2009 NBA Draft: Where Nothing Changing Happens
July 4th 2009 03:42
Another draft in the books, another year of horrible suits and even worse interviews. While fans of downtrodden franchises view each draft as an opportunity for great change, seldom is such faith ever rewarded.
With this year’s draft being a particularly weak draft it would have provided general managers a perfect opportunity to think outside the box. Instead we were treated to the same tried and true formulas of failure that repeat over and over like the film Groundhog Day, with the Clippers stuck in the role of Bill Murray.
In truth there have been maybe four or five quality run teams over the past decade, each with an identifiable and unique draft strategy. Rather than looking at what works, however, the rest of the NBA seems stuck copying each other back into the lottery.
Some of the mistakes repeated in this year’s draft?
The Oversized Point Guard: Differs from the traditional combo guard who is an undersized two guard in that undersized shooting guards like Ben Gordon at least are dominating scorers.On the rare occasions it hits, the oversized point guard is magic—as in Magic Johnson, or former Orlando Magic point guard Penny Hardaway.
But how often have we seen an average shooting guard prospect come along that dribbles just well enough to convince some poor GM that he has a future as an overly athletic point guard, only to prove he lacks the instincts and skill to make the transition to floor general?
We’re officially setting the over/under on Sacramento point guard of the future Tyreke Evan’s impending move to shooting guard at the All-Star break. And to be fair, chances are he has all the talent to make a find scoring guard. The only problem: the Kings best player, Kevin Martin, already fills that role and only lacks someone to deliver him the ball (which sounded like a job for Ricky Rubio).
The problem with the oversized point guard is, like previously mentioned, they lack the instincts to ever become point guards at the NBA level (which is the only reason their value is inflated in the first place). And once the point guard project ends in most cases fans realize that their oversized point guards aren’t dynamic scorers either (otherwise they would have drafted for their scoring ability—see Brandon Roy).
The scouting phrase “can play point guard in a pinch” should be icing on the cake, not the sole reason for drafting a prospect.
Previous examples include but not limited to (soon to be failed point guard experiment) OJ Mayo, Randy Foye, Reece Gaines, Larry Hughes, Joseph Forte and Antonio Daniels. Verdict still out on Rodney Stuckey.
The Jordan Clone: Despite popular belief, basketball was, is and always will be a big man’s game. But thanks to a certain 6-6 high-flying superstar who won a slew of championships the athletic swingman has become somewhat overvalued.
Michael Jordan, as I have repeated in many blogs, is the exception. Not the rule. So when the Toronto Raptors selected DeMar DeRozan dreaming of the next Jordan or Kobe Bryant, chances are they are likely getting the next Gerald Green or James White.
In the most likely best case scenario a team pursuing this line of reasoning will end up with a Trevor Ariza. But when you draft a player whose scouting report reads “needs to improve: basketball skills” you more often than not end up with an athlete without basketball skills. Perhaps the Raptors can be forgiven for the week draft, but sadly DeRozan will probably be too raw to help in time to keep Chris Bosh.
Previous examples include Gerald Green, Mickael Pietrus, Kedrick Brown and Jerry Stackhouse.
The Single-Double, AKA the Repeater: For some general managers, there can never be too much of a good thing. So when they fall in love with their undersized combo guard who can’t shoot it’s only natural to snatch one up as soon as possible in the next year’s draft. Unfortunately this is why certain franchises have had too many lottery picks in the past decade, which is a very bad thing.
Maybe it’s because a general manager sees himself in a certain type of player—see McHale: Kevin Love/Al Jefferson or Isaiah Thomas: Stephon Marbury/Steve Francis—or lacks any sort of long term vision (think Clippers), but bad teams tend to load up on the same exact type of player (like the Hawks, who possess and army of 6-8, 6-9 athletes when they really could use a roughly six-foot Chris Paul¬).
But when even Stuart Scott can see (this is a joke about his lack of anything intelligent to say, not his lazy eye—boo y ah!) that a Kevin Love and Al Jefferson front court won’t work together, you have a problem. This year’s award goes to new GM David KAAAAAHHHN! Two small point guards who can’t shoot, four drafted overall, and we haven’t even gotten to Sebastian Telfair being on the roster yet.
Honorable mention goes to the Golden State Warriors, who refuse to part with Stephen Curry for Amare Stoudamire (who fills a glaring need) despite having Ellis, who should be coming off his first scooter free offseason. A special booby prize goes to the Phoenix Suns, who insist on drafting brothers of valid NBA stars in, ironically enough, the same draft as their legitimate NBA brothers.
