Grading the NBA Draft MSN style with Nat, Lincoln and Zack
MSN convo between Nat, Lincoln and Zack as we break down the NBA draft.
(Sorry for the delay in this post... chalk it up to unexpected circumstances)
Nat: To set the tone for this, give me one word that comes to your mind when thinking of last night’s draft
Z.Cooper: HECTIC
Nat: I think my word is clear … PORTLAND!!
Z.Cooper: yeah... Portland led to the draft being Hectic
*silence* (Lincoln is still number crunching the ways the Raptors could have and should have drafted Rudy Gay!!)
Lincoln: DISSAPOINTMENT
Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, P.J Tucker
Nat: Toronto Raptors had the first pick in the draft was this a curse for the team this year?
Z.Cooper: I don't think it was a curse... I think anytime you get a first overall pick, it's a blessing...
Z.Cooper: it may not have been the most opportunistic season to get it... but first pick is first pick
Nat: I think this put the team with a back agaisnt the wall... When you see a couple of picks or even one you have a better gage of whats needed to get more than you hoped for
Lincoln: I saw this coming a mile away at the draft lottery ... the only way fate could pay us what was owed while still mocking us was the no. 1 this year
Z.Cooper: I think that's ridiculous... I mean, would you honestly prefer to pick 5th?
Lincoln: Interesting question... hmm.. it may have eliminated some of the conservatism around exploring trades
Lincoln: I think BC did a great job of creating confusion to control the situation
Z.Cooper: If anything... it got a lot of people looking, and talking to and about the Raptors...
Lincoln: I think he was so set on Bargnani, that he didn't want to risk losing him to Chicago or another team below them.
Nat: Do you think Bargnani will be a successful player in the league?
Z.Cooper: I certainly think Bargnani will succeed. I have the utmost faith that Bryan Colangelo knows what he's doing... and no one has scouted this guy more than him.
Lincoln: Question is can he play the 5? He's not a bust, but everyone is agreed, it's not just a question of his size, it's the way he plays. He's a strictly face the basket offensive player with bad D at this time. He has to develop a better defense and post game to put in the time at that centre spot.
Lincoln: The Raps should have found a way to get at another player in the draft. Gay obviously. But even a stab at a pick that could have been Ronnie Brewer or Rondo would have been worthwhile in my opinion.
Nat: In his post draft press conference Colangelo stated - "we were a really bad team last year, we could not draft by position we went BPA the whole way and we will work with that from here on"
Lincoln: I think that's the right attitude
Z.Cooper: final note... "positions" are overrated
Lincoln: I agree, but "skill-sets" don't lie
Grades: Nat (B) Lincoln (B-) Zack (B)
Chicago Bulls: Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha
Nat: Chicago Bulls one of the better teams in this draft had a high pick… How would u say the draft worked out for them?
Nat: they were involved in a couple of swaps as they ended up with Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha.
Z.Cooper: I'm not a huge fan of Chicago's moves. I'd rather have Aldridge in Chicago, than Tyrus
Lincoln: all along Chicago's need has been universally recognized as needed to add a big-time vet to complete the puzzle, or at least a PF with a solid post game on offense
Z.Cooper: I mean... LaMarcus' skills are much more suited to partner with a defensive-minded center... than pitting TT next to Chandler. I do like Thabo, though...
Nat: I just don’t see how they went with upside when there was a scoring PF available who could be Bosh-like in this draft
Lincoln: I wonder if this doesn't signal the end of Chandler though
Z.Cooper: Chandler is expendable. His defense is nice, but his health is unreliable...
Nat: I think Tyrus is actually going to be pretty much one of the bigger disappointments in the first year or so…but might work out in the long run
Nat: Scott Skiles is a very tough coach and but I think they messed up here not taking Aldridge 'cuz Tyson can swat them like TT but he isn’t getting 20 points anytime soon
Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (B) Zack (C)
Charlotte Bobcats: Adam Morrison, Ryan Hollins
Nat: Michael Jordan had one pick in this draft for the Bobcats at #3 and he did it with a bang – Adam Morrison (or so the marketing guys say)
Z.Cooper: I think Morrison's a safe bet for the Bobcats, a proven guy, who can hit any shot he takes... a winner who will fight until the tears come streaming down...
