This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.
The way the season ended for the Memphis Tigers last year was totally devastating. Memphis ended the season 38-2 and many in Memphis still have a hard time thinking about the 38 wins. Rarely has there been such an amazing season that brought upon such intense disappointment.
Now that Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas Roberts, and Joey Dorsey have NBA contracts and Memphis looks to who will replace much of what made the team such a success in the previous few seasons. While Rose was only in Memphis for one year, CDR and Dorsey were key components of a team that went to the Elite 8 twice, and the Final Four (and championship game) once. With Dorsey in the middle, and Douglas Roberts on the wing, Memphis went 104-10 over the last three seasons.
Chris Douglas-Roberts didn't anticipate to freefall all the way to the 40th pick last week, but he plans on making the team who passed him up pay. "Big chip. Big. That's the biggest motivation I have. Getting picked 40, I'm gonna write a book," he said during his introductory press conference.
According to multiple published reports, CDR refused to work out for teams with a low first-round pick, apparently taking for granted that he'd be long gone before they'd have a chance to draft him. Once he slipped a few spots below what he anticipated, he was stuck in no man's land with a bunch of teams he shunned no longer showing any interest in him. Fortunately he had worked out for the Nets before the draft, though at the time he was thinking they'd take him 21st overall instead of 40th.
In any case, a lot of people have chided CDR for his arrogance, citing the fact that it cost him a chance at the guaranteed contract all first-round picks receive. But if CDR is half as good as he thinks he is, this will end up being a blessing in disguise.
You see, second-round picks who blossom into stars end up making the big dollars a lot sooner than their first-round counterparts. Gilbert Arenas, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are all examples of players who broke the bank after proving themselves their first two years in the league, quickly making up all the money they lost and then some. Had they been first-round picks, they wouldn't have had a chance to test the open market until after their fourth year in the league.
There was an interesting piece from A. Sherrod Blakely yesterday which discussed one of the possible reasons that Chris Douglas-Roberts fell all the way out of the first round to become the 40th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Basically, Blakely thinks that the fact that CDR was in the business of turning down workout requests from teams (like the Pistons) who were drafting in the area that he was projected to go in hurt his draft stock, and ultimately meant that Roberts, like a lot of athletes, just didn't get it.
The thing that disturbs me - and I would imagine, most fans - is how a lot of these soon-to-be-millionaires just don't seem to get it.
Playing in the NBA is more than just a job; it's a VIP pass into a lifestyle that few ever understand and even fewer gain admittance into. So to see draft prospects take all this for granted, before they even get to the league, is disturbing.
Blakely is speaking from the Pistons' perspective here, but given how far CDR fell from his projected first round draft spot (most mocks had him in the 20-25-ish range), it's likely that many other teams shared these feelings. Plus, the few teams that CDR did decide to work out for had less than glowing reviews. The biggest knock on him was that he wore down near the end of the workouts, and that he wouldn't be ready to contribute big minutes in his first NBA season. You would think a player would go through as many workouts as he could to dispel those negative perceptions, but obviously CDR (or his people) didn't feel it was necessary.
And as far as Roberts' thoughts on the Pistons? He supposedly made it clear to people on draft night that he had no interest in playing for Detroit, because he didn't feel that he fit with their style. I'm guessing he might have a difference of opinion if asked today, considering being drafted by the Pistons at 29 would have meant guaranteed first round money for the next three seasons.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
After making big moves last summer (handing Rashard Lewis the keys to the bank, hiring Billy Donovan, cutting ties with Donovan, hiring Stan Van Gundy), the Magic have to settle for small tweaks this summer. Fortunately, after winning 52 games, that's all this team really needs to remain a contender.
Picks: #22 Needs: The Magic essentially start two small forwards in Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, so getting a legitimate power forward (with more offensive upside than Tony Battie and more physicality than Brian Cook) to help Dwight Howard bang down low should be high on the list. Also, the two-guard spot has been a revolving door between Keith Bogans and Mo Evans, and former lottery pick JJ Redick doesn't appear to be anywhere close to being the long-term solution.
Best case scenario: Finding their shooting guard of the future ... and today. Evans is an unrestricted free agent, Bogans is entering the final year of his contract and Redick looks like trade bait, which means any shooting guard drafted has a better than even chance at opening the season in the starting lineup. A guy like Brandon Rush (who shouldn't be available) would be ideal, but even Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts would be a nice fit.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Brandon Roy and his All Star self really transformed this team fast didn't he? Portland was the NBA's biggest surprise early, and despite slowing down, you best believe that everyone is going to be picking them as the "breakout" for 2008-09. So let's get it out of the way -- they're going to be good. No using them to breakout. It's cheating. Especially if Kevin Pritchard does what he normally does and dominates this draft.
