Portland Trailblazers: NBA Draft

NBA: All-Bust Team

Hoopsworld — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:04:58 -0400

No person ever wants to be called a bust. It's a term most often used to refer to high draft picks who never fulfill expectations, but could just as easily be the guy in the cube next to you who everyone had high hopes for but instead spends his days weighing the options of his fantasy football team. Or his fantasy racing team. Or bass fishing. Or – well, you get the picture.

Even athletes who end up being called busts can't shoulder all the blame, though they usually do. Is it their fault a general manager somewhere thought they were better than they were? Are they guilty of fraud for convincing someone to spend x amount of dollars on their services, then producing only y results?

In the NBA first round picks are locked into two-year contracts at a minimum, with team options for the third and fourth year. If you recall this is a change – it used to be three years guaranteed with one team option – but in the last round of negotiations teams wanted more flexibility to get out from under bad draft choices. As we all know, that hasn't stopped the poor selections.

Unfortunately, there are no mulligans in the draft, so here is a short list of players around the league on rookie scale contracts who might qualify for the dreaded label as bust.

Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats

Morrison was drafted third overall by Michael Jordan and the Bobcats, but he wasn't nearly the player – so far – anyone expected him to be. Known as a jump shooter, his percentages were horrible (34% from three-point range, 38% overall) as a rookie and he couldn't guard a chair. Then he missed last season with a knee injury. Morrison needs to prove, this season, he deserves to stay in this league. If his performance is anything less than excellent, the Cats are going to be dishing him to anyone still interested.

Sergio Rodriguez, Portland Trail Blazers

Rodriguez definitely has a following, but Portland coach Nate McMillan doesn't seem to be among them. His penchant for making turnovers because he is out of control as well as his lack of defense are the biggest reasons – and as an NBA point guard you better be able to do one of those things well in addition to making passes and hitting jumpers. Rodriguez excites the crowd, but that's enough when on the next play he'll throw the ball to those same fans who cheered a fancy pass a minute earlier. In fact, Rodriguez is so in the doghouse his playing time dipped from 12.9 minutes per game as a rookie to 8.7 as a sophomore – and then Portland drafted guard Jerryd Bayless.

J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic

Redick is not happy in Orlando and Orlando is not happy with Redick. He can shoot to be sure, but a player needs to have more than one skill to be a player in this league, especially one drafted in the lottery. Shooters will always have a home in the NBA, but Redick won't find his until he is either traded to a team specifically wanting a shooter or the Magic waive him. Unfortunately for both sides he was drafted to be a starting shooting guard, and his lack of defense makes it almost impossible to justify playing time – he gives up as many or more than he would score. Look for Redick to resurface outside of Orlando sometime – a la Jason Kapono.

Johan Petro and Saer Sene, Oklahoma City

This franchise has been looking for second coming of Shawn Kemp for awhile now, but this is all they have to show for it. Combined these two first round picks – both big men who are not nearly strong enough to play the NBA post – put up these stats: 23.0 minutes, 28 starts, 85 games, 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.12 blocks. Hey, that blocks number is decent in 23.0 minutes. Combine these two with restricted free agent center Robert Swift – he of the 71 games played over four seasons – and that's quit the poor choice of big men in Seattle.

Sean May, Charlotte Bobcats

Like Morrison and Swift, May has been hurt. A lot. In three seasons May has played in only 58 games, including missing all of 2007-08 (this is another reason why it's so hard to gauge the 2008-09 Bobcats – no one has any idea what they will have on the floor), but has produced when healthy. 10.4 and 5.9 rebounds, with multiple double-doubles, is solid production in 21.3 minutes of floor time, but it's not enough for a lottery pick. Calling him a bust is harsh since he has been productive when not nursing one injury or another, but 58 games is 58 games.

Ike Diogu, Portland Trail Blazers

Maybe he's just cheap, but a lottery pick who has been traded twice in three seasons isn't someone their team thinks highly of enough to keep around. Maybe it's just bad luck. Maybe it's just that Diogu's contract has fit in nicely in two moves Golden State and Indiana had to make for the betterment of their franchises, but players drafted at the nine spot should be more valuable; Diogu hasn't proved much value. Over 158 games in three seasons he has earned himself 13.3 minutes a game and posted averages of 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. Apparently those critics of him before the 2005 NBA Draft who called him too undersized to play power forward at 6-8 may have been right.

Shelden Williams, Sacramento Kings

It all started so well for Williams in Atlanta. Drafted fifth overall in 2006 he even earned rookie awards early on, but his production trailed off the longer the season went on. Then the Hawks drafted Al Horford and Marvin Williams got healthy, and suddenly Williams wasn't even in the rotation. When they needed a few extra bucks to make the Mike Bibby acquisition happen, adding in Williams was a no-brainer. He actually played even less in Sacramento, a team with overpaid veterans who can't stay in the rotation or healthy, like Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. And then the Kings used their 2008 lottery pick on power forward Jason Thompson. Doesn't really seem like the Kings are that thrilled with what they saw in 28 games from Williams, does it?

Honorable mention goes to this following list of players their own team didn't wait around the full four years on: Yaroslav Korolev (L.A. Clippers), Gerald Green (Boston, then Minnesota), Julius Hodge (Denver, then Milwaukee), Wayne Simien (Miami, then Minnesota), Patrick O'Bryant (Golden State), and Shannon Brown (Cleveland, then Chicago).

