2005 NBA Draft Grade by Lucky
Lester
We'll see soon enough whose draft was
genius, but for now all I can do is tell you what I
think. Lucky Lester here, showing you who I thought
did well and who did otherwise. I thought about it long
and hard and decided to grade the talent of the athletes
chosen as well as the job done by the NBA teams. Check
out my player and draft grades and let me win you over
with my analysis. Let the critique begin.
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| 1 |
grade: B- |
2 |
grade:
A |
| 3
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grade:
B+ |
4
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grade:
B |
| 5 |
grade: NA |
6 |
grade:
NA |
| 7 |
grade: C+ |
8 |
grade:
B |
| 9 |
grade:
A |
10 |
grade: A- |
| 11 |
grade:
A- |
12 |
grade: D |
| 13 |
grade: D |
14 |
grade: B+ |
| 15 |
grade: A |
16 |
grade: A |
| 17 |
grade: B+ |
18 |
grade: B- |
| 19 |
grade: A- |
20 |
grade: B- |
| 21 |
grade: B- |
22 |
grade: F |
| 23 |
grade: F |
24 |
grade: A |
| 25 |
grade: A- |
26 |
grade: B |
| 27 |
grade: B |
28 |
grade: D+ |
| 29 |
grade: B |
30 |
grade: A- |
Atlanta Hawks -
The Hawks picked a couple of great players. Marvin Williams
is touted as the player with the most start potential
in this draft, and I agree. Salim Stoudamire is a lights
out shooter, who has the type of attitude you want for
a guy who needs to hit big shots. I don't know much
about Akyol, except he's a 6'4" point guard whose
only 18 years old. These players are great. But were
they the best for the big-man challenged Hawks? I'm
not sold. Williams plays the same positions as Josh
Smith, Josh Childress, and Al Harrington. Salim is a
2 guard who they may try to play at the point. For a
team that won less than 20 games, could they have used
a true point and a big? I think so. I might have taken
Chris Paul, or Raymond Felton, but I can't argue with
taking the best player available. I just hope they don't
turn into the Knicks.
1 (2) - Marvin Williams, f, North Carolina
2 (31) - Salim Stoudamire, g, Arizona
2 (59) - Cenk Akyol, g, Efes Pilsen (Turkey)
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - B-
Boston Celtics
- The Celtics stumbled upon a great draft. Gerald Green,
who was close to a consensus top high-schooler, dropped
all the way to them at 18. This kid has Tracy McGrady
upside and Desmond Mason downside. So, he's going to be
good. You have to give them credit for pulling the trigger
though, there were other teams that didn't. (See Toronto)
Ryan Gomes is a steal in the second round, and Greene
is a defensive stopper. There's always room for players
like him. The Celtics needed talent, and they got it.
1 (18) - Gerald Green, f, Gulf Shores
Academy (TX)
2 (50) - Ryan Gomes, f, Providence
2 (53) - Orien Greene, g, Louisiana-Lafayette
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - A
Charlotte Bobcats
- The Bobcats did everything they should have done and
more. They held tight and let the draft come to them.
They picked up two great players who are National Champions,
can play now, and have tons of upside. Those out there
who say Sean May is too fat or short obviously have had
their heads up their butts for the last year. This isn't
the same Sean May who came to Carolina as a freshman 3
years ago. He's solid and can run the court. He has a
nice jumper, finishes well, shoots free throws and will
always box out and board, board, board. I can't say enough
about him. And then there's Raymond. Felton is the fastest
player in the draft. He's a magician, Magic Johnson like
passer, a leader, a winner, and a balls-out defender.
I've yet to hear a bad thing about him. It was popular
to list Williams and Paul 1 and 2, but Felton is just
as good. He doesn't have a hole in his game. The Bobcats
didn't pick these two players because they were from Carolina,
they picked them because they're as good as it gets in
this draft, and they're winners. I don't know if they
needed Sean May as much as they could have used Danny
Granger so I can't give them a perfect grade, but they
did well.
1 (5) - Raymond Felton, g, North Carolina
1 (13) - Sean May, f, North Carolina
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - B+
Chicago Bulls
- The Chicago Bulls ended up winning on draft day without
a single pick. Last season the Bulls brass traded this
year's first round pick for what ended up being Luol Deng.
This year's pick would have been 20th overall. Good deal.
The Bulls are young and talented, we started to see that
last year, and this year should be even better. They didn't
really take place in this year's draft, but last years
picks should be recognized.
