NBA Draft Week: Winners and Losers

By: RJ

Now that the NBA Draft has passed, and the LeBron, D Wade and Chris Bosh free agent party is about to begin, lets examine who I think were winners and losers during the NBA Draft week. On the bizarre front, Portland GM Kevin Pritchard had a solid draft after being relieved on his duties effective after the draft. If Portland didn’t fire him, they would have been on the winner list. Overall, it was a night full of boredom until the trades began to roll in towards the middle of the first round. Then, teams decided to reach on big men in the second round because everyone else was doing.  

Anyways, the winners on the night were:

Chicago

Cap room, cap room, cap room. Moving Kirk Hinrich to the Wizards, gets the Bulls far enough under the cap for two max deals. So for now they are winners, if the room fails to net them James and/or Bosh, then they have likely failed.

Miami

Cap room, cap room, cap room. Miami has nearly $45 million in cap room for Wade and potentially 2 more max deals.  The Heat wound up with three second-rounders; the most notable picks being Jarvis Varnado (the all-time NCAA shot blocker) and Da’Sean Butler (who if he can rehab his knee from that brutal Final Four injury will be a steal). It seems as though Wade re-signing is a formality, how they use the rest of their cap room will determine if they were winners tonight.

Milwaukee

The Bucks who were the surprise team in the playoff party this year, have added some nice pieces to a solid nucleus of Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut. They picked up Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts for basically nothing, and those two should make up for the likely loss of John Salmons and bring much needed scoring on the perimeter.  I also loved the pick of Larry Sanders at 15 as they needed a defensive-minded, big body down low to play with Bogut. Tiny Gallon in the second round could be similar to “Big Baby” Davis and a solid rotation player. These additions should help Milwaukee return to the playoffs for the second straight year, despite the current uncertainty regarding the balance of power in the East.

San Antonio

Initially appeared like they needed some size, but word came out this week that 2007 first round pick Tiago Splitter is coming over from Europe, which should help ease the load on Tim Duncan. One of the best scorers in the draft fell to them in James Anderson.  Gives them tremendous backcourt depth with Tony Parker, Many Ginobili, George Hill and Anderson. I fully expect San Antonio to be better than they were this year and Anderson will be a piece that helps them not miss a bit if someone is out (Parker and Ginobili are usually good to miss 15 games apiece.)

New Orleans

Loved their deal for two back half first-rounders from Oklahoma City to add depth. Moving Cole Aldrich at 11 and Morris Peterson’s contract to get out of luxury tax was solid and getting two guys who can help off the bench was even better. Craig Brackins is a solid backup power forward who can effectively spell David West and Quincy Pondexter will be a nice running mate for Chris Paul and Darrin Collison. These additions help fortify a suspect bench (minus Collison) and will help New Orleans return to the playoffs under first-year head coach Monty Williams.

And the losers on this night were:

New Jersey

They are here because they lost the draft lottery even though they had the worst record in the NBA, and that because of the teams with cap room adding additional cap space, they are even less likely to get a free agent better than David Lee. Favors was not a bad pick but is a bit of a project, and will need time and patience, two things I am not sure new owner Mikhail Prokhorov has. Trading picks 27 and 31 for Damion James (a player I like) doesn’t seem smart for a team that needs a lot of help and not another non-shooter.

Oklahoma City

I have been a big fan of how Sam Presti has built this club around Kevin Durant, letting the pieces grow and mature with him, making it tough for him to leave as a free agent in a few years when the team should be at the top of the West. However, I was not a fan of the deal with New Orleans mainly because I think there were bigs available with more upside (Larry Sanders, Ed Davis) than Cole Aldrich, who was not worth giving up two picks for. They appeared to pick up a future first rounder from the Clippers, which was a nice move. Morris Peterson and Daequan Cook give Durant and Russell Westbrook more shooters to find but who is going to take the pressure off them in the paint?

New York

How does a team without a first round pick make the list? Well, when Miami and Chicago are creating cap space to skip past New York as the destination of choice for the Free Agent class of 2010, blowing their plan sky high, that’s how.  Miami is likely to retain Wade; Chicago has Rose, Deng and Noah, and what does New York have again? Spike Lee and Donald Trump don’t cut it on the court. They had two second-round choices and neither were particularly inspiring, although in the D’Antoni seven seconds or less system, Andy Rautins might be effective.

Washington

Yes, they got John Wall, but their other moves were puzzling. Frenchman Kevin Seraphin is a bit of an overseas project and is not ready to come over to the states. Adding Hinrich’s contract to a crowded backcourt with Wall, Gilbert Arenas, Randy Foye and Nick Young makes no sense and was a heavy price to pay for the Chicago pick. And trading a high second and the last pick of the first round for the rights to Trevor Booker was very questionable, considering most believed he was a mid-second rounder.

