Atlanta
Grade: N/A (no picks)
Boston
Players Added: JR Giddens, Bill Walker, Semih Erden
Grade: B
Analysis: Giddens has 1st-round talent, but his behavior hasn't been the best. With the veteran core, he can be pulled in. The same goes for Bill Walker, who is an amazing value. Erden is a solid stash pick, but will not be able to contribute immediately.
Charlotte
Players Added: DJ Augustin, Alexis Ajinca, Kyle Weaver
Grade: C
Analysis: I may be wrong on this, but Charlotte poo-pooed this badly. Augustin is too similar to Felton and Ajinca is not an immediate contributor, which is what Charlotte needs. Weaver's skills contrast that of the existing point guards, and that's an added value.
Chicago
Players Added: Derrick Rose, Omer Asik
Grade: A-
Analysis: The first pick was a no-brainer though I still prefer Michael Beasley. Asik is a good stash pick.
Cleveland
Players Added: JJ Hickson, Darnell Jackson
Grade: B+
Analysis: Hickson isn't as bad a pick as everyone is making it out to be. He's a scoring 4 who can be reigned in. Jackson is an energy guy who's a disciplined winner, and one of my favorite players in this year's draft.
Dallas
Player Added: Shan Foster
Grade: C-
Analysis: I'm not dogging the pick. Foster will be a solid pro in the right situation. Dallas needed a physical big.
Denver
Player Added: Sonny Weems
Grade: C+
Analysis: Weems is a good player who may be the heir apparent to JR Smith as the first guy off the bench. I just thought that the Nuggets would have pushed hard for Mario Chalmers.
Detroit
Players Added: Walter Sharpe, Trent Plaisted, Deron Washington
Grade: C
Analysis: I thought the Pistons could've added a very good swingman, or swung a deal for a very good one in the first round. Sharpe may be another in the long line of Piston power forwards with a mean streak.
Golden State
Players Added: Anthony Randolph, Richard Hendrix
Grade: C
Analysis: Randolph can compete for minutes, but the Warriors needed more bodies as a result of this draft. Can Hendrix play in an up-tempo offense?
Houston
Players Added: Donte' Greene, Joey Dorsey, Maarty Leunen
Grade: C
Analysis: The Rockets added some fine pieces, but I really cannot see the value-add. Dorsey adds some muscle to a finesse frontline.
Indiana
Players Added: Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic, Josh McRoberts, Maceo Baston
Player Lost: Jermaine O'Neal, Ike Diogu
Grade: B
Analysis: The Pacers earned some value for Jermaine O'Neal and the $44M owed to him over the next two years. Rush is a great piece, though I'm not sure where he fits in. Hibbert is a low-risk, low-reward pick. At the end of the day, many don't know the Pacers' direction.
LA Clippers
Players Added: Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor
Grade: A
Analysis: Amazing value for both picks. Gordon will compete for ROY honors and Jordan should've been a first-round pick.
LA Lakers
Players Added: Joe Crawford
Grade: A-
Analysis: Being that the 1st rounder played a role in the Pau Gasol thievery, the Lakers had a good draft. Crawford is a hard-nosed player who can make the team.
Memphis
Players Added: OJ Mayo, Darrell Arthur, Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner
Players Lost: Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins
Grade: A-
Analysis: OJ Mayo is a franchise player and Arthur adds muscle at the 4, which is a huge need. Though they gave up some bad contracts, they acquired some.
Miami
Players Added: Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers
Grade: A+
Analysis: Beasley and Chalmers were need-based value picks. Chalmers can fight for the starting PG position and Beasley can be a 18 and 10 guy immediately.
Milwaukee
Players Added: Richard Jefferson, Joe Alexander, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Players Lost: Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons
Grade: B+
Analysis: Jefferson is a vast upgrade at the small forward position and Alexander is capable of being the full-time starter by Year 3. Mbah a Moute is a Skiles type of player.
Minnesota
Players Added: Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Nikola Pekovic, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins
Players Lost: Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner
Grade: B
Analysis: When the Wolves drafted Mayo, I thought it was a good pick, because Mayo added a much-needed playmaker and a lock-down defender. While Love is a good fit and Miller is a very nice piece, neither are playmakers. Pekovic could be a solid contributor in 3-4 years.
New Jersey
Players Added: Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons
Player Lost: Richard Jefferson
Grade: A+
Analysis: Losing Jefferson is big, but the Nets are not going to compete for a championship any time in the next two years. They help marketing with the addition of Yi and slam dunked each one of their picks, though Anderson was a bit of a reach. By 2010, the Nets may be a real competitor in the East.
New Orleans
Grade: N/A
New York
Players Added: Danilo Gallinari
Grade: C
Analysis: Did the Knicks really need to pick up another small forward? Gallinari will need to win over Knicks fans.
Orlando
Players Added: Courtney Lee
Grade: B+
Analysis: Lee addresses a major need at the SG position and is a complete player.
Philadelphia
Players Added: Marreese Speights
Grade: B-
Analysis: Speights can be an upgrade at the 4 if he has the desire. His basketball IQ will need to increase in order to earn minutes.
Phoenix
Players Added: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic
Grade: A-
Analysis: The Lopez pick was an awesome one. Being groomed by The Diesel (hopefully in basketball and not rapping) may help his weak offensive game. Dragic isn't ready for the NBA yet. He's a good playmaker.
Portland
Players Added: Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, Ike Diogu
Players Lost: Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts
Grade: A
Analysis: By the end of the night, the Blazers addressed two major needs (PG, SG/SF) while consolidating picks.
Sacramento
Players Added: Jason Thompson, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.
Grade: A-
Analysis: Geoff Petrie went in the direction of four-year players. All three players are capable of making this team. Thompson was a reach, but he addressed a big need in toughness and frontcourt scoring. Singletary is a true point. Ewing Jr. adds a great defender.
San Antonio
Players Added: George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Gist
Grade: B+
Analysis: I love how well the Spurs drafted for need. If only the Spurs could have traded out of the 1st round to select Hill.
Seattle
Players Added: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, DJ White, DeVon Hardin, Sasha Kaun
Grade: B-
Analysis: Picks 2 through 5 were excellent, though Ibaka should've been selected with the #32 pick (instead of the trade). Selecting Westbrook with the #4 pick was a reach of sorts. The next step is trading away the superfluous parts.
Toronto
Players Added: Jermaine O'Neal, Nathan Jawai
Players Lost: TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, Roy Hibbert
Grade: B-
Analysis: O'Neal is a great piece ... when healthy, which is about half the time. Jawai was a good value pick. Getting value for Ford was key.
Utah
Players Added: Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, Tadija Dragicevic
Grade: C
Analysis: The Jazz are preparing for the imminent departure of free agents next summer.
Washington
Players Added: JaVale McGee
Grade: D
Analysis: McGee was not a good pick when Darrell Arthur was on the board. Walker was a great pick ... and then the Wiz kids sold him to Boston.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
NBA Mock Draft – Version 6.1 (FINAL)
NOTE: This is the final version of the mock draft with projected trades. It will be updated until the draft starts. Press 'F5' to refresh.
PROJECTED TRADES:
* Milwaukee trades the 8th pick to Portland for the 13th and 33rd picks
* Indiana trades the 41st pick and the rights to Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto for the 17th pick and the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and Maceo Baston
* Washington trades the 18th pick to Houston for the 25th pick and future considerations
* Seattle trades the 50th pick to Dallas for cash considerations
ACTUAL TRADES:
* New Jersey trades the rights to Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons
* Seattle trades the 4th pick to LA Clippers for the 7th pick and a 2009 protected first-round pick (if OJ Mayo is off the board)
* Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. This may change in our final version due to intensified talks. Miami may actually draft OJ Mayo outright with the #2 pick. If that happens, I’ll be writing the article prompting Riles to go into permanent retirement.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. LA Clippers (from Seattle). Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. Knowing that Gordon would be selected by Memphis if they held onto the 5th pick, the Clippers jump up. Could this actually be part of a bigger trade with Elton Brand and Shawn Marion changing places along with the 2nd and 4th picks?
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. Devoid of a trade out of this pick, Love is the pick. If I were Chris Wallace, I’d have gone with Brook Lopez. Bayless is rumored to go here as well.
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. Seattle (from LA Clippers). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
8. Portland (from Milwaukee). Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. It makes zero sense for Milwaukee to trade for a small forward and reach for a power forward or center. DJ Augustin is coveted, but Bayless is the better prospect and can do more. Where does Joe Alexander go? If Gallinari is taken by the Knicks, could Yi and Alexander be together in Jersey?
9. Charlotte. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. He’s the best player available who's not a swingman and could contribute immediately. Raymond Felton clearly has a competition on his hands.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. He’s the pick here. With RJ leaving town, he's the new SF.
11. Indiana. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The inside/outside game of Alexander has to be extremely appetizing for the Pacers brass.
12. Sacramento. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. A year away from fruitful contribution, Randolph will watch Ron Artest play out his contract. He’ll also try to add weight too.
13. Milwaukee (from Portland). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor.
14. Golden State. Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. This projection is due to the reports that the Warriors are in love with him following workouts. In my eyes, he’s a late first-rounder. Chalmers and Rush would be better picks.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas. Rush has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Indiana (from Toronto). Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
18. Houston (from Washington). DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
19. Cleveland. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts. LeBron will love his 3-point shooting.
20. Charlotte (from Denver). Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
22. Orlando. Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. Batum is an amazing talent who slipped recently because of health concerns. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
23. Utah. JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is. If Boozer and Okur are out next summer, Hickson is a good young option.
24. Seattle (from Phoenix). Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Greene can fight for minutes early and often for Seattle. With Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, this team can create some mismatches.
25. Washington (from Houston). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, latches onto its second big. McGee is an athletic shot blocker who can disrupt plenty of shots.
