NBA Draft: Point Guard Preview

The point guard class of the 2010 NBA Draft class is not super deepn, but it is strong at the top. The top pick in the draft will be John Wall, a PG from Kentucky, one of the best prospects to enter the draft from the college game in a while.

Wall only played one season at Kentucky, but he mad the most of it. He is a dynamic athlete, and could eventually be the most athletic PG in the NBA at 6'4''. He is not a great shooter yet, but he has all of the other skills necessary to be a great PG in the Association. He is unselfish with the ball, extremely quick (he is lethal in transition, and can get to the rim almost any time he wants), and he steps up his game in big moments. He hit the game-winner in his first collegiate game. As a hyped freshman, he was among the nation's leaders in assists on a 3-loss team that was very young. He will be a great player, and will be excellent from day one.

The next best PG in the draft might be one of Wall's teammates, Eric Bledsoe. Even though he was largely overshadowed by Wall, pro scouts love his potential, and he is the only other true PG that has a chance to be drafted in the lottery. He can play on the ball or off the ball, has a good handle and jump shot, and should be a solid contributor in the NBA. He is not as ready as Wall to contribute in the NBA, but he should be a solid pro.

Terrico White out of Mississippi is not a true PG, but he should be able to play the position in the pros, kind of like Tyreke Evans (though he doesn't have that type of talent). He is very athletic, and can score in a variety of ways. He will be a solid player if he gets to go to a fast paced club.He can fill it up and make plays above the rim, which is vital for success as an athletic guard in the NBA. He has a chance to get drafted in the first round.

The PG position is not very deep at all, as likely only one point guard will get drafted in the lottery, and there will be very few true point guards in the draft. However it is strong at the top, as John Wall will be the top pick and the best player of this class, representing the point guard position well.

2009 NBA Draft Preview: Power Forwards

This article can also be found here.

When looking at the power forward class of the 2009 NBA Draft, the conversation obviously begins with Blake Griffin from Oklahoma. He considered entering the draft after his freshman season (where he could have been a lottery pick), but decided to come back for one more year at Oklahoma to refine his game. It turned out to be a great decision. He absolutely dominated the college ranks as a sophomore, winning national player of the year awards and looking like a man among boys, and enters the draft as the undisputed #1 pick, the lone sure thing in a weak draft.

The numbers he put up were eye-popping. He averaged 22.7 PPG, lead the NCAA in rebounding at 14.4 RPG. Just for good measure, he also averaged over 2 APG, and one steal and block per game. He did this while shooting a staggering 65% from the field. But it wasn't even just the numbers, it was the way he did it. Physically, he was no match for anyone in the college game, meaning he should be ready to play right away. He can finish with either hand by the basket, and shows refined post moves. He outmuscles opponents for rebounding, and can get great position at any time. He knows how to use his body down low very well, and is very crafty in the post. His athletic ability is excellent for a big man, and he has a good handle on the ball. He needs to show more assertiveness and focus on the defensive side of the basketball, but that is just a small qualm. He will be the first pick in the draft, and he looks very ready to make an immediate impact in the NBA.

The next power forward off the board will be Jordan Hill from Arizona, who looks like he will potentially go in the top 5. He is a very high energy guy, and his game most looks like a more highly skilled Anderson Varajeo. He was one of the most improved players in college basketball this year. He has turned into a decent scorer down low. Mostly though, he is a very high energy rebounder and defensive player. He will do all of the little things necessary to win. If he can continue to develop his offensive game, he will be a very good NBA player. At worst, he should be a very good rotation player.

After that, there are a few different guys that could go off the board. One is Dejuan Blair from Pittsburgh. He is undersized at 6'7'', and there are some physical concerns about him, but he has lots of positives. Most chiefly, he is a great rebounder. He is very strong, and knows how to work his way into position. He is especially adept at grabbing offensive rebounds. He is a crafty low post scorer, and showed against Hasheem Thabeet that he can score even against players much bigger than him. He is one of the toughest players in the draft, and that should help him in his transition to the faster, stronger NBA game.