Minnesota

I wanted David Kahn to be on this list and he didn’t disappoint me with his draft. Minnesota acquired three small forwards in Wes Johnson, Lazar Heyward and Martell Webster (in a trade from Portland). What is the obsession with loading up on a position? He did it last year with point guards and he did it again, as I correct stated in the mock draft, that he would. He turned the second round over to his foreign experts so only time will tell on those, maybe they will beat Ricky Rubio over to the States.

For those scoring at home, we went 9 out of 30 on the mock for a 30% score; in baseball that puts you in Hall of Fame; in academia, you get kicked out. You be the judge.

Even Flow-Pearl Jam

2010 NBA Mock Draft

By RJ

With about two weeks away from free agency insanity beginning, the NBA Draft is here. I told Jeff I would produce a column with a mock draft, although after the first couple picks this stuff becomes a crapshoot anyway and there will be plenty of trades. 

I fully expect the Thunder to package their picks to try and move up into the late lottery. I also expect the Nets to package their late first rounder and their pick at the top of the second, into the late teens, early 20’s. Memphis will almost definitely sell one of their picks for less than they sold Pau Gasol. Minnesota has three first-rounders, but who knows what they will do, after all they took point guard after point guard last year, so maybe this year’s strategy by David Kahn (who single handedly gives me and countless others confidence that they could run a franchise) will be to stockpile a new position. 

I will hopefully check back after the draft with my three to four winners and losers before the summer of LeBron, Wade, Bosh and company begins and Knicks fans ponder suicide if they fail to get James. Although I think the NBA has something on him in the blackmail department and he will head there with Amare Stoudamire. 

1.Washington Wizards-John Wall, PG, Kentucky

Like there is any doubt. The only question is how long they take to submit the pick; I’ll go with two minutes.

2. Philadelphia 76ers-Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State

I think Turner goes here no matter what, whether he remains a 76er is another thing altogether. I don’t see the 76ers finding a taker for Elton Brand’s albatross of a contract and I think that’s the only real way they would move the pick.

3. New Jersey Nets-Derrick Favors, PF Georgia Tech

The Nets will likely have some attractive trade offers here and I wouldn’t rule out the pick being dealt for an established star, if one is being shopped since they will have the room to absorb a contract if need be. Even with the free agent class having a lot of quality at power forward, Favors is too good to pass on for them. If Turner should slip, they will definitely stay at 3 and take him.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves-Wesley Johnson, F Syracuse

David Kahn shook his magic eight ball and it told him to load up on small forwards.

5. Sacramento Kings-Greg Monroe, PF Georgetown

This would be an extremely smart pick for the Kings. Monroe has a high basketball IQ, is a great passer, and good ball handler for a big and solid defender. Personally, if the Wolves didn’t have Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, he should go there. But for his sake I hope he doesn’t. Brief aside, the Wolves are the Kansas City Royals of the NBA. (I would have said Pirates, but many of the readers are Pittsburgh natives and they actually have a plan for the first time in years, where as the Royals really don’t –sorry fellas the outfield of Podsednik, Ankiel and Dejesus won’t get it done.)

6. Golden State Warriors-DeMarcus Cousins, C Kentucky

Everybody seems to agree Cousins is a talent, but the jury is out on his mental approach. From the games I watched, I think he has a 10-cent head and is not worth the trouble. Fortunately for him that means millions in the NBA and the chance to play Nelly-ball in Oakland.

7. Detroit Pistons-Cole Aldrich, C Kansas

How the mighty have fallen, oh so far in less than five years. Clutch Chauncey Billups was traded for Allen Iverson to create cap room that brought in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Sound move, Joe Dumars. Word is they are looking to move up for one of the better bigs in the draft, although the Warriors incompetence could allow for someone to slip to them. The Warriors usually draft well, but Don Nelson just doesn’t play the kids (see Anthony Randolph, Brendan Wright). Aldrich could bring some much needed grit and toughness to a team that has lost its way and went from Teflon tough to softer than a stick of butter, seemingly overnight.

8. Los Angeles Clippers-Al Farouq Aminu, SF Wake Forest

Clippers desperately need a small forward and despite what David Geffen may think, LeBron isn’t sharing a town with Kobe.

9. Utah Jazz-Ekpe Udoh, PF Baylor

The typical Utah Jazz player. A quiet, understated guy, who just goes about his business especially on the defensive end. Jazz need another big to replace Boozer in their rotation and to address some concerns about Okur’s health. Udoh is a freak on the defensive end, think a much more athletic version of Ben Wallace in his prime.

10. Indiana Pacers-Gordon Heyward, SF Butler

I don’t see the Pacers passing on the local product if they are indeed picking at 10. Although, I think this is too high a spot for him and the last thing Indiana needs to do is add to their collection of white college all-stars (Hansborough, Dunleavy, Murphy), the list continues.

11. New Orleans Hornets-Hassan Whiteside, C Marshall

Hornets can go in a lot of different directions here, but I think they will go big and reach a bit for a center if Aldrich is off the board. Whiteside has been a hit name among analysts and it will not be a shock for him to go late lottery to a team in need of size.

