2006 1st Round Draft Grades + Winners/Losers
Aug 13, 2015 18:41:52 GMT
afro, ckriz, and 2 more like this
Post by buckeyeballa10 on Aug 13, 2015 18:41:52 GMT
2006 Draft Grades – 1st Round
1. Utah Jazz --- SF Kevin Durant. A no brainer here. Durant can flat out score it with solid inside and outside scoring ratings. With camping I believe his D and rebounding can grow as well to make him one of the best players in the league in a few years. A
2. Denver Nuggets --- C Marc Gasol. Another solid pick. Gasol boasts solid inside scoring, great D and rebounding. Unique set of handles for a big, believe this can translate into solid assists numbers for a big in the NBN. Gasol would start for the Nuggets right away but 1 more year overseas should translate into a boost in his scoring. A-
3. Phoenix Suns --- C Joakim Noah. As noted by the GM with his announcement of this selection in the draft, a great compliment to Chris Bosh. Bosh boasts great scoring ability for a big, and Noah will bring the D and rebounding --- not that Bosh doesn’t already. A solid big man tandem for years to come. B
4. Dallas Mavericks --- PG Ricky Rubio. With a pair of aging PG’s --- Brandon and Vaughn --- love this pick for the Mavs. More immediate help could have come in the form of Monta Ellis, but you can argue the future for Rubio justifies this selection. 3 years overseas + camping should allow growth in defense, but the future is bright for Rubio. B+
5. Portland Trailblazers --- C Al Jefferson. My favorite big man in the draft. Only real question on Jefferson is his defense – and camping should address this. Great inside scorer and rebounder – sky is the limit for this big fella. A
6. Toronto Raptors --- SF Rudy Gay. Great addition for a position of need for this team. Aging SF’s for the Raptors, Rudy is a great fit. Another guy with great potential and may become one of the more prominent scorers from this class. With camping to address defense, Rudy will be a stud for years to come. B+
7. Miami Heat --- SF Josh Smith. In my eyes, one of the most intriguing guys in the class. Versatile enough to play D on the block and score on the other end of the floor from outside the paint --- Smith could pose as a major threat in coming years if camps address scoring and rebounding. Solid value here. A-
8. Boston Celtics --- SG Monta Ellis. Ellis is intriguing. His versatility in the backcourt has him in high regard in this class. Should help the Celtics backcourt immediately, although I believe the Celtics should have addressed their frontcourt defense and rebounding here. C+
9. Sacramento Kings --- C Marcin Gortat. Word has it the Kings wanted Al Jeff bad. Being able to acquire an additional 1st rounder and only drop two spots helps ease the pain. Gortat is an above average rebounder and if camping addresses scoring and defense, should pan out just fine. B
10. Cleveland Cavaliers --- SG J.R. Smith. This guy can light it up. Not going to make the all NBN Defensive Team, but his shooting ability can’t be denied. Lined up next to good defenders in Andrew Miller and Jason Terry, J.R should thrive as a possible sixth man offensive energy guy. The argument that he may not be more than a 6th man for his career leaves some question here as to how high he was selected. C-
11. Milwaukee Bucks --- PG Goran Dragic. Another guy with time to develop his skills overseas for a few years, Dragic has loads of potential. Great defender that could use some work on his scoring. If he can develop his shot over the next few years, should be a solid PG with lockdown capabilities. Only question – with Reeves and Spreewell being let go, will the Bucks address their losses in free agency? B-
12. Orlando Magic --- PF Tiago Splitter. Cap crunch definitely influenced this pick but Splitter could prove as a steal. 3 years overseas to polish his game and this guy could be the elite big in the draft. Inside scoring, Defense and Rebounding all solid right now. With work overseas and camping this guy could be the perfect combo to Garnet (should he still be around) in the years to come. A few holes on the roster that could have been addressed otherwise this would be a higher grade. B
13. Los Angeles Clippers --- C Spencer Hawes. Another big man off the board. Hawes is a different type of big man however --- doesn’t necessarily provide immediate Defense or rebounding help. Seeing that the Clips have aging Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill, I would have thought this pick may have been a scoring based wing player for CP3 to dish too. The potential of Hawes is hard to pass up however. C+