Then there is Tyler Hansbrough. Of course, he had a very distinguished collegiate career, with all sorts of awards, records, and a national title. Unfortunately, none of that means anything anymore. He is probably the hardest worker in the draft, but will his lack of elite athleticism hurt him? He can score in a variety of ways, and you know that he will work harder than anyone else at improving his weaknesses, but how high is his ceiling? That is the question teams will be asking. Finally there is James Johnson from Wake Forest, a guy who could go at high as in the late lottery. He has a lot of potential and talent, but he doesn't always have the consistency to go along with it.

So when looking at the power forwards in this year's draft, Blake Griffin is obviously the guy that stands out. He is the consensus #1 pick in the draft and the most sure thing in the draft. After him, there are a couple potential lottery picks, but nobody else that will have near the impact of Griffin. It will be interesting to see how things shake out!

NBA Draft 2009 Preview: Small Forwards

There is no way to sugar coat it - the small forward position looks to be the weakest position in a weak draft. There might not be anyone at that position drafted in the lottery, and there does not appear to be a whole lot of depth at the position either. There are some guys with the potential to be very good players, but there is nobody within the group that has been able to combine great athletic skills with consistently excellent basketball at the collegiate level. Which leaves basically two groups at the position - first, the guys with tools that have not consistently performed, and the guys that were great performers at the collegiate level but don't have the tools to be great NBA players.

The first small forward off the board could be Austin Daye from Gonzaga. He was a very highly touted prospect coming out of high school, but has never really been able to consistently put his game at the level that Mark Few hoped he would. Though he needs to bulk up, he has the height to cause all type of mismatch problems at SF, or the quickness to cause a lot of matchup problems at PF. He has shown at times that he can be both and efficient and explosive scorer. He only averaged 12.7 PPG, but he shot great percentages, showing the ability to both get to the rim, hit the midrange jumper, or hit from the outside. However, he had the tendency to explode one game, and then disappear the next, meaning you are not sure what you are going to get from him on a night to night basis. But his game is not all scoring. He is a solid rebounder (though again he needs to add bulk), ballhandler (for a man his size), and passer. If he had been able to put his game together on a consistent basis for the Zags, he could have been a top 5 pick. As it is, he will likely go sometime in the late lottery.

Next is Earl Clark, another guy with loads of potential but lots of questions about his game and about his consistency. If you would look only at his NCAA Tournament performances the past couple of years, you would think he was a top 10 pick, no questions asked. But when you look at his whole body of work, you start to question whether or not he will be able to bring it on an every night basis in the NBA. He can score both on the block or on the outside, and has a good enough handle to take his man off the dribble. He can get down and rebound, he is a great passer for a man his size, and he has the physical tools to be a solid defender. His great run in the NCAA Tournament should boost his stock, but scouts will still wonder why he could not do that game after game throughout the season. Again, like Daye, he has the potential to be a very solid NBA player, but he also may never live up to his potential.

After that are a couple of tweeners... guys that played the 3 in college but might be better suited for the 2 in the NBA. Gerald Henderson from Duke is one of the most athletic players in the Draft, but he will likely fall out of the lottery. There are questions about his jumpshot and handle, and so it's hard to project his role in the NBA. He can defend, and he can use his athleticism on the break (which makes him ideal for a running team), but he might be a little limited other than that. Terrence Williams from Louisville is a guy that got better and better as his career went on. He doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but he solid all across the board. He is a solid shooter, great rebounder, and great passer. He can be a really good role player on a solid team.

The only other small forward that looks like he will be drafted in the first round for sure is Derrick Brown out of Xavier. He does not have the all-around game that some of the other small forward prospects have, but he is probably the most athletic of the bunch. He can fly up and down the court and jump out of the gym. This allows him to be a very good defender, as well as a solid slasher offensively. He can be very solid for an up-tempo team, as his athleticism allows him to be a menace on the break.

So there is not much star power or depth at the small forward spot in the 2009 NBA Draft. There might not be any taken in the lottery, and there is not a lot of depth throughout the rest of the first round to compensate for that. If a team is looking for a sure solution at this spot, they probably will not find it in the 2009 Draft.

