Post by gp on Jul 13, 2010 18:40:14 GMT -5
1- New Orleans Hornets – SF LeBron James 6'8'' 240 18 A- C+ C+ C+ B A (St Vincent-St. Marys HS, OH)
The Hornets will take the obvious choice of King James at No. 1 should they lock up the top slot in this year’s lottery. New Orleans absolutely gutted their roster this season in hopes of insuring their chances of landing James’ services this upcoming season. They hope they won’t have to settle with consolation prize in Georgia Tech’s Chris Bosh but at this point they need to build around any talent they can get their hands on.
2- Utah Jazz – PF Chris Bosh 6'10'' 228 19 B C C B C+ A (Georgia Tech)
Along with James, Bosh is a guaranteed No. 2 pick in this draft. His size, athleticism and potential to grow make him an absolute commodity for any team picking after the number one pick. Whether it’s the Jazz or any other team picking at No. 2, they will surely take Bosh as their top pick in the draft.
3- Memphis Grizzlies – C Chris Kaman C 7'0'' 268 21 B C- D+ C+ B- A (Central Michigan)
There’s a split consensus on who should go No. 3 between Kaman and Xavier’s David West. While Kaman is not as polished offensively or even defensively as West, he really has the potential to be groomed into an elite center in the league. I believe because of potential ability alone Kaman goes No. 3 unless a team is really banking on West becoming a stud.
4- Minnesota Timberwolves - PF David West PF 6'9'' 240 22 B C+ C- B- C+ B (Xavier)
Although a bit undersized, West should be an All-Star because he’s already BBS ready and his offensive game should alone allow him to compete for Rookie of the Year. Some believe that West even deserves some consideration to be the third pick overall but his inability to play the 5 will probably lead him to land either here or at No. 5.
5- New York Knicks - PF Darko Milicic 7'0'' 250 18 C+ C- C- B B- A (Serbia)
Darko is one of the best interior foreign players to enter the draft in as many years. Yet his game is still very raw and but is still very young as many players in this draft class are. If there’s a team banking with the third pick on potential alone, there’s a possibility Darko could go as high as number three pick. If not, Milicic should go somewhere in the top 7 picks for sure.
6- Washington Wizards – PG Kirk Hinrich 6'3'' 190 22 C B C+ B+ D+ A (Kansas)
Most GMs expect to get a rugged, old school point guard with the selection of Kirk Hinrich. He’s even considered a borderline top 5 pick if bigs weren’t that valued in this league, he’d probably be a top 3 pick for sure. But since big men are at a premium and point guards can spawn from anywhere, Hinrich drops just short of the top 5.
7- Boston Celtics - SF Josh Howard 6'7'' 210 23 B- C+ C+ B C A (Wake Forest)
Like West, Howard is one of the most BBS ready impact players available in this year’s draft. Some are even comparing him to last year’s rookie sensation Caron Butler although his numbers didn’t really reflect his ratings. Howard has the versatility and defense to play both swing spots but some GMs might be turned off to the fact he’s 23 years old and there are a number of underclassmen and high school players in this class who might have more potential.
8- Los Angeles Clippers – C Kendrick Perkins 6'10'' 280 18 C+ D+ D+ B- B- A (Clifton J Ozden HS, MS)
The big man from Mississippi is quite the project coming out of high school. Perkins is a burly, inside presence that will get his share of boards and rebounds per night. He doesn’t really have an inside game to speak of but his perceived ceiling and young age equal a lottery selection at the very least.
9- Los Angeles Lakers – PG Luke Ridnour 6'2'' 175 22 C A- B- C D B (Oregon)
The Lakers badly needed point guard help last season and could have used a guy like Ridnour down the stretch. Ridnour is a great shooter and a strong ball handler that will be at best a very good backup point guard. There are still questions of Ridnour’s quickness and defense but he should be able to address those questions with his RC and personal development as a player.