That's just a short list – no doubt you, dear reader, have your own names to add to this list. Who would it be? Again, keep it to players on rookie contracts, which would be anyone drafted in 2005, 2006, or 2007. And no, no one from 2008 is eligible to be called a bust – wait until next summer to do that. Leave a comment…

Cheerleader of the Day: Portland

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:08:17 -0400

Cheerleader of the Day

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we have access to thousands of great college & NBA basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, along with our Picture of the Day, we'll be featuring a Cheerleader of the Day. In honor of the recent NBA Draft, we'll be focusing on NBA dancers until the end of July!

Portland Trailblazers: Archived

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

Top 10 Summer League Steals

Hoopsworld — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:28:50 -0400

By: Jessica Camerato

There were teams who struck it rich on Draft Night and others who overlooked promising talent. Those players who were bypassed in New York City had the chance to showcase their games during summer league play in Orlando, Las Vegas, and Utah. HOOPSWORLD takes a look at the top ten players who proved to be a steal on Draft Night.

#5 Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Kevin Love may have been a top five pick, but the Minnesota Timberwolves got a steal when they acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies on Draft Night. Love knew his conditioning was under fire when he came to Las Vegas, so he dropped the pounds and picked up his game. He was in noticeably better shape and got up and down both ends of the court to impress on offense and defense. Love averaged 18 points and 13.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 50% from the field. After posting 26 points and 15 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers, it was clear Love could have gone earlier in the draft and the T'Wolves had played their hand successfully.

#11 Jerryd Bayless, Portland Trail Blazers (via Indiana Pacers)
Teams around the league should take notice -- if the Trail Blazers want to make a Draft Day trade, just say no. Two years ago GM Kevin Pritchard nabbed Brandon Roy from the Minnesota Timberwolves and this summer he swiped Jerryd Bayless from the Indiana Pacers. Bayless won MVP honors at the Las Vegas Summer League and looked more like a top pick than an 11th. Even though the Trail Blazers still have to determine how well Bayless can play the point, the real point is that they made out like bandits once again.

#14 Anthony Randolph, Golden State Warriors
When the Golden State Warriors drafted Anthony Randolph, it seemed as though they chose the second coming of Brandan Wright. As it turns out, Randolph is an upgrade. The 6-10, 205 pound forward ranked fifth in scoring in Las Vegas, posting 20.8 points per game. Despite his lean and lanky frame, Randolph is not afraid of contact. He got to the line 18 times in his Vegas finale and shot another 17 free throws in his most recent Rocky Mountain Revue match up. Wright may not have lived up to his rookie year expectations but the Warriors got it right with Randolph.

#16 Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers' running game cannot succeed if they don't have big men grabbing rebounds for quick outlet passes. They found a perfect fit in 6-10, 245 pound Marreese Speights. Speights ranked second in rebounding at the Vegas Summer League with over 10 boards per game and posted two 20+ point performances (18.2 ppg). He has to work on his free throw shooting if he wants to be effective at the basket, but the 19-year-old could have an upside nearly as big as his size.

#19 J.J. Hickson, Cleveland Cavaliers
After striking out on the likes of Luke Jackson and Shannon Brown, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally got it right with J.J. Hickson. He is just one of three players who the Cavs have locked in after next season and should prove to be a valuable investment. Hickson exploded for 26 points and nine rebounds in his first game and averaged nearly 20 points and eight boards during summer league. He outscored highly touted lottery picks O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love, showing he was worth the Cavs' wait at the 19th spot.

#27 Darrell Arthur, Memphis Grizzlies (via New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets)
The cameras rarely lost sight of Darrell Arthur's frustration on Draft Night as he slipped further and further down the first round. Arthur bounced around from three teams that night with his kidney condition raising question marks across the league. His game, however, should not have been a concern. Arthur clearly had something to prove in Las Vegas and scored 18 points off of 9-for-12 shooting in his debut. He has an diverse offensive repertoire and is not limited to merely the post up moves of a big man. Drafting Arthur may have been a risk but putting him on the court will not be one for the Grizzlies.

#28 Donte Green, Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies)
Donte Green introduced himself to the NBA by dropping 40 points on the Phoenix Suns, nearly breaking the Vegas Summer League scoring record. Green never scored more than 22 points after his debut but he didn't have to dominate the ball to showcase his value. His jumpshooting presence will boost the Houston Rockets' offense next season and give them more scoring options in the frontcourt. The 29th overall pick was shipped around the league before landing in Houston and he will try to prove it's where he belongs.

#34 Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Michael Beasley may have been the center of attention at the Orlando Pro Summer League, but Mario Chalmers was the biggest surprise on the Miami Heat. Chalmers, who slipped to the second round after pushing the Kansas Jayhawks to the NCAA Championship, showed he didn't leave his game behind in college. He averaged 15.8 points and 5.4 assists per game, ranking just behind Beasley in scoring for Miami. More noticeably, the 6-2 guard got to the free throw line 47 times in five games and shot nearly 92% there. Beasley stole the spotlight but Chalmers made his presence known.

