1. What teams do you think would change their top picks? 2. What teams made huge mistakes? 3. What teams wouldn't change there picks? Do you think the top 10 would still look very similar? Some of my points. I think Rajon Rondo would be a top 10 pick in the draft (just like I thought he should have been since the start, because I'm really fricken smart). I think Marcus Williams would be a top 10 pick as well. I don't know how it would all work. I think Seattle would have been smarter to pick up Rondo or Williams and just let Ridnour go. I think Minnesota would now give Marcus Williams a lot more consideration with it's pick. I think Craig Smith would likely be picked in the teens and be a first round pick. I think Toronto was deadset on Bargnani and would still pick him up. Who knows what would happen with Portland and Charlotte would still probably nab Adam Morrison 3rd. I also think the Washington Wizards would try and grab a more NBA ready player to put in the rotation instead of Oleksiy Pecherov.
Guys like Marcus Williams, Paul Millsap, Rajon Rondo, Ronnie Brewer, and others probably would have been picked higher up.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Nov 23 2006, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. What teams do you think would change their top picks? 2. What teams made huge mistakes? 3. What teams wouldn't change there picks? Do you think the top 10 would still look very similar? Some of my points. I think Rajon Rondo would be a top 10 pick in the draft (just like I thought he should have been since the start, because I'm really fricken smart). I think Marcus Williams would be a top 10 pick as well. I don't know how it would all work. I think Seattle would have been smarter to pick up Rondo or Williams and just let Ridnour go. I think Minnesota would now give Marcus Williams a lot more consideration with it's pick. I think Craig Smith would likely be picked in the teens and be a first round pick. I think Toronto was deadset on Bargnani and would still pick him up. Who knows what would happen with Portland and Charlotte would still probably nab Adam Morrison 3rd. I also think the Washington Wizards would try and grab a more NBA ready player to put in the rotation instead of Oleksiy Pecherov.</div>Knowing what we know now, I believe the Seattle Sonics are the only team for sure in the top 10 that would change their picks. Toronto knows that it takes foreign players some time to get used to the NBA game, and his upside is high. Chicago might have, and I am going to say I think they should have drafted Lamarcus Aldridge and kept him, but I don't know if they would. They need someone that can score, and Lamarcus Aldridge had a chance to be a much better low post scoring option than Tyrus Thomas does in my opinion. Charlotte wouldn't because Morrison has had some games that has shown he will be a good scorer in this league. Portland wouldn't change, because they got Roy who is playing well, and Aldridge who will be good. Williams has shown he can be a good rebounder in this league, and is starting to put the ball in the Basket. He is looking like a strong pick early on to me, especially these last two games. Boston traded for Telfair which was a good trade I believe, and I wouldn't see them changing that.Minnesota might, because Foye hasn't looked great, but he has shown some upside. He can put the ball on the floor and score, and his shot will come.Golden States would not need a point guard, or wing player, they have alot of those running around. I really don't see Rhondo or Williams being a top ten pick, even if they did know what was going to happy early in this season. Seattle is the only team that might have picked them, and that is still doubtful, as I could see them picking up Brewer to come in behind Lewis or Allen.
