How the West Was Lost...

We have all heard the phrase "nothing lasts forever." One thing that I thought would be constant, would be the western conference domination of the NBA regular season. For the last 8 years, the western conference has dominated the eastern conference without a doubt and has been the top-to-bottom best. No doubt it is still early in the 2008-09 NBA season, but some things that have held constant are no longer what they used to be.

The Dallas Mavericks, and San Antonio Spurs have a combined 6 wins and 12 losses. And both are currently out of the top 8 in the playoff race. I concede that the Spurs are missing Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker, but I am not totally convinced with the rest of the their roster. Recent Spurs teams have consisted of veteran players that were poised to win championships. The current roster is composed of many fringe players that have struggled to make it on an NBA roster. After watching the Mavs, it is honestly just hopeless for them. They can only hope get in the draft lottery, and pick up a point guard that is not 35 years old with 45 year old knees.

The rest of the western conference is looking very weak as well compared to last season. To end last year, the top 9 teams in the west all had a minimum of 50 wins. In the early season, the Sacramento Kings hold the 8th spot with an under .500 % record of 4-6. There has also been as reshuffling of the teams in playoff contention. The Portland Trailblazers, and Sacramento Kings have replaced the Mavericks, and Spurs atop the best in the west. Like I have already said, there is a ton of season left , but the west just does not look like the dominate conference it once was...

I Heart the Utah Jazz

When John Stockton and Karl Malone were with the Utah Jazz, I honestly could not stand to watch them play, similar to how I feel about the San Antonio Spurs right now. It was typical pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop, not too different than the sets they run now. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful basketball in the most fundamental of ways, but something was always missing for me, or maybe it was just a loathing of Karl Malone that bothered me. Like I already mentioned, the plays have not changed that much since Stockton and Malone failed to win championships in the 1990's, the thing that has changed has been the athleticism.

The duo of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer is one of the best in the entire NBA. Williams embodies what coaches want in a NBA point guard. He passes well, he runs the offense efficiently, and he can score the ball. Even with all he brings on the offensive side of the ball, he is not a slacker on defense. Teamed with Carlos Boozer at power forward, they have the same on-court connection as Stockton/Malone but with more athleticism, more dynamic plays, and they bring a certain swagger to the game. Although undersized for a power forward at 6'8", Boozer makes up for it in girth as he weighs in at a hulking 266 lbs. The future is bright as long as these two are in the mix for the Utah Jazz.

In addittion to the two stars, Utah has some of the best sets of role players to complement what they do. On any team, you want to have clearly defined roles and the Jazz have that and each player accepts their specialized role on the team. Mehmet Okur is a knock down shooter, and teams that with the ability to take leaner players to the post. Andrei Kirilenko is the defensive stopper, and the hustle player for Utah, and he also a reliable scorer. I love the freakish athleticism of Ronnie Brewer, as you don't find many people with the springs for legs that he has. Paul Milsap in the Jazz's designated rebounder, as he always down low mixing it up for every loose ball. Kyle Korver is another dead eye shooter for the Jazz, but his defense and athleticism are underrated. The rest of the Jazz players like Ronnie Price, CJ Miles, Matt Harpring, Morris Almond, and Brevin Knight provide solid veteren play coming off of the bench.

But to be honest, one of the best things about the Utah Jazz is their cornerstone, and solid block to which the rest of the team is built around is coach Jerry Sloan. He is the longest tenured coach in professional sports at 20 years with the Jazz. His gritty, take no excuses attitude has lasted 2 decades in a era of sports where the attitude is what have you done for me lately. He is one of the coaches I respect because very little "family" stuff involving the team leaves the locker room, and he does not hesitate to discipline a player, whether you are the highest paid star, or the last man on the practice squad. He has adapted with the times, and that is a testament to his foresight, and ability to change as the league has changed. Despite never winning a championship, or even a coach of the year award, many coaches and organizations envy what he has done in Utah throughout his coaching career.

As the Utah Jazz continue to grow, and if they add a couple of the correct pieces to the team, it is highly likely that they could compete for a NBA Championship in the next 3 years. Many teams fall into that same category, but I believe Utah is one of the best run organizations in pro sports from the owner down to the ball boys/girls and will find a way to get it done and make those moves. If they don't win a championship I will still enjoy watching them play, because they play the game of basketball in its purest form.

Season Opener 2008-09

After a pretty uneventful summer as far as the NBA goes, I could feel the anxiousness approach as I sat down to watch the season opening games with the Cleveland Cavaliers v. the Boston Celtics.Of the regular questions pop into your head as to what teams will be good as usual, who will be this year's surprise winners/losers, who can stay the healthiest, and of course who will end up in NBA Finals?

As good as the talent is in the NBA right now, a lot of the previously asked questions are just too difficult to answer. The Finals question might be more clear cut in the Eastern Conference as the top 5 or 6 teams are pretty much know. But as you look at the Western Conference, it is just as hard as it has been in previous years. The good news for all the teams is that everybody starts 0-0 and everyone is in first place.

Last year in the west it was a 50 game minimum to make that playoffs, and I don't see that changing very much this year. But I do expect a few teams to drop as they have aged, roster moves, or other up and coming teams will just come up and take spots. I expect the Dallas Mavericks to drop, or even possibly miss the playoffs as I feel the hasty trades of last year will continue to hurt them for years to come. I think the San Antonio Spurs may have struggles as Manu Ginobli will be out for extended time, and the roster is just aging.

The only teams in the Western Conference that basically have no chance to make the playoffs are the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and possibly the Sacramento Kings. But the rest is so wide open for those that are going to step up and take the challenge. The Eastern Conference is more clear cut as Boston, Cleveland, and the Detroit Pistons should battle for the top spots. The last 2-3 team that make the playoffs in the East will be unable to make any real impact, as opposed to the West where many of the teams are evenly matched.

I have been away for a while, but since the season is back, so is my excitement. I look forward to dropping 3-5 blogs every week. This is going to be one of the greatest NBA season's we have seen, and last year will be hard to top, but the possibilities are endless.

USA Basketball Dominates Pool Play in Beijing

The United States Men's Olympic basketball team has shown up in the Beijing Olmpics like everyone has expected them to. They have breezed through pool play knocking out China, Angola, Greece, their strongest competition Spain. All that is left for the USA in pool play is an insignificant game against Germany. The USA clinched the pool play after defeating Spain that at the time was undefeated as well. But the Spanish team looked listless as the defensive pressure that that Team USA has shown has been incredible during the entire tournament. 

The last game against Spain was supposed to be a better contest than it turned out as they dominated the game winning 119-82, as Spain never pulled closer than 16 points in the second half. As I mentioned earlier the defense has been incredible for the Americans, as constant pressure, jumping passing lanes, and packing the paint has been so effective in bottling up the opposition. Doug Collins made a great point during the broadcast that the Spaniards felt they could beat Team USA once but not twice, while the Americans were more than confident they could defeat Spain twice. And for the most part this has to be the mindset of most of teams in the Beijing Olympics. The Americans look as confident as any team, and have a confident, but not cocky swagger.

Team USA has seemed to gel more than they had in earlier exhibitions, and are playing a better team game. The ball movement seems crisp, and seems to have a definite purpose. In the last 2 games against Greece, and Spain the assists have come on great passes, many of them coming with a familiarity with playing with people for a while. They are also showing the ability to drive aand kick out, or get dunks. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the team had a hard time driving and drawing defenses, and showed the inability to hit the open man. This team is showing that they love to make the play for their teammates, and cheer with enthusiasm everytime a spectacular play is made.

Another factor that will help Team USA along the way to gold is the support that the country of China is showing them. Wehn they are out andabout they are treated as celebrities as the game of basketball is wildly popular in China. Earlier in the Olympic games, Kobe Bryant and the rest of Team USA went to watch a women's basketball game, and were mauled as the crowd scrambled to just touch Kobe, or nap a picture of him. The Americans have a measure of a home-court advantage, even as they played China, the Chinese fans cheered both teams, which is a far cry from what they experienced in 2004 in Athens. As things are shaping up, consistency will be the key to gold in Beijing.

Ball-Star Clothing

For a long time the cultures of basketball, hip-hop, and clothing have been infused. Even when I go to the gym and play ball, I want to look fresh, and look the part. In my mind, the clothes are part of the mindset, it sets the mood if you will. When my shoes are right, my shorts are fitting nice and baggy(not hanging off my body), and a cut-off shirt, I feel like I'm taking that first step to dominating the court. I like to see the impact that the hip-hop culture in the game of basketball, from the language, the swagger, and the style.

With as much basketball that is played around the world, there are very few brands dedicated strictly to the game of basketball. Of course there is the brand that is And-1, but other than that, there are very few others out there. With that in mind I felt that as a basketball player, a fan of the game, and someone who feels very deeply for the game, I felt I could put my brand on the market. I want to create something that the everyday ball player can wear and be comfortable, confident, and even wear off the court but still represent their love.

