Boston Celtics
Season Overview: Somehow, there were bright spots in Boston’s 28-54 joke of a season. Al Jefferson emerged as one of the better power forwards in the league, averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. Gerald Green took a huge step forward as well. He played his best basketball late in the season, averaging 20.3 points per game during a seven-game stretch in April. Rajon Rondo and Delonte West proved to be an effective point guard combination. Both have a future with the team. Paul Pierce only played in 47 games, but averaged 25 points per outing.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe
Grade- B
Rondo averaged only 6.4 points and 3.8 assists per game, but came on very strong at the end of the season and showed that he is a tremendous athlete, defender, and playmaker. If he can become more consistent with his jumpshot, Rondo will be a starter for the next ten years.
2005- Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes
Grade- A-
Considering where these two players were picked (18th and 50th respectively), 2005 was one of the best drafts in recent history for Boston. Green has stardom written all over him at just 21 years old. Waterbury’s (CT) own Gomes averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 30 minutes of action per contest. He hard-nosed and productive, and is one of very few second round draft picks that become starters.
This Offseason: Boston’s only free agent is Michael Olowokandi, the former 1.7 draft pick…oh no wait, that was his scoring average from last season. The Celts need help at center, but Kendrick Perkins is a better option than Olowokandi at this point. He’ll be let go, and the team will desperately try to move Wally Szczerbiak and his hefty contract.
Draft Outlook: After suffering for nearly two decades, Boston fans finally can expect their beloved Celtics to reach the promise-land again after they draft perhaps the best big man prospect in years, a man amongst boys who has drawn comparisons to former Celtic Bill Russell. Meet the savior of Boston basketball- Yi Jianlian. Wait...what?
After missing out on Greg Oden, Boston sits at #5 and is widely expected to draft a big man that can make Boston fans forget about their misfortune in the lottery- kind of. Jianlian, Brandan Wright, and Joakim Noah have all been mentioned as possible options. They also hold the #32 pick, which they will probably use an athletic wing. The team will target four-year players Reyshawn Terry and Alando Tucker, but don’t be surprised if they go big again and keep BC C Sean Williams at home.
New York Knicks
Season Overview: The Knickerbockers have a solid foundation at the two most important positions in basketball- point guard and center. Stephon Marbury (16.4 points, 5.4 assists) and Eddy Curry (19.5 points, 7 rebounds) may take their share of criticism, but they are the team’s best players. Jamal Crawford (17.6 points) is a dynamic scorer at the shooting guard position, best exemplified by his 52-point performance on January 26th vs. Milwaukee. Quentin Richardson was in and out of the rotation early, but finished the season averaging a solid 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. Steve Francis proved he just doesn’t fit in with the team, and neither does Channing Frye, Jared Jeffries, Malik Rose, or Jerome James. James doesn’t fit in with any team, but that’s a whole different story.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Mardy Collins, Renaldo Balkman
Grade- C
Collins played well in limited action in a crowded backcourt, but should see a lot more consistent PT if the Knicks cut ties with Steve Francis. Balkman, drafted 20th overall, was a huge reach, but is the kind of garbage player that the Knicks need.
2005- Channing Frye, David Lee
Grade- C+
Frye has worn out his welcome in New York. His numbers (9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds) are not good, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that everyone on the Knicks like to gun up as many shots as they can. Lee, the last pick of the first round, has been a pleasant surprise, averaging 10.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in 29 minutes per game last season. He figures into the Knicks long-term plans.
This Offseason: Kelvin Cato and Malik Rose will finally come off the books this summer. They are the Knicks only free agents, but New York may try to make a trade. Rumors are swirling that the team wants Pacers forward/center Jermaine O’Neal. If Isiah Thomas wants O’Neal bad enough, he will be able to get him for Marbury and Frye or Francis and Curry.
Draft Outlook: The Knicks hold one pick in the draft, the 23rd overall selection. Ohio State SG Daequan Cook’s name is being mentioned as an extremely possible choice for New York. Isiah Thomas says he has known Cook since he was a kid and was very impressed with his performance in the pre-draft camp and in the individual workout. He could be a nice fit, especially if the team ends up trading Francis or Crawford to get Jermaine O’Neal.
Philadelphia 76ers
Season Recap: 2006-2007 saw the Sixers trade their franchise player of the last decade, Allen Iverson. AI’s departure signaled the beginning of a rebuilding project in Philly. The Sixers may not be that far away from turning it back around again thanks largely in part to the development of all-everything SF Andre Iguodala (18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.0 steals). Andre Miller (13.6 points, 7.3 assists) is a proven commodity at PG, and Kyle Korver came on strong last season, averaging 14.4 points per game while shooting 43% from behind the arc. The team is lacking on the interior, but with three first round draft picks, they should be able to bolster the talent in the frontcourt.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Rodney Carney, Bobby Jones, Edin Bavcic
Grade- B+
Carney was a great value at #16, and though he averaged only 6.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, drew a lot of attention for his defense and hustle. Carney is one of the most athletic players in the league and has some good offensive skills. It may take him a few more years to realize his potential, but once he does, he and Iguodala will be a scary combination on the wing.
2005- Louis Williams
Grade- B-
The super-quick guard left for the NBA straight out of high school, and Philly nabbed him with the 45th pick. Williams was nowhere near ready to play, nor is he today, but its not everyday that you can get a player with Williams’ potential that late in the draft. He will have to improve a lot over the summer to earn more playing time, but there is little depth in the backcourt and Williams will certainly have an opportunity.
This Offseason: Williams and Shavlik Randolph are both restricted free agents. The Sixers will definitely make an effort to re-sign Williams if they can, but Randolph is expendable. Joe Smith and Alan Henderson are both unrestricted free agents, and with the team in the position to draft two or three young big man, both probably will be wearing another uniform come next season.
Draft Outlook: Philly picks 12th, 21st, 30th, and 38th. They have two options, either use all of the picks and collect a lot of youth and depth, or trade up into the Top 5 or 6 and get a stud player and then maybe one or two more players later in the draft. The Sixers will probably hold onto all their picks because if they can’t get to Oden and Durant, which trust me they can’t, it wouldn’t make sense to trade up because there is a lot of uncertainty in the top ten after Oden, Durant, and Al Horford. The team will likely decide between Florida State’s Al Thornton and Washington’s Spencer Hawes with their first pick (12th). Their second selection (21st) will come down to another big man- possibly Duke’s Josh McRoberts or Brazil’s Tiago Splitter. With the last pick in the first round, Philly will hope a talented guard, such as Oregon’s Aaron Brooks or Nevada’s Ramon Sessions will be on the board. They could go anywhere with their last selection (38th), but likely will continue to attempt to upgrade the frontcourt by drafting BC C Sean Williams, Pittsburgh C Aaron Gray, or Purdue PF Carl Landry.
New Jersey Nets
Season Recap: The Nets were one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals and one big man away from being the best team in the inferior half of the NBA. Jason Kidd showed he still has a lot left in the tank, as he averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists in 12 playoff games. Vince Carter (25.2 points, 6 rebounds, 4.8 assists in the regular season) is not the athlete he used to be, but is still one of the best scorers in the league. Richard Jefferson played in only 55 games, but averaged 16.3 points in the regular season and 19.7 points in the playoffs. He is one of the league’s best small forwards. Mikki Moore stepped up and contributed 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, but is not the long-term answer at center.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Hassan Adams
Grade- A-
Williams looked spectacular at some points in the season, but hit the wall towards the end of his rookie year. Overall, Williams’ averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 assists per game, but showed the poise and feel that few young point guards exhibit. He will be a fine replacement for Kidd once he retires or gets traded. Boone missed the first 21 games of the year and finished averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds. He recorded back-to-back 20 point games in late March, something that he didn’t even do at UConn. As Boone’s offense continues to develop, he could shape up to be a decent post player for New Jersey. Adams is the real wildcard of the group. He is one of the most athletic players in the game and thrives in the fastbreak game that Kidd and Williams can orchestrate. He may be able to work his way into the rotation on athleticism alone, especially if Carter is dealt.
2005- Antoine Wright, Mili Illec
Grade- B
Wright filled in commendably while Jefferson was sidelined. He finished the season averaging just 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds, but while Jefferson was out, Wright was averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds as the starting small forward. He showed considerable improvement in his second year and depending on what happens with Carter, will probably be a big part of the Nets’ future.
This Offseason: Vince Carter is a free-agent and will probably command the maximum contract, or very close to it. New Jersey will likely base their decision on a few factors. If they draft a wing like Georgia Tech’s Thaddeus Young, he becomes expendable. Rather then let him walk, the Nets would most likely try to do a sign and trade so they can get a big man such as Portland’s Zach Randolph or Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal in exchange for Air Canada. If they do indeed let Carter walk to Orlando (rumored to be his desired destination), they will have enough money to pursue another free agent, but there aren’t many players in Carter’s class whose contracts are up this year. Their best bet would be a sign-and-trade. The Nets also will be fielding offers for Kidd, who is getting old and has a promising Marcus Williams behind him. Expect the Mavericks and Lakers to make a strong push for Kidd, but neither has big men that the Nets are very enticed by. When it's all said and done, Kidd should be a Net again next year. The team also will attempt to re-sign Mikki Moore, but if his late season play gives him too much leverage in negotiations, they could let him go, depending on what they do in draft.
Draft Outlook: New Jersey holds the 17th pick in the first round and will likely target frontcourt help. If Colorado State F/C Jason Smith is available, the team will grab him. If not, they may draft a swingman such as Vanderbilt’s Derrick Byers or Ohio State’s Daequan Cook. Both players are athletic and will bring three-point range into a lineup that sometimes struggles mightily to hit jumpshots. If a shooting guard is the pick, that would most likely signal the end of Vince Carter’s run as a Net. In the unlikely situation that Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith are both on the board at 17, the Nets would be in a precarious situation, but would most likely take Young and try to trade Carter for a proven big man.
Toronto Raptors
Season Recap: Toronto went from being one of the worst teams in the East to the #3 seed in one year. Bryan Colangelo is doing a masterful job molding this team. They have a dominant force inside in Chris Bosh (22.6 points, 10.7 rebounds), an electric point guard combo in TJ Ford and Jose Calderon (27 points, 12.9 assists combined) and an array of from the perimeter in Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Morris Peterson, Juan Dixon, and Jorge Garbajosa.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Andrea Bargnani, PJ Tucker
Grade: A-
The Raptors took a lot of flack for picking Bargnani 1st overall last year, but after he turned in a more than respectable 11.6 points per game as a rookie, no one is questioning the pick anymore. A 7-footer who shot 37% from three, Bargnani has all the tools to be the Dirk Nowitzki of the next decade.
2005- Charlie Villanueva, Joey Graham, Uros Slokar
Grade-B+
Villanueva had an impressive rookie year, including a random 48-point eruption vs. Milwaukee on March 26th 2006, but was dealt the following offseason for TJ Ford, the oft-injured guard who couldn’t shoot. A year later, it turns out the trade worked out nicely. Ford is the catalyst of the exciting Toronto offense and Villanueva ended up missing most of the season due to injury. Graham has been a role player in his first two seasons, averaging 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He may never be a great offensive player, but will always have a spot in the rotation because of his defense and athleticism.
This Offseason: It will be an extremely low-key offseason for the Raptors. After re-vamping their entire team in the past two years, they pretty much have everything in place for the future. Toronto’s only free agent of note is Morris Peterson, a three-point specialist who has been with the team since they drafted him 21st overall in 2000. If he can be re-signed at the right price, the Raptors will try to retain him. If not, the team has plenty of wings who can shoot, so his departure wouldn’t exactly cause the city of Toronto to riot (or start going to Blue Jays games in protest). The Raptors have a lot of cap space still and will probably try to make a pitch to a free agent center so they can remove Rasho Nesterovic from the starting lineup and Stephen A. Smith can finally sleep at night. Possible replacements include Mikki Moore, Chris Mihm, Anderson Varejao, and Kurt Thomas.
Draft Outlook: Toronto does not have any picks in this year’s draft, and unless there is a center on the board in the late first or early to mid second round that they covet (such as BC’s Sean Williams, Pitt’s Aaron Gray, or Wake Forest’s Kyle Visser), they probably won’t make a trade. If they do, they will likely give up a future first or second round pick, because that seems to happen an awful lot on draft day.
Pacific Division
Sacramento Kings
Season Recap: The Kings window to win a title closed about two years ago. Their window to have a winning record closed this season. Sacramento stumbled to a 32-49 with a veteran roster, indicating it may be time to clean house and start from scratch. The player that will be the focal point of the rebuilding project is third-year SG Kevin Martin. The skinny sharpshooter averaged 20.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Ron Artest’s numbers were solid (18.8 ppg, 6.5 rebs), but he missed 12 games and his off the court behavior was less than spectacular. Mike Bibby averaged a solid 17.1 points, but only 4.7 assists per game. After those three, the rest of the King’s contributors were old players on the decline. Former All-Pro Shareef Abdur-Rahim averaged only 9.9 points per game, while Corliss Williamson and Brad Miller averaged 9.1 and 9.0 respectively.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Quincy Douby
Grade- D
Douby is an undersized guard who scored a lot at the college level but probably will not ever make an impact as a Pro. He averaged just 2.8 points per game in his rookie year, and to make matters worse, he was drafted ahead of the Nets’ Marcus Williams, who would have made Mike Bibby and his huge contract expendable. As it stands right now, the team doesn’t have another PG so it will be reluctant to move Bibby, who is starting the downside of his career.
2005- Francisco Garcia
Grade- C
Garcia showed a lot of improvement in his second year, averaging 6 points per game. He might develop into a full-time starter next season if he can make the same kind of progression that Kevin Martin did in his third year.
This Offseason: Mike Bibby has an early termination option on his contract, but probably won’t exercise it because he is due to make $12.5 million next season. If Sacramento can either draft a point guard or find one in free agency, they’ll try to deal Bibby. Corliss Williamson and Vitaly Potapenko are unrestricted free agents and are sure to be released. Young bench players Justin Williams and Ronnie Price will likely be retained. Williams has great length and athleticism as a center and Price arguably had the dunk of the year over Carlos Boozer. Both players might figure into the teams future and are worth at least a short-term investment.
