Draft Grades 2008

In the spirit of NBA Draft coverage everywhere, I am pleased to unveil our first-ever set of draft grades for the 2008 NBA Draft. Some might say that it is pointless to dole out marks when there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how good each prospect will be. To that, I respond that our business here is projection, and I at least (although not wanting to speak for Hugh) have a big enough ego to think that I am right. Furthermore, we can already evaluate to some extent how well each team drafted for their present and future needs.

Atlanta Hawks:
Grade: N/A
Picks: none

Boston Celtics:
Grade: B
Picks: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker, Semih Erden

No home runs for the Celtics with the last pick in Round 1, but they picked up some nice athletic talent in Giddens and Walker. I'm not high on Giddens with a first-round pick, but the Celtics made up for it by grabbing Walker in the second-round, who has the potential to be very good if he can stay healthy. Walker is a mid to late first-round pick on talent, and thus is a steal at 47.

Charlotte Bobcats:
Grade: D
Picks: D.J. Augustin, Alexis Ajinca, Kyle Weaver

Yeah a harsh grade but I'm not a fan of the way they spent their picks. After all, when Hugh originally selected Augustin for the Bobcats in our mock draft, it was because he forgot that they already have a 23 year old talented point guard. Apparently, so did Michael Jordan. Will Augustin be better than Felton? Certainly not right away, and Felton is still young enough to get better himself (although it should be noted he has not really improved since his rookie year). Looking at their college numbers, Augustin scored more, but Felton was the better passer, the better rebounder, and also got more steals. The Bobcats have to worry that they just drafted a backup PG with the #9 pick, considering that they don't really need a replacement point. The Ajinca pick is a flyer, but it should be noted that he failed to dominate an inferior European league, so I am not optimistic about his future.

Chicago Bulls:
Grade: A-
Picks: Derrick Rose, Omer Asik

I'd give an A, but I continue to hold onto the idea that Beasley is the superior prospect to Rose. I like Rose very much, but we've heard ad nauseam about his superior athleticism without questioning what skills that will translate into. Indications are that he is a good but not great passer meaning he will top off at about 8 assists per game. To be a true franchise superstar, he will have to develop a jump shot and turn into a 25+ points per game scorer. It is not out of the question, but not a lock either as his scoring abilities are still somewhat unproven. I have said it before, but he seems most likely to develop into a 20 ppg, 8 apg player which would make him an All-Star but not a superstar.
As for the Asik pick, I love it. According to John Hollinger, Asik projects to average 12.2 points and 13.5 rebounds per 40, with a PER of 15.23. Although he won't come over for a few years, he ought to be a useful role player when he does.

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Grade: B
Picks: J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun

Overall, a solid draft for the Cavs. J.J. Hickson is a player with upside at #19, and it's never a bad idea to mine the roster of a dominant NCAA team like Kansas. In particular, Darnell Jackson is a potential 2nd-round steal with a very nice Hollinger projection.

Dallas Mavericks:
Grade: C
Picks: Shan Foster

I'm not a big fan of Foster, but honestly, with only the #51 pick in the draft, you can't expect to get much. Historically, only players drafted in the first half of the second round have made an impact, apart from a few foreign unknowns like Manu Ginobili.

Denver Nuggets:
Grade: D
Picks: Sonny Weems

Perhaps a D is harsh when they only made one pick, yet there's nothing in Weems' college numbers to indicate that he'll be useful, and in my opinion, a much more intriguing shooting guard in Chris Douglas-Roberts was still on the board.

Detroit Pistons:
Grade: B-
Picks: Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted, Deron Washington

I can't fault the Pistons too much for rolling the dice with Sharpe, considering it was a 2nd-round pick, but in a fairly deep draft, there were still some players left on the board who I think will ultimately make more of an impact. Plaisted seems like a stiff big man, and Washington will probably never make the team.

Golden State Warriors:
Grade: A-
Picks: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix

If I had to guess, I'd say that Randolph won't live up to his potential, but despite his inefficiency, it was still impressive that he played a prominent role in scoring and rebounding as a freshman. At #14, the Warriors were rightfully willing to take the risk. They get an A- from me for managing to get Hendrix late in the second round - honestly, he could be as good as Marreese Speights or Darrell Arthur, either of whom the Warriors could have taken instead of Randolph, and is thus a tremendous value pick at #49.

Houston Rockets:
Grade: A-
Picks: Donte Greene, Joey Dorsey, Maarty Leunen

I definitely like the picks they got late. Greene, as a young, jump-shooting forward, has the potential to be quite good, and carries almost no risk with a late first-round pick. Dorsey's contributions in the NBA will be limited due to his lack of offense, but I am high on him as a second-rounder, in part because of GM Daryl Morey's quite convincing rationale. Leunen is a solid late second-round prospect who was incredibly efficient at Oregon. All in all, the Rockets did a nice job of bolstering their already impressive depth.

