what echus said: "Honestly, the more I think about the trade issue, the more I don't like it. Please, someone dissuade me if you can make a strong case, but I think that rule could be abused, and even if not we could end up having something that doesn't look like the "real" draft at all."
echus:
agreeing with what you said: having trades would not make the our draft look like the actual nba draft as much
to go along with it: if one person wants to make a trade, the chances of everyone agreeing with it are slim
with saying that, i think it will make this whole thing more confusing
PG - Tony Parker, Jacque Vaughn*, Beno Udrih
SG - Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley**, Brent Barry
SF - Bruce Bowen, James White
PF - Tim Duncan, Robert Horry, Matt Bonner*
C - Francisco Elson, Fabricio Oberto**, Jackie Butler, Melvin Ely*
* = Free Agent
** = Player Option
Draft Picks: #28, #33 (via Milwaukee), #58
OVERVIEW
As of this moment, having gotten out of the first round against the Nuggets in five games, it is unclear how far the Spurs will go this year. Will they succumb to Phoenix, somewhere along the way, or crown themselves champions again? Regardless of where they end up, this is still a very strong team, if aging. R.C. Buford has succeeded in putting some battle-tested vets around the Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker, but with experience comes creaky bones and last legs, famously reflected in yahoo's box scores for Robert Horry showing him as "DNP -- Old Age." This team badly needs an infusion of youth. Fortunately for them, they are in a more workable position than they have been in years.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
Point Guard: Tony Parker, seemly around since forever, will only be turning 25 this year and has developed into an All-Star talent. Blessed with exceptional speed and an uncanny knack for putting shots down under the basket and with teardrops in the paint, he has managed the rare feat for a point guard of shooting well over 50% the last two seasons. He has also proven coachable, having weathered multiple Gregg Popovich spit storms and agreeing to removing the 3-pointer from his arsenal until he corrects his form. Behind Parker is Jacque Vaughn, redoubtable veteran with limited talent but the smarts that will make him a head coach some day, and Beno Udrih. Vaughn will likely be resigned and Udrih, who has NBA level talent but is so far in Pop's doghouse they had to add on rooms, is probably seeing his last days in a Spurs uni. There is an outside chance the Spurs use the Milwaukee pick (#33) on a defensive-minded point guard to develop behind Parker.
Shooting Guard: Manu Ginobili or, as Brent Barry calls him, 'El Contusion.' The mercurial guard from Argentina was probably the Spurs' best player in the '05 championship-winning postseason and is still capable of defiant feats, such as scoring 24 straight points this season in a stretch against the Hawks. One of the all-time steals in the draft, selected with the next-to-last pick, before anybody, even the Spurs, knew how good he could be. He was there, sandwiched right between Tim Young of Stanford and Eddie Lucas of Virginia Tech. Following him in the depth chart are Michael Finley (who currently starts) and Brent Barry. Both are in the last years of their contracts. Barry could finally be moved, after being involved in trade talks for J.R. Smith and then Corey Maggette the last two years. It is unlikely the Spurs will take anyone exclusively a SG in the draft.
Small Forward: When Sean Elliott went down to kidney problems, effectively ending his career after the 1998-99 season, the Spurs were left with their pants down, unable to adequately fill the spot with the likes of Chucky Brown and Ira Newble until they lucked onto Bruce Bowen, whom Pat Riley thought had seen his last days as an effective player. Wrong. Whatever you may think of him, Bowen has been a great Spur and will see his name in the rafters before long. The question remains the future. He has not quite slowed down, but he is not quite a young man. James White, picked up on the sly the first week of the season after being dropped by a roster-crunched Indiana squad, may turn out to be an answer at the position, but lacks the bulk to body the new breed of SFs like Anthony and James, and does no good as a rebounder. This spot is the major concern for the Spurs, after failing to get a "Derrick McKey" type last summer. They will trade for Nocioni, Outlaw, put in offers for Pietrus... anything... or try to find that player in the draft. They need length, a defensive mindset, coachability, and athleticism. As almost every year, they'll try to trade up to nab their guy, although in a deep draft class they may find a nice player there regardless.
Power Forward: Tim Duncan. Ever heard of him? Chances are you haven't heard of him enough. This guy may retire as the most criminally underrated player of his era. He is only 31 now and has another few years ahead of excellence before retiring early or consigning himself elegantly to his late-Kareem years. Behind this great players is an assortment of mediocrities... or, well, it depends on what position he plays. If we mark him as a PF, then behind him we should slot Robert Horry and Matt Bonner. As for Horry, there's not much to say beyond invectives or exultations, depending on what team he just struck down. Popovich signing him away from the Lakers in 2003 was a wholly underrated move for a guy with HOF clutchness and whom we may be seeing for the last time in uniform before riding off into the sunset with his enormous balls stored safely in enormous saddlebags. As for Bonner, an expiring contract garnered in the Rasho Nesterovic trade, he looks like a Spurs player, is a bizarre fellow, and will probably be resigned. Luis Scola could be playing PF for the Spurs as early as next year or as late as never; there are intimations of bad blood between the two sides and word is that his offense-mostly game isn't suited for the Spurs' Duncan-only interior style.
