[ti]draft[/ti]TimPig's 1st Annual TMBSL 3050 1st Round Rookie Draft Grades
Jul 14, 2017 17:03:39 GMT -6
Post by TimPig on Jul 14, 2017 17:03:39 GMT -6
New Orleans Pelicans (Billy King) - B+
1.1. Majestic Mapp 19 SG 6'2" 180 B B- B- B- C+ B
I’m honestly a little bit surprised that BK didn’t 1) Wait 48 hours to make this pick (like he promised) 2) Pick some trash player just to be an asshole or 3) Totally fuck this up (JJJ, anyone?). Could Mapp finally end BK’s tank? I haven’t been around that long, but it sounds like he’s been tanking since day one. There are no flaws I can see with this pick. He can score, pass, steal, and get boards. Mapp looks like the real deal and a piece everyone’s favorite GM can build around. Think BK’s bad now? Just imagine what he’ll be like if his team isn’t total dog shit.
Side note: I spent about 8 hours with BK when he was in Seattle. Not a bad guy, I promise.
Orlando Magic (MJ) - D
1.2. Gary Grice 20 PG 6'3" 185 C+ B- A- B- C- B
1.29. Curtis Borchardt 21 C 7'0" 240 B- C- C- B- B- B
Everyone wonders what MJ is doing on a pretty consistent basis and I’m now on that bandwagon as well. I saw a clear-cut top four in this draft and Gary Grice was not part of it. Grice isn’t a bad prospect, but Dan Cortese, Clifford Smith, and Bill Bellamy were all above him on my board. The 6’3 point guard can score, but his write-up makes it sound like he won’t since he doesn’t like to shoot. He doesn’t sound like a bad player, but with some great prospects on the board, I don’t understand taking a point guard who won’t score.
By the time 1.29 came around, there wasn’t a ton left on the board. Borchardt is a big center with some decent defensive grades. Hopefully that B- inside scoring doesn’t see too much of a jump.
Cleveland Cavalies (SugarSmacks) - A-
1.3. Clifford Smith 20 SF 6'10" 280 B- B- C+ B- B- B
1.11. Queen Latifah 24 SG 6'2" 250 C- B C- B C B
1.17. Russell Jones 20 PF 6'8" 250 B C C B- B- B
With Bryant Crawford in place, the Cavs have their PG of the future and added players at three different positions to give him some help. I love the picks of Clifford Smith and Russell Jones. Smith is a physical specimen who sounds like he can play just about any position and will fill up the box score. If he sticks at small forward, he’s going to rack up points, assists, boards, and blocks, the last of which is always tough to find in a small forward.
I said before the draft that there wasn’t anything not to like about Russell Jones’ game, as he’s described as an incredibly efficient big who can average 3+ blocks per game and plays good defense. None of his grades stick out, but the write-up shows a player who has everything you want out of a big in this league.
Queen Latifah is someone I personally would’ve taken a hard pass on, but sounds like some people were fans. The defensive write-up sounds nice, but it remains to be seen how much of that is going to be blocks versus the much less valuable steals. I don’t like a lottery pick being used on a no-shoot wing, even if they are efficient in those rare opportunities. I saw a number of wings available here that I think have a better shot at contributing in this league.
Charlotte Hornets (Fecta) - A
1.4. Dan Cortese 22 G 6'4" B- B- B- C+ C A
1.14. Dean Cain 20 C 6'8" 250 C- B C B C+ B
1.27. Lavell Blanchard 21 SF 6'7" 215 C+ B C C+ B- B
When Fecta dropped out of the top three in the lottery, I thought he was going to murder Eric, as it meant he was going to lose out on whoever was left out of Mapp, Cortese, and Bill Bellamy. The reach for Gary Grice at two meant Fecta was still able to get one of the guys he wanted and didn’t have to sacrifice assets to jump up one or two spots. Cortese is money all-around and someone who could have been considered at 1.1 A strong athlete with great handles who projects as a point guard, he needs to improve his jumper but Fecta will surely put a lot of SCs and RCs into that. The A potential should give a bump to his shooting and defensive attributes.
