2010 NBA Draft Eve

I lied about doing all 30 teams. It was fun, but ultimately pointless since I don't speak to the teams/players and I after the top 30-or-so American players and a few more down the list, I don't know enough about these guys to make proper evaluations. So I'm gonna run through each team that could potentially make a move or two that I'd love to see happen.

Atlanta - CHRIS PAUL. Trade Al Horford, Marvin Williams and your next 10 first rounders. Now is your chance to make up for that debacle of a decision!
Chicago - I've convinced myself that LeBron would be a mistake in tandem with Derrick Rose. It wouldn't. But I still want him to go somewhere to play point guard. Chris Bosh, on the other hand, would be ideal. Add in Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay, and you have a dynasty-in-the-making.
Detroit - DeMarcus Cousins and the Detroit Pistons deserve each other. I'll be pissed if Cousins' potential goes down the drain thanks to a poor fit for him (like Golden State, for instance).
Indiana - Kevin Love. Seriously, wouldn't this be awesome? And a pretty good fit at that. Larry Bird likes this idea.
Miami - I hope Wade and Amar'e could work out. I don't think it will, but who knows. They'll need more than that, though. Solomon Alabi could be there at 18 and would help with Amar'e's defensive deficiencies.
Milwaukee - Xavier Henry and Patrick Patterson would both be great fits. I say, go after both.
New Jersey - LeBron James and Carlos Boozer. The pairing that wasn't meant to be in Cleveland is meant to be in New Jersey. That's just how I feel. Deal with it.
New York - James Dolan was once called the Donald Sterling of the east. So as much as I'd love to see the Knicks become relevant again, I dunno if I'd wish mediocrity on anyone signing there. However there's one exception: Chris Paul. If Steve Nash was Mike 'Antoni's dream come true, Paul is his messiah. Too bad it could never happen.
Phoenix - DIRK NOWITZKI. I'm rooting harder for this to happen than maybe any one single move this offseason (outside of John Wall, of course). Dirk and Nash (and Grant Hill) deserve a ring and this would get 'em all closer.
Utah - Cole Aldrich.
Washington - John Wall. Obviously. But you know what I'd really love? If we could somehow use Andray Blatche to draft Greg Monroe, too. Finding a way to nab Dominique Jones as well would be sublime.

P.S. America: FUCK YEA

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have Danny Granger, Troy Murphy and Roy Hibbert, and nobody else who belongs in an NBA rotation. What they do have is a bunch of players in their last year of their deals. Bill Simmons is wetting himself as we speak over the chance to write about Murphy's expiring deal. Mike Dunleavy Jr, too. I'm shaking with anticipation.

Draft
-Round 1 Pick 10 (10) - By the sounds of it, this pick will be moved for a point guard, whether it's Devin Harris, Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, or someone else. If the pick does stay here I'm taking Patrick Patterson. I've been on his bandwagon since he came out of high school, and I think he's criminally underrated now. If not Patterson, then Avery Bradley, who impressed me early in the season (then fell off when Texas did). He'll be a decent fit at PG, or at least be a great combo-guard off the bench.
-Round 2 Pick 10 (40) - This really could be anyone, as I said this team has holes everywhere. Possibly Jerome Jordan, to provide some depth at center.
-Round 2 Pick 27 (57) - Best available.

Free Agency
No money, but who would want to sign here?

2010-2011 Season Outlook
I don't see this team getting much better, unless they make some major trades with all their expiring deals. I feel bad for Danny Granger, he deserves better.

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - New York Knicks

We run into the first team who doesn't have their first rounder. Hope it was worth it, James Dolan

Draft
-Round 2 Pick 8 (38) - If Lance Stephenson is here I'm taking him. Relatively easy pick.
-Round 2 Pick 9 (39) - Charles Garcia, another high risk/high reward prospect, would be served well playing in Mike 'Antoni's offense. Could be a home run.

Free Agency
Well, I'd like to sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay, Dirk Nowitzki... anyone who can play, I want. This is the summer this franchise has been planning for, seemingly since the dawn of time. Better make the most of it.

2010-2011 Season Outlook
Magic 8-ball sez: Ask again later (in a couple weeks).

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - Los Angeles Clippers

There's very little point in playing GM for the Clips, they defy basketball logic at every turn. Applying said logic will only result in headache. But here goes anyway.

