Ok, picking up where we left off....with the 11th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select....
11. Fran Vazquez – Orlando Magic That’s right folks. The Orlando Magic still take the "Spanish Slammer" with the 11th pick. The good news is, this time we won’t have to wait two seasons for him to come over. This time we only have to wait one season, which means we gain a whole year! Also, since all the better players were taken when they were supposed to this time around, we won’t be lamenting not seeing Granger or Lee in a Magic uniform.
Why are you still reading?! Shouldn't you have stopped reading the moment you saw the word Fran? OK, so it looks like you fell for it! Come on guys! Do you really think that I or any other self-respecting Magic fan would even remotely consider going anywhere near Fran Vazquez again?
Let’s do this right...
11. Sean May – Orlando Magic Perhaps it could have been Monta Ellis, or Hakim Warrick, or even Ike Diogu in this spot, all of which would have been solid selections and certainly more immediate uses of the pick than Mr. Vazquez. But I’m going with Sean May. Sean May could immediately be placed next to Dwight Howard at the PF spot and provide a perfect complement to Howard’s game. Sean May, despite his bulk, has a great inside game with lots of finesse moves around the basket. May averaged 12 points on 50% shooting last year with the Bobcats. He also has a decent jumper, which is key to being alongside Howard in the post. One thing we have complained about is that there are no other frontcourt players on the Magic that our opponents have to worry about from an offensive standpoint. This allows for double-teaming on Howard. But with Sean May’s offensive game, both inside and outside, opponents might get burned if they focus too much on Howard. On the defensive end, May isn’t a total liability – averaging 6 and a half rebounds, half a steal, and .7 blocks a game in less than 24 minutes. If May is getting starter’s minutes with the Magic, all of those averages will go up, though he may have a hard time getting many rebounds with Howard as a teammate. The big unknown with Sean May is his durability. He has yet to play even half of the games in either of his two seasons. But if he maintains his weight, I think his potential more than outweighs the risk.
12. Hakim Warrick, LA Clippers The Clippers and Corey Maggette seem destined for Splitsville. Looking at the remainder of the Clippers roster, I can’t help but notice that the one thing they are missing is a decent swingman. Warrick fits that bill, jumping up 7 spots in the process. Warrick is very athletic but also has a bit of an inside game though he lacks the bulk to really bang in the post. He averaged nearly 13 points for the Grizzlies last year on 52% shooting, while only playing 26 minutes a game as a part-time starter. Placing him in the frontcourt with Chris Kaman and Elton Brand makes that frontcourt much more athletic and versatile. Now, if only the Clippers can do something about playing in the West.
13. Jarrett Jack, Charlotte Bobcats Charlotte takes a long, hard look at both Gerald Green and Monta Ellis in this spot. But they go with Jarrett Jack (moving up 9 spots). Charlotte needs someone to distribute the ball to their awesome frontcourt of Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, and Andrew Bynum, and Jack has shown that he can distribute and score from the point. Last year as a starter with Portland, Jack averaged 12 points, 5 assists, and a steal a game, and shot 45% from the field, including 35% from the 3-point line.
14. Gerald Green, Minnesota Timberwolves Wait a minute, this can’t be right. Isn’t Green already on the Timberwolves roster? How did that happen? Is this like one of those time travel things where you accidentally bump into yourself and the universe explodes? Might as well stop reading now.
15. Ike Diogu, New Jersey Nets New Jersey also takes a hard look at Monta Ellis but decides that they are better off getting more beef in the front court. Diogu falls six spots but this seems a more realistic spot for him. There are certainly more talented players still left on the board, but his size trumps all of that. Diogu stayed extremely consistent his first two years in the league. His numbers are nothing spectacular, but neither were his minutes. Placing him in a frontcourt rotation with Jason Collins, Nenad Krstic, Josh Boone, and Jamaal Magloire gives New Jersey arguably the best frontcourt depth in the Atlantic division (don’t laugh).
