H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m
-------------------- June 27, 2002 by F. Daniel Lamb NBA Draft 2002 Analysis
Well, as usual, Wednesday’s 2002 NBA Draft showed that some teams get it and some teams don’t. What wasn’t expected was the sheer depth of quality that this draft potentially holds. Most drafts look to go 8 or 9 great players deep, with perhaps an additional 10 that will be able to make an impact at some point in their career. The 2002 Draft was a full first round deep for the first time ever. Players such as Qyntel Woods, Dan Dickau and Frank Williams, who were projected to be taken in the low teens, were all three picked in the 20’s, with Dickau as the final selection of the round. With this much talent you would think that teams could sleep walk their way through and still come up smelling pretty, yet amazingly, a number of teams proved that just because their General Managers make a ton of money, that doesn’t mean that they have a clue what they are doing. The following is my list of the year’s big winners and big losers. Winners: Houston Rockets: The Rockets got both of the men that they wanted and some valuable change thrown in for good measure. Yao Ming was a pick that they simply could not pass on, his potential is simply too tantalizing. In addition to Ming, the player they most coveted was Bostjan Nachbar and they got him with the 16th pick in the draft. Both players can run, put the ball on the floor and shoot from range. Rudy T. is definitely over the moon. Denver Nuggets: Kiki Vandeweghe inherited a team with one legitimate player and a whole lot of deadwood. Fortunately for Kiki, the Knicks came and helped lay the foundation for what could be a solid team for years to come. The Nuggets traded the notoriously gimpy (and over-rated) Antonio McDyess and the 25th pick, for the 7th pick (Nene Hilario), Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson. Combine these three with the Nugget’s own 5 pick, Nikoloz Tskitishvilli, and the Nuggets instantaneously and miraculously re-loaded their roster, while dumping a disgruntled player with a fat contract. Amazing. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors have been the laughing stock of the draft for years, but somehow Garry St. Jean didn’t mess this one up. They had to take Dunleavy with the third pick in the draft and may have gotten a coach out of it as well if his father signs on the dotted line. Then the Sixers inexplicably gave up much coveted Jiri Welsch for a future pick. Dunleavy and Welsch will have an immediate impact on this team. Throw in solid second round pick, Steve Logan of Cincinnati and the Warriors can at least look in the mirror without crying this year. Washington Wizards: After taking Kwame Brown last year with the first pick, the Wizards were determined to draft players who could make a difference now. They did just that. Though they yearned for Caron Butler, the Wiz were stoked to get the hard working, talented Jared Jeffries with their 11th pick. To top that off, after the trade of Courtney Alexander to the Hornets, the Wiz used the 17th pick to get Juan Dixon, a hard-nosed defender and proven leader. For a little gravy, MJ found SG Rod Grizzard still available with the 39th pick, which should nicely fill the hole left by Alexander’s departure. An excellent if unspectacular effort by the Wizards. Miami Heat: The Heat had their eyes firmly set on Caron Butler, but seriously doubted whether the Uconn SF would still be available with the 10th pick. Incredibly, nine teams passed on perhaps the best player in the draft (does this sound like Paul Pierce?) and Butler fell into the Heat’s laps. Butler is fierce, athletic and determined to be an impact player. Pat Riley will love his work ethic and considering the Heat have needed a decent small forward for years, the starting spot should be his to lose, along with the Rookie of the Year award. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers desperately tried to wrangle their way into a lower draft position by floating Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells. In the end, the lower draft came to them, when JuCo star Qyntel Woods fell into their laps with the 21st selection. This is a match made in heaven, with the hyper-talented, but formerly troubled Woods joining the NBA’s most dysfunctional squad. Fortunately for the Blazers, Maurice Cheeks is the perfect mentor to these young men with checkered pasts. The acquisition of Woods may usher a trade with the Blazer’s 2 and 3 spots already over-crowded. Bob Whitsitt was definitely fortunate this year, but give him credit for not letting a potential superstar slip through his fingers. Losers: New York Knicks: You know, I actually feel sorry for Knick fans. How could this once proud franchise fall this far? The Knicks had Nene Hilario in their hands with the 7th pick, the athletic power player they have longed for, and decided to trade him along with their starting center and their starting point guard to the Nuggets for Antonio McDyess and the 25th pick. So, for three-fifths of a decent starting line-up, New York acquired a player who has played in only two full seasons in his career (and is seriously overrated) and yet another point guard of backup quality. This leaves the Knicks with no starting center (unless Kurt Thomas can be considered a legit center) and still three point guards. Scott Layden will not last another year, if this team misses the playoffs again. A total nightmare. Indiana Pacers: Without question the biggest gaff of the draft. With the 14th pick the Indiana Pacers select……Frederick Jones of the University of Oregon. WHAT????? Jones was expected to be a very late first rounder and possibly early to mid-second rounder. Get a load of the players that the Pacers passed on to pick Jones; Kareem Rush, Qyntel Woods, Bostjan Nachbar, Jiri Welsch, Curtis Borchardt, Frank Williams and Dan Dickau, to name a few. The Pacers easily could have traded down in the draft, still got Jones (an athletic, but 6’2” shooting guard who is not particularly aggressive) and probably picked up a decent role player or a future draft pick. Donnie Walsch is one of the league’s classiest GM’s, but this has Isaiah Thomas written all over it. No explanation possible. Detroit Pistons: The Pistons need a good, solid point guard to get Jerry Stackhouse better looks at the basket and to play some defense. Yet, when their 23rd pick came to them, they passed on Dan Dickau and Frank Williams, and selected SF Tayshaun Prince. Prince is definitely an underrated product, a smooth, offensive minded forward who reminds me of a less talented Reggie Miller, but how does that fit into Rick Carlisle’s tough defensive scheme. I don’t see it at all. Remember Rodney White? Prince will have a hard time getting minutes on this squad and may never fit into Carlisle’s philosophy. A swing and a miss for the Pistons. Toronto Raptors: Once again, the Raptors need a good point guard to guide this mish mash of talent. Alvin Williams, though a nice player, clearly has not been the answer. For some reason though, the Raptors selected SG Kareem Rush, traded him to the Lakers, and received PF Chris Jeffries and PG Lindsey Hunter. Again, on the board at the time were Williams and Dickau (and Qyntel Woods), but the Raptors decided to take a chance on a player that has been injured and had very poor workouts. They also received Hunter (who must be crapping himself that he re-signed with the Lakers, only to be shipped to this mess) who demonstrated last year that even on a team with almost no bench whatsoever, his lack of aggression and confidence means he is bound to be a journeyman. The once-promising Raptors just took another turn towards permanent mediocrity. -------------------- Reach Lamb @ fdlamb@nutzworld.net Next: Orlando's Magic Previous: NBA draft 2002 Articles main Back to top
© 2001 H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m, All rights reserved Terms of service Privacy policy Contact |
|
|