Hoops4theSoul

Jun

26

The Morning after the 2009 NBA Draft (Part 1)

Filed Under Analysis/Commentary, NBA

Nizoral Online Buy Propecia Lotrisone Online Buy Topamax Seroquel Online Buy Ultram Amoxil Online Buy Inderal Synthroid Online Buy Glucotrol

Blake Griffin Hasheem Thabeet James Harden Some quick thoughts on what each team did during the 2009 NBA Draft, one in which I thought it was better to be drafting in the teens rather than the top ten in the first round. In simple terms, nothing too revolutionary occurred last night, as evident in the decent but not spectacular grades for the most part.

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma (#1 overall)

A no-brainer in a draft weak at the top but decent in terms of finding bargains later on. The Clippers have way too many big men with the often-injured Chris Kaman, old but still effective Marcus Camby and the moody Zach Randolph, but they had to take Griffin, a battering ram around the rim and the best player in the draft far and away. Griffin plays the game hard and represents a change of fortune when compared to former Clipper #1 overall picks Danny Manning (not physical enough) and Michael Olowokandi (no passion for the game).

Young forwards Griffin and Al Thornton along with second-year guard Eric Gordon and veterans Baron Davis and Kaman (if he can ever stay healthy) give the Clippers some hope, at least. But they’re still not good enough in the West. Should trade Randolph, but who wants him? Grade: A

2. Memphis Grizzlies:  Hasheem Thabeet, UCONN (#2 overall); DeMarre Carroll, Mizzou (#27 overall); Sam Young, Pittsburgh (#36 overall)

A nice draft for the Grizzlies. Not a big fan of Thabeet (who just seems like an insufferable, big jerk on and off the court), but glad the Grizzlies went with the very raw potential of the UCONN center rather than falling for Ricky Rubio and basically giving up on Mike Conley Jr., who would be a senior at Ohio State this upcoming season. Honestly, Thabeet would have been better off falling to a young and talented Oklahoma City team where he could solely focus on being a defensive presence. Don’t expect this guy to develop much of an offensive game, but he at least makes the opponent think when getting into the lane.

Great value picks in the fun Carroll (who may not make it in the NBA as he was the perfect fit in a gimmick college system) and the fundamentally-sound Young, who improved each year in college. Of all of Memphis’ rookies, Young will have the biggest impact this season. It will be interesting to see if Young gets away with his controversial pump-fake move in the NBA (oh wait, of course he will). Grade B+

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden, Arizona State (#3 overall); B.J. Mullens, Ohio State (#24 overall, acquired in trade with Dallas Mavericks); also got Robert Vaden (#54 selection by Charlotte for cash)

Still, have the worst nickname in the NBA, but a nice if not great pick at three. Harden is an old-school, hardly flashy but highly effective player who will be a solid complement to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Won’t ever be a superstar for a pick this high, but should be a nice bench player early his first season and could supplant Thabo Sefalosha before the end of 2009-2010.

In the ideal setting, Thabeet would have fallen to the Thunder, giving them a big center who could focus on defense and relieve pressure off of OKC’s young talent (i.e. Durant) known more for offense than defense. Still, got themselves a center later in the first round after trading rights of #25 pick Rodrigue Beaubois to Dallas for #24 pick Mullens. As much of a project Thabeet is, Mullens is even more so. Not a good sign that this guy started just two games for an Ohio State team with lots of turnover every year. Thanking the heavens that Mullens didn’t land in Chicago. This kid will take years to develop and does not have the maturity or mental composure to make it in the NBA, at least right now. Was projected to be #1 overall pick a year go but was vastly disappointing in one year in college. Should collect millions on the bench for years to come.

Vaden began his career at Indiana before heading to UAB with former Hoosiers’ coach Mike Davis. A guy who can do many things well but not great, Vaden realistically could make this team, which would be a nice accomplishment for a draft pick this late, and contribute more next year than Mullens. Grade: B

4.  Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans, Memphis (#4 overall); Omar Cassipri, Israel (#23); Jon Brockman, Washington (#38, acquired in trade with Portland Trail Blazers)

It’s hard to gauge how good Evans is since Memphis plays in such an inferior conference (Conference USA). Really came on when moved to the point during his lone season in college, and does have really good size for a point guard. Can attack the rim but does not have much of a jumpshot. But when a team is rebuilding like the Kings are, I like this pick better than Ricky Rubio, who likely won’t play next season.

