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.

Why? Because none of them actually possessed the skill that Calderon had that has continually put him back in charge of the team’s offense again and again: The ability to run a team and make his teammates better.

If this year’s playoffs have showed us one thing (and they’ve shown us more than that, but that’s for another post), it’s the importance of someone who can distribute the ball and make those around him better. In most cases, that’s your PG.

Russell Westbrook, despite his All-Star season, is rumoured to be not as secure in Oklahoma as he was before the playoffs after it became apparent that he’s still not a true PG, something that hurt the Thunder against the Mavs.

Speaking of the Mavs, Jason Kidd, despite the fact that he’s closer in age to me than his teammate, Dirk, has been able to help lead his team to the NBA FInals.

But wait, you say, Miami doesn’t have a great PG on their team and they’re in the NBA Finals, too! Yes, but none of their PGs actually run the team. That’s up to two of the best players in the league, in LeBron James and Dywane Wade, and LeBron maybe the best passing SF the game has seen since Larry Bird. So, unless you have a truly transcendent passer at another position, it’s probably best if you have a PG that can actually run an offense and make his teammates better.

That’s why the upcoming draft is such a concern with me. The player that seems to be the most probable Raptor, come June 23rd, seems to be Brandon Knight. Now, I have nothing against Brandon Knight. I think he’s a very good player and, from what I gather, is a very intelligent young man. My problem, however, is that he doesn’t seem to actually be a point guard. None of his strengths (size, scoring ability) are those that you’d look for in a point guard and his weaknesses (questionable decision making, turnover prone, not a great passer) are kind of red flags for a point guard, don’t you think?

The argument I’ve heard supporting drafting him is that he can learn the point guard position. Lots of players have come into the league with questionable PG skills and flourished, haven’t they? Well, no. Not really.

In the last ten years, 19 PGs with universally questionable PG skills have been drafted in the first round: Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Jerryd Bayless, George Hill, Rodney Stuckey, Aaron Brooks, Shannon Brown, Nate Robinson, Luther Head, Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, Delonte West, Kirk Hinrich, Marcus Banks and Juan Dixon.

And that’s not including scoring PGs, who showed the ability to run an offense in college, but whose best attribute was probably scoring, like John Wall or Derrick Rose. It also doesn’t include those that were really SGs, but their teams decided to try and convert them to PG, like Tyreke Evans, Randy Foye and Joe Forte.

Now, there are a lot of talented players on that list. But there are also a lot of players who either have been shipped around from team to team because teams end up longing for a real PG to run their offense, or simply become bench players who can provide instant offense off the bench. And only one of those players have been able to lead his team past the first round of the playoffs as a starting PG. Russell Westbrook. And, as I mentioned, Westbrook’s lack of true PG skills is coming back to haunt him.

Coincidentally, a lot of those PGs with questionable PG skills have been on the wish lists of a lot of Raptor fans over the years. And not coincidentally, most of them have been on the trading block numerous times. The reason is that, despite their offensive skills, teams begin to tire of their inability to actually do what a point guard is supposed to do and run an offense and make those around him better.

The latest is current Minnesota Timberwolves “PG”, Jonny Flynn, who apparently is a favourite of many to be traded to the Raptors. Minnesota surprised many when they selected Flynn as high as they did, and he responded by giving them a mediocre rookie season and a horrible sophomore season. When he came out of Syracuse, NBADraft.net had this to say about him:

Lockdown defender on the perimeter. Flynn enjoys playing defense and seems to take pride in shutting down opposing point guards… Has the basketball IQ, focus and skills to excel as a pick-and-roll point guard at the next level… More of a scorer than a distributor. Detractors question his ability to play the point guard position and run a team. Is he a natural point guard? Is he really ready? On the positive side, he’s a heady player who will likely learn as he goes and improve… Will need to adapt to not having the ball in his hands all the time when he gets to the NBA … Will also have to limit turnovers … Flynn averaged 3.4 TOs per game as a sophomore…

I’m not quite sure WHY everyone seems to want this guy. I have nothing against him, but he really doesn’t seem to be a PG and he certainly hasn’t impressed anyone so far in his NBA career.

