NBA Draft Grades For Every Team

The NBA Draft is completed. I was unable to watch it that night and had a very busy weekend, so I taped it and watched it the following night. Thus the reason for my late analysis. Here's what each team gets on their report cards.

New Orleans Hornets: A-

You can't go wrong with Anthony Davis. He's going to be a stud in this league. Enough said. However, Austin Rivers was a questionable pick. Yes, he does have the talent to be a star and yes, the team may see Eric Gordon leaving, but Rivers still needs to work on how he plays with others. If he can fit in well with his New Orleans teammates, he will be a good pick. However, with Meyers Leonard and Tyler Zeller still on the board, the team could have taken their future center. Darius Miller is a solid pick. He's a shooter off the bench and one that could become rather good one day.

Charlotte Bobcats: B

I was a bit surprised with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going second, but it's a very good pick. The Bobcats get a starting caliber forward who can play great defense and will push his team to work as hard as he does. Then, Charlotte went and took another small forward. Jeffrey Taylor is very athletic and a better scorer than MKG. His versatility will make him a name in this league. However, I'm just not sure why the Bobcats took two small forwards when their frontcourt is horrendous.

Washington Wizards: A-

The pick of Bradley Beal was fantastic. He was coveted by many teams but the Wiz have found a sharpshooting mate for John Wall. Tomas Satoransky has a chance to be a very good foreign player in the NBA. He has ridiculous height for a point guard. However, I think the the team may have wanted to take a power forward here instead

Cleveland Cavaliers: B

The draft was somewhat confusing for the Cavs until they traded with Dallas. Then, it started to make more sense. Cleveland sent a slew of rookies to the Mavericks for UNC's Tyler Zeller, a player they will be happy with. Zeller can play both big men positions and will run the floor well with Kyrie Irving.  And Dion Waiters, although he was drafted higher than expected, should be a fantastic scorer in this league. One issue I have is that the Cavaliers have Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varajeo. It doesn't hurt to draft another big, but small forward was a more pressing need. The other issue I have is that the Cavs passed on Thomas Robinson and Harrison Barnes for Waiters. At least trade down.

Sacramento Kings: A-

The Kings made a very smart move and a very dumb move, which is why they get an average grade. They had Thomas Robinson fall into their lap, and will now pair him with DeMarcus Cousins to make a beastly frontcourt duo that will clean the glass every night. Robinson is a high character player and a steal at #5. Then they went and drafted Orlando Johnson out of UCSB, who is a strong scorer and shooter, filling Sacramento's void at small forward. But wait! Let's trade a big need away for cash...are you serious?

Portland Trailblazers: A

By taking Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard, the Blazers get their point guard and center of the future, two positions they desperately need. The two will be running mates and look to have bright careers in the NBA. In the second round, the team added some wing depth in Will Barton to play behind Wesley Matthews and Nic Batum. He is a very talented scorer who will be great off the bench. Barton is actually a steal at this point in the draft. Portland drafted talented players that filled the positions they needed. And after they blew up a pretty decent team (let's just fire and trade everybody!), they still have decent pieces to be competitive.

Golden St. Warriors: A

The first two picks for the Dubs went better than anyone could have expected. The small forward they wanted to complete their starting five, Harrison Barnes, was available at #7 and the defensive center to replace Andrew Bogut when he's hurt (oh yes, he will be hurt), Festus Ezeli, was snatched up at #30. Both fell a few spots in the draft. Then, with the 35th pick, Golden St. made another great value pick in Draymond Green. He will be solid off the bench and bring intangibles that every team wants. Overall, this was a great draft for the Warriors. Acquiring Ognjen Kuzmic was not the smartest thing to do, but the team gets a pass after their impressive draft.

Toronto Raptors: D+

I've been giving out a lot of good grades to start, but that's because teams who picked high had the opportunity to draft top players and this year, teams actually drafted rather smart! Now it's time to play tough grader for the Toronto Raptors. I didn't mind Terrence Ross with the first pick. He's a very talented scorer who can shoot, attack, and play defense as well. However, it remains to be seen how he fits on the wing with DeMar DeRozan who is essentially the same player. Then, they went and grabbed Quincy Acy. I didn't even think Acy would get drafted, He is a very tough and physical player down low, but he just doesn't have the skills to play in the NBA. Finally, with their last pick, they grabbed Croatian big man Tomislav Zubcic. Who? These European picks rarely work out. I understand if your team doesn't need anything and you're stashing foreign players, but the Raptors have needs!!! Why not take Scott Machado for a backup point guard???

Detroit Pistons: A-

Lucky is something that the Pistons may or may not be. If Andre Drummond can be, at the very least, the dominant defender he should be, Detroit has themselves a frontcourt mate for Greg Monroe and a steal. If he winds up being a flop, it'll be a shame they used a lottery pick on him. As for right now, however, I like the pick. In the second round, the Pistons went out and grabbed two shooting guards in Khris Middleton and Kim English. Middleton will be able to score from anywhere on the floor and English is a spot up shooter, so these will help with the loss of Ben Gordon. However, did they need two of them? Why not take a backup point guard or big man? But I guess scoring is always good.

Houston Rockets: B+

Did they get Dwight Howard? No. But did they get pieces? Yes. Jeremy Lamb will be a nice shooter and defender in the league (although I question if they really had to move up to get him). Royce White has the tools to contribute in so many ways, and he could break out to be a very valuable player. I like that pick, as well as Terrence Jones at #18. Jones has NBA ready scoring talent, but I wonder what position he'll wind up playing. The one thing I'm confused with is to what they're going to do with their forward logjam. Along with the three they just drafted, they also have Chandler Parsons, Marcus Morris, Luis Scola, and Pattrick Patterson. I understand they want Howard, but maybe taking Fab Melo (especially with the departure of Samuel Dalembert) might have been a good move. All that being said, the Rockets picked up some great players and can piece them in a trade if they want.

