Post by Brophdog88 on Aug 1, 2009 6:02:01 GMT -5
1995 UOSLR DRAFT IN REVIEW
(Yes I skipped 1994, so sue me...)
It is now the final year of the rookie contract for the first round class of 1995, and they will be entering Free Agency following this year. In retrospect.The 1995 NBA Draft was an iffy one in the way of standout talent. There were a lot of young long term projects, and no one really stood out as the clear number one pick. The Bulls won the lottery and selected Rasheed Wallace all the while cursing that KG did not come out, and has ever since been rubbing our noses in Etienne Preira’s awesomeness (just imagine if he had really gotten KG). Since the draft though 17 of the 29 first round selections have been traded or bought out by their previous teams, including 6 of the top 8. It turns out to be a great draft for fringe starters and bench players, but that’s not necessarily what team in the lotto were looking for. This year I will attach no grades, as I feel the rerankings speak for themselves.
1.Chicago Bulls -
Rasheed Wallace PF 6'10'' 225 20 C+ C+ C- B+ C+ A
Rasheed Wallace PF 6'10'' 241 23 B B C- A- B B Magic
Awards:
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Rasheed has developed into a very good front court player. He has the versatility to play the 3, 4, 5. The Bulls were cursing their selection of Rasheed, especially considering that Garnett could have declared in this draft, but it didn’t turn out to be a bad selection. He’s not a franchise changer, but a very solid player none the less, and probably the best player to come out of this class. There are not too many players out there with his skill set. He can shoot the three, move inside for the score, get rebounds, and he is excellent at not turning the ball over. His Field Goal% is poor, and his three point percentage is off quite a bit this year, but he is playing for a terrible team.
2.Minnesota Timberwolves -
Jerry Stackhouse SG 6'6'' 218 20 B- C+ C B- C A
Jerry Stackhouse SF 6'6'' 222 23 B B C+ B+ C+ B Spurs*
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - Rookie of the Year
1995 - All-Rookie Team
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Stackhouse is a good scorer and rebounder with solid assists for his position. He may not blow you away with his numbers but 20 ppg is nothing to scoff at. His FG% is a bit weak, but his 3 point percentage is solid as is his Free Throw %. All in all, Stackhouse is a solid number two pick, relative to the strength of the draft class., and is a good SF in a SF weak league.
3.Atlanta Hawks -
Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 260 20 B- C C- B- C+ A
Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 264 23 B C C- B+ B B Celtics
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Team
I would of never believed it had I not seen the number in his career high, but Big Z has a career high of 54 points! That is astounding, I would never of guessed he could score that many points. He is a 19.1 ppg player with 11.2 boards . His numbers scoring wise have declined, however his FG% has increased leading me to believe he has taken on less of a load for the Celtics. He outplays his ratings, with good rebounds and scoring due to his height and size. He is a pretty good free throw shooter for his size and position and does not turn the ball over very much at all. He gets nearly as many steals as he does turnovers, which is outstanding for a guy his size. It could be agrued that he is the best player out of this draft.
4. Los Angeles Clippers -
Glenn Robinson SF 6'7'' 225 21 B B- C- C+ C A
Glenn Robinson SF 6'7'' 229 24 B B+ C B C+ C Clippers
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Team
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Robinson is a good scorer, with solid rebounds, and is a nice pick by the Clippers here, but his Turnovers are a bit higher than one would like out of a starting small forward. He may not of hit the ceiling that you want for a 4th overall pick, but in all honesty, there weren’t too many players that would fit the bill of a 4th overall compared to some other drafts.
5.Seattle Supersonics -
Dejan Bodiroga SF 6'9'' 212 22 C B+ C- C+ C A
Dejan Bodiroga SF 6'9'' 216 25 C A C+ B C A Supersonics
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Second Team
Bodiroga is a good scorer coming off the bench for the guard and Wing loaded Supersonics. Maybe he isn’t a great value at the fifth overall pick, but this drafts true talent lied in the top 3. Considering the current makeup of his team, I would say that Juwan Howard may have been a better fit, but so far the plan has worked out for the Supersonics, who are tops in the league right now record wise.
