How is the Pacific Division looking? Draft Review
Sept 8, 2015 12:43:14 GMT
Minnesota, Sarawak, and 2 more like this
Post by Tel Aviv on Sept 8, 2015 12:43:14 GMT
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - As we head into the later stages of the 5th round of the ABCA creation draft, I take a look at how the teams in the Pacific Division are looking, give my thoughts on their selections made so far and a grade for how their teams are shaping up. First up is Beijing Aoshen.
Beijing Aoshen
C: George Mikan
PF: Sam Perkins
SF: Jerry Stackhouse
SG: Chuck Taylor
PG: Dick McGuire
PG/SG: Arnie Ferrin
Beijing are led by the 7th overall selection George Mikan, who I think is one of the best value picks in the entire draft, the big man has it all and comes into the league at a great age to make a lasting impression. Chuck Taylor and Dick McGuire were both good pickups for this team aswell; both strong defenders out on the perimeter and with Mikan inside this should be a good defensive team. Perkins will stretch the floor for the team but ideally he would be more of a 6th man type than a starter. Not sold personally on the Stackhouse selection, although he should be a decent scorer.
Grade: B+
Guangdong Southern Tigers
PF/C: Dario Saric
PF: Julius Randle
SF: Jabari Parker
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
PG: Gilbert Arenas
I like the team they are building here, one of the youngest teams being built in the creation draft, every player seems to have upside, as long as they can live up to their potential. Arenas looks to be a dynamic scorer he was becoming in Legends with already considerably better defense and point guard skills. Dario Saric was a pick up I really liked and someone I had my eye on, like most of the team he is a little raw at the moment but has the potential to become a really solid player in the league. The team doesn't have the talent right now to make a big impression but is an interesting team with great potential. Did have to move their two future picks to do so and could give a lottery pick away in year one though.
Grade: A-
Perth Wildcats
C: Benoit Benjamin
PF: Bob McAdoo
SG: Pat Riley
PG: Bobby Wanzer
Perth are led by power forward Bob McAdoo who looks set to be able to make a big contribution right away, but Perth haven't really been able to put a great deal of talent around him to take advantage of that. They do have some help for McAdoo, with Wanzer, who is a scoring point guard with very good defense. Benjamin will anchor the defense in the paint although his game is limited. I think the team will hover around .500 this season and be fighting for the final playoffs spots in the Eurasian.
Grade: B-
Auckland Sky City Breakers
C: Kevin Willis
PF: Radivoj Korac
SF: Harry Gallatin
SG: Paul Hoffman
PG: Ivo Daneu
I think this team has the chance to be one of the better teams in the league in year one. Korac looks like an interesting player and was good value where he was picked in the first round. They also picked up veteran Harry Gallatin, who everyone was wondering where he would end up going. Those two together should be a productive duo for the team in year 1. Ivo Daneu was also a great pickup for the team, dynamic athlete with defensive and scoring ability. I think a shot blocker might of been a better fit ahead of Willis but he is a decent defensive center. I think they will be around the top of the Eurasian conference.
Grade: A
Mikawa Aisin Seahorses
PF: Ubiratan Pereira Maciel
PF: Sherman White
PF: Jack Coleman
SF: Xavier McDaniel
This is currently one of the more interesting teams in the league. The GM likes to play around with players in different positions and looks to be heading that way again. Picking late in the first round wasn't the easiest position to be in. First chosen was Xavier McDaniel who maybe was under the radar, a great athlete with a versatile skill set. Big man Ubiratan Pereira Maciel, was a good pick, a very good defensive center who also is a good athlete. Veteran Jack Coleman was also decent value where he went although think there were better on the board. Not sure about the White pick, good scorer but not many worse defenders in the draft. Will be interesting to see how this team performs in the season.
Grade: B
Taipei Fubon Braves
PF: Jack Nichols
PF: Aaron Gordon
SF: Connie Hawkins
SF: Richard Jefferson
PG: Vern Fleming
C: Bryant Reeves
The Braves traded away both their first and second round picks, with their first pick coming late in the 2nd round and went with Hawkins, thought they might of gone a bit younger here but decent value at the end of the 2nd. I like the Aaron Gordon pick for the team, looks like an interesting prospect, great athlete but will need to grow into his potential. Not a big fan of the later round selections though, thought there were better options for the team, particularly the Jefferson and Fleming choices.