Too often we as people do not move on what inspires us, and my love of the game of basketball, inspired me to create my Ball-Star Brand. It is a logo, and a name that I believe in. Many times an NBA player is mentioned by how many All-Star games that they were selected to, so I said for the average man that just plays for the love of the game, how can he represent himself as that All-Star. So this brand is for the ones who don't get paid, and just play because they just have a passion, they can be their own All-Star, but a "BALL-STAR!"

We make custom designs, we can make the understated, overstated, or just basic. Currently we are offering T-Shirts, hooded sweatshirts, polo's, tanks, and other items, for men, women, and kids as well. So check out the site, email customer service for a custom design options, and just check back often for updates, we are going to be doing some big things here in the future!

Can US Bring the Gold Medal Come Back Home?

Since the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia the United States has struggled in International basketball. In 2002 they did not medal in the World Championships, in the 2004 Athens Olympics they struggled their way to a bronze medal, and in 2006 World Championships they once again gathered bronze. This has been a far cry from what we have come to expect from the sport that the United States has dominated since it's inclusion in International events. After the 4 years of embarrassment, the USA Basketball Association decided to implement a program that the ultimate goal was to inspire a patriotic spirit, continuity, and s sense of pride back to the United States Basketball program.

Talent has not been an issue as the US has used NBA players since the 1988 Olympics. But as the results have shown it has not been about talent, but more about playing as a team, and the overall improvement of the world in basketball. Unlike the original Dream team in 1992, other international teams are no longer in awe of the United States. So the days of just rolling the ball out to some stars and letting them go man-handle the competition is long gone. International payers are coming over in record numbers to play in the NBA, so when they go back and play for their countries, they have a comfort level that they can compete on a nightly basis with these players.

So the US team consists of some stars, and some role-players, and as past years have shown they have a couple of consistent outside shooters on the roster. After watching the United States play their first exhibition game versus Canada last night, there were things to be optimistic about, and others that were a little troubling.

On the positive side of things, from the second quarter on, the United States played with a focus, and an intensity that the Canadians could not match as they cruised to a 120-65 win. Although the Canadians had many players that had played Division-I basketball, and in the pro ranks in overseas, the talent differential was apparent to even the most pedestrian of basketball fans. The team defense was impressive as the Americans forced team Canada into 24 turnovers, that led to many fast break points. They also looked to play unselfishly, and players on the bench cheered their teammates on after big plays.

The only problem I saw with the USA basketball team was the continuity in the half-court offense. Sometimes early on in the game, the ball would seem to come to a stand still. The playmakers for the US are supremely talented, and most are the best player on their respective team, so they are use to isolations and taking the big shots. So the bal movement suffered. I am assuming that the coaching staff mentioned something about this, so then the US started "over passing." And by over passing I mean that good, open shots were being passed on by capable scorers. Hopefully a balance can be struck during the exhibition schedule before the 2008 Beijing Olympics start.

2008 Free Agency, Hornets/Celtics/Clippers/Nuggets

New Orleans Hornets

I saw the news yesterday that the New Orleans Hornets, and James Posey had agreed to a potential 4 year/$25 million dollar deal, and I couldn't be more excited. I was not excited because I like James Posey, or am a hard-core fan of the New Orleans Hornets, I just like NBA teams that give stars like Chris Paul the chance to succeed. The addition of Posey does just that for the Hornets. I have been saying since the Hornets let the series go against the San Antonio Spurs in this year's playoffs that they needed to add a playoff tested veteran to get over the hump.

James Posey is coming off a season in which he helped the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA Finals, and did the same in 2006 with the Miami Heat. He is the most sought after 7 points a game, come off the bench free agent ever, and is every bit worth it. He provides a tough nosed veteran presence that the Hornets have lacked, as they struggled with their second unit play last season. This move makes them a contender in the Western Conference for the next few years as long as they keep the current nucleus together.

I do wonder however how much of a pitch the Boston Celtics made to keep James Posey? Losing Posey changes the dynamic for the Celtics dramatically for next season as he made big play after big play for them during their Finals run this past season. When a team has the consistency of 3 big stars like Boston did, it is role players like James Posey that make a difference between early playoff exits, and Finals runs. So hats of to the Hornets Personnel Department for stepping up and targeting Posey and paying him above market value to get what is best for the team.

Los Angeles Clippers/Denver Nuggets

The Los Angeles Clippers have finally started to make moves to save their summer from being an absolute disaster. After Elton Brand signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Corey Maggette agreed to play for the Golden State Warriors, the prognosis looked bleak. They gained Baron Davis, but lost 2 of their best players from the past few years. It seemed as if they were headed back to the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery, and I am still not sure that they are out of hot water yet.

On July 16th the Clippers picked up veteran PF/C Marcus Camby for almost nothing in return. Although Camby has been a solid player in this league for many years, he is going to be 35 next year. Camby is most definitely not the long-term solution for the Clips, but he does provide a nice little band-aid to cover up their wounds for a couple of years. If the Clippers want to be competitive in this league then they must plan further ahead than they need to plan better than it appears they did this year.

With this deal it showed that the Denver Nuggets are in a mindset of rebuilding. by trading Marcus Camby for basically nothing in return, they cleared salary to begin reworking the framework of the team. After several embarrassing first round exits, or missing the playoffs all together, it looks as if the leadership with the Nuggets has said enough is enough, and I can't blame them. I agree with rebuilding except for the fact that they should have looked to pick up a pure shooter and try that for a year, but I digress, and I hope they get to fielding a competitive PLAYOFF team soon.

He Said/He Said

The Los Angeles Clippers, most notably coach Mike Dunleavy will not let the Elton Brand saga go. It is being reported by ESPN that Dunleavy is very upset with David Falk, Brand's agent for influencing him to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. And he is also upset with Elton as he feels he was betrayed, and that they had a verbal agreement that Brand would be back with the Clippers next year to team with Baron Davis. Let it be a side note that if in fact Dunleavy was talking to Brand about contract terms while he had a registered representative that he was violating the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But to have an NBA team call out a player for disloyalty is in fact a joke in itself. Although Elton Brand is the exception to your typical go broke after his career , as he has many business ventures outside of basketball, the peak period of a pro athletes earning potential is limited to a short window. Professional sports teams will cut, and release a player with no afterthought as to where the players will end up next. The Clippers just renounced their rights to 5 of their players to create cap space. There is big chance that 1 or more of these players will NOT catch on elsewhere and have to find other means of making a living. So Mike Dunleavy and the Clippers can spare us all the boo-hooing about how Elton Brand misled them.

Due to the Los Angeles Clippers poor track record of low-balling players on contracts, it is not out of the realm of possibility that when David Falk says that the Clippers came to the table with their lowest offer, then I am more apt to believe what he says as opposed to a team that has let star player after star player go because they did not want to pony up the funds. It also comes down to having a better chance to succeed, and if the team you are playing for has a game plan. I am sure the years of losing has affected the psyche of Brand over the years. He is a competitive player who shows he wants to win when he gets on the court. He has proven himself to be a valuable commodity, and anyone who is on the business of producing results wants to be compensated properly for their contributions. The Philadelphia 76ers are a team on the rise, and are looking to build a franchise, and put a competitive product on the court.

So as Baron Davis stated in his press conference yesterday as he was announced as the newest LA Clipper, he had no hard feelings against Brand, and that the will remain friends. Because ultimately he wanted to play with the Brand than without him, but in the end it is all about business, and he understands that. The simple human nature is this when it comes to money-The more you have the more you want of it, so I give kudos to Brand, and Davis for going and getting their paychecks, because at the end of the day that is what 95% of the people in their situations would have done, and if you say no you wouldn't, then you have never had $79.8 million dangled in your face. And to those who would say it was ALL about the money with Brand, he did not sign with the Golden State Warriors who offered him $90 million reasons to sign with them.

J.A. Adande's Take

The Real Los Angeles Clippers Return

It was only a matter of time before the real Los Angeles Clippers showed up to the NBA party. For the past few years, they have tried to fool the masses by acquiring better players than years past, and have even spending a little money. Just as with new experiences, you might not know how to work all the angles and gadgets. The Clippers have just shown they were unprepared to move up in the NBA, and they can say hello to the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery.

The downfall started a few days ago when it was reported that the Philadelphia 76ers were making a strong push for Elton Brand , and it was confirmed today that the he had signed with Philadelphia. Brand was the consummate Clipper, but I think he finally realized that the team would never be as committed as he would like to putting a winning team on the floor, and losing takes it toll on anyone. The 76ers present a young athletic team that plays hard, and are showing the willingness to put out a good product. They have one of the most tenacious fan bases that loves its athletes, and there will be no more 2nd banana to the other basketball team in town

The true losers here are the fans, and Baron Davis. The fans of the Clippers had hopes that after getting a verbal agreement from Baron Davis, that he would team with Elton Brand to contend in the competitive Western Conference. So much for trying to step out of the shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers. Another snag may appear in their plans as Davis has yet sign his contract, and it could be a possibility as the plans crumble in front of him. I am sure there are some serious doubts going on in the mind of Davis at this point, especially as he enters into the last half of his NBA career, and that money is not the only thing happening.

