NBA Draft Recap

After having a few days to let the dust settle and most of the moves made official, here is my breakdown of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (and everything else) of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Quick Note- Several times I discuss how likely an international draft prospect is to come and play in the NBA, and how it plays into their being drafted. The current state of professional basketball leagues overseas is on the rise- the leagues have more money and are willing to spend it on their countries top players. Recently, Jose Garbajosa and Juan Carlos Navarro both decided to leave the NBA for better contracts in Spain. Also, the NBA Draft has a strict structure for salaries and contracts for players taken in the first round, and the later in the first round the pick is, the less money that is guaranteed. The second round has no requirements, and a player controls their own destiny depending on how well they play. Because of these factors, international players taken late in the first round are less likely than ever to come over the play in the NBA. They can simply stay overseas and make more money. Players taken in the 2nd round are more likely to play in the NBA.

 

The Good- While several teams had "good" drafts, I wanted to highlight a few teams that proactively sought to improve their roster and outlook for the future, short or long term.

 

Miami Heat (Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers)

The Miami Heat, to me, had the best draft of anyone. After all the discussion of what they would do with Michael Beasley and the number 2 pick, they ended up making the smart move by filling a position of need with the best player in the draft. Even though he doesn't need any motivation on the court, I think all of the doubters will get to Beasley, and will only make him a tougher, better player. If the Heat stick with him, he will start and produce for them from Day 1. Even better, the Heat were able to pick up the perfect point guard to pair with Dwyane Wade in Mario Chalmers. The biggest issues with Chalmers are his ball-handling and foot-speed. He is a great defensive player with a knack for picking up steals, a clutch shooter, and simply a smart basketball player who knows how to win. Since Wade does most of the ball-handling, Chalmers just has to be able to hit open shots and guard the other teams point guard. This is a great situation for Chalmers, and a great value for the Heat, considering that Chalmers worked out extremely well for several teams and there was talk of him going in the 10-15 overall range. Getting him for a future second round pick is a steal, and I think he too could be starting right away for Miami.

I know that Riley doesn't love Beasley and wanted OJ Mayo, but he can't be too upset about a draft where he didn't give up anything long-term and got 2 legitimate starters in the process. They're still going to need a center not named Mark Blount (who should be on his way out, along with Jason Williams), so I don't think the Heat are done making moves, but up to this point a great draft for Miami.

 

New Jersey Nets (Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts)

Including the trade they made earlier in the day (which I already spoke about), the Nets had a great draft day where they were able to reload with young talent while setting themselves up to get LeBron (or one of the other stars who will be free agents) in 2010. By trading away Richard Jefferson, the Nets finished cutting all significant ties to the team that made it to the Finals in the early 2000s. When all was said and done, the Nets ended up with center Brook Lopez, a top-5 player and the best center in the draft who fell to them at 10, sweet-shooting forward Ryan Anderson, who may have been a reach at 21 but was a luxury pick for the Nets, Chris Douglas-Roberts, a first-round talent at shooting guard who fell to them at 40, and Yi Jianlian, who was the 6th overall pick in last years draft. Anderson wasn't really talked about too much until the days immediately leading up to the draft, but I actually saw him play a few times at Cal, and I think he will be a good player. At 6'10, he's an offensive specialist who right now is sort of a poor man's Dirk Nowitzki. He has good range on his very fundamental jump shot, and has some post moves as well. He isn't very fast, won't drive by anyone and needs to be protected on defense, but he should develop into a good role player. Like I said, he might have been a reach at 21, but after getting such great value for Lopez at 10 they had the freedom to take a player that they really wanted.

Put that crew of young players with young point guard Devin Harris, who they stole from the Mavs in the Jason Kidd deal, and explosive big man Shawn Williams, who is a great defensive player but has no offensive game, and of course the overpaid but under-motivated star Vince Carter, and the Nets really do have a good team. It'll take a while to come together, but I think they have assembled several talented players whose skills all complement each other. A starting line-up of Harris, Carter, Yi, Williams and Lopez with CDR and Anderson coming off the bench can be competitive in the very near future, and if you add LeBron to that mix in 2 years, they could contend for a championship right away.

 

Portland Trail Blazers (Jerryd Bayless, Nicholas Batum)

Anyone surprised that the Blazers were among the winners on draft day? Combining their slew of assets with the draft-day fall of Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers were able to pick up a top-5 talent who should be able to play next to Brandon Roy right away. Similar to the Chalmers-Wade situation I described above, Bayless gets to play to his strengths and ignore his weaknesses- he is a great offensive player but not a true point guard, and with Roy doing the majority of the ball-handling and running the offense, Bayless' lack of position becomes less of an issue. They were also able to pick up another player that they liked in Nicholas Batum. He isn't ready to play right now, but he'll play in the D-League or overseas for a year or two before coming in to help Portland. Given the young talent that the Blazers have already compiled, every pick is a luxury pick for them, and if Batum doesn't pan out it isn't that big of an issue. Portland still needs to find a veteran small forward to bring a little experience and maturity to the team, as well as consolidate their assets a little more, so they probably aren't done dealing, but as usual, a great draft for the Blazers. 

While we're on the topic, keep an eye on Gerald Wallace. The Blazers already have enough offense, and a versatile player who excels on defense like Wallace would be a great fit in Portland. With all the indecision going on in Charlotte (more on that later), they could be interested in a few of the young players that Pritchard is looking to trade. A deal here might work for both sides.

 

Indiana Pacers (Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert)

The Blazers' draft day trade partners didn't fare too poorly themselves. The Pacers were able to completely reload over the course of two days, to the point where I think they can be a playoff team as soon as this coming season. They were able to trade Jermaine O'Neal for the explosive TJ Ford, and then surround him with wing players who can run the floor and shoot from deep in Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger, and Brandon Rush, their first round pick this year. They also picked up defensive-minded point guard Jarrett Jack, who will be a perfect compliment to Ford coming off the bench, as well as 7'2 center Roy Hibbert, who should start at center next to forward Troy Murphey. Hibbert doesn't completely fit with the run-and-shoot image of the rest of the team, but he's a true center with a lot of offensive skills, and will find a way to contribute.

Funny side-note: Not only can the players drafted by the Pacers (Rush and Hibbert) not wear Indiana hats because the trades haven't been finalized yet (the O'Neal-Ford trade can't become official until July 9), but Larry Bird had apparently been instructed by the league not to even comment on the trades. I really enjoyed seeing Larry Bird stuck talking about how great of a player Jerryd Bayless (who they traded for Rush) is, and talking about the point guard situation that needs to be shored up (which has obviously been solved with the addition of Ford). Say what you will about David Stern, but executives around the league definitely listen to him.