#41 Nathan Jawai, Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers)
Nathan Jawai earned the nickname "Baby Shaq" in Australia but it's tough for a moniker like that to stick in the NBA. The 6-10, 280 pound Aussie knows he has his work cut out for him overseas so he hit the gym to learn from the best. Jawai worked out at Joe Abunassar's Impact Basketball with teammate Jermaine O'Neal this summer and showed his determination to improve. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two games, and although he struggled from the free throw line (53.8% FT), he has the focus to make that wrong a right. Jawai doesn't have to be "Baby Shaq" to be successful, being himself just could be good enough.

#54 Maarty Leunen, Houston Rockets
Expectations are rarely high for a 54th pick and few were anticipating Maarty Leunen would make a splash in Vegas. 16 points and five rebounds per game later, Leunen broke the mold. He consistently scored in double digits and, at 6-9, shot 44% from three-point range. Leunen may have grown up milking cows in Oregon but now he can milk his summer league performance for all it's worth.

Cheerleader of the Day: Portland Trailblazers

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:25:39 -0400

Cheerleader of the Day

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we have access to thousands of great college & NBA basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, along with our Picture of the Day, we'll be featuring a Cheerleader of the Day. In honor of the upcoming NBA Draft, we'll be focusing on NBA dancers until the end of June!

Portland Trailblazers

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

2008 Draft: Winners & Losers: Part One

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:13:26 -0400

The 2008 NBA Draft is finally in the books, and most of the viewing audience are regaining their hearing after listening to four-plus hours of Stephen A. Smith, Dick Vitale and Stuart Scott. Sixty picks, a handful of trades, buckets of tears from proud mothers, some odd suit choices and A LOT of camera shots of Darrell Arthur in the green room later, it's time to see who came out ahead this year, and who will be saving seats for next year's lottery.

WINNERS

New Jersey Nets: The Nets pulled off a big trade prior to the draft, acquiring Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons while ridding themselves of Richard Jefferson's contract, and putting themselves in position to make a run at LeBron in 2010. Then, they managed to snag two quality players in the first round, getting Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson. Lopez may not be a star, but he's a quality big man who should be a double-double machine for many years. Anderson can stretch the floor with his shooting, and could be a great weapon off the bench. But the biggest steal of the night may have been getting Chris Douglas-Roberts in the second round. CDR is a Rip Hamilton-type player, wiry strong with long arms, a good mid-range game, and a solid defender. He should be a solid rotation guy right away. The Nets do have a glut of big men on the roster, which means they might not be done dealing. The Nets won't be contenders next year, but they appear to be on the right path.

Portland Trail Blazers: Once again, the Blazers pulled off a great draft, wheeling and dealing throughout the night. When it was all said and done, they landed a terrific guard in Jerryd Bayless, who will team with Brandon Roy to give teams fits next year. Bayless isn't a pure point, but Roy is a playmaker from the off-guard position, so Bayless could operate as more of a scoring point next year. The Blazers also ended up with Nicolas Batum, a bouncy forward from France who might not contribute right away, but could be valuable down the line. They also managed to secure four future picks, meaning we can expect to see them just as busy at future drafts. With a healthy Greg Oden joining Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Bayless next year, the Blazers will challenge for the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference.

Indiana Pacers: The Pacers took a page from last year's Blazers' handbook, essentially rebuilding their team in just 24 hours. First, they rid themselves of chronically injured and tragically overpaid Jermaine O'Neal, freeing up a ton of cap space for the future. For O'Neal, they managed to land point guard TJ Ford, which means malcontent Jamaal Tinsley is likely on his way out also. Then, in the draft, they worked the phone lines and landed swingman Brandon Rush, who should be ready to contribute right away. Next, they picked up Roy Hibbert, who won't win any sprints anytime soon, but adds some much-needed size and interior defense to the roster. They also landed Jarrett Jack in the Rush-Bayless trade, giving them another solid PG on the roster. The Pacers should challenge for the playoffs next year, especially in the East.

Miami Heat: The lesson to take from this draft? Never, ever listen to draft rumors. Despite weeks of reports about the Heat being reluctant to draft Michael Beasley, stories about how immature he might be, and word of super-secret, last-minute workouts with OJ Mayo and Jerryd Bayless, the Heat drafted....Beasley. His scoring and rebounding should be a great fit with Dwyane Wade's perimeter ability, and if he stays out of trouble, he could be a star. On top of that, they managed to address their point guard needs by acquiring Mario Chalmers, whose toughness, defense and basketball IQ will be a great fit alongside Wade. After a dismal season, things are starting to look pretty good in Miami again.

Freshmen: In all, 12 freshmen were selected in the draft, including seven in the lottery. While it was no shock to anyone who saw the success they had in college last year, it's still a noteworthy accomplishment for the class. Some, like Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, will be asked to play right away, while others, like Anthony Randolph or Kosta Koufos, will be given time to develop. But there is plenty of star potential for the class, and no one would be surprised if it eventually produces multiple All-Stars. With this class joining a league already stocked full of young, marketable stars like LeBron, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, the future of the NBA looks plenty bright.

Pac-10: The Pac-10 is sometimes thought of as more of a football conference, but they proved they play some hoops too, as evidenced by the draft. The conference led the way with 12 players selected, including five in the lottery and two more in the first round. The banner of the class will be carried by lottery picks OJ Mayo, Kevin Love and Jerryd Bayless, who all have star potential. Even second-rounders like Kyle Weaver and DeVon Hardin could prove to be valuable pick-ups. Following the Pac-10, the Big 12 had nine draftees, the SEC had six, the ACC and Big East each had four, and the Big 10 had three.

