Atlanta Hawks: This no-name team is finally starting to become a team that has potential for a playoff appearance. The Hawks took Florida Center Al Horford as the number three overall pick. Horford is probably the best defender selected in this year's draft, so it's obvious why Atlanta chose him. Moreover, Atlanta selected Texas A&M's Acie Law IV in an attempt to solve their problems at the point guard position. Law's scoring ability is a need for the Hawks, whose offense is run solely on the shooting of Joe Johnson. Both picks give the Hawks exactly what they need, an offensive leader who moves the ball, and a defensive presence that blocks up the paint. If both these players can blend in with Joe Johnson's style of play, the Hawks have a real future in their hands. Ron's Grade: A
Boston Celtics: Finally, the Celtics are starting to look like the old Boston team of the 60s and 80s. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett make nice replacements for Larry Bird and Bill Russell and Boston is the perfect city to start a new dynasty. It is pretty obvious that Boston is sick of losing, and the fifth pick was not a good enough draft pick to restart the franchise. Boston immediately traded their number five pick, along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West, for Seattle Superstar Ray Allen. But that's not all folks. The unhappy Kevin Garnett also found a beautiful home in Boston after being traded for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and two first-round picks. The Celtics are once again, Eastern Conference threats, and their two draft picks of Gabe Pruitt and "Big Baby" Glen Davis only add depth to the new Boston Celtics. Davis is a great fit for Boston, since he has tremendous size for an offensive post-up presence and can pull up the mid-range jumper. Combined with the speed and shooting of point guard Gabe Pruitt, these two youths match well with the All-Stars of Boston. Ron's Grade: A+Charlotte Bobcats: Even as a General Manager, Michael Jordan is becoming famous and popular for his clutch decisions and intelligent moves. Jordan is turning the Charlotte Bobcats into an all-around well balanced team, and he's not doing it as a player. MJ traded North Carolina's Brandan Wright for Golden State's star, Jason Richardson. The Bobcats are beginning to scare others with their fantastic four, which consists of Emeka Okafor, Jason Richardson, Raymond Felton, and Gerald Wallace (not to mention Adam Morrison and Sean May on the bench). The Bobcats also drafted Jared Dudley at the number 22 pick and Jermareo Davidson at number 36. Dudley, the 6'7" small forward known for his hustle and athleticism, fits well with the Bobcats' roster. Davidson, the athletic power forward, contains a similar style of play as Dudley and fits the team as a solid 7th or 8th man off the bench. Ultimately, Jordan is starting to manage his teams with the same tenacity he used to play with. Ron's Grade: B+
Chicago Bulls: Forgive me if I begin to boast over this team's draft, but as a life-long Chicago Bulls fan I have to get excited over this year. The Bulls selected exactly what they were missing in this year's NBA draft. With the number 9 pick, Chicago selected the Florida forward Joakim Noah. As one of the most passionate players in the NCAA, Noah brings character and heart to the Chicago Bulls' roster. At 6'11", Noah also demonstrates defensive strengths and size to partner up with All-Star center Ben Wallace. Chicago also selected the Pittsburgh center, Aaron Gray, and the Oklahoma State scorer, JamesOn Curry. Gray is the first step to Chicago's lack of inside scoring. He stands tall at 7'2" and led Pittsburgh to the thirteenth ranking in the AP polls. The center also led Pitt in scoring, rebounding, blocks, and field goal percentage in his final collegiate year. In addition to the two selected big men, Chicago chose a backup for Ben Gordon in JamesOn Curry. Curry scored 2.5 three-pointers per game at Oklahoma State, but is slightly small at 6'3", 190 lbs. Overall, the Bulls made good use of their picks that they obtained from New York in the Eddy Curry trade, and are starting to alleviate their weaknesses on the court. Ron's Grade: B+
Cleveland Cavaliers: It's tough to summarize and grade a team that makes no off-season moves and has no draft picks, don't you think? However, it must be stated that the Cavaliers cannot win a championship with LeBron James alone. Cleveland has to make a move soon to strengthen their point guard slot and team play or LeBron is going to get frustrated quickly. After all, a one man team is no team at all. Ron's Grade: N/A
Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks had the best value picks in the entire draft this year. With Nick Fazekas and Reyshawn Terry, it's not hard to see a future for Dallas after Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks selected Fazekas at the number 34 pick and Terry at number 44, both incredibly low slots for the players to fall in. Fazekas is the epitome of a young Nowitzki, with the ability to score the outside three, and still post up big at 6'11" for an inside hook shot. Fazekas was responsible for Nevada's top ten ranking and led the team with 20.4 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, 1.0 three pointers per game, a 56.8 field goal percentage, and a 84.8 free-throw percentage. Reyshawn Terry, the younger Josh Howard, plays big at 6'8" and learned a thing or two from Coach Williams at UNC. His smart play and terrific defense is exactly what Dallas needs from the UNC forward. Both Nick Fazekas and Reyshawn Terry can learn from their role models in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, as well as the 2006 coach of the year, Avery Johnson. The Mavs also selected the Lithuanian guard, Renaldas Seibutis, who's known for his quick drives to the basket and tough defense. Whether or not he will strive in the NBA is a different question, but chances are he will have a small impact on the gargantuan players of Dallas. Ron's Grade: A-
Denver Nuggets: Like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nuggest made no off-season moves and had no draft picks in this year's draft. However, unlike the Eastern Conference champs, Denver had good reason. They traded away their picks for the Philadelphia star, Allen Iverson. Iverson and Anthony seem to be getting along splendidly in Denver, and it will be interesting to see how the two match up in a full NBA season. Ron's Grade: N/A
Detroit Pistons: The Pistons seemed to have found a few more players that fit the scheme of coach Flip Saunders. Rodney Stuckey, the 15th pick from Eastern Washington, is a quick guard who runs the floor and plays tough defense. Similarly, Arron Afflalo, the UCLA guard, led the Bruins to a top ten ranking and is renowned for his defensive skills and ability to control the fast break. Both players fit perfectly into the Detroit style of play and are clearly the next generation of guards for the Pistons. Their last pick, Sammy Mejia, is a 6'7" guard who shows perimeter ability and sharp shooting. All these draft picks give Saunders and the Detroit team a future and guards that can carry on the Detroit playing style, but are nothing special in comparison to the picks that the Pistons could have taken. Afflalo is the only true guard that may shine in Detroit. Ron's Grade: C+
Golden State Warriors: The Warriors have become one of the most popular teams today because of their improbable victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs. But after this draft, it could be because of the depth and skill of the team. Golden State made a salient trade with the Bobcats that sent Jason Richardson to Charlotte and rookie forward Brandan Wright to the Warriors. This pick gives Golden State a powerful big man down low that plays with aggressiveness and passion in every possession. Although he only weighs 200 lbs., which is very light for a 6'10" power forward, Wright fits well with Don Nelson's run-and-gun offense. With the number 18 pick, the Warriors selected Marco Belinelli, a sharp shooter from Italy. And when I say sharp, I don't mean sharp as a razor that you may cut yourself with while shaving. Belinelli is a 6'6" shooting guard who weighs just as much as Wright, and can score from anywhere on the court, even with a hand or two in his face. Belinelli has separated himself from the rest of the draft as the best shooter picked, and his ability to pass and play aggressive defense gives him the potential to strive in the NBA. Lastly, the Warriors picked Stephane Lasme at pick number 46 fir his shot blocking ability and big playing. Lasme is a small power forward at 6'7", but plays bigger than his size like Ben Wallace or Charles Barkley. When Lasme is paired up with Biedrins, the paint could be heavily blocked up for driving players. These three players are great steps to allaying the weaknesses of the Golden State team, and maybe now the Warriors will be loved for another reason than beating the number one seed. Ron's Grade: B+
Houston Rockets: Personally, I feel that Houston had one of the worst drafts of any teams this year. Although a point guard was the proper choice for Houston, Aaron Brooks may have 