Dean Cain is a safe but unflashy pick, but unflashy is good for a big. A bit undersized for a center, he should still get plenty of blocks and his write-up makes it sound like he’ll have the strength to not get pushed around down low. He’s a “fabulous” shooter for a big, but it remains to be seen how that C- Inside Scoring will translate with regards to how often he shoots and his efficiency.
Blanchard is also a safe pick at 27. I wouldn’t have expected him to fall that far, but he looks like he has the potential to be a good 3-and-D wing who could be decent at everything with a good training camp or two and some TLC.
San Diego Clippers (Yawn) - B-
1.5. Brett Nelson 21 SG 6'4" 185 C+ B+ C+ B- C- A
1.22. Donatas Zavackas 22 PF 6'8" 220 B+ B- D+ C C B
The B+ Outside Scoring and A potential are enticing, but no way I’m taking Brett Nelson here over Bill Bellamy. His C+ Inside Scoring that sounds like it won’t improve much gives me the impression he’s not going to shoot as much as you’d like, but that remains to be seen. He could average 3-4 bleals per game which is nice from the SG position.
I love the Zavackas pick at 22. His scoring attributes look excellent for a rookie and a move to small forward could make him a very interesting prospect. His defense, rebounding, and scoring attributes do not indicate someone who has a future at power forward.
Buffalo Braves (Delap) - A
1.6. Bill Bellamy 21 SG 6'5" 210 B- B- C- C+ C A
Delap was adamant that he had a top five in place, and the first four picks of the draft were four of the five on his big board. He was surprised that Bellamy fell to him at 1.6, and I am too. I would’ve debated Bellamy and Cortese at 1.2, personally, but once again the Gary Grice pick helps out the Braves. Bellamy isn’t a passer, so he should stay at shooting guard. With A potential, those scoring grades should be pretty great in a couple of seasons. He plays good defense even if the numbers won’t show it. It doesn’t sound like there are really any major holes in Bellamy’s game and he’s got a high ceiling that could make him the best player in this class. Nice work, Delap. I like you too.
Vancouver Grizzlies (AndrewLuck) - B
1.7. Robert Diggs 20 SG 6'6" 200? B- B- C B- C B
Sounds like Diggs is going to be a big-time scorer in sim league and his high starting grades reflect that. He’ll get some steals which will lead to some easy buckets. Overall, looks like a player who will put up big scoring numbers, maybe a couple steals per game, but won’t give you much else. The Grizz made a lot of progress as a team this year and Tacko Fall could be an efficient two-way big, but they were lacking in the backcourt. Diggs should help out right away.
Boston Celtics (Devine) - B+
1.8. Rod Grizzard 21 SG 6'8" 200 B C C- B C A
I had no idea how this draft might shake out after the top few picks since there were so many promising prospects and was really hoping I might be able to trade up into the late lottery for Grizzard. I don’t know who the hell Devine is but apparently everyone else does and he’s coming back to TMBSL hot with this pick. Rod is already a defensive powerhouse and will provide blocks out of a SG, which is rare. His offense is severely lacking right now so every camp should be heavily devoted to improving it. His A potential should help those scoring attributes improve naturally too.
Portland Trailblazers (Majic) - C+
1.9. Jason Hunter 20 G 6'4" 200 C+ B- B- B- C- B
1.19. Nigel Dixon 22 C 6'10" 350 B- C- D+ B B B
1.28. Tito Maddox 20 PG 6'4" 200 B- C+ B C+ C- B
Can someone explain to me how the Blazers made it to the Finals? Anyone? Even if you try, I won’t buy it. I don’t get it. And Majic ended up with a lottery pick to boot, plus two other first-round picks,so I guess he’s doing something right other than loving hockey. Sounds like Hunter is a player who needs some work, but could be a stud at either guard position. But that will depend on Majic actually picking a position for him, just like he hasn’t done with Vernon Maxwell. Like Maxwell, I expect to see Hunter OTB in a couple of IRL weeks.
