NBA Draft: Kings, Knicks, and Former College Stars – What Were They Thinking?
Sacramento Kings: For reasons that remain unclear, the Kings moved down three spots to draft Jimmer Fredette and took on bad salary (John Salmons). Everyone waited for the Kings to then move Salmons … it never happened. Now, there’s a logjam in the backcourt (Tyreke Evans, Jimmer, Marcus Thornton and Salmons). If any of those guys plays an ounce of defense, I’ve never seen it. And let’s be honest – there’s no way humanly possible that the Kings can start Evans, Thornton and Salmons. Oh, and they drafted Washington point guard Isaiah Thomas with the 60th pick in the 2nd round. I thought Tyler Honeycutt (35th) was a nice grab, but you wonder how long it’ll be before he’s partying with Cousins.
New York Knicks: With defensive specialist Chris Singleton on the board and rebounding machine Kenneth Faried still available, some rube in the New York War Room fell in love with Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert, a good athlete whose other skills leave something to be desired. And so they took the offensively-challenged Shumpert, and then said they liked him to possible play shooting guard (he shot 27 percent from three last year, and more no significant progression in his years at GT). This feels likes shades of 2006 when they took Renardo Balkman … and then Boston drafted Rajon Rondo with the next pick. I’m not saying Singleton will become an All-Star … but Balkman has been a non-factor so far in his career.
Players who left school early, didn’t get taken in the first round (ie guaranteed money), and now must fight to get on a roster:
Jereme Richmond, Illinois – Undrafted. Teeming with potential as a wing player, but should never have left after his freshman year, mostly because he’s more raw than some of the foreign players.
Malcolm Lee, UCLA – Drafted 43rd overall by the Bulls, but traded to the Timberwolves. Supposedly a 1st-round talent, but he has his work cut out to make the roster: Rubio/Ridnour at PG, and Ellington/Wes Johnson/Webster at SG. Sure, Johnson can play SF, but with Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley hogging those minutes …
Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA – Drafted 35th by the Kings. Should have no money making that terrible roster. But if he stays another year, does he go in the first round?
Jordan Williams, Maryland – Drafted 36th by the Nets. Will be interesting to see if Kris Humphries is re-signed, because if he is, Williams will have to beat out Brook Lopez, Humphries, Brandan Wright (former lottery pick) and Johan Petro for minutes. Should make the roster, but clearly, Williams either got bad advice or simply made a bad decision.
Darius Morris, Michigan - Drafted 41st by the Lakers. Interesting situation because the Lakers have point guard woes (Fisher is ancient, Steve Blake was not very good last year). For awhile, it looked like Morris made a bad decision, but perhaps falling to the Lakers will wind up being a good thing. But if he stayed at Michigan, the Wolverines could have been a Final 4 sleeper.
Shelvin Mack, Butler – Drafted 34th by the Wizards. I can buy the argument that his stock would have never been higher after going to two straight Final 4′s. I like Mack’s game and I think he’ll make Washington’s roster as a combo guard and be a contributor as a rookie.
34th to Washington
Scotty Hopson, Tennessee – Undrafted. Can’t totally fault him for leaving after his coach, Bruce Pearl, left.
Trey Thompkins & Travis Leslie, Georgia – 37th and 47th, respectively. Both went to the Clippers, and they’ll – at best – be reserves to Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. Good luck, fellas.
ADDED:
Josh Selby, Kansas – Drafted 49th by the Grizzlies. Horrible decision to leave Kansas early. No guarantee he’ll make the Memphis roster. More likely to get beat up by Tony Allen.
Seniors who didn’t get taken at all (or in the 2nd round):
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State – It seems like his best basketball memories will be as a clutch college basketball player.
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State – Scoring machine with the Wildcats was more of a combo guard, and the NBA doesn’t really draft 6-foot tall combo guards.
Matt Howard, Butler – Remember how people talked about him as an NBA player during Butler’s second straight run to the Final Four? Guess NBA teams disagreed.
Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame – You mean to tell me there’s more value in some of these foreign players at the end of round two than the Big East Player of the Year?
David Lighty – Ohio State wing player is mostly known for his defense, but I guess that wasn’t enough.
