I thought it would be fun, with the NBA Lottery last night, to look at where each team is picking and how they are going to screw up their choice, as most teams do. I am not claiming to be an expert or anything but these are just my observations. I am not going to put out any trades either that don't make sense, I am just saying what the team should find a way to do and how they are going to mess the pick up.
1. Chicago
What they need: To make a trade one year in the past for Pau Gasol or another big man. It is unfair Chicago got the first pick because they have had multiple opportunities to fix that team into a perennial powerhouse in the East but have refused to do so. If karma was a bitch, then the Bulls would be bent over a chair right now. They need a big man in the middle who can rebound and inject some life into this seemingly lifeless team.
How they will screw it up: They can't. It would take work to screw this one up. Pick Beasley, trade Gooden, Thomas or Noah or any combination for draft picks or semi talented player that fits well with the new coach's system. Pick Rose, trade Hinrich for a semi talented player that can actually rebound. I have a feeling Chicago will pick Rose or Beasley, then not make any trades, pissing off one or two players and then they will let Luol Deng become a free agent.
2. Miami
What they need: Anyone to help Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion stay convinced there is actual progress being made. They can't screw this one up either. Whoever does not get picked by the Bulls should be picked up by the Heat. I would make no trades until they find out who they will be drafting.
How they will screw it up: Trade the pick. In the East, a core of Marion, Wade and Beasley/Rose would get the job done to make the playoffs. They need to not get in "win now" mode for next year. Wade is still slightly hobbled, so give him a year to get back to his old self. If Miami trades the pick, the only way they they would not screw it up is if they stay in the top 10, which they would not do.
3. Minnesota
What they need: A decent GM and a long term plan. Neither of which they currently have. I still don't get trading Gerald Green earlier this year. He is very young and giving up on him so early was dumb. They could use a big man that they can trade four years too late down the road. They could also choose to trade back and get a veteran big man in return. Good luck with that.
How they will screw it up: Pick a project who will take a few years to develop or choose another swing man who is not an impact player.
4. Seattle
What they need: A point guard. No more centers from foreign countries. Choose a point guard.
How they will screw it up: Not choose a point guard. If there is not one they like available, then choose a center from America. I can see Seattle choosing O.J. Mayo right now and then he and Kevin Durant fighting to the death for the ball.
5. Memphis
What they need: A tall person who can catch the ball when it goes in his direction. This will most likely not be available to them in this slot, so they need anything and anyone that can make them relevant again.
How they will screw it up: Reaching for a tall person who can not catch the ball when it goes in his direction. (Cough, cough DeAndre Jordan) If OJ Mayo is available, just choose him, then ask the Lakers if they can have Gasol back, because let's face it, that would be an awesome team.
6. New York
What they need: To run the ball a lot up and down the court and then get Eddy Curry and Jerome James oxygen. At this point, I think they need good basketball players and then wait for the shitty contracts they have on the roster to go off the books.
How they will screw it up: They are the Knicks. They will choose another player no casual fan in New York has heard of. If life was fair for the Knicks, OJ Mayo would fall here and they could market him until he opts out of contract and goes back to LA to the Clippers. It does not matter who they choose in this draft, it is who they choose for the next year after that, when there may possibly be a difference in team performance.
7. LA Clippers
What they need: They could use a point guard, like every other team here. The Clippers are like about 5 teams here at the bottom that I look at the roster and have no idea how they are not better than the record shows. They confuse me.
How they will screw it up: They are the Clippers. It seems to me like at every position they are solid, except SG, so I would choose a shooting guard of some type. Preferably someone who can play defense and actually help Maggette and Brand score. They will not choose wisely. Eric Gordon welcome to the Clippers!
8. Milwaukee
What they need: People who know how to play basketball. This is the part where Bill Simmons would draft Westbrook or Love and he would be wrong. Specifically, they need to have Yi learn how to play basketball better and quickly, Bogut to show that he deserved to be the #1 draft pick and trade Michael Redd. Redd is not a franchise player and I would think he could get a decent haul in return from a team that thinks he is more than just a second banana.