Draft Outlook: Sacramento has just one pick, the 10th overall selection, and will make the most of it by drafting a forward or center to take minutes away from the struggling and aging frontcourt of Miller, Abdur-Rahim, Williamson, and Kenny Thomas. Florida State Al Thornton is the name that is being thrown around the most, and if Florida’s Joakim Noah falls, he will also be considered. Even though they need help at PF and C, if Georgetown SF Jeff Green is available, he will be tough to pass up. In that scenario, the team would likely try to deal Artest for some frontcourt help. Green is ready to start from Day 1 and would greatly accelerate the rebuilding process.
Los Angeles Clippers
Season Recap: After making the Western Conference Semifinals last season, the Clips underachieved, finishing 40-42 and missing the playoffs altogether. Elton Brand was one of the best power forwards in the game once again, averaging 20.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Corey Maggette’s scoring average dipped a bit (16.9 points) after being in Mike Dunleavy’s doghouse to start the season, but played his best basketball late in the season when LA was making a playoff push, highlighted by a career-high 39 points (10-15 FGs, 17-24 FTs) against the Lakers on April 12th. Veterans Cuttino Mobley, Sam Cassell, and Tim Thomas all did their jobs, and Shaun Livingston was showing considerable improvement (9.3 points, 5.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds) until he suffered one of the most gruesome knee injuries in sports history. Livingston’s career is in serious question, as is the Clippers PG situation.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Paul Davis, Guillermo Diaz
Grade- B
Both were second-round picks, so not much is going to be expected of either one. Davis averaged a paltry 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in 5.8 minutes of action, but he has good offensive skills and will be given a chance to compete for playing time if he impresses during the summer. Diaz was playing overseas, but the Clippers expect him to join the team next year. The former high school basketball player and University of Miami star shooting guard possesses a 45-inch vertical leap and two of the quickest feet in basketball. Diaz is a real sleeper to watch, as he has the potential to be a Jamal Crawford-type scorer.
2005- Yaroslav Korolev
Grade- D-
Korolev is still young, but at this point, his 1.4 points per game don’t quite measure up to the numbers of some players drafted behind him such as Danny Granger, Gerald Green, and Hakim Warrick.
This Offseason: Korolev, Jason Hart, and Quinton Ross are all unrestricted free agents. There is a strong possibility that all three will be re-signed. Hart and Ross played key roles towards the end of the season after Livingston went down. Hart, in particular, will be important for next year because Livingston’s status is uncertain and Sam Cassell isn’t getting any younger. The team might think it’s too early to give up on the 20-year old Korolev, and they’re probably right. In terms of trading, Maggette’s name has been on the block for about the last four years, and if they haven’t dealt him by now, they won’t. Maggette is too good of a scorer to part with, unless the Clips get someone like Jermaine O’Neal in return.
Draft Outlook: LA picks 14th and 45th, and will almost certainly take a point guard with their first pick. Texas A+M’s Acie Law and Georgia Tech’s Javaris Crittenton are the teams most viable options. If, for whatever reason, both are gone, the Clippers will take a look at Eastern Washington combo guard Rodney Stuckey. With their second pick, LAC would be wise to take a big man to give Elton Brand some rest and Chris Kaman some competition. UMass shot-blocking extraordinaire Stephane Lasme will be an option, as will super-athletic Fresno State SF Dominic McGuire. McGuire is the type of athlete that will block a lot of shots and fit in perfectly in LA’s up-tempo game.
Golden State Warriors
Season Recap: Golden State became America’s team as soon as they took Game 1 in Dallas, their fourth consecutive win against the NBA’s #1 seed Mavericks. Fans fell in love with the Warriors reckless, three-point happy small-ball playing style. Baron Davis was in another world in the 4-2 opening series victory against the Mavs, averaging 25 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the series. Stephen Jackson was the big key to the Game 6 clinching rout of Dallas, a game in which he scored 33 points and made 7 of 8 three-pointers. While Golden State was an exciting team the whole season, it was the midseason additions of Jackson and Al Harrington that put them over the top. Explosive second-year guard Monta Ellis averaged 16.5 points per game en route to winning NBA Most Improved Player. Jason Richardson averaged 14.9 points per game during the regular season, but really stepped it up in the playoffs (19.1 points) and showed he was one of the NBA’s best three-point bombers. Matt Barnes, an ex-teammate of Davis’ at UCLA, fit in beautifully in Don Nelson’s system and 11.1 points per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc. His versatility and long arms on defense was a key in the upset of Dallas, which was the first time an 8 seed beat a 1 seed in a 7-game series. Overall, it was a very exciting season for Golden State. Next year, all eyes will be on the Bay Area to see if they can duplicate their success.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Patrick O’Bryant, Kosta Perovic
Grade- INC
O’Bryant is the center prospect that Golden State desperately needs to develop in order to take the next step into the NBA’s elite teams. He is big and has skill, but is still a bit raw and unpolished after leaving Bradley as a sophomore. He spent a lot of time in the NBDL, and the team hopes he’ll be able to step in as a starter before it’s window of opportunity closes.
2005- Ike Diago, Monta Ellis, Chris Taft
Grade- A
Diago was part of the deal that brought over Harrington and Jackson. Ellis was a true steal with the 40th overall pick. He is one of the most athletic young guards in the league and is a perfect compliment to Baron Davis. Ellis is great at penetrating and hitting the midrange jumpshot, and if he can add a three-point shot to his resume, Golden State could stretch the floor even more.
This Offseason: Barnes might get a lot of money in the free agent market, but he won’t fit in on other teams nearly as well as he does on Golden State. Barnes probably wants to remain with the Warriors, and the Warriors definitely want him as part of their future. A long-term deal is a strong possibility. The team will also re-sign restricted free agent Mikael Pietrus if it can. Pietrus, a phenomenal athlete and defender, was one of the most underrated players on the team last season. He is vital to their success. Keleena Azibukee and Josh Powell are young, but show some promise and will likely be retained. While it may go against conventional wisdom, I think Golden State would be best off if they parted ways with Stephen Jackson, who proved to be a clutch shooter, but also proved to be one of the most selfish, turnover prone players in the league. If the Warriors can trade him for any impact big man, they should do so. With Pietrus, Barnes, Richardson, and Ellis, Golden State already has enough depth at Jackson’s position. Even if they don’t get equal value, I feel trading Jackson would be addition by subtraction.
Draft Outlook: Golden State’s frontcourt is in dire need. Andris Biendrins is much more suited to come off the bench and Al Harrington is a small forward in a power forward’s body. If Colorado State F/C Jason Smith is available with the 18th pick, the Warriors will draft him in a heartbeat. He would give them some stability up front and maybe then Don Nelson won’t have to get drunk before every game.
However, Smith probably will be off the board at 18, leaving GS with project big men such as Josh McRoberts and Tiago Splitter. In that case, the Warriors might want to go with Option B, which is drafting Syracuse G/F Demetris Nichols. Nichols has a long frame and is a lights-out three-point shooter. I wouldn’t put it past Nelson to draft more of what they already have, especially considering how drunk Nelson will be on draft night. If this is indeed the pick, it opens the door for Stephen Jackson to be traded for a big man (say, Zach Randolph).
Los Angeles Lakers
Season Recap: The Lakers lost to the 2nd seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. It is becoming clear that Kobe Bryant (31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists) will never have the supporting cast to win another championship as a Laker. Lamar Odom battled through an emotional and injury-riddled season, averaging 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Outside of Odom and obviously Bryant, LA is playing back-ups as starters. Neither Smush Parker (11 points, 2.8 assists) or Jordan Farmar (4.4 points, 1.9 assists) is an NBA-level starting point guard. LA’s center situation is almost as bad. Kwame Brown, who was brought in from Washington in exchange for All-Star Caron Butler, averaged only 8.4 points and 6 rebounds per game. Andrew Bynum showed improvement, but still has a long way to go as he averaged just 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Jordan Farmer, Dannilo Pinnock
Grade- C
The organization raves about Farmar, but he has yet to translate his superior athleticism into good point guard play. Granted, he only played one year, but LA needs a PG who can come in and make plays right away- before Kobe’s window closes.
2005- Andrew Bynum, Von Wafer
Grade- C
Again, Bynum is young and shows some promise, but the Lakers can’t be building a team that will take 5 years to be good unless they get rid of Bryant and totally rebuild. As long as they have Kobe, they have a chance to win. Their best bet would be to surround Kobe with veterans rather than youngsters like Farmar and Bynum.
This Offseason: The offseason started with a bang when Kobe announced that he couldn’t ever see himself playing for the Lakers again in an interview with Stephen A. Smith and then retracted the statement about three hours later. Chances are, Bryant will be a Laker next year. The Lakers will not be going into next season with the same roster, however. Expect them to pursue a big-name point guard or a big-name center/power forward to give Kobe some help. Possible acquistions include Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, Zach Randolph, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby. In order to complete a deal for one of these guys, LA will have to part with a lot. I wouldn’t include Odom in any deal because then next year’s Laker team will have the same problem it did this year- they’ll only have two scorers. If LA does indeed trade for say, Jermaine O’Neal, a possible deal would include Andrew Bynum and a future-first round pick (which is likely to be low if the Lakers have Bryant, JO, and Odom). From a free agent standpoint, the contracts of Aaron McKie, Smush Parker, Luke Walton, Chris Mihm, and Shammond Williams are all up. Walton will be re-signed if he’s not too expensive. Parker probably will also unless LA trades for a PG. The other three will likely be released.
Draft Outlook: The Lakers pick 19th, 40th, and 48th. They need to take guys who are ready to play right now, so with the 19th pick, expect them to be looking at Acie Law, Derrick Byers, and Nick Young. Law would be a good fit and would solve their PG troubles, enabling LA to strictly focus on acquiring a big man via trade. With their next two picks, the Lakers will draft the best player available. Fresno State SF Domonic McGuire would be an interesting second round pick, as would Florida’s Taurean Green (assuming LA doesn’t take Law in the first round).
Phoenix Suns
Season Recap: The Suns were essentially one sprint from the bench to the scene of the crime away from winning the NBA Finals. Had Amare Stoudemire not been suspended for Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, there’s a very good chance Phoenix would have been the NBA Champions of the 06-07 season. Steve Nash didn’t win MVP, but he statistically turned in the best year of his career, averaging 18.6 points and 11.6 assists per game. Nash and Stoudemire (20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds) were both named 1st team All-NBA. Leandro Barbosa took a huge step forward as he won the NBA’s 6th Man Award while averaging 18.1 points per game off the bench. Shawn Marion was once again the team’s most complete player, as he averaged 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Recent Drafts:
2006- No picks.
Grade- INC
PHX traded rights to Rajon Rondo (21st overall) and Brian Grant to the Celtics for a future first round pick.
PHX traded rights to Sergio Rodriguez (27th overall) to the Blazers for cash.
The Suns get the 24th overall pick in this years draft for the pick that would have been Rondo last year. Essentially, it’s a wash.
2005- Marcin Gortat, Dijon Thompson
Traded Quentin Richardson and rights to Nate Robinson (21st overall) to the Knicks for Kurt Thomas.
This Offseason: Phoenix has come up in Kobe Bryant trade talks, but those are simply rumors. The Suns are one of the league’s best teams and were arguably a suspension away from winning the title this year. Don’t expect any drastic changes to the roster. Jumaine Jones, Sean Marks, and Jalen Rose are all unrestricted free agents. Jones and Marks will probably be let go, while Rose has been working as a sideline reporter for ESPN in games that he was suited up to play in, so he will likely pursue his dream of being the next Greg Anthony. Kurt Thomas can opt out of the final year of his contract, but he has a very healthy paycheck on Phoenix and has the chance to win a title, so it's doubtful he'll want to go elsewhere.
Draft Outlook: The Suns have traded all of their first round picks in the past three years (Rondo, Rodriguez, Robinson, and Luol Deng in 2004). They hold two first-rounders, the 24th and 29th picks, and would be wise to use them unless they get a deal they can’t turn down. One player being mentioned as a strong possibility is Italian SG Marco Belinelli. Syracuse SG Demetris Nichols would also be a good fit. Expect Phoenix to take one of those two and then go for speedy Oregon PG Aaron Brooks, who would cause nightmares coming off the bench alongside Barbosa. If Brooks is gone, they could go big and draft a shot-blocker such as BC’s Sean Williams.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Robert Horry's Most Memorable Shot
Robert Horry isn’t the best player on his team. He never has been. But he didn’t win 7 NBA titles by accident. Horry is one of the great clutch players to ever live. When he retires, ESPN will run a highlight of all his game winning three-pointers, and there are enough “Horry for the win…Got it!” clips to fill three or four minutes of air time. Horry probably won’t retire this year, but say he did, which shot would go down as his most legendary? Was it his game winner in the closing seconds of the 1995 Finals? Was it his Game 3 corner long-ball with a second left to give the Lakers a 3-0 series lead over Portland? Or was it the infamous tip-out three at the buzzer against Sacramento in Game 4? If Horry didn’t make that shot, the Lakers’25-point comeback would have fallen short and they would have gone down 3-1 in the series, so that surely has to be it, right? Not quite.
Horry’s biggest shot came this year, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semis vs. the Suns. It wasn’t a three-pointer, it didn’t splash the net, and the crowd didn’t even cheer after he did it. This shot was one that sent Steve Nash flying into the scorer’s table, and prompted Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw to get up off the bench in an effort to defend their MVP. When Horry connected on this “shot,” the game was all but over and Phoenix had just tied it up 2-2 going back home for Game 5. The Suns would soon find out that they would be without Stoudemire and Diaw for this decisive game.
Kurt Thomas did an admirable job filling in, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but Phoenix fell short and lost the game 88-85. Had Stoudemire (and Diaw doesn’t hurt either) played in that game, Phoenix would have been in great position to go up 3-2 and would have been in the drivers seat for not only that series, but the entire playoffs. Once David Stern handed down the suspensions, it was clear that the Suns were too undermanned inside to compete inside. After Stern made the worst decision of his tenure, he should have cancelled the rest of the playoffs and awarded San Antonio with the Larry O’Brien Trophy right then and there.
I said it after the suspensions were announced and I’ll say it again, the series between Phoenix and San Antonio was the real NBA Finals. Everything after that (except for LeBron’s heroics against the Pistons) was simply a waste of time for players and fans.