Demetri McCamey, Illinois - Undrafted. That has to hurt. He had beef with coach Bruce Weber, so leaving early wasn’t a major shock. Too bad he couldn’t have just grown up.
Should have left a year early:
Kyle Singler, Duke - Drafted 33rd by the Pistons. Fell out of the money round and was quickly gobbled up by Detroit, but one wonders what might have been if Singler had left after winning the title (and being the Final 4 MOP) as a junior. He returned to Duke for his senior year, and his shot wasn’t as automatic. Though nothing became public, you have to wonder if he wasn’t happy with the way Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith dominated the ball (maybe Jon Scheyer was a better teammate for Singler?). At any rate, he should be able to make the Detroit roster and compete with Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers at small forward.

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99 Responses to “NBA Draft: Kings, Knicks, and Former College Stars – What Were They Thinking?”
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June 24th, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Surprised you didn’t put Selby in the non-first round list. Bill Self really screwed that guy, huh?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Heard a stat today on the DP Show. The last time Big East POY wasn’t drafted was 1989.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Re:Singler – He’ll also have to compete with Jonas Jerebko.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:35 AM
You’re going to have a 3-man rotation in the backcourt with Evans, Jimmer, and Thornton. That’s a good situation to have, players aside.
They’re glut is actually at the SF position with Casspi, Garcia, and Salmons, not to mention Donta Greene. I would expect them to trade one of their swing guys for a PF/C.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
A pick Robert Sarver sold.
/searches for alcohol
June 24th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Surprised he wasn’t drafted. Good character, great defender, will do anything asked of him, busts his ass on the court…..Every coaches dream for a role player off the bench. He’ll find a spot on a roster somewhere down the road.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
i think it’s pretty obvious why the Kings took Jimmer. The Maloofs are broke and are simply trying to sell tickets/generate interest/move the team.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Much easier said then done.
Childress!Hill!Dudley!Warrick!
June 24th, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Love what the Wizards did. If they can find a 2 guard (JR Smith? Shane Battier?) that could be a crazy fun team to watch at both ends of the floor.
I liked Utah’s Kanter’s pick, but Alec Burks? They seem to fall in love with big-time college scorers that can’t shoot (Quicy Lewis, Kirk Snyder, Morris Almond, etc.). I don’t see Burks doing much at all.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:38 AM
how’d he screw him?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Matt Howard, Butler – Remember how people talked about him as an NBA player during Butler’s second straight run to the Final Four?
No, I don’t. I remember people talking about how he’d be a menace in adult recreational leagues, though.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:38 AM
clutch!
June 24th, 2011 at 11:38 AM
The reality of Jordan Williams situation is that this year was probably the only year he ever had a shot of slipping into the 1st round. Very weak draft and the 2012 and 2013 drafts look to be a lot deeper and most likely will have a lot more bigs in the draft. Williams is never going to be able to approve upon his athleticism which is going to be his biggest knock. I was hoping he would stay in school but I almost think he had to roll the dice this year.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:39 AM
I don’t know – that comment was geared more toward prospective KU recruits.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Surprised you didn’t put Selby in the non-first round list. Bill Self really screwed that guy, huh? Clown
Surprised as well. However, a nine game suspension and fucked up foot plus a shitty attitude to where he didn’t have any friends on the team probably didn’t help either.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:40 AM
I was sad to see D. Morris leave Michigan early and it sucked he fell so far, but the Lakers could be a great situation. They need PG help, and Morris is going to learn a lot from Bryant and Fisher.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I don’t know – that comment was geared more toward prospective KU recruits. Clown
Hehe. Nice.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Will be interesting to see if Kris Humphries is re-signed, because
if he isn’t, him and Kim K are going to need to send me back the 43 dollar spoon. No way she stays with an ex-pro athlete.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Ha! True, but the Sacramento salaries are a little easier to swallow. I would think a few teams would be interested in Casspi considering his contract.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:42 AM
WTF, Ron Artest?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Technically true but Scottie Reynolds was a 1st team all-american last year (lost Big East POY to Wes Johnson), and he was undrafted as well.
