Post by ohhaithur on Jul 9, 2010 11:49:42 GMT -5
Hey there gang. I'm at work so I will be paid to do this article. I feel as though I win, even if I don't get 5 points.
Anyway, the premise of this article is to take note of the bigger picks in the draft. The steals and the reaches; the booms and the busts; the smart moves and dump's moves. I hope you enjoy.
First round
1. Raptors- Kobe Bryant SG 215 23 A- B B A C B
The only real option here, The Bean is an elite talent already and is young to boot. His potential is off the charts. This should have been an easy choice. I hope there are enough white bitches in Canada for him.
2. Mavs- Tim Duncan PF 7'0'' 260 25 A C C A A- B
Dumpstein chooses to ignore everyone's pressure to take Dirk and it could pay off. While two years older than Dirk, Duncan is a much more traditional PF than Dirk so he will need to be surrounded by different talent than Dirk would have (although to this point Dirk is still a SF). I feel the wing game is much deeper than the inside game here, so I feel Dump made the right choice and shore up the paint early.
3. Wizards- Shaquille O'Neal C 7'1'' 330 29 A D+ C A+ A C
The Big Aristotle slides in third in what amounts to another easy pick. There is surprising depth at the top of this draft, and choosing between players comes down to mostly scheme and age. While Shaq is older than most players picked up here, he is clearly the dominant inside force we remember from the early 200s. His relevant ratings for inside scoring, defense and rebounding are astounding. Even with his age, his potential leads you to believe he will still be amazing through his 4-year contract. As mentioned previously, the wing players are deep so this is a smart decision here.
4. Nets- Allen Iverson SG 6'0'' 165 26 A- B B A C- A
To be noted here is that AI is now playing the point and has been bumped up to an A+ on defense. With only four of the top 20 picks having A potential, The Answer is in an elite group. While his handling is not as strong as most point guards, his potential gives him the upside to be an elite passer while already being a top-notch scorer. AI could easily be the top player within two years.
5. Warriors- Steve Nash PG 6'3'' 195 27 C+ A- A- B- C- A
Canadian celebrity Steve Nash is the first pick I would have questioned. It's not like I said "Why are we doing this, are we crazy? Maybe.", but I would have personally chosen Jason Kidd or Baron Davis. I can understand Copacetic's logic here (potential and better outside scorer) but I feel overall Kidd's the better player now while Baron will be better in the future. Time will only tell if Nash will live up to his potential in this league, and if he does he is a franchise PG, but if possible I would have tried to trade down a couple of spots.
6. Sonics- Dirk Nowitzki SF 7'0'' 250 23 B A- C B- B- B
Sorry dump, he didn't fall to your next pick. Currently an SF, Nowitzki is not in his best place to shine. The seven-footer is not the threat overall at the 3 he is at the 4. With Vince Carter still available I don't like this pick for a wing player. Moved inside he becomes a much better player for the Zombie Sonics. Let's see if he gets help (stay tuned!).
7. Hawks- Kevin Garnett PF 6'11" 220 25 A- C+ C+ A B B
KG was a guy I thought had a chance to slip out of the top 10, but the clear intent of some teams to work from the inside out is present. The Big Ticket hopes to prove "anything is possible" on a team without a Big 3, but in this simulation he is a nice centerpiece. I remember how raw Garnett was in 2001 and I think his potential of B is on the low side. His actual potential might be an A.
8. Rockets- Vince Carter SG 6'6'' 225 24 A- A- C+ B+ C B
Vince was in my pre-draft top-5 and I think he will be a dominant force. Being the only player to be graded in the "A's" in both scoring categories, along with the rest of his skill-set, I would put Vince in the lead for scoring leader this year while AI improves.
9. Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets- Rashard Lewis SF 6'10'' 215 22 B- A- C B- B- B
Not my favorite pick with McGrady and Pierce still on the board at all. I feel both are better players while both have equal position and are as young. He's not going to play PF so his height isn't even that helpful. A top-15 player and a target of mine at 18, but I would have taken each of the next 4 players above him.
