2005/2006 NBA Draft notes

[vonkaar]

Safest pick: Obviously Bogut over Williams. I think fans SHOULD have been pissed if they gambled on someone that basically nobody has ever seen. Bogut will be the 12/10 guy that the ball club needs.

Risky pick: Lakers taking the high-school center. That blew my mind. IMO, the 1 and 5 spots take the most basketball IQ... a high-schooler? Phil Jackson? Shrug. He knows what he's doing, I guess.

Blew-my-mind moment: Salim Stoudamire from Arizona dropping down to the second round. Props to Atlanta, who 'might' be a team worth watching in a couple of years... they had a great draft night. However... what the fuck were those other 25-some-odd teams thinking, picking freaking Nate Robinson(???) so high.

I also couldn't believe that Sean May lasted so far. 13th pick is respectable, but... there were some stupid power-forwards picked ahead of him. Fran Vazquez at 11? Bleh.

Finally... I think that Utah made the perfect choice in Deron Williams over Chris Paul. Paul is exciting to watch, but I really think Deron Williams will make the biggest NBA splash. I think that either he or Bogut will be the strongest candidates for rookie-of-the-year.

[Zanchief]

Raps did well despite Stephen Smith's "expert" criticism.

Ruko Ukic was a steal were they got him, Villeneuva we will see but I think Graham is gonna be great next year, tuff strong good free throw shooter good defender aggressive. What's not too like. I have high hopes for Villenueva too but I'm gonna wait and see on them.

I'm not so sure about Bogut though. These tall slow white guys never adapt well to the NBA. I could be wrong but I worried about him.

[vonkaar]

The crazy thing is... if Bogut was black... nobody would have any doubts on him =p. Seriously... he'd be the most obvious #1 pick since Duncan.

[Rotj]

i'm pretty pissed with the FRAN VASQUEZ pick. what kind of name is Fran. god damn. what a waste. especially when green and granger were on the board too. bleh.

[Zanchief]

The raptors fan hate is wild right now.

People are looking for Babcocks head.

[Arlos]

Don't the Raptors already have someone in exactly the same position as Villanueva, but better? Why spend such a high pick on someone who's going to do nothing but ride pine?

What'd you guys think of the Warriors' picks?

-Arlos

[vonkaar]

I didn't understand it either...

Chris Bosh might be the best PF in the East next year. Why draft another? He's too big to play SF... trade bait? I think Villanueva could be great, but... shrug

[Zanchief]

They're gonna play him at center a lot so they can run. He's best suited running at his size with this handle. Kinda like Detroit with Rasheed I guess but unproven and by most accounts lazy.

But in babcocks defense, you should always draft the best player available and never out of need. Araujo was out of need(He's a Center not a PF moron ESPN guys). This was because they saw the potential of a 20 year old kid that can pass shoot handle the ball and rebound at 6'11. Sounds pretty good to me. But we shall see.

[Zanchief]

What'd you guys think of the Warriors' picks?

-Arlos

I know nothing about him except what you yourself could dig up on internet. Sorry.

[vonkaar]

Well...

Dallas was the biggest loser this draft =p. I loved it when they showed the various rooms. Donnie Nelson was sitting there looking bored. I think one of the assistants was playing on his Rubik's cube.

[Rzail]

I think the Knicks came out good. Frye, Robinson, and Lee are good for me. Frye is a legit 5. Robinson will give a different look then Marbury at the 1. Hope Lee brings something to the table. I like the direction the Knicks are going. Isiah is trying to emulate the Suns type of offense. Projected starting five: Frye, Sweetney, Thomas, Richardson, and Marbury.

[Zanchief]

The Knicks....sigh...what are they doing.

Frye sure maybe I wouldnt have taken him but we'll see.

They trade their only rebounder for 2 more guards...that makes how many now? 8?

[Tikker]

if they don't miss their shots, they don't need a rebounder omgz

[Malluas]

Man o man.

Well Charlie Villawhatever, once i saw what his favorite book was i laughed. He barely got into college cause he was another Ontarrio Smith in the smarts department (whom failed to get 800 on the SAT 4 times, including mispelling his name). But on the serious note. He was about to be aced outta the starting lineup for Uconn, and for the most part be a bench only player. How he was picked above those below him was stupid.

But i don't like the Lakers pick either. Way too risky. And what happens if this kid is great.. kobe and him wont mesh. If he sucks, then its a wasted pick. And since Phil plays rookies soo much.....

I am not sure on bogut either. I watched some of his games on tv. But never saw him against the other top centers in the nation. But safest pick with the info now.

I do think the Kings got a good player seeing as they probably wont resign mobley unless it will be a sign/trade. Evans isn't signed.. and Kevin Martin isn't ready yet. Francisco is damn good. I have watched as many games as i could when Louisville was on TV. And the stuff on the radio (since i was at work couldn't see what they said) sayin he didn't show up in the big games etc. Well kinda hard when your the ONLY very good player on a team. Double and tripled teamed makes it kinda hard to do good. If you double Team Tim Ducan right he is worthless. Only guy that none of that matters was shaq.. only cause he could smash thru people and no offensive foul.

Plus gives them a decent athletic guy that could be a starter.

I think May dropped cause he is kinda a fat body. But i think he can be 10 and 10 guy at least.

Arlos.. well they have a log jam at PF now. And i dont kno anything about the HS kid they took so. Tho the Warriors i think will be a playoff team or close to it next year, if they stay healthy.

