Post by nets on Jan 22, 2008 21:48:19 GMT -5
I figured if I waited till the end then I would never do them so I will update as the draft moves along.
[glow=red,2,300]#1. Pistons - SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest[/glow] - A+ - this is a perfect pick by the Pistons. They had a need at forward. They have a very good back court with Lawson and Pargo and are set at center with Lopez. Aminu can score and defend, is young and athletic.
[glow=red,2,300]#2. Nets - PG/SG Jrue Holliday, UCLA[/glow] - A- - the perfect pick would have been a true shooting guard or small forward but with scouts saying he was the best scorer in the draft from the guard spot this pick still made sense. Jrue is also young and athletic and looks like can be molded into a great scorer and defender.
[glow=red,2,300]#3. Magic (from Mavs) - SF Danilo Gallinari, Italy[/glow] - C- - Danilo is a good player but there were quite a few guys that I had rated higher. In addition, he doesn't fill a need in Orlando. They needed a bruiser and enforcer and strenght is Danilo's short coming so he is a good player but a bad fit.
[glow=red,2,300]#4. Timberwolves - PF Blake Griffin, Oklahoma[/glow] - A+ - Blake may be the most ready to play guy in the draft. His defense and rebounding make him an automatic starter and his scoring ability is promising. The Wolves needed a PF so this worked out perfectly.
[glow=red,2,300]#5. Hawks - C Andrew Ogilvy, Vanderbilt[/glow] - B- Ogilvy is probably the most ready to score from any player in the draft and definetly the best scoring big man. This pick would be an A+ if the Hawks needed more down low scoring but with Bosh maybe they don't. With Bosh and Ogilvy they have two guys that are probably not rugged enough to be a true center but are great PFs. This also pushes Horford out of the lineup. While not a huge loss, he may be a bit of a waste on the bench. Then again, he is awful at scoring so maybe not a terrible thing. Anyway a true scoring wing guy was probably a bigger need. I would have liked to see Henderson go here.
[glow=red,2,300]#6. Bucks - C B.J. Mullens, Ohio State[/glow] - A- - based on need, I think this is a good pick. When you have Turiaf playing 23 minutes a game then you need a center. Mullens has great size and has no holes in his game. He may not have been the best player on the board but this team needs an identity as they are filled with average players but no stars and maybe Mullens is it then again maybe they could have built around a Henderson who seems more ready to score which the Bucks sorely need.
[glow=red,2,300]#7. Wizards - SG Gerald Henderson Jr., Duke[/glow] - B - really, really good looking prospects, some thought I should take him with the #2 pick. The reason for the grade is not questioning his talent level but the Wizard's need. Last year Jamison and Brad Miller were the Wizards starting PF/C combination. These guys are decent on the boards and can score but they are old and neither is a great defender anymore. I think the Wizards badly needed to get younger here. Possibly either Patterson or Speights would have made more sense.
[glow=red,2,300]#8. Cavaliers- PF Patrick Patterson, Kentucky[/glow] - A+ - this is a great pick. Patterson was the second best PF after Blake Griffin and could have been a top 5 pick easy. I am not sure how so many guys with A- rebounding and defense plus some offensive game are falling this far in the draft. On top of it, the Cavs needed up front help so this is a great pick.
[glow=red,2,300]#9. Magic - SF Victor Claver, Spain[/glow] - F - we all get it, you have some strange love of European man but why pick guys that don't fit the team and now are also just lacking talent to be a #9 pick. You could have bundled some of these picks and traded for some European in the league with talent or for future picks and get this guy at like 20. Claver unlike the other Orlando Magic SFs can't score on top of can't play defense. Since he is 6'10" I am guessing he may try his hand at PF to make the all dream team of crappy European players. If you read the scouting on these guys that was written by the President then you just drafted Lamar Odom and Boris Diaw with two top 10 picks in the deepest draft. Not sure that is great GM work.
[glow=red,2,300]#10. Jazz (from Sonics) - C Marreese Speights[/glow] - B - solid pick but the rebuilding Jazz have playable guys at PF/C with Chandler and Sheldon Williams. Now I did say playable as neither is All Star quality and Sheldon is pretty bad but has a contract that can't be sat on the bench. Having said that, Speights is a good fit but the Jazz also badly needed a SG/SF so I would have liked to see them go with an Earl Clark type player to team with Gordon and then go after the big guy coming next year after freeing some more salary space.