26. San Antonio. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Right when reports firm up that they are taking Anderson, the Spurs brass informs all NBA teams that the 26th pick is up for grabs. For now, we’ll stick with Anderson.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. Lee can fill it up and knows how to contribute without scoring points.
29. Detroit. Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Portland takes the BPA because they can.
30. Boston. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. CDR can get to the line and create easy shots for his teammates. He’s a very good defender too. Doc Rivers likes that.
2nd ROUND
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
32. Seattle. Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. By now, you’ll know that Ibaka has become somewhat of an item in folklore. Last night, his agent notified NBA teams that he will remain in Spain until at least 2010-11, asking teams not to draft him in the 1st round. If drafted in the first round, then Ibaka would be forced to sign within the existing pay scale for rookie contracts.
33. Milwaukee (from Memphis via Portland). Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. Jawai is an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
34. Minnesota. DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
35. LA Clippers. Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
36. Portland (from New York). DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams.
37. Milwaukee. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point.
38. Charlotte. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
39. Chicago. Gary Forbes, SG/SF, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable.
40. New Jersey. Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments. Classic Euro stash.
41. Toronto (from Indiana). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him a good pick.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe.
43. Sacramento. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place. Second-round promises are dumb.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Dallas (from Denver via Seattle). Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
51. Dallas. Josh Duncan, SF/PF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound.
52. Miami (from Orlando). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
53. Utah. Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots.
54. Houston. Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
55. Portland (from Phoenix). Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas. A small reach here. Kaun can immediately step into a backup role, though it’s rumored that he will be playing in Europe.
56. Seattle (from New Orleans). Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia. An excellent point guard for a very bad team, Singletary has the tools to be successful. Does he have the mindset?
57. San Antonio. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. Detroit. Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
PROJECTED TRADES:
* Milwaukee trades the 8th pick to Portland for the 13th and 33rd picks
* Indiana trades the 41st pick and the rights to Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto for the 17th pick and the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and Maceo Baston
* Washington trades the 18th pick to Houston for the 25th pick and future considerations
* Seattle trades the 50th pick to Dallas for cash considerations
ACTUAL TRADES:
* New Jersey trades the rights to Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons
* Seattle trades the 4th pick to LA Clippers for the 7th pick and a 2009 protected first-round pick (if OJ Mayo is off the board)
* Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. This may change in our final version due to intensified talks. Miami may actually draft OJ Mayo outright with the #2 pick. If that happens, I’ll be writing the article prompting Riles to go into permanent retirement.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. LA Clippers (from Seattle). Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. Knowing that Gordon would be selected by Memphis if they held onto the 5th pick, the Clippers jump up. Could this actually be part of a bigger trade with Elton Brand and Shawn Marion changing places along with the 2nd and 4th picks?
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. Devoid of a trade out of this pick, Love is the pick. If I were Chris Wallace, I’d have gone with Brook Lopez. Bayless is rumored to go here as well.
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. Seattle (from LA Clippers). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
8. Portland (from Milwaukee). Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. It makes zero sense for Milwaukee to trade for a small forward and reach for a power forward or center. DJ Augustin is coveted, but Bayless is the better prospect and can do more. Where does Joe Alexander go? If Gallinari is taken by the Knicks, could Yi and Alexander be together in Jersey?
9. Charlotte. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. He’s the best player available who's not a swingman and could contribute immediately. Raymond Felton clearly has a competition on his hands.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. He’s the pick here. With RJ leaving town, he's the new SF.
11. Indiana. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The inside/outside game of Alexander has to be extremely appetizing for the Pacers brass.
12. Sacramento. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. A year away from fruitful contribution, Randolph will watch Ron Artest play out his contract. He’ll also try to add weight too.
13. Milwaukee (from Portland). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor.
14. Golden State. Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. This projection is due to the reports that the Warriors are in love with him following workouts. In my eyes, he’s a late first-rounder. Chalmers and Rush would be better picks.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas. Rush has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Indiana (from Toronto). Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
18. Houston (from Washington). DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
19. Cleveland. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts. LeBron will love his 3-point shooting.
20. Charlotte (from Denver). Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
22. Orlando. Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. Batum is an amazing talent who slipped recently because of health concerns. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
23. Utah. JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is. If Boozer and Okur are out next summer, Hickson is a good young option.
24. Seattle (from Phoenix). Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Greene can fight for minutes early and often for Seattle. With Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, this team can create some mismatches.
25. Washington (from Houston). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, latches onto its second big. McGee is an athletic shot blocker who can disrupt plenty of shots.
26. San Antonio. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Right when reports firm up that they are taking Anderson, the Spurs brass informs all NBA teams that the 26th pick is up for grabs. For now, we’ll stick with Anderson.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. Lee can fill it up and knows how to contribute without scoring points.
29. Detroit. Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Portland takes the BPA because they can.
30. Boston. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. CDR can get to the line and create easy shots for his teammates. He’s a very good defender too. Doc Rivers likes that.
2nd ROUND
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
32. Seattle. Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. By now, you’ll know that Ibaka has become somewhat of an item in folklore. Last night, his agent notified NBA teams that he will remain in Spain until at least 2010-11, asking teams not to draft him in the 1st round. If drafted in the first round, then Ibaka would be forced to sign within the existing pay scale for rookie contracts.
33. Milwaukee (from Memphis via Portland). Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. Jawai is an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
34. Minnesota. DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
35. LA Clippers. Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
36. Portland (from New York). DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams.
37. Milwaukee. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point.
38. Charlotte. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
39. Chicago. Gary Forbes, SG/SF, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable.
40. New Jersey. Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments. Classic Euro stash.
41. Toronto (from Indiana). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him a good pick.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe.
43. Sacramento. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place. Second-round promises are dumb.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Dallas (from Denver via Seattle). Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
51. Dallas. Josh Duncan, SF/PF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound.
52. Miami (from Orlando). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
53. Utah. Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots.
54. Houston. Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
55. Portland (from Phoenix). Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas. A small reach here. Kaun can immediately step into a backup role, though it’s rumored that he will be playing in Europe.
56. Seattle (from New Orleans). Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia. An excellent point guard for a very bad team, Singletary has the tools to be successful. Does he have the mindset?
57. San Antonio. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. Detroit. Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
Dueling Trade Talk Which Throws Mock Drafters Into Confusion
It's widely expected that the 10th pick will change hands. Here's two scenarios.
Scenario #1
New Jersey gets: 5th pick
Memphis gets: 10th pick, future 1st-round pick
Who New Jersey will draft: Danilo Gallinari (ahead of the Knicks pick at #6) or Kevin Love
Who Memphis will draft: Your guess is as good as mine.
Scenario #2
Portland gets: 10th pick, Maurice Ager
New Jersey gets: 13th pick, 33rd pick, Jarrett Jack
Who Portland will draft: DJ Augustin
Who New Jersey will draft: A big - Robin Lopez is a possibility followed by the BPA
Here's an alternate scenario. (Yes, I just made this up).
Scenario #3
New Jersey gets: 5th pick (from MEM), Jarrett Jack
Portland gets: 10th pick (from NJ), Maurice Ager
Memphis gets: 13th pick (from POR), 33rd pick (from POR), future 1st-round pick (from NJ)
As one reader pointed out, I might think too highly of Chris Wallace. Perhaps, I'm pining for an assistant GM position.
Scenario #1
New Jersey gets: 5th pick
Memphis gets: 10th pick, future 1st-round pick
Who New Jersey will draft: Danilo Gallinari (ahead of the Knicks pick at #6) or Kevin Love
Who Memphis will draft: Your guess is as good as mine.
Scenario #2
Portland gets: 10th pick, Maurice Ager
New Jersey gets: 13th pick, 33rd pick, Jarrett Jack
Who Portland will draft: DJ Augustin
Who New Jersey will draft: A big - Robin Lopez is a possibility followed by the BPA
Here's an alternate scenario. (Yes, I just made this up).
Scenario #3
New Jersey gets: 5th pick (from MEM), Jarrett Jack
Portland gets: 10th pick (from NJ), Maurice Ager
Memphis gets: 13th pick (from POR), 33rd pick (from POR), future 1st-round pick (from NJ)
As one reader pointed out, I might think too highly of Chris Wallace. Perhaps, I'm pining for an assistant GM position.
NBA Mock Draft – Version 6.0
NOTE: This version of the mock draft DOES NOT project trades. Our final version will. Why? It’s more fun.
ACTUAL TRADES:
* Indiana trades the 41st pick and the rights to Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto for the 17th pick and the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and Maceo Baston
* Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. This may change in our final version due to intensified talks. Miami may actually draft OJ Mayo outright with the #2 pick. If that happens, I’ll be writing the article prompting Riles to go into permanent retirement.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. Seattle. Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
5. Memphis. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. With JC Navarro out and Mike Miller rumored to be following (out of Memphis, not to Spain), Gordon can almost immediately step in at the 2 position. As everyone knows, numerous overtures have been made for this pick. The rumor is that any deal involving the 5th pick would include the albatross contract of Brian Cardinal ($13M over two years).
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. LA Clippers. Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. If the Clippers keep the pick, Bayless is their man. Apparently, he’s proven to them that he’s a point guard and not a point god.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer.
9. Charlotte. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. He’s the best player available (BPA) who isn’t a swingman. If you know anything about the ‘Cats, it’s that they love drafting 2s and 3s. Not this year.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. He’s the pick here. The Blazers were thinking of trading up; however, Charlotte drafted DJ Augustin.
11. Indiana. Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor. The Pacers could go in the direction of a shot-blocking center, but that’s a reach.
12. Sacramento. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts. Reggie Theus really wanted to take Teddy with this pick.
13. Portland. Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas. Rush has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college. Do not be surprised if Portland trades this pick and Raef LaFrentz’s expiring contract to Memphis for Mike Miller. If you haven’t read that anywhere, that’s because I just made it up. It makes more financial sense than most of the garbage I’ve read.
