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NBA Loud - by Rick Gillispie

NBA Draft Grades: 2003

May 16th 2007 00:53
1 Cleveland: LeBron James, g/f. A plus
These grades are in relation to how well the team used the pick, and the Cavs were guaranteed a top grade as soon as they won the 2003 lottery. James was the only choice to make, he was physically ready for the NBA right out of high school and also had the skills to play several positions.

2 Detroit: Darko Milicic, c. B
The Pistons got this draft pick, the Grizzlies part of the trade was Otis Thorpe. Easy to see why the Grizzlies are still playing like an expansion team. The Pistons overlooked Anthony because they had Prince and took Milicic as a long-term project. They won a title so the Darko pick wasn't a failure, but it was not a big success especially as they traded Darko to free some money to sign Ben Wallace, and then Wallace left for the Bulls while Milicic improved his game with more playing time with Orlando.


3 Denver: Carmelo Anthony, sf. A
He has the college title, and might have added the NBA one in his rookie year if the Pistons had taken him. Denver were happy that he was there at pick 3. When he entered the NBA he could score but couldn't do anything else very well, in the past couple of seasons he has improved the other parts of his game and is now a better overall player.

4 Toronto: Chris Bosh, f/c. A
Vince Carter wasn't sure they should use this pick, the pick wasn't traded and it wasn't long before Carter was. Bosh has given the Raptors a taller, and younger, star to build their franchise around.

5 Miami: Dwyane Wade, g. A plus
There was some talk of Kaman or Lampe being selected here, the NBA would be a very different place if that had happened. Like Darko, Wade already has a title ring, but Wade was also the NBA Finals MVP as he led the Heat to their first ever championship.


6 LA Clippers: Chris Kaman, c. B plus
He was the big guy from a little school, so there were questions about how good he would be against real competition. He has been a bit inconsistent, but there are not many other young centers in the NBA as good as he is.

7 Chicago: Kirk Hinrich, pg. A
A lot of people thought they took the wrong point guard, but Hinrich quickly proved them wrong. He can pass and shoot, he regularly plays both guard spots and has even been used at small forward by the Bulls.

8 Milwaukee: TJ Ford, pg. B plus
Was expected to go a bit higher. Ford didn't start his career too well, as the Bucks struggled and he suffered a serious injury. He overcame that and would then be traded to the Raptors for Charlie V. Ford is one of the fastest point guards and is a very good passer.

9 New York: Mike Sweetney, pf. C plus
A big inside presence with good post-up moves. Doesn't defend well enough to get a lot of playing time. After a few years, Sweetney was part of a package of players that was sent to Chicago.

10 Washington: Jarvis Hayes, sf. C plus
Gets some points and steals but his development has been slowed due to injuries. Might not become a star but is more than useful as a team's 6th man.

11 Golden State: Mickael Pietrus, g/f. B
Pietrus was supposed to be the Ron Artest of Europe, which meant that he was a good defender. The Warriors did get a very capable defensive player and his offense is coming along too.

12 Seattle: Nick Collison, f/c. B plus
A solid player for a team, his best spot would be as the first big-man off the bench. But he can start at both the center and power forward spots. Is a good rebounder and efficient scorer.

13 Boston: Marcus Banks, pg. D plus
The Grizzlies took Banks and Kendrick Perkins, and sent them to Boston for Dahntay Jones and Troy Bell. Banks didn't do a lot and would eventually be included with Ricky Davis, and other players, in the Szczerbiak deal.

14 Seattle: Luke Ridnour, pg. B plus
They needed a point guard, as well as something to get the fans in to games, so local product Ridnour helped in both areas.

15 Orlando: Reece Gaines, g. F
It's not just the Hill injury that hurt the Magic, they messed up a lot of draft picks. Gaines was supposed to excel at both guard positions, when he got to the NBA he struggled at every role he was given. Would eventually be moved around a few other teams and then be quickly out of the NBA.

16 Memphis: Troy Bell, pg. F
Bell didn't help the Grizzlies, they could have kept picks 13 and 27 and just drafted Ridnour and Josh Howard. Bell was supposed to be a shooting point guard, but in the NBA he couldn't score and it wasn't long before he was waived by Memphis.

17 Phoenix: Zarko Cabarkapa, f. C
A tall forward with a good outside shot, he was getting regular playing time before being injured in a controversial incident during a game.