The Clippers are also going to lose their leading scorer from last year, Corey Maggette. This, plus the loss of Brand leave the cupboard bare for next year even if Davis signs. The next best player on the Clips is center Chris Kaman. Although Kaman is an up-and-coming player, he is only a center, and not necessarily a play maker. So I anticipate an even farther fall next season than the 12th place Western Conference finish they experienced in 07-08, even if Baron Davis signs. As a basketball fan, it is hard to witness such a fall, and public missteps that the Clippers are making. I never want to see a team crumble, especially when all it would have taken was careful planning. The Clippers were unprepared, and did not posture themselves to keep Maggette, and Brand, and free up cap space to sign Davis, or one of the few other quality free agents.

The lone bright spot of hope for the Clippers is that restricted free agent Josh Smith is wooed by what they are offering, and the Atlanta Hawks do not match. Good Luck.

Baron Davis is a Damn Fool

*Update for July 8, 2008- It looks as if the Philadelphia 76ers have jumped in the Elton Brand sweepstakes. It is not looking so great for the Los Angeles Clippers. If they gain Baron Davis, but lose Elton Brand, it is another case of one step forward, and 2 steps back*



B-Diddy, B-Dizzle, aka Baron Davis made the biggest mistake of his life by moving down the coast of California from Oakland to Los Angeles. I ask why? Of course this move has not been confirmed because NBA moves cannot be officially announced until July 9, 2008. But it is pretty much set in stone, and I am puzzled by it. I anxiously await his comments when they announce his signing, and why he made the move.

Why would a person go from a team that could be on the cusp of doing big things, and go a perennial "Loser." The Los Angeles Clippers have been irrelevant in the NBA as long as I have been alive. Owner Donald Sterling is one of the cheapest owners in the NBA and has been for decades, but has improved his reputation over recent years. Sometimes it is not about how much money you spend, but yet when you spend it. It is about getting players to stay with your team before they become free agents, and making your team attractive for potential free agents.

So why is Baron Davis such a damn fool? Because at this point in his career, it shouldn't be about the money anymore, and should be about winning. I am no fool to the machine that is professional sports, but I sometimes, just sometimes would like to see some loyalty. It is under Don Nelson that Baron Davis has had some of his most successful seasons, and growth as a player. Shouldn't that count for something? I am sure Golden State would have paid Davis his fair share.

Another factor that makes the Baron Davis situation a foolish move is the fact that the team that he is leaving is trying to sign free agent from the Los Angeles Clippers Elton Brand. The Clippers will most likely lose Corey Maggette as well. Now what sense does it make to go join a team that has been struggling, and is about to lose 2 of it's most reliable players. Next years Clippers may be highlighted by Davis, and Chris Kaman, and not much else.

I would not put it past today's professional athlete to complain about a situation that he or his agent placed himself in. So I look forward to hearing grumblings out of Los Angeles in the next couple of years that Baron Davis is unhappy and wants out. So although I like Davis, and what he brings to the table as a player, I question his career path and what he plans to achieve with this move.

2008 NBA Draft "Losers"

This past Thursday's draft was one of the deepest in recent years with good players being passed on, and falling lower than expected, big trades galore, and drama. It also saw many difference making moves, and next years NBA season will be better for it. When I look at this draft, I am only going to look at it from a 1st Round perspective, and general moves, and utilization of their draft opportunities.

The top 3 picks went as many expected with Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo going in order, and then there were surprises to follow. This draft was filled with more trades than you would usually see, and especially involving the first round players. I am excited as the highly competitive Western Conference got stronger, and the Eastern Conference added some potential stars.

The following is a list of the players selected or obtained by each team:

• Atlanta Hawks: None
• Boston Celtics: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker (via Washington), Semih Erden
• Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinça, Kyle Weaver
• Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Ömer Aşık (via Portland)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson (via Miami), Sasha Kaun (via Seattle)
• Dallas Mavericks: Shan Foster
• Denver Nuggets: Sonny Weems (via Chicago)
• Detroit Pistons: Walter Sharpe (via Seattle), Trent Plaisted (via Seattle), Deron Washington
• Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
• Houston Rockets: Donte Greene (via Memphis), Joey Dorsey (via Portland), Maarty Leunen
• Indiana Pacers: Brandon Rush (via Portland), Roy Hibbert (via Toronto)
• Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor (via Portland)
• Los Angeles Lakers: Joe Crawford
• Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo (via Minnesota), Darrell Arthur (via New Orleans, Portland, and Houston)
• Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers (via Minnesota)
• Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love (via Memphis), Nikola Peković
• New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
• New Orleans Hornets: None
• New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari
• Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee
• Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights
• Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragić (via San Antonio)
• Portland Trail Blazers: Jerryd Bayless (via Indiana), Nicolas Batum (via Houston)
• Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
• San Antonio Spurs: George Hill, Malik Hairston (via Phoenix), James Gist
• Seattle SuperSonics: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, D. J. White (via Detroit), DeVon Hardin
• Toronto Raptors: Nathan Jawai (via Indiana)
• Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicević
• Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

The Losers- These are team that completely squandered their drafts, or did not address their needs. These team will suffer for their bad drafts this year, or in the years to come because of flawed strategy. The only saving grace for some of these teams is if they work some magic in free agency, and this is a weak free agent class. Shocked is all I can say as I watched the 2008 NBA Draft, and some of the picks and moves some of the following teams made.

The biggest "Loser" of them all was the Seattle Supersonics, and the 6 picks they went into the draft with. If you told me that a team went into the NBA Draft with 10% of the picks, I would assume they would come out with a can't miss talent, and several support players. Instead the Sonics chose to reach on Russell Westbrook with #4 pick, which was one of the biggest surprises of the draft. It is hard for me to believe that a team could pick a player that has no true position. Westbrook is an incredible athlete, but the Sonics needed a point guard, and they picked him in the hopes that he "might be able to play the position." Man, I don't have words for how badly I think that situation will turn out. In addition to Westbrook, the Sonics picked up D.J. White, Devon Hardin, and an international player. I like the selection of D.J. White because he is a hard nosed player, but Hardin is a fringe NBA player that is just tall(6'11"). And my opinion of international players, is no opinion, I need to see them compete in the NBA at the highest level to believe in them. I hope Kevin Durant has his shoes laced up tight next year, because they are going to need all they can get from him whether the team plays in Seattle or Oklahoma City.

The "Consummate Loser" that is the New York Knicks disappointed once again. They will face the repercussions of letting Isiah Thomas run their team into the ground for years to come. They had one pick to help their team out, and the selected international player Danilo Gallinari. The kid is a project, and really there is nothing else to it. I personally felt bad for him as the New York fans booed him at the draft, but that comes with the territory, and the season will not be much better. He is just not going to be given much of a chance to succeed, especially on the NY Knicks roster currently stands. So the move itself did not surprise me, I just thought that the new regime had more sense than that, but maybe I should have known after they passed on Mark Jackson as their coach.

The next "Loser" is the is Golden State Warriors who drafted Anthony Randolph and Richard Hendrix. Randolph is a wire thin 6'11" power forward who looks eerily similar to Brandan Wright who the Warriors drafted last year. Just as Wright was a non-factor last year, Randoph is most likely to sit next to him on the bench this year. Last time that I checked, Don Nelson still coached this team, and I don't anticipate him changing his style after 32 years of coaching. An although Hendrix is a strong post-man with nice moves, good footwork, and the ability to rebound, he simply does not fit on this team. The Warriors big men get touches from rebounds of long 3-point shots, not through plays and getting dump downs, Andris Biedrins will testify to that.

This next draft "Loser" may come as a surprise to some, but 4-time NBA champion, San Antonio Spurs are on the list. Yes, I said it, the same area that has led them to dominate the Western Conference in the last 10 years, has faltered. In the draft the Spurs got George Hill, and Malik Hairston. Yes I know that the Spurs pick selectively, and sometimes based on character rather than talent, but I don't know what they plan to do with their future. But what I do know is that the Spurs roster currently holds the maximum 15 players, and they have no free agents. So what does that mean? It means someone who was seldom used last year will be seldom used again, or replaced by another seldom used player. In the 2008 NBA Playoffs the Spurs looked slow, and old against a young New Orleans Hornets team. Unless the Spurs are hiding the fountain of youth in the Riverwalk, it is going to be tough sailing from here on out.

The "Sentimental Loser" is the Charlotte Bobcats as they drafted D.J. Augustin, Kyle Weever, and an international player. I absolutely love Augustin without a doubt and think he is a can't miss talent, but the Bobcats did not need to draft a back-up point guard this high. They really had needs that involved getting a front line player with some offensive talent. I am a little easier on them because they are an expansion team and still need to massage out the kinks. But to have 2 high draft picks invested at point guard is asinine. Better luck to them next year in the 2009 Draft Lottery again.

2008 NBA Draft "Stood Pat & Time Will Tell"

This past Thursday's draft was one of the deepest in recent years with good players being passed on, and falling lower than expected, big trades galore, and drama. It also saw many difference making moves, and next years NBA season will be better for it. When I look at this draft, I am only going to look at it from a 1st Round perspective, and general moves, and utilization of their draft opportunities.

