Post by nets on May 8, 2008 10:42:38 GMT -5
1. Dallas Mavericks - C John Riek - C- - another draft and another big man for the Mavs. Kudos for picking a true Center instead of another PF. My complaint about the pick is Riek doesn't appear to be the top center in the draft since his offensive skills are so raw. The other option would have been Lucas to start the team with a new young PG since Harris is 29.
2. Toronto Raptors - SG Tyreke Evans - C- - I like Evans as a talent and Toronto needs more talent but SG/SF was one of their strenghts with Carney and James Harden (SG drafted at #9 just last year) so why not pick up a big man as Lewis is older and Zack Randolph is very average.
3. Denver Nuggets - PG Kalin Lucas - C - I like Lucas better then West who I don't think will take them into their next glory years but at 24 I am not sure how much Lucas has left to mature. I would have gone with a PF/C as they need another big guy more then Lucas.
4. Houston Rockets - SF DeShaun Thomas - A- - Thomas looks like the best player in the draft. He looks to have a fairly complete game. The minus is simply because Thomas and Singler may not be able to play on the same team so they may have to take a bit of a discount in a Singler deal. Otherwise this is the pick I would have made at this point.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - C Derrick Favors - A - I like this pick a lot. All the dominant teams have a great big man so while Favors is not that yet, rebuilding teams have to find a way to get one and he has potential. The Griz have decent guys at PG, SG and SF (with Mayo being much more then decent) and now they have a decent big man. Favors can defend and score right away. He is not a great rebounder which this team badly needs but maybe they can work on that.
6. Orlando Magic - C Kenny Kadji - B - I like this pick as well. The Magic badly need help down low as they have guys playing all out of position and it has not been successful (I may do he same this year so I can't make fun of him but for the Magic it has not worked). The B is because I think Aldrich was the better center. While Kadji is younger and fatter (heavier for the PC folks), Aldrich has a better outside game and more importantly better defense.
7. New Jersey Nets - SG Xavier Henry - N/A - I don't want to rate my pick (Brad can do that) but here is my reasoning. I will need someone to replace McGrady in 2 years so it came down to Hopson and Henry. Despite Hopson being listed as a SF and Henry as a SG, Henry is actually taller and bigger so this was decision point #1. Tracy is my #3 scorer and with McGee and Ibaka being groomed for PF/C I will need a scorer and Henry may be the best in the draft at pure scoring, this was decision point #2. Lastly, this may seem silly but Henry is younger and has a much higher loyalty rating (14 vs. 84). This was important to me since neither guy will get a lot of minutes in year one barring a great improvement in TC so I figured in 3 years Henry would still be very young and easier to resign.
8. Chicago - PF James Johnson - C- he has very good tools as he is a decent defender, rebounder and scorer but at #8 you are looking for a guy with a high ceiling and at 24 with B potential I am not sure that Johnson is that guy. Rather have drafted Aldrich here even if he had to move to PF.
9. Philadelphia - SF Scotty Hopson- A - this was the right pick here as Philly could use a franchise SF and Scotty has the potential to be that. He seems to be an all around player with the right size for SF or SG if needed. He is also one of the best players left.
10. Boston - C Cole Aldrich - A+- I think he was the best player left and a big man is very hard to find. He can contribute right away on the boards and on defense so now Boston can build around him and Rondo.
11. Philadelphia - C Kenny Frease - C - he is a seven footer bit it ends there. Not sure where he fits as he is much worse defender then Giles and much worse on the offensive end. The C is mainly because he has B potential. If he looked like a great future big man then I could excuse Philly for picking at a position that they already had a good player.
12. New York - SF Delvon Roe - A - call me crazy but I think this was a perfect pick for New York. They have some great guards and some quality big man but lacked a great SF. I actually considered Roe at pick #7 because his defense is already pretty good and has decent upside.
13. Philadelphia - PF Michael Holmes - B- - decent player as Philly just finished drafting a new front line. He has decent size and A potential. Lacks height or really any offensive skills but hopefully TC fixes that a bit as his defense and rebounding are acceptable. Not sure he is anything special.
14. San Antonio - SF Chris Wright - B+ - - I like this pick as Chris has very good size for a SF and already plays good defense. His offense lacks a lot but he has some potential. At this point in the draft I am not sure there are a lot of can't miss guys so Chris seems as good as any to take.