Indiana Pacers:
Grade: C+
Picks: Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert

Unlike Chad Ford, I am not a big fan of the Pacers' draft-day moves. The TJ Ford trade is a very good one, yet they then proceeded to trade away a potential All-Star in Jerryd Bayless for two role players (Rush and Jarrett Jack). Yes, a Ford-Bayless backcourt might have been too small on defense, but the Pacers will nonetheless regret this trade if Bayless develops into a 20 ppg scorer in 3-4 years, which he is certainly capable of doing. Rush is a more valuable piece on a better team, where he could spread the floor coming off the bench. Hibbert is a developed player, and has a nice Hollinger projection, but his lack of speed and conditioning will likely consign him to a career off the bench.

Los Angeles Clippers:
Grade: C+
Picks: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor

Honestly, it'd be a lower grade if they hadn't stolen DeAndre Jordan in Round 2. Eric Gordon is so one-dimensional that I wonder if he'll be much more than a spot-up shooter at the NBA level. Not to focus too much on Jerryd Bayless, but he seems to me the more intriguing talent, and although not a true point, could certainly play the position. If the Clippers put Gordon at point (and they currently have no one else), their offense will truly struggle.
It is quite amazing that NBA teams have wised up on talented, yet raw center prospects. It is becoming more and more of a guard's league and it is worth reminding that many of the glut of centers who fell into the late first and early second rounds would have been lottery picks five years ago. Nonetheless, it seems to me that teams got too scared of Jordan, who is still very young and showed some talent as a freshman. I had compared him to Sam Dalembert in our mock draft and the comparison holds even better now since Dalembert fell to the end of the first round yet wound up being a useful player.
As for Mike Taylor, he makes a nice story, but he was hardly dominant in the NBDL (PER of 16.3) and his college numbers the year before were pretty awful.

Los Angeles Lakers:
Grade: C
Picks: Joe Crawford

This draft was a non-factor for the Lakers, similar to the Mavericks.

Memphis Grizzlies:
Grade: B-
Picks: O.J. Mayo, Darrell Arthur

Time will tell, but although I think the Grizzlies wound up with two good players in Mayo and Arthur, I'm not sure that it was worth giving up Kevin Love to get Mayo. Mayo might have more upside, but I think Love will at the least be better right away (and quite possibly better in the long-term). Moreover, they gave up Mike Miller, who already may be as good an offensive player as Mayo will be. The Grizzlies get some points for stealing Arthur late in the first, but the Mayo-Love trade looks questionable at the moment.

Miami Heat:
Grade: A
Picks: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers

The Heat not only picked up the most talented player in the draft in Beasley, but landed a mid-first round talent in Chalmers in the second. It's hard to imagine that a team that was as athletically dominant in the NCAA as Kansas won't produce any good pros, and I would say that Chalmers and Arthur are the best bets in this regard.

Milwaukee Bucks:
Grade: C
Picks: Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

I like Alexander, but the Bucks have run into the same problem as the Bobcats. They just picked up a player who is going to be their backup SF. I like this a little better for the Bucks, since first, I think Alexander is more promising than Augustin, and although Jefferson is better than Felton, he is also a lot older, so perhaps as Jefferson starts to decline, Alexander will be hitting his prime, ready to claim the starting spot. Mbah a Moute will have to be a damn good defender, because he never improved offensively at UCLA, and looked nothing short of useless when I saw him in the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota Timberwolves:
Grade: A
Picks: Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic

They may have given away Garnett, but you have to love the Wolves' haul in this draft, although their frontcourt rotation may be a bit overloaded now with Love, Jefferson, and Pekovic (if Pekovic comes over any time soon). The team will be much improved in the short term if Love and Miller can make an immediate impact, and according to Hollinger, Pekovic may be an even better prospect than Love, projecting to average 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per 40, with a PER of 17.09 if he played next year. I suspect that Pekovic is not actually that good, as he had very low steal and block totals, and also improved vastly from the year before, but by the time he gets out of his European contract, he ought to make a big splash in the NBA.

New Jersey Nets:
Grade: A-
Picks: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts

I don't think the Nets have any future stars here, but they got strong value at each pick, getting the best big man on the board at #10, a highly productive scoring forward at #21, and a first-team All-American in the second round. A great draft that will bolster their depth and make their roster more enticing for LeBron 2010.

New Orleans Hornets:
Grade: A+
Picks: none

They didn't have any picks, but they did sign Illini alum Shaun Pruitt to a summer league contract!

New York Knicks:
Grade: A-
Picks: Danilo Gallinari

A common misunderstanding in ESPN's draft coverage, and of course one used as evidence in Dick Vitale's annual anti-foreigner rant, was that Gallinari is not ready to play in the NBA and was being drafted on potential only. This is so completely wrong that I was forced to yell helplessly at my TV, even knowing that no one could hear me. As John Hollinger has pointed out, translating stats from the Euroleague is actually more accurate than translating NCAA statistics. Gallinari is not an Alexis Ajinca, who played in a lower-level European league and didn't get much playing time. Despite being just 19, he played 31.6 minutes per game in the second-best league in the world, averaging 14.9 points per game. He posted a quite respectable PER of 19.6. If anything, he is more ready to contribute right away than the more touted NCAA freshmen, who did not spend last year playing against professionals, as Gallinari did. Hollinger projects that his rookie PER will be 13.21, which would be quite promising for a 20 year old player. He likely is not a future star, but despite the mislabeling by ESPN commentators who know nothing about the Euroleague, is a player who ought to be able to make an immediate impact and should be an above-average NBA starter in 3 years. Amen to Chad Ford, who I just noticed said pretty much exactly the same things as I just did in his draft grading.

