So on one hand there is Kobe Bryant, 5 time NBA champion, NBA MVP, and Olympic gold medalist. Hell, he is known just as much for his rings as he is for his “shhh” (the 2:02 mark) against Spain in 2008.
Young Kyrie Irving is known for being Uncle Drew. That’s it. (I’m kidding. He’s a good player. But who watches Cavs games? All that comic sans rots the eyes.)
$50,000 is in the table. Kyrie is not Bow Wow. One-on-one. Hopefully, that video surfaces soon. I want to see it.
Filed under NBA at Large
Hybrid
At this time we have no idea what kind of rotations that coach Mike Krzyzewski will use for Team USA. He has a roster loaded with talent especially in the fields of athleticism and speed. Therefore, fans of basketball should be in for a treat once Olympic basketball tips off in London.
The roster has been set. Lineups, however, are a whole other animal. With a team so repeat with talent, finding the right combination of efficient chemistry could take time, yet, with the summer games set to begin in a few short weeks, time is of the essence.
One thing we do know is that Coach K plans to have LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant on the court at the same time for heavy minutes. These players can be cycled through any position that a given lineup has to offer from one through five. They will likely be paired with Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant giving Team USA a college feel with a two guards and three forwards set, forgoing the traditional center.
Team USA does have one center on its roster in Tyson Chandler. Honestly, if Chandler does start a game it will be for appearances only or to compete with the bigs of Spain. Other than that, his role should be limited in London. This is a hybrid team with players who can play multiple positions. Why bow to archaic positional traps? That is not what Team USA is about anymore. 2010 solidified that when the team that won gold at the World Championships started Lamar Odom at center.
Traditionalists may warn that smaller lineups will pose defensive shortcomings in the half court but that is if we assume that opposing teams have fluid, unchallenged ball movement and can work the ball into the post or lane. Reports coming out of Las Vegas, where Team USA was holding practice and scrimmages with the Team USA Select team, noted that the Select backcourt of John Wall, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday were harried from the moment the ball was inbounded and they were tasked with bringing it up court.
This stifling full court defense will be a staple of Team USA. It allows the team to play smaller, more versatile lineups and prevent opponents from easily setting up their offense potentially forcing plenty of turnovers in the process. Smothering the ball as they will could draw comparisons to when Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen traded off guarding Toni Kukoc in the 1992 Olympics. Take the ball out of the hands of the playmaker or the opponent’s best player and that team stands little chance.
The key defenders that will be tasked with harassing the ball will be Bryant, though the oldest player on the team he can still muster good defensive possessions, Paul, Deron Williams, James Harden, and most importantly James and Andre Iguodala, whose admission to the final roster was likely based on his defense. Aside from Paul, each of these players can defend multiple positions with James and Iguodala being able to guard anything from a point guard to a power forward. James could also be asked to defend centers. He has that ability.
In fact, that defensive versatility is what makes this team so astounding. Referring back to the lineup of Paul, Bryant, Durant, Anthony, and James, these players can guard almost anyone, towering centers aside. Both James and Anthony proved they could defend power forwards during the NBA regular season and playoffs while Bryant and Durant are suited to guard wings. If their pressure defense works as well as it can, opposing centers could be taken out of the equation all together with ball denial.
However, where versatility is the biggest asset is on offense. Team USA should blaze up and down the court. Key to this will be rebounding. Since the team is relatively undersized it would make sense that Kevin Love should see more playing time on this squad than he did in Turkey, where he was an unbelievably efficient player. His knack for rebounding in volume and his ability to pass into the break plays into the speed that this team possesses. A scenario where Love gets a rebound, hits Westbrook/Paul/Williams with the outlet pass, and the play finishes with a layup, lob, or dunk is very real.
Imagine the above scenario and picture Blake Griffin as the one scoring at the end of the break. Enough said. That is what makes this team so dangerous and why the anticipation for the games to begin that much greater.
Even if a team slows down Team USA, they have a savvy floor general in Paul who can dissect a defense with his passing, and Westbrook to run a pick and roll or find and open shooter. There is no shortage of premier shooters on this roster.
The hardest part, right now, is building a cohesive unit, with interchangeable parts, capable of adapting and excelling in every situation. With a roster as loaded as this one and with the general camaraderie amongst players in the league, not to mention many of these players having played together before, everything should fall into place nicely.
Before Olympic play begins, Team USA will play in several “friendlies” just to wet out appetite.
July 12 vs. the Dominican Republic
July 16 vs. Brazil
July 22 vs. Argentina
July 24 vs. Spain
Enjoy.
And the winners are...
Consensus be damned! (Except there is a general consensus.) This is how we see it. Travis Huse and Doyle Rader dish out their NBA award winners for the lockout shortened season.
Executive of the Year:
TH: RC Buford, San Antonio Spurs
Before the season, Tony Parker stated that the Spurs could no longer compete for a championship. After this, the Spurs were looking to trade Parker away in order to rid themselves of Richard Jefferson‘s contract, with no success. In between then and now the following happened:
1. Traded George Hill to the Pacers for standout rookie Kawhi Leonard.
2. Traded Richard Jefferson for Steven Jackson. If this were any other team, would’ve been a bad move.
3. Signed Boris Diaw and Patty Mills. Since the signing of Diaw, the Spurs have a record of 15-2.
Easy enough in my books.
DR: Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers
Larry Bird has done a remarkable job as GM this season. He traded for George Hill on Draft Day (love Kawhi but they are loaded at small forward), dumped the bloated contract of James Posey, signed David West, the most unheralded acquisition of the year, and traded a second round pick, SECOND ROUND!, for Leandro Barbosa. Oh, and he appointed Frank Vogel as the head coach.
Coach of the Year:
TH: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
I really enjoy George Hill and David West, but those two additions don’t exactly force an 8th seed team up to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. Yet, that’s where this Pacers team sits. Gregg Popovich might deserve this one, as well, for maintaining the record Spurs fans expect, while changing their play significantly. If Phil Jackson couldn’t win the award in back-to-back seasons (he only won one), Tom Thibodeau certainly doesn’t deserve it.
DR: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
(So much Pacer love already, deal with it.) Frank Vogel, since taking the reins of the Pacers, has transformed Indiana into a fighting, spitting, punching, card playing roustabout. In a shortened season they have won more games than they did last year when they scraped into the eighth seed. Under Vogel, the Pacers have improved exponentially. Last season they posted an effective win percentage of 45, this year they have posted one around 62 and because of that they are the third seed in the East.
