In 2009 we witnessed the rebirth of the point guard position in the NBA. Sure the league still had Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, future Hall-of-Famers still fighting for the future, one with rings. And yes, Chris Paul and Deron Williams will make up for them when their inevitable retirement is at hand. Many would have been satisfied to watch the rapid development of Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose as their video game-sick elevates the game (does anybody else see this as the best wish-list personal) rivalry in the eastern conference).
And then came the 2009 NBA draft to add another thick layer onto the PG heavy atmosphere. Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ty Lawson… The list even includes a player, Ricky Rubio, that was so highly coveted that the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him as the fifth overall pick in the draft despite the fact that he was unlikely to play stateside in the immediate future. There is serious talent on the above-mentioned list but the current draft class seems destined to crash the party with size. Call it the balance of nature. Or the basketball Gods. Or whatever.
The 2010 NBA draft looks to be a much beefier affair. Last year there were 16 players that you could consider a backcourt guys selected in the first round. 11 of those you could say were more adept at the point guard position. The top selection however, was big man Blake Griffin. This year the top picks look to be Kentucky point guard John Wall followed closely by Ohio State’s Evan Turner. After that the big boys should have their day. There could be as many as 20 frontcourt players selected in the first round in 2010 with 11 of them legitimate power forwards and centers and many of whom are considered some of the more NBA-ready of all the prospects. Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors and Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins are highly sought as possible top five picks despite playing just one year of college apiece while Baylor’s Ekpe Udoh could be the surprise biggie of the draft. As many as 10 frontcourt players have been projected to make up the lottery drafted contingent.
With eight out of the 14 teams in the lottery hailing from the western conference – combined with the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers having the top two picks likely to be spent on Wall and Turner – most of the size appears headed out west. Last year the west had eight lottery teams as well but stocked up mostly on guards after bigs Griffin and Memphis bust Hasheem Thabeet were off the board. Of course there are always draft day deals (though there was nothing of the sort in 2009 when all lottery selections stayed put) and configurations, missteps and busts... and who knows what 2011 will bring.
More seniors? Another interesting number to watch will be the amount of seniors selected in the first round where they have become a dying breed. We’ve pegged Washington’s Quincy Pondexter as one possible and UConn’s Stanley Roberts as another. Nowadays the seniors are usually guys who weren’t good enough to declare early. They have fallen to mid-low second round types for the most part with teams more in love with potential and upside than the “as-is” model. Last year Detroit’s Jonas Jerebko, Miami’s Marcus Thorton and Boston’s Lester Hudson were all quality second round picks and senior players. Jerebko was a 22 year-old rookie from Sweden.