12. Memphis Grizzles-Paul George, SF Fresno State

I think Memphis will go best available with most of their picks, although if they can grab a solid small forward to potentially replace Rudy Gay, who could leave as a restricted free agent, they will do so quickly.

13. Toronto Raptors-Ed Davis, PF North Carolina

Raptors look likely to be completely overhauling this squad as soon as Bosh chooses a new home. Getting a frontcourt body that can run the floor would be a decent start.

14. Houston Rockets-Patrick Patterson, PF Kentucky

The under utilized Patterson would be a nice pick here for the Rockets, giving them size off the bench and a decent offensive game from their backup power forward.

15. Milwaukee Bucks-Xavier Henry, SG Kansas

If Henry falls this far, it’s a steal for the Bucks. They need a guard to replace John Salmons, who is likely to opt out of his deal following his great two-month stint in Milwaukee. A Jennings-Henry backcourt would give opponents headaches for years to come.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves-Luke Babbitt, SF Nevada

David Kahn sticks with the small forward strategy. It’s a really sound strategy, so sound in fact, that he will be out of a job in three years after the Timberwolves win less than 30 games for sixth straight year and Ricky Rubio is still in Spain.

17. Chicago Bulls-James Anderson, SG Oklahoma State

The Bulls never really replaced Ben Gordon’s offensive punch from the bench last year; Anderson would have given them one of the draft's best perimeter players. Really good value here and a great fit for the Bulls with Rose (and potentially LeBron). 

18. Miami Heat-Eric Bledsoe, PG Kentucky

The Heat will be active in free agency, I believe they will walk away with re-signing Wade, bringing in Bosh and adding Ray Allen, but they could use a point guard to help out Wade. Mario Chalmers is not the answer. Bledsoe didn’t play the point at Kentucky, but that is his NBA position.

19. Boston Celtics-Damion James, SF Texas

The Celtics have never truly replaced James Posey’s versatility off their bench from the 2008 title team. James can be the Posey clone of hitting the boards, taking the tough defensive assignments and knocking down the open three-ball off the bench.

20. San Antonio Spurs-Larry Sanders, C VCU

Spurs are desperately trying to move up and also are desperate for a big body up front that can take some of the blows off Duncan. At 20, grabbing the unheralded Sanders out of a small CAA school would be the typical, low on flash, high on production, Spurs move.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder-Daniel Orton, C Kentucky

All reports have the Thunder hot for big with Orton’s name mentioned most often and looking to move up a bit to grab him. I honestly don’t know what they see in him. This is a guy who rode the pine for much of the year with Kentucky. He’s very much a project, and that doesn’t make a ton of sense for a team that is looking to make the leap into the upper tier of the Western Conference. 

22. Portland Trail Blazers-Solomon Alabi, C Florida State

As the Blazers learned last year, you can never have enough bigs and can they really count on Greg Oden for more than one week?

23. Minnesota Timberwolves-Quincy Pondexter, SF Washington

This would be a good pick on its own as Pondexter was an underrated, jack of all trades player for the Washington Huskies, but given that Kahn will load up on the position, I feel bad for Quincy. 

24. Atlanta Hawks-Terrico White, SG Ole Miss

Atlanta needs to prepare for life without Joe Johnson. There is an outside shot they could gamble on Lance Stephenson from Cincinnati, but I think they will go with more of a sure thing and White can both handle the rock and play the off guard spot.

25. Memphis Grizzles-Avery Bradley, PG Texas

A lot of mocks have this guy in the lottery, and I don’t understand it. He doesn’t have that great of a jumper, decent defender, some have likened him to a poor man’s Rajon Rondo (perhaps that is why I don’t think much of him because unlike Bill Simmons I don’t think Rondo is this awesome point guard.) Anyways, if he can play the point, he gives Memphis someone who can push Mike Conley for minutes.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder-Craig Brackins, PF Iowa State

Brackins would give Oklahoma City a nice backup to Jeff Green, someone who can come in play solid minutes at the 4 and knock down the 15-foot, face up jumper as well as run the floor.

27. New Jersey Nets-Dominique James, SG South Florida

The Nets are going to be looking for some scoring punch at this spot and between James, Jordan Crawford and Lance Stephenson, they should find it. I think they will go with James who is the most disciplined of the group.

28. Memphis Grizzles-Kevin Seraphin, PF France

If Memphis holds all three first rounders, one will definitely be used on a guy they can stash overseas.

29. Orlando Magic-Armon Johnson, PG Nevada

Orlando needs an upgrade at backup point guard, as the Eastern Conference Finals showed. Johnson can provide that and energy off the bench.

30. Washington Wizards-Lance Stephenson, SG Cincinnati

I think the Wizards look for someone that they can take to grow with Wall, and Stephenson certainly fits the bill. The Wizards do have some guard depth in Randy Foye, Mike Miller and the gun toting Gilbert Arenas, but none of those are long-term backcourt mates for Wall. They could address the frontcourt but I think that will happen during free agency with their cap room.


Tom Petty - I Should Have Known It