According to what I’ve read, Cassipri is a classic player from overseas, with a nice face-up game. Could he be Andres Nocioni Jr. on the Kings? Also swapped second-round draft pick Jeff Pendergraph (#31) for Brockman, a hard worker in college who could be a nice spot player off the bench in time or out of the league as quickly. Also got point guard Sergio Rodriguez and cash from Portland. I like Rodriguez’s energy as a backup point guard and am surprised that the Blazers moved him out. A nice move by the Kings for an unproven guy in Pendergraph. When you’re going to be bad like the Kings are, you need energy guys like Nocioni, Cassipri and Rodriguez to at least make the product worth watching. Grade: B+

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio, Spain (#5 overall); Jonny Flynn, Syracuse (#6); Ty Lawson, North Carolina (#18); Wayne Ellington, North Carolina (#28); Nick Calathes, Florida (#45); Henk Norel, Netherlands (#47)

Kevin McHale may be gone, but the lack of a game plan reigns in Minnesota. Had six picks and likely will end up with only two guys playing on the team next year. Rubio is likely going to stay in Spain but at least gives the Timberwolves trade bait in the future. Rubio may only be 18 years old, but there seems to be a lot of hype and naivete here.  I loved the fact that ESPN had about six highlights of this kid. A lot of flash, how much substance? Still, he’s a bargaining chip in the future. Maybe people have been too tough on him, but he didn’t work out for any teams. A pathetic display of how much power kids who haven’t done anything have nowadays.

Flynn was an interesting pick. Plays with heart and soul, which should make up for his lack of size. Don’t see how Flynn and Rubio will co-exist if and when they do end up playing together. Still, Minnesota seemed to be infatuated with the point guard, drafting Lawson and Calathes later on (and respectively trading them to Denver for a future first-round pick and Dallas). Ellington was a nice value pick who could be a three-point specialist in the league (but haven’t the Wolves already gone this route with a North Carolina guy coming off a championship in Rashad McCants), while Norel will remain overseas for a while, I would guess. Just a strange night for the Timberwolves. Grade: C-

6. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, Davidson (#7 overall pick)

Curry wanted to go to New York, but found a great fit with Golden State’s up-and-down system. This selection pissed off New York fans, which made it that more enjoyable. Curry justified all the hype. He just knows how to play and score. Now if the Warriors are able to snag A’mare Stoudemire from the Suns (a deal that has reportedly stalled), this will be a big draft. While Stoudemire lacks the intensity to match his incredible skills, he needs a change of scenery. Golden State’s fast-break ball should fit A’Mare perfectly and at least make the Warriors exciting again. Grade: A-

7. New York Knicks: Jordan Hill, Arizona (#8 overall); Acquired Toney Douglass, Florida State (#29 from Los Angeles Lakers)

Best part of the draft? How about when ESPN panned to the angered Knicks fans who wanted Curry but ended up with Hill and showed a little kid in his father’s arms. Looking like he was no more than three or four years old, the tired and confused kid suddenly stuck his thumb down in disapproval of the selection of Hill. Definitely the funniest moment of a draft in which the clown Stuart Scott tried to force jokes to amuse but ultimately angered and looked like a bigger tool than usual.

Poor Jordan Hill. Didn’t deserve to be booed but it comes with the territory. A bit raw and still new to the game, Hill has a really nice touch around the rim. It’s hard to judge Hill after the fiasco that he and Chase Budinger had to deal with at Arizona during their three seasons. This was a great value pick for the Knicks, who also ended up with Toney Douglass (another sleeper) in a trade with the Lakers. Douglass may thrive off the bench in Mike D’Antoni’s up-and-down, fire-reload-and-fire-again style.

