Post by beatonz on Mar 30, 2023 19:40:26 GMT -6
Its that time of year again, a time of hope for the most disastrous teams in the league where all season it seemed all hope was lost. It gives the fans of these teams something to look forward to... a brighter future.
This season saw our fare share of tanking teams the chances at a top pick. Some teams weren't even trying to win this season including the likes of the Charlotte Hornets (15-67), Los Angeles Lakers (19-63) and the Phoenix Suns (24-58).
Draft Lottery Results:
Biggest Winners
1. The LA Lakers - Moving up from 2 to 1, although not the largest jump in draft position it may be the most valuable jump. Moving into the #1 spot in this years draft was critical with a player like Chris Webber likely getting taken first overall. Some much needed luck after moving down from #2 to #4 in last years draft.
2. Chicago Bulls - The biggest jump up in the lottery this season, and the bulls do it again. They moved up from #3 to #1 last year, and once again, they luck out moving up from #5 to #3. The lottery is rigged.
Biggest Losers:
1. Charlotte Hornets - Just what the worst team in the league needs, a little bad luck to miss out on Chris Webber. Sorry Charlotte. For a second straight season the Hornets fall out of the #1 pick.
2. Phoenix Suns - As I mentioned above, this team needs that star players, looks like they may have missed out on the opportunity falling outside of the top 3 but there are still a lot of solid players expected in this range.
Beatonz Top 10 Draft Picks
1. Lakers: Chris Webber
Webber is going to be the perfect fit in lala land. Right now, LA only has one serviceable big on the roster in Noah Vonleh. Pairing Webber with future stars in the making Wiggins and Lavine is going to be exciting. Watch out of a potential dynasty in the making in the Lakers.
2. Hornets: Anferneee Hardaway
The Hornets already have Tyrese Haliburton who they are really hoping pans out, maybe pairing him with SG Penny Hardaway can promote some improved play from him. With Penny likely going to shoulder a lot of the scoring responsibilities in year one this lets Haliburton relax a little and focus on what he does best, distribute. A 6'5" PG and a 6'7" SG should make for some entertaining ball.
3. Bulls - Sam Cassell
Well what do the Bulls need? Just about everything. This allows the Bulls to pick who they feel is the best player available. I they will be tempted by Jamal Mashburn and Allan Houston, but ultimately, I think they land with Sam Cassell, the highest upside PG in the draft.
4. Suns - Jamal Mashburn
I would like to see the Suns take Allan Houston but I just don't think he fits on the team at this time. As I mentioned earlier in this article, the Suns need a star and I think Houston has the best potential outside of Hardaway and Webber in this draft to become a star. Unfortunately, RJ Hampton is manning the SG spot which drives the Suns to taking Mashburn. Mashburn has potential at both PF and SF position which may prove valuable.
5. Pacers - Allan Houston
Well the Pacers have a solid front court, but outside of that they don't have much. They need scoring and luckily Allan Houston falls to the five spot. Allan will come into the league on a Pacers team and be given full reign on the offensive end of the floor. If the Pacers make this pick, look out for a rookie of the year candidate.
6. Cavs - Nick Van Exel
Pairing LaMarcus Aldridge (2.8bpg) with Shawn Bradley could be scary. A dominant twin towers to man the paint for years to come. But it is hard to justify using a top pick on a player like Bradley when likely all he becomes is a solid shot blocking big man. I think Nick Van Exel is the pick here to start building the back court up with already promising young PG Spencer Dinwiddie. At some point, either Dinwiddie or Van Exel can side over to the SG position.
7. Warriors - Rex Walters
Similar situation to the Cavs, SG is a need but no sure shot SGs left in the draft I can see the Warriors picking a player who can play both PG and SG. Rex has the make up of a combo gaurd and would slip nicely in a SG for the Warriors on day one.
8. Pistons - Toni Kukoc
Can Toni Kukoc play SF? If Im the Pistons and taking him and crossing my fingers he can. Kukoc has potential and is NBA ready. I think you have to take the best player available.
9. Lakers via Rockets - Lindsey Hunter
I could see the Lakers going a couple direction here with their second pick in the top ten. But they need PG help and Lindsey provides that, maybe being the most ready PG out of the draft. He is a solid pick to at a minimum provide very solid back up PG minutes throughout his career.
10. Celtics - Shawn Bradley
I like Isaiah Rider here but the Celtics don't need another gaurd. This is why they go with Shawn Bradley to pair with Joe Smith long term. Both will be capable of putting up big defensive numbers at the C and PF positions and form a solid core to build on.
This season saw our fare share of tanking teams the chances at a top pick. Some teams weren't even trying to win this season including the likes of the Charlotte Hornets (15-67), Los Angeles Lakers (19-63) and the Phoenix Suns (24-58).
- The Charlotte Hornets admittedly were in a rough spot due to the lack of a GM in over a season and a terrible dispersal draft. They have been slowly trying to build their team up with youth but have gotten a little unlucky in doing so. Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore just haven't quite developed the way the Hornets expected them to and #3 overall pick in 2001 Tyrese Haliburton appears to be one of the biggest busts the league have seen to date. A lot rides on the development of the 2002 #3 overall pick Rick Barry in Charlotte but if they can manage to not blow this draft then maybe there is hope in Hornets land.