Center: Lately manned by Francisco Elson, a cheap and fleet Dutchman who alternates between grasping the defensive schemes and not grasping them at all, and Fabricio Oberto, a savvy and cagey Argentine who has all the athleticism of your average garden gnome, this is the weakest spot in the line-up. And, curiously, the one most glutted in the roster, with Melvin Ely and Jackie Butler riding the pine. Ely is gone at the end of the year as strictly a cost-saving device, and Butler with an uncertain future, having been a bit too fat and glacial this year after being stolen from the Knicks, but apparently having slimmed down. They used their first rounder in 2005 to pull Ian Mahinmi, who has not developed terribly well overseas, but has the great attitude, athleticism, and length that makes the Spurs fervently hope he pans out. It is likely he is added to the roster to develop in San Antonio next year. There is an outside shot the Spurs use one of the 28 or 35 picks on a big man, but it is unlikely to see anyone there with much more potential than Mahinmi has.
SUMMARY
Along with the Pistons, who have two picks earlier in the draft, the Spurs are a team that stands to gain a lot in this draft, but it depends on their philosophy. They have two guys in James White and Jackie Butler who will need further time to develop, they have Ian Mahinmi needing some time, and they have three draft picks this summer. The 58 pick is likely to be punted over to another team or to draft some international project, but the other two are very important. And Luis Scola is very important: this looks like the year he will be joining the NBA, if not exactly as a Spur. What will Scola pull for them? Joined with the 28 or the 33, how far up can they climb? Would they be after a Thaddeus Young, a Jeff Green? Or will they package Scola with Barry and incentive for Andres Nocioni or the like? Will the Spurs take another run at Alonzo Mourning, who decided last summer to sign with Miami instead? Will they try to package up Udrih and Butler to free up roster spots and playing time for development? Whatever happens, they will in all likelihood target the SF position as their top priority x10 and buckle down for a potential championship run next year, in which they could be even better than they were this year.
Possible Draft Picks: SFs... Alando Tucker, Brandon Rush, Dominic McGuire, Derrick Byars. PGs... like Gabe Pruitt, Rodney Stuckey...
Possible Free Agents: Mickael Pietrus, James Posey, Alonzo Mourning
i will also take a second team if needed. also if we allow trading it should just have to be worked out by the two GM's of the teams making the deal like in real life not ok'ed by anyone else.
__________________
Jon Wyers Head Coach Villanova Prep/Assistant Athletic Director.
2006-07 ROTATION FOR MAJORITY OF THE YEAR
PG Parker^/Farmar/Vujacic/Williams^
SG Bryant/Evans/McKie^
SF Walton*/Radmanovic
PF Odom/Cook/Turiaf^
C Bynum/Brown/Mihm^
^ guys we won't try and retain
* guys we are going to try and resign
DRAFT PICKS
#19
#40
#48
OVERVIEW
Well this year was a disappointing one for our team where we felt we underachieved and took a step back from last year. Part of it was due to a lack of chemistry amongst our players on the court and another part was due to injuries to Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, and Vladimir Radmanovic. We have one of two directions we can go this summer. We can rebuild our team through some major trades letting go of probably Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum who will be our most sought after players or we can stay put and add some key pieces in the draft. We can't do much in free agency because of lack of cap space and to the fact that we aren't an elite team anymore that players will sign with for cheap.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
PG We won't look to bring back Smush Parker who clashed with Phil at the end of the season or Shammond Williams due to lack of production over the long haul of the season. He did play more in the playoffs, but that was due more to the fact that Smush got his minutes taken away. So at PG we have left Jordan Farmar who is a true PG that is a good passer and is an underrated athlete. He needs to become a better defender and more consistent shooting the ball. We feel he has progressed nicely and could handle starting at the PG next year if we don't pursue adding any other options. Defiently we will be looking to bring in another PG for next year that can play some minutes right away. The other PG we have on our roster is Sasha Vujacic who can handle the ball and pass it good. He is also a capable defender who understands how to play the game. He has been marked with inconsistency and has been a disappointment throughout his career so far though not really being able to translate his skills to the NBA level. He has been better suited off the ball as a spot up shooter.
