Initial Thoughts on the ‘08 NBA Draft
Posted by Eric Engberg on July 1, 2008
The Bulls still need to make some moves for the Rose pick to work for them. I still think Micheal Beasley made more sense from a need perspective. They need to leverage Hinrich or Gordon to get some frontcourt help otherwise they will continue to be a fringe playoff team at best. The frontcourt of Deng, Gooden, Nocioni, Noah, Aaron Gray, and Tyrus Thomas strikes fear in the hearts of nobody. As it stands right now they are looking at their top 3 paid players being bench players and now have a logjam at the guard position with Hinrich, Larry Hughes, and Ben Gordon and unless they do something they will be counting on someone like Noah, Gray, Cedric Simmons, or Thomas to step their game up and be able to give them 30-35 productive minutes a game.
I am intrigued by the moves Boston made. Ainge is either going to come away looking like a genius for grabbing J. R. Giddens and Bill Walker or a fool for taking a wildcard like Giddens in the first. Giddens is an amazing talent but he comes with a ton of off-court baggage. Walker comes as a second rounder so there is nothing to lose on him and I think he has the chops to be a quality player if he stays healthy.
I don’t understand Memphis’ thinking at all unless they are going to be flipping someone for a big man. Kevin Love may never be anything special but he is probably, at the very least, an upgrade over Darko. Darrell Arthur is a nice talent but he is not much of a rebounder and Memphis needs someone who is going to hang and bang under the basket for them and Arthur is not going to be that guy. Between Gay and Miller the Grizz had plenty of perimeter scoring and with plenty of point guards in the fold already I am just not sure how Mayo significantly improves this team. They basically gave up an elite 3-point shooter and low post help for another scorer.
On the flipside I love the move for the Wolves. Sure neither Love or Jefferson is the ideal size for a center but it gives them the opportunity to let Jefferson play some at the PF slot where he is more suited to play and they pick up Mike Miller who gives them the elite perimeter shooter they have been lacking for a few years now. Minnesota was going to have to figure out what to do with the 3-headed monster of Foye/McCants/Mayo so moving Mayo solves that problem as that may not have played out so well if McCants or Foye are healthy and losing minutes to Mayo.
I really like Miami’s draft as well. They add some quality frontcourt talent in Beasley and a guy who can come off the bench and provide some muscle in Darnell Jackson. They got the right PG to pair with D-Wade in Mario Chalmers.
I don’t get Golden State’s selection at all. Didn’t they just trade for a skinny big man with lots of upside in Brandan Wright this time last year? So why go and get another one in Anthony Randolph?
J. J. Hickson is a good pickup for the Cavs. If he sticks with it and polishes his game up a bit he could be just what the Cavs have been lacking in the post since Boozer left town. The big question is whether or not he will develop quickly enough into the caliber of player the Cavs need to entice LeBron to want to stick around.
The Bobcats are clueless. You need another big man to help Okafor out and so you can move him over to PF and Brook Lopez drops in your lap and you take freakin’ D. J. Augustine instead when you already have Raymond Felton at the point. I don’t get it. A starting point was not a glaring need while picking up another post player was and to further that they go and take some kid who is a scrub on some Euroteam who will probably never see the light of day in Charlotte at 20 and then another PG in the second round. I guess this means Felton’s days in Charlotte are numbered.
The Bucks absolutely wasted their pick at #8. First off I think Joe Alexander has bust written all over him. Guys hyped as great athletes are done so in general because there is nothing terribly positive to say about their actual basketball skillset. Secondly, why do you go and pick a Small Forward (SF) that high in the draft when you just traded for Richard Jefferson earlier in the day? I don’t see the logic in that especially when the Bucks are in serious need of a secondary rebounder since Charlie Villanueva seems to have no real interest in being a post player. And then they follow that up with another SF in the second round.
The Nets did well for themselves as well getting three first round talents out of the draft. Brook Lopez gives them the post scorer they have been lacking for years. Ryan Anderson gives them a 3-point shooter and potentially someone who can rebound for them and I can see Chris Douglas-Roberts being their 6th man next season and giving them instant offense off the bench.
The Sixers at least filled a need by picking up Marreese Speights. At the very least he gives them some muscle they have been lacking for a while now. He has big time talent he just needs to dedicate himself to developing it.
