1. Los Angeles Clippers - Xie Dong

The Clippers were such a fun team to watch the past few seasons leading up to this one, and then? Woof. That being said, it was clear they weren't out their playing their best ball, and I think it won't take much for them to be back among the favorites in the Western Conference (particularly with how weak it's been lately). I love so many players in this draft that it's difficult to pick the one who should go first overall, but I suppose I've got to do it. The possibilities include Ben Cashman, Robert Goodhue, Xie Dong, and Xerxes Khoroushi. I don't think anyone else has the talent to justify going number one. After some deliberation, I'm going with Xie Dong. My recent trip to China further emphasized what I already knew - the kid is the real deal. He can score inside and out, and his passing ensures that he'll hurt opposing teams even when his shot is off. Any of the other three would be reasonable here, but Xie's my gut feeling on this one.



2. Cleveland Cavaliers - Robert Goodhue

The Cleveland Cavaliers were tanktastic this past season, something that might ultimately pay off with a return to the top of the Eastern Conference (and, perhaps, the KVBL itself). The talent on the team now is good enough for fifty wins in my eyes, and the addition of a blue chip prospect at number two ought to be enough to push them near the edge of contention. I really think Xerxes Khoroushi out of Iran is going to be a dominant post player in the league, but his size limitations won't let him play center, and that's why I'm thinking it will be Robert Goodhue. Both players are immensely talented, but the Cavs would have a harder time filling their center position with a bonafide starter in free agency than they would their four spot. Goodhue is the type of big man that wins championships, he should be the Cavs pick.



3. Washington Bullets - Ben Cashman

This is why I love the KVBL Draft Lottery, you never know what's going to happen. After just missing out on the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Bullets were given a gift from above in the form of the number three pick. Ordinarily, found money is great to gamble with, but I'm actually going to predict the Bullets think better of that. For years, the Bullets have wanted a true point guard to run the show. Defense and the engine to make an offense go. Now's their chance to get that man, Ben Cashman. He'd be a perfect fit. The future lobs to DeMarcus Cousins and Javier Garcia alone should make Bullets fans salivate, but this guy's more than just a great passer.



4. Québec Sharks - Xerxes Khoroushi

The Sharks are a work in progress, and it's important that they remember that. In rare, rare instances, it's possible for teams to make huge jumps from the lottery to true relevance. More often than not, there's a slow climb and gathering of talent before a shrewd move or two finally vaults a team into contention. The Sharks would be wise to go with the best player available, which, in my opinion, would be Xerxes Khoroushi. Barry Wagner is very, very talented, but I see something special in this Iranian sensation. Gotta be Xerxes.



5. New York Knicks - Carlo Barzini

The Knicks looked a lot better this year than they have in the past, but they're still waiting on some of their kids to develop. Adding another one is probably not super ideal, but you've gotta play the hand you're dealt. Top five draft talent isn't ever a bad thing to add to a team, so there's that. Barry Wagner would be a very solid selection here, but I just don't think they can rationalize grabbing another scoring big when they've already got Roger Martin in tow. A gamble could set the Knicks back, but it might be the thing that finally pushes the team into legitimacy. Carlo Barzini has lotto talent, and he might just add enough in the next two years to be a true game changer. The waiting aspect is a tough pill to swallow, but I think some smart decisions by the Knicks' front office could position them to make a huge leap when Barzini comes over.



6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Eduardo Corrochio

The Timberwolves have Alex Moncova and Ernie Nielsen entering their primes, plus young talents I like in Russ and Bryan Tyler. They really aren't that far away from mattering once more, especially when you consider the magic they showed when they won the championship as an eight seed (albeit with a different roster)....and the West's current state. Many other talent evaluators would point to Barry Wagner as a lock here if still available, with Daniel Ortega being the next logical choice. I've got a penchant for those international talents, though, so I'm thinking that Eduardo Corrochio would be terrific for Minnesota. His three point shooting would be a nice complement to the post play of Moncova and Tyler, and his smart passes would help to ensure that the potent Wolves offense almost always gets its best shot.



