Wildcats and Wild Cards:NBA Draft Review

For some teams, eras began Thursday night. Like John Wall and Co., a name that will stick in Washington, and Evan Turner, one of the drafts wild cards, starting anew in the City of Brotherly Love. For most teams however, they begin to hold their breathes now. Who will check out? And what city is looking at a player who just may not make the cut? Next.

Future Busts

1. Luke Babbitt (16th Overall, Trailblazers)

Babbitt is a guy who's college numbers tell you that he is in line to be an NBA flex four guy. What does he lack the most? Length. Luke stands at 6'9'', but only has a wing span of 6'11'', one of the smallest of guys his size in this draft. Luke, who shot 42 percent from three last season, did so at Nevada, a mid-major school in a mid major conference where the defense is weak, and perimeter shots are rarely contested. Up against someone his size, who is stronger and longer, that pretty jump shot won't look so good.

2. Paul George (10th Overall, Pacers)

George has the same height and wingspan as Babbitt, but that is not what concerns me. What concerns me is his immaturity. George averaged 3 fouls a game at Fresno State, and in a professional game where players tend to me much more sneaky as well as crafty that foul count can easily be upped, making it hard for him to play successful D at the next level. George, who is only 214 pounds will need to put on some extra muscle to contend as a small forward in a league that produces more players who look more like Mac Trucks than corvettes every season.

3. Gordon Hayward (9th Overall, Jazz)

Mid major star turned NBA lottery pick. This kid knows pressure, and showed that he could handle it when he carried a Butler team all the way to the finals of the NCAA Tournament. However, Hayward's game revolves around his ability to play in space, hold the ball, and get to the rim (created by his jump shooting ability). In Utah, Hayward will not be given the opportunity to play in space, nor create penetration with his jump shot because it will be much harder to get it off. Hayward was a backyard pick for Utah which won't pan out well for them in the future.

Future Stars-

1. Greg Monroe (7th Overall, Pistons)

At Georgetown, Monroe showed that he was a mature big man, that can not only defend and rebound but consistently put the ball in the net in the low post. With a good big man skill set and a clear NBA body, Greg Monroe's college success will most definitely translate into more success at the next level.

2. Xavier Henry (14th Overall, Grizzlies)

As a freshman at Kansas, Xavier Henry showed that he could score often and in the clutch. With a jump shot, good dribbling skills, and a quick first step, Henry's ability to put the ball in the net will not be hindered at the NBA level, but rather helped. The slow downed pace of the NBA game will give Henry the opportunity to stretch the floor with his J and use his speed to get to the rack. Kevin Durant will keep this guy at an arm's length from the scoring title, but expect him to be close.

3. Kevin Seraphin (17th Overall, Bulls)

David Stern walked up the podium, grin on his face, muttered "listen to this" to someone in the front row, and proceeded to chuckle while introducing the Bulls 1st rounder from France. Seraphin's a long stretch as a future NBA star, but let's just say there's a little thing called karma that may just creep up and bite the NBA's commish in the ass one day.

Worst Team Drafts

1. New York Knicks

The Knicks got Andy Rautins and Landry Fields; Lebron isn't in New York yet.

2. Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh is a free agent, and the only way for the Raptors to save their franchise and fan base would be to sign him. Furthermore, with the second to last lottery pick Toronto chose Bosh's replacement Ed Davis from UNC. If Bosh was in the door way, let's just say he has one foot out.

3. Portland Trailblazers

The search for Brandon Roy's wing man did not end this year. Luke Babbitt, Elliott Williams, and Armon Johnson will not be able to provide the spark that Portland needs out of someone besides their superstar. I would of tried a pure scorer, or a big man.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

Wesley Johnson can score, but I wasn't crazy about him as the fourth overall pick. Otherwise everything else Minnesota did was not questionably awful but downright awful. The Wolves traded Ryan Gomes and the 16th pick for Martell Webster. For Martell Webster. Later the Wolves obtained Lazar Hayward and have to give him a guaranteed contract. Why Minnesota? Why?

5. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats had zero draft picks, but hey, neither did the Cavs. The difference? The Bobcats need a lot more help.

Best Team Drafts

1. Washington Wizards

The Wizards had the best draft this year and not only because of John Wall; although in this case, it does help to have the first overall pick. The Wizards also grabbed Trevor Booker from Clemson, who's strength and athleticism made him my favorite big man in this class, with all of his NBA potential. Here's to filling major roster voids.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder were not in the lottery for the first time since moving to OKC, but didn't disappoint in 2010. The Thunder are deep and young at all positions besides center, a major missing component imperative for Western Conference success. The Thunder traded two picks for AP 1st team All-American center Cole Aldrich from Kansas, and later got 7'1'' center Tibor Pleiss from Germany. Rebuilding? Not anymore. The Thunder just inserted the final piece in a four year puzzle.

3. Miami Heat

The Heat avoided first round picks, and guaranteed contracts, which is what they set out to do. However, what they picked up in the second round was nothing to overlook. Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnardo, and Da'sean Butler are all players that can make a run at the Heat roster and have a positive impact next season. More importantly, the Heat can now use their money as they so choose.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The hometown Sixers got the draft's most complete player in Evan Turner second overall. With no other picks in the entire draft, they were given no opportunity to later screw up.

5. Kentucky Wildcats

Not a pro team, but Kentucky made history Thursday night. Daniel Orton, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, Demarcus Cousins, and John Wall all made history Thursday night, when five players from the same school were drafted in the first round for the first time in draft history. Congrats to Jon Calipari, John Wall and Co., and the University of Kentucky.

