ITP8 2010 Draft Preview Presented by Beatonz
Dec 20, 2023 19:23:52 GMT -6
redrum741, jupee, and 1 more like this
Post by beatonz on Dec 20, 2023 19:23:52 GMT -6
Haven't done one of these articles since 2006 but thought I would give it another go.
Draft Lottery Results:
Biggest Winners:
1. Cleveland Cavs - This is by far the biggest jump I have ever seen in the draft lottery before. In fact, its probably the firs time I have ever seen a pick outside the top five move into the #1 slot.
The Cavs missed the playoffs by one game which might be the best thing that's happened to this franchise in a long time. With the #13 project odds the team sky rocketed up the draft board ending up with the #1 overall pick. If Josh Houston was still the GM, who knows what would the team would be thinking. But with Penny at the helm as the proxy GM, the selection should be an easy one.
2. Brooklyn Nets - #7 to #2, no one is going to complain about that. But in this draft, I don't feel as though #2 is as valuable as the most drafts. The draft is deep, has a lot of solid players likely to become good to really good starters, but the star talent just isn't there this year outside of Durant. In my opinion, picks #2 to #6 are all about equal value coming into this draft. Regardless, getting #2 means to Nets will get their pick of the litter. Not a bad position to be in.
Biggest Losers:
1. San Antonio Spurs - As good of a climb as it was for the Cavs, someone had to suffer as a result and that team was the Spurs. A team desperate for a true star to lead their solid young cast of players. Falling out of #1 where Durant would have been the perfect player really hurts. This especially hurts after last season when they were also bumped down from #3 to #5. Sorry for your loss Spurs.
Beatonz Top 10 Draft Picks
1. Cleveland Cavs: Kevin Durant
This is a no brainer. Durant is the best player in the draft already and has incredible potential. Inside and outside, Durant is going to score. At only 19 years old he will prove to be a player in the MVP conversations for years to come. He will have to grow on the defensive end but even if he becomes a league average defender his value will still be at the top of the league.
The Cavs already have a promising young SF in AK47 but with this pick, you can't mess around. Take Durant and be happy. Slide Durant or AK down to PF and your laughing. What a pick for the Cavs. I expect them in the playoffs next year, not just as a pretender but a potential contender if they can keep Stackhouse or replace his with an equal scorer.
2. Brooklyn Nets: Marc Gasol
Couple ways they could go here but I like the potential of Gasol on a Nets team who needs a big man. There are other options in the draft including Horford or Noah but if the Nets want to try and get the second best player from this draft in three to four years I like their chances with Gasol. A big man who will guarantee you good defense while providing a strong inside presence and a nice jumper.
3. Miami Heat: Al Horford
After trading away their franchise big man in Noel this season for fellow veteran Brandon Roy, the Heat are also in need of a big man. Lucky for them, the top of the draft has a lot of them. With Gasol off the board it comes down to Noah or Horford. I think ultimately it comes down to what do the Heat value more from a big man: offense or defense? If its offense, Horford is the pick. If its defense, Noah is the pick. Either way, both these bigs project to become all star level players. The Heat struggled to score last year so I think they will go with Horford, but passing on those Noah defensive attirbutes could be tough.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Joakim Noah
Man did this team need Durant. He would have fit in perfectly with the young squad they have. Sucks for them.
What they need to do now is make sure they hit on this pick. They can't go through a 20 win season and come away with a bust. Right now, all they have in the front court is Lamar Odom who could develop as a PF but I see more as a SF. For this reason, they need a big... well... they need just about everything. But I like Noah here to anchor their defense for years to come.
5. Houston Rockets: Mike Conley
A Horford or a Noah would be great right here but they are off the board. Zoran Planinic proved he could be a serviceable PG of the future putting up a surprising 14ppg and 9apg this season. Do the Rockets want to build long term with Zoran at the helm or do they want to draft a potential all star in Mike Conley? Conley's build looks really solid coming into the draft, along with good potential he could have a bright future. Tom Heinsohn is another tempting pick at this spot but with Jamison and Artest already on the team I think the safe pick in Conley is the direction here.
6. Memphis Grizzlies: Tom Heinsohn
High risk, high reward here. Tom looks like he could be very good, but with a young 18 year old you just never know what you are going to get.
