A review of my draft (#10 pick out of 12)
1 - Ray Allen - Considering that I picked late this was an OK pick. I didn't actually select him, I couldn't log on, so this was an auto pick. He was out for about 30 games which hurt me early.
2 - Rasheed Wallace - Picked him high, only because every other solid big man was gone, and I wasn't picking again for another 20 picks. He is really a late second round quality player, but I picked him early second round. Had some injury problems early.
3 - Gary Payton - Probably a little early, but he is 3rd/4th round quality.
4 - Micheal Redd - Excellent pick this late (#39 overall). I already had Allen, but you go with talent, and work the rest out later
5 - Ron Artest - great pick at #58. Did lose him for about 3 weeks, plus about 3 or 4 other games.
6 - Jamaal Maglorie - This was an OK pick at #63
7 - Eric Snow - Big disappointment. He has done well for me every other time I drafted him, but he has had a very poor year.
8 - LeBron James - FANTASTIC pick. I was accused of buying into the hype, but I got him @#87, and was stunned he lasted that long.
9 - Kerry Kittles - Excellent pick. Derek Bodner thinks he is a dime a dozen SG, but he is a quality player, and I got him @ #106. Yahoo ranks him #24 for this #27 for the last 2 years. No matter how you want to rank him he is at least a top 40 player, and I got him at 106.
10 - Kwame Brown - A risk at #111, and his numbers indicate now indicate it was a smart pick.
11 - Mike Miller - #130, lots of injury problems and hasn't had the year expected, but better than #130.
12 - Marcus Camby - Excellent pick at #142. Yahoo has him ranked at #35 this year, so I got a steal there.
Overall I had a very good draft, one of the best (Hexxed and Drom had the best drafts).
I made a couple of bonehead moves. I gave up on Camby to quickly. He started slowly, and I let him go after 3 weeks. He has been a monster rebounder and shot blocker ever since. I stuck with Kwame Brown and let Camby go, should have held onto Camby as long as I did Kwame. If so I would still have Camby.
I traded Jamaal Magloire for Etan Thomas. At the time Thomas was playing much better and Magloire was struggling. I had 3 guys (Ilguaskis, Mutumbo, and Magloire) who were center only and had to move one. Mutumbo got no interest, and Magloire did. Looking back it was a bonehead.
Releasing James Posey was also a mistake. I did so because I would have had 3 Griz on my team, and I felt I need big guys more than g/f types.
Picking Snow so high. I passed on Bibby, Vlade, Jamal Crawford, Boozer, and Maggette. If I still had Magloire and had picked Boozer I would be the best team no doubt.
I made a number of very smart moves. I picked up Ilguaskis on waivers, which really solidified my center position.
I swapped Wallace and Kittles for Dirk. This was a good deal for both BBF and I. BBF has gone 4-4-1 since, and I improved my front court, while giving up Kittles who I no longer needed when I got Allen back.
I swapped LeBron, Casey Jacobson, and Alvin Williams for Francis, Mashburn and Ricky Davis. Ted wanted LeBron as his keeper, so I asked for a lot in return, and got a lot better.
I swapped Gary Payton for Chauncey Billups an excellent trade for me. Billups made me much better in a couple fo key categories, and I didn't lose any categories.
I should make the playoffs, though that isn't a guarantee. I made the finals last year, and I think I have a good shot to return, but getting out of round one will be my challenge. I most fear Jihad and Lttks, even considering that I swept Jihad 11-0. Overall I have done OK this year, though I did better last year. I made fewer mistakes last year, but I am still in good shape. Going into next year I will have Dirk and Redd or Allen, so I will be off to another good start.
