TORONTO: Exceeds Expectations

5. Jonas Valanciunas

It’s deja vu all over again. Last year, a team above them unexpectedly took an athletic defensive power forward which resulted in a higher ranked big man unexpectedly falling to the Raptors. Colangelo and the Raptors brass probably can’t believe their luck. I was afraid they might still take Knight, but Colangelo showed he is indeed focused on the future, rather than the present.

Valanciunas will fill the void at center the Raptors have been lacking for, well, ever. While apparently a lot of Raptor fans are unhappy with the pick, I think they’ll eventually regret that as Valanciunas is the type of player that Raptor fans love. He’s a high energy player who hustles, defends and rebounds. English, though, is not his strong suit.

On the other hand, the pick they got from the Heat, which they traded to the Bulls for James Johnson, could have been used to pick Corey Joseph at 28, who went one spot later to the Spurs. Who knows if that’s who Colangelo would have picked, as he was projected to go in the second round, but I’ll certainly be comparing their careers. And since the Spurs are pretty much never wrong…

I would have liked to see them try and scoop up another pick, but it’s not a big deal that they didn’t.

SAN ANTONIO: Exceeds Expectations

29. Cory Joseph

Traded George Hill for Indiana’s 15th pick, Kawhi Leonard.

I assumed the Spurs would exceed expectations, and again they have. Trading for Leonard is huge, especially since he was projected to go in the top ten and dropped. He’s the type of defender than the Spurs love, is in the perfect situation, and should step in Bruce Bowen’s shoes, that have been empty for a few years.

If on of my sleepers, Toronto’s Cory Joseph couldn’t get drafted by the Raptors, then the Spurs would have been my second choice. And it’s incredible timing because they might have their replacement for Hill. Yes, he projected to go in the second round, but I think he has first round talent and so, apparently, do the Spurs.haunt them. Burks should be a decent player, but guys like him are a dime a dozen.

CHARLOTTE: Exceeds Expectations

7. Bismack Biyombo
9. Kemba Walker

Traded Stephen Jackson for Sacramento’s 7th pick and Corey Maggette.

Sold 39th pick, Jeremy Tyler to Golden State, I’m guessing for cash.

It hurts to say it, but Charlotte actually did well. I was surprised that they passed on Knight for Biyombo, as they’ve been looking for a real starting PG for, well, their entire existence, but they resisted temptation and went with a guy who I think will be better down the road. I also look forward to watching Biyombo and Tyrus Thomas being on the floor at the same time. The front row needs to watch out.

Maggette was a disaster in Milwaukee and now brings his brand of scoring and no defense to Charlotte. He’s probably going to lose games for them, but that’s kind of what they wanted, so maybe it’s a good thing?

Walker fell, but not as far as I thought he might. I think it’s still a pretty good pick at 9, but Charlotte seems to like picking decent PGs with little upside.

CHICAGO: Exceeds Expectations

23. Nikola Mirotic
30. Jimmy Butler

Traded 28th and 43rd picks for Houstons 23rd pick, Nikola Mirotic.

Butler was very efficient offensively at Butler, and is a very good defender, so the Bulls may have a sleeper on their hands.

How much do you think the Spurs are pissed at not getting Mirotic, who is exactly the type of player they usually scoop up at the end up the first round? He’s a huge steal, but will play overseas for a couple of more seasons. That’s fine with the Bulls.

DENVER: Exceeds Expectations

22. Kenneth Faried
26. Jordan Hamilton
56. Chukwudiebere Maduabum

Traded Raymond Felton for Portland’s 26th pick, Jordan Hamilton, and Andre Miller.

Traded for Laker’s 56th pick, Chukwudiebere Maduabum, somehow.

Although I haven’t confirmed that Denver is, in fact, keeping Faried, if they do this was a very good draft day. I would have liked to have seen them get more for Felton, but Miller is a good, veteran PG that will probably be shipped elsewhere soon. Plus they were able to pick up another pick and a SF who has a chance to be a decent pro.

Faried is the type of player that everyone loves and helps you win. So why didn’t he go higher? Probably because he’s not a scorer and a little undersized.

I have no idea who Chukwudiebere Maduabum, but on his Draft Express profile, he’s listed as Chu Chu. I think he’s worthy of picking just for that. He immediately is in the running for best All-Tim NBA name.

MEMPHIS: Exceeds Expectations

49. Josh Selby

Selby was considered a first round talent, so this has to be considered a steal. Where they’ll find room for him, is another thing.
DETROIT: Exceeds Expectations

8. Brandon Knight
33. Kyle Singler
52. Vernon Macklin

Although I question whether he can play PG, Knight was projected to go in the top 5 and dropped to 8th, so Pistons fans have to be happy. Of course, he kind of presents the same problems that Rodney Stuckey, who’s also a combo guard they tried to turn into a point guard, did.

Singler is never going to be a star, but last year he was considered a middle first round pick and they got him in the second round. I think he’ll hang on and have a decent career as a bench player.

DALLAS: Exceeds Expectations

Traded their 26th pick to Portland for Rudy Fernandez

The rich get richer. Dallas has no use for a rookie and no one picked there was going to help them like Fernandez. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up starting next year.

LAKERS: Exceeds Expectations

41. Darius Morris
46. Andrew Goodelock
58. Ater Majok

Without a first round pick, they were able to pick up a decent prospect, in Darius Morris. This might be the second year in a row they get at least one keeper from the second round.

PHILADELPHIA: Exceeds Expectations

16. Nikola Vucevic
50. Lavoy Allen

Vucevic should end up being a pretty good pro and probable starter. At 16, in this draft, that’s pretty damn good.

CLEVELAND: Meets Expectations

1. Kyrie Irving
4. Tristan Thompson
32. Justin Harper

Irving will probably be the best player, so it was no surprise he was the first pick.

Thompson was the first big surprise of the night. And while I don’t think it’s a bad pick, since I think Thompson is going to be a very good pro, but he was a big reach at 3. Valanciunas would have made much more sense, but apparently Cleveland wants to make an impact immediately. Something they might regret down the line.

I think Cleveland should have offered Minnesota everything but it’s first pick to move up to 2 and draft Williams. If they had come out of the draft with Irving AND Williams, their future would have looked A LOT brighter.

Justin Harper is a stretch 4 that isn’t very big and probably won’t be much of a rebounder in the NBA. If he sticks, it’s because of his shooting. On Cleveland, that’s devoid of talent, he might, but with Antawn Jamison and J.J. Hickson as well as Anderson Varejao, who will probably be traded this summer, it’s puzzling why they’d take another power forward.

NEW YORK: Meets Expectations

45. Josh Harrellson

New York gets the guy Enes Kanter apparently made into the player he is today. So says Harrellson.

MINNESOTA: Meets Expectations

2. Derrick Williams

Traded Jonny Flynn for Houston’s 23rd pick, Nikola Mirotic, and Brad Miller.