15. Golden State - C John Henson - C - - as I said before there does not seem to be much left but John seems to be a worse copy of Patrick OBryant. I think the Warriors could have used a defensive PG since both their current PGs don't play any. Maybe Walker or Liggins would have been a decent pick to at least have some variation at PG if nothing else.
2. Toronto Raptors - SG Tyreke Evans - C- - I like Evans as a talent and Toronto needs more talent but SG/SF was one of their strenghts with Carney and James Harden (SG drafted at #9 just last year) so why not pick up a big man as Lewis is older and Zack Randolph is very average.
3. Denver Nuggets - PG Kalin Lucas - C - I like Lucas better then West who I don't think will take them into their next glory years but at 24 I am not sure how much Lucas has left to mature. I would have gone with a PF/C as they need another big guy more then Lucas.
4. Houston Rockets - SF DeShaun Thomas - A- - Thomas looks like the best player in the draft. He looks to have a fairly complete game. The minus is simply because Thomas and Singler may not be able to play on the same team so they may have to take a bit of a discount in a Singler deal. Otherwise this is the pick I would have made at this point.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - C Derrick Favors - A - I like this pick a lot. All the dominant teams have a great big man so while Favors is not that yet, rebuilding teams have to find a way to get one and he has potential. The Griz have decent guys at PG, SG and SF (with Mayo being much more then decent) and now they have a decent big man. Favors can defend and score right away. He is not a great rebounder which this team badly needs but maybe they can work on that.
6. Orlando Magic - C Kenny Kadji - B - I like this pick as well. The Magic badly need help down low as they have guys playing all out of position and it has not been successful (I may do he same this year so I can't make fun of him but for the Magic it has not worked). The B is because I think Aldrich was the better center. While Kadji is younger and fatter (heavier for the PC folks), Aldrich has a better outside game and more importantly better defense.
7. New Jersey Nets - SG Xavier Henry - N/A - I don't want to rate my pick (Brad can do that) but here is my reasoning. I will need someone to replace McGrady in 2 years so it came down to Hopson and Henry. Despite Hopson being listed as a SF and Henry as a SG, Henry is actually taller and bigger so this was decision point #1. Tracy is my #3 scorer and with McGee and Ibaka being groomed for PF/C I will need a scorer and Henry may be the best in the draft at pure scoring, this was decision point #2. Lastly, this may seem silly but Henry is younger and has a much higher loyalty rating (14 vs. 84). This was important to me since neither guy will get a lot of minutes in year one barring a great improvement in TC so I figured in 3 years Henry would still be very young and easier to resign.
8. Chicago - PF James Johnson - C- he has very good tools as he is a decent defender, rebounder and scorer but at #8 you are looking for a guy with a high ceiling and at 24 with B potential I am not sure that Johnson is that guy. Rather have drafted Aldrich here even if he had to move to PF.
9. Philadelphia - SF Scotty Hopson- A - this was the right pick here as Philly could use a franchise SF and Scotty has the potential to be that. He seems to be an all around player with the right size for SF or SG if needed. He is also one of the best players left.
10. Boston - C Cole Aldrich - A+- I think he was the best player left and a big man is very hard to find. He can contribute right away on the boards and on defense so now Boston can build around him and Rondo.
11. Philadelphia - C Kenny Frease - C - he is a seven footer bit it ends there. Not sure where he fits as he is much worse defender then Giles and much worse on the offensive end. The C is mainly because he has B potential. If he looked like a great future big man then I could excuse Philly for picking at a position that they already had a good player.
12. New York - SF Delvon Roe - A - call me crazy but I think this was a perfect pick for New York. They have some great guards and some quality big man but lacked a great SF. I actually considered Roe at pick #7 because his defense is already pretty good and has decent upside.
13. Philadelphia - PF Michael Holmes - B- - decent player as Philly just finished drafting a new front line. He has decent size and A potential. Lacks height or really any offensive skills but hopefully TC fixes that a bit as his defense and rebounding are acceptable. Not sure he is anything special.
14. San Antonio - SF Chris Wright - B+ - - I like this pick as Chris has very good size for a SF and already plays good defense. His offense lacks a lot but he has some potential. At this point in the draft I am not sure there are a lot of can't miss guys so Chris seems as good as any to take.
15. Golden State - C John Henson - C - - as I said before there does not seem to be much left but John seems to be a worse copy of Patrick OBryant. I think the Warriors could have used a defensive PG since both their current PGs don't play any. Maybe Walker or Liggins would have been a decent pick to at least have some variation at PG if nothing else.