Mouhamed Where Art Thou? Part 2

I’m sure anyone who read part one is desperate to catch the rest of my draft break down from the classes of 2000 and 2006. It seems someone has already answered the question it is that I seek. ESPN put the best and worst draft classes in categoriesand the 2006 class in somehow in one of the better categories. Is this all a waste of time. Should I just send you guys links to ESPN all the time instead of giving you my perspectives? We shall answer that question at another time but in the meantime, I refuse to stop breaking down this draft and refuse to say that the 2000 draft is that much worse then the 2006 draft, if not worse. Lets get back into it.

Pick #6 2000
Atlanta Hawks, DerMarr Johnson– I really liked Johnson coming out of college as he seemed like the perfect small forward. Silky smooth, with 3 point range, and could do a little bit of everything. He averaged 8.4 points in 24 minutes a game in his second year. Remember he went pro after his freshmen season so he was still very young when the turning point in his career came. Johnson was in a terrible car accident, missing the entire following season. There were question about him ever playing again but he fought his way back and had a few decent years with the Denver Nuggets. You wonder how good he would have been if he never got injured. He is also god-brother to Timberwolves forward, Michael Beasley. That can’t be a good sign. I hate to do it but he’s in the bust category. You can see in the following video that he had the talent.

Pick #6 2006
Minnesota (Traded to Portland), Brandon Roy-Finally, a legit NBA star. Roy won rookie of the year and has been selected to 3 all-star games as a reserve. That’s more all-star appearances then everyone combined so far giving the class of 2006 a major boost. I remember when this guy was trying to go pro out of high school, then when realizing he had no chance of getting drafted went to University of Washington and ended up staying all four years. He turned himself into a leader and a great all around player. Minnesota being who they are of course traded his draft rights to Portland for Randy Foye, who we will get to later. Roy has had an assortment of injuries, stopping him from becoming the player he could have been. His latest knee problems have people thinking he might have to become a role player for the rest of his time in the NBA. That is sad considering he was becoming one of the best players in the NBA. Himself and Deron Williams for leading a comeback for light skinned brothas everywhere. The injuries lower his grade a little bit, but most definitely not a bust. Check out the chronicles of Brandon Roy below.

Pick #7 2000
Chicago Bulls(traded to Cleveland), Chris Mihm– OK maybe I was wrong. This draft is insanely weak. What do you know a white, American born center taken in the lottery. Chicago drafted Mihm then traded him for Jamal Crawford. Another horrible move for the city of Cleveland as they manage to screw up every pro sports franchise in the city. He was a big recruit when he went to Texas but only manged to average double figures once in the NBA. He had a promising first 2 seasons but never improved. Sorry Chris but your a bust. However, this video is an absolute must see! MIhm highlights to the Backstreet boys music. Can’t get much better then that.

Pick #7 2006
Boston (Traded to Portland, then Minnesota), Randy Foye– I have to admit just thinking about the guy, I thought he was a major bust but he hasn’t been awful when looking at the numbers. It’s just unfortunate for Minnesota that they took him instead of Brandon Roy or Rudy Gay. Ouch. He did average a career high 16.3 points a game in the 08-09 season but shot a barely over 40 percent which is unacceptable, especially when you bring nothing else to the table. The Timberwolves ended up trading him among others to Washington for the 5th pick in in the 2009 draft which ended up being the myth that is Ricky Rubio. Foye has provided some decent scoring for the Clippers this year and seems like he will be in the league for a while albeit never close to all-star caliber. For the Timberwolves, huge bust. Overall, minor bust, especially considered where drafted. See him “push it to the limit” in this video clip and follow that up with a little Rubio who was “born to be wild.”