14. Brooklyn Nets --- PG Kyle Lowry. Solid value here. I would have justified Lowry going top 10. Should be a solid PG for years to come for the Nets. As noted by their GM, Nets arguably have the best rotation of PGs in the league. Hard to pass up this value but I would have thought the Nets would have gone for a big here, as 3 of their bigs are over the age of 30. B-
15. Dallas Mavericks --- C Glen Davis. BIIIIIIIG Baby! I anticipate Davis to play a lot of PF for the Mavs, as they go a solid 3 deep at C. Davis boasts good inside scoring, and with some camping to address D/Rebounding – should become a solid big in this league. However, averaging 85 points a game last year leads me to believe that an immediate scorer here would have been a slightly better option. C+
16. Indiana Pacers --- SF Dominique McGuire. Intriguing pick here. McGuire seems to have a lot of upside. Great defender, decent rebounder, but could use some improvement in scoring. Potential is there, with camping you would think his scoring would improve. 3 PF’s with expiring contracts have me thinking a young PF (Wright /Johnson) may have been a better option? C
17. Boston Celtics --- SF Dorell Wright. Another guy with high potential. Doesn’t provide anything special, but solid across the board. Will need to improve his inside scoring and defense to become an everyday SF in the NBN. High upside again, so camping should address that. C+
18. Miami Heat --- C Roy Hibbert. One of the better defenders in the draft. Needs to improve scoring badly to become a starter, but the Heat won’t need him to start right away. Many anticipated Hibbert to go a bit higher, so solid pick here. B
19. Indiana Pacers --- C Alexis Anjica. Another promising young big here. Anjica boasts solid D for an 18 year old. With 2 years to sharpen his scoring abilities overseas by the time he arrives in the NBN, should be an immediate impact. Having depth at C currently makes this a solid pick for the Pacers. B-
20. Minnesota Timberwolves --- SG Nick Young. A man this flashy cannot be excited to live in Minnesota. Young can flat out score the rock – one of the better outside shooters in the draft. Defense lacks quite a bit, but I’m sure he will not be counted on much in his career to be a lockdown defender. If scoring off the bench is what Minnesota wanted, that is what they got. B-
21. Chicago Bulls --- C Nikola Pekovic. Pekovic will be spending 2 more years overseas before joining the bulls but already is well rounded in his skill set. Curious to see one particular skill will emerge as his trademark, or if he will stay solid across the board. By the time he arrives in the NBN, Pek should be a solid backup C to Ramos. C
22. Los Angeles Lakers --- PG Javaris Crittenton. Hometown pick here for the Lake Show. Crittenton boasts a high potential, but will take a few years to become a solid contributor in the NBN. A true combo – guard, I see his D becoming his strongest asset. Scoring and handling will need improvement, but being a 19 year with A potential you would think these things can be addressed. Another spot where I would have anticipated a big man coming off the board here, but perhaps the above picks influenced this one here. C+
23. Minnesota Timberwolves --- C Sofoklis Schortsianitis. $10 to anyone who can pronounce this big fella’s name correctly -- let’s call him Sofo for short. Sofo is a solid inside scorer, no denying that. Defense is lacking, but knowing the T’Wolves GM, this should be addressed. One of the better big men left on the board. C+
24. Indiana Pacers --- PG Sergio Rodriguez. 3rd pick in the first for the Pacers – chose to get a floor general. Seems as if the Pacers wanted to address Defense (allowed 110/gm) and with McGuire and now Rodriguez they have done that. Likely not to contribute immediately, camping will allow his scoring to improve turning him into a solid backup PG to Jay Williams. B-
25. Sacramento Kings --- SG Arron Afflalo. The Kings stayed within state borders with this pick drafting Afflalo out of UCLA. Afflalo was slated to go higher in several other mocks, so the value here at 25 was hard to pass up. A good shooter and above average defender, Afflalo seems a lock to become a top scoring option off the bench for the Kings. Lacking any real scoring options off the pine last year, seems to be a quality fit. B
26. Detroit Pistons --- SG J.J. Redick. Top shooter in the draft, without a draft – unlimited range. Trouble is, that is about all Redick can provide. Lacking Defense and inside scoring and is a below average rebounder for his position. Another spot where I would have thought a team would have jumped on the opportunity to get their hands on a promising big man – que Brandan Wright / Amir Johnson. C
