NBA Draft: First Round Grades
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by user NBA Draft Blog
1. TORONTO: ANDREA BARGNANI: If he is as dynamic an offensive player as his reputation suggests this is a good pick. But, the Raptors are taking a big risk here, passing up some highly rated collegians.
GRADE: B
2. PORTLAND (from Chicago): LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: If JOEL PRZYBILLA signs elsewhere, Aldridge will start immediately. He is solid and dependable, just what this volatile roster needs. GRADE: A
3. CHARLOTTE: ADAM MORRISON: The Bobcats get a determined, talented scorer. He will get a chance to put up a lot of shots for this team, and he will challenge for Rookie-of-the-Year honors. GRADE: A
4. CHICAGO (from Portland): TYRUS THOMAS: I’m not as high on Thomas as everyone else seems to be, and I think Aldridge would have been a better pick. If Thomas matches his numbers at LSU (12 PPG, 9 RPG), that would be considered extremely successful. GRADE: B-
5. ATLANTA: SHELDEN WILLIAMS: I like Williams, but the Hawks did not need an undersized center as badly as they needed a point guard. They passed on CHRIS PAUL last year for MARVIN WILLIAMS and regretted that decision. At #5 they could have had any guard in the draft. GRADE: C
6. PORTLAND (from Minnesota): BRANDON ROY: With this pick the Blazers got, arguably, the best guard in this draft to team with the best center (Aldridge) in this draft. Roy is a well-rounded, mature player. He may start immediately. GRADE: A
7. MINNESOTA (from Portland): RANDY FOYE: The T-Wolves need a lot of help before they are a competitive team again, and this is a good start. If they settle on a position for Foye, they will have a very good player to build around. GRADE: B
8. HOUSTON: RUDY GAY: It is expected that the Rockets will trade this pick to Memphis for SHANE BATTIER. If that is true, they will be graded much lower for not having the foresight to recognize that Gay will be better in the NBA than he was at UConn. GRADE: C (for Battier)
9. GOLDEN ST. PATRICK O’BRYANT: The Warriors have a talented roster, but it isn’t producing wins. It’s hard to criticize them for selecting one of the only true centers in the draft. O’Bryant is defensive-minded and could fill a serious need for this team. GRADE: B
10. SEATTLE: SAER SENE: I would use the same argument for the Sonics selecting Sene as I made for the Warriors choosing O’Bryant, but there is a big difference – Sene can’t play. He is the third seven-foot project they have drafted in three years and they passed up some good players for him. GRADE: F
11. ORLANDO: J.J. REDICK: Even though he is a high-profile prospect, Redick projects as a role player. This is high to select that kind of player, but he is such a tremendous shooter that they couldn’t resist. GRADE: B-
12. NEW ORLEANS: HILTON ARMSTRONG: This may be a bit of a reach for Armstrong, but the Hornets desperately need big guys, so it is understandable. If Armstrong contributes on defense, as expected, the Hornets will be elated. GRADE: B-
13. CHICAGO (from Philadelphia): THABO SEFOLOSHA: Like the Bulls other first round pick (Tyrus Thomas), I believe this player is slightly overrated. Sefolosha is, indeed, athletic, but he was a mediocre prospect in Italy until he impressed NBA teams with workouts in empty gyms. GRADE: C
14. UTAH: RONNIE BREWER: He’s intelligent, athletic, and versatile. If he can impress coach JERRY SLOAN, especially defensively, he will find his way into the backcourt rotation. GRADE: B-
15. NEW ORLEANS: CEDRIC SIMMONS: I’m concerned that Simmons came out of school too early. He is as raw as he is talented and may need much more time to develop. The Hornets needed players that can contribute soon, even if that means they have less long-term upside. GRADE: C
16. PHILADELPHIA: RODNEY CARNEY: Most of his fans are impressed by his outstanding jumping (and dunking) ability, but the Sixers were attracted by his solid defense and his jump shot. The concern here is that he measured 2½ inches shorter than his listed height. GRADE: B-
17. INDIANA: SHAWNE WILLIAMS: I hated this pick. Williams was not a need for the Pacers, even if STOJAKOVIC leaves. He is an undeveloped tweener, with a questionable attitude. They inexplicably ignored their need for a point guard for him. GRADE: D-
18. WASHINGTON: OLEKSIY PECHEROV: They needed help with their interior defense, but they drafted a jump shooting power forward that doesn’t play low-post defense. Pecherov will need to become an awfully good player, awfully fast, for this pick to make sense. GRADE: D
19. SACRAMENTO: QUINCY DOUBY: If he were just a little bigger, Douby may have been a lottery pick. He is a gifted offensive player. Super fast and savvy, but he will need to prove he can prosper at his size (6’2, 175.) GRADE: B-
20. NEW YORK: RENALDO BALKMAN: I agree with everyone else in the basketball world that says the Knick did not need to take him this high. They could have had him later. But, I don’t really have a problem with the player. Balkman is actually an ambitious and versatile player that will become a value off the bench. GRADE: C+
21. BOSTON (from Phoenix): RAJON RONDO: The Celtics insist that Rondo is better than MARCUS WILLIAMS. I seriously doubt that, just as I seriously doubt the ability of DANNY AINGE to build a competitive NBA roster. GRADE: C
22. NEW JERSEY: MARCUS WILLIAMS: The best value of the draft. The Nets get the top point guard prospect and can even afford to train him behind the aging, but still outstanding JASON KIDD. 21 teams may regret passing on Williams. GRADE: A
23. NEW JERSEY: JOSH BOONE: The Nets make another excellent selection. Boone was criticized too harshly coming into this draft, but to get a big, smart, tough low-post player this late is fortunate. GRADE: B-
24. MEMPHIS: KYLE LOWRY: I have conflicting opinions about this player. He is lightning-quick and often makes dynamic plays, but at six-feet he is small, especially for a guy that didn’t really play point guard in college. GRADE: C+
25. CLEVELAND: SHANNON BROWN: The expectations are already too high for Brown. He is a short (6’2) shooting guard and there aren’t many of those succeeding in the NBA. He was good in college, but he’s another player that saw his stock rise while working out for teams. GRADE: C+
26. LA LAKERS: JORDAN FARMAR: This is a very good pick. Farmer lacks size (6’1), but he is a talented lead guard that continues to improve. He will compliment KOBE BRYANT nicely, but it may be an uncomfortable wait for Farmar to develop. GRADE: B
27. PORTLAND (from Phoenix): SERGIO RODRIGUEZ: I am intrigued by this prospect, but confused by the Blazers interest in him. This just doesn’t seem like a good fit. GRADE: C
28. DALLAS: MAURICE AGER: I actually like Ager better than Shannon Brown (#25), his college teammate. The Mavericks are loaded, however, so Ager doesn’t figure to play much in the near future. GRADE: B-
29. NEW YORK: MARDY COLLINS: As a prospect, Collins is very attractive. Where he fits into the Knicks poorly designed rotation is unclear. He is a great bargain at #29, for what it’s worth. GRADE: B
30. PORTLAND: JOEL FREELAND: The belief is that the Blazers used their forth first round pick on this basketball novice with the idea that he will develop overseas for a few years. It can’t hurt, but it seems unnecessary also. GRADE: D-
Date
Sat 07/01/06, 2:50 pm EST