Z.Cooper: and with a healthy Okafor, might get away with some serious defensive deficiencies
Lincoln: Ammo on the Bobcats. A few things 1) this has to have been partially motivated by a desire to sell tickets; 2) they did need scoring, and that's the one and only thing Morrison can do (we'll have to see how well at this level); 3) does anyone think taking Ammo with his competitive streak was overcompensation on MJ's part for Kwame and his lack of a pulse
Nat: Ammo is a box office guy who has a passion for the game that he displayed on a National stage and I think that they have some good tools… Meka, G Wallace and Raymond Felton (who was great for the 2nd half of the season) I think this was a great pick for them
Grades: Nat (A-) Lincoln (B) Zack (A-)
Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Sergio Rodriguez, Joel Freeland
Nat: This deserves a WTF! This wasn’t the NBA draft it was the "Portland Robbery"
Z.Cooper: I felt like they took an initial step back, with the trading of my boy, Telfair before things got going... but saved face with the Aldridge steal
Z.Cooper: I love how they snaked out Brandon Roy...
Lincoln: That was clever. Roy was headed to Houston until they intercepted the trade and killed the plans
Z.Cooper: and along with the drafting of Spanish Chocolate, and Boy English (Freeland)... how they FLEECED the Pacers for a PAIR of 2nd rounders, for James White (no doubt, a talent)
Lincoln: If I was Portland I still would have taken Gay over Roy, but you can't give this team any less than an A for that draft
Nat: yes whoever was at the helm in the war room needs to be the next GM!
Lincoln: I have a feeling this may be the last time those two are ever mentioned in the same sentence again
Z.Cooper: Roy and Gay?
Lincoln: Yeah, I don't see greatness in Roy… I see solidness
Lincoln: whereas with Gay his worst case scenario is really Iguodala.
Z.Cooper: I agree with that and yes, in a few years back... they might regret the decision
Nat: Longevity and an all-around game. I still see Brandon Roy being one of the best players in the 2006 draft
Nat: Everyone is banking on Rudy Gay's unlimited ceiling but for now Roy was the better pick for Portland IMO.
Z.Cooper: I see Roy being up for... ROY...
Nat: We could probably chat for an hour about this teams transactions but I think they got a bit fleeced in the Aldridge deal…they gave up a pick and Khryapa for a guy who was going to be there at #4 anyways
Z.Cooper: I thought Chicago got fleeced and that deal ... I like Aldridge more than TT... and I think Khryapa is expendable
Nat: My point was Chicago wanted TT the whole time and Portland gets a higher salary to pay now (albeit not by much) for a guy who they could have gotten at #4 without moving anyone
Lincoln: Khryapa is nice… that may look a little worse in the future, but I don't think anyone will lose sleep over it anytime soon.
Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A+)
Atlanta Hawks: Shelden Williams, Solomon Jones
Nat: Wow Atlanta!
Z.Cooper: WHY???
Lincoln: Next!
Nat: again they passed up on guards and went with a 6'8 guy!!!
Z.Cooper: Why oh why do you promise a guy 5... When he could drop to like 15?
Z.Cooper: I like Sheldon Williams...but 5th???
Nat: good thing he can block shots with that massive forehead
Nat: word on the street was they never even worked him out!! They could have traded down got a vet and still had him at #11 or so
Lincoln: Alright. Here's where the cynical side of me just think Bill Knight realized Belkin's gonna own this team soon and fire him anyway - so why not just scorch the earth as an act of advance revenge.
Lincoln: Then I remember that this is the same idiot who passed on Chris Paul, and he's perfectly capable of doing something this dumb with no ulterior motive whatsoever.
Z.Cooper: I think that's the more probable, Linc
Z.Cooper: they're just dazed and confused in Georgia
Z.Cooper: there's something to be said about drafting for position... but I’m pretty sure that revolves around NEED, not duplication
Lincoln: I bet Knight is on the phone right now with Babcock..."so how did you handle the backlash?"
