Post by Akomplice on Sept 5, 2011 18:34:48 GMT -5
1 Oklahoma City Thunder - Horace Walker SF 6'4'' 210 22
Pre- B+ C- C- B+ B- A
Post- A- C- C- A- B+ B
We all knew coming that Walker was going to be a beast to handle down low, the question was what position would he play. After the training camp he improved his defense and rebounding and his inside scoring. Walker will never be much of a shooter unless the Thunder really work on him there. Walker's ratings actually justify passing on Lucas at this point at he appears to be a beast in the making. The only question is what rookie will he take a liking to more, Walker or Moreland?
2 Houston Rockets - Jerry Lucas C 6'9'' 230 20
Pre- B C C B A- A
Post- B C C B+ A- A
Not that much of a change for Lucas but a nice bump in defense. Lucas should be able to contribute this year but shouldn't be an option. Combine Lucas with last years selection in Bumper the Rockets all of a sudden has a nice front court that has the room to grow more. Lucas was in a coin toss to go first, this was a hell of a consolation prize for the Rockets.
3 Boston Celtics - Lee Shaffer PF 6'7'' 220 21
Pre- B+ C+ C- C+ C+ A
Post- A- C+ C- C+ B- A
Lee will be a scoring machine for the Celtics this year and could arguably be an go to option
for this team. The Celtics have a lot of young talent on this roster and people expect Attles-Shaffer to be a potent combo for years to come. However the lack of defense in the front court will be glaring this year and years to come until the Celtics shore that up.
4 Phoenix Suns - Leroy Wright C 6'9'' 215 22
Pre- C F+ D A A- B
Post- C D- D A A- C
When you draft a guy like Wright you can't be expecting much improvement. He came into the league already with elite defense and rebounding. The only thing that you can really take away from his training camp is that he slightly improved his shot, going up from that dreaded F+. Over the years the Suns should just pack on the weight and height to Leroy and he should have a Stokes type impact on the game.
5 Dallas Mavericks - Tom Sanders PF 6'6'' 215 22
Pre- B C C A B- B
Post- B+ C C A B- B
Sanders is the undersized power forward that will probably make the transition to small forward, however on this team that's not an option with Gola and Barnett around. Sanders will probably play at power forward all year long, but will be outsized every night probably. However Sanders showed improvement that you have to love. He improved his inside game and kept his defense at A. This should be an interesting team to watch.
6 Atlanta Hawks - York Larese SG 6'4'' 183 22
Pre- C+ A- C B C A
Post- C+ A C B C B
Talk about a flirt, York improved his outside game but I have a feeling that many GM's were expecting more from York. York has the stroke to really make an impact for the Hawks because they really needed some shooters on the squad. It's hard to make out what type of year the Hawks are in store for, but with back to back picks you have to wonder why they didn't select Wilkens here?
7 Atlanta Hawks - Darrall Imhoff C 6'10'' 220 22
Pre- C+ D+ D A- C+ A
Post- B- D+ D A- C+ B
Another selection for the Hawks, again passing on Wilkens. The Hawks managed to steal away Macauley and Carl in free agency but with Wilkens they could of had a back court of the future. Either way Imhoff showed some decent improvements, he improved his inside game. He will be a work in progress because he will be riding the bench all year long. I truly don't believe that the Hawks thought they would land Macauley becausee if they did, this would be a different selection IMO.
8 Houston Rockets - Lenny Wilkens PG 6'1'' 180 23
Pre- C+ C+ B+ C+ C A
Post- C+ B A- B- C A
Wilkens was the unexpected slide of the draft tumbling down to the eighth pick and the Rockets were excited to have him. Wilkens improved his outside and midrange game, from C+ to B. He also improved his handles and defense making him a starting worthy point guard from day one. The Lucas-Wilkens draft was amazing for the Rockets as they have a nice and young team ready to go.
