2002 ITP Draft Preview (Pick 1-5) presented by Beatonz
Feb 12, 2023 15:37:54 GMT -6
John1974 likes this
Post by beatonz on Feb 12, 2023 15:37:54 GMT -6
Well the ping pong balls dropped late Saturday night for the Season 2 draft lottery. Not much movement was seen until spot number 5.
The Toronto Raptors were slated for the fifth pick in the draft, but it was announced that the Boston Celtics had fallen out of the top 4 meaning the Toronto Raptors were moving up.
The Lakers and the Hornets names were then called next, a devastating blow to these organizations who both had terrible seasons and were expected to have the #1 and #2 overall selections in this years draft.
The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors were now the only two teams left. And the Bulls were the lucky team to move into the #1 spot.
Overall this years draft class is a very strong one with a lot of top end scoring talent. The consensus #1 and #2 picks across the league were rumoured to be two bigs with inside and outside scoring ability, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. As predicted, these two flew off the board going #1 and #2 respectively. These two should bring some much needed talent to the laughable Central Division which has only one team with an above .500 record this year (Hawks, 44-38).
Moving forward in this years draft, the selections won't be as predictable. I will do my best to predict selections inside of the top 5. If people like these types of articles, I can put 5-10 and further.
1. Bulls - Nikola Jokic C 6'11'' 284 19 B- B- B B- B+ A
Couldn't really go wrong with either Jokic or Embiid. The Bulls lucked out in the lottery moving up from three and wasted no time selecting Jokic.
The Bulls are team looking for a lot of help, but with potential star wings in the making in Shannon Brown and KCP, Jokic's balanced inside and outside scoring ability will fit right in. Chicago's front court isn't to full right now, so we should expect Jokic to start from Day 1 and put up big numbers.
Jokic and Embiid will always be compared to each other because of this pick, who will have the greater career? Only time will tell.
2. Raptors - Joel Embiid C 7'0'' 280 20 B+ B C B B- A
The Raptors also lucked out fell right into the number 2 pick. The Raptors GM was in a very easy position to allow the Bulls to select one of Jokic or Embiid and then pick whoever wasn't. As it played out, Embiid was the player that fell, an NBA ready now player at the age of 20.
B+ inside and B outside scoring will prove to be Embiid's strength but he is now slouch on the defensive end either. If Embiid can develop his rebounding, expect Embiid to be a top 5 big in this league for years to come.
The Raptors have the past two seasons rookie of the years on their roster(Brandon Roy, Killian Hayes) can they make it three straight ROY?
3. Hornets - Julius Randle PF 6'8'' 250 20 B B C C B+ A
Charlotte needs help, and they need it bad. The Hornets ranked dead last in the league putting up an abysmal 85.4ppg. Getting a true scorer capable of putting up 20+ppg has to be a priority for them coming into this years draft.
With a decent young front court, in Steven Adams and Tyrus Thomas, it is tempting to go with Andrew Wiggins here, but I feel like Julius is a talent you just can't pass up on, especially if you consider sliding him down to the SF position.
Tyrese Haliburton was taken last year by the Hornets third overall and had an underwhelming rookie season putting up 8.5ppg, 7apg and 3tpg. I wouldn't call Tyrese a bust just yet, but the Hornets need this year pick to be the right pick or the fans in Charlotte are going to calling for the GMs head.
4. Lakers - Andrew Wiggins SF 6'7'' 197 19 B B C C- C A
Unfortunately for the Lakers, they fall down to the four spot missing out on the early big man talent which they are desperate to add. Players like Ed Abdul-Wahad, George Zidek and Junior Burrough currently manning the LA front court just can't get it done and are not expected to develop into much.
If Randle drops to them, I can't see them passing him up, however, there a number of big names still out there with a lot of potential. One of which is Andrew Wiggins. Possibly the best scoring ability in the draft class, getting a player of Wiggins ability at four is pretty impressive. He would slide nicely along side C.J. McCollum and Tyrese Maxey and immediately form one of the best young cores in the league.
5. Celtics - Marcus Smart PG 6'3'' 220 19 C+ C+ C+ B C A
I can't believe we are going to hand hooper Marus Smart again, his favourite player which in the last ITP iteration became the unanimous #1 player in the league putting up ridiculous PG stats and multiple MVP seasons.
With no true direction for the Celtics right now at the PG position, Smart fills the role nicely. A Stackhour and Smart backcourt looks like now and in the future. They have the potential to grow into one of the highest scoring backcourt tandems in the league if this pick rings true.
