Post by Golden State Warriors on May 26, 2008 12:39:05 GMT -5
Overall the draft this season has a ton of players with upside but SCARY on the defensive end. C defensive grades rarely convert over to future starting grades but the overall age of the prospects hopefull will help with that. There is also a big gap between the top 3-4 players and the rest of the class so don't be surprised if teams shop picks later in the lotto.
1 Chicago Bulls - Dwight Howard PF 6'11'' 240 19 B D+ C- B- B+ A
Howard is a no brainer at the top spot in the draft. He already rebounds better than 80% of the league coming out and will help the bulls front line for years to come. He still has some work to do on the defensive end of the floor but at 19 he'll have plenty of time to become that defensive force every team needs.
2 Minnesota Timberwolves - Emeka Okafor C 6'10'' 252 22 C+ D+ F+ B B A
Rumor has it the twolves love iggy at this pick. Problem i see is that when you have a chance to grab a franchise big man in this league you have to take it. Espeically since swing men are so much easier to find later in the draft. Okafor comes out polished defensively and rebounding wise and should become solid on the offensive end given time. Taking Okafor here means the timberwolves get the shot at one of the many young swing men later so you take the value here.
3 Indiana Pacers - Andre Iguodala SF 6'6'' 207 20 B C+ C B- C A
The pacers are really hoping the twolves don't listen to the early commentary so that Okafor drops to him here. With SAR already playing the sf spot there taking another sf is a bit of a stretch. That said iggy is by far the best scorer coming into the draft its tough to pass on him. SAR perhaps can move back to pf or perhaps iggy gets shot at the sg spot. Either way the pacers get a solid guy to continue building with.
4 Phoenix Suns - Al Jefferson PF 6'10'' 265 19 B- C- D+ C+ B- A
The suns could go a number of ways with this pick but i think you have to take the best big avail here. Al jefferson is that guy, he should develop into a solid scorer and rebounder and given some help could develop into a solid defensive guy too. The Suns have a long way to go so they might as well add a 19 year old big with upside rather than reach for a guy like Ben Gordon with this selection.
5 Atlanta Hawks - Devin Harris PG 6'3'' 185 21 C C+ B- B- D A
Rumors have the hawks shopping pg C. Billups so that they can take the solid young pg devin harris with this pick. Harris is quick and big two things that go well with L. James on your team. If the hawks dont move billups before the draft look for Ben Gordon to be the selection here to give the hawks a solid backcourt.
6 Denver Nuggets - Ben Gordon SG 6'3'' 200 21 C+ B C C+ D+ A
The nuggets definatly would love to NOT draft a pg here, they seem to have the most pgs in the league every year. Still they probably want to stick with a backcourt player and would love it if Gordon fell to them here. If he does he is the selection. If he does not the nuggets could look to players like Josh Smith or Kevin Martin here.
7 Detroit Pistons - Josh Smith SF 6'9'' 225 18 C+ C C- B- C A
The pistons here have had a lot of vets over the years that finally appear to be moving on. Josh Smith is one of the youngest players in the draft but he comes with a lot of upside. He should be able to help out on defense right away. Offensively though he has a lot of growing to do. That said Smith would be a nice piece to start over with in Detriot.
8 Charlotte Hornets (from Mavericks) - Kevin Martin SG 6'7'' 185 21 C+ B D+ C+ D+ A
The hornets have a ton of nice players at the sf, sg and pg spots so why take another one here? simply put they go with the best avail player here and that definatly is not a big man. Drafting martin could mean that someone gets shipped out of town to get that big at some point. But martin certainly is the best avail at this spot. Martin is a great shooter and should score right away entering the league. He still has work to do on the defensive side but overtime hopefully he shows he can hang with the better sg's in the league.
9 Boston Celtics - Jameer Nelson PG 6'0'' 190 22 D+ C+ B- C+ D+ A
Jason Terry after starting out his career hot and cooled off of late and might be best suited off the bench as a combo guard. That leaves an opening at the pg slot for the celtics and a perfect time to draft Jameer Nelson. Nelson comes highley regarded out of St. Joe's and should give this team a steady hand at the point.
10 Minnesota Timberwolves (from Sonics) - Luol Deng SF 6'8'' 220 19 C+ C C- C+ C- A
Being able to draft a player like Deng, Martin, JR Smith here at this pick is reason alone to draft the big at 2 leaving a solid backcourt swing guy at this point. Deng is a player thats raw and can offer a team a ton of upside. That said he still is awhile away from being ready to play in the league but you dont pass on his talent here if your the wolves.
11 Detroit Pistons (from Spurs) - Anderson Varejao PF 6'10'' 230 22 C D+ D- C+ C B
This is the point in the draft where i think talent really starts to drop off. There are a ton of good players avail at this pick but all have big time flaws and are projects. The pistons after taking Josh Smith earlier are in need of some help up front. Anderson Varejao hopefully develops into that big man. He's weak rebounding wise coming into the draft for a pf and offers little offense, but should be able to play some defense and with work develop into a solid big. In a draft thats super weak with big men he's probably the best left.
12 Philadelphia 76ers (from Nets) - J.R. Smith SG 6'6'' 220 19 C B- C- C D A
Again here in the draft you can get a lot of nice offensive players that will need a ton of help on defensive if they ever hope to really see the court. That said JR smith is a guy who can shot, has a lot of upside and could be a nice selection for the 76ers.
13 Vancouver Grizzlies (from Hornets)- Josh Childress SF 6'8'' 210 21 C+ C D+ C D+ A
Its no secret the grizz need guys who can score. Afterall tim Duncan is really the only legit scorer they have. The grizz would have also loved for there to be a legit pf or sg to take at this spot, but there really are not many to choose from. So they take the player with the best upside in Josh Childress. Josh should be able to help the team right away scoring wise and most likely gets upgraded right away upon being drafted on defense. Hopefully its enough to turn this guy into a starter..
