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Poll: 2008 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 3)
Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.
Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.
We recently finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!
The 2008 draft, which is the one we’re tackling now, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.
We’ll continue with the Wolves, who dealt away the No. 3 overall pick in a swap with Memphis. The actual swap went like this: The Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to O.J. Mayo, along with Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner, from Minnesota in exchange for the draft rights to No. 5 overall pick Kevin Love, plus, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. To avoid muddying the waters too much, we’ll assume the trade wasn’t completed (since Love is already off the board), so whomever is selected here will end up in Minnesota.
So cast your vote for who the Wolves select and check back on Sunday to see the results and to vote on who the Sonics/Thunder will nab fourth overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.
- Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
- Heat — Kevin Love [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
- Wolves — ?? [Actual Pick — O.J. Mayo]
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/14/16-8/20/16
Here’s a look back at the original content and analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week.
- Arthur Hill examined Giannis Antetokounmpo as an extension candidate.
- We asked readers to do over the 2005 NBA Draft. Here’s who you selected for picks No. 10, No. 11, No. 12, No. 13 and No. 14 overall.
- We also began our trip back to the 2008 NBA Draft, having readers vote for picks No. 1 and No. 2 overall.
- You can stay up to date on any contract extensions agreed to this season with our tracker.
- Will Joseph highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
- We looked at the 2016/17 Salary Cap figures for the:
- Arthur answered reader questions in our Weekly Mailbag. Here’s how you can submit your own questions for our mailbag feature.
- We ran down the largest expiring contracts for the 2016/17 campaign.
- In our Community Shootarounds this week we discussed:
- The most anticipated games on the 2016/17 NBA schedule.
- What FIBA rules the NBA should consider adopting.
- Team USA’s chances of winning gold in Rio.
- The merits of a hypothetical Ricky Rubio/Rudy Gay trade.
- Who will be the Most Improved Player for the upcoming season.
- How successful the Pistons’ offseason was.
- Our Free Agent Tracker continues to have up-to-date data on this summer’s contract agreements and signings from around the NBA.
- If you haven’t already, be sure to download the Trade Rumors app for your iOS or Android device.
Community Shootaround: Detroit Pistons
The Pistons took a low-key approach to the offseason. Content with the young pieces assembled over the past two seasons, head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy opted to improve his bench.
Detroit did pursue one top-level free agent, Al Horford, but quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen. So, Van Gundy made some under-the-radar signings, essentially splitting up the salary-cap room available to ink three reserves — point guard Ish Smith, power forward Jon Leuer and center Boban Marjanovic.
Smith should be a major upgrade as the backup to Reggie Jackson. The Pistons had aging Steve Blake at that spot during the second half of last season. Leuer is also expected to play a major role and gives the club more versatility up front compared to the player he’s replacing, Anthony Tolliver.
Van Gundy is banking on improvements from within as his young core grows together. Jackson just finished his first season as a full-time starter. Combo forward Tobias Harris, acquired at the trade deadline, will now have a full season to blend in with the starting unit.
The Pistons are also expecting big things from second-year swingman Stanley Johnson, who jumped right into the rotation as a rookie and flashed some star potential.
The whole roster revolves around center Andre Drummond, who led the league in rebounding despite free throw shooting woes that often kept him on the bench during crunch time.
The Pistons will have very little cap space next summer unless they dump some salary, so the players on the current roster need to build on the franchise’s first playoff appearance in seven seasons.
This leads us to our question of the day: Did the Pistons do enough this offseason to become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Poll: 2008 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 2)
Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.
Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.
We just finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!
The 2008 draft, which is the next one we’ll be tackling, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.
In our first round of voting, our fans selected Westbrook as the player the Bulls should have taken with the first overall pick. Of course, Chicago took Rose, who posted MVP numbers prior to injuries taking hold. Westbrook received just over 79% of the votes, with Rose a distant second at 14.5%.