For some reason the T-Wolves don’t end up with the 23d pick, so it’s basically a Flynn for Miller deal. Not sure why they’d do that.

Keeping Williams is the right move even though he doubles up on Beasley’s skills. He should be better than Bealsey and should give the Wolves some star power.

UTAH: Meets Expectations

3. Enes Kanter
12. Alec Burks

Although a lot of people had Brandon Knight going to Utah for the months leading up to the draft, they apparently changed their mind with less than a week to go. And while I was a little missed he didn’t fall to the Raptors, I think Utah will be VERY happy they chose Kanter instead of Knight.

Of course, while I think they made the right decision at 3, passing up Leonard, who is probably exactly what the Jazz need, is probably going to

OKLAHOMA CITY: Meets Expectations

27. Reggie Jackson

Jackson is a combo guard who joins an already crowded Thunder backcourt. I really don’t know where he’ll find minutes. I wonder why Oklahoma didn’t simply trade out of the draft.

PORTLAND: Meets Expectations

21. Nolan Smith
51. Jon Diebler

Traded Andre Miller for Raymond Felton

Traded Rudy Fernandez to Dallas for 26th pick, which they gave to Denver in prearranged deal.

Getting Felton for Miller is a great deal for Portland. He might be the young point guard they’ve been looking for all these years.

Unfortunately, picking Nolan Smith over Faried, who they could really use, was a mistake.

ORLANDO: Meets Expectations

53. DeAndre Liggins

He’s a player that was on Kentucky, but now he’s not.

ATLANTA: Meets Expectations

48. Keith Benson

He’s got legit size for an NBA power forward, and he’s stronger than he looks. For the 48th pick, the Hawks did well.

For a team hitting their ceiling, I would have liked to have seen them a little more active. Maybe after the new CBA is signed, whenever that happens.

MIAMI: Approaching Expectations

28. Norris Cole

Somehow got the 28th pick from Chicago to draft Cole, a PG, who should provide insurance in case Bibby is not re-upped.

BOSTON: Approaching  Expectations

27. JuJuan Johnson
55. E’Twaun Moore

Traded their 25th pick for the 27th pick.

Johnson is a decent player, but I don’t see him making any impact on the Celtics, either now or down the line. But would anyone else have?

Moore is an undersized shooting guard, but I’m guessing what attracted Boston was the ability to tell people they drafted JuJuan and E’Twaun. And both are American.

MILWAUKEE: Approaching Expectations

19. Tobias Harris
40. John Leuer

Traded Corey Maggette and 10th pick for Stephen Jackson and Charlotte’s 19th pick, Tobias Harris.

Getting rid of Maggette, who was a disaster, is good, but is Jackson really what they need? And how much longer does he have? Harris is a good pick, though, who’s been compared to Shane Battier.

PHOENIX: Approaching  Expectations

13. Markieff Morris

Morris might make a pretty good role player on a good team. Phoenix, however, needs home runs, not singles. They have a lot of role players and the engine that makes them go, Nash, is nearing the end of his career.

GOLDEN STATE: Approaching Expectations

11. Klay Thompson
37. Jeremy Tyler
44. Charles Jenkins

So they STILL have Monta Ellis, yet decide to draft yet another shooter, while Kawhi Leonard  and Nikola Vucevic were still available. Thompson might be the best player available, for all I know, though, and if Jerry West thinks so, it’s probably true.

I don’t know about Tyler, though, who seems to have the physical tools, but needs maturity.

WASHINGTON: Approaching Expectations

6. Jan Vesely
18.Chris Singleton
34. Shelvin Mack

A lot of teams seemed high on Vesley, but I don’t understand the attraction to him. He’s 6’11 and athletic, but he’s not a great scorer, can’t shoot, isn’t a good ball handler, will probably struggle defensively at the 3 and is a poor rebounder for his size. He’s apparently got a good motor, though, and he’s got a very hot girlfriend, so those are both pluses.

Singleton was on my don’t draft list and I really don’t see how he’s going to play with Vesley. Neither can shoot, but Singleton has even fewer skills than Vesley.

NEW JERSEY: Approaching Expectations

25. Marshon Brooks
36. Jordan Williams

Traded their 27th pick, JaJuan Johnson for Boston’s 25th pick, Marshon Brooks

When I first saw a trade between Boston and New Jersey involving Brooks, I thought it was a blockbuster. No, it was not Brooks Lopez, but Marshon Brooks, who bring his great shooting and horrible defense to a bad defensive team.

CLIPPERS: Needs Improvement

37. Trey Thompkins
47. Travis Leslie

The Clippers traded away a unprotected lottery pick that ended up being Kyrie Irving, who’s probably just what the Clippers could have used to solidify them as one of the teams of the future. What they ended up drafting were two solid NCAA players with probably very little chance of sticking in the NBA.

SACRAMENTO: Needs Improvement

10. Jimmer Fredette
35. Tyler Honeycutt

Traded their 7th pick for Milwaukee’s 10th pick, Jimmer Fredette, and John Salmons

So, the Kings trade John Salmons away, only to trade back for him a couple of years later. And move down in the draft in order to do it. Fredette might be a great shooter, but I don’t see how he helps Sacramento. He’s not going to be a good defender and will do nothing for the chemistry. Keeping the pick and taking Knight or Walker would have been preferable.

HOUSTON: Needs Improvement

14. Marcus Morris
38. Chandler Parsons

Traded Brad Miller, the 23rd pick and a future first rounder for Minnesota’s 20th pick, Donatas Motiejunas, and Jonny Flynn.

Houston’s GM, Daryl Morey, intrigues me. He’s apparently a big advanced stats guy and was initially a guy a lot of Raptor fans wanted to replace Colangelo, but he makes the most head scratching trades. Motiejunas was another on my do not draft list. He doesn’t defend or rebound, but should be able to score a lot, which makes him basically a bigger version of Kevin Martin

Morris is, yet another young, decent power forward to join Houston’s stable of other decent, power forwards. Apparently you can never get enough of them.

Parsons is a typical Rocket small forward. he does a whole lot of things, but none of them really well.

INDIANA: Needs Improvement

Traded their 15th pick, Kawhi Leonard, to the Spurs for George Hill

Don’t the Pacers already have enough PGs who aren’t really PGs? George Hill looked good in the Spurs system, but you need to watch out for those guys, because there’s a good chance he won’t look nearly as good out of it. And while the Pacers already have enough SFs, don’t they know not to trade a draft pick to the Spurs?

NEW ORLEANS: Incomplete

Traded completely out of the draft by trading the 45th pick, Josh Harrellson, to the Knicks for cash.

