Post by 20/20/20/20 on Jul 22, 2010 22:28:05 GMT -5
With the inaugural season of the TMB NBA Sim League coming to a close, let's take a look back at the creation draft which has resulted in the teams currently battling for the title.
I wanted to create a list of best and most disappointing picks of the draft, but thought it would be hard to compare value from a 6th round pick to a 1st rounder. Therefore, I decided to choose what I consider at this point to be the best value and most disappointing picks in each round of the initial creation draft.
DISCLAIMER: The following is strictly my opinion and my choices are obviously up for discussion. If you have your own nominees, feel free to comment in a reply. My choices are obviously not fact and in most cases I found it extremely hard to choose just one pick.
First Round -
Best Pick:
12. Tracy McGrady, SG, Chicago Bulls - This one was pretty hard to choose as nearly every pick in the first round has to be considered a good pick at this point. What this came down to was the fact that you can argue T-Mac is producing as well as anybody in the league, and he went 12th. That is great value. With the numbers he has to go along with his ratings, you would think that the guy is old and that is why he fell. Well, he is only 22. McGrady has the chance to be scary good.
Reason he fell: While the scouts thought McGrady was a great player, they were worried that he may have already maxed out his abilities. McGrady's scouted potential was only a "C". I believe this caused him to fall more than he should have as most of the guys drafted in the Top 10 had great ratings and B or better potential. I think McGrady's rating from the scouts is a little low and he will continue to improve. Even if he doesn't, the guy is already an MVP candidate and the best pick of the first round.
Teams who will regret passing on him: Charlotte (Rashard Lewis), LA Lakers (Jason Kidd)
Most Dissapointing Pick:
19. Eric Chenowith, C, Milwaukee Bucks - This one is obvious. The biggest head scratcher of the draft occurred at number 19 when the Milwaukee Bucks took center Eric Chenowith. Zany Bucks owner defended the pick immediately, but never offered his reasoning for taking Chenowith so high. The Bucks GM's true intentions will likely never be known, but regardless of strategy, this was a terrible pick. Chenowith could have been had much, much later in the draft.
What they were thinking: Who knows.
Who they could have had: Elton Brand, Grant Hill, Chris Webber, Shawn Marion, Rasheed Wallace, anyone besides Eric Chenowith
2nd Round
Best Pick:
8. Grant Hill, SF, Philadelphia 76ers - This was an extremely hard pick. There were tons of steals in the 2nd round. Hill earned the nod for best pick over Chris Webber, Stephon Marbury, Antonio McDyess, and Rasheed Wallace. Hill has been one of the top 10 players in the TMB NBA this year, and he was taken WAY too low in the 2nd round. In hindsight, Hill should have been a mid 1st rounder. Third in the league in scoring at 29.8 PPG, Hill has been all that Philly could have hoped for. Grant also averages 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. The guy is even 4th in the NBA in FT%. There isn't a flaw in his game.
Why he fell: Grant's age of 29 caused him to fall this far. Age played a huge role early in the draft, and this caused older players to fall further than they should. Even with a potential rating of B, the 29 next to Hill's name scared many owners away.
Who will regret passing on him: Spurs (Kwame Brown), Kings (Jerry Stackhouse)
Most Disappointing Pick:
16. Ben Wallace, PF, New Jersey Nets - Wallace plays defense and rebounds. He is a valuable player to have on your team, but I think he went a little high at 16 in the 2nd round. Ben is a poor offensive player, awful FT shooter, and has likely not lived up to the rebounding and defense that New Jersey was hoping for when they made the selection. Despite his stout reputation and ratings, Big Ben is only average 10.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Those numbers are quite good, but similar numbers are being put up by guys taken later in the draft.
What they were thinking: After having already locked up two studs in Allen Iverson and Shawn Marion, the Nets were looking to shore up their defense and rebounding and decided to take Wallace. They likely expected a little more out of Ben in those areas than he has provided. Also, New Jersey did not pick again until the end of round 6 so they may regret not choosing someone else who could score the basketball. New Jersey ending up shipping out Shawn Marion effectively breaking up what they hoped to be their version of the "Big 3", but they look poised to end up with the #1 overall pick in the 2002 player draft.
