Tonight
is one of the biggest nights of the year for me and many basketball
fans across the country as the decisions will impact our franchises
for years to come. Speaking as a Charlotte basketball fan I witnessed
so many horrible draft picks over the year such as Adam Morrison,
Sean May and D.J Augustein. I've also seen a few good ones like Baron
Davis, Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist but when it comes to
the draft I always expect the worst when it comes to my teams
decision making. Today on throwback Thursday we reflect on arguably
the worst 1st overall pick in NBA history.
June
27 2001 was the date and with the first overall pick belonged to the
Washington Wizards. The board had many guys that could have helped
their team become better such as Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Jason
Richardson, Gerald Wallace even Shane Battier. All these guys went on
to have a good NBA career making an all-star team, winning a
championship,defensive player of the year or just helping a team out
in the playoffs, but did the Wizards pick any one of them??
Well..........NO!!! They picked Kwame Brown the 6'11 290 pound blob
of center. He was a beast coming out of High school but he is the
living example of everything general manager doesn’t want out of
its 1st round draft pick which is someone who is lazy and
doesn’t take his game seriously. You can sense that about Kwame
Brown just by watching him on the court over the years and looking at
the back of any of his cheap basketball cards at his stats. He never
progressed or took any dramatic steps forward to ever become anything
more then a serviceable NBA backup. That’s what strikes me about
Kwame is that someone who is or was once talented at basketball gets
to the highest level of basketball and decides to just collect a
check. I feel like if you work that hard to get there you should work
harder to deserve to stay.
The
same guy who drafted Kwame in Washington has the final say for my
beloved Charlotte Bobcats (Soon to be Hornets) in tonight’s draft.
I'm Hoping Michael Jordan stays on the right track like he has the
last few years drafting the right guys like Kemba Walker and Michael
Kidd-gilchrist and stays away from the Adam Morrison/Kwame Brown type
draft picks that haunted his legacy as an owner.
With
that said I hope tonight my Bobcats make the kind of move that
impacts this franchise the same way drafting guys like Baron Davis,
Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson did. Here is to better days in
Charlotte for basketball and good luck to your teams tonight if you
have a rooting interest in tonight’s draft.
With
the NBA Draft coming up in a few weeks I thought this would be a
great time to revist the 2012 draft class and how the Rookie seasons
went for a few players from that class. So lets get to it.
#1
Pick Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
As
the New Orleans franchise looks towards the future they have a lot to
be excited about with the name change to the Pelicans and Anthony
Davis to build a whole franchise around. Davis didn't put up gaudy
numbers but he definitely showed flashes of what he could be through
out the season on the defensive side of the floor. Davis is surely a
conerstone for the young franchise and Tom Benson has a lot to look
forward to moving ahead. Davis just needs to make sure he stays
healthy.
Stats:
14 PPG 8 Rebounds 2 Blocks
#2
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Bobcats)
When
the Charlotte Bobcats drafted MKG at number two overall they knew
they were getting a guy who had a high motor, was very durable and
has some upside. In the Early part of the year he was showing people
the type of player he could player he could be on a regular bases
when he put up 25 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Dallas
Mavericks. The season was very up and down for Gilchrist and he had a
hard time getting into rhythm at times due to Coach Mike Dunlap being
inconsistent with his minutes. MKG still has to fine tune that
horrendous jumper but in time he should become a very productive NBA
player, maybe even an All-Star.
Stats:
9 PPG 2 Assists 6 Rebounds
#3
Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
Bradley
Beal when playing for the Gators was known as a perimeter shooter so
to put that ability with John Wall's explosiveness in the back court
was a big deal for the Wizards organization. The only problem was
John wall didn't return from injury till January so people had to
wait to see the tandem play. When they did play the Wizards played
near 500 basketball. Beal shot 38% from the perimeter during his
rookie season and played a big role for the Wizards over the in wins over the Heat and
Thunder. Beal can only get better from here as he adjusts to the NBA
game.
Stats:
14 PPG 2 Assists 4 Rebounds
#4
Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Last
season the Cavs were looking for someone who was going to be a great
back court partner with franchise guard Kyrie Irving and while on the
court near Kyrie, Dion Waiter was just that. He showed people
throughout the course of the year that he can score the basketball
consistently. The only problem with him shooting the ball so much is
that he is a volume scorer and needs to work on being more efficient.
In his rookie season though Dion Waiters has shown the Cavs that he
can be a reliable back court partner for Kyrie Irving.