Zan.. they traded their best foward.. for a guy that shoots like 5%. Which means Q will be backup to Crawford. Tho the trade doesn't help the Suns too much either. It helps some in rebounding but Thomas isn't that great of a defender.. which means they will be giving up 103 again this year. Fyre is crap. He is uber soft. I saw Hollis from UCLA push him around and Hollis is like a stick boy.

Vonk.. kinda side bar.. did dallas trade picks in years past to not have one? i can't remember

Salim is very good.. but he is tiny.. he is like Bibby height (5'10 ish). And he just shoots which doens't help teams as much as a ball handler. But not in the first round was kinda stupid. I saw him going 15-25. But again i had Garcia in the top 20 and kings got him at 23.

On the kings official radio station ( the local sports station) they were HOPING the nuggets in their 2 picks right around there didnt pick him. Seems the Nuggest fucked up also. The needed a shooter.. they got nothing really. Julius might be ok but he is more a slasher than a shooter imo

[vonkaar]

if they don't miss their shots, they don't need a rebounder omgz

bump
set
spike

[Durck]

I never guess San Antonio's picks anymore, I mean in 1999 I remember saying, "Who the fuck is Manu Ginobli?" What bonehead thought this one up? Man was I wrong.

And the Spurs keep proving me wrong:

Beno Udrih in 2004
Luis Scola in 2002 (Btw, this guy is supposed to be the next Ginobli from the small forward position)
Tony Parker in 2001

So this... Ian Mahinmi from France, may be the real deal.



-Durck

Maybe



This Ian guy, may end up being one of those.

-Duck

[Rzail]

The Knicks....sigh...what are they doing.

Frye sure maybe I wouldnt have taken him but we'll see.

They trade their only rebounder for 2 more guards...that makes how many now? 8?

I will put my $$$ on that Sweetney will be just as good if not better than Thomas when it comes to rebounding. Richardson is a good rebounding 2 guard.

[Zanchief]

Well Charlie Villawhatever, once i saw what his favorite book was i laughed. He barely got into college cause he was another Ontarrio Smith in the smarts department (whom failed to get 800 on the SAT 4 times, including mispelling his name). But on the serious note. He was about to be aced outta the starting lineup for Uconn, and for the most part be a bench only player. How he was picked above those below him was stupid.

Maybe they were looking for the most skilled big man in the draft? Shrug.

[Phlegm]

The Knicks....sigh...what are they doing.

Frye sure maybe I wouldnt have taken him but we'll see.

They trade their only rebounder for 2 more guards...that makes how many now? 8?

Mullins had a major hard on for Frye because the warriors need a power forward but the knicks took him one pick before golden states. So they took the guy from Arizona State... who is only 6-8 to play the 4 spot.

[Malluas]

Well Charlie Villawhatever, once i saw what his favorite book was i laughed. He barely got into college cause he was another Ontarrio Smith in the smarts department (whom failed to get 800 on the SAT 4 times, including mispelling his name). But on the serious note. He was about to be aced outta the starting lineup for Uconn, and for the most part be a bench only player. How he was picked above those below him was stupid.

Maybe they were looking for the most skilled big man in the draft? Shrug.

well Charlie isn't it. If he couldn't get into the starting lineup this year (which was said he wasn't gonna be in it) then he isn't good enough. I bet he is a 3-4 year project and there won't be a middle ground for him. Either he is gonna be very good or el crapo.. Kinda like Tyson Chandler.. he is crap.

Phelgm.. one name everyone said too small to play the 4.. Elton Brand..

[Rotj]

yeah, i like that ike diogu kid. looks like he's got a straight head and that wingspan is juicy.

[Zanchief]

Well Charlie Villawhatever, once i saw what his favorite book was i laughed. He barely got into college cause he was another Ontarrio Smith in the smarts department (whom failed to get 800 on the SAT 4 times, including mispelling his name). But on the serious note. He was about to be aced outta the starting lineup for Uconn, and for the most part be a bench only player. How he was picked above those below him was stupid.

Maybe they were looking for the most skilled big man in the draft? Shrug.

well Charlie isn't it. If he couldn't get into the starting lineup this year (which was said he wasn't gonna be in it) then he isn't good enough. I bet he is a 3-4 year project and there won't be a middle ground for him. Either he is gonna be very good or el crapo.. Kinda like Tyson Chandler.. he is crap.

If you think he wasn't going to be in the starting lineup at Uconn next year your reading the wrong sports writers.

Seems odd that everyone is making a big deal about this pick when everwhere I read they say he was projected 7-12.

Oh well. Atleast we didnt get Frye~

[Malluas]

well it was from 4 writers on espn/national writers.. including a Dick Vitale article a while ago.. and some local guys. Calhoun also eluded to him not starting. Calhoun is who i believe.

[Arlos]

One of the talking heads on Sportscenter last night was talking up the Ike Diogu pick as one of the biggest values of the draft. Said he had been absolutely dominant in PAC-10 play, and was a top-flight back-to-the-basket type player. I know he won the player of the year award in the PAC-10 last year, and averaged somewhere in the neighborhood of 20+ points a game.

-Arlos

[Emongmai]

I think grabbing Hakim Warrick with the 19th pick was a hell of a pick up for the Grizzlies. Most fans figured both he and May would be gone at that spot and our third option was some 7'2" Lithuanian kid that no one had ever seen play. With a GM like Jerry West running the show here in Memphis most fans tend to just trust that he knows what he is doing. Warrick is 6'8" 218lbs and averaged 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds a game at Syracuse . He played power foward in college but will probably be a sf in the NBA. He will be great playing the 3 spot with Pau Gasol at the 4. Now if we could only pick up a good center and a point guard that isn't Jason Williams with some trades the Grizz could make their third consecutive playoff appearance and maybe actually win a playoff game.