2006 NBA Draft

[sfaJack 0]

I thought the whole reason the Rockets got rid of James in the first place was because McGrady didn't like that he was a shoot-first guard who wouldn't pass. Why would they want to bring him back if that's the case?

[C Dubya 04 0]

These picks also give Chicago a little depth at the 2 and 3, just incase the Garnett deal is still on the table. Personally I'd trade Chandler, Deng or Gordon, and a jobber, or one of these picks for KG, if the T-wolves throw in Mark Blount I'd bust a nut.

 

This has to be the first time that Mark Blount and bust a nut have been used in the same sentence without referring to a groupie.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

LA Lakers trade the rights to Cheick Samb to Detroit for Maurice Evans.

 

*does a happy dance* Don't let the door hit you on the ass on ya way out Mo. Flip's hardon for mo is the reason Delfino, who was clearly superior, got no burn.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Why do people that likes the Bulls want Gordon traded for a 30+ years old player? I'd rather keep Gordon and hope Thomas becomes a quality PF in the league and Sefolosha being a good SF. If this is the case then I don't mind trading one of the two SFs (Deng or Nocioni).

[Guest Felonies!]

Yeah, I agree. Who are you people? Gordon and Hinrich are the guys we should be building around. I wouldn't trade them for Garnett.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Winners-

 

Portland - I was totally confused with what they were doing last night, but now that the dust has setteled I think they were the clear winners of the draft. They completely overhauled their roster and got arguably the two best players in the draft, Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge.

 

Chicago- Drafted two players who are going to be able to contribute next year while they are still developing. Probably the best situation for Thomas and Thabo.

 

New Jersey - For drafting so low in the first round they picked up a couple of guys (plus Adams in the 2nd) who should be decent NBA players and help fill out the depth they desperately need.

 

Memphis - Stole Rudy Gay away from Houston, added a good player in Kyle Lowry and brought back Swift. It should infuse the team with some much needed athleticism.

 

Losers-

 

Seattle - They were a playoff team two years ago and now they are on life support. Not only did they waste a top 10 pick on a guy who couldn't even do a layup a year ago, but they have two other center projects that haven't contributed a thing yet. Ugh.

 

New York - Needed to hit a homerum. Drafted Balkman and Collins. Nuff said.

 

Atlanta - Needed a point guard and ended up with a major reach in Shelden Williams. He'll probably be an okay post player, but that was something they could have addressed in free agency instead of a top 5 selection.

 

Phoenix - Had two first round selections and gave them away for nothing because they were too cheap to pay their salaries. Not a good message to send to your fanbase.

[jwpeer 0]

Although I totally agree with the -results- of Portland's trades, they DID look pretty goofy in the process of getting those players.

 

and Aldridge is STILL weak and passive, though he does have good pure basketball skills, I worry about his aggressiveness...but then him playing with Brandon Roy will help that since Roy can fill that role, and hopefully help his aggressiveness. Assuming Portland did/can move Randolph and D-Miles out of there this is a great way to restart a team. Though I bet they'd love to re-sign przybilla to do some heavy rebounding/blocking for them, but he's gonna get lots of offers because of his defensive presence.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Funny story I heard this morning about the Portland-Minnesota trade. Minny was picking Brandon Roy for Houston, who would trade the 8th pick (Randy Foye) and Luther Head back to the Wolves. Portland heard about the trade, drafted Foye and forced the Minnesota's hand into trading them the player they wanted along. Gotta love the GM skills of Kevin McHale.

 

The Blazers came in with the 4th and 31st picks in the draft, and left with Roy, Aldridge, Rodriquez, Freeland, Dickau, LaFrentz and a bunch of future 2nd round picks. Now they just need to get Isiah on the phone to unload Miles and Randolph and this team will be well on its way.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

So who's going to run the point guard position for Portland next year?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

So who's going to run the point guard position for Portland next year?

 

Steve Blake, with Jarret Jack backing him up, same as it was this year.

 

Sebastian Telfair was the third string PG. Giving him up means nothing in the scheme of things. Hopefully he'll thrive in Boston, but they seem to have a logjam at the point with West, Telfair and Rondo, not to mention that AI is likely coming to town.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

So who's going to run the point guard position for Portland next year?

