Post by thickduck on May 7, 2009 21:17:39 GMT -8
East
Atlanta Hawks- Maybe the most active team during the draft.
Hawks lost:
The 5th Pick (traded down 4 spots to Minnesota)
the 13th pick
the 32nd pick
1996 1st rounder (to Portland)
1994 1st rounder (Orlando‘s pick to Minnesota)
Hawks gained:
The 9th Pick
the 25th pick
1994 1st (Portland)
1994 1st (Minnesota)
1994 1st (Charlotte)
1994 1st (Indiana)
Lasalle Thompson’s shitty contract (Buyout looming?)
Drafted:
9. Calbert Chaeney SG 6'7'' 23 B- B C+ C- C A
25. Byron Russel SF C C C- B C+ A
Grade: A-
Atlanta took advantage of their huge cap room by exchanging 1994 1st rounders for a couple shitty contracts. Atlanta brightened their future big time and are looking at 5 first round picks next year.
Boston Celtics
Drafted:
7. Nick Van Exel PG 22 6'1'' 170 C+ B- B- B C- A
Grade: B+
When draft picks were flying around like crazy, Boston stayed pat and snatched their PG of the future in Nick Van Exel. Van Exel is a stud and will be a strong nucleus to a rebuilding Franchise.
Charlotte Hornets
Drafted:
19. Lindsey Hunter PG 6'2'' 195 22 D+ B C- B C- A
Grade: B-
With the loss of Muggsy Bogues, Charlotte had to go out and grab a PG who could join young stars Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning in their quest for a Championship. However they handed their 1994 1st rounder to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta taking a couple mid-level contracts of their hands. Was that a good move? We’ll find out next year.
Chicago Bulls:
Grade: to be determined
Bulls traded their 1993 and 1996 1st rounders to Portland for Clyde Drexler. Not a bad 6th man! A great move for a team who will be the league favorite for the next 3 years at least. The Bulls have sold away a bunch of their future picks in hopes of a title. If they don’t win one in the next few years, it’ll be a huge disapointment
Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted:
17. Shawn Bradley C 7'6'' 248 21 B- C- C B- C+ B
26. Aaron Williams 23 B- D C- B- B- C
27. Chris Mills SF 22 B- B- C- C B- C
Grade: A
The Cavs blew up their team looking to start over fresh. They may have struck gold with young giant Shawn Bradley. A hell of a piece to build a franchise around. They also got great value in two NBA ready players, Aaron Williams and Chris Mills
Detroit Pistons
Drafted:
1. Jamal Mashburn SF 20 B+ C+ C B- C A
Grade: B+
Was Mashburn the top player in the draft? Some may have questioned the pick, but The Pistons grabbed their superstar who can put butts back in the seats in Big D
Indiana Pacers
Drafted:
21. George Muresan C 7'7'' 303 23 B D- D- B- C+ B
Grade: B-
George Muresan is a very interesting prospect. However with Ric Smits and Dale Davis already on the roster, Muresan didn’t really fill a need. 15 ft of center does sound pretty nasty though.
Miami Heat
Drafted:
8. Bruce Bowen SF 23 6'7'' 185 C+ B- C- A C- A
Grade: C
Miami had all their stars jump ship to free agency, and the first bullet they load back into the gun is Bruce Bowen? Bowen is an All Star caliber defender right now, but he probably would have been there at least five picks later. With potential superstars, Kukoc and Sabonis falling, Miami could have got great value vor moving down a few spots.
Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted:
3. Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 260 18 B- C+ C C+ C+ A
Grade: B+
A big man who can bang down low and then step out and bust a three right in your face doesn’t come around very often. Big Z was the perfect pick to start rebuilding a depleted franchise. Did I mention he is only 18 years only?
New Jersey Nets
Drafted:
14. James Robinson SG 6'2'' 195 20 B- C C C+ C A
Grade: B-
Robinson has tons of potential, but is very raw. It may be 2 or 3 years before he can contribute. The Nets maybe kicking themselves real soon for passing on potential superstars Toni Kukoc and Shawn Bradley.
New York Knicks
Drafted:
22. Ervin Johnson 21 C/PF B- D-C- B B+ C
Grade: A
The Knicks Franchise big man Patrick Ewing decided to head the free agency route. Ervin Johnson reminds many of Ewing, but will he make New York forget about Ewing? Probably not, but at #22.…..he was an outstanding pick!
Orlando Magic
Draft: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be determined
Orlando traded their 1993 1st round pick in the Dominique Wilkins trade. The trade looks really good right now, but Orlando needs to win right now. Wilkins and Shaq proved this year that they can’t win by themselves. They need more talent around them.
Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be Determined
76ers are in the same boat as Orlando. They traded 3 of their next 5 first round picks in order to win right now. They made it to the conference semi-finals, but they’re looking for more.
Washington Bullets
Drafted:
2. Sam Cassell
Grade: A-
Franchise PG. Enough said! Cassell is the perfect man to hold the reigns. Washington may be drafting around this spot next year too, but Cassell is the first piece to the puzzle
Big Winners:
-Atlanta Hawks
don’t agree? Wait till next year…….5 first round picks
-Cleveland
watch out for Shawn Bradley
Big Losers:
-Miami Heat
reached for Bruce Bowen.
