Post by Deleted on May 24, 2020 17:27:41 GMT -8
1. Houston Rockets: Yao Ming C 7'6'' 310 22 B C D+ C+ C+ A
The only star in this draft, Yao looks like a superstar from the jump. Expect him to have B or higher inside, defense, and scoring a few RCs/ACs into his rookie season, and to play whoever drafts him out of the running for ’03 studs.
2. Philadelphia 76ers: Amar'e Stoudemire PF 6'10'' 245 20 B+ D+ D+ C C A
Looks absolutely putrid, especially because Spence sold his midrange short. Still, he’s Spencer’s avatar for a reason—Spence is clearly enjoying making these draft files, and I doubt that’s because he designed Amar’e to suck! The second-best player from this class IRL, and everyone else sucks too.
3. Indiana Pacers: Caron Butler SF 6'7'' 228 22 B- C+ C+ C C A
A very good IRL player who looks like he has a chance to pop. The Pacers have two lottos and an elite perimeter duo in Shard and VC. There are a few developed forwards here, but Sargo is in good enough shape to make the high upside play. Plus, Sargo is from Connecticut, and Caron’s a UCONN man.
4. Atlanta Hawks Carlos Boozer PF 6'9'' 258 21 B C- D+ C B B
Boozer is a guaranteed double-double with high inside scoring and rebounding and developable midrange. He won’t cause turnovers and likely has modest potential, but he could be a stud at small forward. The Hawks are in major, major trouble if they don’t make a splash in free agency.
5. Milwaukee Bucks Mike Dunleavy SF 6'9'' 230 22 C+ B C C+ C A
He has promising ratings and good draft notes, so he’ll go higher than he should. This is Mike Miller. Chipper seems to hate Duke, though, which points against this pick. Maybe he’ll take someone else. IDK. Next.
6. Phoenix Suns Dimitris Diamantidis SG 6'5'' 195 22 B- B C+ C C B
The bad news for Phoenix: they look bad enough on paper to be in the mix for Yao but are picking mid-lotto. The good news: Spence can’t help but make amazing scorers out of odd Euros, and the notes call this man very good offensively. Highest B- inside, too, and that’s not athleticism. This man is going to be the second best player in the class. Congrats to Andrew for getting this man.
7. Indiana Pacers (from Los Angeles Lakers) Nenad Krstic C 7'0'' 240 19 B- C- D+ C C B
Nenad was an extremely good NBA player for a few minutes. Here’s what I remember about him: constant offensive fouls for hooking, and he threw a punch or a chair or something in an international game. Looks awful, but hey, read the notes. Developable. Offers hope. I wonder if that means his actual potential is high.
8. Seattle Supersonics Luis Scola PF 6'9'' 240 22 B- B- D+ C C+ B
Expect Garrett to make a safe pick based on need, and expect Scola to be a career backup. The Sonics have to be the odds-on favorite for the contract year, though with 85% of the good players in the league hitting free agency in 2003, that's not saying much. My prescription: deal Paul Pierce for a good player on his rookie contract, dump Andre Miller and Tim Thomas, tank for the '03 studs, and carry only players on rookie deals heading into 2003 FA. There's absolutely no chance Garrett listens to this.
9. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota Timberwolves) Nene Hilario C 6'11'' 250 20 B- C- D C+ C+ B
Blocks, steals, and boards from a big man are good and rare. Look for the Hornets to deal Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson, this pick, and I don’t remember what else for Antonio McDyess. Nene may go higher, but I’m pretty far along in this mock. Jeb is a legend for dealing his 2002 first a day before he dealt his only good player for pennies on the dollar.
10. Orlando Magic Arvydas Macijauskas SG 6'4'' 215 22 B- B C C D+ B
Here’s the bad version of Dmitris “This Man” Diamantidis. Arvydas can’t rebound and can’t play point guard, so he’s a a microwave scoring backup. Heat him up three minutes and enjoy him as a tasty snack. Let’s take a minute to acknowledge that this is the prized pick you should trade Kevin Garnett for.
11. Portland Trail Blazers Tayshaun Prince SF 6'9'' 212 22 C B C- B+ C B
James Posey. Shane Battier. Ron Artest. Tayshaun Prince. Spence keeps making these guys. We’ve reached the “maybe I’ll toss an MLE at him” stage of the 2002 draft. Deputy Commissioner Harry Braverman will now be announcing picks.
12. Milwaukee Bucks Udonis Haslem PF 6'8'' 235 22 C+ C C- B- B B
With Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Dunleavy, Bobby Simmons, and Udonis Haslem on board, the Bucks are a dangerous #2 seed that is either going to lose to #15 seed UVM or make the Final Four.
13. New York Knicks (from Chicago Bulls) Milos Vujanic PG 6'3'' 187 22 C+ B+ C C D+ C
This little mystery man didn’t get notes, but he’s maybe the best scorer in the draft and he can play point guard, so let’s see what he can do. Funny story: I originally didn’t realize Skillz had this pick, so I was gonna make a joke about him trading up to acquire another potential C+/A- guard. That’s a seriously funny story—and it’s true.