Most Improved Player:
TH: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
To me, taking Jeremy Lin is a cop-out. There are too many external factors in his rise to fame, and the dude averages like 25 turnovers a game. Linsanity is a feel-good story and all, but Anderson proved to be an immensely consistent player, which shows actual improvement instead of just an increase in playing time. I’ll probably lose on this one, but at least I have conviction.
DR: Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks
(I copped out.) Jeremy Lin should be named the Most Improved Player. He came out of nowhere (unless you actually watch basketball), plays for the Knicks, led them on a miraculous win streak, and nailed game winners. That pretty much seals the deal for the kid who slept on couches despite having a Harvard degree. Linsanity was fun and should be rewarded. Other notables, however, are Ersan Ilyasova, Kyle Lowry, and Ryan Anderson.
Sixth Man of the Year:
TH: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
Harden is the easy choice here. He’s a premier scorer, in the perfect sixth man capacity. Essentially, Harden does what Manu Ginobili and Jason Terry did the years they won the award. Plus, sixth men are like closers in baseball, they need some style. Harden has that in droves.
DR: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
James Harden should, after the taint that Lamar Odom smeared all over this award, rightfully restore this award to its rightful, albeit awkward, place. I could go into detail but he is a shoe-in.
Defensive Player of the Year:
TH: Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Allen gets this, he’s the new Bruce Bowen. He terrifies everyone.
DR: Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Tony Allen is the most feared perimeter defender in the league. This award is his, hands down. There aren’t any flashy stats (actually, Synergy Sports may have them but I am poor and cannot afford a membership) to back up his defensive abilities other than his steals numbers. You have to watch him play. Opponents cannot dislodge him, he harries everyone. Also, he is a bulldozer fighting through screens. He sticks to his man and gets a hand up to contest everything. The way Allen is playing is on par with Artest in 2004.
Rookie of the Year:
TH: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s obviously a tossup between Irving and Ricky Rubio, and I’ll take Irving. Rubio came in the league with less expectations, but Irving was shockingly NBA-ready after only playing 8 games in college. He’s already the franchise’s cornerstone, a title that Rubio may never achieve.
DR: Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
I have to give Rookie of the Year to Ricky Rubio. There was so much hype surrounding him before he came to play in the NBA that he caught a lot of flak. However, he performed above everyone’s expectations. He changed the Timberwolves from a bottom feeder into a potential playoff team. Defensively, despite his proclivity to be Spanish, he set the tone for what was once a porous sieve. Oh, and his passes…amazing.
Most Valuable Player:
TH: LeBron James, Miami Heat
I don’t like the idea of giving Lebron another MVP (giving him two more than Kobe, one more than Tim Duncan), but he’s been spectacular this season (averaging 27-8-6). He’s still the most talented player in the game. Also, awards don’t include the playoffs, so if he chokes again, he’ll still have this trophy. Cool, I guess.
DR: LeBron James, Miami Heat
LeBron James is the clear choice for MVP. He is shooting 53.1 percent from the floor, which is the best field goal percentage of his career. On top of that he is averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and just under two steals per game. These are Gervin-esque numbers. It is literally unthinkable to give the MVP to anyone else.
King Geedorah has escaped from Monster Island to spread terror from Miami
The brisket is finished not smoking. As the second half of the shortened regular season has just begun and because we like to procrastinate here at the Beef, I take a look back at the entirety (well the tasty bits at least) of the first stock of games. This would have been written earlier but I had to let the Linsanity settle in my belly. Phew, OK, now that it is nice and digested, it could have used a little spice actually, let us recall some of the notable moments so far and while we are at it make some projections for the second half, shall we?
Best in the East:
Well, this is Miami’s conference. Hands down. No question. Other such clichés. They begin the second part of the season with a 27-7 record which is tied for the best record in the league. None of this should actually surprise anyone though, well maybe someone in Kazakstan, but no one who follows the sport.
Coming off their Finals loss, King Geedorah and company were heavy favorites to return to the Finals and win it all this season. At this point is seems like a sound bet that they will. Yes, Chicago is just behind them in the standings but something just does not seem right about their chances. I cannot quite place it but they seem to lack the explosive power that Miami has, oh, and LeBron James jumped completely over John Lucas earlier in the year.
Best in the West:
Sigh. It irks me to say this but the Thunder are the best team in the West but I will add a caveat to make myself feel better. They are the best because they have the best record. If you read this blog ever you have probably surmised that I have a number of doubts where the Thunder are concerned, especially with their drive or bailout jumper style of offense. This does not mean that I do not respect the talent that Sam Presti has assembled in Oklahoma City, but as a Texan I can never credit anything in Oklahoma as desirable. Sorry. (Actually, I’m not sorry.)
Scariest team in the East:
In West Philadelphia born and raised…yes, that is right. The Philadelphia 76ers are the scariest team in the East. This is coming from someone who is also an unabashed fan of the Pacers but Indy has been stomped soundly by the Heat a couple of times this season already.
Philly, as the trend seems to be with teams on the rise this year, has the ability to strike from almost anywhere on the floor as they do not rely on a single star to carry the team. Instead, almost every player down the roster is capable of scoring when presented with the opportunity. However, it is on the defensive end of the floor where the Sixers make their mark.They lead the NBA in defensive efficiency and also hold their opponents to the lowest effective field goal shooting percentage in the league. The Fresh Prince would be proud of his home town team.
Now if only Spencer Hawes would get healthy…
Scariest team in the West:
Never discount the old dogs. San Antonio is the scariest damn team in the league possibly. Their Rodeo Road Trip seems to have renewed the team team…again. Who saw that coming? It isn’t like it happens every year like clockwork. Yet, this is not your slightly older sibling’s Spurs. No, this incarnation of the team is all about offense. Toss out the defense.
Oh, and they are scoring buckets on buckets on buckets with Manu Ginobili suffering two separate injuries thus far. Too bad for the Spurs that they are second in the West because their best match up in the first round could be the Thunder. San Antonio completely smoked them last time they faced each other.
MVP:
LeBron. No brainer.
DPOY:
I am completely in favor of term limits so it has to go to Tony Allen this year. He might not have all the flashy numbers to back up his ability to defend, but he is, in my opinion, the best perimeter defender the league has seen since Metta World Peace was named Ron Artest and playing for the Pacers.