How they will screw it up: They will draft another project, then keep Redd on the team. I am telling you, I see D.J. Augustin in their future and I think he would make Bogut and Yi look a lot better. Since Scott Skiles is the coach they will probably draft a role player and then try to fit him in Skiles system. Dumb.
9. Charlotte
What they need: A center who can actually score and no more UNC players, coaches or executives. Kevin Love makes sense for them because I can see him throwing outlet passes to Richardson and Wallace. Something tells me they would be better off with a more athletic player who can play a little defense on the perimeter.
How they will screw it up: Draft Kevin Love and have a team full of players who have potential that is a B. I actually like Kevin Love but there is something about him that would make me not draft him and I can't place it. They will take him though and it will not work out.
10. New Jersey
What they need: 5-10 years in jail for raping the Mavs in the Jason Kidd trade. Seriously, they traded an old point guard for a young point guard and also got draft picks. What's up with that? They have to focus on getting in this slot a big guy who can rebound all of Vince Carter's bricks. This spot screams Darrell Arthur or Anthony Randolph to me. What do I know though?
How they will screw it up: Draft DeAndre Jordan. I am not a fan of his. Most likely they will over think this pick and choose a player who might fall to them but is not a good overall pick for the team. I am guessing an Eric Gordon or Kevin Love choice and that would not work for me or them.
11. Indiana
What they need: To have traded Jermaine O'Neal two years ago. Honestly, they need to blow it all up right now and start over ASAP. They will not do this. Keep Granger and a couple others. This can't happen though because they have big contracts and small results from many players. Most of all Indiana needs someone to take control of this team. It can be anyone. Just choose someone.
How they will screw it up: They will not blow it all up and just keep doing the same old same old as they have the past two years. You have to either get rid of the big contracts or eat them. They find themselves in this spot kind of often. Not in a good spot to get a great player but not bad enough to take a project. They are going to choose another decent swing man and then wonder why they don't get better results. Joe Alexander, welcome to Indiana!
12. Sacramento
What they need: Besides a team leader, a point guard and to trade Ron Artest? Nothing. There are 15 teams who need a point guard and the Kings are one of them. Use Artest to get a point guard or use him to move up in the draft to get a point guard. Just choose one.
How they will screw it up: They will choose a small forward or shooting guard that will never be able to beat out Martin or Artest for quality minutes or they will waste the pick on another big man who has limited upside. (Paging Spencer Hawes...)
13. Portland
What they need: Someone to make sure Greg Oden rehabs perfectly and is in the starting lineup in the opening game. I say trade one of the many, many good young players they have on the roster for a point guard and then give the team two good years. I know I sound like a broken record, but unless you have Kobe or LeBron, you need a good point guard to do anything in the NBA. It's science.
How they will screw it up: They can't. Greg Oden is going to play and taking someone who can take any kind of pressure off Oden to score a whole lot more than play defense his first year is nothing but good. That being said, DeAndre Jordan, that would screw it up.
14. Golden State
What they need: The sense to realize Nellie Ball is fun to watch but you are really not going to get anywhere with it. I would say a tall guy who can play defense, but again, every team needs that. Not much more than that, they just need someone for when they do have to play the halfcourt game, they are not relying on Stephen Jackson fadeaway jumpers.
How they will screw it up: Drafting another "deer," meaning another Brendan Wright, a tall guy who can score and run but does not care to play excellent defense and looks lost when he is not running down the court.
15. Phoenix
What they need: I personally think they have one good run left in them and what really killed them this year was not having Shawn Marion around. They need to draft a swing man who can come off the bench and score some points and play decent perimeter defense. I can think of one guy who is from Syracuse and a guy from Arizona that may fit this bill.
How they will screw it up: They will try to draft a point guard or a center to replace Shaq and Steve Nash. What they really need is a young guy who will actually make someone guard the perimeter at some point during the game so Shaq and Amare can have a little room.
Part 2 tomorrow...
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