My Draft Grades

[jbeecham]

Atl: Boris Diaw #21 & Travis Hansen #37
Grade: B-
Comments: Diaw can handle the point some and free up Terry to play like a SG so that should help the Hawks. Hansen is a good 2nd rd pick.

Bos: Marcus Banks #13, Kendrick Perkins #27, Brandon Hunter #56
Grade: C+
Comments: Boston took Memphis for a ride to get 2 players they really wanted. Banks will help them, but I don't think Perkins will contribute much for them, but apparently they loved him.

Chi: Kirk Hinrich #7, Mario Austin #36, Tommy Smith #53
Grade: B
Comments: The Bulls were forced to pick Hinrich because of Jay Williams stupidity, but it also puts them right back into a PG controversy with Jamal Crawford. Austin & Smith are good 2nd rd picks that help their grade a little.

Clev: Lebron James #1, Jason Kopono #31
Grade: B+
Comments: 'A' for Lebron, but they could have gotten more help in the paint with the 31st pick.

Dallas: Josh Howard #29
Grade: C-
Comments: Dallas takes a 6'6 SF.........He sounds like a hard working, all purpose guy, but I think they should have gone big with Puchulia, Sofoklis, Badaine, etc still on the board.

Den: Carmelo Anthony #3, Sani Becirovic #46
Grade: B
Comments: Anthony was the next best player in the draft, but SF will be log-jammed with Anthony, Tskitishvili, Rodney White Yarbrough, etc. Don't know much about Becirovic, but I think I read he'll stay overseas and maybe help them in a few yrs.

Det: Darko Milicic #2, Carlos Delfino #25, Andres Gliniadakis #58
Grade: A+
Comments: They got the 2 guys they wanted the most and probably had the best draft day in the NBA. Delfino is supposed to play like Ginobilli but better. Sounds like a steal at #25. They should win the east next year.

GS: Mickael Pietrus #11, Derrick Zimmerman #40
Grade: D
Comments: Pietrus was one of the best players ont he board when they picked, but they already have Richardson, Welsch & Dunleavy. Best available player doesn't work if you have too many holes.

Hou: Malick Badiane #44
Grade: B+
Comments: Badaine is a steal at #44 and it makes sense for him to go to Houston where Hakeem played so many years. For only having a 2nd rd pick, the Rockets did well.

Ind: James Jones #49
Grade: D
Comments: Another SF? Really? Where will he get time behind Artest, Bender, & Mercer? I know it's just the #49 pick, but take a gamble for a need.

Lac: Chris Kaman #6, Sofoklis Schortsanitis #34
Grade: C
Comments: Clips need a 'C' with Kandi leaving and Kaman was the best available on the board. Clips add another PF in Sofoklis which brings their grade down. Sofo could be a good player, but it will be hard for him to get minutes behind Brand (RFA), Ely & Wilcox.

Lal: Brian Cook #24, Luke Walton #32
Grade: B+
Comments: Lakers got 2 players that should help them right away. Horry & Fox aren't getting any younger.

Mem: Troy Bell #16, Dahntay Jones #20
Grade: F-
Comments: Comedy Relief on draft day. Memphis trades two 1st rd picks for two 2nd rd talents. Bell & Jones can be good players in the NBA, but clearly should not have been taken 16 & 20.

Mia: Dwyane Wade #5, Jerome Beasley #33
Grade: B-
Comments: Wade is a good player, but I'm unsure of his ability to run the point with Eddie Jones at SG and Caron Butler at SF. Beasley is a good pickup in the 2nd rd.

Mil: T.J. Ford #8, Szymon Szewczyk #35
Grade: B
Comments: This pick makes a lot more sense with Cassell now out of the picture and the unsure destination of Payton.

Min: Ndudi Ebi #26, Rick Rickert #55
Grade: D
Comments: Thier first 1st rd pick in 3 yrs and they take a huge project that doesn't have a pro body and probably should have gone to college. Rickert probably won't make the team.

NJ: Zoran Planinic #22
Grade: B
Comments: This was thier guy all along. They need him as insurance to run the point if Kidd leaves and they can't get a good FA or as a guy to give Kidd 6-8 minutes or rest a game if Kidd stays.

NY: Mike Sweetney #9, Maciej Lampe #30, Slavko Vranes #39
Grade: A-
Comments: The Sweetney pick was dumb, they already have 4 undersized PF on the team in Weatherspoon, Thomas, Nailon, & Harrington plus the injured McDyess. Getting Lampe in the 2nd rd makes their draft better and taking a chance on Vranes won't hurt them.

NO: David West #18, James Lang #48
Grade: B+
Comments: P.J. Brown may be leaving so West should replace him nicely. They take a chance on Lang in the 2nd rd, but I think he'll be going to the NBDL.

Orl: Reece Gaines #15, Zaur Pachulia #42, Keith Bogans #43
Grade: A-
Comments: Gaines is a big PG that should help them out right away. They also improved their depth with Pachulia & Bogans.