The top 3 picks went as many expected with Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo going in order, and then there were surprises to follow. This draft was filled with more trades than you would usually see, and especially involving the first round players. I am excited as the highly competitive Western Conference got stronger, and the Eastern Conference added some potential stars.

The following is a list of the players selected or obtained by each team:

• Atlanta Hawks: None
• Boston Celtics: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker (via Washington), Semih Erden
• Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinça, Kyle Weaver
• Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Ömer Aşık (via Portland)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson (via Miami), Sasha Kaun (via Seattle)
• Dallas Mavericks: Shan Foster
• Denver Nuggets: Sonny Weems (via Chicago)
• Detroit Pistons: Walter Sharpe (via Seattle), Trent Plaisted (via Seattle), Deron Washington
• Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
• Houston Rockets: Donte Greene (via Memphis), Joey Dorsey (via Portland), Maarty Leunen
• Indiana Pacers: Brandon Rush (via Portland), Roy Hibbert (via Toronto)
• Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor (via Portland)
• Los Angeles Lakers: Joe Crawford
• Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo (via Minnesota), Darrell Arthur (via New Orleans, Portland, and Houston)
• Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers (via Minnesota)
• Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love (via Memphis), Nikola Peković
• New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
• New Orleans Hornets: None
• New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari
• Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee
• Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights
• Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragić (via San Antonio)
• Portland Trail Blazers: Jerryd Bayless (via Indiana), Nicolas Batum (via Houston)
• Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
• San Antonio Spurs: George Hill, Malik Hairston (via Phoenix), James Gist
• Seattle SuperSonics: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, D. J. White (via Detroit), DeVon Hardin
• Toronto Raptors: Nathan Jawai (via Indiana)
• Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicević
• Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

Teams that Stood Pat- These include teams that did not draft at all, or picked players that are international and will not come over this year, or picked players that will not make the team or either have no impact. They go into next season with virtually the same team, and can only look to make changes in free agency.

The Atlanta Hawks, and the New Orleans Hornets ended the draft with no players acquired. The Hornets had the 27th pick which they traded for cash considerations, and Atlanta did not pick at all. In both of these cases I totally agree that they did not pick up any players in the draft. Both teams are generally young, and do not have major glaring needs. Both teams should look to pick up an experienced playoff veteran in free agency, and extend their playoff success of last year

The Dallas Mavericks had the 51st pick in the draft, and picked senior Shan Foster from Vanderbilt. Unfortunately, this pick does not fill any of their needs that have been caused by the mis-trade that brought Jason Kidd to the Big D, and ruined their season, and got Avery Johnson fired. Because the Mavericks have a logjam at the small forward position, Foster will almost certainly be a non-factor. I almost placed the Mavs into the "Losers" blog, but they are so much more than that, they are disappointments.

The Denver Nuggets and LA Lakers picked up Sonny Weems, and Joe Crawford respectively. These teams are in opposite positions as the Lakers swept the Nuggets in the first-round of the playoffs on their way to the NBA Finals. Neither one of these players will play for their respective squads, they will either end up in the D-League, or cut during training camp. The Lakers are set for years to come as far as their roster is concerned as they have no upcoming free agents. The Nuggets core is set as well, and if they needed anything it was dead-eye shooter, and Weems is more of an athletic slasher. Crawford was an under preforming college player, and will not stand out with the Lakers. Both of these teams will look like themselves next season, and probably perform the same way.

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted forward Marreese Speights from the University of Florida. He was drafted strictly based on potential. Offensively they could not expect more than they do from Samuel Dalembert who is also an offensive project. During ESPN's draft coverage, Jay Bilas remarked that Speights never pushed himself to his physical limits. I took this to mean that he was not a natural hustler, and relied upon his athleticism. If you watched the 76ers compete against the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, then you saw a team that plays hard and competes every possession, so this will be an adjustment for him.

The Orlando Magic picked up Courtney Lee from Western Kentucky University out of the Sun Belt Conference. Lee was a scorer, and the Magic have no need for additional scoring, they need more players that will commit to defense. Unless Courtney Lee will change his game to maintain a spot in this league, he will have a hard time making this team or any other for that matter. He will most likely be found on the bench in street clothes, or in the D-League next season.

Time Will Tell Teams- These are teams that it is hard to evaluate what the moves they made will do for them. They have either drafted well in the past and you would like to trust their instincts, and believe in what they are doing. The others picked up talent, and it is just hard to visualize how they will fit in with their new teams.

The team that falls into this list as #1 for me is the Detroit Pistons. I have seen the moves that general manager Joe Dumars has made over the years, and the draft picks he has made. He made a mistake with Darko Miličić he has made solid decisions otherwise. The Pistons drafted Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted, and Deron Washington. These are players that I rarely saw play or, not all, so all I can do is trust that Detroit's scouts know what they are doing. I will be watching the Pistons closely over the next few years to see if the moves pan out.

The Los Angeles Clippers drafted Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and obtained Mike Taylor of the D-League via trade. While watching Eric Gordon's college season, it was a tale of two seasons. The first part was very good, bordering on great. But after losing his coach and injuring his wrist, his game steadily declined. It is hard to see what impact he will have as either a point/shooting guard. DeAndre Jordan is a project player whose athleticism is out of this world, the question can his basketball skill catch up to that. So these picks may not help the Clippers this year, and actually they may never, but it will be nice to see what happens, as the picks are not without merit.

The last team that will be on the watch for the years to come is the Phoenix Suns. Can the shift in philosophy get the Suns past the wall that is the Western Conference. For 5 years they have been knocking, but has their window closed? They picked up Robin Lopez, and an international player. Lopez is known to be a defensive player which is the shift that general manager Steve Kerr is trying to change the team to. It will be interesting to see how Lopez teamed with Amare Stoudemire, and Shaquille O'Neal will turn out over the next 2 years. As Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neal, and Grant Hill get older it will be harder for the Suns to get the elusive championship that they seek.

2008 NBA Draft "Losers" coming Monday!!!

2008 NBA Draft "Winners"

This past Thursday's draft was one of the deepest in recent years with good players being passed on, and falling lower than expected, big trades galore, and drama. It also saw many difference making moves, and next years NBA season will be better for it. When I look at this draft, I am only going to look at it from a 1st Round perspective, and general moves, and utilization of their draft opportunities.

The top 3 picks went as many expected with Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo going in order, and then there were surprises to follow. This draft was filled with more trades than you would usually see, and especially involving the first round players. I am excited as the highly competitive Western Conference got stronger, and the Eastern Conference added some potential stars.

The following is a list of the players selected or obtained by each team:

• Atlanta Hawks: None
• Boston Celtics: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker (via Washington), Semih Erden
• Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinça, Kyle Weaver
• Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Ömer Aşık (via Portland)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson (via Miami), Sasha Kaun (via Seattle)
• Dallas Mavericks: Shan Foster
• Denver Nuggets: Sonny Weems (via Chicago)
• Detroit Pistons: Walter Sharpe (via Seattle), Trent Plaisted (via Seattle), Deron Washington
• Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
• Houston Rockets: Donte Greene (via Memphis), Joey Dorsey (via Portland), Maarty Leunen
• Indiana Pacers: Brandon Rush (via Portland), Roy Hibbert (via Toronto)
• Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor (via Portland)
• Los Angeles Lakers: Joe Crawford
• Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo (via Minnesota), Darrell Arthur (via New Orleans, Portland, and Houston)
• Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers (via Minnesota)
• Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love (via Memphis), Nikola Peković
• New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
• New Orleans Hornets: None
• New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari
• Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee
• Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights
• Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragić (via San Antonio)
• Portland Trail Blazers: Jerryd Bayless (via Indiana), Nicolas Batum (via Houston)
• Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
• San Antonio Spurs: George Hill, Malik Hairston (via Phoenix), James Gist
• Seattle SuperSonics: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, D. J. White (via Detroit), DeVon Hardin
• Toronto Raptors: Nathan Jawai (via Indiana)
• Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicević
• Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

The Winners- These are the teams that made solid but generally unspectacular moves. Most added players that fall in the middle of the talent pool and will be contributors to their team but not be stars. When building a team that will be competitive for several years, it is imperative that good role players be added around the superstars.

The Utah jazz fall into the category of the winners because of their ability to constantly draft players that fit their system perfectly. This year is no different, as they drafted freshman Kosta Koufos, and 2 international players, and I do not make assumptions on international players until they play in the NBA. Koufos is a versatile 7'1" center that played one year of college basketball at Ohio State University. During this past season he showed his ability to step outside the college 3-point line, and also play with his back to the basket as well. He will fill in well, and add to an already aggressive rebounding team.

The Washington Wizards drafted 7-foot Center JaVale McGee from Nevada, although they have 2 centers in Brendan Haywood, and Etan Thomas on the roster. This may spell the end for one of them in D.C. Mcgee is a underdeveloped talent on the offensive end, but is a good shot-blocker with good instincts. Although Washington may lose star player Gilbert Arenas to free agency, they have seemed to play better as a cohesive unit when he has been injured.

