I find that I can't NOT look at Jeff Ruland's manboobs.

Like the Laettner pick a lot.

+1

If he really came out of the closet theres no way it'd be "I think I remember hearing he was gay"....it'd be a HUGE story.

btw, bird vs magic tribute on espn classic right now

Sure he was better than Pistol Pete or Kareem or even Wilt?

He's probally the best player of our era but I doubt all time.

With the 199th pick (5th round) GKA selects: Nate McMilllan



His team is currently:
Andre Miller PG
Nate McMillan SG
Paul Pierce SF
Kenyon Martin PF
Pau Gasol C

I don't know if he's going to do a longer writeup, he's been busy w/ his wife.

wow, what an inefficient team.

but I love mcmillan

is his next pick ready? if not, i can PM you who i'm taking so he can get thinking on it while he's available

HOORAY for back to back picks

Damn, I was eyeing McMillan for my next pick.... Very good player, elite defense, passing, and thieving. Not a good shooter, but at least he wasn't a chucker.

I'm pretty sure GKA loves passing more than anyone, and he has a very strong but quiet defense. Interesting team for sure, I don't know why JoA is sold it's so inefficient, considering he's running his offense through Pau (57% TS on heavy usage) and Paul (56% TS on even heavier usage) and the guy administering the ball is very good at that. He has good 1on1 defense, good post defense, perimeter players are near lockdown, solid but unspectacular rebounding, he has "enough" outside shooting so it's not a weakness...
I think he has a balanced team that could be very good.

doing writeups now

The starting 5 (+1, depending on who GKA takes next) will probably be below average in terms of TS%, compared to the rest of the league. I think this team has a shot at winning a few championships in the NBA though.

I like Nate a lot. A good versatile defender, and a good passer. However he is kind of turnover prone and he can't shoot. I came really close to taking him.

realllly wanted McMillan

GKA IS MARRIED?!?! Would have never guessed.

nah not really married lol. just whenever he and his GF are around, it's IMPOSSIBLE to contact him (except i get courtesy emails w00t). really pisses neil off tbh. but yeah, i got his next pick once klj posts his.

Round #5/Pick #200: Kenny "The Jet" Smith



What? He used to play basketball? While he's not a hall of famer, Kenny "The Jet" Smith started his career with my hometown Sacramento Kings (All-Rookie 1st team in 1988), and then went on to win two championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.

Skills-wise, he brings to the table just what the doctor ordered.
He was a very good shooter (.570 TS%, shooting .480/.829/.399)
He can run the fast break (nicknamed "The Jet" ldo), and finish at the rim (2nd place in the Slam Dunk contest)
He can run the offense and distribute pretty well (27% AST%, 6.6 AST/36).
He was really durable until age 30 (played 78 or more games in every season but one), and was playing effectively at an early age.

Reasoning: Shooting, quickness, passing ability, leader on the fast break. The fast break should be vicious, with Smith leading, Carter and Moncrief on the wings, and McDyess trailing. While VC is a good 3pt shooter (bet you didn't know he has a .375 3pt%), Smith is even better, and will punish defenders who help off on my offensive studs. I don't think chemistry is not a problem here, as Smith has shown he can win championships without being the focus of the offense (and is also clutch).

My team is far:
PG: Kenny "The Jet" Smith
SG: Sid "The Squid" Moncrief
SF: Vince "Vinsanity" Carter
PF: Antonio McDyess
C: Mark Eaton

BAAAALLLLIN!


KLJ, you are on the clock...

doing 2nd writeup

vn pick. I would've taken him but I didn't want two 6-3 guys on the court at once.

Round #6/Pick #201: Joe Barry Carroll



Who? The 7'1" 255 lb Joe Barry Carroll was the 1st overall pick in the 1980 draft by the Golden State Warriors. Those who were following the NBA at the time are quick to call him a "bust", but wikipedia claims "A great deal of Carroll's negative press, however, can reasonably be attributed by the fact that he often declined interviews and the fact that the Warriors traded Robert Parish and the draft choice used to select Kevin McHale to the Boston Celtics for the first overall picked used to select Carroll." I mean, when you give up God McHale and Robert Parish to pick someone coming out of college, how can someone reasonably fill those shoes?

Here's why he wasn't a bust:
In his first 7 seasons (not counting the one he played in Europe), Carroll averaged 20/8/2 with 1 steal and 1.7 blocks. He played 35.5 mpg and missed on average only 4 games per season.
His shooting efficiency wasn't anything extraordinary (.519 TS%, .474/.747), but still very good (one of only 5? available players with over .500 career TS% and 17 career ppg)

Here's why he lasted until the 6th round:
Attitude. Carroll was a holdout in his age 26 year, and played in Europe as a result (this was back when players weren't paid as much). Hopefully with two very good "character guys" in McDyess and Eaton, and two "team-first" guys in Moncrief and Smith, Carroll won't join forces with Vince and start a mutiny.

Reasoning:
Scoring big men are rare enough to have as starters, but having a legit scoring big man coming off the bench is extraordinary for rotation flexibility. Depending on the matchup, he's both durable and effective enough to play starters minutes (as he showed during his career). If I need more of a defensive presence, Eaton will take control. Against twin towers (or if McDyess is in foul trouble), they can play side by side. I'll elaborate more as the rest of my bench shapes out, but a talent like JBC is a rare and valuable asset coming off the bench.

My team is far:
PG: Kenny "The Jet" Smith
SG: Sid "The Squid" Moncrief
SF: Vince "Vinsanity" Carter
PF: Antonio McDyess
C: Mark Eaton
BN: Joe Barry Carroll (PF/C)



Green Kool Aid, you are on the clock...

I'm not too worried about this, because

1. NBA.com lists Moncrief as 6'4" 190 (I think bb-ref takes the height/weight from the last season played)

2. Moncrief was also a 2-time DPoY and 5-time All-Defensive Team (3 firsts) member

GKA takes JR Smith...Mebenhoe is up

err rather mmbt0ne.

JR Smith? hahaha

JBC is a great pick, I looked at him in the 4th round.

IMO JR Smith is one of the best offensive players in the NBA today. He's got his problems sure, but he's awesome to have off the bench. I also am biased as I saw him play in HS and it was one of the coolest things ever.

not too bad. there's players i like better, but whatever. has become a good shooter over the last couple years, and is still only 22. questions defensively, injury-wise, and mentally, but dude can score at least