Interestingly, Brandon Knight is considered to be an excellent defender, with a high IQ and very good at running the pick and roll. He’s also got questionable PG skills and there are real questions whether he can play the point in the NBA. He’s got many of the same strengths and weaknesses attributed to Flynn when he came out of college.

So what is it exactly about these PGs that lack PG skills that seem to attract so many Raptor fans? I really have no idea. If the survivability of Calderon as a Raptor shows us anything it’s that the ability to run a team trumps just about any other skill a PG has. There are certain skills in the NBA that are instinctual. Rebounding is instinctual. Players either can do it or they can’t. It’s why a guy like Bargnani can’t seem to rebound consistently despite obvious physical abilities, yet a guy like Reggie Evans, who is shorter than most others at his position, rebounds like a demon in heat. Playing the point is instinctual. You can’t think when you’re out there, you have to react instinctively. That’s why so many combo guards struggle, and ultimately fail, to make the transition. Because while they can understand HOW to play the position, they never acquire the instincts of a PG.

—

Speaking of combo guards, I read today that Monta Ellis is rumoured to possibly be on the move to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala. Now, if this is true, it doesn’t surprise me at all considering that Jerry West was hired in an advisory role recently. Now, it makes no sense from Philadelphia’s perspective, since they already have an offensive minded, undersized SG on their roster, in Lou Williams, but from Golden State’s it makes perfect sense. Iguodala would upgrade their defense and passing, which are two major weaknesses for the team. Iguodala is the perfect backcourt partner for Curry, who is not a true PG, because he does everything well that Curry struggles at. Now if only they can get rid of David Lee for someone who actually plays defense…

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.

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.

—

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

Now, obviously there going to be some trades going down this summer involving the Raptors. I think that’s pretty much guaranteed. I’m not a journalist, so I don’t pretend to have a beat on what the Raptors are going to do. I try and read up and keep informed, but it’s nearly impossible to separate the rumours from truth. I’m not trying to do that here. What I’m doing is suggesting what I feel should be the direction the trades should take and why.

The first thing I’m going to do is discuss each player, whether I would try and trade them or keep them and why. For the most part, I’m going to refrain from posting actual trade proposals, since I simply don’t know what a team would be willing to give away for certain players, but I will offer up teams and players I think might make good targets.

BOSH (Only he knows)

While I’d want to re-sign him, if Bosh wants to go, I’ve already detailed the teams I would want him to go and the players I would be looking to get back.

TURKOGLU (Trade)

I think Turkoglu had a bigger impact that some give him credit for. Despite the fact that he simply didn’t perform up to expectations, he more often than not had a positive impact on the team on the court. He wasn’t used like he was in Orlando, but the Raptors are certainly not built like the Magic so there was bound to be some changes. You can blame the coaches (and many do) but in the end it’s up to Turkoglu to adjust, and he failed to.

At the end of the season, I was of the mind to keep Turkoglu. The main reason was because I didn’t like the idea of buying high (his signing) and selling low. I figured there would be a very good chance that Turkoglu would have a better year and his stock would go up, making him easier to trade. After his little tirade in the Turkish media, and the more I read about the behind the scenes stuff, I think it might very well be best to part ways as soon as possible.

At this point, I’m almost willing to just find the best deal for him and be done with it. Possible trade partners include the Jazz (for a package including Kirilenko), New Jersey (for Jianlian), New York (for Eddy Curry), Golden State (for Biedrins), the Clippers (for a trade exception), Memphis (maybe as part of a package in a sign and trade for Rudy Gay), Minnesota (for Corey Brewer among others), Orlando (for Gortat and Bass) or Sacramento (for Dalembert). How serious any of those trading partners is anyone’s guess, but if Colangelo can trade Turkoglu away without bringing back a similar sized problem, I’d be all for it at this point.

Obviously Gay would be the most appealing option, but many stars would have to align for that to happen, including Gay wanting to sign with Toronto. Biedrins and Kirilenko would be nice options, as would Gortat/Bass and Dalembert, but a trade exception would potentially be almost as valuable.

BARGNANI (Trade)

No surprise here. Unless you’ve got specific types of players that can cover Bargnani’s weaknesses, he’s going to hurt your team. The Raptors have none and I’m not high on his skill set enough to want to build around him.