Phoenix Suns: A+

YESSSSSS! Someone listened to me! Aside from Anthony Davis, I was more set on the Suns taking Kendall Marshall than any other player for any other team. Phoenix looses the best pure point guard in the NBA in Steve Nash (he's not coming back), so why not take the best pure point guard in the draft? Marshall may never be Nash, but he's got the skills to make his teammates better and be a starter at the pro level. The Suns did as much as they could with their one pick, and I commend them.

Milwaukee Bucks: A-

The John Henson pick is going to be a project. I feel like you need to put a scoring center next to him to get the most out of his shot blocking potential. He also needs to bulk up and add a scoring game, but he was a good pick to help the frontcourt nonetheless. By grabbing Dalembert from the Rockets, the Bucks also obtained a stopgap in center to make up for the loss of Bogut. The selection of Doron Lamb was incredible. Lamb could have been taken 20 picks higher, but he fell and Milwaukee got themselves a fantastic scorer and leader. All in all, these picks may possibly push the Bucks over the edge and into the playoffs.

Philadelphia 76ers: C

I love Moe Harkless as a player. He has all the makings of a superstar talent with his scoring. His frame is solid and perfect for the position of small forward. But where is he going to play? Not at shooting guard or power forward. As the third man behind Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young. Ugh. Mo is better than that. As for their trade with the Heat, it remains to be seen how good Arnett Moultrie can be. He has nice value late in the first round and is incredibly athletic for a big man, but we'll see when the Heat get with the first round pick they grabbed before we make any judgements. Tornike Shengelia wasn't a bad stash pick.

Dallas Mavericks: D+

Yes, the Mavericks certainly wanted to get some pieces for the team through the draft and get a big name through free agency. But why would a free agent want to come to Dallas is they don't draft top young talent for Dirk? Jared Cunningham is a solid defender a scorer, but he was a reach that early. I love the story of Bernard James and he'll probably be a rotation player as a bruiser down low, but he was also a reach. And Jae Crowder? You guessed it, reach. Crowder may not be cut out for this league. At least they traded away Darius Johnson-Odom. The Mavs must know something that everyone else does not, because the players they drafted were not that great.

Orlando Magic: B-

The Magic got two very talented players. Andrew Nicholson is a shifty scorer down low who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability. Kevin O'Quinn can dominate the boards with his size and relentlessness. But there's two problems 1. Orlando, a team who has a LOT of needs, already has a starting power forward and 2. Nicholson and O'Quinn play the same position. The two players will definitely help the Magic, but they are a long ways from respectability. Maybe taking Marquis Teague at #19 to be their new point guard would have been better.

Denver Nuggets: C

One of the teams that don't have a lot of needs, Denver is loaded with talent that is just waiting to break out. That being said, I'm OK with the pick of Evan Fournier. He's a scoring guard who excels at getting to the basket. It will be interesting to see if he comes over right away or the Nuggets have stock in him, but either will be good for them. However, after that, their draft went downhill. They do have one big need, and that's post scoring. Instead of looking for that, they drafted Quincy Miller and Izzet Turkyilmaz. Miller has good value at his spot, but Denver is crowded on the wing, so I'm not sure where he will play. And Turkyilmaz? You've got to be kidding me. This guy probably won't ever come overseas. Not a smart move.

Boston Celtics: A-

Grabbing Jared Sullinger that late should prove to be a steal. While the team does have a plethora of power forwards, there will be a day when Kevin Garnett is out of Boston and Sullinger and fellow first rounder Fab Melo will own the Celtics' frontcourt. That combination of offense and defense will be a force. The two may even get minutes in their rookie seasons. Taking Kris Joseph was a solid pick. While the team could have added more scoring, Joseph gives them length on the wing.

Atlanta Hawks: B-

With the picks they had, it wasn't easy for the Hawks to make a huge impact. John Jenkins is a solid player who can shoot the lights out. This pick makes even more sense now that Joe Johnson seems to be traded to Brooklyn. Mike Scott will add some depth down low. Overall, a very average draft for Atlanta. Not bad, but nothing special.

Memphis Grizzlies: C-

Memphis is a team that has the chance to contend in the West. However, there are still pieces that they need. A backup point guard for Mike Conley is not their biggest desire, but they got one in Tony Wroten. Wroten is a very good scorer but there are still questions about his point guard skills. If they're truly trying to get rid of Rudy Gay and O. J. Mayo, Perry Jones or Doron Lamb would have been much better picks here.

Indiana Pacers: F

What a joke. The Pacers made by far the worst pick of the night when they selected Miles Plumlee at #26. First of all, Plumlee isn't even the best basketball player in his own family. Mason, who is still at Duke, seems like he would be a much better player in the NBA. Second, Miles was not good enough to go in this draft, let alone in the first round. Even in a draft thin on centers, there were several better than him still available (Festus Ezeli, Robert Sacre, Henry Sims). Finally, if the Pacers really thought Plumlee was their guy, they should have traded down to get him. They could have easily acquired more picks and still gotten him. Getting Orlando Johnson from the Kings for cash was a nice pickup, but it's not enough to make up for their disgusting first round pick.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A+

It's obvious that the Thudner got the steal of the draft in Perry Jones. If Jones doesn't live up to his full potential, it's not a big deal at pick #28. But if he does, you could see an incredibly talented NBA player, and one who could play serious minutes even on an OKC squad that's so talented. It's that simple.

