Post by Handsome Pete on Oct 19, 2021 18:22:27 GMT -5
Hoo buddy has this class been a let-down. This was pegged as a really deep class, producing 10 all-stars and 4 players over 100 career WS in real life and headlined by household names for any '90s basketball fan. After 4 seasons, I am disappointed with how this class stacks up. The top of the draft looks okay, but once you get into the 8th or 9th pick range it's very hard to find much to get excited about. This was an older class as well, so there's probably not too much growing left in these guys as they head into free agency.
1. Pittsburgh Pipers (from Chicago Stags) - Patrick Ewing C 7'0'' 240 23 B+ C- D+ A- B+ C, Georgetown
Redraft pick: Joe Dumars SG 6'3'' 190 22 B- C+ C, B- C, B, McNeese State University
The crown jewel of the Pipers' run of top 4 picks. This is no slight to Patrick Ewing, but Dumars has overtaken him as the clear best player in this class. He is a more well-rounded version of Dajuan Wagner from last year's class who scores with efficiency, takes care of the ball, and is among the best wing defenders in the league. He's been #1, #2, and #2 in SG winshares over the past three seasons respectively, and made an all-defensive team each of his first three seasons. He's also had great growth in TC, as his grades are +6 from where they were after his 1st season. The Pipers have a nice collection of talent but I think would be better off with a guy like Dumars as the offensive focal point rather than Ewing, despite Ewing's skills as a defender.
2. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Washington Bullets) - Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 250 22 B- C, C- C+ A- B, Louisiana Tech
Redraft pick: Patrick Ewing C 7'0'' 240 23 B+ C- D+ A- B+ C, Georgetown
Trof has had his share of bad TC luck, especially with his high profile picks in this class, so instead of Malone he gets the ready-made star in Ewing. Ewing has been a rock-solid performer through his first four seasons, but for how good he looked in college stats he's been a bit of a disappointment as a pro. His defense is his calling card, and he came into the league already capped as a shotblocker. Unfortunately, he's firmly in the "really good" shotblocker range and hasn't yet developed into elite. He's a quality rebounder but is probably a level below the Bynum/Bogut tier, which is to say he's better than most of the other bigs in the league. Where he's been disappointing has been on the offensive end. He's been miscast as a primary scorer for the Pipers, shooting with volume but only slightly above average efficiency. With his low starting potential he'll likely never get to a point where he should be a contender's first option, and would do better ceding a few shots per game as a non-scoring option and kicking ass as a defender and rebounder, similar to how Ank uses Ibaka or I use JBC. This might sound like a negative passage, so I should make it clear that Ewing is definitely the best option available and Trof would be happy to land him here.
3. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Portland Trail Blazers) - Charles Oakley PF 6'8'' 225 21 B- C- D+ B- A- B, Virginia Union University
Redraft pick: Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 250 22 B- C, C- C+ A- B, Louisiana Tech
This pick came to Trof as part of the three-team mega-deal with the Clippers and Sixers that sent Dale Ellis and Antoine Carr to LA and Martell Webster to Milwaukee. Trofie went heavy on rebounding in this draft, and I see no reason to approach it any differently in the redraft. Malone has been a much better scorer than Ewing thusfar, putting up similar points per game on 1.172 Pts/TSA. He's mediocre most everywhere else, turning the ball over more frequently, blocking far fewer shots, and rebounding at a passable level. The biggest knock on Malone has been the lack of growth. Despite sporting a B potential entering the league, he's not seen much natural growth and looks to have taken a step back after strong output his first two seasons. Still, he's been the most efficient scorer in the class so far in their careers at a volume most other players haven't touched. Trof takes him again here and hopes that a Malone and Ewing pairing fairs better than Malone and Oakley.
4. Original pick: Indiana Pacers - Joe Dumars SG 6'3'' 190 22 B- C+ C, B- C, B, McNeese State University
Redraft pick: Terry Porter PG 6'3'' 195 22 C, B- B+ C+ C, B, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Unfortunately for Herb, he loses out on his stud wing in Dumars and is left with an uninspiring lot to choose from. Terry Porter is the best of the bunch in my eyes. Porter has been among the better points in the league not named Kyrie or Nick since he entered, and he brings a strong all-around game. He scored 18 a game per 36 the past two seasons, although his Pts/TSA took a big dip after ranking higher than any other starting point guard in 3013. He's also among the best rebounders for the position. He won't chip in many steals but he also won't kill you with turnovers. He's the sensible mid-size sedan of point guards.
