Post by cjmjones008 on Aug 7, 2007 1:23:00 GMT -5
1. New York Knicks (from Utah Jazz) – C Greg Oden 7'0'' 257 19 B- C C B+ B A
The league wanted to get rid of tanking and for the first time a tanker didn’t get the #1 pick. The second best team in the league got the number one pick in one of the best draft classes ever. Greg Oden does not fit the Knicks needs at all. Oden will crowd the frontcourt with Yao Ming and Samuel Dalembert already the two starters there, but Oden seems to be the consensus over Kevin Durant.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – SF Kevin Durant 6'10'' 220 18 B B- C+ C+ C+ A
Does this remind you a bit of the actual NBA Draft? The number 1 pick doesn’t really need a center but takes Oden. The number 2 pick doesn’t really need a wing but takes Durant. In a perfect world these two would have gone in opposite positions, but in basketball the big man rules. The 76ers will probably try to play Rudy Gay and Gerald Green with Durant. It may work but to be a true force in the league they will have to trade one of them for a big man.
3. Miami Heat – C Hasheem Thabeet 7'3'' 266 20 C+ C- D+ B B- A
After the first two picks, this draft can go a lot of ways. Miami needs another big man and Thabeet could be one of the best defensive centers the BBS has ever seen. The Heat will have a young starting five if they take a center with this pick, but they will still need to add some more talent before really competing.
4. New York Knicks (from Memphis Grizzlies) – SF Jeff Green 6'9'' 228 21 C+ C B- B- C+ A
Tony Parker, Yao Ming, and Jason Richardson are all great scorers. The earlier selected Greg Oden should be as well. The Knicks need an all around guy to defender board and get the ball to all of their scorers. Green will do that and help take the Knicks to a potentially unthinkable level.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves – PG Mike Conley 6'1'' 180 19 C+ C B C+ D+ A
If you look at the Timberwolves current roster, the last thing they need is another PG. However, they may not have another chance at a PG with the potential of Conley again. He can develop into a top 5 PG in this league and be a guy the Wolves can build around. Conley is also the safest pick at this point. It is hard to not see him being at least a good starter in this league. At this point the Wolves just need some young talent and Conley will certainly provide that.
6. Miami Heat (from Indiana Pacers) – PF Yi Jianlin 7'0'' 242 22 C+ C+ C C+ C+ A
The Heat are going to need a superstar to lead their newly built team. Yi gives them the best chance at that. I don’t think it is the wisest choice for a team that can’t afford a major bust, but at this point I think Yi is worth the risk. He will allow the Heat to do a lot of things with their lineup and give them a chance to be one of the next up and great teams in the East.
7. Toronto Raptors (from New Jersey Nets) – PF Brandan Wright 6'10'' 210 19 B- C C B C+ A
The Raptors would have preferred to of taken Yi at this point because they can afford to gamble. Wright will be able to play SF or PF for the Raptors for a long time beside Dwayne Wade, Gilbert Arenas, and Kirk Hinrich. If Wright can be a great player despite his thin frame the Raptors have a chance to compete with the Knicks for the leagues best team.
8. New Orleans Hornets – C Roy Hibbert 7'2'' 280 20 B C D+ C+ B- A
The Hornets are going to need another legit big man to compete with teams in the East. Drafting Hibbert will allow the Hornets to move Nene to PF and have a very solid young frontcourt for years to come. The Hornets could go a number of ways with this pick but I think Hibbert makes the most sense for now. How often do you get a chance for a true center at pick 8?
9. Los Angeles Lakers (from Sacramento Kings) – SF Al Thornton 6'8'' 230 24 B C+ C C+ C A
Hernando just killed himself after he saw all three centers go before his pick. If that does happen this pick will be traded for a future pick in hopes of grabbing that center next year or combined with one of his many young swings to get Thabeet. Since I am not predicting trades, Thornton is the pick. He could develop into a great scorer and will be able to play SF or PF beside whichever of the young wings Hernando decides to play.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Rodney Stuckey SG 6'5'' 207 23 B- B- C+ C+ C- B
The Mavs have a lot of needs. They feel Diaz is their starting PG of the future which means they need to give him some help. Stuckey is the best shooter left in this draft and has got to be the pick if they don’t take one of the PGs left.
11. Toronto Raptors (from LA Clippers) – PF Tiago Splitter 6’11 240 22 C+ C C+ B- C+
The Raptors have their backcourt set for years to come. The frontcourt is getting older and up in contracts. Splitter looks like he will be at least a very good backup if not a good starter. He will be at least an above average player across the board and potentially a starter for the Raptors for years to come.
12. San Antonio Spurs (from Orlando Magic) - SF Shawne Williams 6’9” 227 21 C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
The Spurs don’t have any major holes, but they do have some areas they need to improve upon. This leaves them with many choices for this pick. Williams being the best option for the 12th pick. He won’t be outstanding in any area, but he will be good in all of them. The Spurs will also be able to fine tune him in any areas they want with upgrades.