Chicago Bulls: A

I thought that at the end of the first round, the Bulls weren't going to get a point guard who would be good enough to be Derrick Rose's backup. However, like the Thunder, they struck gold on the falling Marquis Teague. Teague is a solid floor general who needs some work, but could definitely be Rose's partner. We'll see if Teague starts games in the beginning of the season if Rose is still out.

Brooklyn Nets: C-

The pick of Tyshawn Taylor wasn't bad, but just confusing if the team is set on Deron Williams returning. However, Taylor could be a very good backup for Williams. He can play both guard positions and is a big time scorer. Taking Ilkan Karaman doesn't really make sense. There were other role players available late in the second round that Brooklyn could have grabbed.

Miami Heat: B-

Getting the first round pick from Philadelphia was actually quite brilliant. Miami isn't going get an early first round pick anytime soon, so trading for one was smart. However, getting Justin Hamilton too wasn't that great. There were better centers on the board, and they could have still taken Festus Ezeli at #27, a player who could have a serious impact on the Heat frontcourt.

Utah Jazz: B

Well at least they didn't take a big man. Kevin Murphy is a talented scorer and a top shooter in this draft. While he may not be Utah's biggest need, I think getting Murphy this late was good value. Trying to find a backup point guard who can eventually overtake Devin Harris (paging Scott Machado...) may have been more beneficial.

New York Knicks: D+

While Kostas Papanikolaou was one of the better foreign players in the draft, the Knicks do not have the luxury of stashing Euro players. They have a serious need for scoring, both on the wing and down low. The window for New York to win a championship isn't as big as some may expect, and I think they wasted this pick here.

Los Angeles Clippers: C

Like the Knicks, L. A. has yet to break through as a true contender. Taking Furkan Aldemir may backfire. Aldemir is a bruiser down low, but unless he can help the team soon, he'll be worthless. Why not take a small forward? I think Caron Butler's days as a starter are numbered.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B

The T-Wolves have a ton of young talent, so taking a chance on a player like Robbie Hummel may actually pay off. Hummel has torn his ACL more times that Minnesota has drafted badly, but he has overcome everything and was a great leader for Purdue. He can be an encouraging presence in the locker room while adding some threes and rebounds off the bench.

San Antonio Spurs: C

Like last year, the Spurs drafted a guard who wasn't even expected to be drafted. Marcus Denmon is not as bad of a pick as Corey Joseph was, and not a risk at #59, but they may have missed on some hidden gems.

Los Angeles Lakers: B+

The more I think about it, the more I actually like this pick. Robert Sacre gives big man depth to a team that is looking to move one of it's seven footers, Pau Gasol. Sacre has a nice back to the basket game. He can actually help the team sooner than later.

NBA Mock Draft v 3.0

I've spent quite some time on this mock draft, especially over the past few days in regards to all of the trades that have gone on. I've seen which teams are high on which players and who's rising and falling. While this mock will not completely represent the decisions I think each team should make, it will show what I expect to happen. And this is, of course, subject to change, because a million trades could happen between the time I click "publish" and the end of tonight's draft. Here we go.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky: Davis is the undisputed top pick here. His defense and versatility is second to none, and "the brow" (now trademarked) will be a force in the NBA.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas: While many think the Bobcats may trade this pick, Robinson would bring toughness, aggressiveness, and rebounding to an awful team.

3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida: Beal has recently shot up draft boards and I've even seen the Thunder trying to trade up to get him. He is a fantastic shooter and can rebound the ball as well.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky: MKG's motor, hard work, and leadership will certainly be welcomed by the Cavs. He gets to pair up with his high school teammate, Kyrie Irving.

5. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut: Yes, he's a huge risk, but pairing him with DeMarcus Cousins looks tantalizing, and with his physical tools and defense, this gamble just may work out.

6. Portland Trailblazers: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber St.: Lillard will certainly light it up as a pro, and as long as he improves his passing ability, he'll be a starting point guard in the NBA.

7. Golden St. Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina: This is a perfect fit for the Dubs as they get the small forward they need. Barnes is raw, but he can score.

8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters, PG/SG, Syracuse: Waiters has been said to be the best one-on-one scorer in this draft. If he can develop his jump shot, he'll be a star, and may take Toronto to new heights.

9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF, North Carolina: Pairing a defensive minded power forward with Greg Monroe is the best way for Detroit to go. Henson is the best shot blocker in this draft besides Davis.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois: After ditching Emeka Okafor, the Hornets get the extremely explosive Leonard and have their frontcourt of the future set.

11. Portland Trailblazers: Tyler Zeller, PF/C, North Carolina: These are the centers on Portland's roster last season: Joel Przybilla, Kurt Thomas, Hasheem Thabeet, Greg Oden. Yikes. Where's Kwame?

12. Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi St.: Although it's risky, the Rockets are set on acquiring Dwight Howard. Moultrie is an athletic big man to pair next to him.

13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke: The Suns get a guard who could play both positions and will provide much needed scoring for this depleted squad.

14. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones, SF/PF, Baylor: Jones' versatility is nice, but it's his potential that everyone raves about. He could become one of the best players in this draft.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut: The Sixers get some nice depth behind Evan Turner. Lamb has enough length and shooting ability to possibly one day overtake Turner.

16. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington: The days of Kevin Martin are over. Ross gives Houston an NBA ready scorer and another piece to attract Howard.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina: The title window is growing smaller for Dirk, so why not pair him up with the best pure point guard in the draft? Marshall will try to do his best Jason Kidd impersonation.

18. Houston Rockets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's: The Rockets again? Harkless is a premier talent with an amazing scoring ability and nice size. Once again, he can contribute right away for Dwight Howard's future team (just jinxed it).

