nbadraft.net's draft grades

[hcsilla]

"Phoenix entered the day with just a single first round pick, and left with a pair of young foreigners. With their own pick, they selected their man in F Zarko Carbakapa. He has good size and athleticism but doesn't translate well to the NBA as he plays very soft and small for his size. They then traded with San Antonio, who have only kept a handful of first rounders over the past several seasons, giving up a future #1 for Brazilian PG Leandrino Barbosa. Leandrinho is a scoring PG, with long arms. He has a Steve Francis style of game, and possibly Steve Francis level talent, but will need to work on a lot of things before he shows it. He is an exciting slasher from the perimeter, and with a similar type of scoring point in Stephon Marbury in front of him. Phoenix was without a backup for Starbury last season, and now they have one. Both players seem like good fits for Phoenix. The Carbakapa pick is viewed as a bust but the trade will probably end up a smart one years down the road."

http://www.nbadraft.net/2003draftgrades.htm

 

[elindholm]

The Carbakapa pick is viewed as a bust

By whom? By all of the same writers who predicted the Suns would make the pick? I'm wondering how every sports site can say, "The Suns will draft Cabarkapa," and then turn around and say that the pick is a bust a week later.

If it's a bad pick, shouldn't their mock drafts have had the Suns taking someone else? Or is it the persistent rumor of this "promise" that has the pundits talking out of both sides of their asses?

 

[jbeecham]

I could see people saying that he will be a bust simply because of Tskitishvilli last year. At least we didn't pick Zarko 5th overall though. It's ridiculous for any real sportswriter to call someone a bust before they've even stepped into an NBA game, but we're not exactly dealing with a real sportswriter here.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
The Carbakapa pick is viewed as a bust

By whom? By all of the same writers who predicted the Suns would make the pick?

The problem is that those "same writers" probably never have seen Cabarkapa play while Matthew J. Maurer (european scouting guru of nbadraft.net ) did.
I'm not sure if Maurer have write this article but if INDEED he did.........

 

[jbeecham]

Those draft grades were done by Aran Smith of NBAdraft.net

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by jbeecham
Those draft grades were done by Aran Smith of NBAdraft.net

OK, that's a relief although he could have consulted with Maurer.

 

[Goldfield]

Regardless of what they said about Zarko, that is some great compairisons for Barbosa!

If he is even half the talent of Fransis, at number #29 that is a heck of a trade!

 

[King A]

at least they didn't rip pur selection (Zarko) as bas as the warriors' Pietrus

The Pietrus selection to the Warriors was announced and scouts and GM's were secretly winking at one another in war rooms across the country. Pietrus is a bust waiting to happen. The Warriors didn't address their need for a PG with Arenas most likely leaving. The only logic to the Pietrus pick is that the Warriors are bracing for Jason Richardson following Arenas out the door as both players share the same agent, Dan Fegan. Pietrus is a freak but not to the extent that he's been built up to be. Look for him to have a similar career as Dahntay Jones. Pietrus was able to "out athleticize" everyone in Europe, however his skills and shooting are average and he'll be just above average in the NBA. He can be a very good defender but he lacks instincts and basketball IQ and will likely struggle in the NBA. A pick such as Luke Ridnour, Marcus Banks or even Carlos Delfino would have been better selections.

 

[hcsilla]

I couldn't agree more with what he wrote about GSW's drafting.

I also compared Pietrus to Dahntay Jones and I never understood why and how would be Pietrus better than Jones who was a bad pick at 20 and will become this year's Freddie Jones, IMO.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by hcsilla
I couldn't agree more with what he wrote about GSW's drafting.

I also compared Pietrus to Dahntay Jones and I never understood why and how would be Pietrus better than Jones who was a bad pick at 20 and will become this year's Freddie Jones, IMO.

I think Chad Ford of ESPN Insider was absolutely in love with Pietrus. We'll see who was right and who was wrong in the next couple of years. I house I have a problem with anyone who suggests that Luke Ridnour would have been a better choice.

Joe Mama

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I house I have a problem with anyone who suggests that Luke Ridnour would have been a better choice.

Joe Mama

Instead of who?

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by hcsilla
Instead of who?

Pietrus

 

[WizardOfAz]

Love the rationale for giveing the Spurs an "A".

 

[scotsman13]

you know it is funny last year nbadraft.net gave the suns a "c" (i think it was) for the pick of amare. now that just shows how much they knew and for them to have given the suns a "c" for these picks just makes me very happy on how it will turn out for the suns.


every year i read how teams did in the draft and the grading of the picks, a number of years ago i read one that said how good the lakers were in the draft for find players like eddie jones with the 10th pick and cedric ceballos in the second round of the draft. now what is wrong with that?

 

[jbeecham]

Well for starters, I'm pretty sure the Suns drafted Cedric Ceballos.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by King A
at least they didn't rip pur selection (Zarko) as bas as the warriors' Pietrus

NBA draftnet is a bunch of guys like you and I who run a website. Last year they were all over Sofaklis, can't miss top 5-10 pick when he comes out. They do this over and over.

