RETRO: 06 draft reactions

Whilst walking around tonight and eating out beforehand (Note: the surrounding area around Wilshire and Western doesn't have much for you if you're not Korean) I got to spy on the goings on in the NBA draft. I think everything went well; for once, a lot of the top teams got what they needed, even if they didn't make the smartest moves. No huge surprises, most picks made sense, except the Knicks, who continue to confuse everyone. Really happy that the Sixers get Rodney Carney - he's a top seven talent who will do more overall than Korver and give them some much needed depth on the wing.

RETRO: the H is O

Seeeeeeeeeee? I knew Miami had too much nostalgia and good news going for it to lose the title. There was no way Stern was giving Dallas a title without any trouble. Yes, I think that the NBA may have helped push the Heat to the title, but I’m not as angry about it as I was during the infamous Lakers-Kings or Knicks-Pacers series of yore because Dallas messed it up themselves, too. They could have stopped this, because they clearly had the better team, but it got to their heads. Mark Cuban has every right to complain, but that doesn’t mean he should, because his antics got the team feeling robbed and they just gave up in game six. Maybe after this experience, they will get it done next year. They’re all fairly young and developing, and with a few roster moves to clean out the glut of perimeter players (leave it at Howard, Daniels, Stackhouse, Terry, Harris, and NO ONE ELSE… that’s five quality guys for three spots. You can’t get much better than that) they will be in the best position to get back here next year.

In fact, I’d say they’re my early favorite to win it in ’07. Phoenix, Detroit, San Antonio, and maybe someone else will be tough (Cleveland? New Jersey? Houston? Clippers?). Pending on moves they make. I think Miami will have big changes again – Shaq really doesn’t have anything to prove now, getting one ring without Kobe, as does Riley also getting one outside of L.A. Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton will retire, I’m betting, and Shaq will keep getting less effective as the years go by, with only the lack of quality big men keeping him respectable. Dwyane Wade is a top three talent, but this team is done as a real contender. He’ll keep them in the top half of the conference as long as he plays, but right now, I’m calling Dallas. Stay tuned for my NBA end-of-season capsule and draft recap in the next few weeks.