19. Orlando Magic: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky: With Jameer Nelson gone, and Howard soon to be gone, Teague is the point guard of the future with solid passing skills and the ability to get to the rim.

20. Denver Nuggets: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio St.: Poor Sully. No one seems to want him, but Denver should. He gives them a post scorer to put down low with the offensively challenged Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee.

21. Boston Celtics: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky: Lamb is a big time scorer who can make big time shots-perfect for a team who is losing Ray Allen and gradually trying to rebuild while still make a run for another title.

22. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse: Melo's defense and shot blocking will be welcomed in Boston and KG can teach him to be tougher and actually score.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Terrence Jones, SF/PF, Kentucky: Because this draft is so deep, a talent like Jones could drop this low. His versatile scoring gives him the chance to replace the incumbent Marvin Williams.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure: Yes, the Cavs have Tristan Thompson at the four, but they are supremely lacking offense, especially after picking MKG. Nicholson can stretch the floor and hit long range shots-Thompson will never be able to do that.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Royce White, SF, Iowa St.: I personally think that White is more reward than risk. If the team can trade Rudy Gay and White lives up to his potential, you've got one of the all time steals right here.

26. Indiana Pacers: Jeffrey Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt: The Pacers get another wing guy who is very skilled on both sides of the ball. He fits into the young and talented team's dimensions.

27. Miami Heat: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt: Another Commodore is taken, this one by the champs. Miami needs a center and Ezeli can provide physicality and defense down low.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green, SF/PF, Michigan St.: Green has so many different skills and despite his lack of physical tools, has the heart of a champion. What's wrong with playing him 7-10 minutes a night and developing him behind the OKC talent?

29. Chicago Bulls: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor: I've heard a lot of talk about Deng being moved, so Miller may be his replacement. His length gives him lock down defensive talent, but he can score too.

30. Goldent St. Warriors: Tony Wroten, PG/SG, Washington: Wroten adds insurance for Stephen Curry. He is one of the best at getting to the basket, but needs to work on his point guard skills.

31. Charlotte Bobcats: Will Barton, SG/SF, Memphis: Barton can score in a variety of ways, while the Bobcats don't have too many players that can score in one way.

32. Washington Wizards: Kevin Jones, PF, West Virginia: Washington gets a high energy guy who can stretch the floor and bang on the boards. Great compliment for Nene.

33. Cleveland Cavaliers: Khris Middleton, SG/SF, Texas A&M: The Cavs get more scoring, this time on the wing. Middleton has injury concerns, but he can shoot from deep and create his own shot.

34. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jared Cunningham, SG/SF, Oregon St.: Back to back wing players. Is this a mistake? Not when you consider how Cunningham's defense (ruled the Pac-12) can make a nice platoon with Middleton's offense.

35. Golden St. Warriors: Furkan Aldemir, PF, Turkey: The Turkish big man can step in and help if David Lee or Andrew Bogut get hurt, hopefully better than Andris Biedrins would.

36. Sacramento Kings: Darius Miller, SF, Kentucky: Miller didn't get too much time at Kentucky with all the big talents in front of him, but he's a sharpshooter who can certainly play in the NBA.

37. Toronto Raptors: John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt: The Vanderbilt sharpshooter would slide in nicely next to DeMar DeRozan. Jenkins has the ability to be the next great three point shooter.

38. Denver Nuggets: Scott Machado, PG, Iona: After getting some help down low, the Nuggets look to get a backup point man to replace Andre Miller. Machado has great court vision and should also be able to coexist with Ty Lawson.

39. Detroit Pistons: Evan Fournier, SG, France: The Pistons will be happy to see Fournier drop this far. His ability to get to the basket will make up for the loss of Ben Gordon.

40. Portland Trailblazers: Kim English, SG, Missouri: An explosive player who can shoot the three, English will be a solid backup for Wesley Matthews.

41. Portland Trailblazers: Drew Gordon, PF, New Mexico: Adding some more size down low, Gordon can bang the boards and crash the glass. He's more of a bruiser than LaMarcus Aldridge, who relies on finesse.

42. Milwaukee Bucks: Henry Sims, C, Georgetown: There's no question that the Bucks wanted a center after losing Andrew Bogut, and they now have one with Sims.

43. Atlanta Hawks: Tyshawn Taylor, PG/SG, Kansas: The Hawks have expressed a desire for more guard depth. Jeff Teague is good, but having Taylor behind him will make them feel more comfortable.

44. Detroit Pistons: Orlando Johnson, SF, UCSB: Detroit is crowded at small forward, but compared to Tayshaun Prince, Corey Maggette, and Austin Daye, Johnson may wind up being better than all of them.

45. Philadelphia 76ers: Kyle O'Quin, PF, Norfolk St.: O'Quinn gobbles rebounds for breakfast, and he should help ease the pain of losing Elton Brand.

46. New Orleans Hornets: Kevin Murphy, SG, Tennessee Tech: New Orleans gets a dynamic scorer who will help the offense, especially if Eric Gordon is not resigned.

47. Utah Jazz: Tomas Satoransky, PG/SG, Czech Republic: With a young frontcourt already in the fold, the Jazz get a big point guard who can learn the ropes from Devin Harris.

48. New York Knicks: Mitchell Watt, PF, Buffalo: The Knicks get some depth to their frontline, but also a player who can score, both in the paint and the mid range game.

49. Orlando Magic: Robert Sacre, C, Gonzaga: Knowing that Dwight Howard will eventually need to be traded, the Magic draft a seven footer who has solid back-to-the-basket skills.

50. Denver Nuggets: William Buford, SG, Ohio St.: Buford brings his smooth jumper to the two guard spot, where it will be matched with Aaron Afflalo's defense.