 

Seattle SuperSonics (Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, DJ White, DeVon Hardin)

I wasn't too sure about the Sonics until the end of the draft. I loved their pick of Russell Westbrook at 4- they stayed in their spot and picked the guy that they wanted, and there's something to be said for that. The pick was justifiable given Westbrook's hot draft stock, and he is a great fit alongside of Kevin Durant. He should be able to step in right away as a Rondo-type point guard before expanding his game (speaking of Westbrook, check out this footage of his personal team workout with the Blazers). However, I didn't like the Sonic's other 1st round pick, taking Congo native Serge Ibaka, who will play overseas in Spain for at least one, if not two, more seasons. Yes, at 24 the risk factor of a player like this is greatly reduced, but the Sonics have tried this before with young center prospects, and none of them have worked out. If you're the Sonics, why not take a flier on DeAndre Jordan, let him develop in the NBDL where they can keep closer tabs on him, and see if that pans out. It's basically the same process, and Jordan, as risky of a prospect as he is, will at least be in the United States, and can form a friendship with Kevin Durant and the rest of the young Sonics as his game develops.

The Sonics redeemed themselves, however, by pairing 2 second-round picks to get Indiana bruiser DJ White, who should be able to play some center in the NBA, as well as Cal center DeVon Hardin, who should follow the path that I described for Jordan. Hardin is a huge, athletic center who even after four years at school is still extremely raw. If he can develop in the D-League, he would be a perfect defensive-minded center (think DeSagana Diop) to play with Durant, Green and Westbrook. 

Obviously the future is just that for the Sonics. But they have done a good job starting the rebuilding process, and as some of these big men develop, they have the makings of a legitimate contender.

 

 

The Bad- When you look around the league and wonder why you see such a disparity in the overall talent levels between teams, you don't have to look much farther than teams like these to find an explanation. A bad draft could set a team back several years, or in some of these cases, keep them just as bad as they already were.

 

Sacramento Kings (Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing, Jr.)

I said earlier that you have to respect a team for staying at their draft spot and grabbing the guy that they want the most. The Kings were dealt a bad hand, as the top players on their board (DJ Augustin, Jerryd Bayless) were taken before they had a chance to draft. But the pick of Jason Thompson at 12, when he was a borderline first round talent, is inexcusable. If they really wanted Thompson that badly, they should have traded down, picked up some assets, and gotten their man in the early 20s. If he was off the board by then, no harm done, similar players like JJ Hickson or Darrell Arthur would have been there instead. For example, the Kings could have offered up the 12th pick to the Sonics for their 24th pick and one of their early second rounders, and probably could have gotten Thompson (or a similar player) at 24, and picked up Mario Chalmers in the 2nd round. The Sonics could have grabbed Robin Lopez or Roy Hibbert, and both teams would have been much improved.

None of this is a knock on Thompson- he's a big, skilled player who is probably ready to play right away- but my point is that a team like the Kings, who need so many things, were almost irresponsible in not trying to accumulate more than one impact player here. Their second round picks weren't too bad- Singletary is an explosive scorer, although probably undersized for the NBA, and Patrick Ewing Jr. is an amazing athlete who should be able to contribute as a role player on an NBA team.

 

Charlotte Bobcats (DJ Augustin, Alexis Ajinca)

The Charlotte Bobcats, as I said in my pre-draft coverage, were actually in a pretty good position before the draft started. Their pick of DJ Augustin at 9 wasn't too bad- there were better players on the board, but Augustin was the best true point guard other than Rose. The problem? The Bobcats already have a point guard, Raymond Felton, who I don't think has ever really been given the chance to prove that he can run a team. I have heard, however, that the Bobcats envision Felton as an explosive scorer off the bench who can come in at either guard spot and change the tempo of the game. So you have Augustin and Jason Richardson starting at the two guard spots, with Felton off the bench. If that's the plan, that sounds like a team that wants to use what they have and win now. So with the 20th pick, you would assume that they take one of the several ready-to-play big men, right? Instead, they go with gigantic Frenchman Alexis Ajinca, who measures out at 7 feet tall with a 7'8 wingspan. and averaged 5 points per game last season in whichever pro league he played in. I forget which analyst said this (I don't want to take credit), but has anyone who has ever made it into the NBA averaged less than 5 points per game at any level? His physical gifts are amazing, and the Bobcats weren't the only team looking at him in the mid-first round, but why take a player who is such a long-term project when you're shaping your roster to compete this year? Now the Bobcats will most likely miss the playoffs again, be in the lottery again next year, and unless they hit the jackpot like Chicago did this year, be right back where they started.

While I am clearly not a fan of their draft strategy, this situation can still be salvaged. Along with Gerald Wallace potentially headed out of Charlotte, it sounds like Felton is being shopped as well. If the Bobcats can swing a deal, either for long-term prospects or short-term rewards, their outlook will at least be clearer. It just frustrates me when teams put themselves in no-mans land and don't have a clear direction.      

 

Golden State Warriors (Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix)

The Warriors got what looked like a value pick on the surface with LSU forward Anthony Randolph at the 14 spot. But the problem is that they drafted his exact clone, Brandon Wright, last year, when they got him in a trade for Golden State fan favorite Jason Richardson. They both do all the same things, and I'm not sure that they'll ever be able to be on the floor at the same time. Also, there's the problem of Don Nelson not only disliking young players in general and not giving them playing time, but player development isn't exactly his strong suit either. With the team in limbo, wasting this pick was not an option. If the Warriors wanted a raw player, they should have at least picked someone like Kosta Koufos or Donte Greene, both of which fit the Golden State system currently in place and don't duplicate a player already on the roster. Randolph certainly has potential, but it seems a bit redundant for the Warriors, and he wasn't even the best player still on the board.

 

 

The Ugly- While I'm still not sure if this trade helps or hurts either team more or less than the other (I've started to lean slightly in one direction), but only the Grizzlies and Timberwolves could have given us a trade of two top-5 players that didn't even get announced until 2 in the morning. Also, two teams who made good picks on draft day find themselves on this list as well.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves (Kevin Love)

I'm starting to think that the T-Wolves came out on top of this deal. While OJ Mayo is a great player, the Wolves already have so many players like him, such as Rashad McCants and Kirk Snyder (although Mayo is better than both of them). The bigger thing for me is that I've started to grow on Kevin Love a lot more. I've always said that if you can make an open jumper, you can make it in the NBA. Love can do that all the way out to the NBA 3-point line. But seeing Love at the draft is what really put in perspective how much work he's been putting in since the season ended- he looks like a different person, having easily lost 15-20 pounds. The work ethic is there, and he won't get outhustled by anyone during a game. That said, a frontline of Al Jefferson and Kevin Love isn't going to stop anyone, as neither of them will be a shot-blocking presence. The Wolves better hope they can score a lot of points, because that defense isn't going to get it done.

Minnesota also picked up one of my personal favorite players, Mike Miller, in the deal. He is always in the conversation for best pure shooter in the league, and he is bigger and more physical than people ever give him credit for (averaging over 7 rebounds per game last year). He deserves to be on a contending team, and probably will be moved before the end of the season, but for now he'll have a chance to start and put up good numbers on a young, bad team. Like Love and Jefferson, he's relatively slow for his position and not a good defender, causing more problems on defense. There are plenty of reasons to trash the trade (defensive problems, giving up Mayo, taking on Brian Cardinal's awful contract despite getting rid of Marko Jaric's), but I think the pros outweigh the cons here, and given that the Wolves loved Kevin Love, they had to make the move.

