Daily Basketball
NBA and NCAA blogging on an occasionally daily basis
Archive for June, 2007
June 27, 2007 at 12:34 pm · Filed under NBA
Thanks to Jason from MVN’s Motoring, a Detroit Pistons blog.
Previous season record: 53-29, first in the Eastern Conference.
Picks held: Round 1 picks 15 & 27 - Round 2 pick 27 (57th overall)
Positions in need: Regardless if they resign FA Chauncey Billups, Detroit needs a point guard. Lindsey Hunter cannot fulfill the minutes of a total backup and the days of running the starters most of the game is done, according to Dumars. Flip Murray will still be around next season (announced on the 26th of June he would exercise his player option to remain with the team) however with the recent trade of Carlos Delifno the swing spot (G/F) is bare. I would not count on Chris Webber coming back so the front court will be an issue as well. Virtually, all the positions are in need.
Dream Scenerio: There are plenty of different “dream” trades I could go through (A friend of mine suggested Tayshaun Prince & Richard Hamilton to Atlanta for Joe Johnson and the #3 pick. According to ESPN’s trade machine, it works. Atlanta could still get their point guard with their #11 plus gain two veterans to join their young core. Allowing the Pistons to take either Al Horford or Corey Brewer at #3 and still have the #27 to play with. It works) However, keeping the current pick, I would hope that either Acie Law, Nick Young, Thaddeus Young, or Al Thornton would be around at #15 and going with one of them. Law would be my first choice, savvy guard that knows how to score, and reminds me of a young Chauncey Billups. Who better to learn under? With the Pistons next pick at 27, I would love to see Derrick Byars from Vandy or Morris Almond from Rice. Both are dynamic scorers with big bodies (both 6′6″) Byars offers a little more on defense and Almond is one of the best, if not the best shooter in the draft. Either would work. With their last pick, I would like to see Marc Gasol (Pau’s brother) fall to them at 57. The way the Pistons have thrown away their late draft picks, why not take a risk if he is there. Plus, with the departure of Carlos Delfino the Pistons do not have any international players around, and that means Igor Kokoskov (assistant coach that mainly worked with the international players) could be on his way out…however, I like Igor so grabbing Gasol might keep Igor around as well. Remember, “dream” situation.
Realistic Situation: Just about every single mock draft under the sun has Rodney Stuckey going to the Pistons. However, while I was at a practice during the playoffs, I overheard the former Director of Player Personnel (Scott Perry, now with the Sonics) and Director of Scouting (George David) talking to one of the Pistons beat writers and when this was brought up they laughed at the thought, basically adding that they would not be looking at a player like “that”. Now, I took that as meaning they do not want a six-four guard that is not really a two guard and not really a point guard? Who knows, I’ll stick with the mocks and assume they are now in love with Stuckey for a reason that I would not agree with. I think that Byars or Almond will fall to #27, and they take one of them. Detroit needs a scorer that can play the two and the three, both of these guys fill that role. If the Pistons go with Stuckey and either Almond or Byars with their first two picks they will need to go big with the last pick. I think they might take a guy they can stash overseas like they did a few years back with Memo Okur. Ali Traore would be a good choice. Keep him overseas to develop and see if anything comes out of it. Hey, it worked with Memo!
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June 27, 2007 at 12:14 pm · Filed under NBA
Brendan, the blogger behind MVN’s Believing in Magic, sent in this NBA draft preview covering the Orlando Magic. There are still a handful a teams needing to be previewed, but Daily Basketball will post as many of them as possible before the draft tomorrow.
Previous season record: 40-42
Picks held: #44, #54
The 2007 NBA Draft is approaching rapidly, and the Orlando Magic isn’t really being talked about, with good reason. Orlando will head to New York on Thursday with just two second round picks, the 44th and 54th overall pick respectively.
Following a 40-42 record, Orlando let go of coach Brian Hill, signed and lost Billy Donovan, then settled on Stan Van Gundy, a winning coach who looks like he will be a good fit.
The off-season will be a crucial one for Orlando, who will try to re-sign rising, young big man, Darko Milicic, as well as bring in a top outside scorer through free agency. Rashard Lewis, a former second round pick, will be on the team’s short wish list.
The Magic might also try to find their perimeter player through trade. Gilbert Arenas, another former second rounder, could also be if interest for Orlando but it might be tough to pull off a trade with the inter-division Wizards.
While the team will try to get their wing player through other means than the draft, a big man and a backup guard are also key needs for Orlando.
A team that has had little success with second round picks, Orlando will hope to turn their luck around and find another Arenas or Lewis in this year’s draft.