ROY:
With just half the season over it is a tie. (Sorry, I know that is a cop-out but I doubt you actually read this far anyway.) Ricky Rubio and Kyrie Irving.
MIP:
Jeremy Lin. I don’t think I need to explain that one. However, I should make reference to players who were making a strong case, at least to me, for most improved before Linsanity: Ryan Anderson and Ersan Ilyasova.
Sixth Man:
James Harden. Yawn.
Filed under NBA at Large
Leonard is one of a few promising rookies this year
Usually, this list consists of ten rookies to keep an eye on during the season. With the shortened season, however, this list is also smaller. Call it laziness on my part, call it whatever you want. It is what it is. Last year’s draft was something out of the Bizzaro universe. It was more notable for the peculiar name pronunciations than anything else. The popular rookies will get press elsewhere so there is no need to cover them in depth on this little blog. Plus, do you really need to read another article about the parallels between Jimmer Fredette and Tim Tebow? No, I didn’t think so.
The way in which the rookies were chosen to appear on this list is completely arbitrary and is a result of hope, sometimes terribly misguided, that these players will transform into household names in the future. Certainly, though, at least one is on here because of the sheer absurdity surrounding his journey to the NBA. (Can you guess which one?)
Norris Cole – PG, Miami Heat
Upon being drafted, Cole quickly discovered how he, as a player, is merely a commodity to teams. He was a member of three different teams on draft night, eventually landing with the Miami Heat. In college, Cole was the focal point of his team’s offense as he took 28.9 percent of his team’s field goal attempts. In Miami that will not be the case (understatement of the year, perhaps). What will set Cole apart will he his ability to pass the ball to the prominent scorers on the Heat as well as conform to the defensive system that Erik Spoelstra employs. His passing is already above average; however, he does have trouble passing out of a double team. Again, though, it will be unlikely that he sees many doubles while on the floor. It would not be surprising if Cole was inserted into the starting lineup at some point during the season so that Spoelstra can bring Mario Chalmers off the bench as an offensive kick for his second unit. Cole must continue to learn and play at a high level for that to happen.
Kawhi Leonard – SF, San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are a damned crafty bunch when it comes to drafting players. For them to have traded a promising young talent in George Hill to the Indiana Pacers for the draft rights to Leonard caused heads to turn. He would have been a great addition to an already scrappy Pacers squad, but they were overloaded at his position. Leonard made his mark in college as a premier (or monster) wing defender, forcing a turnover on 23.8 percent of the possessions in which he was the isolated defender as well as holding opponents to 37.5 percent shooting when he was defending them. His seven feet two inch arm span certainly helped him in these respects. Not only is he a stout defender but he is also a good defensive rebounder. Essentially, Leonard is the ideal Spurs player. Where he needs improvement, which Greg Popovich will administer in his own special way, is with his offense, both his shot and offensive sets. The Spurs are notorious for successfully developing players, much to the ire of rival fans, so Leonard should be in good hands. Also, with San Antonio shopping Richard Jefferson over the summer it looks as though Leonard could quickly move up the depth chart.
Ricky Rubio – PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Oh, Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. What a zany (channeling Mitt Romney for that one) path Rubio has taken to the NBA. He was drafted what seems like a decade ago only to hold out until the final year of his rookie contract before agreeing to leave his beloved Spain to play in the cold wintery confines of Minnesota. This was either incredibly shrewd or insanely selfish. Rubio is not a typical rookie. He has played at a high level in Spain and internationally with the Spanish national team which is made up of mostly NBA players. One of the major criticisms of Rubio has been his scoring ability, however, he, like other Spanish point guards (read: Jose Calderon) is a pass first, offense facilitator. In Rick Adelman’s up-tempo style of play, especially with a team full of mediocre talent, Kevin Love aside, but that is incredibly athletic, Rubio should learn to thrive in the open court. He must first distinguish himself as deserving the playing time over the 1,000 other point guards that David Kahn has signed, though. That task should not prove to be a problem.
Iman Shumpert – PG/SG, New York Knicks
Shumpert was the buzz of New York after two preseason games. The hype was palpable. Shumpert was drafted for his defensive prowess but his offensive skills soon were apparent once the preseason began. Due to the Knicks’ lack of backcourt depth, he was slated to be a staple in the rotation. However, he suffered an injury in the first game of the season and will be out for several weeks. When he returns to the lineup, Shumpert needs to improve his shot selection, like most rookies, and his ability to finish at the rim. Against the Celtics he only made one of six shots at the rim. Boston maintains a physical defense, especially around the paint, but no NBA team is going to give up easy points around the rim if they can help it. With his usage percentage projected to remain high upon his return, Shumpert must finish the opportunities he is given.
Tristan Thompson – PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Thompson was drafted pretty high, fourth overall, for a player that possesses little ability to operate away from the rim. He does, however, possess the ability to work off the ball offensively away from the rim in space but this is to free him up on a dive or cut to the basket. He will need to improve his ball-in-hand offense, specifically in the post, in order to adapt his game to the NBA level. Another area of concern for Thompson is his poor defensive rebounding ability. This, for one, is striking due to Thompson’s size, even as a young man, and good post defense. Yet, he cleans the offensive glass rather well which should benefit a team destined to miss a lot of shots. Despite his immediate drawbacks, Thompson has plenty of raw potential and other than Kyrie Irving, represents the only potential the Cavaliers have.
Kemba Walker – PG, Charlotte Bobcats
Michael Jordan has a special place in history when it comes to the draft lottery. That place is specifically referred to as Kwame Brown. MJ, let us hope you done right this time. Walker comes into the league with a solid NCAA pedigree. He was a member, and respective leader, of the national champion UConn Huskies. Not too shabby, right? Walker works well as a primary scoring threat for a team in pick-and-roll and off the ball screens. What will be interesting to watch for this season is if his ball hogging tendencies, he shot the ball 63.8 percent of the time coming off of a ball screen while at UConn, will carry over to the NBA. It is apparent that Walker will split and share time with D.J. Augustin in Charlotte, where is off the ball offensive movement will be on display. However with the ball in his hand, how will he react? One game is not a benchmark for anything, but Walker totaled just three assists, each leading to a shot from 16-23 feet, in 21 minutes in his first NBA game. He is a score first point guard.
Tip of the hat to NBA Playbook for many of the statistics used above.
