- Joined
- Jan 16, 2006
- Messages
- 15,009
- Reaction score
- 42,362
- Points
- 148
With tomorrow being the draft, I thought this would be a good thread to just talk about the draft in general and have this as a sticky to post throughout the draft...
So to get it started, here is my 1 round mock draft:
[1].
Portland Trailblazers = Greg Oden .C. Ohio State (freshman; 7-foot, 257 lbs.)
This is a lock, IMHO. Even though there is a chance that Durant goes number one, I think the Trailblazers realize that the last few years Shaq and Duncan have decided the last few championships and don't want to pass up a guy of their caliber in Greg Oden.
[2].
Seattle SuperSonics = Kevin Durant .SF/PF. Texas (freshman; 6-10, 215)
With Oden off the board, Durant is the best player to take and with the franchise in the middle of deciding to move or not, it's a great idea to take a franchise player and maybe convince the Sonics ownership to stay in Seattle.
[3].
Atlanta Hawks = Yi Jianlian .PF/C. China (7-0, 230)
I have a feeling that this pick will ultimately be moved for some solid players or more draft picks. But whether it is moved or not, I think Yi is a solid choice here because of many teams fearing he won't make it out of the top 7 or so. But if the Hawks do stay here, he'd be a solid choice for the Hawks who need a inside presence and most importantly a center.
[4].
Memphis Grizzlies = Al Horford .PF/C. (junior; 6-10, 246)
With the Hawks passing on Horford, the Grizzlies take the player who they covet most and would really make a great fit next to Gasol where he can compliment him on the defensive end and on the boards. The frontline of Gay, Horford and Gasol really starts to look solid for the future and even if they do decide to trade away Gasol, Horford is a nice piece inside to build around.
[5].
Boston Celtics = Jeff Green .SF. Georgetown (Junior; 6-10, 228)
This is another one of the picks that I think will get traded during the draft, partly because Boston needs another impact player and because there really isn't one player that stands out from the other here. With that said, the Celtics need a versatile player of Green's ability. If this pick is traded, Green could be a possible target of the team trading up, especially with the Wolves rumoring to get this pick.
[6].
Milwaukee Bucks = Mike Conley Jr .PG. Ohio State (freshman; 6-1, 175)
With Mo Williams, Charlie Bell and Earl Boykins being all free agents the Bucks need to address the PG situation one way or the other and getting the best PG prospect in the draft who fell to them at #6 is a smart move. He has much more upside than a Williams has and will be had for a lot cheaper compared to the salary Williams will be commanding.
[7].
Minnesota Timberwolves = Joakim Noah .PF/C. Florida (junior; 7-0, 223)
Whether or not the T'Wolves decide to keep Garnett, Noah will fit nicely into the froncourt for the future. If he does decide to stay, he gives them a player who can play both ends and fits them real well. If not, he gives them something to build off of for the future.
[8].
Charlotte Bobcats = Brandan Wright .PF. North Carolina (freshman; 6-10, 200)
I'm surprised that people aren't talking this pick up more, because it does really make sense. With Okafor being the dominant defensive big man they've hoped for, they are still lacking the inside presence to really be a good team and I think that Wright can provide them that and fits well into the PF spot next to Okafor at center. Even though Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll are free agents they can still get a solid wingman at #22. Oh, it does also help that Jordan and Wright have the UNC connection.
[9].
Chicago Bulls = Spencer Hawes .C. Washington (freshman; 7-1, 244)
The Bulls finally what they've been looking for: a low-post presence. While Hawes might not give them the 20&8 they need immediately he does provide them an option down-low and is young enough that he has a lot of time to develop into a solid low-post scorer in the future.
[10].
Sacramento Kings = Julian Wright .SF/PF. Kansas (freshman; 6-9, 211)
Wright would be a solid two-way pick here and provides them depth at SF and PF which are two positions of need. At SF, if Artest is traded, Wright gives them who can step in right away and fill in as his role of defensive stopper and be a valuable all-around player for them. And if need-be, he can slid over to the PF spot in smaller lineups and give them some scoring. So really, he is a solid pick who helps them fill two things at once.
[11].
Atlanta Hawks = Acie Law .PG. Texas A&M (senior; 6-4, 186)
With the Hawks landing Yi at the 3rd pick they finally address their PG position by getting the 2nd best PG in the draft and a good fit next to Joe Johnson in the backcourt. This also helps them in their shooting woes and provides them another outside threat besides Johnson.