I can’t be too bitter about this, though. I respect the Spurs. They are a great team with a great attitude. They play the game unselfishly, they play the right way, and though it’s not pretty, they just continue to win.
I can’t say enough about how good Tim Duncan is. He will probably go down as one of the top ten players to ever play basketball. I love Tony Parker as a player and respect his game both on and off the court (he’s gotta have game to get Eva), but Parker did not deserve to win MVP of the series. This year, the award should have been split between two very important people in the San Antonio organization. Firstly, David Stern should have awarded the trophy to himself for playing such an instrumental, yet unexpected role in the Spurs’ fourth title run. After Stern took off his NBA Champions T-Shirt and finished interviewing himself, he should have returned to his role as an unbiased commissioner and handed the trophy to Horry, for cheap-shotting the best player on the floor in an effort to hurt him or at the very least cause a fight that would draw some suspensions. Horry’s abuse of the NBA’s unnecessary rules came up huge for San Antonio, and it turns out that his forearm shiver to Nash was indeed the most vital shot of his illustrious career.
Horry’s biggest shot came this year, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semis vs. the Suns. It wasn’t a three-pointer, it didn’t splash the net, and the crowd didn’t even cheer after he did it. This shot was one that sent Steve Nash flying into the scorer’s table, and prompted Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw to get up off the bench in an effort to defend their MVP. When Horry connected on this “shot,” the game was all but over and Phoenix had just tied it up 2-2 going back home for Game 5. The Suns would soon find out that they would be without Stoudemire and Diaw for this decisive game.
Kurt Thomas did an admirable job filling in, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but Phoenix fell short and lost the game 88-85. Had Stoudemire (and Diaw doesn’t hurt either) played in that game, Phoenix would have been in great position to go up 3-2 and would have been in the drivers seat for not only that series, but the entire playoffs. Once David Stern handed down the suspensions, it was clear that the Suns were too undermanned inside to compete inside. After Stern made the worst decision of his tenure, he should have cancelled the rest of the playoffs and awarded San Antonio with the Larry O’Brien Trophy right then and there.
I said it after the suspensions were announced and I’ll say it again, the series between Phoenix and San Antonio was the real NBA Finals. Everything after that (except for LeBron’s heroics against the Pistons) was simply a waste of time for players and fans.
I can’t be too bitter about this, though. I respect the Spurs. They are a great team with a great attitude. They play the game unselfishly, they play the right way, and though it’s not pretty, they just continue to win.
I can’t say enough about how good Tim Duncan is. He will probably go down as one of the top ten players to ever play basketball. I love Tony Parker as a player and respect his game both on and off the court (he’s gotta have game to get Eva), but Parker did not deserve to win MVP of the series. This year, the award should have been split between two very important people in the San Antonio organization. Firstly, David Stern should have awarded the trophy to himself for playing such an instrumental, yet unexpected role in the Spurs’ fourth title run. After Stern took off his NBA Champions T-Shirt and finished interviewing himself, he should have returned to his role as an unbiased commissioner and handed the trophy to Horry, for cheap-shotting the best player on the floor in an effort to hurt him or at the very least cause a fight that would draw some suspensions. Horry’s abuse of the NBA’s unnecessary rules came up huge for San Antonio, and it turns out that his forearm shiver to Nash was indeed the most vital shot of his illustrious career.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Team by Team Overviews- Northwest and Southeast Divisions
Northwest Division
Portland Trailblazers
Season Recap: The 06-07 campaign was another disappointing one for a Portland franchise that hasn’t had much to cheer about since the days of Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, and Damon Stoudamire. The Blazers finished with a dismal 32-50 record but did have some bright spots. The team was coming off a horrid 21-61 record in the previous season, and through the 2006 Draft, brought in some talented young players. Brandon Roy won Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4 rebounds per contest. LaMarcus Aldridge, the 2nd overall pick last year, didn’t get much time in a crowded frontcourt early, but came on in March, averaging 14.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game during the month before a rapid heartbeat kept him out for all of April. Though Aldridge was apparently nervous for the end of the season, Zach Randolph clearly was not. Randolph lackadaisically averaged a career-high 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. There is no denying Randolph has talent, but he has run into problems with the law and Coach Nate McMillan during his stay in Portland.
Recent Drafts:
2006- LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Sergio Rodriguez, Joel Freeland
Grade- A-
As mentioned before, Roy and Aldridge each had successful rookie campaigns. Rodriquez is an exciting player who showed flashes of brilliance backing up PG Jarrett Jack. Freeland was a very nice pick in the late first round. He will stay in England (and off Portland’s payroll) for a few more years, but once he comes over he should be a solid contributor off the bench.
2005- Martell Webster, Jarrett Jack
Grade- B
Webster has shown a lot of potential in his first two years but still lacks consistency. He came into the NBA out of high school regarded as a long range shooter with an NBA-ready body. At 6’7’’ 230, he certainly has displayed the strength and athleticism to be a standout SF, but he shot just 36% from 3 last season. Even though Webster averaged only 7 points per game, he is only 20 years old and figures into the team’s future at SF. Jack emerged as a solid starting PG, averaging 12 points and 5.3 assists per game. He will remain as Portland’s floor general unless he is traded for a proven veteran such as Jason Kidd or Jason Terry.
This Offseason: The team will probably re-sign only one of it’s free agent small forwards (Travis Outlaw and Ime Udoka). More likely than not, Outlaw will not be wearing a Portland jersey next year because he will command a lot of money in the free agent market. Management also realized that a player named “Outlaw” doesn’t exactly help the Jail blazer’s reputation. C Jamaal Magloire is also a free agent, and there is no way Portland will even consider re-signing him. The team will strongly consider trading Randolph to make room for a certain center expected to be added to the roster on June 28. In return, they might go after a PG or SF who would serve as a major upgrade over Jack or Webster. (Kidd, Terry, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter/Richard Jefferson all figure to be on the block).
Draft Outlook: There shouldn’t be much debate over this pick. If any name other than Greg Oden is called, GM Kevin Pritchard should be fired on the spot. In Oden, Portland is getting the best center to come out since Tim Duncan. Though Durant is a special wing player, big men are a lot harder to get and as we’ve seen over the last decade, are instrumental to building a championship team. The team also has four second-round picks (#37, 42, 51, 52). Look for them to take at least one foreign player to keep overseas, a big man such as Alabama’s Jamareo Davidson, and a PG such as Florida’s Taurean Green or Arizona’s Mustafa Shakur. Don’t be surprised if Portland trades some of those picks to move up for another first-round pick or if they package them with Randolph to acquire a veteran. There have been rumors that Portland is interested in trading for a top ten pick so they can draft Greg Oden’s wingman, Mike Conley Jr. Though it may be just a rumor right now, Portland certainly has the players and draft picks to make it happen. A team like Chicago at #8 would be a possible trade partner. Whatever happens, it should be a busy draft day for the Blazers.
Seattle Sonics
Season Recap: Two years removed from a 52-30 record and a birth in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sonics have plummeted over the last few seasons due to injuries and poor drafts. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis were terrific when they were healthy (26.4 and 22.4 ppg respectively), but the duo missed a combined total of 49 games. Part of their 31-51 record can be attributed to that, but much of it is because the Sonics lack good role players around Allen and Lewis. Chris Wilcox continued his emergence as a force inside, averaging 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds while not missing a game. Aside from Wilcox, Seattle has virtually no supporting cast. They lack any starting caliber players at the two most key positions in basketball- point guard and center.
Recent Drafts:
2006: Momahed Saer Sene, Denham Brown, Yotam Halperin
Grade: D-
Sene was a huge reach at #10 and only averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 28 games last season. He is skinny and lacks any type of offensive game and is too much of a project to be considered the center of a team that could have enough weapons to be a contender after this year’s draft. Brown played in the NBDL and Halperin remained in Israel.
2005: Mickael Gelebale
Grade: D
Gelebale averaged 4.6 points in 70 games. Though he was the 48th pick of the draft, players like Boston’s Ryan Gomes and Washington’s Andray Blatche were still on the board. The Sonics also traded their other second rounder, Lawrence Roberts, to Memphis. Roberts has shown to be a solid big man off the bench in his first two seasons with the Grizzlies.
This Offseason: The big question will be what they do with Rashard Lewis. Lewis is an unrestricted free agent and it will take a lot of money to keep him in Seattle (or wherever the Sonics move to). The team will likely draft Kevin Durant 2nd overall, so it would make sense to deal Lewis for a big man or a point guard because Durant and Lewis both play the same position. Shipping Lewis to Portland in exchange for Zach Randolph is a very logical and possible trade. If Randolph were to be added to the roster, Wilcox would likely slide to center. Though that would give them a decent frontcourt, the ideal scenario for Seattle would be to deal Lewis for a PG and have one of their three young centers (Robert Swift, Johan Petro, and Sene) develop into starting material.
In order to clear some cap space, benchwarming PF Danny Fortson will not be re-signed.
Draft Outlook: Seattle recently hired the 30-year-old virgin, Sam Presti, to run the team. Regardless of his age and experience (in terms of running a basketball team and sexually), Presti is not dumb enough to pass on Durant. This is about as easy a pick as we’ve seen since, well…since 5 minutes earlier when Portland picked Greg Oden. In selecting Durant, Rashard Lewis becomes a candidate for a sign-and-trade that will most likely take place after draft day. The team also has two early second round picks (#31 and 35). They should be able to grab two talented players here. Expect one of the picks to be a PG, most likely either Florida’s Taurean Green or Oregon’s Aaron Brooks. The other pick will most likely be a SG to provide some depth behind Ray Allen. UCLA’s Arron Afflalo, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols, and Rice’s Morris Almond are all possibilities.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Season Recap: The window has closed on Kevin Garnett’s time to win a championship in Minnesota. He turned in another All-Star season, averaging 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, but had virtually no supporting cast as the T’Wolves stumbled to a 32-50 record. Rookie Randy Foye was up and down, averaging a respectable 10.1 points per contest. Ricky Davis put up decent numbers (17.1), but has always been a selfish player who lacked a winning mentality (in case you forgot, that was Davis who threw the ball against his own basket in hopes of getting a rebound that would give him a triple-double). Mark Blount was a nice surprise at center, contributing 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Randy Foye, Craig Smith
Grade- B+
Foye should be a big-time player within the next few years. If Garnett could sustain his play for five more years, they would be a very strong 1-2 punch. Smith was a pleasant surprise as the 36th overall pick. He provides some muscle inside and will be a good role player for the next decade or so.
2005- Rashad McCants, Bracey Wright
Grade- D
McCants has been a major disappointment for the 14th overall pick, averaging just 5 points per game while shooting 35% from the field last season. It appears he will never be the player he was thought to be coming out of college.
This Offseason: The T’Wolves only free agent is Bracey Wright, and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter if they re-sign him. The team will try to trade Garnett if they can get the right deal. Chicago is a major possibility, but the Wolves will probably want a combination of Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. The Bulls probably won’t part with two out of those three players, let alone all three. The Mavericks also are a possibility…simply because Mark Cuban is desperate and will do anything to get his team over the hump. My money is on Garnett being in a Minnesota jersey again next year.
Draft Outlook: Minnesota holds the 7th overall pick and could go any direction with the selection. If Mike Conley Jr. is on the board, he would a likely choice. Pairing Conley with Foye in the backcourt would enable them to finally get rid of Ricky Davis and Mike James (if they find any takers for both of those hefty contracts). Other options include Florida SG Corey Brewer, Kansas F Julian Wright, and the pride of China, Yi Jianlian. In the unlikely situation that Brandan Wright is on the board, he would be tough to pass up.
Denver Nuggets
Season Overview: Denver rolled into the post-season, winning 10 of their last 11 regular season games before being bounced in the first round of the playoffs by San Antonio. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony gelled very well as the season went on, averaging a combined 55 points per game. As talented as that duo is, Denver was not a two-man show. Marcus Camby averaged 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game en route to being named Defensive Player of the Year. Nene proved to be a more than adequate power forward and J.R. Smith was one of the leagues best long range bombers. Steve Blake, acquired mid-season from Milwaukee in exchange for Earl Boykins, did a good job distributing the ball and hitting open shots. Despite losing in the first round, Denver has a lot to be excited about for the future.
Recent Drafts:
2006- No Picks
2005- Julius Hodge, Ricky Sanchez, Alex Hervelle
Grade: D-
Hodge is no longer with the team and had little impact during his short stint in Denver. Sanchez is playing in the NBDL and Hervelle is yet to be brought over from Belgium.
This Offseason: Free Agents Steve Blake and Eduardo Najera are likely to be re-signed, while Jamal Sampson and DeMarr Johnson will probably be cut. The team will closely monitor Kenyon Martin’s knee and determine whether they need to sign a big man to bolster the depth behind Camby and Nene. If Martin returns near 100% next year and the duo of Iverson and Anthony continue to gel, the Nuggets could contend for a championship within the next few years.
Draft Outlook: For the second consecutive year, Denver does not have a draft pick. They are a likely candidate to be involved in basketball’s most common trade- when a team with no interest in drafting 27th overall trades their selection for a future first round pick. If this happens, expect Denver to either draft a big man such as French PF Ali Traore.
Utah Jazz
Season Recap: The Jazz returned to their glory days of the late 90s as they reached the Western Conference Finals before being bounced by San Antonio. Carlos Boozer established himself as one of the premier power forwards in the league, averaging 20.9 points and 11.7 rebounds during the regular season and 23.5 and 12.2 rebounds in the playoffs. Deron Williams had a stellar regular season and took a huge step forward during the playoffs, turning in 19.2 points and 8.6 assists per game. Williams has quickly become one of the league’s best point guards. Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring and Gordan Giricek provided Utah with a racist, yet effective supporting cast.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, Dee Brown
Grade: B+
Brewer, the 14th overall pick, didn’t get much playing time, but as soon as his skills catch up with his athleticism, he should be in the starting lineup. Millsap, drafted 46th overall, averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while being named to the All-Rookie 2nd team. He filled in admirably for Boozer and Okur while they were injured.
2005- Deron Williams, CJ Miles
Grade- A-
Williams was not a popular pick when he was drafted 3rd overall ahead of Chris Paul, but after two years, Utah fans have come to love the former Illinois star. He and Boozer have drawn comparisons to Stockton and Malone.
