Post by J2 on Oct 11, 2014 20:51:42 GMT -6
Unless Zydrunas Ilgauskas has a twin brother named Zydrunas Ilgauskas, it's safe to say that the draft file isn't finalized yet. I don't think we'll see too many major changes to ratings though, so unless a previously unknown talent suddenly leaps onto the board.......here we go!
#1 Utah Jazz
Pick: PF Tim Duncan
Why: Because they'd be stupid not to! In all honesty though, you could make an argument for T-Mac at #1. If you really, really wanted to stretch, you could play the "Keep KVH in Utah!" card. But really, there's no good reason not to take Duncan here. This guy can come in and make an impact immediately, and is already one of the best all-around big men in the game without having even set foot on an NBA court yet. Jazz fans can look forward to seeing a healthy dose of fundamental skill in the future...the hope is that their new franchise player won't be as misused as their last.
#2 Sacramento Kings
Pick: SG Tracy McGrady
Why: T-Mac may be young, but like last year's No.1 pick Kobe Bryant, he has the potential to become an all-time great. Monstrous for a shooting guard at 6'8", his ability to play both SG and SF will mesh well with fellow swingman Shandon Anderson. Tracy has potential everywhere, and at 18, can literally be molded into whatever role the team needs over time. In any other draft, he'd be the clear No. 1, but a big man like Duncan forces T-Mac to slip. Nola won't complain though, as he'll just be another bullet in the impressive arsenal of youth the Kings are stockpiling. T-Mac may struggle early on, but when he arrives, the Kings will have the perfect leader for this franchise.
#3 Toronto Raptors
Pick: PG Chauncey Billups
Why: The temptation to pick towering SF Keith Van Horn and pair him up with fellow offensive juggernaut Michael Finley will be great, and just the thought of such a combo will make Sound lick his lips in anticipation of the damage he can do. It'd be wise to hold off on such thoughts, because there's another player worthy of #3, and that's Chauncey Billups. Big enough to qualify as a combo guard, Chauncey's appeal lies in his potential as an all-around PG. There seems to be a lack of quality PGs in the league, the drop-off in talent at the PG position is huge. As such, it's a big risk to pass up a position of need (the Raptors have zilch at the PG spot), especially when just finding a quality starter (let alone a potential young star) to fill that need isn't something that can be done easily. Sound could roll the dice and shoot for a PG at #11, but that's a risky game when the guy you pick may not be nearly as good as the guy you passed up.
#4 Phoenix Suns
Pick: SF Keith Van Horn
Why: Inner's absolutely ecstatic that Van Horn slipped to #4, as he'd have no one to pick otherwise! Already a guard-heavy and height-challenged squad thanks to up-and-comers Allen Iverson and Damon Stoudemire, KVH's size at the SF position will prove to be a godsend for the Suns. Also, KVH's potential as a stretch 4 could allow Jermaine O'Neal to move over to C, giving the Suns a versatile inside-outside attack. Indeed, with KVH on the roster, the only question will be if there's enough shots to go around in the desert.
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick: SG Anthony Parker
Why: Though he's not exactly who the Cavs hoped to be looking at taking on draft day, Anthony "Not-Candace" Parker is nevertheless the best choice for the Cavs at this spot. With longtime star PG Muggsy Bogues unlikely to return in FA and young PG Steve Nash waiting in the wings, the Cavs should probably start to address the other spots surrounding their young franchise player Kevin Garnett, rather than drafting one of the many, many, PGs left on the board and leaving Nash to hold down the 2 spot. Not-Candace is a solid shooter (especially from long-range, where he looks to excel in) with defensive potential and the ability to switch between SG and SF. He'll be a really good addition to the Cavs' roster, regardless of the fact that he was probably the only guy left worth picking this high.
#6 Sacramento Kings
Pick: PG Brevin Knight
Why: A bit of a shocker here, as he's not nearly as offensively gifted as fellow PGs Anthony Johnson, Antonio Daniels, and Bobby Jackson, and also lacksthe size of Alvin Williams. But, what he does have is very valuable indeed, and that's the best HND/PAS potential out of all the PGs in this draft. Remember what I said earlier about quality PGs being hard to find? Well, skilled assist men are even harder to find, a fact that the Kings know all too well. After drafting PG Erick Strickland during last year's draft, the Kings were surprised to see him develop into more of a SG, leaving their PG position in question. Nola won't want to repeat the same mistake twice, and thus passes on arguably better talents who may never become true passers in favor of someone who can step in and get his offense rolling. Brevin's also not to shabby on the defensive end, which is another plus in Nola's book.
