Post by martinez on Sept 24, 2009 9:39:48 GMT -5
The following will be a review of the first 10 picks in this year's UOSLR draft. Draft ratings and Post-TC ratings will be available. Grade is based on team need, rookie talent, and value of the pick i.e. if a guy projected to go top 3 is taking with the #6 pick that is a "high value" pick. If a guy projected to go in the 15-20 range gets drafted at #5 that is a "low value" pick.
1. Dallas Mavericks - Tracy McGrady SF 6'8'' 210 20 B C+ C+ B- C A
Post TC Ratings: B B C+ B- C A
Review: The consensus #1 pick, the Mavericks have always had the talent on their team but having an extremely awful GM has hindered this team. McGrady comes in and will immediately become a force on the offense end. It will take some time to develop his defensive abilities but with new GM that should not be a problem. McGrady will be a future Superstar for many years. His only knock is that many people feel he lacks the leadership to be a leader of a team, and that is something Dallas desperately needs.
Draft Grade: B+
2. Milwaukee Bucks - Baron Davis PG 6'3'' 209 21 B C B- C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: B C+ B- C+ C A
Review: The Milwaukee Bucks really could not go wrong with any pick here. An already talented roster, Baron Davis will undoubtedly play an important role coming off the bench and spelling Allen Iverson at the Point Guard position. One could argue that they needed more of a player in the mold of Rashard Lewis but there is no way you could let a talent like Baron Davis slip by. Milwaukee now has plenty of pieces if need be to build a contending team.
Draft Grade: A-
3. Phoenix Suns - Rashard Lewis SF 6'10'' 220 19 C B+ C C+ B- A
Post TC Ratings: C A- C B- B- A
Review: A slightly questionable pick already having a similar player on the team in Lamar Odom but Rashard has been amongst the most impressive of all the rookies in Training Camp. The Suns will look to have both Odom and Rashard splitting time between the 3 and 4 positions causing havoc on teams. Rashard and Odom both have the ability to take it inside, outside, and beat you off the dribble with your speed.
Draft Grade: A-
4. Orlando Magic - Michael Redd SG 6'6'' 215 20 C A- C C C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ A- C- C+ C B
Review: The Orlando Magic are in their contract year and needed to find a “ready to play now” talent in this year’s draft and they achieved that in Michael Redd. Redd has one of the smoothest jumpshots to come out of college and his 3pt range is deadly. Redd will immediately come into Orlando and be a top scoring option for the team. His biggest weakness is his inability to defend. He has looked to improve that this off-season though and has shown a willingness to defend all through out the off-season.
Draft Grade: A
5. Dallas Mavericks - Kenyon Martin PF 6'9'' 230 23 B+ C C- B C+ B
Post TC Ratings: B+ C C- B- B- B
Review: Mavericks add Kenyon Martin to the mix to go alongside with McGrady. Kenyon is a monster inside and is a great off the ball defendr. No one can deny Kenyon’s talent, he could very well have gone #1 but people were concerned with health issues and his at times lack of motivation and willingness to play. He had quite a disappointing Training Camp and while this is a high value pick, I think Martin has all the makings of a future bust in this league.
Draft Grade: C+
6. Houston Rockets - Hedo Turkoglu SF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ B C C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B C B- C A
Review: The Houston Rockets needed to add as much talent as possible and they do that here with Hedo Turkogolu. Turkoglu is very much a “point-forward” he can play the 1, 2, 3, or even 4 positions. He can take you inside and outside. His biggest knock his is lack of defense.
Draft Grade: B+
7. Miami Heat - Mehmet Okur C 6'11'' 249 21 C+ B- D+ C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B D+ B- C+ A
Review: With this pick the Miami Heat were looking for a big man and that’s when Okur fell into their laps. Okur isn’t your typical Center. He will beat you from the outside as his inside game is very underdeveloped. He is a great passer although he has no defensive or rebounding abilities to speak of. None the less, he could become an All-Star one day.
Draft Grade: B
8. Houston Rockets - Joel Pryzbilla C 7'1'' 260 20 C+ C- D+ B+ B- B
Post TC Ratings: C+ C- D+ A- B- B
Review: A questionable pick at this point. Pryzbilla has no offensive game to speak of, he is primarily a shotblocker and nothing else. Houston was in need of a big man but Pryzbilla won’t be much of starter.
Draft Grade: D
9. Orlando Magic - Corey Maggette SG 6'6'' 215 20 B C+ C C C- A
Post TC Ratings: B C+ C C C- A
Review: A hit or miss pick. Maggette has plenty of upside to be a starter in this league but the question is he willing to get there. Orlando need an UOSLR-ready player and they did not get that here with Maggette. I like the value of this pick but at this point Orlando can not afford to wait on a player to develop.
Draft Grade: D+
10. Washington Bullets - Jamal Crawford SG 6'6'' 190 22 B- B- B- C D+ A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B- B- C D+ A
Review: The Bullets took the best player available at this point in Crawford. Crawford has all the makings of being a high scoring combo-guard but he was a slight disappointment in training camp. Crawford could develop into a 15-20 ppg option in this league. Being neither a true PG or a true SG hurts his stock but nonetheless a high value pick.
