By TheGuru8700, Section NBA
Posted on Wed Jul 04 2007 at 1:16 PM EST 
More on: NBA Draft, Winners & Losers (all tags)
Team By Team Breakdown of Picks
This year's NBA draft was considered to be one of the deepest we've seen in a long while. Normally I'd disagree with the experts and Jay Bilas, but this time they were right. The new age limit rule has made all of these young kids go to someone's college for at least a year and play against some better competition. But no matter how deep a draft might be, some teams will still find a way to screw up their draft night and their franchise's future. Here is a report card of the winners and losers from last Thursday night.
Atlanta Hawks - B+ (Picks: Al Horford, 6-9 F, Acie Law IV, 6-4 G)
Taking Horford number three was a no-brainer. He brings his game every night and will be a force on both ends of the court. Law IV will give the Hawks some scoring punch in the backcourt with Joe Johnson. Nice one-two, inside-out combo the Hawks got here.
Boston Celtics - D (Picks: Glen Davis, 6-8 F, Gabe Pruitt, 6-4 G)
Danny Ainge should be beaten, stoned, trampled, shot, tarred, feathered, and hung. How could he possibly pull the trigger on a deal that sent Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Jeff Green to Seattle for the ever-injured and almost retired Ray Allen and Big overweight Baby Glen Davis?
Charlotte Bobcats - B- (Picks: Jared Dudley, 6-7 F, Jamereo Davidson, 6-11 F)
MJ actually made some nice moves on draft night. Getting J-Rich through a trade will give the Bobcats some consistent scoring on the perimeter and drafting Jared Dudley will give them someone who will play bigger than he is and work hard.
Chicago Bulls - C- (Picks: Joakim Noah, 6-10 F/C, Aaron Gray, 7-1 C, JamesOn Curry, 6-3 G)
I'm not a big fan of the Joakim Noah pick. He's a less athletic Tyrus Thomas. The Bulls need a low post scoring threat, and no matter how funny Yannick's son looks, he still can't score. Also, the Aaron Gray pick doesn't make my toes tingle either.
Cleveland Cavaliers - F (Picks: None)
The Cavs not having a pick in the deepest draft in years is just another reason why last season's success will be a flash in the pan.
Detroit Pistons - B+ (Rodney Stuckey, 6-4 G, Aaron Afflalo, 6-6 G, Sammy Meijia, 6-7 G)
I love what the Pistons did in this draft. Taking Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo gives Detroit some much needed youth and talent on their backcourt. Afflalo will probably have a more immediate impact as he can take on the other team's best player every night.
Dallas Mavericks - C (Picks: Nick Fazekas, 6-11 F, Renaldis Seibutis, 6-6 G, Rayshawn Terry, 6-8 G)
Can you believe that the Mavs drafted someone to replace Austin Croshere? However, trading to get Rayshawn Terry beefs up their defense and gives them someone who can score in bunches.
Denver Nuggets - F (None)
Denver could have used a solid point guard prospect, but they are playing to win now instead of later.
Golden State Warriors - D (Picks: Brandan Wright, 6-10 F, Marco Belinelli, 6-6 G, Stephane Lasme, 6-7 F)
After Chris Mullin pulled off that "two white guys for two black guys trade," I regarded him as the best GM in sports. But after he gave up a proven athletic shooter for a young kid whose talent ceiling is "a more athletic Marcus Camby", I've lost all respect for him. I feel bad for the Warriors fan...
Houston Rockets - B- (Picks: Aaron Brooks, 6-0 G, Brad Newley, 6-7 G, Carl Landry, 6-7 F)
I'm not so sure about the Aaron Brooks pick. Houston just got Mike James and they still have Skip to My Lou. Houston really doesn't have any glaring holes; they just need to find out how to get out of the first round of the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers - F (Picks: Stanko Barac, 7-1 C)
Congratulations to the Pacers for getting the next international player for Stephen A. to rag on. Can't you just picture it now, "Quite frankly, I don't understand what Indiana was doing! When you get a guy named Staaaankko, you asking to be terrible"
Los Angeles Lakers - D+ (Picks: Javaris Crittenton, 6-5 G, Sun Yue, 6-9 F, Marc Gasol, 7-0 F/C)
I'm especially hard on the Lakers because of my allegiance to this once storied franchise. The Crittenton pick was a little questionable due to the LA taking Farmar last year. Also, I'm not a big fan of Asian players whose name isn't Yao Ming. And drafting Pau Gasol's brother is like saying your dating Selma Hayek's less hot, chubby, bow-legged, uni-browed sister.
Los Angeles Clippers - C+ (Picks: Al Thornton, 6-7 F, Jared Jordan, 6-2 G)
I like the Thornton pick. He could give Elton Brand some much needed help on the block and on the boards. Also, with Shaun Livingston rehabbing his leg and Sam Cassell being about 82 years old, JJ could come in and get some early playing time.
Memphis Grizzles - B (Picks: Mike Conley Jr., 6-1 G)
Getting Conley was big for the Grizz. They lacked a true point guard who could distribute the ball and breakdown the defense. He will give them some leadership and bring a winning attitude. Plus he's still paired up with a big man in the low post.