51. Boston Celtics: Kostas Papanikolaou, SF, Greece: Someone's going to have to replace Paul Pierce eventually. Papanikolaou may not be the solution, but he can come off the Boston bench and hit threes.

52. Golden St. Warriors: Jae Crowder, SF, Marquette: Crowder adds toughness, physicality, and rebounding. He may be a bit undersized for his game but can step out and shoot the long ball.

53. Los Angeles Clippers: JaMychal Green, PF, Alabama: Just another player to join Lob City. Green will be battling Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan for Chris Paul alley-oops.

54. Philadelphis 76ers: Tu Holloway, PG, Xavier: Holloway's draft stock dropped when the Musketeers season went into a downward spiral, but he's a wrecking ball point guard with leadership skills. A solid scorer to fill the void of Lou Williams.

55. Dallas Mavericks: Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse: Joseph is the best player available, and his wingspan and defense will help him out while his offense catches up.

56. Toronto Raptors: Mike Scott, PF, Virginia: He may be a bit undersized for the power forward position, but Scott is crafty down low and can hit the 15-footer.

57. Brooklyn Nets: Herb Pope, PF, Seton Hall: It looks like Deron Williams may stay, so the confident Nets take Pope, a skilled post scorer. The former Pirate will move from Jersey to Brooklyn along with the Nets.

58. Minnesota Timberwolves: Hollis Thompson, SG, Georgetown: The T-Wolves need a shooting guard, and Thompson is lights out from behind the arc. He may be no more than a bench player, but could be a stopgap for Minnesota.

59. San Antonio Spurs: Bernard James, PF, Florida St.: The Spurs have shown that they like the old guys. It doesn't matter than James is already 27, he'll be an enforcer down low.

60. Los Angeles Lakers: Casper Ware, PG, Long Beach St.: L. A. takes a gamble on the little guy from the West Coast. Who knows? He could become a starter in the league one day.

We Go As He Goes

James is now a champion and can celebrate his accomplishment.

Polarizing. That is what LeBron James is, has been, and always will be. Everyone has an opinion on him. You love him or hate him. He has that ability to draw the attention of the entire nation. Recently, he has become more of a villan. He took his talents to South Beach, struggled in the 2011 NBA Finals, and made everyone believe that he just didn't have what it takes. Then something changed. James flipped a switch. He got it, and now he is a champion. And that will go a long way in changing people's opinions of him.

It's no secret that James is currently the best player in the world. His unique combination of speed, size, strength, athleticism, versatility, etc. is what makes him so different from any player we've ever seen. If there was a one on one tournament that pitted every all-time great in their prime against each other, James would probably win. That's why everyone loved him in Cleveland. He dominated on the floor and carried the team on his back. He turned into an unstoppable force that filled the stat sheet every night. He had the potential to win title after title, but just couldn't seem to get there. But we all rooted for him.

Then the infamous "Decision" came that turned everyone against him. The guarantee of not one, not two, not three, and so on. The boring and sad city of Cleveland being exchanged for the bright lights of Miami. And all of the sudden, we hated James. We rooted for him to fail. We questioned his game (foolishly). We called him out for not being clutch. The boos rained down from nearly every non-Heat fan. LeBron James was the bad guy. Why would anyone like him? He screwed his hometown. He made foolish comments. There were times he seemed more interested in Twitter than in his next game. And when Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks broke his heart in the Finals, America erupted. We cheered the Mavs as if they were our favorite team. Everyone was ecstatic to see the Heat lose. James and his team bulldozed everyone in the East, maybe thinking he would be handed the Larry O'Brien trophy right then and there, but got a rude awakening against Dallas. Shortly after that, LeBron went into a cocoon for a few weeks. And that's when it all changed.

LeBron became a new player once the 2012 playoffs began. He knew that nothing would be presented to him on a silver platter. He knew that even though he was the best, it wasn't going to be easy. He knew that he had to focus on nothing but basketball, and truly make winning a title as important as life or death.

We saw it in the regular season, as he averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. We saw him play and defend every position. Once the playoffs began, we saw him compete like never before.

James swatted away the New York Knicks as if they were a fly buzzing around his head. Injuries derailed the Knicks and the Heat were simply just better. That part was easy.

James overcame many hurdles like Granger and the Pacers.

But when adversity came around, that was where James has always struggled in his career. Sure, he could dominate at will. But what happened when the going got tough? What happened when someone said, "I'm not going to let you beat me tonight, I don't care if you're better." The old LeBron would probably shy from the challenge. The new one is a different story.

Down two games to one and missing Chris Bosh against the Indiana Pacers, LeBron knew his team was in trouble. Dwyane Wade wasn't at 100%. James was forced to cover the Indiana bigs who bruised him night in and night out. And he got that challenge of someone refusing to let him beat them. That was Danny Granger.

Granger played physical defense on James the whole series and didn't hesitate to get in his face. Granger didn't like the way the Heat would get all of the calls and walk around with the swagger they do because they're superstars. He would have none of that. Granger was ready to shut them up once and for all.

"No you're not," said LeBron.

Instead, James went for 40, 18, and 9 in Game 3 in one of his classic performances to tie the series. The Heat would win the next two and the rest was history.

Then there was the old Boston Celtics, a team that beat up on James not just in Miami, but in Cleveland as well. Kevin Garnett got pleasure out of taunting James. The veterans played extra hard against the Heat. When they went ahead in the series 3-2 after being down 2-0, the sky was falling. No one thought the Heat could win Game 6 in Boston and then a Game 7 in Miami.

No one except James.

Faced with adversity again, James was unconscious in Game 6, scoring 45 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. He went into Boston, ripped out the hearts of every single person in the building, and quietly left. Everyone saw the look on his face. He was in the zone. He wouldn't be stopped. Basketball had become a matter of life and death.

