Jerry West Out, Oden, Durant In
The NBA Loses One West, But the NBA West Gains Two Stars
Jun 1, 2007
It isn't often, given that everyone knows who the first two NBA draft choices will be, that the draft order from the league's lottery is leading news the next day. Occasionally a top team gets a favorable bounce of the ping pong ball, but seldom is there as much discussion around the sports world as last night's shakeout generated. Outgoing Memphis Grizzlies' GM Jerry West questioned the process- the Blues City team had the worst record and ended up with the fourth selection. Boston Celtics fans learned their beloved Green will be choosing number five, a few picks after Ohio State shot eraser Greg Oden and Texas' scoring stringbean Kevin Durant are gone. The Milwaukee Bucks will have to wait until # 6. And Georgetown 7-footer Roy Hibbert just became this year's poster child (see "Joakim Noah, 2006 model") for the NBA Stay in School Program.
Let's look at the winners. The Blazers, they of the dubious past picks such as Sebastian Telfair, will get Oden to team up front with youngster LaMarcus Alrdidge. They've already got, of course, budding star Brandon Roy. Oden comes to an NBA West where a tall defender and rebounder is a must in nightly duels with the likes of Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudamire and Yao Ming. The Sonics can market the teenage Durant, who could, if he can endure the banging and the schedule, add scoring punch to the waning production of the oft-injured bomber Ray Allen. The young Hawks could package the number three with one of their promising kids, or gamble on "the best of the rest" in a relatively deep draft that features North Carolina forward Brandan Wright, Kansas forward Julian Wright, smooth Hoya Jeff Green, and Chinese pivot Yi Jianlian.
Something about this pool reminds one of the 2003 pack of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and "the leftovers". Only the goodies appear better this year. It is what gets done after Oden and Durant walk to the stage to pose with David Stern that will determine who the savvy general managers are. As for coaching job security, last night's events can't do much for Boston's Doc Rivers. Who will last longer in their job- Rivers, or his G.M. Danny Ainge? The bet here is that Ainge survives.
West's criticism of Stern's lottery process is a notable parting shot, given that another well-respected league figure, Suns' Coach Mike D'Antoni, called The Commish out last week for his suspensions of Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw, when Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen of the Spurs had left their bench earlier in the same game. Other sports commentators say the Bucks and Celtics mailed in the latter part of the season in an "effort" to get Oden or Durant, and their strategy backfired. Tough to prove given the weak nature of their respective rosters. Regardless of what one thinks, Oden and Alrdridge will be a fun twin tower tandem to watch develop, the infusion of other youngsters is much needed, and the "Brandon Roy" or "Ben Gordon" of this draft could lift a mediocre team to the next level. After all, Green and the two Wright's possess skills more suited to the NBA than the college level. Suppose the T-Wolves, who pick seventh, the Bobcats, who choose eighth, or the Bulls, at number nine, get another fast learner to team with the fine young players they already have? And a bigger loser than Boston may be New York, who weren't invited to the party because of picks dealt in the Eddy Curry trade. Knick fans and media have the least patience and most demands of all NBA followers, and next season doesn't look to be any brighter.
