nba draft

As much as I am a duke Devil's fan, I can't wait till Golden state and Chicago and whoever team drafts Carlos Boozer, because once they take off the Blue Devil's uniform and put on an nba uniform, the bad calls in their favors will stop. Their teams will not rise as they think they would. Too bad the three juniors didn't stay. They would have one strong season.

 

Even though that Chinise guy Yao Ming will be picked first Jason williams really deserves it.

 

Why does he deserve the number one pick? I mean, do you think Jay Williams and Steve Francis can co-exist on a Houston team that has guards but no big man? Besides, he doesn't want to be the number one pick. The last number one pick (Kwame sorry ass Brown) is almost a foregone conclusion now for the Washington Wizards. I believe Jay really likes the chance of playing for Chicago. That would probably piss him off if he didn't get to play for his team choice. But then again, after he signs a contract and gets money, he won't be. lol

 

Hmm, don't you mean Dunleavy? Boozer never was projected as a solid first rounder, and sure enough, there he is at #35 in the second round.

Well, my thoughts on the draft:

- The first 15 yielded relatively few surprises. I never thought Borschardt would really go in the top 10.

- As a Blue Devil I've watched a lot of Maryland games, and Chris Wilcox never really struck me as a real star. I think he'll develop into a solid player, but I don't see him as being anything more than a Kenyon Martin type of player. I would've personally taken Caron Butler over Wilcox.

- Jared Jeffries is for real. I guarantee he'll have a solid year. Juan Dixon deserves to go as high as he did. He is the backbone and spirit of the Terps, and while that may not be as highly valued in the NBA, this guy will keep fighting when teammates are down. In other words, I think the Wizards had an excellent draft.

- Ryan Humphrey is a great player, and I didn't find his place all that surprising. A bit surprised that Kareem Rush fell so low though...this guy can really turn it on. Ditto with Tayshaun Prince. However, I was never all that impressed with Frank Williams.

- Glad to see Roger Mason joining my Dukie Jay Williams in Chicago. Mason's a really good player, but kinda hidden in a uninspiring UVA team.

- My sleeper pick of the draft: Darius Songaila from Wake Forest. This Lithuanian player has some serious skills....#50?? Celtics has a steal. His only knock is that he draws fouls too quickly ...but since he'll be playing backup to Walker and Pierce in Boston, I guess that's not really an issue. To be honest, I would take Songaila over Baxter and Boozer, that's how good I think he is and will be. ACC fan talking here too.

 

I agree that Jay Williams deserves to be #1...but I don't understand how people can say that Yao will be a bust...or even semi-bust.

I don't really know what this guy is capable of, obviously, but I've watched clips of his work out in Chicago.

1) This guy can shoot the short jumper. This, with his 7'6 height, guarantees that he will get at least 10 points per game, with the requisite ten touches. This ALONE makes him a solid prospect.

2) Let's say he doesn't like to go inside as much as a guy his size should. Liability right? Nope, not when this guy can run. In fact, Yao can easily play a quasi-post-4...dominating the smaller 4 matched up against him by posting up or pulling the jumper. Now that zone defense is allowed, Yao wouldn't present as much of a defensive liability if the Rockets are prepared.

3) I don't think he's soft inside, however. I saw him in the Olympics and he was doing a solid job defending Mourning, although his offense was limited.

4) His strong legs show that he can still add muscle to his upper frame. Plus, he's young.

 

No, I meant Carlos Boozer. Remember, Mike D. didn't come out to the draft till a few weeks after the Ncaa tourney and he didn't hire an agent. That was why I thought he would stay at Duke. Personally Carlos is making a big mistake. He came from scoring a good 18 points a game to now being known as a person to bang around the post? That never works out in the NBA imo. But Mike's stock rose becuase he is so versatile and he bulked up. Goldenstate did very well.

My take on the nba draft was it was so nice to see teams drafting based on experience rather than prospect. I mean, teams actually drafted "players" not "prospects". Props goes to every team except for Phoenix for not drafting those high school players. They were all destined to be to stiffs. Juan Dixon desevered to be drafted that high. Quyntel Woods should have been drafted much lower than that. But Portland will fit well with him. What a steal the Lakers have. They got Kareem Rush with got rid of Lindsey Hunter. Jared Jefferies? Hmm.. I don't know.. I see him as Eddie Griffin of the HOuston Rockets. someone who should still be playing college ball. Someone who is too skinny to bang around in the middle. But he may surprised everyone. The Orlando Magic are just a bunch of idiots in the past 4 years of drafting (with the exception of drafting Mike Miller). John Gabriel says Ryan Humphries is going to be a Rodman type rebounder. haha. what a joke. They had one of those players by the name of Ben Wallace and got rid of him to Detroit. With all those international players being drafted, this is sending a statment to college basketball players and the college basketball system. Stay for four years and you will have a better chance. I hope this continues. College basketball will be better that way.

