San Antonio Spurs - Rare is the day when the Spurs botch a draft pick, but Marcus Williams is a cancer waiting to happen. He was a ballhog in Arizona, didn't enjoy playing defense, and pouted frequently. Can't see him lasting long with the Spurs.Los Angeles Lakers - All around pretty terrible draft for the Lakers, who did nothing to improve the team in the short term. Perhaps they are building for the inevitable post-Kobe era, but Sun Yue from China? Spain's Marc Gasol? Will either even score a point for the Lakers this season?
Houston Rockets - I'm all for snatching up foreign players and waiting on them for a year or two, but Australian small forward Brad Newley? Why not pick up some immediate insurance for Yao in the form of Syracuse 7-footer Darryl Watkins? Or a gander on a shooting guard such as Virginia's JR Reynolds or OSU's Ron Lewis?
Minnesota Timberwolves - Chris Richard? Wow. Major surprise. A nice player, sure, but perhaps a bit undersized (6-foot-9) to play power forward. Would have much preferred the T-Wolves make a move on a legit center, such as Kyle Visser (a guy ESPN's John Hollinger love, and yet went undrafted).
Josh McRoberts, Portland Trailblazers - Supposedly, he was going to be a lottery pick if he had left after an awesome freshman campaign. Now, he's got to make a roster to get paid.
Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech - ESPN's Chad Ford, who has taken on some kind of all-knowing role in the draft, had Dowdell rated as the 35th best player in the draft. He wasn't selected.
Bobby Brown, Cal-State Fullerton - There were times when he seemed to be shooting up the charts into the early second round. Guess nobody bought the hype. He wasn't drafted.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I am not seeing the 2nd round picks.
Posted at 12:59AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Richard Solie
2. On Newley, have a little faith. He might just surprise!
Posted at 1:12AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Johnno
3. Josh McRoberts is a steal for the Blazers getting him with that high of a pick. They dont have to pay him nearly as much as a lottery pick would be. Plus he and Oden are best buds
Posted at 1:15AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Alan
4. Brad Newley is an SG not an SF, he has already played 3 years in the Australian pro league so he is as ready has he will ever be, he averaged over 22ppg, 5rpg and shot 42% from down town...
Posted at 1:52AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Robbie
5. Agree about San Antonio and Marcus Williams. This is such a strange pick for the Spurs. This guy is the exact opposite of the type of player they would normally go after. Maybe they just couldn't pass up the talent, whatever the case overall spurs still had a good draft IMO.
Posted at 2:30AM on Jun 29th 2007 by expert nba picks
6. people are always gonna complain... but brad newley is suited to that team. he can stretch the D and get yao more looks inside... to sday houston lost out is a cop out.
Posted at 3:44AM on Jun 29th 2007 by jarrad
7. Of course no one said they gotta keep williams..they can do lots with him..the way the spurs move ill trust them over some blogger
Posted at 4:31AM on Jun 29th 2007 by carl
8. In an improved Western Conference, I just want to know what the Suns did to improve their team.
Posted at 9:19AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Phoenix Life Insurance
9. If the rockets give Newley a chance he will make an impact. Just because many Americans do not know a lot about him does not make him a bust. The kid provides instant offense and has a hell of a lot of potential. The NBL is not as weak a league as many in the US believe it to be. He came in as a young athletic kid and pretty much tore up the league. In the NBL, usually players that dominate are seasoned veterans. Brad Newley came in and showcased his skills and confidence immediately and really stepped up when placed on the big stage in high talent, high pressure situations. If he is given some playing time he will make a serious contribution, his potential and attitude being the main factors for his future success. He hustles, does the little things, and most importantly, can score in many ways. And yes he should play shooting guard.
Posted at 9:50AM on Jun 29th 2007 by Brodiejay
10. Watching the draft was an absolute tradgedy if you are a Lakers fan. Mitch Kupcheck once again proved how incompetent he is as a general manager by selecting three players that will absolutely have no impact on the Lakers next year. And what was even sadder, was watching Kupcheck be all secretive with Jim Grey in his interview. Talk about boring and no personality. Kupcheck keeps talking like the Lakers are the "class" of the NBA and have to have this mysterious and secretive image, acting like the Lakers are such a quality team that people have to be kept on the edge of their seats and wonder what's the next move going to be. Mitch please.... Listening to Kupcheck is a total joke, and he has mismanaged this team to the point that within the next couple years the Lakers will be lucky to make the playoffs. Trade Kobe now before he opts out of his contract, as this draft and Kupcheck's inability to land another superstar will certainly make Kobe even more determined to leave.
Posted at 12:32PM on Jun 29th 2007 by Pete
11. I agree that the Spurs did nothing to help themselves out for next season with this draft. Perhaps it is their game plan to try to win every odd year. Maybe, they have plans on making some trades later on we are not aware of. I'm not sure they will survive the first round of next years playoff's if they even get there. I would like to hope that I am wrong, but I don't think so.
Posted at 12:59PM on Jun 29th 2007 by taftraider
12. Yeah, the Spurs probably won't make the playoffs next year. That's as certain as Rosie O'Donnell looking better than Eva Longoria next year! If any team in this league knows what they are doing, it's the Spurs! Why do you all think every team out there is trying to hire Spurs' employees? Most teams take a little risk now and then (especially in the 2nd round). People were calling the Spurs stupid for drafting Parker and Ginobili several years back. Now those people look like the stupid ones. If it doesn't work out with Williams, the Spurs will ship him out and destroy people with the other 14 players and bring in a veteran that can't wait to escape from their mediocre teams to join a the champion Spurs (Michael Finley, Robert Horry, and Brent Barry come to mind). Will Grant Hill be next? He will be if he wants a ring. The best want to play with the best.
Posted at 10:29PM on Jun 29th 2007 by TheEmpire
13. Newley might be a decent player but its not a pick that helps the Rockets at all. Its adding an 11th guard to a roster that has a dangerously thin frontcourt.Their 4 and 5 spots are a Yao injury away from being one of the weakest in the NBA. Newley seems to be an athletic shooter type whose passing and defense is sub-par. As a fan i would have much preferred seeing someone like Herbert Hill get taken with this pick. Hopefully the Rockets convince him to stay in Australia for another year because it look's like he will be buried in their depth chart
Posted at 12:30AM on Jun 30th 2007 by Gus Page
14. Have you ever seen Marc Gasol playing? He can play with lakers this year and he can make a great impact in the paint's Lakers offense. Please, you have to see more international basketball before write hat things. I think this is one of the best picks in second round.
Posted at 5:14AM on Jun 30th 2007 by ShiRo83
15. i dont think houston is a loser in the second-round. althought the brooks pick was a little questionable pick in the first, they picked up a really underrated power forward in carl landry. he's the real deal. i've watched him play for four years.
Posted at 3:29PM on Jul 1st 2007 by AD
16. i dont think houston is a loser in the second-round. although the
brooks pick was a little questionable pick in the first, they picked
up a really underrated power forward in carl landry. he's the real
deal. i've watched him play for four years.
Posted at 3:32PM on Jul 1st 2007 by AD
17. I agree that it would be better for the rockets to pick darryl watkins because i was a fan of syracuse and i've seen this guy play. He is a great defender and can rebound. He misses a lot of layups but over the years he would be able to make them.
Posted at 9:44AM on Jul 2nd 2007 by John
18. On the Spurs Sec Rd Pick. Marcus Williams might pan out in SA. Even Steven Jackson has a ring because of the Spurs.
Posted at 10:18PM on Jul 9th 2007 by CD