Post by NBL President on Sept 12, 2007 0:16:47 GMT -5
Associated Press - It's almost time for the offseason, so here is a draft lottery preview for those teams looking forward to the off-season classic. Order is going to be based strictly on record, but take the lottery in consideration when the time comes, some spots may change.
1. Seattle Sonics - PG Chris Paul, Wake Forest - Paul is the most complete player in the draft. At 23, he will enter with his veteran contract, but with that bring veteran play. He should step into NBL and be one of the very best PG's in the league, a spot the Sonics could use an upgrade. Paul is simply the best in the draft, he has few weaknesses.
2. Indiana Pacers - SG O.J. Mayo, Southern California - Although Indiana has a bevy of shooting guards, passing up on a superstar like Mayo would be a mistake. Many of their SG options can move to SF making room for Mayo and upgrading the team right away. Mayo is not only a great pick, but he is a popular player who is a star personality.
3. Washington Wizards (via Memphis Grizzlies) - C Roy Hibbert, Georgetown - The Wizards have always lacked a big man who can score, but Hibbert is the total package. His scoring should eventually improve, but his defense and rebounding will be top notch. Hibbert might not be the 3rd best talent, but as far as needs, he's the pick.
4. Detroit Pistons - PG Derrick Rose, Memphis - Rose is the perfect fit here for Detroit, a team looking to build for the future and looking to possibly replace the aging Chauncey Billups. Rose is an amazing talent with tons of potential, he definitely could be a star. His inconsistent offensive game might hurt his value a bit, but his point guard skills go unmatched in this draft.
5. Los Angeles Clippers - SG Chris Lofton, Tennessee - The Clippers actually have a nice foundation with Brand, Livingston, Maggette and Thornton, but they lack a SG. Lofton is a deadly outside shooter who should be a dynamic scorer in this league. He is a little one-dimensional for such a high pick, but at this spot and with a need for a SG, he gets the nod.
6. New Jersey Nets - C Kosta Koufos, Ohio State - Had the Nets not drafted Sean Williams last season, Koufos wouldn't be the pick. However, his strengths are exactly what Williams lacks, and together, they could be a potent PF/C combo. Koufos is a great outside shooter who is a big body and can rebound. He struggles to defend and likely will need help from a great defender like Williams to guard the stronger and more physical inside centers. That said, he can shoot and score with the best of the big men in the league.
7. Philadelphia 76ers - PG Ronald Steele, Alabama - Unlike other teams, the Sixers don't lack star power or a big man. They do however, lack depth and a future at point guard after trading Louis Williams. Steele is similar to the guy he will eventually replace Andre Miller, although Ronald is a much better outside shooter. His calming influence and maturity make him an immediate contributor on a team whose record doesn't indicate how good they could be.
8. New York Knicks (via Milwaukee Bucks) - SF Michael Beasley, Kansas State - We have a hard time projecting a SF for New York for the 3rd straight draft (Balkman and Chandler), but Beasley is too good to pass up at 8. He is young, athletic, can score inside and out and should turn into a decent rebounder for a SF. He will take some time to mature, but he could be the superstar the Knicks have looked for since Patrick Ewing.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves - PF D.J. White, Indiana - Like Philly, Minnesota has good talent via the Garnett deal with Boston and previous drafts. However, they lack a true power forward to compliment Gerald Green and Al Jefferson, and as far as this draft goes, D.J. White is the answer. White can score, rebound and defend pretty good, and should contribute immediately to the Wolves rotation.
10. Dallas Mavericks - PF Richard Hendrix, Alabama - After dealing Dirk, the Mavs need a big man. Although Hendrix is nothing like Nowitski, he brings specific needs that the Mavs must address to get back to the playoffs. Hendrix can score inside, something Dallas has always lacked. He can also rebound very well, maybe better than anyone entering the draft. That said, he is limited on defense and doesn't have the high ceiling you might look for. For a team close to contending, he would be a good selection.
11. Washington Wizards - SF Kyle Weaver, Washington State - There is always that guy who falls, and Weaver is it. At 11th, he is probably the steal of this draft as his game is as complete as anyone not named Chris Paul. He can score, rebound, defend and unlike others his size, handle the ball. Weaver would fit in great with Arenas who is a score first PG by lightening the demand to dish the ball. Adding Weaver to Hibbert would also turn Washington into one of the best defensive teams in NBL.
12. Portland Trail Blazers - SF Chase Budinger, Arizona - The Blazers are set inside with Oden and Frye, and the backcourt seems stable with Marcus Williams and Azubuike. The glaring hole, small forward. Derrick Byars is a good role player, but not starting caliber, so Budinger would bring the scoring punch and the size you would want from the position. He is purely an offensive player with a little rebounding skill, but he isn't as complete as Beasley, Weaver or White, hence the drop off. At 12 however, filling the hole with a solid player like Chase would be very good.
13. Phoenix Suns (via Atlanta Hawks) - PG Dominic James, Marquette - Leandro Barbosa is a good player, but he isn't a point guard, and a future move to SG is imminent. Nash is still very good but aging, so James is a great replacement. He is athletic as hell and will fit in that offense nicely, and his offensive skills combined with natural PG skills make him a quick fix on both sides of the ball. His upside is good, but not great, however his impact may come sooner than many others in the draft, and for a contender like the Suns, that may be important.
