Three first rounders and one in the 2nd.
A banner night for the Tar Heels capping off an incredible three year run by these guys and also an academic year which saw a UNC player taken in the first round of the NFL, MLB and NBA Drafts.
Tyler Hansbrough went 13th to the Indiana Pacers which elicited a chant of “overrated” from the New York Knicks fans in attendance. Given the state of the Knicks organization and the fact the Knicks have a grand total of two NBA titles I think we can say their fans calling anyone overrated is dripping with irony. Anyway. This should be a good fit for Hansbrough. The Pacers were obviously interested in getting a known commodity versus taking a gamble on someone’s potential or upside.
Ty Lawson was a part of the strangest set of draft picks. Initially Lawson was drafted 18th by Minnesota which was shocking since the Timberwolves had taken two point guards, Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn with the 5th and 6th picks. Essentially Minnesota picked up Lawson as trade bait and trade him they did to Denver. Last season, Denver was one of the oft discussed possibilities for Lawson before he decided to return to school. The Nuggets are coached by UNC alum George Karl and have a veteran point guard in place Lawson can play behind to learn the ropes. Overall it should shake out well for the 2009 ACC POY.
Wayne Ellington did end up in Minnesota, apparently to stay making him the 2nd national title winning UNC guard taken by the T-wolves in the first round. Minnesota drafted Rashad McCants in 2005 and last season shipped him to Sacramento. Jay Bilas remarked during the draft that Ellington will probably end up being a better pro than Gerald Henderson who went 12th to Charlotte. Minnesota will be extremely young but hopefully Ellington can find his niche there and be a solid contributor.
Danny Freaking Green, regardless of anything else, at least ended up on perhaps the most entertaining team. Green was taken by Cleveland at #46 overall. So now you have LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Danny Freaking Green. Nice. Even better for Green is he will be trying to join a solid, winning team that perhaps he can find a role on and make some kind of impact right away.
Roy Williams was on hand at Hansbrough’s request and appeared to be having a great time. Since he did not know that Lawson would be dealt to Denver the look on his face was one of shocking confusion. The fringe benefit for Roy in this deal is he got major face time on ESPN at the NBA Draft and even did an interview. That is basically a free commercial for UNC basketball that says: “Hey, want to be sitting with me in the green room at the NBA Draft one day? Then come to North Carolina.”
Overall it was a good night for the Heels. For the most part it appears they all landed in good places and should be able to make their way in the situations they are in. Best of luck guys and once again thank you so much for the memories.
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Looks like a winning deal all around. All four seemed to come out winners. (I’m glad I slept through the mock draft stuff.) Now they can get paid to play, and see how much more fun 80 games (all in venues as obnoxious as Miami in the ACC) is instead of 30.
After giving May his walking (limping?) papers and not drafting any national championship players, I guess the Charlotte Hor–Bobcats are not going to continue their “come see your favorite UNC players still playing” campaign.
THF:
You are so right about Willliams and last night. It is great to see UNC players drafted; but it is also wise to have the head coach there on TV, looking good among the young hot shots who have been doing pretty well under his leadership. Staying in school, winning games, beating rivals (YES!), winning tournaments and moving on.
So plenty of aspiring players of all ages got to see that progression. Which is going to continue to strengthen UNC Basketball.
He may have to go back there next year for Ed Davis & John Henson. I hope not, but it is a possibility.
Pacers welcome Hansbrough
http://twitpic.com/8h19x
Watching the draft last night largely didn’t make sense to me. Proven players are overlooked for “potential”.
The decisions are crazy and these lottery picks are REALLY expensive.
It seems that the main quality of the majority of picks was genetic ties to the league. I guess the main wheeling and dealing phase of the year is coming up for teams now after the draft and things settle for summer trading.
When you look at the amount of money that is involved and how little there is in results to show for it, how is the NBA so popular?
I personally don’t like the NBA being a “development league” for some players. When I watch the NBA, I want to see grown men!
Most professional sports have developmental levels around the world. So drafting players to a lower level spot, even to play abroad is well accepted everywhere else. In international football for example, this sometimes leads to abuse of younger players. But a fair, free market system with age and other boundaries seems fair to me.
What’s most suspect in the US in pro sports is the monopoly given to the big leagues and the encouragement of behaviors (legal, ethical, pharmacuetical) that are completely unaccepted for us mere mortals.
Let me try to get my hands on some testosterone enanthate and see how swiftly I get a visit from the feds.
My issue is not with the nba development league. I am glad they are around, and would actually wish that nba players were drafted from there as opposed to right out of college. I know, I know, I am in the minority on that subject.
I guess Larry Brown can do what he wants as long as he gets results. So far, he hasn’t. Arguably, teams that he has coached have underperformed every year since he won his single NBA title. I find all of his constant public criticism of his players distracting, so one can only wonder what they think.
Anyway, this is basically going to be his year to put up or shut up. If he can’t even get the Bobcats into the play-offs, then it might be time for him to move on.
And according to Wilbon, Brown is considering a trade for A.I. If that is true, then the future is far from bright for Charlotte.
i think a lot of teams draft players that they actually hope DON’T play for them anytime soon, or ever, because they don’t have a slot, the money, or plan to use them as tradebait for players they do want.
do NOT trade for AI.
“He may have to go back there next year for Ed Davis & John Henson. I hope not, but it is a possibility.”
Probably closer to a certainty, IMO. I can’t blame Ed, though. I’d leave early, too, if I had already won TWO Nat’l Titles…
If they can give us another one, they can all leave if they want!
C.M.: why not? If everything goes well, who knows? Last year there was a big margin at the start, but only a toe to spare at the end. I think the young players, including Davis, will see the UNC System benefit and stay.
Really good to get three first round picks.
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/story/1585683.html
good enough endorsement for me.
With Vince Carter and now possibly Rasheed Wallace coming to Orlando I may have to get season tickets except that would mean watching JJ also, yuk.
Interesting that Danny Green may earn an NBA title the year after his NCAA title. GO DANNY! BTW he is listed as Daniel on the Cavs roster. He will never be a Daniel to me.
GO guys earn lots of money and play hard.
To be sure this has occurred to everyone else, so I apologize for jumping on the obvious – but the thought of DFG and Lebron dancing in the same commercial .. hell, I’ll buy whatever…
rofl–it hadn’t but thanks mucho for that image!
“but the thought of DFG and Lebron dancing in the same commercial .. hell, I’ll buy whatever…”
Ditto. I’ll buy 2 of whatever Danny Freaking Green is hawking in those commercials.
They have my spare cash!! Urban wear here I come!