2006 NBA Draft Thoughts
Some of my thoughts on the 2006 NBA Draft
As a Sixers fan, the NBA Draft is always a painful experience. Like a handful of incompetent teams out there – Atlanta, New York, Utah and Golden State – Philadelphia perennially makes foolish decisions and passes over skilled players.
Here are some of the memorable moments of the 2006 Draft, including the brain-dead choices made by some of the aforementioned teams.
- I think David Stern should investigate if Isiah Thomas is on the Chicago’s payroll. In exchange for Eddy Curry, Isiah gave the Bulls the No. 2 overall pick in this draft (Tyrus Thomas) and the right to swap picks in the 2007 draft. When the Knicks finish 18-144 next season, the Bulls will have the best odds of landing 7-foot center Greg Oden. Although Chicago fans used to hate Isiah, I bet they love him now.
By the way, Knicks owner James Dolan told Isiah that he wants major improvement by next spring. What’s “major improvement” for the Knicks, like 35 wins? Isiah can do that.
- One Knicks fan in an Eminem costume threatened to release another corny rap album if his team didn’t take point guard Marcus Williams at No. 20. When Stern announced that New York selected Renaldo Balkman, who wasn’t even supposed to get drafted, Knicks fans called Isiah a “bum;” steam gushed out of Stephen A. Smith’s ears; and all Spike Lee could do was shake his head.
That said, I like Balkman. He’s a tough, gritty defender, and he’ll grab any rebounds in the vicinity. While the Knicks could have traded down into the eighth round and still secured him, he should become a good, selfless player for New York.
- Funniest moment of the night: When Adam Morrison, who was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats, was seen hugging his family, I received the following text message from my friend Dan: “Whoa! Adam Morrison’s sisters don’t have cheesy moustaches like he does!”
- Most selfish moment of the night: The Suns traded away their No. 27 overall pick for cash. No future selections; no bums who average four points per game; not even a 6-foot-10 Bosnian that you’ll never hear from again. Is Phoenix that strapped for money that they can’t afford anyone?
- ESPN clamored over the fact that No. 1 overall selection Andrea Bargnani has played 150 professional games in Europe. Am I the only one who doesn’t care about this? Playing in 90 college games probably means a lot more than that.
- Was it just me or were the Portland Trailblazers on the clock every other pick? When they weren’t slated to pick next, they were continuously making senseless trades. Why did they move up from No. 4 to No. 2 in attempt to secure LaMarcus Aldridge, whom they could have obtained with the fourth pick? And did anyone else find it odd that the difference between Nos. 2 and 4 was Viktor Khryapa and his 5.8 points per game?
- A guaranteed top-five bust? It’s obviously Shelden Williams. Why? Because the Hawks drafted him. Why did Atlanta pass up on Randy Foye? Why did they choose Marvin Williams over Chris Paul last year? What does Hawks GM Billy Knight have against point guards? So many questions, but I don’t really care.
- ESPN has to stop announcing the picks before the commissioners do during the NBA and NFL drafts. It’s really frustrating. You don’t see any commentators during Sportscenter predicting, “Neil Everett will now do the highlights of the Packers-Vikings game with his annoying voice, so make sure you mute your TV so your windows don’t shatter.” Actually, something like that would be very beneficial.
ESPN also needs to cut down on its interviews. It’s fine if Stuart Scott interviews Bargnani, Aldridge or Foye. But I don’t want to hear him asking Patrick O’Bryant about his cheesecake. Personally, I’d rather be subjected to another Stephen A. Smith outburst.
- Speaking of announcing, what was up with David Stern’s trade declarations? He read them off to the audience hours after they occurred. What was he doing in that back room, plotting the demise of Mark Cuban and the Mavericks? Just kidding, Dave.
- At No. 6 Minnesota picked Brandon Roy, while Portland took Randy Foye just one pick later. Yet, the two teams swapped players just 10 minutes after making their selections. What made them change their minds so quickly? Why were they like teenage girls deciding what to wear to school? Maybe that’s why both franchises were absent from the postseason.
- With its 10th-overall selection of Saer Sene, Seattle picked a center for the third consecutive year; the team took Robert Swift in 2004 and Johan Petro in 2005. I guess that’s not a bad philosophy; keep drafting centers until you luckily end up with the next Shaquille O’Neal. Good luck qualifying for the playoffs until then, Sonics.
- When Stern walked up to the podium and announced that the Sixers picked Thabo Sefolosha, I nearly threw my remote at the TV. Did Stern just say “thigh bone safe lotion?” As I struggled to spell his name correctly on my notepad, ESPN’s panel clamored over the fact that he averaged 11 points per game in Switzerland. Just 11 points in a Swiss league? What does that translate to in the NBA, -0.7?
A few minutes later, ESPN reported that Philadelphia traded Sefolosha to the Chicago Bulls for the No. 16 pick and a future second-round choice. Great, now Sefolosha will probably emerge as the next Michael Jordan.
I told you, watching the NBA Draft is very frustrating for me.
NBA Column Links:
2006: 2006 NBA Draft Thoughts
2005: 2005 NBA Draft Thoughts
What Is He Thinking?
NBA Finals 2005: Unwatched Greatness
Mo Money, Still Problems?
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