This Offseason: The Jazz should have a relatively quit offseason. It’s only free agents are Rafael Araujo, Brown, and CJ Miles. The team will probably re-sign both Miles and Brown and release the Brazilian bust.
Draft Outlook: Utah holds the 25th and 55th picks in this year’s draft. They are likely to draft a shooting guard with their first pick because Gordan Giricek is struggling and Derek Fisher is old and out of position. Possibilities include Ohio State’s Daequan Cook, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols, and foreigners Marco Belinelli and Rudy Fernandez. The Jazz will probably take the best player available with their second pick regardless of position.
Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
Season Recap: No team picking third in the draft can say they had a successful season, but the Hawks certainly have some things to be happy about coming off of a 30-52 campaign. SG Joe Johnson missed 25 games, but has developed into a bonafide star. He averaged 25 points and a team-high 4.4 assists per game. SF Josh Smith is quickly becoming of the league’s best all-around players, averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3. assists, 2.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals per contest. PF Marvin Williams took a huge step forward after a disappointing rookie year and averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. This core of young players should turnaround the fortune of Atlanta basketball in the coming years.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Shelden Williams, Solomon Jones
Grade- C
Williams struggled in his rookie year while he shared time with the surprisingly productive Zaza Pauchilla. The Landlord will be an impact defender and rebounder off the bench until he develops some go-to post moves.
2005- Salim Stoudamire, Cenk Akyol
Grade- D+
Stoudamire was drafted as a lights-out shooter and terrific perimeter defender with four years of college experience, but he is yet to show any of those traits in his first two seasons with the Hawks. At this point, it appears Stoudamire will be a career back-up. Atlanta may regret passing on Monta Ellis to draft this former Arizona standout.
This Offseason: The Hawks have no free agents of note (Royal Ivey, Stanislav Medevenko, Esteban Basiste). However, there was talk of trading Joe Johnson and one or both of their lottery picks to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant, but now that Bryant wants to be a Laker again, that scenario appears unlikely. Expect most of their offseason activity to be made on draft night.
What to Expect in the Draft: The bottom line is the Hawks need to come out of this draft with a PG because the current four-headed monster of Stoudamire, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, and Speedy Claxton hasn’t done the job. With the #3 and #11 picks, Atlanta should have no trouble finding their floor general of the future. The question is, which pick do they use on a PG? Taking Mike Conley at #3 would be a reach, but there is a good chance that he won’t be available when their next pick comes around. Due to the small gap in talent between Conley and the next two PGs (Javaris Crittenton and Acie Law), it is becoming apparent that Atlanta’s best option would be to draft a big man at #3 and wait until #11 to pick their PG. The best player available with the third pick is Florida PF Al Horford. Horford is ready to step in and start today. Teaming him with Josh Smith and Marvin Williams in the starting lineup would allow Atlanta to bring Pauchilla and Shelden Williams off the bench in what could be one of the league’s best front lines. The team will consider taking Chinese F Yi Jianlian or UNC F Brandan Wright, but ultimately if this pick isn’t Horford, it’s a big mistake.
Atlanta will hope Conley falls to #11, but if he doesn’t, the choice will come down to Law or Crittenton. Law is the more NBA-ready of the two, but Crittenton has more upside than any guard in this draft. In my mind, Atlanta is still a very young team and can afford to wait the two years or so that Crittenton will take to realize his full potential. Aside from Crittenton, the Hawks have other young players (Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, and possibly Al Horford) that would still be developing. When all of these players reach their full capabilities, Atlanta could be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte Bobcats
Season Recap: Charlotte had another rough season in 2006-2007, finishing 33-49. Gerald Wallace came on very strong and emerged as the team’s best player, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2 steals per game. Emeka Okafor is one of the leagues best young big men, as he contributed 14.4 points 11.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per contest. Ray Felton came a long way in his second season as he averaged 14 points and 7 assists a game. Matt Carroll emerged as one of the league’s best three-point shooters, connecting on 41.6% of his long-range attempts.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Adam Morrison
Grade: D
Morrison averaged a respectable 11.8 points per game, but shot poorly from the field and was a terrible defender. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Carroll and it seems as though he will be a career back-up, not something you look for with the 3rd overall pick when Brandon Roy, Randy Foye, Rudy Gay, and Tyrus Thomas were all on the board.
2005- Ray Felton, Sean May
Grade: B
Felton is developing into a very good PG, while May has put together some dominant games when healthy. If they can stay on the court, Felton will be a starter for a long time and May will serve as one of the NBA’s best reserve forwards.
This Offseason: The team has a ton of free agents, headed by Gerald Wallace, who will almost certainly be re-signed. Matt Carroll and Walter Hermann are likely to be re-signed also, but aside from them, Charlotte probably will cut ties with Derek Anderson, Jeff McInnis, and Jake Voshkul. If the team can retain young talents Ryan Hollins and Alan Anderson at a reasonable price, it would be advisable to do so. Charlotte has some cap space to work with, and the thing that is holding them back from making the playoffs is their lack of a true go-to player. They could make a run at Vince Carter or Rashard Lewis in the free-agent market.
Draft Outlook: So far, Michael Jordan is batting .000 making draft picks, but he’ll be in the position to change that this year as the Bobcats draft 8th overall. Jordan will take a long hard look at Florida’s Corey Brewer, a lanky swingman who has drawn comparisons to Jordan’s old buddy Scottie Pippen. The Bobcats desperately need a perimeter defender, so Brewer would make plenty of sense. They also need some height and scoring inside to compliment Emeka Okafor, and finesse center Spencer Hawes of Washington would be an intriguing choice. Kansas F Julian Wright is another versatile forward who will be considered. The Bobcats also hold the 22nd overall pick, which will be used to take a big man if they do indeed take Brewer with their first selection. Another option would be to package the two picks together to move into the Top 5 and draft Kwame Brown…I mean, Al Horford or Brandan Wright.
Orlando Magic
Season Recap: Orlando finished 8th in the East despite a horrible finish, but has a solid young core in Dwight Howard (17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds) and Jameer Nelson (13 points, 4.3 assists). Howard and Nelson should continue to improve under the leadership of fiery new Coach Billy Donovan. If the Magic can add a scorer on the wing to replace Grant Hill and his glass ankles, they may have a chance to finish in the upper half of the Eastern Conference in the coming years.
Recent Drafts:
2006- JJ Redick, James Augustine
Grade- C
Redick struggled mightily in his rookie season, averaging 6 points per game in just 15 minutes of action. Lucky for Redick, Billy Donovan is a master at utilizing spot-up shooters in his offense. Expect Redick to be moved into the starting lineup and play the role that Lee Humphrey played at Florida for Coach Donovan.
2005- Fran Vazquez, Travis Diener
Grade- D
Vazquez, the 11th overall pick, is under contract in Spain until 2009. Donovan has already contacted the young Spanish star and Vazquez said he was so impressed with Coach Donovan that he would attempt to personally pay his club team to release him so he can join the Magic as soon as possible.
This Offseason: The Magic has a sleuth of free agents to make decisions on. It will probably try to re-sign Keyon Dooling and Darko Milicic if neither player demands too much money. Grant Hill, Pat Garrity, and Bo Outlaw are all likely to be released. Orlando has a lot of cap space and will try to lure hometown hero Vince Carter away from the swamps of New Jersey. Carter is the go-to wing scorer that could propel the Magic to the next level. He has expressed interest in playing for Donovan, as has Sonics SF Rashard Lewis. The Magic could come away the big winners in the free agent market.
Draft Outlook: Orlando does not have a first round pick, but does hold two second round selections (44th and 54th overall). Donovan said he is thrilled with the opportunity to draft Taurean Green and Chris Richard. Though Green might not be on the board, expect Donovan to trade up to nab him. Green may not start at PG, but he will supplant Nelson and at times play alongside him in the backcourt.
The difference in the team next year clearly will be Billy Donovan. Thankfully for Orlando fans, Donovan was their man, not someone like say…Stan Van Gundy. That would suck, wouldn’t it?
Washington Wizards
Season Recap: The Wiz looked like the class of the East for a while, and then the injury bug hit. All-NBA PG Gilbert Arenas (28.4 ppg) and SF Caron Butler (19.1 ppg, 7.4 rebounds) both went down with season-ending injuries. Washington finished as the 7th seed in the conference and was severely undermanned in the first round against Cleveland. The Cavs easily took the series as some Washington reserves such as Andray Blatche and Roger Mason Jr. were forced to play major roles.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Oleksiy Pecherov, Vladimir Veremeenko
Grade- INC
Neither player has joined the Wizards or spelled their name correctly since being drafted.
2005- Andray Blatche
Grade- B
Blatche was a great value at 49th overall, and though he was raw coming out of high school, he has the potential to be the post presence that Washington has always lacked.
This Offseason: Essentially all of Washington’s role players are free agents this offseason. Blatche, Mason Jr., Jarvis Hayes, DeShawn Stevenson, Calvin Booth, Mike Hall, and Donnell Taylor all need to re-new their contracts this summer. The team most likely will re-sign Blatche, Mason Jr., and possibly Hayes if he is cheap enough. Stevenson will likely command the most money and will be expendable if the team is able to draft a shooting guard like Thaddeus Young or Nick Young to replace him.
Draft Outlook: Washington holds the 17th and 47th picks in the draft and will target either a SG or a big man who can score, such as Colorado State’s Jason Smith. As tough as Brendan Haywood, Etan Thomas, and Blatche have been inside, none of them is a legitamate offensive threat. Drafting a sweet-shooting big man like Smith would take a lot of pressure off of the perimeter scorers and give Washington a whole different dimension offensively.
Miami Heat
Season Recap: A year removed from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, Miami looked old and lethargic as they were swept out of the first round by the young, energetic Chicago Bulls. The Heat Shaq played in only 40 games and averaged just 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Antoine Walker averaged a career-low 8.5 points per game, James Posey was a huge disappointment (7 ppg), and Gary Payton’s play started spiraling downwards after he got too drunk at Alonzo Mourning’s 50th birthday bash. Miami has it’s centerpiece in Wade, but will need to make some serious changes in order to make another title run.
Recent Drafts:
2006- No Picks
2005- Wayne Simien
Grade- C
Simien has been buried on the depth chart, but with Mourning about to be relocated to a nursing home and Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac about to be relocated to the NBDL, Simien might get a chance to flex his muscle inside.
This Offseason: The only free agent worth re-signing is three-point marksman Jason Kapono. Doleac and Posey will most likely be released, and in the depressing situation that Mourning, Payton, and Eddie Jones decide to play another season, Miami will probably let them go to open up playing time and cap space for younger players. The Heat don’t necessarily need to sign a big-name free agent, they just need some talented young guys with energy to surround Wade and O’Neal.
Draft Outlook: Miami holds the 20th and 38th picks in the draft. They could use help at any position and will likely take NBA ready players with both picks because they don’t have much time to wait for rookies to develop. Expect them to go for a young guard and a young big man, both of whom will probably be college seniors. Possible first-round picks include Acie Law, Gabe Pruitt, and Jason Smith. In the second round, Purdue’s Carl Landry, Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker, or Boston College’s Sean Williams would be wise choices.
Portland Trailblazers
Season Recap: The 06-07 campaign was another disappointing one for a Portland franchise that hasn’t had much to cheer about since the days of Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, and Damon Stoudamire. The Blazers finished with a dismal 32-50 record but did have some bright spots. The team was coming off a horrid 21-61 record in the previous season, and through the 2006 Draft, brought in some talented young players. Brandon Roy won Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4 rebounds per contest. LaMarcus Aldridge, the 2nd overall pick last year, didn’t get much time in a crowded frontcourt early, but came on in March, averaging 14.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game during the month before a rapid heartbeat kept him out for all of April. Though Aldridge was apparently nervous for the end of the season, Zach Randolph clearly was not. Randolph lackadaisically averaged a career-high 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. There is no denying Randolph has talent, but he has run into problems with the law and Coach Nate McMillan during his stay in Portland.
Recent Drafts:
2006- LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Sergio Rodriguez, Joel Freeland
Grade- A-
As mentioned before, Roy and Aldridge each had successful rookie campaigns. Rodriquez is an exciting player who showed flashes of brilliance backing up PG Jarrett Jack. Freeland was a very nice pick in the late first round. He will stay in England (and off Portland’s payroll) for a few more years, but once he comes over he should be a solid contributor off the bench.
2005- Martell Webster, Jarrett Jack
Grade- B
Webster has shown a lot of potential in his first two years but still lacks consistency. He came into the NBA out of high school regarded as a long range shooter with an NBA-ready body. At 6’7’’ 230, he certainly has displayed the strength and athleticism to be a standout SF, but he shot just 36% from 3 last season. Even though Webster averaged only 7 points per game, he is only 20 years old and figures into the team’s future at SF. Jack emerged as a solid starting PG, averaging 12 points and 5.3 assists per game. He will remain as Portland’s floor general unless he is traded for a proven veteran such as Jason Kidd or Jason Terry.
This Offseason: The team will probably re-sign only one of it’s free agent small forwards (Travis Outlaw and Ime Udoka). More likely than not, Outlaw will not be wearing a Portland jersey next year because he will command a lot of money in the free agent market. Management also realized that a player named “Outlaw” doesn’t exactly help the Jail blazer’s reputation. C Jamaal Magloire is also a free agent, and there is no way Portland will even consider re-signing him. The team will strongly consider trading Randolph to make room for a certain center expected to be added to the roster on June 28. In return, they might go after a PG or SF who would serve as a major upgrade over Jack or Webster. (Kidd, Terry, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter/Richard Jefferson all figure to be on the block).
Draft Outlook: There shouldn’t be much debate over this pick. If any name other than Greg Oden is called, GM Kevin Pritchard should be fired on the spot. In Oden, Portland is getting the best center to come out since Tim Duncan. Though Durant is a special wing player, big men are a lot harder to get and as we’ve seen over the last decade, are instrumental to building a championship team. The team also has four second-round picks (#37, 42, 51, 52). Look for them to take at least one foreign player to keep overseas, a big man such as Alabama’s Jamareo Davidson, and a PG such as Florida’s Taurean Green or Arizona’s Mustafa Shakur. Don’t be surprised if Portland trades some of those picks to move up for another first-round pick or if they package them with Randolph to acquire a veteran. There have been rumors that Portland is interested in trading for a top ten pick so they can draft Greg Oden’s wingman, Mike Conley Jr. Though it may be just a rumor right now, Portland certainly has the players and draft picks to make it happen. A team like Chicago at #8 would be a possible trade partner. Whatever happens, it should be a busy draft day for the Blazers.