[12].
Philadelphia 76'ers = Al Thornton .SF/PF. (senior; 6-7, 221)
This pick makes a lot of sense as the Sixers try to add to their core of players. Thornton can really compliment Iguodala real well and give the Sixers the SF they're looking for.
[13].
New Orleans Hornets = Corey Brewer .SG. Florida (junior; 6-8, 185)
Even though Thaddeus Young is rumored to be the pick here, Brewer makes more sense and it'd be a sin for the Hornets front office to pass on someone who would fill a hole at the SG spot and give them a legit perimeter defender. With the Hornets likely to lose 3 wingmen to free agency and Peja having some injury problems, it would be quite smart to draft a wingman to provide some depth.
[14].
Los Angeles Clippers = Nick Young .SG. USC (junior; 6-7, 206)
With the Clippers needing shooters, Mobley not getting any younger and Corey Maggette rumors still swirling, the Clippers would be wise to take a local product who can provide them with some scoring and outside shooting.
[15].
Detroit Pistons = Javaris Crittenton .PG. Georgia Tech (freshman; 6-5, 194)
I really want to pick Stuckey here with all that's been said, but with Billups being an unrestricted free agent and even if they do get him back he'll be 31 in September, I think the Pistons really need a PG badly and to pass up a PG the caliber of a Crittenton would be a mistake. Backing up Billups for a few years and learning from him would really help and also in turn, would help Billups, giving him more rest to play for a longer time and be more effective.
[16].
Washington Wizards = Ronald Stuckey .SG. Eastern Washington (sophomore; 6-5, 207)
Even though there may be bigger needs, Stuckey is the BPA at this point in the draft and is too good to pass up. With DeShawn Stevenson a free agent, the Wizards may look to address the position and they fill it real well with a combo guard who can help Arenas with the PG duties. And if Arenas decides to opt-out of his contract and even leave, Stuckey may be the guy who can score 20 PPG a game for them.
[17].
New Jersey Nets = Sean Williams .C. Boston College (junior; 6-10, 230)
This is a pretty risky pick, especially at this point in the draft, but instead of taking Splitter and worrying about a buyout and him coming over, an instant impact sounds better with Kidd not getting any younger. Despite concerns with drug problems, a guy like Jason Kidd could really help him out.
[18].
Golden State Warriors = Thaddeus Young .SF/PF. Georgia Tech (freshman; 6-8, 210)
With 3 wingmen being free agents and Al Harrington not exactly blowing people away, it'd be hard to pass on a 'tweener like Young who could be a great fit in the run-and-gun offense of Golden State.
[19].
Los Angeles Lakers = Josh McRoberts .PF. Duke (sophomore; 6-10, 240)
The Lakers desperately need some type of low-post presence and McRoberts can provide that, even though he may not be a dominant one, he can get it done and is a good fit in the triangle offense, especially with his passing.
[20].
Miami Heat = Derrick Byars .SF. Vanderbilt (senior; 6-7, 215)
With a 3 wingmen leaving for free agency the Heat need to fill the void quick and what better to fill it with an experienced, all-around senior who can contribute right away and give them a James Posey type player with more potential at the SF spot.
[21].
Philadelphia 76'ers = Jason Smith .PF. Colorado State (7-0, 233)
With picking up a wing player like Thornton at 12 and Carney the last draft, the wing position is set for a while and what they really need is a PF to compliment Dalembert and Smith would be a solid fit as a PF who can shoot and is pretty athletic.
[22].
Charlotte Bobcats = Morris Almond .SG. Rice (6-6, 215)
With Bobcats having many free agents at the wing positions, it's very important for them to address the issue by drafting a couple of young wing players to fill their voids and the drafting of Almond would really help, if the Bobcats choose not to re-sign Matt Carroll.
[23].
New York Knicks = Daquean Cook .SG. Ohio State (freshman; 6-6, 203)
The Knicks deliver like Steph wanted -- they get him a shooter. Cook is a very raw player with tons of potential and if he would of stayed at Ohio State for a few years, he could of been a potential lottery pick.
[24].