7. San Antonio Spurs - Kevin Stewart

I like what the Spurs have done the past couple of years in the draft, specifically securing the post pairing of Kong Randolph and Jeremy James. I think they're set there for years and years to come. When you add in Allan Osyrus, I think the frontcourt is set. Guards, then, are what the Spurs need to focus on with this selection. Given that, I'm thinking there's three possibilities: Guntars Kliesmets, Kevin Stewart, Stefan Dautzenberg. All three are potential combo guards who could play the one or two, though Stewart is more of a true point than the others. Given the relative safety of a Stewart pick, I think that's gotta be the way to go.



8. Brooklyn Nets - Barry Wagner

Brooklyn has ruled New York for what seems like forever in the KVBL, but that dominance hasn't meant much on the bigger KVBL stage. After years of not quite being able to get over the hump, the team looked poised to do some damage last year with an impressive lineup that featured Russell Westbrook and Tony Spence. Failure to advance past the Atlanta Hawks hurt, but losing Westbrook and Spence in free agency hurt more. The team opted for a new direction when they traded away cornerstone and perennial DPOY candidate Mancin Tulker for the championship bringer Alistair Maynard. He's dominant enough to lead this team to glory in the next few years, but the Nets need to make sure they put the right pieces around him while he's still in his prime. Team need, in my opinion, would lead to Guntars Kliesmets, Michael McDonald and Stefan Dautzenberg being the players considered here. IF things play out as above, though, it's gotta be Barry Wagner. He'd be an absolute steal with the eighth pick. Even if only as trade bait, his slide would have to end here.



9. St. Louis Warriors - Daniel Ortega

The Warriors landed the prize of 2020's draft in Dre Byers, but the first season in the Byers era didn't quite live up to expectations due to some PG issues and a lack of three point shooting and defensive playmaking. The bench will need to be improved in free agency, but the first step will be making the right pick at number nine. Ideally, Kevin Stewart would fall this far, as I think he'd do what Daniel Sunderhaus was meant to do (add a lot of defense and some turnovers). I just can't see him falling past the Spurs, though, so the Warriors might just have to go BPA. Daniel Ortega's got an excellent motor, and he'd be a great backup for Jaxon Blake.



10. Memphis Grizzlies - Kamal Nyaba

The Grizzlies have a lot of money tied up in Leon Porter and Orlando Norris, so they're going to need to draft smart if they want to move up the ladder in the West. Cameron Clothier has been every bit as good as expected, but the team lacks reliable bigs (or any, really). So, unless they're just forgoing big men, they should draft some size. I think Kamal Nyaba would be a dynamite selection here. Defensively, the pairing with Clothier would be fantastic. If they feel like going a safer route, it could be Eddie Green.



11. Seattle SuperSonics - Alex Ackerman

Seattle's profits have gotten a boost during the Freddy Childs era, but team success is still a work in progress. Last year, the Sonics got swept in the first round by the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets. This year, they're back in the lotto. It's tough, but that's the KVBL for you. This core is still fairly young, but I don't think they can afford to wait more than another year or two before they mix it up. If they could find a way to trade some depth for a better piece, that'd help quite a bit. I don't know if that deal is out there, though. All this musing about the franchise's future aside, the first step on the path to tomorrow is making the eleventh pick. Their scouts have a lot of work to do to narrow the field down. Me, I'll go with Alex Ackerman.



12. Phoenix Suns - Guntars Kliesmets

Ah, the Suns. They're one of my favorite teams to watch, largely because Cheikh Senghor remains one of the favorite players I've ever scouted. He's still just a kid, so there's no telling what his ceiling will be. As for this pick, I honestly couldn't come close to guessing what the Suns are going to want to do. They're hard to analyze. BPA is the way to go, or gambling on a foreign kid. The stars align for Guntar Kliesmets here. It's time for the Latvian to get a team.