10. Lakers- Jason Kidd PG 6'4'' 212 28 B B A A+ C B
I talked about him a bunch earlier, I think he's a gem. lulu probably had a huge decision between him and Davis but you can't really go wrong with either here. He went with the better player, although older, and it will pay off for him certainly in the short-term.
11. Knicks- Baron Davis PG 6'3'' 212 22 B+ B- A- A- C B
GOAT potential in this league, Diddy is a point guard with outstanding scoring ability and the handles to still be pass-first. With the right compliments the Knicks made out amazingly here at 11. Since they went with two inside guys with their subsequent picks, I feel this has the chance to be the best value of the first round, if there is such a thing.
12. Bulls- Tracy McGrady SG 6'8'' 210 22 A- B B B+ C+ C
Chalk up a first round exit for the Bulls. The all-around player will provide versatility at the 2/3 for Bankz, but what's with that C potential? I know he came into the league young but the world was T-Mac's oyster still when he was 22. If his actual is higher (which it should be) than I expect him to get the monkey off his back...at least in sim.
13. Heat- Paul Pierce SF 6'7'' 220 24 A- B+ C A C B
The pick that was the impetus for my moving down. Pierce was the last guy I had targeted at 18 and for good reason. I had him just a tick behind Vince Carter on my queue and I think he has every chance to be just as good. While not the inside scorer VC is yet The Truth's defense more than makes up for it. Another solid pick and the last pick before the first real drop-off in talent.
14. Sonics (via Suns)- Chauncey Billups SG 6'3'' 202 25 C+ B+ B+ C+ C- A
Another high-potential PG goes off the board, pairing with Dirk. Surprisingly highly rated in outside scoring, Billups maintains the handling ability he was famous for in Detroit during their championship run. His defense is rather suspect which puts him a tier behind the big three at the top, but this could become a PG driven league.
15. Clippers- Steve Francis PG 6'3'' 193 24 B A- B A- C B
A noticeably better player than Chauncey currently, the only real question mark for the younger player will be potential. At this point, does it even matter? His floor is near where Chauncey's ceiling is, making this a better pick in this writer's opinion. A nice scoring threat inside and out, Francis will be one of only a few PGs with that dynamic ability.
16. Mavericks (via Grizzlies) Ray Allen SG 6'5'' 205 26 B A- B B- C C
An A- outside? Then who the hell is an A? One of the greatest shooters in history is still a talent drop from the guys going at the top. You're starting to notice the talent fade, in my opinion, and we have amazing second fiddles while the main men are gone. Can't fault the pick though. He looks like the BPA at SG, just not one of the stars we've seen.
17. Pistons- Jason Richardson SG 6'6'' 220 20 B- C+ C+ C+ C A
Will this be the next star from the bottom half of the first round? That A potential is tantalizing for sure but with mostly C's across the board does he have too far to go? The Pistons definitely had their strategy made up going into this draft. Here are the potentials of their first three picks: A. A. A. Are we talking about the GOAT team in 2004 or the bottom feeders in 2002? Maybe both! but it might be fun to watch.
18. Suns (via Jazz)- Jermaine O'Neal C 6'11'' 230 23 B D+ C- A B+ B
This is where I was slotted to pick and JO was the 2nd guy on my list at this point. If defense and rebounding are your thing, JO might just be the man. One of the few true centers that deserves to go early, the 23-year old still has the upside to be a big scorer. With David Robinson falling into his lap later, however, JO's value will be diminished as a 4 (at least until The Admiral retires). I feel Brand was a better pick for the four, but there was no way that Matt could have realized he'd get such value at center later. I did really like this pick, but I felt the value to trade down was too high to stay as I received two seconds for this pick and a 6th.
