
Yeah kid, I understand the pain.
So it has been a few days since the NBA Draft, and the fallout has been fairly low key to say the least. No OJ Mayo/Kevin Love like trades, no superstars have been traded since O'Neal, Carter and Jefferson and of course free agency has yet to kick in to gear. So here are The Sixteenth Man's Top 5 Winners and Losers of the period surrounding the 2009 NBA Draft.
1. San Antonio Spurs. Within the last seven days, the Spurs dealt away an ageing and declining small forward, a role playing center who was playing BEHIND Matt Bonner at stages during the season, and an ageing back up power forward to Tim Duncan. Who do they gain? A starting small forward/shooting guard who can produce an automatic 20 points every night and a lottery quality draft pick (at #37 overall). The Lakers should be prepared to take notice.
2. Orlando Magic and Vince Carter. With Hedo Turkoglu opting out of his contract, Orlando made an instant move in filling the whole he would leave, with what many believe to be an even better scorer. Not only does Carter provide scoring, but the problems at the point guard between Alston and Nelson have been negated well before the 09-10 season starts. This deal really should solidify Orlando within the top three teams in the Eastern Conference.
3. Los Angeles Clippers and Blake Griffin. The Clippers are somewhat relevant again with Griffin who was without a doubt the best talent in this draft. They have someone who will drastically change the attitude and work ethic of the entire roster, and Baron Davis may finally have a reliable scoring big man to team up with. There is no doubt that they will have a losing season again, but Griffin is definitely a step in the right direction.
4. Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq wins by being dealt to the Cavaliers. He gets out of Phoenix where players like Steve Nash were starting to sound their displeasure with the perennial All-Star. Teaming up with LeBron, a change of scenery and the genuine possibility of a final championship ring are all positives for O'Neal. Was this the right move for Cleveland? Well, they certainly didn't have to give up very much, but finding the balance between Shaq and the rest of the roster will no doubt be initially difficult.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder. James Harden and BJ Mullens are two more pieces to the puzzle that is Oklahoma City. The young talent which the Thunder have accumulated over the years in Durant, Green, Westbrook and now Harden has got many NBA fans excited for a viable playoff push in the next few years. Talking about the talent on the team is certainly better than talking about the move away from Seattle, or the failure that is their brand.
1. Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves aren't the losers here, because if they end up trading Rubio I am sure that some team will pay some ridiculous price for him. For example, I saw an offer from Houston that was Battier and Brooks, a highly efficient defender and a point guard on the rise, for a #5 draft pick, who hasn't played an NBA game yet, and who only averaged single figure points and assists last year in Europe. The whole saga regarding whether or not Rubio will suit up for the Wolves or go back to Europe just enhances my opinion that Rubio will be the next Ron Artest or Stephon Marbury. Greedy and selfish.
2. The Stoudemire rumours. As much as I like the sound of the deal, which would send Stoudemire to the Warriors for Biedrins, Randolph and either Curry or Azubuike, without O'Neal, I see keeping Amare as a must. The Warriors would definitely gain a franchise player, and the Suns would receive a glut of young talent with sky high potential. Is the move necessary? Will this move lift either team back into playoff contention? I would just like to see the Suns and how they would travel with Amare and without O'Neal.
3. Yao Ming. Rumours circulating that Yao could be out for the whole of the 09-10 season and potentially part of the 10-11 season. The injury is a re-fracturing of his navicular bone, which he suffered in the playoffs. With this injury comes grave concerns about the future of not only the Houston Rockets but Yao Ming.
For more on the injury, here is The Sixteenth Man's regular health and injury expert; Dr. Jan Itor.
The navicular bone is one of the tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the bone's resemblance to a small boat, caused by the strongly concave proximal articular surface.It is located on the medial side of the foot, and articulates proximally with the talus, distally with the three cuneiform bones, and occasionally laterally with the cuboid. My prognosis? If he was a horse I would put him down. Is he a horse? It is hard to say, that is something that I will leave for the courts to decide.
I look forward to hearing from Dr. Itor in the future months.
4. Jay Bilas. Ok, so I watched all 60 picks of the draft. According the gospel of Jay Bilas' ESPN expertise, all 60 picks were good. All draftees have massive upside. All draftees are going to secure an NBA roster spot. Ignore the glut of European players who won't even play in the summer league let alone come anywhere near an NBA court in their lives. I stuck through the four and a half hours of coverage just to listen to the drivel that Bilas spewed out. Not good times.
