Sonics Draft: It’s all just OK(C)

I couldn’t help but notice the background image read nothing of the city in which Russell Westbrook may be playing his next two seasons. But there stood the fourth overall pick of the Seattle SuperSonics in this year’s NBA draft, shaking hands with the hated David Stern, mere minutes after the city of Seattle and the Sonics wrapped up final arguments in their federal court lease dispute case.

These drafts have become bitter sweet for people like me. How excited can one get over players who won’t produce at the NBA level for three to four years? Especially, when there is a better than a 50-50 chance your team is going to leave town within two years.

I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert on UCLA basketball. I'm also not going to pretend that I'm a professional basketball talent scout. But it seems that the Sonics took with the fourth pick what they could have traded down to get.

From the pre-draft scouting reports I’ve read, Westbrook is an athletic defender. However, he has trouble handling the rock and isn’t much of a scoring threat. Turnover prone isn’t what you’re looking for in a future franchise point guard.

Of course, once the draft tips off, every analyst changes tune. Every center is the next Bill Walton and every guard is the next Isiah Thomas. One can’t make disparaging remarks on the NBA’s holiest of days while Stern is within shouting distance. Because of that, Russell has now been classified as a perennial all-star. I suppose time will tell.

Defense is something this team sorely needs, but it doesn’t sound like Westbrook is going to get many minutes while he studies under Earl Watson, also a former UCLA Bruin. So, you can expect a fractionally better defense next year overall.

The draft presents a nice window into the future for on-the-court play. However, the Sonics’ window is covered with mud thanks to its off-the-court issues.

Other Sonics picks: No. 24 overall, Serge Ibaka, 19-year-old, 6-10, 220-pound power forward. The Sonics traded their 32nd and 46th picks with the Detroit Pistons for 29th overall pick, Indiana forward D.J. White, 21-year-old, 6-9, 240-pound power forward.