 

Steve Blake, with Jarret Jack backing him up, same as it was this year.

 

Sebastian Telfair was the third string PG. Giving him up means nothing in the scheme of things. Hopefully he'll thrive in Boston, but they seem to have a logjam at the point with West, Telfair and Rondo, not to mention that AI is likely coming to town.

 

I forgot about Jarret Jack, I always thought this kid had a bright future.

 

I don't see A.I. getting traded to Boston though, despite the rumors. I see A.I. going to Golden State for Baron Davis + others.

[Damaramu 0]

Telfair should've went to college. Of course his checkbook says otherwise.

 

But I mean I'd think it'd come down to more than money.

I mean if someone came to you and said

"How would you like to play in the NBA now and be rich and make tons of money but have a shitty career and barely see the court because you're a project? Or would you like to be poor for 2-4 years and play college ball but be a more polished player and make tons of money and see the court in a few years?"

[Guest Felonies!]

Yeah, "poor."

[Guest]

His SAT scores were shitty, IIRC. He wasn't a scholar athlete, and I think he was ineligible at least once while in High School. College was never an option for him.

 

I think he's going to be better than anyone will give him credit for.

[naiwf 0]

I'm surprised Isiah hasn't tried to get him to reunite him with the "best point guard in the game" and get another undersized shoot first PG to boot.

[the pinjockey 0]

Hopefully he'll thrive in Boston, but they seem to have a logjam at the point with West, Telfair and Rondo, not to mention that AI is likely coming to town.

 

I think it is safe to assume if AI goes to Boston, either Rondo or Telfair would come back to Philly. They would need someone who can play the 1.

 

The Sixers were retarded for not pulling the trigger before the draft and getting the no.7 pick. From there they could have gotten Roy/Foye and the haul could have looked much better.

[Damaramu 0]

Ok who here actually believes there is more than 75% chance AI ends up in Boston?

And I hope the Celtics don't get rid of West. I heart Delonte West.

[Guest]

I think Golden State will come in and swoop up AI with an offer that's more appealing. They really have a lot of assets to offer. I highly, highly doubt that Philadelphia trades AI within the division, but things of that nature do happen.

 

It just seems like when a superstar is being traded, the first rumor isn't the one that goes through, but the 2nd. With Shaq, especially. Dallas, then Miami came in the equation when he was on the block. Just my opinion.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I'm willing to bet the house, A.I. won't go to Boston.

 

Golden State is offering Baron Davis(Top 5 PG in the NBA) + others for A.I.

 

I expect King to do this.

[the pinjockey 0]

It just seems like when a superstar is being traded, the first rumor isn't the one that goes through, but the 2nd. With Shaq, especially. Dallas, then Miami came in the equation when he was on the block. Just my opinion.

 

Remember though, there were rumors a couple of weeks ago to Atlanta built around I believe the #5 and either Smith or Childress. I don't know how far along that was, but it might qualify as the first real rumor.

 

I don't know if you trade him for Baron Davis+. IMO, if you move AI you do it for young guys and just rebuild. Otherwise you might as well just keep Iverson. Of course it depends on what you mean by the +.

[Guest]

I know, but that Atlanta rumor didn't pick up steam. The Boston one is the first one to really take off.

 

Atlanta is the best fit, but I don't think they're willing to stray from their plan. They've got a good thing going.

[Brett Favre 0]

How can you pick Renaldo Balkman when you have fucking Marcus Williams, fucking Kyle Lowry, and fucking Shannon Brown on the board? I don't give a shit if we have 20 guards, you always pick talent over need. We ended picking up another guard anyway in Mardy Collins (nice pick), but still would've preferred one of the three mentioned above, and someone else at 29.

 

Isiah's reasoning was that Phoenix was going to pick him. He says that once Balkman was picked, Phoenix traded out because that's who they wanted. Yet, the Arizona Republic says Phoenix wanted out of the first round after Carney was picked. Isiah better be telling the truth on this, although it's pretty doubtful. Balkman was a 2nd round pick at best in most if not all boards.

 

I liked the Mardy Collins picked because he can defend three positions, and can play some point, but I still would have preferred Brown, Williams, or Lowry. It's disappointing.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I know, but that Atlanta rumor didn't pick up steam. The Boston one is the first one to really take off.