Filed under NBA at Large, Players
Another exhibition game! Actually, the highlights from this one are pretty damn good. After a long day of labor negotiations, which turned out to be rather, well, fruitless, some players needed to blow off a little steam. Players, and their representatives, had been in a meeting with the NBA and the owners for seven hours, yes, seven hours, earlier in the day so it is no wonder that Chris Paul, LeBron James, John Wall, Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Rudy Gay, and others needed a venue to take out their frustrations on a rim. Luckily, Paul was hosting a charity game for the CP3 Foundation in which they could all play in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Saturday night.
The game was played at Winston-Salem State University in front of a crowd of 3,200. However, like many of the pickup games are now, it was also streamed live over the internet. According to Paul, 1,072,532 people viewed the game online.
Paul, who scored 39 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished eight assists, and had five steals, helped his team, along with Durant, who scored 48, get the 175-146 win over James” and Wade’s squad. It just really is not their summer. Wade scored 32 and James had 30. Nonetheless, the crowd was much more receptive to James in this game than they were in the “Battle of I-95.”
Fair warning, though. When James and Wall have the ball, they will showboat.
Filed under NBA at Large, NBA Lockout, Players
Super bad.
We’ve talked about it a lot but there’s no way around it: the impending lockout is already starting to cause problems in the NBA and it started with 2011′s NBA Draft.
In essence, it was weak. Super weak.
It was a mixture of teams trying to do too much along with those that didn’t seem to want to take part at all. Cleveland went for flash with their lottery picks while the Timberwolves seemed to do everything they could to get out of the first round and confuse everyone.
For Europeans, it was a great night. Four of the ten lottery picks were Euros, a draft record. It ties in with the fact that a boy that has been playing pro overseas has proven himself more than most college athletes and that a seven foot tall German just won Finals MVP.
At the same time, several teams took advantage of their picks as bait for trades. We saw several good players switch teams on draft night outside of the youngsters that were just getting their first taste of the NBA. However a lot of franchises seemed to want to avoid much activity at all knowing that on July 1, everything could come to a halt.
1. Kyrie Irving- Cavaliers
The saying goes:
Pick the best player available.
Obviously, Dan Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavs haven’t heard this saying before. However, he was the best point guard available in the draft.
With Daniel Gibson, Ramon Sessions and Baron Davis on the squad, the Cavaliers are a little crowded at the PG position. Kyrie Irving will have a lot of players to learn from and comes from a great pedigree of students. He only played 11 games in college but those games were under Coach K, one of the best teachers of the game.
Now, it seems almost certain that Sessions is trade bait and Gibson will remain a bench player despite his improved play last season. Byron Scott might as well throw Irving into the rotation immediately seeing as this team was terrible on offense (95.5 ppg which was 25th in the league) and defense (giving up 104.5 ppg which was 23rd in the league). Those stats combined with winning only one of 37 games from the end of November to the beginning of February including a 26-game-losing streak, makes for not much else to do but start all over.
This pick coincides with the wizards decision to bring in John Wall first overall last season but then again they did lose three more games this season but for various other reasons (bringing a gun to the stadium ring a bell?).
However, only two point guards that were ever drafted first overall brought banners to their respective cities and their names are Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson.
Scott has a fairly decent player to work with in Irving and they were obviously impressed by his workout.
This is an example of a team seeking and immediate remedy with a player they assume is worth more than he really is. Irving proved nothing in the NCAA because 11 games doesn’t scratch the surface of what we at the Beef considers a career.
The Cleveland spotlight has a new victim.
This pick shows that the NBA hasn’t gotten over the fact that college experience does matter for multiple reasons. It teaches these boys teamwork wins and that self-indulgent goals don’t lead to much on a team basis. Anyone can easily be overrated by what they did in high school. There is a reason so many prospects stay just that: prospects. If everyone had their way, they’d all be superstars in the NBA from how they performed in high school gyms.
That’s not how it works.
LeBron James dominated in high school due to his size, game and larger than life personality. Forgoing college to enter the NBA was his way of expediting his life all the way to the top.
The Cleveland Caveliers saw it the same way: a man-child that didn’t have to prove much of anything before signing a major contract. He was their savior, their king and their promise of glory. All he did was crumble when he realized that the games and situations were bigger than him.
He can play and dominate physically but year after year we see how feeble his mind really is. There’s a reason he only has two wins in the Finals and it took Dwyane Wade, a former Marquette player that took his team to the Final Four, to get those two wins. Unfortunately, it takes four games to win it all.
Again, Cleveland is looking at the small picture in order to achieve the greater goal. The media blew up Kyrie and they listened. True, Baron Davis is getting old and the franchise no longer has an identity outside of Dan Gilbert’s sleazy smile and passive aggressive comments about his king that jumped ship.
However, how do you build a kingdom with only 11 games under your belt? After all, you still have to win 16 games in the playoffs to take it all home.
Instead, it’s key that the Cavs build from the ground up and not from the top down. Essentially, they are throwing in a point guard that has absolutely no one to pass to that’s even worth mentioning.
Gilbert and company had no idea that a No. 1 pick could land them so many more options that could lead to so many greater things so much easier and even quicker. Instead, they too had to grab the spotlight and make that No. 1 pick. After all, isn’t it those picks that fill seats? Everyone has to see the top player play.
Sadly, immediate satisfaction is the reason we even have the draft. Teams get a chance to bring in a player that will forever change their team. Yes, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and so on were players that changed their respective teams in ways unimaginable but even they did their time in the trenches in college picking up the pieces of their adolescence, transforming them into supermachines built to do nothing but bleed and breath basketball.
Irving has yet to know who he is as a player. Duke has a great coach, a great system and great players. Surrounded by that talent, he was never faced with adversity until he was injured and that still paid off for him… so far.
2. Derrick Williams- Timberwolves
He’s big, he’s bold and he can play
Derrick Williams should have gone first but sometimes that’s not how it works. He is a very strong and athletic player with an enormous wingspan. He can get to the rim and elevate or even pull back and shoot a jumper. He can’t really rebound very well but with Kevin Love on your team, he won’t be relied on for pulling down all the boards.
His defense is questionable but David Khan made a good decision in picking Williams. Minnesota, who just fired Kurt Rambis, will need to mold this player into an NBA-caliber star, but with his size, that shouldn’t be too hard. ESPN analyst John Gruden said that he could even play tight end in the NFL.
Ironically, his last game in college was against Kyrie Iving when Arizona lost to Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
It’s a transforming time for the Wolves but when isn’t it? They always land a slew of first-round picks and do strange things like draft Ricky Rubio who just so happens to now want come to the NBA for the final year of his initial rookie contract.
