J2's 2001 Live Draft Coverage

[Xist2Inspire]

This has turned out to be one of the busiest drafts in sim history, and it's a shame that nobody's covering it. That's where I come in. So without further ado, dear reader, let's get into what you've missed so far...

Trade: Seattle Supersonics & New York Knicks

Knicks send:
#3 overall

Sonics send:
Michael Redd
Bulls 02 1st rounder
Sonics 02 2nd rounder
Sonics 03 1st rounder

In retrospect, it's fitting that a huge move like this kicked off this draft. Good move from both teams, as each are looking to rebuild, but there are drawbacks on both sides. The Knicks land the reigning Rookie of the Year in Michael Redd and more future picks to speed up the rebuild, but both 1sts have a decent chance at being non-lotto picks. The Sonics now have not one, but 2 high draft picks to help turn this team around, but trading away their 2003 1st puts a pretty harsh time limit on their road to relevance. It'll be interesting to see how the effects of this move play out over the next two seasons.

Trade: Philadelphia 76ers & Grizzlies

76ers Send:
2001 1st
Bobby Phills PG

For Grizzlies:
Baron Davis PG
Josh Howard PF
2001 2nd
2003 1st

Bobby Phills must feel like garbage. The team who originally drafted him hated his deal so much that they were willing to ship off the #1 pick just to get his deal off the books. I'm not sure I like this move if I'm a Sixers fan. B-Diddy is nice, but getting #1 was a miracle in and of itself, a miracle that the Sixers just said "no" to. I highly doubt that the Grizz's 2003 1st will be worth anything, meaning that Davis will be the only long-term gain from this. Is a little extra bit of cap room really worth this much? For the Grizzlies, it's shocking that they were so willing to break up the Triple Threat of Carter, Marion, and Davis so soon, but that's really the only big loss here. Whoever they pick will reveal the meaning behind this big-time trade.

#1: Grizzlies Draft Pau Gasol


Now it all makes sense: After getting whomped by a slowly-aging Shawn Kemp, the Grizzlies have decided that in order to keep pace in the West, a big man is vital. And with the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett running around in the West, it's a very good assessment. The Grizzlies' long quest for a reliable starting PG will resume, but you have to like what the front office did by quickly recognizing the changing landscape of their conference, and acting both quickly and decisively.

[Xist2Inspire]

#2 & #3: Supersonics draft Gilbert Arenas & Zach Randolph


The Sonics find their floor general in Gilbert Arenas, though it's clear that his focus will be more on scoring for the time being. This could backfire, because if he fails to develop the necessary point skills, he could end up a smaller Michael Redd, but it's a very small concern. Zach Randolph, however, is a very big concern. Tough but slightly undersized at PF, make no mistake: this cookie will need some time in the oven. And now that their 2003 1st is in New York's hands, time is not on their side. Zach has the most upside of all the bigs in this draft bar Gasol and maybe Murphy, but in this particular situation he's a bit of a head-scratcher. Still a nice day for Darth, but it wasn't the slam dunk I was expecting.

#4: Pistons draft Tony Parker


Michigan man Jason Richardson's a little miffed at not getting the chance to follow in Steve Smith's footsteps, but it's hard to argue with this pick from the Pistons' standpoint. Parker's very raw when it comes to skills, but his athleticism is nothing short of elite at his position. If he develops the skills to complement his natural ability, he'll be the best PG of this draft class bar none. A very good choice for the Pistons' slow but steady rebuilding effort.

[Xist2Inspire]

#5: Magic draft Richard Jefferson


Great pick for the Magic, as I'm a bit surprised Jefferson fell this far. A nice inside-outside SF with the speed to moonlight at SG, making him the perfect swingman to team up with sophmore sensation, Mike Miller. Also of note is the fact that he's 6'7", which also meshes well with the 6'8" Miller. This is pretty much the perfect fit for Orlando at this time, 'nuff said.

Trade: Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers

Bucks Send:
Shaquille Oneal

Blazers send:
Robert Horry
Manu Ginobuli
#6 overall in 01 Draft

Well damn. Wig and Wave couldn't be happier, as the Bucks abruptly take themselves out of the title picture by sending Shaq back out West. As for the deal itself, it's pretty good, though not quite as good as what the Rockets picked up for Shaq. For the Blazers, it's a major statement move, one that instantly puts them among the best in the Western Conference. Shaq/Dirk is a lethal, terrifyingly dangerous combo that can just about do it all, and I, for one, am very interested in seeing how they work together. I wonder what direction the Bucks will take with #6...