Orlando Magic:
Grade: C
Picks: Courtney Lee

An OK pick, but I don't see a lot of evidence that Lee is anything more than a solid scoring guard who will come off the bench.

Philadelphia 76ers:
Grade: B
Picks: Marreese Speights

I have some qualms about Speights, but his statistics are overwhelming. My concerns are why he only played 24 minutes a game at Florida, and from what I've heard, it is related to his lack of conditioning and poor work ethic, neither of which are good signs. I fear that he will turn into a Mike Sweetney or Ike Diogu in the NBA, players who are very productive, but get little playing time due to other flaws in their games.

Phoenix Suns:
Grade: D
Picks: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic

It seems to me that a collapse from the Suns is imminent. Maybe not this year, but it could be the year after. Their title window has passed and Nash's productivity will soon begin to decline. Picking #15, they're not going to solve all their problems, but they should at least have gone for a guy who has the upside to be a starter. Robin Lopez's upside is as an energy guy off the bench. I covered my dislike of selecting Robin with a mid-first round pick in our mock draft, so I won't go into it too much more except to say that the Suns really whiffed on this pick.

Portland Trail Blazers:
Grade: A
Picks: Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum

I give the Blazers an A because although I am far from a fan of Batum, I am amazed that the Blazers managed to walk out of the draft with a potential 20+ ppg scorer in Bayless despite holding the #13 pick. Perhaps there is a non-arbitrary reason that Bayless slipped, in which case this may not be as much of a steal as I think. But I have not heard any newfound negatives against him, and I continue to think that he was one of the top 5 players in this draft. More importantly, the Blazers are absolutely stacked with Rudy Fernandez coming over from Europe and Greg Oden coming back from injury to join Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Their bench is loaded with young talent like Bayless, Batum, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye, and Ike Diogu. Best of all with Raef LaFrentz and Steve Francis soon to come off the books, the Blazers may have the cap room to pursue a Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, or dare I say, a LeBron, in 2 years. This team may very well be the dynasty of the 2010s if they play their cards right (and if Oden and Fernandez are as good as expected).

Sacramento Kings
Grade: D
Picks: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.

I don't want to beat up on Jason Thompson too much but although his numbers are very good, the history of big men from small conferences isn't (unless they were totally dominant, a la David Robinson). Maybe he'll be a solid bench player, but if the Kings wanted him so badly, they should have traded down where they still could have gotten him and some other pieces of value. Their second-round picks also are not the most inspiring, especially Ewing Jr., whose selection makes a nice story, but this is a guy who played four years and never started in college. A prospect who already was an energy guy off the bench likely won't even be able to be that at the pro level.

San Antonio Spurs
Grade: B
Picks: George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Gist

You can criticize the Spurs for taking Hill with Mario Chalmers still on the board, but I still love them for rolling the dice with this pick. I want to see what George Hill can do in the NBA if he gets the chance, and now I'm going to get it.

Seattle Supersonics
Grade: C+
Picks: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, DJ White, DeVon Hardin

I think the Sonics have had the right idea with their organization - letting Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis go while stockpiling young talent for the Kevin Durant era. Yet apart from the obvious pick of Durant, I haven't been that big a fan of Sam Presti's draft choices. He's now used top 5 picks the last two years on Jeff Green and Westbrook, both of whom, in my mind, are most likely to be role players in the NBA. Green still has time to improve, but his rookie performance was not all that encouraging (single-digit PER). They've added more young, solid parts to their team, so I can't fault them entirely, but I don't see the #2 to Durant's #1 on their roster.

Toronto Raptors:
Grade: C
Picks: Nathan Jawai

It's hard to say, but I'm guessing that Jawai won't really pan out. He averaged about 18 points and 9 rebounds a game in the NBL, an Australian basketball league. From my brief visit to the NBL website, it does look like a legitimate league with some former NCAA stars, but it being a lower level you would hope that he would be more dominant. For comparison, Julius Hodge, a former first-round pick who never made it in the NBA averaged 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists per game in the NBL this year. Jawai was one of the better players in the league (8th in efficiency per 40), but this may not be enough.

Utah Jazz:
Grade: B
Picks: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicevic

A solid, if unspectacular draft for the Jazz. Koufos is another example of a player who would have gone 15 spots higher five years ago and been a disappointment - at #23, he is a nice addition to the team. From what I've read about Tomic, he is a good second-round prospect, and Dragicevic, as the Adriatic League MVP, may have some potential, although his statistics were good, but not dominating.

Washington Wizards:
Grade: C-
Picks: JaVale McGee

I can't believe that I'm in this position, but I think DeAndre Jordan would have been a better pick here. A month ago, I was ready to write incendiary posts about how Jordan was an obvious bust. Yet if anything, McGee seems to be a more obvious bust. I think Jordan, if given the chance, will be a solid bench center. McGee is not only a year older than Jordan but has failed to make an impact at a lesser level of play. He is a decent shot-blocker, but historically, you would like a shot-blocker who averages 1 or more blocks per personal foul, and McGee is not at that level. At least the Wizards get some upside with this pick, although I doubt McGee reaches it.

