Musts: 

 

Rodney Stuckey -  

At 6-4, Stuckey is a wonderfully talented athlete who can play both guard positions in the NBA. In the mold of a Chauncey Billups, Stuckey flew under the radar at little known Eastern Washington University of the Big Sky. But don't let his pedigree fool you. Stuckey is a tremendous scorer and playmaker (31 against Washington and 25 against UNLV) as well as a very good defender. Capable of hitting the open three (37 percent in '05), Stuckey has a nice pull-up jumper from 18 feet as well as a more-than-adequate handle. He will immediately vie for playing time and help shoulder the scoring load from Billups and Richard Hamilton. Over time, the Seattle product will bloom into one of the better 2s in the league.

Marco Belinelli -

Not many know who Belinelli is yet, but they will. At 6-6, the lanky Italian is a gifted scorer who should fit perfectly into Don Nelson's system in Oakland. The concern here is that he is more of a Mike Dunleavy type of guy who drifts around the perimeter solely looking to spot up and shoot jumpers. Despite his size, Belinelli tends to stay away from the basket. However, he is a very capable athlete with a great feel for the game. Although his three point percentage dropped from 44 percent to 32 percent in Euroleague ball from 2005 to 2006, he seemingly rediscovered it in pre-draft workouts, and more recently in summer league play as the team's leading scorer with nearly 23 ppg. As Belinelli matures and learns to slash a little more, his jumper will open up. As a rookie, the kid cannot ask for a better situation than the free nature of Nellieball. Look for him to eventually develop into a 16+ points per game starter who will ultimately serve as an excellent value pick at 18.

 

Mike Conley -  

Conley is the best prospect in the draft not named Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Perhaps the most dynamic player of the Class of '07, Conley possesses the rare ability to break defenders down off the dribble and both finish and create for others in the lane. A suspect shooter, Conley will surely develop his jumper over time. When he is able to do so, opponents will no longer be able to cushion him and he can use his playmaking skills even more effectively. After a wonderful freshman campaign that saw him average over 6 assists per game, Conley established himself as the premier point guard in the draft. The lightning quick Conley possesses a great understanding of the game and will fit in perfectly with running mates Hakim Warrick and Rudy Gay, as well as be a very formidable pick and roll combo with Pau Gasol. Conley will be an All-Star point guard for years to come.

Corey Brewer -

Brewer is a wonderful talent who can do it from anywhere on the floor. At a ridiculously long 6-8, he is by far the draft's best perimeter defender. College hoop fans will surely remember his memorable Final Four lockdown of UCLA guard Aaron Afflalo two years in a row. Brewer is the hybrid of the new NBA player with all the tools in the world. He can run and finish in transition, and consistently shut down the opposing team's best scorer. Some question Brewer's offensive ability, but with time it will develop. Nonetheless, the two-time national champion can knock down shots and post up shorter defenders. Most importantly, he is a winner -- an intangible the Wolves have been severely lacking (KG not included, of course). Even among the plethora of forwards in the Western Conference, Brewer will eventually flourish into one of the best 3s in the league.

Jeff Green -

The Big East Player of the Year at Georgetown, Green is a multi-dimensional dream. The 6-8 swing is a wonderful talent who is both unselfish and a floor leader. He may not be a great athlete, but as a 3 man in the league he can both create for others (over 3 assists per game in '06) and for himself. Green is a very capable defender who will fit right into Seattle's long term plan. With excellent running point guards in Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson, the addition of Green as well as Kevin Durant will allow Seattle to maximize the transition game much more effectively than in years past. The departure of free agent Rashard Lewis will mean significant minutes for Green right away, who is NBA-ready today. He may not be as flashy as Durant, but Green has the potential to be a Josh Howard type of player and even an All-Star if he stays healthy.

 

Sleepers:

Derrick Byars -

I cannot believe Byars slipped to 42. The SEC Player of the Year is as versatile as anyone. Think of him as a poor man's Corey Brewer who really isn't that poor. At 6-7, Byars possesses wonderful lateral quickness and toughness. With the ability to guard three positions effectively (1, 2, and 3), he loves to rebound and can handle the ball. Despite not having the pure stroke of most 2s, Byars still averaged 17 ppg and shot 46 percent from the floor in the nation's toughest conference. The former Vanderbilt star isn't the most gifted athlete or shooter, but Byars is one of those guys who simply knows how to play. Byars will be this draft's Paul Millsap from Utah. He isn't the same type of player as the former Louisiana Tech star, but like Millsap, Byars is a tweener who doesn't have a true NBA position. However, he does have the talent and ruggedness that will make NBA GMs regret passing on him earlier in the draft. He will make an immediate impact spelling time for Andre Iguodala and Willie Green, and eventually may become a starter for an NBA team. At the very least, expect Byars to be a great 6th man off the bench who provides a spark at both ends of the floor.