Check back tomorrow afternoon for the Draft's big losers.

Portland Trailblazers: NBA Draft Team Needs

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:52:18 -0400

2007-08 Record: 41-41, 3^rd Northwest

Draft Picks: 13, 33, 36, 55

Key Free Agents

None

How they got here and what they need

The season-ending knee injury suffered by last season's first round pick Greg Oden was supposed to the nail in the Blazers' coffin before the season even began. But a funny thing happened: led by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland was in the thick of the playoff race until just after the All-Star Break. The finish at .500 is a good stepping stone into the future, with no key free agents and Oden due back this coming season. The future is bright for the Blazers and expect to hear from them pretty soon as well.

In terms of draft needs, the key will be finding players who can both contribute off the bench and push the main players in the rotation. The nucleus for Nate McMillan's squad is essentially set, so whomever Portland selects won't have to deal with the pressure of being thought by some to be a savior. And with four picks in this draft, I wouldn't be shocked if they packaged a couple to another team in exchange for a solid veteran to come off the bench.

Who they take

I can see the Blazers trading this pick, as there really isn't a serious need for another lottery-type player on the roster. But maybe the Portland brass would consider that one extra talent to be the difference between fighting for eighth in the West and contending for the Northwest Division title. If Portland keeps the pick, I'd predict Darrell Arthur from Kansas to be the guy.

Draft History (since 2000)

2007: Greg Oden (1), Josh McRoberts (37), Taurean Green (52), Demetris Nichols (53)

2006: LaMarcus Aldridge (2), Brandon Roy (6), Sergio Rodriguez (27), Joel Freeland (30)

2005: Martell Webster (6), Linas Kleiza (27), Ricky Sanchez (35)

2004: Sebastian Telfair (13), Viktor Khryapa (22), Ha Seung-Jin (47)

2003: Travis Outlaw (23), Nedzad Sinanovic (54)

2002: Qyntel Woods (21), Jason Jennings (43), Federico Kammerichs (51)

2001: Zach Randolph (19), Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (50)

2000: Erick Barkley (28)

1st Round Picks vs Playoff Success

Jon Teitel — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:04:55 -0400

FACT #1: Most homegrown 1^st round picks since 2000: Celtics, Hawks, and Supersonics with 5 each (but these 3 teams have combined for only 7 playoff appearances in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #1: Drafting a lot of players in the 1^st round and keeping them on your team will not necessarily lead to success, as each of these teams have a top-5 lottery pick this year.

FACT #2: Most acquired 1^st round picks since 2000: Trailblazers with 9 (but only 4 playoff appearances in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #2: Portland has been busy signing/trading for former 1^st round picks for much of the decade, but it has not helped a lot so far, although I have a feeling that their newest homegrown addition (Oden) might turn them from losers into winners.

FACT #3: Most homegrown/acquired 1^st round picks since 2000: Trailblazers with 12 (but only 4 playoff appearances in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #3: Portland can bring five former 1^st round picks off of their bench, but apparently potential will only get you so far, as they had one of the worst teams in the league last year.

FACT #4: Least homegrown 1^st round picks since 2000: Bucks, Nuggets, Suns, Timberwolves, and Wizards with 1 each (these 5 teams have combined for 23 playoff appearances in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #4: Despite the fact that 2 of these 5 teams missed out on the playoffs this year, and the Suns were the only team to win a single playoff series, these teams have shown that you can get to the playoffs year after year without developing your own 1^st round picks.

FACT #5: Least acquired 1^st round picks since 2000: Clippers with 0 (and only 1 playoff appearance in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #5: I suppose that Clippers owner Donald Sterling might be the X-factor in this one, but the fact remains that one reason the Clippers keep ending up in the lottery is because they rarely trade for/sign players who are recent 1^st round picks.

FACT #6: Least homegrown/acquired 1^st round picks since 2000: Bucks, Clippers, Jazz, Spurs, Timberwolves with 3 (these 5 teams have combined for 24 playoff appearances in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #6: Sterling’s distaste for re-signing his 1^st round picks has cost him in the past, but the other 4 teams have consistently made the playoffs with a combination of players who are either older, not former 1^st round picks, or both.

FACT #7: Most playoff appearances since 2000: Spurs with 8 (despite only having 2 homegrown and 1 acquired 1^st round pick in 8 years)

CONCLUSION #7: The NBA’s defending champion has proven that the addition of recent 1^st round picks is completely irrelevant to success, although this year’s NBA Finals MVP is one of their 2 homegrown 1^st round picks.