16. Monta Ellis, Toronto Raptors Monta Ellis is the next big gainer in the draft, moving from the second round (40th pick) to the middle of the first round. Ellis slides right into the starting shooting guard spot for the Raptors. He is an upgrade over anyone else on the roster, who are either unproven (Carlos Delfino), old, (Anthony Parker), or journeymen (Juan Dixon). Ellis, in addition to averaging over 16 points on 47 % shooting for Golden State last year, also averaged 4 assists in Nellie’s high octane offense. His ability to handle the ball means the Raptors can even use him to spell TJ Ford (or Mo Williams??) at the point. Ellis also averaged 1.7 steals a game last season. His defensive abilities may allow the Raptors to play Ellis and Jason Kapono at the same time. Having Kapono’s outside shooting will also help make up for the fact that Ellis only averaged 27% from the 3-point line last year.
17. Martell Webster, Indiana Pacers Webster falls from the 6th pick all the way to the 17th pick. The Pacers are very happy to get him here. It appears as though a youth movement is about to happen in Indiana, especially if Jermaine O’Neal is out the door. Webster, who was touted as having the best jumpshot in the 2005 draft, slides into the small forward slot and gives the Pacers a nice mix of height on the wings with Marquis Daniels and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
18. Ryan Gomes, Boston Celtics Surely if Boston could have somehow avoided sending Gomes to Minnesota, they would have. Gomes is the biggest gainer in the “redo” draft, going from the second round (50th pick) to the 18th pick. Gomes, who has the height of a wing player but the build of an inside guy, showed great promise last year as a starter for the Celtics. He averaged 12 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting nearly 47% from the field. Although he didn’t take very many three-pointers, he clearly has the range, averaging 38% on the ones he attempted. Gomes gives Boston much needed quality depth behind the “Big 3.”
19. Jason Maxiell, Memphis Grizzlies Maxiell moves up 7 spots in the draft and goes to a team that sorely needs him. Maxiell, is built very similar to another former Cincinnati Bearcat, Danny Fortson. He is short for a post player, but has the bulk and a strong inside game. In extremely limited minutes last year for a loaded Pistons team, Maxiell still managed a block a game. In going to the Grizzlies, he will join a frontcourt rotation of Stromile Swift, Pao Gasol, and Darko Milicic, giving Memphis more big bodies for all the banging they will do out West.
20. Luther Head, Denver Nuggets The Nuggets lost Steve Blake and now they desperately need someone who can get Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony the ball in the right spots. While Chucky Atkins might suffice in a pinch, or until Head gets some game time under his belt, he is 33 years old. Luther Head moves up four spots and should be able to step right in and take the starting PG job pretty quickly. Head didn’t do much in the way of assists last year while playing the back up PG role with the Rockets, but that’s OK, the starting point guard, Rafer Alston, didn’t even lead the team in assists. While it is almost a certainty that Allen Iverson will still lead the Nuggets in assists, Luther Head should be able to at least approach the 6 assists that Blake averaged alongside Iverson last year. The real bonus here for the Nuggets is the 44% that Head averaged from the 3-point line and the 1 steal a game he averaged in only 27 minutes per game.
Keep checking back here to see the last third of the 2005 NBA Draft Redo. I just know you guys are extremely excited to see who the Bottom 10 are! If you don't come back, how will you find out if Travis Diener and Marcin Gortat made it into the first round? Or if Fran Vazquez fell out of the first round entirely! In the dog days of August, these are the questions that must be answered, people!
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8127 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
LOL, you almost had me convinced that you had lost your mind! May is a good solid selection for the Magic. I have to say though that if I were Otis I would probably pull the trigger on Maxiell. The combination of Dwight and Maxiell on the glass might give us the best rebounding team in the league.
Also with the Clippers current pg problems I don't think they would let Monta Ellis slip by them. Of course, that means they would have to take a time machine ahead to last year so they would know about that ugly injury that Shawn Livingston had.
Great blog as always LOD.
Quote from Davcicic, "I love the Magic so much that I would take them to the back of the school and get them Pregnant!!!!"
Posts: 6354 | Location: Posting as often as I can so that I can be a moderator by the year 2035! | Registered: March 13, 2006
Originally posted by emory889: I have to say though that if I were Otis I would probably pull the trigger on Maxiell.
i totally agree...either him or Warrick woulda been my pick...May had one great game...and it happened to be against us...plus, hes really really small for a PF...but maxiell is 6'11" i believe...