9 Toronto Raptors - Carl Cole PG 6'0'' 199 22
Pre- C+ C B+ A C C
Post- C+ C A- A C B
Cole entered this draft as a floor general, a type of point guard that can lock down the opposing point guard and can run a team. However that's about all he can do, thus making him quite the safe pick. However being one pick away from Wilkens has to sting a bit. Cole will probably learn from Adams this year and take over the team next year.
10 Golden State Warriors - Jackie Moreland SF 6'7'' 215 22
Pre- B- B+ C- C+ B- B
Post- B- B+ C- B B- A
Traded away to the Thunder in exchange for Kerr, apparently Moreland carried a chip on his shoulder. Moreland improved his defense and isn't a liability on that end anymore. Moreland also improved his potential from B to A, though that can be very deadly. A lot of teams that potential can get GM's fired, a scouting report is needed. However for the rebuilding Thunder getting Moreland was a great pickup, but who is the small forward of this team moving forward is the question?
11 Washington Wizards - Ron Johnson PF 6'8'' 215 22
Pre- B D+ D+ B C+ B
Post- B D+ C- B+ C+ B
Not much to really write home about here, but Johnson did improve his defense. The Wizards have some interesting pieces on this team and actually could make some noise if they find the correct DC. Johnson will be learning behind Keane all year long and for the foreseeable future. Johnson brings solid scoring, but will be a bench piece for years. At the 11th pick it's not that bad.
12 Dallas Mavericks - Willie Jones SG 6'3'' 185 24
Pre- C+ B C+ B- C+ B
Post- C+ A- B- A- C+ A
Jones really put in the work on his midrange and outside game and it really showed going from B to A-. Not only did he improve his shooting but he improved his handles and defense. All of a sudden Jones appears to be a stud in the making with the proper work being put in. The battle between him and Merriweather should be one to keep an eye on all year long. This team is loaded with young talent.
13 Utah Jazz - Ben Warley SF 6'5'' 200 24
Pre- C+ C- C A B- B
Post- C+ C- C A B B
Warley is never going to be much of a scoring player, but he does bring defense and boards from the get go. Warley can be a stout defender and excellent fifth starter on a winning team, though on this team he will be stuck behind Twyman and Campbell. Coming off the bench he will provide great defense, however this team should be looking to move Campbell.
Pre- B+ C- C- B+ B- A
Post- A- C- C- A- B+ B
We all knew coming that Walker was going to be a beast to handle down low, the question was what position would he play. After the training camp he improved his defense and rebounding and his inside scoring. Walker will never be much of a shooter unless the Thunder really work on him there. Walker's ratings actually justify passing on Lucas at this point at he appears to be a beast in the making. The only question is what rookie will he take a liking to more, Walker or Moreland?
2 Houston Rockets - Jerry Lucas C 6'9'' 230 20
Pre- B C C B A- A
Post- B C C B+ A- A
Not that much of a change for Lucas but a nice bump in defense. Lucas should be able to contribute this year but shouldn't be an option. Combine Lucas with last years selection in Bumper the Rockets all of a sudden has a nice front court that has the room to grow more. Lucas was in a coin toss to go first, this was a hell of a consolation prize for the Rockets.
3 Boston Celtics - Lee Shaffer PF 6'7'' 220 21
Pre- B+ C+ C- C+ C+ A
Post- A- C+ C- C+ B- A
Lee will be a scoring machine for the Celtics this year and could arguably be an go to option
for this team. The Celtics have a lot of young talent on this roster and people expect Attles-Shaffer to be a potent combo for years to come. However the lack of defense in the front court will be glaring this year and years to come until the Celtics shore that up.
4 Phoenix Suns - Leroy Wright C 6'9'' 215 22
Pre- C F+ D A A- B
Post- C D- D A A- C
When you draft a guy like Wright you can't be expecting much improvement. He came into the league already with elite defense and rebounding. The only thing that you can really take away from his training camp is that he slightly improved his shot, going up from that dreaded F+. Over the years the Suns should just pack on the weight and height to Leroy and he should have a Stokes type impact on the game.