Trade: Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic

Bucks send:
#6

Magic send:
#8
#15
#16

...Well damn. Looks like the Bucks are going to take the "quantity over quality" approach, and stack their roster with as much young talent and future assets as possible, then see what sticks. Sometimes this turns out very well (see: Hawks, Atlanta), and sometimes it doesn't (see: Wizards, Washington), so this should be fun to watch. It should be noted that GM Quail has plenty of experience with this type of build, so Milwaukee faithful can rest assured that he knows what he's doing. As for the Magic, they've sacrificed potential depth in this move, so let's see what they have in mind...

#6: Magic draft Tyson Chandler


Okay, let's assess this. Like Zach, Tyson's gonna need some time to develop. Unlike Zach and Pau, Tyson isn't the most well-rounded big man. But that's actually okay, because what he does look to provide in the future is exactly what you want from your big man, and is exactly what the Magic lack: Rebounding and defense. He's reminiscent of Duane Causwell, a player who's carved out a profitable career for himself by providing stout D and crashing the boards. Tyson may never reach that level of effectiveness, but the Magic have little to lose by giving him a chance and seeing how he develops. I really like the thought process behind this pick, as his addition could make the Magic a much more balanced and complete team in the long run.

[Xist2Inspire]

#7: Rockets draft Jason Richardson


Rumor has it that it came down to Joe Johnson or Jason Richardson. Either one would've been ideal, but the Rockets decided to go with Jason. Richardson's a bit smaller than Johnson, but is slightly more well-rounded and more NBA-ready in terms of athleticism at SG. After Ruben and Quentin didn't pan out, drafting a SG was all but essential, so there's not much that can be argued against this pick.

#8: Bucks draft Troy Murphy


So now we see the first fruit of Quail's meddling, and it's a person who I consider to be one of the most interesting players in this draft. A 6'11" PF with SF-like skills and athleticism, Murphy's a fairly unique kind of player, in the mold of guys like Robert Horry and Terry Mills. What makes this a nice start for the new-look Bucks is his versatility. It's always good to have multi-talented players when rebuilding, and having a guy who's capable of playing positions 5-3 does a lot for keeping Quail's options open.

[Xist2Inspire]

#9: Suns draft Joe Johnson


I'm quite surprised that Joe fell this far. At 6'7", Joe has excellent size for a SG, and can pretty much do it all on the offensive end, which spells trouble for opposing defenses already stretched thin with Iverson and current RFA Van Horn. Defensively he's pretty ineffective, though he has a little window of opportunity to grow in that area. He's also a tad bit on the slow side for a SG, but that won't be a problem if he starts off at SF early in his career. Overall, a solid pick with decent potential, I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe become a top scoring swingman out in the desert within two years or so.

[Xist2Inspire]

#10: Nets draft Jamaal Tinsley


It's rather telling of the state of PGs in the NBA today that a 6'3" NBA-ready distributor and defender slipped all the way to 10th, all because he isn't known as a scorer. As of right now, Tinsley looks to become one of the top defensive guards in the NBA, and his ball-handling abilities may mean less Maggette turnovers and more Maggette points off assists. He's not a complete lost cause offensively either, as he does have a respectable, though not stellar, 3-point shot. He's very much the guy you want with the ball in the first half of the shot clock instead of the last half. Still, the Nets really need all the help they can get, so landing talent of this caliber at #10 is really the best outcome they could've hoped for, skillset aside.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat

Nazr, #13 and 8 points
for
Sharonne Wright and #11

I really like this move for both teams, just a good deal all-around. The Nets make an aggressive move to pick up another strong-upside talent, and the Heat really come out as winners, as they pick up a decent big, dump Wright's salary, and stay in the draft to pick up another young talent. Solid deal for both.

#11: Nets draft Gerald Wallace


No surprises here, the Nets quickly snap up Wallace, who - like others in this draft - isn't ready for the spotlight now, but could develop into something nice down the road. It seems as if RPF's thinking about a defensive-oriented squad with Maggette as the lone scorer, because most of Wallace's potential lies in perimeter defense, same as Tinsley. Also like Tinsley, Wallace will struggle to get into any kind of groove offensively. It also seems as if Maggette's heading towards becoming a full-time SG, as Wallace will probably never gain the speed to be a true swingman. Still, having two athletic jumping jacks out on the wing is a luxury most teams would love to have.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: Sacramento Kings and Seattle Supersonics

Kings send:
Camby
Wiz 02
Kings 03

SONICS send:
Gilbert Arenas

I guess Darth realized that he cut the timetable for his rebuild short by trading his 2003 1st and quickly pulled the trigger on a win-now move. Problem is...I think he traded the wrong guy. Let's focus on the positives though: Camby is a beast, and Zach couldn't ask for a better teacher. And that's about it. Both of those picks are gambles, and one bad FA period makes the race to make the 2003 1st non-lotto even tougher. Now on the Kings' side, things are a little brighter. T-Mac & Agent Zero will be a deadly offensive combo. It's interesting to see Nola go for a guard-focused approach when seemingly everyone else in the West is going big. This could backfire, but if it does, it'll be for this season and not the one after. So to sum it up...calculated risk for Nola, big risk for Darth.