 

Atlanta is the best fit, but I don't think they're willing to stray from their plan. They've got a good thing going.

 

The Boston rumor has really taken off because it seems Danny Ainge is willing to do anything to get AI, be it adding a third or fourth team in the mix just to get the pieces Philly wants. The deal would have been done yesterday, but management has balked at the idea of trading him within the division and haunting them the next few years. Honestly, I don't get that point of view because the balanced schedule and playoff format makes the current divisions essentially meaningless.

 

Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and ESPN are all reportng that Philly has decided 100% on trading Iverson. I don't trust Billy King to get much, if any, value back for him. Baron Davis is a lateral move at best. They should be thinking young, cheap talent.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

How can you pick Renaldo Balkman when you have fucking Marcus Williams, fucking Kyle Lowry, and fucking Shannon Brown on the board? I don't give a shit if we have 20 guards, you always pick talent over need. We ended picking up another guard anyway in Mardy Collins (nice pick), but still would've preferred one of the three mentioned above, and someone else at 29.

 

Balkman was a horrible pick all around. Doug Gottlieb mentioned on ESPN radio today that he wasn't even in the media brochure because no one really expected him to get picked. If New York was really that interested in him, they could have just traded a future second round pick + cash to some team who didn't want their second rounder this year.

 

Mardy Collins seems like an okay pickup, but does this team really need another combo guard? New York needed an overhaul and they just got role players. At least Knicks fans can rest a little easier knowing that Isiah only has one year left to screw things up before he is shown the door.

[Brett Favre 0]

I liked the Collins pick because hes not turnover prone, can rebound, can play the point, has size and can defend. They need to get rid of Francis and one or two of Richardson, Crawford, and Marbury. Atleast Robinson will be able to play more with Collins because of his size.

 

As for Balkman, definitely not at 20. Although i'm curious to see him run with Robinson and David Lee.

 

And why did they pick the most retarded Knick fans to speak on the mic? They had two idiots screaming into the mic, making us look even worse.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

If Philly wants to win, they will do the Davis trade.

 

Davis is a better PG then A.I., and I think that a Davis/Iggy/Webber combo, would be a lower seed playoff team in the East, if Mo Cheeks knows how to run a fast break offense.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I'm not following the knicks that closely, but why exactly is Isiah concerned about who Phoenix wanted or was going to pick or whatever? What is Phoenix to Isiah? They are a team in the other conference! huh? Was he interested in trading balkman to phoenix? that sitll makes little sense.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

If Philly wants to win, they will do the Davis trade.

 

Davis is a better PG then A.I., and I think that a Davis/Iggy/Webber combo, would be a lower seed playoff team in the East, if Mo Cheeks knows how to run a fast break offense.

 

I've never really agreed with this line of thinking. The goal shouldn't be making the playoffs as a lower seed team, it should be building an organization that can compete for championships. The AI+Webber mess has shown that having two overpaid All-Stars and nothing else can't win. Why trade AI for another overpaid guard who does basically the same thing?

 

If you've decided that you can't win with AI, and the entire team you've constructed is built to win that way, you have to blow the whole thing up. You move players out for young guys, draft picks and cap room. Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland, Orlando, etc. have all taken this approach and seems to be working.

[Just John 0]

If Swift winds up in that Battier deal... Good lord. I don't know how anyone can be that dumb. Not only do you not add depth to the frontline, you actually take away from it. I know T-Mac and Yao are still up there, but guys like Howard and Mutombo aren't much longer for the NBA. So now we've given up two young guys for another "veteran." Once T-Mac passes his prime or (god forbid) can't play anymore due to injury, the Rockets are gonna crash and burn (there's probably a Columbia joke to be made here, but I can't find it) because management doesn't realize hiring a bunch of veterans isn't what the team needs. The vets are going to go away, and we'll be left with the bottom of the barrel young guys.

[cabbageboy 0]

I was surprised to see Balkman go this high as well. But on some perverse level I can actually defend that pick. Keep in mind that South Carolina won the NIT the past 2 years, so maybe Isiah saw Balkman play at MSG and was highly impressed. What the hell, I thought Balkman was a really solid player in the SEC. He certainly abused U of L in the NIT Final 4.

 

Then again, this IS the NIT we're talking about.