5. Original pick: Charlotte Hornets - Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 20 C+ C, C+ C+ B- A, Lithuania
Redraft pick: Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 20 C+ C, C+ C+ B- A, Lithuania
Like most Hornets, Sabo has fallen under disrepair and could do with a change of scenery. Should I grant him that kindness and redraft him to a different team? Nah, let's keep it all in the family. Sabonis is an intriguing player, averaging around 1.13 Pts/TSA and rebounding well as the lead man in Charlotte, but he has gotten very little run the past couple seasons as the Hornets GM keeps failing to set a depth chart. As a result, we're 4 years into a career and no one is quite sure if he's good or not. The turnovers continue to be a big problem, as he's at 2.7 per 36 in his career. He's generated .139 WS/48, which is 4th in the class, so he's clearly doing something right. We'll see if he can break free of the Charlotte shackles in FA, or if he's doomed to be a forgotten man once more.
6. Vancouver Grizzlies - Terry Porter PG 6'3'' 195 22 C, B- B+ C+ C, B, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Redraft pick: Charles Oakley PF 6'8'' 225 21 B- C- D+ B- A- B, Virginia Union University
The Grizz at this point weren't completely loaded, but they had plenty of bigs to work with. I wrestled with whether Mullin or Oakley was more deserving of this spot. Ultimately I think Oakley has shown more over the first four years than Mullin, despite Mullin's big season last year. Trofie took a big swing on the Talented Mr. Oakley at 1.3, seduced by his superhuman strength, but this spot seems like a better fit for him in retrospect. He's a one-and-a-half trick pony, kicking in great rebounding with average scoring. He's had a disappointing career track, as his efficiency never really improved after his rookie season and was below average last season, but his career WS/48 says he belongs above the next tier of players.
7. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Carolina Cougars) - Xavier McDaniel SF 6'7'' 205 22 B, D+ C- B- A- C, Wichita State
Redraft pick: Chris Mullin SF 6'6'' 200 22 B, C+ B, B- C, C, St. John's
Mullin, or Mully baby as he is known to his colleagues, saw a major slide in his draft stock once scouts became available. Many teams were scared off by his lack of size and rebounding coupled with a potential in the 40s. Four seasons in, it's fair to say that he's performed well but perhaps a hair below expectations. Mullin came in with a top-tier jumper and looked destined to be a premier scorer as a SG. His SF listed position meant he could blow through the inside cap, and his poor rebounding was less of a liability at guard. Through his first three seasons, he failed to live up to the hype, but settled into a role as a good but not great scorer who didn't provide much else. All of that changed last season, when a depleted Clippers roster left Mullin no choice but to hoist. He responded with the best season of his career, averaging over 30 PPG and making first team All-League among SFs. His FTAs doubled from the prior year, while his FGA went up by more than 50%. That kind of output is not likely to reoccur on a team like the Bucks, who picked up a few high usage bigs earlier, but it has turned some heads in a league that is always starving for wing scoring. TBD if Dirt tries to retain him, but as one of the few rookie contract guys not to resign, we will see what the market judges his value to be.
8. Original pick: Carolina Cougars (from San Antonio Spurs) - Chris Mullin SF 6'6'' 200 22 B, C+ B, B- C, C, St. John's
Redraft pick: Mike Smrek C 7'0'' 250 23 B- C- C- B- C, C, Canisius
If you hear some commotion as you read this, don't be alarmed. It's just the sound of BK patting himself on the back. With Mully baby's slide stopping one pick earlier, the Cougs find the best value pick in the draft with Mike Smrek, who originally went to Anaheim with the 28th pick in the first round. Smrek has been impressive through his first 4 seasons, providing slightly better shot blocking and scoring efficiency than one Patrick Ewing. Why would Ewing go 2nd and Smrek 8th? Because that rebounding is ghastly. He's at 8.5 rebounds per 36(!), which means despite his above average scoring efficiency and superb shotblocking, he'll probably never make an impact beyond being the first big off the bench. The Amigos are fine with that, and put together a top 5 rebounding % with both Smrek and Myles Turner, so his lack of rebounding may not be as much of a weakness as it appears in the box score. Smrek is an easy top 10 pick and may wind up with a longer and more fruitful career than guys like Oakley or Sabonis ahead of him.