Seattle Sonics
Season Recap: Two years removed from a 52-30 record and a birth in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sonics have plummeted over the last few seasons due to injuries and poor drafts. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis were terrific when they were healthy (26.4 and 22.4 ppg respectively), but the duo missed a combined total of 49 games. Part of their 31-51 record can be attributed to that, but much of it is because the Sonics lack good role players around Allen and Lewis. Chris Wilcox continued his emergence as a force inside, averaging 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds while not missing a game. Aside from Wilcox, Seattle has virtually no supporting cast. They lack any starting caliber players at the two most key positions in basketball- point guard and center.
Recent Drafts:
2006: Momahed Saer Sene, Denham Brown, Yotam Halperin
Grade: D-
Sene was a huge reach at #10 and only averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 28 games last season. He is skinny and lacks any type of offensive game and is too much of a project to be considered the center of a team that could have enough weapons to be a contender after this year’s draft. Brown played in the NBDL and Halperin remained in Israel.
2005: Mickael Gelebale
Grade: D
Gelebale averaged 4.6 points in 70 games. Though he was the 48th pick of the draft, players like Boston’s Ryan Gomes and Washington’s Andray Blatche were still on the board. The Sonics also traded their other second rounder, Lawrence Roberts, to Memphis. Roberts has shown to be a solid big man off the bench in his first two seasons with the Grizzlies.
This Offseason: The big question will be what they do with Rashard Lewis. Lewis is an unrestricted free agent and it will take a lot of money to keep him in Seattle (or wherever the Sonics move to). The team will likely draft Kevin Durant 2nd overall, so it would make sense to deal Lewis for a big man or a point guard because Durant and Lewis both play the same position. Shipping Lewis to Portland in exchange for Zach Randolph is a very logical and possible trade. If Randolph were to be added to the roster, Wilcox would likely slide to center. Though that would give them a decent frontcourt, the ideal scenario for Seattle would be to deal Lewis for a PG and have one of their three young centers (Robert Swift, Johan Petro, and Sene) develop into starting material.
In order to clear some cap space, benchwarming PF Danny Fortson will not be re-signed.
Draft Outlook: Seattle recently hired the 30-year-old virgin, Sam Presti, to run the team. Regardless of his age and experience (in terms of running a basketball team and sexually), Presti is not dumb enough to pass on Durant. This is about as easy a pick as we’ve seen since, well…since 5 minutes earlier when Portland picked Greg Oden. In selecting Durant, Rashard Lewis becomes a candidate for a sign-and-trade that will most likely take place after draft day. The team also has two early second round picks (#31 and 35). They should be able to grab two talented players here. Expect one of the picks to be a PG, most likely either Florida’s Taurean Green or Oregon’s Aaron Brooks. The other pick will most likely be a SG to provide some depth behind Ray Allen. UCLA’s Arron Afflalo, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols, and Rice’s Morris Almond are all possibilities.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Season Recap: The window has closed on Kevin Garnett’s time to win a championship in Minnesota. He turned in another All-Star season, averaging 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, but had virtually no supporting cast as the T’Wolves stumbled to a 32-50 record. Rookie Randy Foye was up and down, averaging a respectable 10.1 points per contest. Ricky Davis put up decent numbers (17.1), but has always been a selfish player who lacked a winning mentality (in case you forgot, that was Davis who threw the ball against his own basket in hopes of getting a rebound that would give him a triple-double). Mark Blount was a nice surprise at center, contributing 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Randy Foye, Craig Smith
Grade- B+
Foye should be a big-time player within the next few years. If Garnett could sustain his play for five more years, they would be a very strong 1-2 punch. Smith was a pleasant surprise as the 36th overall pick. He provides some muscle inside and will be a good role player for the next decade or so.
2005- Rashad McCants, Bracey Wright
Grade- D
McCants has been a major disappointment for the 14th overall pick, averaging just 5 points per game while shooting 35% from the field last season. It appears he will never be the player he was thought to be coming out of college.
This Offseason: The T’Wolves only free agent is Bracey Wright, and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter if they re-sign him. The team will try to trade Garnett if they can get the right deal. Chicago is a major possibility, but the Wolves will probably want a combination of Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. The Bulls probably won’t part with two out of those three players, let alone all three. The Mavericks also are a possibility…simply because Mark Cuban is desperate and will do anything to get his team over the hump. My money is on Garnett being in a Minnesota jersey again next year.
Draft Outlook: Minnesota holds the 7th overall pick and could go any direction with the selection. If Mike Conley Jr. is on the board, he would a likely choice. Pairing Conley with Foye in the backcourt would enable them to finally get rid of Ricky Davis and Mike James (if they find any takers for both of those hefty contracts). Other options include Florida SG Corey Brewer, Kansas F Julian Wright, and the pride of China, Yi Jianlian. In the unlikely situation that Brandan Wright is on the board, he would be tough to pass up.
Denver Nuggets
Season Overview: Denver rolled into the post-season, winning 10 of their last 11 regular season games before being bounced in the first round of the playoffs by San Antonio. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony gelled very well as the season went on, averaging a combined 55 points per game. As talented as that duo is, Denver was not a two-man show. Marcus Camby averaged 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game en route to being named Defensive Player of the Year. Nene proved to be a more than adequate power forward and J.R. Smith was one of the leagues best long range bombers. Steve Blake, acquired mid-season from Milwaukee in exchange for Earl Boykins, did a good job distributing the ball and hitting open shots. Despite losing in the first round, Denver has a lot to be excited about for the future.
Recent Drafts:
2006- No Picks
2005- Julius Hodge, Ricky Sanchez, Alex Hervelle
Grade: D-
Hodge is no longer with the team and had little impact during his short stint in Denver. Sanchez is playing in the NBDL and Hervelle is yet to be brought over from Belgium.
This Offseason: Free Agents Steve Blake and Eduardo Najera are likely to be re-signed, while Jamal Sampson and DeMarr Johnson will probably be cut. The team will closely monitor Kenyon Martin’s knee and determine whether they need to sign a big man to bolster the depth behind Camby and Nene. If Martin returns near 100% next year and the duo of Iverson and Anthony continue to gel, the Nuggets could contend for a championship within the next few years.
Draft Outlook: For the second consecutive year, Denver does not have a draft pick. They are a likely candidate to be involved in basketball’s most common trade- when a team with no interest in drafting 27th overall trades their selection for a future first round pick. If this happens, expect Denver to either draft a big man such as French PF Ali Traore.
Utah Jazz
Season Recap: The Jazz returned to their glory days of the late 90s as they reached the Western Conference Finals before being bounced by San Antonio. Carlos Boozer established himself as one of the premier power forwards in the league, averaging 20.9 points and 11.7 rebounds during the regular season and 23.5 and 12.2 rebounds in the playoffs. Deron Williams had a stellar regular season and took a huge step forward during the playoffs, turning in 19.2 points and 8.6 assists per game. Williams has quickly become one of the league’s best point guards. Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring and Gordan Giricek provided Utah with a racist, yet effective supporting cast.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, Dee Brown
Grade: B+
Brewer, the 14th overall pick, didn’t get much playing time, but as soon as his skills catch up with his athleticism, he should be in the starting lineup. Millsap, drafted 46th overall, averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while being named to the All-Rookie 2nd team. He filled in admirably for Boozer and Okur while they were injured.
2005- Deron Williams, CJ Miles
Grade- A-
Williams was not a popular pick when he was drafted 3rd overall ahead of Chris Paul, but after two years, Utah fans have come to love the former Illinois star. He and Boozer have drawn comparisons to Stockton and Malone.
This Offseason: The Jazz should have a relatively quit offseason. It’s only free agents are Rafael Araujo, Brown, and CJ Miles. The team will probably re-sign both Miles and Brown and release the Brazilian bust.
Draft Outlook: Utah holds the 25th and 55th picks in this year’s draft. They are likely to draft a shooting guard with their first pick because Gordan Giricek is struggling and Derek Fisher is old and out of position. Possibilities include Ohio State’s Daequan Cook, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols, and foreigners Marco Belinelli and Rudy Fernandez. The Jazz will probably take the best player available with their second pick regardless of position.
Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
Season Recap: No team picking third in the draft can say they had a successful season, but the Hawks certainly have some things to be happy about coming off of a 30-52 campaign. SG Joe Johnson missed 25 games, but has developed into a bonafide star. He averaged 25 points and a team-high 4.4 assists per game. SF Josh Smith is quickly becoming of the league’s best all-around players, averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3. assists, 2.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals per contest. PF Marvin Williams took a huge step forward after a disappointing rookie year and averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. This core of young players should turnaround the fortune of Atlanta basketball in the coming years.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Shelden Williams, Solomon Jones
Grade- C
Williams struggled in his rookie year while he shared time with the surprisingly productive Zaza Pauchilla. The Landlord will be an impact defender and rebounder off the bench until he develops some go-to post moves.
2005- Salim Stoudamire, Cenk Akyol
Grade- D+
Stoudamire was drafted as a lights-out shooter and terrific perimeter defender with four years of college experience, but he is yet to show any of those traits in his first two seasons with the Hawks. At this point, it appears Stoudamire will be a career back-up. Atlanta may regret passing on Monta Ellis to draft this former Arizona standout.
This Offseason: The Hawks have no free agents of note (Royal Ivey, Stanislav Medevenko, Esteban Basiste). However, there was talk of trading Joe Johnson and one or both of their lottery picks to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant, but now that Bryant wants to be a Laker again, that scenario appears unlikely. Expect most of their offseason activity to be made on draft night.
What to Expect in the Draft: The bottom line is the Hawks need to come out of this draft with a PG because the current four-headed monster of Stoudamire, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, and Speedy Claxton hasn’t done the job. With the #3 and #11 picks, Atlanta should have no trouble finding their floor general of the future. The question is, which pick do they use on a PG? Taking Mike Conley at #3 would be a reach, but there is a good chance that he won’t be available when their next pick comes around. Due to the small gap in talent between Conley and the next two PGs (Javaris Crittenton and Acie Law), it is becoming apparent that Atlanta’s best option would be to draft a big man at #3 and wait until #11 to pick their PG. The best player available with the third pick is Florida PF Al Horford. Horford is ready to step in and start today. Teaming him with Josh Smith and Marvin Williams in the starting lineup would allow Atlanta to bring Pauchilla and Shelden Williams off the bench in what could be one of the league’s best front lines. The team will consider taking Chinese F Yi Jianlian or UNC F Brandan Wright, but ultimately if this pick isn’t Horford, it’s a big mistake.
Atlanta will hope Conley falls to #11, but if he doesn’t, the choice will come down to Law or Crittenton. Law is the more NBA-ready of the two, but Crittenton has more upside than any guard in this draft. In my mind, Atlanta is still a very young team and can afford to wait the two years or so that Crittenton will take to realize his full potential. Aside from Crittenton, the Hawks have other young players (Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, and possibly Al Horford) that would still be developing. When all of these players reach their full capabilities, Atlanta could be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte Bobcats
Season Recap: Charlotte had another rough season in 2006-2007, finishing 33-49. Gerald Wallace came on very strong and emerged as the team’s best player, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2 steals per game. Emeka Okafor is one of the leagues best young big men, as he contributed 14.4 points 11.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per contest. Ray Felton came a long way in his second season as he averaged 14 points and 7 assists a game. Matt Carroll emerged as one of the league’s best three-point shooters, connecting on 41.6% of his long-range attempts.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Adam Morrison
Grade: D
Morrison averaged a respectable 11.8 points per game, but shot poorly from the field and was a terrible defender. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Carroll and it seems as though he will be a career back-up, not something you look for with the 3rd overall pick when Brandon Roy, Randy Foye, Rudy Gay, and Tyrus Thomas were all on the board.
2005- Ray Felton, Sean May
Grade: B
Felton is developing into a very good PG, while May has put together some dominant games when healthy. If they can stay on the court, Felton will be a starter for a long time and May will serve as one of the NBA’s best reserve forwards.
This Offseason: The team has a ton of free agents, headed by Gerald Wallace, who will almost certainly be re-signed. Matt Carroll and Walter Hermann are likely to be re-signed also, but aside from them, Charlotte probably will cut ties with Derek Anderson, Jeff McInnis, and Jake Voshkul. If the team can retain young talents Ryan Hollins and Alan Anderson at a reasonable price, it would be advisable to do so. Charlotte has some cap space to work with, and the thing that is holding them back from making the playoffs is their lack of a true go-to player. They could make a run at Vince Carter or Rashard Lewis in the free-agent market.
Draft Outlook: So far, Michael Jordan is batting .000 making draft picks, but he’ll be in the position to change that this year as the Bobcats draft 8th overall. Jordan will take a long hard look at Florida’s Corey Brewer, a lanky swingman who has drawn comparisons to Jordan’s old buddy Scottie Pippen. The Bobcats desperately need a perimeter defender, so Brewer would make plenty of sense. They also need some height and scoring inside to compliment Emeka Okafor, and finesse center Spencer Hawes of Washington would be an intriguing choice. Kansas F Julian Wright is another versatile forward who will be considered. The Bobcats also hold the 22nd overall pick, which will be used to take a big man if they do indeed take Brewer with their first selection. Another option would be to package the two picks together to move into the Top 5 and draft Kwame Brown…I mean, Al Horford or Brandan Wright.
Orlando Magic
Season Recap: Orlando finished 8th in the East despite a horrible finish, but has a solid young core in Dwight Howard (17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds) and Jameer Nelson (13 points, 4.3 assists). Howard and Nelson should continue to improve under the leadership of fiery new Coach Billy Donovan. If the Magic can add a scorer on the wing to replace Grant Hill and his glass ankles, they may have a chance to finish in the upper half of the Eastern Conference in the coming years.