8 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Spurs: 2 homegrown (Parker, Udrih)

1 acquired (Ely)

7 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Kings: 3 homegrown (Douby, Garcia, Martin)

1 acquired (Salmons)

Lakers: 4 homegrown (Bynum, Cook, Farmar, Vujacic)

3 acquired (Brown, Mihm, Radmanovic)

Mavericks: 2 homegrown (Ager, Howard)

2 acquired (Diop, Harris)

Pacers: 3 homegrown (Granger, Harrison, Williams)

4 acquired (Diogu, Dunleavy, Murphy, Tinsley)

6 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Nets: 4 homegrown (Boone, Krstic, Williams, Wright)

3 acquired (Collins, Jefferson, Nachbar)

Suns: 1 homegrown (Stoudemire)

3 acquired (Banks, Barbosa, Diaw)

5 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Bucks: 1 homegrown (Bogut)

2 acquired (Hodge, Villanueva)

Hornets: 4 homegrown (Armstrong, Paul, Simmons, West)

2 acquired (Chandler, Mason)

Jazz: 2 homegrown (Brewer, Williams)

1 acquired (Araujo)

Sixers: 2 homegrown (Dalembert, Iguodala)

2 acquired (Carney, Hunter)

Timberwolves: 1 homegrown (McCants)

2 acquired (Griffin, Madsen)

4 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Celtics: 5 homegrown (Allen, Foye, Green, Jefferson, West)

3 acquired (Perkins, Rondo, Telfair)

Magic: 2 homegrown (Howard, Redick)

3 acquired (Dooling, Nelson, Turkoglu)

Nuggets: 1 homegrown (Anthony)

5 acquired (Hilario, Johnson, Kleiza, Martin, Smith)

Raptors: 4 homegrown (Bargnani, Bosh, Graham, Peterson)

4 acquired (Dixon, Ford, Humphries, Jackson)

Trailblazers: 3 homegrown (Outlaw, Randolph, Webster)

9 acquired (Aldridge, Dickau, Jack, Jones, Magloire, Miles, Przybilla, Rodriguez, Roy)

3 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Bulls: 2 homegrown (Gordon, Hinrich)

5 acquired (Deng, Khryapa, Sefolosha, Sweetney, Thomas)

Grizzlies: 3 homegrown (Lowry, Swift, Warrick)

4 acquired (Gasol, Gay, Jones, Miller)

Knicks: 4 homegrown (Balkman, Collins, Frye, Lee)

5 acquired (Crawford, Curry, Jeffries, Richardson, Robinson)

Rockets: 2 homegrown (Head, Ming)

3 acquired (Battier, Snyder, Tsakalidis)

Supersonics: 5 homegrown (Collison, Petro, Ridnour, Sene, Swift)

1 acquired (Wilcox)

Wizards: 3 acquired (Haywood, Stevenson, Thomas)

1 homegrown (Hayes)

2 playoff appearances in past 8 years

Cavaliers: 2 homegrown (Brown, James)

2 acquired (Gooden, Pavlovic)

1 playoff appearance in past 8 years

Clippers: 3 homegrown (Kaman, Korolev, Livingston)

0 acquired

Warriors: 4 homegrown (Biedrins, O’Bryant, Pietrus, Richardson)

2 acquired (Cabarkapa, Wagner)

0 playoff appearances in past 8 years

*Bobcats: 4 homegrown (Felton, May, Morrison, Okafor)

2 acquired (Brezec, Wallace)

Hawks: 5 homegrown (Childress, Johnson, Smith, M. Wiliams, S. Williams)

1 acquired (Claxton)

*only in existence since 2004

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Today's NBA Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0400

The draft is finally upon us, which means the speculation will be swirling and may be a little more substantiated as it has been the past four or five weeks. It’s kind of strange to write a column leading up to an event that, within a span of three hours, will disprove about 90 percent of what was written in this space. But, the links are heating up and I am here to provide them. Expect everything below to change before 7 p.m. tomorrow.

· We’ll start at the top of the draft, where it still appears that Portland will select Greg Oden. John Canzano of The Oregonian thinks the Blazers are foolish for pretending the decision is still up in the air. He’s got a point there. If you already know who you are going to take, be decisive about it. Showing wavering confidence in the No. 1 pick isn’t a great way to welcome him to your team. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is hearing that Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is in fact split on who to pick in his look at the draft. There seems to be this growing sentiment that Durant is the more surefire bet to be a star, but it’s only coming from the media. It seems like those who spend time with him, like Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express News, come away thinking it’s his personality, not just his game, that will lead to stardom. Not sure if Greg Oden has that yet, but if you look at guys like Jordan, Bird and Magic, they had a mentality that spoke louder than ability. Maybe most people don’t know Durant well enough to see that and maybe it’s just an unfounded feeling, but you get the sense that those who have been around the game see something different about this kid. Howard Beck of the New York Times is one such person, and he turns in a great feature on Durant. The Times’ Liz Robbins has a feature on Oden as well. Oh, and via Oden’s blog, he has signed a deal with Nike, estimated worth at one gazillion dollars.

· Before we get to all the trade and pick stuff, allow me to direct you to an interesting article by John Hollinger, ESPN.com’s senior mad scientist, who has some fancy pants rating system for this year’s draft prospects. I won’t unwillingly cloud your brain with the system’s principles but here are some highlights. Kevin Durant is No. 1, and considered the best prospect of the past five years. Oden is No. 2 for this draft. Nick Fazekas and Josh McRoberts are Nos. 7 and 8 respectively, scoring big in the “Defiance of Gravity” category. Corey Brewer is No. 24. You can discover the rest of the carnage on your own.

· There’s been a million Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett trade scenarios but they don’t always affect the draft so we won’t worry about them so much. It seems the teams that are most likely to move around are the Celtics, the Bobcats, the Sixers and the Hawks. Andy Katz sat down with Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers of the Celtics, but seems no less confused by their intentions. They worked out Nick Young and some other players that are valued lower than No. 5, so that could be an indication of a trade being in the works. But it could also be an indication that Danny Ainge was bored and felt like watching some guys shoot jumpers, so you never know.