NBA MOCK DRAFT 2008

Welcome to our 2008 NBA Mock Draft.

A couple comments should be made before we get started. Our selections are based on what Jeremiah and I believe teams should do, not what they will do. This mock draft is about evaluating talent and deciding how each team should approach improving their roster based on what's available. Jeremiah and I alternate picks, with myself assigned to the odd ones and Jeremiah the even. It's not a competition, merely a way to make it interactive for both of us and allow multiple approaches to drafting (though our methods are rather similar in most circumstances). We also conducted this draft before the debauchery of ESPN's own duo mock draft with Bill Simmons and Chad Ford, but because we are lazy it just took us several days to type up our comments and post it. Finally, constructive criticism and questions are greatly appreciated.

Without further ado... I am on the clock...
1.) Chicago Bulls: Michael Beasley
H: I know the media has been hyping Rose for several weeks now but Beasley's numbers are simply unreal. He can score (30.9 pts/40), get to the line (10 FTA/40), and rebound (14.6 r/40) better than any player in this draft while maintaining efficient percentages (53.2/77.4/37.9). He also fills the Bulls' long need for an interior scorer and with T.J. Ford soon to be on the trading market there are other ways to address Kirk Hinrich's sudden inability to play basketball.
J: Worst case, he puts up stats but isn't a championship-type player. Sure, that would be disappointing, but Rose is no lock to be a franchise player either.

2.) Miami Heat: Derrick Rose
J: Easy pick here. The Heat want Rose, and they get him in our mock draft. I will say that I see him more as a star than a superstar. It's hard for me to see him averaging 10+ assists per game, a la Deron Williams or Chris Paul, nor do I see him averaging 25+ points, like I believe Beasley is capable of doing. That's still a lot of room for him to be very good, and I believe he will develop into a more consistent version of Baron Davis.

3.) Minnesota Timberwolves: Jerryd Bayless
H: I know the Timberwolves are big fans of O.J. Mayo and while I certainly wouldn't scoff at picking him here, I'm a bigger fan of Bayless. I have much more faith in his ability to play PG than Mayo and I like the idea of a dual PG system with him and Foye on the floor at the same time. Bayless also has better penetrating ability than Mayo, getting to the line 3.4 more times per 40 while Mayo settled for 3's a larger percentage of the time.

4.) Seattle Supersonics: Kevin Love
J: If you look closely at the Kevin Love bandwagon, you can see me in the driver's seat, whip outstretched (think horses). He gets a decent number of blocks, some steals, and a whole lot of rebounds, suggesting that he is a better athlete than we are led to believe or he is crafty enough to make up for it. He is a very well-rounded player, who lest we forget, is not necessarily a finished product. He has plenty of time to drop 25 pounds and work on his explosiveness. Don't rule out All-Star berths in his future.
H: I like this pick a lot given that Bayless is off the board and that having two alpha-dog scorers like Durant and Mayo on the floor at the same time might not gel.

5.) Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo
H: The Grizzlies need a big man but Jeremiah kindly reminded me that I shouldn't reach for a team need when it comes at the cost of crossing a tier. Mayo, Bayless, and Love consist of what I would consider my second tier of players available and reaching for Lopez would be foolish with Mayo still available. Mayo is a dynamic scorer who plays great defense and will hopefully be a part of a strong backcourt with whomever the Grizzlies eventually choose to be their PG of the future.

6.) New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari
J: Gallinari is fairly young and posted a 19.3 PER in the Euroleague this season. Historically, this is a high enough mark to suggest that he will be able to play in the NBA right away with a PER in the 11-13 range. At worst, a solid contributor, and at best, a great piece in Mike D'Antoni's offense who is young enough to get a lot better.
H: I agree with Jeremiah that Gallinari isn't necessarily the next best player available, but he brings a different atmosphere with him to the Knicks and this pick is by no means a reach. I think this pick would mark a strong effort to start rebuilding a franchise that has gotten so off-course and begin moving in a new direction.

7.) Los Angeles Clippers: Russell Westbrook
H: I'm not a big fan of Westbrook, but the Clippers are losing seven players this off-season and they'll still have a viable starter at each position except at PG. Westbrook will probably take a few years to develop as he settles into his new role (his PG/SG role was consistently morphing while at UCLA) but the franchise appears to be in no hurry to make a playoff run.
J: It's scary to draft Westbrook this high, since he won't be able to contribute much offensively as a rookie, but he does have the frame and athleticism to get better. A gamble, but worst-case is a defensive guard off the bench.

8.) Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander
J: I'm bolstered by Hollinger's strong projection behind this pick. Then again, his system liked Tyrus Thomas too, who as Chad Ford points out, is another athletic, high-energy player who looks lost on the basketball court. Nonetheless I like Alexander. He is an 'upside pick', but, anecdotally, he has the work ethic to make the most of it.
H: I oscillate everyday between really liking this guy and not understanding his appeal. Either way I think this spot accurately represents his skill level relative to what's available.

