Things We Liked, Things We Didn't Like And A Not Sure From The 2007 NBA Draft
By Walter DubowecLike you, we were glued to the big screen from seven o'clock to midnight watching the 2007 NBA Draft. It was an interesting evening, even though we expected more in the way of significant trades to occur. Here is what we liked and didn't like from the Draft.
Like: Our 2007 RaptorTalk Mock Draft proved to be quite accurate in the top end. We were 100% correct through the top five and were right on 8 of the top 11 picks.
Didn't Like: Gabe Pruitt fell to the second round as did Josh McRoberts. Both had first round potential. Our Mock was very wrong with both guys. We also though Tiagio Splitter's buyout would relegate him to the second round. Wrong again.
Like: Portland did a great job of rebuilding fast. Greg Oden is the real deal and will be an all-star very soon. Adding Channing Frye, Josh McRoberts and Taurean Green are nice moves. All are solid pieces. International players, Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Koponen will follow in a year or two. Nice move to dump Zach Randolph. Word is the Blazers will buy-out Steve Francis. Its all good!
The Steve Francis draft fiasco could potentially happen again with Yi and the Bucks
Didn't Like: Speaking of Steve Francis, didn't Milwaukee learn a lesson from the Grizzlies and their Francis Draft Fiasco back in the Vancouver days? Its not right, but if a guy doesn't want to play for you, then do yourself a favour and avoid him. Pick someone else, because either you get poor value back in a forced trade or you have an unhappy player in camp. I have no idea why Larry Harris drafted Yi Jianlian with Corey Brewer on the board. Now what do the Bucks do with Yi, Bogut, Villaneuva and Gadzuric?
Like: Seattle couldn't go wrong with Kevin Durant. But, to pick up another young stud in Jeff Green, while dumping the big salary of an aging Ray Allen was a stroke of genius for Lenny Wilkens! (I can't believe I just used the term 'genius' in the same sentence as 'Lenny Wilkens'!!!)
Didn't Like: We know what Danny Ainge is thinking - the Celtics don't need to get any younger. Having said that, grabbing Ray Allen is not the way to solve the problem. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are basically the same guy. I can't see how this is going to put Boston over the top. Maybe this trade is good for 4 or 5 more wins in each of the next few years, but that is hardly enough.
Like: Golden State did well to get Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli. Two more young guys who can play uptempo for Nelly will make this a fun team to watch.
Didn't Like: The Bobcats acquired Jason Richardson. Don't think he's what is needed in Charlotte. Last year Michael Jordan wiffed with Adam Morrison. This year he wiffed again with the Wright/Richardson trade. Go back to his wiff with the Kwame Brown pick and its clear that while MJ was a phenomenal player, he's a below average basketball executive.
Like: Bryan Colangelo essentially sat this one out with the exeption of the late second round acquisition of Giorgos Printezis from Greece (who has one year left on his Greek contract). Obviously, no deals were deemed worthy on draft day. Got to trust Bryan on his decision to stand pat.
Not Sure: Can't say whether the Knicks acquisition of Zach Randolph is a 'good thing' or a 'nothing'. On paper, it seems to be an upgrade. However, in the dysfunctional Knicks environment, this very well might be another one that doesn't work out as planned. This deal is tough to call.
Like: Free agent negotiation period starts on July 1st. The month of July promises to be full of free agent signings and big trades that will keep Raptor fans excited through the summer.
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