Menu
•Home
•Draft Board
•Early Entry
•Draft Trades
•Contact Us
NBA Draft 2005
Rundown
By Class:
Senior's 1st RD: 9
Senior's 2nd RD: 9
Junior's 1st RD: 9
Junior's 2nd RD: 2
Sophomore's 1st RD: 4
Sophomore's 2nd RD: 3
Freshmen 1st RD: 1
International 1st RD: 4
International 2nd RD: 10
H.S. Seniors 1st RD: 3
H.S. Seniors 2nd RD: 6
Total Selected: 60
By Position:
Centers: 6
Power Forwards: 20
Small Forwards: 10
Shooting Guards: 13
Point Guards: 11
2005 NBA Draft Review
DATE: June 28, 2005


Site: Madison Square Garden
DRAFT OBSERVATIONS
Unlike last year’s draft, there was no real debate about who would go number one. Andrew Bogut was considered by many to be a lock for Milwaukee. Instead, another debate raged. What approach should a team like Milwaukee take - potential or immediate return?
Marvin Williams was considered by many GMs and scouts across the league to be the player with the biggest upside. Although he only played one year for national champions North Carolina, and despite not even starting for the deep and talented Tar Heels, William’s poise, maturity and natural ability could make him a tremendous player in the NBA. Meanwhile, Andrew Bogut played two seasons with Utah, the best on his team with experience internationally as a member of Australia’s 2004 Olympic team and member of Australia’s 2003 under twenty-one National Team.
Many perceive Bogut as having nearly reached his potential and is viewed as a player with decent, but not great athletic ability. Milwaukee’s selection of Bogut makes sense. Unlike most top three lottery teams, Milwaukee’s current roster already has a proven all-star shooting guard in Michael Redd. If the team’s players remain healthy, they’ve got solid talent overall. Now the pressure’s on to field a more competitive team and make the play-offs. Fans and media are less forgiving when a team takes a potential pick rather than a solid player who will add depth and immediate relief. Meanwhile, Marvin Williams will have greater time to develop as the Atlanta Hawks chances of turning their fortunes around are not there yet. If Marvin truly lives up to his advanced billing and surpasses Bogut in talent, Milwaukee’s pick could haunt the franchise forever. Just ask the Portland Trailblazers, who in 1984 went with need and immediate help in center Sam Bowie. With the next selection, Chicago chose Michael Jordan!
Every year there are players predicted as first rounders that meet with the disappointment of slipping low in the draft ranks. High school sensations Monta Ellis, C.J. Miles, Andray Blatche, Lithuanania’s Martynas Andriuskevicius and Pittsburgh sophomore Chris Taft all went from being first round projections to second rounders on draft night. Meanwhile, the other high schooler’s, Louis Williams, Ricky Sanchez and Amir Johnson, seemed intent on going into the draft regardless of what feedback they were getting. Proven seniors Ryan Gomes and Lawrence Roberts would have best served themselves by entering into the 2004 draft when their stock had peaked. Instead, the huge impact of the underclassmen pushed them to the final ten picks of the draft.
 Staying in school can be a huge gamble for junior underclassmen considering the NBA. Here are some seniors that really helped themselves with the extra year.
Channing Frye started the season as an early second to mid second round pick. His improved play, shot blocking, mobility and the lack of quality centers in the draft elevated his stock to number eight with the Knicks, a team desperate for size. Jason Maxiell, once seen as an undersized power forward, dreamed of getting drafted. He dominated the pre-draft camps with his athletic ability and shear force. While he still may lack size, his toughness and nasty streak are unquestionably a reason why many feel he can play the power forward position in the NBA. David Lee, who had been a Mr. Everything in high school and labeled a ‘can’t miss prospect’, finally shed his underachieving tag and played great his senior year. New York rewarded him with the last pick in the first round. Julius Hodge, who struggled for much of his career with a streaky jump shot and underdeveloped body, remained a player who had yet to achieve his ability. But finally, during his spirited NCAA tournament run, Hodge made GMs and scouts take notice with his brilliant play, launching him into the first round of the NBA draft.