19. Bucks- Eric Chenowith C 7'1'' 270 22 C+ D+ D+ B- B- C
lolwrongnumber
20. Celtics (via Nuggets)- Gilbert Arenas SG 6'3'' 191 19 C+ B- C B- C- A
Agent 0 brings his high potential to the point as the Celtics have chosen to move him there. While his handles certainly aren't ready for a full-time distribution job, I'm certain he will be their number one scoring option, even with Webber and Redd on the floor. It will be interesting to see how this works out, but the Celts have a chance to be one of the top three or four teams in the league if Gilbert and Redd reach their potential early.
21. Cavs- Elton Brand PF 6'8'' 260 22 A- C- C A- B- B
Oh the good ol' days when people still wanted Elton. Is it possible his name recognition hurt him here and caused him to slip? In this league he's already a great scorer and defender with the potential to grow as a 22 year old. Solid pick here, not much else to say.
22. Bulls (Via 76ers)- Pau Gasol PF 7'0'' 227 21 B C D+ B+ C B
A pretty huge step between PFs at 21 and 22, the much taller Gasol has a ways to go before he is a force in this league. A "C" rebounder at 7'0"? Is he wearing cement shoes?
23. Nets (Via Suns via Fighting Kahns)- Shawn Marion SF 6'7'' 215 23 B C+ C A A- B
I really liked the pick of The Matrix here, as he's been my top guy for almost ten picks. I love that kind of inside scoring, defense and rebounding from my 3 guy. Plus, is potential outside is still raw you'd think.
24. Celtics- Michael Redd SG 6'6'' 214 22 C+ B C C C A
Touched on him a bit with the Arenas pick. You'd figure his shooting outside will help Arenas...if he can get the ball. This clearly will be a high scoring team but the defense will be suspect. It all will come down to potential, it seems.
25. Pacers- Tony Parker PG 6'2'' 177 19 C C B+ B- D A
I don't really remember everyone being on his jock as a 19 year old, but apparently we were. B+ distribution with "A" potential as a 19 year old? Why the hell not try it at 25. He complimented the team with good, not elite, scorers later on so this could end up being a strong pick, but I would have gone with Bibby instead.
26. Kings- Mike Bibby PG 6'2'' 190 23 C B+ A- B C- B
Another case of "now or potential", Bibby is a huge now upgrade over Longoria right now with potential to boot. A much better scorer, that could be the real key to this pick. Inside scoring, defense, and rebounding will be a wash, but that outside scoring gives Bibby the huge boost. 23 isn't that old either.
27. Spurs- Joe Johnson SF 6'8'' 225 20 C+ B- C+ C+ C A
No word on whether he will get a max contract if swept, but Johnson is another guy who is banking on potential here. If he can live up to his real-life counterpart in shooting ability THIS team likely won't get swept in the first round by 25 ppg. With four of the Spurs' first five picks being A potential this is another team that could be cellar-dwellers early and studs by the time they're ready to leave.
28. Magic- Shareef Abdur-Rahim SF 6'9'' 230 24 A- C C A- B- B
Hey I forgot about this guy. Elite inside scorer and defender with potential? Alright. His outside touch leaves a lot to be desired for a 3, but a decent value pick here. Rasheed will stretch the floor with his outside shot and Mobley will be able to score as well. Good compliments will make this pick better.
29. Blazers- Eddy Curry C 6'11'' 285 18 B D+ C- C+ C+ A
Oh the good ol' days again. He has the potential to be the best big-man scorer this side of Shaq...or he could become Eddy Curry. He's got a long way to go with all his axillary stats, but we can't knock his inside touch, even now.
Other teams' first picks
2.6. Nuggets (via Celtics)- Zachary Randolph PF 6'9'' 270 20 B D+ C C+ B- A
Nuggets went potential/potential at the top of the second with Randolph and Artest. Neither is an elite talent now, but both have the potential to be. I prefer the Artest pick to this one, but both could end up being studs together.With Przbilla also an A inside, this team could be amazing in a few years. I just don't see much coming from them now.
