Mattie T’s 1st Round Analysis of the 2006 NBA Draft

Here is my pick-by-pick analysis of every 1st-round selection during the 2006 NBA Draft and a look at notable 2nd-round selections.

1. Toronto Raptors

Andrea Bargnani F/Italy 7′0, 225

Bargnani is the first European born player to be selected number one overall, and the second international player to go number one overall (Yao Ming, 2001). Bargnani displays good perimeter shooting and decent ball-handling skills for a 7-footer. However, he will have to work on his rebounding and defense to become successful in the NBA. Andrea will not be able to help Toronto right away, as the team hopes that he can compliment All-Star F Chris Bosh in a couple of years.

2. Chicago Bulls (trading no.2 pick to Portland)

LaMarcus Aldridge F/Texas 6′10, 237

LaMarcus Aldridge is a great pick for the Trail Blazers, with Portland trading away C Theo Ratliff to the Boston Celtics earlier tonight. LaMarcus can run the floor exceptionally well for a big man, but he will need to improve on his box out skills. However, Aldridge looks like he can end up having a solid NBA career if he gains some strength.

3. Charlotte Bobcats

Adam Morrison F/Gonzaga 6′8, 205

Bit of a surprise here, as Portland was very interested in taking Morrison with their number four pick. Adam Morrison is a bonafide scorer who can put the ball in the basket from virtually anywhere on the court. He should team up great with Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor. However, Morrison is known as a one-dimensional player who was considered a sub-par defender during his college career at Gonzaga. Adam will definitely become one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year.

4. Portland Trail Blazers (trading no. 4 pick to Chicago along with F Viktor Khryapa)

Tyrus Thomas F/LSU 6′8, 217

The Bulls receive some immediate help in their frontcourt, as Thomas will definitely provide great impact to a team that led the NBA in opponents’ field goal percentage. Thomas is an excellent shot-blocker and can rebound well despite his lanky frame. Tyrus may be asked to help right away, as C Tyson Chandler’s status with the team could be in jeopardy over the next few months as the free agency period awaits.

5. Atlanta Hawks

Shelden Williams F/Duke 6′9, 250

Shelden Williams is definitely ready to come in and make an impact for the Atlanta Hawks. Shelden can finish extremely well around the basket, and can play some solid defense. His 4 year experience at Duke will definitely be a plus for him down the road as he hopes to become the first Duke forward to become an All-Star since Clippers F Elton Brand did it this past February. Williams is the only player under Coach K to average a double-double for his entire collegiate career.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (pick traded to Portland)

Brandon Roy G/Washington 6′5, 195

Excellent pick by Minnesota knowing that G Rashad McCants is in danger of missing the 2005-06 season following knee surgery. Brandon Roy is the most complete guard in this year’s draft with an improved jumpshot to compliment outstanding defense, excellent ball-handling skills, and a great basketball IQ.

7. Boston Celtics (pick traded to Portland)

Randy Foye G/Villanova 6′4 205

Randy Foye is a great pick for a Portland Trail Blazers team that is looking to add some leadership at the guard position. Randy has great body control and he can drive to the basket at will. Foye can also finish strong with contact, which will definitely remind some people of the way Heat G and 2006 NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade finishes around the basket. Randy is also a good defender for his size. He should get a lot of minutes on a rebuilding Portland team.

(Update) Foye is apparently headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

8. Houston Rockets (pick traded to Memphis along with F Stromile Swift, Houston receives G/F Shane Battier from Memphis in return)

Rudy Gay F/Connecticut 6′9, 220

Rudy Gay is a great pick for a Memphis Grizzlies team that is desperately looking to add some scoring help alongside All-Star F/C Pau Gasol, a former Rookie of the Year winner. Rudy is a very explosive finisher, which should make him an instant-crowd favorite at the FedEx Forum. He’s great in transition which will remind a lot of people of All-Star Nets G Jason Kidd. Gay is also an excellent defender with quick feet and an array of choices to score on the offensive end.

9. Golden State Warriors

Patrick O’Bryant C/Bradley 7′0, 260

Patrick O’Bryant rapidly improved his draft stock with an excellent performance during the NCAA Tournament. He’s an above-average defensive player with a 7′5 wingspan. O’Bryant is able to establish great position in the paint with his excellent footwork. He will have to add some muscle though in prepartion to bang with the likes of Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming in the West.

