This topic contains 8 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar jonus grumby 11 years, 9 months ago.

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  • #41211
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    BasterdInABasket
    Participant

    Winners:

    Kings: Robinson probably went about where he should have at 5, but they get true leadership and hard nosedplayer, something they are sorely missing. Cousins is a headace but he has perfect 4 alongside him now and Robinson’s toughness will hopefully rub off onto him.

    Barnes and Warriors: They addressed their biggest position of need as Barnes slipped a bit.. A heathy lineup of Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Lee-Bogut looks playoff caliber to me. Health is no guarantee but Barnes should add to a pretty proific offense. They also added Ezili who I really like as a rim protector and inside presence as well as much needed insurance for Bogut. Green also had great value and contribute in several ways for them. They were certainly the winners of the draft for me.

    Celtics: Now this is a HUGE maybe but just maybe Boston can bring it all back together for another title push with their core. Sullinger’s health/uncertainty to translate to the and NBA and Melo’s raw game could make these two bad picks but Boston gave Miami the biggest threat this past year, they add more size to counter Miami’s weakness of lack of size.

    Perry Jones and OKC: He’s in a great no-pressure situation now. He ends up being one the best value picks of the draft and can learn from the guy he models his game after. OKC is in a no lose situation here too. If he busts, no big deal really, theyre still title contenders. If he maximizes his potential then they get their future 4 and a scary 4th option and makes Harden or Ibaka expendable for future assets since they most definitely wont be able to afford both.

    Others: Raptors, Blazers, Sixers, Kentucky: Cant have a much better basketball season than they just did considering all the team and individual accolades.

    Losers:

    Cavaliers: Irving-Barnes-Valanciunus OR Irving-Waiters-Thompson???…. Yeah thats what I thought.

    Rockets: For now they belong in this category. I like Lamb a lot but what was all this moving up and positioning for?? You add two more 3/4s to an already crowded fronline. I hope more moves are to come but do they even have the pieces to get Howard or another big name player. As of right now this team screams mediocrity.

    Pacers: #26 Miles Plumlee??? Im clueless and speechless for this pick. Let’s just say they just drafted Hansbrough’s backup in the first round… yes a backup’s backup, yikes.

     

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  • #690231
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    Mikez
    Participant

    Why add last years picks for this years winners/losers?

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    • #690240
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      BasterdInABasket
      Participant

      Even not including the thompson pick last year, waiters was a reach at 4 and I don’t like the pairing of waiters with irving. If they could get an established wing scorer and shooter on the wing id like waiters in his usual 6th man role but #4 picks aren’t used on bench players so that obviously isn’t their plan.

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      • #690242
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        Digga
        Participant

        OKC drafted Harden at #3 and he has always been a key bench player

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  • #690251
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    Coolidger
    Participant

    Winners:

    Hornets – This team won the draft about a month ago to be honest. Anthony Davis was to be expected, and they got the best player in the draft and a franchise player. That automatically makes them winners. In addition to that, they made an underrated pick to grab his teammate Darius Miller at 46, who should bring chemistry to the team and a solid glue guy type role player, as well as a confident scorer who wants to be great in Austin Rivers who should make a dynamic combination with Davis.

    Blazers – They managed to fill their 2 biggest holes by far with the best PG in the draft, and arguable the second best centre. Neither of them were huge steals, but I like both of them as players, and both of them fit. Damian Lillard gives the Blazers someone who can create offense on the perimeter, something they need since Matthers and Batum, talented as they are, are more effective playing off a player such as Lillard. Then they got a much needed big man to play with Aldridge in Meyers Leonard, who should be able to transition smoothly to the nba without pressure to become a post scorer right away since Aldridge can already do that, and Leonard can just focus on bringing size energy and rim protection while his offensive game develops. They also got a bit of a steal with Will Barton at 40, who had first round potential, and fills another need of getting more backcourt talent. He compliments Lillards shooting talents with a more raw, athletic player.

    Warriors – They did very well for themselves. There were reports they were hoping for a 3 at the 7th pick, but for awhile it looked like the top two wouldnt be available, and anyone else would’ve been a reach. But the Cavaliers reached on Waiters and the Warriors gladly got the perfect fit in Harrison Barnes, who could mesh really well with Stephen Curry. A Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Lee-Bogut lineup has playoff potential because they compliment each other nicely, and this team will be able to score alot of points. Curry Thompson and Barnes are all above average shooters from deep as well, this team will get out and run and really excel at spreading the floor which will create oppurtunities for Lee and Bogut in the post or on offensive rebound putbacks because teams are going to have to play their guards on the perimeter and have little room to double team their post players. Barnes wasn’t the only nice pick on this team however. They got an insurance big for Bogut in Festus Ezeli who at worst should become a fine backup centre and bring some size to the frontcourt, and also Draymond Green, who is a high IQ-high utility player who doesn’t excel at anything, but can do a bit of everything, and fill that versitile role the Warriors need. They managed to add 3 talented frontcourt players to add to their depth, something they really needed and if this team can stay healthy, they have the talent and coach to contend for a playoff spot.

