It was a night to remember, but not for the right reasons. The NBA Draft rarely reaches its insanity potential, there is always a lot of talks but not much ever gets done in one night. Last night was the opposite. It got suspiciously quiet after the 2 PM trade declaration deadline and came showtime: BOOM! An avalanche of bizarre picks, questionable fashion statements, David Stern's mic skills, hilarious play-by-play commenting and bold-as-hell trades poured over the Barclays Center.
I have reached a nerdout level I thought was only reachable through comic books and geophysics.
Now that it's over and the fallout of awesomeness is raining down on us, it's time to analyze who got the best of this draft crop and who made a fool of themselves. Because there is a lot of both. I will go over the haul of every team in order they drafted and give you my honest thoughts over their drafting strategies, the future of their picks and the direction they're going. Because now we know. Some say the basketball year begins on November 1st, I say it starts right now.
Comments: I don't get it. I don't know where the Cavaliers are going with Bennett and I don't think anybody else does. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a great future, but the Cavs deliberately walked away from players like Otto Porter Jr. and Nerlens Noel who could've filled gaping holes in their lineups. Do they seriously think a 240 lbs player can play wing? If so, why did they draft Karasev who's a good small forward himself? Same thing for Felix. Where does he fit with Dion Waiters and Wayne Ellington in the lineup? Terrible draft, despite having a vantage position.
Orlando Magic
Comments: Another tight, strategic draft for my boy "Handsome" Rob Hennigan. Drafting Oladipo made so much sense, it's not even funny. First, he drafted a future starter and a safe player who's going to be at least good. Then he made Aaron Afflalo expendable to trigger the looming Eric Bledsoe deal with Los Angeles. He also stays in the sweepstakes for the incredible 2014 lottery. I don't know who Osby is and I don't really care. Hennigan is patiently building a killer team by out-thinking everybody. The fire will burn again in Orlando and it'll burn longer than ever.
Washington Wizards
3-Otto Porter Jr. (SF)
35-Glen Rice Jr. (SF)
54-Arsalan Kazemi (PF)
Comments: Wait a minute. Did Ernie Grunfeld take a good decision last night? No, he took many good decisions in a difficult draft. Is he still the Wizards' GM or did his evil twin Bernie take over? Porter will work in John Wall and Bradley Beal's shadow on the wing and make them seamlessly better. Rice will develop into a great shooter from the bench, which is vital in modern NBA. Kazemi, despite being a late pick will become a good hustle player. For the first time in twenty years, the Wizards seem to be going places. Who would've thought?
Charlotte Bobcats
4-Cody Zeller (C)
Comments: Jesus, this was easy. The Bobcats had the luxury to choose between Ben McLemore and Nerlens Noel at #4 and found a way to fuck it up. They drafted a player who fits the culture less, who will be asked to carry his team on both sides of the court and who has flat out less upside than Noel or Alex Len. Zeller will become a good strech-four (a frontcourt player who can shoot from the outside), but I don't think he's bound to become dominant. There were better choice for them to improve and still get into the 2014 lottery. This was a dumb pick, but I guess it means they're throwing the towel with Bismack Biyombo, which is a great thing...for Biyombo.
Phoenix Suns
5-Alex Len (C)
29-Archie Goodwin (SG)
57-Alex Oriakhi (PF)
Comments: I understand. I disagree with the Phoenix Suns' pick, but I understand them. They are a perfect destination for developing Len into a dominant big man. I have my doubts he'll do it, but if he does anywhere, it'll be in Phoenix. I thought the athleticism of a McLemore or a Noel would've been an exciting addition to the roster, but apparently Ryan McDonough thinks Archie Goodwin is enough. I'm not sure this draft got Phoenix anywhere, but it's way too soon to judge. We'll know more in three years. Surprising strategy (or lack thereof) for a team drafting in the top 5.
New Orleans Pelicans
42-Pierre Jackson (PG)
Comments: The Pelicans traded their first round pick, but they got Jrue Holiday (who's already good) and his backup, in Pierre Jackson. Here's a team who didn't mind trading themselves out at the right price. Their point guard duties are taken care of for the next ten years and they have Greivis Vasquez for trade bait now. Maybe they can bundle him up with Eric Gordon and some picks to score something big. It was a simple, bold move to do, but the Pelicans steered the ship back into the path to success. Oh! Jackson will also become a fan-favorite and have a positive atmosphere to become that second-coming of Nate Robinson he's been hyped to be. win-win-win in the Big Easy.
Sacramento Kings
7-Ben McLemore (SG)
36-Ray McCallum (PG)
Comments: I'm happy for the Kings they landed McLemore, but I can say I'm happy for McLemore and McCallum to have landed in Sacramento. Despite having changed ownership, front office and coaching staff, I'm wondering what they'll do with two more guards. They already have Isaiah Thomas Jr., Tyreke Evans (who was their saviors, four years ago), Jimmer Fredette and Marcus Thornton. There is a serious roster overhaul to do in Sacramento, because right now, they're not going anywhere and Ben McLemore is not going to magically change that, despite having the best intentions. Poor kid lost at the draft without doing anything to deserve it.
