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| David Stern's last NBA Draft was a thing of brilliant television, and not beacause of him. (Credits: Jason DeCrow/AP Photo) |
Usually the lead up to the NBA draft is about one guy, about a franchise changer. About a LeBron, a D-Rose, a Kyrie, but when that's not the case the draft is often quite unique. As in the case of last night, everyone's trying to trade down or flip their picks for already established players. When the draft doesn't revolve around the actual players being drafted, it can still be exciting. Last night, however? No, last night was wild. From the git-go, the draft just lost control of itself and turned into one of the best of all-time. I'll try to tell it as a story, but even the thought of this draft hurts my head. Here goes nothing.
Pretty fitting that David Stern, who had ruled over the NBA like a tyrannical dictator for almost 30 years, would be a huge part of the actual draft. From the second he walked out to the podium, Stern was bombarded with boos. Obviously he's used to the boos. The boos have pretty much become part of the NBA and NFL drafts and it's a "whatever" sort of situation now. But the way that Stern reacted to the boos was amazing. He was playing with the crowd, shit-eating grin from ear-to-ear on his face. At one point he just goes, "I cannnn'ttttt heaaaarrrr youuuu." Another point he raises his hand encouraging the fans to increase their volume. It was a moment like none other. Stern's arrogance spilling all over the crowd and yet instead of creating a mess he sort of recreated a Jackson Pollack. I wasn't a Stern fan, and still don't love the guy. But he played that so right. So. Damn. Right.
Anyways, Stern's first announcement pretty much flipped the draft on its head. It was long thought that the Cavs were going to select Nerlens Noel. The unpolished, defensive big man with a scruffy flat top was supposed to go first. There were rumblings of Victor Oladipo or Alex Len, but Noel just seemed like he could be that franchise altering big man. But no, instead, the Cavs selected Anthony Bennett from UNLV. Stern paused for a moment, knowing the shock that was about to awaken the crowd, before he announced Bennett's name. Again, absolutely well played by Stern. Then there was the audible "WHOA" from Bill Simmons, which was hysterical and a perfectly accurate reaction to the news. Little did any of us know that the draft would produce several more "WHOA" moments.
Noel kept falling and falling. The stunned look on his face every time they showed him getting passed on was priceless. Here was a kid who was unfairly overrated and it had clearly gone to his head. Once things went a different way then he thought, he was just speechless. I understand why he was feeling that way, but he wasn't the consensus number one pick. No one was donning this guy the next Hakeem, not even the next Patrick Ewing. So him falling to sixth overall, wasn't a real shocker, but it felt like. He went to the Pelicans, which has to be the worst name in all of sports, and was quite fitting. And then there was the first trade. Ugly.
I was watching the draft with two knowledgeable Sixers fans and both of them were stunned. JRUE HOLIDAY (AN ALL-STAR) TRADED FOR NOEL AND A FIRST ROUND PICK? It had to be the worst draft-day trade in the history of sports. Not even close. Like trading a young, budding all-star point guard AND a first round pick for some dude who has no offensive game? It was like, what? Why? How? It was incomprehensible. This was really the time the draft started popping off. The funny part? Everyone got it wrong. Some guy had reported that the first round pick was going to New Orleans instead of Philly. Once it was corrected, then trade made sense, well at least it removed itself from the "Worst Draft-Day Trade Ever" power rankings, but it was still bad. Was it as bad as the inside decoration on Noel's suit? Why did Noel have Kentucky and his number sewn into the inside of suit coat? I have no idea. You played there for one year. Actually, you didn't even make it through the year. If the NBA still drafted players out of high school, you would've come out of high school. You have no ties to Kentucky? It's probably never actually gonna be your Alma Mater, so WHY IS KENTUCKY AND YOUR NUMBER SEWN INTO YOUR COAT'S INSIDE.