Recent Drafts:
2006- JJ Redick, James Augustine
Grade- C
Redick struggled mightily in his rookie season, averaging 6 points per game in just 15 minutes of action. Lucky for Redick, Billy Donovan is a master at utilizing spot-up shooters in his offense. Expect Redick to be moved into the starting lineup and play the role that Lee Humphrey played at Florida for Coach Donovan.
2005- Fran Vazquez, Travis Diener
Grade- D
Vazquez, the 11th overall pick, is under contract in Spain until 2009. Donovan has already contacted the young Spanish star and Vazquez said he was so impressed with Coach Donovan that he would attempt to personally pay his club team to release him so he can join the Magic as soon as possible.
This Offseason: The Magic has a sleuth of free agents to make decisions on. It will probably try to re-sign Keyon Dooling and Darko Milicic if neither player demands too much money. Grant Hill, Pat Garrity, and Bo Outlaw are all likely to be released. Orlando has a lot of cap space and will try to lure hometown hero Vince Carter away from the swamps of New Jersey. Carter is the go-to wing scorer that could propel the Magic to the next level. He has expressed interest in playing for Donovan, as has Sonics SF Rashard Lewis. The Magic could come away the big winners in the free agent market.
Draft Outlook: Orlando does not have a first round pick, but does hold two second round selections (44th and 54th overall). Donovan said he is thrilled with the opportunity to draft Taurean Green and Chris Richard. Though Green might not be on the board, expect Donovan to trade up to nab him. Green may not start at PG, but he will supplant Nelson and at times play alongside him in the backcourt.
The difference in the team next year clearly will be Billy Donovan. Thankfully for Orlando fans, Donovan was their man, not someone like say…Stan Van Gundy. That would suck, wouldn’t it?
Washington Wizards
Season Recap: The Wiz looked like the class of the East for a while, and then the injury bug hit. All-NBA PG Gilbert Arenas (28.4 ppg) and SF Caron Butler (19.1 ppg, 7.4 rebounds) both went down with season-ending injuries. Washington finished as the 7th seed in the conference and was severely undermanned in the first round against Cleveland. The Cavs easily took the series as some Washington reserves such as Andray Blatche and Roger Mason Jr. were forced to play major roles.
Recent Drafts:
2006- Oleksiy Pecherov, Vladimir Veremeenko
Grade- INC
Neither player has joined the Wizards or spelled their name correctly since being drafted.
2005- Andray Blatche
Grade- B
Blatche was a great value at 49th overall, and though he was raw coming out of high school, he has the potential to be the post presence that Washington has always lacked.
This Offseason: Essentially all of Washington’s role players are free agents this offseason. Blatche, Mason Jr., Jarvis Hayes, DeShawn Stevenson, Calvin Booth, Mike Hall, and Donnell Taylor all need to re-new their contracts this summer. The team most likely will re-sign Blatche, Mason Jr., and possibly Hayes if he is cheap enough. Stevenson will likely command the most money and will be expendable if the team is able to draft a shooting guard like Thaddeus Young or Nick Young to replace him.
Draft Outlook: Washington holds the 17th and 47th picks in the draft and will target either a SG or a big man who can score, such as Colorado State’s Jason Smith. As tough as Brendan Haywood, Etan Thomas, and Blatche have been inside, none of them is a legitamate offensive threat. Drafting a sweet-shooting big man like Smith would take a lot of pressure off of the perimeter scorers and give Washington a whole different dimension offensively.
Miami Heat
Season Recap: A year removed from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, Miami looked old and lethargic as they were swept out of the first round by the young, energetic Chicago Bulls. The Heat Shaq played in only 40 games and averaged just 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Antoine Walker averaged a career-low 8.5 points per game, James Posey was a huge disappointment (7 ppg), and Gary Payton’s play started spiraling downwards after he got too drunk at Alonzo Mourning’s 50th birthday bash. Miami has it’s centerpiece in Wade, but will need to make some serious changes in order to make another title run.
Recent Drafts:
2006- No Picks
2005- Wayne Simien
Grade- C
Simien has been buried on the depth chart, but with Mourning about to be relocated to a nursing home and Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac about to be relocated to the NBDL, Simien might get a chance to flex his muscle inside.
This Offseason: The only free agent worth re-signing is three-point marksman Jason Kapono. Doleac and Posey will most likely be released, and in the depressing situation that Mourning, Payton, and Eddie Jones decide to play another season, Miami will probably let them go to open up playing time and cap space for younger players. The Heat don’t necessarily need to sign a big-name free agent, they just need some talented young guys with energy to surround Wade and O’Neal.
Draft Outlook: Miami holds the 20th and 38th picks in the draft. They could use help at any position and will likely take NBA ready players with both picks because they don’t have much time to wait for rookies to develop. Expect them to go for a young guard and a young big man, both of whom will probably be college seniors. Possible first-round picks include Acie Law, Gabe Pruitt, and Jason Smith. In the second round, Purdue’s Carl Landry, Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker, or Boston College’s Sean Williams would be wise choices.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Positional Rankings
I will be breaking down each position in the next few weeks. The first installment is the deep and talented class of point guards. While there may not be one stud player in this group, there are five or six legitimate starters, two of which have the potential to emerge as stars.
Point Guards
1. Mike Conley 6’0’’ 175 Ohio State
Strengths: Tremendous quickness, athleticism, and feel for the game.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot is improving but still a bit streaky.
2. Javaris Crittenton 6’5’’ 199 Georgia Tech
Strengths: Size, athleticism, ability to get to the basket and make plays.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot can be inconsistent; can be turnover prone.
3. Acie Law 6’3’’ 195 Texas A+M
Strengths: Clutch shooting, ability to get to the basket.
Weaknesses: Needs the ball in his hands constantly, similar to Sam Cassell. Can still further develop his playmaking skills.
4. Rodney Stuckey 6’4’’ 200 Eastern Washington
Strengths: Supposedly is a dynamite scorer with great burst and strength (Can’t say I’ve seen him play)
Weaknesses: Apparently is a combo-guard who doesn’t have the court vision of a true PG.
5. Gabe Pruitt 6’4’’ 170 USC
Strengths: Superior quickness and reliable three-point shooting ability.
Weaknesses: Lacks strength to get to the rim. Could improve as a playmaker.
6. Taurean Green 6’0’’ 177 Florida
Strengths: Knows how to win. Makes big shots and does everything fairly well.
Weaknesses: No glaring weaknesses, but he’s not outstanding at anything. Size may be an issue.
7. Aaron Brooks 5’11’’ 161 Oregon
Strengths: Cat-like quickness and the ability to catch fire and hit from anywhere. Should have a similar career to Earl Boykins as a spark off the bench.
Weaknesses: Obviously his lack of size will hurt against bigger guards. Tends to play a little too fast for his own good sometimes.
8. Dominic James 5’11’’ 175 Marquette
Strengths: Unrivaled strength and leaping ability for his size. Can get to the rim at will. Potential to be a shutdown defender.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot must become more consistent for him to play in the NBA.
9. Mustafa Shakur 6’3’’ 183 Arizona
Strengths: Good size, speed, and athleticism and skills that you look for in a PG. Is a pesky defender with long arms.
Weaknesses: Plays out of control and carelessly at times. Doesn’t have an overly consistent three-point shot.
10. Bobby Brown 6’1’’ 170 Cal State-Fullerton
Strengths: Can really shoot the ball. Can spot up or create off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Cocaine.
Honorable Mention: Sean Singletary 5’11’’ 170 Virginia, Jared Jordan 6’3’’ 183 Marist, Stanley Burrell 6’2’’ 200 Xavier, Ramon Sessions 6’3’’ 190 Nevada.
Best Shooter: Aaron Brooks
Best Passer: Javaris Crittenton
Best Handle: Mike Conley Jr.
Best Rebounder: Javaris Crittenton
Fastest: Mike Conley Jr.
Best Defender: Mustafa Shakur
Best Dunker: Dominic James
Best Shot-Blocker: Rodney Stuckey
Best at Drawing Charges: Taurean Green
Best at Arguing with the Ref: Acie Law
Five Years from now…
PG Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Javaris Crittenton
Crittenton could fall behind Law, Stuckey, and even Pruitt in this draft. If so, teams will regret it because Crittenton is the most talented PG in the draft. He may need a year or so of seasoning, but this dynamic freshman will be a standout at the next level.
PG Everyone is Thankful They Passed Up: Dominic James
James might be a highlight reel waiting to happen, but unfortunately for him ESPN rarely runs highlights of players dunking in warm-ups.
All-Pros: Javaris Crittenton and Mike Conley Jr.
Starters: Acie Law, Rodney Stuckey, Taurean Green, Gabe Pruitt
Role Players: Aaron Brooks
Shooting Guards
1. Thaddeus Young 6’8’’ 211 Georgia Tech
Strengths: Blessed with incredible athleticism and feel for the game. His jumpshot is further along than most other 18-year-olds.
Weaknesses: Ballhandling still needs some work. Could add some weight to his frame as well.
2. Nick Young 6’7’’ 200 USC
Strengths: Ability to fill a role, make plays as a defender, and create his own shots off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Sometimes drifts in games. His jumpshot may need some polish.
3. Derrick Byers 6’7’’ 225 Vanderbilt
Strengths: Four-year player with developed skills and body for the NBA. Great ballhandler for a wing.
Weaknesses: Good at everything, but no one skill really blows you away. Is a reliable jumpshooter but may need to work on his range to become a threat from the NBA 3-point line.
4. Daequan Cook 6’5’’ 195 Ohio State
Strengths: Can score in a number of ways. Great shooter with range that can also get to the basket and draw contact. Above-average defender.
Weaknesses: Didn’t get a chance to showcase his scoring skills at Ohio State, and could have used a year or two more of polishing in college. He is a little undersized for an NBA shooting guard.
5. Marco Belinelli 6’6’’ 200 Italy
Strengths: Lights-out three point shooter. Can really handle the ball and create his shot off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t possess great athleticism and that could hurt him defensively.
6. Demetris Nichols 6’7’’ 205 Syracuse
Strengths: Rangy three-point shooter who can hit going either direction and fading away. Good length, quickness, and strength for his size.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t create his own shot exceptionally well and could improve on the defensive end.
7. Russell Carter 6’4’’ 225 Notre Dame
Strengths: Game grew in leaps and bounds over his time at Notre Dame. Developed into a terrific scorer and three-point shooter. Has the strength of an NFL player to go along with the hops of an Olympic jumper.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t utilize his strength and athleticism and too often settles for jumpers. He is a little short to play SG in the NBA.
8. Rudy Fernandez 6’6’’ 172 Spain
Strengths: Athletic all-around scorer who can step back and hit the three with consistency. Very creative offensively.
Weaknesses: Really needs to put on some weight. His ability as a defender has come into question.
9. Morris Almond 6’6’’ 214 Rice
Strengths: Big-time scorer who can hit from outside and use his strength to get to the free throw line.
Weaknesses: Didn’t face strong competition in college. Ballhandling is questionable.
10. Marcus Williams 6’7’’ 207 Arizona
Strengths: Aggressive player who can score in a bunch of ways. His long arms make him a nuisance on defense.
Weaknesses: Shot selection needs serious improvement. Not a good enough shooter to take some of the shots he does.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Afflalo 6’5’’ 215 UCLA, Ron Lewis 6’4’’ 195 Ohio State, Trey Johnson 6’5’’ 218 Jackson State, Coby Karl 6’5’’ 209 Boise State, Marko Tomas 6’8’’ 198 Croatia, Renaldas Seibutis 6’6’’ 180 Lithuania.
Best Scorer: Thaddeus Young
Best Shooter: Marco Belinelli
Best Passer: Derrick Byers
Best Handle: Derrick Byers
Best Rebounder: Marcus Williams
Best Athlete: Thaddeus Young
Best Defender: Nick Young
Best Instincts: Rudy Fernandez
Best Dunker: Thaddeus Young
Best Shot-Blocker: Nick Young
Best Dressed: Aaron Afflalo
Best Smile: Derrick Byers
Five Years From Now….
SG Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Russell Carter
Carter will likely be a late-second round pick and will be the steal of the draft. He is a legitimate threat from three-point range and will come into the NBA as one of the strongest, most athletic guards in the league. If he learns to use his physical gifts and drive to the basket instead of always settling for jumpshots, Carter could be a 20 point per game scorer at the next level.
SG Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Aaron Afflalo
Nothing against Afflalo, he was a great college player, but his game does not translate as well to the NBA as many of the the players that will be drafted behind him.
All-Pros: Thaddeus Young
Starters: Derrick Byers, Nick Young, Russell Carter, Daequan Cook, Demetris Nichols, Marco Belinelli
Role Players: Rudy Fernandez, Morris Almond, Aaron Afflalo, Marcus Williams
Small Forward
1. Kevin Durant 6'10'' 210 Texas
Strengths: Can score from anywhere on the floor. His 7'5'' wingspan and elite shooting touch are a very rare combination.
Weaknesses: His weakness is, well....his weakness. Durant makes Tayshaun Prince look like a bodybuilder. He needs to add some muscle and quickness to fulfill his All-Star potential.
2. Julian Wright 6’9’’ 210 Kansas
Strengths: Very long, athletic, versatile and unselfish. Great ballhandler and passer.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a reliable jumpshot or post game.
3. Corey Brewer 6’8’’ 185 Florida
Strengths: Great length and quickness. Was one of the great defenders in the college game. Improved his jumpshot each season.
Weaknesses: Nicknamed the “Drunk Dribbler” because of his awkward ballhandling. Is rail thin and even though he benched well at the combine, will need to add some mass to his skinny frame.
4. Jeff Green 6’9’’ 228 Georgetown
Strengths: Big, strong forward with good all-around skills and unselfishness. Is as ready for the NBA as anyone in this draft.
Weaknesses: Skills are all relatively good, but no one skill is off the charts. Doesn’t have NBA three-point range yet.
5. Reyshawn Terry 6’7’’ 232 North Carolina
Strengths: Four-year player at UNC. Does everything well. Has the strength and athleticism to be a great defender in the NBA. Will be able to hit the NBA three.
Weaknesses: Like Green, is good at everything but not outstanding at anything in particular. Overall, he’s a complete prospect that will get serious playing time as a rookie despite being a late first or early second round pick.
6. Dominic McGuire 6’8’’ 210 Fresno State
Strengths: Extremely long and athletic. One of the best shot-blockers in this year’s class.
