MOCK DRAFT
Version 2
by RYEN RUSSILLO
#1 Portland Trailblazers
Greg Oden –C Ohio State 7-0 257 19 Draft Age
Oden is going to be part of a nice young core with last year’s picks of Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy. The Blazers would like to move Zach Randolph but despite his great production his large contract (4 years and over $60 million)and previous attitude problems could make him difficult to trade.
#2 Seattle Supersonics
Kevin Durant –SF Texas 6-10 ¼ 215 18 Draft Age
Despite being told that the Sonics will try to resign Rashard Lewis, it may become less likely that they will be able to do that with so many other questions about the team’s future in Seattle and new management and ownership.
#3 Atlanta Hawks
Mike Conley Jr. –PG Ohio State 6-0 ¾ 175 19 Draft Age
The buzz has dramatically cooled on Conley to Atlanta with the number three pick, but Brandan Wright really makes no sense with the Hawks current roster. Most teams should never draft based on need over talent, but gap between Conley and the others is not that great and Conley should be gone around pick #6. Last year everyone was shocked that Atlanta GM gave Sheldon Williams a guarantee at #5; it was so ridiculous that people tried to deny it despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This year there has been a little more gamesmanship.
#4 Memphis Grizzlies
Al Horford –PF Florida 6-9 ¾ 244 22 Draft Age
This is a great pick for Memphis now that Pau Gasol wants to stay in town. Of all the people I spoke with in Orlando no one thought he would measure as tall as he did. His wingspan measurements, 7-0 ¾, make him even more attractive as a low post defender.
#5 Boston Celtics
Yi Jianlian –SF China 7-0 230 20/22? Draft Age
You almost feel stupid placing any name with this pick. Every team in Orlando mentions the Celtics as the team most likely to move out of the lottery. Ainge has put out the for sale sign and the bidding will heat up once the workouts get started. Yi is a possibility but you wonder if Ainge would rather take a player that is less of a risk and can contribute next year if they are stuck picking at #5. Al Horford is a possibility as well as Corey Brewer. Ainge has said that Rajon Rondo is better than any point guard in this draft so it sounds like they will pass on Conley Jr. if he was still on the board.
The Celtics and the Washington Wizards have called Seattle about the availability of Robert Swift.
#6 Milwaukee Bucks
Corey Brewer –SF Florida 6-7 ¾ 185 21 Draft Age
Milwaukee would like for Conley to be there at #6, especially if they miss out on Chauncey Billups in free agency. If the Bucks took Brewer it would add a versatile defender that Milwaukee thought it had when they signed Bobby Simmons. This pick is a good spot for a Bucks team that is playoff ready for next year. Brewer was a big disappointment measuring shorter than expected and a wing span that was 6-8 ¾ instead of 7-0.
#7 Minnesota Timberwolves
Brandan Wright –PF North Carolina 6-10 200 20 Draft Age
Wright is 6’-10” now but may end up being 7’-0.” when he is done growing. #7 may be a worst case draft day scenario for Wright but it could be to much upside to pass up for Minnesota whether they trade Kevin Garnett or not. If Garnett is still on the roster Minnesota will take a more NBA ready player. Wright is still very unpolished offensively and doesn’t rebound as well as someone with his reach should.
#8 Charlotte Bobcats
Joakim Noah -PF/C Florida 7-0 223 22 Draft Age
The Bobcats are set at point guard and have one of the deeper front lines in the league so a small forward would seem to make the most sense. Noah could be in play because of his popularity and a franchise could spin that they got last year’s number one pick this year. That would be a mistake because they need a consistent and creative scorer. If the Bobcats sign Rashard Lewis Noah would make even more sense.
#9 Chicago Bulls
Spencer Hawes –C Washington 7-0 ¾ 244 19 Draft Age
Hawes makes the most sense if the Bulls don’t make any serious changes to their roster but his workouts will not be as good as some of the more athletic players he will go up against. The Bulls need size and Hawes is very advanced as an offensive post player but he will have trouble defending and is probably a couple of years away from playing major minutes.
#10 Sacramento Kings
Jeff Green –SF Georgetown 6-9 ½ 228 20 Draft Age
Green’s measurements are an advantage over the other small forwards still available on the board. It will be interesting to see how Green plays in a more wide open offense than the controlled Princeton offense sets that the Hoyas ran.
#11 Atlanta Hawks
Julian Wright –SF Kansas 6-8 ½ 211 20 Draft Age
Wright is all over the place on teams boards and #11 is on the low end for him but based on need this doesn’t make a lot of sense. If the Hawks want to get creative with their lineups they could play Wright some minutes at point guard. If the Hawks go with someone other than Conley Jr. at #3 they could take either Acie Law or Javaris Crittenton.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers
Al Thornton -SF/PG Florida State 6-7 221 23 Draft Age
Philadelphia needs to improve their rebounding; they were one of the worst teams in the NBA last year. Thornton is about as NBA ready as any player in the draft. Another option could be Thaddeus Young or Nick Young or even reach for Jason Smith if they want some size. With three picks in the first round the Sixers have the freedom to get creative.