18 New Orleans: David West, pf. A plus
West is probably an A grade, or maybe B plus, player but the grade here is how well the team used their pick so the Hornets get the top mark for finding a 20-10 player outside of the lottery.

19 Utah: Aleksandar Pavlovic, g/f. B
A very solid pick by the Jazz, but they didn't keep him around long enough to see how good he would be. He now starts beside James for the Cavs.

20 Memphis: Dahntay Jones, g/f. c
He's the better part of the trade for Memphis, but that just means he was better than Troy Bell.

21 Atlanta: Boris Diaw, g/f/c. B plus
The Hawks made a great choice, but they never really got anything out of Diaw when he was there. They sent him to the Suns, as part of a package to sign-and-trade Joe Johnson, and Diaw exploded with the Suns. Diaw has played every position for Phoenix, which is something the Hawks thought he could do but it never happened when he was a Hawk.

22 New Jersey: Zoran Planinic, g. C
Big point guard prospect who found himself at the Nets and behind Kidd. It didn't work as Planinic needed the ball in his hands and that wasn't going to happen with the Nets. He is back in Europe and playing well, and should get back to the NBA one day.

23 Portland: Travis Outlaw, f. B
There were so many jokes about his name and how that would attract Portland, and they did end up drafting him. He was drafted out of high school so he still has more time to establish himself in the league. He can play both forward spots and has shown he has some scoring ability.

24 LA Lakers: Brian Cook, f. B plus
The shooting big-man that Coach Jackson wants in his offense, like Wennington and Kukoc with Chicago and Horry with the Lakers. Cook was a good selection and he helps keep the defenses from collapsing on Bryant.

25 Detroit: Carlos Delfino, g/f. B plus
A solid overseas prospect, a good pick at this part of the draft. He brings energy off the bench for the Pistons.

26 Minnesota: Ndudi Ebi, f. F
When the NBA took draft picks off Minnesota, due to the Joe Smith dealings, it ruined their drafts. But here they had a pick, and didn't get anything either. Ebi didn't last long.

27 Boston: Kendrick Perkins, c. B
He's a big body, and despite being the lowest pick involved in the trade with Memphis he became the best player, which isn't saying a lot. He can bang, sometimes rebound and block a shot, no real offensive skills yet.

28 Phoenix: Leandrinho Barbosa, pg. A
Barbosa and Tony Parker on the same team, it nearly happened as this spot in the draft belonged to the Spurs. They took Barbosa and traded him to Phoenix. Barbosa can shoot the ball and is very quick, a perfect fit with the Suns.

29 Dallas: Josh Howard, sf. A
Most people are turning off the TV when the last pick of the first round comes on, it is often a player like Brooks Thompson or Keith Booth who has their name called out. In this draft there were a lot of talented seniors still available, the Mavs took Josh Howard and it wasn't long before he was starting for them.


30 New York: Maciej Lampe, f/c. C
Tall player with some shooting ability, was expected to go in the lottery but dropped rapidly as teams thought there were buyout problems. Bounced around a few other teams but didn't stay long.

31 Cleveland: Jason Kapono, sf. B plus
Coming out of college everyone knew he could shoot, but it took a couple of years and a couple of teams for him to do it in the NBA. He is now raining down 3-pointers for the Heat.

32 LA Lakers: Luke Walton, f. A plus
Teams are not supposed to find an integral part of their team in the second round, but the Lakers found the perfect small forward in Luke Walton. His best asset is his passing, so he fits in well with Bryant and the outside shooters that the Lakers play. Bill Walton's son, so that means he has heard him say, "Luke, I am your father".

33 Miami: Jerome Beasley, pf. D plus
A good power forward prospect but hasn’t found the right team.

34 LA Clippers: Sofoklis Schortsanitis, f/c. A
The most intriguing player outside of the NBA. He dominated NBA players at the FIBA World Championships so he might be useful for the Clippers, if they ever get him over from Greece. There have been several players called "Baby Shaq", Schortsanitis might be the one who deserves it.

35 Milwaukee: Szymon Szewczyk, f. D
Had a big year in the German league and entered the draft, the Bucks took him but he never played for them.

36 Chicago: Mario Austin, pf. C
He was a talented power forward but couldn't put it all together.

37 Atlanta: Travis Hansen, g/f. C
He can fill up the basket in Europe but he didn't when he was a Hawk. He might be back soon, and is still young enough to have a long NBA career.

