In recent days, we’ve shined the spotlight on the Washington Wizards and their likely top pick, Kentucky’s John Wall. Will Wall be good for Washington? Equally important, will Washington be good for Wall?
The next two teams picking at the top of the draft should deliver plenty of story lines, too. The Philadelphia 76ers were the other big winner in the NBA Draft lottery, moving up to the No. 2 spot. New Jersey, which was the favorite to land the No. 1 pick, slid to No. 3.
The 76ers have a chance to solve a fundamental flaw in their team composition. The team’s top player, swingman Andre Iguodala, and several young guards, including Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday, are best suited for an up tempo game. However, the team’s best big man is Elton Brand, who has been beset by injuries and surgeries that have rendered one of the most dominant post players to a plodding half-court player.
The 76ers intend to do everything they can to ditch Brand this off-season, which might be difficult to do because of his injury history and massive contract. But regardless of whether he’s on the team, the 76ers are in prime position to upgrade their athleticism at power forward. Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors or Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins would be great picks. Favors might have more upside than Cousins, who is the more polished player at this point. However, Favors didn’t have as tumultuous a season as Cousins, who frequently came across as a prima donna.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Nets desperately wanted to land Wall to help market the team to this summer’s top free agents. Of course, free agents can’t start signing with new teams until July, so the Nets will enter the draft June 24 uncertain of what their team will look like in a matter of weeks. That makes projecting the team’s pick more difficult.
However, we do know that new owner Mikhail Prokhorov is extraordinarily rich and extraordinarily determined to win — and fast. He said he wanted to bring a championship to New Jersey/Brooklyn within two or three years. Those are lofty expectations for the worst team in the NBA.
Despite their awful record, the Nets have a decent foundation with Devin Harris at point guard, Brook Lopez at center and a cadre of wing players: Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Terrence Williams. Prokhorov’s draft strategy might reveal which free agents he believes he can land. Everyone knows LeBron James is his top target. In addition, the Nets need a power forward. If Prokhorov plans to sign Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire, drafting a player like Favors or Cousins wouldn’t make sense. However, if one of those elite big men won’t be wearing a Nets jersey next season, Prokhorov likely would go with Favors or Cousins.
But if Prokhorov intends to open his checkbook wide enough to draw in one of those top big men, he could use the No. 3 pick on a shooter. Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson comes to mind. Johnson had a sensational year for the Orange, and he is a popular fellow in the greater New York City region. He also has a special talent for shooting the long ball, something the Nets desperately need. If Prokhorov can land Boozer, Bosh or Stoudemire to beef up the post and get James or Dwyane Wade, the Nets would be making an excellent selection by choosing possibly the most talented shooter in the draft.
After Washington makes its pick, the draft promises to become wide open. Expect the unexpected, possibly as soon as Philadelphia makes the No. 2 pick.