Dixon is a load at 6’10” and 350 pounds and has solid D/R grades. Bigs are a crapshoot. I don’t really know what else to say here. Not a bad pick at 1.19 based on his potential.
Maddox looks like a true point guard with a nice handling grade and not awful scoring grades, plus some nice size at 6’4” and 200 pounds. Looks like he could be a solid backup.
Chicago Bulls (Lip) - C+
1.10. Matt Carroll 22 SG 6'6" 210 B B+ C C C- B
Lip is set for bigs and, according to Eric, has a nice point guard prospect in Zack Friedman even though he only averaged 7.3 mpg as a rookie. We’ll see. Carroll fills a big hole for the Bulls as a lights-out shooter. That B+ Outside Shooting rating should jump up to an A in a couple of seasons. Another SG who projects as a pretty one-dimensional player. He’ll shoot and score with good efficiency but won’t do much else.
Utah Jazz (SPL) - B
1.12. Corey Woods 20 C 6'9" 330 C- C C B B B
Woods is another guy who projects as a pretty damn good D/R big. The Jazz appeared to be headed for a deep playoff run until Mormon the Marvin broke his leg 30 seconds after being acquired. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise as Mormon returns next season and the rough end to the season catapulted the Jazz up in the lottery. Woods looks like he can play right away, and you have one of the league’s best PGs in Kris Dunn to go along with Mormon. Looks like a pretty bright future in Utah.
Also, Malik Monk OTB. He’s good. SPL promises.
Indiana Pacers (Heebs) - A-
1.13. Flea Balzary 22 PG 5'7" 165 C+ C+ B+ B- C- A
Heebs is a wizard when it comes to stockpiling talent, developing that talent, and then getting assets back for it, hence why the Pacers ran some 12 guys deep this year. The only PG currently on the Pacers roster is Tyronn Lue, and while Heebs is always fielding offers, I find it hard to believe he moves the league MVP. Lue is 31 though, so the decline could start here pretty soon, which makes his pick of the project in Flea Balzary a great one. Balzary is a raw player everywhere except his handles with tons of upside. Indiana is a perfect place for Flea to get the TLC he needs.
Meanwhile, the Pacers give up Doug Remer, who was picked in about the same spot last year. Duc gets his shooting guard to pair with Drake Wilton, and if Remer develops anything like Coop, the Bucks' backcourt should be in good shape for the next 10 years. With Coop playing as well as he did as a rookie, Remer never had a spot as neither of them can really play anywhere except SG with their lack of production elsewhere. I'm guessing Heebs didn't like any of the point guards available in the late lottery last year, so he took a chance on selecting two identical players which is proving to be a shrewd move as he was able to deal one for a PG with as high of a ceiling as anyone.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Ayyoe) - C+
1.15. Tahj Holden 20 C 6'10" 250 B B- C B C+ B
Some good scoring potential here out of Holden, but is that what you want out of a center? I’m not sure if he’ll end up getting moved to a different position (can he even be moved?), but it looks like he likes to shoot, which generally isn’t what you want out of your bigs. The B rating on defense will be interesting - if that doesn’t translate to blocks, then he won’t be a TMBSL star.
Kansas City Kings (2poor) - A
1.16. Lamont Hawkins 20 C 6'10" 250 B D+ D B- B B
Pretty impressive here for 2poor to get a profile player who projects as a two-way big, which seems like one of the hardest things to do in this league. You don’t want a poor free throw-shooting big man though, so some extra investment into his jumper may be in the works. He’ll get blocks, is already an above average rebounder and should only get better. His profile says the sky's the limit for him, and that plus the write-up as a two-way big could make him very valuable down the line.
