NBA Draft Review
After months of talk, the draft has come and gone. Here are the winners and losers.
Good
1) Orlando Magic:
Round 1: Dwight Howard, PF, HS and Jameer Nelson, PG, St. Joseph's
Round 2: Anderson Varejao, PF, Brazil
I agree with the Howard pick 100%. If you're going to tear it down and rebuild, go with the guy with the most upside. There's little doubt how good Okafor is going to be, but Howard has the chance to be a superstar. I still don't understand the outrage over Nelson 'falling' to No. 20. There isn't a huge market for undersized point guards, but he did land in a great situation. Varejao has first round talent and pushes the Magic into the top spot here.
2) Dallas Mavericks:
Round 1: Devin Harris, PG, Wisconsin and Pavel Podkolzine, C, Russia
Round 2: Luis Flores, SG, Manhattan
I'm still trying to figure out how a team with no first round pick ends up with two of the best players in the draft. Antawn Jamison for Stackhouse and Harris is a steal for the Mavs. I love Harris' game and don't see any reason why he can't have an impact right away. A future first rounder for Podkolzine? Please. That could be the steal of the draft. If they trade for Shaq, then this helped them re-stock. If they don't, then Nellie has a point to give Nash a blow (or take over if he leaves) and a center with a chance to be an all star.
3) Atlanta Hawks:
Round 1: Josh Childress, SG, Stanford and Josh Smith, SF, HS
Round 2: Donta Smith, SF, SE Illinois CC and Royal Ivey, SG, Texas and Viktor Sanikidze, SF, Georgia
I really like who they walked away with. The Josh's are both incredible athletes who could turn into quite the dynamic duo over the next few years. Childress can be their go-to guy now and Josh Smith is the best athlete to come out this year. Donta Smith was a solid second round pick, albeit another small forward. Ivey almost forced me to push them down a few spots, but Sanikidze balanced the second round out.
4) Utah Jazz:
Round 1: Kris Humphries, PF, Minnesota and Kirk Snyder, SG, Nevada
Utah just missed the playoffs last season and with their first two picks they were able to add players that can both step in and help right away. Humphries is most important because Kirilenko would simply wear down if he had to do all the dirty work himself next season. If they would've kept Pavel, they would've easily been No. 1, but losing him puts them down a few spots.
5) Los Angeles Clippers:
Round 1: Shaun Livingston, PG, HS
Round 2: Lionel Chalmers, PG, Xavier
I loved both of these picks. Livingston is a freak at the point and Chalmers is a great value at No. 33. Any big man would have wasted away on the end of the bench. Both players will have a chance to play right off the bat. Although, this is the Clippers, so something will probably go wrong with both of them.
6) Miami Heat:
Round 1: Dorell Wright, SG, HS
Round 2: Albert Miralles, PF, Spain and Matt Freije, SF, Vanderbilt
I don't understand why people were so down on them passing on Jameer Nelson. How many players in their rotation last year could play and defend ONE position? Wade, Odom, Butler and Grant can all play multiple positions. Stan Van Gundy is adding athletes and you can put three more on that list. I'd love to hear from the Nelson fan club in three years if Wright turns into the next McGrady.
7) Philadelphia 76ers:
Round 1: Andre Iguodala, SG, Arizona
Besides Childress, Iguodala is best player in the draft that best fits with Iverson on the floor. If they can get rid of some dead weight (Glenn Robinson?) and add another athletic wing, this team will be crazy in transition.
8) Chicago Bulls:
Round 1: Ben Gordon, PG, Connecticut and Luol Deng, SF, Duke
Round 2: Chris Duhon, PG, Duke
With Jerry Krause gone, the Bulls can finally rebuild with the right pieces. Getting three college tested players that can play right away is a step in the right direction. Although, I hate the Duhon pick. Gordon and Deng can both start and help the Baby Bulls get into the playoffs.
9) Cleveland Cavaliers:
Round 1: Luke Jackson, SF, Oregon
Like Iguodala in Philly, Jackson is the perfect player for Cleveland. McInnis, LeBron, Jackson, Boozer and Ilgauskas is quite the starting lineup. If Silas can get anything out of Dajuan Wagner, this team won't have any trouble getting into the playoffs.
