I might still be experiencing a 'hang-over funk' from the passing of Michael Jackson today but I'm in complete shock that the 2nd best Big Man in College Basketball this past season (Oklahoma's Blake Griffin being the 1st), Power Forward Dejuan Blair from Pitt Univ., dropped to the 2nd round of the NBA Draft before he was chosen
Now I know critics, GM's around the league and fans are going to point to his 2 knee surgeries in high school as the reasoning for teams passing on him the entire first round but in Blair's case that's a weak argument. In his 2 years at Pitt he was never injured seriously, never missed a game or practice and oh yeah...he was co-conference player of the year in the toughest b-ball conference the NCAA has to offer
In 3 years there will be 29 teams kicking themselves for not picking the guy I believe will be the next Charles Barkley (the 76ers Charles not the fat and lazy Charles we saw in Phoenix and Houston)
Of course the 1 team that did pick him, to no surprise by me, has been drafting far better than anyone n the league the past 10 years...SAN ANTONIO SPURS...They now have an successor to Tim Duncan
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Not sure if I'd call it a steal as much as it was Blair dropping like a rock for some unknown reason. I'll give SA credit for finding hidden gems in the past, but Blair doesn't fit this description. Regardless, I agree that many teams are going to be kicking themselves in a couple of years, and other teams like the Lakers who had (earlier) agreed to trade picks higher than where Blair was taken are wishing they knew he'd still be available that late.
I'm also kind of shocked that Sam Young fell that far (picked right before Blair). I think with all the teams needing a two way SG/SF type to deal with the Lebron's, Kobe's, Wade's, etc. he would have gone at least late first round.
The NBA must not have much love for Pitt.
perfect360
Pittsburgh , PA
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I agree i think the Spurs stoled this draft with the addition of Blair & McClinton in the 2nd round of the draft...not to mention they added Richard Jefferson before the draft for "old washed up vets" !
MIAMISTUD24
Miami, FL
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I dont remember the last time I was this excited about a 2nd round selection. San Antonio FO was worried about getting a big man to complement Duncan now that they gave almost all their frontline in the Jefferson trade. And now that they are over the luxery tax, it was even less likely that a solid player was going to sign at the mid-level exception. But now with Blair, some of those worries are now vanished, and he will probably get the league minimum, giving a little flexibility to go out and get someone with the mid-level. Nice week for the spurs
AlexScream
San Juan , PR
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The Spurs are like 2 for their History in drafting. They are a great organization and front office but they are not a good drafting team. They got Tony and Manu and that's it. You gonna give them credit for Duncan and Robinson? Please. Elliott was picked by default, the Spurs would not have selected him if they had gotten the first or second pick in '89.
As for Blair, yes - it's more a case of just falling to them, which many players have done before that they didn't select. Off the top of my head I'll give you Michael Redd, Josh Howard, David Lee and Big Baby Davis.
The real genius of the Spurs is that even tho when drafting outside of the obvious (i.e. - Duncan and Robinson), they have duped the national media into thinking they're a great drafting team when they are absolutely not.
The Sports Authority
San Antonio , TX
Total Comments (47)
hey 'sports authority' guy, I would think since your from san antonio u would be whole lot smarter about the inner workings of a great franchise like the Spurs but obviously your not cause u say stupid things like....
" They are a great organization and front office but they are not a good drafting team"
wake up buddy, the spurs are the best team of this past decade and thats because of what they do overall as a organization...including great player scouting and drafting
JokerPace
Los Angeles , CA
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thats the best blog i ever read...................................SPURS are #1
#1SpurS fan
San Antonio , TX
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