The Official 2007 NBA Draft Thread

[1908]

Draft Express[/url], Jonathan Givony"]Chicago Bulls

Picks: Joakim Noah (#9), Aaron Gray (#49), JamesOn Curry (#51)

Grade: A+

 

The rich get richer, as they say. Joakim Noah is a proven winner with the best motor in this year’s draft. He’s the perfect big man for Scott Skiles’ style of play, and they somehow managed to snatch him all the way down at #9. Noah is ready to contribute right away and should become a crowd favorite at the United Center. Many are questioning whether he fits their need for a low-post scorer, but the Bulls don’t have three years to wait on Spencer Hawes, and if Noah had a great back to the basket game he obviously would have been long gone by the time they picked. He’ll pick up 12-14 points a game just by running the floor and hitting the offensive glass every night. This isn’t the early 90’s anymore anyway, and that’s not how the Bulls play.

 

At #49, the Bulls got fantastic value with a player that probably would have gone in the top 20 (likely to Washington at #18) had he kept his name in last year’s draft. Instead he stayed in school and became a better player, and the Bulls snatched him up in the late second round to help fill a need at the center position. He should develop into a solid backup center. At #51 the Bulls got a Jannero Pargo clone in JamesOn Curry—and anything they get out of him will be pure gravy at this point in the draft.

ESPN[/url], Chad Ford"]Chicago Bulls

Grade: B+

Round 1: Joakim Noah (9)

Round 2: Aaron Gray (49), JamesOn Curry (51)

 

The Bulls got their guy at No. 9. Noah fits the Bulls' culture of hustle and passion. But his offensive game is weak, so how can he play at the same time as Ben Wallace or Tyrus Thomas? I'm not sure either second-round pick will stick on the roster.

NBADraft.net"][/url]Chicago Bulls

Draft Grade: B

Additions: 9. Joakim Noah 6-11 230 PF Florida Jr., 49. Aaron Gray 7-1 280 C Pittsburgh Sr., 51. JamesOn Curry 6-3 171 SG Okla.St. Jr.

 

Noah is a solid pick at 9 for them as they bolstered their front court with additional inside defense. They also did a great job of not overspending in a trade for Kevin Garnett. They have a lot of talent to offer, but would be wise not to break it up too much in order to get the 31 year old vet. KG would be a tremendous addition for Chicago, but only at the right price. Noah is a glue type player, and with scorers in place such as Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, Noah can focus on what he does well: passing, rebounding and defense. The Bulls second round picks were solid as Aaron Gray is a legit 7-1 who gives great effort and could turn into a solid back up center, and JamesOn Curry a shooter who could make the team as an instant offense guy.

[Keener98]

Well this is interesting. Yi's Chinese team is now saying it will block his move to the States, because the Bucks "aren t best" for Yi. Wow

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260

[USSoccer]

Well this is interesting. Yi's Chinese team is now saying it will block his move to the States, because the Bucks "aren t best" for Yi. Wow

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260

 

Sucks for Milwaukee.

[Derwood]

Well this is interesting. Yi's Chinese team is now saying it will block his move to the States, because the Bucks "aren t best" for Yi. Wow

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260

 

Sucks for Milwaukee.

 

was this a known risk? if not, i could see this getting very ugly

[USSoccer]

Well this is interesting. Yi's Chinese team is now saying it will block his move to the States, because the Bucks "aren t best" for Yi. Wow

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260

 

Sucks for Milwaukee.

 

was this a known risk? if not, i could see this getting very ugly

 

Milwaukee should have known better. The Chinese made it very clear where he would and would not go, and they needed to work within that. Milwaukee made the mistake that the either thought they could deal Yi, or sell him on Wisconsin.

 

Whoops.

[Guest]

Milwaukee made the mistake that the either thought they could deal Yi, or sell him on Wisconsin.

 

Whoops.

 

Oh come now, that's a mistake that could happen to any of us. :^o

[Derwood]

Well this is interesting. Yi's Chinese team is now saying it will block his move to the States, because the Bucks "aren t best" for Yi. Wow

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260

 

Sucks for Milwaukee.

 

was this a known risk? if not, i could see this getting very ugly

 

Milwaukee should have known better. The Chinese made it very clear where he would and would not go, and they needed to work within that. Milwaukee made the mistake that the either thought they could deal Yi, or sell him on Wisconsin.

 

Whoops.

 

i guess i don't understand how binding draft rights are in the NBA. one would think that if a player entered the draft, the rule would/should be that he is the "property" of the team that has drafted him. if Yi gets out of this without any financial restitution for the Bucks, it could set an ugly precedent. what happens if college players start picking and choosing where they do/don't want to be drafted?

[Outshined_One]

Milwaukee made the mistake that the either thought they could deal Yi, or sell him on Wisconsin.

 

Whoops.

 

Oh come now, that's a mistake that could happen to any of us. :^o

 

:roll:

 

Don't you have a flight to catch? :P

[Outshined_One]

i guess i don't understand how binding draft rights are in the NBA. one would think that if a player entered the draft, the rule would/should be that he is the "property" of the team that has drafted him. if Yi gets out of this without any financial restitution for the Bucks, it could set an ugly precedent. what happens if college players start picking and choosing where they do/don't want to be drafted?

 

Actually, that is exactly what happens a good amount of the time.

 

The thing about college players is that they cannot go back to college basketball if they hire an agent. The moment they hire an agent, it doesn't matter, they cannot go back to college ball.

 

Secondly, my knowledge of this particular rule might be a bit fuzzy, but I remember a number of players who have declared for the draft without hiring an agent just to see where they'd be taken. My memory is that, if they get drafted, but do not like where they were drafted for whatever reason, they can simply go back to college as long as they never hired an agent.

 

Finally, what Yi is doing is not unprecedented. Tiago Splitter was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2005, but decided instead to stay in Europe and play without signing a contract with the Magic. He re-entered the draft and was selected by the Spurs, although it's unknown if he will sign with them.

[Andy]

Secondly, my knowledge of this particular rule might be a bit fuzzy, but I remember a number of players who have declared for the draft without hiring an agent just to see where they'd be taken. My memory is that, if they get drafted, but do not like where they were drafted for whatever reason, they can simply go back to college as long as they never hired an agent.

That may have once been the case. However, currently there's a deadline for early entries who haven't hired an agent to go back to college. I believe it's a couple of weeks before the draft.

[Derwood]

if the bucks knew this scenario could (or was likely) to play out, then I have no sympathy for them

[WindyCity]

Yi was one of the guys I was hoping would fall to #9.... If it appears Milwaukee can't get things worked out with Yi, think they's swap his rights for Noah + a future 2nd rd pick?

[Derwood]

Yi was one of the guys I was hoping would fall to #9.... If it appears Milwaukee can't get things worked out with Yi, think they's swap his rights for Noah + a future 2nd rd pick?

 

i would squeeze them on it. they risk getting zero for the pick if he goes back to china, so low ball them

[Keener98]

I still cant believe the Bucks drafted him, even though he never even worked out for them.