Weaknesses: Poor shooter with a very underdeveloped offensive game. Skills need a lot of work, but has tremendous potential.
7. Wilson Chandler 6’7’’ 230 DePaul
Strengths: Prototypical size and athleticism for an NBA SF. Has good form on his shot and showed a lot of improvement as a three-point shooter last season.
Weaknesses: Left after sophomore year. Though he has a lot of potential, Chandler is far from a finished product.
8. Alando Tucker 6’5’’ 210 Wisconsin
Strengths: Great scorer at the college level. Very hard-nosed defensively. Has a winning attitude.
Weaknesses: May not possess the size, athleticism, and shooting ability to translate his collegiate success to the NBA.
9. Jared Dudley 6’7’’ 225 Boston College
Strengths: Uses his body very well inside. Shooting stroke improved drastically over his four years in college.
Weaknesses: Below-average athlete at the NBA level. Won’t be able to defend or create very well because of his lack of footspeed.
10. Quinton Hosley 6’6’’ 210 Fresno State
Strengths: Good athlete with long arms and ability to catch and shoot.
Weaknesses: Though he has a lot of potential as a defender, he needs work on his technique. Not overly capable of creating his own shot.
Honorable Mention: Curtis Sumpter 6’7’’ 223 Villanova, Sun Yue 6’9’’ 205 China.
Best Scorer: Kevin Durant
Best Shooter: Kevin Durant
Best Passer: Julian Wright
Best Handle: Julian Wright
Best Rebounder: Kevin Durant
Best Defender: Corey Brewer
Best Athlete: Dominic McGuire
Best Shot-Blocker: Dominic McGuire
Best Instincts: Alando Tucker
Best to Bring Home to Mom and Dad: Jeff Green
Five Years From Now…
SF Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Reyshawn Terry
Terry is no Kevin Durant, but he will be a Josh Howard-like steal in the late first round. If he ends up going to San Antonio at #28, he will take over for Bruce Bowen and the Spurs won’t miss a beat.
SF Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: No one.
Overall, this is a very impressive class of small forwards. Each player in the Top 10 has the ability to be an NBA starter.
All-Pros: Kevin Durant, Reyshawn Terry
Starters: Julian Wright, Corey Brewer, Dominic McGuire, Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler
Role Players: Alando Tucker, Jared Dudley, Quinton Hosley
Power Forward
1. Al Horford 6’9’’ 244 Florida
Strengths: Big, strong body with developed skills on both ends. Is ready to play right away.
Weaknesses: Needs to improve consistency and range on jumpshot to become a true star. We’ve seen Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer really develop a jumper in the NBA, and there is no reason why Horford won’t be able to do the same.
2. Brandan Wright 6’10’’ 210 North Carolina
Strengths: 7’4’’ wingspan. Basketball is all about length, and Wright uses his effectively at both ends.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a polished offensive game and is very weak. Won’t be able to use his length and athleticism at the next level unless he bulks up and becomes a better shooter.
3. Al Thornton 6’7’’ 210 Florida State
Strengths: Possesses tremendous athleticism. Does everything well, can score from anywhere on the court. Fantastic rebounder and shot-blocker for his size.
Weaknesses: Is a little small to play power forward at the next level. His ballhandling isn’t good enough yet to play small forward, so he may be a bit of a tweener right now.
4. Yi Jianlian 7’0’’ 242 China
Strengths: Versatile offensive game. Can handle the ball for a 7-footer, displays nice athleticism, and good range on his jumpshot.
Weaknesses: Lacks go-to post moves and body strength. Might have trouble against bigger power forwards and might be too slow to play small forward.
5. Joakim Noah 7’0’’ 230 Florida
Strengths: Incredible passion for the game. Will hustle, rebound, and block shots. Does everything necessary to win. Offensive skills are underrated.
Weaknesses: Can do some damage in the post, but displays little ability to shoot turnaround jumpshots or anything outside of the paint. Will get muscled around inside until he puts on some weight.
6. Jason Smith 7’0’’ 233 Colorado State
Strengths: Polished offensive skills. Scores well inside and out. Has advanced fundamentals for his age. Ran, jumped, and benched very well in the combine.
Weaknesses: Plays soft at times and is often pushed out of position inside.
7. Ali Traore 6’9’’ 239 France
Strengths: Very physical player who will score on strength and athleticism alone. Good rebounder for his height.
Weaknesses: Despite long arms and good leaping ability, Traore does not block a lot of shots. Post skills are still a work in progress.
8. Josh McRoberts 6’10’’ 240 Duke
Strengths: Great handle and passing ability for a big man. Can hit from mid-range with regularity. Finds ways to score inside.
Weaknesses: Not very quick, strong, or athletic for an NBA PF. Will have trouble utilizing his skills against better athletes.
9. Carl Landry 6’9’’ 245 Purdue
Strengths: Uses his body very well. Hard-nosed competitor who knows how to score on the block. Can hit the mid-range jumper consistently.
Weaknesses: Not overly tall or athletic. Will have trouble scoring against and defending longer players.
10. Tiago Splitter 6’11’ 236 Brazil
Strengths: Shows great mobility and activity inside for a big man. Is an aggressive rebounder and defender.
Weaknesses: Despite entering the NBA Draft and withdrawing in each of the past 8 years, Splitter still has not developed a refined offensive game. Will get most of his points on offensive rebounds and loose balls. Could stand to gain some weight.
Honorable Mention: Herbert Hill 6’10’’ 240 Providence, Nick Fazekas 6'11'' 240 Nevada, Jamareo Davidson 6’10’’ 220 Alabama, Coleman Collins 6’9’’ 240 Virginia Tech, Glen Davis 6’8’’ 480 LSU
Best Scorer: Al Horford
Best Shooter: Jason Smith
Best Passer: Josh McRoberts
Best Handle: Josh McRoberts
Best Rebounder: Al Horford
Best Defender: Joakim Noah
Best Athlete: Al Thornton
Best Shot-Blocker: Brandan Wright
Best Instincts: Al Horford
Class Flirt: Yi Jianlian
Best Eyes: Brandan Wright
Five Years from now…
PF Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Ali Traore
Traore will likely fall into the second round and will be a steal for whoever gets him. Though he might take a few years to develop offensively, Traore has all the tools to be a force in the NBA.
PF Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Brandan Wright
Wright will go much higher than he deserves. He has tremendous length and potential, but his offense and his body are a long way from being able to contribute on a regular basis. Guys like Al Thornton and Jason Smith will go after Wright, but will have a much greater impact.
All-Pros: Al Horford
Starters: Al Thornton, Joakim Noah, Yi Jianlian, Brandan Wright, Ali Traore, Jason Smith
Role Players: Carl Landry, Josh McRoberts, Tiago Splitter, Herbert Hill, Nick Fazekas
Center
1. Greg Oden 7’0’’ 257 Ohio State
Strengths: An absolute beast of a man. Will change games as a rookie by rebounding and blocking shots. Uses both hands extremely well. Can knock down free throws.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a bad post game, but his post skills are still a work in progress. I would insert an “old” joke here, but I’ve worn those out already.
2. Spencer Hawes 7’0’’ 244 Washington
Strengths: Advanced low-post scoring skills and good shooting touch.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t possess overwhelming athleticism, but has enough to get by.
3. Sean Williams 6’10’’ 235 Boston College
Strengths: Arguably the best shot-blocker to come into the league in years. Will be one of the most athletic centers in the NBA.
Weaknesses: Very unpolished offensively. Has a tendency to get into trouble off the court.
4. Marc Gasol 7’0’’ 270 Spain
Strengths: Great size and strength with an understanding of how to use his body in the post. Good shooting touch for a big man.
Weaknesses: Would probably be the next candidate to race Dick Bovetta on All-Star weekend. Doesn’t have quickness or athleticism to run and jump with many NBA centers.
5. Aaron Gray 7’1’’ 280 Pittsburgh
Strengths: Terrific body strength and low post game. Can shoot the ball consistently out to 15 feet.
Weaknesses: Like Gasol, will really struggle keeping up with more athletic centers.
6. Kyle Visser 6’11’’ 250 Wake Forest
Strengths: Good all-around prospect. Has decent size, athleticism, and offensive skills.
Weaknesses: Not an overly explosive player. Doesn’t provide a shot-blocking threat and is turnover prone when double teamed.
7. Shagari Alleyne 7’3’’ 270 Manhattan
Strengths: Tremendous size, has added a lot of weight to his frame since his late high school and early college years.
Weaknesses: Very unrefined offensive skills. Probably will never be a reliable offensive player.
8. Stanko Barac 7’1’’ 220 Bosnia
Strengths: He’s Tall.
Weaknessses: He sucks.
You know what…lets just stop there.
Best Scorer: Spencer Hawes
Best Shooter: Spencer Hawes
Best Passer: Aaron Gray
Best Handle: N/A
Best Rebounder: Greg Oden
Best Defender: Greg Oden
Best Athlete: Sean Williams
Best Shot-Blocker: Sean Williams
Best Instincts: Greg Oden
Class Clown: Marc Gasol
Class Heartthrob: Kyle Visser
Five Years from now…
C Everyone Wishes They Drafted: Greg Oden
Not that Oden will fall down the draft board, because that just isn’t happening. Teams will regret sending an unlucky representative to the lottery and thus not getting the chance to draft the man-child out of Ohio State.
C Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Stanko Barac
Using a second-round pick on Barac would even be a waste. That’s how bad this guy is. I’ve never seen him play, but I guarantee that he’ll never step foot on an NBA floor.
All-Pros: Greg Oden
Starters: Spencer Hawes
Role Players: Marc Gasol, Sean Williams, Aaron Gray
Point Guards
1. Mike Conley 6’0’’ 175 Ohio State
Strengths: Tremendous quickness, athleticism, and feel for the game.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot is improving but still a bit streaky.
2. Javaris Crittenton 6’5’’ 199 Georgia Tech
Strengths: Size, athleticism, ability to get to the basket and make plays.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot can be inconsistent; can be turnover prone.
3. Acie Law 6’3’’ 195 Texas A+M
Strengths: Clutch shooting, ability to get to the basket.
Weaknesses: Needs the ball in his hands constantly, similar to Sam Cassell. Can still further develop his playmaking skills.
4. Rodney Stuckey 6’4’’ 200 Eastern Washington
Strengths: Supposedly is a dynamite scorer with great burst and strength (Can’t say I’ve seen him play)
Weaknesses: Apparently is a combo-guard who doesn’t have the court vision of a true PG.
5. Gabe Pruitt 6’4’’ 170 USC
Strengths: Superior quickness and reliable three-point shooting ability.
Weaknesses: Lacks strength to get to the rim. Could improve as a playmaker.
6. Taurean Green 6’0’’ 177 Florida
Strengths: Knows how to win. Makes big shots and does everything fairly well.
Weaknesses: No glaring weaknesses, but he’s not outstanding at anything. Size may be an issue.
7. Aaron Brooks 5’11’’ 161 Oregon
Strengths: Cat-like quickness and the ability to catch fire and hit from anywhere. Should have a similar career to Earl Boykins as a spark off the bench.
Weaknesses: Obviously his lack of size will hurt against bigger guards. Tends to play a little too fast for his own good sometimes.
8. Dominic James 5’11’’ 175 Marquette
Strengths: Unrivaled strength and leaping ability for his size. Can get to the rim at will. Potential to be a shutdown defender.
Weaknesses: Jumpshot must become more consistent for him to play in the NBA.
9. Mustafa Shakur 6’3’’ 183 Arizona
Strengths: Good size, speed, and athleticism and skills that you look for in a PG. Is a pesky defender with long arms.
Weaknesses: Plays out of control and carelessly at times. Doesn’t have an overly consistent three-point shot.
10. Bobby Brown 6’1’’ 170 Cal State-Fullerton
Strengths: Can really shoot the ball. Can spot up or create off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Cocaine.
Honorable Mention: Sean Singletary 5’11’’ 170 Virginia, Jared Jordan 6’3’’ 183 Marist, Stanley Burrell 6’2’’ 200 Xavier, Ramon Sessions 6’3’’ 190 Nevada.
Best Shooter: Aaron Brooks
Best Passer: Javaris Crittenton
Best Handle: Mike Conley Jr.
Best Rebounder: Javaris Crittenton
Fastest: Mike Conley Jr.
Best Defender: Mustafa Shakur
Best Dunker: Dominic James
Best Shot-Blocker: Rodney Stuckey
Best at Drawing Charges: Taurean Green
Best at Arguing with the Ref: Acie Law
Five Years from now…
PG Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Javaris Crittenton
Crittenton could fall behind Law, Stuckey, and even Pruitt in this draft. If so, teams will regret it because Crittenton is the most talented PG in the draft. He may need a year or so of seasoning, but this dynamic freshman will be a standout at the next level.
PG Everyone is Thankful They Passed Up: Dominic James
James might be a highlight reel waiting to happen, but unfortunately for him ESPN rarely runs highlights of players dunking in warm-ups.
All-Pros: Javaris Crittenton and Mike Conley Jr.
Starters: Acie Law, Rodney Stuckey, Taurean Green, Gabe Pruitt
Role Players: Aaron Brooks
Shooting Guards
1. Thaddeus Young 6’8’’ 211 Georgia Tech
Strengths: Blessed with incredible athleticism and feel for the game. His jumpshot is further along than most other 18-year-olds.
Weaknesses: Ballhandling still needs some work. Could add some weight to his frame as well.
2. Nick Young 6’7’’ 200 USC
Strengths: Ability to fill a role, make plays as a defender, and create his own shots off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Sometimes drifts in games. His jumpshot may need some polish.
3. Derrick Byers 6’7’’ 225 Vanderbilt
Strengths: Four-year player with developed skills and body for the NBA. Great ballhandler for a wing.
Weaknesses: Good at everything, but no one skill really blows you away. Is a reliable jumpshooter but may need to work on his range to become a threat from the NBA 3-point line.
4. Daequan Cook 6’5’’ 195 Ohio State
Strengths: Can score in a number of ways. Great shooter with range that can also get to the basket and draw contact. Above-average defender.
Weaknesses: Didn’t get a chance to showcase his scoring skills at Ohio State, and could have used a year or two more of polishing in college. He is a little undersized for an NBA shooting guard.