Bargnani is actually progessing well in my opinion. He just needs some time to get used to the American game. I love all the Raptor fans here who thought he would get 15-17 ppg right off the bat just because he was the frist pick. It takes Euro players longer to adjust. Especially Bargnani, who is very finesse.Bargnani's rebounding has gotten better in my opinion, and he's able to score inside now. He takes it to the hole more often now, and he is good at going to the stripes. His defense, fouling, rebounding, post game still need improvements, but it will come.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>1. What teams do you think would change their top picks?</div>It's too hard to estimate what GM's would have changed their minds, I can only say who I think made mistakes and who they should have taken.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>2. What teams made huge mistakes?</div>- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Andrea Bargnani should not have gone #1. I don't think he will ever live up to his hype. I think he can score, but he's very soft, can't defend, and he's not effective inside. He's a 7'0'' SF, IMO. I think they should have taken LaMarcus Aldridge, who can play center. Bargnani will never be able to pair up well with Bosh, they play the same position and neither one likes to play center (and Bargnani simply CAN'T).- Atlanta made a solid/safe pick with Williams, and he really fills a need. This was not a big mistake at all, but they needed a PG. They should have tried to trade down a couple picks and they should have gotten Rondo.- Seattle shouldn't have taken Sene. It somewhat works out a little, because Swift is missing this whole season, but then they didn't know. He's way too raw, I don't see him ever being a very good player (definitely not worthy of a top 10 pick). I think Seattle should have taken a wing like Ronnie Brewer to back up both Ray/Shard, especially considering Lewis is having some issues agreeing on an extension.- I don't think the JJ Redick pick for Orlando was a bad one, I like the fit. BUT, Ronnie Brewer is the better player, and always will be. They should have snagged Brewer at 11 over Redick.- Philly should not have drafted Sefolosha and traded him for Carney. They should have went with a PG and drafted either Rondo or Marcus Williams.- Washington needed a PG, and they still need a real backup PG. They also should have went with either Rondo or Williams.- Sacramento, also, needs a backup point. They also should have went with Rondo/Williams over Douby.- Phoenix should have kept Rondo at 21 and not signed Marcus Banks (even though I love Marcus, he'll never be the player Rondo will be).- New York, ALSO should have went with Rondo or Williams.- Cleveland should have taken Jordan Farmar at 25 over Shannon Brown. Brown will be a good player, but they really needed a better PG there. They did end up stealing Gibson in the 2nd round, however.- Portland should have taken Paul Millsap at 30 over Freeland.- Indiana should not have taken James White at 31. They cut him for one, and also he doesn't have many real basketball skills. He's just a freak athlete. They should have snagged either Daniel Gibson or Paul Millsap.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>3. What teams wouldn't change there picks?</div>- Portland getting Roy and Aldridge was great.- New Jersey stealing Williams at 22 and getting Boone at 23 was gold.- Boston stealing both Rondo and Powe was perfect.- Charlotte taking Morrison was good.- Chicago taking Thomas and Sefolosha was great.- Foye to Minnesota was good potential wise, although I don't see the sense when you have Ricky, James, and McCants.- New Orleans getting Armstrong and Simmons was good.- Utah snagging Brewer at 14 and Millsap at 47 was awesome.- Kyle Lowry at 24 for Memphis was awesome.- Farmar at 26 to LA was good.- Ager at 28 was very solid.- Minny getting Craig Smith at 36 was awesome.- Daniel Gibson at 42 was a steal for Cleveland.- Hassan Adams at 54 to New Jersey was very nice.- PJ Tucker at 35 for Toronto will turn out nicely.-
