2007 NBA Draft Preview-Western Conference Teams' Needs

 

West Palm Beach, FL (AHN) - While the San Antonio Spurs revel in their four-game sweep of the Cavs and fourth NBA title in nine years, it is back to work for the rest of the basketball world. As the horrible cliché goes, next year is here. All 29 teams that did not win the championship are currently hunkering down trying to find ways to improve on last season's failures.

The most immediate concern for the teams' executives is the upcoming NBA Draft which will be held on June 28 in Madison Square Garden. This year's draft is more important than some of the previous ones because it is one of the deeper drafts in recent memory, especially in the frontcourt positions.

However, the 2007 NBA draft will be one in which very few players make an immediate impact-unless, of course, your name is Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Why? This year's draftees feature a bundle of freshman and sophomore college players who have given up their eligibility and will need a few years of seasoning before showcasing their obvious talents.

That fact is another reason why the draft is so important for certain clubs, especially ones near the salary cap who can not improve through free agency. With that in mind, AHN will preview each team's needs and what it might be looking for in the draft. We will start off with the teams in the Western Conference and next week we will cover the Eastern Conference.

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks (67-15 record last season)

With the heralded three of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Josh Howard, Dallas is one of the top teams in the NBA and it will be for years especially with owner Mark Cuban willing to pay top dollar to keep his players and fans happy. The Mavs also have a great bench so the draft will not their biggest concern.

Despite owning the best regular season record in the NBA last season, Dallas was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round against the Golden State Warriors, just a year removed from their franchise's first finals appearance.

While not owning a first round pick in this year's draft, the club may still be able to improve because it has three second round picks (34, 50, 60). The Mavs would probably like another good shooting guard to come off the bench but that position is the weakest in the draft. So, expect the club to try to load up with any player that can shoot, regardless of position.

San Antonio Spurs (58-24)

The reigning champs are perfect, right? Not exactly. The Cavaliers were completely outmatched in the Finals and the Spurs are getting older so getting a good, athletic youthful player would be a big plus especially since the team still has to contend with the speedier Suns and Mavericks clubs.

San Antonio does have a first round pick (28) and two second round selections (33, 58). However, the choices are late so the best it might be able to do is to find a good backup player. The Spurs could use a more reliable backup point guard to spell Tony Parker rather than Jacque Vaughn and someone like Florida's Taurean Green might be available. Also, with Robert Horry's age creeping up close to AARP age, the team might focus on getting a young power forward such as LSU's Glen 'Big Baby' Davis.

Houston Rockets (52-30)

The Rockets failed to get past the first round of the playoffs yet again despite the stellar play of Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Shane Battier. The disappointing end to the season caused head coach Jeff Van Gundy to lose his job faster than Charles Barkley's run through a buffet line.

Houston has one pick in the draft but it is a first rounder (26) so it has a decent chance to pick up a good athlete. The most immediate concern for the team is at power forward positions, especially after trading Juwan Howard to the T-Wolves. If Nevada's Nick Fazekas or Duke's Josh McRoberts is available, the club will probably select one of them.

New Orleans Hornets (39-43)

New Orleans is a team on the rise. Chris Paul is one of the more exciting players in the NBA and he has quality teammates in Tyson Chandler and David West. The only reason the Hornets did not make the playoffs this past season was because of injuries, in particular the one Peja Stojakovic suffered.

That said, the club can improve greatly because it has a higher pick in both rounds of the draft (13, 43). The most immediate need for the Hornets is at shooting guard and small forward. A good offensive player like USC's Nick Young or FSU's Al Thornton could be available and either one could lighten Paul's scoring load.

Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)

The team with the worst record in the NBA could use help at every position. Pau Gasol is the club's best player, but he has been rumored to be on the trading block for a while now.

Unfortunately for the club, it missed out on the Kevin Durant-Oden sweepstakes when they fell to fourth to the fourth pick as a result of the lottery. It does have a high first round pick (4) which will surely help the team, but the thought of losing out on those two players left many in Memphis as angry as a Mike Vick's pit bull. Expect the Grizzlies to pick one of the many talented power forwards in the draft, probably one of the Florida Gators' big men, Joakim Noah or Al Horford.

Northwest Division

Utah Jazz (51-31)

The Jazz proved to be one of the best surprises this past season as Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer played some fantastic ball all year long, catapulting them to an unexpected trip to the Western Conference finals. In reality, however, the whole starting five, including Andrei Kirilenko, Derek Fisher and Mehmet Okur, are a talented bunch.

The club should look for some help at the shooting guard position and with a late pick in each round (25, 55) it should find help at that slot. Many think UCLA's Arron Afflalo or Arizona's Marcus Williams should be available when the Jazz pick in the first round.