 

Memphis Grizzlies (OJ Mayo, Darrell Arthur)

At first I liked this draft more for the Grizzlies than I did for the T-Wolves. They got the best rookie in the deal in Mayo, and even though they lost a good power forward in Love, they got a steal in Arthur to offset the loss. But the Grizzlies gave up the best player (currently) in the deal, in Mike Miller, didn't save any money, and didn't get anything but Mayo in return. That isn't to say the acquisition of Mayo isn't a good one. I see Mayo as a complimentary player, one who can fill a stat sheet and do the dirty work and play off of a higher-scoring star. The Grizzlies have that player in Rudy Gay, and if Mayo can develop into his wingman, they have the makings of a good tandem. Plus, getting Darrell Arthur late in the first (after a series of smaller trades) fills the hole at power forward that they thought they had filled with Love. It is clear that the Grizzlies, headed by former Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni, want to score a lot of points and do it quickly. Arthur is that type of power forward- fast and athletic, a good midrange shooter and all-around offensive weapon. The main problem is that they now have too many guards. Not counting Marko Jaric, who will just sit on the bench and take up cap space, the Grizzlies have three young point guards who have been first round picks in the past three years, and OJ Mayo now as well. It seems like they want Mayo at the 2 and Gay at the 3, but that still leaves too many point guards. Before the initial stage of their rebuilding process is complete, they need to get rid of at least one of these point guards and get a true big man in return. For now, their center is Darko Milicic, but it's debatable if he'll ever be a legitimate player in the league. They also have Marc Gasol (Pau's brother) coming over this year, and by all accounts he's a bigger and stronger version of Pau, but without any of his brother's offensive skills. My guess is that Kyle Lowry is the guy that gets traded- he and Conley are both small point guards, and they can't really ever be on the floor together. Crittendon is a big point who can play the 2 at times, and a 3-guard rotation of Conley, Mayo and Crittendon is definitely a start.

The biggest issue with having an extra point guard is that they're not the only team looking to get rid of a point guard, and there just aren't that many big men to be had by way of trade these days.

 

Chicago Bulls (Derrick Rose)

OK, so maybe it's a little harsh to put the Bulls in this list. They did draft the right player at #1, hometown hero Derrick Rose, who should make an immediate impact as well as lead the team into a new, winning era. So what's the problem? The problem, to me, is that the Bulls still have way too many players, and haven't really looked too interested in moving any of them. It also doesn't inspire confidence that the Bulls have had lots of assets for years now, and haven't pulled the trigger on deals that could have gotten them Pau Gasol or Kevin Garnett, among others. I recently read a few articles quoting Bulls officials as saying that they are happy with their current roster. Obviously some of this is just for PR purposes, as they don't want to trash anyone in the media before they know who they're keeping and who is getting traded, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like they've been too active in their search of a trade. Should they clear up their backcourt mess, the Bulls definitely get off of "The Ugly" list, but for now I think they're in a bad situation.

I really think this is something to keep an eye on, as there really don't seem to be many trade options available, so I will have a more extended write-up on this situation in the near future.

 

New York Knicks (Danilo Galinari)

I actually liked this pick for the Knicks- they have too many needs to try and find one player who will fix everything right away, and Galinari was definitely one of the best players on the board at #6. I put the Knicks in "the Ugly" category because of their ridiculous, obnoxious fans. I understand that they don't know who Galinari is- I follow basketball as closely as anyone, and I still don't know all that much about him. But clearly he's a good player, and the new front office made this decision in the best interest of the team. So why, when his name is called, would you loudly boo him? He's a young kid, and the last thing he wants or needs is to be jeered by the fans who he's going to be playing in front of for the next few years. And if he turns out to be a good player, and the team is looking to resign him somewhere down the line, wouldn't those fans have an impact on him that might make him look at other teams? Maybe I'm looking too far into this, and I know that the Knicks fans would have booed just about anyone who got picked there, but I thought it was a ridiculous thing to do on their part and thought it was worth mentioning.

While we're on the subject of the Knicks, they need to take advantage of all the point guards on the market right now. It sounds like they want Galinari to be their power forward of the future, which would take too many of David Lee's minutes. Since Lee also happens to be their best trade asset, and his stock really can't get much higher than it is right now, the Knicks should really consider trying to move Lee (and maybe a bad contract or two) for a true point guard, and whatever other cost-effective assets they can collect in the process.

 

 

The Rest- This draft was surprisingly low-key aside from the moves listed above. Here is a quick run-down of all the other teams and their draft picks, with a few quick thoughts on each.

 

Los Angeles Clippers (Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor)

The Clippers were targeting Gordon all along, even considering trading up to get him, so getting him at 7 was a good pickup for them. He has the potential to develop into a high-volume scorer and a plus defender. He can't play point guard, so they still need to find a true point. D-League star Mike Taylor might help a little, and his athleticism will make him a fan-favorite, but he isn't the answer if they want to have a playoff caliber team in the near future. I also liked the pickup of DeAndre Jordan in the 2nd round. Yes, he has a while to go, but I think he has a better chance of playing in the NBA, and making an impact within the next 3 years, than most of the players who are staying overseas (for instance, Serge Ibaka, who the Sonics picked). Also, to the casual fan, it makes more marketing sense to have a player in the D-League who you can keep tabs on than stashing a player in a league overseas that the average fan has never heard of and has no way of monitoring.

Like I said, the Clippers are in serious need of a live body at point guard, and the teams who are trying to trade a guard (Bulls, Grizzlies) should be trying to find out what the Clippers could give them.

 

Milwaukee Bucks (Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute)

Seems like the Bucks really felt they needed help at small forward. After trading Yi for Richard Jefferson, who should be more productive now that he's basically out of the public eye, they drafted Joe Alexander. I love the pick of Alexander, as he will be able to play both the 3 and the 4 right away as an energy player off the bench. Down the road, I think he can really develop into a star, but there's no reason to force him into a starting role right away when he still has so much to learn about the game. Like I said before the draft, the trade for Jefferson means the Bucks are going to try to at least make a playoff run right away, and if they can stay healthy they might be able to do it. Other than a small free agent acquisition (probably a combo guard who can score off the bench), their roster is set for the coming year.

 

Phoenix Suns (Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic)

I really liked the pick of Robin Lopez for the Suns. Assuming Shaq and Amare Stoudamire are healthy, he'll be the first big man off the bench and will do all the dirty work for the offensive-minded team. The pick of Lopez, a true 7-footer, signifies the continued change in philosophy for the Suns, who in the past would only play one true big (Stoudamire) at a time, but now look like they will have 2 on the floor at all times. Lopez will be a great defensive player right away, and will also be an immediate fan-favorite. Assuming Shaq misses a good chunk of games, almost guaranteed to happen, Lopez will be able to play big minutes alongside Amare as well. I don't really know about Dragic, who was traded for Oregon's Malik Hairson (the Suns original 2nd-round pick) on draft day, but it sounds like he's the chosen long-term replacement for Nash. I think Hairston would have been a better pick, as he's sort of a Raja Bell-type player who would have been able to play the 2/3 spots, play good defense and hit open shots, and be able to contribute immediately.