Ramon Sessions -

 

The former Nevada star went relatively unnoticed playing beside Nick Fazekas and Marcelus Kemp, but don't let that fool you. At 6-3, Sessions has good size for a point. He maintains a very good handle and is a tough defender. Sessions may not be a great leaper, but he really understands the game. In three seasons with the Wolfpack, he averaged 5 dimes a game, while barely turning the ball over. Look for Sessions to compete for immediate minutes backing up Mo Williams and Earl Boykins, and to even play a little combo guard as well. Over time, Sessions could flourish into a solid NBA player who can run a team as either a starter or consistent back-up point. He will serve as an excellent value pick at 53.

 

Gabe Pruitt -

 

In other drafts, the former Trojan could have easily been a first-round selection. Pruitt is a terrific natural scorer who can play both guard positions. During his three-year career at USC, the 6-3 Pruitt developed into an adept three-point shooter who can finish on the break as well as distribute for his teammates. Similar in mold to the Mavs' Jason Terry, Pruitt can impress with his scoring but must improve his decision-making at times. Nonetheless, he will be an upgrade from the incumbent Rajon Rondo, and will benefit from the recent departure of Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak. Ultimately, expect Pruitt to become a consistent starter or spark off the bench for an NBA team.

 

 

 

Busts:

 

Brandan Wright -  

Is he Rodney White or Chris Bosh? I went back and forth on Wright all season. Sure he had a great freshman year at Carolina, but there are a variety of concerns around the 6-9 Wright. Despite being freakishly long and a very quick leaper, Wright has no rebounding technique other than simply jumping. Scouts like his soft touch around the hoop, but I question both his toughness and strength. Wright is a natural 4 in a 3 man's body. He will struggle guarding stronger posts in the low block, and doesn't have the interior moves to consistently score there. Similar to Belinelli, the Golden State system will surely be a plus for Wright because he loves to run the break. But unlike Belinelli he doesn't have the range on his jumper that is necessary to be successful both on the break and in a half court game. He is a talented kid who will never maximize all the natural ability he has.

Yi Jianlian -

The Chinese import is a very good athlete who loves to block shots and dunk. Despite his size, Yi is much more of a wing than an interior presence. Unfortunately, he is not a very good perimeter defender and must improve his lateral quickness. Furthermore, long thought to be just 19 years old, many now believe he is actually 23 or 24, which greatly hurts Yi's "project" factor. Chinese officials have made it very clear they do not want Yi playing in Milwaukee although it now appears he will have no choice but to do so. Ideally, Yi would go to a team that likes to run because he has the ability to finish around the basket on the move. The re-signing of point guard Mo Williams should help Yi. Similar to Conley and Gasol in Memphis, they have the potential to form a promising pick and pop combination on the perimeter. Nonetheless, Yi really struggled in summer league play (10 fouls in one game and shot just 25% while averaging less than 5 rebounds and turning it over 5 times a game), and will only continue to have problems with the power and brute nature of the NBA. Defensively it gets worse for Yi. A huge question mark for the Chinese import what position he will be able to guard. Yi is too lean to defend most 4s and 5s, and not quick enough to guard most 3s. He has bust written all over him.

 

Spencer Hawes -  

The skinny 7-footer from Washington is softer than Charmin. Despite having a very impressive face-up jumper and the ability to pass from the center position, Hawes is horrible defensively (70th in Division I in blocks) and doesn't love to rebound (averaged less than 7 a game). At barely 225 lbs., the 19-year-old Seattleite is rail thin, even by collegiate standards. I do not see how he will able to defend stronger players down on the block - can he guard Greg Oden, let alone Shaq? -- considering he got destroyed by the Lopez twins from Stanford. Ideally Hawes will develop into a Brad Miller type of center who can operate out of the high post two dimensionally, by both shooting the 16 footer as well as feeding cutters through the lane. However, unlike Miller, Hawes doesn't have the toughness or tenacity necessary to be an NBA center, despite having a similar skill set. Making matters worse, the former Husky has a poor attitude and has never been a consistent winner. He was unable to qualify for a state tournament in three seasons with Portland Trailblazers guard Martell Webster in high school. He then failed to lead a talented Husky team to either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT last season. Hawes has some of the tools necessary to be a good pro, but he has a ton of work to do if he wants to get there. I just don't see it.