Nat says: for the sake of not having to talk about the Hawks anymore lets just grade them and move on…
Grades: Nat (D) Lincoln (D) Zack (C-)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Randy Foye, Craig Smith
Nat: Let's talk about Kevin McHale and how Rob Babcock is back in a front office position making draft decisions…
Z.Cooper: I don't see how anyone would let Babcock into a draft war room ever again
Nat: Minnesota traded Roy and took Randy Foye from Portland and it’s suffice to say that means Marcus Banks isn’t coming back
Z.Cooper: I think Roy would have been better suited next to KG than Foye. Randy's defense is great... but they need someone who can shoot
Nat: I don’t think KG has much time left on this team… its just not working
Nat: They are stuck in salary cap hell and don’t have the flexibility to put half decent players around him.
Grades: Nat (C+) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C)
Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe
Nat: On to Boston… Danny Ainge was busy
Lincoln: Ainge. What a tool.
Nat: He basically got 2 Point guards in this draft
Z.Cooper: you're thinking he should get back to baseball?
Lincoln: He's just spinning wheels in the mud right now. I don't think he has a plan. I don't think he's ever had a plan. I think he kinda wings it and more or less fails.
Z.Cooper: well, again... going back to Telfair... I think if anyone can get the ball to PP... It’s Bassy...
Lincoln: Telfair might benefit from a change of scenery, as he wasn't gonna work out in Portland's mess.
Nat: Rajon Rondo will be better than Telfair in Boston I think though
Nat: I am of the thought that he is stock piling the pieces he wants Allen Iverson in Boston more than any other team wants AI
Lincoln: A combination of Iverson and Pierce. Wow how terrible is that? I can't wait for the inevitable Bill Simmons rant if that comes to fruition.
Lincoln: The Telfair-Rondo combo sounds to me like a bad construction
Z.Cooper: Telfair/Rondo might not be so hot, because neither of them has a reliable jumper... but the speed will be a bonus... and they're both gifted passers, so...
Nat: as long as they get PP the ball they should be fine
Lincoln: sort of like he's throwing out prospects in the hopes one works out, because if both played together the opposing defense would just descend on Boston
Lincoln: Boston has its foot in two doors and needs to make up their mind.
Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (C+) Zack (C)
Houston Rockets: ?, Steve Novak, Eliyahu
Nat: Now for Lincoln’s boy. The rockets got Rudy gay and Steve Novak in this draft
Z.Cooper: I really don't see why the Rockets would do this… trading Gay away
Z.Cooper: how deadly would it be for T-Mac and Gay to be on the court at the same time?
Nat: I think the rockets are stupid to give this guy away for an aging Shane Battier. Last season the rockets would go 4 minutes at a time without scoring when Yao and Tracy were out
Nat: they need Gay more than they need a “Jeff Van Gundy guy” right now in Battier
Z.Cooper: I like Battier... but I’d rather have a 2-way player like Gay
Lincoln: Battier vs. Gay reminds me a debate we had a few minutes ago with Roy. Again, "solidness". Why take solidness over Gay?
Lincoln: and frankly speaking T-Mac's back is not a sure thing. Who knows if he is ever able to offer a stable enough contribution for the Rockets to go as far as they'd like.
Z.Cooper: they need to get rid of JVG and T-Mac needs himself some surgery
Lincoln: Gay could have helped them right now, and would have been a fall-back if T-Mac doesn't work out
Lincoln: I just see no need to dump Gay for a role player
Z.Cooper: exactly!!
Grades: Nat (D+) Lincoln (D) Zack (C-)
Golden State Wrriors: Patrick O'Bryant
Nat: Golden State went with the guy we all kinda saw them going with, Patrick O'Bryant and I think its fair to say he is a "project" at this point
Z.Cooper: A center like O’Bryant should do them well... but I don't think it will save the Warriors
Lincoln: Yeah they were either gonna grab a SF to replace Dunleavy or go big by default but in the big picture this does nothing for the Warriors
Z.Cooper: they're in a tough spot... looking at a 13th straight season with no playoffs
Lincoln: they are just directionless. Stockpiling mediocre pieces until they have to hand them inflated contracts.
