Post by Brandon on Feb 25, 2011 11:10:22 GMT -5
The 2005 Draft is now two years past, and there are players who are surpassing expectations, players not living upto them, and players just getting by.
1. New York Knicks - Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 20 B- C+ B+ B+ C- A
Chris Paul has had a decent career thus far, but not the career a number 1 pick should be quite yet. He did have an excellent training camp and has played solid so far this season, but not for the team that drafted him; He was traded to the 76ers, and has been made into an integral part of a team desperately needing to make a playoff push after not being in the playoffs for almost 5 seasons.
Current Ratings - C+ B+ A- A- C B
2. Washington Wizards - Deron Williams PG 6'3'' 210 21 B- B B+ B C- A
It seems so far into his early career, Williams is a guy who should have been looked at as the number 1 pick. He's playing excellent ball since he came into the league, but hasn't tasted too much success yet in Washington. Williams is the heart and soul of Washington, and it would be tough to pry him away from the team. He has improved a lot over the past couple seasons, and is the vital part to help push the Wizards into the playoffs.
Current Ratings - B- A- A- B+ C- A
3. Phoenix Suns - Danny Granger SF 6'8'' 225 22 B- B C+ B C+ A
Granger has the tools to become an elite scorer in the league. He played along with Gilbert Arenas for his first two seasons in Phoenix, but Arenas left to play in Vancouver, and Granger now carries the scoring load. Although he isn't playing upto par at the moment, Granger has shown no signs of being a bust thus far. He does everything you want from a swingman.
Current Ratings - B+ A- C+ A- C+ B
4. Philadelphia 76ers - Rudy Gay SF 6'8'' 225 19 B- C+ C B C A
Gay came on strong last season, averaging 17 points a game and being the teams main scorer. This season, he has more talent surrounding him and had a solid training camp. Gay is trying to make a push with new teammate and former number 1 pick Chris Paul, the great Ray Allen, and another player drafted in the lottery later on; David Lee. Gay so far has not disappointed, and is still only very young
Current Ratings - B B- C+ B+ C C
5. Houston Rockets - Andrew Bogut C 7'0'' 245 21 B- D+ C- B+ B- B
Bogut has progressed slowly, but it seems he is ready to have a breakout year this season.He may be one of the better young centers in the league, which is very valuable in a league without too many great young big guys in the middle. In his rookie season, he was a vital part of a finals run with the Rockets, and since then he has become a guy that the Rockets can count on night in, night out.
Current Ratings - B+ D+ C- A A- A
6. San Antonio Spurs - Andrew Bynum C 7'0'' 285 19 C+ D- D- B B- A
Bynum has come a long way since being drafted. He has worked very hard to become an excellent starting center, and is trying to help the Spurs make the playoff push this season. He's had a good season so far, putting up 20 and 10 and becoming a very talented young center. Bynum is still only 21 years old, so his upside is still excellent.
Current Ratings - B D- D A- B+ A
7. Charlotte Hornets - Marc Gasol C 7'1'' 265 20 B- C- C B C+ B
Gasol was overseas for one season, but didn't play too much for Charlotte. He was traded to Philadelphia for Eddy Curry. Gasol has not shown too much promise early in his career, but he is still young, and can play defense. It remains to be seen if he was worth the lottery pick though.
Current Ratings - C+ C- C A- B C
8 - Utah Jazz - LaMarcus Aldridge PF 6'11'' 235 20 B C D+ C+ C+ A
Aldridge has come a very long way to where he is now. Starting off on a Utah team with very little young talent, Aldridge has evolved into an excellent power forward, and is top three in scoring early on into the season with 27 PPG. He may be ready to become the leader of this young team, and bring them to their first playoff berth in years.
Current Ratings - B+ C C- B+ B- B
9 - Milwaukee Bucks - Marvin Williams SF 6'9'' 230 19 B- C+ C- B- C+ A
Marvin is no longer a Buck, but is still only 21. Williams is still quite raw, but playing on a Pacers team that has yet to use him. Williams has a lot of work to do to crack the rotation, let alone get a starting nod.
Current Ratings - Same Ratings
10 - Atlanta Hawks - Sebastian Telfair PG 6'0'' 170 20 C+ C+ B+ B- D A
Telfair has shown promise since being drafted, and is now starting for the New York Knicks. At 22 years old, Telfair has become an excellent passer, but still has ways to go to prove himself as a great point guard. As long as he attends a couple camps, he should grow into a solid player.
Current Ratings - C B- A B D B
11 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Channing Frye PF 6'11'' 248 22 B- C+ D+ B- C A
Frye, who now plays for the Clippers, has played solid when given time, and is a very solid role player. Although he is not much of a scorer at this point in his career, he has shown the ability to block shots in limited minutes and play solid defense.
Current Ratings - B- C+ D+ B+ C+ B
12 - Philadelphia 76ers (from Warriors) - David Lee PF 6'9'' 249 22 B- C C- C B B
Lee has turned out to be a very solid power forward for the 76ers, and the third player on this list to be on the Sixers active starting lineup. Lee's defense since coming into the league has improved greatly, and he is also an excellent rebounder. Definitely a great pick this late in the lottery.
Current Ratings - B C C B B+ C
13 - Toronto Raptors - Amir Johnson PF 6'9'' 210 18 B- D+ C- B C+ A
Johnson is slowly morphing into a great young talent. He has shown great promise in training camps since being drafted, but still at the age of 20 years old, he has a ways to go. As long as Johnson keeps working hard, he should end up becoming a vital big man for the Kings down the line.