Lastly, I have a burning question for anyone who can answer. Why was Sharon Collins not drafted? First team All-American point guard, with a good size and skill set, and not even the second round? If there is a catch, please alert me. This an impressive, exciting draft, but pondering the status of Collins made it all a little less enjoyable.

JD

One Man's Triumph and The Parody-less League

For the second straight year, mid June has proved that Kobe can do it without Shaq; whoopdie doo. Going into Game 7 of the NBA Finals last night we knew two things; either the Lakers would capture their fifteenth NBA title, or the Celtics would capture their nineteenth. So to draw a conclusion, after forty eight minutes of basketball there would be old news. Don't get me wrong, there were stories that were intriguing, even to the NBA fan faithful enough to be watching in June after months of dry, lazy basketball . The emergence of Rajon Rondo, the age and glory of the Celtics core players, Kobe's fifth, Jackson's eleventh, but in the end it seemed like the main story was all too familiar. Since 1984, only one team (the Miami Heat) has won an NBA Championship and only won once. Otherwise the Celtics have won three, LA eight, Chicago six, San Antonio four, Pistons three, and the Rockets two, when they repeated in the mid 90's. It has become a protocol, not a rarity, to repeat, and every year the faces in the playoff crowd are not something we can predict but a mere constant that wraps up the NBA year. So when Kobe Bryant ran down the loose ball tossed by Lamar Odom and threw his arms in the air, it could of been Paul Pierce or Rajon Rondo and I would have felt the same way. I wasn't grieving for the Celtics when the Lakers paraded around the Staples Center wood, but rather the league as a whole. A league that yearns for parody, that Thursday night, regardless of the score, took yet another step in the wrong direction.

The second part of my NBA wrap up strays away from my woes for the league and speaks to a story that is possibly inspirational, but most certainly ignored. And that is the triumph of Ron Artest. As a longtime fan of Artest, which may be a sports minority, I couldn't help but smile at him coming full circle in the NBA; from the brawl of Auburn Hills to an NBA Champion. Following his year long suspension from the league, Artest journeyed from Sacramento to Houston, and this off season found himself taking a pay cut and a reduced roll when he was traded to LA with the chance to win on the horizon. Artest played an intricate roll in LA's success as not only a lock down defender or a guy who can "shake things up," when he wrestled

Paul Pierce to the wood on the first play of the series, but also a clutch player on the offensive end; hitting a buzzer beater in Game 5 against Phoenix in the Conference Finals, and ultimately the three that would ice Game 7 and end any thoughts of a Boston comeback. In his post game interview Artest thanks his hood, and then his psychiatrist, then ranted about his rap single called "Champion, now he was one; the NBA, where amazing happens.

JD

The Ultimate Goal: Unite Us

I am a closet soccer fan. Closet meaning that I come out every four years, tirelessly watch soccer for a month, and than hide my fan hood until the next World Cup rolls around. The World Cup, which is knocking on the world's doorstep, is the biggest global sports event that unites 32 nations as well as soccer fans everywhere, for one month of heart pounding competition. When Germans shake the hands of Frenchmen, and Koreans shake the hands of Argentines the World Cup is more than just soccer; more than just a game. The World Cup puts men of different racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds onto the same stage, as they compete not only for goals, wins, and the famous golden trophy; but for social change and ultimate world unity, that is just above the horizon.

South Africa, a country who's history is plagued with countless years of racial prejudice, tension, and division, plays host to the very event that contradicts its own past. How fitting that a country that has spent so long mending its own wounds, can now assist the world with its facilities and unimaginable insight. The South African soccer team itself, is the negation of what so many men before have tried to prevent; South Africa being represented by black men. Years from apartheid South Africa, where blacks were legally inferior, they are still fighting the same fight today. With racial turmoil that still remains, hope can be drawn from this year's World Cup venue and the team it has produced.

All of the countries in this years World Cup have found themselves engaged in some sort of war or conflict in their history. In the upcoming month, all can be put aside. As a sport that takes back seat to the "big four" in America, soccer is about to take hold of the world and bless us all with its versatility and grace. A Universal Language in the form of a game; a game, that can change the world.

JD

They Need Us

I am a devout Philadelphia Sports fan and I will be the first to tell you that I am a part of one of the most passionate and intense fan bases in the world. As a serious advocate for Philadelphia fans as well as all Philadelphia Sports, I have not only been troubled by the recent play of the Phillies but how the fan base has responded as well.

I was at the game against the Padres on Sunday and with the game tied in the eighth inning a good amount of fans got up and left. It was a few too many fans to think that they all had somewhere to go, but I didn't think much of it. With the Phillies coming up in the home half of the ninth, even more fans left, not even worried about missing a potential walk off. After the ninth, with the game moving into extra innings the biggest group of fans left yet, and big blotches of blue seats were scattered throughout the park. When the Phils had first and second with two outs in the ninth few fans rose to their feet when Jayson Werth came to the plate and eventually struck out. Currently, the Phillies are in their routine rut that is quickly proving to be worse than their average annual slump, and they need us to be more supportive than ever. The Flyers may be in the Stanley Cup, but this bunch of Phillies has given us a World Series as well as back to back NL Championships, so let's return the favor and put them on our back. Philadelphia fans are not fair weather, we're all weather, this team needs us to be at our best, not mope like they are.

JD