11/05/24
June 28, 2005
2005 NBA DRAFT.: Follow along as your favorite NBA team makes rash decisions, and pins its hopes to someone you've never heard of before.
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 06:52 PM - 36 comments
All of the picks were chalk.... Until we got to the Raptors selecting Villanueva. Did not see that coming.
posted by lilnemo at 07:15 PM on June 28, 2005
And Mitch Kupchak may very well be the first GM to crap the bed. Or he's a genius. I have no read on Bynum. All I know is that he was projected to go in the low 20's, but more likely in the 2nd round. This is "unexpected" to say the least.
posted by lilnemo at 07:39 PM on June 28, 2005
Once again, the Raptors make a really illogical choice. They load up at the only position they're actually solid at, leaving center and point still open. Magloire is looking better by the minute. Raptors, please select Jarrett Jack with the 16. And what the hell happened to Gerald Green?
posted by dfleming at 08:02 PM on June 28, 2005
Joey Graham. A little big to play the point, no?
posted by dfleming at 08:10 PM on June 28, 2005
7 seems like a strech for the Hairless One.
posted by yerfatma at 08:27 PM on June 28, 2005
I love the Pacers but I'm still not so sure of Danny Granger getting picked over Hakim Warrick. I like them both though.
posted by rockin_the_suburbs at 10:56 PM on June 28, 2005
I'm happy about the Hawks 2nd round pick with Salim Staudamire (spelling?). Someone who can shoot! WHOA! Of course, that doesn't fix the whole lack of an estblished player problem.
posted by jmd82 at 11:04 PM on June 28, 2005
Stoudemire's a headcase though. Hes a great shooter but hes been known to leave the practice court early when hes upset.
posted by rockin_the_suburbs at 11:09 PM on June 28, 2005
if u think this draft was kinda crappy wait til next year where there wont b that cant miss high schooler 2 draft these scouts will acually have 2 work now
posted by DETROIT DIESEL at 06:37 AM on June 29, 2005
Yeah, the scouts don't have to work hard picking HS players. Traveling to high school gyms and deciding whether a 6'11" prospect who's playing against a 6'0" center is actually good enough to play against Tim Duncan should be pretty easy.
posted by YukonGold at 06:54 AM on June 29, 2005
I'll second yerfatma on Villanueva...Toronto is a little out of their mind (I thought Boston would have been crazy to take him at 18). He's crazy talented, but not consistent. Boston seems to have gotten some value with a touted high school player (although he's one of those kids that's gonna get sick of hamburgers fast...man he's lanky) and Ryan Gomes in the 2nd. Chris Taft might be a steal at 42. He's pretty talented at might leap past a lot of the "potential" picks that came before him.
posted by YukonGold at 07:00 AM on June 29, 2005
Rob Babcock. Un-fucking-real. Charile Viilaneuva. With the seventh. That better be the guy that New Orleans wants, along with Morris Peterson at the end of the month. (Peterson, rumored to be in the deal cannot be dealt to NO within the first year after signing a contract with NO that Toronto matched) I am completely blown away. Seriously, you know friends of yours, hell maybe you yourself, who constantly seem to imagine that they could do a better job than a genuine NBA GM? Full of shit, right? Always the same guys who have figured out how to get Dirk Nowitzki without giving up a stater? Yes, well at the risk of becoming one of them - without hyperbole, my sister could draft better than Rob Babcock.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:13 AM on June 29, 2005
Yes, well at the risk of becoming one of them - without hyperbole, my sister could draft better than Rob Babcock. I would say that everyone scouting the draft on the press side would agree with you. Whoever they've got scouting for them obviously is looking to do something "creative" and find a hidden gem by avoiding a more solid, needed player.
posted by dfleming at 08:55 AM on June 29, 2005
If you need a little glass half perspective...try and remember what you thought of Ben Gordon getting picked 3rd overall (i.e., maybe you thought that was crazy and can hope for the best)
posted by YukonGold at 09:13 AM on June 29, 2005
I think Salim will be ok. The local paper indicated that the Hawks did their homework: Rosborough said a West Coast-based Hawks scout, Herb Livsey, charted and watched Stoudamire at UA more than any other NBA official. "Herb knows what Salim can do," Rosborough said.
posted by eckeric at 10:02 AM on June 29, 2005
What happens when... you wake up today with the words "undrafted free agent" following your names, and no guaranteed money headed to your bank accounts.
posted by YukonGold at 11:14 AM on June 29, 2005
Yeah, YukonGold, what a splash of cold water in the face for those guys....though I thought Forde rubbed their faces in it a little thick, no?
posted by smithers at 12:04 PM on June 29, 2005
For Raptor fans who haven't seen Charlie Villaneuva before. ...I'm still not so sure of Danny Granger getting picked over Hakim Warrick... Granger should give the Pacers good perimeter scoring off of the bench, which they lose with Reggie retiring (and supposedly, the shedding of Stephen Jackson's contract?). Warrick doesn't quite fit the Pacers (or Rick Carlisle's) style of play. This is a grind it out, walk it up team. Warrick needed a team that has a transition game. Salim Stoudamire reminds me of Nick Van Exel. An extremely talented shooter/scorer who is a bit of a head case, but develops into a solid player. As for all the undrafted underclassmen, I think some of those guys would have been second rounders if some of the high schoolers hadn't signed with agents and given up their eligibility. This forced GMs hands into making sure they didn't miss scooping up a player with a high ceiling, instead of drafting a college player with more exposure. As for Forde. Well, the article is just prickish. Well folks, any clear winners and losers this year?