Who they could have had: Predrag Stojakovic, Allan Houston, Karl Malone
Third Round
Best Pick:
3. Andre Miller, PG, Portland Trailblazers - Andre Miller is simply not putting up 3rd round numbers. Granted, he went early in the round, but he is putting up numbers comparable to the guys who went in the rounds ahead of him. Andre is averaging 20 pts, nearly 10 assists, and over 5 rebounds per game. Not to mention he has carried the young Blazers to the playoffs basically by himself.
Why he fell: His ratings are not particularly sexy, but he is getting the job done surprisingly well. Still, even with his ratings, he was widely regarded as one of the best players available at the time he was selected by Portland. I believe he fell due to others taking young guys with A potential before him.
Who will regret not taking him: Dallas late 2nd (Richard Jefferson), Memphis late 2nd (Kenyon Martin)
Most Disappointing Pick:
23. David Robinson, C, Phoenix Suns - This is more due to bad luck than anything as Robinson suffered a season ending broken leg after playing only 15 games. But now, on a Suns team looking to build for the future rather than compete now, Robinson is a waste. He put up respectable numbers in the 15 games he has played, but he is 36 years old and may retire quite soon. The Suns had to hope to get a little more bang for their buck in the 3rd round.
What they were thinking: At the time, the Suns were still looking to contend in the league's first season, but the Robinson injury effectively ended that dream. The Suns were hoping to snag one of the old guys who fell due to age a la Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. Only problem is that their old guy got hurt. It was a risk they were willing to take, and now one they likely regret.
Who they could have had: Michael Bradley, Darrell Armstrong, Stromile Swift, Damon Stoudamire
4th Round
Best Pick
22. Damon Stoudamire, PG, Boston Celtics - This was the round of the sleeper PG, as this choice came down to Stoudamire and Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets PG Darrell Armstrong. Stoudamire wins out as he has put up slightly better numbers, is 5 years younger, and was taken 12 picks later in the draft. How Stoudamire fell this fall is really baffling. The guy has solid rankings, still has plenty of tread left on the tires, and was available at the end of the 4th round. I don't get it. Damon is leading the NBA in assists at 10.8 per and is adding 16 points and 5 rebounds a contest as well.
Why he fell: I have to chalk this one up to age concerns, but even that does not fully explain this. GMs really dropped the ball on this one.
Who will regret not taking him: Any team who had not yet selected a PG.
Most Disappointing Pick:
18. Speedy Claxton, PG, Philadelphia 76ers - I realize that Speedy is young and still has time to develop, but right now his play has been disappointing. Philly has built a team that is ready to win now, and a solid PG could put this team over the top. Claxton is only providing them with 6.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. And he was taken with Damon Stoudamire still on the board. Think about a team with Grant Hill, Antonio McDyess and Damon Stoudamire. They would be scary.
What they were thinking: Speedy Claxton looked like a promising young PG who was great value in the 4th. I was a big Claxton fan myself in the draft, and had considered taking him as well. Claxton could still develop into a great PG, and he already provides solid D for the Sixers, but this is a team ready to win now, and developing a young PG is holding them back from being true title contenders.
Who they could have had: Damon Stoudamire, Terrell Brandon, Bonzi Wells
5th Round
Best Pick:
12. Keith Van Horn, SF, Golden State Warriors - A great pick made by the former Warriors GM, Keith Van Horn has provided incredible value for a 5th round draft pick. In the middle of the 5th, the Warriors were able to snag a guy who is averaging over 20 points and 7 rebounds a game for them from the SF spot. Van Horn is a big reason why the Warriors are a bit of a surprise currently sitting as the 2 seed in the West. Terrell Brandon was also considered here as he represents the final piece to the Raptors puzzle, but he has been injured for half of the season and the Raptors have shown they are fine without him.
Why he fell: Keith's ratings are not particularly sexy. He is good at lots of things, great at nothing. In fact, when comparing his production this season to his player ratings, one has to wonder if Van Horn will keep this up in future seasons. If he does, this pick will go down as a steal.