The Suns still need to figure out what they're doing with Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw. They are both clearly Mike D'Antoni players who don't fit into the new Suns philosophy, and keeping them in limbo doesn't help anyone. Diaw is more likely to stay, and become the teams starting 3, but Barbosa doesn't see, to have a role here anymore and there should be plenty of teams who have interest in him. Look for a trade within the next week or two.

 

Philadelphia 76ers (Marreese Speights)

I also liked this pick by the 76ers. They overachieved as a team last year, but really need a true low-post scorer to continue the growth of the team. The Sixers are a perfect fit for Speights, because he will be protected on defense by defensive standout Sam Dalembert (one of my personal favorites), and the Sixers have enough depth that Speights won't be forced into bigger minutes than he's capable of. That said, Speights should be the starter at power forward right away, as the Sixers continue to look towards the future while still trying to win today. Also remember that the Sixers have the most money to spend of any team this offseason. They could go several directions with their cap space, and whatever they do might dramatically change their team's outlook for this year and the future.

 

Washington Wizards (JaVale McGee)

Maybe this wasn't the best pick for the Wizards, as McGee is extremely young and raw (look at his videos- he looks like he's still in high school). That said, there's no questioning his talent and his potential to grow into a legitimate starting center. The Wizards don't NEED anything right now, especially not that they could get at the 18th pick in the draft. Their 8-9 man rotation is set for the next year or two (assuming that they can resign Arenas and Jamison), so anyone they picked this year, with the exception maybe of someone like Roy Hibbert or Robin Lopez, both who were off the board, wouldn't have a chance of being a part of the rotation immediately. So why not take a chance on a boom-or-bust prospect who is a few years away, like McGee. He's already a true 7-footer with an absurd 7'6 wingspan, and he definitely has talent. If his body matures and he turns into a good player, the Wizards look great. If not, there aren't too many other players drafted later that would have had an impact anyway, so the losses are minimal.

There is one player who was available who I would have liked to see the Wizards pick, and that is NC State's JJ Hickson- a raw, aggressive big man who could have stepped in immediately and thrown some bodies around and added some physicality to the Wizards frontline. He's just as young as McGee, however, and I think that McGee will be a better player when all is said and done. Overall, I still liked the thinking from the Wizards, and it will be a few years before we can really grade the pick.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers (JJ Hickson)

Of course the Cavs end up with the player I wanted the Wizards to take. Like I said, Hickson is a big body who will play aggressively, and be an energetic force off the bench. With the Cavs likely to lose Anderson Varejau, Hickson should be able to fill that role right away. But while other teams, specifically the Nets, made moves to try to entice LeBron in the summer of 2010, the Cavs once again did nothing to shake up a team that will always get into the playoffs and always hope that LeBron can do enough on his own to take them to the Finals. Their assets are fairly limited, and Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract will only get more attractive to other teams as the year goes on, but I think the Cavs sat on their hands again and will regret it when LeBron is a free agent.

 

Orlando Magic (Courtney Lee)

The Magic are another team that was content to sit back and make their pick, when in my opinion they could have done more. Picking at 22, the Magic needed an athletic shooting guard and a true power forward who could score down low. The falling Darrell Arthur would have been a great fit here, as he could be added to the Rashard Lewis-Hedo Turkoglu forward rotation, and be protected down low by Dwight Howard. Given how far Chris Douglas-Roberts, the next best shooting guard after Lee, fell on draft night, I think the Magic could have gotten a little more creative and filled both their needs, either getting Arthur and then trading for an early second round pick to get Lee or CDR. At the end of the day, they got the man they wanted in Lee, who will be a really good fit in Orlando, but once again I think they could have done more. 

Also, look out for the JJ Redick situation. The Magic drafted him higher than he should have been taken a few years ago, and he hasn't seen the court since. I'm not convinced that he can be an NBA-caliber player, but he certainly thinks he is, and has been asking for a trade for a while. I don't see any reason why the Magic would keep him, so if they can find a team that values Redick and would be willing to give an asset up to get him, they should jump on the deal.

 

Utah Jazz (Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic)

No surprise that the Jazz grabbed Koufos, who most expected to go in the mid-teens but fell to the Jazz here. They were looking for the best big man available, and Koufos resembles current Jazz player Mehmet Okur, so they know that he will work in their system. As a true 7-footer, he will be able to be their backup center immediately. Tomic was one of the hottest international names coming into the draft, but the Jazz were able to get him with their 2nd round pick. As usual, he will take a few years to come over. The Jazz don't usually use international players coming from overseas, so it should be interesting how this one works out.

 

Houston Rockets (Donte Greene, Joey Dorsey)

The Rockets did a good job sticking to their current model by adding a shooter (Greene) and an undersized power player (Dorsey). Both will likely see time as role players right away, although Greene could see his role expand over the course of the season and in the future. This also shows that the Rockets are as committed as ever to their pairing of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, hoping that they can get the two of them healthy for the playoffs and contend for the title. Greene is a good fit because he can space the floor, and with versatile players like McGrady and Shane Battier on the floor, doesn't really need to have a true position. He'll be out there to space the floor offensively with his shooting, rebound on both ends, and run the floor. This plays to all his strengths, putting him in a position to succeed immediately. I heard that the Rockets loved Dorsey and the attitude and power that he brings. He'll technically be a bit undersized for power forward, and definitely for center, but Dorsey loves hearing critics talking about his limitations and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has been billed as the second coming of Ben Wallace, and he could definitely have that kind of impact. On the court he doesn't think there's anything he can't do, and the Rockets could really use that type of attitude on what is otherwise a pretty soft team. I definitely think he will get a chance to show what he can do.  

 

San Antonio Spurs (George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Gist)

You have to love the Spurs. After literally nobody talked about him as a first round pick, the Spurs stepped up and drafted combo guard George Hill. Do they even bother scouting, or did they just like the idea of throwing everyone else a curveball? That said, Hill is a good prospect, and since the Spurs know that nobody can question their drafting methods, they went ahead and got the player that they wanted. I actually laughed out loud when they made their pick. Hill is very athletic and I'm assuming that he'll back up Tony Parker, even though he isn't really a true point guard and Popovich never goes with 2 small guards in the backcourt at the same time. I'm not the only one a little puzzled by this pick. They also got one of my sleepers, Oregon swingman Malik Hairston. Hairston is a very solid all-around player who doesn't do anything great but does everything well. He reminds me of Michael Finley, and will probably be groomed in Finley's role. James Gist is a great athlete who is probably undersized to play the post in the NBA, but can produce some highlight reel plays if he ever gets on the court.

 

Detroit Pistons (Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted, Deron Washington)

Apparently the Pistons had asked everyone who worked out for them if they would be receptive to playing overseas for a year or two before coming into the NBA. All three of these players had said that they would, which played a large factor in their getting drafted by the Pistons. Sharpe is a "tools" guy who has never really done much in his collegiate career, but is big, fast, and a good shooter who could develop into a very good player. Plaisted is a little undersized to play center, not having the wingspan or athleticism of other top prospects, and probably won't make it to the league.

