Rants on Sports - NBA Draft

Where do I begin this rant, there is so much to talk about. I'm pretty much going to stick to the NBA with all that has happened in the past week. First let me warn you that I would like to comment about every single draft pick but time and space are two very precious resources days. Besides the draft there were many mind boggling trades and so much talk about where Chris Webber and Gary Payton are going to end up, let me just say we've got a lot to talk about! So with said, here you go!

Lets start with the draft:

1) Kwame Brown - Wizards, Most Resembles: Kevin Garnett

COMMENTS: Michael Jordan made history once again by selecting a high schooler as the #1 pick in the draft for the first time ever. Look for this kid to have a big impact and get some serious playing time right away. After the draft when Kwame and Jordan had a press conference Kwame said, "I've always dreamed of playing against Michael Jordan and someday beating him." Jordan, who was sitting right beside Kwame followed, "You're dreaming alright!" That's the good old competitive mike we know and love....and oh yeah, if you haven't figured it out yet Michael will be on the court this time around!

2) Tyson Chandler - Clips(traded to bulls), Most Resembles: Darius Miles

COMMENTS: I know Darius miles is kind a reach here but listen to the reasoning. At first glimpse Chandler might look physically built like Garnett, but one, I weigh more than Tyson chandler (and he's a foot taller), and two, Chandler has better range on his jumpshot. Another god thing here is that Chandler should get plenty of playing time with the Bulls.....did I mention at 7feet 1 inch he will play SMALL forward.....Damn!

3) Pau Gasol - Atlanta(traded to the Grizzlies), Resembles: Dirk Nowitzki

COMMENTS: Supposedly this guy is the same type of player as Dirk. Who the F cares though! This another one of those picks that you have to ask yourself who the F is this overseas bastard. He's probably under contract in his current country for another 5 years anyway so even if he does come to the states it will be years away and by that time you'll have forgotten he was ever drafted at all. Ps. F European sensations.....except of course Dirk and Vloddy Doddy!

4) Eddy Curry - Chicago, Resembles: Shaq

COMMENTS: I know you're thinking SHAQ???? No way in hell!!!!!! I hear you, I was thinking the same thing but here's the deal. This man is 6-11, 300lbs already has a decent inside game, his range is about twice Shaq's (that makes it about 6 feet out) and best point of all, he is a 70% free throw shooter. So now you're thinking damn, the bulls got Chandler and Curry. Yep, but we'll discuss at what expense later!

5) Jason Richardson - Golden State, Resembles: Corey Maggette

COMMENTS: Jason should be the happiest man in the draft considering he was projected to go more like 10th or 12th. Which probably doubled his first year salary at least! This was definitely the most athletic person in the draft. Look for big things from Richardson, the warriors are willing to try anything to win so Richardson will probably get some serious playing time. Richardson lacks range in his shot, which can make him a liability on the court in some situations considering he'll be playing SG and SF, especially with teams playing zone defense this year. Don't worry to much though, Jason has a serious knack for playing above the rim! He'll be exciting.

6) Shane Battier - Grizzlies, Resembles: Alan Houston

COMMENTS: Not as good a 3 point shooter as Houston, Battier will be that type of solid player, who will play for many seasons. You really can't build a franchise around him but he'll get you between 15-20 pts a game and he will rebound. The first senior taken in the draft, I'm personally not a fan but he may end up rookie of the year next season because he is the most ready to contribute right now.

7) Eddie Griffin - New Jersey(traded to Houston), Resembles: Tracy McGrady

COMMENTS: Eddie can only wish he was this good now, but give a couple years (assuming he stays out of trouble). Now Houston has someone to help Steve Francis put the ball in the hole. Griffin will score that's for sure, only problem is that he likes to thinks he's got a little mike Tyson in him and scouts have labeled him as "unmotivated". Will see! In fact attitude problems is probably the main reason Golden State passed on him a #5.

8) Desagana Diop - Cleveland, Resembles: Dikembe Mutombo

COMMENTS: Diop has a little more weight than Mutombo and is also known to block a shot or two. Its just too bad Diop doesn't have Dikembe to learn from or we might have someone else to compete with Shaq.....who knows give him some time, this guy is a serious project though with very raw talent.

9) Rodney White - Detroit, Resembles: Jamal Mashburn with a quicker first step.

COMMENTS: This guy could have went as high as number 1 and wasn't even projected as a first rounder a couple months ago. This young man impressed everyone through his tryouts, enough that Jordan really liked him and almost justified taking him at 1. White is very versatile and Detroit feels like they got the steel of the draft. He can play SG-PF, and has a solid inside and outside game.

10) Joe Johnson - Boston, Resembles: Eddie Jones

COMMENTS: At 6-8 Johnson can play SF but has the ball handling skills to play on the wing. He's a slashing player with quickness and jumping ability. Boston got a very good player in Joe Johnson.

11) Kedrick Brown - Boston, Resembles: Lamar Odem

COMMENTS: Kedrick is probably faster, Lamar being stronger, but they do resemble each other. Kedrick played junior college ball and once again like to take it to the rim. He has a decent shot and should get some playing time with Boston look for him to make an impact in a couple years.

