2010 NBA Draft Sleepers
Today, as far as I am concerned, is the beginning of a new season in the NBA. New rookies will replace the old ones, free agency and trades will mix the teams up some more, and the NBA landscape will be a completely different one than it was a week ago. In fact, besides the actual start of the season, the draft is one of the most exciting times of the NBA year. Yes I sound like a basketball junkie, but the NBA Draft doesn't come without its fair share of idiocy. It happens every draft in every sport. There's always this overwhelming hype that surrounds the act of picking a new player for a squad. That said, I'm kind of tired of it. Every year, basketball pundits talk about the top 10 picks in the draft like they'll be the best in the NBA 4 years from now, when that's almost never the case. As a matter of fact, I've yet to see a draft (other than 2003) that had dope players from 1 through 5. This year, we're going to take a look at the talent outside of the lottery picks, because while this is a mediocre year, there are some gems hidden in the draft pool. Check this year's sleepers out...
Paul George
This kid is NICE. I tried to find an NBA comparison to put with Pauly, and all I could come up with is a slightly less athletic version of T-Mac (pre-Houston). George just looks like he belongs on a basketball court, swooping in and scoring on you effortlessly. In fact, I'd say that Paul George might very well be the best player out of this draft in 5 years. I'm dead serious. He's got inhuman length and is a solid defender, though he needs to add some muscle (what NBA prospect doesn't nowadays?). Other than that, and a tendency to goof around more than Max at a Powerline concert, Paul George has All-Star written on his forehead...
Craig Brackins
Ten years ago, Craig Brackins would've been a top-10 pick. I say that to show that the NBA, and basketball are cyclical. Ten years ago, the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett & Dirk Nowitzki were the 'in' thing: big men who could play the guards game, but still bang around in the post. Now that those guys are in the twilights (the end for Sheed) of their careers, it's the big men like Dwight Howard, A'mare Stoudemire & Al Jefferson in the limelight. The latter of these two groups are the bruisers, the big men whose livelihood is in the paint, and that's it. It's for that reason Craig Brackins is going to be a good look in the NBA. He has a touch from 15-20 feet out that I haven't seen from a young big man since Dirk stepped onto the court with the bucks. Add to that the perfect size for an NBA power forward and solid footwork, and you've got your starter for the next 8 years...
Jordan Crawford
Jordan Crawford, Jordan Crawford... OHHHHHHH!!! You mean the Jordan Crawford that dunked on LeBron James, Jordan Crawford?? Yes, that Jordan Crawford. In addition to having a lot of fame on the internets for a certain video that Nike didn't want to be released, Crawford was a scoring machine in his lone year at Xavier. He averaged 20 ppg during the season and almost 30 during the tournament. I'd liken him to another Crawford (Jamal), with a less developed handle. Nonetheless, Jordan is a natural scorer who can come on to any team and provide instant offense. I just like watching him shoot. The form and elevation on his jumper are some of the best I've seen in this draft class. Doesn't hurt to have a dunk on LeBron on your resume before the NBA, either (then again, how many people can even say they've done that?)...
Paul George
This kid is NICE. I tried to find an NBA comparison to put with Pauly, and all I could come up with is a slightly less athletic version of T-Mac (pre-Houston). George just looks like he belongs on a basketball court, swooping in and scoring on you effortlessly. In fact, I'd say that Paul George might very well be the best player out of this draft in 5 years. I'm dead serious. He's got inhuman length and is a solid defender, though he needs to add some muscle (what NBA prospect doesn't nowadays?). Other than that, and a tendency to goof around more than Max at a Powerline concert, Paul George has All-Star written on his forehead...
Craig Brackins
Ten years ago, Craig Brackins would've been a top-10 pick. I say that to show that the NBA, and basketball are cyclical. Ten years ago, the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett & Dirk Nowitzki were the 'in' thing: big men who could play the guards game, but still bang around in the post. Now that those guys are in the twilights (the end for Sheed) of their careers, it's the big men like Dwight Howard, A'mare Stoudemire & Al Jefferson in the limelight. The latter of these two groups are the bruisers, the big men whose livelihood is in the paint, and that's it. It's for that reason Craig Brackins is going to be a good look in the NBA. He has a touch from 15-20 feet out that I haven't seen from a young big man since Dirk stepped onto the court with the bucks. Add to that the perfect size for an NBA power forward and solid footwork, and you've got your starter for the next 8 years...
Jordan Crawford
Jordan Crawford, Jordan Crawford... OHHHHHHH!!! You mean the Jordan Crawford that dunked on LeBron James, Jordan Crawford?? Yes, that Jordan Crawford. In addition to having a lot of fame on the internets for a certain video that Nike didn't want to be released, Crawford was a scoring machine in his lone year at Xavier. He averaged 20 ppg during the season and almost 30 during the tournament. I'd liken him to another Crawford (Jamal), with a less developed handle. Nonetheless, Jordan is a natural scorer who can come on to any team and provide instant offense. I just like watching him shoot. The form and elevation on his jumper are some of the best I've seen in this draft class. Doesn't hurt to have a dunk on LeBron on your resume before the NBA, either (then again, how many people can even say they've done that?)...