Like my offseason grades, I’m going to look at each team and look at what they did as a whole, starting with the Raptors…

TORONTO: Incomplete

- James Johnson for Heat’s 2011 First Round Pick

For the Raptors, they didn’t make a big splash, but they did make one trade. Miami’s first round pick in the upcoming draft for James Johnson. To be honest, I was not a fan of Johnson coming out of Wake Forest. It didn’t instil me with confidence when both his name and Earl Clark’s were both mentioned as possibilities for the 9th pick that was eventually used to pick DeMar DeRozan. Both Johnson and Clark had fatal flaws that I turn me right off prospects. Things like “Low Basketball IQ”, or “Lack of Defensive Fundamentals” or worst of all, “Lack of Focus”. The “focus” issue is something that scares me off more than anything. This is actually something I’m going to discuss in a later post, but suffice is to say, I wasn’t a James Johnson fan.

Now, I’m giving Toronto an incomplete grade on this for a couple of reasons. The first is that no one really knows what kind of player James Johnson is. Yes, I know he played well in his Raptor debut against his old team, the Bulls, but that was one game. Let’s see how he does for the remaining 24 before we make any judgements.

The other reason they get an incomplete is because we really don’t know whether this draft is going to be as bad as people seem to think it is going to be. And that’s not just the players, but the value of the draft picks. Right now, it seems draft picks for the upcoming draft are being given away like Carmelo Anthony Nugget jerseys. Personally, I would have liked to see if the Heat pick could have been packaged to move up in the draft, or to try and draft a sleeper. Still, I don’t dislike the trade because the Heat’s pick looks like it’s going to be around 27, and the chances of finding a quality player that far down is extremely slim, especially if this draft is as bad as people say.

I’ll say this, if Johnson continues to play like he did in his debut, then this trade is a home run. He showed everything the Raptors lack, and he’ll be given every chance.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Exceeds Expectations

- Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic

- Nazr Mohommed for Morris Peterson and D.J. White

This past summer, I gave the Thunder a “Meets Expectations” grade because, while they made some good moves, they failed to fill the hole in the middle. With the only good defensive player in the middle being Serge Ibaka, and Cole Aldrich looking like a potential bust, the Thunder desperately needed another good big man. I suggested, before the New Year, trading Jeff Green, Aldrich and a 1st round pick to Cleveland for Anderson Varejao, but Varejao’s season ending injury pretty much killed that possibility. Instead of Varejao, they went out and got Kendrick Perkins.

Am I the only one who thinks this might shift the balance of power in the West?

Oklahoma’s biggest weakness this year has been their defense. They can score, but with Green and Krstic as their starting front court, they had trouble stopping people.

Now they have one of the best defensive centers in the league, in Perkins, and one of the best up and coming defensive big men in the league, in Ibaka. While they still lack a true low post scoring threat, a fact that might haunt them come the playoffs, this could be the move that launches them from pretender to true contender. Especially in the West where San Antonio and the Lakers are the two teams you have to go through. Now oklahoma can match their size.

And then they grabbed Nazr Mohammed as Perkins’ backup. Yes, Nazr is vastly overpaid, but it’s expiring, so it doesn’t matter.

The only question is whether or not Perkins is healthy. If he is, then Oklahoma made out the best of anyone.

DENVER: Exceeds Expectations

- Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, Knicks first-round pick (2014 or later) and the Warriors’ second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 for Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter

I already discussed this deal, but I’ll just say that with their back against the wall and everyone knowing where Carmelo would eventually go, Denver did very well. I thought they had secured 2 first round picks, but apparently not. Still staying out of this year’s draft probably isn’t such a bad thing. They got some nice young talent they can eventually flip for something, or try and develop themselves. Either way, they’ve got a lot of choices, now. And they’ll probably still compete for a playoff spot with the talent they have.

NEW JERSEY: Exceeds Expectations

- Deron Williams for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two 2011 first-round picks

- Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric for Troy Murphy and Net’s 2112 second-round pick

No deal has ever surprised me like Deron Williams going to the Nets. In this day and age, where everyone seems to know everything, that one came out of left field. And without any warning. Personally, I think Deron might be a better player than Anthony, but either way, I think he’s going to help the team more than Anthony ever could. He makes his teammates better and should be able to attract some talent to the Nets, something they failed to do this past summer.

Getting Williams was certainly a risk. Favors could blow up to be a great player and they gave up their lottery pick in the upcoming draft, which apparently has no protection, plus Golden State’s protected pick next year. Plus, Williams might just leave in a year and a half. But I doubt it.

And getting something for Troy Murphy was pretty good. Wright can’t seem to stay healthy, but there was a time when he held a lot of promise. New Jersey can afford to gamble on him.

HOUSTON: Exceeds Expectations

- Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and Memphis’ first-round pick for Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith

- Goran Dragic and Phoenix’s protected first-round pick for Aaron Brooks

I’ve been a fan of Battier since his days at Duke, and would love him to eventually go to a real contender, where he deserves, but Houston was not going to make the playoffs, and he probably wasn’t going to return as a free agent this summer. Getting a project like Thabeet is a low risk gamble that could pay off big, especially if he fulfills the expectations that made him a 2nd pick.

Brooks, on the other hand, is the type of PG I dislike. He’s a shoot first PG that makes his teammates grumble with his shot selection and unwillingness to pass. Yes, he can score, but I like my PGs to make everyone else better, and Brooks doesn’t do that.

Plus, they got a couple of first round picks. Not a bad days work.

PORTLAND: Meets Expectations

- Gerald Wallace for Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks and two first-round draft picks

Portland got exceptionally better, and gave up very little. Wallace can play PF and give them a small lineup that can still rebound, or play SF and give them a big lineup. With Roy still a question mark, getting a guy like Wallace, who can score, rebound and defend, was important. Plus, he’s only 28 despite being the league 9 years.

CLIPPERS: Meets Expectations

- Mo Williams and Jamario Moon for Baron Davis and the Clipper’s 2011 first-round pick

Another surprise, since Baron Davis had been playing fairly well recently. Of course, the smart GM would use that opportunity to trade him. Who knew the Clippers had a smart GM?

One of the worst things the Clippers have done in the last decade (and there’s been a lot to choose from) might have been giving Davis that huge contract. In 11 seasons in the NBA, Davis has had exactly one exceptional season where he was completely healthy. The season before the Clippers signed him away from Golden State.

I’ve never been a fan of Mo Williams but if it’s a choice between him for 3 more years at $8.5 million and Baron Davis for 3 more years at $14 million, I’m going to choose Mo every time. And while giving up a lottery pick might seem like a steep price to get rid of Davis, the last thing the Clippers need right now is another young player, and no one’s liking the look of this draft, so it might end up being worthless, anyway.

ATLANTA: Meets Expectations

- Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong for Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and Atlanta’s 2011 first-round pick

I thought trading for Bibby a few years ago was fantastic for the Hawks. They desperately needed a veteran PG and Bibby had been in the playoff trenches. But he’s not the player he once was, and his defense is now pretty much non existent. Hinrich is a massive upgrade, and is an excellent defense. Plus, like Bibby, he doesn’t need the ball to be effective, which is important playing next to Joe Johnson.

