|
Designated Red Shirt
OVR: 0
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,795
|
Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story
2013 NBA Draft Recap
By Aaron Vickers |ESPN.com
June 28, 2013
Draft night in the NBA is among the most exciting nights for all NBA team, but especially the ones that often find themselves in the higher parts of the draft. Every teams fans hope they can land that next star to help get their team in the playoffs or keep their team relevant during lean years. But the draft isn’t as pretty or magical as most would like to believe.
It can win games.
It can cost jobs.
The NBA’s most pressure-packed night had its share of surprises this year. First, some pre-draft trades:
DET sends #5 overall pick to LAC for Eric Bledsoe, 2nd round pick
With CP3 slated to re-sign with the Clippers Eric Bledsoe became expendable. The Clippers flipped him to Detroit -- who’s in desperate need of a true point guard -- for a top-five pick. Remember when the Clippers used to be a joke? The rest of the NBA isn’t laughing as they continue to succeed.
MINN sends D. Williams to CHA for 2015 2nd round pick, 2013 2nd round pick, right to swap 1st round picks in 2015 or 2016.
David Kahn is fighting for his job right now and his desperation is showing. Derrick Williams -- taken behind phenomenon Kyrie Irving -- hasn’t had a good time in Minnesota and has been dangled in trade rumors since he was drafted. Kahn may have been able to swing a first round pick for Williams if the former second overall pick had shown something but so far Williams looks like a bust. Charlotte gets a player that’s had struggles since getting to the NBA but hasn’t had a lot of time to show if he has anything to offer.
Giving up a pair of second round picks and the right to swap first round picks is a small price to pay for a player that was given up on by the team that drafted him.
SA sends Cory Joseph to CHA for B. Biyombo
The Spurs are doing what they do best: playing smart. Joseph hasn’t show much of anything in his time in San Antonio and his status as heir apparent to Tony Parker is no more. The Spurs ship him off for a young, raw, big in Bismack Biyombo who is a defensive prodigy that struggles in almost every other aspect of the game. Biyombo is only 20-years-old however and this gives the Spurs plenty of time to work with him and coax every bit of potential out of him.
For the Bobcats, this looks to be nothing more than a dump of salary as Biyomba makes twice as much as Joseph and produces nearly the same. It’s a lateral move for them but that’s a good move for the Bobcats … it’s better than a move that makes them worse.
***
Now we get to the good stuff. There weren’t too many head-scratchers this year in the draft as the rules from the new CBA are set to kick in fierce this coming season. Teams are cautious with their picks which now are so valuable due to the rookie contracts that selling them off (looking at you Sarver) is more than frowned upon: it’s a potential franchise killer.
Here are the picks:
1 CHA
PF/C Nerlens Noel
The Bobcats were high on Noel and one couldn’t blame them, at least from a statistical point. Averaging a near double-double and four blocks a game is nothing to sneeze at. His intangibles are high … a hard worker, a work out warrior, and someone who plays well with others, Noel has the requisite intangibles to be a franchise cornerstone.
But after tearing his ACL in February, Noel’s status as the presumptive number one overall pick took a hit. Injuries to big men have a way of scaring off NBA teams, especially ones that occur after the Greg Oden disaster that went down in Portland. Big men taken this high in the draft either do well or do horribly … you’re going to get a Dwight Howard (at least in terms of success) or a Greg Oden.
For the Bobcats, they hope it’s the former and not the latter.
2 NO
C Cody Zeller
The “Anthony Davis as a center” experiment did not go as well as the Hornets expected it to. Despite surrounding Davis with a stretch-four in Ryan Anderson, Davis struggled to score in the second-half of the season from the center position and was routinely dominated by taller, bigger, big men. Davis’ frame is such that he’s not ever going to be a true center … he’s more Kevin Garnett than Shaq and will always be that way.
So the Hornets did the sensible thing and drafted a big man who was a center in Cody Zeller to compliment Davis. Though Zeller is not as defensively accomplished as Davis is, he more than makes up for that with a variety of offensive skills that will still help Davis get some room in the paint to do work. The Hornets have a great foundation laid with Davis and Zeller in their front court.
