NBA Draft Report: Cutting the Malarkey

Report cards have never been a favorite of mine. Many of the marks I've received in the past have required me to justify the letter grade to my parents with some contrived and bumbling explanation.

NBA Draft grades, in my opinion, are quite similar. Though I'd be assigning the grades rather than receiving them, doling out scores to teams for their draft day moves would require me to pass immediate judgment on players that may need years to develop and others that I know nothing about (Chukwudiebere Maduabum?!?)

With that said, I marked this event on my calendar months in advance; it's simply against my nature not to fully scrutinize the draft. So I just cut out all the malarkey with the grades, predictions, and irrelevant selections and got down to some good old-fashioned speculating.


Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers had a pretty awful season in year 1 P.D. (Post-Decision) and despite making two of the top four picks, that is not likely to change drastically in 2011-2012 whenever NBA basketball resumes. Kyrie Irving was the safe pick at #1 and should be a solid piece to build around in the future. With the #4 pick the Cavs got their guy, Tristan Thompson, though the pick was widely considered a reach especially considering Thompson plays the same position as Cleveland's best young player, J.J. Hickson.

The Cavs addressed the frontcourt situation by shipping Hickson to Sacramento in return for Omri Casspi and the Rockets' 2012 first round pick. Still, a lineup of Irving, Anthony Parker, Omri Casspi, Antawn Jamison, and Anderson Varejao doesn't exactly strike fear in the heart of opponents. But, you've got to start somewhere I suppose. See you in the lottery next year.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Boneheaded draft night moves have come to define David Kahn's tenure as GM in Minnesota. On draft night, Kahn's kept things interesting by completing a whirlwind of trades but, in his defense, managed not to ruin the entire franchise in the process. The Wolves began with the 2nd and 20th picks, but by the end of the draft they had sent out Jonny Flynn (Kahn's #6 selection and the second of four guards taken merely two years ago) while adding Brad Miller, Derrick Williams, Malcolm Lee, and two future second rounders.

 If that sounds too good to be true for the infamous Kahn, it is. His obligatory blunder came as he bought the #57 pick to select Tanguay Ngombo out of Qatar. The only problem: Ngombo falsely stated his age as 21, when in fact he is 26 years old, thus making him too old to be eligible for the draft. A simple look at Qatar's national team roster would have confirmed his true age, but I suppose that would have been too much to ask. Oops!

Utah Jazz

Many experts are calling the Jazz the biggest winners in the draft, and I fully agree. Kanter doesn't necessarily fill a need but his selection provides a cheaper alternative to Millsap and Jefferson, which gives the Jazz the flexibility to trade one or the other for an established veteran. As for their #12 pick, Alec Burks gives Utah an athletic scorer whose skill set will complement CJ Miles and Gordon Hayward. I won't make too many bold predictions for this year's draft, but I do believe that Alec Burks will eventually become one of the elite players in the 2011 class. You heard it here first.

Washington Wizards

We'll hope this #6 overall pick nicknamed the Dunking Ninja turns out better than the last #6 pick and fellow Wizard known as the Dunking Ninja. (In fairness to Yi, I don't know if he's ever been called the Dunking Ninja, but he does bear a stronger resemblance to every ninja most ninjas than Vesely, so it's only logical.)

Charlotte Bobcats

Michael Jordan doesn't have the best track record when it comes to draft picks, so I'm hesitant to give him the benefit of the doubt on the trade up to get Bismack Biyombo. Biyombo averaged 6 points per game in the second division of the Spanish league, so I feel my skepticism is warranted. Yes, I am aware he recorded a triple-double at the Nike Hoops Summit, but the last African player (Mouhamed Saer Sene four years ago) with no offensive game whatsoever, that recorded double digit blocks in the Hoop Summit, and was selected in the lottery, is now playing for BCM Gravelines Dunkerque in France. Who? My point exactly.