9. Original pick: Houston Rockets - Detlef Schrempf SF 6'10'' 235 22 B, C+ C, C- C, C, Washington
Redraft pick: Spud Webb PG 5'6'' 133 22 C, C+ A- C- F+ C, NC State
I'll hold my thoughts on Detlef for a little later on, but this pick is definitely more of an upside gamble than most of the others. Spud spent 3 seasons as Kyrie's understudy in New York, meaning minutes were pretty hard to come by, before signing with the Jazz on an LLE. He put together a crazy good offensive season, averaging over 1.21 Pts/TSA. He also got hurt early on in his limited run as a starter and found himself supplanted by Diante Garrett for the rest of the season. Despite his diminutive stature and minutes, Spud has put up some legit WS/48 numbers in his career. Even more impressive, he's done it while averaging less than 2 rebounds per 36, the lowest mark of any player in 6.0 who has played more than 10 minutes! His WS/48 puts him between Malone and Sabonis, suggesting if he got 36 minutes per game, he's capable of being among the better players in the class. Spud may never get his shot as a lead PG, but Houston doesn't have much else going for it, so why not roll the dice and see what the young man can do when afforded a full complement of minutes.
10. Original pick: Utah Jazz - Wayman Tisdale PF 6'9'' 240 21 B, C- C- C, B- C, Oklahoma
Redraft pick: Xavier McDaniel SF 6'7'' 205 22 B, D+ C- B- A- C, Wichita State
The first big miss of the draft comes at 1.10, where unfortunately Wayman Tisdale's school was Oklahoma rather than his strength. He got starters minutes last season with the Stags, but the less said on that front the better. Meanwhile, Fason swung a trade this season to acquire the services of his redraft pick, Xavier McDaniel, who was the third of Trofie's original A- rebounding rookies. I like McDaniel, who continues to be a phenomenal rebounder and gives you a little bit of help everywhere else. He takes care of the basketball and he's generally been around 1.10 to 1.15 Pts/TSA so he's adding some value as a scorer, even though he doesn't do it a lot. A decent starter or luxury 3rd wing for an inside oriented team.
11. Original pick: Portland Trail Blazers (from Cleveland Cavaliers) - Cozell McQueen PF 6'11'' 235 23 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, NC State
Redraft pick: Benoit Benjamin C 7'0'' 250 20 C, C, C- B, C, C, Creighton
Per WS/48, this is a huge reach, as Benjamin is only around .070 for his career. However, Win Shares have never done a good job matching the value of D/R bigs, who provide more shot opportunities for better players and improve team defense. Benjamin has been a very good D/R big so far in his career, averaging over 2 blocks and 10 rebounds per game per 36. Even better, he's only scoring 6 points per 36, so he's using very few shots when he's on the court. He's been buried the past couple seasons in Carolina but I think he's better than any of the other players on the board, despite trailing all of them in WS efficiency.
12. Original pick: Charlotte Bobcats (from Philadelphia 76ers) - Mario Elie SF 6'5'' 210 21 C+ C, C, C, C, A, American International College
Redraft pick: Sam Vincent PG 6'2'' 185 22 C, C+ A, C, D, B, Michigan State
We've now reached the part of the draft where I shrug and start sifting through the garbage. The remaining guys are all replacement-level at best, so if you disagree with the rankings take a look in the mirror and ask yourself why you care so much. That's what I did. Vincent has gotten fewer minutes than Spud and his per 36 numbers don't look that far off of Spud's, except for volume. Vincent is only putting up 12.3 points per 36 while Spud is around 18. That would explain why Spud is at .147 WS/48 while Vincent is down around .105. A career back-up at best.
