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Ten questions following the NBA draft

By Eric Burch

Here are the ten questions that you want answered after the NBA Draft.

1. Who had the best draft?

Everyone here says the Miami Heat, but they didn’t want Michael Beasley, and his playing at South Beach screams “We have a warrant for Michael Beasley’s arrest.” The New Jersey Nets did everything they wanted, getting good value on Brook Lopez, one of those rare low post players with quick feet and a knack for the basket. They may have reached for Ryan Anderson at 21, but he has all kinds of upside, and they can make him a project. At 39, they got an absolute steal with Chris Douglas-Roberts, who was projected in the late first round and was a first-team All-American.

2. Who had the worst draft?

No question — the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are going nowhere right now, and taking Jason Thompson at 12 proves that. Thompson is the best basketball player to come out of Rider since Digger Phelps. No, that’s not saying anything. Sean Singletary was a good leader and may be a second round sleeper, but Patrick Ewing, Jr. was a name pick, nothing more.

3. Who got the best of draft trades?

Portland GM Kevin Pritchard is a thief. First of all, he spun backup PG Jarrett Jack, career backup Josh McRoberts, and Brandon Rush to Indiana for soon-to-be stud PG Jerryd Bayless (should’ve gone top five) and oft-injured but talented Ike Diogu. Then, later, Pritchard traded 36th pick Omer Asik, a center from Turkey who averaged 10 ppg in the Turkish league, to Chicago for THREE future second round picks. Then he picked up 25th pick Nicolas Batum for the 33rd pick and cash. Thief is the only word.

4. Who got the worst of draft trades?

Indiana simply did terribly. They gave up a steal of a pick in Bayless, as told above. Also, the day before the draft, they traded away five-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal and the 41st overall pick for T.J. Ford (career back problems), Rasho Nesterovic (stiff), and the 17th overall pick.

5. Who is the best sleeper in the draft?

Cleveland did a great job of recognizing a great athlete in J.J. Hickson at 19. He is the forgotten freshman in a fantastic class because he was trapped on a bad NC State team in a great ACC. Hickson averaged 14.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg, shooting 59% from the field. He’s an athletic wide body who can play with his back and his face to the basket.

6. What second rounder will have the biggest impact on his team?

Bill Walker, if he can stay healthy, could have the same impact on the Boston Celtics that James Posey and Glen Davis had off the bench last year. Walker is a great athlete, scores from everywhere, and drives to the basket smoothly. If not for injury concerns, he could’ve been a lottery pick, and Danny Ainge did a great job of grabbing him.

7. Who is the most overrated lottery pick?

Ignoring the already mentioned Jason Thompson, who shouldn’t be there, D.J. Augustin. He was a good leader and scorer in college, but that doesn’t translate to the NBA easily. Augustin is undersized and can guard absolutely no one.

8. Who are two sleepers for next year?

In the West, the Utah Jazz is a talented team with fantastic young players like C.J. Miles, Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, and Deron Williams. In the East, the Atlanta Hawks already scared in the Celtics in the first round, and Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams are all 22 years old and only getting better.

9. Who is the favorite for the 2009 NBA Championship?

The Boston Celtics still have the Big Three, and now they added two promising rookies in J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, and Rajon Rondo will improve greatly.

10. What team will win the NBA title five years from now because of this draft?

As of right now, the Portland TrailBlazers have Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Martell Webster, Ike Diogu, and Jerryd Bayless, all 24 or younger. Wow.

Originally Published: July 2, 2008

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