Williams should rest easy seeing as every other move the Wolves made in the draft seem to be made around trades oriented around saving money. However, it is still unknown what Khan plans on using the saved cash for.
He will work alongside Wesley Johnson and Martell Webster at the strong forward position. Johnson was drafted fourth overall last season by the Wolves and started 63 games. His season was mediocre at best and Williams will be relied on to start in that frontcourt. His scoring will come naturally and the Wolves did a lot of that last season with 101 a game (10th in the NBA). But the Wolves were the worst defensively by giving up 107 a night to their opponents.
The new coach and starting point guard (possibly Rubio or Luke Ridnour) will have the luxury of playing with a strong forward that really knows how to create his own shots from anywhere on the floor so all they have to do is essentially get him the ball. Alongside Love, this frontcourt could be formidable at best. Now only if Michael Beasley could get his head out of the (weed) clouds.
3. Enes Kanter- Jazz
Meet the Undertaker.
This athletic 19-year-old wanted to play but made too much money while playing in Europe. Too bad.
He’s 6’11” with five percent body fat. He’s smart, big and will work well in the Utah Jazz system. He broke Dirk Nowitzki’s record of 33 points in the Nike Hoop Summit by putting up 34 and will compliment Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors well while playing for the Jazz.
Last season, Utah lost a lot with the retirement of Jerry Sloan and trade that sent Deron Williams to New Jersey. The entire process showed the kinks in the armor of a perennial powerhouse team that was seemingly build on a foundation of discipline and commitment to the game dating back to the days of Stockton and Malone.
Now, head coach Tyrone Corbin is faced with the daunting task of putting an image on a team that lost almost all of the key pieces that got them to the Western Conference Finals in 2007. They finished 11th in the conference and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Luckily, the Williams trade landed them the third pick in this year’s draft and they subsequently landed the best European player available. Kanter gives this already deep frontcourt some actual athleticism that will work well with Mehmet Okur, Paul Milsap, Jefferson and Favors. He can keep up with the fast break with Devin Harris and has deadly speed for a guy his size.
The upside of drafting a guy like Kanter is that he’s been pro before. He played in the Euroleague and Turkish Basketball league before coming to the NBA. Being selected to the Turkish National Team helped his resume even more. Essentially, he already knows how to work in a professional system and even though it prevented him from playing college ball in the US, he knows how to go out and earn a paycheck. It’s his hard work ethic and dedication that’s going to help him earn respect on the Utah Jazz.
4. Tristan Thompson- Cavaliers
The freshman forward from Texas went a little higher than expected but this lefty can get offensive boards.
He has great speed and super hops with a 9’1” reach after leaving the ground with his 7’1” wingspan. He gets around the rim but still needs to learn how to score. Byron Scott will need to work on his free throws as well. He shoots just above 48 percent from the foul line. He will need to develop a game that takes advantage of receiving fouls while operating in the lane.
As stated earlier, the Cavs give up a lot of scoring and Thompson can hopefully help lead the way. Hopefully he can learn a lot from Antawn Jamison who has already stated that he is ready to retire at the end of the season. Jamison is a blue-collar player that was forced to put the Wizards on his back during stretches of his career and hopefully his work ethic will rub off onto this young longhorn. It’s essentially him and J.J. Hickson in that frontcourt so he better get ready to work.
5. Jonas Valanciunas- Raptors
Future bust?
Bryan Colangelo loves foreign players and that trend followed suite again this year.
This 19-year-old can get put backs and can run but needs more muscle mass. He reminds scouts of a young Pau Gasol and Dwayne Casey needs a big guy if they plan on employing a tougher defense north of the border. Toronto likes him though and has confirmed that his European contract has been bought out. Some were saying that letting him play out the rest of his contract in order to let him develop a little more. However, the Raptors want him now.
Having won the FIBA under-16 Championship MVP in 2008 and the under-18 award in 2010, this guy knows nothing but success. Sadly, that’s a lot more than the Raptors can claim.
He’s big at 7 feet but lean at 231 lbs. He has speed and determination that will help the Toronto frontcourt that relies almost only on Andrea Bargnani. They were 27th in the league in offensive boards last season and Valanciunas will give them a little more under the basket.
Although drafting players from Europe does come with the perk of professional experience, sometimes buyouts and overseas contracts can complicate things. Doesn’t seem as though Colangelo really understands that in this case. Sadly, Toronto extended their contract with the terrible GM that has such disastrous notches on his resume such as trading Jason Kidd from Phoenix to New Jersey for Stephon Marbury or drafting Bargnani first overall.
Yes, Jerry Colangelo is ingenious but in this case, the apple falls very far away from the tree.
6. Jan Vesely- Wizards
This 2011 FIBA Player of the Year is a 6’11” energy guy that can score in transition and off of half-court lobs. He’s a European that can actually dunk and should work well with John Wall in Washington. They refer to him as the European Blake Griffin because of his hops and should definitely help with Flip Saunders’ offense.
This surprisingly young yet large Wizards team will be able to pickup the pace a little bit next season with a big guy that can play alongside JaVale McGee. Additionally, he will come off the bench for power forward Andray Blatche and give the big guy some much needed rest. He played more minutes last season than ever before in his career at 33.3 a game
He won’t fix things in Washington but he’s a step in the right direction.
7. Bismack Biyombo- Bobcats (Acquired from Kings)
Next KG or Mbenga?
This pick originally belonged to the Kings but became the Bobcats’ after a three-team deal between them, Sacramento and Milwaukee. The Kings received John Salmons and the tenth pick. The Bucks got Beno Udrih, Stephen Jackson and Shaun Livingston. Charlotte received Corey Maggette and the seventh pick in the draft which they used to pick Bismack Biyombo.
He recorded the first triple double ever in the Nike Hoop Summit and yet not a lot of teams knew about this young man from the Congo. He speaks six languages and has a 7’7” wingspan.
He was playing in Yemen last year but now works for Michael Jordan and a Bobcats team that’s definitely in need of size. He was a late add to the green room but the NBA knew he would go very early in the draft. There is a buyout issue to settle with FIBA but the Bobcats have agreed to do whatever it takes to sign Biyombo.
Essentially, the trade freed up a lot of money with Jackson and Livingston leaving town. Maggette can put up points for the Bobcats who were second to last in the league in scoring last season with only 93 a game.