Player Grade - NA
Draft Grade - B
Cleveland Cavaliers
- The Cavs could have used any number of players this
draft had to offer, top to bottom to un-drafted. But,
they had no picks. Hopefully they can add an all star
caliber player (Redd, Mobley, Hughes) to man the court
with Lebron. If not, don't be surprised if the Cavs slip
like they did after the all-star break a year ago.
Player Grade - NA
Draft Grade - NA
Dallas Mavericks
- The Mavs didn't have a selection in this year's draft,
and it's a good thing they didn't. They have oodles of
young talented players, as well as seasoned vets who get
the job done. The Mavs will always contend as long as
Cuban is running the team.
Player Grade - NA
Draft Grade - NA
Denver Nuggets
- The Nuggs needed a shooter or two and they ended up
picking none. I think Julius Hodge could hustle himself
on to an All Star team or two in his career, but he's
no shooter. With Garcia on the board I thought they could
have helped themselves out a little more by picking him.
I can't say enough great things about Hodge though. He's
a gamer. He's every bit as good as his career stats at
NC State. Don't sell him short. The Nuggets traded Jarrett
Jack to the Blazers for Linas Kleiza and Ricky Sanchez.
I think Jack is great, and I don't know much about Kleiza
or Sanchez. Many scouts have talked up Axel Harville so
he was a great pick at 52. The Nuggs came away with good
players, and Hodge would help any team in the league,
but they didn't get the shooter they are looking for.
1 (20) - Julius Hodge, g, North Carolina St
1 (22) - Jarrett Jack, g, Georgia Tech
2 (52) - Axel Herville, f, Real Madrid (Spain)
Player Grade - B+
Draft Grade - C+
Detroit Pistons
- I don't know what the Pistons are going to do with Alex
Acker, but Joe-Du knows what he's doing. Maxiel is a small
forward who works his ass off and gives it his all. His
rough and tumble style would help any team, and fit in
just perfectly with the bad boys. Amir Johnson is a 6-10
big man who is very raw. He is an athletic jumper, but
is limited offensively, and his basketball IQ has been
questioned. But, with the 56th pick in the draft, I'd
say he was a great pick. Dumars has done very well, and
I think he continued here.
1 (26) - Jason Maxiell, f, Cincinnati
2 (56) - Amir Johnson, f, Westchester HS (California)
2 (60) - - Alex Acker, g, Pepperdine
Player Grade - B
Draft Grade - B
Golden State Warriors
- Chris Mullin's starting to pull it together. The Warriors
were one of the hottest teams finishing out the year,
and Chris just added some ammo. Ike Diogu was one of the
most underrated players in the draft. His height was questioned,
but the bottom line is he can get the job done. He was
one of the best overall players in PAC-10 history, and
he's even more athletic than people give him credit for.
He can score from anywhere on the floor, and will always
help defensively. He's a rebound machine, and his effort
and character are unmatched. Monta Ellis is a scoring
guard who needs to grow or become a point. His upside
is there; we'll see if the Warriors can get him there.
Chris Taft thought he was going in the lottery, okay,
at least the first round, well, he got drafted. Mullin
took a chance on a kid who never played up to his potential.
Taft is big and athletic. He will find a home on the Warrior's
roster.
1 (9) - Ike Diogu, f, Arizona St
2 (40) - Monta Ellis, g, Lanier HS (Mississippi)
2 (42) - Chris Taft, f, Pittsburgh
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - A
Houston Rockets
- The Rockets had one pick. And with that one pick they
had one goal, get help on the perimeter for T-Mac. Luther
Head was one of the most polished scorers in the draft.
He'll take advantage of open shots in Houston. Luther
was great in draft camps and in college. He's a shooter,
a slasher, and a flat out good basketball player. He was
a great pick. He'll be big for Houston.
1 (24) - Luther Head, g, Illinois
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - A-
Indiana Pacers
- Larry Legend has to be laughing. He sat through 16 picks
while the one kid who could help his team most fell right
to him. Danny Granger does everything well. If he had
played at Duke or Carolina, or any big school he would
have been a top 5 pick. But once again the morons who
make decisions looked right past Danny. That's why the
Pacers have great players every year. That's why they
could lose 3 of their best players for most of the year
and finish in the playoffs. Lorbek is a big player whose
potential trumps his ability now, but that's what second
round picks are for. I do think they could have used John
Gilchrist to back up the oft-injured Tinsley. Overall
the draft went well for Indiana.