been the wrong road to take to solve their dilemma. Brooks is only 6'0", and although he shows great speed and scoring ability, these qualities do not make up for his small stature. Houston's other two picks, Carl Landry and Brad Newley, are only role players that do not excel in their position or strengths. Landry is an undersized power forward at 6'7" and Newley's ability to drive and score will likely be thwarted in his shift to the NBA from Australia. I can't say Houston won't do well this year when they have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but this draft won't be the reason they find success in the 2007-2008 season. In fact, their best off-season move was the firing of Coach Jeff Van Gundy and replacement with Rick Adelman. Ron's Grade: C-
been the wrong road to take to solve their dilemma. Brooks is only 6'0", and although he shows great speed and scoring ability, these qualities do not make up for his small stature. Houston's other two picks, Carl Landry and Brad Newley, are only role players that do not excel in their position or strengths. Landry is an undersized power forward at 6'7" and Newley's ability to drive and score will likely be thwarted in his shift to the NBA from Australia. I can't say Houston won't do well this year when they have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but this draft won't be the reason they find success in the 2007-2008 season. In fact, their best off-season move was the firing of Coach Jeff Van Gundy and replacement with Rick Adelman. Ron's Grade: C-Indiana Pacers: The Pacers only selected one player in this draft, and is it a surprise that it was a big European player? Everyone is now in search of the next Yao Ming, and the Pacers decided to take Stanko Barac, a 7'1", 235 pound Bosnian. Although this big man has great potential based on size alone, 7'0 is starting to become a more popular height among centers nowadays. Just ask the Portland trailblazers, who have two starters at 7'0. If Barac only brings size to the court, which is what it looks like, the Pacers are going to have problems with their frontcourt because of Jermaine O'Neal's lack of a smile. I can only see a downgrade for the team since last year. Ron's Grade: D
Los Angeles Clippers: The Los Angeles Clippers are a solid team that has one primary concern: health. With the injuries Livingston has suffered every season and the aging of Sam Cassell, the Clippers now have no true point guard. Therefore, is it fair to say that I have no idea as to what Los Angeles was doing this off-season? Now I understand that the two top point guards, Mike Conley and Acie Law were taken already, but there was no reason they could have traded up or at least made an effort to obtain someone such as Chauncey Billups, who was thought to leave Detroit after the season. It is obvious that without a point guard teams have trouble moving the ball and keeping the pace of the offense smooth. That what a point guard's role is: to control the offense. Elton Brand can't do everything. Now I do think that Al Thornton is a good pick and a solid player, but he was not the necessary draft pick for this team. Thornton fits well with the team and will probably play under Corey Maggette and slowly share time with the veteran. Their second round pick, Jared Jordan, is a solid point guard out of Marist, but stands not too tall at 6'2" and is a late attempt at selecting a point guard. Ultimately, the Clippers are just going to have to wait another year and get a little lucky next time with the lottery selection, especially with Elton Brand sitting on the bench for a couple of months with a torn Achilles tendon. Ron's Grade: D
Los Angeles Lakers: Much like the other Los Angeles team, the Lakers need a point guard and ball controller. After all, Kobe can't do everything (but can do almost everything). Los Angeles' first two picks were big guards who fit well in the Laker system. Javaris Crittenton, the 6'5" point guard from Georgia Tech, is very big for his position, and has the ability to drain the shot from a distance. With these characteristics, Crittenton complements Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, both who have never been on a team with a truly remarkable point guard. The Lakers' second pick, however, is what truly grabs interest from my eye. Sun Yue, the Chinese sensation, is a 6'9" point guard from China who shows tremendous ball control and point guard qualities. Remind you of any other Laker point guard? Although Sun Yue is listed as a small forward, his point guard ability could be exactly what Phil Jackson and the Lakers organization are looking for. The Lakers last pick, Marc Gasol, fools most ignorant fans. Although he is the younger brother of the dominant all-star Pao Gasol, his height is the only similarity he has with Pao. In the end, the Lakers took a strong step towards their needs and can start looking forward to a successful season. Ron's Grade: B