San Antonio Spurs (TimPig) - A
1.18. Dennis Coles 20 F 6'7" 240 B- C- C B- B- B
1.20. Jason Gardner 22 PG 5'9" 180 B B+ B B D+ D
1.26. Antonio Falu 22 SG 6'5" 190 B+ C+ B- C C- B
I crushed this draft, obviously. After a championship in year one and then two upsets in the playoffs - one in the championship and one in the second round - the Spurs faithful and front office are not happy. Anything less than a championship in Lonzo’s prime is unacceptable.
The Spurs were able to grab some promising prospects in this draft and only had to give up SPL cash to do so, which is why I’m writing this article. I need the bucks to develop all of these prospects and maintain my stranglehold on the west, so please vote 5k.
I was strongly considering trading up because I REALLY wanted one of Lamont Hawkins or Russell Jones, but felt good about Coles as a consolation prize if neither made it to me after Holden was picked at 15. I don’t think he’ll be able to play SF with his poor jump shot, but I like the possibility of moving him to center where his defense and “semblance of an offensive repertoire” could help him thrive.
Fecta and I projected Gardner could be a top-10 pick and go well ahead of a number of profile players. When Ank said 1.20 was on the block and he was available, it only made too much sense to jump in and grab Gardner, a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect who should be able to play right away. With Monta Ellis a free agent and Brian Shaw possibly taking the reins as the starting SG, backup PG was a big hole. Irief got some thought here, but I wasn’t interested in taking a gamble on such a huge project.
Falu was taken with the Spurs’ original pick and his B+ Inside Scoring is what drew me in. I tried to trade up with Odin and GBG to both 1.24 and 1.25 and was unsuccessful, but it ended up working out in the end. Another project player, a decent TC or two could turn Falu into a player in this league. High inside and decent handles for a SG, his outside shooting should progress naturally, and his B potential gives me a lot of hope.
Washington Bullets (kn88) - A
1.21. Jamel Irief 20 PG 6'1" 170 B- C+ C+ C+ C- A
Pretty crazy that a profile player fell all the way to 21, but Irief is going to take some work to capitalize on that A potential. He’s a project player who shouldn’t be starting in the league any time soon, but with some love he could be great. With the importance of point guards in this league, getting one who could be a starter at this point in the draft is remarkable. I can see why kn88 traded up to get him.
Miami Heat (Canes) - B
1.23. Jason Parker 21 SG 6'8" 210 B C+ C C+ B- B
Shooting guard is a pretty big need for the Heat right away, and Parker has some decent grades for a rookie. It’ll be interesting to see if Canes has him start right away. The Heat are a team that has the foundation of a contender, so I’m not sure you want such a big question mark in your starting five. Reggie Theus is getting up there in years, so the Heat need to make something happen quick. Parker has great height at 6’8” and good rebounding for a shooting guard - maybe he projects better as a small forward?
Denver Nuggets (Odin) - B-
1.24. Donnell Knight 23 PF/C 6'8" 240 C C- C B- B- B
The Nuggets traded Chris Kaman to the Blazers before the draft, leaving a pretty big hole up front. They’re set at PG for some time with Rex Chapman and Trevon Duval, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them get serious minutes at SG. Caron Butler is locked in at SF, and Adonal Foyle is going to fill up one big spot. It doesn’t look like Knight will ever be a star, but the B- D/R ratings could mean a good, serviceable forward for Odin for a number of years.
Fort Wayne Pistons (GBG) - C
1.25. Chuck Eidson 21 SF 6'7" 210 C+ B B- B- C C
Eidson’s going to take a lot of work, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to come naturally with that C potential. The Outside Shooting, Handling, and Defense ratings all start off pretty nicely, but you need your SF to have a higher Inside Scoring rating to be an effective player, and it doesn’t seem like that grows a ton naturally (lol I’m probably wrong). GBG tried to swindle me into swapping picks with him if I also threw in 1,000 SPL dollars, but only if I wasn’t going to take the guy he was taking. I wanted Falu. Can’t play me, GBG.