NBA Draft 2009 Preview: Shooting Guards

This article can also be found here.

If you are looking for a franchise shooting guard in the 2009 NBA Draft, you best look elsewhere. There are some solid rotation players, and maybe someday an all-star or two amongst the group, but it is a position that is lacking in both star power and depth this year.

The head of the class is James Harden from Arizona St. In two years, he has helped turn the Sun Devils program around, being one of the most productive players in the country. While he is not blessed with great athletic ability, he is a very crafty, refined player. He is a silky smooth left-hander, with the ability to both hit the outside shot and get to the rim and score. He can rebound, pass, and defend. He will not wow you in any area, but he is just a very solid player. He will be helped by the weakness of the draft, as it should propel him into the top 5 and likely the top SG off the board.

Next there is Tyreke Evans, who is more of a combo guard from Memphis. While he predominantly played the point in his one year, shooting guard looks like his more natural position. He is a very athletically gifted player, and should be able to get to the rim at the next level. If 2 guard does wind up being where he plays in the NBA, he should be able to score and defend very well and be a solid starter on a good team.

Next is DeMar DeRozan from USC. He is one of the 3 most athletically gifted and overall talented players in the draft, but his production did not match his talent in his lone season at USC. He has all of the physcial tools necessary to be a great player, but he was plagued by inconsistency. At times he looked like a star, and at other times he looked like, well, a freshman. If he can continue to improve his jump shot and work on bringing his best every night, he could be a steal for someone in the late lottery.

After that are a couple of tweeners... guys that played the 3 in college but might be better suited for the 2 in the NBA. Gerald Henderson from Duke is one of the most athletic players in the Draft, but he will likely fall out of the lottery. There are questions about his jumpshot and handle, and so it's hard to project his role in the NBA. He can defend, and he can use his athleticism on the break (which makes him ideal for a running team), but he might be a little limited other than that. Terrence Williams from Louisville is a guy that got better and better as his career went on. He doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but he solid all across the board. He is a solid shooter, great rebounder, and great passer. He can be a really good role player on a solid team.

So there are no real stars at the SG position of this year's NBA Draft, and there's not a lot of depth, but there are some guys that should be solid NBA players. James Harden looks like the best of the lot, but there are a few guys here that should have nice, productive careers in the NBA.

NBA Draft 2009 Preview: Point Guards

This article can also be found here.

With the NBA moving more and more towards faster basketball by rewarding the drive-and-kick style of offense, point guards are more important than ever in the NBA. Looking at the impact of guys like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and even Derrick Rose this year, having a good PG can completely turn around a franchise. In the 2009 NBA Draft, point guard looks like the strongest position, both in terms of talent and the top and depth throughout the first round.

The first point guard off the board will almost certainly be Ricky Rubio, the youngster from Spain. He showed his talent and potential in the 2008 Olympics, where as a 17-year old the Spaniard more than held his own against the best competition in the world. There is definitely a lot to like about Rubio. He is a true PG, with innate ability to lead an offense, get others involved, and take charge and score when his team needs it. He is creative offensively, and can find passing lanes and create plays seemingly out of nothing. He is not a great shooter yet, but he has very good form, and his great FT shooting (80%) suggests he will grow into a very good shooter. To top it all off, he is very charismatic on and off the court, which is perfect in the business in the NBA. He's the best PG in the draft, and he could go as high as 2 to Memphis and no lower than 4 to Sacramento.

After that, things get a little more interesting. The next wave of guys to go look like hybrid PG/SG rather than true point guards. First, there is Stephen Curry from Davidson. He played mostly SG in college (though did transition to PG his junior year), but will likely be too small to play SG in the NBA. But he is the best shooter in the draft, a prolific scorer who can create his own shot or get one off quickly off of a screen, and he will be a potent offensive threat in the NBA. There are some concerns about whether he can effectively run an offense or be a solid defender at the next level, but he did help alleviate some of thos with his play this season.