6. Portland Trailblazers -
Portland Trailblazers - Joe Smith PF 6'10'' 225 19 C+ C C- B C+ A
Joe Smith C 6'11'' 236 22 B- C C- A- B B Lakers
No Awards
Joe Smith was a RAW player coming out, and is a bit of a surprise at 6 but still, there wasn’t too much difference between him and a lot of other guys, so its not a bad pick. He has developed into a solid defensive player, and at only 22, he may still have some room to grow. He could still end up in the top 3 overall players out of this draft, mostly due to his raw offensive game. His FG%’s are terrible to this point, as he is a career 39.8% shooter, as a post, that’s terrible. However, his FT % is nice, and if he can develop a better post game, he becomes a solid 3rd or fourth scoring option, with good defense and very good rebounding.
7. Indiana Pacers -
Juwan Howard PF 6'9'' 245 22 B C C B+ C+ B
Juwan Howard C 6'9'' 251 25 B C C A- B- C Clippers
Awards:
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Juwan Howard was the posterboy for the polished senior coming out ready to contribute but already near his potential. He has grown some, and his rating has benefitted from a move to the Center position, otherwise the only shown improvement for him would be that one point upgrade in rebounding.Rebounding wise this is his best year yet, but offensively, not so, as his field goal percentage is the lowest of his career. He struggled with fouls his first year, but seems to have improved in that area, and is a very low turnover player, now providing over ten rebounds a game as well. There is nothing wrong with his current career averages of 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds.
8. Indiana Pacers -
Antoine Walker SF 6'8'' 225 18 C+ B- C C+ C A
Antoine Walker SF 6'9'' 225 21 B- B- C B- C+ B Lakers
No Awards
Bust….so far. Remember Michael Finley’s explosion though, so maybe the ultra-raw Walker is just waiting on the team that he was traded to too let him leave before he explodes. Walker definitely has not developed as the Pacers, or now the Lakers, would have hoped, with only a slight increase in inside, defense, and rebounding. (Hmm..seems like a strength improvement). As of right now, Walker is the most disappointing player selected in the lotto, He showed flashes last year for the Lakers, but it just isn’t there yet.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers -
Ed O'Bannon SF 6'8'' 222 22 B C C B- C A
Ed O'Bannon SF 6'8'' 222 25 B C+ C B- C C Cavaliers
Awards:
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Wait….I take back what I said about Walker, O’Bannon is the bust of the lotto. However, O’bannon was a known risk, and had he worked out the Cavs wouldn’t of gotten Duncan most likely, as O’Bannon woulda kept him out of the same spot. This is one of those boom or bust picks that busts. Not a good pick by the Cavaliers just looking at his career, but looking at the overall progression of things, this is an excellent pick, since it meant Duncan. He has the capability to score ok, but he is more of a 8th or 9th rotation player.
10. Miami Heat -
Damon Stoudamire PG 5'10'' 171 21 C B+ B C+ C- B
Damon Stoudamire PG 5'10'' 185 24 C A- A- A- C C Raptors*
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - Rookie Game MVP
1995 - All-Rookie Team
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Stoudamire has really worked on becoming a great defender, and oh boy has it helped him. He really has not had to work on his offensive game, considering who has been starting alongside him for most of his career in Toronto, so he has focused on defense. He finally guaranteed his starting job when the Raptors traded away Pooh, and has become a high Assist low turnover player, which fits in very nicely with the Raptors style. His rebounds are outstanding for a player his size as well, as last year he averaged 7 rebounds a game at 5’10”! This year he is down to “only” 5.4 rebounds per game, but still astoundingly good for a player of his size.
11. Dallas Mavericks -
Randolph Childress SG 6'2'' 188 22 C+ B C+ C D+ A
Randolph Childress PG 6'2'' 196 25 C+ A- B A- C- C Mavericks
Awards:
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Childress may well have been the worst pick of the lotto, just because the Mavericks already had about 10 guards, however, it was a sim pick, so really not much that could have been done…unless he had sent a two person list. Ratliff would have fit in much better with the Mavericks due to the fact that he was a Center, even though Childress has developed nicely.He will best served as a sixth man, coming in the game as a SG/PG providing a spark off the bench. Not a bad pick at this point, although I bet the Mavericks would of liked someone else.
