The D-Dobbs Basketball Blog

With two of the top four picks in this year’s upcoming draft, it would be hard for the Cleveland Cavaliers to dig themselves into a further hole than they already are. I believe two ways of doing this are to avoid all of the European players, and to not pick Kyrie Irving number one overall.

With the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cavs should take Derrick Williams, the sophomore out of Arizona. He is an extremely versatile forward who has an NBA-ready body. He can fit into any lineup as the small forward and play around the perimeter as a slasher, or can be played as the power-forward down in the paint. He even has three-point range. He has a huge body to help shield his defenders, and extremely long arms to block shots and grab rebounds. It would be a mistake for the Cavaliers to pass up on him.

Selecting Williams with the first pick, covers their needs for a forward. Which means they can pass up on Enes Kanter, Jan Vesely, and Jonas Valanciunas, who are three European players projected to go in the top ten. They’re all hype, no one really knows what they’re all about. Do not buy into them. Maybe they’re tall and have good basketball bodies but don’t compare them to the players from the United States, or even rank them higher, especially when they have never even played competition as close to as good as the NCAA. These guys are overrated and should not be going this high.

With that being said, this gives the Cavaliers the option of drafting one of the elite point guards in the draft. Assuming Kyrie Irving from Duke will go number two or number three overall, the Cavs can select either Brandon Knight out of Kentucky or Kemba Walker from UConn. If I were drafting, I would pick Kemba Walker at number four overall, even if Kyrie Irving is still available. Kemba’s athleticism and ability to score as a point guard is like none other. He also not only shows great confidence and maturity, but a sense of leadership coming out of a strong UConn program. Arguably the best college basketball player of the 2010-2011 season. Again if I were drafting I would rather have a more mature and experienced player in Walker than over freshmen Kyrie Irving and Brandon Knight, who still have a lot to prove, and may not be ready for the NBA.

The Cavaliers keys to success, although it may take many years of rebuilding, would be to take Derrick Williams number one overall, and then draft a point guard in Kemba Walker.

Preceding June’s 2009 NBA Draft, a pair of block-buster trades went down. Phoenix traded big man Shaquille O’Neal to the Cavaliers, as the Cavs look to aid LeBron’s quest for a championship, and East coast veteran Vince Carter was traded back to his home town, Orlando, in a 5 player deal with the New Jersey Nets.

The night went as guessed by many, with Blake Griffin going number one overall to the Clippers, and Hasheem Thabeet, Steph Curry, James Harden, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Jordan Hill, and Tyreke Evans all going as the top lottery picks.

The big news followed the next morning, when Spanish guard Ricky Rubio did not show up in Minnesota for his introductory press conference. (see one of the interviews 3 minutes into the video)

“The Heir to Pete Marovich” or “La Pistola” is only 18 years old and is ready to take on the NBA, as he held his own last summer Olympics playing against team USA.

Seriously, as a big fan of Ricky Rubio, if you don’t know who he is, or have never seen him play…I strongly suggest you look him up. He is the best passer to come to the NBA in the last decade or so, and he is 18 years young.

But back to my point…

After being selected, he was asked “are you excited to go to Minnesota?”

With his choppy English he replied, “I’m excited to come to the NBA.”

Uh-oh.

Typical, some one is not happy with having to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Things really got heated when Rubio’s dad told the press, he is considering going back home and playing for Spain for another year or two rather than playing for the Timberwolves.

Rubio said, “Now I know where I’m going to go, so I have to talk with the team, what exactly they want about me, and if necessary, I’m going to pay the buyout.”

See this video, three days before the draft, when he says how Minnesota is “too cold”, not even knowing where he would end up. Note how he also says he would play in the NBA for free, that right there is love for the game.

Hopefully he gets traded to the Knicks, or he stays in the NBA. This young talent needs to be known.

Ricky stay in the NBA (you”ll make more money too).