13. Original pick: Portland Trail Blazers (from contracted) - Jerry Reynolds SF 6'8'' 200 22 C+ C, C- B, C, C, LSU
Redraft pick: Cozell McQueen PF 6'11'' 235 23 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, NC State
Sure, whatever. Jerry Reynolds was trash. McQueen, on the other hand, can rebound and block some shots. He's just shy of 3 stocks per 36, which is a pretty good mark. His offense isn't great and he shoots too much, but at least he does a couple things well. Congrats Majic.
14. Original pick: San Antonio Spurs (from Los Angeles Lakers) - George Montgomery C 6'10'' 235 23 B- D, C- C+ C+ B, Illinois
Redraft pick: Alfredrick Hughes SG 6'5'' 215 23 C+ C, C, C, C, B, Loyola Chicago
George Montgomery made it one season in the league before his untimely passing, and much like his FT attempts, he will be missed. Alfredrick Hughes is a deep cut from the 2nd round who has been O.K. through four seasons. He actually had a solid efficiency season last year as he took a step back from starting into a back-up spot. Delap valued his contributions enough to ink him to a 6 year 4.6 mil per year deal last offseason, and I look forward to ignoring his waiver claim thread after Delap inevitably ponies up for an amnesty.
15. Original pick: Carolina Cougars (from Los Angeles Clippers) - Benoit Benjamin C 7'0'' 250 20 C, C, C- B, C, C, Creighton
Redraft pick: Detlef Schrempf SF 6'10'' 235 22 B, C+ C, C- C, C, Washington
Let's bring this baby home with a quick convo about everyone's favorite Entertainment 720 superstar, Mr. Detlef Schrempf. I expected a lot from Detlef coming into the league, and though I never saw his scout, I remember some saying he had the makings of a star. Sadly, Detlef has really fizzled out in Houston. He is a capable scorer but certainly not a focal point for an offense, he's about average as a rebounder, and he can chip in some assists. But lordy he is a train wreck on defense. He's got C- display grade and his 0.6 stocks per 36 last season put him dead last among any players getting major minutes. He's a big time liability there, and his offense does not come close to making up for it in the way other poor defenders like Martell Webster and Dale Ellis do. The cherry on top of the Schrempf sundae is that he's position locked at SF, so his 7.2 Rebounds per 36 can't even be deployed at a position where they might be helpful. All that being said, he's still better than anyone else in this draft remaining.
3011 Re-Draft
1. Pittsburgh Pipers (from Chicago Stags) - Patrick Ewing C 7'0'' 240 23 B+ C- D+ A- B+ C, Georgetown
Redraft pick: Joe Dumars SG 6'3'' 190 22 B- C+ C, B- C, B, McNeese State University
The crown jewel of the Pipers' run of top 4 picks. This is no slight to Patrick Ewing, but Dumars has overtaken him as the clear best player in this class. He is a more well-rounded version of Dajuan Wagner from last year's class who scores with efficiency, takes care of the ball, and is among the best wing defenders in the league. He's been #1, #2, and #2 in SG winshares over the past three seasons respectively, and made an all-defensive team each of his first three seasons. He's also had great growth in TC, as his grades are +6 from where they were after his 1st season. The Pipers have a nice collection of talent but I think would be better off with a guy like Dumars as the offensive focal point rather than Ewing, despite Ewing's skills as a defender.
2. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Washington Bullets) - Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 250 22 B- C, C- C+ A- B, Louisiana Tech
Redraft pick: Patrick Ewing C 7'0'' 240 23 B+ C- D+ A- B+ C, Georgetown
Trof has had his share of bad TC luck, especially with his high profile picks in this class, so instead of Malone he gets the ready-made star in Ewing. Ewing has been a rock-solid performer through his first four seasons, but for how good he looked in college stats he's been a bit of a disappointment as a pro. His defense is his calling card, and he came into the league already capped as a shotblocker. Unfortunately, he's firmly in the "really good" shotblocker range and hasn't yet developed into elite. He's a quality rebounder but is probably a level below the Bynum/Bogut tier, which is to say he's better than most of the other bigs in the league. Where he's been disappointing has been on the offensive end. He's been miscast as a primary scorer for the Pipers, shooting with volume but only slightly above average efficiency. With his low starting potential he'll likely never get to a point where he should be a contender's first option, and would do better ceding a few shots per game as a non-scoring option and kicking ass as a defender and rebounder, similar to how Ank uses Ibaka or I use JBC. This might sound like a negative passage, so I should make it clear that Ewing is definitely the best option available and Trof would be happy to land him here.
3. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Portland Trail Blazers) - Charles Oakley PF 6'8'' 225 21 B- C- D+ B- A- B, Virginia Union University
Redraft pick: Karl Malone PF 6'9'' 250 22 B- C, C- C+ A- B, Louisiana Tech
This pick came to Trof as part of the three-team mega-deal with the Clippers and Sixers that sent Dale Ellis and Antoine Carr to LA and Martell Webster to Milwaukee. Trofie went heavy on rebounding in this draft, and I see no reason to approach it any differently in the redraft. Malone has been a much better scorer than Ewing thusfar, putting up similar points per game on 1.172 Pts/TSA. He's mediocre most everywhere else, turning the ball over more frequently, blocking far fewer shots, and rebounding at a passable level. The biggest knock on Malone has been the lack of growth. Despite sporting a B potential entering the league, he's not seen much natural growth and looks to have taken a step back after strong output his first two seasons. Still, he's been the most efficient scorer in the class so far in their careers at a volume most other players haven't touched. Trof takes him again here and hopes that a Malone and Ewing pairing fairs better than Malone and Oakley.
4. Original pick: Indiana Pacers - Joe Dumars SG 6'3'' 190 22 B- C+ C, B- C, B, McNeese State University
Redraft pick: Terry Porter PG 6'3'' 195 22 C, B- B+ C+ C, B, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Unfortunately for Herb, he loses out on his stud wing in Dumars and is left with an uninspiring lot to choose from. Terry Porter is the best of the bunch in my eyes. Porter has been among the better points in the league not named Kyrie or Nick since he entered, and he brings a strong all-around game. He scored 18 a game per 36 the past two seasons, although his Pts/TSA took a big dip after ranking higher than any other starting point guard in 3013. He's also among the best rebounders for the position. He won't chip in many steals but he also won't kill you with turnovers. He's the sensible mid-size sedan of point guards.
5. Original pick: Charlotte Hornets - Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 20 C+ C, C+ C+ B- A, Lithuania
Redraft pick: Arvydas Sabonis C 7'3'' 279 20 C+ C, C+ C+ B- A, Lithuania
Like most Hornets, Sabo has fallen under disrepair and could do with a change of scenery. Should I grant him that kindness and redraft him to a different team? Nah, let's keep it all in the family. Sabonis is an intriguing player, averaging around 1.13 Pts/TSA and rebounding well as the lead man in Charlotte, but he has gotten very little run the past couple seasons as the Hornets GM keeps failing to set a depth chart. As a result, we're 4 years into a career and no one is quite sure if he's good or not. The turnovers continue to be a big problem, as he's at 2.7 per 36 in his career. He's generated .139 WS/48, which is 4th in the class, so he's clearly doing something right. We'll see if he can break free of the Charlotte shackles in FA, or if he's doomed to be a forgotten man once more.
6. Vancouver Grizzlies - Terry Porter PG 6'3'' 195 22 C, B- B+ C+ C, B, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Redraft pick: Charles Oakley PF 6'8'' 225 21 B- C- D+ B- A- B, Virginia Union University
The Grizz at this point weren't completely loaded, but they had plenty of bigs to work with. I wrestled with whether Mullin or Oakley was more deserving of this spot. Ultimately I think Oakley has shown more over the first four years than Mullin, despite Mullin's big season last year. Trofie took a big swing on the Talented Mr. Oakley at 1.3, seduced by his superhuman strength, but this spot seems like a better fit for him in retrospect. He's a one-and-a-half trick pony, kicking in great rebounding with average scoring. He's had a disappointing career track, as his efficiency never really improved after his rookie season and was below average last season, but his career WS/48 says he belongs above the next tier of players.
7. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks (from Carolina Cougars) - Xavier McDaniel SF 6'7'' 205 22 B, D+ C- B- A- C, Wichita State
Redraft pick: Chris Mullin SF 6'6'' 200 22 B, C+ B, B- C, C, St. John's
Mullin, or Mully baby as he is known to his colleagues, saw a major slide in his draft stock once scouts became available. Many teams were scared off by his lack of size and rebounding coupled with a potential in the 40s. Four seasons in, it's fair to say that he's performed well but perhaps a hair below expectations. Mullin came in with a top-tier jumper and looked destined to be a premier scorer as a SG. His SF listed position meant he could blow through the inside cap, and his poor rebounding was less of a liability at guard. Through his first three seasons, he failed to live up to the hype, but settled into a role as a good but not great scorer who didn't provide much else. All of that changed last season, when a depleted Clippers roster left Mullin no choice but to hoist. He responded with the best season of his career, averaging over 30 PPG and making first team All-League among SFs. His FTAs doubled from the prior year, while his FGA went up by more than 50%. That kind of output is not likely to reoccur on a team like the Bucks, who picked up a few high usage bigs earlier, but it has turned some heads in a league that is always starving for wing scoring. TBD if Dirt tries to retain him, but as one of the few rookie contract guys not to resign, we will see what the market judges his value to be.
8. Original pick: Carolina Cougars (from San Antonio Spurs) - Chris Mullin SF 6'6'' 200 22 B, C+ B, B- C, C, St. John's
Redraft pick: Mike Smrek C 7'0'' 250 23 B- C- C- B- C, C, Canisius
If you hear some commotion as you read this, don't be alarmed. It's just the sound of BK patting himself on the back. With Mully baby's slide stopping one pick earlier, the Cougs find the best value pick in the draft with Mike Smrek, who originally went to Anaheim with the 28th pick in the first round. Smrek has been impressive through his first 4 seasons, providing slightly better shot blocking and scoring efficiency than one Patrick Ewing. Why would Ewing go 2nd and Smrek 8th? Because that rebounding is ghastly. He's at 8.5 rebounds per 36(!), which means despite his above average scoring efficiency and superb shotblocking, he'll probably never make an impact beyond being the first big off the bench. The Amigos are fine with that, and put together a top 5 rebounding % with both Smrek and Myles Turner, so his lack of rebounding may not be as much of a weakness as it appears in the box score. Smrek is an easy top 10 pick and may wind up with a longer and more fruitful career than guys like Oakley or Sabonis ahead of him.
9. Original pick: Houston Rockets - Detlef Schrempf SF 6'10'' 235 22 B, C+ C, C- C, C, Washington
Redraft pick: Spud Webb PG 5'6'' 133 22 C, C+ A- C- F+ C, NC State
I'll hold my thoughts on Detlef for a little later on, but this pick is definitely more of an upside gamble than most of the others. Spud spent 3 seasons as Kyrie's understudy in New York, meaning minutes were pretty hard to come by, before signing with the Jazz on an LLE. He put together a crazy good offensive season, averaging over 1.21 Pts/TSA. He also got hurt early on in his limited run as a starter and found himself supplanted by Diante Garrett for the rest of the season. Despite his diminutive stature and minutes, Spud has put up some legit WS/48 numbers in his career. Even more impressive, he's done it while averaging less than 2 rebounds per 36, the lowest mark of any player in 6.0 who has played more than 10 minutes! His WS/48 puts him between Malone and Sabonis, suggesting if he got 36 minutes per game, he's capable of being among the better players in the class. Spud may never get his shot as a lead PG, but Houston doesn't have much else going for it, so why not roll the dice and see what the young man can do when afforded a full complement of minutes.
10. Original pick: Utah Jazz - Wayman Tisdale PF 6'9'' 240 21 B, C- C- C, B- C, Oklahoma
Redraft pick: Xavier McDaniel SF 6'7'' 205 22 B, D+ C- B- A- C, Wichita State
The first big miss of the draft comes at 1.10, where unfortunately Wayman Tisdale's school was Oklahoma rather than his strength. He got starters minutes last season with the Stags, but the less said on that front the better. Meanwhile, Fason swung a trade this season to acquire the services of his redraft pick, Xavier McDaniel, who was the third of Trofie's original A- rebounding rookies. I like McDaniel, who continues to be a phenomenal rebounder and gives you a little bit of help everywhere else. He takes care of the basketball and he's generally been around 1.10 to 1.15 Pts/TSA so he's adding some value as a scorer, even though he doesn't do it a lot. A decent starter or luxury 3rd wing for an inside oriented team.