9.) Charlotte Bobcats: Eric Gordon
H: I honestly don't know what I was doing with this pick. I don't like Felton but drafting Augustin just cause he apparently won't fit Larry Brown's system, as suggested by some, just seems wasteful. This team has gone nowhere in its four years and seem bent on establishing themselves as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (they're still the Devil Rays in my mind no matter what management says) of the NBA. Gordon was falling and I just swooped in and grabbed in.
J: I still don't know what to think about Gordon. His rebound and assist totals are scarily low, and you can't trust his shooting numbers because of his late-season, injury-related slump. He could be a very good, if one-dimensional, scorer but also a flat out bust.

10.) New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez
J: I see Lopez as a nice big man off the bench. He has a solid Hollinger projection, and is big and skilled. He shoots a low percentage but will be able to get his jump shots off with impunity thanks to his height. Not a lot of upside, but seems like a pretty safe bet to make a contribution.

11.) Indiana Pacers: Anthony Randolph
H: The third pick I don't enjoy making. I'm not a big fan of Randolph but the Pacers are set for the next four years at PG with Tinsley, ruling out Augustin. The main justification for taking Randolph is the Pacers' lack of a defined need and the fact they are just starting to rebuild and Randolph is a long-term project. At 18 he's the youngest player in the draft and though Hollinger has made special note of Randolph's potential shortcomings the Pacers might as well take the gamble given that they don't really have anything to lose.
J: Randolph was quite inefficient this season but is at least 18 and athletic. Gerald Wallace is an example of a similar player who after his freshman season was if anything, even rawer than Randolph at the same age, yet has gone on to be a pretty good player in the NBA.

12.) Sacramento Kings: D.J. Augustin
J: Augustin's pure point rating is more solid than spectacular (in truth, I prefer Ty Lawson, but he withdrew), and thus I see him more as a very good backup point who will score and distribute. For the Kings, that's enough to take the starting job.
H: This ordering worked out perfect for the Kings who just dealt Mike Bibby and immediately get a chance to begin finding his replacement.

13.) Portland Trailblazers: Mario Chalmers
H: I have been salivating over Chalmers' numbers for sometime now and John Hollinger corroborated my admiration of Chalmers with his PER regression study. Chalmers is undersized at 6'1" but a tremendous defender for his stature and a PG whose distributing ability continues to improve as his turnovers/40 numbers have plummeted each year (4.1/3.1/2.5). He plays off the ball well too, nailing over 45% of his 3pt FG attempts last year and this'll allow Brandon Roy to remain as a primary ball-handler on the offensive end. This pick would also allow the Trailblazers to move Steve Blake to the bench where he rightfully belongs.

14.) Golden State Warriors: Marreese Speights
J: Speights is an underrated scorer and rebounder. I perhaps should have taken Darrell Arthur here as Speights will need to improve his conditioning to fit in with Golden State (he only played about 25 minutes a game at Florida) but what can I say, I've been enamored with Speights ever since he posted a PER of 41 in limited minutes as a freshman. A classic 20-10 college power forward.
H: A reach in some people's minds but I really think people are underrating his numbers. I like Speights's potential and only qualm with him is the horrific spelling of his first name.

15.) Phoenix Suns: Brandon Rush
H: At 22 Rush may have limited upside but the Suns are in a win now mentality and Rush fits their system perfectly as a big wing who can shoot from range and also is a top-notch defender. He'll be there Raja Bell 2.0 presuming they don't sell this pick, which is always a possibility.

16.) Philadelphia 76ers: Darrell Arthur
J: I have to admit, I was not big on Arthur but his strong Hollinger projection has gone a long way to soothe some of my fears. Additionally, he was one of the key players on an absolutely loaded Kansas team, and it seems a good bet that on a team that was so dominant, there are bound to be some solid pros. The concern is his motor, but he would solidify Philadelphia's frontcourt rotation.
H: What I said for Speights goes for Arthur too. I think he'll fit nicely alongside Dalembert or as a role player off the bench.

17.) Toronto Raptors: Kosta Koufos
H: Koufos suits the Raptors' deficiency at the 5 spot and makes Radoslav Nesterovic and his $8 million expiring contract more expendable. I prefer Koufos over some of the other mid-late 1st round centers like DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez, and JaVale McGee because of his ability to get a decent number of blocks per 40 (2.8) without drawing too many fouls (3.3) and more importantly turned the ball over only 2.3 times per 40 while handling the rock far more often than all of the players mentioned above.

18.) Washington Wizards: DeAndre Jordan
J: I've never been a fan of Jordan, as he fits the stereotype of the classic bust center (then again, so did Andrew Bynum). Yet with his stock falling, it's worth mentioning that a similarly raw and young center, Sam Dalembert, turned out to be a useful player for Philadelphia after a few years. I don't see Jordan as a future star but at #18, he is good value.

