Can Danny?

The Heat took a huge step forward in the draft, getting a star who fits perfectly alongside Shawn Marion and possibly getting the perfect guard complement to Dwyane Wade in Mario Chalmers. The Bobcats set themselves up to improve if they can move Raymond Felton for a talent but I'm guess that they get a lousy return for him (especially since everyone knows they pretty much have to trade him now) and fail to make the playoffs yet again. The Magic might have helped themselves a bit while the Hawks (with no picks) and the Wizards (with a wasted one) are holding steady where they were at the end of the season.  

Washington Wizards
The Good: In a few years, Javale McGee blossoms into a backup center.
The Bad: Javale McGeee doesn't even make it through his rookie contract.
My Guess: Javale McGee's claim to fame this draft process was that he was the supposed talented big man that got so dominated by other prospects in workouts that he helped them improve their stock. Alexis Ajinca should give a bit of his guaranteed contract to McGee. Yes, McGee is tall and athletic and has a nice shot but he also doesn't know how to play the game of basketball (particularly on the defensive end). Jason Thompson might be the worst pick but McGee is a frontrunner for the worst player taken in first rounders. While I usually think kids should take advantage of their draft stock and come out early, McGee is the kind of kid who simply needs to play the game more and that's not going to happen for him in the NBA (and I just don't believe the D-league actually helps people improve).

On a related note, here are the players that the Washington Wizards have drafted this decade: Mike Smith, Kwame Brown, Jared Jeffiries, Juan Dixon, Rod Grizzard, Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood, Juan Carlos Navarro, Steve Blake, Jarvis Hayes, Peter Ramos, Andray Blatche, Oleksiy Pecheroc, Vlad Veremeenko, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire. I don't see McGee working his way to the top of this list which is pretty sad. When arguably the best player you've draft in 8 years is Steve Blake, something is working.

Orlando Magic
The Good: Courtney Lee becomes the outside shooter they've been looking for at the two and also helps out as a solid perimeter defender.
The Bad: Courtney Lee is the next JJ Redick.
My Guess: The key to this pick is whether or not Lee can become an NBA-level defender. He should be a solid player and a good fit at the 2-guard but I still can't help but think that Darrell Arthur would have been the better pick. I like Lee but I'm not sold on a Jameer Nelson/Lee backcourt being capable of getting a team to the Conference Finals.

Atlanta Hawks
The Good: The Joe Johnson trade is finally complete and the final tally for what the Suns gave up was: Boris Diaw, Rajon Rondo, and Robin Lopez. Even though Billy Knight should have called the Suns' bluff (they wouldn't have matched the max salary the Hawks offered), the deal still ended up being a great one for the Hawks.
The Bad: Rick Sund is probably cursing the fact that he wasn't able to land one of the many project centers in this draft.
My Guess: Nobody gives a rat's ass since the focus in on re-signing the Joshes.

Charlotte Bobcats
The Good: DJ Augustin turns out to be a rich man's version of TJ Ford while Kyle Weaver is a defensive minded backup combo guard. The Bobcats land a solid young big man for Raymond Felton and Larry Brown has the team cruising towards their first ever playoff chase while Alexis Ajinca blossoms into a star in France and readies himself at life in the NBA in 2010.
The Bad:  DJ Augustin clashes with Larry Brown who plays the offensively challenged Weaver (or some newly signed vet PG) over him. The Bobcats continue to lose games and attendance drops. The likelihood of them moving becomes better than the odds of them making the playoffs. Fans in Seattle start watching the Bobcats in hopes that they'll soon be the new Seattle Supersonics.
My Guess: DJ Augustin pans out as a solid but not great point guard. Kyle Weaver is a 12th man which makes him better than workout wonder Alexis Ajinca who is another DeSagana Diop/Saer Sene. Michael Jordan deals Raymond Felton for a solid but aging power forward who helps the Bobcats improve just enough to get a worse lottery pick than this year. Attendance doesn't improve and the rumblings of moving trucks begins.

Miami Heat
The Good: Chalmers and Beasley not only are the perfect complements to Wade and Marion but they also help out immediately and the Heat make a legit run at the title.
The Bad: Chalmers is a bust and Beasley is a Glenn Robinson-type who is good at getting his points but lousy at helping his team win. Wade goes down with yet another injury and Marion decides to leave after the season.
My Guess: The injury issue is a legit concern with Wade but should he stay healthy, I think the Miami Heat are going to make some serious noise in the NBA next season. Chalmers gives the Heat exactly what they need out of a point guard alongside Dwyane Wade and Beasley is going to be Rookie of the Year and a future stud. He and Marion will be great complements if Marion's ego can accept being the defensive specialist and giving the rook the spotlight on the offensive end. That could be an issue and might lead to the Heat looking to move Marion at the trade deadline.