Two overriding thoughts on the NBA Draft yesterday before we get to the quick hitting stuff…
- This draft was bad. Really, really bad. Every basketball analyst has been saying it for months, and for once, extreme groupthink may actually prove to be correct.Griffin is a strong candidate to be a star, even though he is going to the cursed Clippers. But after The Terminator (best nickname ever) there are more questions in this draft than on an SAT test (assuming half of these athletes actually took the SAT). More on this below
- GM’s pick to protect their jobs. They do not pick to win. This isn’t even meant to be a strong criticism (though it is annoying). The word potential is used as a shield to ward off media questions and a prospect’s “high ceiling” is merely to protect the GM from crap raining down once said prospect busts. What else can explain DeMar DeRozan at No. 9?
Clippers No. 1 - Even the Clippers couldn’t screw up by not picking Griffin. Curiously, in an age where prospects are always “the next fill-in-superstar-name”, no one has compared Griffin to Amare Stoudemire. Like the Sun’s big man, Griffin doesn’t have many traditional post moves or great range on his jump shot, but he is a freak athletically who has a knack for finishing around the basket and throwing down ridiculous dunks. Perhaps Griffin’s above average intelligence has prevented the comparison’s to the, ahem, slower Stoudemire…
Grizzlies No. 2 - Selecting a shot blocking, offensively challenged, big man from Connecticut with a cool African name? Clearly, the Grizzlies didn’t learn from the Bobcats…
Thunder No. 3 - A pick that I am torn on. While Rubio would have been nice here (Durant may have actually been drooling to play with a passer of the Spanish teenager’s level), Harden fills out the team well, and passing on the Spanish prodigy gives a boost of confidence to 2nd year guard Westbrook. Besides, Harden actually can play, and continuing with the comparison game, reminds me of Paul Pierce with a worse jump shot but much better beard…
Kings No. 4 – Who wouldn’t want a “point guard” who averaged nearly as many assists (3.9) as turnovers (3.6) while playing in the powerhouse league that is Conference USA? Oh yeah, and he shot a stellar 27 percent from the college three point line. One more comparison, Rubio has been playing professionally since he was 13 — including shredding Team USA in the Olympic gold medal game — Evans has played roughly 40 games above the high school level…
Timberwolves No. 5 – Finally, someone shows some guts and takes a chance on a player who will have buyout issues but has drawn comparisons to Magic’s court sense. Obviously, little can be taken from a highlight video, but check it out anyways…
Timberwolves No. 6 – How has no beat reporter found out who the trade partners are going to be? Could Flynn and Rubio possibly work in the same backcourt? While the offensive possibilities would be intriguing, defensively the small Flynn (who played zone in college) and Mary Kate thin Rubio would be a disaster…
Warriors No. 7 – Who wouldn’t root for Curry. Nice kid with picture perfect jump shot…
Knicks No. 8 – Ehh, whatever, the Knicks won’t be interesting until Lebron signs with them or D’Antoni trades for Rubio. Have I mentioned I love Rubio?
Raptors No. 9 – Laughable reach at No. 9. With Terrence William’s still on the board, who has championship-role-player a la James Posey written all over him, the Raptor’s take Uber-athletic but no jump shot DeMar DeRozan. The new shooting guard for team Canada made six of 36 three pointers last season. His ceiling, at the very best, is Andre Iguodala. Most likely though, he will be a D-League sensation for the next three years…
Bucks No. 10 – Ahh, my hometown Bucks. Jennings has apparent attitude problems, no jump shot and put up poor numbers in Europe. But he is lightning quick!
Nets No. 11 – Jay Bilas can finally be satisfied. T-will is off the board. Also, Pitino won’t have to call in any mob favors since Williams didn’t fall out of the lottery…
Bobcats No. 12 – Cool story about UNC fans picking a Duke player. Henderson is also amusingly balding. Shave your head Jordan style!
Pacers No. 13 – Good pick. Few left in this draft are worth anything at all, and Hansbrough can succeed a la Utah’s Millsap as an undersized power forward…
Pistons No. 15 – Wherever Austin Daye went was too high. Awful pick for a fluffy-towel-soft big man with overrated perimeter skills…
No. 36 & 37– This is where Sam Young and Dejaun Blair went back-to-back. I stake my highly valued blog reputation that both of these players will be role players for contending teams in the near future. Both bring particular skills (defense for Young and rebounding for Blair) while succeeding with a big time college program in The Big East. With such stalwarts such as B.J. Mullens (couldn’t start at ohio state), Jrue Holliday (averaged a whopping 8.5 points at UCLA), and numerous foreign players who are doubtful to be in the NBA next year landing in the first round, one has to wonder how afraid GM’s are of losing their jobs.
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