Winning close games in OKC showed that James was clutch.

After beating the Celtics, James had one final test in the Oklahoma City Thunder. After losing Game 1, it seemed that there was no way the Heat could beat OKC with the roll they were on. That's why everyone was surprised to see Miami win three close games in a row, the third being one where James gutted it out and played through cramps to help his team to victory.

Game 5 was a microcosm of the whole postseason in one. Everything had finally come together. Everything was clicking. Everyone was playing well. And James had finally gotten it. He became a leader both on and off the floor. He made sure his teammates did what they needed to do. He held himself accountable for mistakes and vowed to improve. He would not go down.

Now after James has won his first ring, he's going to use his polarizing nature to change to mood of the basketball world once again. He finally did it. He won the big one. He gets it. The mental game is over. He has the potential to win many more after this. Not two, not three, not four...

It's kind of beautiful to see everything come together like this. Personally, I was a huge fan of James when he was in Cleveland. He was unlike anything I'd ever seen. I had to love him and what he did on the court. Then he went to Miami and I hated him. I hated him for betraying the Cavs and for his cocky attitude and for joining up with other superstars instead of finishing the job he was doing in Cleveland.

After a while, I became a bit indifferent. I understood that there was noting wrong with going to the Heat and teaming with Wade and Bosh. Jordan had Pippen and Rodman, Magic had Kareem and Worthy, Bird had Parish and McHale. Everyone needs help. However, I still rooted for him to fail.

My opinion has changed yet again of him after winning the NBA championship. We've seen him grow up, lose his immaturity, and take control of his destiny. He's finally playing at the level he's capable of, mentally, physically, and emotionally. He finally has that ring that eluded him for so long. And he has a chance to do something special and win a lot more.

After winning his first title, it looks like there's more to come for James.

So yes, I will root for LeBron James again. No, I'm not going to become a Heat bandwagoner, but I think it would be very cool to see just how great he can be. With he skills, he could go down as one of the best of all time. Will he ever be able to actually be compared with Jordan or Kobe? It depends on how many titles he wins. But could it happen? You never know.

James proved all of his critics wrong. And he did it himself. He's not the same LeBron we used to know. He's grown from a boy to a man. What he does for basketball is something we should cherish.  He turns the court into his canvas and paints beautiful pieces of art with his basketball skills. He should be appreciated, because talents like him are once in a lifetime. As a basketball fan, you couldn't ask for more.

The question used to be this: Why would you like LeBron James? But now, after all he's gone through and what he's accomplished and what he can accomplish, I think the question should now be this: Why not?

How Can I Help You? Los Angeles Lakers

After two rough years, Kobe certainly wants another title.

The final "How Can I Help You?" segment will take a look at one of the most complicated teams in basketball, the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being criticized and ridiculed all year long, the Lakers put together an impressive season behind Kobe Bryant and grabbed the 3rd seed in the West. However, issues with Andrew Bynum's maturity, Pau Gasol's production, and the team's thin bench were clear, and led to a second round exit to the Thunder. It seems clear that the team wants Gasol out of town. They need to shakeup the roster and try to win Bryant another title. We'll see what they can accomplish with Mr. Irrelevant at pick #60.

A trade may revitalize the team, but L. A. can't worry about that right now unless they make a draft day trade. Therefore, they'll try to add some depth on the bench, something they solely need, and possibly sign a free agent for some extra firepower.

Ramon Sessions is a free agent, but will most likely exercise his player option to stay with the team. The question is whether he can truly be their starting point guard. Sessions was very good during the regular season, but came up lame in the playoffs. As for the other free agents, the Lakers will want to get younger and not spend too much money if they want to get a big free agent. That means Troy Murphy and Matt Barnes are out, but Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill will stay. Hill especially was a revelation last season, providing great rebounding after Gasol and Bynum. If Gasol was traded, it wouldn't be unfathomable to see Hill starting.

Taking all of that into account, Sessions will remain the starter with Steve Blake being his backup. Blake was a nice spark off the bench this past season and could continue to do this as long as he doesn't age too much. Kobe is, as always, the team's starting shooting guard. Andrew Goudelock is the part of the second unit, and could really develop into a talented scorer learning from Bryant.

Ebanks and Metta World Peace are the two small forwards, but neither are really starting caliber players. The Lakers could use a forward. The frontcourt consists of Gasol, Bynum and Hill. If the team is truly trying to get rid of Gasol, they may draft a big man.

So we're looking at point guard, small forward, and big man, but one that can really contribute right away. The window to win another title with Kobe is getting shorter and shorter. 

I've seen mocks having Los Angeles select Iona's Scott Machado with this pick, but the reality is that there's a fat chance that he's is still around at pick #60. Besides him, two other guards come to mind. J'Covan Brown and Tu Holloway are both very talented scorers who could help out right away. Holloway has more leadership and is less erratic, so he would be preferred, but both could give the team a boost in the scoring department.

If the Lakers are truly looking to find a small forward, I have an interesting option in mind. Robbie Hummel is a senior from Purdue that has torn his ACL too many times to count. He lacks certain physical tools that you need to be successful in the NBA. But he is a leader who can rebound, shoot, and possibly help the L. A. locker room. With a lot of turmoil and chatter surrounding the team, Hummel could step in, settle the team down, and follow Kobe's lead.

If Gasol is out, Watt could be in.

If they look to go big, there are a few power forwards that could still be left who would have the ability to score in the paint, something that would be valued by the Lakers. Herb Pope from Seton Hall's has mastered the post game and knows several scoring moves. Mitchell Watt from Buffalo has decent range on his jump shot and a smooth stroke. Cameron Moore from UAB has great athleticism and his improving his offensive game. He could be a poor man's Trevor Ariza, a former Laker.