Vince Carter hasn't quite blossomed into the player many projected him to be when he was taken fifth overall only two years ago. Julius Erving is currently on the roster but likely going to retire or chose a new home via free agency. The team needs backcourt help badly but I just don't think there is anyone on the board worth reaching for at this pick. Nick Young could be a sleeper pick here but prefer Heinsohn.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: Corey Brewer
This team has been in the dumps for along time. But they did make progress this year. With Bibby, Lebron, and Manu they have a very nice core but they need big man help which seems to be a common theme between the team picking at the top of the draft this season. Unfortunately for the Bucks, the high end big men will be long gone by this point and I could very well see them trying to move this pick via trade to try and sure up their front court.
If this isn't the case though, I think they have to go with the best player available. For me thats Corey Brewer, he has a good all around build with elite defense coming into the league. This pick doesn't make much sense with Lebron, Vassell, Grant, and Shareef on the team but they have to take talent here and not pick for need. Time for the Bucks to start thinking about trading some of these SFs.
8. Charlotte Hornets: Nick Young
Charlotte cannot score. They need a pure scorer. Nick Young may be there man.
I say take Young and develop him. Develop him hard. Make him as great as the Nick Young we saw on the Knicks about three iterations ago of ITP.
40+ppg every year. Just do it.
9. Utah Jazz: Arron Afflalo
Utah has their forward positions figured out. Marion (ROY) and Dirk should be main stays long term. Mo Williams showed signs of greatness in his sophomore season but has regressed since so a PG here is tempting - Jared Jordan? Petteri Koponen? Ramon Sessions?
I like them all but I see the Jazz going for a pure scorer, similar to the Hornets in the previous pick. Arron Afflalo is their man. Joe Harris struggled in a starting role last year, a little fire power from the SG position may help the Jazz get more than 95 ppg next season.
10. Denver Nuggets: Ramon Sessions
I dont know how the Nuggets feel about Kirk Hinrich long term but if I was running that team, I wouldn't be to thrilled. He looked solid in his rookie season but has slowly regressed to a 8ppg starter. Im looking at a PG for the Nuggets at this spot. They can either swing big and hope for the best with a player like Jared Jordan or take a safer, more league ready type player such as Ramon Sessions which is exactly what I predict they do.
Sessions looks really solid, with already good defense, the Nuggets can focus their efforts on the offensive end with Sessions and develop him into a solid floor general.
Thoughts? Anyone I am overlooking in the top 10? Nick Young too high?
Draft Lottery Results:
Biggest Winners:
1. Cleveland Cavs - This is by far the biggest jump I have ever seen in the draft lottery before. In fact, its probably the firs time I have ever seen a pick outside the top five move into the #1 slot.
The Cavs missed the playoffs by one game which might be the best thing that's happened to this franchise in a long time. With the #13 project odds the team sky rocketed up the draft board ending up with the #1 overall pick. If Josh Houston was still the GM, who knows what would the team would be thinking. But with Penny at the helm as the proxy GM, the selection should be an easy one.
2. Brooklyn Nets - #7 to #2, no one is going to complain about that. But in this draft, I don't feel as though #2 is as valuable as the most drafts. The draft is deep, has a lot of solid players likely to become good to really good starters, but the star talent just isn't there this year outside of Durant. In my opinion, picks #2 to #6 are all about equal value coming into this draft. Regardless, getting #2 means to Nets will get their pick of the litter. Not a bad position to be in.
Biggest Losers:
1. San Antonio Spurs - As good of a climb as it was for the Cavs, someone had to suffer as a result and that team was the Spurs. A team desperate for a true star to lead their solid young cast of players. Falling out of #1 where Durant would have been the perfect player really hurts. This especially hurts after last season when they were also bumped down from #3 to #5. Sorry for your loss Spurs.
Beatonz Top 10 Draft Picks
1. Cleveland Cavs: Kevin Durant
This is a no brainer. Durant is the best player in the draft already and has incredible potential. Inside and outside, Durant is going to score. At only 19 years old he will prove to be a player in the MVP conversations for years to come. He will have to grow on the defensive end but even if he becomes a league average defender his value will still be at the top of the league.
The Cavs already have a promising young SF in AK47 but with this pick, you can't mess around. Take Durant and be happy. Slide Durant or AK down to PF and your laughing. What a pick for the Cavs. I expect them in the playoffs next year, not just as a pretender but a potential contender if they can keep Stackhouse or replace his with an equal scorer.