12) Vladimir Radmanovic - Seattle, Resembles: Toni Kukoc

COMMENTS: Once again another European, who cares! Seattle probably won't see this guy for several years, if at all! He's got a good jump shot.....ahh who cares, and being a Seattle fan I absolutely hate these type of picks where they might as well have not even drafted.

13) Richard Jefferson - Houston(traded to New Jersey), Resembles: Latrell Sprewell

COMMENTS: Another slasher who plays a lot like Jason Richardson. Very athletic, good jumpshot and should get some playing time in New Jersey. He's big enough to play SF but will probably play SG. Very good in the open court and can pass very well.

14) Troy Murphy - Golden State, Resembles: Matt Geiger

COMMENTS: They both have a lot farther range than big men should. Troy Murphy is quite a bit more agile and athletic and will contend for the starting position on the Warriors, but what's that really say! Like Battier, a solid player who will probably play for a lot of years but you definitely can't build a franchise around this guy.

Other Important Notes:
-Minnesota might have gotten the steal of the draft in Loren Woods. The T-Wolves were in serious need of help at the center position and the grabbed Woods with their only pick in the draft at 46. On the other hand, as my roommate (a serious T-Wolves fan) has noted the Wolves get worked every year in the first round by the Spurs and Lakers because they don't have anyone big enough to deal with Shaq, David Robinson, or Tim Duncan, and Loren Woods weighs less than some NBA point guards, to you really think he's going to do anything against these guys.

-Jamal Tinsley who was once projected a lottery pick and the best point guard in the draft fell all the way to the 27th pick where he was taken by the Grizzlies. The Hawks then activated their right to this pick, taking Tinsley from the Griz. The Hawks then traded him to the Pacers for a future first rounder. The knock on Tinsley was that he was too slow, played "playground" style ball, and had already reached his peak as a player. To this I laugh, F Jamal Tinsley for being drafted in the first round of the draft when he wasn't even the best point guard in the state he came from.

TRADES:
-The Bulls sent their best player over the past two seasons, Elton Brand to the Clippers for their first round pick Tyson Chandler and some guy name Brian Skinner. First of all who the hell is Brian Skinner and what the F were the Bulls thinking trading the only good thing they had going for them for a unproven highschooler. I'll be the first to admit the bulls should have gotten Chandler and someone we've at least heard of. Whoever negotiated this deal on the bulls side should be shot for that simple fact, it sounded like the Clippers would have given about anything to get Brand so why the hell didn't they at least get Quintin Richardson or Corey Maggette along with Chandler. Anyways my point is that trading brand wasn't all that bad. The bulls weren't doing anything with him (15 wins last season) so they really can't do any worse and rumor has it that Brand was going to leave at the end of next year anyway when he became a free agent...who wants to lose 70 games every year. So the mentality could have been, lets trade him now and at least maybe we can get something for him. Also with a starting lineup of, Jamal Crawford, Ron Mercer, Tyson Chandler, Marcus Fizer, and Eddy Curry, they will at least be fun to watch and might even double their wins from last season.

-The Nets traded Eddie Griffin to Houston for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong. To this trade I say, "WTF". Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong will be lucky to even make New Jersey's Roster, so they basically traded Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson. The Rockets definitely made out better on deal.

-Towards the end of the night the Grizzlies traded PG Mike Bibby and Brent Price to the Kings for Jason Williams and Nick Anderson. The Grizzlies will definitely sell more tickets due to the 3 ring circus that Jason Williams brings to the team. The Kings get a more solid PG in Bibby, which is certainly a gesture to Webber that the Kings are serious about trying to get a championship. Only problem is that Williams and Webber were pretty good friends so who knows how Webber will take it. There's also a theory that they're bringing in Jason to hold down the fort til next season when they'll get a shot at reeling in the other Jason Williams from Duke.

-The last trade I need to address is a very strange one. The Nets sent Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman(who cares), and Soumaila Samake(who cares) to the Suns for Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley(who cares). Both teams will tell you that they are now suited to make a serious run in the playoffs. When I really don't see how either team is better off. The suns get a better scorer than they had and the nets get a better passer than they had but they still both bring about the same thing to the game. I'll still be anxious to see how they play with their new teams.

PLAYERS THAT WILL MOVE SOON:
-It was thought that Gary Payton might have went on draft day but now it looks like it might not even happen til half way through the season. The Clippers were interested, but that fell through when the Bulls came with their deal, but the heat are still very interested. I'm still thinking that the Raptors can put some money together and make an attempt to get him, maybe that's just wishful thinking.

-Chris Webber might end up back in Sacramento and not because he wants to but because no team out there can afford him. Almost every team would be interested but realistically speaking almost none of them can come up with the cash. New York is supposedly still a possibility, but they have serious money issues. The Pacers are still about the only team that can pay him anything close to what he's used to. Of course they'd have to trade Jermaine O'neal in the process, but it would be interesting to see Chris play with Jalen Rose again. There are however two problems with this, one, we've seen how things work out when he gets back together with the fab five members (remember Webber and Howard in Washington), exactly nothing came out it. Two, there's the fact that he would be playing with the most ass flamingly assy team to ever ass flame! Please Chris, go back to the Kings over signing with the Gaycers!

ps. F the lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Skizzow

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