FanHouse fixes a decade of draft-day blunders in Revisiting the NBA Draft.It's almost unfair to judge a draft after one year, but this is what we're going to do. The final edition of our Revisiting the Draft series examines the 2008 Draft and believe or not, there are teams already harboring regrets from their picks.
Despite the extensive scouting, workouts and interviews involved in the draft, teams still make major mistakes and these days, prospects don't get three years to develop. Of the 14 lottery picks in 2006, six have already changed teams and players such as Patrick O'Bryant and Mouhamed Sene are not guaranteed jobs next season.
The NBA waits for no one, especially if they are taking too long to make an impact. So while teams won't freely admit they made mistakes 12 months after draft night, they will privately admit they overestimated talent and heart, and sooner or later, that will cost front-office jobs.
There are some definite changes after just a year, but not at the top. The Bulls started by selecting Memphis guard Derrick Rose, who may not be astute at the SAT but can certainly read defenses. Chicago stays with Rose, who will be an All-Star in the next three years.
The Miami Heat opted for the second-best choice in Michael Beasley and although he had a solid season for a rookie, let's say the Heat nab O.J. Mayo, who pushed Rose for the Rookie of the Year. Not to say Beasley won't work out in Miami, but Mayo could have brought a dynamic to the Heat backcourt that it lacks with Mario Chalmers. Since Mayo is unavailable to the Timberwolves, who eventually traded him to Memphis, they take UCLA guard Russell Westbrook, whose rookie season exceeded any expert's expectations.
The Oklahoma City Thunder still need to decide whether Westbrook is a true point guard, but he is a keeper. Since Oklahoma City misses out on Westbrook, GM Sam Presti takes Beasley, who fills in nicely at power forward, a major void for the Thunder. The Grizzlies are next and they drafted Kevin Love and dealt him to Minnesota. But if GM Chris Wallace had to retain the pick, they draft Brook Lopez, who may be New Jersey's franchise center.The Knicks were enticed by Danilo Gallinari's talent and potential but not his bad back. Do you think coach Mike D'Antoni would do it again? FanHouse thinks they would take Eric Gordon of Indiana, who was third in rookie scoring this season after just one year of school. Since the Clippers can't draft Gordon, they take Love, who turned in a decent season under scrutiny but may never get more athletic.
Joe Alexander was the eighth pick by Milwaukee and was basically lost all of last season. So the Bucks take Texas guard D.J. Augustin, who turned in a splendid rookie season for Charlotte. The Bobcats made a solid pick with Augustin but there are other talented players available, such as Rider's Jason Thompson, whose smooth adaptation to the NBA was overshadowed by Sacramento's pathetic season.
The Nets scored big with Lopez, but he's gone, so GM Rod Thorn takes Western Kentucky's Courtney Lee, who proved his worth in the Orlando Magic's playoff run. The Pacers decided on Jerryd Bayless but traded him to Portland at 11. Indiana takes the best value pick in Chalmers, who emerged as a starter for playoff-bound Miami despite being a second-round pick.
The Kings would miss out on Thompson but they favor Anthony Randolph, who clashed with Don Nelson (big surprise there) in Golden State but flourished in the late season. The Trail Blazers traded Brandon Rush at 13 for Bayless but they stand pat and take the defensive-minded Kansas forward. The Warriors finish the lottery by teaming Gallinari with fellow Italian Marco Bellinelli.
Gallinari is a prospect but wasn't healthy most of his rookie season.
Stay tuned for next year's Revisiting the 2009 Draft.
2008
The way it was:
1) Derrick Rose – Chicago
2) Michael Beasley – Miami
3) O.J. Mayo – Minnesota
4) Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City
5) Kevin Love – Memphis
6) Danilo Gallinari – New York Knicks
7) Eric Gordon – Los Angeles Clippers
8) Joe Alexander – Milwaukee
9) D.J. Augustin – Charlotte
10) Brook Lopez – New Jersey
11) Jerryd Bayless – Indiana
12) Jason Thompson – Sacramento
13) Brandon Rush – Portland
14) Anthony Randolph – Golden State
The way it should have been:
1) Derrick Rose – Chicago
2) O.J. Mayo – Miami
3) Russell Westbrook – Minnesota
4) Michael Beasley – Oklahoma City
5) Brook Lopez – Memphis
6) Eric Gordon – New York Knicks
7) Kevin Love – Los Angeles Clippers
8) D.J, Augustin – Milwaukee
9) Jason Thompson – Charlotte
10) Courtney Lee – New Jersey
11) Mario Chalmers – Indiana
12) Anthony Randolph – Sacramento
13) Brandon Rush – Portland
14) Danilo Gallinari – Golden State