3 SAC
SF James McAdoo
The Kings still remain in Sacramento, as Kevin Johnson managed to save the team at the last second, reminding everyone in Phoenix that he’s still as clutch a player off the court as on it. The new owners of the Kings are looking for a fresh start and address one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses with the drafting of James McAdoo.
McAdoo saw his draft stock shoot up after the combine and a long run in the NCAA Tournament. He’s a leader and someone who is versatile enough to guard the two, three, and four spots. For the Kings, this fills a hole they’ve had for years and helps the franchise move forward after the Maloof era.
4 ORL
SG Shabazz Muhammad
Shabazz Muhammad electrified the NCAA this past season with his play and that’s something the woeful Magic need. The stands remain half-empty at their fairly new arena and the franchise is still recovering from the Dwightmare. With all that said, Orlando turns this pick into its most exciting guard prospect since Tracy McGrady.
5 LAC (DET Trade)
SF Alex Poythress
The Clippers take a player with high potential but one that is incredibly raw on the offensive end in Alex Poythress. He didn’t have an outstanding year at Kentucky but he did show up in a big way in workouts. The Clippers drafted him based on need and want: Caron Butler will be a free agent after this season and the Clippers are not expected to sign him back. Poythress is the presumptive favorite to be the future at the three position but he’ll have to show some improvement in his offensive game.
But the Clippers have Chris Paul and he can make anyone look good.
6 WAS
SF Tony Mitchell
The Wizards are preparing for a post-Trevor Ariza world at the three spot and it can’t come soon enough. Ariza, a disappointment since arriving from NOLA, has expressed his desire to stay with the Wizards past this season but the Wizards are lukewarm on the idea. Enter Tony Mitchell, the sensation from North Texas. Mitchell has been known to showboat in games but generally is a team player. He’s not as versatile as McAdoo but what he lacks in versatility he more than makes up for in explosiveness, something the Wizards have lacked from the three spot for quite some time.
7 PHX
C Isaiah Austin
The Suns haven’t taken a center this early in the draft since Robin Lopez … that didn’t work out well for them but they hope Austin does better. At only 20-years-old, Isaiah Austin hasn’t reached his ceiling or even gotten close to it. The Suns are betting on that potential for more and are hoping he’ll be prepped for a starter’s role next year if they lose Marcin Gortat in free agency or are forced to trade him. Gortat’s situation has played a role in determining this pick but, judging by Phoenix’s many needs, they could have done worse.
8 CLE
SF CJ Leslie
CJ Miles? Alonzo Gee? Who are these guys?
Those would be the current threes the Cavs have but they should be supplanted in quick order by CJ Leslie. Leslie is a three that possesses a good shooting stroke and has room to grow into a good all-around player if given the proper instruction. Playing with Kyrie Irving and being coached by Bryon Scott should help Leslie reach that point sooner rather than later, giving the Cavs another valuable piece in their quest to build into a contender.
9 TOR
PG Myck Kabongo
Kyle Lowry is their current point guard but his loyalty to the Raptors is fickle at best. Lowry has expressed his interest in testing the free agent market after this season, The Raptors may not have the money by that time to help re-sign him. Enter Myck Kabongo (say that five times fast). Not only is his name hard to say and spell, he’s also a good point guard prospect in a draft that has a few of them. Kabongo is the more veteran of some of the point guards in this draft and the Raptors are hoping he’ll develop like Damian Lillard into a starter sooner rather than later.
10 CHA
PG Ryan Harrow
The Bobcats used their second pick in this draft to take a point guard, reuniting Noel with his teammate from Kentucky Ryan Harrow. Harrow and Noel grew close during Noel’s rehab from his torn ACL so that had to have something to do with this pick. Noel, statically, played better with Harrow at the point than anyone else on Kentucky but the sample size was small.
And that’s what this pick is really based on: a small sample size. Harrow didn’t do much to distinguish himself at Kentucky, especially during the Wildcats late season surge for the tournament which fell just short. Harrow has shown himself to be a player that shows flashes of greatness one night and the next virtually disappears. Is this because of the team he was on? Is this because he didn’t get consistent minutes? Or is this because Harrow himself is that inconsistent?
