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Dropping Dimes Draft Blog: Round 1 Recap

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, Fantasy, NBA

DescriptionAt the end of every round, we will be posting a round recap to let you know which players have been picked and where.  Simply click on the player’s name below to see why the respective Dime Dropper chose said player.

Here’s your recap for Round One:

1. LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks
3. Shawn Marion, SF/PF, Phoenix Suns
4. Kevin Garnett, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
6. Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Miami Heat

Click to continue reading Dropping Dimes Draft Blog: Round 1 Recap


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Dropping Dimes: 3-2-1 Impact. Howard, Villanueva and Aldridge

Alvin Lai

Posted by Alvin Lai
Categories: Drafts, Fantasy, NBA

Description>“This is 10% luck, 20% skill. 15% concentrated power of will. 5% pleasure, 50% pain, and 100% reason to remember the name.” Lyrics to “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor

Every drafted player strives to make a name for themselves. It takes concentrated effort and sacrifice; sometimes we see results right away. Other times a player is still trying to learn the ropes a couple of years into their career. In basketball, finding these young and rising stars just before they hit the big time is a vital edge in bringing home the fantasy glory. Welcome to the first edition of a new feature here on Dropping Dimes. In “3-2-1 Impact,” comparisons between a third year player, a second year player and a rookie are forged. Fantasy impact takes the spotlight. Hopefully by season’s end, your league mates will have all the reason to remember your name...because it will be engraved in gold on your trophy!

For more, click here to go this special article to EndScore from Dropping Dimes.


Reggie Bush Is A Saint

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Athletes, Drafts, Editorial, News, NFL

Reggie Bush signs!After a “short” two-day holdout, RB Reggie Bush is now an official member of the New Orleans Saints.  The deal is for six years, but the financial compensation was not officially announced, although it’s rumored to be in the $55 million to $60 million range with a guarantee of about $26.3 million.

Bush and the Saints can only benefit from only a two-day holdout, as opposed to a long holdout and even rumored possibility that Bush sit out the whole season and re-enter the draft in 2007.  With a new coaching staff, Bush needed to be in camp in order to maximize his performance this coming season.

Click to continue reading Reggie Bush Is A Saint

Read More | Yahoo! Sports

NBA Draft Grades: Pacific Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Quincy DoubyGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Who They Ended Up With: C Patrick O’Bryant, C Kosta Perovic
Comments: Well, the Warriors got taller that’s for sure. Bryant can block shots and can run the floor well for a big man.  He can be a real force in a couple of seasons.  Perovic may not amount to much of anything at all… but he’s tall! 
Final Grade: C

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Who They Ended Up With: PF/C Paul Davis, PG Guillermo Diaz
Comments: Considering they only had two second round picks, the Clips did really well for themselves.  Wait, did I say they only had second rounders and not in the lottery?  And did I also say they did well for themselves… in a draft?  Yeah, believe it or not, the Clips are heading in the right direction.  Davis is a tough player that can shoot from the outside and get after the ball off the boards.  He’ll be a solid backup to both Elton Brand and Chris Kaman down the line.  Diaz has excellent stroke and can snap nets to a big degree if given the time on the court.  Solid, solid perimeter player.
Final Grade: B+

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NBA Draft Grades: Northwest Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Randy Foye from the charity stripeDENVER NUGGETS
Who They Ended Up With: Nobody
Comments: The Nuggets had a second round pick, which they used on Leon Powe, whom they shipped out to the Boston Celtics for a future second-rounder.  It made sense for the Nuggets not to actually “keep” the pick since they really don’t have the salary cap room IF Powe (or whomever they wanted to draft and keep to themselves) made the team.  They just paid the max contract extension to Carmelo Anthony, they are grossly overpaying Kenyon Martin, and they just gave Nene a huge extension as well.  Definitely have some money issues and I think this team is going to implode.
Final Grade: NA

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Who They Ended Up With: PG/SG Randy Foye, PF Craig Smith, C Loukas Mavrokefalidis
Comments: I like the T-Wolves getting Foye because they sorely needed some electricity and scoring from the backcourt and Foye will provide it.  He’s been compared to Dwyane Wade because of his ability to score and get to the paint.  He’s explosive with great handle and can also find the open man.  Smith at 6’7” is a bit small for a power forward, but he’s earned his stripes in the tough Big East where he played for Boston College.  Mavrokefalidis may stay in Greece for more seasoning.  Hopefully for the T-Wolves, Kevin Garnett is liking these additions as I do.
Final Grade: A-