14. Golden State. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. Love WILL NOT fall this far. If he does, then the Warriors will snap him up. I just did this to illustrate what trades and the lack thereof will do on draft night.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. A good fit for a European to back up Shaq and eventually take over the role. Koufos needs to overcome the soft label.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Indiana (from Toronto). Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
18. Washington. Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game. Washington could go in the direction of a power forward, such as JJ Hickson.
19. Cleveland. Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
20. Charlotte (from Denver). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, Miami latches onto its second big. McGee is an athletic shot blocker who can disrupt plenty of shots.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is.
22. Orlando. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. This is the absolute furthest that I can see Randolph drop on draft night. Being a tweener is scary. Courtney Lee is still the likely pick.
23. Utah. Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic and a number of mock drafts have him going 13th to Portland!
24. Seattle (from Phoenix). Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. Even with Durant, there is a dearth of playmakers for the Sonics, so Batum fills a big gap. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
25. Houston. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
26. San Antonio. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Reports are firming up that the Spurs really like Anderson here. Teams love his shooting ability. According to the stats and competition, he’s an upgrade over Donte Greene, who has more upside.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. Jawai is an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
29. Detroit. Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Another free faller due to being an upside guy. Greene may go 15 picks higher. With the right coach and the necessary work ethic, he could be a major contributor by January.
30. Boston. Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. Lee fills a major team need at shooting guard.
2ND ROUND
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. By now, you’ll know that Ibaka has become somewhat of an item in folklore. Last night, his agent notified NBA teams that he will remain in Spain until at least 2010-11, asking teams not to draft him in the 1st round. If drafted in the first round, then Ibaka would be forced to sign within the existing pay scale for rookie contracts.
32. Seattle. Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
33. Portland (from Memphis). Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Portland takes the BPA because they can.
34. Minnesota. DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
35. LA Clippers. DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams. The Blazers may actually hang onto this pick.
36. Portland (from New York). Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments. Classic Euro stash.
37. Milwaukee. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
38. Charlotte. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
39. Chicago. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. Easily the BPA. CDR can get to the line and create easy shots for his teammates. He’s a very good defender too. The Bulls could also go in the direction of a SF.
40. New Jersey. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point. Some sites have the Nets taking Damjan Rudez.
41. Toronto (from Indiana). Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe. He is 2 years away, so international grooming can allow for Chalmers to eventually move over to his natural position.
43. Sacramento. Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him a good pick.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place. Second-round promises are dumb.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Seattle (from Denver). Josh Duncan, PF/SF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound.
51. Dallas. Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas. A small reach here. Kaun can easily go undrafted, but without trades, there’s a push for centers.
52. Miami (from Orlando). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
53. Utah. Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots.
54. Houston. Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
55. Portland (from Phoenix). Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
56. Seattle (from New Orleans). Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
57. San Antonio. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. Detroit. Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia. An excellent point guard for a very bad team, Singletary has the tools to be successful. Does he have the mindset?
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
ACTUAL TRADES:
* Indiana trades the 41st pick and the rights to Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto for the 17th pick and the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and Maceo Baston
* Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. This may change in our final version due to intensified talks. Miami may actually draft OJ Mayo outright with the #2 pick. If that happens, I’ll be writing the article prompting Riles to go into permanent retirement.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. Seattle. Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
5. Memphis. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. With JC Navarro out and Mike Miller rumored to be following (out of Memphis, not to Spain), Gordon can almost immediately step in at the 2 position. As everyone knows, numerous overtures have been made for this pick. The rumor is that any deal involving the 5th pick would include the albatross contract of Brian Cardinal ($13M over two years).
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. LA Clippers. Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. If the Clippers keep the pick, Bayless is their man. Apparently, he’s proven to them that he’s a point guard and not a point god.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer.
9. Charlotte. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. He’s the best player available (BPA) who isn’t a swingman. If you know anything about the ‘Cats, it’s that they love drafting 2s and 3s. Not this year.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. He’s the pick here. The Blazers were thinking of trading up; however, Charlotte drafted DJ Augustin.
11. Indiana. Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor. The Pacers could go in the direction of a shot-blocking center, but that’s a reach.
12. Sacramento. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts. Reggie Theus really wanted to take Teddy with this pick.
13. Portland. Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas. Rush has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college. Do not be surprised if Portland trades this pick and Raef LaFrentz’s expiring contract to Memphis for Mike Miller. If you haven’t read that anywhere, that’s because I just made it up. It makes more financial sense than most of the garbage I’ve read.
14. Golden State. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. Love WILL NOT fall this far. If he does, then the Warriors will snap him up. I just did this to illustrate what trades and the lack thereof will do on draft night.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. A good fit for a European to back up Shaq and eventually take over the role. Koufos needs to overcome the soft label.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Indiana (from Toronto). Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
18. Washington. Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game. Washington could go in the direction of a power forward, such as JJ Hickson.
19. Cleveland. Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
20. Charlotte (from Denver). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, Miami latches onto its second big. McGee is an athletic shot blocker who can disrupt plenty of shots.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is.
22. Orlando. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. This is the absolute furthest that I can see Randolph drop on draft night. Being a tweener is scary. Courtney Lee is still the likely pick.
23. Utah. Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic and a number of mock drafts have him going 13th to Portland!
24. Seattle (from Phoenix). Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. Even with Durant, there is a dearth of playmakers for the Sonics, so Batum fills a big gap. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
25. Houston. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
26. San Antonio. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Reports are firming up that the Spurs really like Anderson here. Teams love his shooting ability. According to the stats and competition, he’s an upgrade over Donte Greene, who has more upside.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. Jawai is an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
29. Detroit. Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Another free faller due to being an upside guy. Greene may go 15 picks higher. With the right coach and the necessary work ethic, he could be a major contributor by January.
30. Boston. Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. Lee fills a major team need at shooting guard.
2ND ROUND
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. By now, you’ll know that Ibaka has become somewhat of an item in folklore. Last night, his agent notified NBA teams that he will remain in Spain until at least 2010-11, asking teams not to draft him in the 1st round. If drafted in the first round, then Ibaka would be forced to sign within the existing pay scale for rookie contracts.
32. Seattle. Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
33. Portland (from Memphis). Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Portland takes the BPA because they can.
34. Minnesota. DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
35. LA Clippers. DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams. The Blazers may actually hang onto this pick.
36. Portland (from New York). Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments. Classic Euro stash.
37. Milwaukee. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
38. Charlotte. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
39. Chicago. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. Easily the BPA. CDR can get to the line and create easy shots for his teammates. He’s a very good defender too. The Bulls could also go in the direction of a SF.
40. New Jersey. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point. Some sites have the Nets taking Damjan Rudez.
41. Toronto (from Indiana). Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe. He is 2 years away, so international grooming can allow for Chalmers to eventually move over to his natural position.
43. Sacramento. Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him a good pick.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place. Second-round promises are dumb.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Seattle (from Denver). Josh Duncan, PF/SF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound.
51. Dallas. Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas. A small reach here. Kaun can easily go undrafted, but without trades, there’s a push for centers.
52. Miami (from Orlando). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
53. Utah. Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots.
54. Houston. Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
55. Portland (from Phoenix). Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
56. Seattle (from New Orleans). Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
57. San Antonio. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. Detroit. Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia. An excellent point guard for a very bad team, Singletary has the tools to be successful. Does he have the mindset?
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
More Draft Buzz ... Breaking Down The Trades
Before I go into the meat, let me state how disgusted I am with all of this media focus on the #1 pick overall pseudo-controversy. If Michael Beasley gets picked first, I invite you all to call me a complete moron. Anyone who can read through the lines or is not in complete denial knows that Derrick Rose is being selected #1 by the Bulls. The real story is: Derrick Rose gets selected. What happens to Kirk Hinrich?
Okay, let's get down to business.
Trade #1: New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations:
The Scuttlebutt: All right, I just wanted to say "scuttlebutt" (credit: John Thompson). Portland is to "draft day trade" as Craig Bolerjack is to "NCAA Tournament upset". New Orleans trading this pick makes sense - they're no longer rebuilding and they are better served re-signing their free agents (i.e. Jannero Pargo). I'm still trying to make sense from the Portland side. They nearly have a full roster with Rudy Fernandez already on the way. Not to mention, they had four picks, including three in the top 36 prior to pulling the trigger on this deal. Originally, Serge Ibaka would've been a great stash pick at #27; however, ESPN is reporting that Ibaka's agent is informing teams that the player intends to stay in Spain until 2010-11 and to not select him in the first round. If you have not done so, check out his YouTube video and simply admire the lift he gets on a jumpshot.
Trade #2: Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
Scuttlebutt: This trade means two things, at least in my view of things. First, the point guard that Denver wanted (Mario Chalmers) will not be on the board at pick #20. Second, Charlotte traded for this pick in order to acquire a center, because many of the bigs will be going between picks 13 and 27. This also means that Brook Lopez is likely getting drafted in the top eight, and selecting a center at 9 would be an immense reach.
Trade #3: Indiana trades the rights to Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick.
Scuttlebutt: The obvious is that O'Neal and Ford wanted a change of scenery. In my humble opinion, Indiana earned amazing value for this pick. They still have the 11th and 17th picks in addition to solidifying the point guard position. Not to mention, Nesterovic has an expiring contract ($8.4M), which may be appetizing in future deals. O'Neal and Bosh sounds beastly, but how many games will they play together? If the answer is 60 or more, then you have to like the Raptors prospects in the Eastern Conference.
Additionally ...
Five teams are interested in the 5th pick, including New York, who's willing to offer a package including windex-man David Lee. Not too bad for a guy who won't fit into Mike D'Antoni's plans.
Okay, let's get down to business.