SG We won't look to bring back Aaron Mckie. He was a guy that could have helped us in his younger days, but we got ahold of him too late in his career and he had two very unproductive injury filled seasons with us. He will likely retire. This is our strongest position because of Kobe Bryant. He is argueably the best wing player in the NBA right now, but we need to find the right players that can play alongside his dominating style while he is still in his prime if we want to make another run at a championship. He is a very versatile player that can get to the basket, shoot the jumper, defend, rebound, pass the ball, get up and down the floor. He is a good athlete, performs in the clutch, but he is selfish. This past offseason we got a nice backup for Kobe for a late 2nd rounder in Maurice Evans who we were very happy with. He is an athletic player that is very strong and can get to the basket as well as shoot the ball.
SF This is a position that is up in the air for us. We would like to resign starter Luke Walton to a 3 year 10.8 mil deal (paying him 3.6 mil a year) and it sounds like he wants to come back, but we will have to wait out the summer and see. Luke has a high basketball IQ and is a prototypical player for the triangle. He is versatile, is a good passer, has really developed consistent range on his jumper and is the perfect team first type of player we need next to Kobe. Vladimir Radmanovic was a disappointment for the team this year as our big free agent signing but he was riddled with injuries the whole season and we are hoping he can bounce back next year. When healthy he can shoot the 3, is athletic, can get up and down the floor, slash to the basket. For his size he should play a little more inside and rebound the ball better, but we knew this before we got him and wanted his shooting ability. He is another guy when focussed can be a good player, but he hasn't always been focussed throughout his career. Due to the uncertainity at this position we will likely be looking to add a player here maybe a younger one with good longterm potential.
PF Although we like the development of Ronny Turiaf and the hustle he brings we are not sure if we are going to be bringing him back. Lamar Odom if we decide to overhaul this team will most likely be one of the players involved in a deal because he is one of our most sought after players. He is a versatile player that can score, rebound, pass the ball, play multiple positions but he is better when the ball is in his hands alot which is not going to happen when Kobe is on your team. He is also a guy like Radmanovic is good when he is on but that on switch doesn't always seem to be there. As his backup we have Brian Cook who is a good offensive player that can hit the outside shot. On the other hand he is a big defensive liability, which has limited his minutes throughout his career so far. Kwame Brown can also slide over and play this position which is probably his most natural position.
C Losing Chris Mihm for the season was a big blow to us since he was our best center on our roster probably. Due to the injury it is up in the air if we are going to resign him or not it depends on his health and other things. Andrew Bynum like Odom is probably our hottest asset and in any major trade we make if we make any will have to involve him. We have balked on trades before because we like his long term potential, but we have to determine if we think he can hit that potential when Kobe is still in his prime or not. He has great size, good hands, has developed a nice low post game thanks to working with Kareem, but he is still not the finished product. Kwame Brown is the other bigman on our roster. He is athletic and can block some shots and grab some rebounds, but he is a guy who never lived up to his potential and at this point never will. This is another area where we would like to add a player at for some depth.
SUMMARY
Since other teams GM's read this publication I am not going to say who we are going to target this offseason, but expect some changes to be made to our roster next year. We may decide to unload some of our previous untouchables and totally revamp the whole squad or we may just make some minor moves it is yet to be decided. I will say we are looking to add players at three postions which are PG, SF, C.
__________________
Jon Wyers Head Coach Villanova Prep/Assistant Athletic Director.
I would love to take the Golden State Warriors actually, since you mentioned those are one of the remaining teams. The Sonics are my favourite, but the Warriors are my 2nd or 3rd and I feel I can maintain a reasonable objectivity with the team as I am not tooooo caught up in the playoff hype at the moment.
You check my post count and it obviously isn't very high, but on other forums (basketballforum.com) I have over 1,000 so I am a qualified poster. If the Warriors aren't available, I wouldn't mind taking the Hornets as a backup option.
Alright, pr0wler, you've got the Warriors and the Hornets. Make sure to check back often, both to submit your breakdowns, and to read through other teams' entries.
Mr. Body and Coachjon: love your stuff. You two have set the bar.
And about trades: you know, there is a 3rd party in real life; the NBA league office. They can nullify a trade if they or the NBPA has a dispute over it, I think. I offered up the 3rd-party solution to band-aid a potential problem (like me signing on with a new username, "suhuce", claiming the remaining teams and giving all their picks to New Jersey for $2). But I'll bet if we have trades, I'll bet there'll be a loophole no one's mentioned that'd be abused. I'd just hate to ruin the fun of the draft, but this is a democracy; maybe we can "table" the trade discussion for now.
2006-07 ROTATION FOR MAJORITY OF THE YEAR
PG - Paul/Pargo
SG - Brown/B. Jackson
SF - Mason/R. Butler/Johnson III
PF - West/M. Jackson/Simmons
C - Chandler/M. Jackson/Armstrong
DRAFT PICKS
#13
#43
OVERVIEW
Disappointing year for the rising Hornets, mainly due to injuries. Paul out for 20 games, Peja out for basically he year, West out for over 1/3 of the season...the amount of missed games took it's toll. Overall a fairly solid starting rotation planned out for next year of Paul/Mason(if he re-signs)/Peja/West/Chandler. The problem will be depth, as a lot of the backups are mainly cast off's from other teams.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
PG - Paul is leading the helm at the point guard slot, and while Pargo isn't really a true point guard he is probably satisfactory as a backup for Paul. There are more other glaring needs in the rotation to be concerned about a point guard behind Chris. Between Bobby and Jannero, they should be able to fill out that position.