Biyombo’s raw talent is what should really be focused on. He naturally positions himself well under the basket to get boards and even block shots. Some say he was never really tested when he played in the ACB European league for only one season but he has a lot to work on.
With Gerald Wallace going to Portland and the loss of Tyson Chandler to Dallas, Charlotte lost a lot of its defensive grit in the paint. Hopefully Biyombo will restore that toughness to the Bobcats
8. Brandon Knight- Pistons
John Callipari has a history of creating great point guards. This freshman from Kentucky is a combo guard that can score from all over the court. However, his release is a little funky, he always drives right and can’t really work off of the screen.
He works well with pick and rolls and has good eyes. Knight has a lot of potential and the next coach of the Detroit Pistons will have a very smart player to mold into hopefully a great NBA point guard.
Knight in shining armor
There are notches in his game but he still took his team to the Final Four. He knows that it’s going to take a lot of hard work to rebuild the ailing Pistons from the ground up.
Detroit still has a coaching vacancy and is what would considered a team in transformation. They are a very small team and were last in the league in rebounding last season with only 38 a game. The guard position is pretty set there now with Will Bynum, Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey so Knight will have a lot of players to learn from. However, we have yet to see what the Pistons do with Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton and their enormous contracts.
Whatever they decide to do, it might be in their best interest to get a little more mass down low. Greg Monroe started the season off sluggish but started to round out in the later half of the season. He’s about all they have as far as size with Charlie Villanueva having the worst scoring season of his career. Also, Ben Wallace is essentially worthless.
Luckily, they only have four contracts through the 2013-14 season which gives them a bit of breathing room with trades or even buyouts. Lawrence Frank and Mike Woodson are top candidates for the coaching position while Patrick Ewing, Bill Lambeer and Kelvin Sampson are also in the mix. Whoever they pick, they need figure it out soon. This team needs to get to work and hopefully Knight has what it takes to restore some pride to this team.
9. Kemba Walker- Bobcats
Kemba knows how to win and work. Connecticut won every tourney they entered last season including winning five games in fives days during the Big East Tournament. That’s never been done before.
He can jump, run and score. He’s strong, fast and not afraid to bang around. However, he’s a little small at 6’1” and is sometimes a little trigger-happy for a point guard. He needs to learn how to live up to his nickname EZ Pass and learn how to spread the ball out a little more.
The Bobcats never really recovered from losing point guard Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin was never really the right guy for the job. Obviously, Michael Jordan sees something in Walker that can help the Bobcats earth their second ever playoff berth. His game is so diverse it’s like adding several weapons to the Charlotte offense. Paul Silas has to teach him to play like an NBA player now.
10. Jimmer Fredette- Sacramento (Acquired from Bucks)
The mania will soon end.
The Kings are looking to rebuild even after landing DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evens but selecting Fredette wont help them.
Fredette likes to shoot and really thrives off of creating his own scoring opportunities. He’s been compared to Steve Nash but only because of the color of his skin because this Mormon is really a shooting guard.
Defensively, he wont do much at all. The Kings really need to work on Fredette’s defense if they plan on getting any better. They call it Jimmermania but Sac Town needs a little more than a polygamous white boy that likes to shoot to keep that team out of Anaheim.
The good news is that Jimmer has several superb guards to learn from. Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and John Salmons are all great players in their own ways. If Jimmer takes bits and pieces from each of their respective games, learns patience on the court and makes the most of his limited minutes, we could see a guy that could do some damage off of the court.
He won’t score the amount he did at BYU because he simply wont be taking nearly as many shots. The position is just too deep in Sacramento for him to get nearly as many minutes either. He averaged nearly 30 minutes a game in college and it’s guaranteed that he wont get those minutes with how deep they are at the guard position. Thornton had his best scoring season yet last year in Sac Town with 21 points a game and Salmons will do well with a guard that actually passes. Jimmer’s only hope is to come off the bench for scoring bursts.
The Kings’ woes run deep and Jimmer will not be their knight in shinning armor.
11. Klay Thompson- Warriors
The Portland Trailblazers picked his father first overall in 1978 but now it’s his time to shine.
Klay is a perimeter shooter that will add to the already impressive offense in Golden State. He also knows how to pass very well. His eyes and intelligence allow him to actually make good decisions on the court that lead him or anyone put points on the board.
With this pick, it’s obvious that Mark Jackson and the Warriors are staying small and fast. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry have the both guard positions on lock but Thompson will have two great players to watch and learn from. If he and Jeremy Lin develop together appropriately, this team could have four excellent guards on their hands.
Jackson promises that this team will make the playoffs in 2011-12 but they should have gone for some more size. They gave up 32 defensive rebounds a game while allowing their opponents to grab 12.8 offensive boards a game (last in the league). David Lee had a down year but it was his first season in Golden State and Ekpe Udoh is still developing. Dorell Wright came out of his shell last season but it’s going to take a bit more for this team to make the playoffs.
We get it, Golden State wants to run but that model just simply doesn’t work. An 82-game season can be grueling and wears down on these athletes. If they are going to do it, Jackson has the luxury of a good guard core.
12. Alec Burks- Jazz
This guard from Colorado won Big 12 Rookie of the Year and has remained fairly under the radar.
He can get to the rim, shake defenders and has a feel for scoring. His defense is questionable but he definitely has a chip on his shoulder. The sophomore was not highly recruited hence why he ended up in Colorado. He has stated that he feels like he always has something to prove and hopefully the Jazz will give him an opportunity to do so.
Chauncey Billups is a mentor of his and has hopefully given him some good pointers to diversify his game. Luckily for Burks, the two-guard position is up in the air in Utah. Alongside Kanter, this team has the ability to be very fast and score a lot.
13. Markieff Morris- Suns
The older of the two twins, by seven minutes, was drafted before his brother Marcus. Many assumed the younger of the two would go sooner but Markieff has a defined position on the floor unlike Marcus.
Markieff can shoot threes and has good feet under the rim. He’s the better defender of the two twins and is a very competitive rebounder. He’s great at positioning himself under the basket and getting both hands in the ball.
Hakim Warrick had a hard time adjusting to the system in Phoenix but hopefully that will turn around next season. Markieff is a little bigger and slower but hopefully he can learn a bit from the veteran.
It’s obvious that Alvin Gentry wants to build on rebounding and defense. With the loss of Amar’e Stoudemire to the Knicks, they essentially lost their ability to do much in the paint. Morris will hopefully be able to come in with the secondary unit and give backup point guard Aaron Brooks a little confidence knowing that someone can bail him out under the rim.
