After looking through the draft and the surrounding trades that have taken place, I try to make sense of it all. Most stuff is pretty clear, but I’m still scratching my head over some things. Here are some of my closing thoughts on this year’s draft.

Minnesota got it Right, But will Find a Way to Mess it Up

They drafted Ricky Rubio and then Jonny Flynn. Two point guards, but in the end, it was right. Rubio has the potential to be a stud. He has already come out and said he won’t play for Minnesota, he will go back overseas. This is the start of a disturbing trend that international players are being prima donas and think they can dictate where they want to play. In reality, you play where you are drafted, and Stern needs to get a hold of this before it gets out of hand. Unlike a contract that has a shelf life, Minnesota owns his rights and will own them as long as he wants to play in the NBA. That means he plays for Minnesota or he plays overseas, unless Minny decides to trade him. This isn’t like trading an expiring contract so there is no heat on Minnesota’s back. They should demand better value than they are giving up, because a franchise can’t out-wait Minny for free agency this time. Somehow, Minnesota will settle for less than equal talent and Rubio will get his wish and play in a big market. If you were smart, Ricky, you would see that a player doesn’t have to be in a big market to shine (Lebron James is a superstar in a moderate sized market like Cleveland).

The Spurs are who we thought they were

Champs. They didn’t draft until number 37 and came away with one ‘pick 22′ (as I have now coined this term for an international player that won’t play on an NBA roster) and two dynamite back ups. DeJuan Blair is the prize of this draft for them. He was a monster that abused number 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet every time they matched up. There are questions about his knees, but here he will be playing back up minutes, thus keeping him fresh, and making the rest of the NBA look foolish for passing on him. Second, they got Jack McClinton, tied with Jodie Meeks for the best pure shooter in the draft. Over the last year, McClinton has mastered the art of the step back three (a step back that when measured covers about 25 feet) and will complement those ‘at the basket’ finishers so well (guys like Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan). Its unfair that this team keeps stocking talent. They just have to sign one big man in the offseason and this team will probably go to the finals next year.

Houston Stocked Up…….on Projects

Houston somehow with no picks in the draft, gave away cash considerations for a bunch of 2nd round, project level players. I guess the big wig owners have a lot of money to throw around because they bought all this talent that we’re not even sure will be on the roster. It just doesn’t make much sense to make this move more than once per draft on a guy you think will turn into a solid rotation player. Houston did it 4 times.

Adam Silver should announce the whole draft

Adam Silver announces the second round picks so Emperor Stern can get back to ruling the NBA. This guy is hilarious. Every time he walked up to the podium he had a smirk on his face like he heard a dirty joke back stage right before he walked out and that’s all that’s on his mind. Quality entertainment while we watched the plethora of meaningless secound round trades and plenty of pick 22s. Good Times.

Minnesota lost half of its prospect list on the way to the draft

Yes, here comes some more Minnesota bashing, get used to it. After looking closely as the picks taken by Minnesota on draft night, the picks in the order of the draft are basically in height order. I think that when they got there, they didn’t realize they left of Small Forwards, Power Forwards, and Centers prospect list at their hotel room. They drafted all these guards. Not a single one was even a true PG or true SG (except Rubio, who won’t play there, so yea, the only pick that made sense isn’t even going to play there). Added to Memphis, Toronto, and the Clip-show, this franchise is just another plain embarasment. I guess I didn’t realize that they have a great front court comprised of Al Jefferson and……… Get the point? Just a huge swing and a miss on Minny’s part.

Related posts:

1. NBA Draft 2009: First Round Grades and Other Random Thoughts
2. NBA Draft: Minnesota Misses the Point, San Antonio Steals Some Studs
3. NBA Draft Diary – 2009
4. NBA: Major Moves – Good or Bad?
5. NBA Rumors: Miami Ready to Contend?