2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2012 NBA Draft Losers - June 30


Indiana Pacers:
Now I get it, new Pacers' general manager Kevin Pritchard told Larry Bird that the team was going to use its first-round pick on Duke's Miles Plumlee. Bird was baffled by the decision, asked if Pritchard was joking, then resigned upon finding out Pritchard was serious. It all makes sense. Seriously though, I don't care if Plumlee is almost seven-foot and athletic for his size; did the Pacers not see how unproductive he was during his career at Duke? Never once did I watch Miles play and think, "Man, this dude is a first-round pick." Even if Orlando Johnson was a decent second-round pick-up, it by no means makes up for taking Plumlee so high. Baffling.



Houston Rockets:
After loading up picks and trying to move up, the Rockets struck out on their reported ultimate goal of landing Dwight Howard via trade. Therefore, Houston was stuck with three first-round picks and used the first one on Jeremy Lamb, whom I am not at all high on. Daryl Morey and his fascination of collecting assets took a pair of combo forwards at 16 and 18 in Royce White and Terrences Jones, respectively. It's like Morey has adopted Isiah Thomas' strategy of building a fantasy basketball team. They were decent value picks at the time, but how do White and Jones fit into a power forward rotation that already features Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, and the recently acquired Jon Leuer and Jon Brockman? I guess White and Jones could play the three, but now the Rockets don't have a true big man on their roster. Unless a trade is coming in the near future, this could end up being a very poor draft for Houston.



Portland Trail Blazers:
To be honest, whichever team selected Meyers Leonard was going to end up in the "losers" category. I don't think Leonard is going to amount to diddley-poo. Portland should have played it safer with the 11th pick by selecting either Tyler Zeller or John Henson of North Carolina. Even with the sixth pick, I know the Blazers need a point guard, but I just feel like No. 6 was too high to take Damian Lillard. Will Barton was a great get at 40, but I would expect more from a team choosing twice during the lottery.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   BigBlueFan 08-15-2012 08:48 am xxx.xxx.xxx7.59 (total posts: 2) 11     12 Hey Walt are you forgeting Anthony Davis??? Logan 08-09-2012 11:34 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.205 (total posts: 1) 11     11 Gonna do one for dwight? Jay 07-28-2012 04:30 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.114 (total posts: 1) 17     20 I know that Ginobili is going back to the spurs but to have him 7th behind Iguodala, Smith and Jefferson is the dumbest thing I've ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!! This the same guy who tore threw the Team USA defense of James, Durant, and Bryant.... Jim Z. 07-23-2012 08:15 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.221 (total posts: 1) 11     12 Mid first round pick? The Sixers are going to be a playoff team next year. Miguel 07-23-2012 12:08 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.236 (total posts: 1) 25     27 How are the lakers not a winner? Steve Nash brings them to at least championship contender which they weren't a year ago. They also picked up Antwan Jamison for the league minimum which will give their front court a legitament reserve. One more good move could make them the favorites over OKC. CJ 07-23-2012 07:44 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 1) 45     23 I believe you are the only on one the planet that thinks Dallas didn't completely fail in this offseason. They basically rolled the dice and crapped out. Try mixing in a little reality with your opinions once in a while, but it's your site so we get what we pay for I guess. Geiger 07-21-2012 09:59 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.110 (total posts: 1) 12     13 While Houston did have bad signings and a suspect draft, the team did what it could to set its self up for the free agency period next year..Asik has shown signs of being a solid big Guy(as you fail to mention his MPG) and Lin, while being highly overrated, is a big name that will attract a player like JSmith, Harden, Bynum etc. I don't like their moves as of right now, but with two lottery picks and possibly two Max contracts signing on this might be one of the better offseasons of all time. Love the site, keep it up. Random bypasser 07-19-2012 12:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.60 (total posts: 2) 9     9 Also the nuggets need a star and Howard would be a perfect fit for them and they have shooters around him and they could still use their amnesty on Richardson Random bypasser 07-19-2012 12:52 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.60 (total posts: 2) 25     8 Wouldnt it make sense 4 the nuggets to trade for dwight howard Nuggets trade Wilson Chandler Andre Miller JaVale McGee 2014 1st round pick 2015 1st round pick 2015 2nd round pick 2017 1st round pick Magic trade Dwight Howard J.J. Redick Jason Richardson This makes sense because the nuggets drafted Evan Fournier(SG/SF) and Quincy Miller(SF) and have Jordan Hamilton(SF/SG) and Julian Stone(PG)(who the team is really high on) waiting in the wings. It also allows the magic to dump bad salary(Richardson,Redick) and still get some great players. Win win situation. eli 07-12-2012 11:03 am xxx.xxx.xxx.133 (total posts: 1) 10     9 dont the wolves own one more 1st rounder from the jazz from the Al Jefferson trade? Mike 07-10-2012 09:58 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.150 (total posts: 1) 15     10 No mention of Ray Ray to the Heat??? SunsFan 07-06-2012 02:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.183 (total posts: 1) 11     51 Why the MOTHERF U C KING LAKERS!!!!!NASH WHY!!!! CJ 07-05-2012 07:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 78     30 Again Banks is clueless, claiming Eric Gordon has already re-signed with New Orleans. Also the 'Clippers' weren't involved in the Marvin Williams/Devin Harris trade. Does this guy even proof read anything he writes? Atrocious. abe 07-05-2012 08:39 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.87 (total posts: 1) 19     12 walt eric gordon is signing with the suns not the hornets Ben Wallace 07-04-2012 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1) 26     71 To be totally honest, Henson and Zeller wouldn't be any better than Meyers Leonard. They are all going to bust. Pages: 1 23 4 5 6 7

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2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

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2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

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NFL Picks - Feb. 3