27. Brooklyn Nets --- PF Brandan Wright. Another candidate for steal of the draft. Many people had Wright going in the top 15 of the draft. At only 19 years of age, Wright is an average scorer that is a promising defender and rebounder. One would think that his scoring will continue to improve, as well as his work on the defensive end of the floor. Taking Lowry early on proved not to hurt them after all. Winners of the draft perhaps? A-
28. Portland Trailblazers --- SG Marco Belinelli. Perhaps the second best shooter in the draft. Typical Euro player, loves playing on the perimeter. Immediate offense off the bench, Belinelli should prove to be a legitimate offensive option. Has one more year in Italy to improve his defensive skills to guard the bigger, faster players in the NBN. Solid value pick near the end of the first round. B
29. Vancouver Grizzlies --- PF Amir Johnson. Another young gun here. As a 19 year old having spent only 1 year in college, Johnson has a great upside. Already a decent inside scorer and rebounder, Johnson will have to work on his defensive game to become a solid option in the NBN. The potential is there however, again this kid is only 19 years of age. Learning behind the likes of C.Webb, the base is there for that to happen. Only complaint with this pick, is that Glenn Robinson is getting up there, perhaps an eventual replacement at the 3 would have been a better option with some solid young PF’s still on the board. C
Top Winner: Brooklyn Nets --- Kyle Lowry and Brandan Wright. 2 very solid young players. Lowry is ready to contribute right away and with time Wright should be a very dangerous PF in the NBN. The value in drafting right at pick 27 is unbelievable.
Runner-Up: Miami Heat --- SF Josh Smith and C Roy Hibbert. 2 great defenders added to the Heat with these selections. Smith can play down low with the 4’s as well as take the challenge of defending the more athletic wings on the perimeter. Hibbert should be a solid shot blocker and with work should become a legit post option.
Biggest Loser: Cleveland Cavaliers --- SG JR Smith. Again, this dude can shoot it. But I really question whether or not this guy will fill a void on the Cavs as he should be behind Rush, Stevenson, and Brewer. Defensively, this guy will struggle to keep pace with guards at his position.
Runner Up: Detroit Pistons --- SG JJ Redick. Another solid shooter, but JJ may have been better suited to go to a team that is already a top –tier team in the league looking for a scoring option off the bench. In my opinion, the Pistons would have been better off looking for a young inside scoring option whether that be at the PF or C position.
1. Utah Jazz --- SF Kevin Durant. A no brainer here. Durant can flat out score it with solid inside and outside scoring ratings. With camping I believe his D and rebounding can grow as well to make him one of the best players in the league in a few years. A
2. Denver Nuggets --- C Marc Gasol. Another solid pick. Gasol boasts solid inside scoring, great D and rebounding. Unique set of handles for a big, believe this can translate into solid assists numbers for a big in the NBN. Gasol would start for the Nuggets right away but 1 more year overseas should translate into a boost in his scoring. A-
3. Phoenix Suns --- C Joakim Noah. As noted by the GM with his announcement of this selection in the draft, a great compliment to Chris Bosh. Bosh boasts great scoring ability for a big, and Noah will bring the D and rebounding --- not that Bosh doesn’t already. A solid big man tandem for years to come. B
4. Dallas Mavericks --- PG Ricky Rubio. With a pair of aging PG’s --- Brandon and Vaughn --- love this pick for the Mavs. More immediate help could have come in the form of Monta Ellis, but you can argue the future for Rubio justifies this selection. 3 years overseas + camping should allow growth in defense, but the future is bright for Rubio. B+
5. Portland Trailblazers --- C Al Jefferson. My favorite big man in the draft. Only real question on Jefferson is his defense – and camping should address this. Great inside scorer and rebounder – sky is the limit for this big fella. A
6. Toronto Raptors --- SF Rudy Gay. Great addition for a position of need for this team. Aging SF’s for the Raptors, Rudy is a great fit. Another guy with great potential and may become one of the more prominent scorers from this class. With camping to address defense, Rudy will be a stud for years to come. B+
7. Miami Heat --- SF Josh Smith. In my eyes, one of the most intriguing guys in the class. Versatile enough to play D on the block and score on the other end of the floor from outside the paint --- Smith could pose as a major threat in coming years if camps address scoring and rebounding. Solid value here. A-
8. Boston Celtics --- SG Monta Ellis. Ellis is intriguing. His versatility in the backcourt has him in high regard in this class. Should help the Celtics backcourt immediately, although I believe the Celtics should have addressed their frontcourt defense and rebounding here. C+
