Grading the Sonics draft

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July 2008

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10:26 PM Thu, Jun 26, 2008 | Permalink

Well the draft is over. It's been a busy day. Seattle completed a few trades, but not a blockbuster like last year (Ray Allen to Boston for the #5 pick aka Jeff Green). Here are the picks with grades.

#4 pick overall: Russell Westbrook out of UCLA. Sonics GM Sam Presti sounds like he targeted Westbrook all along. He's defensive minded guard who needs to work on his PG skills if he's going play the position. Westbrook is a good pick, if you didn't have one of the top 2 picks. But be warned, if he's playing the point, there will be a learning curve. The consensus around the sports office is -- we like him. His grade: A-

#24 pick overall: Serge Ibaka out of Congo. He played in Spain last season, averaging 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in limited minutes (overseas, they generally don't play as many minutes as the guys do in the NBA). Ibaka is super atheletic center, but remains very raw. If he can be even a shadow of what Shawn Kemp was...I'd give him an A (but that could be years away). Remember, Kemp didn't do much his first few seasons in Seattle. So be patient. By the way, Ibaka may stay in Spain for a few season, or he may not. According to the Congo native, he says he'll let his agent and the Sonics handle it. I really like this pick. If he stays in Spain, his grade will be Incomplete. But if he comes to Seattle, his grade is B (with a chance to improve to an A in 2 years)

#29 pick overall: D.J. White out of Indiana. The power forward was very inconsistant in the Big 10. White is a rebounder who can score in the post. He's a back-to-the-basket type of offensive player. Plus, White can block shots. He should be a decent bench player. I'll be honest with you, I'm not a big fan, but Presti has done well with the draft so far...so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. His Grade: B- (which isn't bad for the 29th pick)

As for the second round, the 50th pick, Cal's DeVon Hardin will probably end up playing center in the D-League. Seattle snagged Kansas center Sasha Kaun with the 56th selection. Kaun will likely play in the Russian League, and not in Seattle for the next few seasons. So Kaun -- Do svidaniya! (that's goodbye in Russian)...At least for few years. UPDATE: Sonics traded Kaun to Cleveland for cash. If the Sonics do move to OKC, the use the Cash for Kaun for moving expenses.

Overall grade: B+ There's no sexy pick. There's no Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, but Westbrook could develop into a top-tier defensive point guard...not "Glove"-like, but if the Sonics are lucky, maybe a "Mitten". For those who don't know who the "Glove" is...look up Gary Payton. Ibaka could end up like a Shawn Kemp type of player in a few seasons. So no "Reign Man" right now...maybe a "Drizzle Dude". In other words, the Sonics drafted a poorman's version of the "Glove" and "Reign Man" and got the "Mitten" and "Drizzle Dude". I guess we'll work on those nicknames, provided they stay in Seattle. The official Sonics press release is after the jump.

SONICS TRADE TO SECURE THREE FIRST ROUND PICKS

First-round picks Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and D.J. White join Sonics

SEATTLE, Thursday, June 26, 2008 - The Seattle Sonics selected UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. With the team's other first-round selection (24th overall), the Sonics selected Serge Ibaka from the Congo. In a second-round trade, the Sonics selected Walter Sharpe from the University of Alabama-Birmingham with the 32nd pick, and then traded Sharpe and the No. 46 overall pick (Trent Plaisted - BYU) to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for D.J. White, who was selected No. 29 overall in the first round by the Pistons.

"We're very happy with our draft tonight," said Sonics General Manager Sam Presti. "We feel that we have added players who will be a part of our foundation as we move forward. We're confident Russell Westbrook's skills will fit with what we're building here. He is a defensive-minded player with a tremendous blend of talent and work ethic."

"Serge is a player that we feel has tremendous potential. He brings energy and athleticism to the floor as well as the ability to stretch the defense as shooter."

As a sophomore at UCLA, Westbrook was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, earned Third Team All Pac-10 honors and was named to the league All-Defensive Team. After logging 1,318 minutes, Westbrook set UCLA's single season record for minutes played. Westbrook led the team in assists (4.3 apg), while also ranking third in scoring (12.7 ppg). A Long Beach native, Westbrook graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California.

Ibaka grew up playing in his native Congo with the Avenir du Rail club. Last season competing in Spain, Ibaka averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for C.B. L'Hospitalet LEB Gold.

White spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Indiana and averaged 14.6 points for the Hoosiers and earned Consensus Second Team All-America honors as a senior. He was also named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors from the media and league coaches.

"D.J. White is a blue collar player," Presti said. "He is a worker and someone that has had a tremendous college career."

The Sonics completed their 2008 Draft by selecting Devon Hardin from the University of California with the No. 50 overall pick and Sasha Kaun from the University of Kansas at No. 56 overall. Hardin earned Honorable Mention All-PAC-10 honors as a sophomore and finished his collegiate career as Cal's second all-time leading shot blocker with 132 blocked shots. The Sonics later traded Kaun to Cleveland for cash considerations.

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Grading the Sonics draft

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