On Pietrus, he has already said that he was called on draft day by Jerry West himself telling him they were trying to work a deal to get him. He knew already the Warriors were picking him but at the time didn't know if it was for the Warriors, or for West.

as mentioned IF Arenas leaves, Richardson might too. He's exciting in the dunk contest but his FG% stinks, he can't handle the ball and he may be the worst defender on a team of horrible defenders, with his athletic ability it's totally lack of effort. Maybe West is wrong but West LOVED Pietrus and that's why he called him telling him he was trying to get him. Now West is back tracking and everyone believes him and says Pietrus was a bluff, he wasn't.

Rick Barry's son Scooter played against Pietrus 4 times last year, he said he thinks in 2 years he can be a better player than Richardson, maybe faster. Gambled a lot which he'll have to tone down in the NBA, but says his offense was largely squashed by coaches who were intentionally "hiding" him so they wouldn't lose him to the NBA. They ran no plays for him. Barry said he's one of those guys who takes 2 dribbles from 20 feet and then dunks on your center, he's as athletic as just about anybody in the NBA.

Not a great shooter but an improving one, better ballhandler than Richardson.

The Warriors decision was simple, do we reach for a PG because we might lose Arenas, or draft the best player on the board, they did the latter(in their opinion).

Given the teams history of passing on Garnett, Kobe, McGrady, Stoudemire etc because they were "risks", this Warrior fan is glad they took a shot at Pietrus. Ridnour is simply not an NBA starting PG.

 

[Joe Mama]

Russ, I totally agree regarding the Golden State Warriors' draft. If they have overestimated Pietrus' talent that's one thing. But to criticize them for passing on several mid-first-round talent point guards to get a guy they felt was one of the best in the draft is ludicrous. Besides they took a point guard they liked in the second round. It worked out well the last time.

Joe Mama

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
NBA draftnet is a bunch of guys like you and I who run a website.

Actually they aren't.
Justin Young is an accurate NCAA expert while Aran Smith (unfortunately for us) and Matthew Maurer have seen a lot of european player in Europe as well.
Maurer and Young are my two favourites draft experts. They are very well informed, they base their opinions what they have seen with their OWN eyes on.

Last year they were all over Sofaklis, can't miss top 5-10 pick when he comes out. They do this over and over.

Their mocker doesn't really follow their opinions.
Both Maurer and Smith thought that Delfino is a better prospect than Pietrus but their mock always projected Pietrus as a late lottery pick and Delfino as a late 1st rounder because it was very likely that Pietrus will be a lottery pick and Delfino will be a late 1st rounder.

On Pietrus, he has already said that he was called on draft day by Jerry West himself telling him they were trying to work a deal to get him. He knew already the Warriors were picking him but at the time didn't know if it was for the Warriors, or for West.

as mentioned IF Arenas leaves, Richardson might too. He's exciting in the dunk contest but his FG% stinks, he can't handle the ball and he may be the worst defender on a team of horrible defenders, with his athletic ability it's totally lack of effort. Maybe West is wrong but West LOVED Pietrus and that's why he called him telling him he was trying to get him. Now West is back tracking and everyone believes him and says Pietrus was a bluff, he wasn't.

Probably we won't know the truth.
West said that he liked other players (not Pietrus) who were picked up before #13.
More sources said that it was Hayes, Pietrus says it was he (could you give a link please?).

Rick Barry's son Scooter played against Pietrus 4 times last year, he said he thinks in 2 years he can be a better player than Richardson, maybe faster. Gambled a lot which he'll have to tone down in the NBA, but says his offense was largely squashed by coaches who were intentionally "hiding" him so they wouldn't lose him to the NBA.

That seems to be very very unlikely.

Pau Orthez was a Euroleague team (they didn't qualify for the top16) and I never have heard that a european team would have hided a player.
NBA's internatinal scouting became so strong that you can't hide anyone.
See Podkolzin, Tsikitisvili, Badiane, Lampe, Pachulia, Fehse, Kasun, Szewczyk who played in the second League of Spain or Germany or didn't play at all and despite that NBA scouts have find them.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by hcsilla

Pau Orthez was a Euroleague team (they didn't qualify for the top16) and I never have heard that a european team would have hided a player.
NBA's internatinal scouting became so strong that you can't hide anyone.
See Podkolzin, Tsikitisvili, Badiane, Lampe, Pachulia, Fehse, Kasun, Szewczyk who played in the second League of Spain or Germany or didn't play at all and despite that NBA scouts have find them.

I'll try to find the article for you it was on Warrior World 2 days after the draft.

Pietrus is from Guadaloupe, not France originally. His brother is on the same team. They were in the championships over there so I don't think the not in the top 16 can be correct. Pietrus was playing less minutes than his brother, but Scooter Barry said it was well know that Mickael was the better player and the best prospect in the league. He was quite open about dreaming of playing in the NBA, his team didn't want to lose him yet, so they didn't play him a lot.

