2007 NBA DRAFT RECAP

By Marty Blake

This was one of the most exciting drafts in recent years. Everybody predicted it would be deep. It went deep into the second round. There were a number of players who were impressive in postseason workouts who didn’t even get drafted. So, I expect a lot of players to be signed as free agents. I believe we have something like 15 or 16 players in second round who played at the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, which was obviously a good decision on their part, for it elevated them into the second round.

Let’s start off with Atlanta. They had the draft that everyone was predicting from the get go. I felt that Atlanta, which was very fortunate to get picks three and 11, they took Al Horford with the third pick and they got the point guard they were seeking in Acie Law at 11. In some circles, some people felt that Law was on a par with Michael Conley. He played four years in college. He’s a tough kid. My son Ryan [Assistant Director of Scouting for the NBA] liked Law very much. I think if you were to grade Atlanta, you’d have to give them an A-plus. Billy Knight should be proud.

Conley benefited very much from having to go to college for one year, because prior to this year, he was not the household name that he became.

Portland certainly had one of the most successful drafts in recent years. They turned their entire team around. They got, of course, Greg Oden, who was almost a unanimous number one pick. They traded Zach Randolph to New York and got Channing Frye. I thought Portland did very well. They also added Rudy Fernandez of Spain and Petteri Koponen of Finland, who they will probably keep overseas for another year or two. If you look at their picks in the second round, they got Josh McRoberts and Taurean Green.

I thought Seattle did very well. They took Kevin Durant, who, to paraphrase Dominique Wilkins, is today’s human highlight film. He’s not the athlete Wilkins was, but he’s certainly one of the better shooters at his size I’ve ever seen. He can create his own shot. Seattle also made a trade in which they sent Ray Allen and the rights to "Big Baby" Glen Davis in exchange for Jeff Green, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak. They picked up three guys who could start for them. Green, we felt, because of our long time affiliation with Georgetown, was probably the best all-around player in the draft. This will move Seattle into a higher stratum in the Western Conference in the near future.

We felt that Memphis might take Joakim Noah, but they ultimately felt they needed a point guard and went with Michael Conley, who has tremendous speed. He may not be a great shooter, but he has the ability to breakdown defenses and take the ball inside.

Boston was very happy to get Ray Allen. They also get Glen Davis, who was my sleeper of the draft, who I really felt would wind up in the first round. He can play in the NBA.

Milwaukee surprised people by taking Yi Jianlian, because he would never work out for them. There seems to be some controversy regarding this selection, for it seems like Milwaukee does not want to trade the pick. He should develop into a fine basketball player in time.

Minnesota took Corey Brewer. He has great length, good range, can defend several positions. This is a real good pickup for Minnesota. They’re trying to rebuild and he’s a great pick.

Charlotte went with Brandan Wright, who some people felt would go higher. They in turn traded Wright to Golden State for Jason Richardson, and the rights to Jermareo Davidson of Alabama, a big kid who played at Alabama, and overcame many personal hardships over the pass two years to make himself an NBA player.

Originally, I felt Chicago would take Spencer Hawes, if he was there. As it turned out, Joakim Noah was available and that triggered a change in their plans.

Hawes went with the next pick to Sacramento, who gets a center who can add depth to their frontline. He’s really skilled. I think Chicago would have definitely taken him, had Noah not been on the board.

Philadelphia took Georgia Tech ace Thaddeus Young, a 6-7, 220-pound former All-American who had an impressive freshman year for the Yellow Jackets, with the 12th pick in the first round. He has a load of ability and should develop into a fine player in time. They added Jason Smith in a trade with Miami and he brings great outside shooting skills to an already deep front line. He's 6-10 and 245 and can fill it. In the second round they added Derrick Byars (Vanderbilt), the SEC MVP, and Herbert Hill, a Big East first teamer who can play power forward and center. Both seniors were considered first round prospects. The four newcomers will certainly help the Sixers.

New Orleans took Julian Wright from Kansas. Very solid all-around ballplayer. Wright is not a great shooter, but he can score and is a very good defensive player.

The Clippers were poised to add backcourt help, but suddenly found Al Thornton available at 14. In the second round, the Clippers did get a point guard in Jared Jordan. He was very impressive in our pre-draft camp. I’m the one who first found John Stockton, and he reminds me a little of Stockton. Jordan knows how to play the game. He’s not the most athletic player in the world, but I think he can play in the NBA.

