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.