10) Seattle Sonics:
Round 1: Robert Swift, C, HS
Round 2: David Young, SG, North Carolina Central
I've never seen a player sit at home for a few months and still have so many teams jockeying for position to draft him. Especially since he won't be able to have an impact for a few years. However, they needed a center badly and got one of the best available.
11) Toronto Raptors:
Round 1: Rafael Araujo, C, BYU
Round 2: Pape Sow, PF, Cal-State Fullerton
I loved the Araujo pick. I was just as surprised as anyone else he went that early, but he's exactly what Toronto needs. The biggest knock against Araujo is that he isn't all that athletic and plays below the rim. When you can play along side Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, the last thing you need is athleticism. Bosh won't have to get beat up this year while trying to take care of the rebounding.
12) Charlotte Bobcats:
Round 1: Emeka Okafor, PF, Connecticut
Round 2: Bernard Robinson, SF, Michigan
It might've been a nice feeling to be the top pick (not to mention a few million extra bucks), but Okafor's in a much better situation here. There will be absolutely no pressure the first couple of years while the franchise gets off the ground. I don't mind them trading Zaza Pachulia to make sure they had a second round pick, but Bernie could've done better than Bernard Robinson.
13) Memphis Grizzlies:
Round 2: Andre Emmett, SG, Texas Tech, Antonio Burks, PG, Memphis and Sergei Lishouk, PF, Ukraine
Jerry West made a nice haul, figuring he didn't have a first round pick. I'm a huge fan of Emmett and Burks is a nice local draw. The Grizzlies are one of the deepest teams in the league, so barring a Shaq trade, none of these players will have a first year impact, but will help add to the depth.
14) Golden State Warriors:
Round 1: Andris Biedrins, PF, Latvia
Great pick at No. 11. The Warriors will need someone to take care of the rebounding and that's all Biedrins is interested in. God forbid, a foreign prospect that doesn't want to spend all his time on the perimeter.
15) Los Angeles Lakers:
Round 1: Sasha Vujacic, PG, Slovenia
Round 2: Marcus Douthit, PF, Providence
Very solid pick at the end of the first round. Vujacic has great size (6-7) and is mature enough to help out next year. At least there's one player the Lakers know will be there on opening night.
16) New Orleans Hornets:
Round 1: J.R. Smith, SG, HS
Round 2: Tim Pickett, SG, Florida State
If Smith can develop quickly, then this draft belongs in the top 10. He has scary range on his jumper and could win the slam dunk contest this year. Baron Davis and Smith in the backcourt should be a lot of fun to watch. Pickett is gritty and has a nice stroke, but I would've liked to see the Hornets snag a pure point in the second round.
17) San Antonio Spurs:
Round 1: Beno Udrih, SG, Slovenia
Round 2: Romain Sato, SG, Xavier
Two good -- while not spectacular -- picks for the Spurs. Both will get some minutes and help with depth. One more big body to help out Duncan would have been nice, but I guess Rasho Nesterovic will have to do.
18. Sacramento Kings
Round 1: Kevin Martin, SG, Western Carolina
Round 2: Ricky Minard, SG, Morehead State
Their offense was exposed when Bobby Jackson was hurt and they needed to add some scorers in the backcourt. Martin was second in the NCAA in scoring last season, so he will help solve that problem. Minard is a nice backup plan if Martin's game doesn't develop.
19. New York Knicks
Round 2: Trevor Ariza, SF, UCLA
It's hard for a team to make the 'Good' list with one second round pick, but Ariza really has a chance to be a solid pro. The Knicks have about twenty five small forwards, so he'll have to fight for a roster spot. But Isaih knows this team badly needs to get younger, so he'll find a spot for him.
20. Washington Wizards
Round 2: Peter John Ramos, C, Puerto Rico
Devin Harris is a going to be a solid pro, but getting Jamison (and getting rid of Stackhouse and Laettner) was a great trade. There was talk that Ramos had made his way into the middle of the first round, thus making him a very good second rounder.