We won’t know for sure. The Bobcats, with this pick, have pretty much declared their intention not to pursue Darren Collison in free agency. That means that Harrow will likely sit behind Ramon Sessions for the season and get acclimated to the NBA game as bench player. This is an investment pick, one that won’t pay off for a few years at least.
11 BOS
C Rudy Gobert
The Celtics are an aging team. Despite having the freedom to do so Danny Ainge has refused to trade Rondo, Pierce, or Garnett (Garnett doesn’t want to be traded and won’t waive his clause). A full on rebuilding effort is not under way but the team is in a period of transition. They can still be competitive in a weak East but need to invest in the future.
That future could be the intriguing Rudy Gobert. The Frenchmen is one of the most interesting center prospects to come from overseas in years and the Celtics feel he could be a piece to a bright future. Combine him with Jared Sullinger and Avery Bradley, and the core doesn’t look to bad. Fab Melo, last year’s center pick, continues to struggle adjusting to the NBA.
Ainge is nothing if not practical and Boston is geared up for one more run.
12 MIN
C Steven Adams
The Timberwolves have struggled in recent drafts identifying needs and talent but it looks like, for once, they may have done all right. They take Steven Adams, the young big man from Pitt, and do so for two reasons:
first, Nikola Pekovic is not guaranteed to re-sign with them in free agency and second, the team needs bodies for the frontcourt. Adams fulfills both
these needs and isn’t a half bad player to boot.
13 ATL
PG Ray McCallum
The first pick the Hawks have in this draft goes to drafting a point guard, a position the Hawks need a bit of youth in. Jeff Teague is expected to re-sign with the team but having a bit of insurance doesn’t hurt, especially in a league where the point guard can make or break a team.
14 LA
PG Trey Burke
The Lakers don’t find themselves in this position often. In the lottery. Out of the playoffs. Old. Unexciting.
But don’t let that make you believe they’ll sit there and take it. LA is still LA and the Lakers used this pick for good, taking young point guard Trey Burke from Michigan. Burke can sit behind Steve Nash, a clear Hall of Fame player, and learn from the best in the game. He can also give this team a much needed infusion of youth and a better backup point than the Lakers have had in years. The question about Dwight Howard still hangs over this franchise's head but the Lakers do what they usually do: they move on.
15 ATL
C Alex Len
The second of the Hawks first round picks, they take a project in Alex Len from Maryland. Len is a true center and has the size to prove it. The Hawks will hope he develops enough of a game to be a starter for them in a few years time, when they’ll move Horford back to the four or trade him outright in order to make room for Len. If none of that happens, they can at least flip Len for something in the future … decent big men with potential are hard to find in this league.
16 MIL
SF Adonis Thomas
The Bucks have many questions and few answers. Will they bring Brandon Jennings back? Will Monta Ellis be traded?
One question they can safely answer is at the three. The young Adonis Thomas comes in from Memphis and instantly provides offense at a position that has been offensively offensive over the last few years. Thomas’ game on the defensive end is underdeveloped but in a few years time that shouldn’t be a major issue. If the Bucks can get Jennings back they’ll once again threaten for a playoff spot.
17 PHI
SG Archie Goodwin
Philly gets a young shooter, one that they desperately need since they’re unlikely to bring back Nick Young. Goodwin is a streaky player, one who gets hot then goes really cold. Hopefully, playing in Doug Collins’ system allows him to find the consistency he so lacked in college.
18 UTA
PG Ian Miller
Another point guard comes off the board the Jazz luck into what many considered the best point in the draft with Ian Miller. Miller was projected to go in the top twelve but slid due to a poor workout. The Jazz don’t expect to start him this year, instead searching in free agency for a point guard that can make an immediate impact, but Miller is a good investment that should pay off down the road.
19 POR
PF Patric Young
The Trailblazers are still unsure whether they want to bring back JJ Hickson, who played well for them this past year but may command too much money in free agency. Patric Young could easily replace Hickson in the lineup this year … though he does not excel on offense like Hickson does Young does excel on defense and showed a toughness and fire at Florida that any team would love.