NEW YORK: Meets Expectations

- Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups,Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter for Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, Knicks first-round pick (2014 or later) and the Warriors’ second-round picks in 2012 and 2013

As I said, I already discussed this deal, and New York obviously came out of the trade with the best player, but I’m not convinced New York is ever going to be a serious contender with Anthony and Amare.

NEW ORLEANS: Meets Expectations

- Carl Landry for Marcus Thornton

I’m not a big fan of either of these guys, but Thornton wasn’t getting any time because he apparently doesn’t play defense, and New Orleans is sorely lacking inside scoring. Enter Landry, who doesn’t rebound and isn’t a great defender, but can score inside.

CHICAGO: Meets Expectations

- Miami’s 2011 first-round pick for James Johnson

Johnson was obviously not going to break into the Bulls’ lineup, so getting a first round pick was probably the best thing they could have done.

MEMPHIS: Approaching Expectations

- Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and Memphis’ first-round pick

Giving up Thabeet and a first-round pick was a big gamble for a player who might not eve re-sign with Memphis this summer, but Battier is exactly the type of player they need. A steady, smart veteran who doesn’t need the ball to be effective and who knows how to win. Memphis obviously hopes he’ll rub off on everyone else on the team.

I still think they should have traded Zach Randolph while his stock was so high.

BOSTON: Approaching Expectations

- Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson

- Sacramento’s second-round pick for Marquis Daniels

- Cleveland’s second-round pick for Semih Erden and Luke Harangody

When Kendrick Perkins got injured a couple of seasons ago in the playoffs, it cost the Celtics the title. He might be one of the best centers in the league at defending Dwight Howard. Trading away a very good defensive center in his prime is a huge, huge risk. One I think might come back to haunt the Celtics.

I like Jeff Green, and I think not being forced to play PF will do him a world of good, and I think he’s a very good defender at the SF position, but basically the Celtics gave up a starter for a bench player. They are going to have to rely on Shaq a lot more at center, and this quote from Doc Rivers doesn’t do a lot for me: ”Shaq’s a key component of this,” said Rivers. “We need to get Shaq healthy and Shaq will be healthy. If Shaq plays great, this deal was actually really good for us. That’s on Shaq. We have to get Shaq in great shape, get him ready, get him healthy. He’s really going to be important for us in the playoffs.”

Plus, the Celtics are going to have two players (Shaq and Rondo) who can’t hit free throws. You don’t think that might hurt them?

SACRAMENTO: Approaching Expectations

- Marcus Thornton for Carl Landry

- Marquis Daniels for a second-round pick

I’m not quite sure why Sacramento would want Thornton or Daniels, since they already have Evans Casspi and Garcia, but I guess they didn’t give up much, so why not.

MINNESOTA: Approaching Expectations

- Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry for Corey Brewer

Yes, Minnesota is acquiring assets, but Corey Brewer is more productive than Anthony Randolph, and Minnesota agreed to take on Eddy Curry to get him. Randolph better end up panning out.

WASHINGTON: Approaching Expectations

- Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and Atlanta’s 2011 first-round pick for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong

I find it hard to believe that the best Washington could have gotten for Hinrich was Mike Bibby and another year of his contract and a late first-round pick in a bad draft. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t say it was good, either.

CLEVELAND: WHY??????

- Baron Davis  and the Clippers 2011 first-round pick for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon

- Semih Erden and Luke Harangody for a second-round pick

I can understand wanting to get the Clippers first round pick (probably a top 10 pick), but is it really worth taking on Baron Davis when you couldn’t even get rid of Antoine Jamison and his awful contract?

PHOENIX: Your Kid Is A Moron

- Aaron Brooks for Goran Dragic and Phoenix’s protected first-round pick

I have absolutely no idea what Phoenix is doing. Brooks is a brutal PG because he can’t pass, so he’s the anti-Nash. And they gave up a first round pick when they should be collecting them.

UTAH: Incomplete

- Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two 2011 first-round picks for Deron Williams

As I previously said, this trade came out of nowhere, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it from Utah’s perspective. If Williams was indeed on his way out of town, as some have said, then trading him now was a fantastic idea. And getting what they did for him was very good. Personally, I liked the Nets offer for Carmelo better than the Knicks, and the Jazz ended up getting it.

The Rookies and Sophomores were announced and while DeMar DeRozan was selected, Ed Davis was not.  Was Davis deserving? Sure, but  wouldn’t call it a snub. Favors, who got in over Davis, has similar numbers and with the Nets not having anyone with any chance to make the team, I’m guessing the NBA wanted them to have some presence. It’s likely Davis will replace Blake Griffin, anyway, since most feel Griffin is going to be playing in the big game.

As for the real All-Stars, here would be my selections:

WEST

Guards:

Like other years in the West, there are more All-Stars than spots available for the All-Star game. Guys who probably should make it, but don’t really have a shot, like Steve Nash and Tony Parker, would probably make it in the East.

Manu Ginobili

The best player on the best team in the league. Yes, Tim Duncan may be still the franchise player, but Ginobili is the guy who carries this team and he’s having a career year now that he’s finally injury free. The reason the Spurs are my favourite to win the title is partly because of this guy. No one gets better at crunch time than him. No one.

Deron Williams

Deron deserves a better team than he is surrounded by at the moment, and Utah’s high level mediocrity is not his fault. Without him, this team wouldn’t have a shot at the playoffs.

Forwards:

Someone deserving is going to get left off, and, like the guard position snubs, at least one of them would probably make it if he had this season in the East.

Dirk Nowitzki

Before he went down with injury, Dallas was the second best team in the league. Without him, they were 2-7. It’s not hard to do the math on that one. Nowitzki will never be the defensive force that most Hall of Fame big men are, and because of that probably won’t ever lead Dallas to a Championship (Dallas has underperformed consistently in the playoffs with him), but there’s no doubt this team is far, far much better because of him.

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin very well might be having the best rookie season since Tim Duncan. He’s 12th in scoring, 4th in rebounding and even dishing a very good 3.6 assists per game, 3rd among ALL big men (PFs and centers) in the league. And he’s getting better every month. Plus, he’s actually helping the Clippers not suck, which is enough to get my vote. Still, if he wants to become truly great, he’s going to have to vastly improve his defense because right now he makes Amare Stoudemire look like Bill Russell.

Center:

Remember when the West had Shaq in his prime and David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon still playing very high level basketball? Now, in order to find a healthy, All-Star worthy center, you have to use the David Stern added rule that you can pick someone who ALSO plays center.

Pau Gasol

Gasol has struggled this year, partly due to an increased workload, but he’s still been one of the main reasons why the Lakers, despite their struggles, are still number 2 in the West.

Wildcards:

Kevin Love

He scores 21.4 ppg and grabs a monstrous 15.5 rpg despite taking 148 shots from beyond the arc and being 10th in the league in 3 point percentage. Oh, and he’s one of the top passers at his position. Sure, he plays for the basement dwelling T-Wolves, but as his video tells us, he’s got the numbers

Russell Westbrook

Some thought he was Oklahoma’s MVP in the early part of the season, and he’s shown some kinks in his armour (why is a PG who shoots 43% from the field taking 17 shots per game), but he’s still helped Oklahoma move up to the fourth seed in the West.

