2008 NBA Draft - Team Grade

There was a lot of player movement in this draft and that will help the grade of some teams and hurt the grade of others.

Teams that traded a draft pick for “cash considerations” will automatically be graded low because this is the NBA, not ebay. Overall, I loved a few late picks and hated some of the early ones.




ATLANTA HAWKS

Round 1: None
Round 2: None

The Hawks had no picks in this draft and that isn’t acceptable for a team that only won 37 games. They need more help, but didn’t get any.

GRADE: F


BOSTON CELTICS

Round 1: J. R. Giddens, (30)
Round 2: Bill Walker (47), Semih Erden (60)

I’m not sure if he will make this roster, but Giddens is a very talented player. I believe that Walker can make the team and earn a few minutes, which means he was great value at #47. They did a nice job considering how low they were picking.

GRADE: B


CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Round 1: D.J. Augustin (9), Alexis Ajinca (20)
Round 2: Kyle Weaver (38)

I have mixed feelings about their draft. I love Augustin and I think he might be their starting point guard very soon. Ajinca was a reach and they may have passed on better players for him. Weaver won’t make the team.

GRADE: B


CHICAGO BULLS

Round 1: Derrick Rose (1)
Round 2: Omer Asik (36)

I have repeated for months that Michael Beasley was the best player available in this draft. The Bulls decided that Rose was the best player for them at #1. He’s too good to disagree with them … for now.

GRADE: A


CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Round 1: J. J. Hickson (19)
Round 2: Darnell Jackson (52), Sasha Kaun (56)

Hickson is small for his position, and he’s pretty raw. I’m not sure this was their best option at #19, but it’s not terrible either. Jackson is average at best and isn’t likely to make this team. Kaun will play in Russia next year and may never play in the NBA.

GRADE: C


DALLAS MAVERICKS

Round 1: None
Round 2: Shan Foster (51)

Their only pick was a second rounder that won’t make the team. I understand that their roster is loaded, but I think every team should seek to improve through the draft.

GRADE: D


DENVER NUGGETS

Round 1: None
Round 2: Sonny Weems (39)

They traded their first round pick for cash. Unacceptable. Weems is a pretty good selection at #39, but he probably won’t stick.

GRADE: D


DETROIT PISTONS

Round 1: None
Round 2: Walter Sharpe (32), Trent Plaisted (46), Deron Washington (59)

After a few draft day moves, they ended up with three players that will have a very difficult time making their roster.

GRADE: D


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Round 1: Anthony Randolph (14)
Round 2: Richard Hendrix (49)

I don’t like these picks for the Warriors. Randolph is talented and a good pick for someone else, but he’s a project and he’ll likely need to play small forward because of his lack of strength. The Warriors needed a starting center, even if he has less “star” potential than Randolph. Randolph is too skinny and Hendrix is too short, and the Warriors still need a center.

GRADE: C


HOUSTON ROCKETS

Round 1: Donte Greene (28)
Round 2: Joey Dorsey (33), Maarty Leunen (54)

It was fashionable to knock Green during the draft process, but I like him. I think that the Rockets may end up with a very good small forward in Greene. They also got great value by getting Dorsey in a trade. He’s a bruiser at power forward and could be a part of their rotation next season. This was a good draft for Houston.

GRADE: A


INDIANA PACERS

Round 1: Brandon Rush (13), Roy Hibbert (17)
Round 2: None

I’m not really a fan of Rush and I think they would have been better off with Jarryd Bayless, the player they traded for Rush. I do, however, like Hibbert. He’s slow, but he’s big and skilled, the kind of player that other teams will regret overlooking once their skinny teenagers fail to live up to the hype.

GRADE: B-


LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Round 1: Eric Gordon (7)
Round 2: DeAndre Jordan (35), Mike Taylor (55)

Gordon is very talented, but I think that DJ Augustin and Jarryd Bayless were better fits for the Clippers, and Elgin Baylor is the worst GM in professional sports, so I am skeptical. Jordan can’t play and he will never live up to his physical gifts.

GRADE: C+


LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Round 1: None
Round 2: Joe Crawford (58)

They only had a second round pick after trading their first round pick (#28) to Memphis for Pau Gasol. That sounds like a fair deal to everyone in the greater Los Angeles area. Nevertheless, I’m only grading the actual draft picks. Crawford won’t make the team.