20 GS
PF Mason Plumlee
Another Plumlee finds their way to the NBA and Mason arrives in a situation at Golden State that could see him get early minutes. After yet another Andrew Bogut injury last year the Warriors are quickly understanding what the Bucks knew all along: Bogut has difficulty staying on the court. Plumlee has been drafted as a backup to an injury prone big man and should be able to get some early minutes in if he can play competent defense in the paint.
21 BKL
SF Dario Saric
The Nets again take another Euro player and this one should be interesting to watch. Dario Saric is a 21-year-old from Greece who has one of the best shooting strokes of any European player. With the cap killing contract of Gerald Wallace ahead of him Saric isn’t expected to get starter’s minutes but he can shoot the lights out and provide offense where Wallace cannot.
22 LAC
SG/PG Nate Wolters
The Clippers continue to get younger while grabbing valuable assets with the drafting of Nate Wolters. Wolters is an intriguing combo guard prospect and one that may make a difference sooner rather than later with his play if the Clippers put him on the court.
23 NY
SG/SF Caldwell-Pope
He fell way, way down the draft board but Caldwell-Pope lands on a team that will play him immediately in the Knicks. Though Pope is more of two than a three, the Knicks bench was decimated by retirements this offseason and Pope’s defensive minded play, along with his outside shot, will net him immediate minutes as the Knicks mount one last challenge for a title before being forced to examine whether they really have a team they can win a title with.
24 DEN
SG/PG CJ McCollum
Though he played point in college, McCollum is likely to be shifted to the two spot in the NBA due to his shooting stroke and his less than stellar passing ability. Denver is a team that is built around depth and assets, and McCollum provides both. With AI in free agency and Denver unsure if he’ll re-sign, the Nuggets cover themselves with this pick.
25 SA
SG CJ Wilcox
The Spurs take Wilcox for two reasons: outside shooting and youth. Wilcox won’t contribute much this year but in the future he could be valuable. The Spurs have not had the best of luck drafting guards though as most end up being nothing more than bench players.
26 MEM
SF Otto Porter
Tayshaun Prince isn’t getting any younger and a protégé for him was needed. Enter Otto Porter, versatile defensive ace from Georgetown. Porter isn’t known for much more than his hustle, heart, and head but he and Prince are a good match. Memphis will be better for this sooner rather than later.
27 CHI
PF Trevor Mbakwe
Word from the Bulls is that Carlos Boozer will either be traded or amnestied at the start of free agency. The Bulls are desperate to get out from under his contract. Gibson supplanted Boozer as a starter against the Heat, helping the Bulls beat the defending champs as Boozer stewed on the bench. He’s made it clear he doesn’t feel he’s a bench player and will not come off the bench.
Teams are wary of his contract and attitude. The Bulls have made it clear with this pick that Boozer is gone, one way or another. Trevor Mbakwe is the kind of player the Bulls like and he’s smart. Being 24-years-old is generally frowned upon for a rookie in today’s NBA but the Bulls value the seasoning he already has and look to incorporate him into their bench mob.
28 IND
PF Rakeem Christmas
Tyler Hansbrough is likely going to be let go in free agency along with David West. The Pacers were not pleased with either of them during their embarrassing loss to the Sixers in the playoffs and are going to retool during the offseason. Rakeem Christmas is the beginning of that process. Christmas, though not highly touted coming into the draft, has impressed teams with his knowledge and workouts. He’s a 21-year-old who’s very mature and a quick learner.
29 MIA
PF Alex Oriakhi
Miami needs some youth and Alex Oriakhi provides that. A disappointing workout and performance in the NCAA tournament hurt his draft stock but he falls into a good place where he can learn from some of the best in the game.
30 OKC
PG Lorenzo Brown
With Eric Maynor in free agency the Thunder take Brown as a replacement or, if Maynor re-signs, an asset to be dealt later. The champions don’t have many needs but will gladly stockpile youth on a team that looks to be a threat for titles for years to come.
|
02-21-2013, 12:40 PM