SG - This is the biggest glaring weakness for New Orleans. While Mason could theoretically step in, he is more of a forward and doesn't have the outside shooting ability that you'd like in a guard. If the Hornets can resign him for a reasonable amount, he might be good for a temporary stop gap in the meantime. Devin Brown could be re-signed for cheap as a backup SG, but I feel Jackson will be phased out of the rotation due to his nagging injuries and age.
SF - The Hornets can only hope that Peja is healthy for next year. He is their starting small forward, and they desperately need him back. Rasual Butler can hit the outside shot and is the perennial backup , and he should do nicely in that role. Mason can fill in some minutes here and there, but with their G strength limited...Desmond's role as the small forward will definitely be subsidized.
PF - David West has quietly emerged as a very solid scorer as a PF. While the other parts of his game are somewhat in question, you can't deny his scoring ability. Marc Jackson and Cedric Simmons played helped filll in this role during West's injuries...but will Jackson be back? Is Simmons really ready to step up and play consistent minutes behind David? Those questions will have to be answered in the off-season in free-agency or possibly the NBA draft. Drafting a power forward is definitely not out of the question in my view.
C- With Chandler actually being able to stay healthy, he has proven himself as a very formidable center. He is a great rebounder, decent shot blocker, and scores just enough so that he is at least a step above Ben Wallace on the offensive end. Hilton Armstrong in his sophmore season should be adjusted enough to the NBA game to play a backup role to Tyson.
SUMMARY
I think the most glaring need right now is a SG. Mason isn't really a guard, Brown is not starting caliber, and B. Jackson is getting too old. However, with the potential lack of 2's in this draft, they might look at getting a PF/C to add some depth to the front line.
PG: Steve Nash, Marcus Banks
SG: Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa, Jalen Rose*, Eric Paitkowski
SF: James Jones, Boris Diaw
PF: Shawn Marion, Kurt Thomas**, Jumaine Jones*
C: Amare Stoudemire, Pat Burke*, Sean Marks*
*=Free Agents
**=Player Option
Draft Picks:
Receive Atlanta first round pick (Top 3 protected)
Receive Cleveland first round pick (24)
First round pick 29
Second round pick 59
Overview
Suns are currently preparing to play the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the West playoffs. If the Suns win the series they will have made the West Finals for 3 straight years, but they have yet to make it to the NBA finals. With Dallas out of the playoff picture it seems the winner of the Suns-Spurs will look like the favorites to win the Championship. The Suns will be looking to win their first NBA Championship. They have a solid core of players who are all locked up on fairly lengthy deals. Brian Colangelo has set up the Suns for long term success and barring injury should be contending for the title for a while. Head coach Mike D'Antoni has taken over GM duties since the departure of Colangelo last spring. Last year the team pretty much stood pat, didnt make a move, and believed in the players they already had. With the return of Amare Stoudemire the Suns have found a post presence they lacked last season, but are still shallow with quality big men. With the opportunity of having 3 first round picks (one in the top 5!) the Suns could set themselves up for many years to come.
Positional Analysis
Point Guard:
The two-time MVP Steve Nash has continued to keep his body in excellent condition. He is at the top of his game and is putting himself into the conversation with some of the all-time best point guards. His back problems have not shown up much this season and he doest look like he will be slowing down anytime soon. Last year the Suns knew they needed to get Nash a quality backup. Instead of drafting a young player like Rajon Rondo, or Sergio Rodriquez they opted to sign free agent Marcus Banks. Banks has been an absolute flop with the Suns fast-paced system. Phoenix will probably look to find Nash some help again. Best-case scenario Phx finds a home (not in the desert) for Marcus Banks while adding a young PG to play behind him. Look for them to pursue some smaller named players through trade or even grab a PG in the draft.
Shooting Guard:
More awards for Suns player! Stater Raja Bell was named to his first NBA All-Defensive Team. Bell has gotten a lot of media attention since his now famous clothesline of super star Kobe Bryant in last seasons playoffs. Bell continues to do what he does best-play great on ball defense and knock down 3s. Backup Leandro Barbosa also won himself an award-Sixth Man of the Year. The Brazilian Blurr is fast (yes pun intended) gaining notoriety in NBA circles and with fans. He is a great energizer off the bench for the Suns who can step out on the court and put up 30+ points or hold down the PG spot if Nash needs a breather. He was signed last offseason to a long extension (though 2011-2012) keeping him in a Suns uni for the foreseeable future.
