NBA Draft: Trades Galore, the Knicks Screw Up, JaJuan Johnson to Boston and Norris Cole to Miami
By Jason McIntyre
16. Philadelphia 76ers – Nikola Vucevic (USC). Philly gets a big guy to play alongside Elton Brand. I really like this pick, mostly because Spencer Hawes is definitely a reserve.
17. New York Knicks – Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) – What? Why? How could they pass on defensive star Chris Singleton? They need a post player, and Kenneth Faried is available. This couldn’t have been what Donnie Walsh signed off on. Jay Bilas on Shumpert: “wasn’t expecting him to be a first round pick.”
18. Washington Wizards – Chris Singleton (FSU). I wonder if the Wizards’ war room was laughing when they made this pick. The Knicks fall in love with a workout wonder and pass on the guy who has actually proven to be an elite defensive player.
19. Milwaukee Bucks – Tobais Harris (Tennessee). Smart job grabbing a player who is only 18 and can play the 3-4. I can see him having an impact at both positions in a couple of years.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania). Gigantic lefty who is only 20. Probably won’t be ready for a couple years. He was TRADED to Houston along with Jonny Flynn in exchange for Brad Miller at the Rockets’ 23rd pick.
21. Portland Trailblazers – Nolan Smith (Duke). He’ll be a very solid backup … because apparently, they just traded Andre Miller to Denver in exchange for Raymond Felton.
22. Denver Nuggets – Kenneth Faired (Morehead State). Another guy I would have been thrilled to see in a Knicks’ uniform.
23. Houston Rockets – Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro). Never heard of him. A Daryl Morey special. The kid’s 6-foot-10 and 20 years old. Fran Fraschilla said you won’t see him in the NBA for four years, and compared him to Luis Scola. Mirotic was instantly TRADED to the Wolves and then TRADED the Bulls. So in a few years, Mirotic will show up in Chicago, much the same way Omer Asik did.
24. Oklahoma City – Reggie Jackson (Boston College). Not a huge fan, but a lot of folks like him. I don’t see why you’d draft a PG when you have Westbrook and Maynor.
25. Boston Celtics – Marshon Brooks (Providence). Sounded like a great pick … but then he was TRADED to New Jersey for their 27th pick and a 2nd rounder.
26. Dallas Mavericks – Jordan Hamilton (Texas). Spotty shot selection, but the kid is a scoring machine. He really looks like he patented his game after after Jordan. He was then TRADED to Portland and then TRADED to Denver.
27. New Jersey – JaJuan Johnson (Purdue). Drafted and TRADED to Boston for Marshon Brooks. So the Nets got the shooter they coveted, and the Celtics got the post player they needed.
28. Chicago Bulls – Norris Cole (Cleveland State). He was TRADED to the Miami Heat. Not sure why Chicago would ever trade with a rival in the East. Cole is considered a big-time sleeper. He’s certainly an upgrade over Mike Bibby, and will fight Mario Chalmers for minutes at point.
29. San Antonio Spurs – Cory Joseph (Texas). They didn’t go with a Euro? And they got a defensive-minded guy who had an up-and-down freshman year? A surprise, indeed. Worth noting: Rick Barnes had three first round picks on his team.
30. Chicago Bulls – Jimmy Butler (Marquette). Solid all-around player who could wind up backing up Luol Deng.