38 Washington: Steve Blake, pg. A
A high grade for using a second rounder on a player who can start in the NBA. Washington reunited the college championship backcourt of Blake and Juan Dixon but they didn't have the same success. That duo would go around again with Portland, Blake was then sent to Milwaukee which was only a short stop on his way to Denver. Blake is a pass-first point guard, something that works very well now that he has Iverson and Anthony on his team.

39 New York: Slavko Vranes, c. D plus
A huge player, at 7-4 in height, Vranes didn't last long in the NBA. He could block shots, although that is expected of someone so big.

40 Golden State: Derrick Zimmerman, g. D
The type of college player who doesn't have a real NBA position. Zimmerman was in between the two guard spots, although if he joined the Warriors of the present he would fit right in. Zimmerman played for the Nets and has been in the minor leagues since then.

41 Philadelphia: Willie Green, sg. B
Another smaller shooting guard, the 76ers have had a few of them. Green is a solid scorer. A good player to bring off the bench to ignite the offense.

42 Orlando: Zaur Pachulia, f/c. B plus
A good pick in the second round, "Zaza" is a very active player who attacks the glass. His stay in Orlando was short, he is currently playing for the Hawks.

43 Orlando: Keith Bogans, g/f. C plus
Originally drafted by the Bucks, Orlando acquired his rights. They have also brought him back recently after he was on a few other teams.

44 Houston Rockets Malick Badiane, f/c. C
A player who was thought to have the size and skills to play the center spot in the NBA. He isn't there yet and is playing in Germany.

45 Toronto: Matt Bonner f/c. B
A great find in the second round. Toronto acquired Bonner's right from the Bulls. A bit slow and unathletic but Bonner is an efficient shooter and can help spread the defense. Bonner is now with the Spurs.

46 Denver: Sani Becirovic, g. C
A solid pick towards the end of the draft. Has been a good scorer in Europe and won the recent European title with Panathinaikos Athens.

47 Utah: Maurice Williams, pg. A
The Jazz found another player in the second round, but they didn't match a contract offer that he got from the Bucks so his career with the Jazz was not a long one. Williams is a solid passer, but his main asset is his shooting ability. It isn’t all bad for the Jazz though, if they had kept this Williams they probably would not have another Williams, Deron, on the team now.

48 New Orleans: James Lang, c. C
An undersized high school center. He often gets a look in summer league or on a short-term contract during the season but hasn't been able to establish himself in the NBA.

49 Indiana: James Jones, sf. C plus
A nice find by the Pacers, Jones played a lot when injuries and suspensions hit. Jones then signed with Phoenix. A streaky outside shooter, great when he's on but he can also be stuck in the off position too much.

50 Seattle: Paccelis Morlende, g. D
Seattle acquired his draft rights and a little cash, from the 76ers, for the rights to Willie Green. The 76ers got the best of that deal.

51 Philadelphia: Kyle Korver, sf. B plus
The 76ers made a great move when they traded with the Nets for his draft rights. Korver is one of the best outside shooters in the NBA.

52 Toronto: Remon Van de Hare, c. D
A very tall center prospect, the right type of choice at the end of the draft. The Raptors now have a very international roster but there hasn't been any effort to bring him over to play.

53 Chicago: Tommy Smith, f. D plus
A solid player in college but didn't have any great skills to make him standout in the NBA.

54 Portland: Nedzad Sinanovic, c. D
The usual big, foreign center who is taken at the end of the draft and is never heard from again.

55 Minnesota: Rick Rickert, f. D
Probably not a pick that Garnett was happy with, he did not like Rickert. Rickert left the University of Minnesota early but he fell a long way in the draft, if he had stayed in school a few more years he might have made it in the NBA.

56 Boston: Brandon Hunter, pf. D
Played a few games in the NBA, too undersized for the power forward spot but he did provide some rebounding effort. The Celtics traded the rights to Darius Songaila to get this pick and another 2nd rounder.

57 Denver: Xue Yuyang, f. D
Denver acquired his rights from Dallas, Xue isn't expected to play in the NBA in the coming years.

58 Detroit: Andreas Glyniadakis, c. D plus
Big center prospect, played a few games with Seattle.


NBA Draft Grades: 2004


Second round pick Sofoklis Schortsanitis has NBA talent, and size, but is yet to make the move from the European leagues. (Picture by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
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