[glow=red,2,300]#11. Magic - PF J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State[/glow] - B+ - finally a guy that helps close a hole on the Orlando Magic. Finally, a big man that can play defense and rebound. The guy is a beast. He is offensively challenged but on this team that may not matter as they have enough offense. Still would have liked to see a 7 footer but Hickson in my rankings is the best PF/C available so a solid pick. I am pretty sure he won't get much playing time since the team is super deep in terms of forwards but if he develops well he may earn playing time and the critical role of enforcer on this team.
[glow=red,2,300]#12. Clippers - SG Russell Westbrook, UCLA[/glow] - D - The Clipps have a 2 centers under contract and 2 small forwards (a PF of no value as well) so the team can use many things. The team also hopefully has some big FA plans. To the pick; Russell was not the best guy by far on my draft board. He is under sized at 6'3" 187 pounds. I can usually give up height or weight but not both. He is also one dimensional, outside of defense he seems a but clueless. I am also in the camp that the way to win is a solid interior defense (DeAndre Jordan - check), scoring from the wing (Chase Budinger - check) and a general to run the team. PG? The draft not only has some quality PGs but a bunch seem better then Westbrook even just as a guard. I would have liked any of those better. I gave a D instead of an F as Russell is not talentless and he does need a SG as well so not a wasted pick.
[glow=red,2,300]#13. Warriors - SF Earl Clark[/glow] - A - the obvious need in Warrior land was a PG since they have Ellis and Redd at SG and Green at SF. But Earl Clark was head and shoulders above the talent that was left. He has no holes in his game. He is an all around scorer, can defend, can rebound and looks to be athletic. I am still shocked that he dropped this far and I think is a huge pickup. Now if the Warriors can hit the trade block and land a PG then maybe they are back in the talk for championships.
[glow=red,2,300]#15. Knicks - SG Nick Calathes[/glow] - B- - I think Nick was one of the best pure talents left and at 21 he has room to grow. My only problem with the pick is I don't know where Nick plays for the Knicks. They have the undersized but very productive backcourt of Nate Robinson and Jameer Nelson which probably eliminates Nick from getting much playing time at his natural SG position and with Jameer on a megu huge and long contract I am not sure if that changes. Unlike many SGs, Nick does not appear to have the size to play SF. At a 190 pounds and with defense/rebounding being his weaknesses I don't know if he can make the switch. Can't honeslty say there was a great fit left but I still may have taken my chances on a true SF or bigger SG and hope they develop.
[glow=red,2,300]#16. Bulls- C, Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga[/glow] - B+ - Josh is promising and the Bulls badly needed any kind of inside scoring for which Josh seemed to be the best choice. Chism is the only other guy they could have considered and let Noah play as an undersized center so this is probably a better option. Josh was not the best guy on the board but I think the best fit on the board for the Bulls.
[glow=red,2,300]#17. Hawks - SF, Damion James, University of Texas[/glow] - A- I like this pick a lot. He seems to be as good as anyone left in terms of talent. He also appears to be the best defender left and just like a great scorer and great defender can always be used. Should be a very good backup. Would have given an A+ if the Hawks needed another 6'8" type defender but that seems to be their strenght. Anyway, if this kid's offense progresses then he is a great player to have.
[glow=red,2,300]#18. Knicks (from Spurs) - PG Matias Nocedal, Argentina[/glow] - A - great, great pick. Shows that you can pick a European player at the right spot. Outside of Jrue Holiday he is the best PG in the draft. Great size and he is only 20, this guy could develop into a stud. He can shoot the long ball so he could make the switch to SG. His defense is not great but with his size maybe he can work on that. No A+ since this really forces the Knicks hand on trading of of their two other PGs so which puts them in a corner. Their need was a good SF and with Nick Calathes and now this dude they have 4 true guards and none that may be able to play SF. Anyway, good picking.
[glow=red,2,300]#19. Rockets - C Jason Bennett, Kansas State[/glow] - D - I realize this was taken to have a 7'5" guy (Yao) and a 7'3" guy in the same lineup for great shot blocking. Problem is both these guys are probably so slow that neither one will be able to guard a true PF and be in constant foul trouble. The team did need a PF but there were some pure PFs in the draft with more talent then Bennett. Could have gone Chism or Greene and gotten a better deal. Bennett also has B potential which not a good thing in a draft this deep.