Stats: 15PPG 3 Assists 2 Rebounds
#5
Thomas Robinson (Sacramento Kings/Houston Rockets)
Of
all the players in this draft class nobody was more unlucky then
Thomas Robinson. He spent time Sacramento and Houston this season and
couldn't find minutes anywhere consistently. Now he will probably be
leaving Houston as the Rockets make their push for Dwight Howard.
Robinson has all the tools to make him a productive player in a
rotation he is tough,Strong and can guard multiple positions. Wherever he
gets a fair shot T-Rob will make the most of it and that team will
get a solid player.
Stats:
5 PPG 5 Rebounds
#6
Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
This
was considered a reach at the time Blazers made the pick but once all
the media hype faded and the games began Lillard quickly put the
doubters to rest and ran away with the Rookie of the Year award. He
has franchise player written all over him and the Blazers management
has to feel good about having someone to build around for years to
come. Lillard can still improve but he had as good as rookie season
as I've ever seen breaking Stephen Curry's rookie three point record.
Stats:
19 PPG 7 Assists 3 Rebounds
#7
Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)
Not
going to lie coming out of UNC I was never high on Harrison Barnes
but many people were coming into this season. As the season went on
he got better and pretty much proved everybody right and served as
the backbone for a Warrior team that made the Playoffs this year for
the 1st time since 2007. Barnes has range,explosiveness
and a high basketball IQ he will definitely be an All-Star one day he
converted me into a fan this season after contributing in the
postseason.
Stats:
9 PPG 4 Rebounds 1 Assist
#8
Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors)
Terence
Ross is very athletic and can shoot from outside in his 1st
season with the Raptors he saw an adequate amount of minutes. He can
be a solid bench player and still has some upside but I don't seem as
a starter in Toronto especially with Derozen at the 2.
Stats:
7 PPG 2 Rebounds
#9
Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
10
years down the road when people look at this draft Andre Drummond
could be the best player in it he has that potential. The #1 pick in
this draft Anthony Davis has a player efficiency rating of 21.80.
Andre Drummond has a Player Efficiency rating of 21.69 while playing
8 minutes less then Davis. He is listed a 6'10 270 pounds at the age
of 19 which means that as I’m typing this post Drummond is growing
into a 7 footer. Early in his rookie season Drummond sat on the bench
but as he got minutes he showed the NBA what he was about like when
he dropped 18 points and 18 Rebounds on the Milwaukee Bucks.He
certainly has all the tools in the world to be one of the best
centers in the league and with a front court partner like Greg Monroe
Detroit Basketball can be happy about the days ahead.
Stats:
8 PPG 8 Rebounds 2 Blocks
So
the 2012 draft class brought some pretty solid players. It will be
interesting to see what these young talented players do going
forward.
The NBA draft lottery is all about luck some teams have and some teams don't. The Cleveland Cavaliers franchise seems to have it they landed Lebron James with the #1 pick in 2003 and the same with Kyrie Irving in 2011. This year they won the lottery again for the 1st overall pick and will likely take Kentucky defensive standout Nerlens Noel to add to the young core players of the Cavs. With a franchise player in Irving and young guns like Dion Waiters, Alonzo Gee, Tristian Thompson and Tyler Zeller things seem to be moving in the right direction in Cleveland. Check out my video below speaking on the current direction the Cavaliers are heading in.
The
NBA Draft is about 1 month away, The lottery is this tuesday and teams
are interviewing Draft Prospects and from there will evaluate who
they feel fits their team best. Well that’s what this post is about
I'm putting my GM hat on today and I'm going to give you guys who I
feel fits best from this draft class with certain teams.
Nerlens
Noel: Orlando Magic
While
I feel like he would be a great fit for the Bobcats, Noel would
probably fit in better with the Magic. The reason I say this because
He is freakishly athletic and has uncanny timing when it comes to
blocking shots. If you look at the few teams left in the playoffs
such as the Pacers and Grizzlies they have very solid front courts
and makes up the backbone and foundation of their teams. If the Magic
Decide to take Noel they will have a front court tandem of Nikola
Vucevic and Nerlens Noel which will pose many problems for teams on
the defensive side of the ball both are incredibly lengthy and will
change many shots at the rim. Vucevic has shown the ability to
rebound the basketball averaging 12 rebounds a game this year as well
as posting a few 20 rebounds a game. The Magic ranked just outside
the top 10 in rebounding this year and we all know how important
rebounding is in the NBA, If Noel is the pick for the Magic then they
should shoot up into the top 10 easily. Draft Noel and you have a
solid foundation in Orlando.