#7 Chicago Bulls
Pick: PF Danny Fortson
Why: Things have gotten ambiguous now, as the talents available are all roughly equal in terms of value (no matter what the position), making the draft a bit of a crapshoot. Fortunately for the Bulls, there's one position of need that makes their choice here easy, and that's at power forward. Already running with a high-powered wing rotation, the one thing the Bulls lack is a gritty rebounder to clean up all their misses. Enter Danny Fortson, an undersized physical tank who specializes in going to the glass. While he may not be end up being able to do much else, what he can do fits perfectly with what the Bulls need right now.
#8 Sacramento Kings
Pick: C Kelvin Cato
Why: These guys again? Lol. Having completed their new starting 5 already, the Kings will now look to add some more depth by picking up Kelvin Cato. The reasoning is that they have a good secondary option at every position except C, and that's where Kelvin Cato steps in. Learning from Marcus Camby will be great fot Cato, and his ability to block shots means that opposing players will still be wary of attacking the inside when Camby takes a seat. 1997-98 Kings rotation secured? No doubt.
#9 Los Angeles Lakers
Pick: PG Bobby Jackson
Why: The Lakers have had their issues with big men over the years, but with Kelvin Cato gone and Kevin Johnson now at 31 years of age, I think the Lakers pass on Scot Pollard, who has nice potential but is definitely more of a project than Cato, and go with Bobby Jackson instead. It's likely that KJ will finish out the rest of his contract with LA, and there's two years left on that deal. The thought is that when KJ's contract is up, Bobby Jackson will be ready to start, thus giving Balls the edge in contract negotiations. As for why Jackson would get drafted over Antonio Daniels, Jackson possesses something that Daniels lacks - defensive potential. Jackson's already good, and looks like he has a good shot at improving, while Daniels...isn't good, and his chances of getting on Jackson's level are slim.
#10 Washington Wizards
Pick: PG Antonio Daniels
Why: Daniels finally goes off the board, as the underachievers-turned-overachievers Wizards snap him up. It's definitely not a preferred choice, as they're about to have a major hole at C and would have loved to snag Cato as well, but with Aaron McKie set to move into a starting role, the Wizards could use Antonio Daniels a bit more than they could use Scot Pollard. Daniels' height allows him to operate at the backup SG spot in addition to his primary role, which is giving star PG David Wesley some much-needed rest. Daniels' offensive abilities will also be put to good use on the 2nd unit, and the skills of his new teammates will cover his lack of defense for the time being.
#11 Toronto Raptors
Pick: C Scot Pollard
Why: While Sound might be a bit pissed that there's still decent PGs on the board here, he'd be wise to see this as a golden opportunity to fill another hole, this one in the frontcourt. Othella Harrington may have had a good rookie year, and Bryant Reeves may be proving to be a serviceable big man, but it'd be foolish to bet soley on those two's continued improvement. Enter Scot Pollard, who, while not quite as ready-now as Kelvin Cato, is still a big with nice potential who has a small chance of ending up better than Cato down the line. Plus, Pollard looks like he can actually make free throws when fouled, which is a nice bonus.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers
Pick: PG Anthony Johnson
Why: Bojangles really wishes that Sound would've gone with KVH and a PG. The Sixers' biggest weakness is at center, and Bo's not happy that Scot went off the board ahead of him. Still, Anthony Johnson is here, which is a good thing. Anthony Peeler did a damn good job at pretending to be a PG, but the fact is, he's just not one. With Rod Strickland's sudden downfall, drafting a PG to help get the ball to Peeler, Kittles, and (maybe) Russell is a really good idea. Now, Johnson will need a little bit more seasoning that fellow PG Alvin Williams, but he already is a better passer than Williams, and his potential could push him to become the better scorer as well, though he probably won't catch Alvin defensively. A slight risk, but if it pays off, the 76ers could boast a versatile offense explosive enough to offset any frontcourt issues that may still linger.
#13 Los Angeles Clippers
Pick: SG Ron Mercer
Why: The rebuilding Clippers are another team that could really use some frontcourt beef, but since a true standout frontcourt player doesn't exist at this point, they do the next best thing and take steps towards replacing an aging star in Rex Chapman by drafting Ron Mercer. Ron's ability to use his height (6'7") to drive inside and either pull up and finish at the rim meshes well with Sprewell and Van Exel's all-around styles. It'd be nice if Ron knew how to use his height defensively, but he sadly doesn't have that ability yet. However, if previously-hapless Van Exel can learn to break even on D, there may be hope for Ron. If so, this pick goes from a "good" choice to a "perfect" choice.