1.1. Majestic Mapp 19 SG 6'2" 180 B B- B- B- C+ B
I’m honestly a little bit surprised that BK didn’t 1) Wait 48 hours to make this pick (like he promised) 2) Pick some trash player just to be an asshole or 3) Totally fuck this up (JJJ, anyone?). Could Mapp finally end BK’s tank? I haven’t been around that long, but it sounds like he’s been tanking since day one. There are no flaws I can see with this pick. He can score, pass, steal, and get boards. Mapp looks like the real deal and a piece everyone’s favorite GM can build around. Think BK’s bad now? Just imagine what he’ll be like if his team isn’t total dog shit.
Side note: I spent about 8 hours with BK when he was in Seattle. Not a bad guy, I promise.
Orlando Magic (MJ) - D
1.2. Gary Grice 20 PG 6'3" 185 C+ B- A- B- C- B
1.29. Curtis Borchardt 21 C 7'0" 240 B- C- C- B- B- B
Everyone wonders what MJ is doing on a pretty consistent basis and I’m now on that bandwagon as well. I saw a clear-cut top four in this draft and Gary Grice was not part of it. Grice isn’t a bad prospect, but Dan Cortese, Clifford Smith, and Bill Bellamy were all above him on my board. The 6’3 point guard can score, but his write-up makes it sound like he won’t since he doesn’t like to shoot. He doesn’t sound like a bad player, but with some great prospects on the board, I don’t understand taking a point guard who won’t score.
By the time 1.29 came around, there wasn’t a ton left on the board. Borchardt is a big center with some decent defensive grades. Hopefully that B- inside scoring doesn’t see too much of a jump.
Cleveland Cavalies (SugarSmacks) - A-
1.3. Clifford Smith 20 SF 6'10" 280 B- B- C+ B- B- B
1.11. Queen Latifah 24 SG 6'2" 250 C- B C- B C B
1.17. Russell Jones 20 PF 6'8" 250 B C C B- B- B
With Bryant Crawford in place, the Cavs have their PG of the future and added players at three different positions to give him some help. I love the picks of Clifford Smith and Russell Jones. Smith is a physical specimen who sounds like he can play just about any position and will fill up the box score. If he sticks at small forward, he’s going to rack up points, assists, boards, and blocks, the last of which is always tough to find in a small forward.
I said before the draft that there wasn’t anything not to like about Russell Jones’ game, as he’s described as an incredibly efficient big who can average 3+ blocks per game and plays good defense. None of his grades stick out, but the write-up shows a player who has everything you want out of a big in this league.
Queen Latifah is someone I personally would’ve taken a hard pass on, but sounds like some people were fans. The defensive write-up sounds nice, but it remains to be seen how much of that is going to be blocks versus the much less valuable steals. I don’t like a lottery pick being used on a no-shoot wing, even if they are efficient in those rare opportunities. I saw a number of wings available here that I think have a better shot at contributing in this league.
Charlotte Hornets (Fecta) - A
1.4. Dan Cortese 22 G 6'4" B- B- B- C+ C A
1.14. Dean Cain 20 C 6'8" 250 C- B C B C+ B
1.27. Lavell Blanchard 21 SF 6'7" 215 C+ B C C+ B- B
When Fecta dropped out of the top three in the lottery, I thought he was going to murder Eric, as it meant he was going to lose out on whoever was left out of Mapp, Cortese, and Bill Bellamy. The reach for Gary Grice at two meant Fecta was still able to get one of the guys he wanted and didn’t have to sacrifice assets to jump up one or two spots. Cortese is money all-around and someone who could have been considered at 1.1 A strong athlete with great handles who projects as a point guard, he needs to improve his jumper but Fecta will surely put a lot of SCs and RCs into that. The A potential should give a bump to his shooting and defensive attributes.