2.8. 76ers- Grant Hill SF 6'8'' 225 29 A B C+ B C B
The Sixers traded out of the first to acquire more picks, much like I did. By keeping their second rounder, however, they were able to make one of my favorite picks in the draft. Hill's A inside scoring and B outside scoring make him a top-10 player this year with solid defense and OK rebounding at the 3. His potential is still there and he's in his prime at 29 still. rz will get full use of his good years under this four-year contract and by trading out of the 1st he will have plenty of depth to compliment him.
2.14. Grizzlies- Alonzo Mourning C 6'10'' 258 31 A- C- C- A+ B+ C
Building around a 31 year old is risky, but it doesn't hurt when that guy has A+ defense, great inside scoring, great rebounding and two working kidneys in this game. Not many guys are built like him in this league and with the Grizz getting KMart later, have their potential inside. This team could be one of the favorites if KMart develops, as the aged John Stockton fell his lap in the fourth round. Definitely a win-now bunch with KMart's insane potential.
2.7. Fighting Kahns- Brendan Haywood C 7'0'' 268 21 B- D C- A C+ A
With only two picks in the top 100, both raw A potential inside guys, I think we have our favorites for last place this year. They filled out their roster well, but there is a clear focus on the future.
2.24. Jazz (via Suns)- Corey Maggette SG 6'6'' 218 21 A- C+ C+ C+ C+ B
GOAT pick. But seriously I just wanted 7 strong guys that I would have for 3-4 years so I traded down to get 7 picks in the first 4 rounds.
Favorite other picks
2.1 Blazers- Richard Hamilton SG 6'7'' 193 23 B+ B- C+ B- C- A
Solid already with the potential to be a superstar. All-around player with plenty of room to improve, what's not to love?
2.29. Raptors- Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 256 38 A C C+ A- B+ C and 3.1. Raptors Michael Jordan SF 6'6'' 216 38 A B C+ A- C+ C
Instantly makes this the team to beat for the next 2-3 years. Locks up favorite status and worries about age in two years when it comes. Smart move.
6.22. Rockets Alvin Williams PG 6'5'' 185 27 C+ C+ A- B+ D+ B
One of my favorite picks since they waited so long to take a PG for Vince and it paid off. A great handles and defense guy with solid upside, Williams was as good of a fit pick as was found after the 5th round
Anyway, the premise of this article is to take note of the bigger picks in the draft. The steals and the reaches; the booms and the busts; the smart moves and dump's moves. I hope you enjoy.
First round
1. Raptors- Kobe Bryant SG 215 23 A- B B A C B
The only real option here, The Bean is an elite talent already and is young to boot. His potential is off the charts. This should have been an easy choice. I hope there are enough white bitches in Canada for him.
2. Mavs- Tim Duncan PF 7'0'' 260 25 A C C A A- B
Dumpstein chooses to ignore everyone's pressure to take Dirk and it could pay off. While two years older than Dirk, Duncan is a much more traditional PF than Dirk so he will need to be surrounded by different talent than Dirk would have (although to this point Dirk is still a SF). I feel the wing game is much deeper than the inside game here, so I feel Dump made the right choice and shore up the paint early.
3. Wizards- Shaquille O'Neal C 7'1'' 330 29 A D+ C A+ A C
The Big Aristotle slides in third in what amounts to another easy pick. There is surprising depth at the top of this draft, and choosing between players comes down to mostly scheme and age. While Shaq is older than most players picked up here, he is clearly the dominant inside force we remember from the early 200s. His relevant ratings for inside scoring, defense and rebounding are astounding. Even with his age, his potential leads you to believe he will still be amazing through his 4-year contract. As mentioned previously, the wing players are deep so this is a smart decision here.
4. Nets- Allen Iverson SG 6'0'' 165 26 A- B B A C- A
To be noted here is that AI is now playing the point and has been bumped up to an A+ on defense. With only four of the top 20 picks having A potential, The Answer is in an elite group. While his handling is not as strong as most point guards, his potential gives him the upside to be an elite passer while already being a top-notch scorer. AI could easily be the top player within two years.