Trade #1: New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations:
The Scuttlebutt: All right, I just wanted to say "scuttlebutt" (credit: John Thompson). Portland is to "draft day trade" as Craig Bolerjack is to "NCAA Tournament upset". New Orleans trading this pick makes sense - they're no longer rebuilding and they are better served re-signing their free agents (i.e. Jannero Pargo). I'm still trying to make sense from the Portland side. They nearly have a full roster with Rudy Fernandez already on the way. Not to mention, they had four picks, including three in the top 36 prior to pulling the trigger on this deal. Originally, Serge Ibaka would've been a great stash pick at #27; however, ESPN is reporting that Ibaka's agent is informing teams that the player intends to stay in Spain until 2010-11 and to not select him in the first round. If you have not done so, check out his YouTube video and simply admire the lift he gets on a jumpshot.
Trade #2: Denver trades the 20th pick to Charlotte for a future, protected first-round pick
Scuttlebutt: This trade means two things, at least in my view of things. First, the point guard that Denver wanted (Mario Chalmers) will not be on the board at pick #20. Second, Charlotte traded for this pick in order to acquire a center, because many of the bigs will be going between picks 13 and 27. This also means that Brook Lopez is likely getting drafted in the top eight, and selecting a center at 9 would be an immense reach.
Trade #3: Indiana trades the rights to Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for the rights to TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick.
Scuttlebutt: The obvious is that O'Neal and Ford wanted a change of scenery. In my humble opinion, Indiana earned amazing value for this pick. They still have the 11th and 17th picks in addition to solidifying the point guard position. Not to mention, Nesterovic has an expiring contract ($8.4M), which may be appetizing in future deals. O'Neal and Bosh sounds beastly, but how many games will they play together? If the answer is 60 or more, then you have to like the Raptors prospects in the Eastern Conference.
Additionally ...
Five teams are interested in the 5th pick, including New York, who's willing to offer a package including windex-man David Lee. Not too bad for a guy who won't fit into Mike D'Antoni's plans.
NBA Mock Draft – Version 5.0
NOTE: This version of the mock draft projects potential trades.
ACTUAL TRADE:
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
OTHER TRADES:
* Miami trades the 2nd pick and the rights to Mark Blount to Seattle for the 4th and 24th picks and the rights to Luke Ridnour.
* Charlotte trades the 9th pick to Sacramento for 12th and 43rd picks and cash considerations.
* Portland trades the 13th pick and rights to Martell Webster and Channing Frye to Memphis for Mike Miller.
* Portland trades the 55th pick to Philadelphia for cash considerations.
* Seattle trades the 56th pick to Atlanta for cash considerations.
* Detroit trades the 59th pick to New York for cash considerations.
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Seattle (from Miami). Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. With Pat Riley’s ambivalence about Beasley mixed with the Heat having multiple holes to address (PG, PF, C) and only one pick in the top 50, this trade makes some sense. Beasley is a much stronger fit in Seattle’s plans.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. Miami (from Seattle). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Riles can thank me later for these amazing ideas. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. If no trades happen with this pick, Love should be the guy at #5. Rated #12 on my big board, I’m not in love with this pick (no pun intended). Trading this pick for David Lee and other pieces is a stronger proposition.
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. LA Clippers. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. Barring a trade with the Phoenix Suns sending Corey Maggette and this pick for Leandro Barbosa and the 15th pick, Gordon is their guy. He’s just too good to pass up.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer.
9. Sacramento (from Charlotte). Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. If Bayless falls this far, which he likely will not, some team will jump back into the top 10 for his services.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. Last week, the rumor mill dictated that unless the Italian received a Top 10 promise, he’d be opting out of the draft. He stayed in. Not to mention, he can drive to the hoop and shoot.
11. Indiana. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. Augustin is a floor general that the Pacers badly need. His game has limitations due to his size, but at the end of the day, he makes his teammates better.
12. Charlotte (from Sacramento). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor. Do not be shocked one bit if the ‘Cats trade this pick for a veteran.
13. Memphis (from Portland). Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas. Exit Miller. Enter Rush. Brandon has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college.
14. Golden State. Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. There’s a lot of bust potential here, but Koufos could be a major boon given his style for Team Uncertainty.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. Following their most recent ouster from the playoffs, the Suns need a defense-first player with the length to disrupt passing lanes and create mismatches.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Toronto. Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. There is a dearth of playmakers for the Raptors, so Batum fills a huge gap. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
18. Washington. Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
19. Cleveland. Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. After giving up millions of dollars to return to school, Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game.
20. Denver. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
22. Orlando. Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. This is the first reach of the draft; however, Lee fills a major team need at shooting guard and can push for the starting job immediately.
23. Utah. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
24. Miami (from Phoenix via Seattle). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, Miami latches onto its second big. McGee provides the defensive spark that Lopez may still yearn for.
25. Houston. Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic and a number of mock drafts have him going 13th to Portland!
26. San Antonio. Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Another free faller due to being an upside guy. Greene may go 11 picks higher or up to five picks lower. With the right coach and the necessary work ethic, he could be a major contributor by January.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. Per Aran Smith of NBADraft.net, Ibaka is a “tremendous athlete blessed with insane length and leaping ability” who “conjures up memories of Shawn Kemp”. An impressive YouTube video montage was supplemented by earning MVP honors at Eurocamp. With solid footwork, an existing jumpshot (great form to boot) and an awesome work ethic, Ibaka is much further along than many other project bigs.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is.
29. Detroit. Bill Walker, SG/SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Walker can be a star in this league and the Pistons realize that.
30. Boston. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. At the 30th pick, CDR is a steal. Though he has had difficulty adding weight, CDR can get to the line via the mismatches he creates in addition to his ability to score off the dribble. His long arms can disrupt passing lanes as well.
2nd Round
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
32. Seattle. Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. After selecting OJ Mayo, the Wolves set their sights on Nathan Jawal, an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
33. Portland (from Memphis). DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
34. Minnesota. Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
35. LA Clippers. Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
36. Portland (from New York). DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams. The Blazers may actually hang onto this pick.
37. Milwaukee. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
38. Charlotte. Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe.
39. Chicago. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Though he may not slip this far, Anderson is a proven scorer with an inside/outside game.
40. New Jersey. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point.
41. Indiana. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted. Even if Beno Udrih is re-signed, this is a good pick.
43. Charlotte (from Sacramento). Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him the perfect Jerry Sloan Pick.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable, which is an attractive proposition for Pop.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Seattle (from Denver). Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots. At the end of the day, the Sonics are probably drafting for someone else.
51. Dallas. Josh Duncan, PF/SF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound. Dallas may also reach for a center.
52. Miami (from Orlando). Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
53. Utah. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
54. Houston. Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
55. Philadelphia (from Phoenix via Portland). Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
56. Atlanta (from New Orleans via Seattle). JR Giddens, SG, New Mexico. Athletic and explosive, Giddens can only be held back by himself. Shot selection and decision making has long plagued the guard. If he becomes more coachable, he could be a starter in the Association.
57. San Antonio. Drew Neitzel, PG, Michigan State. After not being on the radar, Neitzel impressed at the pre-draft camp and did enough in workouts to garner 2nd-round pick consideration.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. New York (from Detroit). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
ACTUAL TRADE:
* New Orleans trades the 27th pick to Portland for cash considerations
OTHER TRADES:
* Miami trades the 2nd pick and the rights to Mark Blount to Seattle for the 4th and 24th picks and the rights to Luke Ridnour.
* Charlotte trades the 9th pick to Sacramento for 12th and 43rd picks and cash considerations.
* Portland trades the 13th pick and rights to Martell Webster and Channing Frye to Memphis for Mike Miller.
* Portland trades the 55th pick to Philadelphia for cash considerations.
* Seattle trades the 56th pick to Atlanta for cash considerations.
* Detroit trades the 59th pick to New York for cash considerations.
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. I think we’ve heard enough about this. Did you know Rose was from Chicago? Ben Gordon will love this pick. Kirk Hinrich won’t.
2. Seattle (from Miami). Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. With Pat Riley’s ambivalence about Beasley mixed with the Heat having multiple holes to address (PG, PF, C) and only one pick in the top 50, this trade makes some sense. Beasley is a much stronger fit in Seattle’s plans.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Yes, I’m gloating, because the real media is now saying what I’ve said for months. Mayo realized he had teammates and started distributing the rock, and he got tougher on defense.
4. Miami (from Seattle). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. Riles can thank me later for these amazing ideas. Lopez is an inside scoring threat who may have some defensive holes in his game. Without his twin brother (Robin), Brook may struggle. Not to mention, he’s playing the pros, and there’s this thing called defensive 3 seconds. Without a trade happening, Lopez may fall to the 9th pick.
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. If no trades happen with this pick, Love should be the guy at #5. Rated #12 on my big board, I’m not in love with this pick (no pun intended). Trading this pick for David Lee and other pieces is a stronger proposition.
6. New York. Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA. Though I think Augustin is the better pick, Westbrook’s versatility and defensive skills make him a great pick here. Bayless is an amazing talent, but it was determined rather early that he’d be a bad fit here by numerous sources.
7. LA Clippers. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. Barring a trade with the Phoenix Suns sending Corey Maggette and this pick for Leandro Barbosa and the 15th pick, Gordon is their guy. He’s just too good to pass up.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer.
9. Sacramento (from Charlotte). Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. If Bayless falls this far, which he likely will not, some team will jump back into the top 10 for his services.
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. Last week, the rumor mill dictated that unless the Italian received a Top 10 promise, he’d be opting out of the draft. He stayed in. Not to mention, he can drive to the hoop and shoot.
11. Indiana. DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. Augustin is a floor general that the Pacers badly need. His game has limitations due to his size, but at the end of the day, he makes his teammates better.
12. Charlotte (from Sacramento). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor. Do not be shocked one bit if the ‘Cats trade this pick for a veteran.
13. Memphis (from Portland). Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas. Exit Miller. Enter Rush. Brandon has quieted the critics and demonstrated the excellence that many expected three years ago when he was trying to decide whether to forgo college.
