Some Thoughts on the 2006 NBA Draft
NEW YORK – The jury will be out on the 2006 NBA Draft for a while, in more ways than one. Not only is this a draft about potential, like most in recent years, but a number of final destinations either won’t be known or won’t be official for a few days as trade talk has swirled for weeks leading up to the draft, continued on draft night and will continue after it. There may be some trades we don’t hear about for a few days because they can’t be announced until July 1.
As many have said, this draft is not full of instant stars, but there is plenty of talent. There may not be many, if any, Hall of Famers down the road from this draft, but there should be a number of players who stay in the league for 10-15 years and are productive players and some all-stars. That’s not bad at all. Marketing people won’t like this draft at first, as there are few “marketable” players, but that could change in a few years if some emerge as bona fide stars.
As has been the case in many drafts, big men ruled over the little men: the first point guard to be selected was Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo with the 21st pick, while there were four players 6’10” or taller selected in the top ten alone. If you count Villanova combo guard Randy Foye, who went seventh, that’s two players 6’10” or taller before the first point guard and several more before the next one.
The hometown team, with protesters out in full force, provided the single worst pick of the night and perhaps in a long time. The Knicks took South Carolina forward Renaldo Balkman – a second round talent at very best – with the 20th pick overall. If they wanted a power forward, they could have tried a number of better talents and more proven players than an undersized power forward who doesn’t have much game. Balkman would surely have been on the board late in the second round; the Knicks opted to commit to a three-year rookie contract on him.
First pick that made no sense: Atlanta taking Shelden Williams fifth. Williams will be a solid NBA player – regular starter, will put up good scoring and rebounding numbers and might make an all-star team – but they don’t need another forward. They need backcourt help since they have Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Al Harrington and Josh Childress already, while their best point guard is journeyman Tyronn Lue.
Second pick that made no sense: Indiana taking Shawne Williams 17th. The Pacers already have Danny Granger playing the same position, and Williams doesn’t do much more than play offense – and while he’s athletic and very talented there, he didn’t shoot well overall.
Did they do it again? In 2003, Dallas did very well in getting Josh Howard with a late first round pick. Don’t be surprised if Maurice Ager turns out to be just as good. He’s not the same type of player Howard is, but he can score the ball, shoot it, is very athletic and is a terrific selection at that point in the draft. He’ll also be able to work in at his own pace on a veteran team, in a good situation.
Second Round Steal: Alexander Johnson gets the call here. Many had him going in the first round, but the Grizzlies get him in the second round (45th overall) after two trades.
They Left School Early for This?
Underclassmen who left school early and didn’t make out well:
Will Blalock, Iowa State – 60th overall to Detroit
Guillermo Diaz, Miami – 52nd to the Los Angeles Clippers
Thomas Gardner, Missouri – undrafted
Daniel Gibson, Texas – 42nd overall to Cleveland
Alexander Johnson, Florida State – 45th overall to Indiana (traded to Portland, then Memphis)
Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech – 47th overall to Utah
Danilo Pinnock, George Washington – 58th overall to Dallas
Leon Powe, California – 49th overall to Denver (traded to Boston)
Marcus Slaughter, San Diego State – undrafted
Curtis Stinson, Iowa State – undrafted
Darius Washington, Jr., Memphis – undrafted
A few of these players could wind up being steals for the team that drafted them in the second round.
Notable Players Not Drafted
Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern
Taquan Dean, Louisville
Sean Dockery, Duke
Mike Gansey, West Virginia
Justin Gray, Wake Forest
Carl Krauser, Pittsburgh
Gerry McNamara, Syracuse
Pops Mensah-Bonsu, George Washington
Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia
Allan Ray, Villanova
Steven Smith, La Salle
Curtis Stinson, Iowa State
Darius Washington, Jr., Memphis
Eric Williams, Wake Forest
Justin Williams, Wyoming
