Post by thickduck on May 8, 2009 18:13:21 GMT -8
West
Dallas Mavericks
Drafted:
3. Vin Baker PF 6'11'' 234 23 B+ B- C- C+ C- A
Grade: A-
Many thought Vin Baker was the top player in the draft. Vin has the game to step right in and be a top scorer. His potential is sky high. Great pick for the mavs to build around.
Denver Nuggets
Drafted:
11. Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 27 B+ B- C+ B- C+ B
Grade: A
Sabonis was the most NBA ready player in the draft. Some thought he was the best big man to enter the draft in years. And he fell to 11? Steal of the draft IMO. Sabonis joins Dikembe Mutombo to form the leagues best center tandem. However can they be on the court at the same time? If they can………look out!
Golden State Warriors
Drafted:
10. Allan Houston SG 6'6'' 200 22 C A- C+ C+ C B
Grade: B
Allan Houston is the best shooter in the draft. An assassin from behind the arc. However with Latrell Sprewell and Tim Hardaway already in the back court, a big time big like Sabonis or Kukoc might have been the better move. Allan Houston may be one of the best scorers in the league in a few years though.
Houston Rockets
Drafted: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be determined
Houston took a win now approach in trading away multiple 1st round picks. Their window for a championship may be four or five years at least so expect them to battle Utah and Phoenix for the right to represent the West in the Finals. No championship in the next five years would be a huge disappointment.
Minnestota Timberwolves
Drafted:
5. J.R. Rider SG 6'5'' 215 22 B B C- C C- A (moved up 4 spots to take him)
Grade: B+
Mr. Rider was the prolific scorer in this draft and I got mad respect for the Twolves for moving up and taking the only guy they had their eye on. Would Rider have still been there at 9? Maybe, but why take the chance. Strickland+Rider+Laettner= NASTY!!!
Phoenix Suns
Drafted:
24. Cori Blount PF 23 B C- D C+ B- B
Grade: B+
The Suns flirted with a rape trade with the Cavs, but the deal couldn’t get finalized. Suns stayed pat at #24 drafting the most NBA ready player at the time. Cori Blount is a great pick and can be a good role player for a team looking for a championship.
Portland Trailblazers
Drafted:
6. Rasheed Wallace PF 17 6'10'' C+ C+ C- C+ C- A (move up from 13)
Grade: B
Blazers were busy making trades draft night. Portland traded the pick #25 and their 1994 1st to Atlanta in exchange for the 13th pick, 32nd pick and Atlanta’s 1996 1st round pick. They then proceeded to trade #13, #20, and #32 to the Kings in order to take who they thought was the best player in the draft in Rasheed Wallace. At the time, it was a great move……….then he watched Kukoc (#2 on Portland’s board) fall past his original spot at 13. Sour Grapes…..but who could have predicted Kukoc was going to fall that far? Rasheed is a Blazer!
Sacramento Kings
Drafted:
13. Bobby Hurely PG 6'0'' 165 23 C+ B B+ C C- A
20. Carlos Rogers PF 6'11'' 220 20 C+ B C- C C- A
30. Terry Dehere
33. Rex Walters
36. Ronald Piggott
Grade: A
5 of the first 36 picks. 2 high potential players in Bobby Hurely and Carlos Rogers. Bobby Hurley was a top 5 pick in some mock drafts. Kings traded down from 6, got 3 early picks for it, and still drafted their man in Hurley. Great move for the Kings. Their future is really bright.
San Antonio Spurs
Drafted:
12. Lucious Harris SG 6'5'' 190 23 B B C- D C B
Grade: D
There were big time players still around at 12 and the Spurs drafted a 2nd tier SG in Harris. This is what happens when your not on when your pick is up, and you have not submitted a draft list.
Seattle Supersonics
Drafted:
15. Toni Kukoc SF 6'11'' 225 24 B- B- B- B- C C
Grade: A+
Best pick in the draft! Kukoc was the absolute steal of the draft. Kukoc is ready to go and can play at least 3 positions. This pick put Seattle into the contender category. Kukoc-Kemp-Payton is deadly and will have Seattle at the top for years to come
Utah Jazz
Drafted: no draft picks
Grade: traded 1st rounder in the Daugherty trade.
They’re the Champs……what’s not to love?
Winners
Seattle Supersonics
-steal of the draft in Kukoc
Sacramento Kings
-loaded up for the future
Losers
San Antonio Spurs
-Takes notes. get your draft list in.