· The Bobcats seem fairly intent on trading their pick. Although yesterday’s news that Gerald Wallace will opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent could change that. I’d imagine if Corey Brewer or Jeff Green were available, either would be a good replacement. The Suns are trying to get in the lottery and one scenario has the Bobcats as a likely partner. Charlotte has No. 8 and No. 21, Phoenix has No. 24 and No. 29. I’m not going to do the math.

· Hawks beat writer/GM in spirit Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution exercises his right to a mock draft and has Atlanta taking Yi Jianlian, a move that would probably cause riots. If you are into self-inflicted pain, read NBA.com’s interview with Hawks GM Billy Knight. There are rumors of a massive Garnett/Stoudemire/Hawks’ picks three-way deal but, as all other trade rumors inevitably are, they are preliminary. A more likely situation has the Hawks trading the No. 11 pick for Luke Ridnour.

· The Sixers worked out Julian Wright and are trying to get Joakim Noah in for a last minute workout. They also worked out Al Thornton, a guy they would probably have a good chance to take if they stay at No. 12. Gordie Jones at the Allentown Morning Call knows this is a big draft for the Sixers but shares the popular sentiment that GM Billy King is bound to screw it up. Philly really wants a power forward (and if they don’t get one, Shavlik Randolph will likely be a starter) so David Aldridge takes a look at some guys the Sixers might try to move up and get, using their three first-round picks (12, 21, 30). The Bobcats would be a likely trading partner; rumors with the Bucks are flying around also.

· One sign that the Suns are actively trying to cut some salary to get into the lottery is their latest workout. They had Noah, Brewer and Green in the other day, all of whom were pretty enamored with the idea of playing for Phoenix. Corey Brewer on the Suns would be a sight to behold.

· For a rundown of all the draft rumors, check Chad Ford’s blog, and this post on Sekou Smith’s blog. These guys are amongst the few that seem to actually have a grasp on this draft.

· Some less speculative links to dole out. Here’s a nice feature on Yi Jianlian, pertaining to the large shadow cast over him by Yao Ming.

· Arron Afflalo was a star in college for which next to nothing has been written about during this draft process. Apparently he measured much bigger and taller than most people expected and also performed well in athletic testing. Here’s a nice feature, finally, on a guy who will probably be drafted way too late.

· On the opposite end of the spectrum, a lot has been written of Joakim Noah. If you didn’t see the segment on him for HBO’s Real Sports, it was outstanding and goes a long way to tear down his brash public image. If you need some more, here’s another feature.

· And if you’re as tired of reading workout stories as me, here’s one that is certainly unique. “Very tall and very Romanian.”

That’s all for Unsubstantiated Speculation. There will certainly be many more rumors leading up to the actual draft so this edition couldn’t be as comprehensive as I had hoped. Bill Simmons and Chad Ford will do a mock draft on ESPN.com that might provide a little more clarity and CHN will have its share of content. This is truly my favorite event of the year because it’s the one day where the NBA and college hoops share a similar stage. Enjoy the draft as I will and thanks for reading.

Lottery Lowdown: Part One - The Draft's Top Six Picks

Adam Stanco — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:19:41 -0400

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Oden and Mr. Durant. We’re sure you will love the nationally televised games and close proximity to Nike headquarters. Please let us know if you have any issues at all…

Yes, the basketball gods have spoken and they’ve told us Greg Oden will be a Blazer and Kevin Durant is Seattle-bound. But you already knew that. What you may not know is what the entire NBA Draft Lottery really means. So let’s start at the top…

1. Portland Trail Blazers

Oden is the final re-building block for Portland. No longer is their roster comprised of troublesome disappointments (well, aside from Darius Miles). Martell Webster, LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Jarrett Jack, Sergio Rodriguez, Zach Randolph, and Brandon Roy aren’t just athletic and skilled, they’re also young. None of them is older than 25. Joel Przybilla is older than 25, but his stay in Oregon may be short lived once Oden shows up.

Roy and Oden would give the Blazers an opportunity to receive the rarest of rarities: Back-to-back “Rookie of the Year” awards. Not bad for a franchise famous for choosing Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.

The Blazers are already calling the news of the top pick “Monumental,” “Historic,” and “Epic” on their web site. And the timing of it all couldn’t be better for Comcast SportsNet, who announced that their new regional sports network – Comcast Sports Northwest – would be covering the team just days before the lottery.

There is some talk of the team trying to grab Oden’s high school and college teammate – Mike Conley – a few slots later in the draft, yet the odds of getting both are slim. However, the Blazers probably will move Randolph at some point this summer.

2. Seattle SuperSonics

The Sonics are going to love having a 6-foot-10, former high school superstar who does it all, including shoot with remarkable range.

In fact, they already know what having one feels like.

Rashard Lewis was Kevin Durant before Durant was Durant. At Alief Elsik High School in Houston, Lewis was such a special, sweet-shooting stud that the league invited him to the green room on draft day. His ensuing slide to the second round is a legendary tale, but he went on to prove oh-so-many teams wrong, averaging over 22 ppg last season.

Just days before the lottery, the Seattle Times reported that Sonics owner Clay Bennett intended to re-sign the unrestricted free agent, but that was before the Sonics laid claim to the second overall pick. With two players so utterly similar in style, Lewis knew the arrival of Durant signaled an end to his tenure. He consequently opted for free agency.

