The Commish on: The NBA Draft

Today is the NBA Draft -- one of the few times I turn into a Sports Geek. At all other times I may be a Sports Zealot or Sports Fanatic, but during the Draft my research, interest and obsession reaches nerd-levels. I scour the internet, spend hours reading scouting reports, fish for regional columns on regional players, go up-n-down NBA team lineups to identify holes they need to fill, study their salary caps to sniff out possibble Draft-day trades. It's pretty bad.

But this draft is different.

Not since the 2000 Draft, bka the Kenyon Martin Draft, have I been this disinterested. For the record: I think this is a terrible draft. No player gets me incredibly excited. I love Chris Paul, but that's about it. And, although I can't name 5 or 6 point guards I've liked better coming into their respective drafts in the past 10 years, I still don't see One of the Greats written on this dude...and that's what we've come to expect in the last 10 years.

Ever since KG broke the chains, the NBA has seen the greatest influx of talent EVER! And since I'm the Bible on my league and spit infallible truths, then you need to process that last sentence and recognize what's gone on and what's going down with this latest generation.

But then, with this 10-year talent explosion as a backdrop, we get this year's class, where a soft white dude that played in Utah is considered the best player and a frosh that couldn't get time over Jawad Williams is considered the most talented. I'm not saying Bogut won't get an All-Star here-n-there, but he won't be Dwight Howard. I'm not saying Marvin Willimas won't end up being an All-Star, but is anyone willing to bet all their chips that we don't have another Tim Thomas on our hands? I guarantee you this, Tim Thomas would've been starting on last year's UNC squad.

And here's another thing: you know who my favorite player is? Rashaad McCants. Yep.

I'm so sick of the attitude questions. Bogut has an attitude, too, but no one is red-flagging him. Fact is, McCants has the illest game and demeanor out of the whole draft and I bet he ends up being this class' standout along with my lil bro Chrissy. Don't mention Gerald Green to me at this point...I'm holding judgment on that dude. 24 points in the McDonalds game doesn't mean a glass of piss to me.

To be honest, my sole interest in this draft is to see what my Lakers do. If we can pull off a trade to get Paul, I'm giddy. If Felton slides to 10, I'm even giddier...in fact, I think Felton is the better fit -- a true distributor.

Other than that, we're looking at tons of kudos being slung at Danny Granger and Deron Williams. I'm sorry, but no thanks. No one in this draft would crack the overall lottery of the past 10 years. If the 80s class was the NBA's Golden Age, then this is the Platinum Age.

As I [lanned yesterday, today I will present a lottery draft of all the talent that's passed through the Platinum Age. But remember that, when analyzing it, the question you should ask is: Given what they've accomplished in their careers and what I truly think they can still accomplish, what order would I draft these players? Some guys like Amare are further down the list now, because his upside is still too shaky to top people like Duncan and KG...I mean, we're not talking about Chris Webber and Shawn Kemp here. Duncan and KG are two of the 25 Greatest ever. Only LeBron's upside is sure-enough to catapult other solidified careers. Anyways...check it out...

1995-2004 NBA Draft Lottery

1. San Antonio -- Tim Duncan, PF, Wake Forest

I'm gonna say something scary: I might even take Duncan over Shaq. With Timothy, you get dominance at both ends, incredible rebounding and selflessness. Yeah Shaq makes teammates better and all that, but his ego is a headache. Duncan has no ego. He just has 2 MVPs, 3 rings, 3 Finals MVPs and 8 All-NBA 1st Team selections. We don't know if he'll be the greatest of this generation, because we have younger players with much of their career ahead of them...but he's set the bar very high. He's a monster.

2. Los Angeles lacer -- Kobe Bryant, SG, Lower Merion HS (suburban Philly)

I hate Kobe. In fact, if he didn't hold down the perimeter for my squad, the "hate-on" I'd have for Kobe would be one of the most intense in the world of sports. From the second he held his HS press conference with his Ray Bans on top of his bald-head, I was through with him. His quest to do everything like MJ (someone else I didn't care for) and his American polished image gnawed at me. But here's what I will not dismiss: his game is the nastiest in the league. No one in his generation can play with such beauty and grace and poetry, while doing so in such a vile, mean, visceral manner. It's the perfect combination. I've seen him do things that give me butterflies.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers -- Lebron James, G/F, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (Akron)

This is my little brother and I love him to death. But I'm starting to worry about him. He's been growing up in a tough household and his parents aren't providing for him correctly -- his parents being the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They go and fire my grandpa, Paul Silas, and don't make the playoffs AGAIN! Then they hire the bald-head, overyhyped Dukie, Danny Ferry as GM.

