| NBA Draft Report Card |
|---|
| Team |
Grade |
CNNSI.com's Marty Burns |
 |
A |
Hawks fans would have been happy with Shane Battier. Instead they got all-star caliber small forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim from the Grizzlies in exchange for the No. 3 pick and spare parts. Getting future first-rounders from the Pacers and Rockets was icing on the cake. |
|
 |
C |
Added perimeter shooting and athleticism with the selections of Joe Johnson (10), Kedrick Brown (11) and Joe Forte (21). However, they failed
to address glaring holes at point guard and center. Who's going to rebound for Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker? |
|
 |
B- |
Kirk Haston, a sharp-shooting big man from Indiana, fills a need. But they probably could have traded down from No. 16 and still nabbed Haston,
who was projected as a late first-rounder. |
|
 |
C |
Got two terrific prospects in Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, but giving up a proven 20/10 guy like Elton Brand is too high a price. Especially
when Brand is your only veteran star. |
|
 |
C |
Let's see. They need a center to replace the oft-injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas, so they draft a center ... with a stress fracture in his foot.
DeSagana Diop might turn out to be a fine player, but the Cavs are really
messing with karma here. |
|
 |
D |
Sure, the Mavs had only the 44th and 54th picks, but c'mon. Kyle Hill and Kenny Satterfield? If you're going to draft that late, at least go for
big guys. |
|
 |
C |
Ousmane Cisse, a wide-body rebounder and shot-blocker with Dennis Rodman-like energy, could be a find at No. 47. Flashy point guard Omar Cook,
acquired from the Magic, has big-time potential as well, but he cost Denver a future first-round pick. |
|
 |
C |
Picked up an intriguing prospect in versatile UNC-Charlotte forward Rodney White with the No. 9 pick. But in the second round, they passed on true centers like Loren Woods and Alvin Jones for Turkish forward Mehmet Okur. |
|
 |
B |
Jason Richardson (No. 5) provides athleticism, and Troy Murphy (No. 14) provides some much-needed shooting. But do the Warriors really think
Larry Hughes can play the point? Gilbert Arenas, their second-round pick, also clouds the picture. |
|
 |
A- |
Got a terrific small forward prospect in Eddie Griffin from the Nets, while also clearing more cap room by ridding themselves of two of their
first-round picks. Even if they don't sign Chris Webber or Antonio Davis, they're well-stocked on the perimeter. |
|
 |
B- |
Got an exciting point guard prospect in Jamaal Tinsley from the Grizzlies, but it came at a relatively steep price of a future first-rounder. In the second round, they tabbed somebody named Jamison Brewer at No. 41. |
|
 |
A |
Last thing they needed was another high school kid. Instead they fill their gaping hole at power forward with a proven star in Elton Brand who
also happens to be a hard worker and good character. For the second straight year, the Clips get it right. |
|
 |
A |
The only team smart enough to stay completely out of this draft. `Nuff said. |
|
 |
D |
Decided not to trade their way into the first round, then took offensively-challenged center Ken Johnson out of Ohio State with their
lone pick in the second round (No. 49 overall). Maybe he can carry `Zo's bags. |
|
 |
C |
Snatched former Michigan State star Andre Hutson with the 52nd pick. Could be a backup in case they trade Tim Thomas or Glenn Robinson. |
|
 |
A- |
Two years ago Loren Woods, a 7-footer from Arizona, was considered a likely lottery pick. Now the T'Wolves are getting him off the scrap heap
with the No. 46 pick overall? |
|
 |
B- |
Opted for quantity over quality, dealing tantalizing prospect Eddie Griffin to the Rockets for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon
Armstrong. Now if they can just keep them all from getting injured. |
|
 |
D |
Failed to make trade to get into the first round, where they might have been able to select a point guard like Cook. Instead they kept their
second-round picks and used them on Michael Wright and Eric Chenowith. Yawn. |
|
 |
B- |
What ever happened to dumping these picks to clear salary cap space? Instead the Magic get three prospects in Steven Hunter (No. 15), Jeryl
Sasser (No. 22) and Brendan Haywood (trade for Michael Doleac). If either Hunter or Haywood can play, it could pay off. |
|
 |
C |
Opted to add size with Seton Hall's Sam Dalembert at No. 26 and Georgia Tech's Alvin Jones at No. 57. Also made coach Larry Brown happy by
getting the third-best Brown in the draft, adding Syracuse's Damone Brown
to Kwame (Wizards) and Kedrick (Celtics). |
|
 |
C |
Used their lone pick, No. 51, on 6-foot-9 forward Alton Ford of Houston. Should have done like the Lakers and just saved themselves the trouble. |
|
 |
B- |
New coach Mo Cheeks gets a potential star in MSU freshman Zach Randolph, but it's going to take time. Same goes for second-round pick Ruben
Boumtje-Boumtje (No. 50), a 7-footer who could help right away if Arvydas
Sabonis retires. |
|
 |
B+ |
Kings GM Geoff Petrie has a nice little run going in the draft, and 6-foot-9 forward Gerald Wallace from Alabama looks like a steal at No. 25. Though
raw, he has tremendous athleticism. He won't make anybody forget Chris Webber, but he's a prospect. |
|
 |
B- |
Belgian-born point guard Tony Parker was a good pick at No. 28 and not just because he can talk fine wines with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. With
Avery Johnson and Terry Porter getting old, the Spurs need to start grooming a replacement. |
|
 |
B |
Vladimir Radmanovic is a Peja Stojakovic clone who can put the ball on the floor, pass and shoot out the lights. Though the Sonics already have
a good young small forward in Rashard Lewis, Radmanovic was just too tempting to pass up at No. 12. |
|
 |
C |
Seeking insurance in case Antonio Davis leaves or Charles Oakley gets traded, the Raptors went for size and took Michael Bradley, a 6-foot-11 forward from Villanova, with the No. 17 overall pick. Someday, however, they might regret passing on Randolph. |
|
 |
D |
With the No. 24 pick, the Jazz took Raul Lopez, a point guard from Spain who might not be able to get out of his European contract for another two
years. Sure, he's a John Stockton clone, but didn't Utah have more pressing needs at shooting guard? |
|
 |
B- |
Pau Gasol (No. 3, in trade from the Hawks) could be a star someday, and Shane Battier (No. 6) is a solid choice, but it's hard to see how the
Grizzlies got any better for next season. It's going to take Gasol a while to be nearly as productive as Abdur-Rahim. |
|
 |
B |
The Wizards probably would have been better off trading down for a lower pick and an established veteran, but Kwame Brown was a sound choice at
No. 1. He's the best all-around athlete among the top players, and could blossom into another Antonio McDyess. |
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