DJ's predictions - lottery update 23 May

[john2jer]

The Wolves still had KG at the time. They were looking for players ready to play right away. It wasn't until later on that they moved him to Boston. Brewer was a junior coming off a national championship run.

But even still, none of them are all-stars, or ever will be.

[Villanova1L]

But of course the Wolves are just bumming out because of all those all-stars they missed out on after Brewer. Brandan Wri... Acie La... Julian Wri... Oh wait...

Spencer Haw...Thaddeus You...Rodney Stu...Rudy Fer...Oh Wait...

The only guy who would have even been CONSIDERED to be that high of a pick without using hindsight is Hawes.

Rudy Fernandez?? Rodney Stuckey?? Even THAD wasn't projected that high.

Using hindsight is b.s.

[AQuintus]

The Wolves still had KG at the time. They were looking for players ready to play right away. It wasn't until later on that they moved him to Boston. Brewer was a junior coming off a national championship run.

But even still, none of them are all-stars, or ever will be.

I could see Thad being an all-star some day (especially in the East), but as of right now, he's way more of a Power Forward than a Small Forward, and the Wolves' definitely don't need more players taking minutes at PF.

[john2jer]

Barring Iggy gets permanently moved to SG, or a trade happens, Thad won't be a starter in Philly until 2013. Thad's a nice player, sure, but not an all-star.

[Worm Guts]

The Wolves still had KG at the time. They were looking for players ready to play right away. It wasn't until later on that they moved him to Boston. Brewer was a junior coming off a national championship run.

But even still, none of them are all-stars, or ever will be.

The Wolves knew they were trading KG by the time they drafted Brewer. It was all but a formality.

[djthesonicsfan]

Doesn't really matter. The Wolves are getting Thabeet & Curry so Brewer still has the chance to become a star sf.

[djthesonicsfan]

1. Clippers - Blake Griffin, PF
The only question is which big gets traded... Randolph, Kaman or Camby. Let’s hope for Griffin’s sake its Randolph. But who are we kidding? These are the Clips. It’ll be Kaman or Camby. Or both. Good thing Dunleavy has DeAndre Jordan.

2. Grizzlies - Ricky Rubio, PG
Just when Chris Wallace thought he’d sorted out his point guard situation along comes Rubio. But wait. Who’s that on the phone with Wallace? Is it the Kings? Maybe Rubio’s not long for Memphis? No, the Kings tried their best earlier & did not have enough. On the phone is Brandon Bass! He wants to know if the Griz could use a tough power forward. Can Wallace win a bidding war when Cuban has to double down due to tax? Not even. So Wallace calls Rick Sund and trades Mike Conley for Marvin Williams. The Griz are going to be a lot better. A good day so far for Grizzly nation.

3. notSonics - James Harden, SG
Harden is a man on a mission during the pre-draft workouts. Measures out. Jumps high. Runs fast. Shoots straight. He’s not Brandon Roy, but he doesn’t need to be. James Harden is plenty good with every chance of getting lots better. Durant, Westbrook & Green welcome their new buddy with open arms. After a few summer league games, even the folks who consider Presti an overbearing, stuck up, know it all are beginning to admit he's doing a really good job. That’s a seriously decent core of young studs. With DJ White, Serge Ibaka and more picks on the way.

4. Kings - Tyreke Evans, PG
If a really tall guy falls on a basketball court but there’s no one there to hear it, did he make a sound? Not a relevant question because lots of people are going to see Thabeet fall down. Or at least fall short. On draft day Stephan A Smith explains that during team workouts it was indeed conclusively proven, and recorded on video tape for posterity, for all time, forever, that Thebust can’t chew gum & walk at the same time, let alone play individual post defence, hedge a screen twenty feet from the hoop or actually shoot. He’s just tall. Is Tyreke Evans a great athlete? Ya. A ball hog? Maybe a little. Better than Beno? Couldn’t be worse. Are Kings fans bummed. Pretty much.

