B+. I think Babbitt steps into our rotation and gives us perimeter shooting that Webster could not. I also think that Williams is a player. Johnson I'm much less sure of, but his selection gives me hope that there will be an upcoming trade. Ed O.
I agree that Williams might be the player we got out of this draft. I'm hopeful for further trades this summer. JPEC, AMEC, Rudy and our bevy of youngsters/Euro's still beg to be traded.
B+ Got rid of Webster; will no doubt move one of our picks as part of a trade; moved way up in the draft at very little cost. Now here's hoping for us dealing for Bosh!
If trades are forthcoming (especially if it's Tony Parker) then I like the draft quite a bit because I think Williams is going to be a pretty good backup shooting guard (semi point guard) Babbitt worries me some, but his combine athletic numbers were way better than I expected and I like Johnson to maybe become a competent backup point guard in a year or two.
C, wish we would have grabed a center in the second round. I think it is still not completed. I think there is more to come and some of these folks might still be moved.
I gave it a B+ as well, definitely feeling the Babbitt and Williams picks but thought we missed out on Solomon Alabi in the second round.
Alabi is a ground bound, slow ass 7 footer ... believe me, there's a reason Hollinger's draft rater has him listed as a potential bust and the Spurs and Thunder passed on him multiple times. Rest easy.
Was hoping for the big trade, so I couldn't give it an A. But I really do like Babbitt. He seems like the pure shooter off the bench we've been needing. I think he'll get some minutes this year. I loved that he didn't bat an eye when an interviewer quoted him as saying he was the best shooter in the draft. He just shrugged and had this look like, "Isn't it obvious?" I love that attitude in a shooter. A completely anti-Webster moment. I also like the Gomes acquisition. I really never had a lot of use for Webster, so I don't mind seeing him go.
I don't necessarily like KP being fired. Hopefully something good comes from it. I don't like the 2nd round pick of Armon much at all, following Elliot at 22. Andre has to be gone, so I guess these guys are project/backup PGs... HATE Webster being gone, but if he was the sacrifice that allows us to trade Gomes for Beasley, then ok. If we're keeping Gomes ourself, or just taking the savings ourself, I hate it.
B+. Williams gives us the upside selection, Babbitt gives us the immediately useful rotation player. Considering that the Blazers didn't have particularly good draft position, that seems like a pretty good play. F- if I factor in Pritchard being fired.
[video=youtube;xr9zoWVSZDI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr9zoWVSZDI[/video] These Hamster's remind me of someone in this forum... hmmm...
I went with B-. Feels better than average, but not significantly so. However, if Babbit turns out to be Chris-Mullin-lite, or if one of these combo guards actually turns out to have point guard ability, then the grade will obviously be higher.
So if we're going after Beasley who are we trading LMA to? Or in turn who are we trading Beasley for? I can't see both LMA and Beasley on this team.
