Grading the NBA Draft: Studs and Duds

Studs

San Antonio Spurs

-    How the Spurs were able to grab DeJuan Blair at that spot, I will never know, but it gives them a good option to go alongside of Tim Duncan. Also, if Blair stays healthy, which he didn’t have a problem with in college, he could be very similar to Brandon Bass or Paul Millsap.  Either way, I think it was a terrific pick. 

They also pick up Jack McClinton, who can flat out shoot.  He is small but would be a nice option off the bench and might be able to play a little point if the Spurs need him, too. Oh, and he is also a pretty good defender.

Finally, they picked up Nando De Colo, a combo guard from France.  He may not play for the Spurs this year or the next, but he has been on the rise over in France and could be a nice combo guard for the Spurs.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that they made a trade for Richard Jefferson, too.  Great draft week for the Spurs.

Oklahoma City Thunder

-    I really liked the pickup of James Harden out of Arizona St.  Harden is what everybody loves to call “old school”, as he is a great leader and team player.  In fact, he helped lead a team in Arizona St. from okay to good.  He has a chance to be a poor man’s Paul Pierce and should be a good fit in Oklahoma City, who needed a SG/SF.

They also picked up B.J. Mullens and Robert Vaden.  Vaden is solid and could be a nice role player or shooter off the bench.  As for Mullens, he has a chance to be a solid center in this league.  He has to be committed and bulk up, but this could be a steal for the Oklahoma City Thunder by picking a guy who could have very well gone in the lottery.

Memphis Grizzlies

-    Hasheem Thabeet is a pretty good constellation prize for not getting Blake Griffin.  He could be a great center in this league.  He may not be great offensively (could still give you double digits in points), but he will give you a great force down low who could shut down posts in this league for the years to come.  He will give teams second opportunities offensively and will block a ton of shots.

They also drafted DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young, two great hustle players.  Sam Young gives the team a solid shooter with a great pump fake and good athleticism.  As for Carroll, he is a good energy player who can play good defense and his shot has been improving every year.

Close But No Cigar

Chicago Bulls

-    Chicago made a great selection in James Johnson, who is quick for his size, can great shots, great athleticism, and a solid defender.  He is also versatile and reminds me a lot of Lamar Odom. 

However, the thing that kept them from being winners was the pick of Taj Gibson. I felt if they would have went Ellington or Blair, this would have been a great night for Chicago. Could Tyrus Thomas be traded soon?

Minnesota Timberwolves

-    I like most of their picks, especially the pick of Rubio, which I feel is a steal.  However, they proceeded to draft Flynn.  Both are very good players, but both play the point, so there could be a move or Rubio planning on staying overseas. If Rubio stays overseas, the Flynn pick could be a very good one.  If he gets traded, I want to wait to see what they get for him before I make a final decision.

I also love the pick of Wayne Ellington, and Henk Norel was a solid one as well.  Nick Calathes could be a good trade chip for the Timberwolves as well.  I will give them a close, but no cigar, but this could turn out to be a great draft for them.

New York Knicks

-    They had a great value pick in Jordan Hill, who could be a great fit in D’Antoni’s system.   Hill could turn out to be a poor man’s Chris Bosh, as he has a solid post game and good size.  He needs to add some size to his frame, but I love the pick. 

I am not sold on Toney Douglas, but he is a good shooter and could be a nice option off the bench.  This was a really solid draft for the Knicks, who came close to fitting into the winners category.

Duds

Phoenix Suns

-    I am not sold on Earl Clark, who I thought was a bit overrated.  He has some good potential and nice athleticism, but his defense and decision making are average at best at this point.  I actually think they would have been better suited picking James Johnson, but this still could be a good pick down the line.

That pick wasn’t the most disappointing. In my opinion, it was Taylor Griffin.  It is a great story that he got picked, but realistically he probably shouldn’t have gone this high or at all, especially with Patrick Mills and Jack McClinton still available. I hope the best for Taylor and hope he proves me wrong, but I believe the Suns should have gone different routes.

Milwaukee Bucks

-    I do not like the pick of Brandon Jennings, who could be a major head case for Scott Skiles.  He is a very good athlete and ball handler, but lacks basketball IQ and shooting, which would not equate to a good point guard. They would have been better off going with Jrue Holiday or Ty Lawson. 

Jodie Meeks may not be a bad pickup, because he is a good scorer. However, he will need to improve defensively and his size hurts him a bit, but this isn’t as bad of a pickup.

They also traded Richard Jefferson, who may have been able to help this team sneak into the playoffs if Redd was healthy.

Borderline Losers

Utah Jazz

-    The only pick I question is the pick of Eric Maynor.  I thought they should have gone with either a more traditional shooting guard, Wayne Ellington, or a center in B.J. Mullens.  Eric Maynor will be a solid role player and isn’t the worst pick up in the world, but I thought there were better options for the Jazz.

New Orleans Hornets

-    I thought they would have been better served going after Ellington or adding some more size in the post.  Collison just seems to be bound to the bench and could see very little minutes behind Chris Paul.  They could put the two out on the court together, but I still think Ellington would have been a better option, or maybe Omri Casspi.

Sacramento Kings

-    The only reason I am putting them here is because they passed up on Rubio, Flynn, and Holiday, who I feel are more natural point guards.  Tyreke Evans is solid, has good ball-handling skills, and ability to get to the lane. 

     However, I think he might be a stuck as a combo guard, who may just wind up stuck at the shooting-guard position, which they already have in Kevin Martin.  Not a horrible pick, but I would have liked them to go for a more natural point.