Atlanta
Grade: N/A (no picks)
Boston
Players Added: JR Giddens, Bill Walker, Semih Erden
Grade: B
Analysis: Giddens has 1st-round talent, but his behavior hasn't been the best. With the veteran core, he can be pulled in. The same goes for Bill Walker, who is an amazing value. Erden is a solid stash pick, but will not be able to contribute immediately.
Charlotte
Players Added: DJ Augustin, Alexis Ajinca, Kyle Weaver
Grade: C
Analysis: I may be wrong on this, but Charlotte poo-pooed this badly. Augustin is too similar to Felton and Ajinca is not an immediate contributor, which is what Charlotte needs. Weaver's skills contrast that of the existing point guards, and that's an added value.
Chicago
Players Added: Derrick Rose, Omer Asik
Grade: A-
Analysis: The first pick was a no-brainer though I still prefer Michael Beasley. Asik is a good stash pick.
Cleveland
Players Added: JJ Hickson, Darnell Jackson
Grade: B+
Analysis: Hickson isn't as bad a pick as everyone is making it out to be. He's a scoring 4 who can be reigned in. Jackson is an energy guy who's a disciplined winner, and one of my favorite players in this year's draft.
Dallas
Player Added: Shan Foster
Grade: C-
Analysis: I'm not dogging the pick. Foster will be a solid pro in the right situation. Dallas needed a physical big.
Denver
Player Added: Sonny Weems
Grade: C+
Analysis: Weems is a good player who may be the heir apparent to JR Smith as the first guy off the bench. I just thought that the Nuggets would have pushed hard for Mario Chalmers.
Detroit
Players Added: Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted, Deron Washington
Grade: C
Analysis: I thought the Pistons could've added a very good swingman, or swung a deal for a very good one in the first round. Sharpe may be another in the long line of Piston power forwards with a mean streak.
Golden State
Players Added: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
Grade: C
Analysis: Randolph can compete for minutes, but the Warriors needed more bodies as a result of this draft. Can Hendrix play in an up-tempo offense?
Houston
Players Added: Donte' Greene, Joey Dorsey, Maarty Leunen
Grade: C
Analysis: The Rockets added some fine pieces, but I really cannot see the value-add. Dorsey adds some muscle to a finesse frontline.
Indiana
Players Added: Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic, Josh McRoberts, Maceo Baston
Player Lost: Jermaine O'Neal, Ike Diogu
Grade: B
Analysis: The Pacers earned some value for Jermaine O'Neal and the $44M owed to him over the next two years. Rush is a great piece, though I'm not sure where he fits in. Hibbert is a low-risk, low-reward pick. At the end of the day, many don't know the Pacers' direction.
LA Clippers
Players Added: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor
Grade: A
Analysis: Amazing value for both picks. Gordon will compete for ROY honors and Jordan should've been a first-round pick.
LA Lakers
Players Added: Joe Crawford
Grade: A-
Analysis: Being that the 1st rounder played a role in the Pau Gasol thievery, the Lakers had a good draft. Crawford is a hard-nosed player who can make the team.
Memphis
Players Added: OJ Mayo, Darrell Arthur, Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner
Players Lost: Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins
Grade: A-
Analysis: OJ Mayo is a franchise player and Arthur adds muscle at the 4, which is a huge need. Though they gave up some bad contracts, they acquired some.
Miami
Players Added: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers
Grade: A+
Analysis: Beasley and Chalmers were need-based value picks. Chalmers can fight for the starting PG position and Beasley can be a 18 and 10 guy immediately.
Milwaukee
Players Added: Richard Jefferson, Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Players Lost: Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons
Grade: B+
Analysis: Jefferson is a vast upgrade at the small forward position and Alexander is capable of being the full-time starter by Year 3. Mbah a Moute is a Skiles type of player.
Minnesota
Players Added: Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Nikola Pekovic, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins
Players Lost: Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner
Grade: B
Analysis: When the Wolves drafted Mayo, I thought it was a good pick, because Mayo added a much-needed playmaker and a lock-down defender. While Love is a good fit and Miller is a very nice piece, neither are playmakers. Pekovic could be a solid contributor in 3-4 years.
New Jersey
Players Added: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons
Player Lost: Richard Jefferson
Grade: A+
Analysis: Losing Jefferson is big, but the Nets are not going to compete for a championship any time in the next two years. They help marketing with the addition of Yi and slam dunked each one of their picks, though Anderson was a bit of a reach. By 2010, the Nets may be a real competitor in the East.
New Orleans
Grade: N/A
New York
Players Added: Danilo Gallinari
Grade: C
Analysis: Did the Knicks really need to pick up another small forward? Gallinari will need to win over Knicks fans.
Orlando
Players Added: Courtney Lee
Grade: B+
Analysis: Lee addresses a major need at the SG position and is a complete player.
Philadelphia
Players Added: Marreese Speights
Grade: B-
Analysis: Speights can be an upgrade at the 4 if he has the desire. His basketball IQ will need to increase in order to earn minutes.
Phoenix
Players Added: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic
Grade: A-
Analysis: The Lopez pick was an awesome one. Being groomed by The Diesel (hopefully in basketball and not rapping) may help his weak offensive game. Dragic isn't ready for the NBA yet. He's a good playmaker.
Portland
Players Added: Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, Ike Diogu
Players Lost: Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts
Grade: A
Analysis: By the end of the night, the Blazers addressed two major needs (PG, SG/SF) while consolidating picks.
Sacramento
Players Added: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
Grade: A-
Analysis: Geoff Petrie went in the direction of four-year players. All three players are capable of making this team. Thompson was a reach, but he addressed a big need in toughness and frontcourt scoring. Singletary is a true point. Ewing Jr. adds a great defender.
San Antonio
Players Added: George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Gist
Grade: B+
Analysis: I love how well the Spurs drafted for need. If only the Spurs could have traded out of the 1st round to select Hill.
Seattle
Players Added: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, DJ White, DeVon Hardin, Sasha Kaun
Grade: B-
Analysis: Picks 2 through 5 were excellent, though Ibaka should've been selected with the #32 pick (instead of the trade). Selecting Westbrook with the #4 pick was a reach of sorts. The next step is trading away the superfluous parts.
Toronto
Players Added: Jermaine O'Neal, Nathan Jawai
Players Lost: TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, Roy Hibbert
Grade: B-
Analysis: O'Neal is a great piece ... when healthy, which is about half the time. Jawai was a good value pick. Getting value for Ford was key.
Utah
Players Added: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicevic
Grade: C
Analysis: The Jazz are preparing for the imminent departure of free agents next summer.
Washington
Players Added: JaVale McGee
Grade: D
Analysis: McGee was not a good pick when Darrell Arthur was on the board. Walker was a great pick ... and then the Wiz kids sold him to Boston.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
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4 comments:
for the most part i agree... but i don't get how you think Sacramento made out better than Minnesota and Toronto, or even Utah. I feel Minnie and Toronto got veteran pieces that were necessary for the next step, as well as future cap space... but picking thompson with the 12th pick??
Sacramento did well with what they had. Minnesota may be poised for a playoff appearance in two years. Toronto just took a $22 million per year gamble on a proven big. Not to mention, they need to re-sign Calderon and acquire more shooters. As for Utah, are you joking? Koufos and Tomic were recipients of the 'soft' label.
touche!
I'd like to see either Koufos or Aurthur on the Wizards, instead of McGee.
Horrible pick. All we did was draft a lesser version of Andray Blatche.
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