5 Dallas Mavericks - Tom Sanders PF 6'6'' 215 22
Pre- B C C A B- B
Post- B+ C C A B- B
Sanders is the undersized power forward that will probably make the transition to small forward, however on this team that's not an option with Gola and Barnett around. Sanders will probably play at power forward all year long, but will be outsized every night probably. However Sanders showed improvement that you have to love. He improved his inside game and kept his defense at A. This should be an interesting team to watch.
6 Atlanta Hawks - York Larese SG 6'4'' 183 22
Pre- C+ A- C B C A
Post- C+ A C B C B
Talk about a flirt, York improved his outside game but I have a feeling that many GM's were expecting more from York. York has the stroke to really make an impact for the Hawks because they really needed some shooters on the squad. It's hard to make out what type of year the Hawks are in store for, but with back to back picks you have to wonder why they didn't select Wilkens here?
7 Atlanta Hawks - Darrall Imhoff C 6'10'' 220 22
Pre- C+ D+ D A- C+ A
Post- B- D+ D A- C+ B
Another selection for the Hawks, again passing on Wilkens. The Hawks managed to steal away Macauley and Carl in free agency but with Wilkens they could of had a back court of the future. Either way Imhoff showed some decent improvements, he improved his inside game. He will be a work in progress because he will be riding the bench all year long. I truly don't believe that the Hawks thought they would land Macauley becausee if they did, this would be a different selection IMO.
8 Houston Rockets - Lenny Wilkens PG 6'1'' 180 23
Pre- C+ C+ B+ C+ C A
Post- C+ B A- B- C A
Wilkens was the unexpected slide of the draft tumbling down to the eighth pick and the Rockets were excited to have him. Wilkens improved his outside and midrange game, from C+ to B. He also improved his handles and defense making him a starting worthy point guard from day one. The Lucas-Wilkens draft was amazing for the Rockets as they have a nice and young team ready to go.
9 Toronto Raptors - Carl Cole PG 6'0'' 199 22
Pre- C+ C B+ A C C
Post- C+ C A- A C B
Cole entered this draft as a floor general, a type of point guard that can lock down the opposing point guard and can run a team. However that's about all he can do, thus making him quite the safe pick. However being one pick away from Wilkens has to sting a bit. Cole will probably learn from Adams this year and take over the team next year.
10 Golden State Warriors - Jackie Moreland SF 6'7'' 215 22
Pre- B- B+ C- C+ B- B
Post- B- B+ C- B B- A
Traded away to the Thunder in exchange for Kerr, apparently Moreland carried a chip on his shoulder. Moreland improved his defense and isn't a liability on that end anymore. Moreland also improved his potential from B to A, though that can be very deadly. A lot of teams that potential can get GM's fired, a scouting report is needed. However for the rebuilding Thunder getting Moreland was a great pickup, but who is the small forward of this team moving forward is the question?
11 Washington Wizards - Ron Johnson PF 6'8'' 215 22
Pre- B D+ D+ B C+ B
Post- B D+ C- B+ C+ B
Not much to really write home about here, but Johnson did improve his defense. The Wizards have some interesting pieces on this team and actually could make some noise if they find the correct DC. Johnson will be learning behind Keane all year long and for the foreseeable future. Johnson brings solid scoring, but will be a bench piece for years. At the 11th pick it's not that bad.
12 Dallas Mavericks - Willie Jones SG 6'3'' 185 24
Pre- C+ B C+ B- C+ B
Post- C+ A- B- A- C+ A
Jones really put in the work on his midrange and outside game and it really showed going from B to A-. Not only did he improve his shooting but he improved his handles and defense. All of a sudden Jones appears to be a stud in the making with the proper work being put in. The battle between him and Merriweather should be one to keep an eye on all year long. This team is loaded with young talent.
13 Utah Jazz - Ben Warley SF 6'5'' 200 24
Pre- C+ C- C A B- B
Post- C+ C- C A B B
Warley is never going to be much of a scoring player, but he does bring defense and boards from the get go. Warley can be a stout defender and excellent fifth starter on a winning team, though on this team he will be stuck behind Twyman and Campbell. Coming off the bench he will provide great defense, however this team should be looking to move Campbell.