14. Golden State. Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. There’s a lot of bust potential here, but Koufos could be a major boon given his style for Team Uncertainty.
15. Phoenix (from Atlanta). Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. Following their most recent ouster from the playoffs, the Suns need a defense-first player with the length to disrupt passing lanes and create mismatches.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. The Sixers are in sore need of a scoring big. If they do not pull a trade for Josh Smith, Speights will be a part of the path they travel.
17. Toronto. Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. There is a dearth of playmakers for the Raptors, so Batum fills a huge gap. Admittedly, I was scared when reading about his heart problems, but he has checked out fine.
18. Washington. Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things well: play defense, alter shots and rebound.
19. Cleveland. Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. After giving up millions of dollars to return to school, Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game.
20. Denver. Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. Though not a true PG, Chalmers has demonstrated the aptitude to lead a team in workouts.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being a role player.
22. Orlando. Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. This is the first reach of the draft; however, Lee fills a major team need at shooting guard and can push for the starting job immediately.
23. Utah. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Despite struggling in early workouts, Jordan is a talent and has an NBA-ready body. All he needs now is an NBA-ready mind and all that comes with it.
24. Miami (from Phoenix via Seattle). JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After free-falling due to maturity issues, Miami latches onto its second big. McGee provides the defensive spark that Lopez may still yearn for.
25. Houston. Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game despite some excellent workouts. During the workouts, scouts have been wowed his Ajinca’s work ethic and a number of mock drafts have him going 13th to Portland!
26. San Antonio. Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Another free faller due to being an upside guy. Greene may go 11 picks higher or up to five picks lower. With the right coach and the necessary work ethic, he could be a major contributor by January.
27. Portland (from New Orleans). Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. Per Aran Smith of NBADraft.net, Ibaka is a “tremendous athlete blessed with insane length and leaping ability” who “conjures up memories of Shawn Kemp”. An impressive YouTube video montage was supplemented by earning MVP honors at Eurocamp. With solid footwork, an existing jumpshot (great form to boot) and an awesome work ethic, Ibaka is much further along than many other project bigs.
28. Memphis (from LA Lakers). JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is.
29. Detroit. Bill Walker, SG/SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school, but he did not. Walker can be a star in this league and the Pistons realize that.
30. Boston. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. At the 30th pick, CDR is a steal. Though he has had difficulty adding weight, CDR can get to the line via the mismatches he creates in addition to his ability to score off the dribble. His long arms can disrupt passing lanes as well.
2nd Round
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
32. Seattle. Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. After selecting OJ Mayo, the Wolves set their sights on Nathan Jawal, an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
33. Portland (from Memphis). DJ White, PF, Indiana. This pick is likely for someone else. White has 1st-round talent, but has had numerous injuries. He’s our best player available at this point.
34. Minnesota. Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving. Discussions of a five-year extension with his current team may scuttle draft prospects.
35. LA Clippers. Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
36. Portland (from New York). DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances is attractive to many teams. The Blazers may actually hang onto this pick.
37. Milwaukee. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
38. Charlotte. Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe.
39. Chicago. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Though he may not slip this far, Anderson is a proven scorer with an inside/outside game.
40. New Jersey. Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point.
41. Indiana. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Pacers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted. Even if Beno Udrih is re-signed, this is a good pick.
43. Charlotte (from Sacramento). Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him the perfect Jerry Sloan Pick.
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable, which is an attractive proposition for Pop.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
47. Washington. Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place.
48. Phoenix (from Cleveland). Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
49. Golden State. Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling. The open court system should suit Jefferson.
50. Seattle (from Denver). Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots. At the end of the day, the Sonics are probably drafting for someone else.
51. Dallas. Josh Duncan, PF/SF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound. Dallas may also reach for a center.
52. Miami (from Orlando). Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split. Admittedly, I know very little about Rudez, other than that he has recently shot up draft charts. He’s 6’10” and only 200 pounds, so adding weight is a necessity. Otherwise, he’s very skilled, athletic and plays with moxie.
53. Utah. Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
54. Houston. Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
55. Philadelphia (from Phoenix via Portland). Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
56. Atlanta (from New Orleans via Seattle). JR Giddens, SG, New Mexico. Athletic and explosive, Giddens can only be held back by himself. Shot selection and decision making has long plagued the guard. If he becomes more coachable, he could be a starter in the Association.
57. San Antonio. Drew Neitzel, PG, Michigan State. After not being on the radar, Neitzel impressed at the pre-draft camp and did enough in workouts to garner 2nd-round pick consideration.
58. LA Lakers. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and knows his role. Team and defense come first.
59. New York (from Detroit). James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
60. Boston. Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. And here goes the run on athletic fours. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
PHSports NBA Draft Big Board - Top 60
Here is the PHSports list of Top 60 prospects irrespective of position, team needs or team leanings.
THE SUMMARY
Drinking the Kool Aid: Eric Gordon, DJ Augustin, Darrell Arthur
Pouring it Down the Sink: Russell Westbrook, Alexis Ajinca, Chris Douglas-Roberts
2nd-Round Sleepers: Jamont Gordon, Davon Jefferson, Gary Forbes
In need of PR: DeAndre Jordan, Anthony Randolph
THE TOP 60
THE SUMMARY
Drinking the Kool Aid: Eric Gordon, DJ Augustin, Darrell Arthur
Pouring it Down the Sink: Russell Westbrook, Alexis Ajinca, Chris Douglas-Roberts
2nd-Round Sleepers: Jamont Gordon, Davon Jefferson, Gary Forbes
In need of PR: DeAndre Jordan, Anthony Randolph
THE TOP 60
- Michael Beasley, SF, Kansas State
- Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
- OJ Mayo, G, USC
- Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana
- Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
- Jerryd Bayless, G, Arizona
- Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia
- Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano
- DJ Augustin, PG, Texas
- Russell Westbrook, G, UCLA
- Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
- Kevin Love, PF, UCLA
- Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU
- Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas
- Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State
- Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans
- Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
- Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse
- Robin Lopez, C, Stanford
- DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M
- Marreese Speights, PF, Florida
- Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown
- Jason Thompson, PF, Rider
- JJ Hickson, PF, NC State
- Serge Ibaka, PF, L'Hospitalet
- JaVale McGee, C, Nevada
- Alexis Ajinca, C, HTV Hyeres-Toulon
- Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky
- Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State
- Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade
- Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis
- DJ White, PF, Indiana
- Nathan Jawai, PF/C, Cairns Taipans
- Ryan Anderson, F, California
- Jamont Gordon, SG, Mississippi State
- Omer Asik, C, Fenerbahce Ulker
- Kyle Weaver, G, Washington State
- Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island
- Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, F, UCLA
- Joey Dorsey, PF, Memphis
- DeVon Hardin, PF, California
- Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija
- Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts
- Davon Jefferson, SF, USC
- Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama
- Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas
- Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker
- George Hill, PG, IUPUI
- Trent Plaisted,
- Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb
- Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt
- Josh Duncan, F, Xavier
- JR Giddens, SG, New Mexico
- Mike Taylor, PG, Idaho Stampede
- Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State
- Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas
- James Gist, F, Maryland
- Malik Hairston, G, Oregon
- Bryce Taylor, G, Oregon
- Damjan Rudez, SF, KK Split
Sunday, June 22, 2008
NBA Mock Draft – Version 4.0
“The What Are They Going To Do Edition”
NOTE: This version of the mock draft projects potential trades. These were guided by rumors, need and teams having too many draft picks.
TRADES
* New York trades the 6th pick to Phoenix and the rights to Malik Rose for the 15th and 48th picks and the rights to Leandro Barbosa.
NOTE: This version of the mock draft projects potential trades. These were guided by rumors, need and teams having too many draft picks.
TRADES
* New York trades the 6th pick to Phoenix and the rights to Malik Rose for the 15th and 48th picks and the rights to Leandro Barbosa.
Barbosa: Will he reunite with Mike D'Antoni?
Courtesy: All Posters
* Portland trades the 13th and 33rd picks and the rights to Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake to Detroit for their 2009 1st-round pick and the rights to Tayshaun Prince.
* Golden State trades the 14th pick to New York for the 15th and 48th picks.
* Milwaukee trades the rights to Mo Williams to Miami for their 2009 1st-round pick (unprotected).
* Denver trades the 20th pick and the rights to Linus Kleiza to Memphis for the 28th pick and the rights to Kyle Lowry.
* Sacramento trades the 43rd pick to the LA Lakers for the 58th pick and a future second round pick.
* Washington trades the 47th pick to Atlanta for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Seattle trades the 50th pick to Dallas for cash considerations.
* Utah trades the 53rd pick to the LA Clippers for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Portland trades the 55th pick to Philadelphia for cash considerations.
* Seattle trades the 56th pick to Washington for a future 2nd-round pick.
* LA Lakers trades the 58th pick to Cleveland for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Detroit trades the 59th pick to New York for cash considerations.
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. It’s looking more and more like the Bulls are going to draft Rose, who is earning comparisons with Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Rose isn’t quite there yet, but he’ll be excellent if he stays off the Gummi Bears come next spring. What does this mean for incumbent point guard Kirk Hinrich? Could he be dealt on draft night to a team with a need for a point guard like Indiana?
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. The K-State stud immediately addresses a toughness need and fits into the existing plans, though the Heat would ultimately prefer a Rose in their future. Beasley is an immediate 15 and 9 contributor and can play in an up-tempo style with DWade and Shawn Marion. That said, there are rumors that the Grizzlies are aiming to trade the 5th pick, Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry for the 2nd pick, which they would use on Beasley.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Who had him as the third pick for much longer? Mayo adds a playmaker to a team that is sorely in need of one. At USC, Mayo improved his recognition out of double teams and overall defense, and that was only in less than half of an NBA season.