1 Chicago Bulls - Dwight Howard PF 6'11'' 240 19 B D+ C- B- B+ A
Howard is a no brainer at the top spot in the draft. He already rebounds better than 80% of the league coming out and will help the bulls front line for years to come. He still has some work to do on the defensive end of the floor but at 19 he'll have plenty of time to become that defensive force every team needs.
2 Minnesota Timberwolves - Emeka Okafor C 6'10'' 252 22 C+ D+ F+ B B A
Rumor has it the twolves love iggy at this pick. Problem i see is that when you have a chance to grab a franchise big man in this league you have to take it. Espeically since swing men are so much easier to find later in the draft. Okafor comes out polished defensively and rebounding wise and should become solid on the offensive end given time. Taking Okafor here means the timberwolves get the shot at one of the many young swing men later so you take the value here.
3 Indiana Pacers - Andre Iguodala SF 6'6'' 207 20 B C+ C B- C A
The pacers are really hoping the twolves don't listen to the early commentary so that Okafor drops to him here. With SAR already playing the sf spot there taking another sf is a bit of a stretch. That said iggy is by far the best scorer coming into the draft its tough to pass on him. SAR perhaps can move back to pf or perhaps iggy gets shot at the sg spot. Either way the pacers get a solid guy to continue building with.
4 Phoenix Suns - Al Jefferson PF 6'10'' 265 19 B- C- D+ C+ B- A
The suns could go a number of ways with this pick but i think you have to take the best big avail here. Al jefferson is that guy, he should develop into a solid scorer and rebounder and given some help could develop into a solid defensive guy too. The Suns have a long way to go so they might as well add a 19 year old big with upside rather than reach for a guy like Ben Gordon with this selection.
5 Atlanta Hawks - Devin Harris PG 6'3'' 185 21 C C+ B- B- D A
Rumors have the hawks shopping pg C. Billups so that they can take the solid young pg devin harris with this pick. Harris is quick and big two things that go well with L. James on your team. If the hawks dont move billups before the draft look for Ben Gordon to be the selection here to give the hawks a solid backcourt.
6 Denver Nuggets - Ben Gordon SG 6'3'' 200 21 C+ B C C+ D+ A
The nuggets definatly would love to NOT draft a pg here, they seem to have the most pgs in the league every year. Still they probably want to stick with a backcourt player and would love it if Gordon fell to them here. If he does he is the selection. If he does not the nuggets could look to players like Josh Smith or Kevin Martin here.
7 Detroit Pistons - Josh Smith SF 6'9'' 225 18 C+ C C- B- C A
The pistons here have had a lot of vets over the years that finally appear to be moving on. Josh Smith is one of the youngest players in the draft but he comes with a lot of upside. He should be able to help out on defense right away. Offensively though he has a lot of growing to do. That said Smith would be a nice piece to start over with in Detriot.
8 Charlotte Hornets (from Mavericks) - Kevin Martin SG 6'7'' 185 21 C+ B D+ C+ D+ A
The hornets have a ton of nice players at the sf, sg and pg spots so why take another one here? simply put they go with the best avail player here and that definatly is not a big man. Drafting martin could mean that someone gets shipped out of town to get that big at some point. But martin certainly is the best avail at this spot. Martin is a great shooter and should score right away entering the league. He still has work to do on the defensive side but overtime hopefully he shows he can hang with the better sg's in the league.
9 Boston Celtics - Jameer Nelson PG 6'0'' 190 22 D+ C+ B- C+ D+ A
Jason Terry after starting out his career hot and cooled off of late and might be best suited off the bench as a combo guard. That leaves an opening at the pg slot for the celtics and a perfect time to draft Jameer Nelson. Nelson comes highley regarded out of St. Joe's and should give this team a steady hand at the point.
10 Minnesota Timberwolves (from Sonics) - Luol Deng SF 6'8'' 220 19 C+ C C- C+ C- A
Being able to draft a player like Deng, Martin, JR Smith here at this pick is reason alone to draft the big at 2 leaving a solid backcourt swing guy at this point. Deng is a player thats raw and can offer a team a ton of upside. That said he still is awhile away from being ready to play in the league but you dont pass on his talent here if your the wolves.
11 Detroit Pistons (from Spurs) - Anderson Varejao PF 6'10'' 230 22 C D+ D- C+ C B
This is the point in the draft where i think talent really starts to drop off. There are a ton of good players avail at this pick but all have big time flaws and are projects. The pistons after taking Josh Smith earlier are in need of some help up front. Anderson Varejao hopefully develops into that big man. He's weak rebounding wise coming into the draft for a pf and offers little offense, but should be able to play some defense and with work develop into a solid big. In a draft thats super weak with big men he's probably the best left.
12 Philadelphia 76ers (from Nets) - J.R. Smith SG 6'6'' 220 19 C B- C- C D A
Again here in the draft you can get a lot of nice offensive players that will need a ton of help on defensive if they ever hope to really see the court. That said JR smith is a guy who can shot, has a lot of upside and could be a nice selection for the 76ers.
13 Vancouver Grizzlies (from Hornets)- Josh Childress SF 6'8'' 210 21 C+ C D+ C D+ A
Its no secret the grizz need guys who can score. Afterall tim Duncan is really the only legit scorer they have. The grizz would have also loved for there to be a legit pf or sg to take at this spot, but there really are not many to choose from. So they take the player with the best upside in Josh Childress. Josh should be able to help the team right away scoring wise and most likely gets upgraded right away upon being drafted on defense. Hopefully its enough to turn this guy into a starter..