Phoenix Suns = Rudy Fernandez .SG. Spain (6-6, 172)
This is a pick I feel that is very likely to me moved, but if they decide stay and pick somebody, Fernandez would be a valuable asset with his shooting, ball-handling and versatility.
[25].
Utah Jazz = Tiago Splitter .PF. Brazil (7-foot, 245)
With the Jazz really only need being a big who can block shots, Splitter would be a steal here. He was a lottery pick at one time and still has very good talent especially on the defensive end, which they need. And if he doesn't come over immediately, it's not something to worry about since they are very deep.
[26].
Houston Rockets = Nick Fazekas .PF. Nevada (senior; 6-11, 225)
With no other real good big man options left, the Rockets go with the best one available.
[27].
Detroit Pistons = Arron Afflalo .SG. UCLA (senior; 6-5 206)
With the Pistons addressing their PG problems at 15, they need to address the wing position, especially with the trading off Carlos Delfino off to the Raptors. Afflalo will provide them with a fundamentally sound player who can get it done on both ends of the floor.
[28].
San Antonio Spurs = Jared Dudley .SF. Boston College (senior; 6-7, 219)
With the Spurs attempting to get younger on the wings, they go for a player who would fit in well with the current roster and provide an eventual replacement for Bruce Bowen.
[29].
Phoenix Suns = Ali Traore .PF. France (6-10, 246)
With the Suns really needing a big man, they take a flier on a guy who can stay overseas and develop if need be.
[30].
Philadelphia 76'ers = Taurean Green .PG. Florida (junior; 6-1, 173)
With Andre Miller not getting any younger and the Sixers having no real future at the PG spot, they go with a 2-time national championship player here.
So to get it started, here is my 1 round mock draft:
[1].
This is a lock, IMHO. Even though there is a chance that Durant goes number one, I think the Trailblazers realize that the last few years Shaq and Duncan have decided the last few championships and don't want to pass up a guy of their caliber in Greg Oden.
[2].
With Oden off the board, Durant is the best player to take and with the franchise in the middle of deciding to move or not, it's a great idea to take a franchise player and maybe convince the Sonics ownership to stay in Seattle.
[3].
I have a feeling that this pick will ultimately be moved for some solid players or more draft picks. But whether it is moved or not, I think Yi is a solid choice here because of many teams fearing he won't make it out of the top 7 or so. But if the Hawks do stay here, he'd be a solid choice for the Hawks who need a inside presence and most importantly a center.
[4].
With the Hawks passing on Horford, the Grizzlies take the player who they covet most and would really make a great fit next to Gasol where he can compliment him on the defensive end and on the boards. The frontline of Gay, Horford and Gasol really starts to look solid for the future and even if they do decide to trade away Gasol, Horford is a nice piece inside to build around.
[5].
This is another one of the picks that I think will get traded during the draft, partly because Boston needs another impact player and because there really isn't one player that stands out from the other here. With that said, the Celtics need a versatile player of Green's ability. If this pick is traded, Green could be a possible target of the team trading up, especially with the Wolves rumoring to get this pick.
[6].
With Mo Williams, Charlie Bell and Earl Boykins being all free agents the Bucks need to address the PG situation one way or the other and getting the best PG prospect in the draft who fell to them at #6 is a smart move. He has much more upside than a Williams has and will be had for a lot cheaper compared to the salary Williams will be commanding.
[7].
Whether or not the T'Wolves decide to keep Garnett, Noah will fit nicely into the froncourt for the future. If he does decide to stay, he gives them a player who can play both ends and fits them real well. If not, he gives them something to build off of for the future.
[8].
I'm surprised that people aren't talking this pick up more, because it does really make sense. With Okafor being the dominant defensive big man they've hoped for, they are still lacking the inside presence to really be a good team and I think that Wright can provide them that and fits well into the PF spot next to Okafor at center. Even though Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll are free agents they can still get a solid wingman at #22. Oh, it does also help that Jordan and Wright have the UNC connection.
[9].
The Bulls finally what they've been looking for: a low-post presence. While Hawes might not give them the 20&8 they need immediately he does provide them an option down-low and is young enough that he has a lot of time to develop into a solid low-post scorer in the future.
[10].
Wright would be a solid two-way pick here and provides them depth at SF and PF which are two positions of need. At SF, if Artest is traded, Wright gives them who can step in right away and fill in as his role of defensive stopper and be a valuable all-around player for them. And if need-be, he can slid over to the PF spot in smaller lineups and give them some scoring. So really, he is a solid pick who helps them fill two things at once.