If Lewis had decided to stay, opponents would have had to deal with the league’s strongest axis of offense – Ray Allen, Durant, and Lewis. Now that’s not a possibility.

However, Durant will immediately be a better all-around player than Lewis was and should eclipse Lewis’s scoring output within a few seasons. New Sonics GM Sam Presti will be responsible for surrounding Allen and Durant with some capable teammates and he’s the perfect man for the job. Presti helped San Antonio build around the foundation that is Tim Duncan by helping the Spurs acquire many of the key components to their last three championship squads.

Durant’s dreadful showing at the recent NBA combine didn’t hurt the Sonics chances of drafting him. It probably just scared off some of the other teams that were willing to make ridiculous trade offers to get him. Durant’s inability to bench press 185 pounds is incredible, but just think about how truly special he could become once he starts working with a nutritionist and a professional strength coach.

3. & 11. Atlanta Hawks

The Blazers and Sonics are obviously thrilled over the bounce of the ping pong balls and the Hawks are almost as happy. As part of the Joe Johnson for Boris Diaw deal, Phoenix had the rights to Atlanta’s pick, but that pick was top three protected. The Suns will have to wait until next year to snatch the Hawks’ pick.

But just owning the pick doesn’t guarantee anything. The Hawks haven’t won more than 30 games since 2003 and they haven’t been to the playoffs since the strike-shortened 1999 season.

Atlanta’s been loading up at the wing and forward positions (Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, and Shelden Williams), yet they are desperate for a point guard. Their fan base still hasn’t forgiven the team for taking Marvin Williams in 2005 because the next three picks were Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Raymond Felton.

The Hawks’ choice could be Brandan Wright, who – much like Marvin Williams – is a highly-touted forward fresh off an impressive freshman season at UNC. However, if they really want to satisfy their fans, they must take a lead guard this year.

Unfortunately for Atlanta, the highest-rated available players – after Oden and Durant – are exactly the type they’ve already invested in. Wright and Florida’s Al Horford are capable of scoring from the low post in the NBA, but the Hawks don’t need them. The team could take Wright and pray viciously that Acie Law will be around for the Hawks at No. 11 (obtained from the Pacers in the Al Harrington trade). Georgia Tech point guard Javaris Crittenton is the draft’s most underrated prospect – by those in the media, not those in the league – and would also be a nice fit in Atlanta.

If the Hawks want Law, they could package their second pick and one of their many forwards in order to move up to guarantee they get him. Otherwise, they may just nab Mike Conley first and take the best available player with their second choice.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizz are a mess. Despite winning their last three games, Memphis finished with a league-worst 22 wins. Their top player – Pau Gasol – has been the subject of serious trade rumors for over a year now. The team is marketing Mike Miller as if he’s a perennial all-star, but everyone in Memphis realizes that the Grizz’s future depends solely on the development of last year’s stud rookie, Rudy Gay.

Miller and Gay appear to be the base of the franchise and the team drafted point guard Kyle Lowry last season, meaning no one knows for sure who they will take this year. In fact, Memphis is the biggest x-factor in this draft because they could go big (Yi Jianlian?), small (Mike Conley?), or trade Gasol and shake everything up.

5. Boston Celtics

Sorry, Celtics fans, turns out that Oden and Durant won’t be walking through that door either. If Boston did truly tank this past season, it was all for naught.

The team won’t end up with one of this draft’s preordained stars, but they still have a future to think about. Paul Pierce is an all-star and Al Jefferson could be joining him soon. Check out Jefferson’s scoring averages during the last four months of the season:

January – 14.6 ppg
February – 16.1 ppg
March – 19.7 ppg
April – 22.3 ppg

Yi Jianlian is skilled, energetic, and as YouTube followers know, he enjoys dunking on people. The Celtics will have to take a long look at him at No. 5 because his surprisingly smooth style might perfectly balance out Jefferson’s brute nature.

But regardless of who the choice is, that player probably won’t be able to catapult Boston among the East’s elite anytime soon.

6. Milwaukee Bucks

With Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva on the frontline and Michael Redd in the backcourt, the Bucks clearly have talent. The problem is keeping them all healthy. Bogut played in 66 games this past season, Redd played 53 games, and Villanueva played in just 39.

Al Horford would be the perfect complement to Bogut and Villanueva because of the former Gator’s ability to score, rebound, and intimidate. My sources say the Bucks are very interested in Horford, but it’s tough to say if he’ll slide down to them. If Horford is gone, the Bucks could choose another Florida phenom, Joakim Noah, or go with the best available point guard.

This is part One of Adam Stanco's Lottery Lowdown, a Two-part look at what the Draft means for the Top 14 picks.

Unsubstantiated Speculation: Today's NBA Draft Rumors

Jason Tomassini — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:10:24 -0400

It’s sort of fitting the Spurs and the Cavs will be playing in the NBA Finals. For all the fans and sportswriters who love to yell about the biggest draft busts of the past, this series will feature the two most influential picks since Shaq: Tim Duncan and LeBron James. Two No. 1 picks that now represent probably the two most valuable players in the league. The draft works! … Well if you have a selective memory. Anyway, Portland and Seattle will get to witness first-hand the potential results of their upcoming draft picks and Kevin Durant and Greg Oden will watch the measuring sticks they will be forever compared to during their careers. Oh, and Go Cavs.