Nat: this team teases their fans at the end of each season showing hope and comes back looking out of shape
Z.Cooper: get Mullin out of there, before he makes Hardaway the new coach
Nat: they have a lot of good young pieces I don’t think that they are utilizing them properly
Lincoln: they're building the ultimate bench
Z.Cooper: J-Rich is the one positive in GSW... that's why they need to trade him for something else
Nat: right now they need a PG who can stay healthy and play within a system
Grades: Nat (B-) Lincoln (D) Zack (B-)
Seattle Supersonics: Saer Sene, Denham Brown
Nat: fun fun!! We get to talk about Seattle who seems to pick the same player year after year for the past 3 running!
Z.Cooper: Seattle now has like 10 centers that all do the same
Nat: Saer Sene a 7 foot beast but I think it was more the 7 foot beast than the player that got him picked so high and the success of Dsagana Diop
Lincoln: yeah, this was a pointless pick
Z.Cooper: Senegal is the breeding grounds of feisty shot-blockers ...that don't do much else
Nat: Seattle had one of the worst drafts from how I see it
Lincoln: Seattle needs to decide what it's doing as well. Rebuild? or move forward?
Z.Cooper: Seattle needs some more 'fan-favorite' types... otherwise, they'll be moving to Vegas
Lincoln: they had the worst defense in the league (according to Hollinger, ever)
Lincoln: so who knows if this helps. We’d have to see more than shot blocking, but overall defensive smarts before saying…
Z.Cooper: when blocks miss... they turn to fouls...
Nat: Seattle right now basically had a top 10 pick and put themselves in a worse of situation.
Z.Cooper: they're going for Oden
Nat: I can see the tanking already!!
Grades: Nat (D) Lincoln (C) Zack (D+)
Orlando Magic: J.J.Redick, James Augustine
Nat: Orlando went with a guy who managed to get a broke-back and a DUI under his belt within one month of the draft…
Z.Cooper: JJ... oh dear...
Nat: but we cant forget he is the leading scorer in ACC history
Z.Cooper: I want to love the Magic so bad… Jameer... Darko... Dwight... now JJ???
Z.Cooper: they could have passed, and taken a playoff seed
Lincoln: Orlando. Sigh.
Lincoln: All they had to do was take Brewer and grab a play-off seed next year
Nat: I agree Brewer would have been the best guy for them
Lincoln: but JJ? Bad enough on his own. But as a back court with Jameer?
Lincoln: That backcourt is gonna get annihilated on D
Nat: they might contend for tallest frontcourt and shortest backcourt in the league
Z.Cooper: for some reason... JJ is like my equivalent to Antoine Walker…not game-wise...but the way I perceive them
Z.Cooper: just... straight... dislike...
Grades: Nat (C+) Lincoln (D+) Zack (C-)
NO/Oaklahoma City Hornets: Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons
Nat: Anyways the Hornets took Hilton Armstrong
Z.Cooper: nice grab.... nothing special. anyone out of UConn will give you something good
Nat: safe pick for the Hornets
Lincoln: I am not sold. Not even sure how safe it was but they wanted size, so sure why not.
Z.Cooper: Hilton's got game... although he plays smaller than his 6'11" frame
Nat: I think they could have gone with size or a shooter
Nat: I guess they went with the theory "when all else fails draft big"
Lincoln: remember Brewer is still on the board at this point.
Lincoln: and while I can understand the nervousness around passing up on size in the hopes it's there later
Z.Cooper: with David West... I don't know if Hilton can contribute much. I don't think he's big enough to play the 5
Lincoln: I'm pretty sure Brewer was the obvious BPA at that stage. And with JR Smith on the outs... they need that spot covered.