Of all those players, Watt and Pope are probably the best. I'll give my mock draft the benefit of the doubt and say the team goes with Watt because I think Pope will already gone. Watt can slide behind Gasol (or Hill) and help improve the Laker bench. That's one of the keys to being champions once again.

Thanks everyone for reading these "How Can I Help You?" articles, I had a lot of fun with them. The 2012 NBA Draft is at 8 on Thursday night, and come back later in the week as I make my final mock draft.

How Can I Help You? San Antonio Spurs

Who wants another title? TIMMY DOES!

For the past few years, it seemed like the Spurs were done. They won four titles, their core was old, and they just didn't strike you as a team that had amuch left. Despite all those notions, and a first round upset to the eight-seeded Memphis Grizzlies last postseason, Gregg Popovich revamped this team and has kept them going. They had the best record in the West and made it to the conference finals. Now with a new season in the future, the question is posed again: can they keep going?

My belief is that they can. The Spurs got younger last year. Sure, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are old, but getting production out of players like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Tiago Splitter will make the transition from old to new go much smoother for San Antonio. They changed their philosophy from defensive to offensive and gave Parker the keys to the team. So the answer to that question is yes.

The window is still small, though. The Spurs need to win now if they want to win another one. We'll start off with their key free agent decisions. First things first: Duncan is resigning. That's non negotiable. They should bring back Green too after his three point breakout this season. Also, look for Patty Mills to be get a new deal, as he could be the team's future point guard after Parker. James Anderson and Boris Diaw are likely out.

With Parker and Mills running the point, the team doesn't need to worry about that position. Ginobili and Green are both beneficial scorers for the Spurs and shooting guard and Gary Neal gets some buckets as well. It looks like the backcourt is set.

Leonard was fantastic as a rookie at small forward and will certainly improve. Stephen Jackson will back him up and can help his growth as a player. The Big Fundamental will stand tall at power forward like he always has, and Splitter will be the one to give him rest. Finally, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner are a capable tandem at the center position.

So what is San Antonio looking for? I'd be shocked if they think they can get Duncan's successor with the 59th pick. As they are a bit thin at center, they could use some rebounding down low. Oh, and of course, defense.

The Spurs clearly know how to put on a scoring show as they displayed in the playoffs, but once they went to OKC, they couldn't keep up with the young Thunder. Leonard did all he could, but there is not that much youth or defense on this team. Grabbing a player who has both of those qualities is the way to go.

We're not looking at a specific positon, but rather a type of player. Here are you options:

If the Spurs draft O'Quinn, this will be his reaction.

Syracuse's Kris Joseph has the length that the Spurs would love, but he may be gone at this point in the draft. Andrew Albicy from France is a hard nosed defender, but San Antonio doesn't want to wait for him to come from Europe. Larry Anderson from Long Beach St. is a reach, but was a lockdown defender in the Big West. In the end, I think the team will take a blue chipper from Norfolk St. that became a household name in the NCAA tournament, Kyle O'Quinn.

O'Quinn is a force on the glass, averaging 10.3 rebounds last season. He showed the nation what he could do by bullying Missouri and sending them pack in March Madness. O'Quinn is also a solid post defender and a humble player, one who would relish at the opportunity to play behind Duncan. He is a hard worker that has a similar mold to Duncan, so who knows what will happen with his career is he was a Spur?

With O'Quinn, the team would start Parker, Green, Leonard, Duncan, and Blair, and have Mills, Neal, Ginobili, Jackson, Splitter, Bonner, and the former Spartan himself coming off the bench. That squad looks similar to last year's, which is a good thing, except O'Quinn is infusing them with youth, rebounding, and defense as Diaw is shipped out of town. That's a nice upgrade on a team that doesn't need many improvements.

For my final "How Can I Help You?" article, I will discuss who the Los Angeles Lakers will take with the 60th pick (Mr. Irrelevant), and what they need to do to win Kobe Bryant another championship.

How Can I Help You? Brooklyn Nets

Williams will be in a new uniform next season. But will it be a Brooklyn one?

The only thing that's really certain about the Nets' future is that they'll be playing in Brooklyn next season. Best case scenario? Deron Williams and a talented draft pick comes with them and Dwight Howard joins later in the season. Worst case scenario? Neither superstars desire Brooklyn and the Nets' only draft pick is a bust. Sure, Williams and Howard are more important to Brooklyn, but who will be picked by the team at #57???

Williams is obviously the biggest free agent for the Nets. Will he stay or will he go? It's unsure what will happen as of now, but Brooklyn will have to proceed in this draft as if he will not be back with the team. As for the their other two point guards, Jordan Farmar was solid and will likely exercise his player option to stay with the team while Sundiata Gaines, an unrestricted free agent, will find a home elsewhere. DeShawn Stevenson is another Net you can kiss goodbye. I don't think the team will resign Kris Humphris either. He will command too much money, and the team has high hopes to invest it elsewhere. Gerald Wallace has expressed interest in being brought back so I expect him to go to Brooklyn with the team. They should also try and keep Gerald Green who was a beast after being called up from the D-League. Finally, look for Brook Lopez to get a new contract, at least for trade bait.

Here are some solid bets for being on the Brooklyn depth chart when the team opens up in New York:

PG: Jordan Farmar
SG: MarShon Brooks, Anthony Morrow
SF: Gerald Wallace, Gerald Green
PF: Jordan Williams
C: Brook Lopez

Yikes. There's a lot to do here. Obviously, point guard is a huge issue. And center. But who knows? With Williams and Howard, those are suddenly non issues and these team looks like a contender. However, they can't bank on that. The Nets seem solid on the wing, so expect a PG or big man to come at the 57th pick.

