Post by gp on Mar 8, 2010 18:49:59 GMT -5
By: Galo Pesantes
1- Utah Jazz- Steve Nash
PG Santa Clara 6’3 195 22 C B+ B+ C D A
Nash is attempting to be the first point guard to be taken as the top overall pick in the history of BBS. If he indeed is taken No. 1 overall as many GMs expect him to be, Nash will be the highest taken point guard since Terrell Brandon was taken second overall in the 1992 draft and Jason Kidd in the 1994 draft. Nash, regardless if he’s taken first, will undoubtedly be one of the top point guards in the league for a very long time.
2- Cleveland Cavaliers - Vince Carter
SG North Carolina 6'7'' 215 19 B+ C+ C C C A
Should the Cavs land Vinsanity and pair him with Kidd and Duncan, this team should be unstoppable for the next decade if they can keep all three together. Carter should easily be an All-BBS 1st team performer within a few mere seasons and be a top scorer in the league for the majority of his career. If his defense develops, he could be one of the best young shooting guards in the game.
3- Los Angeles Clippers - Jermaine O’Neal
PF Eau Claire H.S. 6'11'' 226 18 C+ C- C- B- B- A
Although considered a risky pick in many facets, the Clippers can’t pass up a chance on a talent like O’Neal. Los Angeles needs to reinvigorate their franchise and O’Neal seems like the best way to do it. With time to develop, O’Neal can dominate the paint for a decade before even reaching his 30’s.
4- Houston Rockets - Ray Allen
SG Connecticut 6'5'' 205 21 C A- C C D A
Remarkably, Allen is second most polished shooter in this draft behind Croatia’s Peja Stojakovic. However, it is Allen’s upside that has many scouts salivating at the thought of a sweet-shooting shooting guard with great instincts to play this game. Expect Allen to stay in the top five discussions going into draft day but could elevate him up to third overall position.
5- Miami Heat - Stephon Marbury
PG Georgia Tech 6'2'' 180 19 B- C+ B- C D+ A
Starbury is the second most talented point guard behind Nash in a big-man laden draft. Marbury’s scoring ability is too much to deny in the top five and his playmaking ability will make him a valuable commodity on draft night. The Heat would be more than pleased to team Marbury and Kevin Garnett alongside for the better part of their careers.
6- Milwaukee Bucks - Ben Wallace
C Virginia Union 6'9'' 240 22 C D C A- B A
Big Ben will surely lock up a few Defensive Player of the Year awards and All-Defensive team nods before his time in BBS is up. He is already good enough to start on almost every team in the league at center and only his offense is what holds him back from entering the top five debate. Any team that drafts Wallace should be able to shave 10 points per game off their opponents while still generating a bunch of boards on the offensive and defensive end.
7- New Orleans Hornets - Peja Stojakovic
SF Croatia 6'9'' 220 19 C A C C C- B
Peja is simply the best outside scorer entering a draft since possibly Tennessee’s Allan Houston. His game is not going get a lot of results on the defensive end but he will stroke the ball from beyond the arc with great ease. At 19 and the proper RC attention, Stojakovic should be good enough to one day be a consistent All-Star choice. Scouts are only concerned about Stojakovic’s work ethic and willingness to improve his perimeter defense.
8- Los Angeles Lakers - Joe Smith
PF Maryland 6'10'' 225 21 B- C D+ B- C+ A
Smith gets overlooked by the bigger names in this draft but he is coming off a stellar career at the University of Maryland. His post-up game translates well into the pros and he will be a force early on defensively. While his upside is still somewhat in question, most expect Smith to be one of the better bigs in this draft. Yet, some BBS personnel are convinced Smith might one of the busts in lottery.
9- Golden State Warriors - Marcus Camby
C Massachusetts 6'11'' 220 21 C+ C C- B+ C+ B
Length is one thing you don’t lose with Marcus Camby. His help side defense and shot blocking ability can automatically help any team off the bench or even in a starting role. Camby is also expected to bloom into a rebounding king with his long, slender frame and over seven foot wingspan. Camby should develop into a career 15/12/3 player while competing with Wallace for DPOY supremacy.