Next there's Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, two highly touted one-and-dones with loads of talent. Evans played PG at Memphis last season as a freshman, but the 2 guard might be his more natural position. He can score and defend, but there are certainly some questions about how well he can an offense. Jrue Holiday has all the tools to be a very good NBA player, but his production did not jump out at anyone in his one year at UCLA. He has the tools to be a great defender, but he is not a very natural scorer right now. Also, though he played PG and that looks like his natural position, he didn't play it full-time last year with the Bruins, as they had Darren Collison to help carry that load.

Perhaps the biggest unknown in the whole draft is Brandon Jennings. He was a high prospect before last season, and had committed to Arizona before deciding to spend the year playing in Europe. However, his playing time was sporadic, and scouts really did not get a great chance to watch him play. In addition, they haven't been able to see him in very many workouts either. The talent certainly appears to be there, but there are a lot of unknowns surrounding him, which could cause his stock to drop.

The class is rounded off with guys who produced a lot at the college level, but who have questions about how their game will translate at the NBA level. First is Johnny Flynn from Syracuse. He has all of the physical tools of strength and quickness that you look for, but there are concerns about his height and shooting ability from the outside. Then there is Ty Lawson from North Carolina, who might be the quickest and fastest player in the draft, but again, there are concerns about his height and shooting ability. Eric Maynor was a great college player for VCU, and he is certainly remembered for his game-winner against Duke in the NCAA Tournament. He is an opportunistic defender and good leader offensively, but he doesn't really stand out in any one area. Last, there is Darren Collison, who may have been a lottery pick if he had come out after his sophomore year, but now might struggle to get picked in the first round. You know what you are getting with him... great shooter and great on-the-ball defender. There are some questions about his size, but he should be a productive NBA player.

So the point guard position looks to be the deepest in this year's NBA Draft. With star power of Rubio at the top, and depth throughout the first round, look for many point guards to be taken in this year's NBA Draft. There might not be any future MVP's within the group, but there will be a lot of solid NBA players.

NBA Draft 2009: Center Prospects

This article can also be seen here.

Although the NBA appears to be changing to more of a transition game dominated by guards and wing players, big men can still rule the game. With a dearth of high-quality big men, teams are always searching for centers that can play enar the basket, affecting the game on both ends of the floor. For that reason, they are sometimes willing to reach on big men, or take projects who have the potential to be game-changing centers down the road.
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The 2009 NBA Draft appears to be a fairly weak draft class, but there is still some talent at the center position.

Assuming we count Blake Griffin from Oklahoma as a Power Forward, Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet looks like he will be the first center taken in the 2009 NBA Draft. At 7'3'', he is still a very raw player, but has matured significantly on the court during his 3 years as a member of the Connecticut Huskies. He is a huge presence on the defensive end, and has the ability to alter games by blocking shots or forcing opponents to alter a ton of shots. Offensively, he is getting better but is still very raw, and scores most of his points on either putbacks or dunks.He is a project on the offensive end, but should make an immediate impact on the defensive end with his size and shot blocking instincts. He looks to be a top 3 pick in the draft.

BJ Mullens from Ohio St. appears to be the only other center who looks to be a viable first-round candidate if he chooses to stay in the draft. He only played 1 year for the Buckeyes, and is very much a long-term prospect who will be drafted based on his potential. He was a talented recruit coming out of high school, but had an up-and-down season for Thad Matta and the Buckeyes. He only averaged 8.8 PPG and 4.7 RPG in his freshman campaign, which are not exactly inspiring numbers, especially since he was a year older than many other freshmen in his class. He is very talented athletically, but there are concerns about how good of a basketball player he actually is. His basketball IQ is not that great, and his rebounding numbers are very mediocre for someone his size. Plus, there are concerns about his consistency, because that was lacking. His physical tools will probably get him drafted sometime in the first round by a team enamored with his talented, but it could be a while before he produces in the NBA.

These are really the 2 legit center prospects in this draft. Big men like Blake Griffin, Jordan Hill, or James Johnson probably will be able to play center at times, but they are more natural power forwards. So with the 2009 NBA Draft class shaping up to be a very weak one, this is most obvious when looking at the centers, which will probably have minimal impact in the NBA outside of a couple players.

