| "Draft Day Recap..." (June 26, 1998)
All that posturing and cooing over Mike Bibby was all for naught. The Los Angeles Clippers pulled an end around and went with the player with the biggest potential, or is that the biggest shoe size. There is no need to tell his story of a man who paid his own way to Pacific and became a star. He'll join a crowed front court, but he's the starting center, there is no question.
Mike Bibby went to the Grizzlies at number 2. This bodes well for the Griz. They have someone who can run the team and score a bit as well. They unloaded rookie bust Antonio Daniels to the Spurs for Carl Herrera and Felipe Lopez. While neither Lopez or Herrera are stars they do add to the talent level of Vancouver. Maybe Lopez can step up and become the starting shooting guard that the Grizzlies are sincerely lacking. Herrera can give the Grizzlies some good front court banging and a backup to Michael Smith. They got J.R. Henderson for depth. He has talent but has he got heart?
Denver surprised me by taking Raef Lafrenz. But when you suck as much as the Nuggets did last year, you take whatever you can get. I thought Paul Pierce, because of his all around game, but they went with the other Jayhawk. Lafrenz should team up with Eric Williams to form their front court with Danny Forston. Lafrenz brings his steady complete game to the Mile High city with great expectations. The team was the worst in the NBA and won't be happy with another near 10 win season.
The Raptors picked Antawn Jamison and I was happy. They traded him to the Warriors for Vince Carter for cash and I wasn't so happy. But if you take a step back and look at the trade objectively it's a good deal. a) Jamison said he wouldn't play for any Canadian team b) the Raptors swapped picks and saved some money because of the guaranteed rookie salaries c) Toronto got some cash d) Carter fills a void the Raptors were sorely lacking, scoring. Vince Carter is the most dynamic player in the draft. He'll play two guard. This gives the Raptors the opportunity to move Doug Christie. As well, John Wallace is a similar player to Antawn Jamison, so having both of them doesn't seem too productive. Both are tweeners who post up. The Raptors have enough smallish players who lack bulk. Carter is a 220 lbs shooting guard. Nice! As well Glen Grunwell made a great deal by sending underachieving and chronically injured Marcus Camby to New York for Charles Oakley and DeMarco Johnson (the Knicks 2nd round pick). It's a good deal for both. New York gets younger and more athletic and Camby should be able to flourish on a team where he isn't the main offensive threat (but since he's a post player and so is Ewing and Johnson, it's a wonder where he'll get his shots. Doesn't Camby remind you a lot of Charles Smith?! Tall, lanky, good game, but has more of a small forward game in a power forward body except for the strength.) Oakley gives the Raptors veteran leadership, strength, toughness and rebounding. Him and Willis will be a great job toughening up Toronto's front court. At least the Raptors aren't the youngest team. And they won't be outmuscled and outrebounded any more either. Good move Glen. Besides, Oakley plays all 82 games. Tyson Wheeler. Backup point guard who can shoot. I like him.
The Warriors get a player who will play beside Donyell Marshall. At least the Warriors are versatile now, having two tweeners playing forward. As for Golden State, who cares, it's Golden State. Call me when you get rid of Spreewell.
Dallas drafted Robert Traylor, which I thought was a nice pick, but NO, Don Nelson couldn't stay still. He had to meddle. He trades Traylor and his NBA sized body to Milwaukee for German center Dirk Nowitzki, who will play in Germany for two years and Pat Garrity (a mediocre play from Notre Dame). What's with Nelson and "athletic" centres. And when I say "athletic" I mean white and "athletic". See Shawn Bradley, Chris Antsley and now Nowitski. Then Nellie trades Martin Muursepp (who has never played any meaningful minutes, another Euro-chump), Pat Garrity (aforementioned useless guy) and Bubba Wells (another chump) and a 1st round pick for Steve Nash from Phoenix. Ok, here's the skinny. Three useless players to clear up some salary cap are traded away from Dallas. Good for Nellie. He gets Steve Nash, probably the most sought after point guard in the trading market. Also good for Nellie. He gives up a 1st round pick, which most likely will be a top 5 pick again. Bad for Nellie. Steve Nash is a free agent next year and who knows where he'll go. He will most likely walk from Dallas. Bad for Nellie. Vancouver and Toronto want to bring him back to Canada. New York wants a real point guard. Houston wants any type of point guard. Sorry Nellie, you've made a bad move again. All of this posturing and what does he get, a German center who won't play for the Mavericks until 2000 and a point guard who won't be there after 2000. Ansu Sesay is supposed to be good. Never heard of Sundov, but I bet Nellie has. Greg Buckner. Big deal.
Sacramento shocked me by taking Jason Williams. Lottery talent and a CBA head. I wanted the Lakers to get him but this is a good pick. They have no point guard. He could be it. Possibly Paul Pierce would have been good. He could have taken Mitch Richmond's place, but Williams is a good pick. Fills a need. Jerome James. Another risk. Is Sacramento Vegas in California?
Philly took Larry Hughes. I heard they wanted Traylor. Too bad. But Hughes fits a need. They need a shooting guard and got it in Hughes. He's young, 19, but got a load of talent and can play some point. He can shoot the long range jumper and should be able to take it to the next level. He'll be a step up from Brian Shaw at two guard. One again, I though Philly would take Pierce, but I guess they went with the true shooting guard. But Philadelphia did get the big man they wanted or needed. They traded a future 1st round pick for Nazr Mohammed. Somehow Mohammed fell from a potential 10th pick to 29. Damn, so much for coming out early. Never head of Shaw.