10- New Jersey Nets - Shareef Abdur-Rahim
PF California 6'9'' 225 19 B+ C C- C C+ B
Abdur-Rahim does not get the same notoriety as other bigs in the game but could even be better than Joe Smith when all is said and done. The former California standout has a powerful inside game and decent outside jumper. GMs may be hesitant to pick up Abdur-Rahim this high because of concerns in playing PF and may even have to move him to small forward. However, his gaudy scoring numbers should eliminate any concern at this point in the draft.
11- Charlotte Bobcats - Zydraunas Illgauskas
C Lithuania 7'3'' 238 21 B C D+ B- C+ B
Big Z in any other draft would probably be a sure fire top 10 pick. But with the influx of big men in this draft, he falls to a fortunate team outside the top ten picks. He brings a strong inside game as well as a developing outside jumper than ranges past 18 to 20 feet. He is also a very good free throw shooter for his size and will get his share of blocks and rebounds. However, he may never reach the level of Camby or Wallace in terms of production and output.
12- Boston Celtics - Erick Dampier
C Mississippi St. 6'11'' 265 21 C+ D+ D+ B B- B
Dampier is a typical backup center and or power forward right now coming into the draft and should stay in the lottery just for that reason. With time, he could grow into a starting role especially if his rebounding and shot blocking continue to develop. The only thing that holds Dampier back from other bigs in this draft is his athleticism. He ranks below Camby, Wallace, Smith in this category and is only slightly more mobile than Illgauskas.
13- Indiana Pacers - Derek Fisher
PG Arkansas 6'1'' 200 22 C B C+ C+ D+ B
Fisher is an undersized shooting guard playing point guard but with the intangibles to grow into a starting role one day. As a lefty, Fisher has a deadly outside jumper that he won’t hesitate to launch from behind the arc. He is also a better defender than he is given credit for and can push the ball if needed. He is the consensus third best point guard in this draft pool although there is significant drop in talent and potential from Nash and Marbury.
14- Memphis Grizzlies - Shandon Anderson
SF Georgia 6'6'' 208 22 B- C+ C B C B
Anderson enters the league as a perfect swingman compliment for any team. His strong on the ball defense and finishing around the basket honors a mid-round selection for Anderson. Anderson may never be considered much more than a seventh or eighth man off the bench but could be a valuable rotational piece for a winning team.
1- Utah Jazz- Steve Nash
PG Santa Clara 6’3 195 22 C B+ B+ C D A
Nash is attempting to be the first point guard to be taken as the top overall pick in the history of BBS. If he indeed is taken No. 1 overall as many GMs expect him to be, Nash will be the highest taken point guard since Terrell Brandon was taken second overall in the 1992 draft and Jason Kidd in the 1994 draft. Nash, regardless if he’s taken first, will undoubtedly be one of the top point guards in the league for a very long time.
2- Cleveland Cavaliers - Vince Carter
SG North Carolina 6'7'' 215 19 B+ C+ C C C A
Should the Cavs land Vinsanity and pair him with Kidd and Duncan, this team should be unstoppable for the next decade if they can keep all three together. Carter should easily be an All-BBS 1st team performer within a few mere seasons and be a top scorer in the league for the majority of his career. If his defense develops, he could be one of the best young shooting guards in the game.
3- Los Angeles Clippers - Jermaine O’Neal
PF Eau Claire H.S. 6'11'' 226 18 C+ C- C- B- B- A
Although considered a risky pick in many facets, the Clippers can’t pass up a chance on a talent like O’Neal. Los Angeles needs to reinvigorate their franchise and O’Neal seems like the best way to do it. With time to develop, O’Neal can dominate the paint for a decade before even reaching his 30’s.
4- Houston Rockets - Ray Allen
SG Connecticut 6'5'' 205 21 C A- C C D A
Remarkably, Allen is second most polished shooter in this draft behind Croatia’s Peja Stojakovic. However, it is Allen’s upside that has many scouts salivating at the thought of a sweet-shooting shooting guard with great instincts to play this game. Expect Allen to stay in the top five discussions going into draft day but could elevate him up to third overall position.
5- Miami Heat - Stephon Marbury
PG Georgia Tech 6'2'' 180 19 B- C+ B- C D+ A
Starbury is the second most talented point guard behind Nash in a big-man laden draft. Marbury’s scoring ability is too much to deny in the top five and his playmaking ability will make him a valuable commodity on draft night. The Heat would be more than pleased to team Marbury and Kevin Garnett alongside for the better part of their careers.