Ben
Mclemore: Charlotte Bobcats
The
Bobcats have a lot of needs to be addressed this season and as we
know the NBA is a guard oriented league in this day in age. Charlotte
has a great Point Guard in Kemba Walker but don't have that guy
that’s going to elevate him at the 2 spot. Ben Mclemore if chosen
by Charlotte would make the Bobcats Backcourt the strongest part of
its team. I feel like his game would compliments Kemba Walkers very
well with his perimeter shooting and athleticism plus the upside for
him is pretty high considering he is still in his teens. The Kansas
freshman will make an immediate impact for Charlotte spreading the
floor for guys Like Kemba and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and make their
lives a whole lot easier. I talked about foundation for the Magic
well the foundation will be built as well if there is a Kemba
Walker/Ben Mclemore backcourt.
Anthony
Bennett: Detroit Pistons
The
Pistons already have solid front court with Greg Monroe and Andre
Drummond but the the team lacks anybody who is multi dimensional the
kind of guy you can use in many different Lineup combos. There really
isn't anybody who gives them that kind of flexibility. Look at The
roster and you will see there is no long term answer at Small
forward, Look at the draft and you will see that Anthony Bennett who
is a tweener can help the Pistons in a variety of ways. In only 1
season at UNLV Bennett proved to excel in many facets of the game
averaging 16 Points per game, 8 rebounds, 1 steal shooting 53% from
the field as well as 37% from the perimeter. He has a vast skill set
and some upside, he has shown the ability to handle the basketball
and continues to develop in so many areas of the Game I feel like the
Pistons cant go wrong with this pick. If you have never seen Bennett
play but want to know which NBA player scouts compare him to It's
Larry Johnson, just some food for thought.
Shabazz
Muhammed: Washington Wizards
The
Wizards were one very Injured team last year John Wall and Nene both
missed substantial time but when Healthy the Wizards proved they
could play with anybody beating the likes of the Heat and Thunder.
The Wizards have out together a nice team with additions of guys like
Nene, Okafor, Beal but still don't have a definite scorer at the
small forward position. Shabazz Muhammed out of UCLA would be the
perfect fit for the Wizards he would provide instant offense for a
team that 22nd in scoring. Then You look at what you have
if you draft Shabazz you have young Nucleus of John Wall, Bradley
Beal and Shabazz Muhammed. That’s something to be excited about if
your a fan of the Wizards.
Tim
Hardaway Jr.:Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin
Love has begun to express already with two years left on his contract
that the Timberwolves need to show him that there is a plan in place
to win or else he will leave. This team has legit no shooting guard
so If you want to show love your serious draft Tim Hardaway Jr. The
Timberwolves roster for all intensive purposes is a collection of
stiffs no athletes on the roster what so ever. This team needs
athletes so if available drafting Hardaway is a must.
The
draft is very thin this year but if these players land in these
destinations then they should be fine.
The 2013 NBA Draft is
set to take place in a matter of a month or so and it is chalk full of guys not
much older or mature then myself. Not only that but it may be one of the
weakest classes in years due to the fact that there is no clear consensus number
one pick. I don’t like to focus on the negative though that’s not we do here a
Tru School Sports but we will do is our Throwback Thursday and today the post
is on arguably one of the best if not the Best draft classes in league history
which features the Players from the 1996
NBA draft. That Draft changed the whole dynamic of the league for better or
worse bringing you some of the biggest names in basketball the last 25 years
with players such as Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant.
Flash,Flare,Practice,
Championships and controversy are a few words to describe the two most
noticeable faces from the 1996 class-Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. The 2
players are arguably the best players in the history of 2 of the NBA’s most iconic franchises in the
Philadelphia 76ers and L.A Lakers.
Iverson and Bryant brought their own unique playing style and swagger to the
League on and off the court. Kobe had an afro and was cold blooded gained a
reputation as one of the leagues top clutch Performers. Iverson like his
counterpart did the same but at a greater magnitude for many Sixers teams that
lacked the talent the Lakers had.
In what is known among many People as the “Ankle Breaker” era of basketball (Early 2000’s)
Iverson and Bryant were the leagues two most popular players and had a clear
rivalry with each other. In 2000 the two franchise players met in the NBA
Finals. The series provided one of he most memorable moments from that era of
basketball when Allen Iverson crossed over Tyron Lue made him fall down , hit a
Jumper and stepped right over him like only A.I could do. The Sixers came out
swinging in game 1 beating the Lakers but in the end we were in the midst of what
was going to become a dynasty and A.I just didn't have the help.