Draft
-Round 1 Pick 8 (8) - This is actually a pretty easy pick at this point: Paul George. Who? Watch this video! From everything I've read he's got the potential to be somewhere between Tracy McGrady and Rudy Gay. The Clippers are built to run and need a 3. Seems perfect to me.
-Round 2 Pick 24 (54) - They could use depth at PG and C, and that can be found here. Sherron Collins or Jerome Randle could work at point guard or Jerome Jordan at center.

Free Agency
They have the cap space to work with, but does anyone really want to go to the Clippers? And I doubt Donald Sterling is gonna shell out too much money for someone who won't help fill seats, which means over-paying for Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay probably won't be allowed. Tracy McGrady might be a possibility for me, he could help with the development of my new draft pick Paul George.

2010-2011 Season Outlook
My initial reaction is, it's the Clippers. But fans have Blake Griffin to look forward to, and if he lives up to potential, and Chris Kaman somehow doesn't get hurt, look out.

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - Detroit Pistons

I subscribe to the theory that the great teams take on the persona of their city, and while Joe Dumars did a great job of building a blue-collar, defensive-minded championship team around Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, he all but sealed his fate when he gave nearly $100 million to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. He has this season to right the ship and while it's a largely uphill climb, anything is possible.

Draft
-Round 1 Pick 7 (7) - By my picks, DeMarcus Cousins is here; if that's the case you thank your lucky stars he fell. Otherwise I'm looking at Ekpe Udoh, or maybe even Cole Aldrich.
-Round 2 Pick 6 (36) - Trevor Booker. Maybe Gani Lawal. Maybe reach for Derrick Caracter (who has apparently impressed some people in workouts) or Samardo Samuels. See where I'm going here?

Free Agency
Nothing to be done. I like the teams with no cap space, nothing to write about. They could trade Richard Hamilton (very undesirable) or Tayshaun Prince (who isn't available for some reason).

2010-2011 Season Outlook
Maybe this is the year Rodney Stuckey finds some consistency in his game. Maybe Hamilton and Prince will find the fountain of youth, and maybe Gordon will learn how to defend and Villanueva will learn to be tough. Maybe I'll take Dumars' job.

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - Golden State Warriors

I'd be doing all I can to trade Monta Ellis, but that's just me. He's got a ton of talent, I'm just not really sure who would want him, unless he's fine coming off the bench (which he's not). There's no cap space to work with and no desirable contracts to trade with. At least they have a good draft pick.

Draft
-Round 1 Pick 6 (6) - People seem to be saying whichever one of DeMarcus Cousins or Greg Moroe falls is the pick. This team may be bad, but it has an identity: RUN RUN RUN. Neither Cousins nor Monroe really fits here. Al-Farouq Aminu does, however. He's the selection.
-Round 2 Pick 4 (34) - I don't know what to do with this roster. I guess take Trevor Booker or Jarvis Varnado and run. No pun intended. Or possibly take a look at Lance Stephenson. He'd provide toughness and the size to actually defend at the 2.

Free Agency
No money. No hope.

2010-2011 Season Outlook
Not great, but who knows. Stephen Curry is the real deal, and if you give him Aminu along with healthy Kelenna Azubuiki and Andris Biedrins to run with, he could do some damage. And as far away from conducive-to-winning as I feel having Monta Ellis in your starting lineup is, he's still very talented. So they'll be exciting to watch, definitely.

2010 NBA Draft & Offseason Preview - Sacramento Kings

The Kings have pretty much a blank slate to work with, outside of reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and newly acquired Samuel Dalembert. Which is a good thing when your glass is half full.

Draft
-Round 1 Pick 5 (5) - It's pretty safe to say that Wall, Turner, Favors and Johnson will all be gone at this point, so my choice basically comes down to either Greg Monroe or DeMarcus Cousins. People will argue that Cousins has too much upside to pass on, or that Cousins has too many red flags to gamble on; I just think Monroe is a better player.
-Round 2 Pick 3 (33) - I'm just taking the best player available here. Wouldn't it be interesting to take Lance Stephenson? Unthinkable, sure, but definitely interesting. More likely go with someone like Stanley Robinson if he's available, Devin Ebanks, or maybe the best fit, Darrington Hobson.

Free Agency
Nobody's coming to Sacramento. Then again, would it hurt to make offers to Rudy Gay, or David Lee, or throw a curve and go after Chris Bosh?

2010-2011 Season Outlook
If you like watching young talent grow, you could be in for a fun season. Otherwise...