draft picks.

Draft Outlook: The Pacers have no picks this year, but if they can arrange a deal with the Lakers for O’Neal, they might be able to grab the 19th pick along with Bynum and Odom. Indiana would try to grab Texas A+M PG Acie Law with that pick. If he’s not available the team would target Georgia Tech PG Javaris Crittenton, Eastern Washington G Rodney Stuckey, or USC PG Gabe Pruitt. If a deal like that actually happens, it will likely be a three-team trade because Indiana does not need Odom on a young and deep cast of wing players.

Chicago Bulls

Season Recap: The Baby Bulls continued to mature as they finished 49-33 and reached the second round of the playoffs. Ben Gordon led the way, averaging 21.4 points per game. Luol Deng quietly turned in an All-Star caliber year (though he didn’t get selected to the team), averaging 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game). The point guard tandem of Kirk Hinrich and Chris Duhon averaged a combined 23.8 points and 10.3 assists per contest. Ben Wallace’s numbers dipped a little in his first year with Chicago, but averaged 10.7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game as he brought energy and enthusiasm to the Bulls’ frontcourt.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha
Grade: A-
Thomas had the most impressive season that anyone averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game possibly could. He is truly a human-highlight reel, and his athleticism changes the game on both ends. As he develops his body and offense, Thomas will be an absolute beast alongside Wallace in the frontline. Sefolosha, 13th overall pick, was acquired from the Sixers in exchange for Rodney Carney, a deal that was skeptical at the time. Sefolosha proved to be a fine acquisition for the Bulls, however. Though he averaged just 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a rookie, he was arguably the team’s best perimeter defender.

2005- No picks.

This Offseason: PJ Brown is an unrestricted free agent, and if he doesn’t retire, he’ll likely be released as the power forward reigns are handed over to Tyrus Thomas. Chicago’s biggest decision is what to do with Andres Nocioni (14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds), a restricted free agent. If Chicago does indeed make a trade for Kevin Garnett or Jermaine O’Neal that would include Luol Deng (although it’s looking like they won’t), then they would absolutely re-sign Nocioni. Otherwise, he might be too expensive to keep as a back-up.

Draft Outlook: Chicago holds the 9th pick in the draft thanks to the Eddy Curry trade two years ago. The Bulls will be in a position to make a serious upgrade to a team that is a post presence away from being the class of the Eastern Conference. As Draft Day approaches, it appears that Mike Conley will be available when the Bulls pick. If he is, Chicago would be wise to grab him and then trade him to Portland for Zach Randolph. Portland would be thrilled to re-unite Oden and Conley, and the Bulls really need a scorer in the post like Randolph. If Conley is gone, Chicago will look at the big men available. Washington C Spencer Hawes would be an ideal pick. He would get some minutes backing up Ben Wallace in his first few years, but ultimately would take over the starting job. He gives Chicago the scoring threat in the post that they lack right now.

Cleveland Cavs

Season Recap: In only his fourth year, LeBron James brought his Cavaliers all the way to the NBA Finals- where they were completely embarrassed by San Antonio. James (27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6 assists per game) was fantastic, but his supporting cast is far from what it needs to be if the Cavs hope to take the next step. Larry Hughes (14.9 points, 3.7 assists) is a good player but doesn’t fit in very well in Cleveland. Zydrunas Illguaskus (11.9 points, 7.7 rebounds) was once one of the best centers in the East, but he doesn’t have many years left in him. Drew Gooden is coming on a little later in his career, as he averaged a respectable 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson, Ejike Ugboaja
Grade: A-
Brown, the 26th overall pick, is still a bit unpolished, and it showed as he averaged 3.2 points while appearing in just 23 games. He has tremendous athleticism and ability, however, and was a good value pick at the bottom of the first round. Gibson was the steal of the draft. He was one of the few Cavaliers that could make open three-pointers when his man left to double LeBron. Gibson proved to be a clutch scorer down the stretch, averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting 50% from three in the Conference Finals vs. Detroit. He also averaged 10.8 points per game in the four-game series vs. San Antonio. Gibson could find himself as a starter in 2007-2008.

2005- Martynas Andriuškevičius
Grade: Who cares?
This 7’2’’monster was traded to the Bulls for Eddie Basden after one year with the Cavs. Neither player has done much of anything in their career.

This Offseason: Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao are restricted free agents. Pavlovic emerged as a starter this season and Varejao was a valuable back-up, so it would make sense to re-sign both of them. Scot Pollard is an unrestricted free agent and isn’t anywhere near the player he used to be in Sacramento and Indiana. He will almost certainly be released.

Draft Outlook: It’s going to be a very boring draft for Cavs fans…as Cleveland has no picks. The Cavs need to upgrade LeBron’s supporting cast, but unless they make a big trade (dealing Larry Hughes for a better fit), it will likely be the same Cavs team next year.

Detroit Pistons

Season Recap: Detroit finished with the best record in the East at 53-29, but bowed out in the Eastern Conference Finals when they lost four consecutive games to division rival Cleveland. Chauncey Billups (17 points, 7.2 assists) was third-team All-NBA. Richard Hamilton was the team’s leading scorer at 19.8 points per clip. Tayshaun Prince had another solid season, averaging 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Detroit’s frontcourt of Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, and Antonio McDyess was effective, but is getting very old very quickly.

Recent Drafts:
2006- Will Blalock
Grade: C
Blalock was the last pick in the draft, so not much was expected of him. He has a similar build and game to Chauncey Billups, and has some upside.

2005- Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, Alex Acker
Grade- B+
Detroit made the most of their low picks. Maxiell is a beast of a man at 6’7’’ 260 lbs and will see a lot more playing time next season. Johnson has a ton of upside. He spent most of last season in the NBDL, where he averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. In his eight games with the Pistons, he averaged 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.

This Offseason: Chauncey Billups has the option to terminate his contract early and test the free agent market. Assuming he will take that option, Detroit will have to determine if he’s worth the huge contract that he will command on the market, especially considering Billups will be 31 years old very early in September. If Detroit still thinks they have a chance to reach the Finals in the coming years, they will re-sign Billups. If they think that their window has closed, the Pistons might trade Billups or let him go, depending on what they do with their two first-round picks. Chris Webber and Dale Davis are also free agents. Webber might be re-signed to a one year contract, but Davis will probably retire. Flip Murray, Ronald Dupree, and Antonio McDyess all can opt out of their contracts, but it is doubtful that they will.

Draft Outlook: For a team that had the best record in the East, the Pistons have a lot of holes to fill. Their frontcourt makes Greg Oden look young, and with Billups’ future in question, PG is a major issue. After trading Carlos Delfino for two future second round picks, they also lack depth at both SG and SF. Apparently the team has made a promise to take Eastern Washington G Rodney Stuckey if he is available when they pick at #15. While he would be a valuable pick, it would be hard to ignore Colorado State F/C Jason Smith if he is on the board at that point. Detroit also picks 27th, and assuming they take Stuckey 15th, will probably go for a big man with their second selection. France’s Ali Traore, Purdue’s Carl Landry, and Duke’s Josh McRoberts would all make sense there. If the Pistons opt to take Smith with their first pick, they’ll look for backcourt help at 27. Nevada’s Ramon Sessions and Oregon’s Aaron Brooks will likely be the best point guards available. North Carolina’s Reyshawn Terry, Rice’s Morris Almond, and UCLA’s Aaron Afflalo all fit into Detroit’s scheme.