Now the first half of the third round. At this point, guys could go pretty much anywhere without be surprising, just about team needs. It seems that there are a lot of quality big men left, and fewer PG types.
61. Atlanta Hawks: First two picks: SF, PF: 24 year old PG Jeff Teague: Teague had the best year of his career last year, scoring 13 points per game. The Hawks draft their own PG, and now have a talented team: Teague, Durant, Favors.
N5Y: 14 PPG, 3 RPG, 5 APG, 1.5 SPG
62. Boston Celtics: First two picks: C, PF: 34 year old SF Paul Pierce: Pierce is the second straight player to be drafted by his own team. While he is 34 years old, he has still fallen a surprising amount. This is a good pick, but the Celtics really need guards.
N5Y: 18 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG, 1 SPG
63. Brooklyn Nets: First two picks: SF, PG: 27 year old PF Paul Millsap: Great pick here by the Nets. Millsap has had back to back really solid years, and now has a great chance to do more paired with LeBron James and Kyle Lowry, two great passers. The Nets wanted to grab a PF before it was too late.
N5Y: 17 PPG, 8+ RPG, 2 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG
64. Charlotte Bobcats: First two picks: PG, C: 24 year old PF Ryan Anderson: With their first two picks, Charlotte grabbed extremely talented players in Chris Paul and JaVale McGee. With their third pick, they pick a guy who hit the most 3 pointers in the NBA. Anderson provides great outside shooting AND also rebounding. He is also 24 years old.
N5Y: 16+ PPG, 7+ RPG
65. Chicago Bulls: First two picks: PG, SG: 22 year old PF Kenneth Faried: Faried is extremely talented, as he showed in his first year. He will easily become a double double guy, and it’ll be fun seeing Derrick Rose feed him the basketball for the next 5 years.
N5Y: 12+ PPG, 9+ RPG, 1+ BPG
66. Cleveland Cavaliers: First two picks: PF, SG: 28 year old C Marcin Gortat: The Cavs have a great rebounding combo in Kevin Love and Gortat. Those guys will secure 25 rebounds per game just by themselves.
N5Y: 15+ PPG, 10+ RPG, 1.5 BPG
67. Dallas Mavericks: First two picks: PG, PF: 25 year old SG Wesley Matthews: Wes Matthews regressed last season, but still will put up good numbers.
N5Y: 15+ PPG, 3 RPG, 2 APG, 1.5 SPG
68. Denver Nuggets: First two picks: C, SG: 29 year old PF David Lee: David Lee is a very strong PF who scores a lot. After picking Andrew Bynum with the first pick, they went with the scoring Monta Ellis with pick #2. Now, they have 3 big scorers. Still looking for a PG though.
N5Y: 20 PPG, 10 RPG, 1 SPG
69. Detroit Pistons: First two picks: SG, SF: 29 year old C Tyson Chandler: After picking two wing players with their first two picks, the Pistons go with the underrated defensive stalwart Tyson Chandler. Chandler has been around for a while, but he is still just 29 years old. Pistons are another team still without a PG.
N5Y: 10+ PPG, 10 RPG, 1+ BPG, 1+ SPG
70. Golden State Warriors: First two picks: SF, PG: 29 year old C Nene: The Warriors pick Nene, after picking Melo and Nash with their first two picks. Here, they get a good low post scorer who usually has the best FG% in the NBA.
N5Y: 14 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 APG, 1 BPG, 1 SPG
71. Houston Rockets: First two picks: PG, SG: 26 year old C Andrea Bargnani: Bargnani is a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki. He can hit 3’s and is a good shooter, but isn’t the prototypical PG. After picking George with the second pick, the Rockets are deciding to have a very good 3 point shooting team.
N5Y: 20 PPG, 5 RPG, 1+ APG
72. Indiana Pacers: First two picks: PG, SF: 21 year old PF Thomas Robinson: The second player in this coming draft to be picked, Thomas Robinson will make an immediate contribution to this Pacers team. This is shaping up to be a young, promising team, with John Wall and now T-Rob.
N5Y: 14++ PPG, 9+ RPG, 1 APG, 1 SPG
73. Los Angeles Clippers: First two picks: PG, PF: 23 year old SG Evan Turner: The Clippers pick someone with great potential in swingman Evan Turner. Turner could become the best rebounding guard in the NBA.
N5Y: 13+ PPG, 7+ RPG, 4+ APG
74. Los Angeles Lakers: First two picks: PF, PG: 25 year old SG Marcus Thornton: This is a very good pick at this point in the draft. Thornton is a good outside threat, he scores a lot, and he also starts a lot of fast breaks with his steals.
N5Y: 20 PPG, 3+ RPG, 2 APG, 1+ SPG
75. Memphis Grizzlies: First two picks: SF, C: 26 year old PG Goran Dragic: Another good pick. Dragic has been overshadowed by Kyle Lowry, but now will get a chance to shine like he did at the end of last season.
N5Y: 14+ PPG, 3 RPG, 6+ APG, 1+ SPG
For their next pick, the Nuggets may want to draft an extra basketball.