Who I left off:

Obviously I’ve left off some very good players. Tim Duncan was probably the most difficult omission, since he plays on the best team in the league, right now, but does anyone really think he’s not going to be selected to replace Yao?

Tony Parker and Steve Nash I already mentioned, and it’s a shame they won’t make it because they are having All-Star seasons. There just simply isn’t room.

Another guy I’d love to include, but can’t, is LaMarcus Aldridge. He’s carries the Blazers since Roy went down and if he had played like he has in January for the entire season, I’d be tempted to include him. Still, he’s quietly becoming one of the best PFs in the league.

I know Monta Ellis and Zach Randolph put up great numbers, and I included Kevin Love because of his great stats, but I simply can’t see either player ever being a major contributor for a contender. These are prototypical good players on bad teams.

EAST

Guards:

The guard position is very much like the Center position in the West. Obviously not as glaring, but still not exactly strong.

Rajon Rondo

It’s amazing how much he’s improved since he was drafted. His lack of jumpshot might very well be the Celtic’s Achilles heal, but he’s still managed to shoot over 50% from the field, so he’s not exactly hurting the team much.

Ray Allen

He’s having his best season as a Celtic and looking nothing like the creaky, aging player that sometimes looked like he might not have a lot left in the tank the last year or two. I don’t know what the Celtics are giving him, but I want some.

Forwards:

Kevin Garnett

Back when Garnett went down with injury, in 2008, I was adamant that the Celtics were hiding the seriousness of the injury. They never satisfactorily explained the injury or commented how long he’d be out. The deeper the Celtics got in the playoffs, the more fishy it looked that he didn’t look like he was trying to return. Honestly, after that, I figured his career was pretty much done. Especially after the start last year. But whatever the Celtics are giving to Allen, they must also be giving to Garnett because he looks fully recovered.

Chris Bosh

Remember when everyone thought Chris Bosh was the problem in Miami during their horrible start? No one has any harsh words to say about him now (well, except for some Raptor fans). He’s not the best player on the Heat, but he’s just as important as Wade and LeBron to their success.

Center:

A lot has changed in the East at the center position when Jamaal Magloire made the All Star team for the sole fact that he was the best player at a position that didn’t include many good players.While the position is not exactly teeming with All-Star worthy players, with guys like Horford, Noah, Bogut and Lopez, the East looks like it won’t have any trouble filling the position any time soon.

Al Horford

Joe Johnson is the team’s leading scorer, but I think Horford has become the team’s best player. When Johnson went down, the team barely faltered, but they lost Horford, I think they’d be in trouble. He’s not a great scorer, but he can score if needed, and he really doesn’t have a weakness.

Wildcards:

Paul Pierce

The main reason the Celtics didn’t falter when Rondo went down was Paul Pierce played like an MVP. Like his other veteran stars, he’s getting old, but he’s proven he’s still got a couple of good years left, at least.

Carlos Boozer

The selection I’m least happy about. Noah is the second best player on Chicago, but because he’s injured, he’s out. I could easily be swayed to select Joe Johnson, instead, but Boozer had a big impact on Chicago, so he sneaks by. He’s still not a good defensive player, but he’s decent enough that he’s not a liability on that end.

Who I left off:

Obviously Joe Johnson was the hardest cut. And I’m not thrilled about having FOUR Celtics, no matter how good the team is. San Antonio only has three and they have the best record in the league. The truth is, though, that all four Celtic All-Stars are deserving.

Joakim Noah will be a perennial All-Star when he’s healthy, and his injury is the only thing that prevented his inclusion.

Andrew Bogut might end up being a perennial snub since both Noah and Horford should probably always be ahead of him. He’s still a very good player and would probably be an All-Star in the West, at center.

Josh Smith again misses out on the cut. Good, but not good enough.

—-

My end of the year post, which detailed 5 trades that needed to happen in 2011, may not have been so far out, after all. A few weeks after I posted that column, and not long after Anderson Varejao ended his season with an injury, it came out that Oklahoma was in discussions with Cleveland to try and get…you guessed it, Anderson Varejao.

—

Speaking of my trades that need to happen, the Nets have pulled out and I think it’s probably the best thing for them. Carmelo has never proven to be enough of a difference maker to want to dismantle your team to get him. He’d certainly be a nice player if they can sign him, but if I were the Nets, I wouldn’t try and hit a home run with a kid’s bat (that’s the only analogy I could think of). Especially if the deal includes the aging Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups, who are still good, but aren’t going to get the Nets to the promised land.

—

One more thing about Andrea Bargnani after last week’s column. Kevin Love, who is averaging 15.5 rpg has taken 3 fewer three point shots, while shooting a much higher percentage, than Andrea, this season. So much for the excuse that Bargnani doesn’t grab as many rebounds because he takes so many threes. Obviously Kevin Love doesn’t listen to excuses.

So I was trying to figure out an interesting format I could use to discuss the upcoming season. I came up with the idea to combine my predictions and season preview. Now, most predictions have Toronto finishing at or near the bottom of the league. The line in Las Vegas apparently gives the Raptors 27 wins. The consensus on ESPN has the Raptors finishing last in the East. Basketball Prospectus has them finishing last in the league. Things don’t look good for the Raptors.

So do I see things any different?

Well, before I answer that, let’s look at what I said last season. My prediction was that the Raptors would finish with 45 wins which would put them somewhere in the 5th to 8th seed in the East. If the team continued at the same pace that they were at going into the All-Star break, I would have been correct. I also said they wouldn’t make it to the second round. Well, I was right about that, wasn’t I?

The 45 wins I projected was higher than most media outlets projections of the Raptors. So am I going to continue to be more optimistic than the pundits to the south? Well, you’ll have to read on to find that out.

First some questions (and answers)…

Who will be the Raptors leading scorers this season?

Unlike most years, when there’s really no question of who the leading scorer will be, this year it’s wide open. There are 3 players who, I think, have a chance to lead the team in scoring. Bargnani is the one most expected before the season started, but he didn’t exactly light up the preseason. He never once hit for 20 points and shot just 35%, although his percentage did improve as the preseason went on. What he does have going for him, in this race for leading scorer, is that he shoots the ball. A lot. In fact, he took 19 more shots than the next Raptor player in the preseason, so it’s a good bet that he’ll be in the race. Really, it’s his best attribute, so if he’s not scoring at least 15 ppg, what exactly are they paying him for?

Barbosa is one that a lot of people overlooked when talking about the Raptors leading scorer, but no one played better than him in the preseason. Unfortunately, the injury which hurt him last years apparently isn’t completely healed and he revealed he may need surgery before the season is out. Of course, the amount he shoots the ball certainly won’t help matters. He shot at a rate barely less than Bargnani. Two things need to happen for him to lead the team in scoring. He needs to get minutes and remain healthy.

