In previous years, one of The Chronicle’s sports writers would usually come up with an NBA Mock Draft in order to project who would be taken and when. However, this year it wasn’t done for one reason:
It’s a waste of time.
With the influx of European and high school players, projecting a draft is as useful as reading a Tye Smith column. Just kidding, Tye.
Instead of doing the preview, it’s time we do a review of what every team did and give them a grade.
By the way, the review will be split in two parts-the first half this week and the other half of the teams next week, due to space considerations.
Atlanta Hawks
What the hell are the Atlanta Hawks doing? Josh Childress may become a very good player in the league, but the rest of the picks don’t make sense.
I know that the team is trying to get athletic, but picking three guys that play the same position isn’t exactly a smart rebuilding practice.
Besides Childress, the Hawks selected Josh Smith and Donta Smith. All three of them could be solid NBA players, but not all three of them can coexist on the same team.
Childress brings a lot to the table in terms of an all-around game and should give an immediate impact to a team destined to suck forever.
Grade: C+
Boston Celtics
Delonte West could be the steal of the draft if he learns how to play the point guard position, which is a very big if. He had Jameer Nelson passing the ball to him in college and now he has to spread the ball out, though he has a sweet stroke on his jumper.
Many people love Al Jefferson, but the man could only bench 185 pounds three times, which shows a lack of strength. Hell, I can bench 185 pounds three times.
It will take a while for him to develop. The Celtics’ other first-round pick was Tony Allen, who just seems like a good college player but not someone who will fit in well in the NBA because of his size.
Grade: C
Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats capitalized on Elgin Baylor’s stupidity by trading up to the second pick to get Emeka Okafor, who will be a great defender out of the box.
His offensive game is raw, but he proved he has ability to score during the Final Four.
Charlotte traded Zaza Pachulia (yeah, you heard me) for Bernard Robinson, which is not earth-shattering. Basically, nobody cares about their second pick. Charlotte got their franchise player and they are elated.
Grade: B+
Chicago Bulls
If you just look at the players the Bulls selected, you would think that they deserved an A grade, but I am confused as to what they are going to do with their back court now that they have Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon.
Don’t get me wrong, Gordon is going to be a very good player and he can score whenever he wants to.
But who is going to play the point? This move probably means Jamal Crawford is gone.
Luol Deng will be a solid player at the small forward position. He won’t be a superstar, but he solidifies a once unstable starting five.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s too bad Andre Iguodala was picked before the Cavs’ pick. He would have been the perfect fit for the Cavaliers, but they had to settle for Luke Jackson.
Jackson is a better shooter than Iguodala and almost as athletic.
He will probably sit on the other end as Lebron unless he is traded.
Cleveland got the best player available, which is all they could ask for at the No. 10 slot.
Grade: B+
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks did an excellent job with the picks they had, along with a trade with the Jazz.
The team picked Devin Harris in the lottery and he will be a very good fit, especially if Steve Nash leaves. The second of their first-round selections came out of a trade with Utah.
The only excuse the Jazz have for trading their first-round pick for a future pick is to not give another player a guaranteed contract, but Pavel Podkolzine was worth the risk.
He is 7 feet 5 inches tall and has incredible potential for a player who is picked in the 20s. The Mavericks may package him in a deal for Shaq, or just keep him and finally have a true center in their offense.
Grade: A-
Denver Nuggets
They traded Jameer Nelson for a future first-round pick to the Orlando Magic.
Grade: Whatever
Detroit Pistons
They only had a second-round pick and they used it on Rickey Paulding, who is a solid player. He may do well, but it’s a second-round pick so anything is a gamble.
Grade: B
Golden State Warriors
Everyone knew who the Warriors would take before the draft started. Andris Biedrins was the pick and may replace Erick Dampier, who opted out of his contract.
I don’t know much about him, but he does fill a need, right?
Grade: B
Houston Rockets
The Rockets didn’t do much since they didn’t have a first-round pick. In the second round, they picked up Vassilis Spanoulis, who is in the mold of a Emanuel Ginobili. The Rockets will stash him overseas for a little while until he is ready to play in the NBA.
Grade: B-
Indiana Pacers
Any other player would be an upgrade over Jeff Foster, and David Harrison is exactly that: an upgrade.
It’s not that big of an upgrade, but Harrison gives size to a team that lacks it in the middle. He is a 7-footer who should complement Jermaine O’Neal down on the blocks.
Grade: B
L.A. Clippers
The trade down to the fourth pick was just stupid, unless the Clippers sign a big free agent, which would make up for losing Okafor.
However, they got very good value picks with Shaun Livingston and Lionel Chalmers.
Livingston clearly needs to get stronger, but he is the type of point guard the Clippers need. He has mad handles and amazing court vision.
Chalmers plays the same position, but is more of a scoring threat. The Clippers are solid inside, but needed point guards and they did well for themselves in the draft.
Grade: A-
Next week I’ll explain why the Hornets may have gotten the best player in the draft and how big of a question mark Sebastian Telfair is going to be in Portland. Not only that, but I wasn’t able to adequately tear into the Orlando Magic for picking Dwight Howard over Okafor.