Who will regret passing on him: Detroit Pistons (Wally Szcerbiak), Suns (Jalen Rose)
Most Disappointing Pick
16. Reggie Miller, SG, Memphis Grizzlies - For a guy taken in the 5th round, Miller simply hasn't made much of an impact on his team. Miller comes off the bench for the Grizz and adds 8.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists a night. Guys taken much later in the draft are providing this type of production off the bench for their team. Also, Reggie is 36 years old and not going to be around long before he retires. You have to think Memphis would redo this pick if given the opportunity.
What they were thinking: Following in the footsteps of earlier successful picks, the Grizzlies were likely looking for a veteran who would make an instant impact on their team. Unfortunately, the impact has been minimal. Memphis could have grabbed someone young with lots of potential and have something to look forward to. Instead, Miller will likely retire in a few years while simply being an average guy off the bench.
Who they could have had: Juwan Howard, Clifford Robinson, Eric Snow, Joseph Forte
6th Round
Best Pick:
12. Joseph Forte, PG, Phoenix Suns - Forte is no longer on the Suns, but their owner found a gem when they drafted Forte in the 6th round. It was surprising that Forte's mix of talent and potential was available this late in the draft. After being traded to Sacramento, the Kings are now looking to build around Forte as part of their young core moving forward. As a 20 year old rookie PG, Joe is putting up 8 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game. If Forte develops his ball handling skills, he will turn into a great PG in this league. That is a fantastic value in the 6th round.
Why he fell: I feel like at this point in the draft, GMs were looking to fill out their starting lineups with players who would contribute now. Seeing a 20 year old PG with a C+ handling rating probably scared off some GMs. Also, most GMs were looking for veteran guys with better ratings in these middle rounds.
Who will regret not taking him: Nuggets (Khalid El-Amin) Spurs (Fred Hoiberg), Sixers (Chucky Atkins)
Most Disappointing Pick:
20. Patrick Ewing, C, Memphis Grizzlies - Another aging veteran selected by Memphis who has not panned out. Ewing has something left in the tank, but is simply not needed in Memphis. With a stud center like Alonzo Mourning ahead of him, Ewing has simply not made an impact on this team. You have to hope for more of an impact out of your 6th round pick if you are choosing an aging vet. Pat is averaging 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He is also 39 and likely to retire after the season.
What they were thinking: Memphis was likely expecting to be an instant contender, and thought Ewing could be the big man they needed off the bench. Turns out due to Zo he wasn't needed, and their team is a disappointing 33-34. If they aren't going to go all the way this year, Ewing's pick will have to be looked at as a failure as he will likely retire at season's end.
Who they could have had: Bryon Russell, Calvin Booth, Derrick Coleman, Jamaal Magloire
7th Round
Best Pick:
2. Mookie Blaylock, PG, Dallas Mavericks - The Mavericks can thank their current standing as the 4th seed in the West to the Blaylock pick. After sacrificing all of their middle round picks in order to move up and acquire the dynamic duo of Tim Duncan and Ray Allen, the Mavs found themselves without a pick (and a point guard) until the end of round 6. After opting for another solid pick in Jamaal Magloire at the end of 6, Dallas selected Mookie Blaylock, a surprisingly solid PG for that late in the draft. Blaylock was been vital Dallas' success this year averaging averaging 12 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and a league leading 2.4 steals per game.
Why he fell: Mookie fell due to his age and other owners looking to fill other positions before opting for a backup PG. Dallas took a big risk going this late into the draft without selecting a PG, but it has paid off big time.
Who will regret not taking him: Sixers (Courtney Alexander), Bucks (Michael Wright), Suns (Charlie Ward)
Most Dissapointing Pick:
20. Sean Lampley, SF, Sacramento Kings - It becomes very hard to find truly disappointing picks this late in the draft as there is very little risk associated with most of these choices, but I settled on Lampley as the guy for Round 7. I know he was drafted for potential, but he is not a guy I am overly impressed with as a prospect, and he hasn't produced much with his somewhat significant playing time of 17 minutes a game.
What they were thinking: Sacramento was drafting based on potential here, and it could still work out for them. It was hard to find a pick to fault in this round. Lampley will certainly be given the chance to develop with the Kings as they are a young squad looking toward the future.
