Usually in this world of instant access and reaction, there would be a complete deconstruction of which professional sports teams won, lost, or crumbled with their draft picks. Nothing's different with regards to the NBA. The second after Phoenix selected power forward Dwayne Collins on June 24th, pundits were lauding and laughing at who took whom with what pick or why such and such team traded to that position on the draft board.
But this time around, things were a bit off. I mean, it's the summer of 2010. It's the year that franchises seemed less intrigued by the upside of a one-and-done and more fascinated by their opportunities to land, or hold on to, any of the free agent conglomerate. And Madison Square Garden seemed extremely apropos for this draft, with slots being switched on the same pace as commodities on Wall Street. In my mind, there was no real way to evaluate the draft lottery until the "All-Star" lottery got underway.
Now with the big pieces set up on the chessboard, we can peek a little more closely into how the Association's newbies will slip into their new role as millionaire ballers. Everyone will be searching for their faces of the organization, rough diamonds, and total busts. But out of the 30 guaranteed roster spots established in the first round, there were eight selections that got my brain working.
John Wall (No. 1 Pick)
Out of this class, you could probably say that 5-7 of these players will be starting from night one. Barring injury, Wall will be one of them. And it would be utter insanity to think he won't have an immediate impact with Washington. The point guard proved in his one year at Kentucky that his speed and fast break prowess is pro-ready. He comes from the John Calipari "guard" tree that has produced Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans.
Now, he goes from being the man at a legendary university to a hopeful savior for a snakebitten franchise. With the uncertain reliability of Gilbert, Wall will take up that "franchise player" mantle the minute he steps on the floor. It'll be interesting to find out how he fares against personnel that's constantly at, or above, his level.
Ekpe Udoh (No. 6 Pick)
Udoh started to really shine during the 2010 NCAA tournament, leading Baylor to its first Elite Eight appearance in sixty years. The athletic 6-10 forward will get to play in a more open style than he was used to in college. However, I don't think he'll have a lot of problems keeping up with the pace.
Golden State could really use his shot-blocking abilities, and you'd have to think that Don Nelson will use him to control the paint, especially when Andris Biedrins isn't canvassing the middle. With the acquisition of David Lee, the Warriors seem to be developing quite the front court presence. I'd expect Nelson to find a way to blend Udoh into that presence quite a bit.
Greg Monroe (No. 7 Pick)
I like the way Monroe plays. He's a big man who can handle the basketball, kick the rock outside or high-low, use some nimble footwork, run the break, and score pretty well from ten feet in. The problem is I don't think that's what the Pistons necessarily need.
For a team that is looking to rebuild quickly, they have quite a few perimeter and mid-range players. In my opinion, Detroit needs an anchor, and the roster as of this moment, doesn't really seem to have one. When I watched Georgetown play the last couple of years, it appeared that Monroe worked better in the flow of a break than in the slog of a set. It will be intriguing to see how coach John Kuester uses him.
Gordon Hayward (No. 9 Pick)
The darling of the NCAA tournament couldn't hit the shot to give Butler its first basketball title, but he may have hit the jackpot when landing in Salt Lake City. I thought the pick was a solid one for Utah on draft night. Now, it might be even better for the Indiana kid. Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver bolted. Wesley Matthews could be on his way west. And this might mean an increased role for Hayward.
It's nothing new for Jerry Sloan to lean on rookies to improve on the run. He basically did it last year with Matthews. And Hayward might be the 2010 incarnation. It's widely known that he has a sharp knowledge of the game and where to be on the floor. With the recent departures, and the health issues of Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, I expect Hayward to make a fairly instant contribution.
Cole Aldrich (No. 11 Pick)
Have the Thunder found their "center" piece? The former Kansas big man was traded to Oklahoma City right after being picked up by New Orleans. He was a consistent presence on a Jayhawks squad that was at the top of the college ranks for most of last season, and could be dominant in stages. It would make you believe that he can be more effective than five of the other centers on the roster (seven guys at 6-10 or taller, including a KU predecessor in Nick Collison).
The wrench in this whole equation might be another tall selection. The Thunder traded again during the draft, this time for seven-foot German Tibor Pleiss. At that stage of the proceedings, the organization may very well keep the 20-year-old across the Atlantic. But if Pleiss develops quickly, he may give Aldrich a run for his money.
Ed Davis (No. 13 Pick)
Chris Bosh has re-entered the confines of the United States. Now, the only league franchise north of the Canadian border is looking for the power forward's replacement. They're hoping that will come in the form of Davis, who took on more court time last season at North Carolina. While a physical specimen, Davis did have some trouble with his wrist late in the season.
The Raptors locked up Amir Johnson to a five-year deal a couple of days after Davis signed on the dotted line. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the rookie got his share of playing time. Bosh's shoes are extremely large ones to fill.
Avery Bradley (No. 18 Pick)
Maybe Boston knew that they would maintain the core of their NBA Finals team. They might have also known that Tony Allen would leave in free agency. Instead of looking for youth in the front court with their first chance of the Draft, the Celtics got Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo some backcourt help by taking the Texas freshman.
Bradley had a reputation coming into college as a fantastic scorer, but he appeared to struggle throughout parts of his only season with the Longhorns. While he wasn't the focal point of the squad, his 11.6 ppg don't flash scoring brilliance to me. It's very possible that sliding into T. Allen's role might give the C's a welcome punch off the bench, but I ultimately believe he could have used another year in the collegiate ranks.
Damion James (No. 24 Pick)
If there was a standout for that same Longhorn team Bradley was a part of, it's this guy. James was the budding star a couple of years ago, and blossomed slowly over his four-year career. He averaged a double-double in his last year of eligibility, and his dynamic athleticism could help the Nets right away (because let's face it, New Jersey needs any piece of help they can find).
With Chris Douglas-Roberts now settled in Milwaukee, James could be an instant contributor, and may even get a little edge in playing time over new teammate Derrick Favors (the third overall pick).
If the NBA draft only produced players in its first round, then I'd stop right there. However, there are some questions that can be raised with a few selections in the second stanza. Here are a couple of players taken between draftees 31-60 that might serve some purpose throughout the 2010-2011 campaign.
Dexter Pittman (No. 32)
Can this former Texas Longhorn (how many Longhorns are there in this draft?) provide needed minutes in the middle for the newly-formed Miami "Threet?"
Andy Rautins (No. 38)
Can this Syracuse sharpshooter flourish under Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun style in the Garden?
Luke Harangody (No. 52)
Will he provide more size under the basket for the Celtics or is he another incarnation of Glen Davis?
There's still a ways to go before the NBA landscape quiets down. But now that the "kings" and "bishops" of the offseason are in their respective squares, we can assess where the current collection of "knights" will fit into the picture.
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