Author: John Paulsen (Page 698 of 937)

Coach Z’s scouting report: Reminds me of Rod Foster… as quick as they come from end to end… a bit out of control on the offensive end… a top notch defender and solid passer… needs to develop a solid jumper and midrange game to be an impact in the long term…

Early on, the Sonics appeared to be leaning towards Jerryd Bayless, but Russell Westbrook’s stock really rose over the last couple of weeks. He’s extremely athletic and is very good defensively. He’s not much of a creator, but he had a better assist/turnover ratio than UCLA’s point guard, Darren Collison, so there is reason for optimism. He’s a combo guard, so there is some question about whether or not he can really play the point.

Next up is the Grizzlies, and if they don’t take Kevin Love, he might just slip to my Bucks. They’ve been trying all day to trade out of this slot, so there’s no telling what direction they’ll go here. They’re building around Rudy Gay and Mike Conley, so they could go with a shooting guard, a power forward or a center. They want to run, so Brook Lopez doesn’t look like a strong possibility. Earlier in the day, it looked like Eric Gordon was the pick here, but that talk has cooled some as the day went on.

Coach Z’s scouting report: So much has been written about him since high school… a poster child for someone hurt by going to college, since teams draft on potential… great skills and a tremendous athlete… scores in different ways… long range and off the bounce… questionable head… sometimes makes bad decisions that lead to him forcing shots and taking his teammates out of the game… with the right guidance, he could become a great one…

Mayo can play a little bit of point but he looks to be more of a shooting guard. The Timberwolves are drafting him as Al Jefferson’s sidekick, but in a few years, those roles may be reversed. He and Randy Foye should give the Wolves a good, young backcourt, though they are both combo guards. Mayo has a reputation for having a great work ethic, which means he has tremendous upside.

Next up is Seattle. Early on this was supposed to be Jerryd Bayless, but lately I’ve been hearing that Brook Lopez or even Russell Westbrook is more likely. The Sonics are obviously building around Kevin Durant (and to a lesser extent, Jeff Green), so look for a non-forward pick here.

Note #1: It’s always funny to hear the New York crowd boo David Stern when he firsts steps to the podium. I have to hand to him though, he just throws that shit-eating grin up and moves on with his spiel.

Note #2: Watching Mark Jackson (who has been passed over this offseason for a head coaching position) talk about the Vinny Del Negro hire was a little bit uncomfortable. The truth is, neither guy is qualified to be a head coach. I like to see former players get at least a couple of years of experience as an assistant before getting their first gig.

Note #3: Stephen A. Smith’s act is irritating.

Now for the Heat’s pick… Michael Beasley

Coach Z’s scouting report: Scorer deluxe who can use both hands around the rim… lefty who makes defenders miss… needs work defensively, but has good anticipation skills away from the ball… will have an immediate impact because of his rebounding prowess… his jump shot will become more consistent as will his handle with time… look for him to be a double-double guy in the pros…

Two things could be going on here. They could keep him and see how a Dwyane Wade/Shawn Marion/Beasley trio works together before committing long term to Marion. Or they could end up trading him later in the draft or after the draft is complete. We’ve heard rumblings all along that Miami was more interested in O.J. Mayo, but I think that Mayo duplicates much of what Wade brings to the table. In Beasley, the Heat get an amazing scorer and rebounder. His character has been questioned, but I don’t think there’s much there. He looks like a steady 20/10 guy. His skill set complements Wade as well as Marion, so that will be an interesting trio to watch next season.

Now for the Timberwolves, the team that really has been hard to pin down. They might go Mayo, or they might go with Kevin Love or Brook Lopez. As a Bucks fan, I’d love to see Love slip, but I have a bad feeling about this pick.

ESPN is reporting that the Bulls are going to draft point guard Derrick Rose.

Coach Z’s scouting report: Strong point guard who plays with much physicality… must become more of a distributor, looks to score when going to the hole… needs more consistent jumper and more leadership for others in the half court… will eventually become an All-Star, but needs some seasoning to have a major impact…

With this pick, the Bulls are going with the thinking that a franchise-type point guard is more important than filling a need on the front line. Call it the Chris Paul/Deron Williams effect, but it has more to do with the rules changes from a few years ago that make some of these penetrating point guards nearly unstoppable. Now that Rose is a member of the Bulls, look for Kirk Hinrich to be on the move. He’d be ideal for a team that has a creator at off guard or small forward (like the Cavs or the Lakers with LeBron and Kobe, respectively). He’s a shooter and a facilitator, not a creator. Ben Gordon looks like a great fit alongside Rose in the Chicago backcourt. He’s a terrific scorer and Rose can (theoretically) cover the bigger off guards that Gordon can’t. I worry a little bit about Rose playing in his hometown because his distractions will be considerable, but he should flourish there if he keeps his head on straight (and his crew small).

If I were running the Bulls, I would have gone with Beasley, but it’s hard to fault the Rose pick here. With Rose off the board, look for Miami to trade out of the #2 pick or draft Beasley and move him later in the draft (or after it’s done).

What do you think of the pick?