Cory Elfrink's Final Draft Notes

Seattle GM Sam Presti needs to look at a depth chart. By drafting the SF of the future in Kevin Durant, the Sonics look to let Rashard Lewis sign elsewhere as there are not enough minutes for both of them. Then tell me why take a SF at the 5th pick (with Yi and Brewer on the board) and trade for another SF who is incidentally the highest paid player on the current roster. Presti has a mess to unravel with Durant, Jeff Green, and Szczerbiak all playing SF. They are arguably the best three players on that team with Chris Wilcox.

Pass the depth chart along to Kevin Pritchard. Last year, Jarrett Jack and Sergio Rodriguez emerged as a very talented young point guard duo. So why then did he give his best player away for a washed up point guard and unproven big? Wouldn’t trading Randolph for one of the many rumored SFs who are available (Odom, Maggette, Artest, Kirilenko) make a heckuva lot more sense? To make matters worse, they selected PG Taurean Green AND PG Petteri Koponen (both of whom I like). 19 year-old Koponen stays in Europe, but he really doesn’t have a choice, does he? Rumors are they will waive Steve Francis. Whether they do or don’t, this trade will never make sense to me. I know Francis’ contract is up in two years, but a lot of contracts are, including Trailblazer Raef Lafrentz.

Will KG reconsider Boston now that they have Ray Allen? A third team would almost certainly have to get involved to make the cap work.

The Hawks and Grizzlies still need to make moves. There are not enough minutes to share amongst their developing youth. Sign and trades should be sought and youth moved for veterans to guide the ship. Plus the 4-headed PG situation is another issue.

Miami set themselves another year back by adding Daequan Cook and Stanko Barac. Jason Smith should actually have a career in this league where these two will bust.

Isn’t telling a team "I don't want to workout for you because I absolutely do not want to play in your city" just as effective as saying "please trade me"? That’s what Yi’s camp was saying to Milwaukee brass for months yet that is the team the takes him. Yi for Noah and Duhon?

Michael Jordan showed his GM inexperience by welcoming Jason Richardson’s large contract to fulfill his giant cap room. I like that Charlotte added a proven scorer and clutch performer. But, clearly Jordan did not know what a blessing it was to have so much cap room. He would have been better served giving a portion of that money to the better Gerald Wallace and the rest of it to young contributors such as Brandon Wright (or Nick Young?) and Jared Dudley. Or he could have made a serious run at Vince Carter or Ray Allen. In his defense, both those players are older than Richardson.

Cleveland definitely needed the cheap help available in this year’s draft but they were shut-out. Good luck to GM Danny Ferry building an affordable Eastern Conference Champion-type team next season.

Why would Orlando take the below-average Reyshawn Terry when they are supposedly targeting Rashard Lewis and already have Trevor Ariza and Hedo Turkoglu at SF? There were far better fits and potentials on the board.

Philly is the East team in most demand of a depth chart. They entered the draft with SF their only position of any depth with Kyle Korver and Rodney Carney, yet still spent 2 picks on SF Thaddeus Young and SF Derrick Byars. This while desperately needing help at 3 other positions.

I really like Javaris Crittenden, but the only way I see him and Kobe working out is if he is on his way to Kobe’s house right now saying “I want to help you win and I will do everything to be prepared to play with you.” Then beg to be a daily part of the off-season workouts. Will Kobe even make an attempt to make this kid feel welcome?

Josh McRoberts played AAU next to Greg Oden. That will help his transition and development significantly. I would be really worried about him on most teams.

Cheers to Kevin McHale who went against history and landed a great talent in Corey Brewer. I would have bet anyone he was going to take Joakim Noah, Brandan Wright or Spencer Hawes here.

I don’t foresee Al Thornton and Corey Maggette coexisting in L.A. Look for the latter to be on the move.

Good for Morris Almond and Utah. There are not many teams in the league to find more minutes at SG than Utah. And there weren’t many players in the draft more mature and ready then Morris.

Julian Wright will eventually work out in New Orleans. On the other hand - Adam Haluska? AHHAHAHAHAAHA.

My biggest differences with Zach Harper’s Western Conference Draft analysis lie in San Antonio and Dallas. Fazekas was one of my favorite players (although Dallas might be his worst fit) and Seibutus was one of my sleepers that I think can play in the League. I think the Spurs will stash Tiago for a year and then we’ll all be asking, “Where did this guy come from?” All over again. R.C. Buford has my heart.