Lincoln: I think they hope they got Shelden “lite” in Cedric Simmons
Lincoln: they're just stocking up the front hoping something works out
Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C+)
Philadelphia 76'ers: Rodney Carney, Bobby Jones
Nat: Philly picked Iggy part 2 in Rodney Carney
Z.Cooper: well, I think Sefalosha was closer to Iggy part 2 and they could have wrecked havoc with both of those
Z.Cooper: Carney's good... but I don't think he helps improve the product in Philly too much
Nat: they took 2 forwards in round 2 as well and traded for most of these picks
Z.Cooper: yah... again... it seems King needs to be dethroned
Nat: and with Marcus Williams and Rondo still on the board I don’t know what they are thinking
Lincoln: I think Philly's in limbo until they get past the Iverson era so it's hard to say what their needs are or will be
Nat: I think King needs to move Iverson and rebuild
Z.Cooper: Philly looks good on paper... just not on hardwood
Z.Cooper: should have kept Sefalosha… no one would have been able to get into their lane
Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (B-) Zack (C-)
Utah Jazz: Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown
Nat: Utah… Ok... Jerry Sloan has Ronnie Brewer he loves pure shooters wanted JJ ... good fit here?
Z.Cooper: and Hoffa!!!
Lincoln: If Ronnie Brewer is smart he takes Sloan out to a tractor pull this summer just to get in his good graces
Z.Cooper: Brewer's a smart player... but if he has a bad first impression on the court, it's tough to get out of Sloan's doghouse
Nat: from everything we hear and know… it sucks to be a rookie under Sloan
Z.Cooper: I remember asking Sloan about Robert Whaley in the pre-season... and he wasn't shy about ripping the guy
Nat: I hope Ronnie comes focused because Sloan is Old Skool and if u in the doghouse u might never come out till u on the flight to the team they traded you to
Nat: I still wonder how milt survived it with his extreme layups
Lincoln: Speaking of which, at what point is Sloan becoming a hindrance to that team?
Z.Cooper: when Larry Miller leaves… they've got a front-office love fest in Utah
Nat: they need a changing of the guard in the worst way
Lincoln: Every draft is Utah walking on eggshells about both Sloan's preferences and whether or not a player will just leave at the first chance they get since, well, it's Utah
Z.Cooper: yeah, because Sloan only begrudgingly plays rooks and he doesn't have much else
Nat: Ronnie Brewer didn’t look too happy to be going there but its cool that Dee Brown will be back playing besides Deron Williams...
Z.Cooper: who would be? Mormons and mountains
Lincoln: Isn't wonder bread the official state food or something?
Grades: Nat (B) Lincoln (A) Zack (B-)
Indiana Pacers: Shawne Willaims, James White
Nat: The Pacers quietly had a pretty good draft but I think that Shawne Williams is another Danny Granger type and then they traded for James White as well
Z.Cooper: ...and James White type
Lincoln: Granger's a 3/4
Nat: It was clear they have a huge need at PG and its because Jamal Tinsley is money thrown in the toilet
Lincoln: Big off-season for the Pacers we'll see where they're going with this, but I would have taken a point if I were them
Z.Cooper: yeah, they'll be coming back looking quite different. I would have taken Farmar... or... the man who shall remain unmentioned until NJ comes up
Nat: they are a half court team though
Lincoln: Well Rondo would have been a bad fit in Indiana if they are keeping Carlisle, yes half-court exactly
Z.Cooper: they've got more athleticism/less scoring than the Hawks it seems, in their plethora of SF's
Z.Cooper: I'm surprised Carlisle's still around... with Bird's 3-year lease on coaches
Grades: Nat (C) Lincoln (C-) Zack (C-)
Washington Wizards: some Uke!
Nat: Wizards pulled one outta their a$ last night - Oleksiy Pecherov
Z.Cooper: I know nothing of this Ukrainian the Wiz grabbed
Nat: I don’t think any Wizards fan had even heard of the guy it was on the lines of the ISIAH pick
Lincoln: yeah, who knows.. next!
Grades: ?????
Sacramento Kings: Quincy Douby
Z.Cooper: QUINCY DOUBY!
Nat: DOOOOOOOBBBBIIIIIEEEE!!!
Nat: how many kids are gonna wanna get his jersey v/s Rudy gay!