In the big man department, the team needs a tough post player who isn’t afraid to scrap or mix it up. While Glen Davis from LSU and Herbert Hill from Providence have been mentioned, I am high on another player. That guy is Stephane Lasme from UMass. He is like a more athletic Bo Outlaw, and he can come in and contribute right away. Lasme’s addition would be welcomed, and he could very well be around at 54.
Other names mentioned have been Aaron Gray from Pittsburgh, a big time performer in college, who may or may not find success in the NBA. At 44, he could be a good NBA back up, all that you can ask for in the second round.
While those big men could help contribute in a big way in Orlando, none will likely be all-stars. The Magic could also gamble on a high potential player who fell, and find the next Arenas.
There are several players who will fit that description. Gabe Pruitt, a point PG from USC could fall to Orlando at 44. He is a water-bug type player who could be a poor man’s Allen Iverson.
Another player who could be a high ceiling low floor type is Petteri Koponen, a traditional PG from Finland. He could also be a steal at 44.
While all the before mentioned players could contribute to the team, and even possibly become studs, there are several players the Magic could hope to free fall.
Marco Belinelli from Italy is a tremendous scorer that has drawn comparisons to Ray Allen and Manu Ginobili. He is a borderline first rounder, and if he fell, he could be a great perimeter player for Orlando.
Josh McRoberts from Duke, could also fall, and if he did, Orlando would jump on the consistent big man.
While they aren’t likely to make headlines in this year’s draft, Orlando will hope to find a potential play maker in the rough with their two second rounders. If the team can get even a five points, five rebound player like Lasme in the draft, it will considered a success for a team who’s best days aren’t far ahead.
Read more about the team at Brendan’s blog, Believing in Magic.
June 26, 2007 at 9:45 am · Filed under NBA
Well, it’s about time Daily Basketball gets a preview for the team with the #1 pick! Blazer’s Edge blogger Dave wrote this up.
2006-07 Record: 32-50
This Year’s Picks: #1, #37, #42, #52, #53
The Portland Blazers sit in the catbird seat in this year’s draft by virtue of their crazy-mad ping-pong ball skillz. They have two pressing needs: center and small forward. By happy coincidence the two major prospects in the draft, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, fill those positions. New Portland GM Kevin Pritchard claims many sleepless nights in the last few weeks trying to choose between them. Oden-like size and skills have historically led to championships in the NBA but many are speculating that Durant has a greater upside and may be the next player to revolutionize the game in Jordan-like fashion. Oden brings much-needed defense whereas Durant brings much-needed offense. Oden impressed with his raw ability and personality but Durant had the superior workout and perhaps greater intensity and drive. Pritchard’s modus operandi is to involve many voices in the decision-making process and then to hash things out until those voices come to a consensus. That may not be possible in this case. It’s a sure bet that at least a third of the Blazer war room will dissent whichever way the decision goes.
Despite the seeming controversy odds are that the Blazers will go with Oden’s size and defense to complement the games of Brandon Roy, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Sergio Rodriguez. A frontcourt of Oden and Aldridge could be a defensive nightmare for opponents for years to come. The Blazers also need defensive rebounding help and Oden fits that bill. Besides, in the end centers are irreplaceable.
As if that weren’t enough intrigue Pritchard is also aiming to get a second first-round pick through a combination of talent, second-rounders, and future picks. Power forward Zach Randolph and point guard Jarrett Jack are rumored to be available. Speculation has Portland angling for a point guard with the second pick, although if it were high enough they wouldn’t hesitate to grab a big man or small forward, whichever they passed on with the first overall pick. Picks rumored to be under consideration range from Atlanta’s #3 to New Jersey’s #17. Chicago has been a persistent rumor although because of salary issues it’s unlikely any deal for the #9 selection could be consummated until after the draft. After swinging six trades last summer nobody is betting against Pritchard’s ability to get what he wants and it’s a good bet that the excitement for Portland won’t end with the announcement of the first pick.
To read analysis about the Blazers’ draft, visit Blazer’s Edge.
June 25, 2007 at 8:11 pm · Filed under NBA
Well, the Philadelphia Sixers have already been covered once, but Jon from Passion and Pride has this interest NBA draft preview to contribute.
What do Hilton Armstrong, Yaroslav Korolev, Robert Swift, Nick Collison, Melvin Ely, Vladimir Radmanovic, Etan Thomas, Aleksandar Radojevic, Michael Doleac, Austin Croshere, Vitaly Potapenko, Cherokee Parks, Khalid Reeves, George Lynch, Harold Miner, Greg Anthony, and Alec Kessler have in common? They were the last 17 draft picks at pick twelve. Unimpressed? You should be. You could argue that George Lynch turned out to be the best of that group.