    Pistons – Two years ago, Greg Monroe fell onto their laps. Last year, it was Brandon Knight who had a top 3 talent who fell a few spots to the Pistons. This year, they landed Andre Drummond, another potential top 3 talent if he can live up to his potential in the middle of the lottery. They’ve had good luck picking around this position the past two years and if Andre Drummond plays well, it could be a hat trick for the Pistons who are building a nice foundation through the draft. If Drummond plays up to his upside, he compliments Greg Monroe very nicely and the Pistons could have one of the scariest frontcourts in the league in a few years. They also did a solid job with their other picks drafting Khris Middleton, who had late first round potential, and Kim English who gives this team a pure shooter it lacks and a role player who should be able to replace Ben Gordon backing up Rodney Stuckey.

    76ers – They managed to get 2 potential late lottery picks in a deep draft class, only adding to their already deep team. Maurice Harkless has alot of upside and fits well with this team because hes a long athletic wing who runs the floor well, and he could be Andre Igoudalas replacement if the team decides to move him. Arnett Moultrie was a bit of a steal at 27 and gives the Sixers some size and a big who can spread the floor a bit. Together, they strengthen Phillys already solid frontcourt.

    Celtics – Not huge winners, but Jared Sullinger was a low risk high reward player at 21, and he seems like a perfect fit with the Celtics who are more of a halfcourt team. He gives them a true low post scorer in case KG decides to bolt or retire, and Rajon Rondo should only make him better. The Celtics also desperately needed size and frontcourt help and Sullinger, while not tall, is wide and still gives them a good frontcourt player. Then they added some legit size and athleticism in a player whos the opposite of Sullinger, but compliments him well. A defensive prospect with a raw offensive game who will defend in the paint using his length and shotblocking. The Celtics may have drafted their frontcourt of the future if Sullinger can stay healthy. Kris Joseph was also thought to be a late first round pick at one point, so to get a solid yet not spectacular player like that who can be a young role player on this team is a nice find in the 50s.

    Thunder – This is the perfect scenario for both Perry Jones and the Thunder. They already have a young, talented team, so to add someone with this much upside so late in the draft is a blessing. If Perry Jones could live up to his potential, the much publicized issue about them having to choose between resigning Ibaka or Harden may be slightly diminished, at they’d have a PF who could replace Ibaka and focus on resigning James Harden instead. Even if he doesn’t live up to his potential, at this point in the draft its not a huge risk anyways because the Thunder already have tons of young talent anyways, and will continue to make the playoffs regardless of whether or not he plays well in the nba. Perry Jones meanwhile, doesn’t have to feel the need to play under the pressure of a high pick. The spotlight is already on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, so he doesn’t have to be the guy which doesn’t seem to be in his mentality anyways, he can just come in and be a solid contributor and they’d benefit from that. He could also learn alot playing with Scott Brooks who gets the most out of his players, and an experienced, playoff tested high character locker room that the Thunder possess, and could learn some from playing behind/with Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka.

    Losers:

    Bobcats: I don’t like the Michael Kidd-Gilchrist pick. I would’ve perferred Harrison Barnes or Thomas Robinson. This is a team that struggled to score more then 80 points on some nights and needed someone with offensive potential, and MKG is not that player. He’s also not a franchise player, but more of a quality glue guy and starter in the league for years, and I think considering Charlottes lack of talent and franchise player, the pressure to be the guy may be placed on MKG because he was the number 2 pick, and I don’t think thats his best role. I understand that he brings a winning mentality and I think MKG is deserving of a top 3 pick, but Charlotte is not a great fit for him. As if that wasn’t enough, they used their second pick to nab Jeffrey Taylor, who although was a first round talent, is a similar player to MKG anyways; defensive minded.

    Suns: I think the Suns hoped to get one of the 5 high potential SGs in this draft. Instead, all 5 of those SGs were taken in the top twelve, and the Suns had to settle for a guy who had fallen out of the lottery a bit as of late. Kendall Marshall will be Steve Nashs replacement, and those are high expectations. While he should help be able to run the offense on a roster that relies heavily on a PG to create for them (Marcin Gortat, who should be able to maitain his production running with another good passer), he isn’t nearly the scorer Nash was and I think he’ll find the defense sagging off him making it harder for other guys to get open. On top of that, he’s not a great defensive player either, and those are similar problems suffered by Nash. They basically replace Nash with a player not nearly as good as Nash, and this team overachieved with Nash. This team could look at a couple difficult years before they can get back.