Nick Young -

 

Everyone and their mom seems to love Nick Young. Perhaps he is a steal at 16 for the Wizards. Young is a terrific shooter (44 percent from three, 53 percent from the field last season) and a natural scorer from the 2 guard position. However, he is a lackadaisical defender who tends to snooze even more when his shot isn't falling.  The 6-6 Young must add strength to his lean frame if he wants to both improve defensively and consistently create his shot off of the dribble in the NBA. Further, he could not have gone into a worse situation than Washington. The Wizards already have a wonderful trio of scoring wings in Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, and Gilbert Arenas, which will dramatically hurt Young's chances of significant playing time early in his career. Over time, he may develop into a decent starter in the league, but don't expect Young to be an All Star or anything close to it. Most likely he'll be a spot scorer off the bench and a liability defensively, hardly worthy of all that bobo juice.

 

Daequan Cook -

Cook is similar in mold to Nuggets malcontent guard J.R. Smith. He is very athletic and loves to shoot the three (42 percent), but Cook is far from NBA-ready; he should have stayed in school a couple more years. The freshman from Ohio State saw his playing time steadily decrease as the season progressed due to a lack of commitment on defense and poor shot selection. Cook had an atrocious NCAA Tournament (9-30) while averaging under 5 ppg. He will almost surely spend time in the D League to develop, and is certainly a project that will take several years.  Although athletic, the 6-4 guard needs to dramatically improve his handle and defensive skills. He is not a lost cause, but I do not see Cook developing into a consistent starter in the league. 

Somebody tell me what is wrong with ESPN?  On one hand, I love the network.  It has wonderful HD capabilities, the best show on television in Sportscenter, and the second best show on TV in College Gameday.  In the past 25 plus years, ESPN has flourished from Bristol baby to booming media giant.  Owning the right's to more games and events than any other sports network, it has become the Michael Jordan of media.  But somewhere in the shuffle of millions of games, anchors, and guest hosts, ESPN has lost its identity. 

 

 

 

            The self proclaimed Worldwide Leader of Sports will literally give a microphone to anyone.  You're a former pro athlete with drug problems?  Come on down?  You've been charged with assault?  Say hello.  Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson were wonderful NFL receivers, yes, but that is precisely it.  They are not "professionally" qualified broadcasters.  Dee Brown had one of the greatest dunks I have ever seen with the "blindfold" and "pump" at the 1991 Dunk Contest, but he is a terrible broadcaster.  Swin Cash may be an All-Star in the WNBA, but she is atrocious in front of a teleprompter. 

 

 

 

            I admittedly watch ESPN on a tri-daily basis.  I wake up, pour my cereal, and turn it on.  I follow it during the day in the office, and I watch it every night before bed with a cold brew.  It's the only show I religiously watch other than Entourage, although it should be noted that Katherine Heigl's efforts on Grey's Anatomy last spring made a respectable push.  At the end of the day, ESPN provides the 24-hour sports coverage that the sickly obsessive sports fan such as myself requires.  Baseball Tonight is a wonderfully hosted show by Karl Ravech that provides great highlights and used to provide great analysis.  But with the recent additions of two former baseball players in Fernando Vina and Eric Young, the show now dramatically suffers in that department.  Seriously, Young was so bad the other day that I muted the TV every time he spoke, and Vina hasn't made a significant point in two months. 

 

 

            Recently I have become more and more disgruntled with ESPN as I've noticed the quality of its shows disintegrate.  I used to love Stuart Scott.  The dynamic duo of him and Dan Patrick was the face of Sportscenter in the late 90's.  But in the past couple years, something has changed about him.  It starts with that ridiculous earring he added to his left ear.  What is that?  He is reporting sports, not playing them.  Secondly, who is dressing that man?  Some of these suits... wow.  Purple pinstripes?  My God.  He just isn't the same guy.

 

 

 

            My boiling point recently occurred during my nightly Sportscenter viewing at 11.  My eyes perked when I saw the Sportscenter ticker read "ESPN NOW."  The series is a daily breakdown of two of sports' biggest stars going head to head in an on the field and off the field battle of both relativity and popularity.  We are currently in the second round of the 32-athlete field, and the three team panelist team has shifted from the incumbent Keyshawn Johnson, Kirk Herbstreit, and Michael Wilbon, to the stars of the upcoming movie comedy Chuck and Larry; Kevin James, hottie Jessica Biel, and Mike Greenberg.  As I tuned in (only to watch Biel), I couldn't help but fume over James' ridiculous drawn about comments about how he beat Tiger Woods in a hole of golf.  James - who at 5'9," 285 plus hardly qualifies as an athlete, then proceeded to choose Ladanian Tomlinson over Steve Nash in the next match-up because he is a former running back himself.  James made the outlandish comment that he used to run a 4.6 40 in high school.  Trust me, the only 40 he's ever run is the liquid kind.  In an epic first round match-up between Tony Parker and Roger Federer, Wilbon took TP not because he was the final's MVP, but because he finds Eva Longoria to be sexually stimulating.  I am not watching Sportscenter to learn who Mike Wilbon thinks is hot.