On with the links…

· Speaking of the No. 1 pick, Jason Quick of The Oregonian was on hand for a surprise workout involving Durant and Oden in which they were “jaw-dropping.” Everyone seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion that the Blazers will select Oden, but Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune and some guys he knows think Portland is still undecided. If Portland is confident they can get a good deal for Zach Randolph, Oden should be the choice. But if they aren’t getting the feedback they want for Randolph (and who wouldn’t want an overweight, oft-lazy delinquent once accused of sexually assaulting a stripper), they should take a long look at Durant. A lineup of Jarrett Jack, Brandon Roy, Kevin Durant, Zach Randolph and Lamarcus Aldridge would a pretty solid foundation. The one thing Hughes brings up that kills me is the idea that Seattle is better off because they don’t have to make a choice and can’t be criticized. I know this is the team that took Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, but if an NBA GM is this insecure, he shouldn’t be allowed out of the house, let alone in an NBA front office.

· Oden has been all over the place lately, whether it be Orlando, ESPN or a Topps trading card, and Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News provides yet another feature on him. Not to be outdone, Kevin Durant has his fair share of pub, notably this Jason Quick piece and a Gary Washburn piece in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which reveals Ray Allen’s excitement for the possibility of playing with Durant and Rashard Lewis. No word on Allen’s reaction to the NBA’s dismissal of his new proposal that would allow the Sonics to play with four basketballs at once.

· This edition’s winner of the Slow News Day Award goes to John Canzano, also of The Oregonian, for this column, suggesting the Blazers should be allowed to design new uniforms to ring in the Oden or Durant era.

· Some interesting stuff in this Adrian Wojnarowski notebook. He takes a look at the possibility of Portland making a deal to acquire Mike Conley, a rumor that has been passed around for a few weeks but holds little bearing. But what ~~horrified~~ interested me was his pre-draft camp notes that included the rumor that New Jersey might promise the No. 17 pick to Josh McRoberts. Not only would this move NOT make the Nets soft interior any tougher, it would certainly force Jay-Z to sell his stake in the franchise. Josh McRoberts certainly does not pimp big enough for Hova. He also writes that the Pistons are considering Rodney “Flip Murray II” Stuckey at No. 15. If you were questioning the potential impact of this year’s draft consider this: It’s only June 4 and GMs around the league are already putting their jobs in jeopardy.

· Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution continues to be all over the draft and turns in this well-done feature on Mike Conley Jr. Conley appears to have the same reaction as most college basketball fans in regards to him being picked at No. 3: shock. I highly doubt anyone would be making those projections if the Hawks didn’t have such a terrible history with point guards, but I still think the Hawks should/will opt for a big man. But as the old draft proverb goes, “Who knows, it’s the Hawks.”

· A lot of people joke around about Chad Ford and his affinity for international players, but he is still probably the pre-eminent NBA Draft guy on the Web. His wrap-up of the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp — Insiders only, you must be privileged to gain access to Chad Ford’s brain — confirmed what most had already expected: NBA GMs would rather watch guys dribble through cones than actual basketball. I figured Daequan Cook would be the best guy actually playing at the camp and apparently he was. Looks like three Buckeye freshmen will go in the first round. If anyone wants a wrap-up of the camp (and I feel sorry for anyone who does), here’s the Orlando Sentinel’s coverage.

· Interesting item in this Ian Thomsen notebook on SI.com. Fans and writers have always joked about David Stern rigging the lottery, but apparently during the latest competition committee meeting actual NBA executives and coaches are questioning the lottery’s integrity. That seems completely impossible to me. Also, Tony Barone of the Memphis Grizzlies apparently got animated when the subject of tanking came up. It’s like they held an intervention for an alcoholic and he started getting defensive. David Stern is the best.

· Oh, and remember when Roy Hibbert decided to go back to school and Jeff Green said he was staying in the draft? Well, in true Unsubstantiated Speculation form, he’s not so sure. Even though he said he would stay in, he still hasn’t hired an agent and if his workouts don’t go as planned he could still withdraw. In other news, a suspicious figure, seemingly between 18 and 22 years old was seen outside the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp with some rope and a tire iron. Here is the police sketch.

· As if the Pacific Northwest doesn’t own this draft already, Percy Allen of the Seattle Times points out that, for whatever reason, there are a lot of players from Seattle in this draft (meanwhile in Philly, we have cheesesteaks and Curtis Sumpter).

· A lot of college standouts participated in the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp, here’s some reports on a bunch of them:

· DeVon Hardin is probably goin’ back to Cali.

· Jared Jordan continues to surprise people (mostly people who have never seen him play).

· Stephane Lasme should find a spot somewhere for his defense.

· Most underclassmen without an agent will only stay in the draft if they are guaranteed a spot in the first round. Not Marcellus Kemp.

· DJ Strawberry showed some offense in Orlando.

· Remember when Marcus Williams was seen as a lottery pick? Yeah, well he still thinks he is and didn’t play in Orlando (for the record, he is going to be a huge steal for someone in the low-20s).

· One of the more obnoxious college players in recent memory, Jared Dudley, might not have much to growl about on draft day.

· Sean Singletary is not going to be a first round pick. But then again, neither was another undersized underclassman that had a pretty good Saturday night.