The Toronto Raptors did not win in the draft, but they did win because of a draft pick they traded to get veteran Jermaine O'Neal. They traded the 17th pick that turned out to be Roy Hibbert in exchange for an international player, and O'Neal. They decided that it was better as a franchise to win with an experienced big man, instead of waiting for a young one to come around. Teamed with Chris Bosh, and the other talent on the Raptors team, Toronto should be able to advance beyond the first-round of the NBA Playoffs. The only question will be whether O'Neal can stay healthy all year.

The Boston Celtics made the conscious effort not to allow the spoils of this years championship to hold them back in the future showed in the draft. The Celtics should be aware that their core of players is getting older, and that they will need to be replaced totally in the next 5 years. They made the effort by drafting athletic swingmen J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker. These players will not be pushed to play early, but hopefully groomed to take over in the future.

The Sacramento Kings came up with 3 solid picks that were all college seniors in Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, and Patrick Ewing Jr. While Thompson may develop into a star years down the line, but he is a project for now. Ewing and Singletary however will be able to step in and contribute minutes immediately. The Kings needed to replenish their front line as there have been rumors of a Brad Miller trade, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim has been often injured.

The last "Winner" of the draft was the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland honestly is trying to do everything they can as far as adding pieces so they can keep Lebron James from leaving in free agency after next year. In the draft the added J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson(2008 NCAA National Champion), and Sasha Kaun(2008 NCAA National Champion). They have added proven winners to their front line, to spell aging Joe Smith and Ben Wallace. Jackson and Kaun were seniors on the Kansas Jayhawks team that won the National Championship, and should be able to add valuable minutes to a team that is always looking for spark besides Lebron James

2008 NBA Draft "Big Winners"

This past Thursday's draft was one of the deepest in recent years with good players being passed on, and falling lower than expected, big trades galore, and drama. It also saw many difference making moves, and next years NBA season will be better for it. When I look at this draft, I am only going to look at it from a 1st Round perspective, and general moves, and utilization of their draft opportunities.

The top 3 picks went as many expected with Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo going in order, and then there were surprises to follow. This draft was filled with more trades than you would usually see, and especially involving the first round players. I am excited as the highly competitive Western Conference got stronger, and the Eastern Conference added some potential stars.

The following is a list of the players selected or obtained by each team:

• Atlanta Hawks: None
• Boston Celtics: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker (via Washington), Semih Erden
• Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinça, Kyle Weaver
• Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, Ömer Aşık (via Portland)
• Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson (via Miami), Sasha Kaun (via Seattle)
• Dallas Mavericks: Shan Foster
• Denver Nuggets: Sonny Weems (via Chicago)
• Detroit Pistons: Walter Sharpe (via Seattle), Trent Plaisted (via Seattle), Deron Washington
• Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
• Houston Rockets: Donte Greene (via Memphis), Joey Dorsey (via Portland), Maarty Leunen
• Indiana Pacers: Brandon Rush (via Portland), Roy Hibbert (via Toronto)
• Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor (via Portland)
• Los Angeles Lakers: Joe Crawford
• Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo (via Minnesota), Darrell Arthur (via New Orleans, Portland, and Houston)
• Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers (via Minnesota)
• Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love (via Memphis), Nikola Peković
• New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
• New Orleans Hornets: None
• New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari
• Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee
• Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights
• Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragić (via San Antonio)
• Portland Trail Blazers: Jerryd Bayless (via Indiana), Nicolas Batum (via Houston)
• Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
• San Antonio Spurs: George Hill, Malik Hairston (via Phoenix), James Gist
• Seattle SuperSonics: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, D. J. White (via Detroit), DeVon Hardin
• Toronto Raptors: Nathan Jawai (via Indiana)
• Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicević
• Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

The Big Winners-Teams that improved without a doubt, and will reap the benefits of their selections immediately. They will see results on the floor due to direct contributions of their picks,or their presence will allow for current players to have more freedom. These are the teams that should expect to see an increase in wins, and in the success of the team overall.

The biggest winner on draft day was the New Jersey Nets, as they began by trading Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Yi Jianlian, and Bobby Simmons. It was not because Jefferson was not a good player, they are just opening up the way for the rebuilding project they have going. In the draft later that night they picked up Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, and Chris Douglas-Roberts all steals at the point where they were drafted. In Lopez and Anderson they obtained big men who could score the ball, and CDR can just put the basketball in the hoop, and play defense.

The Houston Rockets also got what they needed badly, and that is athletic post players that dunk the ball instead of laying it up softly. They got a 6'9" scorer in Donte Green via trade with Memphis, and a rebounding beast in Joey Dorsey, and shooter, Maarty Leunen. Hopefully these moves will allow them to part ways with pedestrians Chuck Hayes, Loren Woods, and steady veteran Dikembe Mutombo may retire although he is still a capable shot blocker.

The Memphis Grizzlies also worked their draft day jelly as they made a major trade that brought a potential future superstar to their organization. Initially the Grizzlies drafted power forward Kevin Love with the 5th pick, but later a major trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves sent veteran Mike Miller, and Kevin Love to Minneapolis in exchange for combo guard O.J. Mayo. Even though Mike Miller is coming of his best individual season, it is hard to pass up someone who could lead your team for years to come. Mayo's competitive nature will without a doubt permeate the locker room.

The Miami Heat also benefited greatly from the acquisitions of phenom power forward Michael Beasley, and solid point guard Mario Chalmers. These were both spots that needed upgrading for the Heat. At PF, the Heat have Udonis Haslem, who was a solid role-player when Shaquille O'Neal was on the team. But now that the team has dramatically changed, they needed an upgrade. At point guard the had Chris Quinn who is a good NBA back-up, but not an 82 game starter. Mario Chalmers will provide an athletic upgrade, and is a point guard who does not mind stepping up and taking big shots, as he did in this years NCAA Final Four. The Heat should also have Dwayne Wade, and Shawn Marion as well.

The Indiana pacers are trying to return to the days of Market Square Arena, Reggie Miller, and shed the reputation of recent arrests and Detroit Brawl. They stated by obtaining point guard TJ Ford from the Toronto Raptors, and the deal will be finalized on July 9th, 2008. This puts injury riddled, and arrest prone Jamal Tinsley on the trading block. After initially drafting Jerryd Bayless, the Pacer executed a trade with the Portland Trailblazers to obtain swingman Brandon Rush. He is a versatile scorer who can rebound and play defense., his only drawback is his complacent nature. They also acquired 7'2" center Roy Hibbert with the pick they obtained in the Toronto trade. Both of these player fit the mold of solid citizens, then good basketball players that Larry Bird and the Pacers are looking for.

The Milwaukee Bucks obtained Richard Jefferson to team with Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, and Charlie Villanueva. They also picked up athletic forward Joe Alexander, and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. They have added pieces that will allow them to win next year because they are definitely not suffering from a lack of talent. They will might be able to make it into the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference. At a minimum they should improve their win total of 28, and 26 games they have had the last 2 years. The only spot that I thought that they could have upgraded was at point guard, as I feel they do not have a play maker at that spot. But, a team can only get so much in the draft, maybe something will open up for them in free agency.

Another big winner was the Minnesota Timberwolves, as they obtained Kevin Love via a trade as they sent O.J. Mayo to Memphis, and an international player. When they made the initialpick of Mayo I was stunned as they have a logjam at the guard spot. This move showed they havea focus and a goal to the talent that they are obtaining. The Timberwolves continue to add talent to their roster as the rebuilding continues. They had begun assembling their assets in the forms of draft picks, and cap space well before they traded away Kevin Garnett last summer. They may see a difference in their 22-win effort from last season, but the ultimate rewards may notbe seen until a few years down the line.

The last two teams that were big winners in the 2008 NBA Draft are the Chicago Bulls, and the Portland Trailblazers. Both teams did a good job in making a splash by only getting one key player each. The Blazers also added Nicolas Batum,but for my money, international players have to earn their salt over here first. The Blazers traded Brandon Rush to get Jerryd Bayless from the Indiana Pacers. By getting Bayless, 3rd year combo guard Brandon Roy will be able to play off of the ball more often and be able to score the ball more. And the last year's #1 pick Greg Oden will be returning from microfracture surgery, and this is a big splash, like almost having 2 stars added to your team as Oden never played a regular season game.

The Bulls drafted the hometown kid Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis with the #1 pick. Rose is a capable scorer in traffic, on the move, and can absorb body contact and still finish at the rim. He also has good court vision, and can be a high assist man, or a prolific scorer. By obtaining Rose the Bulls almost certainly put the future of Ben Gordon, or Kirk Hinrich as related to their remaining time with the team. The Bulls will definitely be a tougher team, and I believe this pick goes a long way in establishing the identity for a team that has lacked one since Michael Jordan retired.

Next Blog will be on the winners of the draft, those that made a decent splash, but did not pull blockbusters.

2008 NBA Draft Preview-Part 4

The 2008 NBA draft is set to begin on Thursday night, June 26 in New York City. As always there are the big prospects that know they will be drafted in the lottery. This years front runners are Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, Derrick Rose from Memphis University, and O.J. Mayo from USC, all were spectacular freshman this year. Because of the NBA rule stating that players must play at least one year of college basketball before entering the draft, these players who probably would have entered right out of high school were forced to go to their respective universities where each of them shined this year. This is deep draft with a few potential superstars available, and definitely some solid pro’s in the mix.