19.) Cleveland Cavaliers: Chris Douglas-Roberts
H: The Cavs are really in need of better players at any position and ones who don't mimic the skill sets of others (ie: Pavlovic and Szczerbiak, Varajao and Wallace). CDR provides a scoring threat off the bench that isn't based around sitting and waiting for a teammate to draw a double-team and then dish them the ball. CDR will hopefully providing a slashing and driving attack that'll diversify the Cavs' offensive threat and ease the load on Lebron.
J: Don't forget that Chris Douglas-Roberts has apparently never lost a game of one-on-one. His numbers compare to a litany of bench shooting guards, but watching him play, he's anything but generic. Don't rule out the possibility that his unorthodox scoring abilities will serve him very well with the right team.

20.) Denver Nuggets: Alexis Ajinca
J: Okay I admit that I drafted Ajinca because I didn't really see any pressing needs for the Nuggets. Consider it my 'what the hell' pick. From what I've read about Ajinca, and after seeing Chad Ford's surprising condemnation of him, he probably isn't worth drafting this high.
H: I just started laughing when I saw this pick because I immediately knew Jeremiah's motives and concurred with them.

21.) New Jersey Nets: Richard Hendrix
H: This pick along with the 10th selection give the Nets two shots at strengthening their frontline. I reached for Hendrix over the other big men projected to go in the latter half of the first round but I feel it's justified. He mounted a grueling scoring record at 22.3 pts/40 while shooting 60% from the field. He rebounds at a strong rate (12.7), gets a decent number of blocks relative to fouls (2.5/3.7), doesn't turn the ball over (2.2), and grabs a surprising number of steals given his position (2.5). Overall, he's much more well-rounded than the any of the alternatives. Also props to Jeremiah for finding this sleeper, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pick him though I'm sure Jeremiah would've preferred to, hehe.
J: Richard Hendrix is my boy! Unfortunately, he had a surprisingly low projected PER or I might have recommended that he go higher. It does seem odd to me that scouts are not higher on a player who is both athletic and productive, so this may be a sign that they know something I don't.

22.) Orlando Magic: Robin Lopez
J: Neither of the Lopez twins really get me excited, but Robin even less so. Supposedly he'll be an energy guy, but I feel that GMs are forgetting that players who were stars in college become energy guys in the pros and players who were energy guys in college head overseas in three years. The comparison to Joakim Noah is thus misguided, because Noah was a dominant and far more productive college player. Nonetheless, he's one of the best big men remaining at the board at this point. Also, I forgot about Roy Hibbert.
H: If you're noticing a big men trend, you're not the only one. This pick marks the 6th frontcourt player in the last seven picks, and the trend's not gonna stop yet.

23.) Utah Jazz. Roy Hibbert
H: I was initially looking in other directions (a better backup for Deron Williams would be nice) but reconsidered when I realized that Jarron Collins is the first man off the bench backing up Mehmet Okur. Hibbert hasn't always been the most aggressive player and he's pretty much already reached his peak, but the Jazz won't be demanding a whole lot from this selection. Hibbert should easily provide the defense and finishing ability (two of his best traits) the Jazz need from a big man off the bench.

24.) Seattle Supersonics: Donte Greene
J: Young enough to get better, but was a very inefficient player at Syracuse. Nonetheless, he should be able to create his own shot in the NBA, being a tall jump-shooter, and that's a first-round type of skill.
H: I really believe he's overrated given his numbers and I think his falling to the Sonics sufficiently illustrates our assessment of his skill set.

25.) Houston Rockets: Jason Thompson
H: They need a big guy to backup Yao, Jason Thompson's a big guy. He's also very good at rebounding.

26.) San Antonio Spurs: J.J. Hickson
J: Hickson's numbers are pretty good for a freshman, yet there is a certain stigma attached to him for playing on an awful team. I don't want to rely too much on team success, but it is a factor, and Hickson couldn't even bring NC State to a .500 level. Still, he's got some upside and would be a nice pick this late in the first round.

27.) New Orleans Hornets: JaVale McGee
H: Take word for word what I said about the Rockets' pick of Thompson, except replace "Yao" with "Chandler" and "rebounding" with "shot blocking".
J: The thing is, if centers aren't dominant in college, they usually don't amount to much in the NBA, where there are many more players who are their size. And it's worse if they're in a small conference. A Jason Thompson has fantastic numbers, but history says that it doesn't mean much playing for Rider. McGee played for Nevada, which is a little higher up the food chain, but was anything but dominant. A scary proposition when he couldn't really do much in a non-power conference.

28.) Memphis Grizzlies: Ryan Anderson
J: A couple years ago, I would have been all over Ryan Anderson as a sleeper, as he was a very productive scorer and rebounder at Cal. However, time has taught me that productivity does not always translate to NBA success (although lack of productivity generally translates to NBA failure), and in the case of Anderson, his woefully low steal and block totals imply that he doesn't have the athleticism to score at the same rates in the pros. Nonetheless, he's a nice pick at #28. Being tall and a very good shooter, he ought to be able to play a role off the bench.


29.) Detroit Pistons: Bill Walker
H: The forgotten sidekick of Michael Beasley. I actually think he's good enough to warrant a pick 6-7 slots higher but given the lack of star talent in this draft I felt team needs should play a larger role than small differences in skills. I'm a little perturbed by his complete lack of outside shooting but he rebounds very well for his size and is a very efficient and potent scorer inside the arc.
J: Walker is the kind of player who could be a huge steal in the late first or early second round. His numbers aren't overwhelming, but he's had a lot of injury problems and has shown some talent. It's not out of the question that he could turn out to be very good, although he would be a big risk with a higher pick, which makes him great for Detroit at 29.