4. Seattle. Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. Somehow, the Sonics have been convinced that Bayless in indeed the point guard of the future. Or, they are convinced that Luke Ridnour and Bayless can play in the same backcourt with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green on the floor at the same time.
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. In how many ways can I mention that I hate this pick. Love is physical and he can score points in bunches. However, he will have to really improve his conditioning in order to earn minutes. It’s been two months since he got posterized by CDR and no one has forgotten about it. Does the expected announcement of Marc Gasol’s arrival change this?
6. Phoenix (from New York). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. The Suns have a new style and they maximize the value of Barbosa by trading him away to his old coach. Malik Rose (a defensive-oriented player who more importantly has an expiring contract) may very well be dealt again. In Lopez, the Suns gain an inside scoring threat who is the heir apparent to The Diesel. Lopez’s defensive presence will put to task early and often next season.
7. LA Clippers. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. An extreme talent, Gordon can straight ball and has the technical skills needed to succeed immediately. Does he have the head? Following the dismissal of Kelvin Sampson, Gordon’s play dropped. If Corey Maggette is not back, Gordon may be in pole position to be the Rookie of the Year.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer. The Bucks wish they had two picks in this area, as they also like the wiry Anthony Randolph.
9. Charlotte. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Though limited offensively, Jordan makes up for that with his sheer size and athleticism. With a shaky frontline and their best frontcourt player (Okafor) able to leave in the summer (qualifying offer of $7.1M), Michael selects another Jordan … who will be riding pine because Larry Brown doesn’t like playing rookies. Don’t be shocked if Michael Jordan trades this pick for another Tar Heel (Rasheed Wallace).
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. Last week, the rumor mill dictated that unless the Italian received a Top 10 promise, he’d be opting out of the draft. He stayed in. Not to mention, he can drive to the hoop and shoot.
11. Indiana. Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, UCLA. Between now and Thursday, I expect the Pacers to have offered the Bulls the 11th pick for Kirk Hinrich in a package deal shipping Marquis Daniels contract. Long story short, that won’t happen, and the Pacers finally draft a point guard. In my final mock last year, I had the Pacers selecting Ramon Sessions … would’ve been nice. Westbrook is a premier defender with improving ball skills. His length and strength make him the more viable option over true floor general DJ Augustin.
12. Sacramento. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. Randolph has certain values available that the Kings need (length, defense, athletic ability). If Ron Artest does not take up his player option, this pick is very likely.
13. Detroit (from Portland). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. With Rasheed Wallace possibly on the outs and the Pistons never short of bigs, Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor.
* Golden State trades the 14th pick to New York for the 15th and 48th picks.
* Milwaukee trades the rights to Mo Williams to Miami for their 2009 1st-round pick (unprotected).
* Denver trades the 20th pick and the rights to Linus Kleiza to Memphis for the 28th pick and the rights to Kyle Lowry.
* Sacramento trades the 43rd pick to the LA Lakers for the 58th pick and a future second round pick.
* Washington trades the 47th pick to Atlanta for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Seattle trades the 50th pick to Dallas for cash considerations.
* Utah trades the 53rd pick to the LA Clippers for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Portland trades the 55th pick to Philadelphia for cash considerations.
* Seattle trades the 56th pick to Washington for a future 2nd-round pick.
* LA Lakers trades the 58th pick to Cleveland for a future 2nd-round pick.
* Detroit trades the 59th pick to New York for cash considerations.
1. Chicago. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis. It’s looking more and more like the Bulls are going to draft Rose, who is earning comparisons with Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Rose isn’t quite there yet, but he’ll be excellent if he stays off the Gummi Bears come next spring. What does this mean for incumbent point guard Kirk Hinrich? Could he be dealt on draft night to a team with a need for a point guard like Indiana?
2. Miami. Michael Beasley, SF/PF, Kansas State. The K-State stud immediately addresses a toughness need and fits into the existing plans, though the Heat would ultimately prefer a Rose in their future. Beasley is an immediate 15 and 9 contributor and can play in an up-tempo style with DWade and Shawn Marion. That said, there are rumors that the Grizzlies are aiming to trade the 5th pick, Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry for the 2nd pick, which they would use on Beasley.
3. Minnesota. OJ Mayo, SG/PG, USC. Mayo is now the consensus third pick among the experts. Who had him as the third pick for much longer? Mayo adds a playmaker to a team that is sorely in need of one. At USC, Mayo improved his recognition out of double teams and overall defense, and that was only in less than half of an NBA season.
4. Seattle. Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona. Somehow, the Sonics have been convinced that Bayless in indeed the point guard of the future. Or, they are convinced that Luke Ridnour and Bayless can play in the same backcourt with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green on the floor at the same time.
5. Memphis. Kevin Love, PF, UCLA. In how many ways can I mention that I hate this pick. Love is physical and he can score points in bunches. However, he will have to really improve his conditioning in order to earn minutes. It’s been two months since he got posterized by CDR and no one has forgotten about it. Does the expected announcement of Marc Gasol’s arrival change this?
6. Phoenix (from New York). Brook Lopez, C, Stanford. The Suns have a new style and they maximize the value of Barbosa by trading him away to his old coach. Malik Rose (a defensive-oriented player who more importantly has an expiring contract) may very well be dealt again. In Lopez, the Suns gain an inside scoring threat who is the heir apparent to The Diesel. Lopez’s defensive presence will put to task early and often next season.
7. LA Clippers. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana. An extreme talent, Gordon can straight ball and has the technical skills needed to succeed immediately. Does he have the head? Following the dismissal of Kelvin Sampson, Gordon’s play dropped. If Corey Maggette is not back, Gordon may be in pole position to be the Rookie of the Year.
8. Milwaukee. Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia. The athletic Alexander provides a multi-faceted player who is a very good team defender and an explosive scorer. The Bucks wish they had two picks in this area, as they also like the wiry Anthony Randolph.
9. Charlotte. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M. Though limited offensively, Jordan makes up for that with his sheer size and athleticism. With a shaky frontline and their best frontcourt player (Okafor) able to leave in the summer (qualifying offer of $7.1M), Michael selects another Jordan … who will be riding pine because Larry Brown doesn’t like playing rookies. Don’t be shocked if Michael Jordan trades this pick for another Tar Heel (Rasheed Wallace).
10. New Jersey. Danilo Gallinari, SF, Armani Jeans Milano. Last week, the rumor mill dictated that unless the Italian received a Top 10 promise, he’d be opting out of the draft. He stayed in. Not to mention, he can drive to the hoop and shoot.
11. Indiana. Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, UCLA. Between now and Thursday, I expect the Pacers to have offered the Bulls the 11th pick for Kirk Hinrich in a package deal shipping Marquis Daniels contract. Long story short, that won’t happen, and the Pacers finally draft a point guard. In my final mock last year, I had the Pacers selecting Ramon Sessions … would’ve been nice. Westbrook is a premier defender with improving ball skills. His length and strength make him the more viable option over true floor general DJ Augustin.
12. Sacramento. Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU. Randolph has certain values available that the Kings need (length, defense, athletic ability). If Ron Artest does not take up his player option, this pick is very likely.
13. Detroit (from Portland). Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas. With Rasheed Wallace possibly on the outs and the Pistons never short of bigs, Arthur provides athleticism, size and discipline. Arthur will need to work on consistency in order to see the floor.
Pritchard: May not work this deal, but will be active on Thursday.
Courtesy: Oregon Live
14. New York (from Golden State). DJ Augustin, PG, Texas. With the Warriors in desperate need for young, cheap bodies, they’re happy move down a spot to gain a 2nd-round pick. Perhaps the 2nd best true floor general in the draft, Augustin is a pint-sized guard who has a penchant for making those around him better. His durability and inability to be effective against bigger guards are valid concerns. Will the Knicks attempt to reach a buyout with a certain Starbury?
15. Golden State (from Atlanta via Phoenix and New York). Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse. Though he struggled down the stretch and settled for bad shots, Greene carries undeniable upside and can thrive in Golden State’s wide open system.
16. Philadelphia. Marreese Speights, PF, Florida. Adept at the 4, Speights already has the frame and some skills to compete in the Association. Nevertheless, Speights must continue to gather basketball IQ, as his tendency to not use his strength and inability to maintain focus and intensity have plagued his game. On occasion, Speights can fill in at the 5 to spell Samuel Dalembert.
17. Toronto. Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans. The Raptors are in a great position if both Batum and Brandon Rush are available. Given their international lean, the 6’8” shooting guard from across the Atlantic has the tools necessary to be a top 15 player in this league. He just needs to get stronger.
18. Washington. JaVale McGee, C, Nevada. After falling out of the lottery, the Wizards latch onto McGee, who immediately addresses defensive and rebounding needs. With Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas coming off the books in two years, this is a good pick.
19. Cleveland. Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State. Though a finesse player and sometimes a recipient of the soft label, Koufos was excellent in workouts is an inside player who can benefit greatly from a driver like LeBron James.
20. Memphis (from Denver). Robin Lopez, C, Stanford. Robin, the more agile of the Lopez twins, will do three things that has not been seen in Memphis the last couple of years: play defense, alter shots and rebound. On offense, Lopez may be a liability, but both Marc Gasol and Kevin Love can fill it up.
21. New Jersey (from Dallas). Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown. After giving up millions of dollars to return to school, Hibbert adds scoring punch and can alter shots in the lane. Though more polished than some of his colleagues, Hibbert still needs to work on his footwork and add imagination to his game.
22. Orlando. Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas. Does anyone else not buy the “Tony Battie back from injury is like having a 1st-round pick” talk? Sure, a first-round pick with little upside. On a completely unrelated note, Brandon Rush falls all the way to 22 despite having all the tools to be a star in this league.
