- Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose, Fr, G, Memphis.
Grade: B+
It’s hard to give this pick a real grade, because the choice between Rose and Beasley was pretty clear for Chicago all along. I’m still not sold on Rose being the “best talent available”, as Beasley consistently put up disgusting numbers despite constant triple teams, even going Barbra Walters (20-20) twice early in the season, but Rose was definitely the right pick for Chicago. For starters, he’s the safer of the two picks, but he still has Beasley’s Hall of Fame potential. With the exception of his one year in Memphis, he’s played in Chicago his entire life, and clearly cares more about leading the Bulls in the locker room than leading them in scoring. Most importantly, however, Rose is a true point guard, a commodity that is becoming almost a necessity for a team to have success in the League. It can even be argued that no team in the NBA that didn’t have either an elite point guard or a guy named Kobe or Lebron made a splash at all this year (and if you’re questioning my calling Rajon Rondo an elite point guard, just go back and look at some of June’s games- anyone who can be the best player on the court for an entire half during the Finals has to be considered an elite guy at his position). There’s a chance that Rose never develops a jump shot and, at 6-2, can’t create in the lane the way he could in college, but there’s just as good a chance he becomes Jason Kidd- if Jason Kidd had 4.5 speed and could dunk on anyone. My guess is the latter.
2 Miami Heat- Micheal Beasley, Fr, F, Kansas State.
Grade: B
This pick seems incredibly dumb given the fact that the Clippers were rumored to be offering the #7 pick and Elton Brand for Shawn Marion and the #2. Adding Brand to a healthy Dwyane Wade would have made the Heat instantly relevant again in the East, and they still would have had a high pick (and given how the Draft panned out, they still could have taken Jarred Bayless, whom they worked out and apparently really liked. Oops.) However, the Brand deal never materialized enough, publicly at least, to be considered a missed opportunity, and let’s not forget that Mike Beasley is an animal. If Marion sticks around, the Heat have two of the most athletic forwards in the league to run alongside DWade, which would allow them to speed up the pace against many teams the way Pat Riley used to do with some of the old Laker squads. But none of this has anything to do with why I like this pick. I like this pick because Ricky Davis and Mike Beasley are now on the same team. In Miami. Can it be written somewhere in both of their contracts that they have to be roommates next year? Imagine that as a reality show. It would be like Rob and Big meets Cops. David Stern might as well fine them both $500,000 and suspend them for 20 games just to get it out of the way. Thank God Beasley didn’t wind up in Minnesota or Seattle.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves- O.J. Mayo, Fr, G, USC (Traded to Memphis)
Grade: A-
(Note: I’m going to base my grade and thoughts from this draft on the decisions made post-trade instead of pre-trade. No point debating how Kevin Love is going to look in a Grizzlies jersey now)
This is a solid pick for two reasons: First, Mayo is one of the most NBA-ready guys from this draft, and the Memphis fan base is dying for something to smile about right away. They were already on the ledge after the Pau Gasol present, having to wait a few years for a less-established project might have sent them off of it. Second, the Grizz got rid of Brain Cardinal’s monster contract, which should give them some cap room for GM Chris Wallace to waste later on. This trade also gives the Grizzlies a really intriguing young backcourt of Mayo and former Ohio State standout Mike Conley. Conley is a true point guard who can get into the lane, and pairing him with Mayo allows O.J to play the two (his natural position) and be more of a jump shooter. If they can find a big man, the Grizzlies might actually have a decent future. Oh wait…it’s Memphis on the phone. They just offered my AAU team Conley and next year’s first rounder for one of our practice jerseys and a case of Gatorade. Never mind.
4. Seattle Supersonics- Russel Westbrook, Soph, G, UCLA.
Grade: A
Love this pick. Westbrook looks like a taller, stronger version of Rajon Rondo. He can step in right away and hold his own in the league. Westbrook is a rare breed of point guard in that he can be a physical, lockdown defender on the defensive end, and a smooth offensive facilitator on the other side of the ball. He will immediately take lots of ball handling pressure off of Kevin Durant (did you see Durant smiling after the pick was announced? He was smiling like the Enzyte guy), be a fan favorite, and help slow down the Chris Paul’s and Deron Williams’s of the league. Westbrook is one of the four guys in this draft that I can see being an integral piece to a championship team later down the line (the other three are Rose, Love, and Brandon Rush), and if the Sonics draft well next year (I think they’ll still be in the lottery for a year or two), they’ll have a really strong nucleus for the next 12 or so years.
5. Memphis Grizzlies- Kevin Love, Fr, F, UCLA. (Traded to Minnesota)
Grade: A-
There are a bunch of reasons to like this pick. Al Jefferson had a great season a the 5, but he’s much more comfortable as a power forward, so Minnesota almost had to get a big man with this pick in order to get the most of out of it’s star player. Love isn’t quite a center, but he’s a good fit because he’s much, much better than Brook Lopez, and his combination of strength and outside shooting helps the Timberwolves on both ends. On defense, he’s strong enough to help Jefferson out in the paint, and on offense, his shooting can spread the defense and give Al more room to maneuver down low. Also, there isn’t anyone better to show Love the ropes than Kevin McHale, another old-school 4 with a nice jumpshot, great footwork, but very little bounce. Let’s hope Love also starts wearing those hideous McHale/Bill Cosby/Notorious B.I.G sweaters. Then this trade would definitely be worth it.
6. New York Knicks- Danillo Gallinari, G/F, Italy.
Grade: C+
Forget the fact that the ratio of busts to contributors has probably been greater among European players than any other group of players (one-and-dones, college vets etc.) over the past five years of the draft. Forget the fact that Gallinari’s relationship with D’Antoni’s family will probably breed locker-room resentment more than anything. The main issue with Gallinari is that he’s just not athletic enough to guard small forwards in the NBA. The international players that have had the most success in the league have all possessed at least one quality that is elite by the standards of the entire world, not just the league in their home countries. Tony Parker is one of the quickest guards on the planet; Yao Ming is seven and a half feet tall; Manu Ginobili has world-class agility. You get the picture. True, Gallinari has had a lot of success in Italy, his attitude doesn’t seem to be an issue, but right now he’s not athletic enough to help the Knicks on either offense or defense. Gallinari shot a high percentage from outside while in Italy, but his shot is more of a set shot than a jumpshot. Gallinari was able to shoot over smaller 3s and 4s overseas, but I doubt he’ll be able to do the same over the likes of Ron Artest. Gallinari’s also not that quick, which mean’s he’ll have trouble both penetrating and locking down athletic forwards (even in Italy the defense would often slide over before her got to the rim, forcing him to throw up all sorts of leaning floaters which scouts seem to have gone ga ga for. Hint: if a guy has to shoot a high angled trick shot every time he takes it to the cup, it’s not because he’s a “creative finisher”- it’s because he can’t get to the rim). Don’t let his European background food you; he’s not a playmaking version of Dirk Nowitzki, he’s a less experienced Adam Morrison. But maybe I’m being a little harsh. Gallinari does have incredible guard skills for a guy his size, and if anyone can help him make the adjustment to the NBA, it’s D’Antoni. Let’s hope Knick fans can muster up some patience, but with the Yankees and Mets both struggling, don’t count on a miracle.
