Wrapping Up the 2008 Draft and Looking Forward to 2009

Honestly, this was the first draft in years that I wasn't that excited to watch. In fact, I left my house half way through the first round to go play basketball with some friends for a few hours. I love Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. But for some reason, Rose is the only guy that gets me really excited for next season (I mean, if you've seen this video you know what I'm talking about). They'll all be solid basketball players, but I don't know if doubt any of them will end up on that Kobe, LeBron, CP3 Level. The shoe companies usually know what's up, and the fact that no one is getting big shoe money shows that they don't think anyone in this class is going to be that transcendent on the court. 

I personally think OJ Mayo will end up being the best out of all of them. He's a great shooter, a feisty defender and can play both guard positions. His work ethic is also supposed to be off the charts. He's also a leader who has been in the spotlight his entire life. I think he's going to be a combination of Brandon Roy and Chauncey Billups in the league (More Chauncey than Roy in my eyes). Don't be surprised if he ends up with Rookie of the Year next year. 

Beasley will also be a very good player. But for some reason, I still have my doubts about him. I have a little bit of a concern about his drive. I know he tore up the NCAA, but I just don't get the feeling that he wants to be the best ever. I know Rose and Mayo want to be the best, but am not sold that Beasley does. It's one thing to tear up the NCAA, but in the NBA the Power Forward position with Garnett, Duncan, Boozer, Nowitzki, Gasol, Aldridge, Brand, West, STAT, is not a cake walk. When I look at B-Easy, I usually get a Derek Coleman vibe from him (Check this DC video and tell me you don't see the similarities between the two). I think he'll be a great scorer, a solid rebounder, and entertaining as hell off the court (Just peep his ESPN clips), but just like Riles, I still have my doubts. Maybe he needs to hang out with his boy Kevin Durant a bit more (There's no doubt in my mind that Durant will one day be on the level that Kobe, LeBron and CP3 are currently at. He's got all the tools, plus a drive that is absolutely out of this world).

  

I also am a fan of Russell Westbrook, but worry about how long it is going to take him to develop. At his peak he can be a combination of Gilbert Arenas on offense and Rajon Rondo/Lindsey Hunter on defense. But on the low end, he could end up being a more athletic, slightly bigger Earl Watson.  

Kevin Love is going to be a solid NBA player too. But I just never got up about watching him play this past year.  Westbrook was the main reason that I watched UCLA games, not Love. I also am concerned about how he is going to fair against NBA power forwards.  Can you imagine Love trying to guard Amare Stoudemire? 

Like OJ Mayo, I think Rose has a drive to be the best. My main concern with him is the fact that he is playing in Chicago. I know that Scott Skiles is not there any more, but the Bulls have a reputation for playing uninspiring offense. Rose needs to be let loose. Hopefully he'll be allowed to do that. Another concern I have for Rose is the Bulls lack of a front line. Rose needs a great screen and roll partner in order to be great in this league.  I mean, outside of Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson, most of the top point guards of the last thirty years have lived and died with the pick and roll and had solid guys to run the play with. Imagine if CP3 didn't have Chandler and David West to run two man game plays with. He'd still be great, but he definitely wouldn't be playing at the level he played last season.  I think Rose is a taller, more explosive Rod Strickland/Kevin Johnson hybrid (Peep the Kevin Johnson and Rod Strickland throw back mixes).

Anyhow, I have to admit that I am a bit more excited for next year's draft. Mainly because of these two guys:

Brandon Jennings:


Demar Derozan:

I think both Demar and Brandon will be the most entertaining ball players to come into the league since CP3 in 2005.  They'll both be box office, and I guarantee that both of them get at least twice as much endorsement money as any of the kids from this year's draft class. Brandon Jennings is a more explosive, new millennium upgrade of Kenny Anderson (A Kenny Anderson throw back video for your pleasure) and Demar Derozan is the second coming of Vince Carter during his days with the Raptors (Some Vince Carter high school highlights).