Dallas Mavericks
Drafted:
3. Vin Baker PF 6'11'' 234 23 B+ B- C- C+ C- A
Grade: A-
Many thought Vin Baker was the top player in the draft. Vin has the game to step right in and be a top scorer. His potential is sky high. Great pick for the mavs to build around.
Denver Nuggets
Drafted:
11. Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 27 B+ B- C+ B- C+ B
Grade: A
Sabonis was the most NBA ready player in the draft. Some thought he was the best big man to enter the draft in years. And he fell to 11? Steal of the draft IMO. Sabonis joins Dikembe Mutombo to form the leagues best center tandem. However can they be on the court at the same time? If they can………look out!
Golden State Warriors
Drafted:
10. Allan Houston SG 6'6'' 200 22 C A- C+ C+ C B
Grade: B
Allan Houston is the best shooter in the draft. An assassin from behind the arc. However with Latrell Sprewell and Tim Hardaway already in the back court, a big time big like Sabonis or Kukoc might have been the better move. Allan Houston may be one of the best scorers in the league in a few years though.
Houston Rockets
Drafted: no 1st round pick
Grade: To be determined
Houston took a win now approach in trading away multiple 1st round picks. Their window for a championship may be four or five years at least so expect them to battle Utah and Phoenix for the right to represent the West in the Finals. No championship in the next five years would be a huge disappointment.
Minnestota Timberwolves
Drafted:
5. J.R. Rider SG 6'5'' 215 22 B B C- C C- A (moved up 4 spots to take him)
Grade: B+
Mr. Rider was the prolific scorer in this draft and I got mad respect for the Twolves for moving up and taking the only guy they had their eye on. Would Rider have still been there at 9? Maybe, but why take the chance. Strickland+Rider+Laettner= NASTY!!!
Phoenix Suns
Drafted:
24. Cori Blount PF 23 B C- D C+ B- B
Grade: B+
The Suns flirted with a rape trade with the Cavs, but the deal couldn’t get finalized. Suns stayed pat at #24 drafting the most NBA ready player at the time. Cori Blount is a great pick and can be a good role player for a team looking for a championship.
Portland Trailblazers
Drafted:
6. Rasheed Wallace PF 17 6'10'' C+ C+ C- C+ C- A (move up from 13)
Grade: B
Blazers were busy making trades draft night. Portland traded the pick #25 and their 1994 1st to Atlanta in exchange for the 13th pick, 32nd pick and Atlanta’s 1996 1st round pick. They then proceeded to trade #13, #20, and #32 to the Kings in order to take who they thought was the best player in the draft in Rasheed Wallace. At the time, it was a great move……….then he watched Kukoc (#2 on Portland’s board) fall past his original spot at 13. Sour Grapes…..but who could have predicted Kukoc was going to fall that far? Rasheed is a Blazer!
Sacramento Kings
Drafted:
13. Bobby Hurely PG 6'0'' 165 23 C+ B B+ C C- A
20. Carlos Rogers PF 6'11'' 220 20 C+ B C- C C- A
30. Terry Dehere
33. Rex Walters
36. Ronald Piggott
Grade: A
5 of the first 36 picks. 2 high potential players in Bobby Hurely and Carlos Rogers. Bobby Hurley was a top 5 pick in some mock drafts. Kings traded down from 6, got 3 early picks for it, and still drafted their man in Hurley. Great move for the Kings. Their future is really bright.
San Antonio Spurs
Drafted:
12. Lucious Harris SG 6'5'' 190 23 B B C- D C B
Grade: D
There were big time players still around at 12 and the Spurs drafted a 2nd tier SG in Harris. This is what happens when your not on when your pick is up, and you have not submitted a draft list.
Seattle Supersonics
Drafted:
15. Toni Kukoc SF 6'11'' 225 24 B- B- B- B- C C
Grade: A+
Best pick in the draft! Kukoc was the absolute steal of the draft. Kukoc is ready to go and can play at least 3 positions. This pick put Seattle into the contender category. Kukoc-Kemp-Payton is deadly and will have Seattle at the top for years to come
Utah Jazz
Drafted: no draft picks
Grade: traded 1st rounder in the Daugherty trade.
They’re the Champs……what’s not to love?
Winners
Seattle Supersonics
-steal of the draft in Kukoc
Sacramento Kings
-loaded up for the future
Losers
San Antonio Spurs
-Takes notes. get your draft list in.