After Noel, the draft sort of settled down for a few picks. Stern was still toying with the crowd, pausing to soak in the boos. Everyone still concerned with why Shane Battier was interviewing players as the pseudo sideline reporter, which was brutal. I don't even want to watch Battier shoot a three-pointer or flop around in an ugly Heat jersey, so I sure as hell don't want to watch his goofy self interview guys. Detroit drafted Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who simultaneously lifted the "Best Name in the Draft" Award. The Sixers selected Michael-Carter Williams; I think he has the biggest spectrum of being a bust or being a star. I think he has an equal chance to be either one. Then there was the next trade, which was kind of laughable.
If we thought that the draft was crazy enough, the news of the emerging Celtics, Nets blockbuster was getting more and more intense. We all were kind of dreaming of how wild that trade may be, but no one really thought Kevin Garnett would budge on his no trade clause. Then all of the sudden he did.
Awe is a feeling that should be indescribable. When someone actually is in the state of shock, or when they're awestruck, they can't put a thought to their feelings. There is no comprehension between the emotional and logical parts of the brain. That's what my brain was going through when I read the news that the deal had went down. So. Many. Storylines. KG and Paul Pierce leave the Celtics (as well as Doc), marking the end of an era. KG and Pierce going to play for, not with, Jason Kidd who's only a few years older then them. The fact the Celtics, the NBA's greatest organization, has to have Gerald Wallace's horrendous contract on their books. Wallace admitted he had lost his identity during the playoffs. How do you lose your identity in your 13 year in the NBA. Wallace has had a nice little career, but he isn't worth $10 mil a year even when he has his identity. At this point I wouldn't give him a veteran's minimum (I mean I would, but you get my point); confusion and bewilderment are not things you want on the court. Then there's how KG could completely alter Brook Lopez's career by turning him into a beast in the post. How about the Nets still having to pay more than $20 million for Mr. Sketchy a.k.a. Joe Johnson.
If I try to pick a winner in this trade...I can't pick a winner in this trade. There's so many bad things that outweigh the good on both sides. I really think the biggest loser is Jason Kidd, however. Yes, he did just get two future Hall-of-Famers to compliment his "Big Two and one Sketchy Guy." But, also so much pressure was just added to him immediately. If he can't get this thing to work, he could be out quick.
On paper, this team should win a title. But the paper is aging and then again basketball isn't played on paper. This reminds me exactly of the dealings that the Lakers had with Dwight and Nash last year. They barely made the playoffs and then were swept off the court like they weren't even an NBA team by the Spurs. Why weren't they successful? Age. Nash was hurt all the time and then Kobe was run into the ground by D'Antoni. This Nets suqad has all the makings of being the "2012-'13 Lakers 2.0." Like the Lakers they have no bench and their relying on a starting five with miiiiilllllllllaaaaaaagggggeeeee on them.
The Celtics on the other hand, are in complete rebuild mode. No Ray. No Doc. No KG. No Pierce. The organization has given the keys to Rajon Rondo, but he's driving an empty Astro Van right now. Yes, they did acquire three first round picks (which will probably all be late first rounders), Marshon Brooks and Kris Humphries' expiring contract. But they also had to take on that, again mind-blowingly atrocious, Wallace contract for three more years. It wasn't the world's worst rebuilding trade, but it also wasn't the best. Will the Celtics make the playoffs next year? Probably not, unless Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green turn into the next big things; they're both nice players, but I don't think either will be great.
Really the saddest part of the deal is the end of this great Celtics era. Yeah, they didn't win the two titles they were supposed to win, but they provided a lot of great sports memories. The two rematches vs. the Lakers. KG getting into LeBron's head in Game 5 of last year's ECFs and then promptly forcing LeBron to become a man and play the greatest game he's ever played. This team restoring the "Big Three" idea. I hated this team and I'm going to hate the Nets, but I respected them greatly. I'm going to miss hating the Celtics, hating Brooklyn won't be as fun. They don't have many real fans, so it won't be as fiery.
Last night was wild and could be described in a multitude of ways. I loved last night. It was by far the most compelling draft I've ever watched and it had moments when I was either in a pure state of shock or laughing my face off. I hope they make a 30 for 30 about it. It was that ridiculous and yet it really could alter the landscape of the East. Or it could do absolutely nothing. Only time will tell.
David Stern always wanted to be bigger than his league, but he couldn't be bigger than his own exit party. It was too damn good.
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