It was not a big secret that Detroit was coveting Rodney Stuckey. They then added Arron Afflalo later in the first round. Afflalo had a terrific college career at UCLA, and will add depth to Detroit’s backcourt. The Pistons did very well in this draft, adding these two players, and also Sammy Mejia, who played in both Portsmouth and Orlando, and is a big guard, who can also play some small forward. Very skilled player with a chance.

Washington wound up with two very good players in Nick Young, who’s a terrific athlete, and Dominic McGuire, a jack of all trades forward who has an upside to his game.

New Jersey had their eyes on Sean Williams the last two weeks. They needed a big body inside. He can certainly block shots and rebound. His offense will come.

The Lakers surprised some people by taking Javaris Crittenton. He’s a big guard. We saw him a lot this year down in Georgia. He has a chance to be special. They also have Jordan Farmar, so they’ll be able to push each other.

Golden State took Marco Belinelli. He’s an outstanding shooter. He has another year on his contract Europe, but it shouldn’t be a problem with the buyout.

Miami took Jason Smith, then traded him to Philadelphia for Daequan Cook. He’s a big guy who likes to play on the perimeter. He should be able to play with Samuel Dalembert, who’s a very good shotblocker. The Sixers also got Derrick Byars in the second round, a player with first-round ability. He was the MVP of the SEC this year.

Charlotte took Jared Dudley of Boston College. He was one of the more impressive player we had at the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando. He’s a warrior. Not the tallest or most athletic guy in the world, but he knows how to play the game. He averaged nearly 40 minutes per game. He’s a real workhorse.

Cook played in Orlando and had two fair games, before breaking out in his third game and showing good scoring ability. He can shoot the basketball.

New York had apparently locked in on Wilson Chandler a few weeks back, and they got their guy on draft night. We have a scout in Chicago who predicted last year that Chandler would eventually develop into an NBA player. Very good athlete, with some versatility.

I thought Utah did very well. They took Morris Almond. He didn’t play in Orlando this year, after having played exceptionally well the season before in Orlando. He can really shoot the ball. Knows how to come off screens.

Houston surprised everyone with Aaron Brooks. He’s a speedster who can shoot it. They also got Carl Landry in a trade with Seattle. Landry is a tough inside player who had a very good season at Purdue this year. Landry was impressive in both Orlando and Portsmouth, where he made the All-Tournament team. A real warrior.

The Spurs took Tiago Splitter, with the understanding that he has a very expensive buyout. But he should come over in time and give the Spurs some toughness on the frontline.

Phoenix grabbed Alando Tucker, who should be able to give them a spark off the bench. He should fit into their system well with his ability to run and fill the lane.

Looking at some of the second round picks, Boston took Gabe Pruitt, who many felt could go in the first round.

San Antonio finally decided to take an American player, grabbing Marcus Williams of Arizona. He slipped a bit. He didn’t play in Orlando.

Dallas gets a really smart player in Nick Fazekas, a kid who can really shoot the ball. He can rebound some. Not a great defender, but he knows how to play. Like Tim Duncan, he has the ability to shoot the ball off the glass. He should add strength in time. I think this can be a really good pick for Dallas down the road.

The Lakers took Sun Yue of China, another guy who was impressive in our Pre-Draft Camp. He has some point-forward skills.

Minnesota, looking for some inside power, took Chris Richard, the fifth Florida Gator to get picked. He’s a bruiser with a great body.

Adam Haluska went to New Orleans. Somewhat of a surprise, but he’s a tough and fiery competitor who likes to attack the basket.

Golden State added another good player in Stephane Lasme. He was one of the better players at the PIT. Can really block shots. Not a great offensive player, but a tremendous leaper who can be a disruption on defense. Even though he’s only 6-6, he could find a niche as a defender.

Chicago added a backup center with Aaron Gray, who I thought was very impressive at the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando. I was shocked that he lasted this long. Chicago also added JamesOn Curry. With Chris Duhon possibly being on the move, this move is good insurance. He can play the point. He has a good speed.

Dallas took Renaldas Seibutis, one of five international players who played in Orlando. He could develop into a player in time.

Milwaukee got a potential steal late with Ramon Session. I felt he would go a lot higher. He might be able to step in right away and give some minutes.

Phoenix took D.J Strawberry, who’s an excellent perimeter defender.

Going into the draft, this was going to be one of the best drafts in year, and it certainly turned out that way. I was very impressed with the caliber of players. I thought Sam Presti, in his first draft with Seattle, did very well. They got some good young players. Durant and Green should form a good nucleus for the future.

I expect some more trades to go down, and everything will sort itself out over time, but it was an exciting night for the NBA, and I look forward to many more great drafts in the future.