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NBA Draft Grades: Southwest Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Rudy Gay taking it to the rack!DALLAS MAVERICKS
Who They Ended Up With: SG Maurice Ager, SG Danilo Pinnock
Comments: Whenever I watched a Michigan State game, for some reason I always focused on watching Ager play.  He’s a great perimter shooter, a finisher on the break, extremely athletic, and just an all-around scorer.  He reminds me of another MSU alumnus, Morris Peterson.  Ager is a bit undersized at the two spot, but is long.  He’ll need to play better defense if he wants to really do well in the league, but either way, at best he’ll be the sixth man off the bench for the stacked Mavs.  Pinnock has a solid overall game, but is a better defender.  If the Mavs could put Ager and Pinnock in one body, they’d have a potential All-Star player right now.  BUT that’s more Dr. Frankenstein theory before a pack of villagers come raiding my house, torches in hand.
Final Grade: B

HOUSTON ROCKETS
Who They Ended Up With: SF Steve Novak, F Lior Eliyahu, SF Shane Battier (trade)
Comments: Check this stat out about Novak - he’s only missed 18 free throws his entire college career and has higher lifetime free throw and three-point shooting percentages higher than J.J. Redick.  The boy can flat out shoot!  With Yao Ming down in the box and Tracy McGrady penetrating to the hole, Novak should see a lot of open jumpers going through nets all around the league when he gets time on the floor.  Mark my words now… Novak will win the 3-point shooting contest at this upcoming season’s All-Star Weekend.  Okay, I have to be honest, I thought it was dumb to trade Rudy Gay, a potential star player and we’re talking high-end here, for Shane Battier.  Don’t get me wrong, Battier has a great overall game and for those of you that play fantasy basketball know this, but we know what we get with Battier and the upside of Gay is worth a lot more.  However, that said, Battier will be a great complement to Ming and McGrady and should be a front-line defensive stopper for them.
Final Grade: C+

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NBA Draft Grades: Southeast Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Adam Morrison versus J.J. RedickATLANTA HAWKS
Who They Ended Up With: PF/C Shelden Williams, PF Solomon Jones
Comments: When the Hawks’ pick was made and they kept their promise to draft Williams, I thought, what a bunch of dummies!!!  They seriously needed a point guard because Tyronn Lue wasn’t cutting it and Joe Johnson was playing out of position.  However, soon enough, they signed Speedy Claxton to run their offense and I felt better about the Hawks.  Backing up Chris Paul in New Orleans, and sometimes playing alongside him, Claxton showed that he had starter ability and could probably get the job done somewhere else.  Well, he’s getting his chance.  Back to Williams - it was nothing against him, in particular, but the Hawks need a point.  But, he should be a low-post force once he gets accumulated playing down with the trees on the NBA level.  He’s a nice complement with the jumping jack athletes such as Josh Smith and Marvin Williams.
Final Grade: B

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Who They Ended Up With: SF Adam Morrison, C Ryan Hollins
Comments: Michael Jordan’s first big move as part-owner of the Bobcats came on draft night and just like his playing days, he hit the big shot in drafting Morrison AKA “The Stache.” Morrison will bring some much needed scoring punch for the Bobcats who are shaping up to be a good team, if Emeka Okafor can stay healthy, Raymond Felton continues to grow, and Gerald Wallace continues his trend of getting better and better.  Morrison can shoot from the outside, as well as drive to the basket, and while he may look very UN-athletic, he gets his shot off and they go in.  He’ll probably be a liability on defense, but with Wallace and Okafor ready to swat shots away, it may not be as big of a deal.  But only if Morrison shows the ability to put the ball in the basket like he did in college.  He should be able to do so as he, along with Brandon Roy, were the most NBA-ready players in this draft, but “The Stache” is pretty much untouchable when it comes to competitiveness.  Hollins should be a solid shot-blocker off the bench, but other than that, anything else he gives would be gravy.
Final Grade: A

Click to continue reading NBA Draft Grades: Southeast Division


NBA Draft Grades: Central Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Tyrus ThomasCHICAGO BULLS
Who They Ended Up With: PF Tyrus Thomas, SG Thabo Sefolosha, SF Viktor Khryapa (trade)
Comments: The Bulls were able to get the player they probably wanted anyway, as well as Viktor Khryapa and a draft pick when they traded the rights to LaMarcus Aldridge whom they drafted second overall to the Blazers for Thomas.  That John Paxson is one smart dude.  Thomas is extremely athletic, can finish on the break, and can do with a ball what every credit card company I apply with does and that’s reject with reckless abandon.  He’s still very young and might be the anti-Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler and actually have his game grow and be more than one dimensional.  Sefolosha could be a defensive stopper at this level and could be a solid bench player.  I’m not sure where or when Kyryapa will play with Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng at the three.
Final Grade: A-