Plus we all know Kemba was the best player in the Big East last season.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Detroit got lucky that Knight fell to them. I think he can be a good but not great NBA point guard and that is probably the most you can hope for out of this draft. I was happy for Detroit until the picked Singler. Now fuck them. Hope they go 0-82.
I actually think Singler is going to be a good 7th or 8th man. Come in and hit some jumpers. Defense will be suspect and he is not going to get the leeway or the calls he got in college but he is very fundamentally sound and a very good shooter. But still fuck Detroit for picking him.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:43 AM
No way she stays with an ex-pro athlete.
That wedding ain’t happening. She’ll milk as much as she can out of the engagement (footage for her tv show) and then, “they just grew apart.”
June 24th, 2011 at 11:43 AM
WTF, Ron Artest?
do you think at this point, the Lakers are hoping he takes up ocean sailing?
/bison dele(ted)
June 24th, 2011 at 11:43 AM
LOL. They’re doing a correction right now. McLovin (as normal) effed it up.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Does any team need a twin brother? I have an overstock of twin brothers. Looking for a shooting guard or cash.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:44 AM
That wedding ain’t happening. She’ll milk as much as she can out of the engagement (footage for her tv show) and then, “they just grew apart.”
well then I want my spoon back. This mayonnaise isn’t gonna just miraculously spread itself.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Is Hansbrough the worst Big East POY of all time?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:46 AM
HA!
June 24th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
do you think at this point, the Lakers are hoping he takes up ocean sailing?
/bison dele(ted)
Good stuff
June 24th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Undrafted? False. He want 49th to Memphis, and is a stone-cold lock to make the roster, IMO.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
World B. Free > Metta World Peace
June 24th, 2011 at 11:49 AM
If Singler can get his shot back to where it was his jr year, I think he will be a better pro than Nolan Smith. Smith’s best-case scenario is Randy Foye.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:50 AM
But he is a kid that needs some college ball. A ton of raw talent but undisciplined and bit of a head case. Over/Under is by 10 games into the NBA season Tony Allen will have punched him in the tace.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:50 AM
I was pretty surprised Jon Leuer got drafted. Especially after the turd he laid on the court in the NCAA tournament.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Every year it continues to amaze me how many of these morons come out early and then aren’t drafted or go in the 2nd round.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Oh, I don’t disagree at all, he shouldn’t have left. But Memphis got great value here, IMO. He’s going to make the roster, there’s zero doubt about that.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:51 AM
But he is a kid that needs some college ball.
so did half of these kids that got drafted, needed more and better college ball.
Selby’s gonna beat out Xavier Henry, or just sit next to him? That team is already pretty deep with talented youngsters.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:52 AM
WTF, Ron Artest?
do you think at this point, the Lakers are hoping he takes up ocean sailing?
/bison dele(ted)
Save a seat on that boat for Luke Walton please…
June 24th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
No this would be 2006 if they drafted Faried. You know a 6’7 guy with no skills and no position. And Singleton would play 10 min a game behind ‘Melo. The more I read and see vids on Shumpert, the more I like the pick.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Any truth to the rumor that CRM has bought a one-way Greyhound ticket to Sacramento?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
I think that question was answered last night. Even Pat Garrity and Luke Harangody got drafted.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
In his case, I don’t think he had much of a choice re: leaving early. I suppose he could have transferred, but his playing days were over at Illinois, that’s for sure.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Conley, Vasquez, Ishmael Smith, Allen, Henry, Mayo, Young.
Not sure how he fits in. I’ll say that he theoretically provides what Memphis needs, a scoring guard off the bench. But he’s not that good.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Any truth to the rumor that CRM has bought a one-way Greyhound ticket to Sacramento?
The Mallofs love shiny shirts…
June 24th, 2011 at 11:55 AM
No skills? Since when is leading the NCAA in rebounding having no skills?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Has to be.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Not sure how he fits in.
that’s more guys than I could even remember. Tough to find any minutes. Hopefully he likes playing cards (and paying his debts on time).
June 24th, 2011 at 11:57 AM
And what drug would one take to achieve this level of delusion?