5. Warriors- Steve Nash PG 6'3'' 195 27 C+ A- A- B- C- A
Canadian celebrity Steve Nash is the first pick I would have questioned. It's not like I said "Why are we doing this, are we crazy? Maybe.", but I would have personally chosen Jason Kidd or Baron Davis. I can understand Copacetic's logic here (potential and better outside scorer) but I feel overall Kidd's the better player now while Baron will be better in the future. Time will only tell if Nash will live up to his potential in this league, and if he does he is a franchise PG, but if possible I would have tried to trade down a couple of spots.
6. Sonics- Dirk Nowitzki SF 7'0'' 250 23 B A- C B- B- B
Sorry dump, he didn't fall to your next pick. Currently an SF, Nowitzki is not in his best place to shine. The seven-footer is not the threat overall at the 3 he is at the 4. With Vince Carter still available I don't like this pick for a wing player. Moved inside he becomes a much better player for the Zombie Sonics. Let's see if he gets help (stay tuned!).
7. Hawks- Kevin Garnett PF 6'11" 220 25 A- C+ C+ A B B
KG was a guy I thought had a chance to slip out of the top 10, but the clear intent of some teams to work from the inside out is present. The Big Ticket hopes to prove "anything is possible" on a team without a Big 3, but in this simulation he is a nice centerpiece. I remember how raw Garnett was in 2001 and I think his potential of B is on the low side. His actual potential might be an A.
8. Rockets- Vince Carter SG 6'6'' 225 24 A- A- C+ B+ C B
Vince was in my pre-draft top-5 and I think he will be a dominant force. Being the only player to be graded in the "A's" in both scoring categories, along with the rest of his skill-set, I would put Vince in the lead for scoring leader this year while AI improves.
9. Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets- Rashard Lewis SF 6'10'' 215 22 B- A- C B- B- B
Not my favorite pick with McGrady and Pierce still on the board at all. I feel both are better players while both have equal position and are as young. He's not going to play PF so his height isn't even that helpful. A top-15 player and a target of mine at 18, but I would have taken each of the next 4 players above him.
10. Lakers- Jason Kidd PG 6'4'' 212 28 B B A A+ C B
I talked about him a bunch earlier, I think he's a gem. lulu probably had a huge decision between him and Davis but you can't really go wrong with either here. He went with the better player, although older, and it will pay off for him certainly in the short-term.
11. Knicks- Baron Davis PG 6'3'' 212 22 B+ B- A- A- C B
GOAT potential in this league, Diddy is a point guard with outstanding scoring ability and the handles to still be pass-first. With the right compliments the Knicks made out amazingly here at 11. Since they went with two inside guys with their subsequent picks, I feel this has the chance to be the best value of the first round, if there is such a thing.
12. Bulls- Tracy McGrady SG 6'8'' 210 22 A- B B B+ C+ C
Chalk up a first round exit for the Bulls. The all-around player will provide versatility at the 2/3 for Bankz, but what's with that C potential? I know he came into the league young but the world was T-Mac's oyster still when he was 22. If his actual is higher (which it should be) than I expect him to get the monkey off his back...at least in sim.
13. Heat- Paul Pierce SF 6'7'' 220 24 A- B+ C A C B
The pick that was the impetus for my moving down. Pierce was the last guy I had targeted at 18 and for good reason. I had him just a tick behind Vince Carter on my queue and I think he has every chance to be just as good. While not the inside scorer VC is yet The Truth's defense more than makes up for it. Another solid pick and the last pick before the first real drop-off in talent.
14. Sonics (via Suns)- Chauncey Billups SG 6'3'' 202 25 C+ B+ B+ C+ C- A
Another high-potential PG goes off the board, pairing with Dirk. Surprisingly highly rated in outside scoring, Billups maintains the handling ability he was famous for in Detroit during their championship run. His defense is rather suspect which puts him a tier behind the big three at the top, but this could become a PG driven league.
15. Clippers- Steve Francis PG 6'3'' 193 24 B A- B A- C B
A noticeably better player than Chauncey currently, the only real question mark for the younger player will be potential. At this point, does it even matter? His floor is near where Chauncey's ceiling is, making this a better pick in this writer's opinion. A nice scoring threat inside and out, Francis will be one of only a few PGs with that dynamic ability.
