Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Can a team win without defense? The "success" of teams like the Suns, Nuggets and Warriors the last several years says no, as does this year's success (no sarcastic quotation marks needed this time) of the Celtics. The Wizards have been slow to get the memo, though, instead hoping their failures have been the result of untimely injuries.
Picks: #18, #47
Needs: What the Wizards really need is to re-sign Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. As for the draft, it'll be tough for a rookie to crack the rotation regardless of position. Since the draft is so deep with big man, I'm guessing that's what they'll end up.
Best case scenario: How about Roy Hibbert? After playing four years at Georgetown, he wouldn't even have to leave the District. Plus, he's a bit more polished than some of the other big man and stands the best chance of contributing meaningful minutes as a rookie. Alternatively, if a point guard like Mario Chalmers falls in their lap, he'd be hard to pass up.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
There are two ways to look at the end of Philly's season. On the one hand, the team exceeded expectations by making the playoffs and blew everyone's minds by nearly upsetting the Pistons.
On the other, Andre Iguodala's disappearing act against Detroit should cement the notion that he's better-suited as a sidekick than a leading man. Unfortunately, there will be no leading men available in the middle of the first round, meaning they're going to end up with a sidekick to a sidekick.
Picks: #16 Needs: A scoring big man. Samuel Dalembert and Reggie Evans bring defense and rebounding, but this team lacks an inside presence on the other end of the ball. Playing Thaddeus Young, a natural three, out of position at the four is not the long-term answer.
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.
The Miami Heat was a team that finished the season in virtual chaos. Just about everyone with any level of talent finished the season on the sidelines due to injury, and their head coach skipped out on them mid-season to scout players for their pick in this year's draft. Well, Miami, here's the good news: you just have one pick to wait for Thursday night until you're on the clock.
Picks: #2, #52.
Needs: The Heat could use help in a lot of areas, but let's be honest: they're going to draft one of two players, and that's Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. At least if they stick with the number two pick, that's what's likely. But there's also the possibility that O.J. Mayo might be selected, regardless of whether or not the Heat can work out a deal with the Timberwolves, who select third.
Best case scenario: That the Bulls select Beasley, and the Heat get Rose. That's the player they really want, and if somehow the Bulls went with Beasley, there would be a lot of smiles on the faces of Heat executives.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
It's almost sad that, with the NBA Draft in New York, we won't get to see Knicks fans freak out and boo whoever they take simply because Isiah Thomas is in charge. They still might boo, but it will likely be a force of habit thing rather than because they think Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni will screw this thing up. But to think that the Knicks will be a quick rebuild seems a bit too much to ask.
Picks: #6 Needs: They're gonna need a new point guard (Stephon Marbury "might" not use that option, but he's still gone sooner than later), they need a tough inside presence (Zach Randolph/Eddy Curry = notsomuch) and they need players that fit D'Antoni's system. Good thing they have so many picks.
Best case scenario: Jerryd Bayless falls into their laps at six, which is looking more and more likely as word seems to slip out that Seattle is interested in Russell Westbrook. On the other hand, there wouldn't be anything wrong with getting someone to take #6 and Zach Randolph (contract that lasts past the two year window they're clearly eying) in exchange for a move down the board. More likely scenario: Zeke calls Donnie and offers him Marbury and the number six for Randolph. Things get awkward. Then, the Knicks take Bayless or Eric Gordon, depending on how the top five shakes out.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Ah. The Land of Lakes. Where anything can happen. The first rounder could be O.J. Mayo, it could be Michael Beasley, it could be Kevin Love, it could be Larry Bird or it could be traded straight up for Joe Smith a few first rounders. Seriously, Kevin McHale could do anything. But ... oddly, the Wolves might be set up to have a pretty freaking good draft this year if they play their cards right.
Picks: #3, #31, #34 Needs: Assuming they think either Randy Foye or Sebastian Telfair will work out (and they'll probably go through with the experiment anyway even if they don't) at point, they'll look for frontcourt depth (and defense) to compliment Al Jefferson. They also need a legit scorer to keep A's in the seats, though, and that's something they might address first.
Best case scenario: McHale stays away from the phone lines and ends up with either O.J. Mayo or Michael Beasley. Mayo gives them a safety net if Foye/Telfair fail and Beasley would be a pretty nasty tandem with Baby Al down low and allows them to look for frontcourt help (Roy Hibbert?) late in the first round when they package 31 and 34 to move back up.
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
Clearly, the Cavs have not only the talent but the need to try and to win now. If Danny Ferry decides to wait, he might end up trying to win without LeBron James (or without a job) and that ain't gonna happen.
Picks: #19 Needs: In order to win now, Cleveland needs legit (sorry Wally) scoring from the perimeter or some backcourt help. Say what you want for their interior offensive needs, but they have three centers who are going to play. And seriously, think about how Wally and Delonte got loose in the playoffs -- that's a direct result of James being on the same team, not their talents. Now let's add someone who isn't washed up.
Best case scenario: Mario Chalmers somehow falls down to them at 19, which seemed a lot more likely a few weeks, or even days, ago. Instead, how about Courtney Lee, who easily could fall here? Either one would be good (Lee being the better scorer but Chalmers can run the Cleveland "offense")but yet, seems somehow unlikely ...
Crystal Ballin'takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
The Lakers' mid-season acquisition of Pau Gasol allowed them to roll through the Western Conference, before getting rolled themselves by a physical Celtics' team in the Finals. L.A. won't have many roster spots available, and with only one second round pick, it looks like they won't be major players in this year's draft.
Picks: #58.
Needs: A physical presence inside who has the will to consistently rebound and play defense. Or in other words, the Yin to Gasol's Yang.
Best case scenario: Andrew Bynum returns 100% to his pre-injury form, and he provides some of the toughness inside that L.A. was sorely lacking in the Finals.
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.
Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.
