Posts tagged ‘NBA DRAFT’

By Deven Khrucell aka Pimp Scwalla

From the beginning of his tenure as president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars has been pretty hard to read when it comes to his prospective draft picks. No matter how many names are thrown in the mix for potential selections, I never come close to what Dumars is thinking. For example, in 2008 He made Walter Sharpe Detroit’s top pick when most people barely even knew who he was. But after watching the 2009 NBA draft I might have a clue into the thinking process behind Dumars’s selections.

Since his first draft in 2000 when he decided to select Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves (passing on Hedo turkoglu and Michael redd), whenever Joe Dumars is in a bind and needs to reach into his bag of tricks, he usually comes out with a forward. When I took a count of each player that Dumars selected since becoming the Piston’s president, I found that out of a total of 23 picks, 14 of them were fowards and of those 14 forwards selected, 9 of them were small forwards, which is equal to the total number of picks at the other three positions combined. It’s apparent that Joe has a lot of love for the forwards—but why?

In an interview after selecting the Piston’s first round draft pick Austin Daye in the 2009 NBA draft, Joe Dumars told everyone that when drafting a player, he looks for someone that can play more than one position. But after taking a closer look at his draft track record, I think it’s a little more than that. I think a certain body type and ability gets his attention as well. For example, not only is Tayshaun Prince able to play more than just the small forward position, his long lean frame and level of athleticism makes him one of the most versatile players in the Pistons line-up with the ability to play four positions. As a rookie, how nice was it to see Tayshaun at 6 ‘9′ slow down Allen Iverson in the 2003 playoffs and follow that performance up with locking up a very hot Tracey McGrady enabling Detroit to defeat Orlando. His length also enabled him to disrupt an otherwise unstoppable Kobe Bryant in the 2004 NBA finals, which earned him the name “Kobe Stopper” by fans. He was as important as any other Piston during their championship run in 2004. Maybe that explains why Dumars, knowing how good Carmelo Anthony was at 6 ‘9′, couldn’t resist taking Darko Milicic who had the potential to play the same position at 7 feet tall. Taking Darko with the third pick turned out to be Dumars’s worst decision to date–all other top five selections are, simply put, the franchise of their teams. In retrospect I’m sure he would have taking Anthony instead.

Carmelo Anthony wasn’t Joe Dumars’s only missed opportunity. In the 2001 draft that followed a season where the Pistons were just 32-50. Dumars was very high on a freshman forward from UNC Charlotte by the name of Rodney White. He saw enough in his game to pass up the likes of Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson, Tony parker and Gilbert Arenas. This was at a time when Detroit had just lost superstar player Grant Hill and the best the Pistons had at point guard was a very limited, Chucky Atkins. But disappointment didn’t stop Dumars from continuing to pursue his type of players. In 2008 he took as he described it, a “long look” at UAB forward, Water Sharpe, who at the time, no one really even knew and then he drafted four more forwards the very next year in the 2009 NBA draft.

This goes to show that Joe Dumars just likes what he likes. He looks at players from a different perspective than other people do. That’s why he’s able to strike gold with Tayshaun Prince when many others passed him by and also fail miserably with Darko Milicic when others were wondering…”what the hell!” One thing’s for sure, when it goes good it really goes good and when it goes bad, he’s been able to weather the storm pretty nicely.

By Deven Khrucell (aka Pimp Scwalla)

When the Detroit Pistons go on the clock June 25th, it’ll be anybody’s guess who Joe Dumars might draft at number 15 and even more of a mystery is what position. One thing’s for sure, with the current state of the Detroit Pistons, he had better choose carefully.

The Piston’s main concern right now is trying to pick up impact players from the free agent market or by trading for them. Most of the big name free agents are big men like; Bosh, Okur, Boozer, etc… Players like those won’t come cheap. In order to make this possible, there’s a good chance they will lose Rip Hamilton and/or Tayshaun Prince.

The draft pick that I see fitting best in this mix is Louisville Cardinal, Terrence Williams. Williams is a lock-down defender with plenty of explosiveness and is able to knock down three point shots when needed. I also like the fact that he is a four year guy who can guard both the two and the three.

While Williams won’t quickly replace Rip or Tay, drafting a guy like Williams could help soften the blow of losing one or two of Detroit’s cornerstone players. His versatility makes it easy to slide him into either the shooting guard or the small forward position. He also gives the Pistons some leverage when decide which players are going to be here in the future.

Many believe Rodney Stuckey is a better fit at shooting guard and the Piston’s should draft a point guard. That definitely makes sense, but let’s look at the whole picture. Drafting and working with another young point guard (at this point) will be too daunting and could be disastrous for an inexperienced Michael Curry. Besides that, we still don’t know for sure that Rodney’s late season woes were because of the position he plays or the fact that being a great NBA point guard can’t be achieved over night.

Either way we look at it, in order for Detroit to get better, it’s going to cost them at the shooting guard or small forward position–leaving a big hole in the line-up. Why not fill in that hole with someone that can play both - it just makes sense.

What do you think?

What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here.

Its time to go after my Favorite Player Again… Hawks looking to Trade Josh Smith.

A great 2nd Round Pick for the Pistons: Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks.

Mr. 4th Quarter aka Please Sign This Man. Agent: Turkogle Will Opt Out

Kobe Bryant Could Earn 30 Million Dollars in the NBA!

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New Episode is Out!

Who’s Your Pistons Draft Pick?

Got a question for Pistonscast.com? Send it to John W. Davis. And for Pistonscast news and updates follow John on Twitter.