Picks: #13, #33, #36, #55 Needs: Point guard. I know they have Roy and Jarrett Jack and Sergio Rodriguez and Steve Blake ... and there's a reason they have so many point guards on the roster. They need a legit true bal to put them over the top.
Best case scenario: D.J. Augustin drops past the point guard needy Pacers, Kings and Clippers. Not likely to happen.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Thelma, Marvin, Provo, Carlos and Deron: five of my favorite names. The Jazz will look to add a name during the draft that gives them more help now, rather than later. They just happen to be ready to contend now, so why not?
Picks: #23, #44, #55 Needs: Paul Millsap is a meast, but he alone can't create defense in the Utah frontcourt, so expect the Jazz to try and beef up their inside presence with the first pick, unless someone with a ton of upside drops. Another legit point guard or a scorer off the bench to help Ashton Kutcher ignite the second team wouldn't hurt either.
Best case scenario: Roy Hibbert, meet lap. If the big man from Georgetown falls, he would give Utah the ability to really get crazy with their lineups, going large -- when Hibbert wasn't in foul trouble -- and giving Mehmet Okur some freedom away from the paint to jack threes over smaller opponents. Courtney Lee or Chris Douglas-Roberts also seem like they'd be pretty nice fits at the two. If they go backcourt in the first, Joey Dorsey could land to Utah in the second.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
After just barely making the playoffs, the Nuggets were unceremoniously swept out of them by the Lakers in the first round. There have been a lot of rumors lately surrounding Carmelo Anthony, which have been put to rest for the moment. But it's obvious the team is going to have to make some changes -- either philosophically or otherwise -- to get more out of obe of the league's most talented rosters.
Picks: #20.
Needs: This team has a lot of firepower offensively, but could use a low post presence who isn't opposed to playing defense.
Best case scenario: Roy Hibbert or Kosta Koufos would fit nicely, especially Hibbert with his defense.
With the NBA Draft coming up on Thursday night, FanHouse's Tom Ziller took a friend's advice and unilaterally decided what teams ought to do in the first round. Think of it as a shorter version of our ongoing Crystal Ballin' series.
1. Chicago -- Michael Beasley, Kansas State. Fan consensus would have the point guard from Memphis here, and it looks like John Paxson will swing that way, too. It looks like a whole lot of Chris Paul-induced "pure point" fervor to me. Beasley, though, is the rare unassailable post presence who also boasts great perimeter skills and extraordinary tenacity on the court. With a team so desperate for points on something other than jump shots, Beasley fits right in.
2. Miami -- Derrick Rose, Memphis. The Heat, on the other hand, has some firepower in the paint, between Dwyane Wade's irrepressible slashing and the alternating efforts of Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem. But Wade needs help running the show. Rose would provide the right engine to push Miami's offensive abilities while offering some backcourt defensive support.
3. Minnesota -- Brook Lopez, Stanford. Like any other basketball aesthete, I have cracked some Brook Lopez jokes. But behind the Cheetah Girls t-shirts, he's a good prospect. The biggest thing he can offer Minnesota in some interior anchorage on defense. Al Jefferson got abused routinely in the paint last season, with nary a partner to help stunt the opponent. Lopez immediately fortifies the effort, maybe not creating a good defense by himself, but at least helping out. Oh, and he can score too.
27 more picks of questionable logic after the jump.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
The Suns were arguably the biggest disappointment of the post-season, when you consider the fact that the blockbuster deal for Shaquille O'Neal resulted in just five first round playoff games. With a new coach and rumors of more roster shake-ups, this is a team in search of an identity.
Picks: #15, #48.
Needs: A general manager whose intent isn't to destroy the team. Ohhhh, on the court needs. Right. A backup point guard to run the team when Nash is on the sidelines, and believe it or not, one more big to back up Shaq and Amare.
Best case scenario: That Roy Hibbert or Chris Douglas-Roberts would drop into their lap. Either of those guys would likely crack the rotation immediately.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Now that the Birdman (Ka-kaw) is back, the Hornets are really only one or two pieces away from contending for a championship that they could have won last year anyway. Which makes this pick tough -- New Orleans certainly has needs, but whether or not those can be immediately answered at 27 will determine whether they actually end up pulling the trigger on any first rounders.
Picks: #27 Needs: A scorer from the two. They need some frontcourt depth too, but they can acquire that without having to use a draft pick. Not to mention an immediate offensive impact shooting guard takes the pressure off of Peja and Chris Paul (vis a vis Jannero Pargo seeing more minutes at the point).
Best case scenario: Chris Douglas-Roberts or Courtney Lee somehow drops to the Hornets in the first ... which a lot of mocks actually have happening. I think they gets pulled on before then but, oh, the three letter nicknames we'd see. Give me a second, I'll figure something out for Lee.
This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.
There was an interesting 