Reposting from another forum I frequent:A couple of days after the facts, but here are rookies ranked by 'how good' they have been. Minimum of 60 minutes.<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'> T player confpos tm G Min Eff% Sco Reb AstPF Stl TO Blk eW28.6 Aldridge,Lamarcu wC Por 5 26 .692 15.8 8.6 1.4 5.2 1.4.31.4 .3827.1 Millsap,Paul w SF Uta10 16 .582 13.211.8.8 5.8 1.2 1.41.8 .4224.4 Smith,Craigw SF Min 9 17 .549 16.110.0.6 5.7 1.2 2.0 .2 .3523.6 Roy,Brandonw SG Por 5 27 .457 14.7 4.2 4.6 2.2.3 1.4 .5 .2921.1 Balkman,Renaldoe SFNY11 10 .5479.4 8.1 1.3 6.1 2.1 2.12.1 .1920.9 Gay,Rudy w PF Mem 9 24 .454 12.6 7.3.2 3.7 1.0 1.61.8 .3620.7 Lowry,Kyle w PG Mem 8 17 .5228.9 5.7 5.9 4.1 1.9 2.6 .2 .2220.0 Brewer,Ronniew SG Uta 9 13 .517 13.1 5.2.6 1.7 2.0 2.0 .9 .1719.7 Garbajosa,Jorgee PF Tor 9 22 .4358.5 6.2 2.3 1.3 2.0.7 .3 .3018.7 Foye,Randy w PG Min 9 13 .430 10.1 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.2 2.4 .0 .1518.7 Sefolosha,Thaboe SG Chi 9 15 .470 10.3 4.8 2.6 2.3 1.6 1.6 .5 .1718.5 Rondo,Rajone PG Bos 9 22 .4307.7 6.0 5.6 3.7 1.8 3.2 .2 .2517.2 Thomas,Tyrus e SF Chi 79 .3037.4 9.2.9 6.5.9 3.73.3 .0717.1 Farmar,Jordanw PG LAL10 16 .521 10.0 3.4 4.7 1.6.4 2.2 .4 .1616.3 Williams,Shelden e PF Atl 8 20 .4717.112.5.7 4.8.7 3.6 .9 .1415.9 Morrison,Adame SF Cha 9 34 .459 13.7 2.9 1.6 2.7.7 2.3 .2 .2615.0 Simmons,Cedric w PFNO10 15 .4726.8 7.9 1.1 6.2.2 1.91.9 .1015.0 Williams,Marcuse PGNJ 9 20 .417 10.0 4.8 4.5 3.6.0 3.4 .2 .1214.9 Rodriguez,Sergio w SG Por 5 12 .2142.1 2.3 9.5 2.0 1.5 2.5 .0 .0413.5 Bargnani,Andreae PF Tor 99 .416 11.6 5.4.0 7.6.0 2.21.1 .04 9.9 Diawara,Yakhouba w SF Den 6 16 .3885.1 3.2 1.6 4.4.7.7 .3-.02 9.3 Bozeman,Cedric e SG Atl 8 12 .3753.4 3.7 2.3 5.2 1.0 1.0 .3-.03 8.3 Carney,Rodneye SF Phi 8 10 .5384.5 1.9.7 3.9.4.0 .8-.04</div>In a reversal of recent seasons, 8 of the 10 best-looking rookies are in the West. In eWins, west rooks have totalled 2.4, east 1.5 -- some less-great rookies have big minutes for eastern teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 23 2006, 05:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>- Atlanta made a solid/safe pick with Williams, and he really fills a need. This was not a big mistake at all, but they needed a PG. They should have tried to trade down a couple picks and they should have gotten Rondo.- I don't think the JJ Redick pick for Orlando was a bad one, I like the fit. BUT, Ronnie Brewer is the better player, and always will be. They should have snagged Brewer at 11 over Redick.- New York, ALSO should have went with Rondo or Williams.- Cleveland should have taken Jordan Farmar at 25 over Shannon Brown. Brown will be a good player, but they really needed a better PG there. They did end up stealing Gibson in the 2nd round, however.</div>I like lots of your thoughts on these, but I have a few that I must disagree with, and here is the ones. I will adress these paragraph by paragraph.1. Atlanta had a whole at point guard, but they also had a whole down low, especially att he power forward spot, with Al Harrington leaving. I think drafted Williams this year will work out for them, and next year they can draft a Ronald Steele of Alabama, or Dominic James if he comes out to play point guard for them.2. Alot of people keep saying this, and I think it's completly off that the Magic should have drafted Ronnie Brewer. The Magic have enough people that can drive, and get to the rim, as that is what the Magic do the most. The thing they need most is a consistant three point shooter, because no one on the team is overly great at being consistent at shooting. Turkoglu and Dooling are way to up and down with their shots. JJ Redick has the nicest stroke of any level of basketball in my view. He has a good chance of becoming a very good three point shooter. By drafting Ronnie Brewer, they would ignore the biggest need on the team, by drafting Redick, even if he isn't playing right now, they paid attention to the biggest need on the team.3. New York already has a group of point guards on the roster in Francis, Marbury, and Robinson. It's fairl obvious right now, no team is going to trade for the bad contracts that are Marbury, or Francis, so why would they draft another point guard? Early in the season, that Balkman deal is not looking to bad, he is a good hustle player, and atheletic on the wing. Early, this isn't looking like a bad pick at all.4. Cleveland does not need a true point guard with their style of play. With Lebron James monopolizing the ball, and having the role as playmaker in the half court, a point guard is not a huge need. They need shooters that Lebron James can kick out to, and will make the shots with consistency the most.
