I couldn't find a thread soley dedicated to the recent 15 superstar trade in the WWE and I think this is worthy of it's own thread anyway, so I'm going to make it. I actually did this for another site first, but I thought I might as well post it here as well, I think it could create some good discussion. Basically what I did was compare each superstar involved in the trade in the WWE to a player who was drafted in the lottery of the NBA Draft a few weeks ago and predicted their future in the WWE/NBA.
#1
Player: Blake Griffin
NBA Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted From: Oklahoma
Wrestler: Jack Swagger
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
Both of these guys are sure things. Extremely athletic and talented, they are absolute beasts. Blake Griffin completely dominated in college and was consensus National Player of the Year. Jack Swagger never lost a singles match cleanly during his time on ECW. Griffin will be a perennial All-Star in the NBA while Jack Swagger is going to be a multiple time World Champion. In addition, both attended the University of Oklahoma but Griffin was only a 1 time All American while Swagger is a two time two time All American American.
#2
Player: Hasheem Thabeet
NBA Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted From: Connecticut
Wrestler: Finlay
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Neither of these guys are going to do anything outstanding, but they are both solid at doing their job. Thabeet is a defensive presence and a shot blocker, thats it. He isnt expected to do anything else. Finlay job is to put over younger wrestlers while working hard nosed physical match. Hes accomplished that with the likes of Swagger and the Hart Dynasty on ECW and should continue that on Smackdown. Neither of these guys are going to set the world on fire, but they are going to get their job done.
#3
Player: James Harden
NBA Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted From: Arizona State
Wrestler: William Regal
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Another two solid guys who get the job done. Harden isnt going to be the main scorer in Oklahoma City and Regal probably isnt going to be ECW Champion, but they are both very important pieces to their respective rosters. Both are tough as nails and neither of them get enough credit for their athleticism. Regal and Harden are going to be big successes in the near future.
#4
Player: Tyreke Evans
NBA Team: Sacramento Kings
Drafted From: Memphis
Wrestler: Matt Hardy
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: Raw
The thing both of these guys have in common is that they aren't going to be successful on their new team. Tyreke Evans is supposed to be the point guard of the future, but his too young and inexperienced and isn't even a true point guard. Matt Hardy is very boring and overall just not a very good professional wrestler. Despite picking up a win over Jeff at Wrestlemania, he went absolutely nowhere on Raw and is back where he was a few years ago. These guys can both be labeled as busts.
#5 and #6
Player: Ricky Rubio
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted From: Spain
Wrestler: Nikki Bella
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Player: Johnny Flynn
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted From: Syracuse
Wrestler: Brie Bella
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
A 2 for 1 special here in both the NBA and WWE. The T'Wolves get 2 point guards and ECW gets 2 mildly attractive twins. Another thing that these moves have in common is that they don't make much sense. Rubio and Johnny Flynn play the same position and will likely not be able to play together, despite what their stupid president thinks. The Bellas really serve no purpose in ECW. The only other Diva is Katie Lea, but she only appears sparingly. If the Bellas are only on ECW to appear in segments like the Abraham Washington Show, this is a bad move just like Minnesota's draft picks.
#7
Player: Stephen Curry
NBA Team: Golden State Warriors
Drafted From: Davidson
Wrestler: Evan Bourne
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
Bourne and Curry have a lot in common. Both burst on to the scene out of nowhere and were immediate sensations. Bourne took ECW by storm while Curry led Davidson to the Elite 8. However, both suffered minor setbacks. Bourne had an ankle injury they slowed his push and Curry's Davidson team failed to make the NCAA tournament. These are 2 very talented and exciting guys who despite being small in stature have the ability to make a huge impact in their sport. I expect big things out of both of them as they each make a step up in their careers.
#8
Player: Jordan Hill
NBA Team: New York Knicks
Drafted From: Arizona
Wrestler: Natalya
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
What do Natalya and Jordan Hill have in common? Not much actually, they were just the last 2 I had left to match up. The one thing that I can think of is that neither of them are really expected to do much of anything. The Knicks were pretty much forced to take Hill after Curry was taken. He'll probably play about 15 minutes a game this season, but the Knicks care more about next season's free agent market than though do about him. Natalya just has to yell at Kidd and Smith from the ring apron, talk every once and awhile, maybe wrestle an occasional match.
