Post by Mark on Feb 3, 2009 4:52:09 GMT -8
A quick look back at the first round of the creation draft...
1. Boston Celtics - LeBron James SF 6'8'' 240 24 A+ C A- B B B
- Was there ever any doubt that he’d go number one? It was a case of everybody hoping they’d be lucky enough to land the #1 pick and take LBJ with it.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder - Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 23 B B A+ B C B
- First toss up of the draft as it was really between CP3 and D12 for the number two pick. Paul’s A+ handles puts him in the elite ball-handling class with Steve Nash.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - Dwight Howard PF 23 6'11'' 240 B+ D D+ A- A+ B
- Howard’s ratings are phenomenal. He’ll be the greatest defensive big-man in the league for years to come and so he should be. The good inside scoring will see him be a 20ppg and 15rpg threat every night.
4. New York Knicks - Kobe Bryant SG 6'6'' 220 28 A- A- B A C C
- In most other situations Kobe goes at #2 behind James, but this league seems overly enticed with youth and building to the future. After all training camp is a period that every GM looks forward to.
5. Portland Trailblazers(To Indiana) - Dwyane Wade SG 6'4'' 212 25 A C+ B+ A- C C
- Wade’s mix of inside scoring, ball handling and defence make him a great pick to round out the top five.
6. San Antonio Spurs - Kevin Durant SF 6'9'' 225 19 B A- C C+ B- A
- Durant comes into the league as a flat-out scorer. With his potential this should only improve and with it may come some respectable defensive ability.
7. Phoenix Suns - Amare Stoudemire PF 6'10'' 245 26 A C D+ C+ B- B
- The first head-scratching pick of the draft and one based purely on Footy’s man-love for Amare. Yes he can score inside with the best of them, but his lack of any real defence or rebounding makes him a luxury pick far too early in the draft.
8. Denver Nuggets - Andrew Bynum C 7'2'' 285 20 B C- D+ B B A
- Bynum starts with a great set of ratings for a 20-year-old with ‘A’ potential. If he develops he could become a better version of a poor man’s D12.
9. Miami Heat - Deron Williams PG 6'3'' 210 23 B- B A B C- B
- Williams would have and should have gone higher in the draft, had Amare not gone in the top seven. His ratings are not far off of Chris Paul’s, but he didn’t enter the draft with the same hype.
10. Philadelphia 76ers - Chris Bosh PF 6'10'' 230 22 B+ C+ C- B B B
- Bosh is a solid pick to round out the top ten and with his potential could become a real threat on both ends of the floor.
11. Indiana Pacers(To Utah) - Derrick Rose PG 6'3'' 190 19 B+ C B
C+ C- A
- The first of the rookie class to be drafted and with Rose’s mix of inside scoring, handling and potential, he deserved to be the first of the new batch to enter the league.
12. Detroit Pistons - Danny Granger SF 6'8'' 224 24 B+ B+ C- B+ C B
- It could be argued that Granger should have been taken earlier due to his great ratings. The only thing that lets the forward down is his handling ability.
13. Charlotte Bobcats - Al Jefferson PF 6'10'' 250 22 A- C- D C+ B+ B
- Jefferson comes in as an instant threat in the paint and on the boards. He’ll be looking to develop his defensive ability as his career continues.
14. Houston Rockets - O.J. Mayo SG 6'5'' 195 20 B- B+ C+ B- C- A
- It could be argued that Mayo was taken a fraction too high. He’ll be a great scorer with time, but the Rockets will be hoping his defence improves with his potential.
15. Chicago Bulls - Brandon Roy SG 6'6'' 195 23 B B+ B+ B- C B
- Roy possesses a very solid set of ratings. Combine that with some potential and he is one of the league’s most versatile players.
16. Orlando Magic - Emeka Okafor C 6'10'' 255 25 B D+ D A- B B
- Brought in specifically to block the paint, Okafor could develop into a premier big-man if he has any potential.
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Josh Smith SF 6'9'' 225 21 B+ C C+ A- B- B
- In the second of the toss-ups it was a decision between Smith and Iguodala. Both can do a very solid job for teams and where they differ in ratings, this came down to GM choice.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers - Greg Oden C 19 7'0'' 280 C+ D+ D+ B+ B- A
- Not exactly a stellar set of ratings for the old-man, but if his potential is good he can be one for the future.
19. Vancouver Grizzlies - Dirk Nowitzki PF 7'0'' 245 29 B+ A- C B- B+ C
- The first of the real old-guard to enter the league (at least Kobe is popular) and with his performance in the trial sim who could blame the Grizzlies.
