Random thoughts about various teams and players:
Portland:
I didn't like the deal, and its less about the deal in and of itself than it is about the fact they've now lost the opportunity to use Zach Randolph to either trade for Richard Jefferson or do a sign-n-trade for the likes of Rashard Lewis or even Gerald Wallace. I think all of those options are better than getting a solid "backup" for Aldridge and Oden (in Frye) and Stevie Franchise's ankles and attitude. I think the ball was dropped and that they really could've have done a whole heck of a lot better.
Atlanta:
Should really start having their draft picks revoked, at least until they fire Billy Knight. Al Horford at #3 instead of Mike Conley Jr. Maybe Horford is the better player, he's also completely unnecessary on that roster. Acie Law IV is going to be a bad pick at #11 who looked better than he really was because he had a really good coach. He's that Royal Ivey, Speedy Claxton type of player than Knight continues to try to pass off as NBA level PG options. Get a PG you idiot!
Spencer Hawes:
This guy is going to be AWFUL with a capital AW! About the only saving grace for him and the one thing that may make me eat my words is the fact that Petrie drafted him. Absolutely awful: unathletic enough to make his skillful post game irrelevant in the NBA and doesn't defend or rebound worth a lick--two things 7 footers generally are counted on to do.
Charlotte deals Brandan Wright for Jason Richardson:
Have I fallen into a nether-realm without noticing. Everything I've read says that GS got away with highway robbery! WHAT! Is this opposite day or something: has J-Rich all of a sudden become something other than a 20 point scorer, great rebounding guard, athletic defender, who has improved his long range game considerably over the last couple of years. What the heck are these guys smoking, Charlotte got away with MURDER on this one. Who knows what Brandan Wright is or ever will become--the Bob-kitties are now fielding a starting 5 of Raymond Felton, Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace (if re-signed), Sean May, and Emeka Okafor. If I'm a Charlotte fan, I expect that team not only to make the playoffs but make some noice once there. Great deal for Charlotte, not really sure about where it puts GS.
Seattle gets Jeff Green, Wally Szszcerbiak, and Delonte West for Ray Allen and Big Baby Davis:
Hard to say either way, but Presti did make his cap outlook a whole lot brighter. Boston definitely improves here. Yes, Ray Allen just had surgeries on both ankles, but I've yet to know the guy as anything other than a consisten mid-20's scorer with a devastating shooting stroke. I don't see it changing at the age of 31, maybe I'm wrong. Seattle on the other hand kind of muddles up the SF question: You now have Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Wally Szszcerbiak, and Rashard Lewis (if you intend to sign him) all at the SF position. By just playing one of these guys at SF, instantly three other players are playing out of position and its three pretty important players. If this stands as is, I'm underwhelmed, if its a springboard for some other shrewd move down the line that'll be different.
Dallas drafts Nick Fazekas and Detroit drafts Rodney Stuckey:
I think this might be another case of the rich getting richer. I considered Fazekas a Top 15 prospect let alone falling into the second round. We're talking about a good rebounding, great shooting (53% FG, 35% three, 81% FT), 6`11 guy who was the cornerstone of a Nevada team that gave people fits in the last two NCAA tournaments. In Stuckey, you're talking about a guy who would have likely become the best guard drafted in this entire class. I was very high on both of these guys and they've gone to essentially complete teams that don't need their services for a very long time (Booooooooo!!). Darn you Joe Dumars and Donnie Nelson for being smart executives, drafting guys like these makes Lurker's list (#3 for Dumars, #2 for Nelson) that much more credible in my book.
Philadelphia:
Awesome pick in Thaddeus Young, he is better than Julian Wright and MOST definitely better than Al Thornton. Another great pick in Daequan Cook which they then gave to Miami--bad move. Byars for Koponen isn't bad, but they should've just kept the pick and taken fliers on Fazekas, Davis, or McRoberts.