NBA Draft Reactions

A hodgpodge of thoughts following one of the best sports night of the year - NBA Draft night.

Best value picks:
- Jerryd Bayless (11) - Had top 5 talent, but slides to 11, and will join an already talented cast of Portland Trailblazers. He can eventually be paired with Brandon Roy in the backcourt... neither guy is probably a natural PG, but both are good enough ballhandlers and passers to run the offense.

- Courtney Lee (22) - I like Lee quite a bit. He's an unselfish player who should in seamlessly with Orlando's Big 3. Playing the 2 spot, he's a lot more athletic than holdover Keith Bogans, and he still maintains 3-point range. He's also better than Bogans creating his own shot off the dribble. Just a really nice pick for a really solid player.

- Kosta Koufos (23) - He's not NBA ready yet, but at 23, he's a talented player to get. Also, he's white, so he should fit well in Utah.

- Mario Chalmers (34) - Chalmers was too good of a player to slip this far. Solid defensively, good outside shooter, unselfish with the basketball... perfect addition to a team with Wade-Marion-Beasley.

- DeAndre Jordan (35) - Not that I love Jordan's game (I actually have serious doubts as to whether he'll ever be a consistently productive player), but at 35, it's a good risk to take for the Clippers. He's got the athleticism and rebounding ability to be a very good player if he can develop some type of offensive game.


Worst value picks:
- DJ Augustin (9) - I was a little confused about this pick for the Bobcats. For one, I'm not huge on Augustin... he's small, doesn't have the quickness of a top-flight PG, and is a bit of a liability on the defensive end. But is he really going to be better than Raymond Felton? And doesn't Brook Lopez fit a big need there?

- Anthony Randolph (14) - Randolph is similar to Brandan Wright, who the Warriors got in the draft last year. What are they going to do with 2 raw, athletic PFs?

- Javale McGee (18) - Speaking of raw... he's a long ways away, and I think a guy like DeAndre Jordan might be a little better risk if you're going for the upside pick. But there were more proven 4 men like Kosta Koufos and Darrell Arthur on the board, both of which seem like they would have made more sense.

- Sonny Weems (39) - It's hard to have too many qualms about a mid 2nd round pick (same goes for Ewing next), but I was a little perplexed by this choice. Weems is freaky athletic, but with the addition of Rose to a backcourt already featuring Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes, and Thabo Sefalosha, I think a big man would have been a better choice. Or if they were going to go this position, Chris Douglas-Roberts was still on the board.

- Patrick Ewing (43) - Ewing is big and pretty athletic, but he doesn't really have any discernible NBA skill. Ewing was a decent 6th man as a senior in college... how does that translate to the #43 pick?

2008 NBA Mock Draft

Here is my first edition of a mock draft for 2008!

1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose (Memphis)
Beasley seems to be a better fit, as the Bulls need a low-post scorer, but I simply think Derrick Rose is the better player. He's unstoppable in the open court, and if he ever develops a consistent jumpshot, he looks like a stronger version of Chris Paul (without quite the passing ability). Plus, John Paxson always emphasizes defense, and Derrick Rose has a much higher ceiling as a defender than Michael Beasley.

2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley (Kansas St.)
Rose is the guy they really want, but Beasley sure is a nice consolation. He's NBA ready both on the offensive end and rebounding the basketball, and should be able to step into a lineup right away. Beasley will have his struggles on the offensive end, but a trio of Wade-Marion-Beasley would be a real good start in Miami.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves - Brook Lopez (Stanford)
With Lopez, the Timberwolves would be setting themselves up to have one of the best offensive frontlines in the NBA. They already have improving Al Jefferson, and Brook Lopez has great touch around the basket. Lopez does not have great athleticism, but he's big and is refined in his post moves around the basket. That could warrant a top 3 pick.

