NBA Draft 2008
June 29, 2008
By Bob Radl, Staff Writer
The next generation of future NBA stars was drafted last Thursday night in
New York. College freshmen were selected 1-2-3 for the first time in the
history of the NBA draft. Five of the first seven players selected were also
true freshman. This also set an NBA record. The NBA draft means more to teams
than its counterparts in other pro sports. Players selected in this years draft
will need time to prove themselves. This draft will need to be evaluated three
to four years down the road due to the large number of young players drafted.
Four international players were taken in the first round as the NBA continues
to expand its borders in search of talent.
1. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls, Rose is considered to be the
proto-type for an NBA point guard. He possesses a great combination of speed,
athleticism and power. He has good ball handling skills with either hand as NBA
scouts feel you can build a team around him. Rose improved his assist to
turnover ration as last season progressed. He has good defensive potential with
the ability to guard multiple positions in the NBA. He is extremely good in
transition. He will need to work on his decision-making and improve his
perimeter shooting.
2. Michael Beasley, PF, Miami Heat, Beasley has incredible scoring
instincts and can create his own shot. Possessing a great combination of
strength, quickness and body control, he has the potential to be a scoring
machine in Miami. He will team with Dwayne Wade to give the Heat some
well-needed offensive punch. He is very fluid and agile for his size and has a
great first step. Beasley is a very strong rebounder for his size and led the
nation in rebounding as a freshman. There are questions about his actual height
as he is not 6 10 as listed in the official program. He may be closer to 67
or 68. There are also some character questions about his maturity.
3. O.J. Mayo, Guard, Memphis Grizzlies, Mayo, drafted by the
Timberwolves, was traded on draft day to the Grizzlies. He is considered to be
NBA ready as he is almost 21 years old. He has the ability to create his own
shot and has natural scoring instincts. He is very fluid in his moves and quite
graceful on the court. He has great court vision and body control. He is also
considered to be a strong defender at this point in his career. He appears to
be stuck between the 1-2 positions on the court. He is not a true point guard. He
will need to improver his shot selection and decision making at the next level.
He does have All-Pro potential.
4. Russell Westbrook, PG, Seattle, Westbrook was considered to be one
of the most improved players over the last year or two. He has freakish
athleticism, huge hands and a long wingspan, which will help in defending on
the perimeter. Bringing great energy to the game, Westbrook can beat players
off the dribble with a great first step. He is strong defender and a great
finisher, especially in transition. He will need to work on his ball-handling
skills, as he is not a natural point guard. He will also need to improve his
shooting consistency.
5. Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota. Love is a very strong and skilled big
man with a high basketball IQ. He makes a superb outlet pass that reminds NBA
fans of Wes Unseld or Bill Walton in their prime. Love has a nice feel for the
game and solid footwork for a big man. He has good ball handling skills and is
a nice passer for his size. He lost 15 to 20 pounds at the end of the NCAA
season and appears much leaner. Questions do remain about his lateral quickness
and defensive potential. He will most likely not be a great shot blocker as he
plays below the rim.
6. Danilo Gallinari, SF, New York, Gallinari was the first
international player chosen in this years draft. He is considered to be the
best player in Italy and the next rising European star despite his young age
(19). Possessing a great feel for the game, NBA scouts feel you can possible
build a team around him. He has great size for his position, very good ball
handling skills for a big man and great body control. He will need to get
bigger and stronger to survive in the NBA. There is also some question about
his lateral quickness on defense.
7. Eric Gordon, Guard, LA Clippers, Gordon is a big time scoring
combo guard who can light it up from all over the court. He has a nice first
step; good athleticism, a quick release and can get to the line. He has a
smooth shooting stroke as he squares his feet and sets his shoulder very
quickly. He will need to work on his ball handling skills to play the point in
the NBA. He is will have to work on his defense against bigger and stronger SG
in the pros.
8. Joe Alexander, SF, Milwaukee, Alexander has the size, length and
frame that you like to see in an NBA SF. His athleticism is almost freakish, as
he appears to have springs in his legs. He tested as one of the strongest
players in this years draft. His value skyrocketed in pre-draft camps where he
displayed his skills. He is still a work in progress. He will need to improve
his shooting range and prove that he can create his own shot.
9. D. J. Augustin, PG, Charlotte, Augustin is an undersized floor
leader that makes good decisions with the ball. At 511, he is short for a
true PG in the NBA. He does have outstanding ball handling skills with either
hand, has good court vision and plays well in transition. He possesses a quick
release and showed the ability to get to the line despite his stature. NBA
teams will exploit his size on defense until he proves himself.
