2008 NBA Draft Recap and Early Projections: Part One

This is part one in a series of four parts recapping all of the transactions made in the NBA on Draft Day 2008, and making very early projections for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Coming on Friday will be the Southeast Division along with the completion of the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference – Atlantic Division

Boston (66-16, NBA Champions)

The #30 selection in the draft (J.R. Giddens out of New Mexico)
The #60 selection in the draft (Semih Erden out of Turkey)
Traded away the #47 selection in Bill Walker out of Kansas State to the Washington Wizards for cash considerations

Key contributors on the team in 2008-2009 are projected to be PG Rajon Rondo, SG Ray Allen, SF Paul Pierce, PF Kevin Garnett, and C Kendrick Perkins. Key unrestricted free agents include PF/C P.J. Brown, PG Sam Cassell, PG Eddie House, C Scot Pollard, and SF James Posey, while SG Tony Allen will be a restricted free agent, and PF Leon Powe has limited salary protection.

Report Card: Still a great team as long as Allen, Pierce and Garnett are healthy. They really did not need to prove anything in the draft, and picked based on the best available player. As long as they are able to fill in the gaps this off-season by resigning a few guys like Posey and Howe, they will not miss a beat. No way they are not a top two seed in the Eastern Conference next season, 55+ wins is a given. Projection: #1 in Atlantic, #1 in East, between 55-59 wins.