10- Milwaukee Bucks – SF Boris Diaw 6'8'' 215 21 B- C+ B- C+ C+ B (France)
The Bucks get somewhat of a replacement for Andrei Kirilenko here with Boris Diaw. While not as a accomplished defender, Diaw is a much stronger scorer and extremely good passer in addition to being a playermaker. This is definitely someone the Bucks can start to build around and hopefully surround with talent.
11- Indiana Pacers – PG Leandro Barbosa 6'3'' 176 20 C A- C C D A (Brazil)
Barbosa is ultra quick and is deadly from the perimeter which should garner enough attention to be taken in the top 10. Some may argue that this might be too high for a shooting guard in a point guard’s mold but it simply is hard to find players of Barbosa’s speed, agility and shooting ability.
12- Atlanta Hawks – SF Travis Outlaw 6'9'' 210 18 B- C C- C+ C A (Starkville HS, MS)
Two consecutive high school players from the state go here with forward Travis Outlaw going here at No. 12. His game really relies on his athleticism at this point and kind of resembles the game of Knicks’ last year 1st rounder, Qyntel Woods. Outlaw can finish at the rim and is pretty balanced in all facets of the game but does not really excel in one area which hurts his value although still a teenager.
13- Utah Jazz (via NJ) – SG Mickael Pietrus 6'6'' 215 21 C B C- B+ C B (France)
Pietrus really shot up the boards of BBS draft personnel after wowing folks overseas and against scrimmages at the combine. Many compare him to Shane Battier when talking about all the little things he does defensively while other insist his game might have even more upside because his offense is still raw. Pietrus is very young and like Diaw, will probably be the second French player to go in the top 13 picks.
14- Phoenix Suns – PF Mike Sweetney 6'8'' 275 20 B+ C- D+ C C+ B (Georgetown)
When you talk about interior players, Sweetney certainly fits the bill. He’s stacked physically enough to score inside and strong enough to get 14 points and 10 boards a night if given the opportunity. Some believe he is the second coming of Danny Fortson while others think he’ll be better because of the talent he faced in college.
The Hornets will take the obvious choice of King James at No. 1 should they lock up the top slot in this year’s lottery. New Orleans absolutely gutted their roster this season in hopes of insuring their chances of landing James’ services this upcoming season. They hope they won’t have to settle with consolation prize in Georgia Tech’s Chris Bosh but at this point they need to build around any talent they can get their hands on.
2- Utah Jazz – PF Chris Bosh 6'10'' 228 19 B C C B C+ A (Georgia Tech)
Along with James, Bosh is a guaranteed No. 2 pick in this draft. His size, athleticism and potential to grow make him an absolute commodity for any team picking after the number one pick. Whether it’s the Jazz or any other team picking at No. 2, they will surely take Bosh as their top pick in the draft.
3- Memphis Grizzlies – C Chris Kaman C 7'0'' 268 21 B C- D+ C+ B- A (Central Michigan)
There’s a split consensus on who should go No. 3 between Kaman and Xavier’s David West. While Kaman is not as polished offensively or even defensively as West, he really has the potential to be groomed into an elite center in the league. I believe because of potential ability alone Kaman goes No. 3 unless a team is really banking on West becoming a stud.
4- Minnesota Timberwolves - PF David West PF 6'9'' 240 22 B C+ C- B- C+ B (Xavier)
Although a bit undersized, West should be an All-Star because he’s already BBS ready and his offensive game should alone allow him to compete for Rookie of the Year. Some believe that West even deserves some consideration to be the third pick overall but his inability to play the 5 will probably lead him to land either here or at No. 5.
5- New York Knicks - PF Darko Milicic 7'0'' 250 18 C+ C- C- B B- A (Serbia)
Darko is one of the best interior foreign players to enter the draft in as many years. Yet his game is still very raw and but is still very young as many players in this draft class are. If there’s a team banking with the third pick on potential alone, there’s a possibility Darko could go as high as number three pick. If not, Milicic should go somewhere in the top 7 picks for sure.
