5 Things to Watch at the NBA Draft

In no other league do players get overhyped and over-analyzed like the NBA Draft, and this year’s class is hard pan proof. It’s always easy to get excited about an influx of fresh faces and fresh talent in the NBA, but it’s no secret that the 2009 draft is a class that nobody is excited about.

The reason is two-fold. First, nobody cares about any player not named “Blake Griffin”, who has already been told he’s going first-overall to the Los Angeles Clippers. Secondly, nobody outside of the major markets is willing to take on contracts right now. Rookies in the top-10 get a minimum of $2.1 million and are on the books for at least three seasons. That’s a lot of dough to spend, considering that some NBA teams are on the verge of utter bankruptcy.

So with lack-luster players, teams desperate to shed contracts and only one serious impact player on the market, what the hell are you looking forward to at the draft? Here’s what I’m keeping my eyes on:

1. Who’s Gambling On Ricky Rubio?
You’ve all heard by now that Ricky Rubio, from Spain, is destined to be a top-3 pick. The teenager is being touted as a Spanish Magic Johnson, who has shown a desire to win and incredible court vision. He’s both creative and passionate, and his skills seem to be up there when you watch game tape of him holding his own in the Spain vs. USA game from the Olympics.

So why am I so skeptical? Dirk and Pau are really the only two lottery picks from Europe who’ve panned out, while 11 other hopefuls have become nothing short of cannon fodder and trade bait. But the German sharp-shooter and the Spanish power house are both seven-foot big men with a versatile skill set.

Rubio is 6-foot-4, not nearly athletic enough to cover NBA-caliber athletes and is so young it makes you wonder if his body and mind will mature in the face of so much scrutiny. The NBA betting is an unforgiving cosmos, even Darko Milicic will tell you that. The Kings and Thunder seem batty about Rubio…but I don’t know if taking a chance on a teenage phenom with so many question marks is a wise purchase at $4+ million a year in the top-3.

2. What is Bryan Colangelo Going To Do?
Last year, Colangelo stole the spotlight when he managed to move T.J. Ford, Rasho Nestrovic and his No. 17 pick for Jermaine O’Neal, causing massive excitement on the NBA forums and in Toronto fan clubs. What’s he got in store for us this year?

Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh and the No. 9 pick are all at his disposal. It’s apparently leaking out that Colangelo is going after Stephen Curry, but so are Golden State and the Knicks, who draft ahead of the Toronto Raptors at No. 7 and 8. Nobody packages trades like Colangelo so keeping your ear to the rails that pass through Toronto is going to be an interesting tag-along right up until draft day.

3. Where Is Stephen Curry Going to End Up?
Only Curry knows how good he will be in the NBA. He’s an undersized, 6-foot-3 shooting guard parading as a point-guard. He’ll be a defensive liability due to his sub-par athleticism and only his shooting can save him. As much as I like Curry’s energy, his vibe and his go-getterness, I can’t help but think of Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick when I think of Curry. He’s projected as the seventh pick to the Golden State Warriors, but lord knows that Toronto and the New York Knicks are trying to figure out how to grab him. For two teams that are already undersized and outclassed in the backcourt, I’m just not sure why they find Curry so damn appealing.

4. Will Oklahoma City Get Georgetown’s Thabeet?
You almost can’t go wrong with a guy like Thabeet, who’s 7-foot-3 frame is packed to the brim with versatility, mobility and excellent foot work for a man his size. But the fact remains that if Thabeet lands in OKC, we’re looking at an instant contender. Thabeet is the kind of young talent that will only bolster the Durant-Green-Westbrook trio that is becoming one of the scariest tandems in the leage. Give them a viable big man down low who loves to rebound and score, and we’re looking at perhaps the best young team in the league. The only thing getting in the way is, of course, the Memphis Grizzlies who love to screw up the draft (and if you want proof, I give you Stromile Swift, Bryant “Big Country” Reeves and Steve Francis).

5. Anyone Willing To Bank On Jennings?
Brandon Jennings skipped college to go to the pros…in Europe. He’s averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists while playing in Italy. On top of that, he’s been backhanding Rubio in the media for weeks, and has shown a penchant for thinking he’s way better than he is.

The fact is that he does show talent, but so do so many kids entering the draft. He’s a flamboyant loud mouth, who uses his lips to get the spotlight, and not his play. He’s been outclassed by other guards at workouts, and he keeps on talking. So who’s going to take a chance on a guy who’s shown a lack of discipline, a strong disrespect for “earning his keep” and hasn’t backed up his incessant chatter with outstanding stats? I’m hoping New York will…but even I don’t think the Knicks will stoop that far.