#1 Salar Sami - Adam Browne: How can selecting the best player in the league not be worthy of a full four stars? With David out, Adam easily becomes the toughest guard and best player in the DWL. He's a workhorse who gets to the basket with ease. But he was easily frustrated last year with Salar and Alex Corlang, both better players then the Raj-Mahal. It should be another "Adam needs to score all 13 points or his team won't win" year for this squad..
RATING = * * * *
#2 Adam Walker selects Vadim Shenderey: In 2005, Vadim showed flashes of his old-MVP self. But only flashes. At other times, he looked ordinary and non-aggressive. Which Vadim will show up for this league? Both these guys are good, smart players. But Vadim can be a little bit too unselfish at times and Adam likes to heave it up there. If both players come to play each and every game, this team should be very tough to beat.
RATING =
#3 Salar Samii selects Tim Rumpff (Trades for rights to Scott Henderson): Pre-trade analysis- Sorry Tim, I like you as a player but I'm simply looking at last years results when you were paired up with a similar, just better, big man in Ryan Fitzmeyer. Salar isn't horrible, but he doesn't have the strength or the skills of Ryan. The only thing that might help this team is the killer instinct that I know Tim has, he just hasn't shown it very much.
RATING = * *
#4 Paul Ruckerman selects Alex Parr: The 2 stars has nothing to do with Alex as a player. Alex is one of the hardest guards in the league and works harder than anybody not named Adam Browne (and in all actuality, it's probably tied). But lack of size has haunted teams in the past and while Alex is, again, probably the strongest player in the league not named Adam Browne, the height issue might be a problem. While I understand it won't even be that much of a height difference, I just get the feeling that this team is two guards and no big man, which may hurt them. Plus, Paul is not as good a player as Ryan Walker, bottom line. But with David out of the league, maybe that's all Alex needs.
RATING = * *
#5 Sam Mason selects Craig Isenbart: I'm giving this pick three stars hoping that Craig will use his size and strength even more this year. He's definitely got it, he just needs to use it on a more consistent basis. I saw a lot of jump-shots from him last year and while they weren't necessarily bad shots, Sam will need him getting big down low, which Craig can do.
RATING = * * *
#6 Ryan Fitzmeyer selects Scott Henderson (Trades for rights to Tim Rumpff: Pre-trade analysis- I seem to give whoever selects Scott at least three stars every year because I love the way the kid plays. He's very similar to Alex in his hard work and the way he uses his body to his benefit. Having said that, I don't necessarily think this team presents much of a challenge to most teams. Fitzmeyer is an average big man and Scott is always a great story, but I can't see this team making a run.
RATING = * * *
#7 Tom Brodrick selects Kevin Eaton: Year in and year out, Kevin gets the shaft. And year in and year out, I don't understand it. I understand that he's not strong at all and sometimes gets pushed around by stronger players. But he has skills. I think Tom is very lucky to have Kevin fall to him all the way to seven. This is another team that has two guards, but I also believe this team has the most basketball talent out of any team (both players combined obviously). If Tom can hit his jumpshots and Kevin can find his edge again (which is likely considering everyone looked past him again), this team could surprise some people and make a run at the Joe's Cup. This team will have to play strong on the boards and very good defensively, but I think they just might be able to do it..
RATING = * * * *
#8 Abi Viswanathan selects Ryan Motyka: I can't grade the last pick because there was no choice. But I can say that I have a good feeling about this team. No question Ryan Motyka is a baller. He's probably better than anyone at the actual game of basketball- and he's getting better and better every year. I think he got the shaft in this draft as well, and Abi is very lucky to have him. Abi struggled mightily at times last year and Ryan will need that to change this year..
RATING = n/a
