no matter what happens, andrew bynum will end disparity in all of the nba next season. go Lakers!
Again, should the formatting fuck up, I originally posted this here
http://hoops.blink.ph/2008/06/26/the-2008-nba-pre-draft-entry/
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After a crazy season full of upsets, frustrations and of course fulfillment, we are now starting again. Starting tomorrow at 7 in the morning here in the Philippines, about 60 players will be drafted in the NBA. To tell you more about the who’s who and what’s what of this draft, read more below.
Chicago Bulls
Well, mock drafts are projecting Memphis point guard Derrick Rose to be the Number 1 overall draft pick in this year’s draft. However, as I said in this entry (Tamad mag link sorry, http://hoops.blink.ph/2008/05/23/the-bull-sheet-2-charging-back/) I’m more high on Michael Beasley in this one. Beasley is a very athletic player who can play both Forward spots and can score from the inside and from the out. While it’s hard to pass out on someone like Derrick Rose, the Bulls have been longing for a prolific inside operator who can blend with perimeter players like Gordon, Hinrich and Deng. So yeah as a fan of the Bulls and an observer, I’ll go with Michael Beasley here.
Miami Heat
Whoever the Bulls leave behind between Rose and Beasley, the Heat will gladly take. However, sources say that the Heat are very high on getting a point guard so if things goes perfectly for Miami and the Bulls opts to pick Beasley, they will definitely be contented with Derrick Rose. However, if the Bulls decides to pick Rose instead, I expect the Heat to trade Beasley for better deals right after draft night.
Minnesota Timberwolves
They should get OJ Mayo if Miami picks Beasley. Sources say that McHale and Pat Riley are talking about possible trades and should Minnesota pick OJ and Miami gets Beasley, I expect a 2 for 3 trade here to favor Miami. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if McHale opts to go for a bigman like Kevin Love or Brook Lopez here to compliment Al Jefferson. A trade that may involve New York is also a possibility.
Seattle Super Sonics
They’ll probably get Brook Lopez. Lopez is the best option for the rebuilding Oklahoma errr Seattle Super Sonics here. Brook is a very fluid offensive player who has great hands and good upper body strength. Definitely a player who can improve and turn into something great into the next few years if he gets his act right. Again, trades are possible, especially from here on up to Charlotte’s ninth pick.
Memphis Grizzlies
While Memphis has been looking for more ceiling, I doubt they’ll pass on someone like Eric Gordon. Gordon is an impressive and explosive combo guard who most likely imposes his will on his defenders. However, height will be a factor as he seems small to play the 2 guard and he seems to have trouble running the number 1 spot. If there’s any consolation, the next two big picks (Bayless and Westbrook) are small two guards too so it’s a pick your poison type of scenario for Memphis here. Kevin Love would be another great option should they go to man up their front court.
New York Knicks
By now, considering that everything that I said in there would be accurate, the only good picks for the Knicks at this pick would be Jerryd Bayless, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love. However, I doubt they’ll pick Love because they are loaded on the front. So it should be a toss up between Bayless and Westbrook.
Los Angeles Clippers
If New York opts to pick Bayless, then expect a deal between the Phoenix Suns and the Clippers to pull through that includes Russel Westbrook, Leandro Barbosa and Corey Maggette. If New York picks Westbrook though, I expect the Clippers to keep Bayless with them.
Milwaukee Bucks
No question here, Joe Alexander would be the uncontested pick here for the Bucks. Alexander is a very gifted athletic player who can finish strong to the basket. At 6′8, he runs fairly well and knows his way around the basket. Scouts says he’s also very coachable and is likely eager to learn more. Plus, add to it the fact that he played in China.. it would be quite a connection between Yi Jian Lian and him.
Charlotte Bobcats
If somehow UCLA Forward Kevin Love slips to the ninth overall pick, then the Bobcats would gladly take him. However, we all know that Michael Jordan loves to do these crazy picks (ehem, Kwame Brown, ehem, Adam Morrisson) so let’s see how this one turns out.
New Jersey Nets
After acquiring Devin Harris from the trade last year, I expect the Nets to get a mobile bigman who would compliment Nenad Kristic. With that being said, expect the Nets to pick either Danilo Gallinari or Anthony Randolph.
Well that’s it, 11 under would be pretty much a toss up for all the teams.
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In other news..
Pacers agrees to trade O'Neal for TJ Ford
On the eve of the NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers finally agreed to a trade.
Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the Pacers and the Raptors have agreed to a deal that, pending review of medical information, would send Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the No. 17 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.
ESPN.com has also learned that the Raptors will get the 41st pick from the Pacers as part of the deal while the Pacers will receive Raptors forward Maceo Baston to complete the deal.
Ford's contract makes him a "base-year compensation" player, meaning the trade cannot be completed until July 9.
The agreement was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.