13. Forfeit (Atlanta Hawks over Hard Cap)
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if this pick landed #1?
The league wanted to get rid of tanking and for the first time a tanker didn’t get the #1 pick. The second best team in the league got the number one pick in one of the best draft classes ever. Greg Oden does not fit the Knicks needs at all. Oden will crowd the frontcourt with Yao Ming and Samuel Dalembert already the two starters there, but Oden seems to be the consensus over Kevin Durant.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – SF Kevin Durant 6'10'' 220 18 B B- C+ C+ C+ A
Does this remind you a bit of the actual NBA Draft? The number 1 pick doesn’t really need a center but takes Oden. The number 2 pick doesn’t really need a wing but takes Durant. In a perfect world these two would have gone in opposite positions, but in basketball the big man rules. The 76ers will probably try to play Rudy Gay and Gerald Green with Durant. It may work but to be a true force in the league they will have to trade one of them for a big man.
3. Miami Heat – C Hasheem Thabeet 7'3'' 266 20 C+ C- D+ B B- A
After the first two picks, this draft can go a lot of ways. Miami needs another big man and Thabeet could be one of the best defensive centers the BBS has ever seen. The Heat will have a young starting five if they take a center with this pick, but they will still need to add some more talent before really competing.
4. New York Knicks (from Memphis Grizzlies) – SF Jeff Green 6'9'' 228 21 C+ C B- B- C+ A
Tony Parker, Yao Ming, and Jason Richardson are all great scorers. The earlier selected Greg Oden should be as well. The Knicks need an all around guy to defender board and get the ball to all of their scorers. Green will do that and help take the Knicks to a potentially unthinkable level.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves – PG Mike Conley 6'1'' 180 19 C+ C B C+ D+ A
If you look at the Timberwolves current roster, the last thing they need is another PG. However, they may not have another chance at a PG with the potential of Conley again. He can develop into a top 5 PG in this league and be a guy the Wolves can build around. Conley is also the safest pick at this point. It is hard to not see him being at least a good starter in this league. At this point the Wolves just need some young talent and Conley will certainly provide that.
6. Miami Heat (from Indiana Pacers) – PF Yi Jianlin 7'0'' 242 22 C+ C+ C C+ C+ A
The Heat are going to need a superstar to lead their newly built team. Yi gives them the best chance at that. I don’t think it is the wisest choice for a team that can’t afford a major bust, but at this point I think Yi is worth the risk. He will allow the Heat to do a lot of things with their lineup and give them a chance to be one of the next up and great teams in the East.
7. Toronto Raptors (from New Jersey Nets) – PF Brandan Wright 6'10'' 210 19 B- C C B C+ A
The Raptors would have preferred to of taken Yi at this point because they can afford to gamble. Wright will be able to play SF or PF for the Raptors for a long time beside Dwayne Wade, Gilbert Arenas, and Kirk Hinrich. If Wright can be a great player despite his thin frame the Raptors have a chance to compete with the Knicks for the leagues best team.
8. New Orleans Hornets – C Roy Hibbert 7'2'' 280 20 B C D+ C+ B- A
The Hornets are going to need another legit big man to compete with teams in the East. Drafting Hibbert will allow the Hornets to move Nene to PF and have a very solid young frontcourt for years to come. The Hornets could go a number of ways with this pick but I think Hibbert makes the most sense for now. How often do you get a chance for a true center at pick 8?
9. Los Angeles Lakers (from Sacramento Kings) – SF Al Thornton 6'8'' 230 24 B C+ C C+ C A
Hernando just killed himself after he saw all three centers go before his pick. If that does happen this pick will be traded for a future pick in hopes of grabbing that center next year or combined with one of his many young swings to get Thabeet. Since I am not predicting trades, Thornton is the pick. He could develop into a great scorer and will be able to play SF or PF beside whichever of the young wings Hernando decides to play.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Rodney Stuckey SG 6'5'' 207 23 B- B- C+ C+ C- B
The Mavs have a lot of needs. They feel Diaz is their starting PG of the future which means they need to give him some help. Stuckey is the best shooter left in this draft and has got to be the pick if they don’t take one of the PGs left.
11. Toronto Raptors (from LA Clippers) – PF Tiago Splitter 6’11 240 22 C+ C C+ B- C+
The Raptors have their backcourt set for years to come. The frontcourt is getting older and up in contracts. Splitter looks like he will be at least a very good backup if not a good starter. He will be at least an above average player across the board and potentially a starter for the Raptors for years to come.
12. San Antonio Spurs (from Orlando Magic) - SF Shawne Williams 6’9” 227 21 C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
The Spurs don’t have any major holes, but they do have some areas they need to improve upon. This leaves them with many choices for this pick. Williams being the best option for the 12th pick. He won’t be outstanding in any area, but he will be good in all of them. The Spurs will also be able to fine tune him in any areas they want with upgrades.
13. Forfeit (Atlanta Hawks over Hard Cap)
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if this pick landed #1?