1 (17) - Danny Granger, f, New Mexico
2 (46) - Erazem Lorbek, f, Climamio Bologna (Italy)
Player Grade - A-
Draft Grade - A-
Los Angeles Clippers
- Oh, Clip-Show, this is why you'll forever be labeled
LA's other team. When you pass up players like Granger,
Warrick, Wright, Vasquez, May, McCants, Graham, and more
to pick someone like Korolev who will forever keep you
in the average pack of teams you're in, you deserve that
label. The Clippers stepped out of their idiot zone and
picked up do everything guard Daniel Ewing, but they failed
to get help right now in the first round. Now all they
need to do is fail to sign Simmons and make it an average
Clipper offseason.
1 (12) - Yaroslav Korolev, f, CSKA Moscow
(Russia)
2 (32) - Daniel Ewing, g, Duke
Player Grade - C
Draft Grade - D
Los Angeles Lakers
- The Lakers suck. Bynum got the first round guarantee
no one could believe. He might turn out to be good, but
this obviously screams "free-agents" for the
lackluster Lakers. Phil Jackson won't play Bynum, even
if the Lakers aren't going anywhere. Turiaf was a good
pick. He'll do a lot of little things without demanding
shots. Von Wafer? John Gilchrist. The Lakers needed a
point that could be tough. John could have been that guy.
Maybe they'll pick someone up to do the job.
1 (10) - Andrew Bynum, c, St. Joseph HS (NJ)
2 (37) - Ronny Turiaf, f, Gonzaga
2 (39) - Von Wafer, g, Florida State
Player Grade - C-
Draft Grade - D
Memphis Grizzlies
- The Grizzlies picked a better replacement for Stromile
Swift. I like Swift, but Warrick can do more. He's got
the same gifts athletically with a better understanding
of what to do. Swift might figure it out, but Hakim has
it now, right out of college, and he knows how to win.
And lets all hope to God that he posts someone up and
dunks on their face. That's ridiculous.
1 (19) - Hakim Warrick, f, Syracuse
Player Grade - A-
Draft Grade - B+
Miami Heat
- The Heat got a great player in Wayne. He's a perfect
fit for their team as well. He's a better player than
Haslem is. Hopefully for the Heat, they can keep both
guys around, but if Haslem finds gold on another roster,
the Heat doesn't lose anything. Simien is a ball player;
he'll be a 10 and 10 guy in Miami.
1 (29) - Wayne Simien, f, Kansas
Player Grade - B+
Draft Grade - A
Milwaukee Bucks
- The Bucks did what they needed to do. They picked a
7 footer who can pass, shoot, and handle the ball. I think
Bogut is the safest pick for rookie of the year. Ilyasova
will make the Bucks roster and end up getting good minutes
in the second half of the year. Even better news than
either of these picks is the news the Bucks got the day
before the draft, T.J. Ford was cleared for full contact.
Bogut and Ford should really boost an average team.
1 (1) - Andrew Bogut, c, Utah
2 (36) - Ersan Ilyasova, f, Ulker Istanbul (Turkey)
Player Grade - A-
Draft Grade - A
Minnesota Timberwolves
- The Wolves took a chance on the most offensively gifted
kid in the draft, Rashad McCants. McCants gets a bad wrap
for saying everything other college athletes think about,
but there are many big talkers with big time ability.
Rashad can flat out score, and his defense has improved.
He's a gamer. He'll hit the big shot, and he'll thrive
off the play of Kevin Garnett. McCants is my surprise
pick for rookie of the year. The Wolves don't have an
all around scorer on their roster. I'm pretty sure McCants
will start day 1. Taking McCants over Granger wasn't the
safe pick, but he could be the best player in this draft.
Bracey Wright was stuck on a talent challenged team last
year, and his game struggled because of it. Kevin McHale's
draft was very smart. Wright will flourish on a team with
the ultra talented Garnett and taking a chance on Rashad
will turn out to pay dividends right now.
1 (14) - Rashad McCants, g, North Carolina
2 (47) - Bracey Wright, g, Indiana
Player Grade - B+
Draft Grade - B+
New Jersey Nets
- I would have loved to see Warrick go to the Nets, but
as far as talent level is concerned I can't knock Antoine
Wright. He really showed me how talented he was this year.
He can do everything. He's a big guard who can muscle,
score, and flat out shoot the rock. He'll play a huge
role off the bench for a loaded backcourt. But could they
have drafted a starter with this pick? Mile Ilic is a
young 7 footer. He'll be a work in progress for the next
few years, but payoff isn't out of the question.
1 (15) - Antoine Wright, g, Texas A&M
2 (43) - Mile Ilic, c, BC Reflex (Serbia & Montenegro)
Player Grade - B
Draft Grade - B-
New Orleans Hornets
- The Hornets might have gotten the steal of the draft.