10. Brook Lopez, Center, New Jersey, Lopez brings a tough physical
presence to floor along with a mean streak. He missed the beginning of the last
season due to back surgery. He has a phenomenal wing span, can run the floor
well for his size and has a nice shooting touch. He can score in the post and
has a nice jump hook. He is considered to be a good but not great athlete
and must improve his shot selection. Many Scouts expected him to go in the top
five this year.
11. Jerryd Bayless, Guard, Portland, Bayless is a quick and explosive
scorer. He is very fluid and smooth in his movements and is a good
perimeter shooter. He has a nice mid-range pull up jump shot to go along with
nice offensive package. He has good ball handling ability to go along with
lateral quickness. He is considered to be a better scorer then a playmaker. He
will need to work on his decision-making as well as his shot selection in the
pros.
12. Jason Thompson, Forward, Sacramento, Thompson was the first true
center to be selected in the 2008 draft. He is a big physical player and quite
strong, but played against weaker competition in college. He runs the floor
well for his size and can play facing the basket. He is a predictive rebounder
for his size and an unselfish passer for a big man. He will need to improve his
low post defense and get stronger to be a force in the NBA.
13. Brandon Rush, Forward, Indiana, Rush is a good shooter and
defender. He did mature a great deal in his three years at Kansas. He has good
athleticism and a smooth game. He can knock down the trey from the behind the
NBA 3-point line. He needs to improve ball-handling skills and to take his
defender off of the dribble to be a successful NBA wing player.
14. Anthony Randolph, Forward, Golden State, Randolph is very long
and athletic with a 7 3 wingspan. He runs the floor well for his size while
showing great explosiveness and a fluid game. This explosiveness will help in
blocking shots. He has good ball handling skills for a man of his size. He has
a skinny frame and needs to get stronger to play in the low post. He needs to
work on his all-around defense and his shot selection.
15. Robin Lopez, Center, Phoenix, Lopez is the twin brother of Brook
Lopez. He is an intense defender with big soft hands. His offensive game is
slowly being developed. Possessing a good fell for the game, Lopez is very
agile and active for his size. He will need to get stronger and work on an
unpolished offensive game.
16. Marreese Speights, Forward, Philadelphia, Speights is a 6 10
power forward with as many skills facing the basket as any other big man in
this draft. He has solid shooting mechanics to go along with a natural,
flawless stroke. He has a solid frame and soft hands. He will need to work on
his shot selection and defensive fundamentals at the next level.
17. Roy Hibbert, Center, Indiana, Hibbert has the size ands strength
at 7 2 and 270 pounds that you like in the pros. He has excellent hands a
nice variety of moves in the low post. He is viewed as unlikely to be either a
star or a bust as a pro. He is not considered to be too athletic. He lacks
quickness in the paint and tires quickly due to his size.
18. JaVale McGee, Forward/Center, Washington, McGee has excellent
size and leaping ability to go along with a big wingspan. He is a terrific
athlete who runs the floor well for his size. He is considered to be a late
bloomer with shot blocking potential. His fundamentals are suspect and he is
weak physically for a big man. Many scouts consider McGee to be a very high
risk/high reward type of player.
19. J.J. Hickson, Forward, Cleveland, Hickson is a strong tough
athletic forward with a great deal of potential. He is very explosive with an
NBA body. At 69, he can play with his back to the basket. He has shown the
ability to finish through contact and get to the free throw line. He will need
to work on ball-handling skills and improve the range on his jump shot.
20. Alexis Anjica, Center, Charlotte, Standing 71 and possessing a
7 8 wingspan, the young French center is an intriguing prospect. There is
huge upside to his game, especially his shot blocking potential. Anjica will
need to get stronger and has a very raw offensive game. He may benefit from
time in Europe to develop his game.
21. Ryan Anderson, Forward, New Jersey, Anderson is a very productive
scorer with nice range on his shots for a big man. He hustles and competes
well. He also showed a nice touch inside and is a solid rebounder. He will need
to get stronger and improve his lateral quickness at the next level.
22. Courtney Lee, SG, Orlando, Lee is tough as nails while possessing
a superb frame and nice shooting mechanics. He has a nice mid-range game and
will be a versatile role player for the Magic. He will need to work on his ball
handling skills and a much higher level of competition in the pros.