2. Brooklyn Nets: Marc Gasol
Couple ways they could go here but I like the potential of Gasol on a Nets team who needs a big man. There are other options in the draft including Horford or Noah but if the Nets want to try and get the second best player from this draft in three to four years I like their chances with Gasol. A big man who will guarantee you good defense while providing a strong inside presence and a nice jumper.
3. Miami Heat: Al Horford
After trading away their franchise big man in Noel this season for fellow veteran Brandon Roy, the Heat are also in need of a big man. Lucky for them, the top of the draft has a lot of them. With Gasol off the board it comes down to Noah or Horford. I think ultimately it comes down to what do the Heat value more from a big man: offense or defense? If its offense, Horford is the pick. If its defense, Noah is the pick. Either way, both these bigs project to become all star level players. The Heat struggled to score last year so I think they will go with Horford, but passing on those Noah defensive attirbutes could be tough.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Joakim Noah
Man did this team need Durant. He would have fit in perfectly with the young squad they have. Sucks for them.
What they need to do now is make sure they hit on this pick. They can't go through a 20 win season and come away with a bust. Right now, all they have in the front court is Lamar Odom who could develop as a PF but I see more as a SF. For this reason, they need a big... well... they need just about everything. But I like Noah here to anchor their defense for years to come.
5. Houston Rockets: Mike Conley
A Horford or a Noah would be great right here but they are off the board. Zoran Planinic proved he could be a serviceable PG of the future putting up a surprising 14ppg and 9apg this season. Do the Rockets want to build long term with Zoran at the helm or do they want to draft a potential all star in Mike Conley? Conley's build looks really solid coming into the draft, along with good potential he could have a bright future. Tom Heinsohn is another tempting pick at this spot but with Jamison and Artest already on the team I think the safe pick in Conley is the direction here.
6. Memphis Grizzlies: Tom Heinsohn
High risk, high reward here. Tom looks like he could be very good, but with a young 18 year old you just never know what you are going to get.
Vince Carter hasn't quite blossomed into the player many projected him to be when he was taken fifth overall only two years ago. Julius Erving is currently on the roster but likely going to retire or chose a new home via free agency. The team needs backcourt help badly but I just don't think there is anyone on the board worth reaching for at this pick. Nick Young could be a sleeper pick here but prefer Heinsohn.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: Corey Brewer
This team has been in the dumps for along time. But they did make progress this year. With Bibby, Lebron, and Manu they have a very nice core but they need big man help which seems to be a common theme between the team picking at the top of the draft this season. Unfortunately for the Bucks, the high end big men will be long gone by this point and I could very well see them trying to move this pick via trade to try and sure up their front court.
If this isn't the case though, I think they have to go with the best player available. For me thats Corey Brewer, he has a good all around build with elite defense coming into the league. This pick doesn't make much sense with Lebron, Vassell, Grant, and Shareef on the team but they have to take talent here and not pick for need. Time for the Bucks to start thinking about trading some of these SFs.
8. Charlotte Hornets: Nick Young
Charlotte cannot score. They need a pure scorer. Nick Young may be there man.
I say take Young and develop him. Develop him hard. Make him as great as the Nick Young we saw on the Knicks about three iterations ago of ITP.
40+ppg every year. Just do it.
9. Utah Jazz: Arron Afflalo
Utah has their forward positions figured out. Marion (ROY) and Dirk should be main stays long term. Mo Williams showed signs of greatness in his sophomore season but has regressed since so a PG here is tempting - Jared Jordan? Petteri Koponen? Ramon Sessions?
I like them all but I see the Jazz going for a pure scorer, similar to the Hornets in the previous pick. Arron Afflalo is their man. Joe Harris struggled in a starting role last year, a little fire power from the SG position may help the Jazz get more than 95 ppg next season.
10. Denver Nuggets: Ramon Sessions
I dont know how the Nuggets feel about Kirk Hinrich long term but if I was running that team, I wouldn't be to thrilled. He looked solid in his rookie season but has slowly regressed to a 8ppg starter. Im looking at a PG for the Nuggets at this spot. They can either swing big and hope for the best with a player like Jared Jordan or take a safer, more league ready type player such as Ramon Sessions which is exactly what I predict they do.
Sessions looks really solid, with already good defense, the Nuggets can focus their efforts on the offensive end with Sessions and develop him into a solid floor general.
Thoughts? Anyone I am overlooking in the top 10? Nick Young too high?