Draft Day Winners, & Losers

Well the draft is over the dust has settled down the trades are finalized, and the rookies have all been introduced to their new teams. So who were the big winners in this year’s draft, who were the big losers, and which teams is it just to soon to call.

Winners

Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats were one of the big winners in this year’s draft, and it’s basically because the magic gave it to them. With the second pick, the Bobcats were able to take Emeka Okafor, the most NBA ready player in the draft. Okafor should be able to give them 20 and 10 and perhaps lead them out of the worst team in their division. They also picked up Bernard Robinson in the second round. He’s long and athletic, just the kind of guy Charlotte wants.

Washington Wizards: The Wizards became draft day winners by trading their pick. In the East, where size and skill are at a minimal a guy like Antwan Jamison should clean up and be an All Star. Plus they used their second round pick to get Peter John Ramos. Ramos, a 7’3 center from Puerto Rico, should have gone just after the lottery but somehow slipped to 32.

Dallas Mavericks: The Dallas Mavericks were truly the draft day winners. They took 1 bench player (Antwan Jamison) and a future first round pick and turned it into enough players to field a competitive team in the east. In return for Jamison the Mavericks received Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner, and the number 5 pick in the draft. With the number 5 pick they chose debatably the best point guard in Devin Harris, and were then able to get the steal of the draft, the 7’5 center, Pavel Podkolzine for a future first round pick. To round out the 5 the Mavericks chose Luis Flores a shooting guard from Manhattan with the fifty-fifth pick.

Losers

Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics needed one thing in this draft, big men. Yet they passed on guys like Paval and Ramos, choosing instead Al Jefferson, a 6’8 high school kid who is years away from contributing. Then they used there next three picks to take more guards, Delonte West at 24, Tony Allen at 25, and Justin Reed at 40. Since Danny Ainge took over this club has been doing some crazy things, but this takes the cake.

Los Angles Clippers: Now a lot of people may disagree with me on this, and its true Shaun Livingston, whom the Clippers chose with the forth pick, is full of potential, but its just going to take him to long. The Clippers have been drafting on potential for years, they finally have a team built that’s ready to win, they just needed a solid point, instead they chose to wait 4 more years for Livingston. By the time Livingston is ready, the rest of the team will be gone, and Livingston will chose to leave as well.

Orlando Magic: The Orlando Magic are the big losers in this years draft by choosing the high school star Dwight Howard with the number 1 pick over Emeka Okafor. They also traded for Jameer Nelson, one of the top three point guards in the draft, giving up a future first round pick. But by choosing Howard over Okafor, there is no way they can convince T-Mac to stay. So no matter what else you do, making the decision that will cost you McGrady makes you the draft day loser.

To Soon to Tell

Phoenix Suns: The Suns drafted Luol Deng, and then traded him to the Chicago Bulls for a future first round pick. They did this in an attempt to free up money to make an offer to Kobe Bryant this summer. We wont know if this was a good decision until we find out if they get Kobe, and how good Deng will be.

Portland Trail Blazers: Portland shocked us all when they chose Sebastian Telfair, a high school point guard with the 13th pick instead of Jameer Nelson. Perhaps they know something we don’t. They were also able to pick up Ha Seung Jin, a 7’4 Korean center, late in the second round. Jin doesn’t know a basketball from a turnip, but he’s built like a tree, and with his size you never know.

Chicago Bulls: The Chicago Bulls drafted a Ben Gordan, a 6’2 point guard out of Ucon. They then traded a future first rounder for the right to Luol Deng, a seventh pick. The big question mark for the Bulls is can they train Gordan to play at the 2-guard position despite his small size. Also how long will it take for Deng to get into NBA shape.