Small Forward:
The Suns can start many different players in the SF spot depending on the match ups they want. Lately the former second rounder out of Miami James Jones has been given the starting role. He has quietly put together a productive season. Since the NBA went back the the old leather ball in January Jones has found his shooting touch. He also provides some good defense, and his rebounding is very valuable to the team. Former starter Boris Diaw has been moved to the bench, not because he has played poorly, but to balance out the lineup and the return of Amare Stoudemire. Diaw off the bench gives the Suns another lethal play maker who can boost the team and gives some the second unit a distributor when Nash is off the floor.
Power Forward:
Again the one Sun who doesnt get recognized with season awards is Shawn Marion aka the Matrix. Marion is somewhat of a tweener between SF/PF which allows the Suns to play him on many different players. He can guard anyone 1-4 and occasionally a 5. He gives the defense, rebounding, and great point production without having plays call just for him. It is well-known that he feels like he does not get the respect he deserves and it would not be the biggest shock in the world if the Suns traded him to cut their payroll. If there is a trade it is not because his skills are decreasing but because he wants to go the Joe Johnson route. Backup Kurt Thomas plays both PF and C. He has a player option that he is more than likely going to use (no way he gets more than 8 million on the market). He provides the team with veteran leadership on and off the court. He has helped develop the defense of Stoudemire and if need his expiring contract could be sent off somewhere if the Suns could get the right player in return. The pine rider Jumaine Jones will be a Free Agent after the season. He doesnt see much floor time and will only be brought back if the Suns need to fill roster space.
Center:
WOW! Who would have thought Amare Stoudemire could have come back from Microfracture surgery so fast and so strong? The man who used to refer to himself as STAT-Standing Tall and Talented- has not just improved his all around game but he has learned what it is to be a good teammate. Last offseason many people were upset with Amare's attitude and desire to get back on the court. He has a new outlook on life and seems to have matured during his injury riddled season. He has shown the explosiveness he had before surgery and looks to be a perennial all-star. Fan favorite Pat Burke will be a free agent after the season. He has some talent but is not going to get serious PT with any team. He could get resigned (for the right price) just because Phoenix seems to like him and the fans love his Darko-esque role. He of course thinks he should get some serious run but it will be interesting to see what happens with him this offseason, if he leaves fan will miss seeing him used as the human victory cigar. Sean Marks has been glued to the bench even more than Pat Burke, in fact most Suns fans would not even recognize him on the street. He is another roster space filler that could easily be back but at the same time could leave and no one would notice.
Summary
The Suns look to add a lot of young talent in this years draft. A lot is hinging on the May 22nd lottery. If they get Atlanta first rounder it will be in the 4-6 range, meaning they can add a big time prospect to an already extremely talented roster. They also have two picks in the 20s which will garner them some more serious talent. A pick in the 20s in this draft could get teams better talent than a early teens pick last year. They have needs at PG and C/PF. Phoenix is capable of moving picks on draft day (which they have done in the past) they could do a lot either move up or moving down. They could package their late picks to move up but how far? They could use Altanta's pick to grab a rotation player and move down the lottery. They also have the 2nd to last pick in the draft which will more than likely be used on a international player who they can keep overseas. Everyone seems to think they are targeting Joakim Noah but in reality could go in many directions.
Possible Draft Picks: early Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Yi Jianlian, Kevin Durant, Brandon Wright. Late Jason Smith, Rudy Fernandez, Jarvis Crittenton, Marco Bellinelli, Thadeous Young, Dominic McGuire, Rodney Stuckey (basically anyone could get picked other than some of the slower Centers)
Free Agents: Probably not going to be a player in Free agency due to all the draft picks, and their high payroll.
Washington Wizards
Team Overview
2006-2007 Regular Season: 41-41, 7th seed in Eastern Conference, Second in Southwest Division
This year’s line-up
PG Gilbert Arenas/ Antonio Daniels/ Donell Taylor
SG DeShawn Stevenson/ Antonio Daniels/ Jarvis Hayes/ Roger Mason
SF Caron Butler/ Jarvis Hayes/ Andray Blatche/ Mike Hall
PF Antawn Jamison/ Darius Songaila/ Andray Blatche/ Michael Ruffin
C Etan Thomas or Brendan Haywood/ Haywood or Thomas/ Michael Ruffin/ Calvin Booth
Antawn Jaminson has a player option for next season
Blatche, Hayes, Ruffin, Booth, Taylor and Mason are all free agents this off-season
Coming from overseas next year:
Oleksiy Percherov- PF, 6’11”, 220lbs, 21 years old, drafted 18th by the Wizards in the 2006 NBA Draft
Vladimir Veremeenko- PF, 6’11”, 235lbs, 22 years old, drafted 48th by the Wizards in the 2006 NBA Draft
Juan Carlos Navarro- PG, 6’3”, 170lbs, 26 years old, drafted 40th by the Wizards in the 2002 NBA Draft
Position Overview:
Guards:
The Wiz have one of the best PGs in the league with Gilbert Arenas who goes for 30+ points almost every game. Antonio Daniels played very well while Arenas was injured. He would not score as much but dished out the ball better and had more assists. This was not a big surprise because Gilbert is a score-first guard and he was the team’s first option. When Daniels was in, he would get assists by getting the ball to the better scorers. At Shooting Guard, Washington upgraded by going out and signing DeShawn Stevenson. DeShawn was the team’s best perimeter defender and gave Wizards more depth with Antonio Daniels coming off of the bench. Donell Taylor and Roger Mason are both young, decent off the bench, Taylor started some when Arenas was injured, and Mason averaged 6pts in the playoffs and can shoot lights out from behind the arc.