#9
Player: DeMar DeRozan
NBA Team: Toronto Raptors
Drafted From: USC
Wrestler: Shelton Benjamin
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Smackdown
Benjamin and DeRozan are both outstanding athletes, among the best in there respective fields. They can wow us with their quickness, agility, and leaping ability. There is one problem though, they both suck. DeRozan isn't really that great of a basketball player and he didn't really accomplish much in college. He's a twig and at best will never be more than a very poor man's Vince Carter. Despite people fawning over Shelton's potential for years now, he really hasn't accomplished anything. Ever push he's gotten has ended abruptly and he still isn't able to cut a good promo. Expect both of these guys to be out of a job within 5 years.
#10
Player: Brandon Jennings
NBA Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted From: Italy
Wrestler: Goldust
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Brandon Jennings and Goldust are both eccentric characters. Jennings rocked an old school flat top during the McDonalds All American game a few years ago and Goldust has been one of the most quirky wrestlers in WWE history. They are both interesting moves as well. Jennings spent a year in Italy after he wasn't able to get into college and wasn't all that successful. Goldust spent a few years away from the WWE before his most recent comeback, including his infamous run as Black Reign in TNA. However, I think both have what it take to be successful in their new destinations.
#11
Player: Terrence Williams
NBA Team: New Jersey Nets
Drafted From: Louisville
Wrestler: Tyson Kidd
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Williams and Kidd are both extremely underappreciated guys. Williams was the best player on one of the best teams in the country last year. He does everything well, he's a great shooter, passer, and defender. Kidd has been somewhat overlooked as the weaker member of the Hart Dynasty behind David Hart Smith, but I believe he is actually the better of the two. Both will be mainstays in their profession for the next 10 or 15 years and both will be very successful.
#12
Player: Gerald Henderson
NBA Team: Charlotte Bobcats
Drafted From: Duke
Wrestler: David Hart Smith
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Henderson and Smith have a lot in common. Both are following in the footsteps of their fathers, both are freakishly athletic, and both made a huge impact the last place that they were. Henderson became a star at the legendary Duke program last season. Smith completely owned ECW despite being on the show for only a few months. Both of these guys have a ton of potential; the only question is whether or not they have what it takes to take a step up in competition. I'm not completely sold on either of them, but they definitely have the right tools for the job.
#13
Player: Tyler Hansborough
NBA Team: Indiana Pacers
Drafted From: North Carolina
Wrestler: Mark Henry
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
These are two of the most hated guys in their respective fields. Everyone who's not a UNC fans hates Hansborough, I mean EVERYONE. He was criticized because he was too small, wasn't athletic enough, and he didn't have what it takes to be a good basketball player. However, last year he became national champion and will be remembered as one of the best collegiate players ever. Henry may have not experienced that much success, but he received just as much hate. Over the last year or so you couldn't find one person that liked Mark Henry. But, he constantly got the job done. He had a good ECW Champion reign, he was a standout in MITB, and he pinned WWE Champion Randy Orton on his first night on Raw. Maybe now that they are on a bigger stage these two men will be appreciated for what they have done.
#14
Player: Earl Clark
NBA Team: Phoenix Suns
Drafted From: Louisville
Wrestlers: Gail Kim and Alicia Fox
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: Smackdown
I grouped Kim and Fox together because to me they're both afterthoughts, just like the last pick in the lottery. Earl Clark is a pretty athletic big guy who can shoot, but in most of the Louisville games I watched he was just there. He never really did anything spectacular, but nothing too horrible either. Clark could probably be good if he put in the effort, but I don't think we'll ever know. I feel the same about Kim and Fox on Smackdown, and the entire Diva's Division for that matter. Neither of these women did anything major on Smackdown aside from nearly ruining Edge's marriage and having racist entrance music. Of course, a lot of it was because the Diva's Division is just there. If the WWE actually put effort into it it could be good, but we'll never know.