Detroit Pistons
8-Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)
37-Tony Mitchell (PF)
56-Peyton Siva (PG)
Comments: The Pistons always do good with prospects who need a little more love than the others. KCP and Mitchell play right in this strength. Caldwell-Pope will give them clear definition in their backcourt and (in my humble, humble, opinion) has superstar upside. Mitchell is more of a gamble, but he's a good athlete who will find an understanding ear in Mo Cheeks. Nabbing Peyton Siva at the very end is nothing to be ashamed of either. Kid's got the girth to succeed. The pieces are falling around nicely in Motor City.
Utah Jazz
9-Trey Burke (PG)
27-Rudy Gobert (C)
Comments: Great work from general manager Dennis Lindsay. The Jazz was irrelevant and going nowhere before the draft, now they have the alpha dog point guard with superstar upside and added another nice piece to their frontcourt. Seriously, if they can clear of Tyrone Corbin's mediocre coaching, this team is going places. Expect Burke and Derrick Favors to become terrifying pick-and-roll buddies and leave a trail of frightened ballers in their wake. A smart general manager and good drafting can do wonders for your team in very little time.
Portland Trail Blazers
10-C.J McCollum (SG)
31-Allen Crabbe (SG)
39-Jeff Withey (C)
45-Marko Todorovic (C)
Comments: Dammit, another team who drafted well and showed long-term thinking. Rip City stocked up on shooters, got themselves a good sixth man and an able-bodied big man to clog the paint. They also stashed another from overseas. McCollum and Crabbe should influence the scoring output right away and Withey will be good relief to Meyers Leonard. I don't know if things will be to LaMarcus Aldridge's liking next year, but it will definitely get better.
Philadelphia 76ers
6-Nerlens Noel (C)
11-Michael Carter-Williams (PG)
Comments: The 76ers decided not to buy into the whole red flag paranoia around Nerlens Noel and moved up to pick him. Like most NBA gossip, it was probably overblown. Word is that Noel lost all this weight for the surgery and that he's working on his knee six days a week. He's going to be fine and make the Philadelphia fanbase forget about the Andrew Bynum fiasco. I'm not so sure MCW is a good pick though. He's a momma's boy playing at a position of rugged bastards. He needs to get tougher, especially in Philadelphia. The local media will eat him and his career raw if he doesn't.
Oklahoma City Thunder
12-Steven Adams (C)
26-Andre Roberson (SF)
32-Alex Abrines (SG)
40-Grant Jerrett (PF)
Comments: It's one thing to shoot elbow jumpers at the combine like you're Kevin freakin' Garnett, yet it's another one to do it in a game, when Garnett is defending you. I'm extremely skeptical about Adams. I think he needs lots of grooming. I'll give OKC the benefit of the doubt, because of their efficient program. I liked Roberson though...as a second rounder. I agree he's a good rebounder, but right now that's all he is. I don't know Abrines much, but he draws comparisons to my boy Kyle "The Korker" Korver, which is flattering. Jerrett is supposed to be a good shooter too. This draft looks like OKC is trying to find cheap solutions to a thin bench problem. They drafted specialists with complete disregard for the details. That might just work.
Boston Celtics
13-Kelly Olynyk (C)
53-Colton Iverson (C)
Comments: Not a believer in Olynyk, plus I don't think he fits the culture in Bos...wait...What culture, right? They blew up the team on draft night. In fact, I like Colton Iverson better as a player. His offensive arsenal is more limited, but he's a big boy and a banger who will earn respect down low. The Celtics are in no man's land right now and it's tough to predict how these prospect will develop, but I have a nagging feeling Danny Ainge deliberately kept low profile to position himself for 2014. Celtics fans, the desert crossing starts right here. Can't say I blame Olynyk for skipping the draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves
14-Shabazz Muhammad (SF)
21-Gorgui Dieng (C)
Comments: My second favorite strategic job after Orlando's. After seeing Detroit nab KCP right in front of him, roadster Flip Saunders deliberately swapped position with Utah, so they could get their point guard and he could get two players instead of one. Muhammad is a player who needed a good situation to perform and playing backcourt with Ricky Rubio. His shooting ability will be not only appreciated, but needed and encouraged. He's in the right place to become a superstar. I was a bit upset Dieng didn't fall to my Knicks, but he got to a franchise I'm sympathetic to. He will be a definite improvement over Greg Stiemsma on the bench. The "Kahnmare" is over in Minnesota.
Milwakee Bucks
15-Giannis Antetokunbo (SF)
38-Nate Wolters (PG)
Comments: The selection of Giannis by the Bucks makes no sense. They are notoriously bad to develop talent and they just had to select a prospect that needs careful handling. Do I need to remember the Tobias Harris fiasco to anybody? Selecting Wolters at 15 would've made as much sense. He's a junior with a scoring touch, had tremendous success in college ball and will provide some much-neeeded stability in the backcourt. I believe Wolters will eventually become a sixth man or a starter for the Bucks and Giannis will bust or get traded elsewhere and become Kevin Durant out of spite. There is something broken in the Bucks' organization and their draft reflected that.
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