Rather than break down where each prospect will go, I will go through each team and break down their rosters, and look at their needs. This is part 4 of 6 parts breaking down all the NBA teams. Each part will include 5 teams, and this one includes the: Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and the New York Knicks. I am no mock draft guru, and will never be because some teams draft based on need, others draft based on best talent available. So instead of trying to predict the unpredictable, I will detail the best route.

I am of the mindset that if a good player is not available for the spot that you need then trade down. I firmly believe that if you draft based on the most talented available, then you end up with pieces that don’t fit, and your long-term success is threatened. The same philosophy goes to drafting a less talented player higher than you usually would because you need a serviceable player in that spot. The issue with drafting need if the player is not a good value for that pick is you have to still pay that player that spots money because the NBA has slotted rookie salaries.

The quickest way to improve your team is to lose dead weight, and that is just what the New York Knicks were able to do this offseason by firing Isiah Thomas. This is a team that has been in turmoil for quite some time now, and it is hard to believe that the glory days are so far behind them. The team across the river in New Jersey faired no better than the Knicks, and this is so unheard of that New York metropolitan basketball is so irrelevant. The savior to the east coast was the NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

Both the Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves fall into the bottom feeder category, they just have less media, and drama surrounding them. It amazes me that there is so much talent in the league right now yet there are teams that almost seem to refuse to field a good product.

The New Orleans Hornets are the complete antithesis of the other 4 teams mentioned in this column. They have strapped the Crescent City to their backs and are ready to roll into he future. They have one of the most exciting players in the game in Chris Paul, and an underrated coach in Byron Scott. We can look forward to many years of the same from this team.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have been irrelevant since the 2003 season when George Karl left. It has been disappointment after disappointment, as disgruntled players, traded superstars, and a lack of player development has haunted this team. Michael Redd has been one of the lone consistent bright spots for the Bucks, although he is no stranger to injured reserve. With youth and talent on their team in the forms of Redd, Andrew Bogut, Charlie Villanueva, and Yi Jianlian the Bucks are not entirely in a hole.

The Bucks have been lacking the explosive playmaking skills at point guard that T.J. Ford brought the team before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2006. They have the 8th and 37th pick to try and fill this hole. This is definitely no disrespect to Charlie Bell, and Mo Williams but they are just solid and not difference makers in the NBA.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves finally conceded last year that they were rebuilding a team that never really had success in the first place. They traded away long-time staple Kevin Garnett, and engaged in a multiple player deals, that netted them multiple draft picks last year, and they posses 3 this year picking 3rd, 31st, and 34th. 

The Wolves are heavy on the guards, and they are in need of another big time front court player to team with Al Jefferson. They could go either power forward or center because Jefferson plays both spots. More than anything the Timberwolves need experience. They are very young with many of their key players having no more than 3 years in the league.

New Jersey Nets

I must give the Nets credits for being the best swindlers in the NBA. They managed to steal away the Dallas Mavericks future point guard in Devin Harris, a young defensive center in Desagana Diop, and 2 first-round draft picks. All the Nets gave up was an aging Jason Kidd who they wanted out of town anyways, and some spare parts. I would say that GM Rod Thorn should go to Las Vegas and hit the poker tables because he is a riverboat gambler if you ask me. 

The Nets find themselves with the 10th, 21st, and 40th picks in the draft, and needs in multiple places. Vince Carter’s better days are far behind him, and it seem the team is intent on trading Richard Jefferson. The Nets are in a semi-rebuilding stage, and they just need to find out where they want to go with this team. With 2 prime picks this will be a good year to start.

New Orleans Hornets

This year was the coming out party for the New Orleans Hornets, and how appropriate for the Big Easy. Hornets All-Stars Chris Paul and David West stepped on the national stage and introduced themselves. At risk of sounding like the TNT commentators, Paul looks like a young Isiah Thomas, and the team looks like the Pistons when they were trying to get through Boston in the 80’s.

The team is helping revive the city and bringing a sense of pride. In Thursday’s draft, the Hornets hold the 27th pick , and the only weak spot it seems could be at 2 or 3 depending how you would classify Morris Peterson. I think he is a nice outside shooter, but he also have that in Peja Stojakovic. A slasher with a nice mid-range game would be ideal at this point bring balance to the wings.

New York Knicks

To be a realist here, Isiah Thomas has done damage to this franchise that may take years, perfect planning, and perfect execution to rectify. There have been a slew of bad trades, bad contracts, and bad management that landed the Knicks with a 23-59 record last year. The Knicks landed in the draft lottery at pick #6, but in the grand scheme of things whoever they pick will have a hard time flourishing on this team, no matter the skill level.

Donnie Walsh took over as team president, and the Knicks lured Mike D’Antoni away from the Valley of the Sun. The Knicks still have one more year of Starbury, a constantly disgruntled Zach Randolph still remains, and an ever surly/lazy Eddy Curry still don the jersey. It is going to take almost a complete flush to make it work in New York, so I hope Donnie Walsh brought plenty of toilet paper because there is a lot of shit to clean up with the Knicks.

2008 NBA Draft Preview-Part 3

The 2008 NBA draft is set to begin on Thursday night, June 26 in New York City. As always there are the big prospects that know they will be drafted in the lottery. This years front runners are Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, Derrick Rose from Memphis University, and O.J. Mayo from USC, all were spectacular freshman this year. Because of the NBA rule stating that players must play at least one year of college basketball before entering the draft, these players who probably would have entered right out of high school were forced to go to their respective universities where each of them shined this year. This is deep draft with a few potential superstars available, and definitely some solid pro’s in the mix.

Rather than break down where each prospect will go, I will go through each team and break down their rosters, and look at their needs. This is part 3 of 6 parts breaking down all the NBA teams. Each part will include 5 teams, and this one includes the: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Miami Heat. I am no mock draft guru, and will never be because some teams draft based on need, others draft based on best talent available. So instead of trying to predict the unpredictable, I will detail the best route.

I am of the mindset that if a good player is not available for the spot that you need then trade down. I firmly believe that if you draft based on the most talented available, then you end up with pieces that don’t fit, and your long-term success is threatened. The same philosophy goes to drafting a less talented player higher than you usually would because you need a serviceable player in that spot. The issue with drafting need if the player is not a good value for that pick is you have to still pay that player that spots money because the NBA has slotted rookie salaries.

The Boston Celtics should learn from the mistakes that the Miami Heat made after their championship run of 1996, and that is holding on to old players can land you in the draft lottery just 2 years later. Memphis and Indiana are perennial bottom dwellers in the NBA these days.

The Los Angeles teams are once again polar opposites as the Lakers went to the NBA Finals and Pau Gasol fell into their laps midseason, while the Clippers found themselves dealing with injuries, and find themselves picking 7th in the draft.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have had some of the worst luck with injuries and legal trouble as any team in the league. Power forward/center Jermaine O’Neal, and point guard Jamaal Tinsley have missed extended time over the past 2 years and the Pacers have not been able to achieve much continuity during this time. This up and down line-up pattern of “when will I play?” has hurt the young talented players they have such as Danny Grainger although he performed well last year, and Shawne Williams.

The Pacers are set to pick 11th in Thursday NBA Draft, and depending on the contract status of last years back-up Andre Owens, they made need to pick up a point guard because Tinsley has been unreliable. They also may want to look at acquiring a shooting guard with range as they have none on the roster. They have athletes that can slash and hit the occasional jumper but no one to extend the floor.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers found themselves outside of the playoff race for the 2nd straight year, finishing with a dismal 23-59 record. As with many teams that look like they are playing pick-up basketball, the Clippers suffered from injuries all year. Shaun Livingston did not play a game as he recovered from a severe knee injury from the previous season. The Clippers have solid scorers in Corey Maggette, Tim Thomas, and Chris Kaman, but they lack a true superstar. At this point the Clippers may lose starting power forward Elton Brand to free agency.

The Clippers have the 7th, and 35 picks in the draft. Although they don’t have pieces they can afford, it would be worthwhile to see if they could reach one of the top 2 spots and get Michael Beasley. For years the Clippers owner Donald Sterling has low balled this team to a losing record, but if they want to compete he is going to have to put all his chips on the table and stop letting his star players go.

Los Angeles Lakers

The most important quote in relation to the Lakers for next year is Kobe Bryant stating that “I am very comfortable with the team going into next year.” This was a far cry from the dram that unfolded last summer. In addition to adding Pau Gasol midseason, the Lakers look forward to bringing back their promising young center Andrew Bynum. Most of their key players are signed and locked up for at least 2 years, promising extended success that they enjoyed this year. 

The Lakers hold the 58th pick in the NBA draft, and it will most likely be a player that will not make the roster, or be an international player that will not be coming over. The roster currently holds the maximum 15 players. The Lakers are stocked up at every position, but the rumor mill is stirring that the New Jersey Nets may be interested in acquiring Lamar Odom for Richard Jefferson, and it doesn’t seem like a bad deal for either team.