#1
Player: Blake Griffin
NBA Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted From: Oklahoma
Wrestler: Jack Swagger
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
Both of these guys are sure things. Extremely athletic and talented, they are absolute beasts. Blake Griffin completely dominated in college and was consensus National Player of the Year. Jack Swagger never lost a singles match cleanly during his time on ECW. Griffin will be a perennial All-Star in the NBA while Jack Swagger is going to be a multiple time World Champion. In addition, both attended the University of Oklahoma but Griffin was only a 1 time All American while Swagger is a two time two time All American American.
#2
Player: Hasheem Thabeet
NBA Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted From: Connecticut
Wrestler: Finlay
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Neither of these guys are going to do anything outstanding, but they are both solid at doing their job. Thabeet is a defensive presence and a shot blocker, thats it. He isnt expected to do anything else. Finlay job is to put over younger wrestlers while working hard nosed physical match. Hes accomplished that with the likes of Swagger and the Hart Dynasty on ECW and should continue that on Smackdown. Neither of these guys are going to set the world on fire, but they are going to get their job done.
#3
Player: James Harden
NBA Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted From: Arizona State
Wrestler: William Regal
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Another two solid guys who get the job done. Harden isnt going to be the main scorer in Oklahoma City and Regal probably isnt going to be ECW Champion, but they are both very important pieces to their respective rosters. Both are tough as nails and neither of them get enough credit for their athleticism. Regal and Harden are going to be big successes in the near future.
#4
Player: Tyreke Evans
NBA Team: Sacramento Kings
Drafted From: Memphis
Wrestler: Matt Hardy
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: Raw
The thing both of these guys have in common is that they aren't going to be successful on their new team. Tyreke Evans is supposed to be the point guard of the future, but his too young and inexperienced and isn't even a true point guard. Matt Hardy is very boring and overall just not a very good professional wrestler. Despite picking up a win over Jeff at Wrestlemania, he went absolutely nowhere on Raw and is back where he was a few years ago. These guys can both be labeled as busts.
#5 and #6
Player: Ricky Rubio
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted From: Spain
Wrestler: Nikki Bella
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Player: Johnny Flynn
NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted From: Syracuse
Wrestler: Brie Bella
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
A 2 for 1 special here in both the NBA and WWE. The T'Wolves get 2 point guards and ECW gets 2 mildly attractive twins. Another thing that these moves have in common is that they don't make much sense. Rubio and Johnny Flynn play the same position and will likely not be able to play together, despite what their stupid president thinks. The Bellas really serve no purpose in ECW. The only other Diva is Katie Lea, but she only appears sparingly. If the Bellas are only on ECW to appear in segments like the Abraham Washington Show, this is a bad move just like Minnesota's draft picks.
#7
Player: Stephen Curry
NBA Team: Golden State Warriors
Drafted From: Davidson
Wrestler: Evan Bourne
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
Bourne and Curry have a lot in common. Both burst on to the scene out of nowhere and were immediate sensations. Bourne took ECW by storm while Curry led Davidson to the Elite 8. However, both suffered minor setbacks. Bourne had an ankle injury they slowed his push and Curry's Davidson team failed to make the NCAA tournament. These are 2 very talented and exciting guys who despite being small in stature have the ability to make a huge impact in their sport. I expect big things out of both of them as they each make a step up in their careers.
#8
Player: Jordan Hill
NBA Team: New York Knicks
Drafted From: Arizona
Wrestler: Natalya
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
What do Natalya and Jordan Hill have in common? Not much actually, they were just the last 2 I had left to match up. The one thing that I can think of is that neither of them are really expected to do much of anything. The Knicks were pretty much forced to take Hill after Curry was taken. He'll probably play about 15 minutes a game this season, but the Knicks care more about next season's free agent market than though do about him. Natalya just has to yell at Kidd and Smith from the ring apron, talk every once and awhile, maybe wrestle an occasional match.