20. New Jersey Nets - Yao Ming C 7'6'' 311 26 B+ C C- B+ B C
- Having Yao go at #20 again illustrates the youth obsession within the league. Combine that with a relatively poor set of ratings and this pick makes more sense.
21. Toronto Raptors - Andre Iguodala SG 6'6'' 207 23 B+ C+ B A- C+ B
- Perhaps a touch too late considering it can be argued that he possesses a greater skill set than Josh Smith.
22. Los Angeles Lakers - Kevin Garnett PF 6'11'' 220 31 B C+ C+ A+ B+ C
- Another old-timer who will come in and contribute straight away. One of the esteemed few to have A+ defence.
23. New Orleans Hornets - Carmelo Anthony SF 6'8'' 220 23 A- B- C C+ B B
- The last of the big three from the LeBron draft to be picked and it’s possible to say that he could have gone even lower considering other scorers are still available.
24. Dallas Mavericks - LaMarcus Aldridge PF 6'10'' 237 22 B+ C C- B- C+ A
- An odd pick considering a real lack of anything other than inside scoring ability. However, if his potential holds true this pick can be argued.
25. Atlanta Hawks - Michael Beasley PF 6'9'' 235 19 B C+ C- C+ B- A
- Taken for potential and the Hawks will hope that he develops some defence.
26. Utah Jazz(To Portland) - Caron Butler SF 6'7'' 217 26 B B+ C+ A- C+ C
- Wildly overlooked due to his ‘C’ potential. A good scorer and defender will contribute right away.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves(To Chicago) - Devin Harris PG 6'3'' 185 24 B B B B+ D+ B
- One of the league’s top point guards as it is let alone with the potential. Can be a scoring threat whilst also dishing assists.
28. Washington Bullets - Tim Duncan PF 7'0'' 260 31 B+ C- C A B+ C
- The Big Fundamental sneaked in at the end of the first round and with his ratings will do well from the start for the Bullets.
29. Golden State Warriors - Elton Brand PF 6'8'' 254 28 B+ C C- B+ B+ C
- Brand is another guy looked over in favour of youth. His ratings show that he will be solid and the Warriors will hope that he has some sort of potential left.
1. Boston Celtics - LeBron James SF 6'8'' 240 24 A+ C A- B B B
- Was there ever any doubt that he’d go number one? It was a case of everybody hoping they’d be lucky enough to land the #1 pick and take LBJ with it.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder - Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 23 B B A+ B C B
- First toss up of the draft as it was really between CP3 and D12 for the number two pick. Paul’s A+ handles puts him in the elite ball-handling class with Steve Nash.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - Dwight Howard PF 23 6'11'' 240 B+ D D+ A- A+ B
- Howard’s ratings are phenomenal. He’ll be the greatest defensive big-man in the league for years to come and so he should be. The good inside scoring will see him be a 20ppg and 15rpg threat every night.
4. New York Knicks - Kobe Bryant SG 6'6'' 220 28 A- A- B A C C
- In most other situations Kobe goes at #2 behind James, but this league seems overly enticed with youth and building to the future. After all training camp is a period that every GM looks forward to.
5. Portland Trailblazers(To Indiana) - Dwyane Wade SG 6'4'' 212 25 A C+ B+ A- C C
- Wade’s mix of inside scoring, ball handling and defence make him a great pick to round out the top five.
6. San Antonio Spurs - Kevin Durant SF 6'9'' 225 19 B A- C C+ B- A
- Durant comes into the league as a flat-out scorer. With his potential this should only improve and with it may come some respectable defensive ability.
7. Phoenix Suns - Amare Stoudemire PF 6'10'' 245 26 A C D+ C+ B- B
- The first head-scratching pick of the draft and one based purely on Footy’s man-love for Amare. Yes he can score inside with the best of them, but his lack of any real defence or rebounding makes him a luxury pick far too early in the draft.
8. Denver Nuggets - Andrew Bynum C 7'2'' 285 20 B C- D+ B B A
- Bynum starts with a great set of ratings for a 20-year-old with ‘A’ potential. If he develops he could become a better version of a poor man’s D12.
9. Miami Heat - Deron Williams PG 6'3'' 210 23 B- B A B C- B
- Williams would have and should have gone higher in the draft, had Amare not gone in the top seven. His ratings are not far off of Chris Paul’s, but he didn’t enter the draft with the same hype.