I had the pleasure of watching Deron Washington for the past three years at Virginia Tech, and have always maintained that he could make it as an NBA player. He is way too skinny to play right now, and the new flopping fines will definitely hurt him as his playing style is based on drawing charges and generally being a pest defensively, but he is an amazing athlete who I think could be a 2/3 defensive stopper. He really reminds me of Bruce Bowen, someone who is very limited in some aspects of the game, but his energy on defense will give him a place in the league. I love that the Pistons are giving him a chance, and he will definitely become a fan favorite the second he touches an NBA floor. While overseas, he needs to continue to work (hard) on his shooting as well as filling out his body. There's no reason he can't make it onto an NBA team, and I think the Pistons will definitely give him every chance to do it.

 

Boston Celtics (JR Giddens, Bill Walker)

The defending champs didn't really have any needs coming into the draft, so instead they went with two talented players who have each had off the court issues, and hope that their strong veteran presence can set these guys straight. Giddens is someone who I had my eye on before the draft- in terms of talent, there isn't much that he can't do, but he's never been too keen on playing defense and putting all of his tools together. If he gets his act together, the Celtics have a steal. If not, they send him to the D-League and forget about it. How great it is to be the champs. 

A few teams, including the Hawks, Nuggets, Mavericks and Hornets, basically sat this draft out. For the Hawks and Mavs, their first round picks were already spent on high profile trades. The Nuggets and Hornets traded their picks for cash before the draft in order to save money. I've always wondered why teams do this before the draft actually starts, as opposed to making their pick and then trying to essentially "sell" the pick, or just getting rid of it before their pick if there isn't anyone appealing on the board. Why not just stick around, see if anyone that your scouts liked is falling down the board, and then make your decision. The scouts for every team are working year-round regardless of what picks the team has, they should at least entertain the possibility of making a pick. In my opinion, the Hornets made a mistake by doing this. Chris Douglas-Roberts, eventually taken by the Nets, would have been a great fit for the Hornets and could have probably started for them right away. I understand that they were afraid of the guaranteed first-round contract, but they could have traded their late first-rounder for an early second when they saw that CDR was falling, and then grabbed him there. 

 

Anyway, for those of you who have made it this far, thanks for reading. As always, I would love any kinds of feedback and am interested to hear reviews, good or bad. And if you like it, go ahead and spread the word.

Quick Thoughts before the Draft

As predicted, the trades have started to come in with the draft starting in a little over an hour. The biggest trade so far today has the Nets sending Richard Jefferson to the Bucks for forwards Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian (who was the 6th overall pick last year). Once again, I think this deal works well for both teams. The Bucks fill their biggest need, getting a proven small forward in Jefferson, who should be happy to finally get a change of scenery. This probably means that the Bucks are not looking to trade Michael Redd, and will attempt to make a playoff run this year. Getting rid of Simmons gives them some extra cap space to try to sign a free agent this summer. The Nets get a young player in Yi who was one of the top players in last years draft, and the huge salary of Bobby Simmons, which will come off the cap just in time for the free agent class of 2010. 

 

Both teams kept their draft picks in this deal. With the 8 pick, the Bucks might not be targeting Joe Alexander anymore. If Russell Westbrook is on the board, they could grab him here. I could also see the Bucks taking DJ Augustin here, or trying to trade down to the early teens and try to grab Augustin or Mario Chalmers.

 

The Nets could still go in any direction with their first round picks, and it sounds like they are trying to move up to the Grizzlies spot at 5 and control their own destiny, instead of waiting for someone to fall to them at 10. Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, and Joe Alexander (who might get to play with Yi afterall) could all be options at the 5 or 10 spots. 

 

Speaking of Joe Alexander....  For anyone questioning how athletic he is.  And another one.

My favorite Joe Alexander dunk, however, is this one. I was reading an interview of his the other day, and he claims that he slowed up before the dunk because he had heard that Stanley Robinson (the guy he's dunking over) was supposed to be a good shot-blocker, and that he "had his own opinion about that." Now that's the kind of attitude I want in a player. 

 

It has also been reported that the Sonics (4th pick) and Clippers (7th pick) will be swapping picks, with the Clippers giving the Sonics their first rounder next year, but only if OJ Mayo is taken in the top 3. This means that Seattle plans on taking Mayo should he slip out of the top 3, and also that Seattle will be happy with any of the players who would be available at 7 (probably including Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon or Jerryd Bayless). It's really a win-win for the Sonics- either they get the player the want the most in Mayo, who would be a great fit for them, or they pick up a first-rounder next year while still getting an impact player this year. Great move either way.

For the Clippers, it says that they have a specific player in mind that they want, and don't want to leave it up to chance. My guess is that this player is Eric Gordon. Usually I like these kinds of moves, in terms of taking action to get the player that you really want, but next year's first rounder (especially since the Clippers will more than likely be a lottery team again next year) is a pretty steep price to only move up 4 spots in a draft with so many similar players. Not too sure about this move from the Clippers side.

 

And with that, the draft is only an hour away. I love the draft because after months of speculation, all the rumors and misinformation all gets sorted out over the course of a few hours. Should be a fun one. I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts and analysis of the draft.

"Mock" Draft

It has always been my theory for the draft that you should take the best player available, or the player that your team has rated the highest, regardless of position. Every year team's reach for a player at a position of "need", and end up not getting anything in return (think Sheldon Williams). Obviously there are exceptions, for instance the Hornets don't need to draft a young point guard or the Magic don't really need a center, but for the most part if you pick a good player who can contribute, he'll be able to find his way onto the floor. Also, it has always been my philosophy that having "combo" players (negatively referred to as tweeners) isn't a bad thing either- certain players, even if they don't have a defined position, will contribute wherever they are. My two favorite examples are the Hawks forward tandem of Marvin Williams and Josh Smith (neither is a true 3 or 4, but they're both big and athletic and effectively defend both forward spots), and the Golden State backcourt of Baron Davis and Monta Ellis (both can handle the ball, play off the ball, and defend either guard spot depending on the matchups). Some teams stay away from this philosophy, but there's something to be said for having as much talent as possible on the floor at one time.

With all the trades and indecision among teams leading up to tomorrow's draft, I didn't think it would make sense for someone without any insider information, such as myself, to simply put up a pick-by-pick mock draft. Instead, I have written up what I think each team in the top half of the draft should do, including who they might pick, and trades that they might consider. I'll also briefly cover a few other teams and possibilities.

A quick note- this is another long post. If you don't want to read the entire thing, go ahead and skip to teams or situations that interest you- I won't be offended. I really enjoy writing these, and put a lot of time into them, and I appreciate all of you taking the time to visit this site, regardless of how much you actually read. 

