2009 Draft Coverage

[Xist2Inspire]

So with our regular commentator, Wig, busy for the time being, the network's selected me to cover the draft . This draft is an interesting one due to two major factors: First, the top of the draft is loaded with wing players, with Blake Griffin as the lone big man available. There's also 8 (!!!) players listed as point guards. Secondly, there's almost no buffer zone between the lotto-worthy talent and the raw project players, there won't be a whole lot of difference between pick #17-29. With those factors in mind, one would expect to see some trades go down as the day passes by.

But with the first 4 picks already in, let's go ahead and get to it...

Warriors Win The Curry Sweepstakes
In a move that surprises absolutely no one, the Warriors take Stephen Curry at #1. As this was the obvious pick, there's not much to say other than "nice job." What is interesting is that the Warriors pick again at #10, and who they select there will dictate Curry's role: Either he'll be a do-it-all PG, or a deadly small-ball scoring combo guard. Either way, the Warriors have finally found their new cornerstone.

Da Beard Goes to Da Bulls
There's also not much to be said for this pick, but it's for an entirely different reason. For the last few season, the Bulls have struggled with extremely hands-off management, almost to the point where one would think nobody's there at all. There have been rumors that the league itself will have to step in - and those teams tend to disappoint no matter the level of talent on their roster. One question worth pondering is how Nick Young, Manu Ginobili, Mike Bibby, and Harden will all co-exist this season.

A Griffin Flies Into The Pacific
The last no-brainer pick in the draft (it's all guesses from here on out), Blake is a great fit for Portland. An athletic 6'10" PF with an impressively well-rounded skillset, not only does he give them another young weapon at a time when the Pacific's morphing into the toughest division in the league, but he also solidifies Portland's identity as a team with a relentless, hard-hitting inside attack. Finding an identity early on is key for a rebuilding team, and so the Blazers should feel pretty good about their selection at #3, and even better about their future.

Dallas Makes Today A Holiday
With the obvious picks now out of the way, the interesting part of the draft kicks off with an appropriately odd pick. Jrue Holiday has respectable potential and excellent size (6'4"), but is relatively unathletic and raw as hell. At 19 years old, he has a ton of time to grow, but in this league, growth is merely an expectation, not a guarantee. With this, Dallas seems to be looking towards a longer rebuild than normal, as it could be several years before Jrue can even begin to contribute at an acceptable level. It's strange to me why Dallas would go for the single most high-risk PG in a draft full of them at #4, as you'd expect a team in their position to minimize risk, rather than maximize it. Either way, expect to see Dallas back in the lotto next season...and maybe longer.

[Xist2Inspire]

Raps Move Up For Roz, Philly Taking Their Time

Pick 5
Carlos delfino

For

Pick 7
Raptors 2011 1st round pick

My first reaction when seeing this was "the guy Sound selects is gonna make or break this deal." And honestly...I think drafting DeRozan breaks this deal. Sure, DRoz is going to be a solid scorer and Delfino's a nice, cost-effective pickup, but giving up a future pick could bite later on, and I'm not sure DeRozan was in any real danger of being drafted before #7. The Sixers weren't really in need of another gunner with Monta Ellis supposedly in the mix, and even if the Jazz took him, Danny Green (not as much of a scorer, but a superior defender) and Tyreke Evans (much more versatile overall) are damn good consolation prizes. To put it simply, I don't think DeRozan's that good, or that much better a prospect than Green or Evans, to where one would give up a future first to secure him. On the other hand, it's a solid move for Balls and the Sixers, who never seemed to be sold on any particular player at #5. So they essentially pick up a future first for the opportunity to think further on who they want to pick.

[Xist2Inspire]

The Spanish Inquisition Infiltrates Mormon Land
Like the previous pick, I had two reactions. First off, I questioned why Utah would go for a PG who can't do anything offensively at a time when you probably should be looking for future cornerstones. But after taking some time to think it over, I like the pick. Utah's been blessed in the past to land not one, but two transcendent talents in Jordan and Duncan, but both times it amounted to jack-squat in part due to a crappy supporting cast. So with that kind of history, why not go ahead and draft a floor general, someone who could give role players good touches and star players great ones? Few expect this upcoming season (or the next few) to be a good one for the Jazz, so they'll likely have more chances to pick up a potential star...but this time they'll have some pieces already in place to help fulfill that potential. Rubio's a risk, but it's a good kind of risk for the Jazz.