Who they could have had Priest Lauderdale, Mark Blount
Round 8
Best Pick:
13. Priest Lauderdale, C, Detroit Pistons - This one was easy. Lauderdale is the clear prize of the 8th round. Detroit has to be quite happy to find a guy this late in the draft who can provide over 16 points and 7 rebounds a game. At 7'4 325, Priest is a load inside and his game still offers room to grow with B scouted potential. Detroit has to be excited about getting a guy who could play a role in their future this late in the draft.
Why he fell this far: Lack of name recognition. No one had heard of Priest Lauderdale before this draft. He played 2 seasons in the NBA, started 0 games, and averaged 3 points a game. His TMB career will certainly be more successful.
Who will regret passing on him: Every owner should. This was stupendous value for an 8th round selection.
Most Disappointing Pick:
5. Elden Campbell, C, Indiana Pacers - Indiana, more than any other team in the league, seems to be playing for the future. This was made obvious by their first two selections of Tony Parker and Lamar Odom. Campbell is a 33 year old center taken at the top of the round. Not a bad pick, but the Pacers have to be kicking themselves now knowing they could have had a guy like Lauderdale with this pick. He would fit in much better with the team's young core. Can't really blame them for this pick though.
What they were thinking: It's the 8th round, and I need a center.
Who they could have had: Priest Lauderdale
9th Round
Best Pick:
13. Bryant Reeves, C, Miami Heat - Reeves has been the starting C for Miami this year and has averaged close to a double double. 12.4 and 8.9 a game from your 9th rounder? Bravo sir, bravo.
Most Disappointing Pick:
N/A.
10th Round:
Best Pick:
3. Corliss Williamson, PF, San Antonio Spurs - Corliss is currently the #1 scoring option for the Spurs. He is averaging an outrageous 22 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This is not a 10th round pick. Possibly the best value pick in the draft, possibly simply a product of his environment. Someone has to score for that Spurs team.
Why he fell this far: Has previously been tagged with the nickname of "Scoreless". Clearly made GMs stay away as they are fond of points.
11th Round
Best Pick:
2. Kelvin Cato, C, Dallas Mavericks - 9 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block per game from an 11th round pick? Yes, please. A lot of teams were forfeiting their pick in this round, the Mavs were finding a guy to give them 9, 7, and a block.
12th Round
Best Pick:
12. Matt Geiger, C, Atlanta Hawks - Baller. Giving ATL 5 and 5 a game.
I wanted to create a list of best and most disappointing picks of the draft, but thought it would be hard to compare value from a 6th round pick to a 1st rounder. Therefore, I decided to choose what I consider at this point to be the best value and most disappointing picks in each round of the initial creation draft.
DISCLAIMER: The following is strictly my opinion and my choices are obviously up for discussion. If you have your own nominees, feel free to comment in a reply. My choices are obviously not fact and in most cases I found it extremely hard to choose just one pick.
First Round -
Best Pick:
12. Tracy McGrady, SG, Chicago Bulls - This one was pretty hard to choose as nearly every pick in the first round has to be considered a good pick at this point. What this came down to was the fact that you can argue T-Mac is producing as well as anybody in the league, and he went 12th. That is great value. With the numbers he has to go along with his ratings, you would think that the guy is old and that is why he fell. Well, he is only 22. McGrady has the chance to be scary good.
Reason he fell: While the scouts thought McGrady was a great player, they were worried that he may have already maxed out his abilities. McGrady's scouted potential was only a "C". I believe this caused him to fall more than he should have as most of the guys drafted in the Top 10 had great ratings and B or better potential. I think McGrady's rating from the scouts is a little low and he will continue to improve. Even if he doesn't, the guy is already an MVP candidate and the best pick of the first round.
Teams who will regret passing on him: Charlotte (Rashard Lewis), LA Lakers (Jason Kidd)
Most Dissapointing Pick:
19. Eric Chenowith, C, Milwaukee Bucks - This one is obvious. The biggest head scratcher of the draft occurred at number 19 when the Milwaukee Bucks took center Eric Chenowith. Zany Bucks owner defended the pick immediately, but never offered his reasoning for taking Chenowith so high. The Bucks GM's true intentions will likely never be known, but regardless of strategy, this was a terrible pick. Chenowith could have been had much, much later in the draft.
What they were thinking: Who knows.
