Who did bad, who did good?

Good:

Rockets. Got the franchise big man out of the draft, and the 3 they needed at pick 15.

Knicks. McDyess had one injury. People have had knee injuries before. Tim Duncan had one that kept him out of the playoffs two seasons ago. He's a good power forward anyway, and will probably be the best in the entire Eastern Conference. I'm guessing 23 points, 11 rebounds. Camby is undersized and injury prone. Mark Jackson is unnecessary. Hilario could be good, but is extremely raw offensively and is a risk. "Monster" players like him are around every year. (remember Swift?) The Nuggets didn't necessarily do bad, since they were losing McDyess anyway... but not a great night either.

Jazz. Got a lottery big man for an undersized power forward and a second round pick.

Lakers. Received Kareem Rush for almost free.

Spurs. Got a pretty good PG in Speedy Claxton, and a creator (something they definitely need) for two picks and Mark Bryant.

Hawks. Traded for a very nice and ready to play PG in Dan Dickau for a future pick. Nice move, especially for a team desperately needing a good point.

Wizards. Jared Jeffries is a steal at 11. Juan Dixon, despite his physical shortcomings, is a winner. He'll find a way to contribute.

Heat. Caron Butler at 10? 'Nuff said.

Bad:

Pacers. I wasn't sure Fred Jones would get drafted, much less at 14. WTF?

Raptors. What is trading Kareem Rush for Lindsey Hunter all about?

Sixers. What is trading Speedy Claxton for spare parts all about?

Magic. What is trading a lottery center for spare parts all about?


Basically, the Eastern Conference did some really stupid things... the Raptors, Sixers, and Magic really helping out the Lakers, Spurs, and Jazz respectively, making those playoff teams even stronger.

 

The Lakers made out like bandits. Toronto had no clue that both Q and Rush would be available.

 

That's hilarious, considering Denver did the exact same thing Chicago did last year ... grab the two raw big men with the most upside.

 

I disagree. Jefferies was good, but Juan Dixon was moronic for several different reason.

1.) They traded a very talented player in Courtney Alexandar for the 17th pick that landed Dixon. Alexandar will be a better player in the NBA than Juan. Courtney is a freak of an athlete, not terribly undersized, and is a gym rat.

2.) The only proven, legitimate starter on the entire Wizards team is Rip Hamilton, which just so happens to be the position that Juan Dixon plays.

3.) It can be assumed that the wizards must be trying to force Juan Dixon into playing point guard, which will prove to be a big mistake. This guy never played point guard before. All he did was shoot in college. He's not a spectacular ball handler.

4.) He's 6'3, not incredibly fast, can't jump, weighs 160. I don't even know how he's going to get shots off like he could in college, which was the strongest part of his game.

5.) This has Mateen Cleaves part II written all over it. A player is taken with a 1st round pick by a town in which the player is popular simply because he has "heart" and led his team to success in college. Where's Cleaves now? Riding the bench in LA.

I can already read the WashingtonPost Headlines tomorrow saying about how great it is that the Wizards selected Dixon, and what a great story it is. Just make me barf. However, Navarro, who the Wizards selected 40th might actually be a keeper. He looks like a younger Steve Nash.

Sorry, I'm a PISSED OFF Wizards fan right now. Draft Grade: D+

 

The Dixon pick was dumb. It would not have been that hard to get him later in the draft.

 

WHY DOES EVERY FRICKING BODY INSISTS ON HELPING THE FRICKING LAKERS?!?!?!?!?

Rocket River

 

I think Grunwald was interviewed where he basically said he didn't know Rush/Woods was going to be available when he had made the trade.



Great offseason move...now if we could just get a capable 1...

 

Fred Jones at 14 is the real deal. This guy has a complete game and is a true baller. I was surprised also that he was picked at 14 because nobody saw it comming however, it's a great pick and he will show his talents in Indiana.

 

At least Steve won't be fuming that the Rocks didn't pick Juan at 15...

 

Does New York ever want to win.......passing up Butler?

Anyway.....Rockets did the best IMO.

Rush ended up going to the best team..........great for both his development and the Lakers.

I think Dixon and Wilcox went TOO early.

It would have been better for Woods to have gone to the Wizards where he can develop under Jordan.

Bucks could have done better IMO.

Waiting to see what trade the Clippers pull off in the next couple of months.

 

Rockets hit the jackpot with Nakbar

 

Rockets hit the jackpot period.

 

Lakers did great. Murray will be off the books after this year. If his hip injury heals then he can shoot the wide open 3's Shaq get him.

