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Friday, Nov 27, 2009
"Don't take Bogut first!" and 29 other thoughts about the NBA draft.
Jun 29, 2005 | One thought for each pick in Tuesday night's NBA draft, which adds up to 29 more thoughts than I have on a normal Tuesday night.
1. OK, Milwaukee Bucks, you're on the clock. Don't take Andrew Bogut. Don't do it. Yes, he's a big man. Centers are rare. Everyone says you should take him. Don't take him.
Listen to Mike Tirico on ESPN. Really. I never say this. Listen to Mike Tirico. He just pointed out that the last time a team had the No. 1 overall pick and no coach on draft night, which is the situation you're in, it was the Clippers, and they picked Michael Olowokandi.
You remember Michael Olowokandi, don't you? Center. People were talking about him all that previous season as a surefire No. 1? Well, not everyone. Not me. I said don't take him. The Clippers took him.
He was a stiff. He was a robo-stiff. In Latin he would be called "stiffia majora." If he were a president he would be Stiffraham Lincoln.
Don't take Andrew Bogut. You'll be sorry. You won't be as sorry as the Clippers were but it's hard to be as sorry as the Clippers. Bogut will probably be fine. He'll score some, make some nice passes. He'll get worked on the defensive end. He's no overall No. 1.
Oh. They took him. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut, C, Utah.
2. Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams, F, North Carolina
It seems like the Hawks have been miserable for 100 years, doesn't it? It has been a long time, six straight losing seasons, the best of which was 2002-03, when they went 35-47.
Six years isn't that long, really, but it's long enough so that the next time the Hawks are even decent, flirting with .500, it's going to seem weird.
Someday in the not-too-distant future, Bucks fans aren't going to want to talk about this draft.
3. Utah Jazz (from Portland): Deron Williams, G, Illinois
The Jazz trade up to get the point guard who led Illinois to the National Championship Game this year. They give the Trail Blazers the sixth and 27th picks, plus a conditional future first-rounder.
Dick Vitale just got done saying the Hawks will regret not taking Chris Paul of Wake Forest rather than Marvin Williams. I presume he thinks the same about the Jazz, since Deron Williams plays Paul's position. The Hawks need a point guard, but Williams vs. Paul is kind of a toss-up. Either one could end up being better. They're both very good. But I think Vitale's wrong about Paul vs. Marvin Williams.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul, G, Wake Forest:
I wonder where Paul and the Hornets will be playing in a few years.