Denver Nuggets (45-37)

Barring any trades, the Nuggets will be sitting out this year's draft. You should not feel too sorry for the club, however, because it received Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith in return for trading away its draft picks to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Portland Trail Blazers (32-50)

The lone bright spot for the Trail Blazers last year was winning the NBA lottery! Yes, they won the right to select either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Not only that, but the club has four other picks, all in the second round (37, 42, 52, 53).

With all those picks, the club probably will be busy talking to teams about possible trade scenarios. It will not trade the No. 1 pick, in all likelihood. Portland will likely choose Oden with it because the team's center duo of Joel Przybilla and Jamaal Magloire combined to average only 8.5 points a game.

A Kevin Durant selection is not out of the question, but with the four second round picks, Portland can find a few quality forwards in the mix. Finding another good center will be much harder.

Minnesota Timberwolves (32-50)

Kevin Garnett's team has underperformed the past few years and he has voiced his displeasure a lot of late. The club is at least attempting to be doing something to change its fortunes as it recently traded away Mike James for Juwan Howard.

That trade could be more interesting than first thought. Minnesota has the seventh pick in the draft and a high second rounder (41). Even though second-year guard Randy Foye is penciled in as the new point guard, the team will probably select Ohio State's Mike Conley Jr. if available.

Otherwise, the club would like to find help at the small forward position and Florida's versatile Corey Brewer would be perfect for the club. Minnesota also will get a quality pick in the second round and it will probably pick a forward no matter what it does with its first pick.

Seattle Supersonics (31-51)

The only thing certain with the Supersonics organization now is that the team will finally have another good player besides Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. As the team floundered this past season and questions surfaced about whether the club would move out of Seattle, its fortunes rose went it got the No. 2 pick in the draft, resulting from the lottery.

Kevin Durant is the likely pick for the Sonics and he should fit perfectly with the team. The club also has two second round picks at 31 and 35 and it could pick up two quality players that might stick with the team. It could use a reliable small forward, someone like Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young or even Wisconsin's Alando Tucker.

Pacific Division

Phoenix Suns (61-21)

Let's face it, the Suns with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, are the most exciting team to watch in the NBA. Still, the club can not seem to get to the NBA Finals. It came close this year, but the Spurs' defense was a little too much in the Western Conference semifinals. (Not to mention that silly rule about players staying on the sidelines.)

The Suns have an interesting dilemma because they have two late first round picks (24, 29) and a second rounder (59). Since the club is rather deep, speculation is the team will be active on the trade market. If not, Phoenix could use a quality backup for Nash and there might be a few left late in the first round. Otherwise, expect the club to look for help at the small forward slot.

Los Angeles Lakers (42-40)

Ignoring rumors that the Lakers are thinking of renaming their team "The Kobes" in order to satisfy their star, the club will try to actually improve its lineup so Mr. Kobe Bryant will choose to stay in a Lakers uniform.

Los Angeles has a first rounder (19) and two second round picks (40, 48) in order to improve its point guard and center positions. Some think the team might do better trading the picks and that is a likely scenario.

If that does not happen, someone like Georgia Tech's leader Javaris Crittenton or Spain's big man Paul Gasol might fall into the team's lap.

Golden State Warriors (42-40)

The success of the Warriors in the playoffs was exciting to see as Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Jason Richardson shined in the team's upset of the Mavericks. Their win was no fluke, however, as Golden State is a talented club.

It should become even better with its three picks, one in the first round (18) and two in the second (36, 46). The Warriors could use a big man who can rebound and play defense to steady their front court within its hectic guard-centric game. Some expect Duke's Josh McRoberts or Boston College's Sean Williams to be around. A shooting guard might be another possibility.

Los Angeles Clippers (40-42)

This past season, the Los Angeles Clippers were about as disappointing as the Sopranos series finale as they failed to make the playoffs after winning their first postseason series in more than a decade. The reason for the letdown--Sam Cassell started to show his age and Corey Maggette was underwhelming.

The club possesses mid picks in both rounds (14, 45) and it should get at least one quality athlete for the point guard position or a center to help Chris Kaman. The Los Angeles Clippers also might think about trading Maggette and drafting a small forward like FSU's Al Thornton with the first round selection.

Sacramento Kings (33-49)

The Kings are a team in disarray as Kevin Martin was one of the few consistent players on the club this past year and they shopped franchise point guard Mike Bibby. Ron Artest also had a solid season but his moodiness makes him as reliable as Shaquille O'Neal at the free throw line.

The good news for the team is it has a lottery pick in the first round. With the 10th pick in the draft, the Kings will probably look for help at the forward position. There should be plenty of small forwards to choose from including Georgetown's Jeff Green and possibly Kansas' Julian Wright.

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