Dean Cain is a safe but unflashy pick, but unflashy is good for a big. A bit undersized for a center, he should still get plenty of blocks and his write-up makes it sound like he’ll have the strength to not get pushed around down low. He’s a “fabulous” shooter for a big, but it remains to be seen how that C- Inside Scoring will translate with regards to how often he shoots and his efficiency.
Blanchard is also a safe pick at 27. I wouldn’t have expected him to fall that far, but he looks like he has the potential to be a good 3-and-D wing who could be decent at everything with a good training camp or two and some TLC.
San Diego Clippers (Yawn) - B-
1.5. Brett Nelson 21 SG 6'4" 185 C+ B+ C+ B- C- A
1.22. Donatas Zavackas 22 PF 6'8" 220 B+ B- D+ C C B
The B+ Outside Scoring and A potential are enticing, but no way I’m taking Brett Nelson here over Bill Bellamy. His C+ Inside Scoring that sounds like it won’t improve much gives me the impression he’s not going to shoot as much as you’d like, but that remains to be seen. He could average 3-4 bleals per game which is nice from the SG position.
I love the Zavackas pick at 22. His scoring attributes look excellent for a rookie and a move to small forward could make him a very interesting prospect. His defense, rebounding, and scoring attributes do not indicate someone who has a future at power forward.
Buffalo Braves (Delap) - A
1.6. Bill Bellamy 21 SG 6'5" 210 B- B- C- C+ C A
Delap was adamant that he had a top five in place, and the first four picks of the draft were four of the five on his big board. He was surprised that Bellamy fell to him at 1.6, and I am too. I would’ve debated Bellamy and Cortese at 1.2, personally, but once again the Gary Grice pick helps out the Braves. Bellamy isn’t a passer, so he should stay at shooting guard. With A potential, those scoring grades should be pretty great in a couple of seasons. He plays good defense even if the numbers won’t show it. It doesn’t sound like there are really any major holes in Bellamy’s game and he’s got a high ceiling that could make him the best player in this class. Nice work, Delap. I like you too.
Vancouver Grizzlies (AndrewLuck) - B
1.7. Robert Diggs 20 SG 6'6" 200? B- B- C B- C B
Sounds like Diggs is going to be a big-time scorer in sim league and his high starting grades reflect that. He’ll get some steals which will lead to some easy buckets. Overall, looks like a player who will put up big scoring numbers, maybe a couple steals per game, but won’t give you much else. The Grizz made a lot of progress as a team this year and Tacko Fall could be an efficient two-way big, but they were lacking in the backcourt. Diggs should help out right away.
Boston Celtics (Devine) - B+
1.8. Rod Grizzard 21 SG 6'8" 200 B C C- B C A
I had no idea how this draft might shake out after the top few picks since there were so many promising prospects and was really hoping I might be able to trade up into the late lottery for Grizzard. I don’t know who the hell Devine is but apparently everyone else does and he’s coming back to TMBSL hot with this pick. Rod is already a defensive powerhouse and will provide blocks out of a SG, which is rare. His offense is severely lacking right now so every camp should be heavily devoted to improving it. His A potential should help those scoring attributes improve naturally too.
Portland Trailblazers (Majic) - C+
1.9. Jason Hunter 20 G 6'4" 200 C+ B- B- B- C- B
1.19. Nigel Dixon 22 C 6'10" 350 B- C- D+ B B B
1.28. Tito Maddox 20 PG 6'4" 200 B- C+ B C+ C- B
Can someone explain to me how the Blazers made it to the Finals? Anyone? Even if you try, I won’t buy it. I don’t get it. And Majic ended up with a lottery pick to boot, plus two other first-round picks,so I guess he’s doing something right other than loving hockey. Sounds like Hunter is a player who needs some work, but could be a stud at either guard position. But that will depend on Majic actually picking a position for him, just like he hasn’t done with Vernon Maxwell. Like Maxwell, I expect to see Hunter OTB in a couple of IRL weeks.