Of course Rush was the key. Now Kb can slide to 3 a little. Man I smell a 4PEAT

 

And Glen Grunwald never backs out of a trade that he's agreed to.

 

I think you mean riding the bench in Sac-Town. Here's my analysis. I was shocked throughout the night:


Houston - Great draft. Got what they wanted. A+
Chicago - Another great draft. I wanted a trade, but none the less, good pick up with Williams to complement Rose, Chandler, Curry. Baxter in the second round was good also because of backup for Curry. Krause is turning things around. A+
GS - Good draft. Got a PG in Logan and a 3 in Dunleavy. Question is, are they going to make a trade? They have Fortson, Jamison, and others who play that 3/4 spot that Dunleavy would fit into. Stay tuned, I think trades are coming. B+
Memphis - Gooden, Good job. Archibald.....yea I guess. Now they have backup for Reeves. BUT, what too do about the blockup at PF??? Battier, Swift, Wright, and now Gooden? Trade later on to get old school Wesley Person for Nick Anderson and Matt Barnes (#56) Why did that happen? Doesn't Nick Anderson and Wesley Person cancel each other out? B-
Denver - Nice trade for them I think. Pick up some good young talents in Nene, pick up veterans in Jackson, Camby. Pick up a SF in the second round with Yarborough. B+
Cleveland - Damn, they sure are gonna suck this year to get LeBron next year. Still pretty good draft though. Wagner and Boozer.Does this mean Dre Miller is gone to make space for Wagner? I think so.I was surprised Boozer fell to the 35. Get Nick Anderson and Matt Barnes from Memphis for Wesley Person. A
NY- Get Frank Williams and McDyess in the trade. It's a good one I think. They get rid of old players, add in fresh talent. I wouldn't be surprised if Houston or Spreewell get traded. B
LAC- Confusing. I heard they spent til last minute trying to pry Miller but didn't want to give up anyone good. So they got screwed and now have a LOGJAM at PF. Ely, Wilcox, Brand, what to do? I think they swing a few deals later on. Trade second roun pick for more protection on a prior pick....uh....ok? C
Phoenix - Stoudamire, good choice. Splits time with Cliff Robinson at the 4 and gets good tutoring. But what ever happened to Shawn Marion? Casey Jacobsen picked later on for backup to Marbury, which is much needed. B
Miami - Butler, VERY SURPRISED that his stock dropped this low. I think he doesn't fit in with Miami or he won't get much time on the floor with Brian Grant at that spot. Don't know though, heard rumors fo Grant trades. Picked some OTHER guy named Butler in the second round out of LaSalle. Rasual Butler.....what.....who??? B-
Washington- Pick up Jared Jeffries and Juanny Dixon. WHY?!?!?!?? Jeffries is going to probably work out but DIXON? Just for the sake of him being hometown boy? He's going to have to compete with Rip Hamilton for that 2 spot now. B-
Milwaukee - Marcus Haislip, Dan Gadzuric, Ronald Murray, Chris Owens. Lot's of picks for them, one traded. All of them PF/C's except for Murray a PG. No doubt they are looking to move Glenn Robinson. Pick up a bunch of shotblockers who lose their confidence to quickly. It was an ok, but not great draft. I think they should've gotten some mad dog type of player to mix it up with the nice guys Ray Allen and Sam Cassell. Later on move Chris Owens to Grizzlies for 2003 second round pick. Trade Rashard Griffith (Kinder Bologna) rights to Orlando for (#47) PF Jamal Sampson. YET ANOTHER PF?!?!? C-
Indiana - SURPISED they didn't pick Rush. Instead they opted to go with Fredrick Jones, some guy I've never heard of, some guy noone predicted even in the 2nd round in their mock drafts. Don't know whats goin on up in Indiana. C-
Philly - Pick up Welsch, trade him for future first and future first or second.....what?? Why? Don't they need help right about now? Turn around later on in the night and trade Speedy Claxton to the Spurs for Mark Bryant, John Salmons, and Randy Holcomb. PF, SG, SF. Makes some sense, but not too much. Pick up Euro project, Efthimios Rentzias from Barcelona for 2004 and 2006 second round picks. Invest in the future. B-




THat's the first part. I'll add my second part in a second post. I think this is too much for 1 post. BIG GRIN! BIG GRIN! BIG GRIN!

 

Yes. Thank you.

 

Bryant Reeves retired last season due to ongoing back problems. The Grizz's website doesn't show him having played one minute in 2001-2002.