4. Seattle Supersonics - Jerryd Bayless (Arizona)
Seattle already had a nice core from last year's draft, and Bayless would be another great piece. He's a PG in the mold of a guy like Gilbert Arenas, in that he is really quick off the dribble and is a deadeye shooter. He is 19 and Kevin Durant is 20, so that would be a potent 1-2 combo for years.

5. Memphis Grizzlies - OJ Mayo (USC)
The Grizzlies could go with a big man here, but I like them to go with an off guard in OJ Mayo to create an immensely talented young backcourt, teaming him up with Mike Conley (and then ideally dealing Javaris Crittenton or Kyle Lowry). Mayo has great range on his shot (which makes him a good complement to Conley), but can also score off the dribble, and showed surprising leadership ability in his one year with USC.

6. New York Knicks - Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
According to reports, Gallinari is a 6'10'' forward with PG skills. He can handle the ball, create his own shot (either off the drive or with his back to the basket), hit from 3-point range, and he's a good passer. Sounds like a perfect fit for D'Antoni's system.

7. Los Angeles Clippers - Russell Westbrook (UCLA)
With the PG position unsettled in LA, Westbrook is a nice fit to stay in town and join the Clippers. While he hasn't played full-time at PG very much, he showed he has the skills to do it last year. He's solid handling the ball, he's a very good passer, and he has the athleticism required. He's very tough defensively both on the ball and in the passing lanes. He needs to develop a more consistent jump shot, but that was coming along as the year went. With his athleticism, he is great on the fast break.

8. Milwaukee Bucks - Eric Gordon (Indiana)
Gordon is a great scoring combo guard. With Gordon, the Bucks could look to unload Michael Redd and his large contract. Gordon can score in a variety of ways, as he showed by leading the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman.

9. Charlotte Bobcats - Anthony Randolph (LSU)
Looking for more athleticism, the Bobcats can look to young, but very talented and athletic Randolph. He's in the mold of a Brandan Wright from last year in that he needs to bulk up and improve his midrange game, but he appears to have the talent to do that. He averaged over 15 and 8 in his rookie campaign, and with over 2 blocks per game, showed that his athleticism can allow him to do some things defensively.

10. New Jersey Nets - Kevin Love (UCLA)
With athleticism all around, the Nets can take Love, who provides an NBA ready, polished game. He'll never be a star because of his athletic limitations, but he's an extremely intelligent player, great passer, rebounder, and showed a nice jumpshot last season.

11. Indiana Pacers - DJ Augustin (Texas)
The Pacers are really pretty bad at PG, so Augustin is the natural pick here. He's not the most athletic PG in the draft, but he's quick enough. He is crafty enough to get his own shot, he's a very good shooter, and he can get them into their offense and get playmakers the ball (as he showed when he played Kevin Durant). This seems like a logical pick for Indiana if Augustin is still on the board.

12. Sacramento Kings - DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M)
Jordan is extremely raw, but his athletic ability is too much to pass up. He has a long way to go, as he showed by not having a huge impact in his year at College Station (8 PPG, 6 RPG), but with his great ability, he projects to be a solid scorer, excellent rebounder and shot blocker.

13. Portland Trailblazers - Joe Alexander (West Virginia)
With the Blazers looking to make a run at the playoffs next season, Alexander is a guy that could come in and give them quality minutes right away. He's not very good defensively, but he has an advanced offensive game and can score in a variety of ways. He's sneakily athletic, has a great jump shot with lots of range, and showed he can carry a team for stretches.

14. Golden State Warriors - Donte Greene (Syracuse)
Greene looks like a great fit for Nellie ball. He's a 3/4 combo guy that can stretch the floor with his outside shot. He's great in the midrange, and shot nearly 35% from downtown in his one season for the Orange. He looks like he could develop into a very solid rebounder with his athleticism and leaping ability, as he averaged over 7 per game. He might not be ready to play a lot of minutes right away, but he should be able to contribute some with his varied skills.

What are your thoughts? What would you change around?

Stephen A. Smith Heckled at the NBA Draft

I thoroughly enjoyed this last year, and they're back again heckling Stephen A. at the draft...

"Some people say you are the best forward since Slava Medvedenko."