Memphis Grizzlies 

The Memphis Grizzlies are an utter mess at this point, and went on a fire sale last year as they virtually gave away Pau Gasol to the Lakers. As with many teams in the NBA, the Grizzlies have had a hard time getting a consistent play from their young guys. They are rebuilding but have young guards in Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gay.

The Grizzlies need to find a center with their 5th pick, or with the 28th. I checked out the Grizzlies online workouts and they had a number of big men in for a look. So it is pretty evident that they were looking at big men to fill the shoes left by Gasol. It is also clear that they are not comfortable with what Kwame Brown and Darko Milicic bring to the table.

Miami Heat

The Heat and Dwayne Wade have definitely fallen hard since the championship year of 2006. The team is undeniably different, with Shaquille O’Neal being shipped out west for Shawn Marion. And a number of the aging players that stayed around for the following season post-championship have bee replaced by no-names and complimentary players. Pat Riley has stepped down, and they have a first year coach in Erik Spoelstra. The years forced themselves into rebuilding by avoiding the facts and letting players stick around way past when they should have.

They have the 2nd, and 52nd picks in the draft and as they have glaring needs in the front court, I am sure they would like for the Chicago Bulls to draft Derrick Rose first, and let Michael Beasley fall to them. They might also be alright with Rose as they need a point guard as well, because I do not know if Chris Quinn and Marcus Banks are the long-term solution. This is a 3 year project for the crew down on South beach.
  

2008 NBA Draft Preview-Part 2

The 2008 NBA draft is set to begin on Thursday night, June 26 in New York City. As always there are the big prospects that know they will be drafted in the lottery. This years front runners are Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, Derrick Rose from Memphis University, and O.J. Mayo from USC, all were spectacular freshman this year. Because of the NBA rule stating that players must play at least one year of college basketball before entering the draft, these players who probably would have entered right out of high school were forced to go to their respective universities where each of them shined this year. This is deep draft with a few potential superstars available, and definitely some solid pro’s in the mix.

Rather than break down where each prospect will go, I will go through each team and break down their rosters, and look at their needs. This is part 2 of 6 parts breaking down all the NBA teams. Each part will include 5 teams, and this one includes the: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and the Houston Rockets. I am no mock draft guru, and will never be because some teams draft based on need, others draft based on best talent available. So instead of trying to predict the unpredictable, I will detail the best route.

I am of the mindset that if a good player is not available for the spot that you need then trade down. I firmly believe that if you draft based on the most talented available, then you end up with pieces that don’t fit, and your long-term success is threatened. The same philosophy goes to drafting a less talented player higher than you usually would because you need a serviceable player in that spot. The issue with drafting need if the player is not a good value for that pick is you have to still pay that player that spots money because the NBA has slotted rookie salaries.

The tides turn quickly, and windows close faster than you would think in the NBA, and the Dallas Mavericks can attest to that first hand. They were on the cusp of a championship 3 years ago, and this past year they struggled to make the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons could identify with the Mavericks on that level, but at least they managed to get a championship in there, but have suffered from over confidence since then.

Denver, Golden State, and Houston several key pieces away from getting to that next level. Houston and Denver have not been able to make it out of the first round of the playoffs for years. It is just not enough to make the playoffs in the competitive western conference, that gets coaches fired theses days. When you talk about the draft, you have some teams that need major makeovers, others that are in need of a couple of pieces, some are just lost causes.

Dallas Mavericks

After losing the 2006 NBA Finals in a very disappointing fashion to the Miami Heat, the Dallas window to the ultimate success seems to have been shut. The Finals loss was followed by a first round loss to the Golden State Warriors after having the best regular season record. This year also in ended in a sour first round defeat at the hands of the up-and-coming New Orleans Hornets led by Chris Paul. These debacles led to the dismissal of coach Avery Johnson, as he was replaced my Rick Carlisle. 

The biggest change last year was the Jason Kidd trade, which was nonsense from the beginning. The Mavericks gave up youth, size, and the future in the forms of Devin Harris and Desagana Diop, in return for a 35 year old over the hill point guard, and some spare parts. This moved was doomed from the start as Kidd never meshed with the team as the style had changed from years past under Don Nelson, maybe it would have worked 4 years ago.

So as the Mavericks only hold the 51st pick in the upcoming draft as they were bamboozled out of their next 2 first round picks by the New Jersey Nets. They still maintain the core of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry, but the supporting parts are older and getting less effective by the year. Jerry Stackhouse is 33 but has the knees of a 40 year old, Juwan Howard is 35, and Eddie Jones is 36. To be honest it looks as if the Mavericks are in a rebuilding stage as it will take years to undo what Mark Cuban has done with this team, and the 51st pick in the 2nd round of the draft is not going to be a good start.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets made another first round exit thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers this year. It was thought that they would make strides as Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson spent the whole year together. But in the tough Western conference they ended with a 50-32 record and snuck in the playoffs in the last days of the season. This was the 5th year in a row they were taken out in the first round, never wining more than 1 game in a series, and being swept this year. 

For years the problem seemed to be that they did not have a spot up shooter to free up their offense, and that is still the case today. But last year even though they acquired a great player in Allen Iverson, they also got another player that needs the ball in their hands a lot and is a volume shooter. Between Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, and J.R. Smith there are close to 60 shots per game taken between these 3 players. That does not leave a lot of involvement from other players. During this offseason it has been rumored that it is a deal in place to move Carmelo Anthony to Detroit in a trade, but at this point it is all rumors. 

The Nuggets have the 20th pick in the draft, and it still remains that they need a specialist who can shoot the ball. Or at lest a distributing point guard who can knock down open jump shots. The Nuggets are not lacking in the talent department, it is the cohesion as a team that they lack. I like George Karl, but is it time for a new voice in the locker room?
It would be nice to see someone hold the players accountable on the defensive end, even just a little bit would help.

Detroit Pistons

“There will be change” is what Joe Dumars promised after the Piston bowed out to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Immediately following, coach Flip Saunders was fired, and replaced by Michael Curry. Ever since they won the title in 2004, the Pistons have been sleepwalking through seasons. They have seemed o have the attitude that they were the best “team” in the NBA so all you would have to do is roll the ball out and they would win it all. Under Saunders the veteran Pistons seemed uninterested, and satisfied.

One of the mainstays that may be moved this offseason, is Rasheed Wallace. Although supremely talented, his emotions have gotten the best of him in key spots in games. Under Joe Dumars, Detroit has been of the best run franchises in the league for years including good drafts, and acquisitions. Detroit holds the 29th, and 59th picks, and I can only speculate that they will look to pick up another forward, or center, and begin to phase out Wallace. They are 2 deep at every other position with solid back ups. I do have faith that whatever direction that Dumars decides to go, it will be well thought out, and executed well.

Golden State Warriors

On Nelson has a way of bringing teams from the ashes to back to a competitive team. He accomplished this once with the Dallas Mavericks and now twice with the Golden State Warriors. Although they missed the playoffs by 2 games this year, they are still a team on the cusp. They were without their captain Stephen Jackson the first 7 games of the year due to suspension, and it took them a while to get into their flow. They have a solid core of guards with Baron Davis, Monta Ellis emerging as a star, and Stephen Jackson.

Because of the style of offense “Nellie” employs, big men with skills are at a premium for this team. Andres Biedrens has shown signs of being the center that Golden State needs to continually be a competitive team. The only thing that holds them back is their lack of discretion with the 3 point shot. The Warriors should look to develop last years pick in Brandan Wright, and get him some minutes this year.

The Warriors also possess the 14th, and 49th picks in this years draft. I personally would look to add an athletic power forward who can play in the post as well as run and gun. If I were Golden State I would look along the lines of trading the pick, or executing a sign and trade deal for someone the likes of Shareef Abdur-Raheem, or a Kenyon Martin, just someone who can bring toughness to the table.

Houston Rockets

I have talked about the Rockets needs in my column NBA Texas Round-Up, and the problems are numerous to count. The Rockets have not made it out of the fist round of the playoffs since 1997, and have missed it numerous times since then. I have been privileged enough to see them in person many times since 2000 and this current teams is one of the least athletic teams they have fielded. I will not dispute that they play very hard, and hustle their butts off, but they are fatally flawed.

When you look at the Rockets at power forward, they have Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, and Carl Landry. Landry is a good leaper, hustles, but he is listed at 6’9” which is a joke because when he stands next to Tracy McGrady who is a legit 6’8”, Tracy is noticeably taller. Chuck Hayes is and always will be a borderline NBA player. Luis Scola has skills, and is a legit basketball player, but he just not finish strong at the rim. A couple of years ago the Rockets drafted Rudy Gay, and athletic small forward but shipped him to Memphis for Shane Battier, because simply put the Rockets could not afford to sign him

The Rudy Gay situation highlights many of the bad roster moves, and poor upper management that has been displayed by the team since it won the back-to-back championships in the 1990’s. I will not dip into the injury issues, and “heart” issues with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady respectively, but the Rockets are not going to get the help they need with the 25th pick in the draft. More first round exits await them in the years to come.

