Another NBA Draft has come and gone. Everyone knew who was going to be the top three picks this year, and most knew who Toronto would take if they held on to the fourth pick (which they did). So, on the days since the festivities in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, sports fans like yours-truly have sat back and looked at what each team did in the draft. Here is my appraisal:
WINNERS\n• Cleveland: Not only do they get everyone's number one prospect, LeBron James (can I just say how much I loved his suit? I wish I could pull that suit off), they go out in the second round and pick up Jason Kapono of UCLA, a great shooter who should benefit from the ability of both LeBron and Dajaun Wagner to drive to the hole. Combine that with the addition of Paul Silas as coach and things should be looking up at the Gund Arena this season.\n• Detroit: An Eastern Conference finalist in 2002-2003, the Pistons addressed their needs by picking up Darko Milicic, which will allow Ben Wallace to slide into his natural position at power forward. They also pick up two other Europeans, including Carlos Delfino, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard out of Italy who needs to add bulk but has terrific range.\n• Los Angeles Lakers: Either because of a deep draft or the stupidity of other general managers, the Lakers were able to pick up two quality players who can step in right away and give Phil Jackson good minutes off the bench. Brian Cook of Illinois and Luke Walton of Arizona should provide Shaq and Kobe with a deeper bench than they have had in years.\n• Miami: The Heat go out and pick up Dwayne Wade of Marquette with their first pick and then fill their potential hole at center with North Dakota's Jerome Beasley in the second round. Wade could give the Heat quality minutes right away, and will fit in well with other explosive players in Miami like Caron Butler.\n• New Jersey: The Nets went out and picked a point guard from Croatia named Zoran Planinic, who has an ability to get to the hole as well as a great perimeter shot. This could be insurance in case Jason Kidd leaves, but Planinic could come off the bench to give a re-signed Kidd a break to keep his legs fresh through June.\n• New York: I personally felt that going for Mike Sweetney of Georgetown in the first round gave the Knicks something they already had too many of: small power forwards. However, by adding Maciej Lampe from Poland and Slavko Vranes, a 7-foot-6 forward from Serbia who is a definite project, the Knicks have addressed the inside presence missing since Patrick Ewing was traded.\n• Orlando: The Magic were able to get Louisville's Reece Gaines with the No. 15 pick, a steal in my book. Gaines can come in and have an immediate impact. They also pick up streaky shooter Keith Bogans of Kentucky and Zaur Pachulia, a forward from Turkey who has good skills around the hole.
LOSERS\nIn a draft this deep there are only a few teams that did not make out well.\n• Memphis: I hate to second-guess the best eye for talent in the NBA, Jerry West, but I am not sure about trading for Troy Bell of Boston College and Duke's Dahntay Jones. Neither, to me, appears to be able to make significant contributions to the Grizzlies cause in the next couple of years, if ever.\n• Sacramento: They had no picks. It is hard to be a winner if you do not get anyone.\n• San Antonio: Traded their only pick (Leandrinho Barbosa from Brazil) for a future first rounder. See Sacramento.
QUICK HITS\n• Virginia Tech has lost any respect in my book. One day they are suing the Atlantic Coast Conference over their attempts to ruin the Big East. Then the next day they cannot join the conference fast enough. This is hypocrisy, plain and simple. I also wish that Myles Brand would step in and help the resolution of this crisis.