Sixers fans remember how limited we were offensively when Lynch roamed the court as our starting small forward. We were solid defensively, with shotblocking, rebounding, and forcing turnovers creating easy baskets on the other end. However, the offense couldn’t sustain itself without opportunities in transition. Iverson had to bail ‘em out time and time again, but it wasn’t his heroic efforts that gave the Sixers a chance to compete for the title. It was their solid defense that held the opponent in check.
It seems like an eternity since those offensively challenged days. However, the Sixers are still lacking an offensive punch to go with Andre Iguodala’s emergence on the wing. While we need a post presence and some depth at forward, what we need most is somebody with a scorer’s mentality. In addition, finding help on the backboards and a low post presence are key.
Q. WHERE TO START?
A. Andre Miller - The Sixers can stand pat and fill these needs, if they play it smart. The low post presence that clearly is worth trading up for is Al Horford. I personally think it would take more than Andre Miller and the 12 pick for him, but I don’t hold a lot of faith that Atlanta realizes this. Miller and the 12th pick likely could land Milwaukee’s 6th pick, but I would prefer to wait on Miller and dump Willie Green instead. Then, next summer when Miller becomes a free agent, you have more flexibility if you want to sign him or look elsewhere for a point guard.
Next year’s point guard class is supposed to be strong (according to St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli on NBC10’s Sports Final last night - I’ll take his word that he knows a little about point guards and I’m too lazy…ahem, busy…to check on that). Besides, it gives you another year to evaluate Louis Williams. I’m not crazy about Conley, and Acie Law is really a combo guard. You can take Law at 12 if he’s there, but only if he’s the best available player.
Q. AFTER MILLER, THEN WHAT?
A. Looking to the frontcourt - It remains to be seen if the Sixers would trade Sam Dalembert or Steven Hunter on draft day. Either one can be had for the right deal. Again, we return to Horford. The Sixers need to exhaust every possibility to get him. However, if the price is too high then the Sixers should stay at 12. What price would be too high? For some, anything that doesn’t include Iguodala is just fine. I would be open to a 3-for-1 trade here, but don’t like the idea of trading the 12th and 21st picks if you can help it. I do like the idea of trading multiple members of the supporting cast. The most likely to go would be Miller and his expiring contract.
Q. Ok, what about the prospects?
A. There’s several guys to like that you can feel comfortable picking 12th if you do your homework. I’ve clearly endorsed Horford, so exhausting all possibilities that fall short, the Sixers still have some options. Brandan Wright is an intriguing prospect and worthy of trading up to get him. If you can do a deal, you’re in the ballpark of selecting Horford anyway. Joakim Noah is probably the next best bet, but he has too many limitations in his game to consider trading pieces to get him. After Noah, Spencer Hawes has a lot of potential and solid fundamental skills with which to develop. Both Hawes and Noah will be great complimentary players with decent NBA careers. Unfortunately, that won’t make them stars. That’s why the Sixers should look elsewhere. No, I’m not talking about a Yi Jianlian slide to 12…at least I hope not.
There are a few options at the forward spot that fills the most need for the Sixers. The player you’ve gotta love is Al Thornton. He played the power forward position for Florida State, but he possesses a solid midrange game and is an excellent shooter. The thing I like about him was that he came up big in big games. He also averaged 9 boards and just shy of 20 points per game. He fits the mold of the undersized power forward that is making waves in the new NBA. He has the athleticism to play small forward as well. He’s a tenacious player who would thrive playing alongside Andre Iguodala.
After Thornton, you’ve got Jeff Green, Julian Wright, and Corey Brewer. Two of those three will be gone at 12. Whoever is available, and it’s likely to be Wright, has question marks about whether they possess the big time scorer’s mentality. That’s why I’d turn to the backcourt if I don’t get Thornton (option number 2 behind Horford).
Option 3 is Acie Law IV or Rodney Stuckey. Both players are clutch scorers. They also give Iguodala another ballhandling option. I see both players as combo guards who can make an immediate impact. For a comparison, pick your favorite combo guard in the league and there you go. These guys know how to play and would fill it up from the perimeter.
If you end up going with door number three, you’d have to look inside for your next pick. The Sixers just can’t go into next season with a big man rotation of Sam Dalembert, Steven Hunter, and Shavlik Randolph. While Joe Smith would definitely be worth bringing back, there’s likely a better situation out there for him (Chicago?).