Memphis Grizzles: Now I have mixed feelings on the Memphis draft, so I am going to try and make this as clear as possible. The Grizzles needed a point guard just many teams in the NBA, and it is obvious that Conley was the best one. However, I can't see the speedy Conley succeeding as a 6'1" point guard in the NBA. At Ohio State Conley was surrounded by college all-stars such as Rasual Butler, Daequan Cook, and number one draft pick Greg Oden. They would run down the court on multiple fast-breaks, and if that didn't work Conley could always feed the ball into the most dominant player on the court: Oden. But in Memphis, only Gasol stands out as an all-star, and the Grizzles can't run up the court on a fast-break without someone tripping over his shoelaces. Conley is number one on my 2007 don't draft. All in all, the Memphis Grizzles drew the Queen of Spades in a game of Hearts, and had no other choice but to risk all their marbles on the speedster. Ron's Grade: B-
Miami Heat: The Heat decided to trade picks with Philadelphia for the rights to Daequan Cook, the sharpshooter from Ohio State. Cook seems average for a shooting guard; he's 6'6" and only excels in his shooting range. Other than that, I can't see him being more than a mediocre NBA athlete. Cook averaged only 41.5% from behind the three-point arc and lacks the percentages needed for a consistent two-guard (.445 field goal percentage and .697 free-throw percentage). It is clear that the Heat continue to rely on their two superstars-Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade-and nothing else. What Miami should be doing is building a team around Wade, their 25 year old all-star and forgetting about Shaq. The only improvement Miami made was finding a back-up for Wade. Other than that, the Heat are one year closer to O'Neal's retirement. Ron's Grade: D
Milwaukee Bucks: If Yi Jianlin, the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft, cooperates with the Milwaukee organization, the Bucks could have one of the most fierce and dangerous starting five in the NBA. However, Jianlin is complaining about the location of his team, and the
thought of going to Sacramento becomes a more likely possibility with each day. However, one has to consider the monstrous size of Jianlin, Bogut, and Villanueva on the court at once. Mixed with the guard play of Mo Williams and all-star Michael Redd, Milwaukee seems impenetrable. In addition to Jianlin, Milwaukee selected Ramon Sessions, the 6'4" point guard from Nevada. Sessions, who played alongside the Mavericks' Nick Fazekas in college, fits perfectly in Milwaukee. The surrounding of big men for Sessions will remind of the good ol' days at Nevada, and he brings with him a great driving ability and can quickly slash to the basket. Although it is clear that Sessions was picked in case Williams left Milwaukee, the meticulous selection could favor the Bucks for the future. If Milwaukee finds a rhythm to start the new season, they could begin with a bang that may make the Eastern conference a little more interesting. Ron's Grade: A-
thought of going to Sacramento becomes a more likely possibility with each day. However, one has to consider the monstrous size of Jianlin, Bogut, and Villanueva on the court at once. Mixed with the guard play of Mo Williams and all-star Michael Redd, Milwaukee seems impenetrable. In addition to Jianlin, Milwaukee selected Ramon Sessions, the 6'4" point guard from Nevada. Sessions, who played alongside the Mavericks' Nick Fazekas in college, fits perfectly in Milwaukee. The surrounding of big men for Sessions will remind of the good ol' days at Nevada, and he brings with him a great driving ability and can quickly slash to the basket. Although it is clear that Sessions was picked in case Williams left Milwaukee, the meticulous selection could favor the Bucks for the future. If Milwaukee finds a rhythm to start the new season, they could begin with a bang that may make the Eastern conference a little more interesting. Ron's Grade: A-Minnesota Timberwolves: It's never easy to say a team had a great off-season when they lose their star player. Even with KG out of the organization, Kevin McHale seems to see a light in the near future for his team. The Timberwolves have clearly pressed the restart button for the franchise, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. Similar to the Dallas Mavericks, the Timberwolves had one of the best value drafts for the picks