Chris Paul is a winner. He's super talented, and can really
run a team. He does so many things well. The Hornets needed
a young floor leader, and Chris is that. Brandon Bass
had great pre-draft workouts. He's a big tall forward
who can do many things both offensively and defensively.
He'll be a great addition to the Hornets. There were a
couple other players still on the board that I would have
taken before Bass, but he's no slouch. The Hornets picked
both talent and for need, making this a perfect draft
for them.
1 (4) - Chris Paul, g, Wake Forest
2 (33) - Brandon Bass, f, LSU
Player Grade - B+
Draft Grade - A-
New York Knicks
- The Knicks did alright. Frye was a good pick for a team
losing their best post player, Kurt Thomas. And they picked
up Nate Robinson for Dijon Thompson. That was a good move
by Isiah. He got the trade he wanted and he got a strong
scorer in the first round. David Lee was a rising player,
and he was actually a smart pick. Frye is hardly a center,
but he's got a shot, which is more than I could say for
the rest of the Knick bigs. Isiah didn't sell me yet though,
the loaded backcourt without a true point will continue
to cause problems. I continue to see a roster full of
2's and 4's.
1 (8) - Channing Frye, c, Arizona
1 (30) - David Lee, f, Florida
2 (54) - Dijon Thompson, g-f, UCLA
Player Grade - B+
Draft Grade - B-
Orlando Magic
- The Magic got help in the post with the addition of
the most NBA-ready international player, Fran Vasquez.
I can't believe they passed up Danny Granger and Antoine
Wright though. Unless they think Deshawn Stevenson is
going to start at the 2, they don't have one. Maybe Steve
Francis will be a 2, but then they start two guys in the
backcourt who are less than 6'1". Either way, they're
going to have an interesting line-up. Travis Diener is
a great shooter, and a better floor leader than many give
him credit for. But still, he's a 6'1" point guard
with little defensive ability. Martynas makes this a great
draft for the Magic. I can't imagine they thought he'd
still be around with their second pick in round 2, but
he was, and they took advantage. It's not too often a
7'3" kid slips that far. He could end up being the
steal of the draft, and all he took was a 44th pick.
1 (11) - Fran Vazquez, f, Unicaja Malaga
(Spain)
2 (38) - Travis Diener, g, Marquette
2 (44) - Martynas Andriuskevicius, c, Zalgiris (Lithuania)
Player Grade - B
Draft Grade - B-
Philadelphia 76ers
- Just in case Allen Iverson gets injured, the 76ers have
an 18 year-old version of him on their bench in Louis
Williams. The Sixers aren't good enough to make this pick.
Williams is a great high school athlete, a slasher who
was often bigger than his opponents while being only 6'2".
That won't happen in the NBA. Is there a chance he matures
and becomes an NBA starter? Sure. But the Sixers already
have an Iverson.
2 (45) - Louis Williams, g, South Gwinnett
HS (Georgia)
Player Grade - C-
Draft Grade - F
Phoenix Suns
- Nate Robinson was a great pick for the Suns, and then
they went and traded him away. I don't know why they felt
they had to trade this pick to NY to make the trade go
through, Isiah tricked them real good. With instant bench
help on the board like Nate, Garcia, Simien, David Lee,
Brandon Bass, and Daniel Ewing among many, they traded
away one of their 5 productive players and their first
pick for Kurt Thomas. I can't see how this will help them
get to the next level, but what do I know? They traded
their second pick away as well. Dijon Thompson is their
only player, and I guess he has a chance to help. I wasn't
impressed with the Sun's moves.
1 (21) - Nate Robinson, g, Washington
2 (57) - Marcin Gortat, f-c, Rhein Energie Koln
Player Grade - B-
Draft Grade - F
Portland Trail
Blazers - The Blazers calmly walked away with a great
draft. They ended up getting the player they were going
to take at 3 anyway, plus the 27th pick, and a first round
pick via the Jazz next year. (Which very well could be
a lottery selection) That's brilliant. Hooray for a smart
move out of the Blazers. Martell Webster has been called
the best shooter in the draft, and I'll say he's at least
top 3. He's young and long and only getting better. The
Blazers got their man. They also picked up Jarrett Jack
in trade for their last two picks. Jack will give them
instant leadership, even if it does come from the bench.
Jarrett is as tough as floor leaders come, and if he can
figure out how to control his turnovers, he might be more
competition than Sebastian Telfair would like.