I think Rudy Gay might move up now. He's having a great year, and has a ton of potential that hasn't been tapped out yet. I don't know who would have gotten him though. Possibly Portland, since Darius Miles is injured. I don't know if they would rather have LaMarcus or Brandon Roy though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Nov 24 2006, 07:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like lots of your thoughts on these, but I have a few that I must disagree with, and here is the ones. I will adress these paragraph by paragraph.1. Atlanta had a whole at point guard, but they also had a whole down low, especially att he power forward spot, with Al Harrington leaving. I think drafted Williams this year will work out for them, and next year they can draft a Ronald Steele of Alabama, or Dominic James if he comes out to play point guard for them.2. Alot of people keep saying this, and I think it's completly off that the Magic should have drafted Ronnie Brewer. The Magic have enough people that can drive, and get to the rim, as that is what the Magic do the most. The thing they need most is a consistant three point shooter, because no one on the team is overly great at being consistent at shooting. Turkoglu and Dooling are way to up and down with their shots. JJ Redick has the nicest stroke of any level of basketball in my view. He has a good chance of becoming a very good three point shooter. By drafting Ronnie Brewer, they would ignore the biggest need on the team, by drafting Redick, even if he isn't playing right now, they paid attention to the biggest need on the team.3. New York already has a group of point guards on the roster in Francis, Marbury, and Robinson. It's fairl obvious right now, no team is going to trade for the bad contracts that are Marbury, or Francis, so why would they draft another point guard? Early in the season, that Balkman deal is not looking to bad, he is a good hustle player, and atheletic on the wing. Early, this isn't looking like a bad pick at all.4. Cleveland does not need a true point guard with their style of play. With Lebron James monopolizing the ball, and having the role as playmaker in the half court, a point guard is not a huge need. They need shooters that Lebron James can kick out to, and will make the shots with consistency the most.</div>1. Yeah, I thought Shelden was a good pick, but they needed a PG too. I should have put the word "too" in my original post. But definitely a good pick.2. Brewer is more athletic, he can play 3 positions, and most of all he would add to Orlando's defense. He would have been a great replacement once Grant Hill retires. Brewer isn't a good shooter right now, but he will be solid. He's going to be a much better player than Redick, IMO. I also acknowledged that Redick does fit with Orlando, but I don't think they should have passed up on Brewer just to get a shooter. Hell, they can sign a shooter, you can't just go out and get a guy like Brewer.3. Marbury, Francis, Robinson... I count none of them as "point guards." They are all scoring combo guards. There is not one real PG in New York. Balkman has impressed me, I agree, but they could have gotten him with their 29th pick and also got Marcus Williams. They need a playmaker down there, a guy that doesn't dribble around and shoot. Williams is what they need - a playmaking, pass first PG who can also shoot the open jumper.4. Sure, LeBron can run an offense too, but getting a true PG would take a lot of pressure off of LeBron. He wouldn't necessarily have to call so many iso's to bull his way from 29 feet to the basket. He could run of screens, get post position, and play freely offensively with a real PG getting him the ball.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 24 2006, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Yeah, I thought Shelden was a good pick, but they needed a PG too. I should have put the word "too" in my original post. But definitely a good pick.2. Brewer is more athletic, he can play 3 positions, and most of all he would add to Orlando's defense. He would have been a great replacement once Grant Hill retires. Brewer isn't a good shooter right now, but he will be solid. He's going to be a much better player than Redick, IMO. I also acknowledged that Redick does fit with Orlando, but I don't think they should have passed up on Brewer just to get a shooter. Hell, they can sign a shooter, you can't just go out and get a guy like Brewer.3. Marbury, Francis, Robinson... I count none of them as "point guards." They are all scoring combo guards. There is not one real PG in New York. Balkman has impressed me, I agree, but they could have gotten him with their 29th pick and also got Marcus Williams. They need a playmaker down there, a guy that doesn't dribble around and shoot. Williams is what they need - a playmaking, pass first PG who can also shoot the open jumper.4. Sure, LeBron can run an offense too, but getting a true PG would take a lot of pressure off of LeBron. He wouldn't necessarily have to call so many iso's to bull his way from 29 feet to the basket. He could run of screens, get post position, and play freely offensively with a real PG getting him the ball.</div>Brewer is a good player, but he is no different than most of the players they already have on the Magic team. Plays defense, which the Magic already play well, and offensively is best when he is attacking the rim. Trevor Ariza does the same thing off the bench, as well as Keith Bogans. Getting Brewer would be exactly the same thing. When Hill retires, or leaves, Ariza will be the one to step into that spot for him. They could have gone out and signed a shooter, but Redick has the potential to be a better shooter than all of them. He has the cleanest stroke of just about anyone out there, and was possibly the greatest shooter in NCAA history. As I said early, to draft Brewer would have been ignoring their greatest need for the future, a consistent three point shooter.Your right, they are all more like combo guards, than real point guards, but if they drafted a "true" point guard when would he get time to play. With them locked into contracts for a while, and no one really going to trade for them, when would they get time to put that new point guard in there? Would they just keep Francis or Marbury on the bench while the other one gets to play. Realistically no one drafted at the 1 or 2 would get much playing time. The 3 was the position that someone had the chance to come in and impact the team right away, which is what Isaih Thomas needed, someone that is going to impact the team right away. He wouldn't have to, but James would still probably monoplize the ball alot of the time. That is where they have their greatest chance of winning, is by James controlling the ball in the half court. Running off of screens, and getting post position would help, but I think it would also take away from his playmaking ability which is what he does best. Jones is playing decently this season, and between him and Snow they have point guards anyways. Plus Jones is a good shooter, so he helps to have someone to hit shots when James passes out.
