Post by Contract Year on Dec 22, 2009 16:22:13 GMT -5
2004 Draft Grades (Including Training Camps)
1. Charlotte Hornets - Dwight Howard
Before TC: B- C- D+ B- B+ A
After TC: B- C- D B A- A
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Dwight Howard was the consensus #1 overall pick in the 2004 UOSLR Draft. A seven footer that is projected as being dominant on both sides of the floor do not come along very often. Apparently the Charlotte Hornets have had a lot of luck in the lottery of the years. What better time to move up to the #1 spot than in a draft with a franchise big man?
Grade: A+
2. New Jersey Nets - Al Jefferson
Before TC: B- C- D C+ B+ A
After TC: B C- D B B+ A
I admit that I was completely off base with this one. I was absolutely infatuated with Devin Harris before the draft began and I thought he was the obvious choice at #2. Well, about that... I can explain. Due to not having a #1 draft choice in this draft, I did not look over the draft notes. Al Jefferson looked like another Zach Randolph to me and I called the Nets out on it. After a +3 training camp, including the improvement of inside scoring and defense, my foot is currently in my mouth.
Grade: A
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - Chris Bosh
Before TC: B- C C- B- B- A
After TC: B- C D+ B B- A
I was a bit alarmed by Chris Bosh's abilities coming into this draft. He removed himself from the 2003 draft, and if I remember correctly, he has basically come back as the exact same player a year later. Draft notes assure use that Chris Bosh is going to have a great career, and he did improve his defense a little bit. I'm feeling a bit uneasy about this one, but I guess it was the right choice to make in the minds of scouts.
Grade: B+
4. Vancouver Grizzlies - Josh Smith
Before TC: B- C C- B C+ A
After TC: B C C A- C+ A
Uproar about the methods employed by the Grizzlies management has settled down and the people of Vancouver have the last laugh as they were able to add the 4th overall pick to a roster that featured Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade and Andrei Kirilenko. With improvements to inside scoring (+1), ball handling (+1) and defense (+2), Josh Smith is easily looking like a stud in the making. That being said, I'm not sure the Grizzlies should have gone with Smith over Harris. They already have Rafer Alston at the point and Smith immediately fills the Grizzlies' vacancy at the 4, but Smith is already undersized and I see Smith's rebounding not developing, which would relegate him to playing the majority of his minutes at the 3. Can't go wrong with this pick either way.
Grade: A-
5. New Jersey Nets - Devin Harris
Before TC: B- B- B- B- C- A
After TC: B- B B B C- A
After seeing a +1 improvement in outside scoring, handles and defense, maybe my love with Devin Harris isn't so far fetched after all. With the selections of Al Jefferson and Devin Harris to go along with Jason Richardson and DeSagana Diop, the Nets are further ahead in their rebuilding process after one year than teams who have been rebuilding for multiple years. Devin has great size for a point guard and can pretty much do anything on the court as far as guard duties go. I really think he'll end up being the best player to come out of this draft.
Grade: A
6. Boston Celtics - Andre Iguodala
Before TC: B C C+ B+ C A
After TC: B C+ C+ A- C B
The Celtics General Manager is currently on vacation and therefore this selection was made for him. Andre Iguodala projects to be a Scottie Pippen clone with his superb defense and ball handling/passing abilities. His improvements in outside shooting and defense in the past training camp only helps to confirm the beliefs that Iguodala can be a very special player in this league. However, if it were up to me, I probably would have selected Kevin Martin for the Celtics. The Celtics are quickly about to face another contract year and a pure scorer like Martin may have been what they needed to get on the right track. I may be alone on that one though.
Grade: B+
7. San Antonio Spurs - Paul Millsap
Before TC: B- C- C- C+ B A
After TC: B C- D+ C+ B+ A
Admittedly I was not a fan of this pick at all, but after improvements to inside scoring and rebounding, Paul Millsap does look like he can be something in this league. That being said, he is far too undersized at the 4 and will probably never develop the outside game to play the 3. The Spurs are rebuilding and therefore position conflicts should not be a factor in draft selections. In other words, I thought quite a few players such as Kevin Martin, T.J. Ford and Sebastian Telfair would have been better picks here. Still a solid pick here at #7.
Grade: B-
8. Milwaukee Bucks - Kevin Martin
Before TC: B- A- C- C C A
After TC: B- A- C B- C B
They said Ray Allen couldn't play defense either.
Nuff said.
Grade: A
9. Toronto Raptors - Josh Childress
Before TC: B- C+ C- B C+ A
After TC: B C+ C B C+ B
Although there are many players that I would have chose instead, this is not a poor draft choice for the Raptors. With his great mix of size, athleticism, and the ability to do many things on the court, Josh Childress certainly looks like he could be a key starter one day. His inside scoring and ball handling improvement that has come from this past training camp surely has the Raptors camp happy as they'll need all the help they can get to clear their contract year.
