What?!?! No liveblog?I know everyone was yearning for another liveblog from the NBA Draft seeing as the article last year was so very popular. Sadly, it just was not possible this time around. However, we do have all the Big East related draft info you yearn for. And yes Demetris, there is a Santa Clause.
Big East Selections
Round 1:
5th Overall Pick: Jeff Green (SF) from Georgetown. Drafted by Boston. He was traded to Seattle with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Ray Allen.
Jeff will be an excellent addition to Seattle’s staff with the addition of the second pick in Kevin Durant, quite possibly the best player in the draft or in college basketball last season. Clearly Georgetown will miss this excellent athlete.
23rd Overall Pick: Wilson Chandler (SF) from DePaul. Drafted by New York.
Chandler has good size and is a great athlete, but he underperformed at DePaul this season. He should do better in NYC, playing in the building his last team dreamed of winning in.
Round 2:
49th Overall Pick (19th Second Round): Aaron Gray (C) from Pittsburgh. Drafted by Chicago.
This big man did well at Pittsburgh. The biggest question for Gray is will he be fast enough for the NBA. He is an excellent low post scorer (outside of the Big East Championship Game last year) and should do well should the Bulls really give him a shot.
53rd Overall Pick (23rd Second Round): Demetris Nichols (SF) from Syracuse. Drafted by Portland.
Our boy Demetris Nichols, quite possibly the best shooter in the draft, the Big East First Team member and conference scoring leader, is heading to Portland with the number one overall pick Greg Oden. The interesting dynamic of this is that Nichols is the ninth player to go to Portland on the day. We shall see how much he gets to play, but frankly, with his shot he should have a chance at producing for the Blazers.
Big East Selections
Round 1:
5th Overall Pick: Jeff Green (SF) from Georgetown. Drafted by Boston. He was traded to Seattle with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Ray Allen.
Jeff will be an excellent addition to Seattle’s staff with the addition of the second pick in Kevin Durant, quite possibly the best player in the draft or in college basketball last season. Clearly Georgetown will miss this excellent athlete.
23rd Overall Pick: Wilson Chandler (SF) from DePaul. Drafted by New York.
Chandler has good size and is a great athlete, but he underperformed at DePaul this season. He should do better in NYC, playing in the building his last team dreamed of winning in.
Round 2:
49th Overall Pick (19th Second Round): Aaron Gray (C) from Pittsburgh. Drafted by Chicago.
This big man did well at Pittsburgh. The biggest question for Gray is will he be fast enough for the NBA. He is an excellent low post scorer (outside of the Big East Championship Game last year) and should do well should the Bulls really give him a shot.
53rd Overall Pick (23rd Second Round): Demetris Nichols (SF) from Syracuse. Drafted by Portland.
Our boy Demetris Nichols, quite possibly the best shooter in the draft, the Big East First Team member and conference scoring leader, is heading to Portland with the number one overall pick Greg Oden. The interesting dynamic of this is that Nichols is the ninth player to go to Portland on the day. We shall see how much he gets to play, but frankly, with his shot he should have a chance at producing for the Blazers.
Update: Nichols early in the wee hours of the morning on Friday June 29th became a New York Knick, the team he has dreamed about playing for. The details of the deal can be found here. Personally, I don't think this could be a better move for Nichols, as he has the chance to make an immediate impact on this Knicks team. Is it time for a nickname change to DKnick?
55th Overall Pick (25th Second Round): Herbert Hill (PF) from Providence. Drafted by Utah.
I had the privilege of watching Herbert Hill at Providence this season on Senior Day as they lost to Syracuse. He was a great player for Providence and should be a contributor in Utah.
57th Overall Pick (27th Second Round): Sammy Mejia (SG) From DePaul. Drafted by Detroit.
This guy is a shooter and did well in the conference. Detroit felt like they needed a bigger perimeter presence and they hopefully have it in Mejia.
Only six people from the Big East were drafted this year, which is five less than last year. Most notably, no players from UConn were drafted. Five players were drafted last year, four of which were in the first round. The most picks came from DePaul in the two picks they had. Overall, with the way the Big East was this season, I think this was a fairly successful draft. I wish the best of luck to all the Big East selections as I am sure they will all represent themselves and the conference well.
Editor's Note: I am not an NBA guy. I am a college basketball guy. Keep that in mind. The information contained in this article is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Also, I hope Nichols will actually make the team.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, NBA Draft
DKnick...dammit, that's good.