Jul
5
2007 NBA Draft Grades: Memphis Grizzlies Get a B
Filed Under Draft Dodgers, NBA, Commentary | 1 Comment
The Memphis Grizzlies need to start bringing in some winners. General Manager Chris Wallace accomplished that last Thursday night when he selected superb freshman guard Mike Conley Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the first round. Conley Jr. may take some time to develop but the kid’s been a winner on all levels. While he may have been overshadowed by Greg Oden last year, Conley Jr. was the drum which made the Buckeyes beat (along with undrafted guard Ron Lewis). Conley Jr. is a true point guard who is very crafty in getting to the rim. He always looks in control and is unflappable. With this selection, Memphis now has two exciting guard prospects in Conley Jr. and second-year man Kyle Lowry, a tenacious slasher and rebounder in a 6′3” package.
Jul
5
2007 NBA Draft Grades: The Atlanta Hawks Get a B+
Filed Under Draft Dodgers, NBA, Commentary | Leave a Comment
With the third and eleventh picks in the first round of last week’s NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks possessed a lot of power and interest for once. While General Manager Billy Knight was unable to use those picks to acquire Amare Stoudemire from the Phoenix Suns in an alleged three-way deal which would have involved Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was still able to accomplish some nice things last Thursday night. A point guard was Atlanta’s number-one priority, and the Hawks were able to pick up the second best point guard prospect in the draft in Texas A&M’s Acie Law IV with the eleventh pick. A lot of people thought the Hawks should have nabbed Ohio State’s Mike Conley Jr. at the three spot, but that would have been a bit of a reach. Conley Jr. will still need some time to blossom in the league while Law should be able to contribute immediately after four seasons in college ball. With that said, the Hawks did the best thing they could at the three spot, nabbing Florida’s Al Horford, who has the best body of any rookie to be entering the league and was the best player available.
Jul
4
2007 NBA Free Agency Sputters into Gear
Filed Under Analysis, NBA, Commentary | Leave a Comment
Two of the bigger names in this weak free agent class have signed. Talented forward Rashard Lewis is leaving the Seattle SuperSonics to head to the Orlando Magic while point guard Chauncey Billups will remain with the Detroit Pistons. In other news, the Toronto Raptors have reached a verbal agreement with three-point shooter Jason Kapono in what’s rumored to be a 4-year deal worth $24 million (Yikes! Kapono is going to make six million dollars next year; talk about overpaying for a one-dimensional player). P.J. Carlesimo is also expected to be named the new head coach of the young and exciting SuperSonics. Carlesimo has been an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs and last coached in the NBA at Golden State, where he was infamously choked by Latrell Sprewell.
Jul
3
2007 NBA Draft Grades: Seattle Supersonics Get an A-
Filed Under Draft Dodgers, NBA, Commentary | Leave a Comment
While its future may be up in the year, maybe Seattle can one day point to the 2007 NBA Draft as the day which saved the franchise from uprooting. If not, the 2007 NBA Draft still proved to be the starting point to when the SuperSonics turned it around, wherever they may land in the NBA landscape. General Manager Sam Presti began by taking stud forward Kevin Durant of Texas with the second pick after Portland took big man Greg Oden. Durant will win Rookie-of-the-Year next season and lead the Sonics in scoring next year and perhaps the league someday.
Jul
3
2007 NBA DRAFT GRADES: PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS GET AN A+
Filed Under Draft Dodgers, Analysis, NBA | Leave a Comment
IN ADDITION TO THE SMART PICK IN GREG ODEN, THE BLAZERS LOADED UP IN THE SECOND ROUND
I know this is a couple of days late, grading the NBA draft and all, but I wanted to let it digest before I made any rash comments. Some 96 hours later, I’ve got […]