[Xist2Inspire]

Tyreke's Worth The Wait For Philly At #7
Ah, now it makes sense. Tyreke, while a versatile talent, also happens to look like one of those "jack-of-all trades, master of none" young guys. He'll be a stud if he pans out, a solid role player if he doesn't. Still, you'd ideally want a little more certainty out of a Top-5 pick, so the Sixers traded down, and thus a solid pick became a great one. Evans is sure to find role in the hands of Balls, one of the most adaptable GMs in the league. Most importantly, Evans' versatility allows for great flexibility when constructing a roster, which is a godsend for a rebuilding team. A nice start to the draft for the Sixers.

Rockets Add To Core, Draft Lawson
Despite the rest of the uncertainty surrounding this part of the draft, there was never really any doubt that the Rockets were going to draft a PG, the only question was which one. Ty Lawson, a diminutive (5'11") yet athletic PG, is a great value at #8, as his potential scoring ability could provide the offensive spark that Young, Brewer, and Horford haven't proven they have yet, and he's just good enough as a passer to keep them involved. I think the Rockets would've been satisfied with anyone, so thumbs up, and on to the next pick...

Another PG Bites The Dust In Detroit Rock City
Also pegged as highly likely to draft a PG by our analysts were the Detroit Pistons, and they didn't disappoint, picking up Jeff Teague. He's not quite as good a fit as Lawson was for the Rockets though, because unlike Houston's young core, the Pistons have no problems scoring at all, meaning that they need a distributor at PG more than they need a scorer. And Teague, despite his potential in that area, is no distributor, and is a good while away from ever becoming one. Darren Collison might've been a better pick due to that factor alone. The one thing that Teague has that this team desperately needs is wing defense, lucky for them Teague's NBA-ready in that regard and might even specialize in that area down the road. It may not hit all the right notes, but it's still a solid pick from the Pistons. That's about all you can ask from the 9th spot.

[Xist2Inspire]

Danny Puts The "D" In "Golden State"
It looks like Curry will indeed be Golden State's PG moving forward, as Bow opts to take a swingman instead of another PG. And his choice is a sound one, as Green's a great fit for the new-look Warriors. Green's defensive abilities are what makes him such a talent, as he can defend both the post and perimeter quite well, and has the potential to get even better down the line. The Warriors already have a defensive anchor down low in DeAndre Jordan, so putting Green at SF along with Curry at PG creates a young trio that can cover every inch of the court defensively. And though Green's lack of hops will make it hard for him to score, the Warriors have been among the best in 3pt% for the last few seasons. Bow will know how to take advantage of Green's long-range shooting touch. This is a ridiculously good fit, especially now that we're moving into the part of the lotto where teams lower their expectations.

DeMarre (Car)Rolls Into Philly
With #11, the Sixers end up bringing another guy with multiple skills into the fold. Carroll can best be compared to fellow Alabama native Gerald Wallace, as both are hustle guys who can bang with bigs for rebounds while also switching onto opposing guards defensively when needed. While Carroll isn't as athletically gifted as Wallace, he makes up for it by having a much more refined shooting touch. A true "glue" guy, he's one of those players who you can count on to make a small impact every night, whether it be scoring, rebounding, defense, assists, whatever. Combining that type of player with the versatile Evans lessens the need to acquire specialists to get the job done, because while Carroll & Evans may not fill up the holes completely, they can at least cover them up. Just like the previous pick, it's a great fit and wonderful value at this point in the draft.