I believe this is the best time to trade him. He still got that “upside” label and skills that some GMs covet. I think if he’s forced to be the first option on the Raptors this year, his fatal flaws will be highlighted and he’ll be less attractive as an asset. Basically, if he doesn’t fulfill his potential this season, it’s fair to say he never will, and I really don’t think he’s going to fulfill his potential. By trading him this summer, you’re trading him at a high.

I don’t think a lot of teams will be clamouring for his services because his skills are so unique. He’s not a big man who is going to play great defense or rebound, which is what most teams want out of their big men.

Minnesota

The first trading partner I would look at is Minnesota. The T-Wolves started Darko, instead of the more talented Love with Jefferson because they want Jefferson to play at his more natural position of PF and because Darko can play on the perimeter, leaving the inside to Jefferson. On offense, Bargnani would be a perfect pairing for Jefferson. Defense is another story, but we’ll let Minnesota worry about that.

The player I would covet the most would be Ricky Rubio. He would be that elite PG the Raptors have not had since Stoudamire. He would most likely want to go to Toronto and is a player the city should fall in love with. And he’s a winner. The Raptors might have to wait a year before he would suit up, but that would give them a year to rebuild.

If they don’t want to part with Rubio, Kevin Love would be another target. He’s apparently available despite the fact that I think he’s going to be a better player than Jefferson. He rebounds, shoots, defends and is a high IQ player. If Bosh leaves, he’d certainly make the locals (and team) miss him less).

Barring getting either Rubio or Love, I’d be happy getting their 4th pick, especially if Derrick Favors falls there, which there is now a possibility happening, apparently.

Golden State

Bargnani seems to me to be the exact type of player the Warriors like. If they would part with Biedrins and their 6th pick in the draft, I’d be happy. Biedrins would be that rebounding and shot blocking center the Raptors have lacked, and with the 6th pick, the Raptors could grab Al-Farouq Amin or Ed Davis who would fill big needs for the Raptors.

Philadelphia

Now, I have no clue as to whether Philadelphia would want Bargnani, but if they do, they have a few assets I’d focus on. If the rumour is true that they would give away the 2nd pick in exchange for taking Brand, they might agree to take Bargnani and someone like Evans for Brand and the 2nd. Personally, I doubt it, though. Still, I’d take Iguodala for him if they do it. Iguodala would give the Raptors a veteran swingman who is still fairly young and could be paired with DeRozan and/or Weems.

Other teams might include Chicago, Phoenix, New Jersey and New York.

CALDERON (Keep)

Believe it or not, I would keep Calderon. I think he’s far more valuable to the team than as a trade asset at this point. His stock is pretty low at the moment, and if he can have a good year, his stock will go up. If he has another similar year, I really don’t think his stock will go down much. Might as well take a gamble. He does help the team and if you can improve the overall defense of the team, he’s going to look that much better.

JACK (Trade)

I like Jack, but he’s a good young player with an affordable contract, so he’s a valuable asset that might be better off being traded for something more in need. On a team with so many holes, having two good PGs is a luxury. He could be included in a Turkoglu or Bargnani deal, or perhaps with another player on on his own. Because he can start or come off the bench, just about any team could use his services.

WEEMS (Keep or Trade)

I’d much rather keep him, but because of DeRozan, he’s almost a redundancy and if including him in a deal would improve the team, you have to do it.

JOHNSON (Re-sign)

With the likelihood Bosh will leave, re-signing Amir is important. He rebounds, hustles and is only 23. I think if you offer him $5 million, he’ll be back and you won’t be overpaying him.

BELINELLI (Keep)

He didn’t perform as many hoped, but he’s still extremely talented and still young. He’s another guy who you don’t want to sell low, so it’s best to keep him and see if he can fulfill some of that potential.

EVANS (Trade or Keep)

He’s more valuable as expiring fodder in a trade than anything he brings to the team. Still, if he returns he’s at least enthusiastic, so I wouldn’t be disappointed.

BANKS (Trade or Keep)

See Evans, plus it’s nice to have a half decent backup PG at the end of the bench who can actually play.

So there are quite a few trades I think can improve the team. I think Colangelo needs burn up the phone lines on draft day, since many of these trades would include draft picks.

Tomorrow is Draft Day, so I’m going to look more closely at the actual draft.