Forwards:
Small Forward Caron Butler made his first All-Star Game this year while averaging career highs in almost all of his stats. It seems that his prime will continue for some more years and he will continue to be a force in the NBA. At the Power Forward, Antawn Jamison was an All-Star last year and had good numbers again this year. He was out for part of the year though with a knee injury. While he was out, youngster Andray Blatche filled in nicely. The Wizards have some very nice forwards with the All-Stars and backups Jarvis Hayes, Blatche, and Darius Songaila.
Centers:
This is far and away Washington’s biggest weakness. Etan Thomas started off the season strong while, surprisingly, getting the majority of the minutes at center, but Thomas is only 6’9” and was injured early in the year. As the season went along Thomas and Brendan Haywood, who hate and have fought each other during multiple practices, ended up splitting the majority of the time. Injury-plagued Michael Ruffin also spent some time at center despite only being 6’8”.
Summary:
The Wizards love to shoot the three and everyone one the team can step out and knock down a three except for the four centers. The worst part of the team is their defence. The Wiz will go for 110 points on any given night, but the problem is holding their opponent under that number. If they could get a real center who can defend the paint and be at least somewhat respected offensively, they will easily become contenders in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards were the best team in the East at the All-Star Break but were plagued by injuries from then on they went down hill and were lucky to finish .500 (41-41). As long as the ‘Big Three’ or Arenas, Butler, and Jamison stay healthy the Wizards will always be a playoff team but will have trouble getting over the hump without a center. Look for Washington to draft a center and/ or sign one in the off season.
Charlotte Bobcats
Team Overview
2006-2007 Regular Season: 33-49, Fourth in Southwest Division
-This year’s line-up-
PG Raymond Felton/ Brevin Knight/ Jeff McInnis
SG Adam Morrison/Matt Carroll/Derek Anderson
SF Gerald Wallace/Alan Anderson
PF Walter Herrmann/Sean May/Othella Harrington
C Emeka Okafor/Jake Voskuhl/ Primoz Brezec/Ryan Hollins
Free-Agents of note: Wallace is restricted and Carroll is unrestricted. I’m assuming they bring back Wallace…they better. Carroll would be nice to have seeing as though he’s one of the reasons that they’re in such a favorable place, but we’ll see… They have some other contracts coming off the books next year too, I think, but I’m not really concentrating on the lower end guys as much.
Expendables (Guys that should be replaced or just cut): Derek Anderson, Othella Harrington, Primoz Brezec, and Ryan Hollins.
Coming from overseas next year:
Nobody. Potential D-League transactions featuring Ryan Hollins and Alan Anderson…
Position Overview:
Point Guard:
They have one of the best combinations of lead guards in the league if they decide to keep Brevin Knight as Raymond Felton’s backup next season. However, Felton and Knight absolutely have to shoot better from the field. Their combined sub-40% from the field is in no way helping this team even if their near 14 assists a game clearly are… If they do decide to keep Felton, the Bobcats are set at the point guard position and should not have to make any changes. However, McInnis was actually a nice contribution this year. Contrary to all of the character reports I’ve heard about him, he actually seemed to be a good guy on the court and off of it. If he wants back in on his small contract, I’d return him and let him occupy that third guard slot behind Felton and May. If it ain’t broke, Bernie and MJ, don’t fix it…
Shooting Guard:
This is the gaping, bloody hole in the heart of the Bobcats. Not only is their rotation at the 2 a little bit shaky to say the least, but they’re quite thin at the position as well. It is safe to say that the Morrison-Wallace experiment is over and Gerald will now get to keep working on becoming one of the best SFs in the league. Morrison, however, has his work cut out for him. He must work on his shooting, of course, but more importantly for the sake of his own playing time as well as the overall quality of the team, he must work on his defense. If he does not improve defensively, expect him not to get a second contract in Charlotte. Carroll silently turned into one of the better specialists in the league and then even quieter, he turned into one of the best 6th men in the league. He’s about as good as he is going to get and I hope that the Bobcats work to resign him because I could easily see him continuing his sixth man role next season, only with a better team on the second unit with him. Derek Anderson, while expendable, has said that he is interested in coming back. He is a positive veteran influence on a very young team, but he also plays very well for a guy as old as he is… If he continues to accept a pay cut, I say keep him. Unless, however, they finally draft a solid 2, in which case it is probably Anderson that is the first to go.