Pick #8 2000
Cleveland(Traded to Chicago), Jamal Crawford
– I hail from the city of Lakewood, WA so I am partial to players coming out of my state and I know Brandon Roy is from Washington as well, but Crawford is my favorite of all time. I remember watching a high school game of his when he played for Ranier Beach. I called him God’s son. I still do. He has never made an all-star team but he has been an invaluable asset to the Atlanta Hawks these last few years, winning 6th man of the year last season. He was part of two rebuilding projects with the Bulls, and then with the New York Knicks. I was so excited when New York signed him and Eddy Curry in the same off season. I loved those guys. Of course Curry flamed out and the Knicks were terrible. As far as the pick goes for the Bulls, they got nothing for him whatsoever so this pick along with the Fizer selection was worthless with your franchise. Not really what your expecting when you have 2 picks in the top 8 eh? Crawford is in an elite group of players to score 50 points for 3 different NBA teams along with Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, and Bernard King. All those guys are in the hall of fame. He is also the NBA all time career leader in 4 point plays. If only he had been on winning teams his whole career. I’m hoping he latches on with a contender after this season and gets a title on his resume. A bust for Chicago getting nothing out of this, but definitely not a bust career wise. Below; pay homage to Washington’s finest.

Pick #8 2006
Houston(Traded to Memphis), Rudy Gay– Another possible star player which could be the reason of swaying the rankings of this draft class. Having a career average of 18 points a game Gay seems on his way to becoming an all star but has none so far. When comparing him and Roy from this class you have to realize Roy is 3 years older then him so as it seems Roy’s career is already on the downside, Gay’s is on the way up. This was a great trade for Memphis which is highly unusual considering the moves they normally make. Gay is on a young up and coming team and could end being the best player from this draft. Houston’s probably glad they traded him for Shane Battier and 2000 draftee Stromile Swift. Whoops. Definite non bust. Peep the highlights.

Pick #9 2000
Houston Rockets(Traded to Houston), http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/682/joel-przybillaJoel Przybilla– Do I even need to say it? White. American born. Lottery. Yea it doesn’t mix. The Przy averaged a career high 6.4 poins in the 04-05 season with a career scoring average of 4 points a game. I know I give it to Kendrick Perkins all the time on this site but its guys like this that makes Perk look like a young David Robinson. Przybilla has managed to stay in the league all these years so at least he has that going for him. I remember seeing him in the Mc’donalds All American game and he seemed like he was going to be a beast. I hadn’t developed my American born white player theory yet at that point in my life. Considering what a horrible draft this was he is not a complete waste of a pick but anyone with a career average of 4 points who was taken in the lottery has to be a bust right? Bust. Check out Przybilla “the thriller’s” highlights below along with a couple “facials.”

Pick #9 2006
Golden State, Patrick O’Bryant– The “Irishman” didn’t have a very long or productive NBA career. We all know the story of a player at a small college having a couple good games at the end of the season, usually in the NCAA tourney, then going on to becoming high picks based on those performances. I’m going to be blunt. This guy was trash from the get go. Bust. I couldn’t find any video of him getting dunked on so enjoy his highlight real. These literally might be all the points he had in his entire career.

Pick #10 2000
Orlando, Keyon Dooling– Another player I loved coming out of college. Seemed like he had the whole skill set to be a star but just never really figured it out. He has however, figured out how to become a solid role player and is still in the league getting meaningful minutes. He is one of those guys who never figured out how to be a true point guard as he is more of a scorer. Not much more to say but I have nothing but love for Keyon. Not really a bust. He did come at my boy “Ray Ray” though. check it out below.

Pick #10 2006
Oklahoma City(Then the Sonics)- Ah finally, the player who started the whole thought process for this article. Wow, what a chump. Playing in a total of 47 games in a 3 year period is probably not what the Thunder where looking for when drafting this player. At the time it seemed like they where purposely picking scrubs so there was nothing to get excited about in Seattle so it would be easier to move the team. They had already drafted 2 extremely raw centers in the 2 previous drafts with Robert”the red viking” Swift and Johan Petro. This pick never made sense from the beginning. A move like this is terms for being fired in my opinion. How could anyone pick someone in the top ten that doesn’t even get in the game for years with no injury’s involved. How could you be so wrong. Of course the following year they drafted Durant and moved to OK City the next year breaking the hearts of Seattle fans everywhere. At least they still have Kurt Cobain. Oh wait, he’s dead too. Let me see if I can find any video of this scrub. Yes!! I found a video that epitomizes Sene’s entire career. Bust of the draft.

There you have it. Then next five of these two banner drafts. Gay and Roy push the ratings towards their class but bums like Sene are hard to make up for. I look forward to continuing my journey as I have many answers to find and many more treasures to uncover. Check back for part 3 next week. Look forward to a Thunder article later tonight. Keep it real.