 

 

 

 

            It must be noted for anyone who has yet to see this segment, that "Who's Now" occurs during Sportscenter, in between Indians-Mariner highlights, and a Tom Rinaldi tear jerker.

 

 

 

            The segment is not only absurd, but its completely irrelevant.  Does anybody care?  I am actually shocked that people are even voting on each match-up.  In fact, perhaps I should conduct a further study and track where the votes are coming from.  I bet the same Chinese population who surge Yao Ming as overwhelming vote winner in the All-Star game the night before balloting ends are the same group who vote on the outcome of who is more now, Danica Patrick vs. Derek Jeter.  Scott reports the information with such anticipation in his voice that you'd think another war was starting.  "Dude is just sick, and he's dating Gisele."  Or "the kid is a flat out freak!" 

 

 

 

            For years I have long loved the efforts of Sportscenter to bring fans the most up to date information and interesting stories.  But with recent shows such as Dream Job (the contest where one aspiring sports anchor wins a job on ESPN), Baseball Tonight, and the useless segment Who's Now, I have reached my television boiling point capacity.  From here on out, I refuse to subject my eyes and ears to Kevin James' fat face talk about how he beat the greatest golfer in the world at his own game, or why Mike Greenberg thinks Dwayne Wade got shafted in his Who's Now tournament seeding.  Most importantly, I will no longer watch Stuart Scott and his assortment of revolting suits and fake Claire's earring host anymore... ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I'll never forget the day the Sonics traded for Vin Baker.  I was in 7th grade and was just coming into my prime as a Sonics fan.  My knowledge and love of the game peaking, the acquisition of Baker meant the Sonics now had a legitimate one-two punch with Gary Payton and Baker.  Baker was one of the league's premier 4's - similar to Elton Brand today - he wasn't flashy but he boarded and scored.  In his first season in Seattle, Baker was sensational.  An All-Star with GP, Vin put up 19 & 8.  Then came the turning point of a sure fire Hall of Fame career to a what many people today consider a joke of a career.

 

            The NBA lockout in the winter of 1998 ruined Baker.  After months of unsuccessful negotiations and watching Billy Hunter grimace on TV, Baker showed up a robust 50 lbs. overweight.  He no longer looked like an NBA player, and he didn't perform like one either.  He underperformed and saw his average dip 7 points per game and rebounding dip to a mere 5 boards a night.  Eventually, Baker was traded away, and finished his career up riding the pine for Houston, Boston, and New York.  I remember when he revisited KeyArena to play the Sonics a couple of years ago.  He looked unhappy as he aimlessly cheered for Juwan Howard and one's and Rafer Alston no look passes.  When he entered the game, Sonics fans were seemingly scared to boo, not because they liked Baker, but rather because of what he had become.  His days as a Sonic had become completely irrelevant.  Nobody cared that he was once a perennial All-Star or that he barely resembled a shell of his former self.  You know those games when a former player who never played returns?  Nobody seems to care because half the people don't even remember him.  This is what happened when Baker came back to Seattle. 

 

What has actually happened to Baker?  Rumors of alcoholism and depression have swirled around the 6'10" former Hartford Hawks star since the lockout.  Strip clubs, speeding, reckless driving: we've heard it all.  But why is Baker spending time at the Foxwoods Casino?  He made millions upon millions of dollars during his 13-year career in the league.  He was repped by Brand Jordan for heaven's sake.  Why is he gambling?  Why is he out at 3 in the morning?  Baker is the classic case of somebody who has everything to lose and nothing to gain.  As of today, Baker pleaded not guilty to drunken driving after he was pulled over for erratic driving on June 19.  "We're working with him to get him back on track," Baker's agent, Charles Grantham, said. "It's a difficult time, but we'll get it back together."  I'd say so.  Baker is the perfect example of a professional athlete who did not set himself up well during his basketball career.  As great as it is to play professional sports, one's knees and joints can only last so long.  The arena that is the NBA provides a wonderful opportunity to create contacts and connections for a successful career after basketball.  It is the chance to use your stardom as an opportunity to network.  It is the chance to make something of yourself outside of the hardwood lines of a court.  Baker failed to do any of this. 

 

For young athletes, especially high profile ones like Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, and Lebron James, Baker's road to hell is the premier example of what not to do.  In their 15 plus-year careers, these young superstars will have a plethora of opportunities to falter and travel down the wrong path.  Relatives they never knew existed will ask for new houses and cars, while helpless girls will practically throw themselves at them with the hope of fame.  As well received as Baker may have been before the lockout, his story proves than anybody is vulnerable.  Anybody is susceptible.  Let's hope these young stars don't make the same mistakes.