Draft Grade: C+
1. Dallas Mavericks - Tracy McGrady SF 6'8'' 210 20 B C+ C+ B- C A
Post TC Ratings: B B C+ B- C A
Review: The consensus #1 pick, the Mavericks have always had the talent on their team but having an extremely awful GM has hindered this team. McGrady comes in and will immediately become a force on the offense end. It will take some time to develop his defensive abilities but with new GM that should not be a problem. McGrady will be a future Superstar for many years. His only knock is that many people feel he lacks the leadership to be a leader of a team, and that is something Dallas desperately needs.
Draft Grade: B+
2. Milwaukee Bucks - Baron Davis PG 6'3'' 209 21 B C B- C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: B C+ B- C+ C A
Review: The Milwaukee Bucks really could not go wrong with any pick here. An already talented roster, Baron Davis will undoubtedly play an important role coming off the bench and spelling Allen Iverson at the Point Guard position. One could argue that they needed more of a player in the mold of Rashard Lewis but there is no way you could let a talent like Baron Davis slip by. Milwaukee now has plenty of pieces if need be to build a contending team.
Draft Grade: A-
3. Phoenix Suns - Rashard Lewis SF 6'10'' 220 19 C B+ C C+ B- A
Post TC Ratings: C A- C B- B- A
Review: A slightly questionable pick already having a similar player on the team in Lamar Odom but Rashard has been amongst the most impressive of all the rookies in Training Camp. The Suns will look to have both Odom and Rashard splitting time between the 3 and 4 positions causing havoc on teams. Rashard and Odom both have the ability to take it inside, outside, and beat you off the dribble with your speed.
Draft Grade: A-
4. Orlando Magic - Michael Redd SG 6'6'' 215 20 C A- C C C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ A- C- C+ C B
Review: The Orlando Magic are in their contract year and needed to find a “ready to play now” talent in this year’s draft and they achieved that in Michael Redd. Redd has one of the smoothest jumpshots to come out of college and his 3pt range is deadly. Redd will immediately come into Orlando and be a top scoring option for the team. His biggest weakness is his inability to defend. He has looked to improve that this off-season though and has shown a willingness to defend all through out the off-season.
Draft Grade: A
5. Dallas Mavericks - Kenyon Martin PF 6'9'' 230 23 B+ C C- B C+ B
Post TC Ratings: B+ C C- B- B- B
Review: Mavericks add Kenyon Martin to the mix to go alongside with McGrady. Kenyon is a monster inside and is a great off the ball defendr. No one can deny Kenyon’s talent, he could very well have gone #1 but people were concerned with health issues and his at times lack of motivation and willingness to play. He had quite a disappointing Training Camp and while this is a high value pick, I think Martin has all the makings of a future bust in this league.
Draft Grade: C+
6. Houston Rockets - Hedo Turkoglu SF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ B C C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B C B- C A
Review: The Houston Rockets needed to add as much talent as possible and they do that here with Hedo Turkogolu. Turkoglu is very much a “point-forward” he can play the 1, 2, 3, or even 4 positions. He can take you inside and outside. His biggest knock his is lack of defense.
Draft Grade: B+
7. Miami Heat - Mehmet Okur C 6'11'' 249 21 C+ B- D+ C+ C A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B D+ B- C+ A
Review: With this pick the Miami Heat were looking for a big man and that’s when Okur fell into their laps. Okur isn’t your typical Center. He will beat you from the outside as his inside game is very underdeveloped. He is a great passer although he has no defensive or rebounding abilities to speak of. None the less, he could become an All-Star one day.
Draft Grade: B
8. Houston Rockets - Joel Pryzbilla C 7'1'' 260 20 C+ C- D+ B+ B- B
Post TC Ratings: C+ C- D+ A- B- B
Review: A questionable pick at this point. Pryzbilla has no offensive game to speak of, he is primarily a shotblocker and nothing else. Houston was in need of a big man but Pryzbilla won’t be much of starter.
Draft Grade: D
9. Orlando Magic - Corey Maggette SG 6'6'' 215 20 B C+ C C C- A
Post TC Ratings: B C+ C C C- A
Review: A hit or miss pick. Maggette has plenty of upside to be a starter in this league but the question is he willing to get there. Orlando need an UOSLR-ready player and they did not get that here with Maggette. I like the value of this pick but at this point Orlando can not afford to wait on a player to develop.
Draft Grade: D+
10. Washington Bullets - Jamal Crawford SG 6'6'' 190 22 B- B- B- C D+ A
Post TC Ratings: C+ B- B- C D+ A
Review: The Bullets took the best player available at this point in Crawford. Crawford has all the makings of being a high scoring combo-guard but he was a slight disappointment in training camp. Crawford could develop into a 15-20 ppg option in this league. Being neither a true PG or a true SG hurts his stock but nonetheless a high value pick.
Draft Grade: C+
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