Post by HyperYellow on May 18, 2015 6:03:37 GMT
Some GMs like to draft their historically favourite players, some draft for team need, others go the best player available route - even go as far as forking out GM cash to scout that potential. The occasional diamond in the rough is dug up, but more often than not that player who was supposed to help the team take that step closer to Championship Glory does not pan out as expected.
This year's lottery saw two teams, the Knicks and Bucks select 5 of the 13 lottery picks which suggests they are building through the draft, can the youth they've bought in take their teams to the next level? Would another selection have suited them better? Are lottery picks going to find themselves getting lost in rotation?
Let's review the lottery and see if any teams have fucked up. At least short term?
Pick #1. Grant Hill. Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors came into the draft with a roster consisting of two untried centres, an untried PF, and a rag-tag bunch of wings and PGs. It could have been argued that their best player was SF Chuck Person. Person was capably supported by PG Ty Hudson. Between these two, a strong shooter's mentality existed. With shooters like Allan Houston and Eddie Jones on the board, a hard to mark triumvirate of shooters could have been assembled. This is why the selection of Grant Hill has me scratching my head, I just can't see how his offense is going to fit in.
What to look for: Expect masses of trades as the Raptors GM looks to instill an inside focus to get the best results out of Hill.
Grade: C
Pick #2. Penny Hardaway. Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coming in to the off-season led by an aging Kareem, the Cavs traded him away to heavily invest in the future that is Penny Hardaway, and the $10 mill contract that is Reggie Lewis. At this stage of the draft they 3 SFs, 3PGs, and 1 SG. Now consider the market for bigs in this league and try to convince me that this was a good move. Saving grace might come in the form of using a bit of the $15 mill cap space up his sleeve, but again, consider the dearth of quality size around.
What to look for: Penny won't lead rookies in any category this year.
Grade: C
Pick #3. Glenn Robinson. Detroit Pistons
With the deepest roster of all the top 3 selectors, GM themouth had probably the easiest time selecting so far. Their weakest position probably was SG, but the versatility of Dennis Scott opened the door for a BPA style pick. Enter the Big Dog. Robinson would have complimented Webber and Scott superbly with his inside outside game. Alas, it was not to be.
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What to look for: Another trade before the season is over?
Grade: B+
Pick #4. Allan Houston. Denver Nuggets.
Could the Nuggets have drafted any better at #4? With Mills, Bess and Huertas young and already accomplished shooters, could other team needs be addressed? Bess at "B" is their best perimeter defender, but Houston adds that 4th scorer. Can a team compete on the glass when a back-up PF/C is your best rebounder? GM springs will have fun setting DCs this season!
What to look for: A clean slate to work with.... next season.
Grade: C
Pick #7. Brian Grant. Cleveland Cavaliers.
After what I thought was a terrible selection at 2, Cleveland got their off-season back on track with the selection of the rebounding Rasta - Brian Grant. With mentoring he could lead this team in rebounds and points per game - Could that be where the FA money will be spent by entrapy this off-season?
This year's lottery saw two teams, the Knicks and Bucks select 5 of the 13 lottery picks which suggests they are building through the draft, can the youth they've bought in take their teams to the next level? Would another selection have suited them better? Are lottery picks going to find themselves getting lost in rotation?
Let's review the lottery and see if any teams have fucked up. At least short term?
Pick #1. Grant Hill. Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors came into the draft with a roster consisting of two untried centres, an untried PF, and a rag-tag bunch of wings and PGs. It could have been argued that their best player was SF Chuck Person. Person was capably supported by PG Ty Hudson. Between these two, a strong shooter's mentality existed. With shooters like Allan Houston and Eddie Jones on the board, a hard to mark triumvirate of shooters could have been assembled. This is why the selection of Grant Hill has me scratching my head, I just can't see how his offense is going to fit in.
Grant Hill - in for a devil of a season in Toronto.
What to look for: Expect masses of trades as the Raptors GM looks to instill an inside focus to get the best results out of Hill.
Grade: C
Pick #2. Penny Hardaway. Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coming in to the off-season led by an aging Kareem, the Cavs traded him away to heavily invest in the future that is Penny Hardaway, and the $10 mill contract that is Reggie Lewis. At this stage of the draft they 3 SFs, 3PGs, and 1 SG. Now consider the market for bigs in this league and try to convince me that this was a good move. Saving grace might come in the form of using a bit of the $15 mill cap space up his sleeve, but again, consider the dearth of quality size around.
