Post by heelsguy25 on Mar 17, 2011 12:43:28 GMT -5
The SSBL Times is back for another installment of action around SSBL. The 2008 SSBL Draft is complete and with that we will grade the teams based on their made draft selections. 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.
Boston Celtics
Player(s) selected: No picks
Miami Heat
Player(s) selected: SF Anthony Randolph, PG Mario Chalmers
Grade: B
Miami was the owners of 2 1st round picks and did a pretty decent job this year. The first pick saw them choose a young forward in Anthony Randolph. At 19, Randolph has a few years to grow and progress but should be a nice piece once he matures. The Heat could have grabbed a big at 9 since a couple names were left that could have filled in for the older C's on their roster. With the second selection, they went for a backcourt player. Chalmers is a nice addition as he is a good passer and defender and should be a nice backup if Jameer Nelson splits this year in FA.
New Jersey Nets
Player(s) selected: No picks
New York Knicks
Player(s) selected: SG Brandon Rush, PF Marreese Speights
Grade: B
Another good draft by New York, adding some nice bench players. Rush can shoo and should be a nice compliment to JR Smith at the 2. Speights is a bruiser and should add some muscle downlow. Both players will need good TCs to be solid options off the bench. If not, then this team could just be stuck on the young train for another season.
Orlando Magic
Player(s) selected: PF Jason Thompson
Grade: B-
The Youth movement in Orlando continues. The Magic went with another PF this year, and a battle for the starting 4 should commence in the preseason. Thompson is an all around player but will have some tough competition in Sean Williams. Some GMs wondered why the Magic didn't go with a C, since players like DeAndre Jordan were available. The Orlando GM claimed he liked the more polished game of Thompson, and we have to agree.
Philadelphia 76ers
Player(s) selected: SF Nicolas Batum, C DeAndre Jordan
Grade: B+
Another solid draft for Philadelphia. The 76ers, like Miami had 2 first round picks. With the first,m they took a risk on a young player. Nicolas Batum, out of France, is an intriguing player. He is young and some say he could be a star, but was this too early for him? The 76ers didn't think so. Some feel they should have gone with the more polished player in Danilo Gallinari. Batum will be a nice option at the 3 behind Tayshaun Prince. At 20, the 76ers got a big steal. DeAndre Jordan was projected a top 15 pick, and he fell to 20 to Philadelphia. The 76ers admit they were contemplating taking him at 7, so to get him at 20, kudos to you sir. Jordan should be a nice player, once his offensive game comes around. A stint in the D league could help that.
Washington Wizards
Player(s) selected: PG Derrick Rose, PF JJ Hickson, C Nikola Pekovic
Grade: B+
Another top pick for Washington, and another risky take. Derrick Rose is a top 3 pick, but did the Wizards need him that bad? Taking BPA at the top sometimes is the way to go. The Wizards took Rose, but quickly shipped him off to Philadelphia, and got the other 2 picks in the process. Taking Rose could have been seen as a risky pick, but the Wizards upgraded their roster and only shipped off one player. In the deal with the 76ers they acquired a good big in Emeka Okafor and a scorer in Q-Rich. Getting two young players in Hickson and Pekovic was an added bonus for Washington as well. We feel they could have gotten little bit more talent for picks 18 and 19, but both Hickson and Pekovic should be decent after a stint or two in the D League.
Atlanta Hawks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Charlotte Hornets
Player(s) selected: No picks
Chicago Bulls
Player(s) selected: SG OJ Mayo, C Kosta Koufos
Grade: B+
Another year where the Bulls draft a SG. This year they get a more complete payer in OJ Mayo. Mayo could challenge Corey Maggette for he starting 2 guard spot with a good TC. We really liked the Bulls second pick in the round, in the way of Kosta Koufos. Koufos should have gone a bit huger due to his age and his potential. Koufos should be a nice player after a stint in the D League if the Bulls go that route.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Player(s) selected: No picks
Detroit Pistons
Player(s) selected: C JaVale McGee, PG George Hill
Grade: B+
Another solid draft for the Pistons. Detroit has quite possibly the youngest but deepest frontcourt in the entire league. Adding another young big in McGee solidifies that notion. McGee is a very nice pickup, since he could be used a trade piece if the other bigs have a good TC and he does not. With another first round pick just a few slots later, Detroit went with a potential D League player in IUPUI's George Hill. Hill will be a nice backup to Barbosa after a year in the D League.
Indiana Pacers
Player(s) selected: SF Danilo Gallinari
Grade: A
The youth keeps piling up in Indiana, and for good reasons. The pacers got what we feel is the steal of the draft. Gallinari should be a very good scorer, and possibly in his first season. We also feel he could challenge for ROY. Indiana stole a player away from Philadelphia, as we mentioned earlier that the 76ers should have gone with Gallo at 7. The Pacers also got another solid player in Roy hibbert at 10. Hibbert is the long term C for this club it appears, despite Pollard's 3 year deal left. Hibbert is a big body and despite his average scoring, he can rebound and defend.
Milwaukee Bucks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Toronto Raptors
Player(s) selected: PF Darrell Arthur
Grade: B+
More depth for the Raptors. We felt Arthur was the best forward available that late and Toronto cashed in. As this report, rumors have it that the Raptors have dealt Arthur to Seattle. A very short stay for the former Kansas Jayhawk.