12. Portland Trailblazers -
Theo Ratliff C 6'10'' 225 22 C+ C- C- B C+ B
Theo Ratliff C 6'10'' 237 25 B- C- C A B B Bucks
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Second Team
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
Ratliff has become the best defensive player in this draft. He may not provide much offense, and his rebounding is a bit down, but he blocks the ball a lot and doesn’t turn the ball over. Heck, he averages more blocks a game then the entire Golden State team does at 2.5 blocks per game to 2.3. Ratliff may have hit his peak, but this is about what could be expected out of him, and was a very good pick by the Blazers. He now guards the lane for Milwaukee very well though. I really wish I would of held onto this pick and taken Ratliff, but I didn’t, and Portland got a steal.
13. Golden State Warriors -
Gary Trent PF 6'8'' 250 20 B- C- C C+ C B
Gary Trent PF 6'8'' 250 23 B D+ C B- C C Nets
No Awards
Yeah, at this point, there isn’t much left. There are a lot of role players in this draft, which hurts the lotto teams but helps the contending teams. Trent is a decent pick, as he has stayed the same, but he really doesn’t fit into a position. He can’t shoot from outside, and he has no rebounding skill, making him a tweener between the SF/PF spots. At this point though its kinda a crapshoot. This draft had run out of potential starters for the most part, and teams were drafting on bench help.
14. New Jersey Nets -
Sherrell Ford SF 6'7'' 210 22 B- C+ C- B- C+ B
Sherrell Ford SF 6'7'' 214 25 C+ C+ D+ B+ C+ C Nets
No Awards
15. Washington Bullets -
Corliss Williamson SF 6'7'' 245 21 B C- C- B- C+ B
Corliss Williamson PF 6'7'' 245 24 B C- D+ C+ C+ C Warriors*
No Awards
16. Phoenix Suns -
Bryant Reeves C 7'0'' 295 22 B- D+ D B- C B
Bryant Reeves C 7'0'' 302 25 B D+ F+ B C+ B Suns
Awards:
1996 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
17. Philadelphia 76ers -
Dragan Tarlac C 6'10'' 265 22 B+ C D C C+ B
Dragan Tarlac C 6'10'' 265 25 A- C D C B- D 76ers
No Awards
18. Portland Trailblazers -
Bob Sura SG 6'5'' 200 22 C C+ C+ B C B
Bob Sura SG 6'5'' 200 25 C+ B B+ B+ C- C Lakers
No Awards
19.Chicago Bulls -
Rashard Griffith C 6'11'' 275 20 C D+ D- C+ B B
Rashard Griffith C 6'11'' 277 23 C D+ D C+ B+ D Hawks
No Awards
20. Dallas Mavericks -
Greg Ostertag C 7'2'' 280 22 C C- F+ B C+ B
Greg Ostertag C 7'2'' 284 25 C+ C- F+ A- B- B Bucks
No Awards
21.Denver Nuggets -
Mario Bennett PF 6'10'' 235 21 B C- C C+ C B
Mario Bennett PF 6'10'' 238 24 B C- C C+ C D Rockets
No Awards
22. Chicago Bulls -
Fred Hoiberg SG 6'4'' 203 22 C B C B- C B
Fred Hoiberg SG 6'4'' 203 25 C B C A- C B Hawks
No Awards
23. New Jersey Nets -
David Vaughn PF 6'9'' 240 22 C+ C D+ B B C
David Vaughn C 6'9'' 240 25 C+ C+ D B- B D Nets
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Second Team
24. Toronto Raptors -
Julius Michalik PF 6'10'' 214 22 C B+ C+ C- C B
Julius Michalik PF 6'10'' 216 25 C B+ B- C C C Raptors*