    Raptors: This isn’t about Terrence Ross. As a Raptors pick, I was happy with that pick (though I still think Barnes/Waiters would’ve been better fits, but they were all off the board). I just didn’t like what they did with their second round picks. They could’ve done much better then Quincy Acy and while I thinks hes a nice fit because he’ll bring energy and rebounding and high character, he was a bit of a reach at 37 when there was still quality players to be grabbed. I think Quincy Acy may have still be available with the 56th pick if the Raptors really wanted him. Overall, they aren’t huge losers in the draft, I just think they could’ve done more with their 2nd round picks, and missed out on the 2 best fits with their first round pick.

    Nuggets: They had 3 draft picks, and I don’t like any of them. They draft 2 international players in a weak international crop, taking a reach on Evan Fournier in the top 20 and then a player who will likely never play in the nba. And then they take Quincy Miller, who while he was a steal at 38, he joins a team who already has Danile Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Jordan Hamilton at SF. They don’t need a fourth offensive minded big SF, especially since Jordan Hamilton is already a very similar player. They could’ve looked at a backup PG like Tyshawn Taylor, or some frontcourt depth here.

    Pacers: The most puzzling of the teams, its always a weird situation when a GM leaves the team right before draft night. The Pacers take Jeff Fosters replacement Miles Plumlee in the first round, who while he tested very well at the draft combine, he is not an nba player right now and might not be for a long while, if ever. This was a pretty big reach for a guy who alot of people didn’t even think would be drafted before the combine. I’m not too high on Orlando Johnson either, and they traded for a player who is in a similar boat to Plumlee; a slight reach at 36, and a player who was unlikely to even be drafted until a couple weeks ago. I’m not sure if either of these moves will pan out, especially since there was better players to be had at that point (Arnett Moultrie, Perry Jones and Festus Ezeli all would’ve been better fits at 26)

    Timberwolves: They have a huge hole at the SG, and a hole at the backup C. They also have an overcrowded foward lineup with Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph and Anthony Tolliver, Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Wesley Johnson and Martell Webster. So what do they do? Trade away the 18th pick in a deep class for Chase Budinger when they likely would’ve been able to get a quality player at that position, adding to their already deep frontcourt. And then, they draft another (white) foward in Robbie Hummel, who is a little like Chase Budinger without knees when a couple of quality SGs were available that late in the draft who would’ve all been reasonable picks (William Buford, the underrated Alex Young and Marcus Denmon, who SA took right after). David Kahn has left us all shaking our heads, though I guess thats nothing new at this point.

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    • #690264
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      sheltwon3
      Participant

      There was not a shooting guard or Center worth taking.  I think getting a play Rick Adelman has coached and likes was better than reaching for a player.  They can save money and try to get free agents.  Minny has screwed up a lot of drafts but I can’t hate on their move this time because it appears free agency is on their mind and they picked up a solid player who can help them right away.

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    • #690314
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      220
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      I think MKG was a great and shocking choice for the Bobcats. I think they realized they needed someone who not only loves playing basketball, but is truly relentless. I know people don’t think he’ll be great, but if he’s as relentless in his training as he is in his play…then you couldn’t ask for a better addition.

      I was surprised the Bobcats took Jeffrey Taylor after taking MKG in the first round, but I guess they believed his value was too high to pass on. 

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  • #690271
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    Nico4nicolas
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     I don’t see how the Raptors are winners, to me they are not loosers neither but they fall closer to that category. Why? Because the reached for a player at #8, not a bad player but a player they could have obtained with a lower pick (but that’s not enough for them to be in the loosers category).

    The Bulls also won with Marquis Teague, a young PG who will have playing time due to Rose’s injury. It’s the perfect #29 pick for them.

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  • #690349
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    jonus grumby
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    I’ll take a different approach because we don’t know how any play will pan out.  Just looking at past drafts there is no rhyme of reason as there are busts everywhere.

    I think the biggest loser is the Bulls.  I say that because they had to take a point guard.  They had a need at shooting guard and could have taken one but had to take a point.

    The Heat were a winner.  I say that because (don’t know the details) they got a future 1st round pick.  It may turn out to be like the Bulls pick from Bobcats and they only gave up a very late 1st rd guy who very likely would not see the court.

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