Collison Chaos In DC
For a franchise still reeling from the loss of a franchise cornerstone, having #12 in the draft isn't exactly something to get excited about, even moreso when you consider the Wizards' history of late-lotto/mid-draft busts (anyone remember Ron Mercer, Tony Battie, and Sergio Rodriguez?). Darren Collison won't really change that at the moment, but he could eventually play a role in whatever future the Wizards create for themselves. Already a solid passer and defender, Collison's basically a younger, smaller version of hometown guy Jarrett Jack. That's a pretty good thing to have, as the young guy learns from the vet, then takes over without any adjustments needed. At the end of the lotto, a guy like Collison is the best you can hope for (unless the draft's deep), so fans will have to just accept it and hope for good fortune.

Pacers Opt Out, Bucks Swoop In To Grab Jennings

Bucks send
CJ Watson
5pts

Pacers send
#13

Bucks accept.

Always a pleasure pauly! Glad we can work a deal out!!!

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

Though it wasn't as bad as some predicted, the glut of PGs in the lotto did manage to affect one team. With Deron Williams a lock to get the supermax and return to Indy, Jennings - the consensus best player available - had no value to Pauly. And thus the Champs were able to strike a deal and pick up a late lotto pick. To be honest, I would've rather seen Indy take a chance on Marcus Thornton or Wes Matthews. Neither are listed as PGs, and for a franchise that's struggled to put a solid team around Deron, why not take a chance on a cheap young talent? Even if you claim that Watson's more of a win-now guy, he's still 6'2" (an inch shorter than Deron) and not very athletic, making him a better fit at.........PG. Huh. For the Bucks, it's a steal. Re-signing Parker now becomes a luxury rather than a necessity, and should Parker return, Jennings gets to develop in a great situation and environment. Quail now becomes a threat in the RFA market as well, as now he has a piece that can be used to entice another GM into a sign-and-trade. But aside from all that, the Bucks won a championship and picked up a talented 19-year-old in the lotto. What's not to like?

[Xist2Inspire]

Now that the lotto portion's finished, let's take a moment to recap and give some final thoughts on what's happened so far before moving on to the remainder of the draft.

1. Steph Curry, Warriors
2. James Harden, Bulls
3. Blake Griffin, Trail Blazers
4. Jrue Holiday, Mavericks
5. DeMar DeRozan, Raptors (acquired from 76ers)
6. Ricky Rubio, Jazz
7. Tyreke Evans, Sixers (acquired from Raptors)
8. Ty Lawson, Rockets
9. Jeff Teague, Pistons
10. Danny Green, Warriors
11. DeMarre Carroll, Sixers
12. Darren Collison, Wizards
13. Brandon Jennings, Bucks (acquired from Pacers)

Final Thoughts: For me, the two biggest winners are easily the Sixers and the Bucks. I'll give the Warriors an honorable mention, as they're clearly in the best position going forward, but they didn't really do anything other than play the cards they were dealt correctly, no different from the Blazers, Rockets, Jazz, etc. Both the Sixers and Bucks went out and made moves to improve their team. Balls essentially was paid a 1st to dick around for a little bit longer while he decided who he was going to draft - and then ended up with maybe the best guy out of picks #5-7. Meanwhile, Quail, the current league champion, traded a 25-year-old undersized combo guard for a 19-year-old lotto pick. That's incredible. In fact, both are just really smart, opportunistic moves that speak highly of the abilities of those GMs. Well, if those are the big winners, then putting the Raptors and Pacers in the losers' circle seems fair. But I'd rather talk about the Mavs first, who seemed to pick Jrue first and ask questions later. Yes, Jrue has talent, but he's the single rawest talent in the lotto, bar none. Picking him up almost immediately at #4 was a huge risk, especially when the very next pick proved that there were GMs ready and willing to move up to secure what they wanted. At least with trading down you give yourself the opportunity to select the guy you want at a more appropriate spot for his talent level, while picking up compensation for your trouble. And with Jrue, even if you miss out on him, the guy you do end up with will be better than Jrue is at the moment. If Jrue pans out, then it was worth it. But that's a big if. And the same thing goes for DeRozan. Giving up a future 1st, when you're rebuilding, to move up two spots is something you do to get the elite/near-elite talent, not the guys who could easily end up merely "good." There's no reason to jump the gun unless you're certain that DeRozan's your guy and that he won't be there 2 picks from now. Unecessary risk, just like the Jennings deal. I can understand not being impressed with what's there, but at least know your value. A 19-year-old rookie who was projected to not even fall to that spot is not equal to an undersized 25-year-old role player with two years left on his rookie deal, not when you're in limbo like the Pacers are. It's all about recognizing the pros and cons of you position and acting accordingly, not just playing your hand, but playing it smartly. And more often than not, the best move...is none at all, even if it doesn't get you recognition as a "winner."

