2008 NBA Draft: Winners and Losers

With the season officially getting started by the draft ending, I am going to look at which teams are headed in the right direction after the draft and which teams I have to scratch my head on where they are going.

Bulls—Winner: They got a point guard in Derrick Rose who can run a similar offense he did in Memphis. Hinrich may be on his way out or they will use him   with the two.

Passing up teammate Chris Douglas-Roberts in the second round was questionable, but overall they got the guy the team needed to head in the right direction.

Heat—Winner: The best overall draft from the day.

They got the best player in the draft with Michael Beasley who can be a Pippen like player next to Wade.

Mario Chalmers was the biggest steal for the Heat. He is an NBA-ready point guard who can defend and make plays.

They most likely will trade Shawn Marion (maybe for a Baron Davis or Marcus Camby) or Haslem (maybe for JJ Redick).

After an embarrassing season, the Heat can look at a brighter future.

Minnesota—Winner: They did not need a guard like OJ Mayo with them already having Foye and McCants, but needed a big man next to Al Jefferson.

They got that with Kevin Love who can take pressure of Jefferson. Love fits here perfectly because he can spread the floor, ignite fast breaks, and make passes in the post.

Acquiring Mike Miller in the trade is a steal for them. Miller had a great season last year. He can all out shoot. The Timberwolves are on their way to a silent 40-win season to be next years surprising team.

Sonics—Winner: Russel Westbrook has all the makings to be a star in the league. The Sonics needed a legit defender next to Durant and Westbrook is that man.

Westbrook, Durant, and Green are going to make a scary future backcourt. When Serge Ibaka comes to the league in a couple of years he has top five talent. The Sonics are rebuilding so there is no rush.

DJ White is a post player who can come off the bench and ignite the team.

Overall the Sonics are rebuilding in the right direction.

Grizzlies—Loser: Kevin Love would have been perfect for this team as they run a fast paced offense.

The team is loaded with guards and had no big man that could take pressure off of them. He would have ignited this athletic lineup on fast breaks.

They end up getting OJ Mayo who will be included in the loaded. Mayo was unable to take over the college game and does not have the abilities to do it in the league.

Darko Milicic is still their center. Unless they get Elton Brand or a legit center, this team will finish off with the worst record next season.

Knicks—Loser: The boos from the crowd tells you what I think.

Danillo Gallinari is a risky international player who could be good in three-four years.

They could have used a point guard like DJ Augustine to build on, but they just took a step back. They cannot take any risks since the organization has been a mess for so many years.

Clippers—Winner: Eric Gordon was the best college player last season before his wrist injury. He is healthy now and is going to be an effective NBA player.

He already is a really good shooter and can be a play maker for Al Thornton, Brand, and Kaman. He can play point and shooting guard filling in two needs.

They also got a potential No. 1 pick in DeAndre Jordan, if he can learn the game.

Mike Taylor is an NBA-ready point guard also since he played in the D-League last year, while putting up promising numbers.

Overall the Clippers look like they are headed back to the playoffs.

Bucks—Loser: Getting Richard Jefferson was a good move. Jefferson can play small foward next to Redd and put this team back to the playoffs.

They took Joe Alexander and Mbah a Moute who both play the same position. I do not understand why, but they did.

Darrel Arthur or even a Brook Lopez to go next to Bogut would have worked. Alexander is a one hit wonder who will not do anything in the league.

The Bucks took a step forward with Jefferson, then one step back again with their draft.

Bobcats—Loser (?): What was Jordan thinking? Kwame then Adam Morrison and now DJ Augustine with Alexis Ajinca?

Jordan needs to stick to Hanes commercials. Raymond Felton was showing signs of being a solid point guard in the league and now they took a point guard?

Brook Lopez was the most perfect fit for them. Emeka Okafur needed a player that would make him move to the four-spot while Lopez would have been the big man to take control of the paint.

The back court is already really talented and with Lopez they would have had a scary team next season. Ajinca averaged five points and five boards overseas! He is nowhere near ready and they made a huge mistake.

Jordan will be on his way out if this does not work.

Nets—Winner: No one look away from the Nets.

They got a back court of Harris and Carter with a group of talented young players. Yi Jianlian (aquired for Jefferson) is a player who can spread the floor and be a scorer for them at the three-spot.

Ryan Anderson can do the same off the bench. Boone, Kristic, and Williams are all solid front court players, but Brook Lopez is the big body they needed.

He handled the college level and will make his way to be one of best big-men in the league.

With a steal in CDR, the Nets bench is also now really good. The Nets are going to be a playoff team and a contender for the LeBron sweepstakes in 2010.

Indiana—Winner: The team is rebuilding and there is no better way than to get Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert.

These are two NBA-ready players who can fit well with Dunleavy and Granger. Larry Bird did a great job here.