No Awards
25. Los Angeles Clippers -
Eric Snow PG 6'3'' 190 22 C C B B C- B
Eric Snow PG 6'3'' 190 25 C C B B+ C- B Celtics
No Awards
26.Denver Nuggets -
Andrew DeClercq PF 6'10'' 230 22 C+ C D+ B- C B
Andrew DeClercq PF 6'10'' 230 25 C+ C D- B- C+ B
No Awards
27. Atlanta Hawks -
Shawn Respert SG 6'1'' 195 23 B- A- C C C- C
Shawn Respert SG 6'1'' 197 26 C+ A- C C- C- C Hawks
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Second Team
28. Orlando Magic -
Ray Jackson SF 6'6'' 220 22 B C+ C B- C C
Ray Jackson SG 6'6'' 223 25 B- C+ C B- C D Magic
No Awards
29.Los Angeles Clippers -
Rick Brunson PG 6'4'' 190 23 C C+ B- B- C B
Rick Brunson PG 6'4'' 192 26 C B B+ B+ C D Clippers
Awards:
1995 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
1995 - All-Rookie Second Team
Reranking
1. Rasheed Wallace PF 6'10'' 241 23 B B C- A- B B Magic (1)
2. Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7'3'' 264 23 B C C- B+ B B Celtics (3)
3. Jerry Stackhouse SF 6'6'' 222 23 B B C+ B+ C+ B Spurs* (2)
4. Glenn Robinson SF 6'7'' 229 24 B B+ C B C+ C Clippers (4)
5. Damon Stoudamire PG 5'10'' 185 24 C A- A- A- C C Raptors* (10)
6. Theo Ratliff C 6'10'' 237 25 B- C- C A B B Bucks (12)
7. Juwan Howard C 6'9'' 251 25 B C C A- B- C Clippers (7)
8. Dejan Bodiroga SF 6'9'' 216 25 C A C+ B C A Supersonics (5)
9. Joe Smith C 6'11'' 236 22 B- C C- A- B B Lakers (6)
10. Randolph Childress PG 6'2'' 196 25 C+ A- B A- C- C Mavericks (11)
11. Bob Sura SG 6'5'' 200 25 C+ B B+ B+ C- C Lakers (18)
12. Rick Brunson PG 6'4'' 192 26 C B B+ B+ C D Clippers (29)
13. Dragan Tarlac C 6'10'' 265 25 A- C D C B- D 76ers (17)
14. Antoine Walker SF 6'9'' 225 21 B- B- C B- C+ B Lakers (8)
15. Greg Ostertag C 7'2'' 284 25 C+ C- F+ A- B- B Bucks (20)
16. Bryant Reeves C 7'0'' 302 25 B D+ F+ B C+ B Suns (16)
17. Ed O'Bannon SF 6'8'' 222 25 B C+ C B- C C Cavaliers (9)
18. Fred Hoiberg SG 6'4'' 203 25 C B C A- C B Hawks (22)
19. Shawn Respert SG 6'1'' 197 26 C+ A- C C- C- C Hawks (27)
20. Sherrell Ford SF 6'7'' 214 25 C+ C+ D+ B+ C+ C Nets (14)
21. Ray Jackson SG 6'6'' 223 25 B- C+ C B- C D Magic (28)
22. David Vaughn C 6'9'' 240 25 C+ C+ D B- B D Nets (23)
23. Julius Michalik PF 6'10'' 216 25 C B+ B- C C C Raptors* (24)
24. Eric Snow PG 6'3'' 190 25 C C B B+ C- B Celtics (25)
25. Gary Trent PF 6'8'' 250 23 B D+ C B- C C Nets (13)
26. Corliss Williamson PF 6'7'' 245 24 B C- D+ C+ C+ C Warriors* (15)
27. Rashard Griffith C 6'11'' 277 23 C D+ D C+ B+ D Hawks (19)
28. Mario Bennett PF 6'10'' 238 24 B C- C C+ C D Rockets (21)
29. Andrew DeClercq PF 6'10'' 230 25 C+ C D- B- C+ B Free Agent (26)
My opinion:
Biggest Steal:Theo Ratliff 6th best player at #12
Biggest Bust: Antoine Walker 17th best player at #8
Toughest pick: deciding between Rasheed or Zydrunas at number 1, but I think Sheed's versatility gets him the nod.
Easiest Pick: Declerq last....he sucks
Overvalued players:11
Undervalued players:14
Correctly valued players:4
