7. Golden State Warriors
SW: Who do the warriors take here? Nobody good. Seriously this draft sucks. Worst since 2003, when Mike Dunleavy Jr was an "obvious" #3 pick. I hope they trade out or up and get Rubio. Jordan Hill is a clown. I think he started playing ball when he was 17 or something. Add him to the list of unskilled big-man lottery misfires in the Warriors ugly draft past.
I would rather have a PG, but Jennings, Holiday and Flynn all scare me for different reasons. Lawson is sick, but him and monta on D together? Yikes. I think the Dubs are set up pretty good with a Biedrins/Wright/Randolph front court, Turiaf coming off the bench, and Maggette playing 3 sometimes. Big ball could be the new small ball.
But every time i think about the Warriors situation, I want to punch myself in the face. It would be great to just keep Monta, Randolph and Morrow, and buy everyone else out. We need to quit this band-aid, mediocre bullshit and fully blow up and rebuild. Otherwise, it's just this constant stream of underachieving 7-10 picks. At least if Crawford does indeed go to Atlanta, we get slightly better. Acie Law is not what anyone would call a starting PG, but at least he fills the spot.
Yikes. That is embittered. I feel like that calls for this picture.
Well, the word coming out of Oakland definitely seems to be Jordan Hill, but I'm going to go with Earl Clark here. I like him better as a pick, and I think the Dubs front office might be crazy enough to take him. The thing is, at this point, you're not likely to be plucking any all-stars out of the mix. Why not go with a kid that at least has a chance to be special? Everyone agress Clark is extraordinarily athletic for his size with a chance to become a truly unguardable forward, but there is also a perception that he is raw and unlikely to realize his potential. Well maybe try drafting and then actually coaching him? I know its not Don "Single-Malt" Nelson's strong suit, but it just might work.
8. New York Knicks
SW: Do i even watch the draft after this point? Maybe, depending on who potentially will cry in the green room when they are last picked. Lawson is going to be the sleeper of the draft, no matter where he goes. He's this years Chalmers, maybe better.
DerrrrMar DerrRozan will make some Sportcenter highlights, but wont make any teams better. I'm actually pretty high on Brandon Jennings, he was the #1 prospect last year, but couldn't cut it in Europe. But the dude just has so much swag and makes jaw dropping plays on the regular. At least he has the potential to be a mega star, which is more than you can say for most of these guys. Watch his high school highlights on youtube, just NASTY.
Holiday and Flynn will be alright 6th men/ backup PGs, not really worth a high pick though. I like those 2 skinny dudes from Louisville late in the first round, but they are my pick for first to get caught with groupies and weed at the NBA rookie seminar. DeJuan Blair will be an underrated piece to a good team sometime in his NBA career. Shout out to the Wake Forest dudes, i think James Johnson will be in the league a long time because he brings the thunder and can kickbox his way into the lineup. Seriously, every team needs a 6'9 kickboxing enforcer for when shit goes down. Teague should have stayed in school, I dont see him in the league in 4 years. Better start getting your passport updated.
This feels like more of a mess than I had hoped it would be when Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni took over. They've got a fair number of holes, but I think they take Jennings here. It's still a holding pattern for a few years, why hold bring in the best talent on the board, even if he's not quite ready? Not sure if he's getting booed or not.
9. Toronto Raptors
This team is going nowhere and this pick is miserable, which is a shame for one of the top 5 fan bases in the league. Toronto desperately needs scoring from the wing, and DeMar DeRozan allegedly fits the bill. Without a doubt, he'll make an ill fastbreak dunk or two, but does anyone think bringing this young player into a situation as unstable as this one is going to work out? Yikes.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Here's an interesting fact about Jrue Holiday: He averaged less than ten points a game in college. The perfect pick for a front office that appears to trigger a mass hunger strike by their fan base.
11. New Jersey Nets
Rod Thorn is a smart GM. He wants a big man. I see him doing what few other GMs would have the stones to do and taking Tyler Hansbrough here. Is he replacing Elton Brand? Obviously not. But if you think he can't come off the bench in year 1, eat up crucial minutes, and give you something with size and toughness...then you haven't watched the kid play.
12. Charlotte Bobcats
I have no idea where Charlotte goes with this. As on the nation's only Bobcats fans, I've spent the last five years getting humiliated. Each year I debate getting a divorce. Each year I come back. This year it was the Larry Brown hire that got me. Supposedly, Larry loves Terence Williams, so I guess I'll go with him. Felton is about the only one I like on this team, so I definitely don't want to see this pick burned on a point guard.
Then again, would it even matter? Where are we going? Is there even a plan? I think Managing Partner Michael Jordan is off "hiking the Appalachain Trail" right now.
We're signing Iverson this summer, right?
13. Indiana Pacers
Larry Legend needs a floor leader and Ty Lawson is best left on the table. Maynor may be comparable (or slightly better) athletically, but Lawson is proven as a winner and mature enough to play quickly. Jeff Teague is a head case (mark my words), and I can't see him leading that team anywhere. Lawson isn't going to be Derrick Rose, but he push the rock, pass it Granger, and limit the team's turn overs.
14. Phoenix Suns
Is it clear enough after today trade talk that the Suns management are actively pushing Steve Nash to quit basketball and join the MLS. This team is beyond rebuilding mode; they are in strip-down-for-parts mode. The pick? Who the hell knows? I say they pick BJ Mullens just to see how weird he and Amare would look together.
Does this draft just get more depressing the deeper we go?
The good news is it looks like the Spurs, Magic, Wizards, Cavs, and maybe even the Celtics and Golden State are swinging for the fences on the trade block. With or without much rookie talent, this is going to be a hell of an off-season.
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