Philadelphia 76ers Grade: B 1.16 Mareese Speights
The Sixers got a steal at 16. Speights has a chance to be a real force in three years. He has a very wide body and is extremely young. His mid range game is already solid and can get better. If he works hard in the gym and keeps his weight down 18 and 10 is not out of reach. He should be a staple of the Sixers for years to come and save them some money by not getting Elton Brand because you may already have him.
Phoenix Suns Grade: C 1.15 Robin Lopez, 2.48 Malik Hairston
The Suns are very confused about the direction they want to go in.
They draft Robin Lopez or should i say Side Show Bob and yes he will play defense and rebound for you 15 minutes a night but he does very little to improve your team. His upside is very limited and will never turn into a star. The Suns must think they can win the championship this year which is a joke. They need to start looking toward the future and a pick of Donte Green or Darrell Arthur would have been better. As for Hairston, he will be in this league for a very long time but he will get no run in Phoenix unless they make some moves to free up the wings.
Portland Trailblazers Grade: A 1.11 Jerryd Bayless, 1.25 Nicolas Batum
The Blazers had my second favorite draft of the night. They picked up their point guard of the future in Bayless and an extremely talented and athletic three in Batum. Bayless can shoot the lights out and can also take the ball to the rim with authority. He is not a true point guard at this time but he doesn't have to because Brandon Roy can handle the ball. Bayless will be the point guard when the Blazers win a championship in 5 years and will be a damned good one.
Batum is extremely athletic and long. He is only 19 years old and has plenty of time to develop. Once he develops an outside game he could be like Tracy McGrady. The Blazers stole him and he will also be a big part of their future.
Not to mention they picked up Ike Diogue from the Pacers and unloaded Jarrett Jack. Diogue can bang and is a great asset off the bench
Sacramento Kings Grade: D 1.12 Jason Thompson, 2.42 Sean Singletary, 2.43 Patrick Ewing Jr.
The Kings reached for Jason Thompson and the question is why? He was a senior who's upside does not seem high at all. He is Shelden Williams all over again and oh yeah they already have he manatee sitting on the bench. Jason will be a career backup. Singletary is very small and will be a career D-Leaguer. The only player with some sticking power is Ewing. He has a 42 inch vertical and can become a very good defender.
San Antonio Spurs Grade: C 1.26 George Hill, 2.42 Goran Dragic, 2.57 James Gist
George Hill will be a very formidable back up to Tony Parker. He is very strong and can be a good change of pace for 15 minutes a night. The player that intrigues me the most from their picks is Goran Dragic. The video i]I have seen on this kid makes me believe he can be a very good point guard. He plays very good defense and at 6'4" has great size to play the point. James Gist is very athletic but some time in the D-League will do him good.
Seattle Supersonics Grade: A 1.4 Russell Westbrook, 1.24 Serge Ibaka, 1.29 D.J. White, 2.50 Devon Hardin
The Sonics GM Sam Presti is surrounding Kevin Durant with some great defenders. Russell Westbrook is one of the most athletic players in the draft, just ask Cal or Oregon. He won Pac-10 defensive player of the year and it should translate into good defense in the league. It will take him a year or two to learn the point guard position but he will be solid. Has a chance to be a Gilbert Arenas type with less scoring. Ibaka from the Congo is only 18 years old and when he finally makes it to Oklahoma City he will be a beast. I wouldn't be surprised if he blocks 3 shots a game soon. D.J. White is a horse with a decent jump shot and should bring a spark off the bench. Hardin is a project but will bring a defensive presence right away.
Toronto Raptors Grade: B- 2.41 Nathan Jawai
Toronto made a very bold move by acquiring Jermaine O' Neal from the Pacers. I think it is a move that is going to pay off. It allows Chris Bosh to stay at the 4 and Jermaine will bring a presence in the middle and another scorer on offense. The pick of Jawai gives the Raptors another big body in the middle. He should make an impact off the bench and should be very hard to move off the block.
Utah Jazz Grade: B 1.23 Kosta Koufos, 2.44 Ante Tomic, 2.53 Tadija Dragicevic
The Jazz got an exact clone of Mehmet Okur in Kosta Koufos. That is not necessarily a good or a bad thing considering they already have Mehmet. Kosta will come off the bench and add some much needed scoring. Koufos and Paul Milsap will make a great tandem coming off the bench. Maybe one of the better center and power forward combos. Tomic is 7'2" and has a lot of upside at 21 years old. A couple more years in Europe and he will be ready to contribute for Jerry Sloan. I don't know anything about Dragicevic so good luck.
Washington Wizards Grade: D 1.18 Javale McGee
The Wizards passed up on a chance to get Darrell Arthur, an Antawn Jamison clone. If they lose him in free agency then they will be kicking themselves like wee man. Javale is extremely skinny, but I don't see much in his game that translates to much. When the best thing they can say about you during the draft is that your mom played in the WNBA your in trouble. Javale will be a bust. Should of spent another year with the Wolf Pack.
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