Grade: B
10. Detroit Pistons - Ben Gordon
Before TC: C+ A- C+ C C- A
After TC: C+ A- C+ C C- B
I thought the possibility of Ben Gordon exploding in his first training camp was high, but after an extremely uneventful off-season for him, this pick isn't looking as great as I thought it would. At the very least, Ben Gordon should be an elite shooter from day 1, with the ability to handle the ball and make some plays. Do not be fooled by Gordon's drop in potential. I think he has a lot in him and will end up developing into borderline star with his great outside game.
Grade: B-
11. Los Angeles Clippers - Johan Petro
Before TC: C+ C- D+ B+ C A
After TC: B- C- D+ B+ C B
Johan Petro improved his inside scoring which is a lot more promising than what I expected to be honest. Really did not like this pick for the Clippers as I felt that there were much more talented players available here at #11. It would seem that Petro's only strong point is defense and although that is certainly not a bad thing, is it really worth a lottery selection? Perhaps I'm simply playing the name game here as Petro shouldn't strike anyone as a good player in the making. That being said, Johan Petro is only 18 and will have plenty of time to improve. I'm just not sure that the improvements will come.
Grade: C
12. Indiana Pacers - Rashad McCants
Before TC: C+ B C+ C+ C- A
After TC: B- B C+ C+ C- B
I personally would have gone with either T.J. Ford or Sebastian Telfair at this pick, but that is not to say that Rashad McCants was a poor choice here. The 19 year old out of North Carolina looked very talented coming in and has since improved his inside scoring (+1). Now the Pacers have the benefit of playing a young 2 guard that can not only shoot the long ball and make plays, but also score inside the paint. I'm not sure if McCants has it in him to become a star guard in this league, but he does seem like he'll develop into a very good starter that can do a little bit of everything. Good pick.
Grade: B-
13. Minnesota Timberwolves - Sebastian Telfair
Before TC: C B- B+ C+ C- A
After TC: C+ B+ A- B- C- A
If I remember correctly, a lot of general managers were trashing this selection of Sebastian Telfair, especially considering the fact that T.J. Ford was still on the draft board. Those same general managers are extremely quiet now as Sebastian Telfair is not only the steal of the draft, but if he gets time, he may prove to be the best rookie this season. It's not very often that you see an overall improvement of +5 in every significant category for a guard. He has even kept his A scouted potential as well. Should Telfair continue to develop, he could be the steal for the ages. Excellent pick.
Grade: A+
14. Golden State Warriors - Al Thornton
Before TC: C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ A
After TC: C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ B
Players with C+ ratings across the board can be a gift or a curse as far as making draft selections goes. On one hand, you may destroy your draft plans and select a player who ends up developing into a Lamar Odom type of stud. On the other hand, you may destroy your draft plans and select a player who ends up hovering around those same C ratings for the rest of his career. After the past training camp, Al Thorton is certainly looking like the latter. Ouch. I guess there is still hope, but this doesn't look like a very good selection right now considering a player like T.J. Ford is still on the board.
Grade: C
15. Cleveland Cavaliers - T.J. Ford
Before TC: B- C B- B- C- A
After TC: B C+ C+ B+ C- B
T.J. Ford's family must have been drenched in cold sweat as they watched everyone but their beloved get selected in the lottery. Perhaps I am off base here, but I think it's pretty unacceptable that a player with his pre-training camp abilities fell to the Cavaliers at 15. The great training camp that Ford had only confirms my thoughts. Although it sucks that he lost a bit of handing, he did improve in both scoring categories, as well as defense and rebounding. Easy and great selection for the Cavs to make here.
Grade: A
16. Golden State Warriors - Trevor Ariza
Before TC: B- C C B C A
After TC: B- C+ C B+ C B
As far as prospect wings go, I probably would have selected J.R. Smith over Trevor Ariza. However, Ariza does look like the correct choice here after his improvements in outside shooting and defense this past training camp. The high flying wing player out of UCLA looks to be quite the defender right now and can possibly develop into a Bruce Bowen type of player in that regard. I certainly don't expect him to be come a star, but he can be a very good 5th starter or 6th man should he continue to develop his outside shot.
Grade: B
17. Golden State Warriors - Anderson Varejao
Before TC: C+ D+ D B+ B- A
After TC: B- D+ D B+ B B
Really like this selection here for the Warriors. I don't expect Varejao to do anything other than score off of put backs and tip-ins offensively, but he does look like he can develop into a very nice defender and rebounder. It wouldn't have killed the Warriors to go with another project guy at this slot, but Varejao should be a great glue guy off the bench for a long time.