16. Mavericks (via Grizzlies) Ray Allen SG 6'5'' 205 26 B A- B B- C C
An A- outside? Then who the hell is an A? One of the greatest shooters in history is still a talent drop from the guys going at the top. You're starting to notice the talent fade, in my opinion, and we have amazing second fiddles while the main men are gone. Can't fault the pick though. He looks like the BPA at SG, just not one of the stars we've seen.
17. Pistons- Jason Richardson SG 6'6'' 220 20 B- C+ C+ C+ C A
Will this be the next star from the bottom half of the first round? That A potential is tantalizing for sure but with mostly C's across the board does he have too far to go? The Pistons definitely had their strategy made up going into this draft. Here are the potentials of their first three picks: A. A. A. Are we talking about the GOAT team in 2004 or the bottom feeders in 2002? Maybe both! but it might be fun to watch.
18. Suns (via Jazz)- Jermaine O'Neal C 6'11'' 230 23 B D+ C- A B+ B
This is where I was slotted to pick and JO was the 2nd guy on my list at this point. If defense and rebounding are your thing, JO might just be the man. One of the few true centers that deserves to go early, the 23-year old still has the upside to be a big scorer. With David Robinson falling into his lap later, however, JO's value will be diminished as a 4 (at least until The Admiral retires). I feel Brand was a better pick for the four, but there was no way that Matt could have realized he'd get such value at center later. I did really like this pick, but I felt the value to trade down was too high to stay as I received two seconds for this pick and a 6th.
19. Bucks- Eric Chenowith C 7'1'' 270 22 C+ D+ D+ B- B- C
lolwrongnumber
20. Celtics (via Nuggets)- Gilbert Arenas SG 6'3'' 191 19 C+ B- C B- C- A
Agent 0 brings his high potential to the point as the Celtics have chosen to move him there. While his handles certainly aren't ready for a full-time distribution job, I'm certain he will be their number one scoring option, even with Webber and Redd on the floor. It will be interesting to see how this works out, but the Celts have a chance to be one of the top three or four teams in the league if Gilbert and Redd reach their potential early.
21. Cavs- Elton Brand PF 6'8'' 260 22 A- C- C A- B- B
Oh the good ol' days when people still wanted Elton. Is it possible his name recognition hurt him here and caused him to slip? In this league he's already a great scorer and defender with the potential to grow as a 22 year old. Solid pick here, not much else to say.
22. Bulls (Via 76ers)- Pau Gasol PF 7'0'' 227 21 B C D+ B+ C B
A pretty huge step between PFs at 21 and 22, the much taller Gasol has a ways to go before he is a force in this league. A "C" rebounder at 7'0"? Is he wearing cement shoes?
23. Nets (Via Suns via Fighting Kahns)- Shawn Marion SF 6'7'' 215 23 B C+ C A A- B
I really liked the pick of The Matrix here, as he's been my top guy for almost ten picks. I love that kind of inside scoring, defense and rebounding from my 3 guy. Plus, is potential outside is still raw you'd think.
24. Celtics- Michael Redd SG 6'6'' 214 22 C+ B C C C A
Touched on him a bit with the Arenas pick. You'd figure his shooting outside will help Arenas...if he can get the ball. This clearly will be a high scoring team but the defense will be suspect. It all will come down to potential, it seems.
25. Pacers- Tony Parker PG 6'2'' 177 19 C C B+ B- D A
I don't really remember everyone being on his jock as a 19 year old, but apparently we were. B+ distribution with "A" potential as a 19 year old? Why the hell not try it at 25. He complimented the team with good, not elite, scorers later on so this could end up being a strong pick, but I would have gone with Bibby instead.
26. Kings- Mike Bibby PG 6'2'' 190 23 C B+ A- B C- B
Another case of "now or potential", Bibby is a huge now upgrade over Longoria right now with potential to boot. A much better scorer, that could be the real key to this pick. Inside scoring, defense, and rebounding will be a wash, but that outside scoring gives Bibby the huge boost. 23 isn't that old either.