Detroit Pistons

The Piston's were happy to have Brandon Knight fall to them at #8, but it was very apparent from his demeanor that he did not feel the same way about landing in Detroit. On the bright side, maybe he'll use that anger as motivation against opponents. At very least his tenure with the Pistons should be more productive than that of Darko Milicic.

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings landed the almighty Jimmer with the tenth selection, thus pairing him with Tyreke Evans in the backcourt. Though the two provide a sizable scoring threat, clearly there will not be enough shots available for Fredette and Evans to both hoist their desired amount. For the sake of the Kings, let's hope the new Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that the game be played with more than one ball. DeMarcus Cousins has been known to get quite aggravated even when he is getting touches, so I'd hate to see what materializes in Sacramento once their guards neglect to get him the ball.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors added Klay Thompson at #11, which would seem to signal that Monta Ellis is on the way out, though the team continues to deny they are shopping him. However, this could be an acknowledgment by the Warriors that they are incapable of playing defense and will instead focusing on trying to win games by allowing Ellis, Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Dorrell Wright rip as many three pointers as they can manage in 48 minutes. 

Denver Nuggets

As far as my research shows, none of the players the Nuggets added on draft night have any tattoos. It remains to be seen how this may effect their team chemistry.

Miami Heat

You may have heard that the Heat added the best player in Cleveland last summer yet still fell to the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Pat Riley's move to put them over the top? Add the next best player in Cleveland, Norris Cole. No word in yet on whether Cole will show up to play in the fourth quarter of tight games.

Court adjourned.

Birds of a Feather Mock Together

If you thought my associate Danny was going to be the only one at Court of Appeals to experience the incomparable joy of making a mock draft, think again. Less than 24 hours before David Stern announces the first selection at tomorrow's draft, I've got updated first round predictions based on the murmurs around the NBA over the past few days.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving (PG - Duke) At some point since the end of the tourney, Irving and Derrick Williams have both been favorites to go first to Cleveland, with Enes Kanter even getting some consideration. Over the past 72 hours it grew more likely that Irving would be the top pick, with Cleveland recently stating their intention to take Irving. My hope -- just for the sake of the drama -- is that the Cavs have been bluffing about Irving all along and end up taking Williams here, thus spurring this draft's greatest story line:

Notoriously illogical Minnesota GM David Kahn finally lured his 2009 selection, Ricky Rubio, to the States, creating a logjam at point with Jonny Flynn and Luke Ridnour already on the roster. Then, with Irving falling to him at #2, he is faced with the dilemma of drafting the team's fourth point guard or overlooking him to make a reach for Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, or Bismack Biyombo.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves - Derrick Williams (SF/PF - Arizona) Though Enes Kanter hasn't been tied to the T-Wolves hardly at all, today the NBA world has been buzzing about Minnesota's stated intention to take him at the #2 slot. When Derrick Williams worked out for Wolves' staff he was described as a "monster," so the recent news that Kanter would be the guy here is somewhat surprising. While Kanter would not be a bad pick for Minny, the chatter surrounding him is more likely an attempt to garner more interest from teams looking to trade up to the #2 pick. But, if Minnesota keeps the second pick, Derrick Williams has the slight edge.

3. Utah Jazz - Enes Kanter (PF/C - Kentucky) No team would be happier than the Utah Jazz if the Timberwolves' interest in Kanter is genuine. Derrick Williams would give the Jazz just what they need in an hard-nosed, athletic combo forward who can step outside at shoot also. That being said, if he is off the board, the debate at #3 becomes Enes Kanter vs. Brandon Knight. While Knight fills more of a need for the Jazz, the reports are that they plan to take the best player available regardless of position, which is Kanter in this case.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jonas Valanciunas (C - Lithuania) The Cavs would like to see Kanter available here, but that seems unlikely at this stage of the game. Cleveland reportedly likes Valanciunas' game, but is hesitant about waiting one or more years for him to play in the NBA because of the contract situation with his Lithuanian club team. In a perfect world, the Cavs would have their franchise point guard (Irving) and their fourth pick playing immediately and developing alongside one another. For that reason, Cleveland is reportedly also considering Tristan Thompson at this pick. In the end, I believe they will make the sacrifice of waiting in order to get the better prospect in Valanciunas.