5. Brandon Jennings. I'm ready to call shenanigans on this guy. Lets look at this rap list so far;
WINNERS
1. San Antonio Spurs. Within the last seven days, the Spurs dealt away an ageing and declining small forward, a role playing center who was playing BEHIND Matt Bonner at stages during the season, and an ageing back up power forward to Tim Duncan. Who do they gain? A starting small forward/shooting guard who can produce an automatic 20 points every night and a lottery quality draft pick (at #37 overall). The Lakers should be prepared to take notice.
2. Orlando Magic and Vince Carter. With Hedo Turkoglu opting out of his contract, Orlando made an instant move in filling the whole he would leave, with what many believe to be an even better scorer. Not only does Carter provide scoring, but the problems at the point guard between Alston and Nelson have been negated well before the 09-10 season starts. This deal really should solidify Orlando within the top three teams in the Eastern Conference.
3. Los Angeles Clippers and Blake Griffin. The Clippers are somewhat relevant again with Griffin who was without a doubt the best talent in this draft. They have someone who will drastically change the attitude and work ethic of the entire roster, and Baron Davis may finally have a reliable scoring big man to team up with. There is no doubt that they will have a losing season again, but Griffin is definitely a step in the right direction.
4. Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq wins by being dealt to the Cavaliers. He gets out of Phoenix where players like Steve Nash were starting to sound their displeasure with the perennial All-Star. Teaming up with LeBron, a change of scenery and the genuine possibility of a final championship ring are all positives for O'Neal. Was this the right move for Cleveland? Well, they certainly didn't have to give up very much, but finding the balance between Shaq and the rest of the roster will no doubt be initially difficult.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder. James Harden and BJ Mullens are two more pieces to the puzzle that is Oklahoma City. The young talent which the Thunder have accumulated over the years in Durant, Green, Westbrook and now Harden has got many NBA fans excited for a viable playoff push in the next few years. Talking about the talent on the team is certainly better than talking about the move away from Seattle, or the failure that is their brand.
LOSERS
1. Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves aren't the losers here, because if they end up trading Rubio I am sure that some team will pay some ridiculous price for him. For example, I saw an offer from Houston that was Battier and Brooks, a highly efficient defender and a point guard on the rise, for a #5 draft pick, who hasn't played an NBA game yet, and who only averaged single figure points and assists last year in Europe. The whole saga regarding whether or not Rubio will suit up for the Wolves or go back to Europe just enhances my opinion that Rubio will be the next Ron Artest or Stephon Marbury. Greedy and selfish.
2. The Stoudemire rumours. As much as I like the sound of the deal, which would send Stoudemire to the Warriors for Biedrins, Randolph and either Curry or Azubuike, without O'Neal, I see keeping Amare as a must. The Warriors would definitely gain a franchise player, and the Suns would receive a glut of young talent with sky high potential. Is the move necessary? Will this move lift either team back into playoff contention? I would just like to see the Suns and how they would travel with Amare and without O'Neal.
3. Yao Ming. Rumours circulating that Yao could be out for the whole of the 09-10 season and potentially part of the 10-11 season. The injury is a re-fracturing of his navicular bone, which he suffered in the playoffs. With this injury comes grave concerns about the future of not only the Houston Rockets but Yao Ming.
For more on the injury, here is The Sixteenth Man's regular health and injury expert; Dr. Jan Itor.
The navicular bone is one of the tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the bone's resemblance to a small boat, caused by the strongly concave proximal articular surface.It is located on the medial side of the foot, and articulates proximally with the talus, distally with the three cuneiform bones, and occasionally laterally with the cuboid. My prognosis? If he was a horse I would put him down. Is he a horse? It is hard to say, that is something that I will leave for the courts to decide.
I look forward to hearing from Dr. Itor in the future months.
4. Jay Bilas. Ok, so I watched all 60 picks of the draft. According the gospel of Jay Bilas' ESPN expertise, all 60 picks were good. All draftees have massive upside. All draftees are going to secure an NBA roster spot. Ignore the glut of European players who won't even play in the summer league let alone come anywhere near an NBA court in their lives. I stuck through the four and a half hours of coverage just to listen to the drivel that Bilas spewed out. Not good times.
5. Brandon Jennings. I'm ready to call shenanigans on this guy. Lets look at this rap list so far;
- Calling Ricky Rubio "all-hype". I agree with that to a certain degree, but is it his place to come out and say this?
- Refusing an invitation to the NBA Draft after failing to be promised he would be taken as a lottery pick. Watching the draft at home, he immediately left for the Garden when he got drafted, arriving late and having one of the most awkward entrances and photographs with David Stern in draft history.
- Supposedly part of a YouTube video with some rapper called Joe Budden (no fuckin idea who he is). He dissed Ramon Sessions, the Knicks and his new coach Scott Skiles. Great start heh?