There are certain days when the sun shines brighter (yes, in Seattle as well), the birds chirp louder, and the flowers are in full bloom. For some, this may mean going for a bike ride, enjoying God's gift to the world. On May 22nd, it was one of those days in Seattle. But instead of appreciating the beauty of the weather, I was running around my couch as ESPN went to commerical during the NBA Draft Lottery. The final three picks would be revealed, and with the luck of a Seattle fan (I later realized I forgot the luck of an Atlanta fan), I knew we would end up with the 3rd overall selection, missing out on Oden and Durant.
Fast forward 20 minutes, and I had just gotten done jumping up and down, running, and screaming with joy that we just earned our shot at history. The #2 overall selection was ours, and with it came a rush of cuss words that Martin Scorsese would scold me for being inapropriate. Oden or Durant would be in Green & Gold, and I knew the chances of my team staying in my city went up...big time
So while Portland and Seattle celebrate, every other team has to actually draw up a draft board, something the Northwest have the luxury of skipping. Here's how the Lottery should play out...
#1: Portland
Greg Oden, C, Ohio State
Kevin Pritchard will have to think of this pick for a week before confirming that Greg Oden will indeed wear a Portland uniform. While Portland did draft Texas product LaMarcus Aldridge with the #2 selection last year, he can easily be moved over to the Power Forward position to create the most formidable front line in the league. Portland looks stacked, and a team to be reckoned with for the next 10 years. The chances of Portland going to the other franchise player is slim, and they will let him waltz right back up the Interstate where...
#2: Seattle
Kevin Durant, F, Texas
Savior? That is the word attached to the 18 year old kid who can sink a basket anywhere on the court, blindfolded, with handcuff's around his wrists (rumor going around in Seattle right now). Tickets are selling quicker than any other season, and the city is talking Sonic basketball again. Durant could go 0-15 in a game, and fans will still end up flocking to see the kid play. He is entering a situation where he could come off the bench as the 6th man (very, very, unlikely), and still keep a team from moving. With an offense of Ray Allen, Durant, and Rashard Lewis, Seattle has the chance to be a new Phoenix Suns team and average maybe 115 points per. He is a quiet kid who looks to fit in extremely well with the city. His work ethic has been said as A++. Comparisons that have been mentioned are Jordan, Magic, Garnett. And I'm loving every part of it.
#3: Atlanta
Mike Conley Jr, PG, Ohio State
While Dominique Wilkins looked like the most akward person on the planet standing next to Lenny Wilkins and Brandon Roy when the Hawks logo was pulled from the #3 envelope, he will have a more uncomfortable stay while he sits in the Atlanta draft room. The only bonus was keeping the pick from Phoenix for one more year, until they give them the #1 selection next year. Atlanta missed out on a franchise saver, and now must go by need (Oden would have, Durant... not quite). Mike Conley showed he is a top flight PG in the tournament, showing more atheltic and clutch plays than anybody in March. The days of Royal Ivy and Tyronne Lue are over, Atlanta finally has a legit PG that could be the distributer to all those high flying forwards. While he may have to dump the ball to fumbling Zaza Pachulia every 26 plays, he is the perfect guy to lead a turnaround for the Hawks.
#4: Memphis
Yi Jinlian, F, China
The most wildcard pick in the whole draft, Memphis takes the chance at the Chinese 7 footer. Some say Nowitzki, some say Tskitvili (or try to say for that matter). The only glimpse America has had of Jinlian is a few grainy YouTube videos, a glorified Nike commercial, and a workout video shown by ESPN. With the terrbile handling of Pau Gasol, who likely will be traded, Memphis will find themselves with a void at PF. If rumors are true, Memphis could end up with the third best player in the draft. However, with this being their only pick of the draft (assuming a Gasol trade doesn't include picks), Memphis may want to make a statement and take a more well known player like Joakim Noah. But the extreme odds are Jerry West has Memphis seeing Yi.
#5: Boston
Al Horford, F, Florida
While seeing ESPN showing the Boston Lottery Party initiated more "Ha Ha" laughs then ever before, Boston still has the opprotunity to select a very good player. Only thing is, since the player wont have the name Durant or Oden, Danny Ainge will likely trade the pick to someone who wants the rights to the extremely talented Horford for a proven player. The lowest rated recruit by Billy Donovan in the amazing '04 class, he will likely be the first picked and most productive player out of the four. Horford will be able to rebound right away. So while Boston is watching a player in the Corey Maggette mold (big name, no game), whoever lands Horford will be doing the "Ha Ha" laugh for a long time.