Sort of like Skita last year or even Milicic this year, they really didn't play all that much partly because of age, and partly because the teams they played for didn't want to lose them right away.

Obviously the West stuff is who do you believe but I'm just pointing out that Pietrus has said in 2 interviews now that West called him on draft night telling him they were trying to get him.

I would rather gamble on a guy like Pietrus than take a Ridnour, I've seen the Warriors do that too many times for my liking, maybe Pietrus is a bust, but if he's not you might get a great player. There's just no way Ridnour's ceiling is as high as Pietrus.

Remember Musselman didn't pick Richardson and his first pick as a Warrior coach(with the GM of course) was Dunleavy who plays both SF and SG, the message was clear to jamison and Richardson, get better or step aside. Jamison did, Richardson backslid.

If he's tradeable with his current legal problems it's quite possible Richardson will be shopped around.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Russ, during the draft they had Jerry West on for an interview. They asked him if he was tried to get Pietrus, and he said something along the lines of

"We were trying very hard to move up to get someone, and it was not Mickael"

when asked if he could elaborate who, he just said that he couldnt reveal the name

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Russ Smith


Pietrus is from Guadaloupe, not France originally. His brother is on the same team.

I know.I don't understand what you wanted to say with that but I'm sure that nbadraft.net didn't mix Mickael Pietrus with Florent Pietrus. Neither me.

They were in the championships over there so I don't think the not in the top 16 can be correct.

Pau Orthez won the French Chamionship but they didn't qualify for the Top16 of Euroleague.

Pietrus was playing less minutes than his brother, but Scooter Barry said it was well know that Mickael was the better player and the best prospect in the league. He was quite open about dreaming of playing in the NBA, his team didn't want to lose him yet, so they didn't play him a lot.

Sort of like Skita last year or even Milicic this year, they really didn't play all that much partly because of age, and partly because the teams they played for didn't want to lose them right away.

I do think that you are wrong here.

Euroleague is the NBA of Europe.
Teams want to win in Euroleague because they can make the bigger part of their profit there.

Benetton Treviso (Tsikitisvili's former team) is was one of the best european teams. If Tsikitisvili would have been able to contribute (of course he wasn't) then Treviso surely would have given PT for him.

I would rather gamble on a guy like Pietrus than take a Ridnour, I've seen the Warriors do that too many times for my liking, maybe Pietrus is a bust, but if he's not you might get a great player. There's just no way Ridnour's ceiling is as high as Pietrus.

I disagree.

I think that Pietrus' ceiling is Shandon Anderson but no way that he will become a better player than Desmond Mason, IMO.
I think that Ridnour's ceiling is Steve Nash.

Remember Musselman didn't pick Richardson and his first pick as a Warrior coach(with the GM of course) was Dunleavy who plays both SF and SG, the message was clear to jamison and Richardson, get better or step aside. Jamison did, Richardson backslid.

If he's tradeable with his current legal problems it's quite possible Richardson will be shopped around.

I disagree again.

GSW wanted to pick a C (Ming (what a suprise!)) or a PG (Jay Williams (because he was the best PG prospect by far and they couldn't be sure that Arenas will have a break-out year)).
They were set at SG/SF/PF.

Since they couldn't pick either Ming or Williams they took the best available talent.

I think that all other (who wanted to force who to play better) is a pure speculation.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by hcsilla
Since they couldn't pick either Ming or Williams they took the best available talent.

Well... they took what they thought was the best available talent.

Joe Mama

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
Well... they took what they thought was the best available talent.

Joe Mama

Yes,it's so correct.
Of course I'm not saying that Dunleavy was a fantastic pick at #3.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by thegrahamcrackr
Russ, during the draft they had Jerry West on for an interview. They asked him if he was tried to get Pietrus, and he said something along the lines of

"We were trying very hard to move up to get someone, and it was not Mickael"

when asked if he could elaborate who, he just said that he couldnt reveal the name

I know, what I'm saying is Pietrus disputes this, he says West told him on draft night they were trying to get him.

The day after the draft Skip Bayless was ripping St. Jean saying he got suckered by West into drafting Pietrus. Pietrus was asked about it and he said that West had called him to tell him they were still trying to get him.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by hcsilla
II disagree again.

GSW wanted to pick a C (Ming (what a suprise!)) or a PG (Jay Williams (because he was the best PG prospect by far and they couldn't be sure that Arenas will have a break-out year)).
They were set at SG/SF/PF.

Since they couldn't pick either Ming or Williams they took the best available talent.

I think that all other (who wanted to force who to play better) is a pure speculation.

But when they took Dunleavy, they KNEW Ming and Williams were off the board. So taking Dunleavy came down to BPA, but it was also a message to both Richardson and Jamison that if you don't get better, this kid will take your job.

Musselman was quite open about in the offseason, he wanted better defense and felt Jamison and Richardson were the guys who had to improve. He wanted better ball movement and felt that again, they were 2 guys who had to improve. That's what they love about Dunleavy, his passing, he too isn't a great defender but they feel when he settles in he's going to make the whole team better with his feel and passing skills.