The Third Person Answer Guy: I’m looking at you Johnny Flynn.
With this year’s draft being a particularly weak draft it would have provided general managers a perfect opportunity to think outside the box. Instead we were treated to the same tried and true formulas of failure that repeat over and over like the film Groundhog Day, with the Clippers stuck in the role of Bill Murray.
In truth there have been maybe four or five quality run teams over the past decade, each with an identifiable and unique draft strategy. Rather than looking at what works, however, the rest of the NBA seems stuck copying each other back into the lottery.
Some of the mistakes repeated in this year’s draft?
The Oversized Point Guard: Differs from the traditional combo guard who is an undersized two guard in that undersized shooting guards like Ben Gordon at least are dominating scorers.On the rare occasions it hits, the oversized point guard is magic—as in Magic Johnson, or former Orlando Magic point guard Penny Hardaway.
But how often have we seen an average shooting guard prospect come along that dribbles just well enough to convince some poor GM that he has a future as an overly athletic point guard, only to prove he lacks the instincts and skill to make the transition to floor general?
We’re officially setting the over/under on Sacramento point guard of the future Tyreke Evan’s impending move to shooting guard at the All-Star break. And to be fair, chances are he has all the talent to make a find scoring guard. The only problem: the Kings best player, Kevin Martin, already fills that role and only lacks someone to deliver him the ball (which sounded like a job for Ricky Rubio).
The problem with the oversized point guard is, like previously mentioned, they lack the instincts to ever become point guards at the NBA level (which is the only reason their value is inflated in the first place). And once the point guard project ends in most cases fans realize that their oversized point guards aren’t dynamic scorers either (otherwise they would have drafted for their scoring ability—see Brandon Roy).
The scouting phrase “can play point guard in a pinch” should be icing on the cake, not the sole reason for drafting a prospect.
Previous examples include but not limited to (soon to be failed point guard experiment) OJ Mayo, Randy Foye, Reece Gaines, Larry Hughes, Joseph Forte and Antonio Daniels. Verdict still out on Rodney Stuckey.
The Jordan Clone: Despite popular belief, basketball was, is and always will be a big man’s game. But thanks to a certain 6-6 high-flying superstar who won a slew of championships the athletic swingman has become somewhat overvalued.
Michael Jordan, as I have repeated in many blogs, is the exception. Not the rule. So when the Toronto Raptors selected DeMar DeRozan dreaming of the next Jordan or Kobe Bryant, chances are they are likely getting the next Gerald Green or James White.
In the most likely best case scenario a team pursuing this line of reasoning will end up with a Trevor Ariza. But when you draft a player whose scouting report reads “needs to improve: basketball skills” you more often than not end up with an athlete without basketball skills. Perhaps the Raptors can be forgiven for the week draft, but sadly DeRozan will probably be too raw to help in time to keep Chris Bosh.
Previous examples include Gerald Green, Mickael Pietrus, Kedrick Brown and Jerry Stackhouse.
The Single-Double, AKA the Repeater: For some general managers, there can never be too much of a good thing. So when they fall in love with their undersized combo guard who can’t shoot it’s only natural to snatch one up as soon as possible in the next year’s draft. Unfortunately this is why certain franchises have had too many lottery picks in the past decade, which is a very bad thing.
Maybe it’s because a general manager sees himself in a certain type of player—see McHale: Kevin Love/Al Jefferson or Isaiah Thomas: Stephon Marbury/Steve Francis—or lacks any sort of long term vision (think Clippers), but bad teams tend to load up on the same exact type of player (like the Hawks, who possess and army of 6-8, 6-9 athletes when they really could use a roughly six-foot Chris Paul¬).
But when even Stuart Scott can see (this is a joke about his lack of anything intelligent to say, not his lazy eye—boo y ah!) that a Kevin Love and Al Jefferson front court won’t work together, you have a problem. This year’s award goes to new GM David KAAAAAHHHN! Two small point guards who can’t shoot, four drafted overall, and we haven’t even gotten to Sebastian Telfair being on the roster yet.
Honorable mention goes to the Golden State Warriors, who refuse to part with Stephen Curry for Amare Stoudamire (who fills a glaring need) despite having Ellis, who should be coming off his first scooter free offseason. A special booby prize goes to the Phoenix Suns, who insist on drafting brothers of valid NBA stars in, ironically enough, the same draft as their legitimate NBA brothers.
The Third Person Answer Guy: I’m looking at you Johnny Flynn.
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