NBA Draft

You have to hand it to the NBA, they don't waste time between the Finals and the Draft. Ten days after the Finals teams are re-loading and there is constant draft chatter from the victors parade to draft day. The NBA draft can best be described as Russian Roulette, it is boom or bust and it all happens in less time that it takes to watch a Michael Bay movie. The one and done college players combined with the Internationals leave alot of room for errors even with all the money teams pour into scouting budgets. Over the past ten years the percentages say you have the same chance of getting an All Star as you do a bust (30%). With that in mind below is a first look at the first round since this is the last chance we will have to talk NBA before the lockout.

1. Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (PG Duke): The consensus #1 even though he only played 11 games in college, where else other than the NBA is 11 games enough to make you a franchise cornerstone. Hopefully for the Cavs he has more Chris Paul in his game than Mo Williams, but most likely he is somewhere in the middle. He isn't as athletic as Rose or Wall, but he is a better shooter. Wouldn't it have been fun to see the Cavs select Williams and force the Wolves to take another PG in Irving?

2. Wolves: Derrick Williams (PF Arizona): The Cavs bailed out Minny by selecting Irving and making this a no brainer pick. If this is a two player draft at least the Wolves got the second player, but they now have a monopoly on left handed forwards. At least Williams is more sound of mind than Beasley or Anthony Randolph. The Wolves continue to stockpile young assets and can't seem to move any for a proven veteran player.

3. Jazz: Enes Kanter (C Turkey): If you have seen this guy play in an actual basketball game you probably saw Wilt score 100 as well. He has size (6'11", 275 llbs) and potential, but got the backhanded of all compliments when he was compared to Darko in his pre-draft workouts. So now the Jazz have two Turkish centers to combine with Jefferson and Millsap in the post as every other big man in the West salivates.

4. Cavs: Tristan Thompson (PF Texas): Shot up draft boards in the last week as John Hollinger's draft by the numbers had him as the fourth best player. So the Cavs used their 2 top 4 picks on Irving and Thompson, for their sake I hope Irving is a star.

5. Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas (C Lithuania): Brian Colangelo is really testing the definition of insanity as he continues to draft European big men with the hopes that one will eventually defend and rebound. His numbers are good, 19 years old, 6'11 with a 7'6" wingspan, but he will be in Europe for at least another year and won't be in Toronto until 2013, at which time Colangelo will be lucky to be there.

6. Wizards: Jan Vesely (SF Czech Republic): An atypical European big man, he is highly athletic and is better running the floor and rolling to the basket than shooting. Great running mate for John Wall, Javale McGee, and Jordan Crawford as the Wiz are getting a little frisky and should be exciting. Now if only their basketball IQ catches up to their athleticism.

7. Kings: Bismack Biyombo (PF Spain): The Kings traded this pick to the Charlotte in a 3 team trade with the Bucks for Jimmer Fredette and also traded Beno Udrih for Salmons. So the Kings traded down three spots in the draft for Jimmer and then traded Udrih for John Salmons who is older, makes more money, and plays the same position as Tyreke Evans, no wonder why this team is bankrupt. At least Jimmer can sell tickets and he won't be forced to defend on this squad and will have plenty of stories playing with Cousins and Evans.

8. Pistons: Brandon Knight (PG Kentucky): My biggest surprise of the draft was seeing Knight slip to #8 without a team trading up to select him. More of a scorer who is going to have to learn how to play the point in the NBA, but he has one of the highest ceilings in this draft. The Pistons have plenty of guards, but Dumars must have realized that Knight's value was too high to pass on and I agree.

9. Bobcats: Kemba Walker (PG UConn): What a difference a GM makes, as recently hired Rick Cho is finally doing what the Bobcats could never do before under Jordan, rebuild through the draft. The Bobcats get an offensive dynamo in Walker and a defensive stopper in Biyombo and unload Captain Jack and Shaun Livingston to the Bucks while only having to take back Corey Maggette. Walker was a volume shooter in college, but has shown the ability to rebound and pass and now will play next to DJ Augustin. Biyombo will have to be as good as advertised on defense behind those two small guards.

10. Bucks: Jimmer Fredette (PG BYU): The Bucks tried to undo some past wrongs in this draft by trading Jimmer to Sacramento along with John Salmons to Sacramento and Maggette to Charlotte for Captain Jack, Shaun Livingston and Beno Udrih. The Bucks feel they are closer to contending than re-building and if Captain Jack comes to Milwaukee with the right attitude he could be a major addition. Jimmer playing for Scott Skiles made about as much sense as Paris Hilton working for Apple.

11. Warriors: Klay Thompson (SG Washington State): The Warriors held onto Monte Ellis so they went with a jump shooter in Thompson. I heard the "ability to defend" multiple times when he was selected so I guess that is new coach Mark Jackson's first assignment.

12. Jazz: Alec Burks (SG Colorado): I like Burks and think he is the best SG in this draft with the ability to be a good defender while scoring efficiently, but after trading Derron Williams and two picks in the top 12 the Jazz have Kanter and Burks and no PG (Knight or Jimmer). I guess the Jazz are the one team that believes in Devin Harris.

13. Suns: Markieff Morris (PF Kansas): The Suns were one of the most talked about teams this week, it seemed like they were close to moving Nash or at least Gortat for the second pick. Instead they get a stretch the floor PF in Morris to do the exact same thing Channing Frye does for them. At least Phoenix fans get one more year of Nash before the Aaron Brooks era begins.