30.) Boston Celtics: George Hill
J: Yeah, George Hill is a 6'2" shooting guard from a small conference. History has not been kind to these types of players. But goddamn, averaging 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 45% from 3 is worth some major props. He showcased a versatile and flat-out dominant game at IUPUI, and apart from scoring 30 plus points a night, did everything possible to earn a long look at the end of the first round. Thanks to Hugh for the suggestion to take him here.
H: My big sleeper of the 2008 draft. Throughout the season I'll be routing heavily for Hill and Chalmers to validate my praise for them.

Three for One Scouting Report: Mayo, Bayless, and Gordon

In my mind, I always lump O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, and Eric Gordon together. All are shooting guards, although Mayo and Bayless lay claims to playing the point. All were 20+ point per game scorers as freshmen, with developed perimeter games. Bayless and Gordon also were great at getting to the foul line. All show a lack of versatility that could indicate their overratedness as prospects.

First, the numbers (pace-adjusted, per 40 statistics taken from draftexpress.com):

Bayless: 22.7 pts, 3.1 rbs, 4.6 asts, 40.7% 3P, 1.1 stls, 8.5 FTA, -0.85 PPR
Mayo: 22.8 pts, 5.0 rbs, 3.6 asts, 40.9% 3P, 1.7 stls, 5.1 FTA, -3.71 PPR
Gordon: 24.0 pts, 3.7 rbs, 2.8 asts, 33.7% 3P, 1.5 stls, 9.9 FTA, -5.72 PPR

Normally, I would say that in particular, Gordon's lack of versatility kills him as a prospect. His and Bayless' low rates of rebounding are usually signs that they are players whose scoring gifts will not translate to the NBA. However, it is very rare for short guards like Bayless and Gordon to get to the foul line so often, and guards who got to the line more often than 8.0 FTA per 40 in college are a fairly successful group. This includes Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Hughes, Jerry Stackhouse, Corey Maggette, Ruben Patterson, and Bonzi Wells. Apart from Iverson, these are all actually bigger guards than Bayless and Gordon, suggesting the uniqueness of the two.

As for Mayo, his more solid all-around game gives him less bust potential in my mind. He is certainly the best rebounder of the three and the best at getting steals. His turnover rate is quite high, but I am willing to chalk this up to being put in the alpha dog role as a freshman. The burning question for me is whether or not Mayo can actually play the point. A look at some other scoring combo guards who could pass might be useful. Stephon Marbury, who came up as a comparable player to Jerryd Bayless under my similarity scores system had a pure point rating of -0.57, but has a career mark of 5.57 in the NBA. Now, Marbury is obviously not a pass-first player himself, but I don't think anyone is expecting Bayless to become the next Paul. As for Mayo, his PPR is probably too low for me to project him gaining more than spot duty at the point, but it is worth noting that a comparable player to him, Chauncey Billups, had a PPR of -2.57 as a freshman before improving to 0.92 as a sophomore.

Ultimately, I rank the three in the following order: Mayo, Bayless, and then Gordon. All are solid prospects who project as NBA starters but carry much more risk than Beasley or Rose. Given their youth, their flaws should be ironed out in time, but I wouldn't necessarily expect any of the three to make an immediate impact on a team next year. It is close between Mayo and Bayless as to which is better, but Mayo's size and rebounding imply to me that he has less chance of being a bust, whereas Bayless' low rebounding and steal numbers are potential red flags. Mayo also should be the superior defender. Eric Gordon is a big risk to me - I do believe that based on his free-throw drawing ability and perimeter shooting, he will be able to score at a high level in the NBA. I should note that I am assuming that he is a better 3-point shooter than his final season numbers show. He was shooting .411 from 3 before a 10 for 62 slump at the end of the year. Considering that this slump coincided with both a wrist injury and team turmoil surrounding the firing of Kelvin Sampson, I am willing to believe that he is closer to a .411 shooter than a .337 shooter from 3. Even so, his upside is as a pure scorer with more or less zero contribution in other facets of the game, and it is possible he could bust altogether. In a stronger draft, Gordon might be better suited as a later lottery pick, but the depth of this draft is questionable.

Final Verdict: Mayo looks like a solid #4 pick in the draft, Bayless #5, and despite my qualms, I would take Gordon at #6 as well.

