Post by Minnesota on Aug 31, 2015 20:31:30 GMT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Last week the Ultimate ABCA Creation Draft kicked off. While many teams haven't made selections because the 1st Round is still underway we can take a look back at some of the early picks.
#1) Barcelona FC - MICHAEL JORDAN
With the #1 overall pick the Newcastle Eagles brought Michael Jordan to Spain. Jordan was the consensus #1 pick in this draft so if it were anyone other than him then we'd have something to question but Jordan is legit in all aspects of the game and should lead Barca to the playoffs for a few seasons. Of course he will need some help but which franchise player doesn't?
#2) Newcastle Eagles - HAKEEM OLAJUWON
Hakeem is the first big man off the board and was the only other person outside of Michael Jordan that I was sure was going to be a Top 3 pick. Olajuwon at 2 is a very good pick. He's a stud. Newcastle should have their franchise center for some time. His ability to defend, score, and rebound makes him a perennial all-star and a true MVP candidate.
#3) Vancouver Grizzles - ARVYDAS SABONIS
Vancouver also went with a big man and took international sensation Arvydas Sabonis who's calling card is his unique passing skill-set. Sabonis has great size (7'3") to go with his scoring ability which will make him tough to stop. It's not like he is just an offensive threat either his skills will boost the Grizzles defense by quite a bit. I fully expect him to average 20/10/5 his first year.
#4) Cairo Zamalek - JOHN STOCKTON
Stockton is clearly the best Point Guard in this draft. Going top 5 is not a huge surprise but maybe a couple picks earlier than I expected - still, a very good selection. He is unquestionably the best passer and one of the very best perimeter defenders in the league. He will help the Cairo offense run and should help make them very efficient. There is absolutely no question about his talent but will the Zamalek be able to surround him with enough talent to win a title in the next 3-5 years?
#5) Buenos Aires Boca Juniors BC - KEVIN DURANT
The youngest player with the highest potential in this draft (other than Zach LaVine) was Kevin Durant and the Boca Juniors picked him up at 5. I have to say I really like this pick for them. Of course he has a ways to go before being as good as Michael Jordan but if you can draft someone who has skill now and that type of potential you need to roll the dice. Durant has some positional flexibility with his combination of athleticism and size so Buenos Aires could prove to be a match-up nightmare for a lot of teams.
#6) Milano Olimpia - CLYDE FRAZIER
I definitely think Clyde Frazier is crazy good but I worry that the 6th pick might have been a bit too high. Extremely talented but when a guy is 28 (29 in March) the window to add talent to them is relatively small. They really need to pair him with another player. The great thing about Frazier is that he can play both guard positions. I might use him as a Point Guard with real good size but having extra options is always a good thing.
#7) Beijing Aoshen - GEORGE MIKAN
I thought that George Mikan could go earlier than 7 to be honest. The Beijing Aoshen get a big man who is 25 and already a force on both ends of the court. Compared to Sabonis' impressive 7'3" frame, Mikan (being 6'11" 236 lbs) might be better suited to play Power Forward if another Center becomes best value later in the draft.
#8) Bamberg Brose Baskets - PATRICK EWING
Some thought that Patrick Ewing might go as high as 3 to Vancouver and others had Ewing closer to 15 so somewhere in the middle was probably right. Ewing becomes a force inside for Bamberg and will help them combat Mikan and Olajuwon who have already been selected. Of course this high in the draft you are getting guys who do everything and Patrick is no exception. He will give you buckets on one end and deflections on the other. Really nice player to have and build around for a few years. Already a good talent.
#9) San Francisco Warriors - GRANT HILL
I like the Grant Hill pick for San Francisco. They get a guy who is able to be an all-star immediately but also is young enough to plan around for the next 5-7 years. He's quick, he's skilled, and he's versatile. As long as he stays on the court Grant Hill will have a very nice career for the Warriors.
#10) Minnesota Timberwolves - KEVIN GARNETT
With guys like Barkley, Malone, Belov, and Julius Erving still on the board Kevin Garnett going to Minnesota was obviously a move for the future. He's 23 with good athletic traits and a well-balanced all around game. He's less of a 4/5 and more of a 4/3 but almost strictly a Power Forward. Good passer, still a bit raw.
CONCLUSION
It's clear there were a few reaches even early in the draft and some very talented players slid out of the Top 10. Most people did tend to go young banking on the fact that the big contracts won't come back to get them down the road.
The best move of the Creation Draft so far has been Mexico City being able to land both Pau Gasol and Sergei Belov which gives them a dynamic pair of players. The thought around the league is that the Titans are the early favorites to win the title but there is still a lot of draft left. We aren't even out of the first round.
