After taking a look at where certain players were taken, I believe there were some big time steals. Here are five of them:
1. Jerryd Bayless. Bayless may not end up being a great player, but, if he puts the work in, he does have what it takes to turn himself into a Gilbert Arenas type player.
Note the Arizona connection. Arenas left Arizona after his sophomore year, averaging 16.2 points and just 2.3 assists per game. Jerryd's numbers are much better. Last season he averaged 19.7 points and 4.0 assist per game.
Bayless also has a year on the young Arenas. At the peak of his young career, Gilbert averaged 29.3 points and 6.1 assists per game. Although there are no guarantees, Bayless has the potential to be an All-star in a few years, assuming, again, that he puts the time in and commits himself to improvement.
2. Ryan Anderson. Anderson's numbers speak for themselves. 21.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, making him, statistically, one of the best players in this draft. In addition, he is 6' 10'', can shoot the three, and is able to knock down free throws.
New Jersey perhaps got the biggest steal in this draft. If I had my own rankings, I would have thrown Anderson in anywhere between eight and five. I know that it may seem crazy, but I honestly feel that Anderson is that good.
- B/R Ticket Guide
3. Chris Douglas-Roberts. The Nets lose the scoring factor with Jefferson's being sent to Milwaukee.
Douglas-Roberts may not be able to suit up and give us 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists every night, but the Memphis guard will be able to give New Jersey the same scoring that they lose with Jefferson, and in a few years a surplus of points.
Chris isn't a bad rebounder per say, but he isn't great either. With time, Douglas-Roberts could become a very good NBA player.
4. Ante Tomic. Tomic went 44th to the Jazz. At 7'2'', he is one of the biggest players in the draft, and all he does is score and rebound down low. He isn't a great shot blocker, but with Jerry Sloan's coaching, he can improve at most of his game.
He is 21, the equivalent a college junior, but he has professional basketball experience in Europe. Best case, he becomes a Pau Gasol type of a player. Worst case, he does not improve and the Jazz end up giving very little money in the scheme of things, to a player who could have potentially been very good.
Tomic isn't a steal because he is going to surprise us all and be the best player in the draft. What makes the big man a steal is the fact that the Jazz got him at 44 when he could have easily gone in the early twenties.
5. Pat Calathes. Pat isn't exactly a steal because he was not drafted. Pat is a legitimate small forward at 6'10''. His style of play does seem to fit an NBA roster. Some rankings have had Calathes ranked as high as the 25th best player in the draft.
The former St. Joe's star probably wouldn't make a very good NBA player, but he was good enough to be drafted. His game could be fine tuned to make him an okay off the bench player. Calathes is sort of like a J.J. Redick type of player, but he has size.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Calathes is capable of making it as a future Sixth Man of the Year, but it is always good to have a few good bodies sitting on the bench.
So, how is he a steal if he wasn't drafted? Well, whoever signs him can pay him the minimum salary with their own terms and that team didn't have to use a draft pick to get him.
Throwing Darrell Arthur in there would be a waste. Darrell is an obvious steal, knowing that he is one of the top 10 or 15 players in the draft and he nearly fell out of the first round. He is probably the third biggest steal.
Thanks a lot for reading and if you have something to add or if there is anything that I left out please don't hesitate to let me know.
Hudson Belinsky
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