[Xist2Inspire]

The Rest Of The Draft: Lightning Round!
Quick hits for okay picks

14: Every Wolf Has a Thorn(ton)
He's not the pure PG that the Wolves needed, but his potential means some scout must've liked him.

15: Go Wes, Young Eazy
The Spurs add another wing player to their bench, which seems to grow stronger every year. More importantly, another versatile scorer gets added to the core.

16: Sixers Go To The Taj
Another good pickup for the Sixers, as they are seriously lacking in bigs. Taj's well-rounded for his position, both offensively and defensively.

17: Trade: Spurs Climb Up For Hill, Cavs Retreat to #19
Not sure I like the Spurs giving up Speights, who was quite effective last season, but Hill's a great pick who could end up being a steal.

18: New York Gives Meeks 1.3 Mil
Not too keen on this pick, as I think they needed a post much more. I have to think they were disappointed that Taj and Hill didn't slip to them and picked Meeks just because.

19: Cavs Nip Chase's Fall In The Bud
I'm mildly surprised that Chase fell this far down, as I expected him to get drafted a spot or two earlier. A SF is exactly what the Cavs needed, so nice gamble trading down and picking up Speights as well as Bud.

20: "Israeli Heat" Goes To Miami
The Heat are another team who's quietly assembled a solid bench, and Omri Cassipi's a nice addition to the gang.

21: Toney, Toney, Toney Live In Memphis
6'2" combo guard Toney Douglas has a nice bit of potential on both ends, and is the same age as his future backcourt partner Lowry. Good value pick.

22: Nets Play Patty-Cake
I would've liked to see them go for a SG instead, Patty will be a solid shooter off the bench, but can't really run an offense or defend.

23: Lakers Help Hasheem Come To America
Y'know, Hakeem and Olowokandi have been the only African-born bigs worth a crap in the last 20 years. That's sad.

24: Trade: Clips Draft Tyler, Trade Tyler, Get Brand
The Clips use Hansbrough to pick up Brand and keep pace in the Pacific. I'm not so sure about how well Brand fits with them, though. Hansbrough's quite athletic for his position, and will probably get a chance right away to show off his skills in Orlando.

25: Houston Adds A Little Blair
DeJuan being drafted in the 1st Round is a bit of a surprise, as his decent potential is offset by his lack of size and speed. Then again, 78 drafted JJ Hickson last season, so he might have a plan in mind.

26: Atlanta Adds Another Gee
Gay, Gordon, and now Gee. I'm beginning to see a pattern...Alonzo's decent defensively and is relatively athletic, good enough for Wig to give him a chance.

27: Sacramento Makes James (No, Not That James) A King
James Johnson's basically a more athletic version of what Greg Stiemsma was in last year's draft: A big man who might be able to defend out on the perimeter.

28: Terrence Williams Learns To Play Jazz
Remember what I said about the Jazz getting role players? Terrence won't be one of them.

29: Bulls End The Misery
Reggie Williams is surprisingly strong and fast for a low-20's pick. Unfortunately, he can't jump, which limits his already-average offensive skills.

[JNR]

Great stuff, Xist!

[LoCo89]

Headlines were great!!

[ballsohard]

Enjoyed the read!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Xist2Inspire]

Thanks Guys. I was just filling in for Wig, so don't give me too much credit.

[78#]

I liked it until the awful comment about DeJuan Blair.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NickMalone77]

You are awarded 5 points for your media contribution. Thank you!