Grade: B-
18. San Antonio Spurs - Yaroslav Korolev
Before TC: C+ C B- B- C A
After TC: C+ C B B- C A
I guess a 17 year old small forward with court vision and ball handing ability is pretty damn intriguing, but there are various other wings that I would have selected with this pick. That being said, Korolev did have a decent training camp as he improved on his handling. The 6'9 forward out of Russia is an unknown right now and is a project player in the truest sense. If he ends up developing into something special, great for the Spurs. If not, it probably won't kill them.
Grade: C+
19. Golden State Warriors - Beno Udrih
Before TC: C C+ B- B- D+ A
After TC: C C C+ C+ D B
Lmao!! I'm sorry, but it's not very often that you see a guy go -5 overall. I thought quite a few of the players selected afterward were much better choices, so I am a bit confused as to why the Warriors would select Udrih here. This is just horrible.
Grade: F
20. Phoenix Suns - J.R. Smith
Before TC: C+ B C C+ C B
After TC: B- B C C+ C C
I'm a big fan of J.R. Smith. The drop in scouted potential may be an alarm to some, but I think Smith has the potential to be a super scorer off the bench. To go along with a great outside game, he has also improved on his inside scoring (+1) this past training camp. Not much else to say here. Keep an eye on him as he may possibly develop into a Tony Dumas type of player. Nice selection here.
Grade: B-
21. Los Angeles Clippers - Kris Humphries
Before TC: C+ C D+ C+ B A
After TC: C+ C D+ C+ B- B
Really did not like this pick here for the Clippers and the -2 in his first training camp only confirms my thoughts on Kris being pretty useless. Players such as Tony Allen, Delonte West, Dorrell Wright and the Greek guy would have all been much better selections here.
Grade: D+
22. Golden State Warriors - Christian Drejer
Before TC: C+ C+ B- C+ C+ B
After TC: C+ C+ B- C C+ C
Someone always chances his first rounder on the super unknown foreign players and that someone is almost always disappointed in the results. Again, anyone out of Tony Allen, Delonte West, Dorrell Wright and Sofoklis Schortsanitis would have been a pick well used.
Grade: D+
23. New Jersey Nets - Delonte West
Before TC: B- C+ C+ B- C- B
After TC: B- C+ C+ B- C- B
Very solid pick by the Nets. Although he did not make any improvements in training camp, he is certainly a hell of a lot better than quite a few prospects that went before him. Delonte West probably fell because he's not a legitimate play maker at the 1 and is simply too undersized to play at the 2 full time. That being said, he can do a little bit of everything and will probably end up being a great combo guard off the bench in the future.
Grade: B-
24. Charlotte Hornets - Tony Allen
Before TC: B C- C- A- C+ B
After TC: B C- C A- C+ B
You can't really go wrong with drafting a sure thing like Tony Allen with the 24th pick. Allen is the best wing defender in the draft not named Andre Iguodala and he has the inside game and rebounding ability that will allow him to contribute right away. He'll probably max out as a great wing player off the bench, but should he continue to slowly improve his game, he could be a solid 5th starter one day. Tony Allen at this pick looks good when you consider all of the lesser players that have gone before him.
Grade: B
25. Sacramento Kings - Pape Sow
Before TC: C D- D- C+ C+ A
After TC: C D- D- C+ C+ B
I thought Sow clearly looked like he was not going to amount to anything, so I am a bit confused about this selection. I guess it's no big deal considering the selection was made with the 25th pick, but the Kings could have done a hell of a lot better than this.
Grade: D-
26. Cleveland Cavaliers - Dorell Wright
Before TC: C+ C+ C- B C+ B
After TC: C+ B- C B+ C+ B
If any of the non-lottery teams wanted to pick up a true project player, Wright seemed like the right guy to select. Now the Cavs can reap the benefits of picking up a great looking young player at such a low pick. Great value here.
Grade: B+
27. Atlanta Hawks - Ha Seung-Jin
Before TC: C D F+ B C A
After TC: C D F+ B C B
I'm going to assume that Ha Seung-Jin was only picked in the first round because of Wang Zhi Zhi. It's the only explanation for such a poor selection.
Grade: D-
28. Indiana Pacers - Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Before TC: B D F+ B- C B
After TC: B D+ F+ B- C+ B
Really like this pick up here by the Indiana Pacers. You would think that being 19 with a B for an inside scoring rating would have got this kid a higher selection than number 28. I guess his name turned off a lot of the general managers of the league. Pacers with a clutch looking pick here as they'll need all the help they can get considering they aren't bad enough to make top 5 selections.
Grade: B
29. Atlanta Hawks - Chris Duhon
Before TC: C B- C+ B D B
After TC: C B C+ B D+ B
Chris Duhon is a nice looking player here at the 29th overall. I'm not sure if he'll develop into much, but at the very least he is better than a lot of the players that went before him.
Grade: C+[/center]
