Fri Jun 27 12:57:32 2008

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Nets shine on draft night

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(Sports Network) - Another NBA Draft is in the history books. Trades and surprising picks left the media and fans scratching their heads at the end of what turned out to be an entertaining evening.

As predicted, there were moves involving top picks, while some veteran players will indeed have new addresses for the 2008-09 campaign. Freshmen Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, as expected, were the top two picks of the draft, and then things got interesting.

Several moves were obviously made with an eye toward the 2010 free agent class, as franchises attempted to clear salary cap space through trades. LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade are expected to be on the open market next summer.

As for Thursday night, Chicago and Miami have to be considered winners in what was considered by many a two-player draft. The Bulls, who had the top pick for the first time since 1999 when they selected Elton Brand, walked away with the Chicago native Rose. The Memphis product has a complete game and is expected to make an immediate impact at point guard.

Rumors that the Heat were not enamored of Beasley, who is expected to be a power forward in the NBA despite concerns about his size, turned out to be false. Miami selected the power forward at No. 2, and the team has to be thrilled with its new big three of Beasley, Shawn Marion and Wade. Like Rose, the Kansas State product possesses a strong all-around game and may actually have been the most talented player in the draft.

After stating the obvious, let's take a look at which front offices belong in the winner's circle and which did not have a banner night.

WINNERS:

NEW JERSEY NETS - The Nets were the big winner, as they made the most of their three picks (10, 21, 40). Center Brook Lopez of Stanford fell into their lap at No. 10. The seven-foot Lopez should crack the starting lineup immediately, and will add some much needed toughness down low. Lopez was a steal.

California's Ryan Anderson and second-round pick Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis will also join head coach Lawrence Frank's rotation right away. The 6-10 Anderson can play power or small forward and has good range from the outside, while Douglas-Roberts is a hard-nosed player who was projected by some to be a first-round pick.

Prior to the draft. New Jersey acquired forwards Yi Jianlian (who was the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft) and Bobby Simmons from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for forward Richard Jefferson.

When the Nets dealt Jason Kidd in February, they committed to going in a new direction. They added three players through the draft who are ready to contribute, and also made a deal that netted them a promising young forward and also created salary cap space for the free agent crop of 2010.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - A big man to play alongside 23-year-old Al Jefferson is what Minnesota needed. The Timberwolves originally drafted guard OJ Mayo of USC with the third pick overall. Mayo would have been a solid addition, but the trade that followed makes Minnesota a draft night mover.

The Timberwolves acquired the draft rights to power forward Kevin Love, the fifth overall pick in the draft, and sharp-shooting Mike Miller in an eight- player trade that sent Mayo's draft rights to Memphis. As part of the deal, Minnesota also acquired forward Brian Cardinal and center Jason Collins from the Grizzlies, with Memphis receiving guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner, and veteran forward Antoine Walker.

The 6-10 Love, who played his college ball at UCLA, and Miller are exactly what the doctor ordered in Minnesota. Love has a strong work ethic and does his best work around the basket, while the 28-year-old Miller averaged 16.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and shot 43.2 percent from three-point range for Memphis last season. Great job by Kevin McHale and the rest of Minnesota's front office.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS - The acquisition of Richard Jefferson in a trade from New Jersey, and the selection of West Virginia's Joe Alexander with the eighth overall pick may be enough to put Milwaukee back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks finished 26-56 last season and for the second straight year did not qualify for the playoffs.

Jefferson led the Nets in scoring (22.6 ppg) and should fit in very well with center Andrew Bogut and guards Maurice Williams and Michael Redd. Alexander's stock soared over the past few weeks and elevated him into the top 10 of the draft. The 6-8 Alexander is a strong finisher and has a big upside.

The draft may just be the beginning of an active offseason in Milwaukee. It would not be a shock if Redd, Williams or forward Charlie Villanueva are dealt during the summer. One thing is for sure, the Bucks will have a new look in the 2008-09 season.

LOSERS:

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: What is the plan in Charlotte? The Bobcats, who needed a frontcourt presence with the No. 9 pick, instead picked point guard DJ Augustin of Texas with that selection. This despite the presence of point guard Raymond Felton, who averaged 14.4 points and a team-best 7.4 assists in 79 games this past season. The 24-year-old Felton is a solid floor leader and is definitely not the problem with the Bobcats, who had the ninth, 20th and 38th picks in the draft.

At No. 20, the team grabbed French big man Alexis Ajinca, who is at least three-to-five years away from being ready to play against NBA competition.

Selecting center Brook Lopez, who was available at No. 9, would have allowed Emeka Okafor to move to his more natural position of power forward.

Aren't the Bobcats attempting to make a run at the playoffs now with the hiring of Hall-of-Fame coach Larry Brown? Charlotte has missed the playoffs all four years in the league, and did nothing to help its cause. Nothing to get excited about for Bobcats fans.

SACRAMENTO KINGS - Rider's Jason Thompson, who plays both ends of the court and has good all-around skills, is a decent prospect and could turn out to be a solid player in the NBA. Credit the Kings with getting the player they coveted, though Sacramento selected the 6-11 forward a little early (No. 12) and could have made a lot more of the acquisition had it moved down and picked up a player and/or a future pick. Thompson may have still been around at No. 20.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Yes, the Grizzlies did eventually acquire Mayo, who fits in very well with the up-tempo style they want to play. The USC product will team with high-flying Rudy Gay to give Memphis an exciting duo on the break.

But the Grizzlies did not get fair value for Mike Miller, who was the team's most valuable asset. After Memphis dealt big man Pau Gasol to the Lakers in February, it was evident more changes were coming. And, while adding Mayo is nice, Miller should not have been sacrificed in that deal. Poor decision by Memphis' front office.