5. Toronto Raptors - Brandon Knight (PG - Kentucky) Jose Calderón has had some success in Toronto, at least in terms of his own statistics, but at 30 years of age he does not appear to be in the team's future plans. Knight displayed considerable talents throughout his freshman campaign at Kentucky, highlighted by a series of clutch performances in the postseason, and the Raptors believe that his length, skills, and defense will allow him to be a part of the team's core moving forward.

6. Washington Wizards - Jan Vesely (SF/PF - Czech Republic) Tristan Thompson is also getting consideration at #6, but the consensus seems to be that the Wiz will take Vesely here. He is known for being a high-flyer who likes to get out in transition, which is music to the ears of the Wizards management as long as John Wall is at the helm. If we learned anything from Tyson Chandler's tenure playing with Chris Paul, any athletic player can be dominant when his point guard knows where to get him the rock. Let's just hope for the Wizard's sake that this pick doesn't turn out like their last Eastern European project.

7. Sacramento Kings - Kemba Walker (PG - Connecticut) Sacramento has a lot of options with this pick including Jimmer, Kawhi Leonard, Tristan Thompson and Kemba. The Kings have been relegated to the lottery each of the past five seasons and in order to prevent this team from relocating they could use a player that could help them win immediately. The Tyreke Evans experiment at point guard has seemingly failed and Kemba could be just the solution. There are questions about Walker's ability as a pure point, much like Evans, but the Kings would have the luxury of putting them both on the floor to play point guard by committee.

8. Detroit Pistons - Tristan Thompson (PF - Texas) The Pistons would prefer to add a point guard, as they are not committed to Rodney Stuckey as a part of this team's core. However, at the #8 pick three top PGs (Irving, Knight, and Walker) will likely be unavailable. There is also a need and power forward and the accepted theory is that the PFs available at 8 are more valuable than the point guard they might be able to select (perhaps the fabled Jimmer.) Marcus Morris is also in the mix here, but Tristan Thompson's upside is enough to entice the Pistons to take him instead.

9. Charlotte Bobcats - Marcus Morris (PF - Kansas) Supposedly, the Bobcats are targeting one particular player with the #9 selection, and if he is unavailable they will look to move the pick. Though the have kept quiet just who it is that they seek, Marcus Morris is a distinct possibility. Morris' game is similar to current Charlotte forward Tyrus Thomas, but his versatility and ability to play on the wing could fill the void left in the aftermath of the mid-season Gerald Wallace trade.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Alec Burks (SG - Colorado) Milwaukee is looking for a player to replace Michael Redd, as it appears his career --at least with the Bucks -- is over. The Bucks will eye sharpshooter Klay Thompson as well, but it is Burks' ceiling that makes him more enticing. Burks already proved he is a great scorer (over 20 PPG in the Big XII) that needs to add strength, but his skill set could allow him to be one of the best NBA players from this draft class a few years down the road.

11. Golden State Warriors - Klay Thompson (SG - Washington State) It is no secret that the Warriors covet Thompson at #11, and assuming he is still on the board they should waste no time selecting him. In college, Thompson faced tight defense and double teams as WSU's primary ball handler/scorer, but in Golden State's system, Thompson should get better looks as scorers Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry force the defense to collapse.

12. Utah Jazz - Jimmer Fredette (PG/SG - BYU) Utah's fan base already had the pleasure of experiencing "Jimmer-mania" throughout BYU's 2010-11 run, but in this case the rich get richer and Jimmer stays in town. He fulfills a few separate needs for the Jazz: a point guard, a shooter, and a jersey-selling machine.