1 (6) - Martell Webster, g, Seattle Prep
(WA)
1 (27) - Linas Kleiza, f, Missouri
2 (35) - Ricky Sanchez, f, IMG Academy (Florida)
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - A
Sacramento Kings
- The Kings are about to lose Cuttino Mobley, so they'll
really need help at the 2. Garcia is one of the best 2's
in the draft. He's solid in all respects, and a very good
shooter. Garcia is another player that would have gone
way higher if he were a major college player. That always
amazes me. Good kids come from smaller schools. This was
a great one-pick draft for a perennial playoff team.
1 (23) - Francisco Garcia, g, Louisville
Player Grade - A
Draft Grade - A-
San Antonio Spurs
- The Spurs can't be questioned. I have no idea who Mahinmi
is, and unfortunately for the 29 other teams in the league,
neither do most of them. What I have heard is that Mahinmi
will come over in a couple of years to blow our socks
off… sounds familiar. What I do know is the Spurs
got exactly whom they wanted, that's worth at least a
couple B's.
1 (28) - Ian Mahinmi, f, STB Le Havre
(France)
Player Grade - B
Draft Grade - B
Seattle Supersonics
- I was a little concerned with the Sonics picks until
I got to know them a little better. Hearing my favorite
coach talk so highly of both Petro and Gelabale, I can't
be happier with their draft. McMillan said Petro will
come play right away for the Sonics and Gelabale looks
ridiculously athletic. I dig the hair, too. Lawrence Roberts
was a good pick, or so I thought, until they traded him
away to the Grizzlies for something to be shared with
the public later. These two foreigners could play big
roles for a great team. With the signing of Ray Allen
on the 5th, the Sonics need to get Nate back to keep the
home fans faithful.
1 (25) - Johan Petro, c, Pau Orthez (France)
2 (48) - Mickael Gelabale, f, Real Madrid (Spain)
2 (55) - Lawrence Roberts, f, Mississippi State
Player Grade - B
Draft Grade - B
Toronto Raptors
- I'm convinced that after the Raptors Brass selected
Chris Bosh, they started dabbling with a plethora of hallucinogens.
I don't know if I want to slap Babcock or congratulate
him. As it turns out, or so the rumors say, 3 of the next
4 teams were set to pick Charlie. So they beat the next
4 teams to the verbal bashing block. Nice. Charlie could
be a great player. He's had people praising his ability
since I can remember, and where's a better place to step
up to your potential than the NBA? But in Toronto? Next
to Chris Bosh? They are the same kind of player, except
Bosh is better, has more upside, and has began to fulfill
his potential. The Raptors need upgrades in lots of places
to pick a guy that plays the same spot as your single
star. Silly Raptors, that trick's for Knicks. But the
rest of their draft is brilliant. Joey Graham could have
gone before Villanueva, and Roko Ukic has been highly
touted before league scouts. He's a 6'4" point guard
with floor general skills. Slokar could develop into a
good bench player, but he's not ready yet, and he's already
22. Graham and Ukic make this draft reasonable, and Charlie
could really wow me and make this draft great. But at
7? There were so many options. I'd be surprised if this
works out for Babcock, and even more surprised if it works
out for Toronto.
1 (7) - Charlie Villanueva, f, Connecticut
1 (16) - Joey Graham, f, Oklahoma St
2 (41) - Roko Leni Ukic, g, Split (Croatia)
2 (58) - Uros Slokar, f, Snaidero Udinese (Italy)
Player Grade - A-
Draft Grade - D+
Utah Jazz -
The Jazz gave up a lot to go get Williams, maybe too much
(next years 1st pick), but I do believe he fits their
system better than Felton or Paul. That being said, they
did pretty well in the draft. C.J. Miles is a very talented
scorer but slipped because of his inability to do anything
great. Miles could turn into a good player, but it will
take a few years. Robert Whaley could pan out, but if
he couldn't do it at Cincinnati what makes the Jazz think
he can do it in the NBA?
1 (3) - Deron Williams, g, Illinois
2 (34) - C.J. Miles, f, Skyline HS (Texas)
2 (51) - Robert Whaley, f, Walsh
Player Grade - B-
Draft Grade - B
Washington Wizards
- The Wizards had one pick, and they got a possible center
in high-schooler Andray Blatche. Blatche was one of the
high school tumblers on draft day, but has as good a chance
as Bynum to make it. They took a high-reward shot with
the 49th overall pick. Not a 10th like the Lakers. I like
what the Wizards are doing. Now all they have to do is
sign Larry Hughes.
2 (49) - Andray Blatche, f, South Kent
Prep (Connecticut)
Player Grade - B-
Draft Grade - A-
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