14. Rockets: Marcus Morris (PF Houston): Who scripted these back to back picks, the USGA? The Rockets get the Morris brother who plays in the post and actually fills a need for the Rockets as a PF who can score in the blocks.

15. Pacers: Kawhi Leonard (SF SDSU): My love for this pick was validated when he was traded to the Spurs for George Hill. He could have easily gone ten picks higher and will fit in perfectly in San Antonio as a defender, rebounder, and athletic front line player. Meanwhile the Pacers traded what looked like a lockdown combo of wing guys in Leonard/Paul George for a spot up shooter in Hill.

16. 76ers: Nikola Vucevic (C USC): I was surprised to see an actual true center still on the board after the lottery. He will fit in nicely with the 76ers next to Elton Brand and lessens the need to trade Iguodala for size and will improve as much for anyone in the draft playing for Doug Collins.

17. Knicks: Iman Shumpert (SG GTech): The potential of being a 6'5" athletic lockdown combo guard is enough to warrant this Knicks selection and hopefully will end the Knicks reliance on Billups or Douglas as the guy trying to defend the other teams best guard in crunch time.

18. Wizards: Chris Singleton (SG FSU): It doesn't seem right to type this, but this is another Wizards pick that I really like. Like Shumpert, Singleton is a lock down athletic defender, but Singleton has more upside as an offensive player and has a fairly high basketball IQ. Playing with John Wall should help Singleton get easy points and hopefully for the Wiz his defense rubs off on his teammates.

19. Bucks: Tobias Harris (SF Tenn): The one rookie draft piece that goes to Milwaukee in the facelift they performed on draft night. He won't be counted on much if Jackson is healthy, which is probably best for any rookie that is starting his career with Scott Skiles. Is there any bigger difference possible than going from Bruce Pearl to Skiles?

20. Wolves: Donatas Motiejunas (F Lithunia): The Wolves traded this pick and PG Johnny Flynn to Houston for the 23rd pick (Nikola Mirotic) and Brad Miller. In Mirotic, the Wolves get one of the best prospects in Europe who will not come to the NBA for at least 3 or 4 years and they are also able to clear the PG logjam by trading Flynn. Think they would like a mulligan on that Flynn trade since they are essential trading him for Brad Miller?

21. Blazers: Nolan Smith (SG Duke): A combo guard who can score was a priority for the Blazers and Smith is an excellent fit. As a 4 year college player he is a veteran who will fit in well in Portland and can take some of pressure of Brandon Roy to score points. The Blazers Andre Miller for Raymond Felton draft night trade will also help the Blazers get more easy points as Felton pushes the pace. As every tourist says after their first night, this was a good night in Portland.

22. Nuggetts: Kenneth Faried (PF Morehead St): He rebounds better than anyone does anything in this draft and is a steal for Denver. He won't start, but will earn major minutes for George Karl. In a weak draft a surity like Faried's rebounding is hard to find in the 20's.

23. Rockets: Nikola Mirotic (F Montenegro): The Rockets traded this pick and Brad Miller to Minnesota for Motiejunas and Johnny Flynn. Motiejunas has a Barganani like game and that is intriguing at 23 as oppossed to the #1 overall pick. Johnny Flynn could not have been in a worse situation than he was in Minnesota. Houston is buying low on a guy who was drafted in the top 5 on a couple years ago. Unlike the Thabeet trade, this is a good trade for the Rockets.

24. Thunder: Reggie Jackson (G BC): The most predictable pick in the draft as the Thunder gave Jackson an assurance they would select him last month. He didn't work out prior to the draft, but is a combo guard who can create his own shot and couple with Hardon as a nice change of pace backcourt.

25. Celtics: Marshon Brooks (G Providence): The second of two straight Northeast scoring guards, Boston traded this pick to New Jersey where Brooks has a chance to earn significant playing time next to D. Williams in a wide open backcourt for the Nets.

26. Mavericks: Jordan Hamiliton (F Texas): The Mavs traded this pick to Portland for Rudy Hernandez, while Hamilton becomes the second of 3 first round picks from Texas which begs to obvious question, "Why isn't Texas better".

27. Nets: JaJuan Johnson (PF Purdue): The Nets traded this pick to Boston and in Johnson the Celtics get a solid big man who has a chance to contibute to a veteran title contender. Johnson showed the ability to defend this year at Purdue along with a reliable jump shot and goes to an ideal situation.

28. Bulls: Norris Cole (G Cleveland State): Traded this pick to Minnesota, since after the Wolves traded Flynn they wanted to make sure they got a fourth PG back. Will most likely be moved again in the next day or two. A jack of all trades point guard who can get his own shot and rebounds at a high level.

29. Spurs: Corey Joseph (G Texas): Rick Barnes' squad had more first round draft picks (3) than tourney wins (1) this year and for all the talk about the Spurs trading Tony Parker they end up keeping Parker, trading George Hill, and drafting Parker's understudy in Joseph.

30. Bulls: Jimmy Butler (SF Marquette): The Bulls add another rugged defender in Butler and a guy who will do whatever it takes to succeed as his backstory suggests. He isn't the offensive minded SG the Bulls need to take the next step, but he is a perfect young guy to add to the mix with the last pick in the first round of a weak draft.