GRADE: D


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Round 1: O.J. Mayo (3), Darrell Arthur (27)
Round 2: None

If Mayo reaches his All-star potential, this could be the draft that really started their turnaround. If he doesn’t, the NBA might consider sending the entire Grizzlies organization down to the D-League. Arthur could be a steal at #27. This actually looks like a great draft for Memphis.

GRADE: A


MIAMI HEAT

Round 1: Michael Beasley (2)
Round 2: Mario Chalmers (34)

I think that the Heat got the best player in this draft. Beasley can score and rebound and he has the most star potential of all the prospects. Chalmers is more of a combo guard than a true point guard, but he’s a very good combo guard and an excellent defensive player. The Heat may have drafted two future starters.

GRADE: A+


MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Round 1: Joe Alexander (8)
Round 2: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (37)

I am always concerned about late bloomers. Alexander is a motivated guy, but he’s also a tweener that plays the same position as the newly acquired Richard Jefferson. They reached for Alexander, then they drafted Mbah a Moute, another small forward.

GRADE: C


MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Round 1: Kevin Love (5)
Round 2: Nikola Pekovic (31)

I really like Kevin Love, but I am concerned that he is essentially the same player as Al Jefferson. It’s hard to win with two power forwards and no center in your line-up. On the other hand, the Timeberwolves are terrible and it may not be a bad idea for them to get the best players available, regardless of position.

GRADE: B+


NEW JERSEY NETS

Round 1: Brook Lopez (10), Ryan Anderson (21)
Round 2: Chris Douglas-Roberts (39)

This is an excellent draft for the Nets. They probably didn’t get a star, but they got three guys that can help a lot. A few teams made questionable picks and that allowed the Nets to draft Lopez, the best center in this draft. I’m not convinced that Anderson is tough enough for the NBA, but he’s a crafty scorer. CDR is excellent value at #39.

GRADE: A


NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Round 1: None
Round 2: None

No excuse for no picks.

GRADE: F


NEW YORK KNICKS

Round 1: Danilo Gallinari (6)
Round 2: None

I doubt any rookie will be under as much scrutiny as Gallinari. I want to be skeptical about this pick, but I really don’t believe that GM Donnie Walsh and Coach Mike D’Antoni would have done this if they didn’t really believe in this guy.

GRADE: B-


ORLANDO MAGIC

Round 1: Courtney Lee (22)
Round 2: None

Lee is a good player. He’s smart and mature, and I can see him contributing soon. He’ll have an opportunity to steal JJ Reddick’s roster spot.

GRADE: B


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Round 1: Marreese Speights (16)
Round 2: None

Nice pick. People too often assume that every draft pick should be for someone with a chance to be a star, but selecting a guy that has the look of a solid role player is very smart.

GRADE: B


PHOENIX SUNS

Round 1: Robin Lopez (15)
Round 2: Goran Dragic (42)

The Suns must have been overjoyed that the Warriors passed on this guy. He’s an instant role player that will play tough low-post defense and bring great character with him.

GRADE: B


PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Round 1: Jerryd Bayless (11), Nicolas Batum (25)
Round 2: None

I really like Bayless and I think he fell too low. Then Indiana made a mistake by sending him to Portland. He has a chance to start for the Trailblazers as a rookie. Batum is very good, but he may have a heart condition that is concerning. This team has become excellent at drafting (and/or trading for) talent.

GRADE: A


SACRAMENTO KINGS

Round 1: Jason Thompson (12)
Round 2: Sean Singletary (42), Patrick Ewing Jr. (43)

Thompsom looks like a reach, mostly because he hasn’t played against top competition, but he does fit a low-post need for the Kings, so I will be cautiously optimistic about this pick. Neither Singletary nor Ewing Jr. has much chance to stick.

GRADE: C


SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Round 1: George Hill (26)
Round 2: Malik Hairston (48), James Gist (57)

The Spurs have made numerous picks of obscure players, and although that has been very good for them in the past, the obscure George Hill won’t make their team. Neither will Hairston or Gist. This was not a good group of prospects.