#13 New Orleans Hornets
Nick Young -SF/SG USC 6-6 ¾ 206 22 Draft Age
Young put on a show with his shooting during workouts and would be a great insurance policy if Peja Stojakovic can’t stay healthy. New Orleans has depth at the front line after taking Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons in last years draft and Tyson Chandler having the best season of his career. They don’t need a point guard with Chris Paul running the show for the next ten years. This is a good spot for New Orleans because as things shake up at the top of the draft there is a great chance one of the SF/SG falls to #13.
#14 Los Angeles Clippers
Acie Law –PG Texas A&M 6-3 ½ 185 22 Draft Age
Los Angeles has to go Point Guard. Sam Cassel will be 38 next year and no one knows what Shaun Livingston will look like when he returns from a disastrous knee injury. There is a chance both Law and Crittenton will be gone because of the lack of depth at the position. What Law lacks in athleticism he makes up for in toughness, he needs the ball a little bit more than most point guards to make a difference but the Clippers can’t get back to the playoffs without some depth at the position.
#15 Detroit Pistons
Thaddeus Young –SF Georgia Tech 6-7 ½ 210 19 Draft Age
Young has played a bunch of positions but he most likely will fit in as back up to Tayshaun Prince and can come along slowly as he is still very raw. There are rumors that Rodney Stuckey has a promise somewhere and Detroit is one of the rumored teams.
#16 Washington Wizards
Jason Smith – PF Colorado State 6-11 ½ 233 21 Draft Age
There are a lot of scouts that have come away very impressed with the way Smith has developed as big man that can really run the floor. He is more of a face up man than a true post/rebounding power forward. Smith could fit in with an up tempo offense that Washington runs. Wizard fans will not be impressed with his defense.
#17 New Jersey Nets
Josh McRoberts –PF Duke 6-10 240 20 Draft Age
McRoberts stock has dropped quite a bit since he was projected as a possible top 5 pick out of High School. The Nets need size and they could go with another wing player if they lose Vince Carter to free agency. McRoberts is not really a go to player but he has great athleticism for his size and is a pretty good passer but there are not great reports on his attitude or his health, his back has been an issue.
#18 Golden State
Javaris Crittenton – PG Georgia Tech 6-4 ¾ 194 19 Draft Age
Crittenton could go much higher but for Golden State this would be too much talent to pass up. Even though Baron Davis is one of the best PG in the NBA you could move Davis to shooting guard for some minutes. Crittenton has an NBA ready body and will defer to his teammates after dribble penetration. He can be a little frustrating with his shot selection, which would actually allow him to fit right in with the Warriors offense. Sean Williams could be an option.
#19 Los Angeles Lakers
Rodney Stuckey - SG Eastern Washington 6-4 ½ 207 21 Draft Age
Stuckey is a nice scoring combo guard who is probably more of a SG than PG right now but that is a nice fit for the triangle offense. This pick could probably end up being moved as part of a bigger trade to meet Kobe Bryant’s demands to upgrade the talent. Stuckey may have a promise higher in that draft so a lot more will be understood about his status once he starts his workout schedule.
#20 Miami Heat
Morris Almond – SF Rice 6-6 215 22 Draft Age
The Heat could use another scorer and Almond is one of the best shooters in the draft. Almond has been on a NBA scouts rosters for a couple years after an outstanding Orlando camp last year and he would be a great compliment to a penetrating Dwayne Wade as a three point or mid range shooter.
#21 Philadelphia 76ers
Gabe Pruitt – PG USC 6-4 170 21 Draft Age
Philadelphia will just try and add depth if they keep all three first round picks and Pruitt is the best PG available. Pruitt has good size and could also play along side Andre Miller. Sean Williams is a possibility if the 76ers pass on size with pick #12.
#22 Charlotte Bobcats
Daequan Cook – SG Ohio State 6-5 ¾ 203 20 Draft Age
Cook did not have a consistent Orland pre-draft camp and his stock was taking a little bit of a hit but he is thought of too much of a prospect to last much longer at this point of the draft. Charlotte will need more perimeter scoring especially if they lose Gerald Wallace to free agency, Adam Morrison struggles in his second year or they miss out on signing Rashard Lewis. Cook was much better during the beginning of his freshman year prior to Greg Oden returning from injury.
#23 New York Knicks
Sean Williams – C/PF Boston College 6-10 230 20 Draft Age
Williams could go higher if he explains his poor off court behavior to teams wondering why he got kicked off his BC team this year and there was a lot of confusion about why he didn’t show up to Orlando to at least take measurements. This would be a classic Isaiah Thomas pick and could really pay off if Williams can continue his dominating defensive play as an elite shot blocker in the NBA.
#24 Phoenix Suns
Tiago Splitter – C Brazil 7-0 245 22 Draft Age
#25 Utah Jazz
Aaron Gray – C Pittsburgh 7-1 ¾ 271 22 Draft Age
#26 Houston Rockets
Marco Belinelli – SG Italy 6-5 192 21 Draft Age
#27 Detroit Pistons
Marko Lekic – C Serbia and Montenegro 6-10 ½ 267 22 Draft Age
#28 San Antonio Spurs
Rudy Fernandez – SG Spain 6-6 172 22 Draft Age
#29 Phoenix Suns
Derrick Byars – SF Vanderbilt 6-7 215 23 Draft Age
#30 Philadelphia 76ers
Glenn Davis – PF LSU 6-9 286 21 Draft Age