23. Kosta Koufos, Center, Utah, Koufos, who many had expected to be a
potential lottery pick, fell to the Jazz. He has an extremely high skill level
for a young player. Possessing excellent size and natural scoring instincts, he
has a nice back to the basket game. His game is mostly finesse and not one of
power. He is not considered to be very explosive in going to the rim. He will
need to improve his toughness and refine his all-around game at the next level.
24. Serge Ibaka, Forward, Seattle, Ibaka was the youngest player in
the draft but has amazing physical tools. He can run the floor very well and
has an explosive first. He could be a solid shot blocker in the NBA, given his
frame and length. He is huge project at this time with great upside. He will
need more time in Europe to develop.
25. Nicolas Batum, Forward, Houston, Batum has all of the physical
tools needed to make it in the NBA with size, length and athleticism. He has a
nice feel for the game and a great deal of untapped potential. Some scouts feel
that Batum plays soft and needs to be more aggressive. He will most likely
remain in Europe for a while.
26. George Hill, guard. San Antonio, Hills stock soared in the weeks
leading up to the draft. He is considered to be a strong defender but can also
score if needed. He is considered to be more of a combo guard. At only 62, he
will have problems guarding taller and larger guards in the NBA. The Spurs
backcourt is quite loaded so his minutes may be limited.
27. Darrell Arthur, Forward, Memphis, Arthur is considered to be very
athletic, can score in the paint and has a nice turn around jumper. He was
expected to be drafted 10 to 15 picks earlier but unsubstantiated concerns over
a kidney issue scared some teams away. He has good lateral quickness and is a
solid defender. He will need to improve his shot selection and show more
toughness at the next level.
28. Donte Greene, Forward, Houston, Greene has a terrific frame,
smooth athleticism and uncommon mobility and coordination for man who stands
about 6 10. He can elevate and create his own shot, but most stop being a
spot-up shooter. He has near picture perfect mechanics and a quick release. He
must work on his shot selection, toughness and ball handling skills.
29. D. J. White, Forward, Seattle, White has decent size, long arms
and is a tough and physical player. He has solid footwork, a nice touch around
the basket and is an excellent rebounder. He had several injuries in his
college career that robbed him of some of his athleticism. He will need to work
on his lateral quickness. He appears to have limited upside and will most
likely be a role player in the NBA.
30. J.R. Giddens, Guard, Boston, Giddens is a superior athlete with
nice range on his jump shot. He will need to work on his defense to play for
the Celts as he is considered to be a poor defender at this stage of his
career. He may have trouble breaking into the rotation Boston.
Notable players
taken in the second round of the NBA draft:
33. Joey Dorsey, Forward, Houston, Dorsey played four years of ball
at Memphis. He is a very strong and athletic forward. He can hit the boards on
both ends of the floor and scores most of his points off of offensive rebounds.
He will need to extend his range and work on his post defense in the NBA.
34. Mario Chalmers, Guard, Miami, Chalmers has a great understanding
of his role in the offense. He does not turn the ball over much. He is an
efficient player with a nice wingspan considering he is only 6 1. As a point
guard in the NBA, there questions about his ball handling skills and his
athleticism. He will also need to improve his mid-range game.
35. DeAndre Jordan, Center, LA Clippers, Jordan is an imposing
physical specimen with great size, a long wingspan and great hands for a big
man. He has the ability to draw fouls and has nice quickness in the post. He
has a quick second bounce when rebounding. He is considered to be raw on the
offensive end and lacks in basic fundamentals. He is considered to be a high
risk-high reward player at this time.
40. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Guard, New Jersey, Douglas-Roberts is one
of the more experienced and productive products in this draft. He is a very
creative scorer. At 6 7, He can play on the wing and be a solid defender with
his long arms. He is considered to be tough and fearless with the ball in his
hands. He has a slight build and will need to extend his range to the NBA three
point line. He also has a tendency to play out of control at times and does not
rebound as well as he should from the perimeter.
43. Patrick Ewing Jr. Forward, Sacramento, The son of former
NBA Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, the younger Ewing is a tall lanky player
with good timing and excellent elevation in attacking the glass. He plays with
energy and has shown the vision to pass out of double teams to find an open
teammate. He will need to extend the range on his game and also get stronger to
defend players in the post.
47. Bill Walker, Forward, Boston, Walker was traded to the Celtics on
draft night for cash. He was a high school teammate with O.J. Mayo at North
College Hill High school in Cincinnati. He has an NBA ready body and is a great
athlete. He can create his own shot and get to the basket. He will need to
improve his defense, perimeter shooting and tendency to turn the ball over too
much at the next level.