CLEVELAND CAVALLIERS
Who They Ended Up With: SG Shannon Brown, PG Daniel Gibson, SF/PF Ejike Ugboaja
Comments: I like the Brown pick because who knows what’s going to happen to Larry Hughes health-wise.  It’s unfortunate for Hughes because he obviously has talent, capable on both ends of the floor.  Brown brings some intensity to an otherwise pretty quiet team.  Even LeBron James doesn’t yell and scream much, which is actually very MJ-like, as well as refreshing.  Gibson was an excellent pickup in the second round as he has shown the abilty to play at a high level.  He’ll probably do an apprenticeship under Eric Snow, but then take over.  Gibson is more of a scorer than a true point, but maybe playing with James will change his outlook.
Final Grade: B

Click to continue reading NBA Draft Grades: Central Division


NBA Draft Grades: Atlantic Division

Dennis Velasco

Posted by Dennis Velasco
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Unlike what he just did, Renaldo Balkman is NOT a slam dunkI know what you’re thinking - “What the hell took you so long to get these NBA Draft grades out?” Well, I’ve been so immersed with watching the World Cup (and, yeah, I know I haven’t been writing about that either, but I find myself enjoying it way too much, I’m “spent” as Austin Powers used to say, to write about it; don’t worry, I’ll do up a Finals preview), being in TWO heated fantasy baseball matchups with archrivals, and doing several fantasy football mocks, I just had to put the old orange roundball on the side for a minute.  But, don’t worry, I’m on top of it like Zach Braff on any chick he was fortunate enough to be on top of… Natalie Portman?  Mandy Moore?  How’d that happen?!?!?! 

Well, at least, Braff didn’t draft Renaldo Balkman.

BOSTON CELTICS:
Who They Ended Up With: PG Rajon Rondo, PF Leon Powe, PG Sebastian Telfair (via trade), PF/C Theo Ratliff (via trade), PF Brian Grant (via trade)
Comments: At first, I liked the trade to get Telfair from the Portland Trailblazers because as good as Delonte West was, he’s not really a point.  I was really excited thinking of how West would flourish even more from the two spot as he didn’t have to worry about creating for his teammates anymore.  But then the Celtics drafted Rajon Rondo, another point guard.  They definitely are stocking up on PGs for Allen Iverson.  Hopefully, the deal gets done for the Celtics or they’ll look dumb.  But, getting Leon Powe was a great value pick.  Too bad he’ll probably be coming off the bench.  However if Ryan Gomes can come out of nowhere, so can Powe.
Final Grade: Incomplete, depending on what happens with AI.

NEW JERSEY NETS:
Who They Ended Up With: PG Marcus Williams, PF/C Josh Boone, SG Hassan Adams
Comments: Man, were the Nets lucky sons of biznitches or what?  Williams was pretty much ranked as the number one point guard in the draft and he falls all the way to number 22 because of conditioning questions, as well as that stealing of laptops incident last year.  Okay, I understand.  But, Williams is as gritty as they come, can find the open man, and is a clutch performer.  Learning behind Jason Kidd will only help Williams become the Black Steve Nash (how funny does that sound?).  Nash sat behind Kidd back in Nash’s first go-around with the Suns and look at him now.  Boone will be good, eventually, as he’s just too talented not to succeed.  He just needs to play with a little more fire.  Understand, I’ve followed Hassan Adams since his high school days and I love him as a player, but in Jersey with Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, I’m not sure if he’ll stick.
Final Grade: A

Click to continue reading NBA Draft Grades: Atlantic Division


NBA Draft Recap - From a NW biased perspective

Sean O'Connor

Posted by Sean O'Connor
Categories: Drafts, Editorial, NBA

Adam Morrison, bang your head!

Top Four Reasons the NBA Draft Didn’t Go As I Hoped

1. Adam Morrison to the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Bobcats will never be on tv in Seattle. Check that, they will be on TV twice – once when they play the Supersonics in Seattle and once when Seattle plays out there.
2. Sonics Draft Sene.
The Sonics might as well have thrown in the towel with that pick – Who? From where? Was Kevin Bacon involved in recruiting this cat?
3. Boston Celtics Gears Up to Make a Run at Iverson (And Trades Away Dan Dickau).
First, I don’t think Sebastian Telfair is the answer to anyone’s point guard problems. Second, Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce on the same team… now that would set basketball back 10 years.
4. Trailblazers Draft Gone Awry.
I was really hoping the Zers would become my team by picking Adam Morrison and turning things around under new ownership. Nope.

My resolution – order the expanded digital cable package so I can watch European soccer all winter on Fox Sports Soccer.


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