27. Spurs- Joe Johnson SF 6'8'' 225 20 C+ B- C+ C+ C A
No word on whether he will get a max contract if swept, but Johnson is another guy who is banking on potential here. If he can live up to his real-life counterpart in shooting ability THIS team likely won't get swept in the first round by 25 ppg. With four of the Spurs' first five picks being A potential this is another team that could be cellar-dwellers early and studs by the time they're ready to leave.
28. Magic- Shareef Abdur-Rahim SF 6'9'' 230 24 A- C C A- B- B
Hey I forgot about this guy. Elite inside scorer and defender with potential? Alright. His outside touch leaves a lot to be desired for a 3, but a decent value pick here. Rasheed will stretch the floor with his outside shot and Mobley will be able to score as well. Good compliments will make this pick better.
29. Blazers- Eddy Curry C 6'11'' 285 18 B D+ C- C+ C+ A
Oh the good ol' days again. He has the potential to be the best big-man scorer this side of Shaq...or he could become Eddy Curry. He's got a long way to go with all his axillary stats, but we can't knock his inside touch, even now.
Other teams' first picks
2.6. Nuggets (via Celtics)- Zachary Randolph PF 6'9'' 270 20 B D+ C C+ B- A
Nuggets went potential/potential at the top of the second with Randolph and Artest. Neither is an elite talent now, but both have the potential to be. I prefer the Artest pick to this one, but both could end up being studs together.With Przbilla also an A inside, this team could be amazing in a few years. I just don't see much coming from them now.
2.8. 76ers- Grant Hill SF 6'8'' 225 29 A B C+ B C B
The Sixers traded out of the first to acquire more picks, much like I did. By keeping their second rounder, however, they were able to make one of my favorite picks in the draft. Hill's A inside scoring and B outside scoring make him a top-10 player this year with solid defense and OK rebounding at the 3. His potential is still there and he's in his prime at 29 still. rz will get full use of his good years under this four-year contract and by trading out of the 1st he will have plenty of depth to compliment him.
2.14. Grizzlies- Alonzo Mourning C 6'10'' 258 31 A- C- C- A+ B+ C
Building around a 31 year old is risky, but it doesn't hurt when that guy has A+ defense, great inside scoring, great rebounding and two working kidneys in this game. Not many guys are built like him in this league and with the Grizz getting KMart later, have their potential inside. This team could be one of the favorites if KMart develops, as the aged John Stockton fell his lap in the fourth round. Definitely a win-now bunch with KMart's insane potential.
2.7. Fighting Kahns- Brendan Haywood C 7'0'' 268 21 B- D C- A C+ A
With only two picks in the top 100, both raw A potential inside guys, I think we have our favorites for last place this year. They filled out their roster well, but there is a clear focus on the future.
2.24. Jazz (via Suns)- Corey Maggette SG 6'6'' 218 21 A- C+ C+ C+ C+ B
GOAT pick. But seriously I just wanted 7 strong guys that I would have for 3-4 years so I traded down to get 7 picks in the first 4 rounds.
Favorite other picks
2.1 Blazers- Richard Hamilton SG 6'7'' 193 23 B+ B- C+ B- C- A
Solid already with the potential to be a superstar. All-around player with plenty of room to improve, what's not to love?
2.29. Raptors- Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 256 38 A C C+ A- B+ C and 3.1. Raptors Michael Jordan SF 6'6'' 216 38 A B C+ A- C+ C
Instantly makes this the team to beat for the next 2-3 years. Locks up favorite status and worries about age in two years when it comes. Smart move.
6.22. Rockets Alvin Williams PG 6'5'' 185 27 C+ C+ A- B+ D+ B
One of my favorite picks since they waited so long to take a PG for Vince and it paid off. A great handles and defense guy with solid upside, Williams was as good of a fit pick as was found after the 5th round
