2006 NBA Draft
The Toronto Raptors take Andrea Bargnani with the first
overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. His game
strikingly resembles that of Dirk Nowitzky’s, but will he
be another Darko? European players are still a big if as
way more ride the bench than go on to become Tony
Parker’s. Bargnani does have an advantage over some of the
previous European players taken in past drafts. In being
selected number 1 by a lowly franchise, he will be given
every opportunity to become great as the Raptors have so
much stock in him. Bargnani will have a long ways to go to
reach the caliber of a Dirk Nowitzky. When Nowitzky came
into the league, he had a more developed interior game
than Bargnani. In the early stages of this young guys
career, I think you’ll see him play more like Peja
Stojackovic. Make no mistake, Bargnani has a huge upside,
but he will have a tough transition to make in the NBA, at
least initially.
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With the number 2 pick the Chicago Bulls drafted LaMarcus
Aldridge from the University of Texas, but quickly sent
him off to Portland. The Trailblazers are getting a guy
with great size, athletic ability, and length. If they are
looking for him to be a premier offensive player in the
NBA, I think they have another thing coming. He does
possess some good skills, but he doesn’t demand the ball
and will need to improve his shooting range. Although he
may never be a 1st Team All NBA player, I think he has the
ability to be on the All NBA Defensive Team, and perhaps
this is where Portland is really looking for him to
contribute. His length and athletic ability could allow
him to become one of the premier shot blockers in the
league and if he gets a little bit stronger and tougher,
he can be a top 5 rebounder in the NBA as well.
Michael Jordan was a scorer and he gets a scorer in Adam
Morrison as the 6’8’’ small forward heads down to
Charlotte as the 3rd pick in the draft. Morrison isn’t
even on the radar in terms of athletic ability in this
year’s draft, but he has determination that can’t be
taught. He is an unconscious shooter who can knock down
tough shots in clutch situations. At times he has reminded
me of Reggie Miller in this regard. But he is not as
limited a player as Miller was. He is very good with the
ball in his hands and has proven that he can create his
own shots. Defense will be a big concern for him as this
is where his lateral quickness could be exposed.
The Bulls get the SEC’s Freshman of the Year Tyrus Thomas
as Portland dealt him away for LaMarcus Aldridge and a
2007 second round pick. And in my opinion, the Bulls are
getting the better deal. In fact, I trust the Bulls
judgment as they have been very successful in drafting all
star caliber players. They just haven’t been very
successful in keeping them in Chicago. It appears that
Chicago has got things going in the right direction with
Skiles on the bench leading them to back to back playoffs
births. Thomas will give them another explosive player
like Tyson Chandler, and despite what his scouting report
says, he showed in the NCAA tournament that he can score
the basketball. His biggest downfall is experience. He’s
only been playing organized basketball since his junior
year of high school. The Bulls are already one of the
quickest young teams in the league, and Thomas only makes
them better.
Sheldon Williams isn’t going to be a star, but like
virtually every former Duke player, he will have a solid
career and be able to contribute right away because of his
NBA build and high basketball IQ. I can see him as a
double-double guy for Atlanta, playing a lot like a former
Duke star Carlos Boozer. His long 7’2’’ wingspan despite
his 6’9’’ height is similar to that of another Dukie,
Elton Brand, but I don’t see him as having that much
potential. Williams is a warrior inside and will provide
Atlanta with some much needed toughness and a powerful big
man who can help win the rebound battle each night.
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