9. Sacramento Kings --- C Marcin Gortat. Word has it the Kings wanted Al Jeff bad. Being able to acquire an additional 1st rounder and only drop two spots helps ease the pain. Gortat is an above average rebounder and if camping addresses scoring and defense, should pan out just fine. B
10. Cleveland Cavaliers --- SG J.R. Smith. This guy can light it up. Not going to make the all NBN Defensive Team, but his shooting ability can’t be denied. Lined up next to good defenders in Andrew Miller and Jason Terry, J.R should thrive as a possible sixth man offensive energy guy. The argument that he may not be more than a 6th man for his career leaves some question here as to how high he was selected. C-
11. Milwaukee Bucks --- PG Goran Dragic. Another guy with time to develop his skills overseas for a few years, Dragic has loads of potential. Great defender that could use some work on his scoring. If he can develop his shot over the next few years, should be a solid PG with lockdown capabilities. Only question – with Reeves and Spreewell being let go, will the Bucks address their losses in free agency? B-
12. Orlando Magic --- PF Tiago Splitter. Cap crunch definitely influenced this pick but Splitter could prove as a steal. 3 years overseas to polish his game and this guy could be the elite big in the draft. Inside scoring, Defense and Rebounding all solid right now. With work overseas and camping this guy could be the perfect combo to Garnet (should he still be around) in the years to come. A few holes on the roster that could have been addressed otherwise this would be a higher grade. B
13. Los Angeles Clippers --- C Spencer Hawes. Another big man off the board. Hawes is a different type of big man however --- doesn’t necessarily provide immediate Defense or rebounding help. Seeing that the Clips have aging Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill, I would have thought this pick may have been a scoring based wing player for CP3 to dish too. The potential of Hawes is hard to pass up however. C+
14. Brooklyn Nets --- PG Kyle Lowry. Solid value here. I would have justified Lowry going top 10. Should be a solid PG for years to come for the Nets. As noted by their GM, Nets arguably have the best rotation of PGs in the league. Hard to pass up this value but I would have thought the Nets would have gone for a big here, as 3 of their bigs are over the age of 30. B-
15. Dallas Mavericks --- C Glen Davis. BIIIIIIIG Baby! I anticipate Davis to play a lot of PF for the Mavs, as they go a solid 3 deep at C. Davis boasts good inside scoring, and with some camping to address D/Rebounding – should become a solid big in this league. However, averaging 85 points a game last year leads me to believe that an immediate scorer here would have been a slightly better option. C+
16. Indiana Pacers --- SF Dominique McGuire. Intriguing pick here. McGuire seems to have a lot of upside. Great defender, decent rebounder, but could use some improvement in scoring. Potential is there, with camping you would think his scoring would improve. 3 PF’s with expiring contracts have me thinking a young PF (Wright /Johnson) may have been a better option? C
17. Boston Celtics --- SF Dorell Wright. Another guy with high potential. Doesn’t provide anything special, but solid across the board. Will need to improve his inside scoring and defense to become an everyday SF in the NBN. High upside again, so camping should address that. C+
18. Miami Heat --- C Roy Hibbert. One of the better defenders in the draft. Needs to improve scoring badly to become a starter, but the Heat won’t need him to start right away. Many anticipated Hibbert to go a bit higher, so solid pick here. B
19. Indiana Pacers --- C Alexis Anjica. Another promising young big here. Anjica boasts solid D for an 18 year old. With 2 years to sharpen his scoring abilities overseas by the time he arrives in the NBN, should be an immediate impact. Having depth at C currently makes this a solid pick for the Pacers. B-
20. Minnesota Timberwolves --- SG Nick Young. A man this flashy cannot be excited to live in Minnesota. Young can flat out score the rock – one of the better outside shooters in the draft. Defense lacks quite a bit, but I’m sure he will not be counted on much in his career to be a lockdown defender. If scoring off the bench is what Minnesota wanted, that is what they got. B-
21. Chicago Bulls --- C Nikola Pekovic. Pekovic will be spending 2 more years overseas before joining the bulls but already is well rounded in his skill set. Curious to see one particular skill will emerge as his trademark, or if he will stay solid across the board. By the time he arrives in the NBN, Pek should be a solid backup C to Ramos. C