13. Phoenix Suns - Chris Singleton (SF/PF - Florida State) On a team that could use some toughness on the wing and in the frontcourt (sorry, Vince Carter and Channing Frye) Singleton provides just that. Grant Hill won't keep playing forever (we think) and Chris Singleton could be a serviceable backup until he is ready to take the reins. Markieff Morris is another tough forward that could be in play with this pick.

14. Houston Rockets - Bismack Biyombo (PF - Congo) Houston is not without depth on their roster, but they lack a true star. All signs point Rockets' trading this pick for more established veterans, however if they do retain #14, Biyombo is an an option that immediately provides defense, rebounding, and hustle. With Hasheem Thabeet and Biyombo out on the floor, they should theoretically be able to block every shot in sight (though the Rockets would probably have to be down by 30 to put those two on the court together.)

15. Indiana Pacers - Kawhi Leonard (SF - San Diego State) Because of his versatility, athleticism, and size, Leonard will get looks as high as Toronto at 5. However, he is a player that I have slipping out of the lottery because of his perceived lack of offensive potential. Teams don't doubt his ability to be a contributor to in the NBA for seasons to come, but with a top selection most GMs would like to take a player with a higher ceiling.

16. Philadelphia 76ers - Donatas Motiejunas (PF/C - Lithuania) In contrast to Kawhi Leonard, Donatas Motiejunas is a player with one of the highest ceilings in the whole draft. He is a 7-foot tall player with an advanced skill set, but his intensity and strength remain big question marks. Motiejunas likely suffers from the fact that he has been on scouts' radars for much longer than other Euro prospects (Biyombo, Vesely, Valanciunas) and thus has had his weaknesses picked apart. He would still be a great value pick for the Sixers at #16, especially after being in the top 5 conversation before pulling out of the draft last year.

17. New York Knicks - Markieff Morris (PF - Kansas) The Knicks are lucky enough to have Amar'e Stoudemire under contract. But beyond that, their front line is as follows: Jared Jeffries, Shelden Williams, and Ronny Turiaf. Needless to say, they need to improve in the post. The elder Morris twin (by 7 minutes) can step in and provide intensity, rebounding, and the occasional bucket without taking shots from more offensively-adept teammates Amar'e, Carmelo, and Billups.

18. Washington Wizards - Tobias Harris (SF/PF - Tennessee) For a team looking to rebuild with youth in the post-Agent Zero era, they may be inclined to take the 18-year-old combo forward out of Tennessee. In his one season in Knoxville, Harris showed a variety of skills that make him intriguing to teams picking in the latter half of the first round. His basketball IQ is a strength that will be needed in Washington.

19. Charlotte Bobcats - Iman Shumpert (PG - Georgia Tech) After letting Raymond Felton go in favor of his protegé, D.J. Augustin, the Bobcats have seemingly soured to the idea of him as the lead guard of the future. Iman Shumpert has tested incredibly well athletically leading up to the draft and there is no doubt he can handle the rock, but his decision making has been the main slight on his game. With hyper-athletic points such as Rose and Westbrook taking over the sport, Charlotte can they will turn Shumpert's strengths into on-court production.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves - Nikola Vucevic (PF/C - USC) Like Iman Shumpert, Vucevic was another player who benefitted tremendously from the draft combine. In his case, it was the measurements, not the athleticism testing, that played to the Serbian big man's advantage. He measured in at 6'11.75" in shoes, with a 7'4.5" wingspan and 9'4.5" standing reach. For a team that already has Kevin Love controlling the boards down low, they do not need another traditional banger in the post. Vucevic can stretch the defense with his shot and also has the ability to create with his back to the basket.

21. Portland Trailblazers - Kenneth Faried (PF - Morehead State) Portland has no shortage of players that can put the ball in the hoop, but they could certainly use a player like Faried whose sole purpose on the court is to defend and rebound. I'm sure Portland wishes they had Greg Oden to do just that, but as he heads into free agency they will look to find a player that can contribute on the glass to complement budding star LaMarcus Aldridge.