14. Marcus Morris- Rockets
Seven minutes between births but only five minutes between draft picks.
Some say he fell to Houston, watch his last game with Kansas and you might feel differently. By making only four of 19 shots in the NCAA Tournament in a loss to Virginia Commonwealth, both his ability and intelligence should come to mind.
The twins can't rely on each other anymore.
He can face up, drive to the basket and score. He’s a post player with a jump shot where he utilizes his strength to push away defenders. However, he can’t elevate at all in the lane and the NBA’s shot blockers shouldn’t have a hard time volleyballing his shots into the hardwood.
Houston had no problem scoring last season with 103 points a game but that just so happens to be how much they gave up a game as well. They sniffed the playoffs last year but ultimately couldn’t catch the Memphis Grizzlies. At guard, their stacked with Courtney Lee, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic and Kevin Martin. Up front, they are a little weak and were pretty mediocre as far as scoring with their big men.
However, with Brad Miller gone, there is an opening in the rotation. Also, there is a big question mark over Yao Ming’s head. He wants to play but his days may be done. Hopefully Marcus will learn a bit from Luis Scola and mimic his creativity on the court. Kevin McHale needs to go ahead and take the chance by utilizing Marcus with his second unit because Jordan Hill isn’t going to cut it if they plan on competing in the West.
15. Kawhi Leonard- San Antonio (Picked by Indiana and traded)
This trade was one of the bigger surprises of draft night. The rumors were that San Antonio was trying to trade Tony Parker but it obviously became apparent to the Spurs organization that if they are going to win, it has to be soon. Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are not getting any younger.
George Hill is a great player but obviously they saw something in Kawhi Leonard that would help them out now.
This sophomore had 23 double-doubles last season and has been described as relentless. However, he too has flown relatively under the radar.
Leonard is short but has an enormous wingspan and some of the biggest hands in this year’s draft. He can bully guys to score and can defend anyone on the court. He’s good at offensive rebounds and gave San Diego State many second chances at scoring. He doesn’t take a lot of shots but can pass very well.
He plays a very unselfish game of basketball that will fit into Greg Popavich’s system down there in SA. He will work hard for his minutes and leave it all out on the court.
16. Nikola Vucevic- 76ers
“Foreign Name but USC Game.”- Stuart Scott
Nikola Has very good size at the center spot and is the biggest player to take part in the NBA Combine this season. He can rebound very well due to his size and has strong hands.
He can rebound in the double digits and has gotten better every season. His work ethic is one reason Philadelphia likes him so much.
Doug Collins and his young Sixers surprised a lot of people last year by finishing 41-41 and making the Eastern Conference Playoffs. However, they lost to Miami mainly to their defense. Starting center Spencer Hawes only collected 19 rebounds in the entire five-game series and Elton Brand seemed to get worse and worse every game.
Collins already goes pretty small by starting two guards but Vucevic will give them another option at a bigger rotation.
17. Iman Shumpert- Knicks
Is his mind in the game enough for the bright lights of NYC?
Shumpert is a guard that can guard. He’s more of a two that works very well in transition. He’s working on getting to the rim but is known more for his inside jumper.
His maturity comes to question but he’s working on developing a better work ethic. He’s not great at one single thing but can do a lot on the floor. He’s a willing passer and is mainly known for his ability to tenaciously guard smaller players.
This will mark Donnie Walsh’s last pick as president of the Knicks and will hopefully help them get out of the first round next season. Their downfall during both the regular season and their playoff series against Boston was due in part to their terrible defense under Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense. Additionally, Billups’ injury didn’t help.
This pick will give them a younger guard on the floor to work with the ever-developing Carmelo Anthony. Lucky for him, Anthony Carter is the backup and beating him out for a spot wont be hard. Sadly, D’Antoni is a stickler about his rotation that can sometimes be very limited.
18. Chris Singleton- Wizards
Singleton can defend nearly anyone on the court but can’t shoot very well at all. His rebounding needs to improve seeing as he only gathered six a game at the forward position playing for Florida State.
He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and prevented nearly anyone from scoring against his Seminoles. With McGee doing most of the work under the glass, Saunders will be able to put Singleton on some of the best shooters in the league.
19. Tobias Harris- Bucks (Traded from Charlotte)
The freshman forward is a very versatile player with high basketball IQ.
He can step away and shoot or get crafty under the basket. He’s known for a very disciplined work ethic but needs to work on his athleticism.
Milwaukee disappointed a lot of people by missing the playoffs last season after making it the year before. However, it was kind of an offseason for Brandon Jennings. They were last in the league in both ppg with 91 a night and assists with only 18 a game.
Hopefully, their ball movement will greatly improve with Udrih who had to step up in Sacramento with an injured Evans. Also, Stephen Jackson will bring this team some grit and leadership. He may have enough gas and stupid things to say for one more season of relevance. Harris could learn a lot from this guy but hopefully not the thug parts.
It’s a fairly decent frontcourt with Carlos Delfino continuing to improve and Andrew Bogut remaining a steady force at center.
University of Tennessee even painted a rock when recruited Tobias.
20. Donatas Motiejunas- Houston Rockets (Traded from Timberwolves)
This Lithuanian has an old-fashioned style that allows him to score a lot in the perimeter but he needs to work on his toughness. Some say his style is a little too lackadaisical for the NBA and at times he seems to not care enough.
21. Nolan Smith- Trailblazers
Smith is scoring a guard that knows how to win. He works very well off of the dribble and pick and rolls too. When Irving was injured he stepped up and led the Blue Devils with his ability to play on both ends of the court.
Portland had only 89 possessions a game last season so speed is definitely a problem at the Rose Garden. Additionally, injuries seem to always be plaguing this team from Brandon Roy to Greg Oden.
With Andre Miller packing up for Denver and Raymond Felton coming to town, Smith will have a great player to study under. During the Nuggets playoff series against Oklahoma City, Felton looked tired running up and down the court. Smith will give Nate McMillan plenty of room to rest Felton.
22. Kenneth Faried- Nuggets
Faried will bother players all over the court. He has one goal: to get the ball.
His energy is what makes him so lethal and allowed him to gather 14 rebounds a game along with two steals and two blocks a night. He’s a relentless player that will get the Nuggets extra possessions.