Who they could have had: Elton Brand, Grant Hill, Chris Webber, Shawn Marion, Rasheed Wallace, anyone besides Eric Chenowith
2nd Round
Best Pick:
8. Grant Hill, SF, Philadelphia 76ers - This was an extremely hard pick. There were tons of steals in the 2nd round. Hill earned the nod for best pick over Chris Webber, Stephon Marbury, Antonio McDyess, and Rasheed Wallace. Hill has been one of the top 10 players in the TMB NBA this year, and he was taken WAY too low in the 2nd round. In hindsight, Hill should have been a mid 1st rounder. Third in the league in scoring at 29.8 PPG, Hill has been all that Philly could have hoped for. Grant also averages 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. The guy is even 4th in the NBA in FT%. There isn't a flaw in his game.
Why he fell: Grant's age of 29 caused him to fall this far. Age played a huge role early in the draft, and this caused older players to fall further than they should. Even with a potential rating of B, the 29 next to Hill's name scared many owners away.
Who will regret passing on him: Spurs (Kwame Brown), Kings (Jerry Stackhouse)
Most Disappointing Pick:
16. Ben Wallace, PF, New Jersey Nets - Wallace plays defense and rebounds. He is a valuable player to have on your team, but I think he went a little high at 16 in the 2nd round. Ben is a poor offensive player, awful FT shooter, and has likely not lived up to the rebounding and defense that New Jersey was hoping for when they made the selection. Despite his stout reputation and ratings, Big Ben is only average 10.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Those numbers are quite good, but similar numbers are being put up by guys taken later in the draft.
What they were thinking: After having already locked up two studs in Allen Iverson and Shawn Marion, the Nets were looking to shore up their defense and rebounding and decided to take Wallace. They likely expected a little more out of Ben in those areas than he has provided. Also, New Jersey did not pick again until the end of round 6 so they may regret not choosing someone else who could score the basketball. New Jersey ending up shipping out Shawn Marion effectively breaking up what they hoped to be their version of the "Big 3", but they look poised to end up with the #1 overall pick in the 2002 player draft.
Who they could have had: Predrag Stojakovic, Allan Houston, Karl Malone
Third Round
Best Pick:
3. Andre Miller, PG, Portland Trailblazers - Andre Miller is simply not putting up 3rd round numbers. Granted, he went early in the round, but he is putting up numbers comparable to the guys who went in the rounds ahead of him. Andre is averaging 20 pts, nearly 10 assists, and over 5 rebounds per game. Not to mention he has carried the young Blazers to the playoffs basically by himself.
Why he fell: His ratings are not particularly sexy, but he is getting the job done surprisingly well. Still, even with his ratings, he was widely regarded as one of the best players available at the time he was selected by Portland. I believe he fell due to others taking young guys with A potential before him.
Who will regret not taking him: Dallas late 2nd (Richard Jefferson), Memphis late 2nd (Kenyon Martin)
Most Disappointing Pick:
23. David Robinson, C, Phoenix Suns - This is more due to bad luck than anything as Robinson suffered a season ending broken leg after playing only 15 games. But now, on a Suns team looking to build for the future rather than compete now, Robinson is a waste. He put up respectable numbers in the 15 games he has played, but he is 36 years old and may retire quite soon. The Suns had to hope to get a little more bang for their buck in the 3rd round.
What they were thinking: At the time, the Suns were still looking to contend in the league's first season, but the Robinson injury effectively ended that dream. The Suns were hoping to snag one of the old guys who fell due to age a la Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. Only problem is that their old guy got hurt. It was a risk they were willing to take, and now one they likely regret.
Who they could have had: Michael Bradley, Darrell Armstrong, Stromile Swift, Damon Stoudamire
4th Round
Best Pick
22. Damon Stoudamire, PG, Boston Celtics - This was the round of the sleeper PG, as this choice came down to Stoudamire and Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets PG Darrell Armstrong. Stoudamire wins out as he has put up slightly better numbers, is 5 years younger, and was taken 12 picks later in the draft. How Stoudamire fell this fall is really baffling. The guy has solid rankings, still has plenty of tread left on the tires, and was available at the end of the 4th round. I don't get it. Damon is leading the NBA in assists at 10.8 per and is adding 16 points and 5 rebounds a contest as well.
Why he fell: I have to chalk this one up to age concerns, but even that does not fully explain this. GMs really dropped the ball on this one.