Rush: Bound to be drafted before Orlando's pick
Courtesy: Yardbarker
23. Utah. Jason Thompson, PF, Rider. With Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap with an opportunity next summer, the Jazz would be wise to supplement their frontline. Thompson averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for little-known Rider during his junior and senior year. Thompson’s biggest transition will go from being the man to being the 4th man off the bench.
24. Seattle (from Phoenix). Serge Ibaka, PF/C, L’ Hospitalet. Per Aran Smith of NBADraft.net, Ibaka is a “tremendous athlete blessed with insane length and leaping ability” who “conjures up memories of Shawn Kemp”. An impressive YouTube video montage was supplemented by earning MVP honors at Eurocamp. With solid footwork, an existing jumpshot (great form to boot) and an awesome work ethic, Ibaka is much further along than many other project bigs.
25. Houston. JJ Hickson, PF, NC State. Hickson’s talent is unquestioned. His ability to mesh with other talented players is. This is a boom or bust pick and Houston is in position to take such a risk instead of drafting a project center like Alexis Ajinca.
26. San Antonio. Ryan Anderson, SF/PF, California. Ryan Anderson stayed in the draft after some impressive workouts. Anderson can light it up, which is more than I can say for the majority of the Spurs’ bench. Courtney Lee is an option at this pick as well.
27. New Orleans. Mario Chalmers, PG/SG, Kansas. With Jannero Pargo likely to cash in on a good season, Chalmers can fill the gap. A cagy on-the-ball defender, Chalmers is equally excellent in terms of anticipation. In the immediate, he will be the backup point who will spell Morris Peterson.
28. Denver (from LA Lakers via Memphis). Alexis Ajinca, C/PF, HTV Hyeres-Toulon. Ajinca provides the agility and length to alter shots and rebound effectively. He is still getting accustomed to the game and has little to no offensive game. Ajinca likely needs two years of seasoning prior to seeing an NBA floor.
29. Detroit. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis. At the 29th pick, CDR is a steal. Though he has had difficulty adding weight, CDR can get to the line via the mismatches he creates in addition to his ability to score off the dribble. His long arms can disrupt passing lanes as well.
30. Boston. Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky. With James Posey foregoing his player option, the Celtics decide that it’s time to go after a shooting guard. Lee, who is a very good shooter, needs to improve defensively to earn minutes in Doc Rivers’ rotation.
2nd Round
31. Minnesota (from Miami). Nathan Jawal, PF/C, Cairns Taipans. After selecting OJ Mayo, the Wolves set their sights on Nathan Jawal, an Australian big who actually enjoys getting physical. Like most aggressive players, Jawal will need to refine much of his game while continuing to learn the game.
32. Seattle. DJ White, PF, Indiana. In spite of being undersized and having difficulty staying healthy, DJ White can contribute almost immediately.
33. Detroit (from Memphis via Portland). Nikola Pekovic, PF, Partizan Belgrade. A back to the basket player, Pekovic has demonstrated explosiveness near the rim. To round out his game, he will need to work on his jumpshot.
34. Minnesota. Bill Walker, SG/SF, Kansas State. Walker should have returned to school. But he did not. As a result, he does not receive guaranteed money as a 1st-round pick.
35. LA Clippers. Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama. It’s time for the Clippers to add some muscle. Hendrix lacks overall speed, but he makes up for it with physicality and basketball wherewithal.
36. Portland (from New York). Omer Asik, C, Fenerbache Ulker. Asik is a 7’0” in the truest sense (physical, active, long reach). Additionally, he’s athletic. He has plenty of room for improvement on offense, but is improving.
37. Milwaukee. Joey Dorsey, PF/C, Memphis. In an effort to toughen up the frontline, the Bucks take Dorsey, who will outhustle and outmuscle most opponents. However, his offensive game outside of three foot is limited to non-existent.
38. Charlotte. Goran Dragic, PG, Union Olimpija. A tall point, Dragic is no stranger to the lane and scores most of his points there. He has been considered unselfish to a fault and the Slovenian likely needs a couple more seasons in Europe.
39. Chicago. Will Daniels, SF, Rhode Island. Daniels is a basketball player with great hands. He knows his strengths and exerts effort at all times. On the flipside, Daniels has the tendency to get into foul trouble and take bad shots.
40. New Jersey. DeVon Hardin, PF, California. Hardin adds a defensive-minded who requires few shots to be effective. His ability to play solid defense without taking too many chances allows for Lawrence Frank to selectively forget about his offensive output … or lack thereof.
41. Indiana. Semih Erden, C, Fenerbahce Ulker. A pure seven footer, Erden has athleticism and lateral quickness to match his size; however, Erden needs vast improvement in the defense and rebounding departments.
42. Sacramento (from Atlanta). Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Washington State. One of the headiest players in the draft pool, Weaver is a tenacious defender. He will need to refine his offensive game if he wants to be the man down the stretch. His ball-handling skills allow for him to be an effective point guard who can cause matchup problems due to his height.
43. LA Lakers (from Sacramento). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA. The Lakers jump back into the 2nd round to acquire toughness. The Prince’s ability to hustle and defend up to three positions makes him the perfect reaction pick.
44. Utah (from Philadelphia). George Hill, PG, IUPUI. If the Jazz want to go from good to great, they will need to find a player who can spell Deron Williams from time to time. Hill is fundamentally sound and knows how to play bigger than his size. Additionally, Hill was rumored to have received a promise to be drafted. Was it Utah?
45. San Antonio (from Toronto). Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas. A very good shooter who can slash to the basket, Weems is only starting to show his ball skills. To stay on the floor, he must reduce turnovers and become efficient.
46. Seattle (from Portland via Boston). Ante Tomic, PF/C, KK Zagreb. Though skilled in the post, Tomic has a frail body and can be taken advantage of. His ability to become stronger will define his career.
47. Atlanta (from Washington). Davon Jefferson, SF, USC. Atlanta finds a great time to get back into the draft. Jefferson is an athletically gifted player but lacks the functional skills (shooting, dribbling) to dominate. Jefferson can be an energy guy for any roster in the very least and can become a star if he works on shooting and dribbling.
48. Golden State (from Cleveland via Phoenix and New York). Gary Forbes, SG, Massachusetts. Throughout his collegiate career, Forbes increased his basketball IQ and consistency. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, Forbes will have a size advantage over most shooting guards and be comparable to most small forwards. Also, he is very coachable, which is an attractive proposition for Nellie.
49. Golden State. Trent Plaisted, PF/C, BYU. In the current Warriors system, Plaisted’s athletic ability and face-up game make him a fantastic fit. Could be a 10-year veteran role player in the league.
50. Dallas (from Denver via Seattle). Jamont Gordon, SG/PG, Mississippi State. You have to love versatility to make this pick. Gordon is a grinder who’s tough and gives you a tougher option at the point.
51. Dallas. James Gist, SF/PF, Maryland. On the good side, Gist has plenty of talent and is extremely athletic. On the bad side, much of this talent is unrealized to this point.
52. Miami (from Orlando). Josh Duncan, PF/SF, Xavier. Duncan is an agile, versatile forward who is very tough. Critics say Duncan lacks upside, but he’s a winner who is fundamentally sound.
53. LA Clippers (from Utah). Mike Taylor, PG/SG, Idaho Stampede. Taylor has impressed in workouts and he is the best point guard remaining on the board.
54. Houston. Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt. You can never have enough shooters and that’s exactly what Foster is. Do not be surprised at all if Foster goes up to 15 picks earlier.
55. Philadelphia (from Phoenix via Portland). JR Giddens, SG, New Mexico. Athletic and explosive, Giddens can only be held back by himself. Shot selection and decision making has long plagued the guard. If he becomes more coachable, he could be a starter in the Association.
56. Washington (from New Orleans via Seattle). Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB. I’m no genius, but I read on multiple rumor boards that Washington invited him back for a 2nd workout. That’s enough to think a promise may be in place.
57. San Antonio. Drew Neitzel, PG, Michigan State. After not being on the radar, Neitzel impressed at the pre-draft camp and did enough in workouts to garner 2nd-round pick consideration.
58. Cleveland (from LA Lakers). Malik Hairston, SG/SF, Oregon. Hairston is a proven scorer who can score from a variety of places on the court. Of course, shooting 43% from behind the arc definitely brings a smile to LeBron’s face.
59. New York (from Detroit). Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State. The hard-working Hunter is an instant energy player who will make hustle plays and use every ounce of his talent.
60. Boston. Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas. Why not? Jackson is a winner and he is a Doc Rivers type of player. Team and defense come first.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
NBA Draft - Opt Out Ramifications
Much to my surprise, Chase Budinger has opted out of the draft. Andy Katz writes a nice brief piece on the consequences of the tough decisions made on Monday.
With Ty Lawson and Lester Hudson BOTH opting out of the draft, does this mean that one of the internationally-based point guards who impressed at Eurocamp has slipped into the first round?
Also, despite what has been said about Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's draft stock, do not be surprised if a team comprised of shooters drafts him to be the quintessential garbage man. Every successful team needs that piece in building a champion and Mbah a Moute has proven that he doesn't need to score to be a contributor.
More to come ...
With Ty Lawson and Lester Hudson BOTH opting out of the draft, does this mean that one of the internationally-based point guards who impressed at Eurocamp has slipped into the first round?
Also, despite what has been said about Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's draft stock, do not be surprised if a team comprised of shooters drafts him to be the quintessential garbage man. Every successful team needs that piece in building a champion and Mbah a Moute has proven that he doesn't need to score to be a contributor.
More to come ...
Monday, June 16, 2008
Your Consensus Preseason #1 Come October
... will be the North Carolina Tar Heels. According to ESPN, North Carolina sophomores Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington and junior Danny Green have withdrawn from the NBA Draft. While Green was a near no-brainer and Ellington did not show his best in workouts, Lawson was considered by many to be a first-round pick. Specifically, a number of rumors from reputable sources reported that the Denver Nuggets had extended a promise to the Carolina floor general. However, Lawson dispelled those reports last week (mixed with a DUI and an injury), which led to what was unfathomable a month ago - Carolina returning its four best players.