Warning: Past Here There Be Monsters! (Not really)
That'll do it for this preview, as it really is a wild world from this point on. There are a few decent prospects, but as usual for this area of a draft, there a lot more question marks surrounding these players. It'll be interesting to see just who gets an opportunity, and which GM will give it. Hope you enjoyed this!
#1 Utah Jazz
Pick: PF Tim Duncan
Why: Because they'd be stupid not to! In all honesty though, you could make an argument for T-Mac at #1. If you really, really wanted to stretch, you could play the "Keep KVH in Utah!" card. But really, there's no good reason not to take Duncan here. This guy can come in and make an impact immediately, and is already one of the best all-around big men in the game without having even set foot on an NBA court yet. Jazz fans can look forward to seeing a healthy dose of fundamental skill in the future...the hope is that their new franchise player won't be as misused as their last.
#2 Sacramento Kings
Pick: SG Tracy McGrady
Why: T-Mac may be young, but like last year's No.1 pick Kobe Bryant, he has the potential to become an all-time great. Monstrous for a shooting guard at 6'8", his ability to play both SG and SF will mesh well with fellow swingman Shandon Anderson. Tracy has potential everywhere, and at 18, can literally be molded into whatever role the team needs over time. In any other draft, he'd be the clear No. 1, but a big man like Duncan forces T-Mac to slip. Nola won't complain though, as he'll just be another bullet in the impressive arsenal of youth the Kings are stockpiling. T-Mac may struggle early on, but when he arrives, the Kings will have the perfect leader for this franchise.
#3 Toronto Raptors
Pick: PG Chauncey Billups
Why: The temptation to pick towering SF Keith Van Horn and pair him up with fellow offensive juggernaut Michael Finley will be great, and just the thought of such a combo will make Sound lick his lips in anticipation of the damage he can do. It'd be wise to hold off on such thoughts, because there's another player worthy of #3, and that's Chauncey Billups. Big enough to qualify as a combo guard, Chauncey's appeal lies in his potential as an all-around PG. There seems to be a lack of quality PGs in the league, the drop-off in talent at the PG position is huge. As such, it's a big risk to pass up a position of need (the Raptors have zilch at the PG spot), especially when just finding a quality starter (let alone a potential young star) to fill that need isn't something that can be done easily. Sound could roll the dice and shoot for a PG at #11, but that's a risky game when the guy you pick may not be nearly as good as the guy you passed up.
#4 Phoenix Suns
Pick: SF Keith Van Horn
Why: Inner's absolutely ecstatic that Van Horn slipped to #4, as he'd have no one to pick otherwise! Already a guard-heavy and height-challenged squad thanks to up-and-comers Allen Iverson and Damon Stoudemire, KVH's size at the SF position will prove to be a godsend for the Suns. Also, KVH's potential as a stretch 4 could allow Jermaine O'Neal to move over to C, giving the Suns a versatile inside-outside attack. Indeed, with KVH on the roster, the only question will be if there's enough shots to go around in the desert.
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick: SG Anthony Parker
Why: Though he's not exactly who the Cavs hoped to be looking at taking on draft day, Anthony "Not-Candace" Parker is nevertheless the best choice for the Cavs at this spot. With longtime star PG Muggsy Bogues unlikely to return in FA and young PG Steve Nash waiting in the wings, the Cavs should probably start to address the other spots surrounding their young franchise player Kevin Garnett, rather than drafting one of the many, many, PGs left on the board and leaving Nash to hold down the 2 spot. Not-Candace is a solid shooter (especially from long-range, where he looks to excel in) with defensive potential and the ability to switch between SG and SF. He'll be a really good addition to the Cavs' roster, regardless of the fact that he was probably the only guy left worth picking this high.
#6 Sacramento Kings
Pick: PG Brevin Knight
Why: A bit of a shocker here, as he's not nearly as offensively gifted as fellow PGs Anthony Johnson, Antonio Daniels, and Bobby Jackson, and also lacksthe size of Alvin Williams. But, what he does have is very valuable indeed, and that's the best HND/PAS potential out of all the PGs in this draft. Remember what I said earlier about quality PGs being hard to find? Well, skilled assist men are even harder to find, a fact that the Kings know all too well. After drafting PG Erick Strickland during last year's draft, the Kings were surprised to see him develop into more of a SG, leaving their PG position in question. Nola won't want to repeat the same mistake twice, and thus passes on arguably better talents who may never become true passers in favor of someone who can step in and get his offense rolling. Brevin's also not to shabby on the defensive end, which is another plus in Nola's book.