These guys though as
great as they were still had controversy surrounding them. Allen Iverson Had
his infamous “Practice” Interview/rant. Kobe Bryant had his feud with Shaq
which ultimately ended the Laker Dynasty. Great Players who we love to talk
about, who also are some of the Highest
Jersey sellers ever came from that 1996 draft class with 1st and 13th
picks respectively.
Then there are the Guys
who are the Best we have ever seen at a particular facet of a game
In the 5th
in 15th picks of that Draft In Ray Allen and Steve Nash. Ray Allen
is statistically and historically the greatest three point shooters and one of the
greatest clutch shooters of all-time. Steve Nash for the better Part of His
career made Pick and Rolls look illegal and is one of the very few people to
win Back to Back MVP’s.
Ray Allen Has played on
some great teams over the years. Whether is was with Sam Cassell, Glen
Robinson, Rashard Lewis,Kevin Garnett or Lebron James he always found ways to
become and stay the most feared shooter in the game. Very few people in even in
today’s NBA can match the fitness level of Ray Allen even at 37 years old. It
is this reason that He is the NBA’s All-time best three point shooter.
Steve Nash is the perfect
example of how you make teammates better, If you look a numbers he averaged 11
assists four times in his career. If you Wan’t physical proof of how great Nash
Is as a facilitator just look at what Amare Stoudemire’s Contract and what he
hasn’t done without Nash, That speaks volumes to his greatness. The Phoenix
Suns teams of the Mid 2000’s of Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare was some of the
most exciting basketball I ever watched had they had some coaching on defense
Nash might have a ring on his finger But for a guy who was once considered to
slow in College and that he wouldn’t matchup well with athletes in NBA Not bad.
Then There are the guys
who are All-Stars that never won anything but were very exciting to watch in
their prime in 4th and 17th picks Jermaine O’Neal and
Stephon Marbury.
Jermaine O’neal was
once considered one of the best frontcourt players in his prime but for all the
talent he possessed he is a great example of someone flaming out early in their
career. Make no Mistake About it though when in his Prime Jermaine O’neal was a
monster for the Indiana Pacers and and All-Star Year in and year out.
Stephon Marbury was a
guy who was exciting to watch but at the end of the day wasn’t impacting
winning. He had plenty seasons averaging 20 points but never took a team deep
into the playoffs. Starbury was a tremendous talent anybody who gets traded for
Jason Kidd has to be.
The Number two pick in
1996 draft happened to be one of the better defensive players of this era and
that would be Marcus Camby. Although he was never turned into a star Camby has
had a long productive career and won Defensive player of the year in 2006-2007.
Wherever he has gone he has produced.
Sacramento just received
word that Kings are not Moving and I’m sure if you ask Kings fans about the
glory days of Webber/Bibby/Peja. They will all tell you about great it was to
watch the14th pick in the 96 draft play. He
played on the best teams in that franchises history and was one of the
deadliest shooters of his era and appeared in 3 All-Star Games for the Kings.
Other Players That
Appeared in this draft are guys such as Antoine Walker, Derek Fisher, Kerry
Kittles, Zydrunas Ilgauskas which are all guys who were Role Players on teams
that won or made it to the NBA finals.
So All in all the 1996
Draft Class will go down in the books as one of the most influential and
impacting drafts in NBA History but is it the best? In my opinion the answer is
yes but some people may disagree but it definitely helped the NBA in finding
stars for the league post Jordan era.
Its obvious that Mike Dunlap and the Charlotte Bobcats have a lot of issues they need to adress with NBA draft next week Coming off the worst season in league history where the team went 7-59. As a diehard long suffering fan, realist and basketball fan I think without a doubt we should draft Thomas Robinson with #2 pick out of that great Kansas basketball program.Thomas Robinson posses a lot of attributes that will help this team take steps forward to be successful. He is a guy who can run the floor and I believe under this up tempo style that coach Dunlap is implementing Robinson will flourish. His body is cut from the Lebron James mold he is 6,7 244 pounds of muscle and pure man strength. His body allows him to be versatile allowing him to play the small and power forward positions. Also he has the ability to guard all 5 postions on the floor due too his body, athleticism and defensive instincts. Although Anthony Davis is the consensus #1 pick Robinson feels differently, when Davis was spotted wearing a black t-shirt that said “check my stats” Robinson said that “if you wanted to check stats Id be the number one pick easily-if that’s what you want to do”.He continued saying “I should get one of those shirts.I’ll get a shirt that says numbers don’t lie”.Although his offensive game still needs work Thomas Robinson’s combination of talent,heart,versatility and confidence makes him the obvious guy to select with the #2 pick for the Charlotte Bobcats.
