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Nice job by BDL identifying the “Top 10 2nd round picks of the decade” and coming it 
at 7 is a former Knick turned NBA Champion.
“…7. Trevor Ariza
Houston GM Daryl Morey seems to regard Ariza as an all-world defender, something I’m just not getting at this stage. He looks like an athletic, damn-good, defender who can lock down when the focus is on him, but a Battier/Artest-type?
Either way, Ariza is in Houston’s plans, which is something to carp about after being wasted by the Knicks (traded for Steve Francis(notes) in 2006), the Magic (dealt for Brian Cook(notes), woof), and tossed aside by the Lakers (essentially switched out for Ron Artest(notes) this summer). The 43rd overall pick in the 2004 draft is only 24, as well…”
Ariza’s ascent is fascinating. I always (and admittedly) only saw him as a defensive player, never one who could be an effective and efficient perimeter scorer.
I still believe that Wilson Chandler will be the better player, so it softens the blow for Knick fans, but the deal for Francis remains a tremendous blunder in this team’s history.
DeJuan Blair will be in that top 5 if not after this year than in 2 to 3 yrs.
then > than
Well, he would have never done as well as he did with the Lakers with the Knicks. I mean, players like Ariza tend to look better when they’re on the same team as Kobe and Gasol. Still a stupid trade, but definitely not Thomas’ worst.
Overrated, Ariza has a couple of good playoff games, and now hes a good player? Noo…
Mo Williams? Luis Scola? Glen Davis?
Trust me, we’re not missing out on anything..
Man, did you see the Western Conference playoffs? Ariza stepped up in a major way, especially in that Denver series, without him you could argue they don’t make it past the Nuggets. It was the level of playoff games he performed so well in, not just that he had a couple good playoff games.
His instincts can’t be taught, I think playing along with Shane Battier is going to make him an even tougher defender. He just always seems to be around the ball, whether it’s a tip slam, deflection/steal or a key rebound. If he can take the next step offensively(improve his handle, first step and getting his own shot) he could be a second tier star, a poor man’s Latrell Sprewell maybe?
I think Chandler is a little more talented than him, but right now I would say (without comparing their numbers) Trevor is more efficient. And like I mentioned before he’’s done it on a winning team. Wilson may seperate himself in the coming years as a much better player, but that remains to be seen. So, I don’t know if we’re missing anything yet. But I definitely wouldn’t say he’s overrated.
This is off topic but something i have been pondering and don’t believe has been brought up yet….Who gets what playing time?
I believe we all expect chandler to get starter minutes, lee and nate if resigned will get solid minutes…lee did average 16-12 last season, duhon will start at pg and get atleast 25 mpg, harrington is going to get solid minutes and alot of people on this blog seem to expect him to have a great season. curry and jeffries need playing time to build up any semblance of trade value, hughes is still a decent 2, our best defender behind chandler (maybe better then chandler), and if he takes decent shots is a good shooter. people here expect darko to suprise everyone splitting time at the 5, gallinari if healthy is going to get minutes, and we all want to see the rookies play.
I believe D’Antoni prefers to play with a small rotation and either way i cant remember any team after the age of 10 let alone NBA where all 12 players got decent playing time….who gets “snubbed” an rides the pine this season?
Thats a Great question JR, i wouldnt want to be D”antoni. he has some very hard decisions in front of him, but i guess thats why he gets the big bucks
That really is a damn good question..
We all have high hopes for Darko, but he might get snubbed a bit
Curry is gonna get some minutes at the Center position, So will David Lee, and so will Jeffries…
eh, but hopefully we can ship JJ and/or Curry out of here before the season to start
you are so right Curry must get the starters minutes so we can showcase him for a trade, so darko at the beginning will get snubbed. we are loaded with forwards thats a challenge
I actually like Luke Walton’s game but I would put Mo Williams, Flip Murry and maybe even Lou Williams and Andray Blatche over Luke.
Circle, you have to take into account that Luke (as much as I dislike his pops) has contributed to a championship caliber team (the Finals twice, won the chip once), granted, Kobe helps in that regard but, Flip, Mo’ Williams, Lou Williams and Blatche haven’t proved they can do that yet.
I do agree with you those guys you mentioned are probably much more talented than Walton,
I agree, but I think that judging best 2nd round picks should be a matter of talent, not circumstance. Can’t really say the Lakers wouldn’t have had their recent success without Walton.
I can’t believe how good he shot with the Lakers in the playoffs ,he never had a shot with us.He got alot of steals in the playoffs this year and I’m supprise the Lakers let him go he made them better.Some players improve when they leave,Trevor is a real good defender I wouldn’t mind on my team and of course it depends at what cost as we have learned.
Rashard Lewis was drafted in 1998 (not in the last decade), but he is another great second round pick.
And no shot Walton is top 10.
Marcin Gortat, Brandon Bass, CJ Miles, Jason Kapono, Mo Williams, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon, Ryan Gomes……..