Mort Wallace-Spiegelman is a senior writer for ESPN.net. Google me, bitch.
The only star in this draft, Yao looks like a superstar from the jump. Expect him to have B or higher inside, defense, and scoring a few RCs/ACs into his rookie season, and to play whoever drafts him out of the running for ’03 studs.
2. Philadelphia 76ers: Amar'e Stoudemire PF 6'10'' 245 20 B+ D+ D+ C C A
Looks absolutely putrid, especially because Spence sold his midrange short. Still, he’s Spencer’s avatar for a reason—Spence is clearly enjoying making these draft files, and I doubt that’s because he designed Amar’e to suck! The second-best player from this class IRL, and everyone else sucks too.
3. Indiana Pacers: Caron Butler SF 6'7'' 228 22 B- C+ C+ C C A
A very good IRL player who looks like he has a chance to pop. The Pacers have two lottos and an elite perimeter duo in Shard and VC. There are a few developed forwards here, but Sargo is in good enough shape to make the high upside play. Plus, Sargo is from Connecticut, and Caron’s a UCONN man.
4. Atlanta Hawks Carlos Boozer PF 6'9'' 258 21 B C- D+ C B B
Boozer is a guaranteed double-double with high inside scoring and rebounding and developable midrange. He won’t cause turnovers and likely has modest potential, but he could be a stud at small forward. The Hawks are in major, major trouble if they don’t make a splash in free agency.
5. Milwaukee Bucks Mike Dunleavy SF 6'9'' 230 22 C+ B C C+ C A
He has promising ratings and good draft notes, so he’ll go higher than he should. This is Mike Miller. Chipper seems to hate Duke, though, which points against this pick. Maybe he’ll take someone else. IDK. Next.
6. Phoenix Suns Dimitris Diamantidis SG 6'5'' 195 22 B- B C+ C C B
The bad news for Phoenix: they look bad enough on paper to be in the mix for Yao but are picking mid-lotto. The good news: Spence can’t help but make amazing scorers out of odd Euros, and the notes call this man very good offensively. Highest B- inside, too, and that’s not athleticism. This man is going to be the second best player in the class. Congrats to Andrew for getting this man.
7. Indiana Pacers (from Los Angeles Lakers) Nenad Krstic C 7'0'' 240 19 B- C- D+ C C B
Nenad was an extremely good NBA player for a few minutes. Here’s what I remember about him: constant offensive fouls for hooking, and he threw a punch or a chair or something in an international game. Looks awful, but hey, read the notes. Developable. Offers hope. I wonder if that means his actual potential is high.
8. Seattle Supersonics Luis Scola PF 6'9'' 240 22 B- B- D+ C C+ B
Expect Garrett to make a safe pick based on need, and expect Scola to be a career backup. The Sonics have to be the odds-on favorite for the contract year, though with 85% of the good players in the league hitting free agency in 2003, that's not saying much. My prescription: deal Paul Pierce for a good player on his rookie contract, dump Andre Miller and Tim Thomas, tank for the '03 studs, and carry only players on rookie deals heading into 2003 FA. There's absolutely no chance Garrett listens to this.
9. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota Timberwolves) Nene Hilario C 6'11'' 250 20 B- C- D C+ C+ B
Blocks, steals, and boards from a big man are good and rare. Look for the Hornets to deal Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson, this pick, and I don’t remember what else for Antonio McDyess. Nene may go higher, but I’m pretty far along in this mock. Jeb is a legend for dealing his 2002 first a day before he dealt his only good player for pennies on the dollar.
10. Orlando Magic Arvydas Macijauskas SG 6'4'' 215 22 B- B C C D+ B
Here’s the bad version of Dmitris “This Man” Diamantidis. Arvydas can’t rebound and can’t play point guard, so he’s a a microwave scoring backup. Heat him up three minutes and enjoy him as a tasty snack. Let’s take a minute to acknowledge that this is the prized pick you should trade Kevin Garnett for.
11. Portland Trail Blazers Tayshaun Prince SF 6'9'' 212 22 C B C- B+ C B
James Posey. Shane Battier. Ron Artest. Tayshaun Prince. Spence keeps making these guys. We’ve reached the “maybe I’ll toss an MLE at him” stage of the 2002 draft. Deputy Commissioner Harry Braverman will now be announcing picks.
12. Milwaukee Bucks Udonis Haslem PF 6'8'' 235 22 C+ C C- B- B B
With Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Dunleavy, Bobby Simmons, and Udonis Haslem on board, the Bucks are a dangerous #2 seed that is either going to lose to #15 seed UVM or make the Final Four.
13. New York Knicks (from Chicago Bulls) Milos Vujanic PG 6'3'' 187 22 C+ B+ C C D+ C
This little mystery man didn’t get notes, but he’s maybe the best scorer in the draft and he can play point guard, so let’s see what he can do. Funny story: I originally didn’t realize Skillz had this pick, so I was gonna make a joke about him trading up to acquire another potential C+/A- guard. That’s a seriously funny story—and it’s true.
Mort Wallace-Spiegelman is a senior writer for ESPN.net. Google me, bitch.