5. Marco Belinelli 6’6’’ 200 Italy
Strengths: Lights-out three point shooter. Can really handle the ball and create his shot off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t possess great athleticism and that could hurt him defensively.
6. Demetris Nichols 6’7’’ 205 Syracuse
Strengths: Rangy three-point shooter who can hit going either direction and fading away. Good length, quickness, and strength for his size.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t create his own shot exceptionally well and could improve on the defensive end.
7. Russell Carter 6’4’’ 225 Notre Dame
Strengths: Game grew in leaps and bounds over his time at Notre Dame. Developed into a terrific scorer and three-point shooter. Has the strength of an NFL player to go along with the hops of an Olympic jumper.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t utilize his strength and athleticism and too often settles for jumpers. He is a little short to play SG in the NBA.
8. Rudy Fernandez 6’6’’ 172 Spain
Strengths: Athletic all-around scorer who can step back and hit the three with consistency. Very creative offensively.
Weaknesses: Really needs to put on some weight. His ability as a defender has come into question.
9. Morris Almond 6’6’’ 214 Rice
Strengths: Big-time scorer who can hit from outside and use his strength to get to the free throw line.
Weaknesses: Didn’t face strong competition in college. Ballhandling is questionable.
10. Marcus Williams 6’7’’ 207 Arizona
Strengths: Aggressive player who can score in a bunch of ways. His long arms make him a nuisance on defense.
Weaknesses: Shot selection needs serious improvement. Not a good enough shooter to take some of the shots he does.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Afflalo 6’5’’ 215 UCLA, Ron Lewis 6’4’’ 195 Ohio State, Trey Johnson 6’5’’ 218 Jackson State, Coby Karl 6’5’’ 209 Boise State, Marko Tomas 6’8’’ 198 Croatia, Renaldas Seibutis 6’6’’ 180 Lithuania.
Best Scorer: Thaddeus Young
Best Shooter: Marco Belinelli
Best Passer: Derrick Byers
Best Handle: Derrick Byers
Best Rebounder: Marcus Williams
Best Athlete: Thaddeus Young
Best Defender: Nick Young
Best Instincts: Rudy Fernandez
Best Dunker: Thaddeus Young
Best Shot-Blocker: Nick Young
Best Dressed: Aaron Afflalo
Best Smile: Derrick Byers
Five Years From Now….
SG Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Russell Carter
Carter will likely be a late-second round pick and will be the steal of the draft. He is a legitimate threat from three-point range and will come into the NBA as one of the strongest, most athletic guards in the league. If he learns to use his physical gifts and drive to the basket instead of always settling for jumpshots, Carter could be a 20 point per game scorer at the next level.
SG Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Aaron Afflalo
Nothing against Afflalo, he was a great college player, but his game does not translate as well to the NBA as many of the the players that will be drafted behind him.
All-Pros: Thaddeus Young
Starters: Derrick Byers, Nick Young, Russell Carter, Daequan Cook, Demetris Nichols, Marco Belinelli
Role Players: Rudy Fernandez, Morris Almond, Aaron Afflalo, Marcus Williams
Small Forward
1. Kevin Durant 6'10'' 210 Texas
Strengths: Can score from anywhere on the floor. His 7'5'' wingspan and elite shooting touch are a very rare combination.
Weaknesses: His weakness is, well....his weakness. Durant makes Tayshaun Prince look like a bodybuilder. He needs to add some muscle and quickness to fulfill his All-Star potential.
2. Julian Wright 6’9’’ 210 Kansas
Strengths: Very long, athletic, versatile and unselfish. Great ballhandler and passer.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a reliable jumpshot or post game.
3. Corey Brewer 6’8’’ 185 Florida
Strengths: Great length and quickness. Was one of the great defenders in the college game. Improved his jumpshot each season.
Weaknesses: Nicknamed the “Drunk Dribbler” because of his awkward ballhandling. Is rail thin and even though he benched well at the combine, will need to add some mass to his skinny frame.
4. Jeff Green 6’9’’ 228 Georgetown
Strengths: Big, strong forward with good all-around skills and unselfishness. Is as ready for the NBA as anyone in this draft.
Weaknesses: Skills are all relatively good, but no one skill is off the charts. Doesn’t have NBA three-point range yet.
5. Reyshawn Terry 6’7’’ 232 North Carolina
Strengths: Four-year player at UNC. Does everything well. Has the strength and athleticism to be a great defender in the NBA. Will be able to hit the NBA three.
Weaknesses: Like Green, is good at everything but not outstanding at anything in particular. Overall, he’s a complete prospect that will get serious playing time as a rookie despite being a late first or early second round pick.
6. Dominic McGuire 6’8’’ 210 Fresno State
Strengths: Extremely long and athletic. One of the best shot-blockers in this year’s class.
Weaknesses: Poor shooter with a very underdeveloped offensive game. Skills need a lot of work, but has tremendous potential.
7. Wilson Chandler 6’7’’ 230 DePaul
Strengths: Prototypical size and athleticism for an NBA SF. Has good form on his shot and showed a lot of improvement as a three-point shooter last season.
Weaknesses: Left after sophomore year. Though he has a lot of potential, Chandler is far from a finished product.
8. Alando Tucker 6’5’’ 210 Wisconsin
Strengths: Great scorer at the college level. Very hard-nosed defensively. Has a winning attitude.
Weaknesses: May not possess the size, athleticism, and shooting ability to translate his collegiate success to the NBA.
9. Jared Dudley 6’7’’ 225 Boston College
Strengths: Uses his body very well inside. Shooting stroke improved drastically over his four years in college.
Weaknesses: Below-average athlete at the NBA level. Won’t be able to defend or create very well because of his lack of footspeed.
10. Quinton Hosley 6’6’’ 210 Fresno State
Strengths: Good athlete with long arms and ability to catch and shoot.
Weaknesses: Though he has a lot of potential as a defender, he needs work on his technique. Not overly capable of creating his own shot.
Honorable Mention: Curtis Sumpter 6’7’’ 223 Villanova, Sun Yue 6’9’’ 205 China.
Best Scorer: Kevin Durant
Best Shooter: Kevin Durant
Best Passer: Julian Wright
Best Handle: Julian Wright
Best Rebounder: Kevin Durant
Best Defender: Corey Brewer
Best Athlete: Dominic McGuire
Best Shot-Blocker: Dominic McGuire
Best Instincts: Alando Tucker
Best to Bring Home to Mom and Dad: Jeff Green
Five Years From Now…
SF Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Reyshawn Terry
Terry is no Kevin Durant, but he will be a Josh Howard-like steal in the late first round. If he ends up going to San Antonio at #28, he will take over for Bruce Bowen and the Spurs won’t miss a beat.
SF Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: No one.
Overall, this is a very impressive class of small forwards. Each player in the Top 10 has the ability to be an NBA starter.
All-Pros: Kevin Durant, Reyshawn Terry
Starters: Julian Wright, Corey Brewer, Dominic McGuire, Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler
Role Players: Alando Tucker, Jared Dudley, Quinton Hosley
Power Forward
1. Al Horford 6’9’’ 244 Florida
Strengths: Big, strong body with developed skills on both ends. Is ready to play right away.
Weaknesses: Needs to improve consistency and range on jumpshot to become a true star. We’ve seen Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer really develop a jumper in the NBA, and there is no reason why Horford won’t be able to do the same.
2. Brandan Wright 6’10’’ 210 North Carolina
Strengths: 7’4’’ wingspan. Basketball is all about length, and Wright uses his effectively at both ends.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a polished offensive game and is very weak. Won’t be able to use his length and athleticism at the next level unless he bulks up and becomes a better shooter.
3. Al Thornton 6’7’’ 210 Florida State
Strengths: Possesses tremendous athleticism. Does everything well, can score from anywhere on the court. Fantastic rebounder and shot-blocker for his size.
Weaknesses: Is a little small to play power forward at the next level. His ballhandling isn’t good enough yet to play small forward, so he may be a bit of a tweener right now.
4. Yi Jianlian 7’0’’ 242 China
Strengths: Versatile offensive game. Can handle the ball for a 7-footer, displays nice athleticism, and good range on his jumpshot.
Weaknesses: Lacks go-to post moves and body strength. Might have trouble against bigger power forwards and might be too slow to play small forward.
5. Joakim Noah 7’0’’ 230 Florida
Strengths: Incredible passion for the game. Will hustle, rebound, and block shots. Does everything necessary to win. Offensive skills are underrated.
Weaknesses: Can do some damage in the post, but displays little ability to shoot turnaround jumpshots or anything outside of the paint. Will get muscled around inside until he puts on some weight.
6. Jason Smith 7’0’’ 233 Colorado State
Strengths: Polished offensive skills. Scores well inside and out. Has advanced fundamentals for his age. Ran, jumped, and benched very well in the combine.
Weaknesses: Plays soft at times and is often pushed out of position inside.
7. Ali Traore 6’9’’ 239 France
Strengths: Very physical player who will score on strength and athleticism alone. Good rebounder for his height.
Weaknesses: Despite long arms and good leaping ability, Traore does not block a lot of shots. Post skills are still a work in progress.
8. Josh McRoberts 6’10’’ 240 Duke
Strengths: Great handle and passing ability for a big man. Can hit from mid-range with regularity. Finds ways to score inside.
Weaknesses: Not very quick, strong, or athletic for an NBA PF. Will have trouble utilizing his skills against better athletes.
9. Carl Landry 6’9’’ 245 Purdue
Strengths: Uses his body very well. Hard-nosed competitor who knows how to score on the block. Can hit the mid-range jumper consistently.
Weaknesses: Not overly tall or athletic. Will have trouble scoring against and defending longer players.
10. Tiago Splitter 6’11’ 236 Brazil
Strengths: Shows great mobility and activity inside for a big man. Is an aggressive rebounder and defender.
Weaknesses: Despite entering the NBA Draft and withdrawing in each of the past 8 years, Splitter still has not developed a refined offensive game. Will get most of his points on offensive rebounds and loose balls. Could stand to gain some weight.
Honorable Mention: Herbert Hill 6’10’’ 240 Providence, Nick Fazekas 6'11'' 240 Nevada, Jamareo Davidson 6’10’’ 220 Alabama, Coleman Collins 6’9’’ 240 Virginia Tech, Glen Davis 6’8’’ 480 LSU
Best Scorer: Al Horford
Best Shooter: Jason Smith
Best Passer: Josh McRoberts
Best Handle: Josh McRoberts
Best Rebounder: Al Horford
Best Defender: Joakim Noah
Best Athlete: Al Thornton
Best Shot-Blocker: Brandan Wright
Best Instincts: Al Horford
Class Flirt: Yi Jianlian
Best Eyes: Brandan Wright
Five Years from now…
PF Everyone Regrets Passing Up: Ali Traore
Traore will likely fall into the second round and will be a steal for whoever gets him. Though he might take a few years to develop offensively, Traore has all the tools to be a force in the NBA.
PF Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Brandan Wright
Wright will go much higher than he deserves. He has tremendous length and potential, but his offense and his body are a long way from being able to contribute on a regular basis. Guys like Al Thornton and Jason Smith will go after Wright, but will have a much greater impact.
All-Pros: Al Horford
Starters: Al Thornton, Joakim Noah, Yi Jianlian, Brandan Wright, Ali Traore, Jason Smith
Role Players: Carl Landry, Josh McRoberts, Tiago Splitter, Herbert Hill, Nick Fazekas
Center
1. Greg Oden 7’0’’ 257 Ohio State
Strengths: An absolute beast of a man. Will change games as a rookie by rebounding and blocking shots. Uses both hands extremely well. Can knock down free throws.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a bad post game, but his post skills are still a work in progress. I would insert an “old” joke here, but I’ve worn those out already.
2. Spencer Hawes 7’0’’ 244 Washington
Strengths: Advanced low-post scoring skills and good shooting touch.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t possess overwhelming athleticism, but has enough to get by.
3. Sean Williams 6’10’’ 235 Boston College
Strengths: Arguably the best shot-blocker to come into the league in years. Will be one of the most athletic centers in the NBA.
Weaknesses: Very unpolished offensively. Has a tendency to get into trouble off the court.
4. Marc Gasol 7’0’’ 270 Spain
Strengths: Great size and strength with an understanding of how to use his body in the post. Good shooting touch for a big man.
Weaknesses: Would probably be the next candidate to race Dick Bovetta on All-Star weekend. Doesn’t have quickness or athleticism to run and jump with many NBA centers.
5. Aaron Gray 7’1’’ 280 Pittsburgh
Strengths: Terrific body strength and low post game. Can shoot the ball consistently out to 15 feet.
Weaknesses: Like Gasol, will really struggle keeping up with more athletic centers.
6. Kyle Visser 6’11’’ 250 Wake Forest
Strengths: Good all-around prospect. Has decent size, athleticism, and offensive skills.
Weaknesses: Not an overly explosive player. Doesn’t provide a shot-blocking threat and is turnover prone when double teamed.
7. Shagari Alleyne 7’3’’ 270 Manhattan
Strengths: Tremendous size, has added a lot of weight to his frame since his late high school and early college years.
Weaknesses: Very unrefined offensive skills. Probably will never be a reliable offensive player.
8. Stanko Barac 7’1’’ 220 Bosnia
Strengths: He’s Tall.
Weaknessses: He sucks.
You know what…lets just stop there.
Best Scorer: Spencer Hawes
Best Shooter: Spencer Hawes
Best Passer: Aaron Gray
Best Handle: N/A
Best Rebounder: Greg Oden
Best Defender: Greg Oden
Best Athlete: Sean Williams
Best Shot-Blocker: Sean Williams
Best Instincts: Greg Oden
Class Clown: Marc Gasol
Class Heartthrob: Kyle Visser
Five Years from now…
C Everyone Wishes They Drafted: Greg Oden
Not that Oden will fall down the draft board, because that just isn’t happening. Teams will regret sending an unlucky representative to the lottery and thus not getting the chance to draft the man-child out of Ohio State.
C Everyone is Thankful They Didn’t Draft: Stanko Barac
Using a second-round pick on Barac would even be a waste. That’s how bad this guy is. I’ve never seen him play, but I guarantee that he’ll never step foot on an NBA floor.
All-Pros: Greg Oden
Starters: Spencer Hawes
Role Players: Marc Gasol, Sean Williams, Aaron Gray
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