July 4, 2005

DEPTH OF NBA DRAFT THROWS SOME WRINKLES INTO PROCESS

      Well, outside of Portland taking a different high schooler and the Raptors taking somebody I didn’t even have ranked in the top sixteen I was pretty much bang on with the first eight picks in the draft.  After that…it’s a crapshoot.  And I said as much when I put together my mock draft.  This was a very deep draft.  So deep in fact that the player the Raptors had as high as sixteen, Roko Ukic, fell in their laps at 41.  That’s an unbelievable stroke of good fortune for a franchise that could use some good luck.

       It was very curious how Utah decided it was worth a couple of other picks to move up three places to select a point guard, Deron Williams, that just might have been there for them at number six.  The Jazz, though, seemed absolutely sold on Williams and believed he was the much better choice to lead them into the future as opposed to the other two highly ranked point guards Chris Paul and Raymond Felton.  Portland, on the other hand, made a trade with Utah to move down in the draft, and then traded a couple of later picks to Denver for…you guessed it, a point guard. 

       The draft really got going after the Knicks took Channing Frye.  There was much speculation, and derision, of the Raptors after their choice of Charlie Villenueva at seven, but realistically Frye is likely no better than a second string center and the Raptors decided to go for the better athlete.  It’s funny that when watching the draft and listening to a couple of blowhards like Stephen Smith and Dick Vitale--both were quick to criticize the Raptors for their pick but neither offered an intelligent alternative.  In retrospect, with the way the draft unfolded the Raptors were correct in assuming that the bigs would go early and they chose the big they wanted.  Whether Charlie V. turns out to be a solid pro only time will tell but the Raptors had the right sense in the way the draft was unfolding.   Getting Joey Graham at sixteen was like unearthing gold.  Before the draft if any expert had foretold that the Raptors would get Graham and Ukic with their first two picks it would have been thought to be a successful draft; so then add on a solid athletic big man who can rebound--how is it possible to rate their draft as anything but a success?  The team scored three players that will be part of their ten-man rotation next year.

       So there was Isiah Thomas making a ton of moves trying to rework his unreworkable roster.  His team, the one he created with all his expensive additions, is now being treated with chlorine and a bullshit artist of such high quality is airbrushing his players in an attempt to make himself look good.  Isiah may have been a great player, but he is far short of that as an executive.  He moves Kurt Thomas, his most experienced big man, out of a crowded frontcourt, only to add a youngster to it, and then he acquires a small point guard he hopes will become another Damon Stoudamire.  The Knicks will continue to turn their players over as they stumble around at the bottom of the division.

       Let’s talk about those that made very questionable decisions.  What were the New Jersey Nets thinking?  With all the criticism surrounding the Raptors choice, why wasn’t there any left for the Nets who went a chose a small forward with their first choice when they already have two very expensive all-star caliber players at that position.  Are they expecting Vince Carter to begin to slide now that he’s grown comfortable in the Swampland?  And how about the Lakers?  Was the organization listening too closely when rehired coach Phil Jackson said that the team would be fortunate if they could be competitive in three years?  How else to explain the choice of a high school center who will likely take that long before he becomes even a rotation player in the NBA.  And how about the Clippers choosing a Russian teenager?  Does this team really think it should be looking two years down the road when they haven’t made the playoffs since Shaq O’Neal was a baby?  And lastly, how will Orlando feel if the man they finally feel will fill their center spot isn’t able to get out of his Spanish league contract for two years?  It could happen?

       A few teams had talented players simply fall into their laps.  The Boston Celtics sitting at 18 weren’t sure what kind of player would be available.  How about high schooler Gerald Green projected to go in the top six.  How about that for a bonus.  Or Danny Granger falling to Indiana at 17?  With so many questions concerning Granger’s health—he has bad knees—his stock plummeted.  Memphis was ecstatic to get Hakim Warrick at 19 and the Nuggets were thrilled to pick up Julius Hodge at 20.

       Some nice second round selections—shooting star Salim Stoudamire was picked by Atlanta with the first pick of the round and could prove to be a valuable addition as long as he curtails his selfish ways.  The Lakers taking Ronny Turiaf at 37 was a solid choice and Golden State figured…what the hell and took high schooler Monta Ellis at 40.

       I think that Andrew Bogut will have a better first year, but that Marvin Williams, in the long run, will turn out to be the better player.  I think that each of the three point guards chosen early will play an integral role in developing their particular teams into contenders—but I think a later draft choice, Jarrett Jack now with Portland, may turn out to be the best of the bunch.  I think a soft Channing Frye will find New York far too difficult a place to play, and I think Joey Graham will be a starter for the Raptors before a third of the season passes.  And I still believe there is a major trade coming from Toronto, possibly even including the aforementioned Charlie V.  What am I thinking?  Babcock is far too conservative for a major trade—unless he’s forced into it. And speaking of trades does that Vince Carter debacle still look so bad?  Graham is one of the picks the Raptors received, and they have one more pick, nice and high, next year as well.  Might not turn out to be such a bad trade after all.