Who will regret not taking him: Any team who had not yet selected a PG.
Most Disappointing Pick:
18. Speedy Claxton, PG, Philadelphia 76ers - I realize that Speedy is young and still has time to develop, but right now his play has been disappointing. Philly has built a team that is ready to win now, and a solid PG could put this team over the top. Claxton is only providing them with 6.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. And he was taken with Damon Stoudamire still on the board. Think about a team with Grant Hill, Antonio McDyess and Damon Stoudamire. They would be scary.
What they were thinking: Speedy Claxton looked like a promising young PG who was great value in the 4th. I was a big Claxton fan myself in the draft, and had considered taking him as well. Claxton could still develop into a great PG, and he already provides solid D for the Sixers, but this is a team ready to win now, and developing a young PG is holding them back from being true title contenders.
Who they could have had: Damon Stoudamire, Terrell Brandon, Bonzi Wells
5th Round
Best Pick:
12. Keith Van Horn, SF, Golden State Warriors - A great pick made by the former Warriors GM, Keith Van Horn has provided incredible value for a 5th round draft pick. In the middle of the 5th, the Warriors were able to snag a guy who is averaging over 20 points and 7 rebounds a game for them from the SF spot. Van Horn is a big reason why the Warriors are a bit of a surprise currently sitting as the 2 seed in the West. Terrell Brandon was also considered here as he represents the final piece to the Raptors puzzle, but he has been injured for half of the season and the Raptors have shown they are fine without him.
Why he fell: Keith's ratings are not particularly sexy. He is good at lots of things, great at nothing. In fact, when comparing his production this season to his player ratings, one has to wonder if Van Horn will keep this up in future seasons. If he does, this pick will go down as a steal.
Who will regret passing on him: Detroit Pistons (Wally Szcerbiak), Suns (Jalen Rose)
Most Disappointing Pick
16. Reggie Miller, SG, Memphis Grizzlies - For a guy taken in the 5th round, Miller simply hasn't made much of an impact on his team. Miller comes off the bench for the Grizz and adds 8.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists a night. Guys taken much later in the draft are providing this type of production off the bench for their team. Also, Reggie is 36 years old and not going to be around long before he retires. You have to think Memphis would redo this pick if given the opportunity.
What they were thinking: Following in the footsteps of earlier successful picks, the Grizzlies were likely looking for a veteran who would make an instant impact on their team. Unfortunately, the impact has been minimal. Memphis could have grabbed someone young with lots of potential and have something to look forward to. Instead, Miller will likely retire in a few years while simply being an average guy off the bench.
Who they could have had: Juwan Howard, Clifford Robinson, Eric Snow, Joseph Forte
6th Round
Best Pick:
12. Joseph Forte, PG, Phoenix Suns - Forte is no longer on the Suns, but their owner found a gem when they drafted Forte in the 6th round. It was surprising that Forte's mix of talent and potential was available this late in the draft. After being traded to Sacramento, the Kings are now looking to build around Forte as part of their young core moving forward. As a 20 year old rookie PG, Joe is putting up 8 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game. If Forte develops his ball handling skills, he will turn into a great PG in this league. That is a fantastic value in the 6th round.
Why he fell: I feel like at this point in the draft, GMs were looking to fill out their starting lineups with players who would contribute now. Seeing a 20 year old PG with a C+ handling rating probably scared off some GMs. Also, most GMs were looking for veteran guys with better ratings in these middle rounds.
Who will regret not taking him: Nuggets (Khalid El-Amin) Spurs (Fred Hoiberg), Sixers (Chucky Atkins)
Most Disappointing Pick:
20. Patrick Ewing, C, Memphis Grizzlies - Another aging veteran selected by Memphis who has not panned out. Ewing has something left in the tank, but is simply not needed in Memphis. With a stud center like Alonzo Mourning ahead of him, Ewing has simply not made an impact on this team. You have to hope for more of an impact out of your 6th round pick if you are choosing an aging vet. Pat is averaging 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He is also 39 and likely to retire after the season.