While the Knicks did alright in the draft, they did acquire Darko Milicic for Quentin Richardson. Can teams just forget about Darko already? He’s a waste of a roster spot. Anyways, none of this matters for the Knicks as it’s all about trying to get Lebron James next summer. Still, not bad picks for the Knicks; Richardson is way too heavy but he’s still better than Donny Darko, who is nothing more than expiring contract in time. All in all, not as satisfying to Knicks without Curry but not as bad as some would have you believe. Grade: B-

8. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan, USC (#9 overall)

A pure home run swing here for the Raptors, an organization in transition. DeRozan allegedly has a lot of potential, but I didn’t see enough consistency at USC. Classic case of how damaging AAU basketball is. Kids like DeRozan get way too much hype and aren’t nowhere near the players they are said to be. Brian Colangelo is hoping that DeRozan will be better in pros than in college. Another reason why the NBA’s one-year rule out of high school is a joke. This guy would have probably came out after high school if he could. With Chris Bosh sounding more and more like he’ll be gone after next season (or even during this season), the Raptors are rebuilding. Might as well take a shot here and see if you get lucky a few years down the road, though I doubt it with this pick. Grade: C+

9. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings, Italy via Compton, CA (#10 overall); Jodie Meeks, Kentucky (#41)

Good for Jennings, who bypassed dealing with the mess that was Arizona basketball (although his qualifying was a major issue) and chose to play in Italy. Nice to see a kid say screw you to David Stern and his stupid rule. Went to Italy (which proved tough, learning experience) and still ended up in top 10. Now goes to Milwaukke and taskmaster Scott Skiles (which may or may not be a good fit). Still, he can take some time to develop as the Bucks are in flux. Provides insurance if Ramon Sessions doesn’t re-sign. Worth the gamble for a Milwaukee team with a questionable game plan at this point. As for Meeks, he was a prolific scorer at Kentucky and gives the Bucks Michael Redd Right in the ideal world. Realistically, should have stayed at Kentucky for one more season and gotten more exposure on what’s shaping up to be a ridiculous looking team on paper. Grade: B-

10. New Jersey Nets: Terrence Williams, Louisville (#11 overall pick)

While a cost-cutting move, the Nets got rid of Vince Carter earlier in the day in a trade with the Orlando Magic that netted Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie. Good for the Nets in dumping Carter (who is not a winner) and getting a promising young talent in Lee. Alston and Battie are pure filler in this deal.

As for the draft, the Nets picked Williams with the eleventh pick. A year ago, I was really high on this guy. But after watching him last season, I was disappointed with the inconsistency that Williams and his teammate Earl Clark showed at Louisville. While Williams is a versatile player who should get a lot of time next season, he’s a bit of a pre-Madonna who seemed more interesting in dancing on the court at times last year than playing. He also has a tendency to go missing in big games (see Elite Eight against Michigan State).

Still, the Nets are clearing cap room and piling up young talent (Williams, Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, etc.) with the goal of making a run for James in 2010. While not likely going to happen, it’s clear what the plan is. Grade: B

11.  Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson, Duke (#12 overall); Derrick Brown, Xavier (#40 overall)

North Carolina alums Michael Jordan and Larry Brown chose a guy from Duke in Henderson, who was the Blue Devils’ best player during a junior season in which he made great strides. Still, I’m not sold on Henderson being a consistent player off the bench. He can be a world beater at times and then disappear in other games (see Sweet Sixteen against Villanova). I think physical defenders will eat him alive.

As for Brown, this is a nice value pick in my opinion. A bit of a tweener, Brown can shoot the three and use his length down low to get his shot off and alter shots. A late first-round projection by many teams, Brown may have benefitted from another year in school but left what figured to be a rebuilding year at Xavier with Sean Miller off to Arizona. Still, Xavier forwards have fared well in the NBA (Tyrone Hill, Brian Grant, David West, etc.); maybe Brown will be the next in line to have a long and respectable career. A lot of potential with both picks, who also could be journeymen. Grade: B-

12. Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina (#13 overall); A.J. Price, UCONN (#52 overall)

A reach to some people, the villified Hansbrough was a solid selection by Larry Bird. Sure, who isn’t sick of hearing about Hansbrough for the last four years. While he is limited athletically, Hansbrough can play the game. He is very fundamentally sound and can hit an outside shot, something that Mark Madsen (a player Psycho-T is wrongly compared to) could never do in his wildest dreams. Hansbrough will be a solid rotation guy for 10 years, and his work ethic will make him a very respectable NBA player. For a team that’s trying to bring in quality people after dealing with Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley and others in year’s past, the Pacers did a nice job in getting Hansbrough.