6- Milwaukee Bucks - Ben Wallace
C Virginia Union 6'9'' 240 22 C D C A- B A
Big Ben will surely lock up a few Defensive Player of the Year awards and All-Defensive team nods before his time in BBS is up. He is already good enough to start on almost every team in the league at center and only his offense is what holds him back from entering the top five debate. Any team that drafts Wallace should be able to shave 10 points per game off their opponents while still generating a bunch of boards on the offensive and defensive end.
7- New Orleans Hornets - Peja Stojakovic
SF Croatia 6'9'' 220 19 C A C C C- B
Peja is simply the best outside scorer entering a draft since possibly Tennessee’s Allan Houston. His game is not going get a lot of results on the defensive end but he will stroke the ball from beyond the arc with great ease. At 19 and the proper RC attention, Stojakovic should be good enough to one day be a consistent All-Star choice. Scouts are only concerned about Stojakovic’s work ethic and willingness to improve his perimeter defense.
8- Los Angeles Lakers - Joe Smith
PF Maryland 6'10'' 225 21 B- C D+ B- C+ A
Smith gets overlooked by the bigger names in this draft but he is coming off a stellar career at the University of Maryland. His post-up game translates well into the pros and he will be a force early on defensively. While his upside is still somewhat in question, most expect Smith to be one of the better bigs in this draft. Yet, some BBS personnel are convinced Smith might one of the busts in lottery.
9- Golden State Warriors - Marcus Camby
C Massachusetts 6'11'' 220 21 C+ C C- B+ C+ B
Length is one thing you don’t lose with Marcus Camby. His help side defense and shot blocking ability can automatically help any team off the bench or even in a starting role. Camby is also expected to bloom into a rebounding king with his long, slender frame and over seven foot wingspan. Camby should develop into a career 15/12/3 player while competing with Wallace for DPOY supremacy.
10- New Jersey Nets - Shareef Abdur-Rahim
PF California 6'9'' 225 19 B+ C C- C C+ B
Abdur-Rahim does not get the same notoriety as other bigs in the game but could even be better than Joe Smith when all is said and done. The former California standout has a powerful inside game and decent outside jumper. GMs may be hesitant to pick up Abdur-Rahim this high because of concerns in playing PF and may even have to move him to small forward. However, his gaudy scoring numbers should eliminate any concern at this point in the draft.
11- Charlotte Bobcats - Zydraunas Illgauskas
C Lithuania 7'3'' 238 21 B C D+ B- C+ B
Big Z in any other draft would probably be a sure fire top 10 pick. But with the influx of big men in this draft, he falls to a fortunate team outside the top ten picks. He brings a strong inside game as well as a developing outside jumper than ranges past 18 to 20 feet. He is also a very good free throw shooter for his size and will get his share of blocks and rebounds. However, he may never reach the level of Camby or Wallace in terms of production and output.
12- Boston Celtics - Erick Dampier
C Mississippi St. 6'11'' 265 21 C+ D+ D+ B B- B
Dampier is a typical backup center and or power forward right now coming into the draft and should stay in the lottery just for that reason. With time, he could grow into a starting role especially if his rebounding and shot blocking continue to develop. The only thing that holds Dampier back from other bigs in this draft is his athleticism. He ranks below Camby, Wallace, Smith in this category and is only slightly more mobile than Illgauskas.
13- Indiana Pacers - Derek Fisher
PG Arkansas 6'1'' 200 22 C B C+ C+ D+ B
Fisher is an undersized shooting guard playing point guard but with the intangibles to grow into a starting role one day. As a lefty, Fisher has a deadly outside jumper that he won’t hesitate to launch from behind the arc. He is also a better defender than he is given credit for and can push the ball if needed. He is the consensus third best point guard in this draft pool although there is significant drop in talent and potential from Nash and Marbury.
14- Memphis Grizzlies - Shandon Anderson
SF Georgia 6'6'' 208 22 B- C+ C B C B
Anderson enters the league as a perfect swingman compliment for any team. His strong on the ball defense and finishing around the basket honors a mid-round selection for Anderson. Anderson may never be considered much more than a seventh or eighth man off the bench but could be a valuable rotational piece for a winning team.