[glow=red,2,300]#20. Nets (from Kings) - C JaVale McGee, Nevada[/glow] - B- - JaVale is not the most talented player left but with the pickup of Arenas and the loss of Lopez the team badly needs front line guys. Drafting one of the better PGs or SGs left would leave them on the bench while if JaVale develops a bit of a post game then he may be ready to start and allow Frye back to his natural position of PF. JaValle was also one the younger guys left in the draft with A potential and his loyalty rating of 88 is a big bonus. The thought process was basically this. If I draft a PG then no matter how good he is, he is still a backup to Holiday/Arenas. If I draft a big man and for some reason I get lucky and he develops then I have starter. Plus JaVale plays defense already so if the team can score then he can start and just play defense.
[glow=red,2,300]#21. Grizzzlies - PG Johnny Flynn, Syracuse[/glow] - C - he seems to be poor version of Mike Conley Jr so I am not sure I get the pick. If a backup PG was needed then I would have taken my shots with a different type of PG maybe a Jasper or Smith to see if a bigger PG helps. The other problem is the team needs more help in the front court then the back so not a great fit with Flynn. A couple of SF/PF existed to get a better combo then Warrick/Brown combo at SF/PF. Having said that Flynn is a good player and back up.
[glow=red,2,300]#22. 76ers - PG Ramar Smith, Tennessee[/glow] - B+ - the Sixers have their starting lineup pretty set so the guy being drafted was damned to the bench before he even joined the team. Having said that Smith and Steele were my top rated guys left. I liked Steele better since he is younger and has a better jump shot. But what I would have drafted was a big man just for minutes. Jianlin fouled out of 7 games last year and Dalembert another 8 which indicates that their minutes may be too much to stay out of foul trouble and be aggresive throught the game so I would have drafted a capable C or PF just to ease their minutes. This pick does provide the option of using James part time as a SG which he has the scoring ability for and using Andre Iguodala part time at SF and Prince at PF which may ease the pressure on Jianlin and Dalembert. Like I said not a clear A but getting the best talent on the board is always good.
[glow=red,2,300]#23. Suns (from Jazz) - PG Andrew Steele, Alabama[/glow] - B+ - I like this pick since he was my favorite guy left in the draft in terms of talent. Not sure why they traded Amare for a PG and a center to develop when they can just get this guy at PG and use him and Barbosa. I would have liked a lineup with Amare better but as a pick, like I said great talent.
[glow=red,2,300]#24. Jazz (from Nets) - PF Donte Greene, Syracuse[/glow] - B+ - very good pick. One of the best talents left. His issue may be that he is not great at anything so not sure what his role is on the other hand it is also his upside since he may develop into a well rounded player.
[glow=red,2,300]#25. Wizards (from Nets) - PF Wayne Chism, Tennessee[/glow] - B- - first and foremost Chism is a wonderfull talent especially this late in the draft. He has good scoring touch and great size at 245 pounds. The grade is more for the fit for this team. The team does not have a dominant PF but it also doesn't have great defense on the interior or exterior so I am not sure if Chism will fit since not everyone can just score so a defender was badly needed.
[glow=red,2,300]#26. Celtics - SF Alonzo Gee, Alabama[/glow] - B- - nice pick in terms of talent. Alonzo is a nice balance of scoring and defense. He is like a poor man's Paul Pierce. Two things that I don't like about the pick. One, the Celtics still have Pierce and Allen so this guy wont get a lick of playing time. Two, he is 24 and has B potential.
[glow=red,2,300]#27. Bobcats - SF J.P. Prince, Tennessee[/glow] - B- - same as Alonzo Gee. Not sure where he will play as the 2 guard spots are locked up for a decade. The SF spot is also crowded. Then again the Bobcats don't really need any starters. Then again, he is another guy with B potential and 23.
[glow=red,2,300]#29. Trail Blazers - PG Derrick Jasper, Kentucky[/glow] - A - pretty good talent and a possible SG and PG backup as his handle allows him to play PG and his size allows him to play SG. His offense is questionable but like I said he will be a backup and a defender that is versatile.