10. Seattle Sonics

Mouhamed Saer Sene C/Senegal 7′0, 229

Mouhamed Sene is the third consecutive center that Seattle has taken in the first round. He has a freakish 7′8 wingspan that will be very pivotal in his defensive ability when he’s ready to come over and play in the NBA. He has the ability to become the most dangerous shot-blocker in the NBA since fellow African native and 4-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Dikembe Mutombo.

11. Orlando Magic

J.J. Redick G/Duke 6′4, 190

This pick is considered a big gamble for Orlando, as J.J. Redick begins his NBA career with a herniated disk in his back that will definitely concern the Magic. Houston Rockets G Bob Sura had the same injury back in September of ‘05, and he wound up missing the rest of the season. If healthy, Redick should immediately become one of the NBA’s premier free-throw shooters (91.8% during his career at Duke) and will have the opportunity to start. However, Redick does not have the quickness to blow past defenders, so he could turn into a Reggie Miller-type player who will rely on screens to get a chance at open perimeter shots. Or, Redick could turn into an average guard who struggles when a good defender is put on him. Only time will tell.

12. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Hilton Armstrong F-C/Connecticut 6′11, 235

Nice pick for the Hornets as Hilton Armstrong should join P.J. Brown to form a solid frontcourt for Byron Scott’s ballclub. Armstrong is an outstanding shot-blocker with great wingspan who will get many opportunities to score thanks to rising G Chris Paul, the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year winner.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (pick traded to Chicago)

Thabo Sefolosha F/Switzerland 6′7, 205

Sefolosha is an excellent defender, a slashing-type offensive player with control and a great passer, which should please Bulls head coach Scott Skiles. Thabo is a good rebounder for his size, and he should be able to help the Bulls when he’s ready to play in the NBA.

14. Utah Jazz

Ronnie Brewer G/Arkansas 6′7, 228

Ronnie Brewer will join G Deron Williams to form one the youngest and most-talented backcourts in the NBA. Brewer is a great defender who can defend up to three positions, something that should remind Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan of his coveted All-Star F/G Andrei Kirleinko. Ronnie had the responsibility to guard the opposing team’s best player in college. Coach Sloan may ask him to do the same now that he’s made it to the NBA.

15. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Cedric Simmons C/North Carolina St. 6′9, 233

Cedric Simmons has an outstanding wingspan with great leaping ability to potentially turn into a vicious shot-blocker on defense. He will join fellow first round pick Hilton Armstrong to form one of the top rookie frontcourt combos in the NBA for next season.

16. Chicago Bulls (pick traded to Philadelphia)

Rodney Carney G/Memphis 6′7, 205

Rodney Carney has a great first step, and he is a very explosive finisher. Sixer fans have got to be excited teaming him up with F Andre Igoudala, who won the 2006 Slam Dunk Contest and has made TV highlight reels almost every night with his incredible vertical leaping ability to create some breath-taking dunks. He’s a solid shooter and has the ability to become a great defender, something that the Sixers need sooner than later.

17. Indiana Pacers

Shawne Williams F/Memphis 6′9, 225

Shawne Williams is a good passing big man, but will need to improve his defense in order to earn minutes in Coach Rick Carlisle’s rotation. All-Star F/C Jermaine O’Neal should be able to work with Williams on his very-questionable shot selection and lack of aggresiveness, this is provided that O’Neal does not get traded over the off-season.

18. Washington Wizards

Oleksiy Pecherov F/Ukraine 6′11, 220

Pecherov is the first international player ever selected by Washington. He loves to play on the perimeter, and has a decent jumpshot who will remind people of Mavericks F/C Dirk Nowitzki. Oleksiy also has the ability to score in the post and has a good first step. He will need to improve his rebounding and defense though, which are Washington’s main weaknesses overall.

19. Sacramento Kings

Quincy Douby G/Rutgers 6′3, 175

Quincy Douby is an explosive scorer who will join G Mike Bibby to become one of the best shooting tandems in the NBA. Great slasher who can get to the basket at will and play some solid defense as well. Excellent pick for Sacramento considering that F/G Bonzi Wells is a free agent. Douby will need to improve his frame, as he will get knocked around quite a bit on his current frame, remininding a lot of people about Sixers’ All-Star G Allen Iverson.