June 24th, 2011 at 11:58 AM
I saw you make the comparison last nite, and laughed for hours. Among one of the dumbest things ever uttered in the comments. Faried and Balkman aren’t even remotely similar players. Balkman was a lazy ass who was never good in college except in the NIT @ the Garden with Isiah in the crowd. He certainly wasn’t a great rebounder in college, and mostly did nothing but dunk.
Faried on the other hand is the #1 rebounder in NCAA history, and works his ass off. Will rebound at the next level without any doubt whatsoever. Will he do much else? No. But he’ll be as good as Ben Wallace.
Your comparison is beyond comical.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:58 AM
I cant speak of the early winners, but it’s hard to argue against him recently.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Brandin Knight would have to be the logical comparision
June 24th, 2011 at 12:01 PM
So can we start calling him King Jimmer now?
All hail King Jimmer from the Northern Realm of California.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Noted, but draft the talent and figure it out later. D’Antoni also likes to play small so a lineup of Melo, Amare, and Singleton wouldn’t be out of the question.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Don’t disagree with that as of this very moment. But I think he’s got some potential. Would imagine they’ll send him off to get some D-League burn.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
It’s hard to evaluate guys on bad teams (see Marshon Brooks) in power conferences. Especially when they’re being coached by Paul Hewitt. It should be noted that although he’s been referred to as a “lousy college player” he was 2nd team all-ACC last year and was on the all-defensive team as well.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Starting to wonder if Curtis is related to Isiah Thomas somehow
June 24th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
LOL +1 Suboxone refill
Ben Wallace was 6’9. What position is Faried playing?
June 24th, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Yea, this. Whenever I saw him play, I came away impressed. I def think he’s a reach as a mid 1st rd pick, but he’s not the abortion many are making him out to be.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:06 PM
it’s inaccurate to suggest that Balkman wasn’t a good rebounder in college. Not Faried obviously, but easily the best rebounder on his team his last two years at SC.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Does that count for something?
June 24th, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Texas basketball wets themselves at night wishing for over achievement like this. But I forgot, you got 3 first rounders. So I guess job well done and all that jazz.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:10 PM
It was quite interesting to see the Warriors talk up the need to get bigger and improve defense and rebounding leading up to the draft…. only to draft two fucking guards with their first two picks.
/The more things change…
June 24th, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Elizabeth Berkley in a bikini?
I’m so excited….I’m so excited….
/clicks link
I’m so scccaarreed.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Jay V clearly knows what time it is. Stop knocking Faried, Curtis. Him, Johnson, and Singleton should have been the choices there for the NYK.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Well…A) Faried is listed as 6’8 by many, and his measurement at combine was 6’7.8 inches. So yea, he’s pretty much 6’8. Rodman was also 6’7 btw. Rebounding is the one skill that translates. If he doesn’t wind up at Wallace’s level, then he will at absolute worst be a Tyrone Hill/Popeye Jones/Malik Rose-type…a guy that sticks around in the league for a long time because he pull down boards.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Do I have just the Twin brother for you.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I hate me for clicking that.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:14 PM
I saw 90-95% of the games Balkman played at SC…he was not a good rebounder. As for his last 2 seasons…nope. Brandon Wallace was a better rebounder than Balkman for sure…which is belied by the fact that he is the Top 10 rebounders in SEC history.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:16 PM
At least all signs are pointing to Klay being able to fill it up offensively, so maybe this does mean Monta gets dealt after all? And no, I don’t think I’d want that twin, but thanks! haha
June 24th, 2011 at 12:16 PM
eeeesh
June 24th, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Seconded, but I just couldn’t help it, kinda had to
June 24th, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Ay caramba.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Jay V doing big work today
June 24th, 2011 at 12:20 PM
maybe raw totals wise. But not percentage wise, which is what matters.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I miss the Berkley that was getting paid to fuck Coach D’amato. Come back Jessie.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:22 PM
We’ve now had pertinent links in the comments today involving Jessie and Kelly. I’m excited for what’s to come.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Hell this Elizabeth Berkley was from CSI not more than 3 years ago. What the hell happened girl.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:24 PM
I’m pretty sure the only reason the Bucks drafted Leuer is because they have an HBO deal lined up where he is roommates with Stephen Jackson and cameras follow them around as they explore Milwaukee.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I forget, Hoof, you’re an SC fan too, right? Balkman was maddening in college; tons of potential, but just as lazy as lazy could be. Disappeared constantly in games. He also had his playing time constantly jerked around by Odom, which I’m sure didn’t help matters. I would take Brandon Wallace ahead of Balkman 100 times out of 100.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
As a Wizards fan, I wasn’t too pumped about that first pick. On an unrelated note, after watching that big kiss he laid on his girlfriend, I realized that she had to be at least 6’7″.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Wanted to address a comment TBL made 2 or 3 times last nite about Jimmer going to Sacramento, and how he won’t be on TV: NBA League Pass, brother. For such a big fan of the NBA, I just can’t fathom that you don’t drop the ducats to get it.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:28 PM
The lack of any quality SG’s in this draft really hurt some teams. It doesn’t look like there will be many SG’s next year either.
I thought NY should have traded up to grab one of the PG’s. They might have tried for all we know.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:30 PM
After watching that big kiss he laid on his girlfriend, I knew Jan was a guy to root for.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:30 PM
NBA League Pass, brother. For such a big fan of the NBA, I just can’t fathom that you don’t drop the ducats to get it.
cheapskate of the highest order. Probably tips 8% on the pre-tax total.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:32 PM
That’s fair. Not disagreeing with it. Just saying Balkman was a better rebounder. And nope, no SC fan (though I do have a soft spot for their baseball program for some reason).
June 24th, 2011 at 12:33 PM
I really hope they at least tried to go up and get Kemba.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:34 PM
If he calls the cable company every 3 months to beg for free HBO, he ain’t springin for the League pass.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:36 PM
If he calls the cable company every 3 months to beg for free HBO, he ain’t springin for the League pass.
I remember one TBLAD he came on trying to get people to help him come up with a coupon or coupon code for Dominos pizza, in between “rapping about the Jets” and talking about girl’s “toilets,” he needed a coupon for some lousy delivery pizza.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:41 PM
You guys that have league pass like the NBA a lot more than me. I could understand having it if you live in a different state than your team but being that I live in Phoenix, I can watch every suns game I want. I have zero interest in watching the Kings take on the Bucks in the regular season.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Seriously?? They do have this things called a computer and google, which you can just type “domino’s coupons” into and have some results come up…
/googles for coupons all the time
June 24th, 2011 at 12:43 PM
http://www.avclub.com/articles/here-is-photographic-proof-that-its-always-sunny-i,58082/
Holy crap, Mac has packed the lbs. on.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Haha that is hilarious. He looks like he is trying to replace Bruce Campbell on Burn Notice.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Its always sunny will have to do a joke about the M.A.C. system and how he now applies it to peoples leftover food.
June 24th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Left Isaiah Thomas off this list for some reason, though you mentioned him like right before it. His move made sense though, as Huskies will have 3 guys in the backcourt next year who are potential lottery picks.
June 24th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
In games that Singler scored well last season, he shot off curls and quick jumpers around 10 -12 feet from the basket, in games he shot poorly, he jacked up a lot of 3s. He doesn’t have consistant NBA 3 range so if he can abandon the long ball and focus on what he’s good at (more mid range) he’ll do fine. Detroit has a lot of wings though so I’m guessing someone gets traded.
June 24th, 2011 at 1:54 PM
He will be a defensive liability and will get murdered when he has to play an athletic 3. I think he is going to be a good 10-15 minutes a night playing with the second unit and hitting some jumpers and hustling his ass off. Hate the guy but he should have a decent NBA career.
June 24th, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Not as much as you think. Kyle was always tasked with usually guarding the opposing team’s best player (unless it was a PG or C) and also was the primary defender on Durant during the FIBA scrimmages so he’s played against pro competition. Duke will miss Singler’s D far more than his offense next year. His weakness is his inconsistant shot. He’s not an athletic freak but thats never hurt his defense.
June 25th, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Some really good names there that didn’t get drafted. I just think you can never discount the fact that a guy is a winner.