NBA Draft

Shooting guards can be placed into two basic groups. I’ll call these groups the Jordans and the Millers. The Jordans would be your basic do-it-all SGs. They score 20+ PPG, but they’re also capable of grabbing 10 rebounds or passing out 10 assists on any given night. They play strong defense and could likely play some SF or PG if needed. Current and recent Jordans include Kobe, Wade, Brandon Roy, Larry Hughes, Joe Johnson, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie Jones, Jason Richardson, Mitch Richmond and Hersey … [Read more...] about NBA Draft 2009: Shooting Guards

I believe this is the 3rd or 4th year I’ve separated these combo guards. It used to be where I’d stick guards who just didn’t fit into one position or another. This year I’m limiting it to guards who are the size of a typical PG, but have played more like a SG. They’ve been scorers first and their history suggests they may have struggles playing PG.  I do this mainly because that’s what this position has become. … [Read more...] about NBA Draft 2009: Combo Guards

Sometimes I find the evaluation process a little baffling. It’s as if the scouts, GMs and other personnel men simply focus in on what goes on in the combine and workouts and ignore the season. As if they’re drafting players for a decathlon instead of the same five-on-five game these players were playing the previous winter. … [Read more...] about NBA Draft 2009: Point Guards

This is the quickie, post-lottery mock. I was actually hoping the T’wolves would win the lottery. They were the only potential winner that might have brought some drama to the top pick. But it went to the Clippers who actually might take advantage of this opportunity to end the futility that’s been the trademark of the franchise since leaving Buffalo. I want to say again that the weakness of this draft is pretty much limited to the big men. The perimeter players are actually a pretty deep group. … [Read more...] about NBA Draft Update

The 2009 draft remains shaky. I wouldn’t call it historically bad or anything like that. It suffers for two reasons. The first is it follows two pretty strong drafts. Most drafts would look weak compared to the ’07 and ’08 crops. The next is it’s strength is in wing players. Breaking the ’09 talent pool down into three basic groups of bigs, wings and points, I would say the bigs are extremely weak, the wings are strong and the points are slightly below average. The result of this will be many … [Read more...] about NBA Draft Update

Right now a good historical reference as to how the 2009 draft turns out might be the 1989 draft. This draft was weak at the top, but had some pretty good guards chosen later in round one. That’s a little how I think this one will end up. The draft is void of can’t-miss types, but is deep enough with wing players that I’m sure a sleeper or three will emerge from later in the draft.  I’ll list the prospects as I did last month. I feel it’s best to look draft prospects in this order: … [Read more...] about NBA Draft Update