they received. At the number 7 pick, Minnesota selected the Florida superstar Corey Brewer. Brewer, who led the Florida Gators to not one, but two national championships and was projected to be a clear top ten draft pick. Brewer truly fits any team well with a rare and extraordinary combination of great defense, quickness, shooting, driving, and endurance. Brewer has all the qualities of a fantastic player, not to mention his enormous 6'9" height. Brewer will join the Timberwolves with his Florida teammate Chris Richard, the 6'9" second string center to Al Horford. Richard, although small for the center position, was a great college player that was under the radar because of the tremendous backcourt in Florida that consisted of Noah and Horford. Richard and Brewer bring aggressiveness and experience to the young and newly acquired team. Ron's Grade: A-
New Jersey Nets: Sean Williams, the Boston College graduate selected at number 17 overall, gives the Nets exactly what they need. Williams is a 6'10", 235 lbs. center who provides quickness, size, and defense. Although he was released from the team due to violations of team rules, Williams made his name in the games he participated in. In only 15 games, the Nets' draft pick scored 12.1 points per game, grabbed 6.9 rebounds per game, and recorded and outstanding 5.0 blocks per contest. He gives New Jersey a new and aggressive big man, the first that they have had since the alley oop days of Kenyon Martin. And with Jason Kidd as the point guard, it's hard to find anyone that does not fit the style of play set forth by the team. Ron's Grade: B
New Orleans Hornets: My question for this team is "who will be the next one to get injured?" First Chris Paul goes down after a phenomenal rookie season. Then the shining David West plays in only 52 games to add to the inconvenience of the health of the team. Now I was never in love with this team, but I don't need "The Idiot's Guide" to tell how high the capability of this team is. With the newly drafted Julian Wright and Adam Hulaska, the Hornets only rise in potential this season. The combination of Peja Stojakovic, Chris Paul, and Tyson Chandler could be deadly. With Wright and West on the court at the same time, this team could massacre teams with their size and appearance alone. Wright, the 6'9" small forward from Kansas, has been under the radar all season and has the ability to burst out of his bubble and demonstrate why it was a mistake to pass on him in the draft. His blend of size, quickness, and leadership should mix well with the strong frontcourt and terrific backcourt in New Orleans. Conversely, Hulaska's presence on the court will have as little of an effect on the team as fifty dollars would have on Bill Gates: none at all. Although one could argue that he scored ninety threes in his senior season and averaged over 20 points per game, too many other statistics come to mind that overshadow these so called "strengths". Firstly, he attempted 248 three-pointers, giving him a .363 three-point scoring average. His .408 field goal percentage does not make up for his 20.5 points per game, especially since his lack of defense and 6'5" height couldn't even flourish on a high school basketball team. In the end, I still like the Hornets' chances this year for some playoff hopes and hopefully this year Paul can dish off his ostentatious passes to Peja for a staggering three-pointer. Ron's Grade: B
d
New York Knicks: I am going to start this summary off with a NO. No good draft picks. No future. And definitely no hope. The Knicks, although they may have improved their team in comparison to last year, are the team where superstars go to become no stars. Marbury, Crawford and Francis were all forgotten in New York, and now Zach Randolph will be the most recent to join them in their dwellings. Randolph is the new "hope" for Knicks fans, if there was any hope for them at all. However, I can't say the Knicks are not trying to improve their team. Randolph and Curry could make a dangerous "big-man group," while rookies Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols have some potential in New York. Under the most brutal home fans in the country, Nichols has to reveal the outstanding shooting he had in Syracuse. Chandler needs to learn from the leaders of New York on how to improve his game, because I don't see how his size and talent alone got him in the first round. Unfortunately for the Depaul starter, Isiah Thomas and Stehpon Marbury are not the best two people to play under. What the Knicks have to do is find leadership among their roster, and halt the quarreling and bickering that occurs every year. And a word of advice: if you're stressed out or frustrated because of a long day at work, don't go to Madison Square Garden to alleviate your pains. The game will only make them worse. Ron's Grade: C-