What they were thinking: Memphis was likely expecting to be an instant contender, and thought Ewing could be the big man they needed off the bench. Turns out due to Zo he wasn't needed, and their team is a disappointing 33-34. If they aren't going to go all the way this year, Ewing's pick will have to be looked at as a failure as he will likely retire at season's end.
Who they could have had: Bryon Russell, Calvin Booth, Derrick Coleman, Jamaal Magloire
7th Round
Best Pick:
2. Mookie Blaylock, PG, Dallas Mavericks - The Mavericks can thank their current standing as the 4th seed in the West to the Blaylock pick. After sacrificing all of their middle round picks in order to move up and acquire the dynamic duo of Tim Duncan and Ray Allen, the Mavs found themselves without a pick (and a point guard) until the end of round 6. After opting for another solid pick in Jamaal Magloire at the end of 6, Dallas selected Mookie Blaylock, a surprisingly solid PG for that late in the draft. Blaylock was been vital Dallas' success this year averaging averaging 12 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and a league leading 2.4 steals per game.
Why he fell: Mookie fell due to his age and other owners looking to fill other positions before opting for a backup PG. Dallas took a big risk going this late into the draft without selecting a PG, but it has paid off big time.
Who will regret not taking him: Sixers (Courtney Alexander), Bucks (Michael Wright), Suns (Charlie Ward)
Most Dissapointing Pick:
20. Sean Lampley, SF, Sacramento Kings - It becomes very hard to find truly disappointing picks this late in the draft as there is very little risk associated with most of these choices, but I settled on Lampley as the guy for Round 7. I know he was drafted for potential, but he is not a guy I am overly impressed with as a prospect, and he hasn't produced much with his somewhat significant playing time of 17 minutes a game.
What they were thinking: Sacramento was drafting based on potential here, and it could still work out for them. It was hard to find a pick to fault in this round. Lampley will certainly be given the chance to develop with the Kings as they are a young squad looking toward the future.
Who they could have had Priest Lauderdale, Mark Blount
Round 8
Best Pick:
13. Priest Lauderdale, C, Detroit Pistons - This one was easy. Lauderdale is the clear prize of the 8th round. Detroit has to be quite happy to find a guy this late in the draft who can provide over 16 points and 7 rebounds a game. At 7'4 325, Priest is a load inside and his game still offers room to grow with B scouted potential. Detroit has to be excited about getting a guy who could play a role in their future this late in the draft.
Why he fell this far: Lack of name recognition. No one had heard of Priest Lauderdale before this draft. He played 2 seasons in the NBA, started 0 games, and averaged 3 points a game. His TMB career will certainly be more successful.
Who will regret passing on him: Every owner should. This was stupendous value for an 8th round selection.
Most Disappointing Pick:
5. Elden Campbell, C, Indiana Pacers - Indiana, more than any other team in the league, seems to be playing for the future. This was made obvious by their first two selections of Tony Parker and Lamar Odom. Campbell is a 33 year old center taken at the top of the round. Not a bad pick, but the Pacers have to be kicking themselves now knowing they could have had a guy like Lauderdale with this pick. He would fit in much better with the team's young core. Can't really blame them for this pick though.
What they were thinking: It's the 8th round, and I need a center.
Who they could have had: Priest Lauderdale
9th Round
Best Pick:
13. Bryant Reeves, C, Miami Heat - Reeves has been the starting C for Miami this year and has averaged close to a double double. 12.4 and 8.9 a game from your 9th rounder? Bravo sir, bravo.
Most Disappointing Pick:
N/A.
10th Round:
Best Pick:
3. Corliss Williamson, PF, San Antonio Spurs - Corliss is currently the #1 scoring option for the Spurs. He is averaging an outrageous 22 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This is not a 10th round pick. Possibly the best value pick in the draft, possibly simply a product of his environment. Someone has to score for that Spurs team.
Why he fell this far: Has previously been tagged with the nickname of "Scoreless". Clearly made GMs stay away as they are fond of points.
11th Round
Best Pick:
2. Kelvin Cato, C, Dallas Mavericks - 9 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block per game from an 11th round pick? Yes, please. A lot of teams were forfeiting their pick in this round, the Mavs were finding a guy to give them 9, 7, and a block.
12th Round
Best Pick:
12. Matt Geiger, C, Atlanta Hawks - Baller. Giving ATL 5 and 5 a game.