TJ Ford is as good as a point guard in the NBA as anyone else when healthy. They are definitely headed to being a contender in the near future.

Kings—Winner: I know you might think I'm crazy, but Jason Thompson is going to be a legit NBA player.

He has all the tools to being an effective PF next to Miller or Hawes. Singletary can be a solid back-up in the NBA and Patrick Ewing Jr. can be a similar player to Carl Landry by coming off the bench and sparking this team.

So far the Kings are looking like they are heading in the right direction to the playoffs. I think it would be smart to trade Artest for a point guard or player who can lead them like a Kirk Hinrich or Lamar Odom.

Trailblazers—Winner: They did it again. This team in the next two-three years is going to be scary.

Adding depth with Nicolus Batum will help them, but getting a point guard in Jaryd Bayless was genius.

Bayless and Roy will be a scary tandum for many years to come. People should start moving onto their bandwagon soon.

Warriors—Loser: Anthony Randolph is a copy of Brandan Wright. Both together don't even weigh as much as Steve Nash.

The Warriors are headed back to the bottom. Monta Ellis ans Baron Davis may leave and they did not help their need for a big man down low.

Randolph did not shine last year against competition and will be a bust. They should have even got Speights.

Hawks—Loser: Yeah they took the Celtics to a seventh game, but they have not yet done anything in the off season to make themselves better.

They have a starting five and nothing on the bench besides a bald coach. They will be a disappointing team next season and if Josh Smith is smart he will go to a team like Philly.

76ers—Winner: Maureece Speights has potential to be an Elton Brand type of player.

They have a roster next season that will put them at the top five in the East. Speights is the right player next to Dalembert.

They need a player or two for the bench and they look like they will get that from free agency.

Raptors—Winner: Jermaine O'Neal is one of the best big men in the NBA when healthy. All this team needed was a big man.

Calderon, Parker, Bargnani, Bosh, and O'Neal will put them back to being a contender.

This is a team to definitely look out for next season.

Nathan Jawai is a smaller Shaq (or called Aussie Shaq) who can come to them in a couple of years to be an effective big man.

Wizards—Loser: JaVale McGee could be a good center in the future, but the Wizards need to look to win now.

If they can keep the three all-stars with Butler, Arenas, and Jamison, they need a big man who can dominate the paint.

Even Joey Dorsey would have been perfect. They just took a step back.

Cavs—Winner: JJ Hickson is an athletic freak who can dominate the post.

With Ben Wallace and him down low this will be a scary tandem. Hickson is a sleeper who could end up with rookie-of-the-year.

LeBron should be really happy right now.

Nuggets—Winner: How did they win when they didn't even draft? Well, they got cash for that pick.

They are looking to win next year and are looking to get Kirk Hinrich. This is the right move for them to win next season or look to tear the team apart after next year.

Mavericks—Loser: Shan Foster is a good shooter. But that really is it.

They were not aggressive and are not looking aggressive so far in the off season. I believe next year and the year after are their only chances to win a championship.

Magic—Loser: Courtney Lee will be a really nice player at the next level, but they needed a player who can take pressure off Dwight Howard on the post.

Darell Arthur would have been perfect.

Jazz—Loser:  Kosta Koufos is a twin of Okur. They don't need another Okur type of player.

Koufos could not dominate college players, so what makes them think he can post NBA defenders?

They needed a player that could have taken control of the paint and Koufos is too soft to find his way to the paint.

Suns—Winner: GM Steve Kerr is building a solid team right now. They needed a back up center who can take control of the paint, while sparking a bench.

Robin Lopez will be a solid center for them now and for the future. Either Kerr will be a genius after this season, or will be on the way back to the booth for TNT.

Rockets—Winner: They definitely are winners after getting all the needs they had in one night.

Donte Greene is a top-10 talent who can come off the bench and take pressure off McGrady.

Joey Dorsey brings toughness to this team, while he is the next Ben Wallace.  Rockets are on their way to the finals if they can keep healthy.

Spurs—Loser: George Hill can be a good D-League player and Dragic could be a good overseas player.

The Spurs needed depth and youth and got none of that. Darrel Arthur would have been a good fit to come off the bench.

Hornets—Loser: Should have kept their pick to get CDR to start for them at SG. They were disappointing.

They had a great season, but need to add depth. Even Mario Chalmers would have been good to back up Chris Paul.

Lakers—Loser: They needed toughness in the draft.

They got Joe Crawford who will not be signed. They should have made a move to get Joey Dorsey.

Pistons—Loser: Joe Dumars got a bunch of guys who he thinks can play.

He got lucky with Stuckey, but what he got in the draft is nothing special. They should have kept DJ White.

Celtics—Winner: Someone get Ainge in the Gatorade bath.

Bill Walker and JR Giddens are players that can ignite the bench and be the heir to Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

They are looking good to repeat next season and are showing a promise with the youth.