1. Seattle Sonics - PG Chris Paul, Wake Forest - Paul is the most complete player in the draft. At 23, he will enter with his veteran contract, but with that bring veteran play. He should step into NBL and be one of the very best PG's in the league, a spot the Sonics could use an upgrade. Paul is simply the best in the draft, he has few weaknesses.
2. Indiana Pacers - SG O.J. Mayo, Southern California - Although Indiana has a bevy of shooting guards, passing up on a superstar like Mayo would be a mistake. Many of their SG options can move to SF making room for Mayo and upgrading the team right away. Mayo is not only a great pick, but he is a popular player who is a star personality.
3. Washington Wizards (via Memphis Grizzlies) - C Roy Hibbert, Georgetown - The Wizards have always lacked a big man who can score, but Hibbert is the total package. His scoring should eventually improve, but his defense and rebounding will be top notch. Hibbert might not be the 3rd best talent, but as far as needs, he's the pick.
4. Detroit Pistons - PG Derrick Rose, Memphis - Rose is the perfect fit here for Detroit, a team looking to build for the future and looking to possibly replace the aging Chauncey Billups. Rose is an amazing talent with tons of potential, he definitely could be a star. His inconsistent offensive game might hurt his value a bit, but his point guard skills go unmatched in this draft.
5. Los Angeles Clippers - SG Chris Lofton, Tennessee - The Clippers actually have a nice foundation with Brand, Livingston, Maggette and Thornton, but they lack a SG. Lofton is a deadly outside shooter who should be a dynamic scorer in this league. He is a little one-dimensional for such a high pick, but at this spot and with a need for a SG, he gets the nod.
6. New Jersey Nets - C Kosta Koufos, Ohio State - Had the Nets not drafted Sean Williams last season, Koufos wouldn't be the pick. However, his strengths are exactly what Williams lacks, and together, they could be a potent PF/C combo. Koufos is a great outside shooter who is a big body and can rebound. He struggles to defend and likely will need help from a great defender like Williams to guard the stronger and more physical inside centers. That said, he can shoot and score with the best of the big men in the league.
7. Philadelphia 76ers - PG Ronald Steele, Alabama - Unlike other teams, the Sixers don't lack star power or a big man. They do however, lack depth and a future at point guard after trading Louis Williams. Steele is similar to the guy he will eventually replace Andre Miller, although Ronald is a much better outside shooter. His calming influence and maturity make him an immediate contributor on a team whose record doesn't indicate how good they could be.
8. New York Knicks (via Milwaukee Bucks) - SF Michael Beasley, Kansas State - We have a hard time projecting a SF for New York for the 3rd straight draft (Balkman and Chandler), but Beasley is too good to pass up at 8. He is young, athletic, can score inside and out and should turn into a decent rebounder for a SF. He will take some time to mature, but he could be the superstar the Knicks have looked for since Patrick Ewing.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves - PF D.J. White, Indiana - Like Philly, Minnesota has good talent via the Garnett deal with Boston and previous drafts. However, they lack a true power forward to compliment Gerald Green and Al Jefferson, and as far as this draft goes, D.J. White is the answer. White can score, rebound and defend pretty good, and should contribute immediately to the Wolves rotation.
10. Dallas Mavericks - PF Richard Hendrix, Alabama - After dealing Dirk, the Mavs need a big man. Although Hendrix is nothing like Nowitski, he brings specific needs that the Mavs must address to get back to the playoffs. Hendrix can score inside, something Dallas has always lacked. He can also rebound very well, maybe better than anyone entering the draft. That said, he is limited on defense and doesn't have the high ceiling you might look for. For a team close to contending, he would be a good selection.
11. Washington Wizards - SF Kyle Weaver, Washington State - There is always that guy who falls, and Weaver is it. At 11th, he is probably the steal of this draft as his game is as complete as anyone not named Chris Paul. He can score, rebound, defend and unlike others his size, handle the ball. Weaver would fit in great with Arenas who is a score first PG by lightening the demand to dish the ball. Adding Weaver to Hibbert would also turn Washington into one of the best defensive teams in NBL.
12. Portland Trail Blazers - SF Chase Budinger, Arizona - The Blazers are set inside with Oden and Frye, and the backcourt seems stable with Marcus Williams and Azubuike. The glaring hole, small forward. Derrick Byars is a good role player, but not starting caliber, so Budinger would bring the scoring punch and the size you would want from the position. He is purely an offensive player with a little rebounding skill, but he isn't as complete as Beasley, Weaver or White, hence the drop off. At 12 however, filling the hole with a solid player like Chase would be very good.
13. Phoenix Suns (via Atlanta Hawks) - PG Dominic James, Marquette - Leandro Barbosa is a good player, but he isn't a point guard, and a future move to SG is imminent. Nash is still very good but aging, so James is a great replacement. He is athletic as hell and will fit in that offense nicely, and his offensive skills combined with natural PG skills make him a quick fix on both sides of the ball. His upside is good, but not great, however his impact may come sooner than many others in the draft, and for a contender like the Suns, that may be important.