Regardless of his role with Spurs, Ferry wasn't making personnel decisions -- that was Bob Bass and Pop. So they bring in an inexperienced GM and a brand new head-coach...for what? LeBron is the future of my league and I'm dead-tired of Cleveland EFFIN things up.

Even if Larry Brown comes through, who wants a veteran-attached, neurotic bundle of sensitivity running my lil brother's squad? Not me. You know why? Because, in 5 years, I should be redoing this list with LeBron at the top. That's how special he is. But how can that happen if we never get to see him play in May, let alone June?

4. Philadelphia 76ers -- Allen Iverson, G, Georgetown

AI changed things.

Not just the game, but the culture of the league. What Thompson's first G'Town teams started, UNLV incubated and the Fab Five blossomed; AI propelled to the masses. His swagger, his game, his look, his gangsta -- everything about him was not new, just taken to a new level..some would say higher level, but I say to an earthy, fundamental, true level. Everything America hates and we love about him made AI "ours". He was unapologetic and honest in how he purported himself. That is as much his legacy as his game, which, by the way, is my favorite of the generation.

The dude was and still is a revelation and perhaps the most transcendent player in the game. The Philly squad he took to the 2001 Finals was like Miles taking the kats that play drums on the buckets to Carnegie Hall. Even if Ive doesn't win a title, his place in NBA and sports history is secure. I believe he is one of the few athletes in American history that can say that.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves -- Kevin Garnett, PF, Farragut HS (Chicago)

You know I hate putting my dude this low. But the fact remains, KG has spent 8 years in the league and been past the 1st round once. Regardless of whether it's his fault or not, that's going to be his legacy. All the greats drafted in the 80s that didn't win championships (Reggie, Malone, Barkley, Ewing) they all made it to the Finals at least once and they were regulars in their respective Conference Finals. Yes, they always had good to great supporting casts, but at some point I expect the Greats to be transcendent. And KG has been transcendent, but just hasn't been able to make -- MAKE! -- his team transcend to that level.

But in the end, you can't front on the man's skill and production and you REALLY can't front on two more important things: he redefined versatility and he was the vanguard of the Platinum Age's high school-to-pro explosion.

There has never been a man in the league that could REALISTICALLY defend all five positions well. If you could choose one player to defend the last poseesion of a Game 7, and you don't know if the shooter is a center, forward or guard, who are you choosing? I thought so.

Plus he's the leagues best rebounder and probably one of the 10 best passers. But KG's true place in history will be disregarding critics and the NCAA (an organization I can't stomach) and going to get them NBA dollars. And THEN actually proving he made the right decision.

Look at this list -- six of the 14 have never played college ball. That's KG. He was a true pioneer.

6. Houston Rockets -- Tracy McGrady, G/F, Mount Zion Prep (originally Florida)

Smoothest game in the league and he's had some very transcendent moments. But Tracy, like KG, is suffering from not advancing far enough enough in the playoffs to crack that top 4, even though, he's right in the mix talent wise.

Yes, LeBron hasn't even played one playoff minute...but that time is coming and would you really draft T-Mac over Bron?

Tracy's new dance with Yao should help his quest for June minutes, but that remains to be seen. Tracy has yet to play a full 6 or 7 game series at All-Time Great level...and that's what we need. But with that said, I can't think of a wing player from the 80s, other than Jordan and Worthy, that I'd take over Mac. Not Dominique, not even Drexler.

7. Phoenix Suns -- Amare Stoudemire, PF, Cyprus Creek (Orlando)

Amare's scary. I remember how me and my boys used to marvel at his physique when he first came in the league. But now, his game is catching up to his physical prowess and it's getting frightening.

Offensively, I'm predicting he'll be the greatest PF ever -- over Malone In fact, he's the new improved Malone in so many ways.

Amare's deficiencies, however, are by no means inconspicuous. His defensive positioning and awareness are lacking and his rebounding is sickening for a dude as active and athletic as he is. It all goes to court awareness. But that'll come...and when it does he'll be otherworldly.

Amare, Tim and KG -- no era is messing with that PF trio. And where not even done.

