Jun

27

Grading The 2008 NBA Draft, The Good, The Bad, And What Were They Thinking?

Posted by Jeff Sack under SDC COMMENTARY, Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central 

?We hope you enjoyed Steve Rhodes stellar coverage of the NBA Draft in real time! Well there were a lot of rather surprising moves in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Many players went higher than expected, others dropped inexplainably. Let’s take a first?look at the first round.

Chicago Bulls select: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis: Certainly no surprise here as Rose was picked first as expected. He will be a future star in the Association. Grade: A

Miami Heat select: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State: Again no surprise, Beasley? will also be a very dominant player for the next 10-12 years. Grade: A

Minnesota Timberwolves select: O.J. Mayo, PG/SG, USC: Most mock drafts had Mayo going here so no real surprise. However I was?surprised that they?did not go with a?center to move their franchise player Al Jefferson to his?natural position at power forward. As I wrote in my mock draft if Mayo is as good as he thinks he is this is a great pick. Grade B-

Seattle SuperSonics select: Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, UCLA: First shock of the evening. Everybody expected Seattle to go big and Westbrook to fall lower. Westbrook is a solid player, but they have greater needs at other positions. Grade B-

Memphis Grizzlies select: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA: Chris Wallace gets kudos for?this pick. Kevin is not as complete player as? Pau Gasol, but he’s a whole lot tougher Grade A

New York Knicks select: Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Italy: Again not really a surprise as the “Rooster” had been talked about as a possible draft choice since Mike D’Antoni came on board as coach. But as I wrote in my mock the Knicks needed to make a splash in this draft. The boos this poor young man had to endure from the New York crowd while he was interviewed were merciless. But as Mark Jackson said Knicks fans are looking for someone who can play in the upcoming season. Gallinari has promise, but New York fans do not want a project Grade C-

Los Angeles Clippers select: Eric Gordon, PG/SG, Indiana:Nice solid pick, I think Jerryd Bayless would be a better fit, but Clippers fans have no reason to complain Grade B

Milwaukee Bucks select: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia: Very good pick by the new brain trust in Milwaukee. Alexander’s stock kept rising all Spring, I think Scott Skiles will see a lot his attitude as a player in Alexander. Both gutty players who make the most of their ability Grade A

Charlotte Bobcats select: D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas: Okay I understand the pick, but?I don’t agree withit. Raymond Felton needs help at the point, but how do they go with Augustin over Bayless? Grade C

New Jersey Nets select: Brook Lopez, center, Stanford: Only one question how did Lopez last this long? Rod Thorn made a very good selection, on the heels of the Richard Jefferson trade Grade A

Indiana Pacers select: Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona: Pick traded to Portland with Ike Diogu for Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts, and the rights to Portland’s pick. Bayless was one of those guys that dropped a lot further than expected. He is talented with a great gung-ho attitude. Grade A

Sacramento Kings select: Jason Thompson, PF/C, Rider:Bizarre pick at best, may eventually cost Geoff Petrie his job. Thompson was a late first round pick, that makes no sense for this team Grade D-

Portland Trail Blazers select: Brandon Rush,?SG, Kansas: The final piece of the trade that will send Bayless to Portland. Great pick by Larry Bird, along with new point guard T.J. Ford the Pacers now have a very good back court Grade A

Golden State Warriors select: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU:Nelly should put this young man on his diet! Randolph will be able to play in the Association after he bulks up, but why take him when you took Brandan Wright last year? Grade C+

Phoenix Suns select: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford: Again I understand the pick but don’t agree with it. There were more talented big men on the board as well as point guards another? position they could have used some depth in. Lopez will bust his butt, but can he run with the Suns? Grade C-

Philadelphia 76ers select: Marreese Speights, PF, Florida: Again probably picked higher than he should have gone. He can score but will he make the effort to play defense? Grade C+

Toronto Raptors (Indiana Pacers) select: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown: Part of the deal that is sending Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors for Ford and Bobby Simmons. Hibbert may be one of those players that stayed in college a?year too long. Grade C+

Washington Wizards select: JaVale McGee, C, Nevada: Too many far better athletes still on the board, another player that went much higher than expected Grade C-

Cleveland Cavaliers select: J.J. Hickson, PF, North Carolina State:He is very very raw, but he loves? to rebound. This?is probably a move that will pave the way for Cleveland to trade Anderson Varejao Grade B-

Charlotte Bobcats select: Alexis Ajinca, C, France: Did Larry Brown have any input in this draft, and if he did has he been on the sidelines too?long? The Celtics, the Spurs the Lakers take this young man, fine they can afford to wait for a project. Not the Bobcats Grade D-

New Jersey Nets select: Ryan Anderson, PF, California: Can score with his back to the basket, as well as hit the “J” Grade B

Orlando Magic select: Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky: Great outside shooter, a prototypical wing man, which will complement Howard?s game and augment Turkoglu?s Grade A

Utah Jazz select: Kosta Koufos, Center, Ohio State:?Should fit in well with Utah, a steal at pick number 23 Grade B+

Seattle SuperSonics select: Serge Ibaka, Forward,?Congo: Another guy that needs to fill out but has amazing speed for a man of his size. Grade B-

Houston Rockets select: Nicolas Batum, Forward, France: Too many better players on the board Grade C-

San Antonio Spurs select: George Hill, Guard, IUPUI: A very strange pick, especially with Mario Chalmers still on the board Grade D-

New Orleans Hornets (To Portland)?select: Darrell Arthur, Forward, Kansas: The reason ESPN said that he stayed on the board so long was according to his medical tests conducted by the NBA showed he had kidney problems. Kansas issued a statement denying it. If he is healthy Portland got the steal of the draft Grade A

Memphis Grizzlies select: Donte Greene, Forward, Syracuse: Okay who kidnapped Chris Wallace, and who is that impostor taking his place? Very nice pick Grade A

Detroit Pistons select: D.J. White, F, Indiana: Chad Ford from ESPN is reporting that Detroit will trade White to Seattle for the 32nd and 46th picks. Good hustle good attitude Grade B

Boston Celtics select: J.R. Giddens, G, New Mexico: Danny Ainge has rolled the dice. Giddens is the real deal talent wise, but has been a problem child off the court. If any team can get this young man with the program it’s the Green Team Grade B

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net




Comments

2 Responses to “Grading The 2008 NBA Draft, The Good, The Bad, And What Were They Thinking?”

  1. Space on June 27th, 2008 11:29 am

    Did the Memphis Grizzles hire a new GM and not tell anyone about it? or did the powers that be finally let their GM do his job? Either way Memphis came away with some nice young talent that they can mold and try to grow with as a team.

    I also like the Blazers getting Bayless, I think he is going to be a special player in the Association.

    The thing that is bothered me the most was what happened to Darrell Author. That is ridiculous how teams can pass over a kid with that much talent when they “think” he has a kidney problem that turned out to be not true. I think that is going to put a nice chip on his shoulder for him and it’s going to make him want to show teams that they missed out. Players like Nicolas Bartum (heart problem) and Alexis Ajinca (5pts 5.6rbs) went before him.

    At least Riley didn’t do something crazy and pass on Beasley.

  2. Eric on June 28th, 2008 10:29 am

    I believe Augustin is a great pick for Charlotte , I think he would be a great pickup anywhere A+

Leave a Reply