Orlando Magic: Before I even talk about the players or drafts, I already have to remove some brownie points from the management in Orlando for hiring, and then firing, Florida's Billy Donovan. Although I do like Van Gundy in Orlando, the lack of communication in the organization did not help the team chemistry. Now I'm not even going to talk about Milovan Rakovic, the last pick taken in the draft and the only Orlando pick, because he didn't even shine in the Serbian league. Yet, you can't disregard the Magic's off-season completely. Orlando's trade for Rashard Lewis gave them a scorer, another rebounder, and an accomplice to the 21-yer-old Dwight Howard. The Magic needed another all-star, and that's exactly what they got. Lewis is a great fit for team, and has to take on a greater role than he did in Seattle and become the primary scorer for the team. I like their chances this year, and the Eastern Conference is starting to become more competitive than a herd lions fighting for a zebra. Ron's Grade: BPhiladelphia 76ers: Step off AI, AI is in Phili. Maybe I should elaborate. Step off Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala is in Phili. The new AI is starting to take the leadership role of the 76ers and is becoming the new AI in Philadelphia, not that he was never AI in the first place. With the return of Dalembert and Korver, the Sixers bring back defense and perimeter shooting to the team. Philadelphia selected four players in this year's draft, and they were each picked to serve a different purpose. Thaddeus Young, the freshman from Georgia Tech, left after his first year to come to Philadelphia. He shows great quickness and speed, but his 14.4 points per game, .743 free-throw percentage, and 5.0 rebounds per game are some of many average statistics that would surprise any analyst as to why he was the number 12 selection. Jason Smith, the number twenty selection traded by Miami, is a tall forward/center, standing at 7'0". Next to the defensive Dalembert, Smith shows the potential for inside scoring with his 16.8 points per game and a .579 field goal percentage in his Junior year at Colorado State. Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill, the Sixers' last two picks, demonstrate signs of potential as well. Byars, the 6'7" guard, shows little defense and aggressiveness, and illustrates below average numbers in his free-throw percentage (.711), three-point percentage (.373), rebounds (5.0 per game), and assists (3.4 per game). His 17.0 points per game is his only impressive statistic, but does not compensate for his lack of fundamentals. Herbert Hill, the 6'10" forward/center from Providence, also reveals scoring potential, but blossoms in other categories. Hill averaged 18.1 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game. His only challenge: can he bring these stats into the NBA? The 76ers are clearly looking for the scoring they lost due to the Allen Iverson trade; and they are going to need to put the pieces of the puzzle together over the next couple of years to get it. Ron's Grade: B
Phoenix Suns: All I can say about this team's draft is wow. How does the most offensively dominant team, who have Western Conference Title potential every year, end up with the Big-Ten player of the year? For the 29th pick, the Phoenix Suns may have obtained the best value pick in the NBA draft. Alando Tucker, the heart and soul to Wisconsin Badger basketball, landed in the hands of Mike D'Antoni and the Phoenix Suns. Alando Tucker is perfect for the Suns' run-and-gun offense. This team has mastered this offensive scheme, and Tucker brings his 6'6" height to the court, along with his terrific driving ability and all-around performance. Tucker shows no true weakness in his game, and holds the Wisconsin record for all-time scoring. With the 59th pick in the draft, Phoenix also selected D.J. Strawberry, a 6'5" guard out of Maryland. His potential for scoring and terrific speed show that the Phoenix Suns are in hopes of a strong shooting guard to add to their speedy style of play. Ron's Grade: A-