 

Chicago Bulls

Regardless of which direction the Bulls go in with the first overall pick, Rose or Beasley, they will have a serious log-jam at that position. Right now, they have Kirk Hinrich, Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes, Thabo Sefolosha, Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah and Drew Gooden. Add Rose or Beasley to that list, and that's 11 players who could be starters in the league next year. It's one thing to have depth, but the Bulls are looking at serious chemistry issues with so many players looking for big minutes. That said, if the Bulls can handle this correctly, they will be in a great position. They should be seeking 2 or 3 for 1 type of deals which would consolidate their talent. Assuming they take Rose, which I think they will, they should be looking to move Hinrich, preferably for a big man. I had written that they should try to get Jermaine O'Neal, but he just got traded to the Raptors for TJ Ford, so that deal is no longer a possibility. The Bulls probably won't make their deal on draft day, simply to capitalize on the media hype surrounding the #1 pick, and also to let the dust clear from all the draft day trades.

The Bulls have spent several seasons accumulating talent, but as last season proved, having lots of talent doesn't necessarily translate into wins. They need to look at all trade possibilities, with no one player being untouchable (excluding the 1st pick), and simply find the best talent available. I think Rose is the pick for them, but taking Beasley would be just as good of a pick, and either way the Bulls should be right back in the hunt next year.

Miami Heat

The Heat are also in a great situation. The player that they want the most, Rose, will probably be taken by the Bulls, but they have a pretty good consolation prize in Beasley, who is general considered the most talented player in the draft. However, Pat Riley seems to be turned off by Beasley's immature attitude. I noted in my player analysis that Beasley likes to joke around, but I think Riley is wrong in his assessment that he doesn't take basketball seriously. Either way, Beasley is a tremendous asset, either as a player or as trade bait, and the Heat should have lots of trade options available to them. If I was the GM for Miami and had committed to making the trade, I would be most interested in the rumored trade with Memphis, which would essentially be the number 2 pick and a player that Miami wants to get rid of (probably Mark Blount) for the package of Kyle Lowry, Mike Miller, and the 5th pick. Recently I've heard that the deal could also be the 5th pick and Mike Conley (the 4th overall pick last year) instead of Lowry. Assuming that the Conley deal is too steep of an asking price for the Grizzlies, I think that the Heat would still be well off with a core of Lowry, Wade, Miller (probably as a 6th man), Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem and the 5th pick, probably a big like Brook Lopez or Kevin Love. This gives the Heat the ability to play fast (with Marion at the 4), or more of a defense-based game, as Lowry, Marion and Haslem are all strong defenders at their positions.

Even with several enticing trade offers, the Heat would still be best off keeping Beasley and trying to move Haslem for a young point guard (I think the Grizzlies would still be interested in a straight-up Haslem for Lowry swap). Beasley and Marion would be a great pair at forward, and since both of them can play the 3 and 4 (and are very good rebounders), Marion would be able to guard the opposing teams better offensive threat while Beasley does the scoring. A core of Wade-Beasley-Marion, regardless of their surrounding players, would be a very dangerous team, and I don't think the Heat should mess with that possibility.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are in a tough position because they are in need of help at every position. There is no real identity to the team, and the only player who has proven that he can produce at the NBA level is Al Jefferson. They also have Randy Foye, a combo guard who hasn't really shown that he can play the point or off-guard especially well. That said, OJ Mayo is pretty clear-cut as the third best prospect, and the T-Wolves would be smart to grab him and play him and Foye in the backcourt together. Mayo is bigger and stronger, while Foye is smaller and faster, so I don't think it would be too radical to pair them together. The Wolves need talent, and Mayo has that. With a core of Foye, Mayo and Jefferson, the Wolves won't be competitive this year, but will at least have a foundation for the future.

Seattle Sonics

The Sonics, considering they could have had a top-2 pick and missed out in the lottery, are still in a good position. Like most teams drafting at the top, they don't need to look for one specific position. Their only 2 players who will be on the team a year or 2 from now are Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, two top-5 picks from last year who both have the versatility to play several positions. Because they need so many different things, the Sonics have several options to move up or down in the draft. They should try to capitalize on the Heat's indecision on Beasley, and it seems like they have offered Chris Wilcox and the 4th pick to the Heat for the #2. This would be a great move for the Sonics not only because Beasley is such a great player but also because Durant and Beasley have supposedly been extremely close friends for a long time. A core of Durant, Beasley and Green would be very dangerous, and like the TWolves, they won't be winning next year, so they will be able to add at least one more high pick to that core before challenging for the playoffs.

If the Sonics stay at 4, they will have the luxury of choosing between the several talented guards in the draft, as well as center Brook Lopez, who would also be a good option there. Any of the Mayo (if available), Westbrook, Jerryd Bayless or Eric Gordon group would be a good piece to add to the team. They also have the option of capitalizing on the hot stock of Westbrook and trying to add a slightly lower pick along with a young player for their pick, but there don't seem to be many options like that for the Sonics, as all of the top 10 teams don't have any assets that they'd be comfortable moving. Either the Sonics can move up and get Beasley at 2, or they stay at 4 and most likely take Westbrook.

The Sonics also have the 24th overall pick. They were thought to be taking an international player with the pick, but given the recent trend of international players taken late in the first round staying overseas, I think the Sonics would be better off taking a guard like Courtney Lee. Usually I would say they should take a risk on a center like DeAndre Jordan, but the Sonics have taken unproven young centers several times in the past few years, and none are even close to panning out. 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are a real unknown coming into the draft. They have 3 young, talented point guards (Conley, Lowry and Javaris Crittendon) and a rising star in Rudy Gay, who can play the 2 or the 3. Gay is the only untouchable, otherwise the entire roster (even Conley, which I didn't expect) could be had given the right offer. Sitting at 5, the best options for the Grizzlies would be Eric Gordon, who could develop as another big-time scorer along with Gay, or Brook Lopez, who would give the Grizzlies a legitimate option down low. There is a lot of talk about this being a landing spot for Kevin Love, but I think this is one team where Love's talent would be wasted, and it is still too high for him anyway. With all those point guards and no real roster set-up, the Grizzlies NEED to make a trade. Their best move would be moving up to get Beasley, and if they can do that the franchise would be back on track on their rebuilding project.

If that deal falls through, they would be wise to trade down for a few picks and/or assets, and also looking to move one of their point guards along with sharpshooter Mike Miller. With that in mind, I think a great trade partner for the Grizzlies would be the Suns- they are looking for a small forward to split time with Grant Hill and a defensive-minded point guard to back up Steve Nash, as well as trying to move up in the draft to grab Russell Westbrook or Joe Alexander. There are several variations of this deal that could work, but the basic idea would be Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa (the Suns are trying to move both of them) for Kyle Lowry and Mike Miller. The Grizzlies 5th pick and the Suns 15th pick could also be included (one or the other, maybe both), but the keys here are that Miller would be a perfect fit with the Suns, and the Grizzlies would be able to get some more established young talent in Barbosa and Diaw. If this trade is made with no picks involved, Memphis could take Lopez at 5, and go with a starting line-up of Conley, Barbosa, Gay, Diaw and Lopez- maybe not a playoff contender, but certainly a start.