#9
Player: DeMar DeRozan
NBA Team: Toronto Raptors
Drafted From: USC
Wrestler: Shelton Benjamin
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Smackdown
Benjamin and DeRozan are both outstanding athletes, among the best in there respective fields. They can wow us with their quickness, agility, and leaping ability. There is one problem though, they both suck. DeRozan isn't really that great of a basketball player and he didn't really accomplish much in college. He's a twig and at best will never be more than a very poor man's Vince Carter. Despite people fawning over Shelton's potential for years now, he really hasn't accomplished anything. Ever push he's gotten has ended abruptly and he still isn't able to cut a good promo. Expect both of these guys to be out of a job within 5 years.
#10
Player: Brandon Jennings
NBA Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted From: Italy
Wrestler: Goldust
New Brand: ECW
Old Brand: Raw
Brandon Jennings and Goldust are both eccentric characters. Jennings rocked an old school flat top during the McDonalds All American game a few years ago and Goldust has been one of the most quirky wrestlers in WWE history. They are both interesting moves as well. Jennings spent a year in Italy after he wasn't able to get into college and wasn't all that successful. Goldust spent a few years away from the WWE before his most recent comeback, including his infamous run as Black Reign in TNA. However, I think both have what it take to be successful in their new destinations.
#11
Player: Terrence Williams
NBA Team: New Jersey Nets
Drafted From: Louisville
Wrestler: Tyson Kidd
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Williams and Kidd are both extremely underappreciated guys. Williams was the best player on one of the best teams in the country last year. He does everything well, he's a great shooter, passer, and defender. Kidd has been somewhat overlooked as the weaker member of the Hart Dynasty behind David Hart Smith, but I believe he is actually the better of the two. Both will be mainstays in their profession for the next 10 or 15 years and both will be very successful.
#12
Player: Gerald Henderson
NBA Team: Charlotte Bobcats
Drafted From: Duke
Wrestler: David Hart Smith
New Brand: Smackdown
Old Brand: ECW
Henderson and Smith have a lot in common. Both are following in the footsteps of their fathers, both are freakishly athletic, and both made a huge impact the last place that they were. Henderson became a star at the legendary Duke program last season. Smith completely owned ECW despite being on the show for only a few months. Both of these guys have a ton of potential; the only question is whether or not they have what it takes to take a step up in competition. I'm not completely sold on either of them, but they definitely have the right tools for the job.
#13
Player: Tyler Hansborough
NBA Team: Indiana Pacers
Drafted From: North Carolina
Wrestler: Mark Henry
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: ECW
These are two of the most hated guys in their respective fields. Everyone who's not a UNC fans hates Hansborough, I mean EVERYONE. He was criticized because he was too small, wasn't athletic enough, and he didn't have what it takes to be a good basketball player. However, last year he became national champion and will be remembered as one of the best collegiate players ever. Henry may have not experienced that much success, but he received just as much hate. Over the last year or so you couldn't find one person that liked Mark Henry. But, he constantly got the job done. He had a good ECW Champion reign, he was a standout in MITB, and he pinned WWE Champion Randy Orton on his first night on Raw. Maybe now that they are on a bigger stage these two men will be appreciated for what they have done.
#14
Player: Earl Clark
NBA Team: Phoenix Suns
Drafted From: Louisville
Wrestlers: Gail Kim and Alicia Fox
New Brand: Raw
Old Brand: Smackdown
I grouped Kim and Fox together because to me they're both afterthoughts, just like the last pick in the lottery. Earl Clark is a pretty athletic big guy who can shoot, but in most of the Louisville games I watched he was just there. He never really did anything spectacular, but nothing too horrible either. Clark could probably be good if he put in the effort, but I don't think we'll ever know. I feel the same about Kim and Fox on Smackdown, and the entire Diva's Division for that matter. Neither of these women did anything major on Smackdown aside from nearly ruining Edge's marriage and having racist entrance music. Of course, a lot of it was because the Diva's Division is just there. If the WWE actually put effort into it it could be good, but we'll never know.