He gathered over 1600 rebounds in college. Tim Duncan only had around 1500 and Faried is smaller too. He can contort his body under the rim and gets the ball with both hands.
His hectic style of play should work well in George Karl’s upbeat style of play and if he’s given minutes, he could ease the pain of playing Al Harrington and possibly give them the opportunity to finally part ways with Kenyon Martin. However, it really doesn’t look like Denver has much room for this guy in an already stacked frontcourt.
Last season, after the Anthony deal, the Nuggets surprised a lot of skeptics and actually held their heads about water. They finished the season off 10-1 at home with players such as Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler who had all been cast off by New York in pursuit of Carmelo. Their teamwork took them to the playoffs.
In a way, Faried embodies this theme of scratching away at something larger than life. Denver kept it’s head up after the trade and made the playoffs just as Kenneth exerted all he had to give Morehead State a chance in the NCAA Tournament. If given the chance, he will impress a lot of people in the NBA.
23. Nikola Mirotic- Rockets
This 20-year-old has a $2.5 million buyout which means he’ll be in Europe for four more years.
When it comes time for him to play in the US, he has a game a lot like Scola.
His contract was traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent Johnny Flynn to Houston. He was then traded to Chicago.
Don’t expect to see him anytime soon. It’s going to cost whoever wants him a lot of cash in order to both buy out his contract and sign him to a deal.
24. Reggie Jackson- Thunder
Jackson didn’t work out for anyone before the draft but this scoring guard has speed that allows him to get very close to the basket. In addition, he shoots 42 percent from beyond the arc.
They say he isn’t easy too coach and doesn’t play well with others. Scott Brooks may have his hands full when it comes to Jackson. He had great grades in High School and is actually known for doing a lot of community volunteering. All of that won’t help Kevin Durant hoist a title.
Don’t expect to see a lot of this player after the emergence of Eric Maynor last postseason and the perpetual blindness of this franchise as to how bad Russell Westbrook really is.
25. MarShon Brooks- Nets (Traded by Boston)
Can MarShon keep up the pace in Bean Town?
He has a tremendous scoring ability for his size and does well creating his own shots. On February 23, 2011, Brooks Scored 52 points against Notre Dame, tying the record held by Marvin Barnes and broke the Big East record for most points in a game that was previously held at 48, set by Eric Murdock who also attended Providence College. Thirty-five of those points came in the second half and 15 in the last three minutes which mounted a tremendous comeback against the fighting Irish. He was second in the nation in points right behind Fredette.
Shortly after being drafted by Boston, he was traded to the Nets for their 27th overall pick in the draft, Jajuan Johnson and a second round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
We all know how Avery Johnson works with young point guards when he crushed Devin Harris’ spirit in Dallas. However, Williams has that starting position on lock and Anthony Morrow is rounding out well. Hopefully with Brooks coming off of the bench he wont receive the brunt of Avery’s frustration but he will definitely have to assume the role of student under the little general.
26. Jordan Hamilton- Mavericks (Traded to Portland and then Denver)
Jordan is a shooting guard with size that can score. He shoots from deep with ease and can work very well in the post. He is considered one of the best rebounding guards in the draft.
He definitely needs to work on his conditioning seeing as he got hung up on screens while chasing down players.
Moments after drafting him, the defending champions traded him to Portland for Rudy Fernandez. They then traded him to Denver in the Felton-Miller trade.
27. JuJuan Johnson- Celtics (Traded from Nets)
This Big Ten Defender of the Year can play some good pick and roll basketball allowing him to hit several shots from the floor. He can’t really do much beyond the arc but can step back and sink some shots from pick and pops.
He can keep up with a fast-paced offense and has some good footwork under the glass. However, they are saying he might not have the ability to grow much more physically.
28. Norris Cole- Heat (Traded from Bulls)
One of the best Division I players this year and only to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists a game. He’s a good rebounder too with one 20-rebound game on his resume.
He’s a small guard but definitely has the ability to create his own shots as well. However, he was putting up these numbers in D-I.
After he was selected, the Bulls traded him to Minnesota before sending him to the Heat. The irony of the situation is that this pick was originally the Heat’s before they sent the pick to Toronto as part of the sign-and-trade agreement for Chris Bosh. The pick was then sent to the Bulls midseason.
Fresh prince of Miami.
Earlier in the week, Pat Riley stated that the Heat were not trying to get a pick in the first round. However, they threw a future-second round and some money into a deal and found themselves at the tail end of the first round.
All along, it was Miami’s plan to get a new point guard on draft night. They lacked both the funds and cap space to get involved in any of the other point guard trades including Felton, Hill, Miller and Flynn so they settled for what they could get in Cole.
The Heat went into Thursday night with eight players under contract for next season: James, Bosh, Wade, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Dexter Pittman, the center out of Texas who was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft, the only 2010 draft pick to make the roster last season.
They are still waiting to hear 2011-12 player option deals from James Jones and Eddie House.
The team held seven pre-draft workouts that included 15 pg’s. Currently, they are no point guards under contract for the Heat. Sadly, it’s their ball movement that failed them in the Finals against the Mavs. This pick is cute at best but it seems as though Mario Chalmers is going to get the starting position next year.
29. Cory Joseph- San Antonio
Not a lot had this young Canadian going in the first round but he does play a very unselfish game.
He’s a team player, which just so happens to be how San Antonio does things, but he has been criticized for not being enough of a leader especially for a guard.
He plays a smooth game that thrives off of jumpers. During the McDonald’s All-American game he showed a very well-rounded game. He played a very high-intelligence game with smart passing and low turnovers. Defensively, his athleticism paid off when he was asked to apply full-court press.
30. Jimmy Butler- Bulls
Jimmy Butler is blue collar to the core.
Butler was homeless by 13 but was taken in by strangers.
The Bulls, like many other teams, didn’t go into this draft with the expectation of changing up a lot. However, it was a feel-good story for everyone when Butler was selected in the first round.
He works well in transition offense, shoot free throws well but can’t really shoot with his feet set (36 percent). He does play with a team concept by crashing the boards, passing when it’s needed and general basketball intelligence. He doesn’t have a flashy game but has a great attitude that could lead to necessary growth. He could improve his consistency from beyond the arc make him a little more valuable.
Again, all this kid needs is a chance; however, Boozer and Joakim Noah sat out several games last season due to injury. It might be in Tom Thibodeau’s best interest to give them rest when needed and let Butler get some time on the court.
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