22. Los Angeles Lakers --- PG Javaris Crittenton. Hometown pick here for the Lake Show. Crittenton boasts a high potential, but will take a few years to become a solid contributor in the NBN. A true combo – guard, I see his D becoming his strongest asset. Scoring and handling will need improvement, but being a 19 year with A potential you would think these things can be addressed. Another spot where I would have anticipated a big man coming off the board here, but perhaps the above picks influenced this one here. C+
23. Minnesota Timberwolves --- C Sofoklis Schortsianitis. $10 to anyone who can pronounce this big fella’s name correctly -- let’s call him Sofo for short. Sofo is a solid inside scorer, no denying that. Defense is lacking, but knowing the T’Wolves GM, this should be addressed. One of the better big men left on the board. C+
24. Indiana Pacers --- PG Sergio Rodriguez. 3rd pick in the first for the Pacers – chose to get a floor general. Seems as if the Pacers wanted to address Defense (allowed 110/gm) and with McGuire and now Rodriguez they have done that. Likely not to contribute immediately, camping will allow his scoring to improve turning him into a solid backup PG to Jay Williams. B-
25. Sacramento Kings --- SG Arron Afflalo. The Kings stayed within state borders with this pick drafting Afflalo out of UCLA. Afflalo was slated to go higher in several other mocks, so the value here at 25 was hard to pass up. A good shooter and above average defender, Afflalo seems a lock to become a top scoring option off the bench for the Kings. Lacking any real scoring options off the pine last year, seems to be a quality fit. B
26. Detroit Pistons --- SG J.J. Redick. Top shooter in the draft, without a draft – unlimited range. Trouble is, that is about all Redick can provide. Lacking Defense and inside scoring and is a below average rebounder for his position. Another spot where I would have thought a team would have jumped on the opportunity to get their hands on a promising big man – que Brandan Wright / Amir Johnson. C
27. Brooklyn Nets --- PF Brandan Wright. Another candidate for steal of the draft. Many people had Wright going in the top 15 of the draft. At only 19 years of age, Wright is an average scorer that is a promising defender and rebounder. One would think that his scoring will continue to improve, as well as his work on the defensive end of the floor. Taking Lowry early on proved not to hurt them after all. Winners of the draft perhaps? A-
28. Portland Trailblazers --- SG Marco Belinelli. Perhaps the second best shooter in the draft. Typical Euro player, loves playing on the perimeter. Immediate offense off the bench, Belinelli should prove to be a legitimate offensive option. Has one more year in Italy to improve his defensive skills to guard the bigger, faster players in the NBN. Solid value pick near the end of the first round. B
29. Vancouver Grizzlies --- PF Amir Johnson. Another young gun here. As a 19 year old having spent only 1 year in college, Johnson has a great upside. Already a decent inside scorer and rebounder, Johnson will have to work on his defensive game to become a solid option in the NBN. The potential is there however, again this kid is only 19 years of age. Learning behind the likes of C.Webb, the base is there for that to happen. Only complaint with this pick, is that Glenn Robinson is getting up there, perhaps an eventual replacement at the 3 would have been a better option with some solid young PF’s still on the board. C
Top Winner: Brooklyn Nets --- Kyle Lowry and Brandan Wright. 2 very solid young players. Lowry is ready to contribute right away and with time Wright should be a very dangerous PF in the NBN. The value in drafting right at pick 27 is unbelievable.
Runner-Up: Miami Heat --- SF Josh Smith and C Roy Hibbert. 2 great defenders added to the Heat with these selections. Smith can play down low with the 4’s as well as take the challenge of defending the more athletic wings on the perimeter. Hibbert should be a solid shot blocker and with work should become a legit post option.
Biggest Loser: Cleveland Cavaliers --- SG JR Smith. Again, this dude can shoot it. But I really question whether or not this guy will fill a void on the Cavs as he should be behind Rush, Stevenson, and Brewer. Defensively, this guy will struggle to keep pace with guards at his position.
Runner Up: Detroit Pistons --- SG JJ Redick. Another solid shooter, but JJ may have been better suited to go to a team that is already a top –tier team in the league looking for a scoring option off the bench. In my opinion, the Pistons would have been better off looking for a young inside scoring option whether that be at the PF or C position.
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