Portland Trailblazers: With the most players selected in the 2007 draft, it's no surprise that Portland's team is looking very "big" for the 2007-2008 season. And when I say "big," I mean in roster size and player size. The Portland Trailblazers luckily received the number one overall pick, and it was no surprise to anyone that they selected Greg Oden, the 7'0" rebounding machine from Ohio State. Paired up with Lamarcus Aldridge, another 7-footer from Texas, and Channing Frye, the new Portland Trailblazers are looking like an impenetrable wrecking crew. The Spanish shooting guard, Rudy Fernandez, and 6'4" point guard Petteri Koponen from Finland, both first round picks, will help Brandon Roy control the tempo in the backcourt. All three of the Trailblazers' first round picks serve salient roles in Portland's game, and could turn the pusillanimous team into a powerful seeking revenge. The last two picks selected by Portland, Josh McRoberts from Duke and Taurean Green from Florida, both started in college and gained great experience under Head Coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Billy Donovan. Green, known for his tremendous perimeter shooting, will attempt to solve the lack of skilled and experienced point guards as well as the appalling perimeter shooting in Portland. McRoberts, the all-star Dukie, adds to the great size in Portland and brings all-around performance to the court for the Trailblazers. All five of these players can contribute greatly to Coach Nate McMillan, and now that the complaining of Zach Randolph is gone, Portland could be the sleeper in the West. Ron's Grade: A+
Sacramento Kings: Spencer Hawes, the number 10 selection out of Washington, went to Sacramento to hopefully bring his strong inside presence. Felt to be a young Brad Miller, Hawes will play side-by-side with the 7'0" center. Passed by the Chicago Bulls, Spencer Hawes is felt to have tremendous inside scoring and presence. His 7'0" stature and 230 pounds only add to the potential he brings onto the court. In addition to Hawes, many rumors have spread that the Chinese sensation, Yi Jianlin, is unhappy about his location in Milwaukee and trade talks of Jianlin becoming a King are growing in possibility. If Sacramento can land this deal, the new and improved Sacramento Kings could be eyeing a sixth or seventh seed. Ron's Grade: B
San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are a team made of European and other foreign players, so it's no surprise that they took Tiago Splitter, the 6'11" Brazilian forward, as their number 28 selection. However, it was their number two selection that shows the true potential in the San Antonio youth. While Splitter lacks the offensive presence, which will be needed when aging takes affect into Duncan and the rest of the Spurs' veterans, Marcus Williams provides inside scoring and shooting. The 6'7" forward from Arizona portrays a great midrange shot, while still revealing potential for the defense San Antonio is known for. His intelligent playing and .494 field goal percentage allow Williams to fit in nicely with the Spurs. Ron's Grade: C+
Seattle Supersonics: An interesting off-season for Seattle. The Supersonics pushed the restart button and decided to build the team from scratch. With the losses of Ray Allen to Boston and Rashard Lewis to Orlando, it appears that the Sonics have no all-star on their team. As a result, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, both top five picks in this year's draft, are going to have to step to the plate in their rookie season. These two players are the new faces of the franchise and hav
e a load to carry on their backs already. Durant, the 6'9" National Player of the Year from Texas, is the most fundamentally sound player coming out of college. His ability to slash to the basket, hit a contested three-pointer, or block a player going up for a dunk provides all that he needs to succeed in the NBA. KD, as they like to call him in Texas, is unique in his long arms and quickness, allowing him to contain a large advantage over his opponent, similar to that of Tayshaun Prince and Luol Deng. Paired with Georgetown's all-start Jeff Green, Durant can finally rely on another teammate to share the responsibility. Green is a 6'9" forward who also shows a promising all-around game. With a little more meat on his bones than Durant, Green is great at taking the ball to the hole, while still playing the big man position. Jeff Green recorded 14.3 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, and averaged 1.2 blocks per game. His .513 field goal percentage and 1.0 three-pointers per game give defenders the danger of leaving him open for a jumper. In addition to the two rookies selected, Seattle also managed to obtain Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak from Boston, giving them experienced players and a solid bench. With the newly created Seattle Supersonics, Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo could have the tools to create a powerful and serious contender. Ron's Grade: A+