Kleiza is one I mentioned that had a good shot at leading the team in scoring. He was scorching hot in the preseason and showed a penchant for shooting. He shot at a rate just below Bargnani and Barbosa. Kleiza doesn’t create the way Barbosa does, but he moves better without the ball than Bargnani.

I don’t believe DeRozan will be the leading scorer for the Raptors, but he should get his points simply because he gets to the line better than anyone on the team.

It’s very likely that DeRozan, Bargnani, Barbosa and Kleiza could all average at least 14 ppg. That’s a far cry from last season, when only Bosh and Bargnani scored over 11 ppg. Right now, I think it’s too close to call who is going to lead the team, but I think those four players will end up scoring somewhere between 14 ppg and 18 ppg.

Who will be the team’s MVP?

Does a lottery team really have an MVP? Well, if it does, and he’s on the Raptors, my bet is going to be Kleiza. I think his scoring and toughness will endear him to fans, and by December, he’ll be the #1 option on offense. I think he’s better suited to the position than any of the other Raptors, at the moment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be the leading scorer. I just think he’ll be the one the offense goes through. I just hope he passes more during the regular season than he did in preseason.

Who will be the team’s starting power forward when the team heads into the All-Star break?

Reggie Evans is currently the team’s starter at PF, and it seems to work since his rebounding prowess makes up for Bargnani’s lack of. Of course, it’s quite possible that Evans won’t even be with the team at the All-Star break. Putting him on display as a starter is probably doing wonders for his trade value, as is his expiring contract. Either way, though, the starting spot is really Ed Davis’ to lose. He may struggle a bit when he finally comes back from injury and plays in his first NBA game, but he was drafted to be the starter and I think that’s where he’ll end up being by the All-Star break.

So, who is going to be traded?

I already mentioned that Evans might get traded, and everyone knows that Calderon is on the block, but my guess for player who is most likely to be traded before the deadline is Barbosa. This is contingent on him remaining healthy, and I think the likelihood of him being traded is less now that he’s possibly due for surgery, but I think his game is just too enticing to a contender for them not to try and pry him away from the Raptors. And as much as I like him, he’s a luxury for a lottery team. The Raptors have plenty of depth at both guard positions even without him.

So who do I think he’ll eventually go to?

Well, I don’t know if it’s a prediction as much as a trade that simply makes sense, but I can see a Barbosa for Gortat and a draft pick trade going down. Barbosa is exactly the type of creator the Magic lack, and Gortat is wasting away on the bench making too much money. And every Raptor fan would probably be thrilled to see a guy like Gortat in a Raptor uniform.

I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see Evans shipped off, but I also have a feeling that Calderon is going to finish the year with the Raptors.

Is Jack going to remain the starting PG?

So if I think Calderon is going to stay, does that mean he’ll stay on the bench, or eventually replace Jack in the starting lineup? Well, I think that it will end up being very similar to last season, when they split the starting PG duties almost 50/50. Both players have their strengths and their weaknesses and reading too much into how each player played in the preseason is dangerous. The Raptors will struggle at some point with Jack starting, and Calderon will come in to replace him. Who’ll end the year starting is anyone’s guess.

Will Amir learn how not to foul?

I really have no idea. Quite a few of the fouls he committed during the preseason were incredibly stupid. Unfortunately he may never get it, but as I said before, don’t read too much into the preseason. I would be nice to see some encouraging signs, but I’m going to leave question unanswered for now.

How many games will the Raptors win?

Before the preseason, my guess was that they would win anywhere from 25-30. That was right in line with the Las Vegas line of 27 wins. After watching them in preseason, I’m going to do them one better. 28 wins. I think this won’t put them last in the league or even in the conference. It will give them a good chance at a high lottery pick next June, though.

EDIT: I meant to add this but had server problems last night and couldn’t.

Will Bargnani average at least 20 ppg and 9 rpg?

Anyone who reads this blog will know my answer to this, but kshiz, over at the great site NBA Analytiks (which is also on the left sidebar), bet me over the summer that if Bargnani didn’t average at least 20 ppg and 9 rpg, he would agree to write anything of my choosing on my site, and I would do the same if Bargnani did reach those numbers, on his site. For the record, I’m going to predict 17.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg this season.

—

So what about the rest of the league?

Here are my predictions…

The Champions:

- The Lakers. Miami may have the triumvirate, but the Lakers have the rings and got even better.

The Contenders:

- Miami, obviously.

- Orlando. Too many people are sleeping on them, and although I still think they need to make one more move, I like them to make it to the Finals.

- Boston. They’re old, and Shaq certainly hasn’t helped the last couple of teams he’s been on, but Garnett seems healthier than he has in years and they have pretty good depth, now.

- Dallas. I don’t think they’ve got a chance in hell at making it out of the West, but they should improve on their 50 wins last season. How they do in the playoffs is the biggest question.

- San Antonio. You can never count the Spurs out and with the addition of Tiago Splitter, they have more talent than they’ve had in a couple of years. Plus, Jefferson should perform better after a full year with the team.

- Portland. Injuries took their toll last year, and I think a lot of people are forgetting about them.

- Oklahoma City. Could this be the year Kevin Durant leads his team out of the second round? Almost definitely.

The Disappointments

- Phoenix. It’s a shame to see Steve Nash ending his career on a team that is going nowhere, but the Suns didn’t really help themselves in the offseason and will probably end up missing the playoffs.

- Atlanta. Overpaying Joe Johnson is going to come back to haunt this team that has no hope of being an actual contender. I think this will be the first times in 7 seasons the Hawks don’t win more games than the previous season.

- Denver. Whether or not Carmelo is traded, his future will hang over the team and doom it.

The Worst Team

- Detroit. There’s almost no one on the team I would want. The top five paid players are vastly overpaid, thus making them difficult to trade, and they looked horrible in the preseason. How long will Joe Dumars last before people start wondering whether he was the brains behind the Championship team or John Hammonds was.

—

One last note, the Miami Heat lost against the Boston Celtics on opening night, which means the Heat will most definitely not go 82-0. My prediction is they’ll end up with 59 wins.

CLEVELAND: Your Kid’s Just Stupid

- Fired Danny Ferry and hired someone else

Okay, I have no idea who the guy is that replaced Danny Ferry, but Ferry had arguably the best player in the league and despite Cleveland reaching the Finals once and winning more than 60 games twice, Ferry never was able to surround LeBron with a Championship calibre team. It’s lone All-Star, outside of LeBron, was Mo Williams, who would never have been considered had Cleveland not been the best team in the league at the time. He was proof that just because you come from the Spurs system, doesn’t make you a good GM.

- LeBron James signed with Miami

If you think Toronto was unhappy with Bosh signing with Miami, that’s nothing to the reaction from Cleveland. For Toronto, losing Bosh was tough but not nearly as devastating as LeBron leaving Cleveland. His departure actually hurts a Cleveland economy that was not that great to begin with. Replacing a perennial All-Star is tough, but replacing an MVP calibre player in the prime of his career is nearly impossible.