Miami Heat - C- (Picks: Daequan Cook, 6-6 G)
The Heat have a history of making some questionable draft night decisions, must I remind you of the Martin Mursepp or Khalid Reeves? First they took Jason Smith, and then they traded him to Philly, the team that picked directly after them, for Daequan Cook. Some Heat scouts are saying they see Cook as a younger, more athletic Voshon Leonard. Either way, he won't get to play.
Milwaukee Bucks - C (Picks: Yi Jianlian, 7-0 F, Ramon Sessions, 6-4 G)
Yi Jianlian said that he wanted to go to a city that had a large Asian population. And when you think Asian population, you think... Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
Minnesota T'Wolves - C+ (Picks: Corey Brewer, 6-7 F, Chris Richard, 6-9 C)
I always thought that Corey Brewer would end up being the best pro out of the Florida Four. He's one of those new hybrid forwards, who can carry a team on offense one night and carry them on defense the next night. If he puts on about 15 to 20 lbs, he can be a career 20, 6, and 6 guy. And Richard gives them a young frontline guy who will come in and work hard.
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets - B (Picks: Julian Wright, 6-7 F, Adam Haluska, 6-5 G)
I think Julian Wright is going to pan out to be a great pro. He has a chip on his shoulder to play well, plus he will bring some toughness and athleticism to the team.
New Jersey Nets - B (Picks: Sean Williams, 6-10 F)
Sean Williams is the steal of the draft. Though his rating for possible criminal debauchery is high, his potential to be an all-star within three years is through the roof.
New York Knicks - B- (Picks: Wilson Chandler, 6-8 G)
The Knickerbockers get more praise for what they got through a trade. Bringing in an instant 20 and 10 in Zach Randolph to pair up with Eddy Curry was brilliant. Randolph will play with a chip on his shoulder and can dominate most Eastern conference fours. And I've always been a fan of Dan "Whip Your" Dickau...
Orlando Magic - F+ (Picks: Milovan Rakovic, 6-10 F)
The Magic are probably going to make a bigger splash during the free agency period than they did in the draft. If they can bring in a guy who can give them some consistent perimeter scoring and attack the basket to pair with Dwight Howard, watch out.
Phoenix Suns - C- (Picks: Alando Tucker, 6-5 G, D.J. Strawberry, 6-5 G)
The Suns either draft a couple of players or dump all of their picks. But with who they drafted, they might as well have given the picks away. Strawberry isn't a Suns type of player; he's a tough, hustling guard who isn't exactly known for his shooting touch. Tucker probably won't be able to crack the lineup either.
Philadelphia 76ers C (Picks: Thaddeus Young, 6-8 F, Jason Smith, 6-11 F, Derrick Byars, 6-7 F, Herbert Hill, 6-10 F)
Philly is still irrelevant. Thad will give them some youth and talent, but he's not enough to make them worth watching.
Portland Trailblazers - A+ (Picks: Greg Oden, 7-0 C, Rudy Fernandez, 6-5 G, Josh McRoberts, 6-9 F, Taurean Green, 6-2 G, Petteri Kopenon, 6-4 G, Demetris Nichols, 6-8 F)
I love what the Blazers did in this draft; they gave their roster a complete overhaul. Getting Oden is of course big. But bringing in Channing Frye and Stevie Franchise was humungous. Keep in my mind that Stevie had his best years when he was teamed with a young talented big man. And they got a couple nice international prospects to stash or trade later.
Sacramento Kings - C- (Picks: Spencer Hawes, 7-0 C)
The Kings are a team in flux right now. Hawes only answers a few of their needs. He'll learn how to not grab rebounds and how to not guard anyone from Brad Miller. But Brad can teach him how to slide his way onto an Olympic team...
San Antonio Spurs - B (Picks: Tiago Splitter, 7-0 F, Marcus Williams, 6-7 F)
Surprise, surprise, the Spurs took another international guy. But if anyone knows how to pick em' it's San Antonio. Let's see how good this one will be.
Seattle Sonics - A (Picks: Kevin Durant, 6-10 F, Jeff Green, 6-9 F)
The Sonics were just latest beneficiaries of Danny Ainge's idiocy. Durant will average over 20 points per game this season and Jeff Green will take care of all of the dirty work. You know, like playing defense and hustling...
Toronto Raptors - F (Picks: Giorgos Printezis, 6-9 F)
Toronto is young and talented sure, but they could've used a shooter to stretch the defense and free up Chris Bosh.
Utah Jazz - B (Picks: Morris Almond, 6-6 G, Kyrylo Fesenko, 7-1 F)
The Jazz needed a guy they could perch on the three point line and have launch shots to open things up for Boozer and D-Will. Almond is probably the best pure shooter in this draft and he's big enough to get his shot off against bigger defenders, so if he buys into Jerry Sloan's defensive philosophy expect him to play early and often.
Washington Wizards - B (Picks: Nick Young, 6-7 G, Dominic McGuire, 6-9 F)
By taking Young, the Wizards got someone who can score the ball with some consistency in case they lose Agent Zero either to injury or free agency. Young can also play off the ball with Hibachi and company and give the Wiz another scoring threat.
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