GRADE: D


SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

Round 1: Russell Westbrook (4), Serge Ibaka (24), D.J. White (29)
Round 2: DeVon Hardin (50)

I think they reached for Westbrook and will regret passing on better players. If they are stashing Ibaka overseas to avoid salary (as rumored), then that is exactly why they no longer compete in the NBA, winning can be expensive. They need help, and first round draft picks shouldn’t be wasted because you can’t pay the guy. White is just average and Hardin is talented, but a real underachiever.

GRADE: C+


TORONTO RAPTORS

Round 1: None
Round 2: Nathan Jawai (41)

Because of other moves, they ended up with just a second round pick. I do, however, like that second rounder. Jawai is a big, burly low-post player and he knows how to score and rebound. They needed a few more big guys and got two of them (Jermaine O’Neal, Jawai) in just a few days.

GRADE: B


UTAH JAZZ

Round 1: Kosta Koufos (23)
Round 2: Ante Tomic (44), Tadija Dragicevic (53)

They wanted size and they got it. Koufos isn’t a great player, but he is a great pick for this team. He’s big, fundamentally sound, and has the game that will translate to the style of the Jazz. Tomic and Dragicevic won’t arrive for a year or two, but when they do, the Jazz will get two experienced players with excellent size.

GRADE: B


WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Round 1: JaVale McGee (18)
Round 2: None

It’s not a really bad idea to draft a big, athletic project that needs more time to develop. They probably weren’t going to find someone to crack their line-up at #18 anyway, but McGee is much more athlete than basketball player and those guys almost never become NBA players.

GRADE: C

Top NBA Prospects Video

2008 NBA Draft Prospectus

Before the 2007 NBA Draft I seriously believed we were looking at one of the greatest group of prospects to ever enter the NBA. It now appears as though I may have overestimated … badly. On paper the draft had so much going for it. It included two of the most highly acclaimed freshman ever, there was plenty of size, and there were three starters from the two time defending NCAA champions. The draft looked very deep and included players that seemed ready to contribute immediately. Instead, that draft class was an immediate disappointment. Of course, in a few years it may be considered good, but as rookies, they collectively underachieved. The top pick, Greg Oden, was injured and never played, so we’ll need to wait for him. The other “can’t miss” prospect, Kevin Durant (#2), proved that he’s a scorer but not yet a great shooter and that there are still gaping holes in his game that he must work on. Durant was the highest scoring rookie, but the most immediately prepared might have been Al Horford (#3). He looks like he’ll be a productive low-post leader for many years to come. Only a few other rookies contributed to their teams and many first round picks found themselves sitting on the end of the bench or in the D-League. Overall, the 2007 NBA Draft class was a bust.

The 2008 NBA Draft looks weak and uninspiring on paper, so perhaps in this new Bizarro world of draft scouting that means we’re looking at a fantastic class. Like last year, the top two picks will be one-and-done freshmen. Michael Beasley had one of the most productive freshman seasons ever. He led the country in rebounding and was third in scoring. Beasley is every bit as talented as Kevin Durant, plus he has a strong NBA-ready body. Derrick Rose is a powerful point guard with an exceptional basketball IQ. He is just a little more shooting range away from being a near-perfect point guard prospect. Now here’s the problem – after those two guys, the talent level drops off a cliff. There is a majority of one-and-done players that aren’t close to being ready for the NBA yet. My advice is always for prospects to play at least two years in the NCAA unless they are sure to be a top ten pick. I don’t care about their interest in getting paid. That’s an issue for the player and his (misleading) agent. I only care about basketball and a prospect that can’t make an NBA roster is useless. There are only about 450 roster spots in the NBA. A borderline prospect rarely gets one of those jobs, and this draft is loaded with bordeliners. There are only a few centers available, most of the point guards are shooting guards trying to make the dreaded position change, and there will be almost no seniors or juniors taken in the first round.

I really hope that a few hidden gems come out of this draft and become instant superstars in the NBA. But that’s hard to envision. It’s easier to see that the rule requiring a prospect be one year out of high school hasn’t helped. It has only forced kids to go to college for a season, and if they do well at all, they get overconfident and enter the draft. If that kid doesn’t make the roster of the team that drafts him, everyone is hurt – the kid, the team, and the fans that depend on their team’s draft picks. The rule must extend the "waiting period" to two years out of high school before entering the draft. This draft will prove that.

Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley: 6’9, 235, SF/PF, Fr., Kansas St.

Michael Beasley Video

In his lone college season at Kansas State University, Beasley dominated like few other freshman have ever done before. He led the country in rebounding (12.4 RPG) and was third in scoring (26.2 PPG). Beasley showed an inside/outside game that was virtually unstoppable at the NCAA level. He has a variety of moves near the basket that allows him to finish plays even when he’s tightly defended. But, despite being a low-post player by nature, he is very capable of stepping outside and knocking down shots past the three-point line. Beasley is a nightmare match-up for even the best defenders. He’s strong as a bull, has surprisingly quick feet, and uses his creativity to score in bunches. It’s very difficult to find fault with a big man that scores and rebounds better than everyone else, but Beasley does have his critics. They question his attitude and paint him as selfish and immature. It’s possible that these are legitimate character flaws of his, but the NBA is populated by some of the most selfish people in the world, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Maybe he’s not the most automatic prospect ever, but he’s the best prospect this year by far and it would be shocking if he isn't a superstar in the NBA very soon.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose: 6’3, 190, PG, Fr., Memphis

Derrick Rose Video

Rose has the skill-set and the size to attract the attention of NBA scouting departments, but his it’s his understanding of the game that is his most impressive strength. Rose got significantly better throughout the season and then dominated in the NCAA Tournament, carrying his team to the championship game. He is a physical point guard that recognizes when he has a mismatch against a smaller player and becomes aggressive while avoiding fouls. He’s not a great long-range shooter yet, but he scores by using his strength and slashing ability to get to the basket for lay-ups. He’s also become very good at beating his man and then pulling up for mid-range jumpers. Rose is only average on defense, but he seems to have the ability to improve. The same smaller, quicker men that he bullies on offense often zip right by him on defense. Another concern is that Rose only averaged 4.7 assists per game for a high-scoring team. He’ll need to improve his distribution skills for the NBA because he can’t muscle his way to the basket there, he’ll be asked to distribute the ball decisively. Rose has great potential, possibly even superstar potential.

O.J. Mayo

O.J. Mayo: 6’5, 200, SG/PG, Fr., USC

O.J. Mayo Video

Despite being a highly acclaimed prospect since the seventh grade, I actually believe that Mayo is currently underrated, if that’s possible. He had a very good season at USC, averaging 20.7 points per game, but the expectations were just too high as he was compared to some of the great players before he ever arrived on campus. He has an NBA-ready body, maturity, and his confidence is so strong it borders on arrogance. Mayo played both guard positions, alternating between playmaker and scorer throughout the course of the game, and he was effective in each role. It’s unclear which position he’ll play in the NBA, and it may depend on which team drafts him. He’s a respectable defender and has solid fundamentals. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if Mayo becomes the best professional basketball player from this draft.

Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez: 7’0, 260, C, So., Stanford

Brook Lopez Video

The old saying that you can’t teach someone to be seven feet tall is about how NBA teams will take a chance on centers because there are so few of them available. Well, Brook Lopez is seven feet tall. He’s probably a top-5 selection this year because there aren’t many centers available, and he’s clearly the most prepared to play immediately, but he wouldn’t be selected this high in most drafts. Lopez is a decent player with solid fundamentals and exceptional shot-blocking ability. He doesn’t play as physical as someone his size should, but he’s tough enough, it’s just a matter of being more aggressive. Lopez has long arms and tries to block every shot taken in his vicinity, blocking many and changing many more. He’s really improved offensively this year and now has the confidence to take shots he would have passed up in the past. Lopez is unselfish to a fault and will fill any role his NBA team asks of him. Most likely, he will be asked to provide a defensive presence and grab some rebounds. There are concerns about his commitment to basketball, however. Brook and his twin brother Robin have never been apart before, so it will be interesting to see if Brook can completely focus without his brother. If so, the team that drafts him will get a solid, but unspectacular, seven-footer.