20. New York Knicks

Renaldo Balkman F/South Carolina 6′8, 208

Renaldo Balkman is a solid, but not spectacular guard who will raise some eyebrows in New York as the 2006-07 season approaches. Balkman was projected to be a late 2nd round pick, but apparently the Knicks saw enough on him to select him in the 1st round. He is not a big assist guy and a poor free-throw shooter.

21. Phoenix Suns (pick traded to Boston)

Rajon Rondo G/Kentucky 6′1, 171

Rajon Rondo possesses great hands, a long wingspan, good defense and a pass-first mentality. Rondo is an excellent rebounder for his size, but a poor outside shooter as well. Rondo is the first point guard taken in the 2006 NBA Draft.

22. New Jersey Nets

Marcus Williams G/Connecticut 6′2, 200

Marcus Williams could end up being the steal of the draft after dropping this low. He will have an excellent tutor and mentor in All-Star G Jason Kidd to work with. Marcus has great body control that allows him to finish well with contact. Williams is a solid outside shooter despite his minimal lack of attempts, but he will need to improve defensively and with his conditioning in time for training camp.

23. New Jersey Nets

Josh Boone F-C/Connecticut 6′10, 237

Turns out Marcus Williams isn’t the only UConn Huskie that’s headed to the Nets. Josh Boone should help the Nets’ frontcourt with his solid shot-blocking and good awareness to finish around the basket which is something that could pay dividends with the Nets’ Big 3 of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. Boone runs the floor well, which suits Jason Kidd just fine as the Nets are one of the most dangerous open-court teams in the NBA.

24. Memphis Grizzlies

Kyle Lowry G/Villanova 6′0, 185

Good pick by Memphis as they look to add some athleticism to their backcourt. Great quickness and ball-handling skills to become a solid guard, but his shooting is questionable. Kyle can finish with contact and is a strong defender.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers

Shannon Brown G/Michigan St. 6′4, 205

Great pick by a Cleveland team who had the lowest-scoring backcourt in the NBA last season. The former Proviso East star showed some explosiveness as he can shoot from the perimeter, drive to the basket and play good defense. He will definitely have the opportunity to step in right away for a rising franchise.

26. Los Angeles Lakers

Jordan Farmar G/UCLA 6′2, 180

Jordan Farmar will get to stay close to home as he should be able to help the Lakers out in their backcourt. Jordan has great playmaking skills and has a great basketball IQ, which should please All-Star G Kobe Bryant. However, Farmar is an average defender and a poor shooter. Jordan will have to play better defense to earn minutes in Phil Jackson’s rotation.

27. Phoenix Suns (pick traded to Portland)

Sergio Rodriguez G/Spain 6′3, 170

Nicknamed “Spanish Chocolate” with a style of play similar to Miami Heat G Jason Williams, Rodriguez has great court vision and quickness for a PG. However, he is not a good shooter and a questionable defender. Many people overseas think that Rodriguez’s style of play fits some of the streetballers that are featured on the “And One” popular mixtapes.

28. Dallas Mavericks

Maurice Ager G/Michigan St. 6′5, 202

Good pick for the Mavericks for protection just in case G’s Jason Terry and Marquis Daniels leave via trade/free agency. Ager has great leaping ability and is great in transition, which suits the Mavericks’ type of play very well. He is a solid outside shooter, but only when his feet are set. Maurice must learn to beat defenders off the dribble though to become a good NBA player. He will have to improve his passing, as the Mavericks did not posses a playmaking guard outside of Devin Harris who can set his teammates up with good decision-making with the basketball.

29. New York Knicks

Mardy Collins G/Temple 6′6, 205

Mardy Collins has great size and can control games with his tempo. He has an high basketball IQ, which should please Knick fans who have two erratic guards of their own in Stephon Marbury & Steve Francis. Collins however, is a poor outside shooter and a bad free throw shooter.

30. Portland Trail Blazers

Joel Freeland F/England 6′10, 225

Former grocery bagger Joel Freeland has good quickness, but is very raw and will need a couple of years overseas to ready his game for the NBA level.

Noteable second round picks:

Paul Davis C/Michigan St. 6′11, 270 selected 30th by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Steve Novak F/Marquette 6′10, 220 selected 32nd by the Houston Rockets.

James Augustine F/Illinois 6′10, 235 selected 41st by the Orlando Magic.

Dee Brown G/Illinois 6′0, 185 selected 46th by the Utah Jazz.

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.myspace.com/bmsradio