Most GM’s hate “draft-day grades.” Organizations in the NFL and NBA always claim how long you’re supposed to give a draft choice before you can grade it. I always laugh at this because whenever an organization’s draft is rated well by the media, the organization sends out all the press clippings to members of the media to back up their own feelings about their draft. If the media rips the draft picks of one team, then that team goes on the war path against the media. “What do they know/They weren’t at the work-outs/Our grade tests him out to be…blah blah blah”/ are the lines the team then feeds the media.

In order to do better than a B you have to be active. I’m not giving the Bulls an “A” because how hard is it to write Rose’s name on a card. “A” range is when you break out or have acquired picks through other means and you steal the show. Portland belongs in the “A” range. I like the moves of Memphis as well, acquiring OJ and Arthur. I don’t like how they took on some contracts for a cheap owner but the team on the floor is good. I love what Minnesota did. Kevin Love brings the beef and they only have to pay him as a five pick plus they get a shooter and two expiring contracts.

In the “B” range is the Suns, I thought they handled their spot OK. They didn’t do anything I’m going to rip them for, but I’m not going to sing their praises either. I wanted Anthony Randolph so I was disappointed that he went before the Suns picked. I wanted Brandon Rush if I couldn’t have Randolph and he was gone too. After that I wanted Darrell Arthur. I won’t be recanting on that. I believe Arthur will have a better pro career than side show Rob.

The reason why I’m not torching the Suns is I have no ground to stand on when Arthur drops another 12 picks. Sure, I could use Jay Bilas to back me up, who had Arthur ranked as the best available when the Suns picked and kept him there for another 45 minutes, but when such a high number of other teams aren’t interested in him, the Suns are on to something.

Looking at their pick of Lopez from under that circumstance, I completely understand. The one flaw in my opinion about Arthur — and I don’t care about the kidney thing — is he would want his touches. I’m thoroughly convinced that Lopez is sincere about his desire to rebound, defend, and do the things that this team needs to fill a huge hole. The hole that  this team has no heart. They have a lot of talkers and not a lot of doers. Lopez will talk, but he will do the little things that superstars don’t like to do. I call it the grunts, although I mean it as a compliment.

One thing that really impresses me is how this team is being built for the right now. I think this team still has a chance at a title. I do agree that you have to have a “Lopez-type” player to win a championship, but he alone doesn’t add the mental toughness the team lacks. I hope the new accountability from the coaching staff fills that void.