Boston Celtics
Player(s) selected: No picks
Miami Heat
Player(s) selected: SF Anthony Randolph, PG Mario Chalmers
Grade: B
Miami was the owners of 2 1st round picks and did a pretty decent job this year. The first pick saw them choose a young forward in Anthony Randolph. At 19, Randolph has a few years to grow and progress but should be a nice piece once he matures. The Heat could have grabbed a big at 9 since a couple names were left that could have filled in for the older C's on their roster. With the second selection, they went for a backcourt player. Chalmers is a nice addition as he is a good passer and defender and should be a nice backup if Jameer Nelson splits this year in FA.
New Jersey Nets
Player(s) selected: No picks
New York Knicks
Player(s) selected: SG Brandon Rush, PF Marreese Speights
Grade: B
Another good draft by New York, adding some nice bench players. Rush can shoo and should be a nice compliment to JR Smith at the 2. Speights is a bruiser and should add some muscle downlow. Both players will need good TCs to be solid options off the bench. If not, then this team could just be stuck on the young train for another season.
Orlando Magic
Player(s) selected: PF Jason Thompson
Grade: B-
The Youth movement in Orlando continues. The Magic went with another PF this year, and a battle for the starting 4 should commence in the preseason. Thompson is an all around player but will have some tough competition in Sean Williams. Some GMs wondered why the Magic didn't go with a C, since players like DeAndre Jordan were available. The Orlando GM claimed he liked the more polished game of Thompson, and we have to agree.
Philadelphia 76ers
Player(s) selected: SF Nicolas Batum, C DeAndre Jordan
Grade: B+
Another solid draft for Philadelphia. The 76ers, like Miami had 2 first round picks. With the first,m they took a risk on a young player. Nicolas Batum, out of France, is an intriguing player. He is young and some say he could be a star, but was this too early for him? The 76ers didn't think so. Some feel they should have gone with the more polished player in Danilo Gallinari. Batum will be a nice option at the 3 behind Tayshaun Prince. At 20, the 76ers got a big steal. DeAndre Jordan was projected a top 15 pick, and he fell to 20 to Philadelphia. The 76ers admit they were contemplating taking him at 7, so to get him at 20, kudos to you sir. Jordan should be a nice player, once his offensive game comes around. A stint in the D league could help that.
Washington Wizards
Player(s) selected: PG Derrick Rose, PF JJ Hickson, C Nikola Pekovic
Grade: B+
Another top pick for Washington, and another risky take. Derrick Rose is a top 3 pick, but did the Wizards need him that bad? Taking BPA at the top sometimes is the way to go. The Wizards took Rose, but quickly shipped him off to Philadelphia, and got the other 2 picks in the process. Taking Rose could have been seen as a risky pick, but the Wizards upgraded their roster and only shipped off one player. In the deal with the 76ers they acquired a good big in Emeka Okafor and a scorer in Q-Rich. Getting two young players in Hickson and Pekovic was an added bonus for Washington as well. We feel they could have gotten little bit more talent for picks 18 and 19, but both Hickson and Pekovic should be decent after a stint or two in the D League.
Atlanta Hawks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Charlotte Hornets
Player(s) selected: No picks
Chicago Bulls
Player(s) selected: SG OJ Mayo, C Kosta Koufos
Grade: B+
Another year where the Bulls draft a SG. This year they get a more complete payer in OJ Mayo. Mayo could challenge Corey Maggette for he starting 2 guard spot with a good TC. We really liked the Bulls second pick in the round, in the way of Kosta Koufos. Koufos should have gone a bit huger due to his age and his potential. Koufos should be a nice player after a stint in the D League if the Bulls go that route.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Player(s) selected: No picks
Detroit Pistons
Player(s) selected: C JaVale McGee, PG George Hill
Grade: B+
Another solid draft for the Pistons. Detroit has quite possibly the youngest but deepest frontcourt in the entire league. Adding another young big in McGee solidifies that notion. McGee is a very nice pickup, since he could be used a trade piece if the other bigs have a good TC and he does not. With another first round pick just a few slots later, Detroit went with a potential D League player in IUPUI's George Hill. Hill will be a nice backup to Barbosa after a year in the D League.
Indiana Pacers
Player(s) selected: SF Danilo Gallinari
Grade: A
The youth keeps piling up in Indiana, and for good reasons. The pacers got what we feel is the steal of the draft. Gallinari should be a very good scorer, and possibly in his first season. We also feel he could challenge for ROY. Indiana stole a player away from Philadelphia, as we mentioned earlier that the 76ers should have gone with Gallo at 7. The Pacers also got another solid player in Roy hibbert at 10. Hibbert is the long term C for this club it appears, despite Pollard's 3 year deal left. Hibbert is a big body and despite his average scoring, he can rebound and defend.
Milwaukee Bucks
Player(s) selected: No picks
Toronto Raptors
Player(s) selected: PF Darrell Arthur
Grade: B+
More depth for the Raptors. We felt Arthur was the best forward available that late and Toronto cashed in. As this report, rumors have it that the Raptors have dealt Arthur to Seattle. A very short stay for the former Kansas Jayhawk.