Dixon is a load at 6’10” and 350 pounds and has solid D/R grades. Bigs are a crapshoot. I don’t really know what else to say here. Not a bad pick at 1.19 based on his potential.
Maddox looks like a true point guard with a nice handling grade and not awful scoring grades, plus some nice size at 6’4” and 200 pounds. Looks like he could be a solid backup.
Chicago Bulls (Lip) - C+
1.10. Matt Carroll 22 SG 6'6" 210 B B+ C C C- B
Lip is set for bigs and, according to Eric, has a nice point guard prospect in Zack Friedman even though he only averaged 7.3 mpg as a rookie. We’ll see. Carroll fills a big hole for the Bulls as a lights-out shooter. That B+ Outside Shooting rating should jump up to an A in a couple of seasons. Another SG who projects as a pretty one-dimensional player. He’ll shoot and score with good efficiency but won’t do much else.
Utah Jazz (SPL) - B
1.12. Corey Woods 20 C 6'9" 330 C- C C B B B
Woods is another guy who projects as a pretty damn good D/R big. The Jazz appeared to be headed for a deep playoff run until Mormon the Marvin broke his leg 30 seconds after being acquired. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise as Mormon returns next season and the rough end to the season catapulted the Jazz up in the lottery. Woods looks like he can play right away, and you have one of the league’s best PGs in Kris Dunn to go along with Mormon. Looks like a pretty bright future in Utah.
Also, Malik Monk OTB. He’s good. SPL promises.
Indiana Pacers (Heebs) - A-
1.13. Flea Balzary 22 PG 5'7" 165 C+ C+ B+ B- C- A
Heebs is a wizard when it comes to stockpiling talent, developing that talent, and then getting assets back for it, hence why the Pacers ran some 12 guys deep this year. The only PG currently on the Pacers roster is Tyronn Lue, and while Heebs is always fielding offers, I find it hard to believe he moves the league MVP. Lue is 31 though, so the decline could start here pretty soon, which makes his pick of the project in Flea Balzary a great one. Balzary is a raw player everywhere except his handles with tons of upside. Indiana is a perfect place for Flea to get the TLC he needs.
Meanwhile, the Pacers give up Doug Remer, who was picked in about the same spot last year. Duc gets his shooting guard to pair with Drake Wilton, and if Remer develops anything like Coop, the Bucks' backcourt should be in good shape for the next 10 years. With Coop playing as well as he did as a rookie, Remer never had a spot as neither of them can really play anywhere except SG with their lack of production elsewhere. I'm guessing Heebs didn't like any of the point guards available in the late lottery last year, so he took a chance on selecting two identical players which is proving to be a shrewd move as he was able to deal one for a PG with as high of a ceiling as anyone.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Ayyoe) - C+
1.15. Tahj Holden 20 C 6'10" 250 B B- C B C+ B
Some good scoring potential here out of Holden, but is that what you want out of a center? I’m not sure if he’ll end up getting moved to a different position (can he even be moved?), but it looks like he likes to shoot, which generally isn’t what you want out of your bigs. The B rating on defense will be interesting - if that doesn’t translate to blocks, then he won’t be a TMBSL star.
Kansas City Kings (2poor) - A
1.16. Lamont Hawkins 20 C 6'10" 250 B D+ D B- B B
Pretty impressive here for 2poor to get a profile player who projects as a two-way big, which seems like one of the hardest things to do in this league. You don’t want a poor free throw-shooting big man though, so some extra investment into his jumper may be in the works. He’ll get blocks, is already an above average rebounder and should only get better. His profile says the sky's the limit for him, and that plus the write-up as a two-way big could make him very valuable down the line.
