Post by mike on Jan 23, 2024 8:03:20 GMT -8
1 Orlando Magic - Andrei Kirilenko
Orlando is picking first overall for the second year in a row, and 3 out of 4 years if you count for the creation draft. The Magic certainly have some magical luck so far. AK47 looks like the best player in this draft and I would have taken him first overall. I love his notes. Good blocks and steals, good strength. I would camp his rebounds, move him to PF and let him develop. He’s going to be a stud big man.
Grade: A+
2 Minnesota Timberwolves (from Hornets) - Elton Brand
Once the lottery order was released, the Wolves quickly contacted the Hornets to trade up to 2 for Brand. The Wolves paid a hefty price to move up one spot for Brand. Personally, I am not a fan. Poor handles and meh blocks. He’ll score with the best of them, but will he be FBB valuable? Maybe a Malone type player? We’ll see.
Grade: C
3 Los Angeles Lakers (from Hornets, Timberwolves) - Manu Ginobili
Manu was probably the second best player in this class. It’s almost a given that he’ll be a 25PPG guard and should develop that defense. Manu and Kobe is a fun 1-2 punch. The Lakers are another team that targeted a player and decided to move up for him, trading 2 futures and 6 to get Manu. Hefty price, but it appears worth it.
Grade: A
4 New York Knicks - Baron Davis
Ok, so I wanted Baron. I didn’t think I should take him at 2 when I traded down the first time. When I traded down at 3, I figured there was a slim chance that Baron would fall to 6. But I loved Artest and Baron would would be happy with either (and Marion for that matter). Davis, a former Warrior, will likely be one of the leagues premier PGs. Great pick by Andy.
Grade: A
5 Charlotte Hornets (from Nuggets) - Ron Artest
I was going to just sit at 6 and take whoever fell from Marion and Artest, but Braz sent me a text asking to move up a spot for a future. I was in a dealing mood, so said why not! I was higher on Artest, so figured I’d go after him. It looks like he’ll be a premier defender with A- defense and elite steals. If I can +25 his scoring and make him a solid 2 way player, he’ll be great for us. His rebounding is also a high C, the highest in the draft file. Big fan of Ronald.
Grade: B+
6 Heat- via Denver Nuggets (from Hornets, Lakers) - Richard Hamilton
I love Richard. UConn legend. He has elite scoring, but lacks in 3 point. Just camp it and hope it develops. He’ll be a 25PPG guy and will limit turnovers. I want to see him in a balanced offense. Good move here by Eddy.
Grade: A-
7 Detroit Pistons - Shawn Marion
This might be the most obvious pick so far. Marion is the last of the top prospects IMO and the draft really falls off after this. I’m a little uncertain how to develop Marion - as a SF or PF, but that’s now a question for Andrew. He’ll need to be more active in order to ensure Marion reaches his potential.
Grade: A
8 New York Knicks (from Jazz) - Corey Maggette
Maggette is a poor man’s Rip Hamilton IMO. I was close to making a deal with Andy for this pick to select Francis. I know that Andy already took Baron, but a Baron/Francis pairing has me interested, considering I value Francis more than Maggette, who I drafted in the last BBS.
Grade: B-
9 Hornets via Portland Trail Blazers (from Rockets)- Steve Francis
The Hornets paid a hefty price to add this pick. 5 firsts for the 9th pick! Insane. Yes. It’s true. However, we have our lineup set for the future and needed to add a PG. We still have 3 futures and 20M in cap to work with, so it was worth it IMO to spend to get Francis, who we believe can be a 25PPG 2.5TOPG PG in his prime.
Grade: B+
10 Washington Wizards - Lamar Odom
Just not a fan. His notes look atrocious. He has no defined position. Maybe the Wizards develop him as a 6th man who can play each position, but I’m not counting on it. I’m not sure I would have selected Odom in the lottery tbh.
Grade: C
11 Milwaukee Bucks (from 76ers, Pacers) James Posey
James Posey and Jason Terry were higher on my big board than Odom. Posey is a rare type of player in this league and will be a C+ A C A type wing. The prototype 3&D wing. He’s a great fit on the wing alongside Allan Houston if the Bucks are able to re sign him.
Grade: A
12 Atlanta Hawks (from Bulls) - Jason Terry
Terry just looks like that late lotto Pg that explodes and sims well above his ratings. The change from SG to PG hoisted his value tremendously and it would not shock me to see him sim better than Steve Francis and maybe even Baron (at least to start). He’s in the Bobby Jackson mold.
Grade: A
13 Los Angeles Clippers- Wally Szczerbiak
Diego, Diego. Another year picking in the 11-13 spot. It’s a story as old as time. Pick a damn direction and commit to it. Wally looks like just another guy and would not shock me to see him bust out. At the same time, not much options here for the Clippers. It’s rough after this point, but I would have taken Clack given his notes.