[glow=red,2,300]#1. Pistons - SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest[/glow] - A+ - this is a perfect pick by the Pistons. They had a need at forward. They have a very good back court with Lawson and Pargo and are set at center with Lopez. Aminu can score and defend, is young and athletic.
[glow=red,2,300]#2. Nets - PG/SG Jrue Holliday, UCLA[/glow] - A- - the perfect pick would have been a true shooting guard or small forward but with scouts saying he was the best scorer in the draft from the guard spot this pick still made sense. Jrue is also young and athletic and looks like can be molded into a great scorer and defender.
[glow=red,2,300]#3. Magic (from Mavs) - SF Danilo Gallinari, Italy[/glow] - C- - Danilo is a good player but there were quite a few guys that I had rated higher. In addition, he doesn't fill a need in Orlando. They needed a bruiser and enforcer and strenght is Danilo's short coming so he is a good player but a bad fit.
[glow=red,2,300]#4. Timberwolves - PF Blake Griffin, Oklahoma[/glow] - A+ - Blake may be the most ready to play guy in the draft. His defense and rebounding make him an automatic starter and his scoring ability is promising. The Wolves needed a PF so this worked out perfectly.
[glow=red,2,300]#5. Hawks - C Andrew Ogilvy, Vanderbilt[/glow] - B- Ogilvy is probably the most ready to score from any player in the draft and definetly the best scoring big man. This pick would be an A+ if the Hawks needed more down low scoring but with Bosh maybe they don't. With Bosh and Ogilvy they have two guys that are probably not rugged enough to be a true center but are great PFs. This also pushes Horford out of the lineup. While not a huge loss, he may be a bit of a waste on the bench. Then again, he is awful at scoring so maybe not a terrible thing. Anyway a true scoring wing guy was probably a bigger need. I would have liked to see Henderson go here.
[glow=red,2,300]#6. Bucks - C B.J. Mullens, Ohio State[/glow] - A- - based on need, I think this is a good pick. When you have Turiaf playing 23 minutes a game then you need a center. Mullens has great size and has no holes in his game. He may not have been the best player on the board but this team needs an identity as they are filled with average players but no stars and maybe Mullens is it then again maybe they could have built around a Henderson who seems more ready to score which the Bucks sorely need.
[glow=red,2,300]#7. Wizards - SG Gerald Henderson Jr., Duke[/glow] - B - really, really good looking prospects, some thought I should take him with the #2 pick. The reason for the grade is not questioning his talent level but the Wizard's need. Last year Jamison and Brad Miller were the Wizards starting PF/C combination. These guys are decent on the boards and can score but they are old and neither is a great defender anymore. I think the Wizards badly needed to get younger here. Possibly either Patterson or Speights would have made more sense.
[glow=red,2,300]#8. Cavaliers- PF Patrick Patterson, Kentucky[/glow] - A+ - this is a great pick. Patterson was the second best PF after Blake Griffin and could have been a top 5 pick easy. I am not sure how so many guys with A- rebounding and defense plus some offensive game are falling this far in the draft. On top of it, the Cavs needed up front help so this is a great pick.
[glow=red,2,300]#9. Magic - SF Victor Claver, Spain[/glow] - F - we all get it, you have some strange love of European man but why pick guys that don't fit the team and now are also just lacking talent to be a #9 pick. You could have bundled some of these picks and traded for some European in the league with talent or for future picks and get this guy at like 20. Claver unlike the other Orlando Magic SFs can't score on top of can't play defense. Since he is 6'10" I am guessing he may try his hand at PF to make the all dream team of crappy European players. If you read the scouting on these guys that was written by the President then you just drafted Lamar Odom and Boris Diaw with two top 10 picks in the deepest draft. Not sure that is great GM work.
[glow=red,2,300]#10. Jazz (from Sonics) - C Marreese Speights[/glow] - B - solid pick but the rebuilding Jazz have playable guys at PF/C with Chandler and Sheldon Williams. Now I did say playable as neither is All Star quality and Sheldon is pretty bad but has a contract that can't be sat on the bench. Having said that, Speights is a good fit but the Jazz also badly needed a SG/SF so I would have liked to see them go with an Earl Clark type player to team with Gordon and then go after the big guy coming next year after freeing some more salary space.
