Friday, June 29, 2012

06/29 (Beal) Quickie

So my near-hysteria leading up to the draft that the/my Wizards would get out-hustled for my favorite draft pick, Bradley Beal, ended up being gloriously unnecessary. When David Stern said "Michael Kidd-Gilchrist" for the Bobcats and the Wiz picking Beal was secure, it was as giddy as I've been as a Wizards fan -- such is the life of the Wizards fan.

(Of course, it wouldn't be a Wizards draft without a huge screw-up, which in this case was taking a positionless Euro without a jumpshot at No. 32 when terrific talents like Draymond Green and Jae Crowder were available -- smarter teams snatching them up as soon as the Wizards made their bungling pick was a pretty good indication that the Wizards mis-handled that completely.)

Still: I give the Wizards a very high grade for landing the best wing prospect in the draft -- "high" and "Wizards draft grade" doesn't happen very often, so I'll take it.

More fans that should be happy with their teams' drafts:

*Hornets: Davis is a franchise-changer. Hate the Rivers pick.
*Bobcats: MKG and Jeff Taylor aren't stars, but so valuable.
*Kings: Thomas Robinson is the bizarro DeMarcus Cousins.
*Pistons: Drummond was worth the risk at No. 9.
*Suns: It's cliche to say Kendall Marshall is the new Nash, but there it is.
*Rockets: Don't get the bad grades for Lamb/White/Jones - love these.
*Magic: Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O'Quinn both on everyone's sleeper list.
*Celtics: Sullinger and Melo were more than worth the risk.
*Thunder: Perry Jones III found his ideal spot. A steal for OKC.

Less good:
Cavs: I like Waiters; most Cavs fans seem underwhelmed.
Warriors: Barnes is meh. (Love 2nd-rounder Draymond Green pick.)
Hard to nick teams picking in back half of 1st round -- it's a mixed bag.

There is always a little day-after-Christmas feel to the draft -- so much anticipation and discussion heading in, then you either get what you want... or you don't. I'm thrilled with Beal, and now it is time to move on to NBA free agency, MLB zooming into mid-season and the Olympics. NFL training camps are only a month away.

-- D.S.

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