- The LA Lakers, were made a shocking move during last years draft moving young promising players CJ McCollum, Tyrese Maxey and Antoine Walker for the #7 overall pick in the 2002 draft. The three pieces moving out of town in that move were beginning to grow into their own and the Lakers were looking like a young promising team but NOPE. The Lakers decided the core wasn't promising enough and the tank needed to continue. CJ and Tyrese went on to have solid seasons in Minnesota, leading them to the playoffs as an 8 seed. The Lakers ended up snagging Zach Lavine at #7 while having a very respectable rookie season (19.6ppg, 6rpg, 4apg) while earning all rookie team recognition. This move certainly supported another tanking season for the Lakers and it looks like it may have payed off.
- The Phoenix Suns sold off their team this year in order to be as bad as they could be. The Suns have done a decent job building up a young core consiting of Elfrid Payton, Saddiq Bey, RJ Hampton and Aleksej Pokusevski. All solid players, but do any of them have the potential to become that star player? The Suns needed to bust this season to get that player and they sure did a good job. This team was doomed for the treadmill with their team make up so it was a wise decision and self recognition of the Suns GM to sell of their valuable pieces to support an intentional tank.
Draft Lottery Results:
Biggest Winners
1. The LA Lakers - Moving up from 2 to 1, although not the largest jump in draft position it may be the most valuable jump. Moving into the #1 spot in this years draft was critical with a player like Chris Webber likely getting taken first overall. Some much needed luck after moving down from #2 to #4 in last years draft.
2. Chicago Bulls - The biggest jump up in the lottery this season, and the bulls do it again. They moved up from #3 to #1 last year, and once again, they luck out moving up from #5 to #3. The lottery is rigged.
Biggest Losers:
1. Charlotte Hornets - Just what the worst team in the league needs, a little bad luck to miss out on Chris Webber. Sorry Charlotte. For a second straight season the Hornets fall out of the #1 pick.
2. Phoenix Suns - As I mentioned above, this team needs that star players, looks like they may have missed out on the opportunity falling outside of the top 3 but there are still a lot of solid players expected in this range.
Beatonz Top 10 Draft Picks
1. Lakers: Chris Webber
Webber is going to be the perfect fit in lala land. Right now, LA only has one serviceable big on the roster in Noah Vonleh. Pairing Webber with future stars in the making Wiggins and Lavine is going to be exciting. Watch out of a potential dynasty in the making in the Lakers.
2. Hornets: Anferneee Hardaway
The Hornets already have Tyrese Haliburton who they are really hoping pans out, maybe pairing him with SG Penny Hardaway can promote some improved play from him. With Penny likely going to shoulder a lot of the scoring responsibilities in year one this lets Haliburton relax a little and focus on what he does best, distribute. A 6'5" PG and a 6'7" SG should make for some entertaining ball.
3. Bulls - Sam Cassell
Well what do the Bulls need? Just about everything. This allows the Bulls to pick who they feel is the best player available. I they will be tempted by Jamal Mashburn and Allan Houston, but ultimately, I think they land with Sam Cassell, the highest upside PG in the draft.
4. Suns - Jamal Mashburn
I would like to see the Suns take Allan Houston but I just don't think he fits on the team at this time. As I mentioned earlier in this article, the Suns need a star and I think Houston has the best potential outside of Hardaway and Webber in this draft to become a star. Unfortunately, RJ Hampton is manning the SG spot which drives the Suns to taking Mashburn. Mashburn has potential at both PF and SF position which may prove valuable.
5. Pacers - Allan Houston
Well the Pacers have a solid front court, but outside of that they don't have much. They need scoring and luckily Allan Houston falls to the five spot. Allan will come into the league on a Pacers team and be given full reign on the offensive end of the floor. If the Pacers make this pick, look out for a rookie of the year candidate.
6. Cavs - Nick Van Exel
Pairing LaMarcus Aldridge (2.8bpg) with Shawn Bradley could be scary. A dominant twin towers to man the paint for years to come. But it is hard to justify using a top pick on a player like Bradley when likely all he becomes is a solid shot blocking big man. I think Nick Van Exel is the pick here to start building the back court up with already promising young PG Spencer Dinwiddie. At some point, either Dinwiddie or Van Exel can side over to the SG position.
7. Warriors - Rex Walters
Similar situation to the Cavs, SG is a need but no sure shot SGs left in the draft I can see the Warriors picking a player who can play both PG and SG. Rex has the make up of a combo gaurd and would slip nicely in a SG for the Warriors on day one.
8. Pistons - Toni Kukoc
Can Toni Kukoc play SF? If Im the Pistons and taking him and crossing my fingers he can. Kukoc has potential and is NBA ready. I think you have to take the best player available.
9. Lakers via Rockets - Lindsey Hunter
I could see the Lakers going a couple direction here with their second pick in the top ten. But they need PG help and Lindsey provides that, maybe being the most ready PG out of the draft. He is a solid pick to at a minimum provide very solid back up PG minutes throughout his career.
10. Celtics - Shawn Bradley
I like Isaiah Rider here but the Celtics don't need another gaurd. This is why they go with Shawn Bradley to pair with Joe Smith long term. Both will be capable of putting up big defensive numbers at the C and PF positions and form a solid core to build on.