Walter Sharpe interview

Pistonscast.com interviewed rookie Walter Sharpe earlier this week on their podcast — Sharpe appears on the air around eight and a half minutes in through the 17-minute mark. Also, Sharpe shows off his uniform

Peace,

John W. Davis

What’s going on World? John W. Davis here. Just wanted to share some new pictures with you. Walt Sharpe’s first time in his Pistons blue and red with white trip.

OH YEAH!!! Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Thanks to Nate for the email!

Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Check us out on ESPN!  TOP STORIES NUMBER 8 WALTER SHARPE INTERVIEWED!!!

Mystery Guest Revealed!  Episode 60

When we recently spoke to Walter Sharpe he said his mindset would separate him from all the other 2008 Draft Picks. All 59 other picks. He feels that his self confidence and desire will make him a very valuable Detroit Piston. We caught up with Walter Sharpe who was out to dinner at home in Alabama on his way home. (That should speak to you about his character.)

Off the Cuff Audio Chat with Walter Sharpe

http://www.pistonscast.com/podcasts/pistonscast060.mp3

Interview Recap

Pistonscast: Thanks for coming on to the show. When you were drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars, you knew he was going to pick you the whole time…

Walter Sharpe: I had an idea but you never know, with things like Darrell Arthur falling in the draft you never can be too sure.

Pistonscast: How did you feel when you saw guys like DeAndre Jordan, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Bill Walker go after you?

Walter Sharpe: It wasn’t amazing to me, but with nobody really knowing me, it made it a big thing, but I never felt like any of those guys were head and shoulders above me or anything like that. You know I go into every workout just like I don’t know anybody.

Pistonscast: You definitely carry yourself in a poised manner. A lot of people are comparing you to Tayshaun Prince. What do you think about that?

Walter Sharpe: Aww man Tayshaun is a great player man. So being compared to a player like that how can you complain.

Pistonscast: Are their any players in the league now or in the past that you would pattern your game after?

Walter Sharpe: That’s tough man, because it makes it so different because I’m playing the three now, what I used to play the 5 and 4, a three man, a small forward in the game, I like McGrady man.

Pistonscast: Walt, you played inside a lot in the past, in high school, at Mississippi State and at University Alabama Birmingham you played the four and five. Then Joe Dumars and the Pistons are like we need a backup to Tayshaun Prince, What is that transition like?

Walter Sharpe: Its been tough, its not tough like so much as just having the ability to do it, I think I have the offense ability to do it, it’s the transition with the little things like defense, the positioning, moving all the time. Its so much constant movement with the guard spot that it is with playing the 4 and 5. Its more than just shooting the ball and offense doesn’t get you on the court its more defense.

Pistonscast: Walt how would you rank yourself as a defense player, do you consider yourself a defense stopper, do you enjoy playing defense?

Walter Sharpe: Its new to be playing the three, but defense stopper… I wouldn’t quite say im a defense stopper yet…

Pistonscast: Not Yet! But you will be, because the buzz that going around is look at him now and he still doesn’t know how to play the position yet..

Walter Sharpe: Exactly…

Pistonscast: What thoughts when through your mind when you saw guys like DeAndre Jordan not get drafted, and the Pistons selected you at the 32^nd pick?

Walter Sharpe: Well first, what people don’t realize is that those guys are a lot younger than me. I don’t really watch a lot of college basketball, I know Bill Walker and the big name guys but I never really knew them from watching them play. So I never really had the fear or question myself like that. It’s basketball. That’s what I have been doing all my life. I’m looking at players in the NBA who I think I might be able to match up with not really college players.

Pistonscast: Who are you looking at? Are you looking at KG…

Walter Sharpe: Yeah! Yeah! I’m looking at KG and guarding guys like Kobe and T-Mac Im not really concerned with those (college) guys.

Pistonscast: If you can guard KG one night then T-Mac another night and then Kobe the next… They don’t have a digit made up for the amount of money that you are gonna be worth.

Walter Sharpe: Those guys its about containing its not about stopping Kobe, we wont even bring that up right now we’ll wait like two or three years to bring that conservation up…

We not even gonna talk about that man, Kobe and T-Mac man, I’m just saying that’s what I’m looking at as far as those guys should go before me. I looked at the guys in my class, I was in the class with Josh Smith and Dwight and all those guys. I was in the class of ’04 coming out of high school. I really like seeing their games and seeing them play.

Pistonscast: What is like then when you see Josh Smith and Dwight Howard guys you were in the high school class with, already excelling in the NBA?

Walter Sharpe: It’s like I seen them in high school and through out that process and all them was good now, I played with Dwight and all them guys but it makes you think like man, I should be there. It’s almost like motivation to go out and work harder and get there myself.

Our thanks to Walt Sharpe! We will catch him another time on Pistonscast.

Stay tuned for Episode 61 when Marcus Stout a member of the 2008 Detroit Pistons Summer League team will be a special co-host, only on www.pistonscast.com

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

Waddup my boys at PC?

I just sent an email but I’m just feelin so much love I thought I’d send another one.

Who do you think we should take with our picks? I came up with two reasonable picks. I say first round we take my boy Deron Washington (small forward) from Virginia Tech. This dude is a madman. Check out these two funky dunkys.

1.

2.

How could you not want him in a Pistons uniform?

O.K. My round two idea is Duke’s DeMarcus Nelson (shooting guard). He is smart offensively, and he is a formidable defender. Here’s a video of him crossing up two defenders, then slamming it down on a third defender.

3.

All in all, I think these two young ballers would be the perfect addition to the Pistons brotherhood.

 
Thanks-Nate

P.S. I gave you guys five stars on iTunes.