11. Original pick: Portland Trail Blazers (from Cleveland Cavaliers) - Cozell McQueen PF 6'11'' 235 23 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, NC State
Redraft pick: Benoit Benjamin C 7'0'' 250 20 C, C, C- B, C, C, Creighton
Per WS/48, this is a huge reach, as Benjamin is only around .070 for his career. However, Win Shares have never done a good job matching the value of D/R bigs, who provide more shot opportunities for better players and improve team defense. Benjamin has been a very good D/R big so far in his career, averaging over 2 blocks and 10 rebounds per game per 36. Even better, he's only scoring 6 points per 36, so he's using very few shots when he's on the court. He's been buried the past couple seasons in Carolina but I think he's better than any of the other players on the board, despite trailing all of them in WS efficiency.
12. Original pick: Charlotte Bobcats (from Philadelphia 76ers) - Mario Elie SF 6'5'' 210 21 C+ C, C, C, C, A, American International College
Redraft pick: Sam Vincent PG 6'2'' 185 22 C, C+ A, C, D, B, Michigan State
We've now reached the part of the draft where I shrug and start sifting through the garbage. The remaining guys are all replacement-level at best, so if you disagree with the rankings take a look in the mirror and ask yourself why you care so much. That's what I did. Vincent has gotten fewer minutes than Spud and his per 36 numbers don't look that far off of Spud's, except for volume. Vincent is only putting up 12.3 points per 36 while Spud is around 18. That would explain why Spud is at .147 WS/48 while Vincent is down around .105. A career back-up at best.
13. Original pick: Portland Trail Blazers (from contracted) - Jerry Reynolds SF 6'8'' 200 22 C+ C, C- B, C, C, LSU
Redraft pick: Cozell McQueen PF 6'11'' 235 23 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, NC State
Sure, whatever. Jerry Reynolds was trash. McQueen, on the other hand, can rebound and block some shots. He's just shy of 3 stocks per 36, which is a pretty good mark. His offense isn't great and he shoots too much, but at least he does a couple things well. Congrats Majic.
14. Original pick: San Antonio Spurs (from Los Angeles Lakers) - George Montgomery C 6'10'' 235 23 B- D, C- C+ C+ B, Illinois
Redraft pick: Alfredrick Hughes SG 6'5'' 215 23 C+ C, C, C, C, B, Loyola Chicago
George Montgomery made it one season in the league before his untimely passing, and much like his FT attempts, he will be missed. Alfredrick Hughes is a deep cut from the 2nd round who has been O.K. through four seasons. He actually had a solid efficiency season last year as he took a step back from starting into a back-up spot. Delap valued his contributions enough to ink him to a 6 year 4.6 mil per year deal last offseason, and I look forward to ignoring his waiver claim thread after Delap inevitably ponies up for an amnesty.
15. Original pick: Carolina Cougars (from Los Angeles Clippers) - Benoit Benjamin C 7'0'' 250 20 C, C, C- B, C, C, Creighton
Redraft pick: Detlef Schrempf SF 6'10'' 235 22 B, C+ C, C- C, C, Washington
Let's bring this baby home with a quick convo about everyone's favorite Entertainment 720 superstar, Mr. Detlef Schrempf. I expected a lot from Detlef coming into the league, and though I never saw his scout, I remember some saying he had the makings of a star. Sadly, Detlef has really fizzled out in Houston. He is a capable scorer but certainly not a focal point for an offense, he's about average as a rebounder, and he can chip in some assists. But lordy he is a train wreck on defense. He's got C- display grade and his 0.6 stocks per 36 last season put him dead last among any players getting major minutes. He's a big time liability there, and his offense does not come close to making up for it in the way other poor defenders like Martell Webster and Dale Ellis do. The cherry on top of the Schrempf sundae is that he's position locked at SF, so his 7.2 Rebounds per 36 can't even be deployed at a position where they might be helpful. All that being said, he's still better than anyone else in this draft remaining.