Small Forward:
Gerald Wallace has, in a span of two years, become one of the most feared Small Forwards in the NBA. He is the future of this franchise and once he continues to refine his offensive game, he is going to propel these guys into the playoffs as well as himself into the All-Star game. If they let him stay at his nature SF spot on offense, I think that the team will be better suited. He can guard whoever he wants to on the defensive end, but please for the love of the lord, let him play in position on offense. Herrmann definitely moonlights at the SF position, but I’ll include him at the PF. Alan Anderson looked very good after spending time in the D-League last season and I think he’s worth the risk. He’s the perfect long and athletic defender to replace Wallace for short periods during the game. His offensive game is also rapidly improving too leading me to believe that he will become exactly what Bernard Robinson failed so badly to become in his short stint as a Bobcat: the defensive-energy guy.
Power Forward:
While Herrmann was given Morrison’s role by the end of the season far too late, do not expect the Bobcats to minimize him any longer. He is an incredibly-talented shooter, but also a better-than-average defender who plays well with Wallace and Felton while still contributing with his heady play and rebounding. Sean May is a question mark. He looked good when he was playing, but can he stay on the court? I hope so because he has a lot of ability and his potential on the perimeter is tantalizing, especially the flashes he showed right before he went down with the injury. If May is healthy and they decide to keep him, then the Bobcats could use him as an integral part of their playoff run. Othella Harrington is one of the worst acquisitions in the history of the league and while bringing nothing to the team, eats up some valuable cap space, no matter how small.
Center:
Unlike most teams, the Bobcats have a pretty significant logjam at center. However, they also have a lot they can do with this logjam to suit their future needs. For one, Okafor really is more effective as a power forward. So I think the first thing they should do is make a run at either the top pick or one of the center prospects at the bottom of the first round. Okafor is an incredible defensive player whose offensive game is just far enough behind that it makes him a bit of a liability on the offensive end. If he can challenge his pre-All-Star break self, he’ll be an absolute monster next season. Him and Wallace together is also a frontcourt nightmare for opposing teams. I really like Jake Voskuhl as a player. He plays with intelligence and really gives all of himself on the boards. He is a more than adequate defender and his offensive game is looking better than ever. If he doesn’t mind getting a significant pay cut in the future, I think that he’s the perfect complimentary piece to this team. He’s the kind of guy you can build a second-unit around. Brezec was too tired to play this season and even if he wasn’t, he’s still the softest center in the history of the NBA. He contributes little and this season showed how expendable he is (That’s a hint, Bernie). Hollins is about as ready to contribute in the NBA as Sene and has about as much going for him on offense too. He’s one heck of a pogo stick, but little else. Does he even weight 200 lbs yet? If guys like Adam Morrison are projects than Hollins is a doctoral dissertation!
Summary:
The Bobcats need to focus on the following starting rotation:
It is absolutely essential that they find a way to allow Wallace and Okafor to play in position on offense because no matter how much of a defensive liability guys like Morrison are, it is more of a liability to not get any production out of the franchise players. Well, now that we’ve mentioned Wallace, it is more essential that they re-sign him. Give him a Josh Howard sized contract because the guy works as hard as any guy in the League and the effort has truly begun to show this season. If not for the injuries, he’d easily average around 20 and 9. I’d recommend drafting a shooting guard or a true center to strengthen the starting five. A bench consisting of Walter Herrmann, Matt Carroll (who also needs to be resigned), and Adam Morrison is not half bad at all. Plus, I see them making a major push at some free agents this summer. Guys like Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter could be major upgrades to improving the depth of this team. The Bobcats are a playoff team next year if they can stay healthy. Not only is the Southeastern Division a joke next season, but also the Bobcats have the heart and the talent to make a serious push in the post-season.
Last edited by wombat6802 : 05-05-2007 at 03:25 AM.
After having suffered a 13-69 season in 2004-205 and improving to a 26-56 season last year, this season the Hawks continued a slow progression and came away with a 30-52 season. The Hawks immediate future could actually revolve around the lottery draft as when they did a sign and trade for Joe Johnson from Phoenix in 2005, they gave the Suns a conditional future draft pick which is top 3 protected this year but unprotected next year. So with the Hawks being 4th in the current draft lists if they miss out on a top 3 lottery pick then it goes to Phoenix with the maximum potential benefit. The Hawks have been criticized for giving up a potential plumb pick but have ensured that they did protect themselves in the Oden/Durant sweepstakes. Of course if the Hawks did get 3rd pick they’d have the choice of taking Brandon Wright or maybe trading down the draft mindful that if they struggle next year, their pick will go automatically to Phoenix even as a potential number 1 pick thus handing Phoenix maybe Mayo or Rose.