New York Knicks

The Knicks, as usual, are in a horrible situation. Their roster is filled with overpriced players who hog the ball and don't play defense. Their only real goal right now should be clearing cap space for the summer of 2010 (when LeBron is a free agent), but they have had so many bad seasons the past few years that they have to give their fans some hope. Also, they just hired Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni, who isn't there to try and lose games for the next two years. So what do the Knicks do? The draft is full of exciting combo guards, but the Knicks have had nothing but trouble with combo guards, and many of the players available at 6 duplicate their current crop of guards- Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Fred Jones. The one guard who doesn't duplicate what the Knicks already have is Russell Westbrook, who looks like he will be a true point guard who plays defense and does the little things that win games. Of course, Westbrook's stock has been soaring and it's unlikely at this point that he's available at 6, meaning the Knicks would have to trade up to get him. The only players that the Knicks could trade to move up, however, are the two assets that they would be interested in keeping long-term- Nate Robinson, who ironically would be perfect paired up with Westbrook (Westbrook could guard shooting guards but run the point while Robinson could play off the ball but still guard point guards), and David Lee, a rugged and athletic big man who plays defense and rebounds, things that Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry both seem allergic to. Unless they can package Lee or Robinson with one of the players they are trying to get rid of (namely Randolph and Marbury), the Knicks should stay put and draft whoever is available between Westbrook and athletic forward Joe Alexander. Alexander, like Westbrook, is a great athlete who does things other than score. With new GM Donnie Walsh running the show now, I'd expect the Knicks to draft the best player available (praying that it's Westbrook), and then looking to make drastic changes in the next few weeks. This franchise is just as lost as it has ever been, and there is no short-term fix in sight.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are yet another team with no clear direction at the moment, but at least they are set up to have a good draft and be able to answer a lot of questions on draft night. Their best players are all bigs (Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Al Thorton and center Chris Kaman), and they have virtually no talent at guard. Sitting at 7, they should have their pick of a few guards, most likely Eric Gordon or Jerryd Bayless, who is reportedly going to fall out of the top 6. If they stay where they are now, either Gordon or Bayless (or Westbrook if he somehow lasts this long) will be a good pick, and will immediately give them some talent with the ability to play now while still looking to the future. However, the status of Maggette and Brand are in question, and they look to be trying to move one, if not both, depending on the offer. The Heat love Elton Brand, who would be great alongside Dwyane Wade, and the trade of Brand and the 7th pick for Shawn Marion and the 2nd pick has been rumored more than once. Ironically, the Clippers one of the few teams who would probably take OJ Mayo with the 2nd pick because of the logjam they have at forward. Obviously this would be a mistake, as their promising combo forward, Al Thorton (their first round pick last year) is actually 4 years older than Beasley, and Beasley is probably better than Thorton already. So assuming they can make the trade and get Marion and Beasley (who, as I wrote earlier, would make a great tandem), they would still have to move Maggette, who wants out of LA, and Thorton, who would be great as a 3rd forward in that rotation, but is too valuable of a piece to keep in that role. There have been talks of Maggette being traded to the Suns for Leandro Barbosa, which has had mixed reactions, but Thorton for Barbosa would make more sense. Either way, Maggette and/or Thorton should be able to bring in a good, young guard or a high draft pick. I would hope that the Clippers experiment with all of these scenarios and look to be very active on draft night. Maybe their moves pan out, maybe they don't, but for a sad franchise like the Clippers, they should at least try to make something happen.

Milwaukee Bucks

The lower you go in the lottery, the sadder the stories get. The Bucks are a team that, even if they landed the #1 pick, would still be years away from contending. They at least have a roster that can resemble an NBA team, but if they want to make the playoffs, or make a serious run, they need a serious makeover. Right now they are built around shooting guard Michael Redd, a deadly 3-point shooter who has expanded his game to become a very good offensive weapon. The problem with Redd is that you will never win a championship with him as your best player. You could argue that they have a solid roster, but none of their players, other than Redd, ranks in the top 10 at their position, and without a major change they will be fighting for the last playoff spot in the East, and picking in the 8-15 range, every year. Milwaukee is also at a major disadvantage because they are not an attractive free-agent destination, so they will need to overpay for any player they sign, or trade for talent that they didn't draft. They wasted a huge opportunity in 2006 when they took Andrew Bogut with the number 1 pick, instead of Chris Paul or Deron Williams. So what do the Bucks do this year? It looks like Joe Alexander will be available with the 8th pick, and if they stay put, Alexander would at least fill out their roster to the point that they would have a good, solid starter at each position. But I think the Bucks need to do more, making a drastic change that makes them a playoff contender immediately, or going into full rebuilding mode, which would likely involve moving Redd and starting over. I'm pretty sure that the Bucks aren't really looking to do either, as I haven't heard Milwaukee involved in any trade talks, so for now I'd assume they take Alexander (or Galinari, depending on who falls to them) at 8, maybe make an off-season deal, and hope for better luck in the lottery next year.

Charlotte Bobcats

It's sad that a team that has Michael Jordan in the front office and Larry Brown as coach can't get any coverage. The Bobcats have a new facility, and a few good players, but nobody outside of Charlotte seems to know that they even exist. The Bobcats seem to have an idea of what they want to do, and since they traded a very good young prospect (Brandan Wright) for a proven player (Jason Richardson) last year on draft day, it seems like they are trying to win now. They have a decent core, with Ray Felton, Richardson, Gerald Wallace (probably their best player) and Emeka Okafor, but they are constantly plagued by injuries and are another team that looks to be stuck in the late lottery cycle unless they make a move. They really struck out 2 years ago when they took Adam Morrison 3rd overall (and missed out on Brandon Roy and Tyrus Thomas, among others), and if that pick turned into a productive player the Bobcats could be a playoff team. Other than their core guys, they don't really have any tradable assets, so I think they sit at 9 and see who falls to them. With all the shake-up up top, they should be able to land a big man to pair with Okafor (they'd be happy with Brook Lopez or Kevin Love), or if they're really lucky one of the guards falls to them. A player like Russell Westbrook or Jerryd Bayless would be a great fit in Charlotte, as they'd be able to back up both guard spots, and provide defense and energy (Westbrook) or scoring (Bayless) off the bench before taking up a starting spot down the road. 

The one wild card for Charlotte is Gerald Wallace. When he hits the free agent market next year he's probably going to want more money than the Bobcats can (or will) pay him. He also happens to be exactly what the Suns are looking for, as a versatile, proven small forward, and if the Bobcats can pry Barbosa and Diaw (and maybe even the 15th pick) from Phoenix, it would really help the team in the coming years. Not sure if this has been discussed at all, but I think something along those lines would definitely be considering for Charlotte.