 

<font color="lightblue">That fact that Carlos Boozer went so low in the draft is a big enough sign for me that this draft selection was pretty deep. I liked Carlos during the year too but even his fine play under Coach K would expose his lack of refinement in the detailed areas of the game...

I'm pretty satisfied with what happened with the Lakers this time through the Draft without Jerry West's input and advice. Wow, Jerry had been with the Lakers organization for over 40 years...

::raises a glass toward the Memphis front office::

Lindsey Hunter (6-2/190, .394 FG, .742 FT), who had an awesome start and filler role for the Lakers, was traded along with their draft slot (Chris Jeffries, 6-8/216, .418 FG, .634 FT) for the right to draft Kareem Rush (6-6/218, .426 FG, .767 FT) and and veteran shooter and NBA Champion role player, Tracy Murray (6-7/228, .432 FG, .830 FT). Coach Phil Jackson loves his big guards and there is no role for the traditional Point Guard in the Triangle Offense. YEAH, I'm likin' this one! Jerry never treated us badly nor did he ever give us bad info: before he leff, he told us and the media that Mitch Kupchak was just as good as him. Jerry never lies like that...

Jerry's Kids are always strong so expect Drew Gooden to make contributions and play a key role in the Grizzlies bid for the Playoffs...</font color>

 

West has done a fantastic job with the lakers organization. I totally agree. I don't know about the draft being deep. It's just much better for a draft like this because you will see more players that might have a more immediate impact rather than bench warmers. I watched Tracy Murray play at ucla. He should do very well in the triangle offense because he will add another outside shooting touch when shaq is double teamed. The only thing the Lakers didn't address is another quality big man to back up Shaq. But the Lakers didn't have a second round.

 

The Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush Deal...

<font color="lightblue">The word I got from the McDonald/Douglas Show when Joe was interviewing Tracy Murray is that he would be playing Big Guard behind Kobe. Conceivably within the scope of the Triangle, Tracy could even back up Derek Fisher and Brian Shaw. As we all have come to know and love knowing, the Triangle offense is not an offense that does not need the traditional Point Guard to be effective. Tracy roll will be to work both positional responsibilities and will likely play a guard position much like DFish and Brian. They will work that 3rd point of the triangle as people on opposing teams collapse on Superman and Batman...

Tracy was almost laughing beneath his because, being a long range specialist and also having one a ring as a role player with the Houston Rockets, he knows that he will have some "incredible looks just because of Shaq and Kobe" (i.e. Superman and Batman). If he is even slightly more intelligent than Mitch Richmond turned out to be last year, Tracy could end up being just what Dr. Buss et. al ordered...

Hope Kareem Rush turns out well, too. He'll be another Devean George project...

Jerry West said before his leaving that Mitch Kupchak was just as good as he was in the Front Office. I love Jerry: he don't never lie...

::raises a glass toward Memphis::</font color>

 

Re: The Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush Deal...

Getting rid of Lindsey hunter gave us some money to sign Devean George, and Brian Shaw again. So I believe we have secured up all out of free agents. Since Samaki walker has decided to stay. Kareem Rush will have three years to see if he's worth something. He has a guaranteed three year contract since he is a first round draft pick. The only thing we have not addressed is a back up center. Just hope that Walker improves.

 

Re: The Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush Deal...

<font color="lightblue">Mitch is supposedly talking with Malik Rose and his people about a deal. That's the one I'd like to see go down. Rodney Rogers is also available and so is Corey Blount. I'd much rather have Malik; I have questions regarding how bright Rodney is. I actually wouldn't mind having Cory back if that meant better defense and rebounding...

The Clippers have not hammered down an agreement for next season with Michael Olowokandi but that's a long shot and in the future...

Look for both Kareem and Tracy to play Guards this season even though Tracy is listed as a Forward... </font color>

 

Re: The Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush Deal...

Yeah, Phil will try and use his staff early and then if they don't produce, Kareem will most likely stay on the bench. He does not like to play rookies late in the season. So this might be a sit on the bench learning experience for him. But than again, he might change his ways. It's all up to Kareem Rush to see if he has some skills. As for Tracy, he will definetly play well in the Triangle offense. I would like to see Corey Blount back. He was very key when the lakers were rebuilding with Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones. I would like to see Malik Rose though. That would be two Spurs players that came to our team.