Draft Options
For this review I’ll assume that Atlanta will choose 4th and will thus only have the 11th pick from Indiana, which they picked up with Al Harrington’s sign and trade. Looking at Atlanta’s line up, the biggest need is obviously for a PG and thus they must pursue Mike Conley Jnr as he is widely regarded as the best PG in this year’s draft. Conley Jnr is tipped to go around the Number 10 mark so Atlanta can surely pull off a trade to get into a position to draft him. They could potentially offer up one of their back-up PG’s maybe Tyron Lue or Salim Stoudamire to move up the draft. Speedy Claxton did a nice job mentoring Chris Paul in his debut year and given his longish contract would be hard to shift so would be retained as starting PG with a view to giving Conley Jnr a year from the bench or handing the roll on mid-season depending how Conley Jnr progresses. If the Hawks are unable to get Conley Jnr then Acie Law who projects out around 14th pick would be well within their range and could be developed along the lines I have described for Conley Jnr. Other players in their draft range may include Spencer Hawes who has a nice finesse game and would enable Wright or Pachulia to be potentially moved on and would provide a nice contrast to Shelden Williams’s strong presence on the paint. Tiago Splitter may slip into the Hawk’s range and would give them an NBA ready defensive role player and again an upgrade om Wright and Pachulia.
Salary Cap Issues
Atlanta are projected to have a salary level of $48 million next season plus whoever they draft thus perhaps giving room to sign a free agent as the salary cap level next season will be over $55 million and the luxury tax level in 2007-2208 will be pushing on towards $70 million so the Hawks could potentially pursue a top free agent. If they draft a young PG taking a run at Chauncy Billups or Mike Bibby would not balance up, if they decided to draft big then one of these could be on the radar. The other top free agents are likely to want to go to contending teams or are SG/SF’s of which Atlanta have a few. They have the chance to resign Josh Smith and Josh Childress this summer, given their age and upside, they will both be in line for nice contracts but with Marvin Williams then being due a contract renewal potentially in 2008 then the Hawks have to look at long term salary implications. Lue, Wright and Johnson will all be free agents in 2008 so there is potentially $9.5 million to play with. I’d guess that Josh Smith’s salary would be around $10 million per season over 4 or 5 years using the likes of Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince and Josh Howard as a rough guideline given Smith’s improvement this season. Childress who has progressed nicely and will be coming off a higher rookie salary would probably be given a 4 or 5 year deal averaging up to $7 million per season thus giving the Hawks room to resign Marvin long term when needed and extend Salim Stoudamire.
Depth Chart
Don’t resign Esteban Batista or Slava Medvedenko or Royal Ivey
C- Shelden Williams,Zara Pachulia, Antonine Wright
PF – Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, Solomon Jones
SF – Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Josh, Childress
SG – Joe Johnson, Josh Childress
PG – Speedie Claxton, Acie Law or Mike Conley Jnr, Salim Stoudamire Tyron Lue, Anthony Johnson,
Or
C –, Tiago Splitter or Spencer Hawes, Shelden Williams Zara Pachulia, Antonine Wright
PF – Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, Tiago Splitter,Solomon Jones
SF – Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Josh, Childress
SG – Joe Johnson, Josh Childress
PG – Speedie Claxton, Salim Stoudamire Tyron Lue, Anthony Johnson,
If they did pursue say Billups via free agency then maybe a sign and trade-involving Claxton could be done as Detroit would get something in return and Claxton could mentor for any young PG they draft.
I have 5 teams left that do not have an owner for this mock draft. Those are the Los Angeles Clippers, the Miami Heat, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz. If anyone else wants a second team, they are free to grab one of these. Otherwise, I may just fill in the blank and act as owner of all those teams, unfortunately.
i will release the lottery-pending schedule Friday, so as to give time to people who want to claim the last teams. I think it'd be best to do the draft as a "due by (date, time)" schedule. In essence, once the person in front of you drafts, you can pick anytime. SO, we could have 15 picks in one day, and if the #16 pick wants to wait a week to draft, he can do so (since the schedule is two picks per day). Make sense? I just thought it was too restrictive to force people to wait 11 hours and 59 minutes, just because the previous person drafted immediately.
let me know i will take any of those teams. since i already have the lakers i guess my first choice of a second team would be the clippers, but like i said i am not picky and will take any of them and if needed will take more than one more. if no one claims a second team instead of you having to take all 5 ecuhus we could split the remaining untaken.
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Jon Wyers Head Coach Villanova Prep/Assistant Athletic Director.
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