10. Philadelphia 76ers - Chris Bosh PF 6'10'' 230 22 B+ C+ C- B B B
- Bosh is a solid pick to round out the top ten and with his potential could become a real threat on both ends of the floor.
11. Indiana Pacers(To Utah) - Derrick Rose PG 6'3'' 190 19 B+ C B
C+ C- A
- The first of the rookie class to be drafted and with Rose’s mix of inside scoring, handling and potential, he deserved to be the first of the new batch to enter the league.
12. Detroit Pistons - Danny Granger SF 6'8'' 224 24 B+ B+ C- B+ C B
- It could be argued that Granger should have been taken earlier due to his great ratings. The only thing that lets the forward down is his handling ability.
13. Charlotte Bobcats - Al Jefferson PF 6'10'' 250 22 A- C- D C+ B+ B
- Jefferson comes in as an instant threat in the paint and on the boards. He’ll be looking to develop his defensive ability as his career continues.
14. Houston Rockets - O.J. Mayo SG 6'5'' 195 20 B- B+ C+ B- C- A
- It could be argued that Mayo was taken a fraction too high. He’ll be a great scorer with time, but the Rockets will be hoping his defence improves with his potential.
15. Chicago Bulls - Brandon Roy SG 6'6'' 195 23 B B+ B+ B- C B
- Roy possesses a very solid set of ratings. Combine that with some potential and he is one of the league’s most versatile players.
16. Orlando Magic - Emeka Okafor C 6'10'' 255 25 B D+ D A- B B
- Brought in specifically to block the paint, Okafor could develop into a premier big-man if he has any potential.
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Josh Smith SF 6'9'' 225 21 B+ C C+ A- B- B
- In the second of the toss-ups it was a decision between Smith and Iguodala. Both can do a very solid job for teams and where they differ in ratings, this came down to GM choice.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers - Greg Oden C 19 7'0'' 280 C+ D+ D+ B+ B- A
- Not exactly a stellar set of ratings for the old-man, but if his potential is good he can be one for the future.
19. Vancouver Grizzlies - Dirk Nowitzki PF 7'0'' 245 29 B+ A- C B- B+ C
- The first of the real old-guard to enter the league (at least Kobe is popular) and with his performance in the trial sim who could blame the Grizzlies.
20. New Jersey Nets - Yao Ming C 7'6'' 311 26 B+ C C- B+ B C
- Having Yao go at #20 again illustrates the youth obsession within the league. Combine that with a relatively poor set of ratings and this pick makes more sense.
21. Toronto Raptors - Andre Iguodala SG 6'6'' 207 23 B+ C+ B A- C+ B
- Perhaps a touch too late considering it can be argued that he possesses a greater skill set than Josh Smith.
22. Los Angeles Lakers - Kevin Garnett PF 6'11'' 220 31 B C+ C+ A+ B+ C
- Another old-timer who will come in and contribute straight away. One of the esteemed few to have A+ defence.
23. New Orleans Hornets - Carmelo Anthony SF 6'8'' 220 23 A- B- C C+ B B
- The last of the big three from the LeBron draft to be picked and it’s possible to say that he could have gone even lower considering other scorers are still available.
24. Dallas Mavericks - LaMarcus Aldridge PF 6'10'' 237 22 B+ C C- B- C+ A
- An odd pick considering a real lack of anything other than inside scoring ability. However, if his potential holds true this pick can be argued.
25. Atlanta Hawks - Michael Beasley PF 6'9'' 235 19 B C+ C- C+ B- A
- Taken for potential and the Hawks will hope that he develops some defence.
26. Utah Jazz(To Portland) - Caron Butler SF 6'7'' 217 26 B B+ C+ A- C+ C
- Wildly overlooked due to his ‘C’ potential. A good scorer and defender will contribute right away.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves(To Chicago) - Devin Harris PG 6'3'' 185 24 B B B B+ D+ B
- One of the league’s top point guards as it is let alone with the potential. Can be a scoring threat whilst also dishing assists.
28. Washington Bullets - Tim Duncan PF 7'0'' 260 31 B+ C- C A B+ C
- The Big Fundamental sneaked in at the end of the first round and with his ratings will do well from the start for the Bullets.
29. Golden State Warriors - Elton Brand PF 6'8'' 254 28 B+ C C- B+ B+ C
- Brand is another guy looked over in favour of youth. His ratings show that he will be solid and the Warriors will hope that he has some sort of potential left.