Grade: C+
*Thanks to Piraeus for his List of Current Rosters thread for making this easier*
Beijing Aoshen
C: George Mikan
PF: Sam Perkins
SF: Jerry Stackhouse
SG: Chuck Taylor
PG: Dick McGuire
PG/SG: Arnie Ferrin
Beijing are led by the 7th overall selection George Mikan, who I think is one of the best value picks in the entire draft, the big man has it all and comes into the league at a great age to make a lasting impression. Chuck Taylor and Dick McGuire were both good pickups for this team aswell; both strong defenders out on the perimeter and with Mikan inside this should be a good defensive team. Perkins will stretch the floor for the team but ideally he would be more of a 6th man type than a starter. Not sold personally on the Stackhouse selection, although he should be a decent scorer.
Grade: B+
Guangdong Southern Tigers
PF/C: Dario Saric
PF: Julius Randle
SF: Jabari Parker
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
PG: Gilbert Arenas
I like the team they are building here, one of the youngest teams being built in the creation draft, every player seems to have upside, as long as they can live up to their potential. Arenas looks to be a dynamic scorer he was becoming in Legends with already considerably better defense and point guard skills. Dario Saric was a pick up I really liked and someone I had my eye on, like most of the team he is a little raw at the moment but has the potential to become a really solid player in the league. The team doesn't have the talent right now to make a big impression but is an interesting team with great potential. Did have to move their two future picks to do so and could give a lottery pick away in year one though.
Grade: A-
Perth Wildcats
C: Benoit Benjamin
PF: Bob McAdoo
SG: Pat Riley
PG: Bobby Wanzer
Perth are led by power forward Bob McAdoo who looks set to be able to make a big contribution right away, but Perth haven't really been able to put a great deal of talent around him to take advantage of that. They do have some help for McAdoo, with Wanzer, who is a scoring point guard with very good defense. Benjamin will anchor the defense in the paint although his game is limited. I think the team will hover around .500 this season and be fighting for the final playoffs spots in the Eurasian.
Grade: B-
Auckland Sky City Breakers
C: Kevin Willis
PF: Radivoj Korac
SF: Harry Gallatin
SG: Paul Hoffman
PG: Ivo Daneu
I think this team has the chance to be one of the better teams in the league in year one. Korac looks like an interesting player and was good value where he was picked in the first round. They also picked up veteran Harry Gallatin, who everyone was wondering where he would end up going. Those two together should be a productive duo for the team in year 1. Ivo Daneu was also a great pickup for the team, dynamic athlete with defensive and scoring ability. I think a shot blocker might of been a better fit ahead of Willis but he is a decent defensive center. I think they will be around the top of the Eurasian conference.
Grade: A
Mikawa Aisin Seahorses
PF: Ubiratan Pereira Maciel
PF: Sherman White
PF: Jack Coleman
SF: Xavier McDaniel
This is currently one of the more interesting teams in the league. The GM likes to play around with players in different positions and looks to be heading that way again. Picking late in the first round wasn't the easiest position to be in. First chosen was Xavier McDaniel who maybe was under the radar, a great athlete with a versatile skill set. Big man Ubiratan Pereira Maciel, was a good pick, a very good defensive center who also is a good athlete. Veteran Jack Coleman was also decent value where he went although think there were better on the board. Not sure about the White pick, good scorer but not many worse defenders in the draft. Will be interesting to see how this team performs in the season.
Grade: B
Taipei Fubon Braves
PF: Jack Nichols
PF: Aaron Gordon
SF: Connie Hawkins
SF: Richard Jefferson
PG: Vern Fleming
C: Bryant Reeves
The Braves traded away both their first and second round picks, with their first pick coming late in the 2nd round and went with Hawkins, thought they might of gone a bit younger here but decent value at the end of the 2nd. I like the Aaron Gordon pick for the team, looks like an interesting prospect, great athlete but will need to grow into his potential. Not a big fan of the later round selections though, thought there were better options for the team, particularly the Jefferson and Fleming choices.
Grade: C+
*Thanks to Piraeus for his List of Current Rosters thread for making this easier*
