Post by heelsguy25 on Dec 4, 2010 2:06:13 GMT -5
The 2004 SSBL Draft is considered a much weaker draft than last year. This years draft seemed to strike a fancy by some GMs regardless. We will take a look at how each team did in the first round of the draft. We will also take a look at how the player selected should fit on the team.
All opinions are solely based on our writers.
Boston Celtics
Player(s) selected: PF/C Eddy Curry
Grade: A
The Celtics got by some the sleeper of the draft. Can we really call a player taken in the top 10 a sleeper though? Curry is a best of a player. Some say he could be a star in the league. Curry has always dealt with issues whether it be weight or mental. Some question his character as well. Curry should battle Haywood for the starting center spot. He also may be more useful as a backup to both the PF and C positions. He needs to work on his rebounding to be a better player though.
Miami Heat
Player(s) selected: Jameer Nelson
Grade: B+
The Heat took a PG, but was it the right one? Nelson is a scoring PG. He isn't the best passer from this class, but he can score and plays solid defense. Nelson will be the starter for this club unless the Heat decide he isn't ready. The Heat could also have chose Curry and filled their need for a big. The Heat have cap room to fill their roster. They will have to find suitable players to be a force in the not so beast of an East
New Jersey Nets
Player(s) selected: PF Anderson Varejao
Grade: C+
Another risky pick by the Nets? Last year the Nets took Gerald Wallace, and this year another questionable selection. Varejao will add depth to the Nets but will he see time? The frontcourt is pretty packed already in New jersey. Not much to choose from where the Nets picked, but did they really need to go big?
New York Knicks
Player(s) selected: PF Emeka Okafor
Grade: A-
The Knicks wasted no time with this selection. They needed frontcourt help and got it big time here. Okafor is probably the most established player in the draft. He is a seasoned college player and is SSBL ready. He will most likely start at the C spot for the Knicks. The team tried to unload last years top pick Stoudemire, but no dice. Look for the Knicks to be a better team come this time next season.
Orlando Magic
Player(s) selected: No picks
Philadelphia 76ers
Player(s) selected: PG Devin Harris, SF Dorell Wright
Grade: B
Philadelphia has chosen to go young with their team and starts the trend by picking a PG. Harris may not have been the best PG at this spot, but he does fill the void for the 76ers. He can score and is a solid passer as well as defender. Look for Harris to man this club for years to come. The 76ers continued the young route by grabbing a SF in Dorell Wright. We are scratching our heads about that pick. Wright may not even see backup minutes out of the gate. A player that Philadelphia should have gobbled up was Russia big man Pavel Podkolzin. He would have fit the need for a better C option.
Washington Wizards
Player(s) selected: No picks
Atlanta Hawks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Charlotte Hornets
Player(s) selected: No picks
Chicago Bulls
Player(s) selected: SF Luol Deng, PF Jamal Sampson
Grade: B
The Bulls came away mediocre via the daft. Chicago had the 6th overall pick and chose a SF. Two years in a row with the choice of a SF. Last year they landed Carmelo Anthony. This year they went with Duke forward Luol Deng. Not sure where Deng will fit in. The Bulls should have looked at big Eddy Curry. He would have been a nice compliment piece to a depleted frontcourt. With their next pick they landed what could be a promising player. Jamal Sampson, out of California, will give the frontcourt some depth in Chicago. Sampson was a nice choice, late in the first round.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Player(s) selected: SG Andre Iguodala
Grade: B+
The Cavaliers had the 4th overall pick and chose the best player available. Iguodala doesn't really fit an immediate need, but should be a nice player for many years. He should compete with Josh Howard for the starting SF spot come training camp. The Cavaliers didn't make a bad choice, seeing as they didn't really have a glaring weakness.
Detroit Pistons
Player(s) selected: PF Kris Humphries
Grade: B+
Detroit needed some more PF depth and got it with their pick. Humphries should provide some much needed rebounding off the bench. He needs to work on his defense and inside game, but age is on his side.
Indiana Pacers
Player(s) selected: SF Trevor Ariza
Grade: C-
The glaring weakness that we see on the Pacers roster is Center. They dealt Tim Duncan to the Lakers to acquire this pick. With the pick in hand, they chose a SF,. While Ariza was the best SF prospect left on the board, was he the right choice? The Pacers could have used a player like Andris Biedrins more.
Milwaukee Bucks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Toronto Raptors
Player(s) selected: F Josh Smith, PG Raymond Felton, PF Brandon Bass, C Pavel Podkolzin
Grade: A
The Raptors had another marvelous draft. They landed a top 2 pick and got 3 other serviceable players in this weak draft. They might have taken a risk with Josh Smith at #2, but he, by many, was the 2nd best prospect n the draft. We feel they should have nabbed Okafor to have a better PF player in place. Landing Felton at 14 was very nice fore this club. He should battle for starting PG minutes. Bass is a nice player and helps the frontcourt, and hes young. Pavel is a project, and the GM knows this. he is a huge man, and should help the defense.
I picked Travis Outlaw lol