Phi: Willie Green #41, Kyle Korver #51
Grade: C
Comments: Philly only had 2nd rd picks so they didn't do too bad or too great.

Phx: Zarko Cabarkaba #17, Leandro Barbosa #28
Grade: B+
Comments: The jury is still out on Zarko, but he is the guy that the Suns wanted all along. The trade for Barbosa filled a big need at backup pg and he may be the steal of the 1st rd.

Por: Travis Outlaw #23, Nedzad Sinanovic #54
Grade: D
Comments: Whose better suited for the Jailblazers than an Outlaw? Lots of people. Outlaw is another guy that probably should've gone to college, instead he'll ride the pine in Portland for years.

Sac: Traded their only pick
Grade: Incomplete
Comments: got Darius Songalia for their 2nd rd pick. He probably won't help them at all if Divac, Clark & Pollard are still around.

SA: Traded Barbosa to the Suns for protected 1st rd pick
Grade: Incomplete
Comments: If they keep Parker & re-sign Claxton then there's no room for Barbosa and the pick they get won't be lower than 25 next year or 21 the 5 years after that.

Sea: Nick Collison #12, Luke Ridnour #14, Paccelis Morlende#50
Grade: B+
Comments: Collison & Ridnour should help the sonics right away. Morlende could be a good international PG, but he may not come over right away.

Tor: Chris Bosh #4, Matt Bonner #45, Remon Van de Hare #52
Grade: B
Comments: Bosh doesn't have an NBA PF body yet, but has loads of potential. Bonner and Van de Hare are 2 more PF's that probably won't contribute much for a while.

Utah: Aleksandar Pavlovic #19, Maurice Williams #47
Grade: B-
Comments: Pavlovic is a good pic for them and he should complement Kirlenko & Malone nicely. Mo Williams could battle for the starting PG role with Raul Lopez, Carlos Arroyo & Marc Jackson.

Was: Jarvis Hayes #10, Steve Blake #38
Grade: C+
Comments: Hayes may be a player, but with Stackhouse being extended and having Hughes and Dixon still around it will be tough to find minutes. Blake will see even less minutes if he even makes the team.

 

[hcsilla]

Not bad I basically agree.

Where I disagree:

ATL: B- is too high, I don't like Diaw.

CHI: B is too high.Hinrich is OK, but why Marion Austin? Don't they already have Mario Austin in Lonny Baxter? Don't they have Marshall and Fizer who can play PF as well?
Why did they take their 4th and 5th backup PF?

DEN deserves a better grade than CLE. Both made the obvious choice at #1 and #3 but Kapono is a bad pick at #31.

I really like Carlos Delfino but Ginobili is a MUCH better player right now. Anyway DET had a great draft.

You were too harsh on MIN. Ebi is a prospect and you can't expect that much from #26. Rickert is a steal at #55.

I'm not that sure that Gaines is a PG. He is a versatile SG ala Derek Anderson, IMO who can handle and pass the ball.

A- i too high for NKY.
Sweetney is OK although I would have taken rather Collison if I expect immediate impact from my PF.
Lampe seems to be a huge steal, Vranes is OK. All in all god but not great.

I don't think UTA will re-sign Mark Jackson. Neither Arroyo.

 

[jbeecham]

Originally posted by hcsilla
Not bad I basically agree.

Where I disagree:

DEN deserves a better grade than CLE. Both made the obvious choice at #1 and #3 but Kapono is a bad pick at #31.

I gave Cleveland a better grade because I think James will be better than Carmello

I really like Carlos Delfino but Ginobili is a MUCH better player right now. Anyway DET had a great draft.

I agree that Ginobili is better right now, but Delfino is supposed to be better than Ginobili was when he came into the league. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

You were too harsh on MIN. Ebi is a prospect and you can't expect that much from #26. Rickert is a steal at #55.

Maybe I was and maybe Ebi will turn out to be a good player, but this is a team that hasn't had a 1st rd pick the last 2 yrs and won't have one the next 2 yrs and they take a HS project. Also, I don't think Rickert will do anyhting in the league.

I'm not that sure that Gaines is a PG. He is a versatile SG ala Derek Anderson, IMO who can handle and pass the ball.

I was unsure of Gaines's ability also, but I think he can do well in Orlando's rotation.

A- i too high for NKY.
Sweetney is OK although I would have taken rather Collison if I expect immediate impact from my PF.
Lampe seems to be a huge steal, Vranes is OK. All in all god but not great.

I'll agree that A- is too high. It probably should have been more like a B. I give the Sweetney pick a C and getting Lampe in the 2nd round an 'A' and Vranes is a decent pick in the 2nd rd so a 'B' for that pick.

I don't think UTA will re-sign Mark Jackson. Neither Arroyo.

I wasn't sure who would still be around in Utah, but with Stockton retiring they are going to need help.

 

[hcsilla]

jbeecham, I wasn't clear about Ginobili and Delfino.