Wayne Yates: B- C+ B+ C C C. 8.7 ppg
What to look for: Penny won't lead rookies in any category this year.
Grade: C
Pick #3. Glenn Robinson. Detroit Pistons
With the deepest roster of all the top 3 selectors, GM themouth had probably the easiest time selecting so far. Their weakest position probably was SG, but the versatility of Dennis Scott opened the door for a BPA style pick. Enter the Big Dog. Robinson would have complimented Webber and Scott superbly with his inside outside game. Alas, it was not to be.
Robinson has yet to plant his feet, and game in the NBAD League
Grade: B+
Pick #4. Allan Houston. Denver Nuggets.
Could the Nuggets have drafted any better at #4? With Mills, Bess and Huertas young and already accomplished shooters, could other team needs be addressed? Bess at "B" is their best perimeter defender, but Houston adds that 4th scorer. Can a team compete on the glass when a back-up PF/C is your best rebounder? GM springs will have fun setting DCs this season!
Will there be enough shots to go around in Denver?
What to look for: Who's ego will allow them to come off the bench as a 6th man scorer?
Grade: B-
Pick #5. Jamal Mashburn. San Antonio Spurs.
Does the selection of another SF mean admission of Ceballos failure? With the best big men in this draft being PFs, and no PFs on the Spurs roster what else are we to think? With the best ball handlers in the draft still on the board, does it mean Robert Pack is the PG of the future in San Antonio? There is still some cap room to play with, so we can't write the Spurs of yet, but we'll have a pretty good idea of how their season will go immediately after Day 5.
Grade: B-
Pick #5. Jamal Mashburn. San Antonio Spurs.
Does the selection of another SF mean admission of Ceballos failure? With the best big men in this draft being PFs, and no PFs on the Spurs roster what else are we to think? With the best ball handlers in the draft still on the board, does it mean Robert Pack is the PG of the future in San Antonio? There is still some cap room to play with, so we can't write the Spurs of yet, but we'll have a pretty good idea of how their season will go immediately after Day 5.
Unless trades are forthcoming, Monster-Mash will be standing akimbo often this season.
What to look for: A full youth movement in San Antonio. The end of the Drexler era.
Grade: C.
Pick #6. Eddie Jones. Houston Rockets.
Admittedly, there was a hole at SG in Houston, but was the hole at PF bigger? Can Houston afford to camp up Eddy Jones? Will a front court of Washburn and Vandeweghe create enough space for a slasher like Eddy? This could be Frazier's and Vandeweghe's swan song season, and unfortunately it looks like we'll be hearing a dirge.
Grade: C.
Pick #6. Eddie Jones. Houston Rockets.
Admittedly, there was a hole at SG in Houston, but was the hole at PF bigger? Can Houston afford to camp up Eddy Jones? Will a front court of Washburn and Vandeweghe create enough space for a slasher like Eddy? This could be Frazier's and Vandeweghe's swan song season, and unfortunately it looks like we'll be hearing a dirge.
This skinny bastard needs a steak, but will be fighting Jim Jackson for scraps.
What to look for: A clean slate to work with.... next season.
Grade: C
Pick #7. Brian Grant. Cleveland Cavaliers.
After what I thought was a terrible selection at 2, Cleveland got their off-season back on track with the selection of the rebounding Rasta - Brian Grant. With mentoring he could lead this team in rebounds and points per game - Could that be where the FA money will be spent by entrapy this off-season?
There won't be any lying down on the job in Cleveland for Grant this season.
What to look for: Big bids on decent bigs during FA.
Grade: A
Pick #8. Gheorghe Muresan. Milwaukee Bucks.
Is there a twin towers in the making in Milwaukee? If so, is Olajuwon fast enough to cover PFs? With neither Issel or Howard capable of starting SF duties, taking a gamble on Muresan developing was a mistake - at least on first inspection. A starting SF on MLE money? Do you believe the heatflash hype?
Grade: A
Pick #8. Gheorghe Muresan. Milwaukee Bucks.
Is there a twin towers in the making in Milwaukee? If so, is Olajuwon fast enough to cover PFs? With neither Issel or Howard capable of starting SF duties, taking a gamble on Muresan developing was a mistake - at least on first inspection. A starting SF on MLE money? Do you believe the heatflash hype?
Cs with any agility will bend Muresan over for buckets aplenty.
What to look for: Issel will need someone to push his wheel-chair around right? Come 'ere Gheorghe Boy!