Let’s move on to the next pick. The Heat made a choice they soon came to regret — forward Michael Beasley. Beasley lasted just two seasons with the Heat before he was moved to the Timberwolves. Beasley had a second stint with the Heat and appeared in 20 games with the Rockets last season, but obviously never developed into a franchise-type player.
Who should the Heat have taken with the second overall pick? Please check back on Saturday for results.
Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.
Selections
- Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
- Heat — ??? [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.
Salary Cap Snapshot: Memphis Grizzlies
With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league. These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Grizzlies’ team page accessible here.
Here’s a breakdown of where the Grizzlies currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Mike Conley — $26,540,100
- Chandler Parsons — $22,116,750
- Marc Gasol — $21,165,675 [Contract has 15% Trade Kicker]
- Zach Randolph — $10,361,445
- Brandan Wright — $5,709,880 [Contract has 15% Trade Kicker]
- Tony Allen — $5,505,618
- Vince Carter — $4,264,057 [Contract has 15% Trade Kicker]
- Troy Daniels — $3,332,940
- James Ennis — $2,898,000
- Wade Baldwin — $1,793,760
- Deyonta Davis — $1,369,229
- Jarell Martin — $1,286,160
- Jordan Adams — $1,220,900 [Waived by team]
- JaMychal Green — $980,431
- Andrew Harrison — $945,000
- Troy Williams — $543,471 [Waived by team]
- Toney Douglas — $379,159 [Waived by team (Mar 18)]
- Jamaal Franklin — $163,296 [Waived via Stretch Provision]
- Toney Douglas — $100,593 [Waived by team (Dec 15)]
- Wayne Selden — $83,199
- Toney Douglas — $57,672 [10-day contract (Jan 30); actual salary — $77,379]
- Toney Douglas — $57,672 [10-day contract (Feb 9); actual salary — $77,379]
- D.J. Stephens — $35,000 [Waived by team]
- Matt Costello — $31,500 [Waived by team]
- Tony Wroten — $25,000 [Waived by team]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $110,966,507
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $250K — Sent $250K to Hornets in Troy Daniels trade [Amount Remaining $3.25MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- None [Room Exception used to sign James Ennis]
Total Projected Payroll: $110,966,507
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: –$16,823,507
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Total Projected Payroll For Tax Purposes: $111,470,216
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $1,816,784
Last Updated: 3/20/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
Largest Expiring Contracts For 2016/17
With the marked jump in the salary cap this season, expiring contracts aren’t quite what they used to be as trade chips. The shorter contracts that have come about in the past few years thanks to new rules imposed in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement have meant more teams have the opportunity to open cap space each year, which decreases the value of trading for a player in the final year of his contract.
The majority of teams will start next summer under the cap, and many will possess the amount of cap space necessary to sign a maximum-salary free agent. Still, expiring contracts can be effective trade assets under the right circumstances. These players come with little financial risk to the teams acquiring them, given they will be off a team’s books by the time the next free agent signing period commences. The cost in acquiring players in this category is often below their actual value, since they are ostensibly just short-term rentals. Plus, it also allows franchises to see how a pending free agent fits within its system and locker room culture.
Here’s a rundown of each player who has an expiring contract with a salary of greater than $8MM for the 2016/17 campaign:
- Derrick Rose [Knicks] — $21,323,252
- Jeff Green [Magic] — $15,000,000
- Manu Ginobili [Spurs] — $14,000,000
- Serge Ibaka [Magic] — $12,250,000
- Stephen Curry [Warriors] — $12,112,359
- Amir Johnson [Celtics] — $12,000,000
- Jrue Holiday [Pelicans] — $11,286,518
- Andre Iguodala [Warriors] — $11,131,368
- Andrew Bogut [Mavericks] — $11,027,027
- Zach Randolph [Grizzlies] — $10,361,445
- Tyreke Evans [Pelicans] — $10,203,755
- Deron Williams [Mavericks] — $9,000,000
- Taj Gibson [Bulls] — $8,950,000
- Jeff Teague [Pacers] — $8,800,000
- Tiago Splitter [Hawks] — $8,550,000
- Ersan Ilyasova [Thunder] — $8,400,000
- Kevin Garnett [Timberwolves] — $8,000,000
- George Hill [Jazz] — $8,000,000
- Sergio Rodriguez [Sixers] — $8,000,000
Which of the above players, excluding Curry for obvious reasons, is the most valuable trade chip this season? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts.