8. Orlando Magic -- Dwight Howard, PF/C, Atlanta Christian HS (Atlanta)

Right when you're ready to say Amare might surpass Duncan and KG, here comes Dwight. I must admit I was surprised by his rookie year. Even though he hit the rookie wall, he was still about as steady and exceptional as you can get, considering he was just out of high school.

I got to see dude up close and he's huge. A solid 7 feet and his frame is filling out quick. He's got a jumper, can handle the ball, hustles and rebounds extremely well for someone his age.

Court awareness-wise, Dwight is probably 2 years ahead of Amare already, but what is separating the two right now is the sole fact that I've never -- NEVER -- seen a big-man as young as Amare know how how to put the ball in the basket the way he does. (Amare can score 40 on anyone. Imagine Amare versus Bill Russell. That would've been magical.)

With that said, Dwight has that steady calmness about him that makes me think, "He'll probably be the one winning championships, while Amare wins scoring titles and MVPs." I can't wait to see how it plays out.

9. Miami Heat -- Dwayne Wade, G, Marquette

The smartest player in the league. Period. Over J-Kidd. And I truly believe that.

This dude shot 50% from the field. I don't wanna hear the, "That's because he played with Shaq" argument. Kobe never shot 50% from the field. How many times do you wince when Wade shoots, like, "Ooh, why did he shoot that?" Probably once or twice every ten games. Every other guard gives you three or four of those each game. This dude is SO heady.

Plus, he is a terror on the defensive end, rebounds exceptionally well and arguably involves his teammates better than anyone beside Nash and Kidd. I'm serious. And on top of that, he was the best player in the playoffs. Better than Duncan, better than Amare and definitely better than that fat bum on his team.

Wade's knock is that even though he will be GREAT, GREAT, GREAT...He doesn't have that Top-10 of All-Time potential that everyone else on this list had or still has. His ceiling is too low (relatively speaking) for me to seriously consider drafting him over anyone else. He'll be the Platinum Drexler.

10. Houston Rockets -- Yao Ming, C, China

Yao is this high because, each year he gets better and at some point I truly believe he'll be averaging 25 and 12. It may be a soft 25 and 12...But 25 and 12 is 25 and 12. Plus, when Shaq leaves, he'll be the most dominant center.

And, 7'6 is 7'6. This isn't a Shawn Bradly 7'6. This is a skilled 7'6...only the nine aforementioned players can trump that combination of size and skill with their talent.

My point is: Even if Yao stays at this current level, he's a problem...but he's gonna keep getting better. Don't sleep.

11. Denver Nuggest -- Carmelo Anthony, F, Syracuse

Don't get it twisted and think that Melo's career is gonna get stuck in neutral like it did last year. We all might be falling victim to comparing him to Big Dog and Alex English...but remember what Melo was like his freshman year at Cuse. He was clutch, he was a monster on the boards and he was a great passer.

Plus, I still think after Kobe, Mac and Pierce he has the the most complete and polished offensive repertoire.

He has all these aspects in the tank. Let's see what he does this year, coming into camp healthy. My guess is that he starts factoring into the Bron, Wade discussions again. If that's the case, he's headed for a classic career.

12. New Jersey Nets -- Vince Carter, G/F, UNC

Sometimes I go into cardiac arrest when I think abut his first 3 years.

There has never been anyone -- save maybe Bron -- that was that athletic. And my favorite version of Vince was the mean, scowling, short-fro Vince at the 200 Olympics.

He got some of that back last year. And let's be honest: during the second half of last season, Vince was one of the 5 or 6 best players in the league. The only reason I'm not drafting him higher is because of his sissified stretch of injuries and sulking and because you never know with this dude. You could give this dude a pound and he's holding his wrist, writhing in pain. As a GM and an NBA historian, that has to effect his desirability and legacy.

13. Washington Wizards -- Gilbert Arenas, PG, Arizona

This may have thrown your for a loop (I was gonna put Dirk here), but I feel strongly about this. Us DC dudes know about this kid's game. It may be the nastiest in the league and his maniacal, sometimes insane, level of ballsinees is so gangsta that sometimes it comes off as hubris. But he's young, hungry and humble...and he's playing on my East Coast squad in my hometown and he's got something to prove.

I'm banking on him growing smarter on the court. If he doesn't, then I'm saying he's gonna at least have a KJ, Tim Hardaway career. If he does, he might just break records. Don't sleep on lil cousin.