http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/vcolumn050628-NBApostdraft.html
WINNERS:
Charlotte Bobcats. Bernie Bickerstaff and company picked two winners in
Raymond Felton and Sean May. The two Tar Heels were national champions and
they join another player who cut down the net in college in Emeka Okafor.
Felton and May will help put people in the seats, too. I give them an A+.
New Orleans Hornets. Chris Paul will help Byron Scott's team for years to
come, running the offense. I thought Atlanta would have been smart to take
Paul instead of Marvin Williams because the Wake Forest guard would have fit
in well with Josh Childress, Josh Smith and Al Harrington. The Hornets also
got a steal in LSU's Brandon Bass early in the second round.
Utah Jazz. I felt Utah made the right move to trade up to get Deron Williams
at No. 3. This team needed a point guard badly and Williams will fit into
Jerry Sloan's system with players like Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer up
front.
Minnesota Timberwolves. Rashad McCants was the best shooting guard in this
draft, and those who were critical of his attitude, look at his interview on
ESPNEWS the day before the draft. I was truly impressed with him, and
putting McCants in with Kevin Garnett should be exciting. Add Bracey Wright
in round two and Minnesota fared well.
Boston Celtics. Gerald Green was a steal at 18 in round one. Many had him
projected in the top 10. Danny Ainge had to be thrilled to see Ryan Gomes
available at No. 50. I felt Gomes should have gone late in the first round.
New York Knicks. Channing Frye and Nate Robinson in a deal with Phoenix both
coming from the Pac-10, plus David Lee means Isiah Thomas gets a good grade.
Los Angeles Lakers. Andrew Bynum is a seven-footer with potential and there
weren't many on the board at that point. I like Ronny Turiaf coming in the
second round, while Von Wafer could help long term.
LOSERS
Toronto Raptors. Charlie Villanueva may eventually work out, but that was
the shock of the draft at No. 7. Joey Graham should work out at No. 16, but
Toronto has had a questionable history (just look at Rafael Araujo!).
Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks. No picks in this
draft, so what were you doing on draft night?
SEC. None of these players were drafted after leaving school early: Kelenna
Azubuike, Anthony Roberson, Matt Walsh, Kennedy Winston, Randolph Morris,
Olu Famutimi. What were these guys thinking going into the draft and giving
up on another year of college basketball, gaining valuable experience in a
positive environment. Brandon Bass didn't go in the first round either.
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