J'Covan Brown from Texas would be a nice pickup for this squad. He'd be bringing scoring right away although he's still raw. An ideal situation would be to have him learn under Williams, and maybe, he could one day become a starting point guard. Maalik Wayns and Scoop Jardine are two Big East guards (Villanova and Syracuse) who took a big step forward this past year. Wayns has extreme quickness getting to the basket while Jardine took a break scoring and became more of a facilitator last year. Both are solid options.

Ware would jump from the beach to the Brooklyn bay.

The guy I like here is a sleeper pick: Casper Ware. The Long Beach St. product has often been considered too small to play in the NBA. People said that to Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins, but they wound up having successful careers. Aside from size, Ware has all of the tools capable to play the point. He excels at running an offense, can attack the basket or pull up and shoot, and above all, is a leader. If Williams jets from the Nets, Ware could be up for the task for helping their loss.

There's going to be a lack of centers at the end of the draft so unless someone drops, New Jersey should steer away from that position. That's fine with them, especially because they have Lopez, if they trade Lopez it will likely be for Howard, and (Jordan) Williams can play center also.

With that in mind, here's a few power forwards that could intrigue the Brooklyn brass. Quincy Acy and Kyle O'Quinn bring physicality and rebounding on a nightly basis. Mitchell Watt is a versatile scorer who dominated at Buffalo. Herb Pope has a wide array of post moves and would enjoy playing close to home.

Personally, I think Ware is the way to go. A lot of teams will pass on him (they all may ver well pass on him), but if he is taken, he will compete hard to get himself better and his team better. That's a point guard trait that can trump size.

Up next, I discuss if the San Antonio Spurs have one more championship run in them, and what they should do with pick #59.

How Can I Help You? Los Angeles Clippers

Paul did it all last season for the Clips.

Chris Paul responded to this question this season. He joined the Clippers and helped them to become not only relevant again, but a playoff team. They made it as far in the postseason as the Lakers, their in-city rivals. The big question is, can they become a legitimate contender? Their time may be running out quicker than you think, and they'll need to do some work in the draft.

Paul will be a free agent after next season and Blake Griffin will as well the season after that. Los Angeles needs to put the pieces around them so they'll stay long term and try to bring them a title.

L. A. has four main guards and two main big men who will be FA's this summer. The guards are Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Nick Young, and Mo Williams. The most interesting thing about these four is that they all contributed in positive ways for the team and would likely be resigned. So resign all of them! Billups was solid for the team before he got hurt and could still play a backup role. Foye and Williams both excelled at both guard positions. And Young was great offense off the bench, especially in the playoff series against the Grizzles. If they all return, the Clippers' backcourt is set with two young guns in their prime and two talented veterans.

As for the big men, they should vanish. Kenyon Martin is near the end of his career and Reggie Evans just isn't enough of a contributor. You'll likely see them in another uniform next season.

With all that being said, let's take a look at the team's current players. As I said, Williams, Billups, and Foye can play both guard positions. Oh yeah, and there's Eric Bledsoe, who looked like a fantastic backup this past year. Oh, and that guy Chris Paul. Yeah he's there too. The backcourt is looking great. Even with the buildup of guards. If I had to pick one that they wouldn't resign, it would be Billups, due to his age and injury history. But either way, the Clips don't need anymore guards. There's also Travis Leslie from Georgia who was drafted last season.

Although Young is technically a guard, he played small forward behind Caron Butler for the team. The two make a formidable duo at the three. Blake occupies the PF spot and DeAndre Jordan is the team's center. Griffin is an All-Star and Jordan is certainly an NBA starter.

The Clippers were good last year, but they need to find a way to get themselves over the hump. I think the best way they can do that is get a star scorer at the SF spot who is an upgrade over the 32 year old Butler. And even though that job is better suited for free agency, this year is thin on small forwards, so they might take one in the draft anyways.

Besides that, they need big man depth behind Griffin and Jordan. Los Angeles picks at #53. Time to explore the paths they could take.

If the team does decide to take a small forward, I like Orlando Johnson here. I mentioned the UCSB product in my Knicks article. Although he played in the Big West conference, he was a dominant scorer with decent size. I really like he potential, which is why I'm surprised a lot of people have him being undrafted.

Green likes to dunk and Paul likes to pass.

The team will have to dig deep for big men. Here are some power forwards: JaMychal Green from Alabama has great explosiveness like Griffin, and could fit right in catching alley oops from Paul. Mitchell Watt from Buffalo adds even more scoring down low, as does Seton Hall's Herb Pope with his variety of post moves. If they decide to take a better rebounder, Kyle O'Quinn from Norfolk St. is just a bully on the boards and USF's Augustus Gilchrist brings size and an NBA ready frame.

Going the center route, I'm not sure if Henry Sims or Robert Sacre will still be on the board. Instead, why not take a flyer on LSU's Justin Hamilton? The seven-footer runs the floor well and would be a great fit in a Paul-led offense.

In the end, I think Green is the pick. If he drops this far, he would be a steal. Green was a dominant scorer and rebounder for Alabama and could spell Griffin while bringing some of his attributes to the table.

After that, here's what the depth chart would look like.

PG: Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe, (Chauncey Billups?)
SG: Randy Foye, Mo Williams, Travis Leslie
SF: Caron Butler, Nick Young
PF: Blake Griffin, JaMychal Green
C: DeAndre Jordan

Green has some serious potential to be a great player. If L. A. plays their cards right, he could be a key to a future title run.

Tomorrow, I look at the new Nets from Brooklyn, and see what their best course of action is in what is a sticky situation.