Aaron Gray would give them a big body to address their needs in the middle, although he could possibly be had a 30. If you’re confident in him or Kyle Visser as the backup plan, pick 21 could be used for a foreign investment. Tiago Splitter and Rudy Fernandez are likely to be available at 21 and won’t play in the NBA next year due to contractual issues. Once they decide to come over, you can expect a huge contribution for either one. It could be as early as one year later, but it gives the Sixers flexibility in signing their picks and managing the cap. The Sixers need one more year to get things under control.
Q. Isn’t the only way to get things under control is to fire Billy King?
A. Perhaps. But let’s give him the chance to atone for his mistakes. After all, he did draft Andre Iguodala and that was a nice find. As long as you’re not asking him to re-up contracts, I think he’ll make the best move possible here. He can’t oversign for Joe Smith if he wants to bring him back. He’s resisted the urge to flip Miller to a contender (a wise decision, considering that his expiring contract becomes very valuable this season). We need to be patient. It was impatience that lead to the trade of Chris Webber, but it was a trade that was right for the time as Iverson’s days were numbered already. It’s going to take the Sixers a few years to right this ship, but if they make the right decisions in this draft, they’ll be on their way. It could happen quicker than people think. Playoffs, anyone?
To read more about the Sixers, visit Passion and Pride.
June 25, 2007 at 7:42 pm · Filed under NBA
This NBA draft preview is about the baby NBA franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, or “America’s Team” if you ask Hugh Allyn (”Blogcat”) of The Charlotte Blogcat and Bobcats Planet.
Previous season record: 33-49
Team’s draft picks: #8, #22
Okay, now that it’s official and Bonzi Wells is staying in Houston, I can proceed with this draft preview. I can also proceed to come down off the ledge, because lately I’ve had terrible nightmares in which our “big” free agency pickup ends up being Bonzi. These dreams were akin to that digital girl’s in the Final Fantasy movie, only with giant “Bonzi” armies coming at me and threatening to rip out my screaming soul instead of aliens. As a longtime Yankees fan, I’ve already been tormented enough by fat, underachieving guys named “Wells.” So bless you, Bonzi, for staying in Houston.
(PS—I love how ESPN.com diplomatically put it in the release: “The temperamental Wells hardly played last season, sidelined with various injuries and a rift with coach Jeff Van Gundy.” “Various injuries?” I guess “acute laziness” and “chronic obesity” are considered injuries then. “Rift?” It’s not like he and Jeff Van Gundy were having an argument over what the national health care system should look like. This was only a rift if you consider a disagreement over whether or not a player should be allowed to miss practice repeatedly because he’s hung over in his hotel and scarfing down packs of Ding Dongs and Ho Hos to be a “rift.”)
Moving on, so how are we going to handle the draft this Thursday? Here’s what we’ve got: the 8th and 22nd picks in the draft and about $30 million in cap space. We’ve got good-to-great starters at point guard (Raymond Felton), small forward (Gerald Wallace), and power forward (Emeka Okafor). We’ve got a fair-to-good shooting guard (Matt Carroll) who really should be coming off the bench. And we’ve got a bad-to-horrible center (Primoz Brezec) who really should be the World’s Tallest Sword-Eater or something in a traveling East European gypsy carnival.
We’ve also got a bunch of spare parts: Walter Herrmann, a shoot-first, defense-almost-never backup 3; Adam Morrison, a shoot-first, miss-often, defense-somehow-even-less-than-Herrmann backup 2/3; Brevin Knight, a backup point guard with starting groin injury potential; Sean May, a Bonzi-Wells-in-training but with maddeningly great ability for the third of a season he DOES get around to playing the 4; Jake Voskuhl, a hard fouling specialist to backup Primoz Brezec (or, really, “replace” is probably the better word, particularly after Primoz picks up his 3rd foul just five minutes into the game and then loses a jump ball to Nate Robinson). We’ve also got Jeff McInnis as the backup-backup point guard, and Ryan Hollins as the backup-backup center, but if this rundown was sung to the Gilligan’s Island theme song, you’d say their names like “the Professor and Mary-Ann”; they’re basically bit players in this zaniness.
So how will this go down? Well, I gotta say, mock drafts are almost as instructive as dorky, because it allowed me to see how things might shake out. I think I learned some crucial information, and now I feel kinda like Donnie Darko, using knowledge gained in a parallel universe to go back in time to save the actual universe (hopefully, this doesn’t also require getting impaled by a gigantic falling airplane turbine, especially with some song by Echo and the Bunnymen or Joy Division playing in the background—that would be horrible).