[glow=red,2,300]#11. Magic - PF J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State[/glow] - B+ - finally a guy that helps close a hole on the Orlando Magic. Finally, a big man that can play defense and rebound. The guy is a beast. He is offensively challenged but on this team that may not matter as they have enough offense. Still would have liked to see a 7 footer but Hickson in my rankings is the best PF/C available so a solid pick. I am pretty sure he won't get much playing time since the team is super deep in terms of forwards but if he develops well he may earn playing time and the critical role of enforcer on this team.
[glow=red,2,300]#12. Clippers - SG Russell Westbrook, UCLA[/glow] - D - The Clipps have a 2 centers under contract and 2 small forwards (a PF of no value as well) so the team can use many things. The team also hopefully has some big FA plans. To the pick; Russell was not the best guy by far on my draft board. He is under sized at 6'3" 187 pounds. I can usually give up height or weight but not both. He is also one dimensional, outside of defense he seems a but clueless. I am also in the camp that the way to win is a solid interior defense (DeAndre Jordan - check), scoring from the wing (Chase Budinger - check) and a general to run the team. PG? The draft not only has some quality PGs but a bunch seem better then Westbrook even just as a guard. I would have liked any of those better. I gave a D instead of an F as Russell is not talentless and he does need a SG as well so not a wasted pick.
[glow=red,2,300]#13. Warriors - SF Earl Clark[/glow] - A - the obvious need in Warrior land was a PG since they have Ellis and Redd at SG and Green at SF. But Earl Clark was head and shoulders above the talent that was left. He has no holes in his game. He is an all around scorer, can defend, can rebound and looks to be athletic. I am still shocked that he dropped this far and I think is a huge pickup. Now if the Warriors can hit the trade block and land a PG then maybe they are back in the talk for championships.
[glow=red,2,300]#15. Knicks - SG Nick Calathes[/glow] - B- - I think Nick was one of the best pure talents left and at 21 he has room to grow. My only problem with the pick is I don't know where Nick plays for the Knicks. They have the undersized but very productive backcourt of Nate Robinson and Jameer Nelson which probably eliminates Nick from getting much playing time at his natural SG position and with Jameer on a megu huge and long contract I am not sure if that changes. Unlike many SGs, Nick does not appear to have the size to play SF. At a 190 pounds and with defense/rebounding being his weaknesses I don't know if he can make the switch. Can't honeslty say there was a great fit left but I still may have taken my chances on a true SF or bigger SG and hope they develop.
[glow=red,2,300]#16. Bulls- C, Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga[/glow] - B+ - Josh is promising and the Bulls badly needed any kind of inside scoring for which Josh seemed to be the best choice. Chism is the only other guy they could have considered and let Noah play as an undersized center so this is probably a better option. Josh was not the best guy on the board but I think the best fit on the board for the Bulls.
[glow=red,2,300]#17. Hawks - SF, Damion James, University of Texas[/glow] - A- I like this pick a lot. He seems to be as good as anyone left in terms of talent. He also appears to be the best defender left and just like a great scorer and great defender can always be used. Should be a very good backup. Would have given an A+ if the Hawks needed another 6'8" type defender but that seems to be their strenght. Anyway, if this kid's offense progresses then he is a great player to have.
[glow=red,2,300]#18. Knicks (from Spurs) - PG Matias Nocedal, Argentina[/glow] - A - great, great pick. Shows that you can pick a European player at the right spot. Outside of Jrue Holiday he is the best PG in the draft. Great size and he is only 20, this guy could develop into a stud. He can shoot the long ball so he could make the switch to SG. His defense is not great but with his size maybe he can work on that. No A+ since this really forces the Knicks hand on trading of of their two other PGs so which puts them in a corner. Their need was a good SF and with Nick Calathes and now this dude they have 4 true guards and none that may be able to play SF. Anyway, good picking.
[glow=red,2,300]#19. Rockets - C Jason Bennett, Kansas State[/glow] - D - I realize this was taken to have a 7'5" guy (Yao) and a 7'3" guy in the same lineup for great shot blocking. Problem is both these guys are probably so slow that neither one will be able to guard a true PF and be in constant foul trouble. The team did need a PF but there were some pure PFs in the draft with more talent then Bennett. Could have gone Chism or Greene and gotten a better deal. Bennett also has B potential which not a good thing in a draft this deep.