2008 NBA Draft Preview-Part 1

The 2008 NBA draft is set to begin on Thursday night, June 26 in New York City. As always there are the big prospects that know they will be drafted in the lottery. This years front runners are Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, Derrick Rose from Memphis University, and O.J. Mayo from USC, all were spectacular freshman this year. Because of the NBA rule stating that players must play at least one year of college basketball before entering the draft, these players who probably would have entered right out of high school were forced to go to their respective universities where each of them shined this year. This is deep draft with a few potential superstars available, and definitely some solid pro’s in the mix.

Rather than break down where each prospect will go, I will go through each team and break down their rosters, and look at their needs. This is part 1 of 6 parts breaking down all the NBA teams. Each part will include 5 teams, and this one includes the: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I am no mock draft guru, and will never be because some teams draft based on need, others draft based on best talent available. So instead of trying to predict the unpredictable, I will detail the best route.

I am of the mindset that if a good player is not available for the spot that you need then trade down. I firmly believe that if you draft based on the most talented available, then you end up with pieces that don’t fit, and your long-term success is threatened. The same philosophy goes to drafting a less talented player higher than you usually would because you need a serviceable player in that spot. The issue with drafting need if the player is not a good value for that pick is you have to still pay that player that spots money because the NBA has slotted rookie salaries.

Being that there are no dominant teams in the NBA, there is always room for improvement no matter what last year brought you. Even as you look at this year’s NBA champion, the Boston Celtics, although they took home the trophy they are an aging team. In a sport that is dominated by world class athletes it is necessary to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to rising ages on your team. Then conversely you have he Atlanta Hawks, that are one of the youngest teams in the NBA right now, it would not hurt them to pick up some experience through free agency. 

The Charlotte Bobcats, are still in the expansion team beginnings and it will take them a few years to upgrade their team, which they have been doing steadily through the draft.
The Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James have been strapped on James’ back for the past few years, and it is time to bring in a decent sidekick that can lend a helping hand when needed. The Chicago Bulls are a team in need of solid direction. No one would argue that they are lacking for talent, but yet they do fall into the category of teams that the draft based on talent, as there has been no rhyme of reason to the high draft picks they have received since Michael Jordan retired.

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks almost stunned the world by pushing the eventual champion Boston Celtics to their limits in the first round of the playoffs. They made great strides this year as their young talent took big strides in developing an identity. Led by veteran Joe Johnson, and 3rd year player Josh Smith they were given 2 reliable scorers heading into the prime of their careers. After drafting Al Horford, and teaming him with 4th year center Zaza Pachulia the hawks showed a toughness that NBA teams need to make it deep into the playoffs. After a 37-45 regular season record, they did not just stumble into the playoffs, and bow out like a young team might. Instead they were an energized hard nosed team that showed incredible promise for what their future may hold. After passing on point guards in years past, they drafted Acie Law IV in the draft last year, and a midseason trade with the Sacramento Kings to bring Mike Bibby to Atlanta they are set at that position for years to come.

The Hawks hold no picks in this years draft because of the Mike Bibby trade, but for them that is not exactly a bad thing. They have plenty of young talent with those already mentioned as well as up and coming forwards Marvin Williams and Josh Childress. Since the draft would only make them younger, it is really a good thing that they do not have to choose this year. With only 13 of the 15 roster spots being occupied, the one thing I would add to the team is an experienced front court player with playoff experience similar to what the Boston Celtics did with PJ Brown this year. With a team so young they could use a veteran that has been through the playoff trenches. The Hawks need to continue to take steps forward this coming season including a more consistent regular season, and advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Boston Celtics

After winning their 17th NBA championship, have the years of a dynasty returned to New England? To be truthful about the previous question, no, if their roster does not experience some turnover this offseason. Although they have the Big 3 of Kevin Garnett(12 years), Paul Pierce(9 years), and Ray Allen(11 years), their best days are behind them, but if surrounded by the proper pieces they could win a couple of more championships before their careers are over. If Danny Ainge fails to retool their team, it is a high possibility that they could end up like the Miami Heat of a few years ago. 

It is highly likely that Sam Cassell and PJ Brown will not be brought back, or just retire as they are both 38 years old. Although they played a large role in winning the ring, keeping players around just for loyalties sake can end up in a wasted season. The Celtics hold the 30th and 60th picks in the draft, and have a full roster of 15 players, so something has to give. Either players will be released, their 2nd round draft pick will go unsigned, or they will draft foreign players that have no chance of coming over in the next few years. The latter has been used in the recent years by many NBA teams needing to protect roster spots. 

The bright spot for the Celtics despite losing the experience is that their role players are one year more experienced, and will have been battle tested in the Finals. These players include Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe. Each one of these players need to work hard to add elements to there games. Rondo needs to add to his outside jump shot, Glen Davis needs to stay in shape, Perkins needs to add a little to his offensive repertoire so he can score outside of the paint, and Leon Powe also needs to get consistent on his outside jumper. All of these players have talent, and play defense, they just need to add polish to their games. The Celtics should look to add a true point guard to play behind Rondo. Eddie House was serviceable along with Cassell, but Boston needs another distributor, not another shooter. The Celtics also might want to start looking towards the future as far as finding a combination shooting guard/small forward, as time is going to be limited on Ray Allen’s career as injuries have mounted lately. This will be a hard task for them to achieve as they have the last pick in each of the 2 rounds. Quite possibly Danny Ainge could get creative again like he did last summer.

Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats possess the 9th and 38th picks in the draft, have a new coach in Larry Brown, and are going into their 5th season of existence. Michael Jordan is in the front office in charge of basketball operations, and basically all basketball decisions. They are not totally without talent but yet they are still behind the curve with most teams in the league as far as overall talent. They have young talent such as Raymond Felton, Jason Richardson, Emeka Okafor, Adam Morrison, Gerald Wallace, and Sean May. Sean May however has not been able to stay healthy through either of his first 2 seasons, and it will also be a long road back as he had microfracture surgery on his right knee that caused him to miss all of last season. He has also had issues with conditioning, and his weight. 

Charlotte ended last year with a 32-50 record, which is one win less than they finished with 2006-07. After firing Sam Vincent after 1 year, they hired NBA vagabond Larry Brown. He is a renowned teacher of the game of basketball. His experience should help the young players on this team improve on the court. The Bobcats appear to have stars that are willing to learn, and accept teaching. They also have a nice mix of veterans and young players.

The Bobcats have a few needs that are they are very capable of addressing in the draft. They definitely need to get another shooter as they need someone to add with Matt Carroll, and get a back-up point guard for Raymond Felton. There is no other point guard on the bench for the Bobcats, Earl Boykins is the closest thing to that, but he is more of 5’5” shooting guard. The Charlotte Bobcats are not close, but they are not that far away either.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are a team in transition after firing their coach Scott Skiles mid way through last season, executing a large midseason trade, and front office disagreement.
After struggling their way through the entire season, the Bulls ended in with a 33-49 record, and missed the playoffs. Dramatically they won the first pick in the NBA draft lottery with only a 1.7% chance of receiving it. High draft picks are no stranger to the Chicago Bulls as the playoff runs have been sparse since Michael Jordan retired after the 1998 season. 

Currently it seems as if own Jerry Reinsdorf, and GM John Paxon have a conflict in philosophy. Rumors about this conflict have swirled around as it took the Bulls the longest to settle on ahead coach as candidate after candidate was either eliminated or dropped out voluntarily. Finally it was decided that first year coach Vinny Del Negro would lead the team. Based upon the past drafts it is hard to tell what the identity of the Bulls is, as there are many talented players, but at times it seems as if they do not fit well. The Bulls have been one of those teams that has drafted best talent available as opposed to drafting for the need of the team.

One glaring need for the Bulls is a polished offensive post presence. Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and rookie Aaron Gray are all very raw on the offensive end, and are not ready to dominate a game on the offensive end of the floor. Starting power forward Drew Gooden is serviceable in the post sometimes, but is very inconsistent. The Bulls also posses the 39th pick as well. The first pick is widely believed to go to either Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose. The Bulls looked to be on the cusp 2 years ago, and all it will take is a good or bad draft to push them either way right now as they dangle in limbo.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs hold the 19th pick in the draft and while you look at the team as a whole, they are not a badly put together team as they finally filled the need to get a shooter with Wally Szczerbiak. But in their trade with the Chicago Bulls they also picked up 2 aging front court players in Joe Smith and Ben Wallace. Because of injuries, it also seems as if 9th year center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is near the tail end of his production. They do however have firecracker Anderson Varejao. 

Lebron James is good enough to will a team to the NBA Final almost singlehandedly, but a little help never hurt anyone. Going back to 2006-07 Daniel Gibson began to show signs of being that guy, but injuries have slowed him down. This year late in the regular season, and into the playoffs, Delonte West also showed he was not afraid to step up and take the big shot when needed. This is one of the hardest teams to discern what they actually need, you know they need something to get past that next step, but it is hard to pin point exactly what it is. 

They are probably in need of a true point guard more than anything as Delonte West is more of a combo guard than a true distributor. If they could pick up another slashing small forward they could afford to make Lebron a point-forward. They are one more year into it, and it is basically all about getting people comfortable around James. And I think this may be the year that Mike Brown comes into his own as coach.