That's all folks. Thanks for reading. Until next time...
1. New York Knicks - Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 20 B- C+ B+ B+ C- A
Chris Paul has had a decent career thus far, but not the career a number 1 pick should be quite yet. He did have an excellent training camp and has played solid so far this season, but not for the team that drafted him; He was traded to the 76ers, and has been made into an integral part of a team desperately needing to make a playoff push after not being in the playoffs for almost 5 seasons.
Current Ratings - C+ B+ A- A- C B
2. Washington Wizards - Deron Williams PG 6'3'' 210 21 B- B B+ B C- A
It seems so far into his early career, Williams is a guy who should have been looked at as the number 1 pick. He's playing excellent ball since he came into the league, but hasn't tasted too much success yet in Washington. Williams is the heart and soul of Washington, and it would be tough to pry him away from the team. He has improved a lot over the past couple seasons, and is the vital part to help push the Wizards into the playoffs.
Current Ratings - B- A- A- B+ C- A
3. Phoenix Suns - Danny Granger SF 6'8'' 225 22 B- B C+ B C+ A
Granger has the tools to become an elite scorer in the league. He played along with Gilbert Arenas for his first two seasons in Phoenix, but Arenas left to play in Vancouver, and Granger now carries the scoring load. Although he isn't playing upto par at the moment, Granger has shown no signs of being a bust thus far. He does everything you want from a swingman.
Current Ratings - B+ A- C+ A- C+ B
4. Philadelphia 76ers - Rudy Gay SF 6'8'' 225 19 B- C+ C B C A
Gay came on strong last season, averaging 17 points a game and being the teams main scorer. This season, he has more talent surrounding him and had a solid training camp. Gay is trying to make a push with new teammate and former number 1 pick Chris Paul, the great Ray Allen, and another player drafted in the lottery later on; David Lee. Gay so far has not disappointed, and is still only very young
Current Ratings - B B- C+ B+ C C
5. Houston Rockets - Andrew Bogut C 7'0'' 245 21 B- D+ C- B+ B- B
Bogut has progressed slowly, but it seems he is ready to have a breakout year this season.He may be one of the better young centers in the league, which is very valuable in a league without too many great young big guys in the middle. In his rookie season, he was a vital part of a finals run with the Rockets, and since then he has become a guy that the Rockets can count on night in, night out.
Current Ratings - B+ D+ C- A A- A
6. San Antonio Spurs - Andrew Bynum C 7'0'' 285 19 C+ D- D- B B- A
Bynum has come a long way since being drafted. He has worked very hard to become an excellent starting center, and is trying to help the Spurs make the playoff push this season. He's had a good season so far, putting up 20 and 10 and becoming a very talented young center. Bynum is still only 21 years old, so his upside is still excellent.
Current Ratings - B D- D A- B+ A
7. Charlotte Hornets - Marc Gasol C 7'1'' 265 20 B- C- C B C+ B
Gasol was overseas for one season, but didn't play too much for Charlotte. He was traded to Philadelphia for Eddy Curry. Gasol has not shown too much promise early in his career, but he is still young, and can play defense. It remains to be seen if he was worth the lottery pick though.
Current Ratings - C+ C- C A- B C
8 - Utah Jazz - LaMarcus Aldridge PF 6'11'' 235 20 B C D+ C+ C+ A
Aldridge has come a very long way to where he is now. Starting off on a Utah team with very little young talent, Aldridge has evolved into an excellent power forward, and is top three in scoring early on into the season with 27 PPG. He may be ready to become the leader of this young team, and bring them to their first playoff berth in years.
Current Ratings - B+ C C- B+ B- B
9 - Milwaukee Bucks - Marvin Williams SF 6'9'' 230 19 B- C+ C- B- C+ A
Marvin is no longer a Buck, but is still only 21. Williams is still quite raw, but playing on a Pacers team that has yet to use him. Williams has a lot of work to do to crack the rotation, let alone get a starting nod.
Current Ratings - Same Ratings
10 - Atlanta Hawks - Sebastian Telfair PG 6'0'' 170 20 C+ C+ B+ B- D A
Telfair has shown promise since being drafted, and is now starting for the New York Knicks. At 22 years old, Telfair has become an excellent passer, but still has ways to go to prove himself as a great point guard. As long as he attends a couple camps, he should grow into a solid player.
Current Ratings - C B- A B D B
11 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Channing Frye PF 6'11'' 248 22 B- C+ D+ B- C A
Frye, who now plays for the Clippers, has played solid when given time, and is a very solid role player. Although he is not much of a scorer at this point in his career, he has shown the ability to block shots in limited minutes and play solid defense.
Current Ratings - B- C+ D+ B+ C+ B
12 - Philadelphia 76ers (from Warriors) - David Lee PF 6'9'' 249 22 B- C C- C B B
Lee has turned out to be a very solid power forward for the 76ers, and the third player on this list to be on the Sixers active starting lineup. Lee's defense since coming into the league has improved greatly, and he is also an excellent rebounder. Definitely a great pick this late in the lottery.
Current Ratings - B C C B B+ C
13 - Toronto Raptors - Amir Johnson PF 6'9'' 210 18 B- D+ C- B C+ A
Johnson is slowly morphing into a great young talent. He has shown great promise in training camps since being drafted, but still at the age of 20 years old, he has a ways to go. As long as Johnson keeps working hard, he should end up becoming a vital big man for the Kings down the line.
That's all folks. Thanks for reading. Until next time...