6- Washington Wizards – PG Kirk Hinrich 6'3'' 190 22 C B C+ B+ D+ A (Kansas)
Most GMs expect to get a rugged, old school point guard with the selection of Kirk Hinrich. He’s even considered a borderline top 5 pick if bigs weren’t that valued in this league, he’d probably be a top 3 pick for sure. But since big men are at a premium and point guards can spawn from anywhere, Hinrich drops just short of the top 5.
7- Boston Celtics - SF Josh Howard 6'7'' 210 23 B- C+ C+ B C A (Wake Forest)
Like West, Howard is one of the most BBS ready impact players available in this year’s draft. Some are even comparing him to last year’s rookie sensation Caron Butler although his numbers didn’t really reflect his ratings. Howard has the versatility and defense to play both swing spots but some GMs might be turned off to the fact he’s 23 years old and there are a number of underclassmen and high school players in this class who might have more potential.
8- Los Angeles Clippers – C Kendrick Perkins 6'10'' 280 18 C+ D+ D+ B- B- A (Clifton J Ozden HS, MS)
The big man from Mississippi is quite the project coming out of high school. Perkins is a burly, inside presence that will get his share of boards and rebounds per night. He doesn’t really have an inside game to speak of but his perceived ceiling and young age equal a lottery selection at the very least.
9- Los Angeles Lakers – PG Luke Ridnour 6'2'' 175 22 C A- B- C D B (Oregon)
The Lakers badly needed point guard help last season and could have used a guy like Ridnour down the stretch. Ridnour is a great shooter and a strong ball handler that will be at best a very good backup point guard. There are still questions of Ridnour’s quickness and defense but he should be able to address those questions with his RC and personal development as a player.
10- Milwaukee Bucks – SF Boris Diaw 6'8'' 215 21 B- C+ B- C+ C+ B (France)
The Bucks get somewhat of a replacement for Andrei Kirilenko here with Boris Diaw. While not as a accomplished defender, Diaw is a much stronger scorer and extremely good passer in addition to being a playermaker. This is definitely someone the Bucks can start to build around and hopefully surround with talent.
11- Indiana Pacers – PG Leandro Barbosa 6'3'' 176 20 C A- C C D A (Brazil)
Barbosa is ultra quick and is deadly from the perimeter which should garner enough attention to be taken in the top 10. Some may argue that this might be too high for a shooting guard in a point guard’s mold but it simply is hard to find players of Barbosa’s speed, agility and shooting ability.
12- Atlanta Hawks – SF Travis Outlaw 6'9'' 210 18 B- C C- C+ C A (Starkville HS, MS)
Two consecutive high school players from the state go here with forward Travis Outlaw going here at No. 12. His game really relies on his athleticism at this point and kind of resembles the game of Knicks’ last year 1st rounder, Qyntel Woods. Outlaw can finish at the rim and is pretty balanced in all facets of the game but does not really excel in one area which hurts his value although still a teenager.
13- Utah Jazz (via NJ) – SG Mickael Pietrus 6'6'' 215 21 C B C- B+ C B (France)
Pietrus really shot up the boards of BBS draft personnel after wowing folks overseas and against scrimmages at the combine. Many compare him to Shane Battier when talking about all the little things he does defensively while other insist his game might have even more upside because his offense is still raw. Pietrus is very young and like Diaw, will probably be the second French player to go in the top 13 picks.
14- Phoenix Suns – PF Mike Sweetney 6'8'' 275 20 B+ C- D+ C C+ B (Georgetown)
When you talk about interior players, Sweetney certainly fits the bill. He’s stacked physically enough to score inside and strong enough to get 14 points and 10 boards a night if given the opportunity. Some believe he is the second coming of Danny Fortson while others think he’ll be better because of the talent he faced in college.
hopefully I jump up and get Bosh. Nah West looks great. Nice read