Jerryd Bayless

Jerryd Bayless: 6’3, 200, PG, Fr., Arizona

Jerryd Bayless Video

Bayless is a small shooting guard that will most likely need to become a point guard to be anything more than a role player in the NBA. This is an issue that will arise often in this draft -- players that needed to stay in school to develop the skills to play their NBA position, will now have to learn their new position against the best players in the world. Perhaps Bayless will defy the odds and become one of the few undersized shooting guards in the NBA, but that means he’ll be facing guys three or four inches taller every night. He does have good size for a point guard. Bayless is a gifted scorer. He can shoot NBA three-pointers and has a lightning-quick first step. He does actually have some experience playing point guard as he handled both backcourt positions at times last year. With his ability to get up and down the court in a hurry, he would prosper in a fast-paced system. If Bayless works out at point guard his ceiling is very high, otherwise it’s an uphill battle.

Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon: 6’3, 215, SG, Fr., Indiana

Eric Gordon Video

Okay, here’s another prospect that had one very productive year of NCAA basketball before entering this draft, and he’s another guy that might need to learn a different position in the NBA, a daunting task. Gordon, despite having excellent point guard size is most definitely a shooting guard, where he is undersized. He has a scorer’s mentality and he’s always trying to get the ball to the hoop. Gordon can light up the scoreboard and score in a variety of ways, although his jumper failed him at the end of the season. If he were three inches taller he would be a much higher pick in the draft, but his size is a real issue. There aren’t any real point guard skills to his game, so that’s going to be a difficult transition if he is, indeed, asked to play that position. Some scouts compare him to the Chicago Bulls Ben Gordon, or the Golden State Warriors Monte Ellis, two undersized shooting guards succeeding at the professional level, but they are the exception to the rule … and they’re both defensive liabilities. Gordon will need to improve his decision-making and passing skills dramatically, but few teams will take a pass on a player as talented and competitive as Eric Gordon.

Kevin Love

Kevin Love: 6’9, 260, PF/C, Fr. UCLA

Kevin Love Video

As we know, not all great college players are built for the pro game. This may be the case here. It would be sad to see one of the truly outstanding NCAA players unwisely enter this draft just to sit on the end of an NBA bench. Love is fundamentally sound, plays smart, and is currently the best outlet passer at any level. You know what you’re going to get every night from Kevin Love – great effort, tough rebounds, and solid low-post passing. He’s mature for his age (19) and will surely continue to work on his game, but his serious lack of athleticism may be his undoing. Love is doughy and very slow. He needs to work as hard on his body as he does on his excellent mid-range shooting skills. Losing twenty pounds would help him on both ends of the court. He has absolutely no jumping ability and that, combined with his relatively shorts arm, means few blocked shots and fewer rebounds than expected. If the team that drafts Love allows him to be just a low-post bruiser instead of trying to make him a go-to guy things will work out. Otherwise, he’ll be on the list of guys we wish would have stayed in school another year or two.

Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari: 6’9, 210, SF, 19 y/o, Italy

Danilo Gallinari Video

This year’s "can’t miss" international prospect that will inevitably miss is Gallinari. Video of him shows a lanky shooter with good fundamentals. He’s got excellent ball-handling skills and is a creative passer. He is, in fact, just like every other European player drafted in the last twenty drafts that was supposed to be ready to dominate on offense immediately. Of course, only Dirk Nowitzki and (to a lesser degree) Peja Stojakovic have come close to their promise. The rest of them were good shooters from the European leagues that allow almost no contact. They get to the NBA with few defensive skills and then crumble from the constant bumping and pushing. For Gallinari to succeed he’ll need to play tough defense and stand up to the physical nature of our game. In other words, he’ll need to be different than so many of the international players that came before him. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Danilo Gallinari Video

Anthony Randolph

Anthony Randolph: 6’10, 200, SF/PF, Fr., LSU

With so many freshmen starring in NCAA basketball this season, then dominating the top of this draft, some were sure to fly under the radar. Randolph may be the least publicized of the freshmen studs, but he has as much upside as anyone this side of Michael Beasley. With an enormous wingspan and great jumping ability, the left-handed forward is already a fantastic shot-blocker and a good rebounder. He can defend power forwards with his length or small forwards with his quickness. Of course, he’s woefully thin and lacks strength, but he’s still only 18-years old and should continue to put on weight. He’s got limited range on his on his jumper, but he isn’t bad on offense. He gets out on the break quickly and finishes with dunks and lay-ups. Randolph has a ton of potential, but potential goes unrealized too often in the NBA.

Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert: 7’2, 280, C, Sr., Georgetown

Roy Hibbert Video

I believe that most NBA prospects should stay in school as long as possible. Roy Hibbert was the exception. He withdrew from the 2007 NBA draft to return to Georgetown for an additional season, but he failed to show any improvement and may have regressed. Hibbert would have been a lottery selection last year, but few are suggesting that he’ll go that high this year. It was expected that the massive center would dominate the younger and smaller competition, but he only looked passive and absurdly slow this year. At his best, Hibbert is a smart and fundamentally sound center that can impact a game without scoring much. He is a good shot-blocker and a solid defensive rebounder despite his lack of vertical leaping ability. On offense, he has a soft shooting touch near the basket, makes crisp passes out of the low post, and sets jarring screens in half-court sets. The problems with Hibbert exist mostly with his lack of athleticism. There aren’t many players like him in the NBA anymore. Teams value speed more than ever before and plodding centers are becoming rare. Nevertheless, there will always be a job available for a man of this size. Hibbert will be drafted in the first round, and depending on which team drafts him, he may even become a starter. It’s more likely, however, that he has already peaked out his potential and will spend his career as a reserve.

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan: 7’0, 260, C, Fr. Texas A&M

DeAndre Jordan Video

There’s no reason to believe that Jordan has the skills or talent to succeed as an NBA player right now. He was average at best in his one college season and he was badly outplayed by Kevin Love in the NCAA tournament. Nevertheless, Jordan will be drafted in the first round. NBA teams are so desperate for actual centers that they will draft one that averaged only 8 PPG and 6 RPG in college despite owning a huge size advantage against every opponent. In fairness to Jordan, he is only 19-years old and already has an NBA body, so it’s possible that if he develops some low-post scoring moves and learns how to use his size he’ll become an adequate player. However, that scenario will require greater faith in Jordan than I have.

D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin: 5’11, 175, PG, So., Texas

D.J. Augustin Video

If Augustin can overcome his lack of size he should be a very good NBA point guard. He’s extremely intelligent and has exceptional court vision. One of the most important skills for a point guard is an ability to control the tempo of the game and Augustin understands that. He’s super-quick and rarely commits turnovers on the fast break, and he can burn a defense with the pick and roll and a reliable mid-range jumper against a half-court defense. Augustin is a notorious gym rat and he studies the game like a scientist. That is a recipe for success in any sport. He’s going to have some problems defending bigger opponents, but somehow he’ll figure it out.

Chris Douglas-Roberts

Chris Douglas-Roberts: 6’7, 200, SG/SF, Jr., Memphis

Chris Douglas-Roberts Video

Douglas-Roberts is not expected to be a lottery selection in the draft, which just proves that the NBA scouts too often over-evaluate players that play more than one season. CDR was a first team All-American selection and the best player on the best team in the country (sorry Derrick Rose). His versatility and athleticism make him a real threat on the wing. He’s not a great long-range shooter right now, but he’s getting better, and he finds other ways to score. With his long arms and aggressiveness he has the potential to become a shutdown defender in the NBA. It may be hard to evaluate his unorthodox style, but the scouts have had three NCAA seasons to see that this guy can play. If they can’t see that by now they are either lazy or incompetent. I expect Douglas-Roberts to have a better pro career than most of the guys drafted before him.

Donte Greene

Donte Greene: 6’10, 220, SF, Fr., Syracuse

Donte Greene Video

This prospect is all about potential, and he has impressive potential. Greene is very long and athletic. He probably would have been more productive as a low-post player last season but he was given the opportunity to frequently step outside and play on the wing, which is his projected NBA position. This was fortunate for Greene because he became progressively more comfortable facing the basket and knocking down jumpers. He is much better on offense than defense right now. With his long limbs and jumping ability he should block more shots and grab more rebounds, but remember, this pick is all about potential.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook: 6’3, 185, So., UCLA

