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Friday, June 27, 2008

Love for Mayo...and other NBA Draft Trades

The Timberwolves drafted USC Guard O.J. Mayo, who has some character issues, at third overall in last night's NBA draft. Overall, I thought it was a good pick. But, a few hours after the draft, while everyone, including Mayo, was sleeping the T'Wolves agreed to trade Mayo. Minnesota, and the Memphis Grizzlies, who drafted former UCLA Forward Kevin Love, agreed to exchange their first-round draft picks. So, Love is on his way to Minnesota, and Mayo will be headed to Memphis.

Personally, I think getting either Love or Mayo for Minnesota is a good move, the Timberwolves need help all over the court. Twenty-four year old Randy Foye, and twenty-nine year old Marko Jaric are currently the 'Wolves two starting guards. Aren't guards suppose to be scorers?? Well, this past season Foye averaged 13.1 PPG, and Jaric averaged 8.3 PPG. That's more like center-type numbers. Which reminds me, the 'Wolves 6'10'' 256 pound center, Al Jefferson, averaged 21 PPG, and 11.1 RPG in 2007. I think it's pretty sad that their center is a higher-scorer than the two guards, PUT TOGETHER!!

After saying that, I think it was a bad move trading away Mayo, who scored 20 PPG with USC. But, either way, I think both Mayo, and Kevin Love will make an immediate impact with their respective teams.

Another trade I didn't agree with is the Detroit Pistons trade of their draft pick, 29th overall, D.J. White. White, former Indiana PF, can score, and rebound. The 6'9'', 251 pound White can be compared to Amare Stoudamire. He started all 33 games in 2007, and scored 17.4 PPG, grabbed 10.3 boards a game, and hit 60 percent of his shots from the field. I really saw this guy taking Rasheed's place at PF/C in Detroit. I even picked him at 29 overall on AGM's NBA Mock Draft.

But, shortly after drafting White, the Pistons personnel thought it would do them good to trade him to Seattle. In exchange, the Pistons got Seattle's second round pick (32nd overall). With this pick, Detroit drafted PF 6'9'', 245 pound Walter Sharpe from UAB!?!?

Apparently they would rather have a guy with a shorter track record, and averages 14 PPG, and 6 RPG. Sharpe only hit half of his free throws in 12 games in 2007. This may just be the most puzzling move of the draft, especially as a Pistons fan. Someone is going to have to explain this one to me, because I just don't understand it...

2 comments:

falcon02520 said...

I agree with you on the move of the Pistons being puzzling but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree on Minnesota's moves being bad...

The T-Wolves also have McCants and Foye is still is growing. The back-court will be stronger next season just because the gains in experience. O.J. Mayo is supposed to be a point guard but he is not big on sharing the ball. I didn't think he was a great fit for Minnesota...

Love on the other hand has the potential to help Al Jefferson on the front court, giving them a strength as a team. Love has shown dedication to becoming a good ballplayer by working on his conditioning and losing wight leading up to the draft. I think Love could develop into a really talented player...

Minnesota will not be a contender, but big men across the conference are going to hate playing against Love and Jefferson...

Good post BB15...

Dumont J. Walker III said...

The TWolves really didnt need Mayo. Love is a good fit Im just worried that there won't be enough space for Al and Kevin

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