Note: The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Poll: 2008 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 1)
Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars or even made a significant impact in the league illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short. Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.
We just finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!
The 2008 draft, which is the next one we’ll be tackling, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.
We’ll kick this thing off with the Bulls, who held the No. 1 overall pick that year. Should Chicago take Rose, who posted MVP numbers prior to injuries taking hold, or go in a different direction? Well readers, it’s up to you to answer that on by casting your votes below. Check back on Friday to see the results and to vote on who the Heat should have nabbed second overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.
Selections
- Bulls — ?? [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.
Community Shootaround: Most Improved Player
There was little reason to expect stardom from C.J. McCollum during his first two NBA seasons. After being taken 10th overall out of Lehigh in the 2013 draft, McCollum got into just 38 games with the Trail Blazers during his rookie year and averaged 12.5 minutes per night. In his second season, those numbers increased to 62 games and 15.7 minutes of playing time.
But then Wesley Matthews left in free agency last summer and opened a door for the 6’4″ shooting guard. McCollum responded by moving into the starting lineup, averaging 20.8 points per night, shooting 42% from 3-point range and joining Damian Lillard to form one of the league’s most dynamic young backcourts.
McCollum was a runaway choice as the NBA’s Most Improved Player, easily outdistancing Kemba Walker and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the postseason voting. He cashed in on his success last month, agreeing to a five-year extension with the Blazers worth $106MM.
It’s an award that often leads to financial success. McCullom joins an impressive list of recent winners — Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Paul George, Ryan Anderson and Kevin Love — who all signed max or near-max deals sometime after winning the honor.
That brings us to tonight’s question: Who will be named the Most Improved Player for 2016/17? Who has the right mixture of talent and opportunity to follow in the footsteps of McCollum and the other winners?
Will someone step forward to replace the massive void left by Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City? Or by Dwyane Wade in Miami? Will it be someone leading a team on the rise like Utah or Orlando? Or will it be a relatively obscure player on one of the league’s younger teams?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Salary Cap Snapshot: Los Angeles Lakers
With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league. These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Lakers’ team page accessible here.
Here’s a breakdown of where the Lakers currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Luol Deng —$18,000,000
- Timofey Mozgov —$16,000,000
- Jordan Clarkson —$12,500,000
- Jose Calderon —$7,315,950 [Waived by team; 7,708,427 cap hit reduced by buyout]
- Corey Brewer —$7,612,172
- Tarik Black —$6,191,000
- Nick Young —$5,443,918
- D’Angelo Russell —$5,332,800
- Brandon Ingram — $5,281,680
- Julius Randle —$3,267,120
- Tyler Ennis —$1,733,880
- Larry Nance Jr. —$1,207,680
- Ivica Zubac —$1,034,956
- Metta World Peace — $980,431 [Actual Salary — $1,551,659]
- Thomas Robinson — $980,431 [Actual Salary — $1,050,961]
- Anthony Brown —$874,636 [Waived by team]
- Yi Jianlian — $250,000 [Waived by team]
- David Nwaba — $73,528
- Zach Auguste — $60,000 [Waived by team]
- David Nwaba — $31,969 [10-day contract (Feb 28)]
- David Nwaba — $31,969 [10-day contract (Mar 11)]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $94,204,120
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Room Exception: $2,898,000
Total Projected Payroll: $94,204,120
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: –$61,120
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $19,082,880
Latest Update: 3/24/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.