Russell Westbrook Video

Because he played with another point guard (Darren Collison) at UCLA, Westbrook handled the shooting guard position most of the time, but he will play point guard at the next level. Westbrook is a great athlete. He is extremely quick and has explosive leaping ability. He has long arms and very good anticipation, and those skills make him a dangerous defensive player. On offense, he has good enough playmaking skills to get the ball up the court and into the right hands without turning the ball over much, but he’s not very creative. In fact, he’s best suited to run a fast-paced offense and could struggle within a slow, deliberate pace. Westbrook just doesn’t shine in the half-court offense. He doesn’t work well in tight spaces, as an NBA point guard should, and he has limited shooting range. Nevertheless, he’s still effective and he gets as many “hustle plays” as anyone you’ll ever see. He isn’t a total liability when the game slows down, but he’s at his best on the run. Westbrook is not the most natural point guard prospect in this draft, but because he’s such a great defender with a non-stop motor he figures to be a good pick.

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee: 7’0, 235, C, So., Nevada

JaVale McGee Video

This is a difficult player to evaluate because he’s really only an intriguing prospect due to his size and athleticism. As a basketball player, he’s incredibly raw. McGee runs better than most players his size and he can jump out of the building. He gets a bunch of blocks and a fair amount of offensive rebounds. There were times when he dominated and times when he disappeared in college, but mostly he’s looked like a big project. Teams are more willing to gamble on the future of 7-footers and whoever drafts McGee will need to be patient. Everything will change when he plays against NBA centers instead of the mid-major college guys he towers over. He has a lot of work to do before he can play at the next level. His fundamentals are terrible, he creates many more turnovers than a center should ever be responsible for, and he is embarrassingly bad on defense. But the NBA scouts love huge athletes and someone will hope that McGee can be taught to play soon and becomes quality low-post player. That’s a very rare occurrence, however. The NBA is not a learning environment and players that come in unprepared rarely ever become productive. I am just not impressed with McGee, despite how tall and athletic he is.

Darrell Arthur

Darrell Arthur: 6’9, 220, PF, So., Kansas

Darrell Arthur Video

Arthur isn’t very physical for a power forward, but he is effective because of his superior athleticism and sharp low-post skills. He’s long and a quick leaper, which allows him to block shots and grab offensive rebounds. He has a scorer’s mentality and is decisive when the ball comes to him. Arthur really runs the floor well and has an impressive mid-range game. The biggest knock on him is that he’s strangely inconsistent, often disappearing for long stretches during many games. He’ll need to add more bulk to his frame to withstand the pounding that an NBA power forward takes, but he has the tools to become a starter and a good professional basketball player.

Robin Lopez

Robin Lopez: 7’0, 255, C, So., Stanford

Robin Lopez Video

Robin Lopez isn’t quite as talented a basketball player as his twin brother - Brook, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t also a good prospect. In fact, I believe he would be rated higher if not for the constant comparisons. Robin is the more athletic of the two and has enough quickness to be projected as a power forward in the NBA, although I believe he’ll play center. Lopez is a talented shot blocker and a good rebounder. His defensive skills are much better than his offense right now, but he does have a soft touch around the basket and he moves his feet well for such a big man. He’s tough player and I believe he’s one of the most underrated prospects in this draft.

Kosta Koufos

Kosta Koufos: 7’0, 250, C, Fr., Ohio St.

Kosta Koufos Video

Koufos is a big guy. He isn’t just tall, he’s got a wide frame and a very strong lower body. It’s reasonable to predict that when this 19 year old is fully matured he’ll be one of the bigger centers in the NBA. As far as his skills are concerned, he’s still a work in progress, but he’s doing the correct thing by learning the game from the inside out. Koufos has a nice array of moves down low to get his shot off and he can step out to knock down mid-range jumpers. He’s not very athletic, however, and he doesn’t run the floor as well as many centers do in the NBA today. He may not have any star potential, but he could become a top-quality starting center if he can develop better fundamentals and play more focused defense.

Joe Alexander

Joe Alexander: 6’8, 220, SF, Jr., West Virginia

Joe Alexander Video

A year ago Alexander wasn’t on anyone’s radar, but now he’s one of the hottest prospects in the draft and that’s a testament to his determination and hard work. He’s a tireless worker and he plays with an incredible sense of urgency. Strong and athletic, Alexander has the low post moves of a power forward and the outside shooting touch of a small forward. That means he’s either “versatile” or a “tweener”, there’s a fine line between the two. It’s safe to assume that he can score in the NBA and he’ll continue to improve himself, but he needs a lot of work on his defensive skills and if he can’t become a reliable defender, his determination may not be enough.