22. Denver Nuggets - Jordan Hamilton (SF - Texas) With J.R. Smith likely leaving Denver in free agency, they will look to replace his offensive productivity. Smith brought size and outside shooting to the table and for the most part that is what they would be receiving in Hamilton. For a team looking for another scoring threat Marshon Brooks and Jordan Hamilton are in the picture here, with Hamilton ultimately winning out based on his future potential.

23. Houston Rockets - Marshon Brooks (SG - Providence) One thing is certain about Marshon Brooks: he can score the basketball. After being the sole focus of opposing Big East defenses on a weak Providence team, he still managed to lead the conference in scoring, ahead of Kemba Walker and Ben Hansbrough. For a team like the Rockets with no glaring holes to fill, Brooks could get picked simply as the best player still on the board.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder - Reggie Jackson (PG - Boston College) The Thunder could use an offensive-minded post to alleviate the pressure on Westbrook, Harden, and Durant to score, but it appears the Thunder plan to address another area. Rumor has it that the Thunder have made a promise to draft Jackson if he is available at #24. OKC is apparently shopping backup PG Eric Maynor (perhaps for another big) and Jackson could fill Maynor's role behind Westbrook.

25. Boston Celtics - Tyler Honeycutt (SG/SF - UCLA) With this pick, the Celtics have the choice of either addressing their need at power forward and center or on wing. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce aren't getting any younger, and it became clear with the Jeff Green trade that GM Danny Ainge is looking to add more youth to the wings to succeed Allen and Pierce. Unlike Green, Honeycutt has shown the ability to be an explosive scorer at times, though he lacked consistency throughout his two years at UCLA. He is a player with high upside though, and could be worth the risk so late in the first round.

26. Dallas Mavericks - Jeremy Tyler (PF - USA) Jeremy Tyler has had quite the circuitous road to the NBA draft after skipping his senior year of high school to play in Israel and then Japan. Despite concerns about his attitude, the fact remains that he has one of the best packages of size and skill of any big man in the in the draft, especially from a player his age. As reigning champions, the Mavericks can afford to take a chance on Tyler though he may need to step in earlier on if they are unable to sign Tyson Chandler (very unlikely.)

27. New Jersey Nets - Justin Harper (PF - Richmond) New Jersey has one more season with Deron Williams to convince him that he should remain with the Nets. For that to happen they will have to make substantial progress towards becoming a contender in the Eastern Conference, and the first step is drafting a player ready to contribute. At #27 there are plenty of projects available (Nikola Mirotic and Davis Bertans, to name a few) but the Nets will want to take a proven college player like Harper with NBA shooting ability to provide immediate help.

28. Chicago Bulls - Davis Bertans (SF/PF - Latvia) If there is anything that the Bulls learned from watching the Finals, it is that they need some shooters to spread the floor. They will surely address that in free agency, but may also choose to do so with one or both of their first round selections. Bertans is only 18 and will need time to develop overseas, but scouts recognize that his shooting ability is elite and therefore believe he is worth the wait.

29. San Antonio Spurs - JaJuan Johnson (PF - Purdue) Tim Duncan's run as an elite power forward is coming to a close, and he needs a successor in San Antonio. JaJuan Johnson is already a polished post player who was able to leader Purdue to considerable success throughout his four seasons in West Lafayette. With a few years playing understudy to Duncan and Tiago Splitter, Johnson could be the next great find for general manager R.C. Buford and the Spurs.

30. Chicago Bulls - Nolan Smith (PG - Duke) Should Darius Morris fall to #30, he and Norris Cole are options here, but I see Chicago going with a more versatile player with the final pick of the first round. Nolan Smith is a fierce competitor that has also shown the ability to play off the ball, which could be a positive for the Bulls, who have a surefire star already at point in MVP Derrick Rose.

Court adjourned.