Not So Good
1) Boston Celtics:
Round 1: Al Jefferson, PF, HS, Delonte West, PG, St. Joseph's and Tony Allen, SG, Oklahoma State
Round 2: Justin Reed, SF, Mississippi
Jefferson is a solid pick and unlike last year's prep pick (Kendrick Perkins), he should play some this coming season. The West and Allen picks absolutely baffled me. I don't like West's game one bit and even if you're taking him as a point guard, why not just take one of the true point guards still left on the board? I really like Allen as a player, but not at 25 in the first round. It's one thing to take one bubble player, but two? Very odd, Danny.
2) Detroit Pistons:
Round 2: Rickey Paulding, SG, Missouri
It's hard for me to fault the Pistons for a sub-par draft when they didn't pick until 54. Paulding's a nice little player and could make the team depending on who they bring back next season.
3) Indiana Pacers:
Round 1: David Harrison, C, Colorado
Round 2: Rashad Wright, PG, Georgia
There's nothing about Harrison's game I like. He doesn't play with any passion and I never saw any post moves that were overly impressive. If Rick Carlisle and Larry Bird can get him straightened out, this could turn into a decent pick. But there are certain players that just don't have that killer instinct you need.
4) Portland Trailblazers:
Round 1: Sebastian Telfair, PG, HS, Viktor Khryapa, SF, Russia and Sergey Monya, SG, Russia
Round 2: Ha Seung Jin, C, South Korea
Their draft is down here for one reason: Sebastian Telfair. They could've taken him at 22 or 23 and picked up someone like Kirk Snyder at 13. The two Russians were solid picks, but I'd worry about them getting a bit sick of each other. Ha Seung Jin was a great second round pick. There was a lot of talk he could go much higher.
5) Phoenix Suns:
Round 2: Jackson Vroman, C, Iowa State
Vroman's a solid second rounder, but they should've kept Deng at No. 7. I understand they want to make a run at Kobe or Steve Nash, but Deng had top 3 talent.
6) New Jersey Nets:
Round 2: Christian Drejer, SF, Denmark
Like Phoenix, they pick up a solid player in the second round but should have held onto their first round pick. The new owners are trying to save money, but the 22nd pick in the draft wouldn't break the bank.
7) Minnesota Timberwolves:
Round 2: Blake Stepp, PG, Gonzaga
Stepp's a nice player and a good story, but the same things were said about Dan Dickau. He could make the team.
8) Houston Rockets:
Round 2: Vassilis Spanoulis, PG, Greece
A good second round pick, but when will he suit up in the NBA?
We Participated Because We Had To
1) Denver Nuggets:
Round 1: No Pick
Round 2: No Pick
Got a future first round pick from the Magic for Jameer Nelson. That pick will most certainly be better than No. 20, so that's a solid move for the Nuggets.
2) Milwaukee Bucks:
Round 1: No Pick
Round 2: No Pick
Got a good player in Zaza Pachulia from the Bobcats for their second round pick.
:: Ryan 8:29 PM
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NBA Mock Draft 2004
Version 4.0
There's almost no way to be sure how everything will shake out Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Sure, every year there are surprises, but this is one of the most unpredictable drafts ever. With a lack of NBA-ready players, plenty of teams are trying to trade out of the first round all together. Meanwhile, the Bobcats are trying to pick up as many picks as possible to help build the foundation of their franchise. I'm not sure what these picks are good for, but here goes:
1. Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard PF (6-11, 240) Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (HS)
- Last minute deal with Charlotte to
not select Okafor? Makes sense for both teams.
2. Charlotte Bobcats - Emeka Okafor, PF (6-10, 250) Connecticut
- Perfect player to build a franchise around. Howard wouldn't be a bad Plan B.
3. Chicago Bulls - Andre Iguodala, SG (6-6, 215) Arizona
- Finally able to rebuild with the right pieces.
4. Los Angeles Clippers - Shaun Livingston, PG (6-7, 180) Peoria (HS)
- Could be Gordon, but Livingston might be the best player in the draft.
5. Washington Wizards - Luol Deng, SF (6-8, 215) Duke
- Need size, but Deng is too good to pass on.