Cleveland got relatively the same back for LeBron as Toronto did for Bosh, but considering that LeBron was expected by many to re-sign with Cleveland, and considering the team was a true contender with him (unlike Toronto with Bosh), LeBron leaving is a killer. It may take them a decade to recover from this.

- Fired Mike Brown and hired Byron Scott

When the Cavs were bounced out in the second round, you knew Mike Brown had to go. He wasn’t the greatest coach, but he certainly made the Cavs overachieve considering their roster outside of LeBron. Byron Scott is a proven coach who’s also proven to not be able to last more than a few years. He’s never coached a rebuilding team so it will be interesting. Coaches for rebuilding teams rarely take their team to the promised land, so, most likely, this won’t be a long term post for Scott.

- No draft pick

With the prospect that LeBron might not re-sign, Cleveland wasn’t able to grab a draft pick. With LeBron gone Cleveland needs to rebuild and without any rookies at all, they don’t exactly have a head start, do they?

- Traded Delonte West for Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins

While West may have had some psychological issues and may or may not have been intimate with LeBron’s mom, at his best he’s still a pretty good scorer and defender in the prime of his career with a contract that was not fully guaranteed. The best they could get for him was a backup PG with a bad contract and third string center?

- Signed Joey Graham

“Joey, you’ll be taking over the small forward position from LeBron.”

I don’t quite see the point of this signing, but I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? They now have three former Raptors and the only player on the roster that is a center is Ryan Hollins. Hey, at least Graham should get plenty of time to play and he, Parker and Moon can reminisce about better days in Toronto.

Summary

Cleveland hasn’t done themselves any favours this offseason. They don’t have a lot of young prospects outside of JJ Hickson, and not a lot of valuable trade assets. And they didn’t seem to try and get any this summer. You have to feel bad for Antawn Jamison, who went from basketball purgatory in Washington, to the promised land in Cleveland, but is now back in lotteryland again until he either finishes his contract or gets shipped out of town probably right before the trade deadline in a year and a half. They’ve done virtually nothing right this summer, and might very well end up behind the Raptors in the standings, giving them a dropoff similar to the Bulls when Jordan and Pippen left and the Bulls went from 61 wins to 13 wins.

Their 5 best players play either PF or PG so can’t be on the court at the same time, or at least shouldn’t. Cleveland might not have a lot of choice in the matter, though.

One move they tried to do, but failed, was sign Kyle Lowry away from the Rockets. This would have been a pretty good move, as Lowry is young and plays excellent defense. I think it might be a good thing they didn’t get him because $24 million over four years seems a bit much for a backup PG.

ATLANTA: Needs Improvement

- Fired Mike Woodson and hired Larry Drew

I don’t know of anyone that thought all that much of Mike Woodson’s coaching abilities, but as the head coach of the Hawks, he saw his team improve their record every single one of his six seasons going from a pitiful 13-69 record and last in the league to 54-29 and the second round of the playoffs two years in a row. If nothing else, he should be respected for that.

Ironically, Woodson’s replacement as head coach, Larry Drew, was drafted just 5 spots later in the same draft year (1980), was his teammate in Kansas City/Sacramento and was traded WITH Woodson to the Clippers in 1986. They also both only stayed with the Clippers for only two more years before departing to play two more seasons with playoff teams and both retired the same year at the age of 32. The NBA is a very small world, to say the least.

- Drafted and traded Damion James for Jordan Crawford

In my opinion the Hawks simply traded down for a worse player. I think James is going to end up being a pretty good role player in the league, whereas I’m not all that impressed with Crawford. The idea might have been that if Joe Johnson left, it they would need another SG. Personally, I think they should have simply gone with the best player.

- Re-signed Joe Johnson for the max

Johnson not only re-signing, but being the first free agent to decide was probably the biggest shock for me. I figured Joe Johnson was gone, and, quite frankly, I figured that would have been best for the Hawks. I think they’ve pretty much hit their ceiling and now they’re in luxury tax territory. Johnson isn’t good enough to lead them past the second round and unless they pull off a big trade, they’ll be stuck with him as their best player.

If Johnson left, it would force them to rebuild around their young players like Horford and Smith, which might have left the Hawks better off in the long run. Joe Johnson is 29 years old and will be making $24 million when he’s 34 years old. Considering how he flamed out of the playoffs last season, I’m not sure I would invest that much in him.

- Signed Etan Thomas

With Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins on the roster, there was little point of signing Thomas, although I suppose that’s better than paying the full mid-level for Shaq, which they were rumoured to be offering him. If Shaq had joined this team, I think it would have been a similar disaster as when he went to Phoenix.

Summary

Despite the Hawks winning 6 more games the the previous season, they still weren’t able to get past the second round, being swept by the Magic, and Johnson played horribly in the semis. It’s not that the Hawks don’t have talent, but it’s highly doubtful they’ll be able to get past the second round and failed to improve their team at all over the summer. The Hawks are a team stuck at high level mediocrity. They’re too good to break up, but they’re not good enough to be a real contender.

—–

DENVER: Needs Improvement

- No draft pick

Denver traded their pick away last year in a cost cutting move. There were a few half decent players that might have been able to contribute to the Nuggets, so that doesn’t help matters.

- Al Harrington signed

After being bounced in the first round and taking a bit of a step back this season, Denver needed to make a bit of splash in the offseason and this is who they get with the majority of their MLE? Al Harrington is a guy that puts up good stats but doesn’t do many of the little things that helps a team win.

- Re-signed Anthony Carter and signed Sheldon Williams

Whenever I think of Anthony Carter, I think of how his agent completely f**ked up one summer and forgot to pick up his player option while he was with the Heat, costing him millions of dollars which he never made up. And when I think of Sheldon Williams I think of the Atlanta Hawks shockingly picking Williams 5th in the 2006 draft, about ten places ahead of where he was expected to go and ahead of Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay. Yes, they already had Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, but if ever there was an example proving that a team should pick the best player available and not the player that fits a need, it’s this. And that’s all I really think of those two players.

- Announced GM Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman would “not return”

When a GM leaves a team in the middle of the summer, it’s always a little suspicious. Now, I don’t know if it was actually the Nuggets choice, or Warkentien read the writing on the wall, but the fact remains that he’s just a couple of years removed from an Executive of the Year award and one season from a trip to the Conference Finals. Was he really the problem? It’s obviously hard to gauge how good Rex Chapman was, but he seemed to have been well respected and might have been next in line for the GM job.

- Hired Masai Ujiri as GM

After a number of GM candidates declined to take what the Nuggets were apparently offering for a salary, they found someone who agreed to become one of the lowest paid GMs in the NBA. A Raptors former Head Scout for Africa, or something like that, is an unknown quantity, but he comes cheap which is what the Nuggets apparently wanted most.  When your paying out more than $80 million in salary to your players, it really makes sense to skimp in places like the guy who actually builds the team.