[Xist2Inspire]

#12: Clippers draft Shane Battier


Err...so in a draft filled with decent big man prospects, the big man-starved Clippers draft...a SF? Don't get me wrong, Battier has the potential to be a really good two-way player. But his slow, methodical style doesn't really mesh well with the Clips' other young wingman Ricky Davis, and like I said earlier, they really need some bigs, especially given the current state of the Western Conference. Also, where does the other Duke alum, Trajan Langdon, fit into the picture now? This could very well turn out to be a savvy pick for the Clippers in the future, but from where they stand at the moment, it's a bit of a head-scratcher.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets

2001 1st (#13)
for
Shandon Anderson

LogP wastes no time putting his newly-gained cap space to good use, as Shandon Anderson makes his way over to South Beach. He's a pretty good compliment to Tony Delk, and LogP really deserves to get more credit for keeping Payton and the Heat in the mix season after season, despite struggling with cap space. For the Nuggets, a rebuild is LONG overdue, so getting darn near any pick is a good move for them. Solid deal for both.

[Xist2Inspire]

#13: Nuggets draft Eddy Curry


Hmm...glad I didn't bet money on this pick, otherwise I would've lost it all. Curry's a great athlete, super-young, and shows potential as an inside scorer and shot-blocker. My only concern is that everywhere else, he's a question mark. He could develop into a solid starting big, or he could become a Stanley Johnson type, it's really up for speculation. Oh well. At 18, he'll have more than enough time to grow, and we are at the point in the draft where teams start reaching rather than thinking. I just felt that there were a couple of guys that were a little less of a reach to become a key piece in the Nuggets' future puzzle.

[Xist2Inspire]

#14: Cavs draft Samuel Dalembert


A new era has officially begun in Cleveland, and new GM 42 shows that he's thinking long-term by drafting Sam. Sam shows immense potential for a big man, but is extremely raw and relatively unathletic. We probably won't see too much from Sam until about two seasons from now, but he's a decent investment for a rebuilding franchise. But like the Nuggets and Curry, I think he may have been taken a spot or two too high.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers

Spurs Send
#17 and Thomas Hamilton and Evan Eschmeyer

For

Cavs
#14 Samuel Dalembert

Well eff my last write-up then! Funny, #17 was about where I figured Sam could go, so this turns into a nice investment for the Spurs, whose explosive offense gives Dalembert ample time to develop, under very little pressure. The Spurs have struggled to find a big ever since Davis left, so they're banking on Dalembert filling that void in the future. Meanwhile, it'll be interesting to see who the Cavs ultimately settle on in this draft.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets

Magic 04 first
Demarr Johnson
For
Eddy curry
Stacey Augmon
5 points

This is downright strange on the part of the Nuggets. Like Philly, I'm guessing the lure of financial freedom made this move possible. I do wonder what the ultimate payoff is for the Nuggets aside from cap space. If the Magic players pan out and Augmon remains effective in the twilight of his career, the 1st isn't worth much, and while I like DerMarr, I don't know if he'll develop into the kind of young talent the Nuggets need. Oh well. I expect lots of big RFA offers from Syndicate now. On the Magic's end, it's a nice pickup that gives them a nice young core of young'ins to build around, along with a seasoned vet. They should be a fun team to watch.

[Xist2Inspire]

#15 & #16: Bucks draft Chris Andersen & Brendan Haywood


So Quail comes away with a darn good return for Shaq, all things considered. For what it's worth, I thought Birdman was a lock for #12, and that Haywood was just as good a value at #13 as Curry, so Quail came up with two steals in my opinion. Birdman's an NBA-ready defender already, and if he develops the rebounding skills to compliment his defensive game, look out. Pretty much the same can be said of Haywood, meaning that the two could form an imposing frontcourt defensive combo. And here's where Murphy's versatility comes into play: Quail can choose between a 3-man big rotation, or stick Murphy at SF and have a sizeable lineup at positions 5-3. With that in mind, one would have to consider Quail's rebuilding efforts to be a big success so far.

[Xist2Inspire]

Trade: Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers

Hornets send: Rasheed Wallace

For

Cavs send: #17 Overall pick.

An interesting move from both teams. It's safe to assume that Nash will remain in Cleveland for the time being, though trading Eddie Jones makes less sense now. For Charlotte, it appears as if they're preparing to refocus around Artest, but with Robinson, Smith, and Wesley still on the roster, it doesn't look like they're willing to go full rebuild, opting for a gradual transition instead. I think we won't have a clear picture of what this move really means for both teams until after the Free Agency period. Now, on to the Hornets' pick...

