2008 NBA Draft: Preview and Projections

Tony Kariotis — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:44:26 -0400

As the Final Four approaches, the college game has been able to showcase all of it's talents. So what's better then to see how these big names will fit in the NBA and the teams that will have a chance to draft them in late June.

Based on current win percentages the lottery would like end up looking like this.

1. Minnesota

2. Oklahoma City (Seattle)

3. Memphis

4. Miami

5. Charlotte

Minnesota

So the top pick falls in the hands of the man who made the biggest move a year ago by sending Kevin Garnett to Boston and helping restore Celtic Pride. What does he do with this pick?

Draft: Michael Beasley, Kansas State

Potential Starting Five: G. Randy Foye, G. Rashad McCants, F. Corey Brewer, F. Michael Beasley, C. Al Jefferson

Comment: This team sounds interesting, but realistically, this team would be extremely young and still in the rebuilding process.

Oklahoma City (Seattle)

Draft: Derrick Rose, Memphis

Potential Starting Five: G. Derrick Rose, G. Kevin Durant, F. Jeff Green, F. Nick Collison, C. Anyone who can fill this with the appropriate height credentials.

Comment: See you next June at the Draft looking for a big guy.

Memphis

This could be their final visit to the Lottery. Seriously. OK maybe not, but I really think so.

Draft: Brook Lopez, Stanford

Potential Starting Five: G. Mike Conley, Jr, G. Mike Miller, F. Rudy Gay, F. Hakim Warrick, C. Brook Lopez

Comment: Brook Lopez could be that third chip to a three-man nucleus of Conley-Gay-Lopez. If these players develop well, and have good players around them, then the Griz may be out of the Draft Lottery for years to come.

Miami

Draft: Dwayne Wade, (sorry Mr. Riley that was 5 years ago.) OH...umm OK give me the other guy. The kid I went and saw instead of coaching the group of players you call my team. Eric Gordon

Potential Starting Five: G. Jason Williams, G. Dwayne Wade, G. Eric Gordon, G. Ricky Davis, G. Dorrell Wright

Comment: That's right, a disaster. See you next year.

Charlotte

Draft: DeAndre Jordan.

Potential Starting Five: G. Raymond Felton, G. Jason Richardson, F. Gerald Wallace, F. DeAndre Jordan, C. Emeka Okafor.

Bench that consists of: Adam Morrison, Jared Dudley, Sean May, Matt Carrol and Nazr Mohammed.

Comment: If they can draft Jordan and turn him into a solid PF or C that rebounds, blocks shots and scores when able, then this front court will make noise. Drafting Jordan could potentially propel them into the playoffs for the first time in team history, but that is not saying much being in the Eastern Conference.

I know we hear this every year.

"This class is deep, deepest in years." But with good role players possibly coming out like Chris Douglas-Roberts, Brandon Rush, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert, and with the outside shot of Kevin Love coming out, this draft will definitely have good pieces to the puzzle for any franchise.

Pistons News: Chris Webber, #4, Retires.

Tony Kariotis — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:51:14 -0400

When Webber decided to hang em up, it was a sad but long expected day for me. Webber has been my favorite player since his existence in the media. There always seemed to be that bad charma that seemed to be on the Red Sox until they exercised their demons in 2004. So close so many times. In Michigan we all know what happened after the no-call travel against UNC in the National Title game. Then their was the series verse the Bulls in 97′. The Washington Bullets an #8 seed, nothing to lose at the time going up against the greatest of all, but had a legit chance to win any of those games in the final minutes, and couldn't snag one. Clearly a team and a player on the rise in the NBA making a statement against the Class of the NBA. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Shortly after that Washington dealt Webber, in a package that landed them Mitch Richmond. Mitch Richmond? For a young power forward with all the tools? The big smile? This trade seem lob-sided from the get-go. The Bullets/Wizards went down, fast. The Sacramento Kings went up, fast! This was the key trade to Geoff Petrie's puzzle for a title contending team with the style of play they looked to implement. Two big guys with great passing skills to run the Princeton offense.(Webber,Divac) the pieces started to come together quickly. Webber found himself in the same shoes he was in 97'. An 8 seed going up against a mighty #1. The Utah Jazz. Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan. It was the 1999 playoffs. The Kings have the Jazz with their backs to the wall. A Final Game 5 in overtime. Five minutes left for the two-time Western Champions to save their season, and once again Webber comes out on the wrong side, But this was a sign of good things to come. Next season comes around. Finish the regular season as an 8 seed again. Drop the first 2 of the 2000 Playoffs, only to win their 2 home games and force another deciding Game 5 against another #1 Seed. This time the Los Angeles Lakers, and the same result. Lose Game 5. After signing couple free agents and the development of Peja Stojakovic into the starting lineup. The Kings looked good to go. Instead in 2001 LA sweeps them out of the second round. The blame this time seemed to go on immature point guard Jason Williams.

Days after game 4 he was sent out of town for Mike Bibby. Which led to Webber's best run of all, the run he had with these Kings. Everything just seemed to be going so right in 2001-2002. They finally get the #1 seed and then Game 6 and 7 came around in the Western Conference Finals 2002. Two games to win one. Webber had Tyra Banks in the house cheering him on. It couldn't be scripted better. The Western Conference Finals that year was really the NBA Finals. The winner gets New Jersey in a show off-your-skills and crown you in game 4 series. Kobe puts a flagrant foul on Mike Bibby in Game 6 and the refs look the other way, and everyone looks at Webber. Adelman puts in Peja to take a shot after missing most of the 2nd round and basically entire Western Finals. He puts up an air-ball and everyone blames Webber. When Bibby hit the big shot in Game 5 to win the game. No one looks at Webber, they look at Bibby. The Media loved to expose Webber and on top of that he had this so called bad charma following him. Then came 2003, everything going smooth. Win a few statement games in the regular season, put it on cruise control. Second round match vs. Dallas. Game 1 Kings blow out Dallas by 20. Ok this seems to be the year. Game 2 comes and we know what happens. I felt like a Sox fan watching him throughout his career: 'OK we got so close, got stiffed by the refs, lets get em next year.' But each year just added 3 years of age on him, and now there are no years left.

When Webber was traded from Sacramento to Philadelphia. His run was over. Webber with Iverson? Just didn't make any sense. Webber who needs to dominate the ball to operate, weather its to pass or score. Then you got Iverson who never heard the word pass.

After his buy-out Webber was just on a farewell tour. One stop in his home town Detroit with hopes of winning that long sought after title. Ends up he became a Witness in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals.

One more stop where it started. Golden State the team that traded for him in the 1993 NBA Draft, and to reunite with Coach Don Nelson. His second go round with the Warriors ended up being a cameo, before being forced to retire due to injuries.

Webber leaves the game as one of the best big man passers with the softest touch I have ever seen. One of three players to averages 20-10 and 5 over a three year span. (Bird,Chamberlain). One of six to average 20-9-4 over his career.(Bird, Chamberlain, Baylor, Cunningham, and Garnett) Of those eligible, all have been inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame. There may never be another player like him, but if there is, lets hope he has a little more charma.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Tony Kariotis

2008 NBA Draft: Preview and Projections

Pistons News: Chris Webber, #4, Retires.