On The Ball
Winners and Losers of the NBA Draft
Eric Williams - NBA Wire Contributor
July 1, 2005
Every year, NBA teams closely examine hundreds and maybe even
thousands, of scouting reports, game films and background information
on the 'sure-fire' picks and would-be hopefuls who are trying to land a
job in the NBA.
Just as the seasons are sure to change, every year some team, or teams,
for that matter, makes a draft pick that just leaves you scratching
your head in wonderment as to how the general manager of said team,
landed his job in the first place.
To that end, I have compiled my annual NBA draft column, 'Winners and
Losers of the NBA Draft.' I'm not getting any younger, so let's get down to business.
Winners. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the biggest winners of this draft were the teams that acquired players who either A) filled a specific, glaring need or B) acquired a player so supremely gifted that they couldn't pass up on him regardless of position.
- Atlanta Hawks So what Atlanta already has two or three guys who play his position.
Everyone knows the Hawks came away with a player who could be an
all-star for the next decade in Marvin Williams. What made this an
excellent draft for the Hawks though was acquiring an outstanding
outside shooter in Salim Stoudamire. These two could one day
conceivably form an inside-outside combination that could rival any in
the league.
- Boston Celtics For the second consecutive year, the Celtics have made terrific selections. When high school shooting guard Gerald Green unexpectedly landed in the lap of the Celtics at number 18, they quickly made what I think is the best selection of the draft. When they also acquired Ryan Gomes at number 50, the Celtics only added icing to the top of their cake.
- Indiana Pacers Like the Celtics, the Pacers must have thought they were dreaming when
they found themselves ready to pick and Danny Granger's name still on
the board. In
Granger, the Pacers got an outstanding athlete who is a bonafide scorer
and should help ease the offensive load that was created by the
departure of Reggie Miller.
- Charlotte Bobcats I've got to give the Bobcats some props. They acquired two proven winners in Raymond Felton and Sean May. Felton should start immediately and May will see plenty of action even though he plays the same position as Emeka Okafor. A lot of so-called experts are looking for chinks in both Felton and May's armor, but I think both will turn out to be very competent professionals if nothing else.
- Miami Heat For the Heat to come away with a player as accomplished as Wayne Simien at number 29 was absolute robbery. I don't know what was on the minds of any of the general managers who let Simien slip past them, but the Heat acquired an outstanding player and character person with this pick. There was talk about Simien being undersized, but obviously people have forgotten that you can't measure the size of a man's heart.
- Memphis Grizzlies Once again, Jerry West has pulled a rabbit out of his legendary hat. For the Grizzlies to acquire Hakim Warrick at number 19 was amazing. Warrick may not have a definitive NBA-type of game, all he does is make plays. Golden State, which was thinking about taking Warrick at number
9 may rue this day eventually.
Now, on to the Losers.
These 'losers' were selected because of their respective poor draft day decisions and overall boneheaded decision-making.
- New Jersey Nets Let me see if I have this right. The Nets need a power forward and center in the worst way and what do they go and do? Take a player who plays the same position as Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. I'm
sorry, but this pick puts the "D" in dumb.
- Phoenix Suns I know the Suns have revived the fastbreak and brought an excitement back to the league that has been missing ever since the 'Showtime' Lakers bisbanded over a decade ago, but the Suns wouls have been better
served by going for another frontcourt player. Don't get me wrong. Nate Robinson has major game and is the best athlete in this entire draft, however, Phoenix should have learned from their western conference finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, that competent big men are a
commodity that you can't have too much of. Or maybe they weren't paying
attention while Tim Duncan was hoisting his thrid NBA title trophy.
- Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers' idiocy never ceases to amaze me. They draft a fairly
promising prospect in Yaroslav Korolev at number 12, but to let players
like Danny Granger, Hakim Warrick and Sean May slip through their
fingers is inexcusable. I'm sorry, but owner, Donald Sterling should be
banned from owning any professional franchise forever.
Previous Editions
About Eric Williams
Eric Williams is six year veteran Sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Eric was born and raised in Philadelphia and has covered all four major professional sports in the Philadelphia area. He has also covered golf, track and field, soccer, tennis and bicycling.
Lifetime Boston Celtics fan. Basketball and football are his favorite sports. Eric is married with five children and currently resides in Marshall, Missouri.
Comments and feedback can be sent to eklass66@yahoo.com