#17: Hornets draft Vladimir Radmanovic


Vlad Rad is a very intriguing player, which is probably why the Hornets felt justified in giving up Sheed for him. 6'10" with a good 3-point shot and solid athleticism for his position, I actually think he'll find his niche as a traditional stretch 4: Too fast for slower bigs to defend, but strictly a floor spacer, unable to bang inside on either end for an entire game. The Hornets already boast 3 capable 3-point shooters in Artest, Smith, and Wesley, so adding one more to the mix is a solid move.

[Xist2Inspire]

Lightning round!

Trade: Raptors trade Othella Harrington, #23, and 5 points to the Celtics for #18
Pretty standard move here. Both of these teams are just fishing for depth, so you really can't read too much into this.

#18: Raptors draft Kwame Brown
Sound loves bigs. Kwame is big. End of story. The guy's pretty athletic, and shows potential as a post defender. But yeah, it's pretty much just Sound up to his old tricks again.

#19: Warriors draft Earl Watson
The Warriors were only 2 players deep, so literally anyone would've been a good fit. Watson's a slightly slow and raw PG with heaps of potential. He probably won't see much use now, but if he pans out, the Warriors will have a solid PG available.

#20: Wizards draft DeSagana Diop
Do you remember the last African-born Center not named Olajuwon to have a successful NBA career? No? Jokes aside, another Manute Bol is probably the absolute best the Wizards can hope for.

#21: Jazz draft Maurice Evans
A slow, short SG with limited potential everywhere but shooting? Yeah, Bonzi's shaking in his Nikes.

#22: Nets draft Mike James
Age (26) aside, this is actually a pretty solid pickup. MJ compliments Tinsley well, this is a fairly decent PG combo...for the 4 years max James will be a Net.

[NOLa.]

Trade: Sacramento Kings and Seattle Supersonics

Kings send:
Camby
Wiz 02
Kings 03

SONICS send:
Gilbert Arenas

I guess Darth realized that he cut the timetable for his rebuild short by trading his 2003 1st and quickly pulled the trigger on a win-now move. Problem is...I think he traded the wrong guy. Let's focus on the positives though: Camby is a beast, and Zach couldn't ask for a better teacher. And that's about it. Both of those picks are gambles, and one bad FA period makes the race to make the 2003 1st non-lotto even tougher. Now on the Kings' side, things are a litte brighter. T-Mac & Agent Zero will be a deadly offensive combo. It's interesting to see Nola go for a guard-focused approach when seemingly everyone else in the West is going big. This could backfire, but if it does, it'll be for this season and not the one after. So to sum it up...calculated risk for Nola, big risk for Darth.

[Xist2Inspire]

#23: Suns draft Bobby Simmons
Simmons is a fairly unathletic, one-dimensional SF who, honestly, might not make it through his entire rookie contract. On the bright side though, he and Chris Carr could make a nice 3-point shooting wing combo off the bench.

#24: Hornets draft Carlos Arroyo
Arroyo is a solid ballhandling PG with decent height and pretty good athleticism. He'll probably develop into a solid bench PG, but won't do much else unless his shooting develops. Not sure how he fits long-term into the Hornets' plans due to his lack of a 3-point shot.

#25: Celtics draft Steven Hunter
Hunter initially seems no different from the numerous other defense-only big men that litter the bottom of the FA market, but his athleticism could help him maintain a roster spot much like Jerome James of the Nets. He's far cry from a possible Zo replacement, so don't read too much into this selection at all.

#26: Nuggets draft Jason Collins
Outside of post D, this guy doesn't really bring much to the table at all, tbh.

Trade: LA Lakers trade #27 to Detroit for cash
If Balls sees no potential left, that's probably a bad sign.

#27: Pistons draft Loren Woods
The Pistons are thin as hell up front, so this makes sense. Loren actually looks fairly promising for a late-round Center, with NBA-ready post D to counteract his lack of athleticism. I like this pick. *shrugs*

#28: Clippers draft Eddie Griffin
Another sensible pick, Griffin nevertheless will not last long in the NBA due to his horrendous lack of athleticism, which sadly ruin his decent skills and potential in the post.

Trade: Pacers trade #29 to Milwaukee for #30 and cash
......what? You were expecting something?

[LoCo89]

[Xist2Inspire]

#29: Bucks draft Charlie Bell


And that's it. Special thanks to Nola for doing the winners and losers of the draft (so I don't have to), Wig for not being mad at me for jacking his idea, and to you, the reader, for taking the time to look at this. Until my next wall of text, see ya...

[IamQuailman]

AWARDED 5pts! THANKS!