 Finally, in a tale of redemption, Robert Whaley was once considered the top player in the country. Even with his lengthy juvenile record and impoverished home life, he still became a legend in the area of Benton Harbor, Michigan. In his high school class, featuring Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Kwame Brown, and Dajuan Wagner to name a few (all now in the NBA), Whaley was touted as the best. Yet he quickly dropped off after his junior year due to substance abuse problems and alleged criminal sexual conduct with a 13 year-old girl, which went to trial but ended in a hung jury. This caused many interested programs to quickly back off. Missouri celebrated when Whaley’s scholarship was withdrawn faster than you can say goodbye.
He was left with one choice, junior college. Barton County is one of the best JC programs in the country. They accepted Whaley and he wasted little time in trying to get his life back on track. In two years he succeeded at becoming a Junior College All American and was recognized by many as the number one junior college player in the country. Whaley had made a comeback on the court and the NBA was keeping a close eye on him. Unfortunately, he remained involved in a number of fights and was viewed by most as a loose cannon. He just couldn’t keep his nose clean to warrant serious consideration from a NBA team. Maturity and discipline are what many remarked as Whaley’s negative points. So he chose Cincinnati, where head coach Bob Huggins is known for his strict and sometimes demanding style.
But this too was a dead end when Whaley was not invited back to the school due to academic shortcomings. Still on his journey, with the help of Coach Huggins, Whaley enrolled into a tiny NAIA school, Walsh. Only one year of eligibility remained and Whaley made the most of it. He proved to be a solid teammate and model citizen off the floor. His play improved as he led Walsh to the NAIA Division II championship and was named NAIA player of the year. Finally, his strong showing in the Chicago pre-draft camp and good interview sessions with teams and various media put him over the top. Now Whaley is transcending his past and appears to be happy with life.
DRAFT DETAILS
Automatically Eligible for Draft: All NCAA seniors, International players born in the year 1983, or players that transferred from a college team to a professional team in the same calendar year are automatically entered.
Draft Order: 15-30 Order is determined by season records and tiebreakers per team.
Early Entry: High school seniors and International draftees are eligible for the draft if they are in the same year in which they turn 18. All other candidates 18 and over such as H.S. Seniors, Freshmen, Sophomore, Juniors, Seniors and Internationals prospects born 1984-1987 can apply.
Irregularities: None.
Lottery Picks: 1-14 Order is determined by ping pong balls with the team with the worst record getting the most chances. Each team in the lottery is assigned a certain number of combinations, such that teams with worse records are assigned more combinations increasing their odds of landing a top-3 pick. There are a total of 1,000 combinations that are assigned, one of the combinations does not belong to any team and the 4 balls are redrawn if it is encountered. Having 1,000 combinations makes it easier to calculate the probability of receiving the first pick in the draft.
Total Rounds: Two
DRAFT SNIPPETS
First Pick: Andrew Bogut (1st overall)
Naismith Player Of the Year: Andrew Bogut (1st overall)
Last Man Standing: Alex Acker (60th Overall)
First Point Guard: DeRon Williams (3rd overall)
First Shooting Guard: Rashad McCants (14th overall)
First Small Forward: Martell Webster (6th overall)
First Power Forward: Marvin Williams (2nd overall)
First Center: Andrew Bogut (1st overall)
Dominant Alumni: Foreign Leagues (14)
Fran Vazquez (11th overall)
Yaroslav Korolev (12th overall)
Johan Petro (25th overall)
Ian Mahinmi (28th overall)
Ersan Ilyasova (36th overall)
Roko Ukic (41st overall)
Mile Ilic (43rd overall)
Martynas Andriuskevicius (44th overall)
Erazem Lorbek (46th overall)
Mickael Gelabale (48th overall)
Axel Hervelle (52nd overall)
Marcin Gortat (57th overall)
Uros Slokar (58th overall)
Cenk Akyol ( 59th overall)
Final Four Teams:
North Carolina: Marvin Williams (2nd overall), Raymond Felton (5th overall),Sean May (13th overall),Rashad McCants (14th overall)
Illinois: DeRon Williams (3rd overall), Luther Head (24th Overall)
Louisville: Francisco Garcia (23rd overall)
Michigan State: None
Total Underclassmen Declared: 110
Oldest Player Drafted: Orien Greene (23)
Yougest Player Drafted: Andrew Bynum (17)




 

                       

Copyright © 2004 The Draft Review. All rights reserved.