It was just reported that the Bobcats have traded a future first round pick for the Nuggets pick, the 20th overall pick. I'd expect them to try and grab one of the young bigs falling down the board, like JaVale McGee or DeAndre Jordan.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets, like the Knicks, are really gearing up for the summer of 2010, to try and have enough cap roop to sign LeBron James. The Nets are in a slightly better position, however, because they have a decent foundation already that should be able to win some games this year. Their biggest needs are in the front court, where they will hope that Brook Lopez or Danilo Galinari fall to them. They drafted defensive specialist Sean Williams last year, and he would give them freedom to draft a more offensive-minded player like Galinari. The Nets are also very active in trade discussions. While Vince Carter isn’t going anywhere because of his huge contract, Richard Jefferson simply hasn’t worked well the past few years on the Nets, and really needs a change of scenery. The Suns are especially interested in him, where the same 3 pieces (Barbosa, Diaw, 15^th pick) could all be included in a deal. The Blazers are also interested in a true small forward like Jefferson, and have several young players and draft picks that they could offer. My guess is they try to move Jefferson, and then use their draft picks (they also have the 21^st pick) to try and move up higher up in the lottery.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have already addressed their biggest need going into the draft- finding a point guard not named Jamaal Tinsley- by trading Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors for TJ Ford. Tinsley, in the rare occasions that he was healthy, was a cancer to the Pacers, along with the last remaining tie to the Palace Brawl. Although it rarely happens in the NBA, the Pacers could cut Tinsley, getting nothing in return, and be better off as a team. With Ford now locked in at the point, and Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger locked in as the two untouchables on the team, the Pacers will probably be looking for a big man to pair with Troy Murphey in the frontcourt. They also picked up the Raptors 17th pick in the O'Neal trade, so my guess is that they still use their 11th pick on DJ Augustin, who can back up Ford for now before taking over down the road, and going big with their later pick. Roy Hibbert, Robin Lopez, JJ Hickson, and draft sleeper Jason Thompson are all possibilities here. 

Like I said, I love the Ford trade for Indiana. Ford is a true point guard, and O'Neal hasn't been productive for the Pacers for at least two years now. The team is going in a new direction, and while they will try to maximize what they get in return for Tinsley (Shawne Williams is another player Indiana wouldn't mind parting ways with), simply getting rid of him is the more important thing for the Pacers. Depending on how their draft plays out, the Pacers should be in the playoffs within the next year or two.

Sacramento Kings

I'm not really sure what to do with the Kings. They remind me of the Bucks- lots of players with NBA talent, but not enough to seriously compete anytime soon. Their best player, Kevin Martin, is still young enough that he can lead the team into a new era, but their best trade asset, Ron Artest, won't bring back that much in return. The most glaring need for the Kings is at point guard, so I think DJ Augustin and Mario Chalmers are possibilities there, but I'm not sure that the Kings want to be drafting for this upcoming season. They seem like the team that should take advantage of the indecision with the more unproven prospects- this seems like a good place for Darrell Arthur or Anthony Randolph to be taken. I haven't heard the Kings mentioned in any trades, so whoever they take with this pick will be a good indicator of the direction the Kings are trying to go in for the next few years. 

Portland Trail Blazers

Teams like the Blazers make it fun to follow the NBA. The last two drafts, Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has pulled off numerous draft-day trades, and now has a foundation of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and last years first overall pick Greg Oden, along with several other young, promising players. The Blazers have a similar problem to the Bulls- too many players. Not only that, but the Blazers have picked up the Hornets 27th overall pick. So what does all this mean? That the Blazers are looking to trade again. Portland is looking for a point guard and a small forward. They, like everyone else, are extremely interested in Russell Westbrook and Joe Alexander, or picking up a veteran small forward, such as Richard Jefferson or Gerald Wallace. It's impossible to say what the Blazers will actually end up doing, but they have the assets to pull of almost any deal, and odds are they make some noise on draft day.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors, only a year after their amazing run at the end of the 2007 season, seem to be in disarray again. Their two best young players, Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, are restricted free agents, and their best player, Baron Davis, is entering the final year of his contract. The are set in what style of basketball they will play, however, which means that they will either draft the best wing athlete available or a big man who can shoot from the outside. The two hottest names for Golden State are Kosta Koufos and, surprisingly, Rider's Jason Thompson. Seems like they will be more focused on keeping their current team intact as opposed to looking for trades that would shake things up.

Phoenix Suns

As already discussed here, the Suns are actively looking for a trade partner, and are dangling their pick, as well as Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw, as bait. If they stay at 15, the most likely pick is Brandon Rush, who could step in at the 3 immediately. If not Rush, could also take Mario Chalmers to backup Nash or Donte Greene, who could fill the designated shooter role that James Jones had success in a few years ago.

Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers are another team that should be able to take advantage of the slipping big men in the draft. I'd guess Darrell Arthur, Marreese Speights or Anthony Randolph is the pick here. They could also look at Brandon Rush if he's somehow still on the board, as he'd be a great compliment to Andre Iguodala, but he most likely won't be here at this spot. They could also take Donte Greene, a tall, athletic shooter who isn't ready to play quite yet, but could pan out down the road. The Sixers had success with a similar player, Thaddeus Young, in last years draft. The two of them could form a solid tandem down the road.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards are one team who don't need anything that this pick can give them- I wouldn't be surprised if they move this pick for cash or a future pick. If not, their most pressing need would be a big man who's main priorities are defense and rebounding, such as JJ Hickson or Robin Lopez.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs should be looking to package this pick, along with Anderson Varejau (who wants out of Cleveland) for a scorer to put with LeBron. Even if they only move up to the early teens (maybe to the Kings), Brandon Rush seems like a great player to pair with LeBron. Staying at 19, Donte Green could provide some shooting off the bench at the 3 and 4 positions. If they wanted to get more creative, they could see what Milwaukee wants in return for Michael Redd- the Cavs are short on assets, but Varejau, Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract, Daniel Gibson and the pick could all be included in a deal. I'm really not sure what the Bucks would even ask in for in this situation, but it's definitely worth a try for the Cavs.

Orlando Magic

The Magic have two needs- a legitimate starter at shooting guard and another big man to back up Howard and ease some of the rebounding load off of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. They should be able to fill one of these needs with the 22nd pick- Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts would both be good options at shooting guard, and Marreese Speights and JJ Hickson could both work at the 4. Speights would actually be a great pick for the Magic- if he's on the board, I think he's the pick.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz don't really need much, but a true 7-footer would help them, especially if they're going to lose Carlos Boozer next year, when he's a free agent. Roy Hibbert and JaVale McGee are solid options here, if either is available. Even though I haven't mentioned him much up to this point, this might be a place where Donte Greene could be taken. He's young and not ready to play yet, but he's tall, athletic and a great shooter.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets don't really need any one thing here. Someone is bound to fall, and the Rockets should just sit and take the best player available. Bill Walker hasn't been talked about up to this point- questions about his knee have really hurt his draft stock and the 25th pick might be a little early for him- but he's a tough player, and I think he'd be a worthwhile risk for the Rockets. Donte Greene and Chris Douglas-Roberts are two other players who could work for the Rockets as well. 

San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics

All three of these teams are just waiting to see who will fall down to them on draft day, and given the chaos that invariably will happen, someone of value will fall to this range. The Spurs will be looking for some young athletes to add to their aging roster, the Pistons always take a tough player (maybe Bill Walker) and the Celtics probably don't have any real requirements, but a true 7-footer could be the pick for them.

I will be providing some last-minute thoughts before the draft tomorrow- the trade rumors will be coming even faster at that point, and some actual deals will probably have happened by that time as well.

Thanks again for reading, for those of you who made it this far, and please don't hesitate to give me any feedback, positive or negative.