5. Wizards - Hasheem Thabeet, C
Before you can say “Kwame Brown” David Stern announces, “The New Orleans Hornets are relocating to... oops, I mean to say the Wizards are trading Thebust, I mean Hasheem Thabeet, to the Atlanta Hawks for Marvin Williams!” Obviously, Rick Sund has a serious tall guy fetish that therapy & getting fired just hasn’t been able to fix. The deal’s small print indicates the Wizards also get to jettison Brendan Haywood’s & Darius Songaila’s contracts on the Hawks who will actually consider these guys as depth.

6. Wolves - Jordan Hill, PF
Adding to their collection of legit bigs one has to wonder if McHale still has a role in all this. And if Sheldon Williams has a future with the Wolves. Probably no to both.

7. Warriors - Brandon Jennings, PG
Nellie praises Jennings' skills to the heavens. During summer ball Nellie says Jennings will be an all-star, but later he buries Jennings on the bench. He says Jennings is too short to pair with Monta Ellis in the backcourt. Just before Nellie quits gets fired.

8. Knicks - Stephen Curry, PG/SG
Where there’s smoke there’s fire. I think he’s D’Antoni’s guy. I also think it’s way too high. Second coming of Boobie Gibson. Which may be pretty good in his system for all I know. But I do know that Nate the Grate won’t be getting the same offer David Lee gets.

9. Raptors - DeMar DeRozan, SG
Better, but the Raptor faithful wish Colangelo would’ve figured a way to get James Harden. But maybe DeRozan figures it out. And gets a jumper.

10. Bucks - DeJuan Blair, PF
In a somewhat surprising pick the Bucks get a whole lot tougher. Skiles is happy.

11. Nets - Earl Clark, SF
Best player available for a team that needs a lot.

12. Cats - Terrence Williams, SG/SF
Larry Brown gets a younger & bigger Raja Bell.

13. Pacers - James Johnson, SF/PF
A front court athlete to go with Granger, Rush and Hibbert.

14. Suns - Jrue Holiday, PG
The Goran Dragic experiment is over. Is Steve Nash done too? For the notSonics’ sake I hope so.

15. Pistons - BJ Mullens, C
After the pick Dumars is assailed by Stephan A Smith and Dumars admits that Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess & Allen Iverson won't be returning. When asked if the rumors are true that Dumars is about to offer big contracts to Carlos Boozer & Marcin Gortat, Dumars only smiles. Just like a cat smiles when it's about to get the mouse. How come no offer to Ron Artest?

16. Bulls - Austin Daye, SF
Paxson swings for the fences picking on potential. Daye gets time to learn & put on muscle sitting behind Deng.

17. Sixers - Jonny Flynn, PG
This is a good pick whether or not Andre Miller returns.

18. Wolves - Eric Maynor, PG
What a nice draft this is turning out to be for the Wolves. I’m thinking Maynor plays a lot next season.

19. Hawks - Gerald Henderson, SG
Rick Sund never did like Flip Murray.

20. Jazz - Ty Lawson, PG
O'Conner can't believe his good luck. I think it's karma for letting Derek Fisher go.

21. Hornets - Jeff Teague, PG
Jeff Bower is pretty happy with this pick too.

22. Mavericks - Wayne Ellington, SG
A desperate pick for a desperate franchise. It’s all going pear shaped. Just like in San Antonio.

23. Kings - Tyler Hansbrough, PF
Mark Madsen or David Lee? I'm betting he becomes a solid rotation guy.

24. Blazers - Omri Casspi, SF/PF
Just because Pritchard hasn't signed a foreign guy yet. Omir Asik doesn't count because he got traded to the Bulls. Ya, Pritchard wants this on his resume because he's that vain. Of course there's a major trade involved here somehow. Blake, Outlaw, Webster, Batum & Rodriguiz are all in play.

25. notSonics - Sam Young, SF
Presti takes the best available player adding to his collection of young athletes.

26. Bulls - Tyler Smith, SF
He's a good basketball player who got criticized for not being a great basketball player. The Bulls luck out.

27. Grizzlies - Darren Collison, PG
A backup pg. Perfect pick. Actually, a great draft for the Griz... Hill & Collison.

28. Wolves - Chase Budinger, SG/SF
Somebody (McHale) sells this pick to the Rockets for $83. Why did the Rockets bother?

29. Lakers - Michael Washington, PF
Not a bad pick for Kupchak.

30. Cavaliers - Gani Lawal, PF
You can never have enough athletic big guys.