#7 Chicago Bulls
Pick: PF Danny Fortson
Why: Things have gotten ambiguous now, as the talents available are all roughly equal in terms of value (no matter what the position), making the draft a bit of a crapshoot. Fortunately for the Bulls, there's one position of need that makes their choice here easy, and that's at power forward. Already running with a high-powered wing rotation, the one thing the Bulls lack is a gritty rebounder to clean up all their misses. Enter Danny Fortson, an undersized physical tank who specializes in going to the glass. While he may not be end up being able to do much else, what he can do fits perfectly with what the Bulls need right now.
#8 Sacramento Kings
Pick: C Kelvin Cato
Why: These guys again? Lol. Having completed their new starting 5 already, the Kings will now look to add some more depth by picking up Kelvin Cato. The reasoning is that they have a good secondary option at every position except C, and that's where Kelvin Cato steps in. Learning from Marcus Camby will be great fot Cato, and his ability to block shots means that opposing players will still be wary of attacking the inside when Camby takes a seat. 1997-98 Kings rotation secured? No doubt.
#9 Los Angeles Lakers
Pick: PG Bobby Jackson
Why: The Lakers have had their issues with big men over the years, but with Kelvin Cato gone and Kevin Johnson now at 31 years of age, I think the Lakers pass on Scot Pollard, who has nice potential but is definitely more of a project than Cato, and go with Bobby Jackson instead. It's likely that KJ will finish out the rest of his contract with LA, and there's two years left on that deal. The thought is that when KJ's contract is up, Bobby Jackson will be ready to start, thus giving Balls the edge in contract negotiations. As for why Jackson would get drafted over Antonio Daniels, Jackson possesses something that Daniels lacks - defensive potential. Jackson's already good, and looks like he has a good shot at improving, while Daniels...isn't good, and his chances of getting on Jackson's level are slim.
#10 Washington Wizards
Pick: PG Antonio Daniels
Why: Daniels finally goes off the board, as the underachievers-turned-overachievers Wizards snap him up. It's definitely not a preferred choice, as they're about to have a major hole at C and would have loved to snag Cato as well, but with Aaron McKie set to move into a starting role, the Wizards could use Antonio Daniels a bit more than they could use Scot Pollard. Daniels' height allows him to operate at the backup SG spot in addition to his primary role, which is giving star PG David Wesley some much-needed rest. Daniels' offensive abilities will also be put to good use on the 2nd unit, and the skills of his new teammates will cover his lack of defense for the time being.
#11 Toronto Raptors
Pick: C Scot Pollard
Why: While Sound might be a bit pissed that there's still decent PGs on the board here, he'd be wise to see this as a golden opportunity to fill another hole, this one in the frontcourt. Othella Harrington may have had a good rookie year, and Bryant Reeves may be proving to be a serviceable big man, but it'd be foolish to bet soley on those two's continued improvement. Enter Scot Pollard, who, while not quite as ready-now as Kelvin Cato, is still a big with nice potential who has a small chance of ending up better than Cato down the line. Plus, Pollard looks like he can actually make free throws when fouled, which is a nice bonus.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers
Pick: PG Anthony Johnson
Why: Bojangles really wishes that Sound would've gone with KVH and a PG. The Sixers' biggest weakness is at center, and Bo's not happy that Scot went off the board ahead of him. Still, Anthony Johnson is here, which is a good thing. Anthony Peeler did a damn good job at pretending to be a PG, but the fact is, he's just not one. With Rod Strickland's sudden downfall, drafting a PG to help get the ball to Peeler, Kittles, and (maybe) Russell is a really good idea. Now, Johnson will need a little bit more seasoning that fellow PG Alvin Williams, but he already is a better passer than Williams, and his potential could push him to become the better scorer as well, though he probably won't catch Alvin defensively. A slight risk, but if it pays off, the 76ers could boast a versatile offense explosive enough to offset any frontcourt issues that may still linger.
#13 Los Angeles Clippers
Pick: SG Ron Mercer
Why: The rebuilding Clippers are another team that could really use some frontcourt beef, but since a true standout frontcourt player doesn't exist at this point, they do the next best thing and take steps towards replacing an aging star in Rex Chapman by drafting Ron Mercer. Ron's ability to use his height (6'7") to drive inside and either pull up and finish at the rim meshes well with Sprewell and Van Exel's all-around styles. It'd be nice if Ron knew how to use his height defensively, but he sadly doesn't have that ability yet. However, if previously-hapless Van Exel can learn to break even on D, there may be hope for Ron. If so, this pick goes from a "good" choice to a "perfect" choice.
Warning: Past Here There Be Monsters! (Not really)
That'll do it for this preview, as it really is a wild world from this point on. There are a few decent prospects, but as usual for this area of a draft, there a lot more question marks surrounding these players. It'll be interesting to see just who gets an opportunity, and which GM will give it. Hope you enjoyed this!
