The morning after
OK so the Sonics didn’t get a top two draft pick Tuesday night at the NBA Draft Lottery meaning they more than likely won’t have a shot at drafting Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. But like Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel wrote today, it’s a disappointment not a death sentence.
There is still quality left at No. 4, with guys like O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love and Eric Gordon being the most likely options for the Sonics. That’s assuming they don’t trade up, down or out.
Here is how productive each of those players were last season…..
O.J. Mayo: Guard, USC, Freshman, 6-5, 200 pounds – 20.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 44.2 FG%
Jerryd Bayless: Guard, Arizona, Freshman, 6-3, 200 pounds — 19.7 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 45.8 FG%
Eric Gordon: Guard, Indiana, Freshman, 6-4, 215 pounds — 20.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 43.3 FG%
Brook Lopez: Center, Stanford, Sophomore, 7-foot, 260 pounds — 19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.4 apg, 49.6 FG%
Kevin Love: Forward, UCLA, Freshman, 6-10, 271 pounds — 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 bpg, 55.9 FG%
And here’s a link to Q&As with some of the representatives at the lottery courtesy of DraftExpress.com. A snippet of the Q&A with Kevin Durant….
“Honestly, I was a little bit shocked. It would have been nice to get either of those guys going one or two, but I’m happy with what pick we have. I know, probably starting this minute, management is going to be looking at guys that we (can potentially) take with that pick.”
Since everyone seems to be into mock drafts, it’s worth noting that ESPN.com, DraftExpress.com, SI.com and NBADraft.net all have the Sonics taking Bayless at No. 4.
At No. 24, NBADraft.net has the Sonics taking Kansas guard Mario Chalmers, DraftExpress has the Sonics taking an international center named Alexis Ajinca and ESPN.com and SI.com both have the Sonics taking an international power forward named Serge Ibaka.
Sticking with the mock draft angle, here’s a draft simulator from RealGM.com that I have enjoyed toying around with for years. If you’re a hoops junkie like me you could find yourself spending a lot of time messing around with different draft scenarios.
Here’s a Chicago Sun-Times article quoting Derrick Rose on the possibility of playing for his hometown team.
Also, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is not a fan of the lottery…..”It’s a typical situation,” he said. “We’ve been in the lottery so much and have never gotten the No. 1 pick. It doesn’t make any sense. Last year, I said it was a screwed-up system. This year, I think it’s a screwed-up system.”
Longtime NBA scribe Sam Smith weighs in on the lottery, saying in this piece that a flurry of off-season trading could soon begin now that the official draft order is determined.
Miami Herald columnist Israel Gutierrez suggested last week that the NBA change the lottery system. Miami Heat officials might agree with him now that they’re drafting second despite having the worst record in the league this season.
-DM-
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