Grade: C-
Orlando is picking first overall for the second year in a row, and 3 out of 4 years if you count for the creation draft. The Magic certainly have some magical luck so far. AK47 looks like the best player in this draft and I would have taken him first overall. I love his notes. Good blocks and steals, good strength. I would camp his rebounds, move him to PF and let him develop. He’s going to be a stud big man.
Grade: A+
2 Minnesota Timberwolves (from Hornets) - Elton Brand
Once the lottery order was released, the Wolves quickly contacted the Hornets to trade up to 2 for Brand. The Wolves paid a hefty price to move up one spot for Brand. Personally, I am not a fan. Poor handles and meh blocks. He’ll score with the best of them, but will he be FBB valuable? Maybe a Malone type player? We’ll see.
Grade: C
3 Los Angeles Lakers (from Hornets, Timberwolves) - Manu Ginobili
Manu was probably the second best player in this class. It’s almost a given that he’ll be a 25PPG guard and should develop that defense. Manu and Kobe is a fun 1-2 punch. The Lakers are another team that targeted a player and decided to move up for him, trading 2 futures and 6 to get Manu. Hefty price, but it appears worth it.
Grade: A
4 New York Knicks - Baron Davis
Ok, so I wanted Baron. I didn’t think I should take him at 2 when I traded down the first time. When I traded down at 3, I figured there was a slim chance that Baron would fall to 6. But I loved Artest and Baron would would be happy with either (and Marion for that matter). Davis, a former Warrior, will likely be one of the leagues premier PGs. Great pick by Andy.
Grade: A
5 Charlotte Hornets (from Nuggets) - Ron Artest
I was going to just sit at 6 and take whoever fell from Marion and Artest, but Braz sent me a text asking to move up a spot for a future. I was in a dealing mood, so said why not! I was higher on Artest, so figured I’d go after him. It looks like he’ll be a premier defender with A- defense and elite steals. If I can +25 his scoring and make him a solid 2 way player, he’ll be great for us. His rebounding is also a high C, the highest in the draft file. Big fan of Ronald.
Grade: B+
6 Heat- via Denver Nuggets (from Hornets, Lakers) - Richard Hamilton
I love Richard. UConn legend. He has elite scoring, but lacks in 3 point. Just camp it and hope it develops. He’ll be a 25PPG guy and will limit turnovers. I want to see him in a balanced offense. Good move here by Eddy.
Grade: A-
7 Detroit Pistons - Shawn Marion
This might be the most obvious pick so far. Marion is the last of the top prospects IMO and the draft really falls off after this. I’m a little uncertain how to develop Marion - as a SF or PF, but that’s now a question for Andrew. He’ll need to be more active in order to ensure Marion reaches his potential.
Grade: A
8 New York Knicks (from Jazz) - Corey Maggette
Maggette is a poor man’s Rip Hamilton IMO. I was close to making a deal with Andy for this pick to select Francis. I know that Andy already took Baron, but a Baron/Francis pairing has me interested, considering I value Francis more than Maggette, who I drafted in the last BBS.
Grade: B-
9 Hornets via Portland Trail Blazers (from Rockets)- Steve Francis
The Hornets paid a hefty price to add this pick. 5 firsts for the 9th pick! Insane. Yes. It’s true. However, we have our lineup set for the future and needed to add a PG. We still have 3 futures and 20M in cap to work with, so it was worth it IMO to spend to get Francis, who we believe can be a 25PPG 2.5TOPG PG in his prime.
Grade: B+
10 Washington Wizards - Lamar Odom
Just not a fan. His notes look atrocious. He has no defined position. Maybe the Wizards develop him as a 6th man who can play each position, but I’m not counting on it. I’m not sure I would have selected Odom in the lottery tbh.
Grade: C
11 Milwaukee Bucks (from 76ers, Pacers) James Posey
James Posey and Jason Terry were higher on my big board than Odom. Posey is a rare type of player in this league and will be a C+ A C A type wing. The prototype 3&D wing. He’s a great fit on the wing alongside Allan Houston if the Bucks are able to re sign him.
Grade: A
12 Atlanta Hawks (from Bulls) - Jason Terry
Terry just looks like that late lotto Pg that explodes and sims well above his ratings. The change from SG to PG hoisted his value tremendously and it would not shock me to see him sim better than Steve Francis and maybe even Baron (at least to start). He’s in the Bobby Jackson mold.
Grade: A
13 Los Angeles Clippers- Wally Szczerbiak
Diego, Diego. Another year picking in the 11-13 spot. It’s a story as old as time. Pick a damn direction and commit to it. Wally looks like just another guy and would not shock me to see him bust out. At the same time, not much options here for the Clippers. It’s rough after this point, but I would have taken Clack given his notes.
Grade: C-