6. Atlanta Hawks - Josh Smith, SF (6-9, 220) Oak Hill Academy (HS)
- Could possibly pick him up later, but can't afford to lose him after whiffing on Howard.
7. Phoenix Suns - Devin Harris, PG (6-3, 180) Wisconsin
- Gordon could fit here, but they need someone to run the show more than a shooter.
8. Toronto Raptors - Andris Biedrins, PF (7-0, 235) BK Skonto Riga (Latvia)
- Chris Bosh desperately needs help in the post. Biedrins is a monster.
9. Philadelphia 76ers - Josh Childress, SF (6-8, 200) Stanford
- Could turn into the steal of the draft.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers - Ben Gordon, PG (6-2, 195) Connecticut
- Gordon and LeBron can give teams nightmares for years to come.
11. Golden State Warriors - Rafael Araujo, C (6-11, 280) BYU
- Pavel might be the pick, but I don't think Golden State wants a project.
12. Seattle Supersonics - Pavel Podkolzine, C (7-5, 300) Varese (Italy)
- Would prefer Araujo, but they need a center and at 7-5 Pavel's a better option down the road than anything on their current roster.
13. Portland Trailblazers - Kirk Snyder, SG (6-6, 225) Nevada
- And to think Snyder had to think about leaving school.
14. Utah Jazz - Sergey Monya, SG (6-8, 220) CSKA (Russia)
- Promises, promises.
15. Boston Celtics - Robert Swift, C (7-1, 250) Bakersfield (HS)
- They'd prefer someone a bit more polished, but he's still a much better option than Peter John Ramos.
16. Utah Jazz - Al Jefferson, PF (6-9, 260) Prentiss (HS)
- Could be the replacement for Malone they couldn't find last season.
17. Atlanta Hawks - Luke Jackson, SG (6-7, 215) Oregon
- Probably won't slip this far, but the Hawks sure hope he does.
18. New Orleans Hornets - J.R. Smith, SG (6-6, 220) St. Benedict (HS)
- Might snag a point for insurance of the always injured Baron Davis, but Smith seems like the logical pick.
19. Miami Heat - David Harrison, C (7-0, 260) Colorado
- I don't buy the Jameer Nelson talk, but I also don't make the decisions.
20. Denver Nuggets - Kevin Martin, SG (6-7, 190) Western Carolina
- Dorrell Wright has more upside at shooting guard, but Martin is ready to contribute now.
21. Utah Jazz - Kris Humphries, PF (6-9, 240) Minnesota
- If they walk away with Monya, Jefferson and Humphries, they can also take with them the award for best draft.
22. New Jersey Nets - Sebastian Telfair, PG (5-11, 175) Lincoln (HS)
- The rumor is the Nets will be picking for the Blazers, who are in love with Telfair. If they're moving to Brooklyn, why not keep Bassy for themselves?
23. Portland Trailblazers - Peter John Ramos, C (7-3, 265) Criollos (Puerto Rico)
- They'll have plenty of big men next season, so Ramos can be brought along slowly.
24. Boston Celtics - Dorell Wright, SG (6-8, 210) South Kent (HS)
- All signs point to Wright getting a promise long ago from the Celtics.
25. Boston Celtics - Anderson Varejao, PF (6-10, 225) FC Barcelona (Brazil)
- Ainge can keep stash him away for a year or two while the Celtics are rebuilt.
26. Sacramento Kings - Viktor Khryapa, SF (6-9, 235) CSKA (Russia)
- The Kings have struck gold with international players in the past and they'll do it again here.
27. Los Angeles Lakers - Sasha Vujacic, PG (6-7, 200) Udine (Italy)
- They almost promised to take him last year before he pulled out. This year he's the pick.
28. San Antonio Spurs - Donta Smith, SF (6-7, 220) Southeastern Illinois CC
- Needs a better work ethic when it comes to defense, but I'm pretty sure Timmy can help him see the light.
29. Indiana Pacers - Jameer Nelson, PG (6-0, 200) St. Joseph's
- Charlotte is trying like hell to get a pick in the middle of the first round to take Nelson, and thus there's little chance he falls this low. I just don't see another match.
:: Ryan 6:47 PM
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