Others returning to school include:
AJ Abrams, Texas
Robert Dozier, Memphis
Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
Ronald Steele, Alabama
Robert Vaden, UAB
Others returning to school include:
AJ Abrams, Texas
Robert Dozier, Memphis
Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
Ronald Steele, Alabama
Robert Vaden, UAB
Sunday, June 15, 2008
NBA Draft Buzz
Last thing first. I'll let the real media take care of the Tim Donaghy garbage. Long story short, he needs to be accountable. Also, the NBA should re-pay the fines to players who received technical fouls and ejections coming from Donaghy for the games in question. That's a home or at least a hefty down payment for Rasheed Wallace.
Onto the draft buzz ...
- Almost all of the experts now are calling for the Bulls to draft Derrick Rose. Despite thinking strongly that Michael Beasley is the best prospect in the draft, the next PHSports NBA Mock Draft may reflect the consensus. Oddly enough, OJ Mayo is garnering serious consideration for the 2nd pick overall.
- Monday is the deadline for early entrants who have not signed with an agent to take their name out of this year's NBA Draft.
WHO'S LEAVING (OR EXTREMELY LIKELY TO LEAVE)?
Joe Alexander - likely to be a lottery pick
Chase Budinger - could be taken as early as 15 to Phoenix and will be off by the Spurs' pick at latest
Mario Chalmers - perhaps the 20th pick to Denver. Can you really imagine a backcourt with Ty Lawson and AI?
Bill Walker - Mr. Upside looks to be drafted in the 20s
George Hill - likely has promise to be taken in 2nd round
- Among current members of the Association, here are some names who may be in different places ...
Allen Iverson
Michael Redd
Rasheed Wallace
Marcus Camby
Mike Miller
Kirk Hinrich
Charlie Villanueva
Onto the draft buzz ...
- Almost all of the experts now are calling for the Bulls to draft Derrick Rose. Despite thinking strongly that Michael Beasley is the best prospect in the draft, the next PHSports NBA Mock Draft may reflect the consensus. Oddly enough, OJ Mayo is garnering serious consideration for the 2nd pick overall.
- Monday is the deadline for early entrants who have not signed with an agent to take their name out of this year's NBA Draft.
WHO'S LEAVING (OR EXTREMELY LIKELY TO LEAVE)?
Joe Alexander - likely to be a lottery pick
Chase Budinger - could be taken as early as 15 to Phoenix and will be off by the Spurs' pick at latest
Mario Chalmers - perhaps the 20th pick to Denver. Can you really imagine a backcourt with Ty Lawson and AI?
Bill Walker - Mr. Upside looks to be drafted in the 20s
George Hill - likely has promise to be taken in 2nd round
- Among current members of the Association, here are some names who may be in different places ...
Allen Iverson
Michael Redd
Rasheed Wallace
Marcus Camby
Mike Miller
Kirk Hinrich
Charlie Villanueva
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Housekeeping
As a heads up to our readers, the NBA Offseason Previews will be inclusive of only the lottery teams (remaining: Sacramento, Portland, Golden State). This was not intended, but the reality is that the day job takes precedence.
In the next two weeks, we will have at least one mock draft prior to the PHSports Final 2-Round Mock Draft. Also, we aim to explore some of the nuances of the NBA Draft and how draft strategies have been altered in recent years.
In the next two weeks, we will have at least one mock draft prior to the PHSports Final 2-Round Mock Draft. Also, we aim to explore some of the nuances of the NBA Draft and how draft strategies have been altered in recent years.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
NBA Offseason Preview - Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
Record: 36-46
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $67.2M
Draft Picks: #11, #41
When Jim O’Brien arrived in Indiana, the Pacers knew that they would be playing an up-tempo style compared to the days of Rick Carlisle. They just didn’t know who would step up.
One year later, Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy Jr. are the anchors for this team, and the team is shopping Jermaine O’Neal (and the $44M he’s owed over the next two years). Who knew? A year after the Pacers did not select a point guard in the draft, they are where they left off – needing a point guard. Jamaal Tinsley averaged a career-high 8.4 assists per game, but he shot 38% from the field and only played 39 games.
Burning Questions: Here’s a question many have asked. Which teams will enter their hats into the O’Neal and Tinsley (3 years, $21.5M) sweepstakes? More importantly, will they offer anything worthwhile?
Perceived Needs: PG, Frontcourt Depth
If I Were GM … I actually would not trade O’Neal, but would shop Tinsley like a bad habit. It’s one thing when your point guard misses a few games to injury (okay, 43 is not a few). It’s another to hear his name linked to shooting incidents. Since Tinsley is a bargain at $7M per year when healthy, teams focused on his skill set and experience will be interested.
In terms of free agent losses, the Pacers have a few, but none of which they are in dire need to re-sign or move for value.
For the #11 pick, there’s only one way to go and that is point guard. Though small, DJ Augustin has the mental DNA to be successful for years on end. If last year proved anything, it’s that DJ Augustin makes his teammates much better, even in the absence of a collegiate superstar (Kevin Durant).
At pick #41, the defensive prowess and length of Alexis Ajinca and DeVon Hardin make intriguing picks.
Record: 36-46
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $67.2M
Draft Picks: #11, #41
When Jim O’Brien arrived in Indiana, the Pacers knew that they would be playing an up-tempo style compared to the days of Rick Carlisle. They just didn’t know who would step up.
One year later, Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy Jr. are the anchors for this team, and the team is shopping Jermaine O’Neal (and the $44M he’s owed over the next two years). Who knew? A year after the Pacers did not select a point guard in the draft, they are where they left off – needing a point guard. Jamaal Tinsley averaged a career-high 8.4 assists per game, but he shot 38% from the field and only played 39 games.
Burning Questions: Here’s a question many have asked. Which teams will enter their hats into the O’Neal and Tinsley (3 years, $21.5M) sweepstakes? More importantly, will they offer anything worthwhile?
Perceived Needs: PG, Frontcourt Depth
If I Were GM … I actually would not trade O’Neal, but would shop Tinsley like a bad habit. It’s one thing when your point guard misses a few games to injury (okay, 43 is not a few). It’s another to hear his name linked to shooting incidents. Since Tinsley is a bargain at $7M per year when healthy, teams focused on his skill set and experience will be interested.
In terms of free agent losses, the Pacers have a few, but none of which they are in dire need to re-sign or move for value.
For the #11 pick, there’s only one way to go and that is point guard. Though small, DJ Augustin has the mental DNA to be successful for years on end. If last year proved anything, it’s that DJ Augustin makes his teammates much better, even in the absence of a collegiate superstar (Kevin Durant).
At pick #41, the defensive prowess and length of Alexis Ajinca and DeVon Hardin make intriguing picks.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
NBA Offseason Preview - New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
Record: 34-48
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $51.8M
Draft Picks: #10, #21, #40
Another season ends and the Nets needs remain the same. Sure, Josh Boone quietly put together a strong campaign (8.2 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 2007-08 from 4.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 2006-07). Nevertheless, New Jersey remains set at the point guard position for the foreseeable and still have Vince Carter at the 2 and Richard Jefferson at the 3. Though both of are declining, few NBA teams have more talent on the wings. In spite of Sean Williams’s defensive presence at times this season, he lacks offensive upside.
Burning Questions: Jason Kidd has been traded. Carter and Jefferson are on the decline and the latter has had a recent brush with the law. Will they trade either of these stars? Will anyone take Jefferson for anything short of a salary dump of expiring contracts?
Perceived Needs: Frontcourt scoring, wing depth
If I Were GM … I would desperately find a suitor for Vince Carter and continue to get young. If it means trading out of the lottery to offload his salary ($48.8 over the next three seasons with a team option of $18M in 2011-12 which can be bought out for $5M), I would in a heartbeat. Why? If you are a young player and your team’s best veteran has admitted quitting on a team in order to get out of town, just imagine his leadership skills.
If I cannot find a suitor, I would go after a proven interior scoring threat, knowing that I would sacrifice some defense for steady offense. If that is too much of a reach, the best player available who is not a point guard would do. Therefore, the Nets may be poised to select anyone not named DJ Augustin or Ty Lawson with the 10th and 21st picks. With the #40 pick, the Nets are in position to take the best player available.
Record: 34-48
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $51.8M
Draft Picks: #10, #21, #40
Another season ends and the Nets needs remain the same. Sure, Josh Boone quietly put together a strong campaign (8.2 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 2007-08 from 4.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 2006-07). Nevertheless, New Jersey remains set at the point guard position for the foreseeable and still have Vince Carter at the 2 and Richard Jefferson at the 3. Though both of are declining, few NBA teams have more talent on the wings. In spite of Sean Williams’s defensive presence at times this season, he lacks offensive upside.
Burning Questions: Jason Kidd has been traded. Carter and Jefferson are on the decline and the latter has had a recent brush with the law. Will they trade either of these stars? Will anyone take Jefferson for anything short of a salary dump of expiring contracts?
Perceived Needs: Frontcourt scoring, wing depth
If I Were GM … I would desperately find a suitor for Vince Carter and continue to get young. If it means trading out of the lottery to offload his salary ($48.8 over the next three seasons with a team option of $18M in 2011-12 which can be bought out for $5M), I would in a heartbeat. Why? If you are a young player and your team’s best veteran has admitted quitting on a team in order to get out of town, just imagine his leadership skills.
If I cannot find a suitor, I would go after a proven interior scoring threat, knowing that I would sacrifice some defense for steady offense. If that is too much of a reach, the best player available who is not a point guard would do. Therefore, the Nets may be poised to select anyone not named DJ Augustin or Ty Lawson with the 10th and 21st picks. With the #40 pick, the Nets are in position to take the best player available.
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