Spencer Dinwiddie may also be a consideration for Boston at #5 but I just can't see them passing up on Smart.
The Toronto Raptors were slated for the fifth pick in the draft, but it was announced that the Boston Celtics had fallen out of the top 4 meaning the Toronto Raptors were moving up.
The Lakers and the Hornets names were then called next, a devastating blow to these organizations who both had terrible seasons and were expected to have the #1 and #2 overall selections in this years draft.
The Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors were now the only two teams left. And the Bulls were the lucky team to move into the #1 spot.
Overall this years draft class is a very strong one with a lot of top end scoring talent. The consensus #1 and #2 picks across the league were rumoured to be two bigs with inside and outside scoring ability, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. As predicted, these two flew off the board going #1 and #2 respectively. These two should bring some much needed talent to the laughable Central Division which has only one team with an above .500 record this year (Hawks, 44-38).
Moving forward in this years draft, the selections won't be as predictable. I will do my best to predict selections inside of the top 5. If people like these types of articles, I can put 5-10 and further.
1. Bulls - Nikola Jokic C 6'11'' 284 19 B- B- B B- B+ A
Couldn't really go wrong with either Jokic or Embiid. The Bulls lucked out in the lottery moving up from three and wasted no time selecting Jokic.
The Bulls are team looking for a lot of help, but with potential star wings in the making in Shannon Brown and KCP, Jokic's balanced inside and outside scoring ability will fit right in. Chicago's front court isn't to full right now, so we should expect Jokic to start from Day 1 and put up big numbers.
Jokic and Embiid will always be compared to each other because of this pick, who will have the greater career? Only time will tell.
2. Raptors - Joel Embiid C 7'0'' 280 20 B+ B C B B- A
The Raptors also lucked out fell right into the number 2 pick. The Raptors GM was in a very easy position to allow the Bulls to select one of Jokic or Embiid and then pick whoever wasn't. As it played out, Embiid was the player that fell, an NBA ready now player at the age of 20.
B+ inside and B outside scoring will prove to be Embiid's strength but he is now slouch on the defensive end either. If Embiid can develop his rebounding, expect Embiid to be a top 5 big in this league for years to come.
The Raptors have the past two seasons rookie of the years on their roster(Brandon Roy, Killian Hayes) can they make it three straight ROY?
3. Hornets - Julius Randle PF 6'8'' 250 20 B B C C B+ A
Charlotte needs help, and they need it bad. The Hornets ranked dead last in the league putting up an abysmal 85.4ppg. Getting a true scorer capable of putting up 20+ppg has to be a priority for them coming into this years draft.
With a decent young front court, in Steven Adams and Tyrus Thomas, it is tempting to go with Andrew Wiggins here, but I feel like Julius is a talent you just can't pass up on, especially if you consider sliding him down to the SF position.
Tyrese Haliburton was taken last year by the Hornets third overall and had an underwhelming rookie season putting up 8.5ppg, 7apg and 3tpg. I wouldn't call Tyrese a bust just yet, but the Hornets need this year pick to be the right pick or the fans in Charlotte are going to calling for the GMs head.
4. Lakers - Andrew Wiggins SF 6'7'' 197 19 B B C C- C A
Unfortunately for the Lakers, they fall down to the four spot missing out on the early big man talent which they are desperate to add. Players like Ed Abdul-Wahad, George Zidek and Junior Burrough currently manning the LA front court just can't get it done and are not expected to develop into much.
If Randle drops to them, I can't see them passing him up, however, there a number of big names still out there with a lot of potential. One of which is Andrew Wiggins. Possibly the best scoring ability in the draft class, getting a player of Wiggins ability at four is pretty impressive. He would slide nicely along side C.J. McCollum and Tyrese Maxey and immediately form one of the best young cores in the league.
5. Celtics - Marcus Smart PG 6'3'' 220 19 C+ C+ C+ B C A
I can't believe we are going to hand hooper Marus Smart again, his favourite player which in the last ITP iteration became the unanimous #1 player in the league putting up ridiculous PG stats and multiple MVP seasons.
With no true direction for the Celtics right now at the PG position, Smart fills the role nicely. A Stackhour and Smart backcourt looks like now and in the future. They have the potential to grow into one of the highest scoring backcourt tandems in the league if this pick rings true.
Spencer Dinwiddie may also be a consideration for Boston at #5 but I just can't see them passing up on Smart.