-New Jersey Nets
reached for James Robinson while Kukoc and Bradley were sliding steals
Atlanta Hawks- Maybe the most active team during the draft.
Hawks lost:
The 5th Pick (traded down 4 spots to Minnesota)
the 13th pick
the 32nd pick
1996 1st rounder (to Portland)
1994 1st rounder (Orlando‘s pick to Minnesota)
Hawks gained:
The 9th Pick
the 25th pick
1994 1st (Portland)
1994 1st (Minnesota)
1994 1st (Charlotte)
1994 1st (Indiana)
Lasalle Thompson’s shitty contract (Buyout looming?)
Drafted:
9. Calbert Chaeney SG 6'7'' 23 B- B C+ C- C A
25. Byron Russel SF C C C- B C+ A
Grade: A-
Atlanta took advantage of their huge cap room by exchanging 1994 1st rounders for a couple shitty contracts. Atlanta brightened their future big time and are looking at 5 first round picks next year.
Boston Celtics
Drafted:
7. Nick Van Exel PG 22 6'1'' 170 C+ B- B- B C- A
Grade: B+
When draft picks were flying around like crazy, Boston stayed pat and snatched their PG of the future in Nick Van Exel. Van Exel is a stud and will be a strong nucleus to a rebuilding Franchise.
Charlotte Hornets
Drafted:
19. Lindsey Hunter PG 6'2'' 195 22 D+ B C- B C- A
Grade: B-
With the loss of Muggsy Bogues, Charlotte had to go out and grab a PG who could join young stars Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning in their quest for a Championship. However they handed their 1994 1st rounder to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta taking a couple mid-level contracts of their hands. Was that a good move? We’ll find out next year.
Chicago Bulls:
Grade: to be determined
Bulls traded their 1993 and 1996 1st rounders to Portland for Clyde Drexler. Not a bad 6th man! A great move for a team who will be the league favorite for the next 3 years at least. The Bulls have sold away a bunch of their future picks in hopes of a title. If they don’t win one in the next few years, it’ll be a huge disapointment
Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted:
17. Shawn Bradley C 7'6'' 248 21 B- C- C B- C+ B
26. Aaron Williams 23 B- D C- B- B- C
27. Chris Mills SF 22 B- B- C- C B- C
Grade: A
The Cavs blew up their team looking to start over fresh. They may have struck gold with young giant Shawn Bradley. A hell of a piece to build a franchise around. They also got great value in two NBA ready players, Aaron Williams and Chris Mills
Detroit Pistons
Drafted:
1. Jamal Mashburn SF 20 B+ C+ C B- C A
Grade: B+
Was Mashburn the top player in the draft? Some may have questioned the pick, but The Pistons grabbed their superstar who can put butts back in the seats in Big D
Indiana Pacers
Drafted:
21. George Muresan C 7'7'' 303 23 B D- D- B- C+ B
Grade: B-
George Muresan is a very interesting prospect. However with Ric Smits and Dale Davis already on the roster, Muresan didn’t really fill a need. 15 ft of center does sound pretty nasty though.
Miami Heat
Drafted:
8. Bruce Bowen SF 23 6'7'' 185 C+ B- C- A C- A
Grade: C
Miami had all their stars jump ship to free agency, and the first bullet they load back into the gun is Bruce Bowen? Bowen is an All Star caliber defender right now, but he probably would have been there at least five picks later. With potential superstars, Kukoc and Sabonis falling, Miami could have got great value vor moving down a few spots.
Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted:
3. Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 260 18 B- C+ C C+ C+ A
Grade: B+
A big man who can bang down low and then step out and bust a three right in your face doesn’t come around very often. Big Z was the perfect pick to start rebuilding a depleted franchise. Did I mention he is only 18 years only?
New Jersey Nets
Drafted:
14. James Robinson SG 6'2'' 195 20 B- C C C+ C A
Grade: B-
Robinson has tons of potential, but is very raw. It may be 2 or 3 years before he can contribute. The Nets maybe kicking themselves real soon for passing on potential superstars Toni Kukoc and Shawn Bradley.
New York Knicks
Drafted:
22. Ervin Johnson 21 C/PF B- D-C- B B+ C
Grade: A
The Knicks Franchise big man Patrick Ewing decided to head the free agency route. Ervin Johnson reminds many of Ewing, but will he make New York forget about Ewing? Probably not, but at #22.…..he was an outstanding pick!
Orlando Magic
Draft: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be determined
Orlando traded their 1993 1st round pick in the Dominique Wilkins trade. The trade looks really good right now, but Orlando needs to win right now. Wilkins and Shaq proved this year that they can’t win by themselves. They need more talent around them.
Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be Determined
76ers are in the same boat as Orlando. They traded 3 of their next 5 first round picks in order to win right now. They made it to the conference semi-finals, but they’re looking for more.
Washington Bullets
Drafted:
2. Sam Cassell
Grade: A-
Franchise PG. Enough said! Cassell is the perfect man to hold the reigns. Washington may be drafting around this spot next year too, but Cassell is the first piece to the puzzle
Big Winners:
-Atlanta Hawks
don’t agree? Wait till next year…….5 first round picks
-Cleveland
watch out for Shawn Bradley
Big Losers:
-Miami Heat
reached for Bruce Bowen.
-New Jersey Nets
reached for James Robinson while Kukoc and Bradley were sliding steals