Draft Camp Champs

by Connor Witt

Marshon Brooks SG, Providence - Coming into the combine, GMs already knew that Brooks could score the ball. His 24.6 points per game were tops in a loaded Big East conference that sent eleven teams to the tourney. The questions surrounding Brooks centered on his ability to play shooting guard at the next level because of his height and athleticism. Brooks, like the vast majority of players projected to be drafted, skipped out on the athleticism drills but made an impression when he measured at 6'5.25" in shoes with a 7'1" wingspan. Those specs should allow him to be considered a legitimate NBA 2-guard and give him some leeway for his perceived lack of explosiveness.

Enes Kanter PF/C, Kentucky - At the Chicago combine Kanter proved that he has the size to play center in the league, measuring out at 6'11.25" in shoes. Weighing in at 259 pounds was expected for Kanter, but the remarkable 5.9 percent body fat that he registered was a welcome surprise for teams selecting at the top of the draft. To put that figure in perspective, it was leaner than Josh Selby (7.9%), Shelvin Mack (7.1%) Tristan Thompson (6.2%), and equal to Kemba Walker. Kanter was already projected as a top 5 pick, but his figures and impressive performance in drills could have caused him to jump up to number 2 had Derrick Williams not measured out equally well.

Derrick Williams SF/PF, Arizona - The aforementioned Williams has been insistent that he projects as an NBA small forward since he declared for the draft. Though it is unknown how his future team will put to use his unique blend of skills and athleticism, his measurements suggest he could easily play the power forward should he need to. His 6'8.75" height is ideal and his 9'0"standing reach is a full three inches better than Blake Griffin managed in 2009. Regardless of which spot on the court he plays, his combine results display that he will be fully capable physically.

Nikola Vucevic PF/C, USC - Vucevic suffered from the Pac-10's mediocrity this season, as he failed to gain national recognition despite his statistics. But no player at the draft combine in Chicago did more to help his stock this week than Vucevic. His 6'11.75" in shoes was the tallest of any prospect projected to be drafted and his 9'4.5" standing reach also ranked atop the field. The impressive measurements coupled with Vucevic's advanced skillset for a player of that size make him an intriguing option for teams picking later in the first round.

Court adjourned.

Draft Outlook in a Lockout Year

by Connor Witt

The memorable. The outrageous. The surprising. The boneheaded. The NBA Draft has had it all.

In 2011, there’s no promise in that we’ll get to witness a prospect relegated to the green room as long as Rashard Lewis or a draft day suit to rival Jalen Rose’s red pinstriped number. But it is certain to be particularly interesting because of the NBA’s outlook for next year.

“Labor Uncertainty.” It’s every NBA pundit’s favorite phrase when looking ahead to the 2011 offseason. But let’s not beat around the bush, everyone and their sister knows that a lockout is on the horizon. We don’t know if it will swallow a whole season, but it is universally accepted that the 2011-12 season will not be the full 82 games. One effect of the lockout has already become apparent from the field of early entrants. Freshman standouts and lottery prospects Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, and Perry Jones have all spurned the league to return for their sophomore campaigns. For those elite players, the choice to stay in school merely means deferring the millions they stand to make. But as a result of their decisions, a wave of second-tier players have entered an already weak draft. To this second group – unproven talents like Tristan Thompson, Tyler Honeycutt, and Tobias Harris – this year’s draft provides a unique opportunity to receive the coveted guaranteed contract that comes with being a first rounder, even if they have to wait a year to see a paycheck.

Another result: with the threat of a lost season, NBA teams will be even more inclined to spend a pick on a foreign project that can continue to improve overseas. As my fellow draftaholics know, this is a recipe for the awkward mispronunciations that David Stern has made into an art form. Just imagine: Donatas Motiejunas, Jan Vesely, Jonas Valanciunas, Nikola Mirotic, and my personal favorite, Bismack Biyombo all in the first round. Magical. Whether or not this draft class possesses the potential to succeed in the league, there is no doubt it has the potential to produce a record number of Stern fumbles and stumbles.