Did Boston get lucky or what? I thought they were going to go big with either Keon Clark, Nazr Mohammed or Michael Doleac, but I guess not. How could Rick Pittino not select Paul Pierce? He was by far the best player available. With Ron Mercer already entrenched at two guard and Antoine Walker at power forward, Paul Pierce will most likely push whoever is at small forward out. Say goodbye to your starting job Walter McCarty, Paul Pierce is wearing Celtic green. Good pick for Rick. And watch for a falling Kentucky center.
And now, a super quick review of the rest of the draft.
Detroit: Bonzi Wells (shooting guard). Supposedly a good shooter. Will take over for Joe Dumars. You should have gone to college Korleone Young.
Orlando: Michael Doleac, Keon Clark both are centers. One is a robotic center with muscle who can hit the open jumper. The other a pure athlete with a suspect background. The Magic also took Matt Harpring. Simply put, a great basketball player. Miles Simon is to Mike Bibby what Khalid Reeves is to Damon Stoudamire.
Houston: Three players. Marginal talent. Relatively no impact. Michael Dickerson, good shooter. Bryce Drew, good shooter. Too slow for point guard. Mirsad Turkcan, a forward from Turkey who probably won't play in the NBA next year. Euro-chump. Cuttino Mobley is a nice addition. I like him because he played for Jim Harrick, former UCLA coach.
Minnesota: Radoslav Nesterovic, aka Uwe Blab. Andrae Patterson. Name a good player to come from Indiana since Isiah Thomas?
Milwaukee: I've already mentioned them. They got Robert Traylor. Nice. Rafer Alston. Played at Fresno State. If he can play for Tark he can play.
Atlanta: Roshown McLeod. Played at Duke. I remember the name, the face, but not the game. Not a good indication of his talent. Could have rolled the dice here but went conservative.
Charlotte: Ricky Davis. Forward. Insurance if Mason leaves. Andrew Betts. Bet he doesn't stick.
LA Clippers: Supplemented their draft by taking a chump. What could the draft be without a stupid Clipper move. Could have taken hometown boys J.R. Henderon, Jelani McCoy or Toby Bailey, but went with another front court guy. It's move overloaded then a LA freeway.
Denver: Tyronn Lue for Nick Van Exel. Point guard to take over for the soon to be departed Bobby Jackson. Nick the Quick and Del Harris didn't get along. He'll do well in Denver. He'll get the green light to shoot and run the team. He's an all-star on a team without anything. He'll have a field day because the ball will be in his hands. Giving up on Tony Battie means nothing. He's a bust. Jackson is almost certainly gone because he's a malcontent. Tremaine Fowlkes. Never lived up to his potential either at Cal or Fresno State. Ryan Bowen. Chump.
San Antonio: Traded Felipe Lopez and Carl Herrera to the Grizzlies for Antonio Daniels. Good deal is Daniels straightens up. Otherwise, it's a really bad deal. Avery Johnson should help. As will Robinson and Duncan. Derrick Dial. Dial "C" for cut.
Indiana: What do you get a team that is older than the average age of the Republican party? Young blood. Al Harrington is a nice fit. He'll grow and learn at the feet of the master Larry Bird and no pressure to play with that loaded front court.
LA Lakers: Sam Jacobson. He'll take over the Rick Fox role of swing forward. Might not even make the team, regardless of guaranteed contract. They did take Toby Bailey with their second pick. Nice addition. Getting Tyronn Lue is a coup for Jerry West. He was coveted by the super GM, and got him by subtracting a nuisance in Van Exel. He took a flyer in Battie who could be great, but is now a bust. It'll be interesting to see how he develops in Los Angeles. Look for more moves to come in LA-LA land. Ruben Patterson is another athlete on the Lakers track team.
Seattle: Busy team. Vladimir Stepania. A poor mans Sabonis. Naw, just kidding. I don't know anything about him. But they did draft Rashard Lewis and Jelani McCoy. They got younger and more athletic. I think McCoy will be a good center in their up-tempo trapping style of defense. He's a good shot blocker and rebounder.
Chicago: Jerry Krause did well, no matter what anyone else said. He drafted a super athlete in Corey Benjamin. Benjamin is a good shooting guard and great potential. Trading Shammond Willians to Atlanta for Corey Carr and 2 second round picks is a good deal. Carr is a scorer and although Williams would be been a nice addition to the triangle offense, who knows if it will be there next year. Maceo Baston? I think having a Chicago based agent helped. When Jeff Sheppard was available?
Utah: Traded Nazr Mohammed to the 76ers for a future first rounder. Utah didn't want another guaranteed contract when they are trying to make a run at Ike Austin. He's a steal here, but in fact, the trade basically means Utah moved in the draft for nothing. This why Utah is a great team. Torraye Braggs. I guess they had to draft someone.
Washington: Jahidi White. Did John Thompson bribe the Wizards or does White have a lease he can't break?
Cleveland: Ryan Stack. Big center. They have a good draft last year.
Miami: Corey Brewer. Did Riles get another diamond in the rough?
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