- Failed to extend Carmelo Anthony’s contract

If Carmelo Anthony bolts, as expected, the Nuggets are done. And how much of distraction is he going to be before he either leaves or gets traded?

Summary

I can understand the Nuggets owner being a little annoyed when he’s paying so much out for a team that gets knocked out in the first round, but they’re trying to save money in the wrong places. After this summer, it appears Denver is going to be in firesale mode quite soon, and it’s a get bet they won’t want big contracts back. They failed to really do anything to improve the team

—

GOLDEN STATE : Needs Improvement

- Traded Corey Maggette for Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric

Maggette is a productive swing player who shoots a high percentage and gets to the line at a very high rate. With Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry at the 1 and 2, there simply weren’t enough shots on the perimeter to go around, and the last time Maggette played defense was at Duke, so losing him and his large contract is probably best for Golden State in the long term. Bell is a fine backup and Gadzuric is a good 3rd string center to have. Not quite equal return, but this is addition by subtraction.

- Drafted Epke Udoh

Now, I don’t think Udoh is going to be a bad NBA player. He’s an apparently mature guy with a good head on his shoulders with loads of physical abilities. One problem, he’s not even close to the 6th best player in the 2010 draft. I wasn’t thrilled about the Raptors apparently thinking about selecting him 13th, so Udoh might be the biggest bungle of the draft. Ed Davis, Greg Munroe, Paul George or even Al-Farouq Aminu would have been better picks for Golden State. Still, Udoh brings an interior defense the Warriors don’t have much of, so it’s not exactly a horrible pick. Just not a very good one. And without Corey Maggette, they suddenly have a big hole at the SF position. Unfortunately with Udoh injured, it will be a while before we see him hit the court.

- Traded Anthony Randolph and Ronnie Turiaf in a sign and trade for David Lee

One of the more perplexing deals of the entire summer. Golden State drafts Udoh, who by all accounts should contribute immediately and finally gives the Warriors a defensive force at PF, and then goes out and grabs David Lee, who is a PF who doesn’t play much defense and whose stats are no doubt inflated by playing D’Antoni’s system.

To make matters worse, they traded away 21 year old Anthony Randolph who might soon end up being better than David Lee. Per 36 mpg, Randolph averaged 18.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.5 bpg. Sure, some scoff at the 36 mpg stats, but it gives an indication of what he might be capable of if given the minutes. Unfortunately playing for Don Nelson is like working for George Steinbrenner and Randolph was in and out of Nelson’s doghouse before he injured himself and was out for the rest of the season.

Turiaf, while not the most productive player, is a tough defensive player whose hustling play is contagious. Of course, he’s probably what Udoh will end up becoming, so maybe it’s fitting that he be traded away.

Now, David Lee is not a bad player, but I HATED the rumours that he might be sent back if Bosh signed with New York. Lee is a good scorer and very good rebounder, but, as I previously said, his stats are inflated by playing in D’Antoni’s system. Worst of all, his defense is bad. Teaming him with Bargnani would be a recipe for  disaster and now he plays for Golden State, where apparently defense is not a high priority. I think he’ll probably get great stats, but Golden State was stupid for locking him up for so long for so much money. He doesn’t really make them a better team and Golden State fans may one day soon look longingly at Anthony Randolph and wonder what might have been.

- Signed Dorell Wright and Rodney Carney

Wright might end up being the starter by default, but neither of these guys is going to make much of an impact.

Summary

Golden State got a new owner and a new GM and had the chance to clean house and start new, building around their young talent. The first order of business should have been firing Don Nelson who has become a travesty to the NBA and should be the most hated man among Warrior fans. Apparently the Warriors turned down a deal that would have sent Monta Ellis to Memphis for OJ Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet. Wow. Not only would Golden State have rid them selves of Ellis’ contract, but would have gotten a better SG in return as well as a decent defensive prospect at center. They did the right thing by ridding themselves of Maggette, but Ellis is a chucker who is a team killer with a bad contract and should have shipped him off, too. They have some decent young talent, especially Curry, but the team is a mess and will be until Nelson goes and they get a decent GM.

—–

CHARLOTTE: Needs Improvement

- No draft pick

Charlotte traded their way out of the draft two years ago by trading their pick for the 20th pick in the 2008 draft, when they picked Alexis Ajinça. Ajinça played only 6 games last season and was traded to Dallas this summer.

- Raymond Felton signed with New York

I don’t even know if Charlotte tried to re-sign Felton. He wasn’t a bad starting PG for the Bobcats, but he wasn’t a very good one, either, and played horribly in the playoffs. He won’t be missed much.

- Re-signed Tyrus Thomas

Now, I always thought that Thomas had the most potential from the 2006 draft, but he mostly floundered in Chicago before being traded to Charlotte. In Charlotte he played about the same, but somehow managed to secure a 5 year, $40 million contract that made Amir Johnson’s contract look good. Thomas has always put up good per-minute numbers but can’t seem to get consistent minutes even after four years.

- Traded Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinça for Erick Dampier, Eduardo Najera and Matt Carroll

A deal that was apparently done for economic reasons, but one where they actually end up paying more money in the long run and lose their best center. The deal Michael Jordan nixed at the last minute sending Chandler and Boris Diaw to Toronto for Calderon and Reggie Evans would have benefitted them more. This deal simply doesn’t make sense from an economic standpoint or a basketball standpoint.

- Signed Kwame Brown

Does acquiring Kwame Brown ever work out well for Jordan? Does Kwame know Jordan owns the team? Is Jordan trying to prove something here? I just don’t know.

- Signed Shaun Livingston

Now when Shaun Livingston was drafted by the Clippers in 2004, I thought Livingston had a chance to be a very special player. Unfortunately one of the most gruesome injuries in professional sports derailed what could have been a great career. Livingston still has talent and I’m hoping that he finally gets his career back on track in Charlotte. He should get a decent chance with only DJ Augustin the only other real competition at PG on the roster.

- Waived Erick Dampier

Instead of using Dampier’s non-guaranteed contract to better the team, they simply waive him to save money. Bobcat fans must be so proud.

Summary

I have no idea what Jordan is doing in Charlotte. It may be that he makes most of his deals while golfing, so doesn’t pay much attention, but while Charlotte did well last season, making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, they only won 44 games and didn’t improve themselves over the summer, and in fact got a little worse. That wouldn’t be bad if they had a young team, but their three top returning scorers (Jackson, Wallace and Diaw) are all at least 28 years old, so it’s not like they’re likely getting better. The team’s average age is relatively old 27.3. If I had to point to a perfect example of how NOT to build a franchise, it would be Charlotte. A team mired in mediocrity with little hope of getting better, but good enough to keep their head above water.

Jordan is probably the worst type of owner. He’s cost conscience but also not the greatest judge of talent.

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Tomorrow, I’ll look at the teams that did alright, but there’s definitely room for improvement.