Scouting Reports: Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose
6'3" 190 lbs
Freshman PG, Memphis

Pace-adjusted, per-40 statistics (from draftexpress.com)

19.5 pts, 5.9 rbs, 6.2 asts, 3.5 TOs, 1.6 stls, 52.3 2FG%, 33.7 3FG%

Although I have cast my lot with Beasley for the #1 pick, Rose is one of three players in the draft who I think is a sure-fire NBA starter and a likely All-Star. The question is whether he will develop more as a scoring point guard, ala Baron Davis, or a superior passer, like Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Based on his statistics, the Baron Davis comparison is particularly apt:

Baron Davis - age 19 (sophomore) (pace-adjusted, per-40)

19.3 pts, 4.4 rbs, 6.2 asts, 4.0 TOs, 3.0 stls, 54.8 2FG%, 34.3 3FG%

The comparison between these two players is an apt one. They are both about the same size, and had very similar college statistics. Rose was the superior rebounder and Davis the superior ball thief, although Davis also committed more personal fouls. I had been concerned about Rose's mediocre 3-point shooting, but Davis, although never becoming a great shooter, has been good enough, as shooting is probably the easiest skill to improve in the NBA.

Ultimately, I think that Rose grades out based on the numbers as a player who may have a similar career to Baron Davis - although Davis took awhile to develop, his career is certainly worth the #2 pick in this draft. Yet some analysts have compared Rose to Chris Paul with Deron Williams' size. At first glance, these comparisons seem off, as Rose's pure point rating was a less than stellar 1.52, while Chris Paul posted PPRs of 3.73 and 4.76 in college, and Deron Williams, whose PPR was above 4.0 all 3 years in college, posted a 4.96 his junior year. DraftExpress has argued that his assist numbers are deflated because Memphis' dribble-drive motion offense is "not conducive to racking up assists." This raises intriguing questions that I unfortunately cannot answer, but may determine how good of a prospect he is. If Rose truly could have averaged 8 assists per 40, as Paul and Williams did, with a different team, then I would consider him a prospect equal to Beasley. His statistics suggest a player who will average about 20 points and 8 assists per game at his peak in the NBA, making him an All-Star, but not a franchise-type player, yet the possibility that he may be a superior passer who was hampered by the Memphis system could make him worthy of the #1 pick. It is up to NBA scouts to answer this question for themselves.

Final Verdict: Whether or not he is truly a franchise PG, it is hard to go wrong with a player who at the very least, looks like the second coming of Baron Davis. You don't find many draft prospects who you can pencil in for ten solid years as a starter in the NBA, but Rose looks like one of them.

Derrick Rose Shot Breakdown:

Dunks/Tip-ins: 5% of shots, 95.0% FG
Layups: 34% of shots, 61.1% FG
2-point jumpers: 38% of shots, 37.1% FG
3-point jumpers: 23% of shots, 33.7% FG

Scouting Reports: Michael Beasley

It seems to me that it's time to breathe new life into this dead sports blog of ours. So starting today, I will kick off a month of wall-to-wall NBA draft coverage with a series of scouting reports on this year's top prospects.


Michael Beasley
6'9" 235 lbs
Freshman PF, Kansas State

Honestly, it's baffling to me how Beasley's personal matters are overshadowing a freshman season that by nearly any standard, was better than Kevin Durant's National Player of the Year run the year before. Both Beasley and OJ Mayo put aside their baggage for their debut college seasons and played motivated hard-working basketball. However, Mayo is seen as having moved beyond his troubles in high school whereas Beasley has not. Yet Beasley's results on the court were far superior, and Pat Riley will woefully regret letting player personalities blind him to the talent that is waiting to fall into his hands.

Pace-adjusted, per 40 statistics (from draftexpress.com):

30.9 ppg, 14.6 rpg, 1.5 stls, 1.9 blks, 56.2 2FG%, 37.9 3FG%

This is a forward who was the top scorer and one of the three best rebounders in the country, athletic enough to average 1.5 steals, a high number for a power forward. Best of all, he has a versatile, high-percentage offensive game that suggests he will continue to be a big-time scorer at the pro level. Here are his shooting statistics when broken down by type of shot:

Dunks/Tip-ins: 9% of shots, 85.1% FG
Layups: 32% of shots, 61.4% FG
2-point jumpers: 42% of shots, 45.3% FG
3-point jumpers: 17% of shots, 37.9% FG

These numbers may not mean a lot out of context, but hopefully as I unveil more of these scouting reports, they will become more meaningful. Here, I should point out that 45.3% is a phenomenal number on 2-point jumpers, and that he has a clearly developed inside-outside game. When translating statistics to the pro level, rebounding usually carries over fairly well, a good sign for Beasley, but it is hard to predict how scoring will translate. However, considering his high volume of shots, his ability to shoot jumpers and get to the rim, and his athleticism, he should be able to get a high number of shots off at the NBA level and score fairly efficiently as well. He can be an immediate 20-10 player and if he is able to put up those kinds of numbers as a 20-year old rookie, then the sky may be the limit.

Scouting can supplement the statistical breakdown by telling us that Beasley may not have the same upside as Durant due to the concerns about his character and work ethic, and thus he projects more as a perennial All-Star than a potential all-time great. Yet a perennial All-Star is still worthy of a #1 overall pick, and it amazes me how many analysts are willing to put too much stock in the upside of a DeAndre Jordan, a player who has shown much less on-court motivation than Beasley (not to mention production), and not consider that Beasley is young enough and talented enough to get a lot better himself.

Final verdict: If Beasley wants it, he can be an MVP-type player. I personally don't see him reaching that level, but I see him as a deadly scorer and rebounder who will make All-Star teams year after year. A great choice at #1.