[glow=red,2,300]#20. Nets (from Kings) - C JaVale McGee, Nevada[/glow] - B- - JaVale is not the most talented player left but with the pickup of Arenas and the loss of Lopez the team badly needs front line guys. Drafting one of the better PGs or SGs left would leave them on the bench while if JaVale develops a bit of a post game then he may be ready to start and allow Frye back to his natural position of PF. JaValle was also one the younger guys left in the draft with A potential and his loyalty rating of 88 is a big bonus. The thought process was basically this. If I draft a PG then no matter how good he is, he is still a backup to Holiday/Arenas. If I draft a big man and for some reason I get lucky and he develops then I have starter. Plus JaVale plays defense already so if the team can score then he can start and just play defense.
[glow=red,2,300]#21. Grizzzlies - PG Johnny Flynn, Syracuse[/glow] - C - he seems to be poor version of Mike Conley Jr so I am not sure I get the pick. If a backup PG was needed then I would have taken my shots with a different type of PG maybe a Jasper or Smith to see if a bigger PG helps. The other problem is the team needs more help in the front court then the back so not a great fit with Flynn. A couple of SF/PF existed to get a better combo then Warrick/Brown combo at SF/PF. Having said that Flynn is a good player and back up.
[glow=red,2,300]#22. 76ers - PG Ramar Smith, Tennessee[/glow] - B+ - the Sixers have their starting lineup pretty set so the guy being drafted was damned to the bench before he even joined the team. Having said that Smith and Steele were my top rated guys left. I liked Steele better since he is younger and has a better jump shot. But what I would have drafted was a big man just for minutes. Jianlin fouled out of 7 games last year and Dalembert another 8 which indicates that their minutes may be too much to stay out of foul trouble and be aggresive throught the game so I would have drafted a capable C or PF just to ease their minutes. This pick does provide the option of using James part time as a SG which he has the scoring ability for and using Andre Iguodala part time at SF and Prince at PF which may ease the pressure on Jianlin and Dalembert. Like I said not a clear A but getting the best talent on the board is always good.
[glow=red,2,300]#23. Suns (from Jazz) - PG Andrew Steele, Alabama[/glow] - B+ - I like this pick since he was my favorite guy left in the draft in terms of talent. Not sure why they traded Amare for a PG and a center to develop when they can just get this guy at PG and use him and Barbosa. I would have liked a lineup with Amare better but as a pick, like I said great talent.
[glow=red,2,300]#24. Jazz (from Nets) - PF Donte Greene, Syracuse[/glow] - B+ - very good pick. One of the best talents left. His issue may be that he is not great at anything so not sure what his role is on the other hand it is also his upside since he may develop into a well rounded player.
[glow=red,2,300]#25. Wizards (from Nets) - PF Wayne Chism, Tennessee[/glow] - B- - first and foremost Chism is a wonderfull talent especially this late in the draft. He has good scoring touch and great size at 245 pounds. The grade is more for the fit for this team. The team does not have a dominant PF but it also doesn't have great defense on the interior or exterior so I am not sure if Chism will fit since not everyone can just score so a defender was badly needed.
[glow=red,2,300]#26. Celtics - SF Alonzo Gee, Alabama[/glow] - B- - nice pick in terms of talent. Alonzo is a nice balance of scoring and defense. He is like a poor man's Paul Pierce. Two things that I don't like about the pick. One, the Celtics still have Pierce and Allen so this guy wont get a lick of playing time. Two, he is 24 and has B potential.
[glow=red,2,300]#27. Bobcats - SF J.P. Prince, Tennessee[/glow] - B- - same as Alonzo Gee. Not sure where he will play as the 2 guard spots are locked up for a decade. The SF spot is also crowded. Then again the Bobcats don't really need any starters. Then again, he is another guy with B potential and 23.
[glow=red,2,300]#29. Trail Blazers - PG Derrick Jasper, Kentucky[/glow] - A - pretty good talent and a possible SG and PG backup as his handle allows him to play PG and his size allows him to play SG. His offense is questionable but like I said he will be a backup and a defender that is versatile.