Nat: seriously though a good pick for them this point in the draft
Z.Cooper: I think that was a GREAT pick for the Kings
Z.Cooper: Bibby and Douby... come on now.. how much punch is that?
Z.Cooper: drive and kick, drive and kick... pop the 3
Nat: soon they are going to have to address the frontcourt for the long term
Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A)
New York Knicks: Ronaldo Balkman!!!
Z.Cooper: Knicks = F!!!!!
Z.Cooper: what a frikkin mess
Lincoln: you beat me to it… maybe a D- till we see
Lincoln: Isiah has earned at least some benefit of the doubt on talent evaluation, but I gotta say, this looks horrible
Nat: ISIAH = F
Nat: you could build about 4 NBA teams with that payroll but they will be lucky to get 30 wins this year again
Lincoln: roster construction he's psycho
Z.Cooper: ...what a mess...
Z.Cooper: I just think it's ridiculous how a team can be run down like the Knicks are...
Z.Cooper: such a storied team... dealing with such humility
Nat: The Mecca of basketball is now the Retirement home for Max contracts
Z.Cooper: multiple F's, and a middle finger, to boot
Grades: Nat (F) Lincoln (D-) Zack (F)
Phoenix Suns: ???
Z.Cooper: Alright... so the Suns... nice pick, maybe should have kept it?
Nat: Suns pretty much traded all the way out of this years draft trying to keep cap room to re-sign their guys
Lincoln: yeah they should'a kept it
Z.Cooper: I’m hearing more rumours of Leandro getting moved, too
Nat: they could use a real pg to work with Nash and move the Brazilian bullet or keep him as a SG
Lincoln: this is the start of Sarver's penny pinching?
Nat: I'm thinking you are right.. it is well known he will not in anyway go over the luxury tax threshold
Nat: they like bell and Diaw and right now Barbosa is on the borderline
Grades: Nat (C-) Lincoln (F) Zack (D)
New Jersey Nets: Marcus Williams, Josh Boone
Nat: New Jersey got the best steals in the first round!!!
Z.Cooper: MARCUS WILLIAMS!!! I can not BELIEVE he dropped this far
Nat: 2guys who played together both fit their needs… these picks fell into their lap!!!
Nat: Marcus is going to play like Charlie V did!! a man possessed ‘cuz he dropped so low
Lincoln: NJ. Marcus Williams. I think there's a reason he fell this far. I'm not a big fan/ But if can come in and play effective back-up to J-Kidd. Great move. Great fit.
Z.Cooper: now he gets to play behind one of the best PG's in the history of the league, passing to 2 of the best finishers today.
Z.Cooper: he has the potential to put up some SERIOUS assist numbers on that team
Nat: to me he was the best PG in the draft and everyone who didn’t pick him and needed a pg will be kicking themselves
Nat: Josh Boone is a good banger type guy who will work well with Kristic I think
Grades: Nat (A) Lincoln (A) Zack (A+)
NotableS:
- Jerry west is a genius nabbing Lowry late in the 1st round and straight up raping the rockets and getting Rudy Gay. This team needed help on the offensive end in the biggest way and this draft may have solved a lot of their problems.
- The Lakers got a homegrown product in Jordan Farmar. His stock rose and fell like the NASDAQ but in the end I think he is now in a situation he will flourish in as long as the hometown pressure is not going to get to him
- Dallas got a steal in a MSU player… Ager will be a nice addition to an already solid team with a good mix of youth and vets.
This years draft is full of players with great nicknames...We have the JJ, the TT, the Bargs and the Ammo but there is no sign of any of the above being the next Lebron or Shaq. With the top 10 as they are right now there isn't even one guy who stands out with enough of that "upside" factor that makes him the consensus #1 pick in this years draft. I have enlisted a fellow basketball junkie Lincoln to help me out with a mock draft of the top 10 picks which further will show how much of a crapshoot this draft. Draft day is exactly two weeks away as I write this (Lincoln gave his picks a while ago...) and I hope to have us both back on June 28th live blogging with an analysis on each pick as we hear Stephen A Smith go on his rants from Madison Square Garden. So without further adieu here goes....