Grade: D.
Pick #9. Vin Baker. Los Angeles Lakers.
With an even more balanced roster than Detroit, and the really hard decisions being made by GMs already, GM @blueblaze had the easiest decision so far, and you'd be happy as a Lakers fan with the direction she took. This team is young and is developing depth at every position. With Simpson and Green coming off the books next year, the NBAD league is the Lakers oyster.
Grade: D.
Pick #9. Vin Baker. Los Angeles Lakers.
With an even more balanced roster than Detroit, and the really hard decisions being made by GMs already, GM @blueblaze had the easiest decision so far, and you'd be happy as a Lakers fan with the direction she took. This team is young and is developing depth at every position. With Simpson and Green coming off the books next year, the NBAD league is the Lakers oyster.
Sit back and relax, enjoy the Lake Show ride. Like Vin here.
What to look for: Patience in LA as the team slowly fills it's potential.
Grade: B
Pick #10, Nick Van Exel. Orlando.
Dear me. I'm struggling to find anything good about this selection... OK, NVE will make a nice back-up for Trae Young and Michael Porter... at least until he fulfills his "good" potential. Flip has the cap flexibility to build around the core of Porter, but why take someone at your second best position already?
Grade: B
Pick #10, Nick Van Exel. Orlando.
Dear me. I'm struggling to find anything good about this selection... OK, NVE will make a nice back-up for Trae Young and Michael Porter... at least until he fulfills his "good" potential. Flip has the cap flexibility to build around the core of Porter, but why take someone at your second best position already?
Is "good" potential enough in this league?
What to look for: $22 mill in cap room being spent on 5 back-ups.
Grade: F
Pick #11. Sam Cassell. Detroit Pistons.
Terrell Brandon, I seem to recall someone saying he is the Pistons' PG of the future. Maybe I'm way off? Cassell does fit in to the Piston line-up nicely. Gives them 2 players C through to PG, add that to the cap room and a potential beast is born in Detroit. Centre is still the obvious gap here though, and as mentioned before there aren't a lot around.
What to expect: Outside shooting camps and ACs for Ewing.
Grade. C
Pick #13. Juwan Howard. Milwaukee Bucks.
Did I say twin towers before? Bucks have a big 6 and nobody to get them the ball, and no cap room to bring someone in for that. BPA you say? I don't buy it. This is a pick that sets up the Bucks for another year of tanking. Issell and King end their contractual obligations to the Bucks at the end of this season, so with another good lotto pick and good cap room, Olajuwon SHOULD be talking rings before he is 30.
Not happy JuwAN.
What to look for: Almost as much patience as the Lakers fans.
Grade: B-
Grade: F
Pick #11. Sam Cassell. Detroit Pistons.
Terrell Brandon, I seem to recall someone saying he is the Pistons' PG of the future. Maybe I'm way off? Cassell does fit in to the Piston line-up nicely. Gives them 2 players C through to PG, add that to the cap room and a potential beast is born in Detroit. Centre is still the obvious gap here though, and as mentioned before there aren't a lot around.
No picture available.
What to expect: Indecision as to who will start at PG for the next 3 seasons at least.
Grade: B
Pick #12. Jalen Rose. New York Knicks.
I believe GM @supermaor drafted Rose with the intention of playing him at PG. So not sure why Bobby Hurley was overlooked. Rose's balanced scoring ability will compliment Detlef Schrempf nicely, but you'd think a team with Ewing might be constructed differently?
Grade: B
Pick #12. Jalen Rose. New York Knicks.
I believe GM @supermaor drafted Rose with the intention of playing him at PG. So not sure why Bobby Hurley was overlooked. Rose's balanced scoring ability will compliment Detlef Schrempf nicely, but you'd think a team with Ewing might be constructed differently?
Fingers crossed for a good season Jalen.
What to expect: Outside shooting camps and ACs for Ewing.
Grade. C
Pick #13. Juwan Howard. Milwaukee Bucks.
Did I say twin towers before? Bucks have a big 6 and nobody to get them the ball, and no cap room to bring someone in for that. BPA you say? I don't buy it. This is a pick that sets up the Bucks for another year of tanking. Issell and King end their contractual obligations to the Bucks at the end of this season, so with another good lotto pick and good cap room, Olajuwon SHOULD be talking rings before he is 30.
Not happy JuwAN.
What to look for: Almost as much patience as the Lakers fans.
Grade: B-