With that said, Price goes against the grain of this shift in philosophy, as he was suspended for one season at UCONN for stealing laptop computers. Still, he had a nice senior season in which he was UCONN’s steadying force and parlayed it into being drafted. Will be surprised if he sticks with the Pacers, though. Grade: B+

13. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark, Louisville (#14 overall); Taylor Griffin, Oklahoma (#48); Emir Preldzic, Slovenia (#57)

In two years, Steve Kerr has screwed up the Suns royally and needs to be called out for this big time. After trading Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland earlier in the day for garbage in return (Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic), it appears that Kerr is going to deal Stoudemire as well. His replacement for one of the most physically-talented yet mentally-lacking players in the game in Stoudemire is another player in Clark who has a lot of talent but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of focus. Clark reminds me of Tyrus Thomas: a guy with tantalizing talent but just doesn’t get it. This seems to be right in line with Kerr, who just doesn’t get it. The word “upside” will remain with Clark for too long. It’s a shame because if the kid applies himself, he could be really good.

And Taylor Griffin? Come on. What a novelty pick. If this guy plays in the league for 10 years because of who his brother is, that will be a joke. Don’t get me wrong. Griffin was a nice college player but he’s not a pro. As for Preldzic, who cares. Just another guy who will be stashed overseas for a couple of years.

The Suns are sadly in cost-cutting mode after being one of the most entertaining teams in years past. Now they are a trainwreck. Maybe they’re thinking they can make a run for James or Dwyane Wade next year, but I don’t see it happening.

Phoenix still has nice pieces in Steve Nash and Grant Hill, but what’s the plan? I don’t think Kerr even knows, except for the fact that the Suns are rebuilding. Grade: D

14. Detroit Pistons: Austin Daye, Gonzaga (#15 overall); DaJuan Summers, Georgetown (#35); Jonas Jerebeko, Sweden (#39); Chase Budinger, Arizona (#44)

Tayshaun Prince could be on his way out in Detroit as the Pistons loaded up with small forwards. Another team that is rebuilding, I don’t get what Joe Dumars is doing here. Like Clark, Daye is another guy with “upside” attached to his name. He’s also one of the most hyped-up players in the draft (call it the obnoxious Gonzaga effect). He’s 190 pounds soaking wet and nowhere ready for the physicality of the NBA, despite all of his alleged skills.

Summers is another guy who’s supposed to be so talented, but he never stood out to be at Georgetown (which could be a product of John Thompson III’s offense). He doesn’t seem to have a defined forward position, thus won’t have a long career in the league. I know nothing about the kid from Sweden. But who really does? Some many of these guys are just picked so that they can stay in Europe for a couple of years. It’s kind of an insult to the college kids who had good careers and deserve getting drafted. Why doesn’t the NBA just have an overseas draft every year where each team can select one foreign player and be done with it?

Budinger was a big-time prospect coming out of high school, and had a good but not great career at Arizona considering the circumstances at the school. He has a lot of skill and athleticism, and can really shoot the ball. He’s a little too soft and passive for my liking at times, but could be a steal for the Pistons considering where he went in the draft. Could he be the best pick of Detroit in this draft? I wouldn’t be surprised. But wait. The Pistons traded his rights to the Rockets. I just don’t get it.  Grade: D+

15. Chicago Bulls: James Johnson, Wake Forest (#16 overall); Taj Gibson, USC (#26)

What could have been a very good draft night turned out to be one leaving you wondering what if. Johnson was probably the best availalbe player on the board at 16, and his versatility could be a good fit for the Bulls. He also may take time to develop, but I have no problem with this pick. Johnson was impressive at Wake Forest, even though the word “potential” leaves me a bit worried.

What was disappointing was Chicago’s reach for Gibson at 26, especially when DeJuan Blair (a guy some thought the Bulls would take at 16) was still there. Already 24 years old, Gibson hardly dominated in college. This pick reeks of new Chicago General Manager Gar Foreman being influenced by his old friend Tim Floyd. Chicago should have went with Blair and may live to regret this one for a while (nah, they won’t — they’ll never admit a mistake). I’m guessing Gibson is out of Chicago within two years. Just a blah pick when the Bulls could have really made some thunder with the addition of the undersized yet motivated Blair. All I have to say is this team better sign Ben Gordon or they will be worse off next year. Grade: C+

Coming Tomorrow: Grades for the Remaining Teams 

Share and Enjoy


These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Netvouz
  • DZone
  • ThisNext
  • MisterWong
  • Wists


Related Posts


Comments

Leave a Reply




*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word