#1) Barcelona FC - MICHAEL JORDAN
With the #1 overall pick the Newcastle Eagles brought Michael Jordan to Spain. Jordan was the consensus #1 pick in this draft so if it were anyone other than him then we'd have something to question but Jordan is legit in all aspects of the game and should lead Barca to the playoffs for a few seasons. Of course he will need some help but which franchise player doesn't?
#2) Newcastle Eagles - HAKEEM OLAJUWON
Hakeem is the first big man off the board and was the only other person outside of Michael Jordan that I was sure was going to be a Top 3 pick. Olajuwon at 2 is a very good pick. He's a stud. Newcastle should have their franchise center for some time. His ability to defend, score, and rebound makes him a perennial all-star and a true MVP candidate.
#3) Vancouver Grizzles - ARVYDAS SABONIS
Vancouver also went with a big man and took international sensation Arvydas Sabonis who's calling card is his unique passing skill-set. Sabonis has great size (7'3") to go with his scoring ability which will make him tough to stop. It's not like he is just an offensive threat either his skills will boost the Grizzles defense by quite a bit. I fully expect him to average 20/10/5 his first year.
#4) Cairo Zamalek - JOHN STOCKTON
Stockton is clearly the best Point Guard in this draft. Going top 5 is not a huge surprise but maybe a couple picks earlier than I expected - still, a very good selection. He is unquestionably the best passer and one of the very best perimeter defenders in the league. He will help the Cairo offense run and should help make them very efficient. There is absolutely no question about his talent but will the Zamalek be able to surround him with enough talent to win a title in the next 3-5 years?
#5) Buenos Aires Boca Juniors BC - KEVIN DURANT
The youngest player with the highest potential in this draft (other than Zach LaVine) was Kevin Durant and the Boca Juniors picked him up at 5. I have to say I really like this pick for them. Of course he has a ways to go before being as good as Michael Jordan but if you can draft someone who has skill now and that type of potential you need to roll the dice. Durant has some positional flexibility with his combination of athleticism and size so Buenos Aires could prove to be a match-up nightmare for a lot of teams.
#6) Milano Olimpia - CLYDE FRAZIER
I definitely think Clyde Frazier is crazy good but I worry that the 6th pick might have been a bit too high. Extremely talented but when a guy is 28 (29 in March) the window to add talent to them is relatively small. They really need to pair him with another player. The great thing about Frazier is that he can play both guard positions. I might use him as a Point Guard with real good size but having extra options is always a good thing.
#7) Beijing Aoshen - GEORGE MIKAN
I thought that George Mikan could go earlier than 7 to be honest. The Beijing Aoshen get a big man who is 25 and already a force on both ends of the court. Compared to Sabonis' impressive 7'3" frame, Mikan (being 6'11" 236 lbs) might be better suited to play Power Forward if another Center becomes best value later in the draft.
#8) Bamberg Brose Baskets - PATRICK EWING
Some thought that Patrick Ewing might go as high as 3 to Vancouver and others had Ewing closer to 15 so somewhere in the middle was probably right. Ewing becomes a force inside for Bamberg and will help them combat Mikan and Olajuwon who have already been selected. Of course this high in the draft you are getting guys who do everything and Patrick is no exception. He will give you buckets on one end and deflections on the other. Really nice player to have and build around for a few years. Already a good talent.
#9) San Francisco Warriors - GRANT HILL
I like the Grant Hill pick for San Francisco. They get a guy who is able to be an all-star immediately but also is young enough to plan around for the next 5-7 years. He's quick, he's skilled, and he's versatile. As long as he stays on the court Grant Hill will have a very nice career for the Warriors.
#10) Minnesota Timberwolves - KEVIN GARNETT
With guys like Barkley, Malone, Belov, and Julius Erving still on the board Kevin Garnett going to Minnesota was obviously a move for the future. He's 23 with good athletic traits and a well-balanced all around game. He's less of a 4/5 and more of a 4/3 but almost strictly a Power Forward. Good passer, still a bit raw.
CONCLUSION
It's clear there were a few reaches even early in the draft and some very talented players slid out of the Top 10. Most people did tend to go young banking on the fact that the big contracts won't come back to get them down the road.
The best move of the Creation Draft so far has been Mexico City being able to land both Pau Gasol and Sergei Belov which gives them a dynamic pair of players. The thought around the league is that the Titans are the early favorites to win the title but there is still a lot of draft left. We aren't even out of the first round.