Brandon Rush

Brandon Rush: 6’6, 210, SG, Jr., Kansas

Brandon Rush video

It’s hard to tell if the stock of Brandon Rush has dropped because opinions of him have varied so wildly. Some believe he’s a lottery-caliber talent and will become an NBA starter. Others feel that he’s already tapped out all of his talent and will suffer the same fate as his brothers – JaRon and Kareem – and be a borderline roster prospect if he plays in the NBA. I believe the truth is somewhere in between. Brandon Rush is better than either of his brothers ever were. But, he still needs to be lucky about which team drafts him and show a much better work ethic than he has before. He has good length and athleticism for a shooting guard, and he has a beautiful form on his jump shot, which he makes with impressive consistency. There really aren’t any huge question marks with his skills or athleticism. His success will depend on his professionalism and desire, and that has been a problem for the Rush family in the past.

Ante Tomic

ANTE TOMIC, 7’2, 240, C, Croatia

Ante Tomic video

Tomic is one the hardest players in the draft to evaluate because he hasn’t been seen much, and he certainly hasn’t been seen against top competition. But this is the reality of NBA scouting today - a young skyscraper emerges in Europe and the hype begins to spread. Grainy video shows him dominating weak opponents and suddenly he’s rated higher than American college players that have been over-evaluated. The video of him does show that he’s very athletic for his size, has long arms that allow him to block shots, and he seems to understand the game. Tomic is a long-range project, but the rewards for waiting as he develops could be great.

DeVon Hardin

DeVon Hardin, 6'11, 225, C, California

DeVon Hardin Video

An incredible athlete and a talented shot-blocker, Hardin is a project that needs a lot of work on his fundamentals. His stock dropped badly after an unimpressive season at California. He has a big body, he jumps out of the gym, and he seems to have a good idea of how to play on defense. If a team is looking for a developmental player with tons of upside, he's going to be hard to pass on.

Jay Bilas Must Go!

The official draft guru of the NFL is a vociferous, pompadoured man named MEL KIPER, JR. He never played or coached professional football. He is, by all accounts, a fan that turned his obsession into the most legitimate voice of expertise on the value of amateur football players as prospects for the National Football League. Initially, it’s easy to find Mel Kiper, Jr. as grating, even intolerable. But if you have an interest in football’s draft prospects, you quickly overcome your dislike for Kiper, Jr. and begin to appreciate his wealth of knowledge. He has been doing this for so long, and armed with such well-researched information, we may have taken him for granted. The man provides a critical service to football fans, and the NFL draft would not be the same without him.

Unfortunately, for all of us avid basketball fans, we have no such voice for our draft. In the place of Mel Kiper, Jr., we are asked to listen to the incessant nasal droning of JAY BILAS. He is supposed to feed us in-depth information about the prospects before, during, and after they have been selected by NBA teams. But, Bilas doesn’t seem to be as prepared as we would prefer. In fact, he seems to be less informed than anyone with a more educated knowledge than a casual basketball fan. He regularly speaks of international players in wide, stereotypical regards, obviously having never seen that player to remark on him as an individual. When was the last time Mel Kiper, Jr. was confronted with a draftee he didn’t have a strong personal evaluation of? Bilas is neither charming, nor entertaining, so it is imperative that he provides insight. He subsequently fails at that. Bilas is a college guy preaching about the potential of prospects to thrive in the NBA, something he just isn’t qualified to do. Too often, Bilas sermonizes about a player’s success as a collegian without adjusting his evaluation for projection as a pro player. It doesn’t take a basketball genius to qualify that NCAA success will not always translate into NBA success. We need someone with the ability to project that, someone we trust more than Bilas.

I do not have a candidate in mind to become the new draft guru for the NBA. I just know that Jay Bilas is not the right guy. I suppose the new guru will not have another agenda. His only job will be to create in-depth scouting projections. This means that he will need to understand the reasons that an amateur player becomes a successful pro. That is much more difficult than it sounds, but it is possible. We need a guru. We need our own Mel Kiper, Jr.