San Antonio Spurs (TimPig) - A
1.18. Dennis Coles 20 F 6'7" 240 B- C- C B- B- B
1.20. Jason Gardner 22 PG 5'9" 180 B B+ B B D+ D
1.26. Antonio Falu 22 SG 6'5" 190 B+ C+ B- C C- B
I crushed this draft, obviously. After a championship in year one and then two upsets in the playoffs - one in the championship and one in the second round - the Spurs faithful and front office are not happy. Anything less than a championship in Lonzo’s prime is unacceptable.
The Spurs were able to grab some promising prospects in this draft and only had to give up SPL cash to do so, which is why I’m writing this article. I need the bucks to develop all of these prospects and maintain my stranglehold on the west, so please vote 5k.
I was strongly considering trading up because I REALLY wanted one of Lamont Hawkins or Russell Jones, but felt good about Coles as a consolation prize if neither made it to me after Holden was picked at 15. I don’t think he’ll be able to play SF with his poor jump shot, but I like the possibility of moving him to center where his defense and “semblance of an offensive repertoire” could help him thrive.
Fecta and I projected Gardner could be a top-10 pick and go well ahead of a number of profile players. When Ank said 1.20 was on the block and he was available, it only made too much sense to jump in and grab Gardner, a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect who should be able to play right away. With Monta Ellis a free agent and Brian Shaw possibly taking the reins as the starting SG, backup PG was a big hole. Irief got some thought here, but I wasn’t interested in taking a gamble on such a huge project.
Falu was taken with the Spurs’ original pick and his B+ Inside Scoring is what drew me in. I tried to trade up with Odin and GBG to both 1.24 and 1.25 and was unsuccessful, but it ended up working out in the end. Another project player, a decent TC or two could turn Falu into a player in this league. High inside and decent handles for a SG, his outside shooting should progress naturally, and his B potential gives me a lot of hope.
Washington Bullets (kn88) - A
1.21. Jamel Irief 20 PG 6'1" 170 B- C+ C+ C+ C- A
Pretty crazy that a profile player fell all the way to 21, but Irief is going to take some work to capitalize on that A potential. He’s a project player who shouldn’t be starting in the league any time soon, but with some love he could be great. With the importance of point guards in this league, getting one who could be a starter at this point in the draft is remarkable. I can see why kn88 traded up to get him.
Miami Heat (Canes) - B
1.23. Jason Parker 21 SG 6'8" 210 B C+ C C+ B- B
Shooting guard is a pretty big need for the Heat right away, and Parker has some decent grades for a rookie. It’ll be interesting to see if Canes has him start right away. The Heat are a team that has the foundation of a contender, so I’m not sure you want such a big question mark in your starting five. Reggie Theus is getting up there in years, so the Heat need to make something happen quick. Parker has great height at 6’8” and good rebounding for a shooting guard - maybe he projects better as a small forward?
Denver Nuggets (Odin) - B-
1.24. Donnell Knight 23 PF/C 6'8" 240 C C- C B- B- B
The Nuggets traded Chris Kaman to the Blazers before the draft, leaving a pretty big hole up front. They’re set at PG for some time with Rex Chapman and Trevon Duval, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them get serious minutes at SG. Caron Butler is locked in at SF, and Adonal Foyle is going to fill up one big spot. It doesn’t look like Knight will ever be a star, but the B- D/R ratings could mean a good, serviceable forward for Odin for a number of years.
Fort Wayne Pistons (GBG) - C
1.25. Chuck Eidson 21 SF 6'7" 210 C+ B B- B- C C
Eidson’s going to take a lot of work, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to come naturally with that C potential. The Outside Shooting, Handling, and Defense ratings all start off pretty nicely, but you need your SF to have a higher Inside Scoring rating to be an effective player, and it doesn’t seem like that grows a ton naturally (lol I’m probably wrong). GBG tried to swindle me into swapping picks with him if I also threw in 1,000 SPL dollars, but only if I wasn’t going to take the guy he was taking. I wanted Falu. Can’t play me, GBG.