And of course, the 2006 version:

NBA Draft, Winners, Losers, and things that confused me

OK, I have lots and lots of thoughts about the NBA Draft, but I'll try to condense it somewhat and just write down some things I liked, didn't like, and was a little confused by.

Things I Liked:
- The Oden and Durant picks - OK, these were really obvious choices, but sometimes you have to congratulate guys for not screwing up. Both guys are going to be stars sooner rather than later and should change both franchises around.

- The Knicks getting Zach Randolph - The concerns are certainly there (as were expressed by Dick Vitale), but on paper this is a fantastic deal for the Knicks. If Randolph can stay out of trouble, there's not a whole lot of 4/5 combos than Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, with David Lee off the bench. And really, they didn't have to give up that much.

- The Bobcats getting Jason Richardson - Stephen A. Smith didn't seem to like this deal, but I thought it was pretty solid for the Bobcats. Richardson is a lot of money, but the Bobcats were under the cap. But Richardson is a really solid player and I think he turns them into a playoff team... Felton-Richardson-Wallace-Okafor-Brezec is a pretty nice starting lineup, especially in the East.

- Corey Brewer to the Timberwolves - Nice pick for the Wolves here... I think Brewer was definitely the best player left on the board and should immediately have an impact in Minnesota. Whether that impact comes with Kevin Garnett in town is yet to be determined.

- The foreign player picks - I thought a lot of teams had some really good picks of these foreign guys, and all of them were in the West. Bellinelli is a GREAT fit for the Warriors, Splitter is a typically excellent San Antonio pick, and the Blazers getting Rudy Fernandez for basically a couple million dollars is really nice as well. All really nice picks, especially later in the first round.


Things I Didn't Like:
- The Blazers end of the Randolph deal - I think they had to trade Randolph (if only to get him away from Oden), but I don't really like what they got out of it. Steve Francis was a bit of a problem child in New York, and he wasn't all that effective when he played. Channing Frye is a nice young player, but not great as the second piece for a very good post player.

- The Sonics taking Jeff Green - Green is a fine player, but when the Sonics got the 5 pick from Boston (more on that later) I was hoping for a little more. Green basically plays the same position as Durant and Rashard Lewis (who they have to be looking to resign now). Why not go for a guy like Corey Brewer, who can immediately take Ray Allen's spot? I didn't really like that pick. But again, it might not turn out so bad because Green is really talented.

- Aaron Brooks to Houston - I'm just not sure about this pick for the Rockets, especially since they already have Mike James, Rafer Alston, and Luther Head. Brooks is a really good shooter, and he's quick off the dribble, but is he really going to have that big of an impact with those other PGs?

- Alando Tucker to Phoenix - Tucker was a great college player and he brings some things to the table, but how does he fit in with Phoenix? He's not a really good outside shooter, and that's rather important in Phoenix's system. Really a strange pick, especially with guys like Gabe Pruitt and Derrick Byars still on the board. When asked about it, D'Antoni said they were impressed because he has good character and is a winner... those things are great, but is that the best you want from a first round pick?


Things that Confused Me:
- The Celtics trading for Ray Allen - I think it was a fair trade, and rumors like this have been floating around for a while, but why? Allen probably makes them a playoff team, but he's getting older and he's not going to lead them to the Finals. Again, I don't really think is a really bad move for Boston, because they didn't give up much other than the 5th pick, but the direction of this team just kind of confuses me some. But Pierce, Allen, and Jefferson should at least be fun to watch.

- Thaddeus Young to the 76ers - OK, this isn't a huge thing, but Young over Julian Wright and Al Thornton? Really?

- The Warriors trading Jason Richardson - Like the Boston deal, I don't think this is really bad for Golden State, but it confused me. The Warriors were a playoff team last year and look like an up-and-coming team, and I think this sets them back some. They must really like Michael Pietrus a lot. The good news, though, is that Brandan Wright is definitely a perfect fit for their system. He should fit great in their up-and-down style. But again, it's going to take a couple years, and Baron Davis is pretty fragile.

Who are your winners and losers?