Posts: 2618 | Location: Hiding in Otis' back yard...behind the mulberry bush, next to the Vasquez bird bath shrine. | Registered: April 02, 2007
Originally posted by emory889: I have to say though that if I were Otis I would probably pull the trigger on Maxiell.
i totally agree...either him or Warrick woulda been my pick...May had one great game...and it happened to be against us...plus, hes really really small for a PF...but maxiell is 6'11" i believe...
Maxiell is only 6 foot 7 inches and hasn't shown the offensive game that May has shown (though, in his defense, Maxiell hasn't had the opportunity to).
We need offense in the post more than defense...we need someone who can hurt opponents that double-team Dwight. May is the best candidate for that.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8127 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by emory889: I have to say though that if I were Otis I would probably pull the trigger on Maxiell.
i totally agree...either him or Warrick woulda been my pick...May had one great game...and it happened to be against us...plus, hes really really small for a PF...but maxiell is 6'11" i believe...
Maxiell is only 6 foot 7 inches and hasn't shown the offensive game that May has shown (though, in his defense, Maxiell hasn't had the opportunity to).
We need offense in the post more than defense...we need someone who can hurt opponents that double-team Dwight. May is the best candidate for that.
I guess that is where we disagree buddy. To me, the Magic don't need any more post scoring they need interior defense and rebounding. There is something about May that has always struck me as soft. He isn't a particularly great rebounder although he is decent at 6.7 a game last year. I also question his work ethic. He never looks like he is in good shape which makes me wonder if that is somehow connected to him always getting injured. And his injuries are a major problem. If we combined his two seasons in the league he still hasn't played a full 82 game (he's only played 58) schedule yet.
As for Maxiell there is a precedent for undersized power forwards that have had good careers especially as rebounders. If I'm not mistaken I think I heard a couple of announcers say during the season last year that Maxiell has exceptionally long arms which allow him to play much bigger that he actually is. I can easily believe that because he is a legitimate shot blocking threat in the paint. And if he doesn't block the shot he definitely will lay the lumber on you. The selling point to me is his tenacity on the glass. There aren't many "big" men in this league that go after loose balls with the fury that Maxiell does. If we had drafted him, we would have had two of them on the court together. To me, it would have been way to much to pass up. If it weren't for May's injury history I wouldn't mind picking him. It just seems like there were better options available.
Quote from Davcicic, "I love the Magic so much that I would take them to the back of the school and get them Pregnant!!!!"
Posts: 6354 | Location: Posting as often as I can so that I can be a moderator by the year 2035! | Registered: March 13, 2006
Good points Emory. That is the fun part about all of this "what if" type speculation. We will all see it a bit differently, so it makes for good discussion and debate.
I just haven't seen enough out of Maxiell to make me think he offers more than May. That is not Maxiell's fault. He just hasn't gotten the PT and frankly, I have paid more attention to May since his NC days.
But I still feel that a strong offensive threat in the frontcourt is what will help open things up for Dwight. That is the main reason we were so excited about Darko; the prospect of having a good inside/outside game in the post.
One thing it appears we do agree on: the use of this pick on a post player.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8127 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by emory889: Man, I was hoping more people would have posted their thoughts on this blog. It seems like a waste of a very good discussion
You read my mind. Perhaps this was too long for most people to bother reading. Also, I don't think everyone even knows this section of the boards is here.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8127 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by emory889: Man, I was hoping more people would have posted their thoughts on this blog. It seems like a waste of a very good discussion
You read my mind. Perhaps this was too long for most people to bother reading. Also, I don't think everyone even knows this section of the boards is here.
Its not rocket science. You stickied it to the main page with a link. Maybe you should just post the whole thing on the Magic page and leave it unlocked. Its to much work for you to keep blogging and have it go largely ignored. Especially in the offseason when the only things to talk about are signing Foyle and yet another point guard debate.
Quote from Davcicic, "I love the Magic so much that I would take them to the back of the school and get them Pregnant!!!!"
Posts: 6354 | Location: Posting as often as I can so that I can be a moderator by the year 2035! | Registered: March 13, 2006
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