posted by lilnemo at 12:37 PM on June 29, 2005
Perhaps the Craptors have a system in mind that involves putting five forwards on the floor, with no guards and no center. There'd be lots of Globetrotters-style cycling and running about, and no one will expect it when the water-pail full of confetti -- oh, hell, I don't know what they're thinking either.
posted by chicobangs at 12:41 PM on June 29, 2005
That Forde article is pretty rough, I was surprised to see how many foreign players were taken.
posted by dusted at 01:03 PM on June 29, 2005
In all sincerity, there were some Raptors games last year that could've used a pail of confetti or two.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:15 PM on June 29, 2005
I thought the Forde article was right on target, and should be archived for the youngsters considering jumping into the draft next year.
posted by Scottymac at 01:29 PM on June 29, 2005
As a Pacer fan I suppose I ought to be excited. I new hardly any names going in. I guess we got a steal for our position, but I groaned when I saw we'd drafted yet another small forward. In a way I guess I'm glad that we didn't draft Gerald Green (I couldn't bear if he turned into another Jonathan Bender). At the same time, Reggie Miller's retired now and Gerald Green has "star potential"...
posted by chmurray at 01:37 PM on June 29, 2005
It's definitely a "column". It might pile on a little, but you can't argue with the facts of who did and did not get picked...and it's pretty shocking when it's presented.
posted by YukonGold at 01:56 PM on June 29, 2005
This is a grind it out, walk it up team. Warrick needed a team that has a transition game. good point. i guess it boils down to me being a syracuse fan too. Granger probably is the better pick but i wanted Warrick for sentimental purposes. Chmurray, pleases dont mention the ppossibility of anyone turning out like Jonathan Bender. The oft-injured one causes me great distress.
posted by rockin_the_suburbs at 02:02 PM on June 29, 2005
Well folks, any clear winners and losers this year? Call me a homer, but the Celtics got a guy at 18 projected to go at 3-6 and then got an All-American at 50 they were prepared to take at 18. And then got a point guard.
posted by yerfatma at 04:24 PM on June 29, 2005
What's the call on Dioglu to GSW? The paper here says the selection was a disappointment, too safe, and Mullin should have gone for Gerald Greene.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:34 PM on June 29, 2005
Solid draft by the Celts. The drafting of Gomes allows for the Celts to wait on the developing Jefferson. What's the call on Diogu to GSW? Diogu is a safe pick. But for a franchise that has historically drafted anything but the safe pick (Todd Fuller anyone?) they made the right choice. Greene may develop in a few years but the GSW, believe it or not, are very close to competing for a playoff spot. Diogu gives you the offensive post presence that the GSW lack. He has great footwork, establishes good position, finishes after contact, makes free throws at an 80% clip and can step out and hit the 3. He could stand to lose a little weight, but that would only hinder his post game. Imagine a young Glenn Robinson without the surly attitude. And really, where would Greene get time on the court? He'd be playing behind Dunleavy, Richardson, Pietrus, Davis, Fisher, and Cheaney(?).
posted by lilnemo at 05:12 PM on June 29, 2005
Despite my innate fears that Danny Ainge will find a way to fire Doc Rivers and take over himself, a la Popovich in San Antonio (but without the coaching acumen, and without Tim Duncan), I think the Celts pulled off a good draft. I'm still old-fashioned enough to worry more about a high school player than a college player, but who knows? From everything I've heard and seen, Green is a tremendous talent with all kinds of upside...but Korleone Young also looked like a world-beater at the McDonald's All-Star Game...ahem. I also like Gomes, I think his size and athleticisnm on the court with Paul Pierce will make for some interesting breaks, as well as a more dynamic half-court set. Should be interesting.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:00 PM on June 29, 2005
Celtics had an amazing draft. Green looks like he could be one of the memorable 17 picks of all time. All things considered, it seems to be a deep draft without many assured commodities.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:32 AM on June 30, 2005
I'm still stunned that lilnemo had the cRaptors picking Charlie at seven. Have any stock-market picks, LN?
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:42 AM on June 30, 2005
Stoudemire's a headcase though. Hes a great shooter but hes been known to leave the practice court early when hes upset. He is far from a headcase. He's just focused like a demon. He should start at PG for the Hawks next season and do very well for them (though he needs more help than they can currently offer, for sure).
posted by rushmc at 10:55 AM on June 30, 2005
TATB's Draft Awards - worth a read.
posted by yerfatma at 11:58 AM on June 30, 2005
I have no idea about basketball talent, but I do know that Toronto's first pick (Charlie Villanueva), may be the creepiest looking mofo I've ever seen.
posted by grum@work at 03:21 PM on June 30, 2005
He's just focused like a demon... I'm not sure he (or anyone else for that matter) wants that on their resume. wfrazerjr, I thought the Raps would tab Charlie because their GM is dilluted enough to think he will be able to sign perimeter help via free agency. And we all know how the FA just line up to sign with Toronto. :p
posted by lilnemo at 12:16 AM on July 01, 2005
5 picks in and teams are drafting for need.
- Bogut
- Marvin Williams
- Deron Williams
- Chris Paul
- Raymond Felton
Never thought I'd see the day.