First, I think it’s a safe bet that Messrs. Oden, Durant, Horford, Jianlian, and Conley will already be off the board by the time the pick comes to us. But someone from the pool of Jeff Green, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, and Brandan Wright will still be around. If it’s either of the first two, I would take them unequivocally (especially Brewer). At this high up, we have to draft according to the best player, NOT according to need. Green and Brewer would both be quality fill-ins at the 3; Brewer might be a starter right now at the 2, and Green can take over when (not if) Okafor pops something in his legs and has to sit for a quarter of the season.
And yeah, I’d probably take Noah if he’s around too. I know, I know, I’ve been crucifying him on and off for the past few weeks, and yes, he’s annoying every time he opens his mouth AND he looks irritatingly like Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart, but he’s performed well in all of his workouts. Plus, he might be able to play the center, and I want another dose of Brezec at center for a year like I want a dose of the clap. And again, Okafor’s a threat to miss 10 games in a row or more at any time, and someone’s going to need to step in.
However, I would NOT take Brandan Wright if he’s the one left at #8. He’s rawer than a California roll and was frighteningly unmotivated last year for long periods of time, despite UNC Coach Roy Williams turning various shades of purple on the bench. If Wright is the only one left, I would look to trade this pick for one in the mid-teens and a competent backup PG or C. And with that ensuing mid-round pick I’d shoot for a Spencer Hawes, an Al Thornton, a Julian Wright, an Acie Law, a Thaddeus Young, or a Nick Young…or a Brandan Wright, for that matter.
As for the 22nd pick, ideally I’d like Javaris Crittenton or Gabe Pruitt to still be there, because, seriously, let’s face it: something on Brevin Knight is going to blow at any moment. He’s like a major household appliance on the last year of its warranty. This is also assuming that we haven’t been able to land Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, or Smush Parker thru free agency at a reasonable price (and, hell, even if we CAN get Parker). Morris Almond keeps being tossed around, but I really don’t know anything about the shooting guard factory that is Rice University. Someone mentioned BC/Boston County Correctional Facility’s Sean Williams too, but I’d rather avoid a guy who seems to live his life as if it were a game of Grand Theft Auto. And frankly, I’m hoping he goes to the Nets and combines with Marcus Williams and three others to someday form the League’s only All-Juvenile Delinquent squad.
So there you have it. There’s plenty to be excited about come Thursday, and it’s also going to be tough to screw this one up…but not impossible.
June 25, 2007 at 3:41 pm · Filed under NBA
With our next post of the day, Brian of Empty the Bench has a preview of the Detroit Pistons.
2007 NBA Draft Picks: #15, #27, #57
Position Needs: PG, SG, SF, C
Few NBA franchises would deem a season culminating in a fifth-straight trip to the Conference Finals as “disappointing.” But when you’re the Detroit Pistons, success is not something merely strived for—it’s expected by the owner on down to the dedicated fanbase. Unfortunately, another season that fell short of an appearance in the NBA Finals has many screaming for change, for a youth movement, for a rededication to the kind of balls-out play that earned this core group a title back in ’04.
The reality for Detroit, however, is much less grim than some NBA observers would have you believe. Sure, an infusion of fresh-faced young talent into the regular rotation can no longer be considered an unnecessary luxury, but instead an essential component of a roster that stands to be somewhat retooled this summer. And while the core members of
this Pistons squad, like every other human being on the planet, are not
getting any younger, to call the collective group of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace “old” is a bit short-sighted. When he turns 33 in September, Wallace will be the oldest of the bunch, followed by Billups (31 in September), Hamilton (29), and Prince (27).
As they always do during the dog days of summer, rumors have flown that Pistons GM Joe Dumars will consider drastically shaking up his team and listen to offers for anyone under contract. Dumars himself has confirmed that he’s open to any move that will improve the Pistons, but that he’s “not having a fire sale.” His first order of business is making the right picks on Thursday. He’ll then focus on resigning Billups come July 1, followed by re-upping key sixth man Antonio McDyess, locking up talented 20-year-old forward Amir Johnson (more on him later), and figuring out the center conundrum.
Whether or not Dumars brings the entire core back for another run, or only part of it, a youth movement will be underway. After wrapping up a successful sophomore season, undersized-but-ferocious power forward Jason Maxiell stands to have more helpings at the infant buffet. And the 2007/08 season should finally see Amir Johnson, a second-round pick two years ago straight out of high school, get considerable burn on the floor, and not just during garbage time.
All accounts are that if Johnson had gone to college for two years, and come out this season for the draft, that he would be almost a lock to be taken within the top 10 picks. That’s all conjecture at this point, but there’s no mistaking the immense potential of this 6-10 forward. In many ways, he reminds ETB of a young Jermaine O’Neal. Read the rest of this entry »
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