This draft's theme: NBA-ready bodies who simply haven't panned out. In this top 10 we have three careers which've been stunted (or stopped outright) by injuries, three guys with prototypical talent-sets who've become completely average players, and two players with freakish physical talents who can't seem to make their prolific statistics result in wins. There are only *two* abject busts. Not bad.
1. Rockets - Yao Ming -- There are many things, good and bad, to say about Yao Ming. They've all been said before. Was he worth the #1 pick? Maybe ... or *definitely* if you're the Houston owner and you enjoy money (cause Ming's presence also turned Tracy McGrady into China's favorite player, which would be a funny cultural issue to explore at another time). I won't dock the Rockets for his injury troubles. BUT, the Rockets have been pathetic underachievers with Ming and McGrady. *One* superstar is supposed to be enough to make you a contender (LBJ). The Rockets have *two* players who have been labeled superstars throughout their careers, and yet they can't get out of the first round. Further proof that statistics are overrated. However, Ming's remaining potential and the reality of economics prevent me from criticizing this selection.
2. Bulls - Jay Williams -- For another player (like Kellen Winslow Jr.) you could criticize the team for ignoring character questions ... that's simply not a valid argument with this guy. His motorcycle accident was a bizarre, unfortunate fluke. In my opinion, if that had never happened, Williams would be a very solid player, and right now the Bulls wouldn't be stupidly shopping Kirk Hinrich so they could acquire Derrick Rose. Point guards should not be drafted in the top-3.
3. Warriors - Mike Dunleavy -- In college he was a very nice switch-blade player who looked great because he was surrounded by *better* players on a high-profile team. He's a skinny white guy with no expertise. Why did we think he would be any more than a semi-useful role player? He's become *exactly* what he was meant to be.
4. Grizzlies - Drew Gooden -- Why is a rebounding savant with limited offense and character flaws being drafted in the top-5? I don't understand this. Maturity questions have been thoroughly answered by the hideous patch of fur he keeps on the back of his neck ... and his unwillingness to pass despite being a terrible shooter. This guy could still contribute to a title winner, he just needs a little mentoring from Dennis Rodman.
5. Nuggets - Nickoloz Tskitishvili -- Skinny white euro-trash. Terrible pick, even if every scout in the world was insisting that this weed was gonna be Nowitzki, because Nowitzki is a 7' wuss who'll never win a title. Not worth the 5th pick.
6. Cavaliers - DaJuan Wagner -- A tweener guard who has no interest in doing anything but shooting has turned out to be a flop? Where am I? Is this Oz? The Bizarro World? Oh, no, I forgot, this is reality. EARTH TO NBA TEAMS: DO NOT DRAFT JERRYD BAYLESS!!!
7. Nuggets - Neno Hilario -- Meh. Who the Hell knows with these things. Nene had an NBA body and NBA skills. He's shown flashes. He still might turn out to be something worthwhile. I've got nothing else to say.
8. Clippers - Chris Wilcox -- The most NBA-ready player on Maryland's Tourney-winner was also its least-productive. He underachieved in college, and he's underachieved in the NBA. Not a bad player, though. Hard to criticize the pick ... except that Stoudamire was still on the board.
9. Suns - Amare Stoudamire -- Great pick, obviously. What's most incredible about Stoudamire is his full recovery from two micro-fractures. He's a freak! Do I have critical things to say about him? Yes. I don't believe he's nearly as impactful as his statistics. But he's young and he can figure things out. But with D'Antoni gone and Nash about to drop dead, he's nearing a climax, we'll see which direction his career takes ...
10. Heat - Caron Butler -- Good body, tough-as-nails, plenty of skills ... Butler is the kind of piece you want to add to an NBA team, no matter what your roster looks like.
Look at this list. How many of these guys have had a substantial impact on their team? Yes, Yao and Amare are excellent players, but we've repeatedly witnessed their teams flourish without them. They haven't 'figured it out' yet (remember when we were saying that about Kobe all season? that was funny). There's one guy who fits the bill: Caron Butler, a talented, hard-nosed competitor with a reputation for tenacity. Personality. Personality. Personality. The last few Wizards' seasons exemplify the importance of guys like Caron Butler, and the degrading poison of players like Gilbert Arenas, which brings us back to the terribleness of the DaJuan Wagner pick ... actually, the Cavaliers should be thrilled that he didn't pan out.
This time, THINK before you respond. If all you can come up with is: 'Hey dud, Gillbert scorz 30 #### POINTS EVRY GAMe! And Yau is the best senter in the WRRLD!!' Don't bother responding. I'm not interested. I'm perfectly aware of the opinions of mindless tools and their insubstantial arguments. Give me something meaty to chew on.
I agree that Tskitishvili was a terrible pick and I certainly remember all of the Nowitzki comparisons. I do however take exception to your comments about Nowitzki. Look at his numbers first off. Then look at the injuries he's had and the amount of time he has missed. I assure you that he is no "wuss." If anyone is a wuss, I would have to say that would be Amare Stoudamire. He missed a lot more time than Nowitzki and refuses to play defense. Sure he gets his dunks but that is credited to Nash mostly. Nowitkzi has also made it a little bit farther than Amare in the playoffs. Just my two cents. Good blog.
I seem to remember Stoudemire falling because of character issues. I totally agree on the assessment of Nowitzki, except the wuss part. He's arguably the most overrated player in the league and never deserved to win an MVP award. I've never seen him as a team's go-to-guy, more like a second or third option.
This looks like a bad draft class, in terms of lack of superstar talent. I think the worst draft I can remember was the one where Mike Miller ended up winning the Rookie of the Year.
There's only a handful of players, in this year's draft that look like they're going to have success in the league.
Chauncey Billups, Allen Iverson, Steve Francis, Baron Davis, Mike Bibby, Ben Gordon, Deron Williams
Those are the guys that are combo guards or point guards drafted between 1995-2005 (at least 3 years experience in order to evaluate).
I'm not going to use the Arenas argument, but I will say that four of the seven have been to the conference finals and every player on the list has been past the first round. They all were integral parts to their team.
I would definitely disagree that the PG pick in the top 3 is a bad idea since every one of the true PGs on the list have been all-stars. The combo guard is a little riskier because like you said, they can get 30 points, but that doesn't mean it helps the team to win.
My draft advice: Rose will be a difference-maker, Bayless will score but not improve the team.
I dumped the Mariners a long time ago, I've now dumped baseball because its records are now held by blatant cheaters and everyone's okay with it, and I'm now being forced to dump the Sonics. It's down to the Seahawks and the Huskies ... and maybe the Trailblazers. It's depressing. All of that lost Sports-Energy is now being diverted into hating Michael Vick, Notre Dame, and anyone else who is overrated and/or criminal (I'm looking right at you, Jimmy Clausen).
