I have been reading through everyone's comments about this draft, and I must admit, I am surprised. The options we were initially choosing through at the 9th spot were notttttt that exciting to me. Some starts mixed in there? Yes. Potential game changers for us? Doubtful. At least right away anyway. I don't consider myself an expert on basketball by any stretch of the imagination. But I think considering my prediction accuracy on picks the last few years, and how they've ended up in the pro league, I trust my gut instincts. Plus I flew to Jakarta and got hammered in my suite at 4 in the morning to prepare for this draft, so dammit I'm going to cheerful about this.

I grade this draft at an A-, now please allow me to explain.

Pick 9: Andre Drummond. Obviously he is extremely raw. Obviously he is young so there is going to usually be maturity issues. And I am okay with that. I think we could not have made a better choice. Who else was available there? And did they not have flaws too? Henson : weight issues, I like the kid, and think he can put on muscle, but it's gonna take a long time to get in premium PF shape. Meyers Leonard: Good shape, mental weakness, plus not overwhelming stats for someone who was virtually the only good player on his team. I think he will be outstanding in about 3 years when he matures a bit and grows into his game. But once again it will take time. Jared Sullinger: I am completely disregarding the NBA doctors red flagging his back, and think the major issue for him in my opinion was his body fat. Why you might ask as he still moves pretty gracefully? Because as an ex soldier, and as ex fat guy, I know what it's like trying to cut body fat and it's hard work. And I refuse to believe someone who wants to do this for a living could not get himself in better shape. People consider it a minor issue ("Look at Big Baby, he's had a fantastic career!") but I take it personal and I am positive that if he had put some more work into his body and his weight and putting on more muscle, the redflagging from the NBA doctors wouldn't have mattered because from what I've read, most team doctors passed him. I see it as a lack of heart that he settles with it, and that always loses stock in my book. Regardless, I am digressing. What I am saying is people keep talking about the poor stats for young ass Andre, and people are not realizing that every single person that people keep suggesting had years of work ahead of them before coming premium players, and at choice 9 there were no instant stars available. Andre Drummond has a beautiful build, he is motivated, he has an amazing big man to play next to in Greg Monroe, and sweet mother of God if Big Ben stays on as a player, or even better, a big man coach next year, who else could teach him better to be a banger in center position? Really, he had no real hope to become great at UCONN with the coach gone most of the time and the poor offensive direction the team took from what I've read. And people that are worried about his work ethic, we have Brandon Knight to crush that fear. Don't get me wrong, I am not the biggest fan of Knight, but I LOVE reading about how much he motivates the rest of the team and keeps them in the gym. And if it takes him some time to be solid, that's fine, that will help us keep our pick the next year or two. All in all, at the 9th pick no matter who we got we were gonna have to wait for them to prosper. There is no one I would rather wait for than an 18 year old 7 foot man-child with a perfect build and massive potential with a man like Big Ben just hanging around to teach him how to cannibalize NBA centers. I for one, am absolutely smiling and laughing hysterically in a mixture of draft euphoria and Bintang beer over consumption, and I don't think I would have been quite this happy with any other selection.

Pick 39 and Pick 44: Okay, honestly I had never heard of Khris Middleton and I wish I hadn't in this way from what I've read. I am not sure he's even gonna make the team, and I hold a grudge against him already because he was chose over Kyle O'Quinn, Will Barton, Scott Machado (<-undrafted, make this right Joe!), Doron Lamb, and Darius Johnson-Odom (<-I know he wasn't a consensus pick on DBB but he was on big board for sure). So whatever happens with him happens, but I do know the last thing we need is more SF's.... Now Kim English I think is something we can be excited about. Solid shooter with good size to sliiiiide right into that opening Ben Gordon left. He can get a few assists once in a while, he's been known to grab a few rebounds, and he can shoot. Sounds like just the guy we needed to backup Stuckey these days! Excellent choice on the guard, fuckin' weird choice on the small forward. That's why I graded this an A- as opposed to an A. All around though, I am happy with this. I was not happy last year, this year I am glad I pre-celebrated.

Now please send those red pandas forward, this is the first time I've been drunk/in a safe location since March, and there is nothing that can kill my mood right now. CONGRATS PISTONS FANS, WE GOT DRUMMOND!