[11].
With the Hawks landing Yi at the 3rd pick they finally address their PG position by getting the 2nd best PG in the draft and a good fit next to Joe Johnson in the backcourt. This also helps them in their shooting woes and provides them another outside threat besides Johnson.
[12].
This pick makes a lot of sense as the Sixers try to add to their core of players. Thornton can really compliment Iguodala real well and give the Sixers the SF they're looking for.
[13].
Even though Thaddeus Young is rumored to be the pick here, Brewer makes more sense and it'd be a sin for the Hornets front office to pass on someone who would fill a hole at the SG spot and give them a legit perimeter defender. With the Hornets likely to lose 3 wingmen to free agency and Peja having some injury problems, it would be quite smart to draft a wingman to provide some depth.
[14].
With the Clippers needing shooters, Mobley not getting any younger and Corey Maggette rumors still swirling, the Clippers would be wise to take a local product who can provide them with some scoring and outside shooting.
[15].
I really want to pick Stuckey here with all that's been said, but with Billups being an unrestricted free agent and even if they do get him back he'll be 31 in September, I think the Pistons really need a PG badly and to pass up a PG the caliber of a Crittenton would be a mistake. Backing up Billups for a few years and learning from him would really help and also in turn, would help Billups, giving him more rest to play for a longer time and be more effective.
[16].
Even though there may be bigger needs, Stuckey is the BPA at this point in the draft and is too good to pass up. With DeShawn Stevenson a free agent, the Wizards may look to address the position and they fill it real well with a combo guard who can help Arenas with the PG duties. And if Arenas decides to opt-out of his contract and even leave, Stuckey may be the guy who can score 20 PPG a game for them.
[17].
This is a pretty risky pick, especially at this point in the draft, but instead of taking Splitter and worrying about a buyout and him coming over, an instant impact sounds better with Kidd not getting any younger. Despite concerns with drug problems, a guy like Jason Kidd could really help him out.
[18].
With 3 wingmen being free agents and Al Harrington not exactly blowing people away, it'd be hard to pass on a 'tweener like Young who could be a great fit in the run-and-gun offense of Golden State.
[19].
The Lakers desperately need some type of low-post presence and McRoberts can provide that, even though he may not be a dominant one, he can get it done and is a good fit in the triangle offense, especially with his passing.
[20].
With a 3 wingmen leaving for free agency the Heat need to fill the void quick and what better to fill it with an experienced, all-around senior who can contribute right away and give them a James Posey type player with more potential at the SF spot.
[21].
With picking up a wing player like Thornton at 12 and Carney the last draft, the wing position is set for a while and what they really need is a PF to compliment Dalembert and Smith would be a solid fit as a PF who can shoot and is pretty athletic.
[22].
With Bobcats having many free agents at the wing positions, it's very important for them to address the issue by drafting a couple of young wing players to fill their voids and the drafting of Almond would really help, if the Bobcats choose not to re-sign Matt Carroll.
[23].
The Knicks deliver like Steph wanted -- they get him a shooter. Cook is a very raw player with tons of potential and if he would of stayed at Ohio State for a few years, he could of been a potential lottery pick.
[24].
This is a pick I feel that is very likely to me moved, but if they decide stay and pick somebody, Fernandez would be a valuable asset with his shooting, ball-handling and versatility.
[25].
With the Jazz really only need being a big who can block shots, Splitter would be a steal here. He was a lottery pick at one time and still has very good talent especially on the defensive end, which they need. And if he doesn't come over immediately, it's not something to worry about since they are very deep.
[26].
With no other real good big man options left, the Rockets go with the best one available.
[27].
With the Pistons addressing their PG problems at 15, they need to address the wing position, especially with the trading off Carlos Delfino off to the Raptors. Afflalo will provide them with a fundamentally sound player who can get it done on both ends of the floor.
[28].
With the Spurs attempting to get younger on the wings, they go for a player who would fit in well with the current roster and provide an eventual replacement for Bruce Bowen.
[29].
With the Suns really needing a big man, they take a flier on a guy who can stay overseas and develop if need be.
[30].
With Andre Miller not getting any younger and the Sixers having no real future at the PG spot, they go with a 2-time national championship player here.