e a load to carry on their backs already. Durant, the 6'9" National Player of the Year from Texas, is the most fundamentally sound player coming out of college. His ability to slash to the basket, hit a contested three-pointer, or block a player going up for a dunk provides all that he needs to succeed in the NBA. KD, as they like to call him in Texas, is unique in his long arms and quickness, allowing him to contain a large advantage over his opponent, similar to that of Tayshaun Prince and Luol Deng. Paired with Georgetown's all-start Jeff Green, Durant can finally rely on another teammate to share the responsibility. Green is a 6'9" forward who also shows a promising all-around game. With a little more meat on his bones than Durant, Green is great at taking the ball to the hole, while still playing the big man position. Jeff Green recorded 14.3 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, and averaged 1.2 blocks per game. His .513 field goal percentage and 1.0 three-pointers per game give defenders the danger of leaving him open for a jumper. In addition to the two rookies selected, Seattle also managed to obtain Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak from Boston, giving them experienced players and a solid bench. With the newly created Seattle Supersonics, Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo could have the tools to create a powerful and serious contender. Ron's Grade: A+Toronto Raptors: The Raptors had a quiet off-season this year since their only acquisition was Giorgos Printezis, the number 58 pick from Greece. Printezis demonstrates good and consistent inside scoring in hopes to share the paint with all-star Chris Bosh. The Raptors are continuing their improvement with second-year players Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa. Toronto shows great potential in the competitive Eastern conference next year, but this off-season provided little aid for the Raptors' future. Ron's Grade: D
d
Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams are starting to portray striking similarities to the days Karl Malone and John Stockton. Williams busted out of the bubble this year, leading the Jazz to a fourth seeded rank and a Western Conference Finals appearance. With big men such as Mehmet Okur who can shoot the perimeter jump shot, and small men such as Deron Williams who strive inside the paint, it seems the Utah Jazz have nothing missing on the court. With their best point guard since the days of John Stockton, Jerry Sloan is turning the run-and-gun Jazz into a real threat in the West. However, the Jazz did not seem to find any help this off-season. The Jazz selected Morris Almond from Rice and Kyrylo Fesenko from Ukraine to strengthen their team. These two players are quite inaffective for the surging Jazz. Almond, the 6'6" guard, shows one impressive statistics and that is his 26.4 points per game. However, the scouts easily see through this stat due to Rice's lack of strength in schedule and Almond's selfish play. Similarly, Fesenko has only height working in his favor, and will have little to say in the Jazz's hope for a finals appearance. And if they do happen to reach the NBA Finals this year, let's hope the Chicago Bulls are not on the other side to stop them once again. Ron's Grade: C-
Washington Wizards: Washington's central issue that has been surrounding them since the loss of Larry Hughes is a co-starring role with Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has been putting this team on his shoulders for too long, and the Wizards' organization finally took action. With the number 16 pick, Washington selected 6'6" shooting guard Nick Young from Southern California. Young is clearly a scorer, which should become interesting when he plays alongside number 0. His 17.5 points per game and .525 field goal percentage impressed many viewers, but it was his tournament games that caught everyone's eyes. Young posted 22 points against Kevin Durant's Longhorns and grabbed 7 rebounds in the process. After a miraculous upset over Texas, Young led his team to the Sweet Sixteen. Although Brandan Wright and North Carolina departed with victory, Young did not go quietly. He posted 15 points in the game and began to make a name for himself. Dominic McGuire, the Fresno State Junior, brings size and athleticism to the court. His 6'8" stature and tremendous toughness are what led him to record over 3.5 blocks per game. McGurie will fit in nicely alongside Antawn Jamison as the two rookies will work hand-in-hand with their mentors to take Washington deep into the playoffs. Ron's Grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment