The Moonball Blog

Making Moves Not Movies



With very few exceptions does a draft immediately change a teams relative standing in the League. But, I like my fellow posters believe this to be one of the most anticipated and entertaining days of the year.

And whatta fun draft! I love how Danny keeps convincing McHale to help the C’s for nothing in return!

In my twisted bi-costal partisanship, I could not have been happier with the both the C’s and the Blaze Crew each making several good moves on Draft day, including the Bassy-Ratliff for Randy Foye (who became Brandon Roy) and Raefer.

To review: The Celtics acquired Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff plus a 2nd Round pick for #7 Randy Foye, Raef Lafrentz, Dan Dickau plus a 2nd Round pick. This seems like a good trade for both teams, though if Roy is as good as predicted, I think the Blazers got the best of this deal. The Blazers were done with Bassy. Starting for the worst team in basketball, Steve Blake was actually pretty good. And Jarret Jack is a 10-12 year NBA starter. So turning Bassy into Roy, a guy who Nate McMillan has known for awhile through U-Dub. McMillan knows talent and he knows competitive drive, and was a big Roy fan from early on.

Now, luckily for the C’s, Bassy can play, and he has been getting better all through his two years in Portland. Towards the end of the season, he was actually finding his game on the defensive end. He also is a better shooter than his early years have revealed. Considering that Telfair would have just completed his sophomore year, did not exactly solve his team’s youth issues, but he is bringing in a veteran. In addition to Telfair, for the 45-55 games each season that Ratliff is not injured, Theo is a dominant shot blocker, and the C’s could certainly use a shot blocker. Plus, Raef’s contract sucked. Danny did well unloading that commitment as well as clown around P-Town Dickau

But that trade is where the guys just got started. Here is a summary of the rest of the moves:

Celtics
• Acquire #21 Rajon Rondo and Brian Grant from Phoenix for first round pick belonging to the Cavs from the Jiri Welsch deal.
• Acquire #49 Leon Powe from Celtics for future second round pick

Rondo is an intriguing player. His shot sucks. He may never shoot well. But he is an unbelievable defender with some of the biggest, quickest hands the L may have ever seen. If talk about his floor game is accurate, he could run as Delonte and Bassy’s back up for a year or two and develop into a real player. Powe may prove to be to small, and certainly the C’s have a plethora of young power players under 6’10, but Danny has had a knack of picking the right undersized bigs (Brandon Hunter, Justin Reed and Ryan Gomes) and getting value from a second round pick. Check this: If Powe does not make the NBA, it says here that he dominates in Europe.
In the end, Ratliff may be the most significant pick up for the Celtics. If he can stay healthy, he supplies a length and defensive focus that will greatly help stabilize what was one of the most porous defenses in the League. Plus, Theo is a veteran and a good locker room guy. Same for Bri “Rastafari” Grant. Grant and Ratliff will be great for Perkins, Jefferson and Gomes.


Blazers
• Acquire #2 LeMarcus Aldridge from Chicago for #4 Tyrus Thomas and Victor Kryapa
• Acquire #6 Brandon Roy from TWolves for #7 Randy Foye
• Acquire #27 Sergio Rodriguez from Suns for cash
• Acquire # 45 overall pick Alexander Johnson, and two future second-round picks from Pacers for in exchange for #31 James White
• Acquire future second-round pick from Memphis for Alexander Johnson

Wow! All this Draft the Stash shit was making me nervous. For a while it was clear that Portland would get two top six-seven picks, and I was hoping that it would be Roy and LeMarcus Aldridge! I know heart is the question with LeMarcus, but he has skills and size that simply cannot be taught. Tyrus Thomas may turn out to be awesome. . . but he is 6’9” (sure the super long arms and jump to the moon shit, but). . . Aldridge reminds me of the Admiral. McMillan will get him going right. And Roy seems bad ass to me. Throw in Rodriguez, who could be the secret steal of the day, and three second round picks, and you have the best day in the Blazer front office since the day before Jermaine O’Neal went to Indy for Dale Davis.
Chicago did well for themselves with Kryhapa. With Nocioni and Deng he will play never. . . but lets say the Bulls make a major move in the trade market. . . Chicago is very talented, with much to give without depleting the core. Thomas is very promising, despite my preference of Aldridge.

As for my beloved friends in the land of Minny, I hope Foye turns out well. Roy seems better. For better or worse, Foye may be KG’s last hope to stay in Wolves’ clothes. Why you did not just take Foye at #6, I have no idea. I have eternal love for Kevin McHale, but his record in Minnesota has earned him the moniker McDumbass. In good news, the Wolves traded the rights to No. 37 (Bobby Jones) to the Sixers for a future second-round pick and cash. Jones was not making the Wolves, and at least Kev got something. And you got Loukas Mavrokefalidis and Craig Smith to boot.

And at least you don’t have Isiah as the GM.