When Ginobili entered in NBA (at the start of this season) he was a much better player than Delfino is right now.

DEN-CLE: OK, but how could DEN have taken Lebron?

 

[jbeecham]

Well I was making that comment about Delfino from a report I read on him. If he's anywhere close to where Ginobili was then Detroit got a great pick that late in the 1st rd.

The Denver grade is also influenced by the log-jam at SF.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'll disagree regarding Rickert. He might be worse than Ridnour on defense next season, but there's always a place in the NBA for a big man who can shoot well. Rickert can shoot, and he has some nice offensive moves for a big man. He's young also, so he has upside.

Hou: Malick Badiane #44
Grade: B+
Comments: Badaine is a steal at #44 and it makes sense for him to go to Houston where Hakeem played so many years. For only having a 2nd rd pick, the Rockets did well.

Ind: James Jones #49
Grade: D
Comments: Another SF? Really? Where will he get time behind Artest, Bender, & Mercer? I know it's just the #49 pick, but take a gamble for a need.

This should tell people that Badiane is not worthy of the #17 pick. How many teams that really need a player like he's been touted to be passed on him? I believe that Van Arsdale was probably right on when he said Badiane was not ready to be an NBA player.

At #49 I think you've cat to go with the best player available on your draft board. James Jones is a nice player. He's big and he can shoot the ball well.

BTW, I think Branden Hunter was Boston's best draft pick.

Joe Mama

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by hcsilla
A- i too high for NKY.
Sweetney is OK although I would have taken rather Collison if I expect immediate impact from my PF.
Lampe seems to be a huge steal, Vranes is OK. All in all god but not great.

I give NY an A+. They were deciding between Sweetney and Lampe, and got BOTH

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
I give NY an A+. They were deciding between Sweetney and Lampe, and got BOTH

And neither one will do much good in the long run.

Sweetney is a younger Othella Harrington and Lampe is Vitaly Potapenko reincarnated.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by jbeecham
Well I was making that comment about Delfino from a report I read on him. If he's anywhere close to where Ginobili was then

But he is not, IMO.

The Denver grade is also influenced by the log-jam at SF.

I understood this but what could DEN have did?
Should they had to take T.J.Ford instead of Anthony because of the logjam at SF?

Jeff Bzdelik stated that they want to play Tskitisvili more PF.

 

[jbeecham]

Denver has huge holes at SG & PG. Here are their guards: Adam Harrington, Junoir Harrington, Predrag Savovic, Jeff Trepagnier, Shammond Williams and now Sani Becirovic (who may not come over for this upcoming season). Junior Harrington played ok for them, but I wouldn't call him a starting caliber PG yet (or any of the rest of the guys). So for starters they could have tried to trade one of thier extra SF's for another pick in the 1st rd like Rodney White for a mid-20 pick maybe and take a guy like Boris Diaw or Zoran Planinic who can both play PG or SG. or even get a 2nd rd pick and get a guy like Steve Blake, Derek Zimmerman, Mo Williams (who they could have take with their 46th pick), or Paccielis Morlende (also available at #46).

 

[PhxGametime]

Darko for Pistons looks overhyped with comments he'll change game, such a great athlete (he ranked what was it around 40 and there was only like 8 1st round prospects tested at combine) and Seattle got 2 players that can play right now but not too high on their draft.

 

[pinetopred]

I just don't get the excitement for the Lakers draft,( I have seen them getting good grades from people) Cook is a jouneyman at best and Walton's(I'm a UofA fan)body won't hold up to the NBA grind, if everything goes right they have two guys that have low ceilings IMO, (not going to get much better then they are right now). Who is Walton going to guard he isn't quick enough to guard small forwards, or big enough to guard power forwards. Cook I have never been impressed with, he isn't nearly the player that people made him out to be IMO. C- overall with a D for the Walton pick( I've just seen him play way to much and know his limitations) C for Cook while he has some skills I'm just not that excited about him.

I'd love to able to comment on the Suns draft, but if you have never seen either guy play how can you even guess what your getting. A+ skys the limit

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by jbeecham
Denver has huge holes at SG & PG. Here are their guards: Adam Harrington, Junoir Harrington, Predrag Savovic, Jeff Trepagnier, Shammond Williams and now Sani Becirovic (who may not come over for this upcoming season). Junior Harrington played ok for them, but I wouldn't call him a starting caliber PG yet (or any of the rest of the guys). So for starters they could have tried to trade one of thier extra SF's for another pick in the 1st rd like Rodney White for a mid-20 pick maybe and take a guy like Boris Diaw or Zoran Planinic who can both play PG or SG. or even get a 2nd rd pick and get a guy like Steve Blake, Derek Zimmerman, Mo Williams (who they could have take with their 46th pick), or Paccielis Morlende (also available at #46).

You are forgetting free agency. The Denver Nuggets have a time of money to spend this summer, and there's a good chance they will get Gilbert Arenas and someone like Corey Magette. In my opinion Denver could not have done any better.

Joe Mama