NBA Draft: a look at the top ten

I’m not a big an NBA fan as my blog bud Ron is. I haven’t paid too much attention to the NBA since the Johnson/Worthy days of the Lakers, and after that, only a passing interest in the finals. I’m a Tar Heel alum, and even I tired of Jordan’s dominance. However, I love watching college hoops (ACC games especially, of course). So I do get interested in the draft and seeing where the players I’ve watched closely over the season end up as professionals, how they may contribute to their team, and if they’re underclassmen, whether or not they should have waited.

With that, let’s take a look at this year’s draft.

Blazers – Greg Oden – Really. I’m shocked. He’s a franchise player, blah blah. The Heels spanked OSU early in the year without Oden, and the rematch that never was in the tournament would have been a true test, having to face both Hansbrough and Wright (sorry, draft gods and UF fans, Hansbrough and Wright >>>> Horford and Noah). Oden was a non factor in OSU’s win against Georgetown and so we didn’t get to see him much against Roy Hibbert. Yes, he’s big, wide, agile, intelligent. He’s David Robinson without the marquee looks. He should get his own shoe named after him. Will he be the man the Blazers can build a team around? Can he stay healthy?

Supes – Durant – Another shocker. Durant will likely be a star. He’s not going to help the team the way Ray Allen did, whom the Supes traded away for the rights to pick Jeff Green (?) and got a couple of decent role players in the process. Durant looks stronger than he is, which is kinda scary. But he’s only what, 19? He’s still growing, where as Oden looks like a 40 year old man. Oden seems to have a master’s grasp on everything about his position except staying out of foul trouble. Durant, I’m thinking he will have a steeper learning curve, though his skill will take him a long way at first.

Hawks – Al Horford – Lots of upsides for him, and he appears to have not fully physically matured, to me at least. Along with the pick of Acie Law, the Hawks got a good haul. Perhaps now people will actually watch the Hawks play.

Grizzlies – Mike Conley. He was the key to OSU’s tournament success, far more than Oden. Conley lit up the Heels during their game even though the Heels won. He’s a great athlete who appears to have learned good training habits from his pops. Good point guards are an undervalued position (by fans at least). Some thought the Grizz might take Brendan Wright. I think they were right not to.

Celtics – Jeff Green – traded for Ray Allen and some good role players. I think the Celtics got the best deal. Green didn’t impress me when I saw him play. Perhaps there was too much focus on Hibbert, however, I didn’t think he was better than Wright.

Bucks – Yi Jianlian – Only scouts here know a lot about him. I saw short clips of him and he seems to be a pretty well rounded 7 footer, can take you outside for a three, can leap and rebounds well, he might even learn the skill of “posterizing.” With his experience in the game (some think he’s about 25 years old) he will make an immediate impact.

Timberwolves – Corey Brewer – Solid player. I think he’s better than Horford, though perhaps Horford will get much much better as he gets older, and is taller and stronger. Brewer is a slasher.

Charlotte – Brandan Wright, traded to Golden State for Jason Richardson. Hmm. I didn’t think Wright was quite ready, and that had he waited until after Hansbrough left, he would be a top three pick AND have an NCAA title ring. Charlotte’s trade signaled they thought he wasn’t quite ready as well, since they need immediate assistance. Also, the Bobcats have another solid inside/outside forward who can actually shoot from 15 feet, fellow Tar Heel Sean May, and Richardson gives them a proven scorer. I thought Wright’s defense was a little suspect at times, however, some scouts seem to think that’s his strength right now. Some question his work ethic, and so did I last year as it seemed he would disappear for some games, however, he could turn out to be another Sam Perkins, whose lanky body masked his intense play by making him look lackadasical. Whenever I thought he wasn’t contributing, he’d put in a quiet 20 plus point game.

Chicago – Joakim Noah – the class clown of the draft. Smart kid with a good work ethic and good skill, even if he isn’t the greatest athlete. His pops was a rebellious type to whom the tennis world never quite warmed to, and Joakim seems to be a player outside the NBA mold. Should be interesting to see how well he fits in the locker room. As a 7 ft power forward, it will be interesting to see how he fits on-court as well. He’s going to play like many of the European big men I think (we forget Noah is a European big man).

Supes – Spencer Hawes – will probably impact the organization as a 6th man for awhile. He might get pushed around a lot by other centers, and he doesn’t have the shooting ability to move outside.

That’s the top ten. The only other name I can think of to talk about right is Jared Dudley. People are counting him out, and rightly after he underperformed last year. Still, he has the kind of game that can flourish in the NBA. He may be this year’s steal.