#6: Milwaukee
Corey Brewer, G, Florida
Nothing pleased me more then to see Larry Harris' stoned face reaction when it was revealed Milwaukee earned the 6th pick. The Bucks have lucked out too many times for me to like them, and seeing the two months of tanking go to waste couldn't have pleased me more. However, because 2007 is such a deep draft, Harris ends up with the best shooting guard in the draft. Corey Brewer is 6' 8", and will be able to fill in for Michael Redd when needed, and maybe start next to him if he plays well enough in training camp. Brewer could be very well be a key piece in getting rid of Redd's huge (deserving though I might add) for a point guard who can pass to the big men (Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva), and maybe kick it out to Brewer for a dunk or nice jumper. Milwaukee could end up building one of the better teams for the future on June 28th.
#7: Minnesota
Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina
Brandan Wright is definately the wildcard in the draft this year. He could go as high as #3 to Atlanta, but with the Hawks pressing PG situation, he will likely end up in Minnesota. Wright could return for a second season under Roy Williams should he decide to be a lock for a top-3 pick next year, but the chances are unlikely. Minnesota would make the right call picking Wright, as he could become one of the better PF's in the league someday (something Michael Olowakandi and Ndudi Ebi definately didn't do). Selecting Wright may even give the Wolves a chance at putting Kevin Garnett back at SF, where he dominated a couple years ago. But while Kevin McHale establishes himself as the NBA's Matt Millen, he has the shot at picking a player that will help Minnesota for years to come.
#8: Charlotte
Jeff Green, F, Georgetown
While some may only be able to dream how ugly/funny/depressing it would be to see Joakim Noah team up with Adam Morrison in Charlotte's orange uniforms, the chances are slim to none. The one problem His Airness will have in selecting his second first round draft pick as presidet of the Bobcats is an easy one to answer. Which small forward? With Gerald Wallace 99.9% chance of leaving for much bigger money, Charlotte finds themselves in the deepest SF class i recent memory. At his position in the draft he will be able to select from the names of Green, Wright, Thornton, and Young. The future pick could be in Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young, but the most ready is Georgetown's Jeff Green. Green will be able to step in immeadiately and contribute with Morrison, Raymond Felton, and Emeka Okafor. All Charlotte will need for the future is a good defender and a guy who can hit a timely shot, Green provides just that. Another positive is when he is needed, he can takeover a team and become their leading scorer. Jeff Green is the perfect fit.
#9: Chicago Bulls
Spencer Hawes, C, Washington
Take my five star center, let him rot on the bench for a couple seasons, and watch him struggle adjust to the pro game. If he was smart, he would return for one more season and be a high draft pick, but money wins almost every time. From the look of it, this is Robert Swift version 2.0, with less tatoos of course.
#10: Sacramento
Julian Wright, SF, Kansas
After having one of the best rosters in the NBA for many seasons, the Kings look like they will now fall off the face of the earth. Ron Artest wont know who his team picked until he gets out of prison (when he will be released as well), Mike Bibby is as good as gone, and the Kings look to become the Las Vegas Kings in a couple years. While Artest is in Bibby's position, it wont be hard for them to find a very good replacement. Julian will likely become the leading scorer for the Kings in a couple years, but he will likely be doing at the bottom of the Western Conference.
#11: Atlanta
Tiago Splitter, F/C, Brazil
People have talked about Splitter for years, and he has pulled out of the draft at the last moment for three drafts. But now it looks like the Brazil 7-footer will finally be staying in, and will be "rewarded" by peing picked by Atlanta. Splitter will be in a situation where he is needed right away, but will likely have a hard time adjusting (see Sene, Mouhammad). There is no doubting his skills, and could develop into a solid player in the NBA in a couple years. Splitter will likely be a stop gap until Atlanta finally finishes paying off the Joe Johnson deal.
#12: Philadelphia
Nick Young, G, USC
Philadelphia will boo the pick, because they will have never heard of Nick Young in their life. Nut Young is talented, and could very well become the third leading scorer for Philly right away. Could team up with Willie Green to become a very good SG tandem. But he provides a ton of talent at tha position, but is more of a potential pick. With Andre Miller, Young, Andre Igoudala, and Rodney Carney, Billy Knight could bery well be building a basketball team.
#13: New Orleans
Joakim Noah, F, Florida
Noah could go anywhere except the Northwest, but he will likely be the one crying as he regrets not coming out last year and becoming the first or second pick in a weak 2006 draft. The Hornets will need another high profile player to attract fans from New Orleans, and Noah defiantely brings that. The team also saw a lack of an emotional spark, and Noah definately provides that. He could be the #1 or #2 option off the bench next year, and providing exactly what the Hornets need. He'll need the Hornets, and the Hornets will need him.
#14: Los Angeles
Acie Law IV, G, Texas A&M
The is probably the third most obvious selection in the draft. Law saw his stock go cold heading into March, so he slid from top-7 to bottom of the lottery. But there is no way he falls below Los Angeles, as he gives the Clippers another PG to have when Shaun Livingston breaks his leg. He will learn from Sam Cassell, and become a good PG for the Clip Show. He will distribute the ball to Elton Brand and Chris Kaman, and do what he does best: hit the last second shot.
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05-24-2007 09:12 PM