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 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
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