13. Cleveland Cavaliers - Eddie Green

The Cavs have already grabbed Robert Goodhue, which would give them a 2022 lineup of McAllister/Bernard/Smoove/?/Goodhue. Conveniently for them and me, Eddie Green should still be around at 13. He's no star, but that lineup doesn't need one. Eddie Green would be able to focus on rebounding and trying to funnel attackers towards Goodhue. I think it's pretty good value at thirteen.



14. New Orleans Hornets - Michael McDonald

The Hornets really impressed me this season with their defense, but their margin for error isn't too great due to their iffy offense. Warren Graves came in and provided some much needed three point shooting, something that may have been overlooked by some in the Hornets' playoff run after a slow start. Corrochio would be terrific as a more long term piece if he were still around here, but the three point shooting is basically dried up without him. Offense should still be the focus, and so they could go with either Leonel Barros or Michael McDonald. Barros is great, but I think the Hornets are happy with Alfredo Watkins as their third big.



15. San Antonio Spurs - Stefan Dautzenberg

This is a great place to fish for European talent. The Spurs would have been good with Dautzenberg at 7 in my book due to need, so nabbing him at 15 would be a nice bonus.



16. Utah Jazz - Tommy Walden

An offensive juggernaut that plays no defense. The Anti-Hornets, perhaps. My sources in the Jazz front office tell me that the team is pretty satisfied with its current lineup, so this pick should be BPA. In a vacuum, that would be Griffin Langston or Ray Irons. With plenty of guards and wings set in the rotation, though, the Jazz will probably look to grab a big. Defense is needed, you say? Here, have Tommy Walden.



17. Vancouver Lions - Milt Mickelbaum

The Lions had a great first season, feasting on teams at home en route to a first round matchup with the Thunder, a team that's been a power in the West for years. This series should be a good test for the team, especially rookie Chip Fookes who I've been real impressed by as the season's gone on. The Penninton/Jacobs combo proved its viability when an offense is in place, and Omar Andrews also did really well in his sophomore season. This team is on the rise now, so they want to keep that going. I think a smart pick would be Milt Mickelbaum. Derrick Rose won't be around forever, and as the team transitions to Fookes being the primary scorer, they'll need someone to get him the ball. Mickelbaum can either be that guy, or the guy who keeps the team from losing a step when Marcus Snow hits the bench.



18. San Antonio Spurs - Griffin Langston

The Spurs again? If they've already grabbed Stewart and Dautzenberg, the team should be looking to grab a wing or a big. Griffin Langston would be good value here, as he's definitely got top ten talent, but he'd have time to learn behind Allan Osyrus before being thrust onto the big stage.



19. Denver Nuggets - Ray Irons

The Nuggets have been very good the past few seasons, even winning the Western Conference in 2019. Their core group, though, is beginning to get older and more expensive, and depth is going to be harder to keep as the years go on. This pick will need to be a cheaper alternative to one of their current bench players, but I'm not sure which one. I'll take a stab at it and say they go with Ray Irons. The value here is too good to pass up.



20. St. Louis Warriors - Andray Patrick

The second Warriors pick will be just as the first, BPA (if they don't trade it). As it stands, that's Andray Patrick. They could fish for some Euro talent, but I don't think they'll gamble here.



21. Detroit Pistons - Rama Rao Pannu

The Pistons are always a tough nut to crack, so I'm going to just use a dartboard for this one.



22. Brooklyn Nets - Leonel Barros

Nets ownership has taken risks on Euro talent before, but they tend to get impatient and jettison those guys before they reach usefulness. I think they'll hang onto this one as an eventual replacement for Lamar Holt. Leonel Barros won't come over for a year, but he's not needed yet.



23. Cleveland Cavaliers - Arturo Sanz

The Cavs could roll the dice with this late pick. If they do, Arturo Sanz will be the guy.



24. Oklahoma City Thunder - Tony Pastner

The Thunder have averaged 54 wins since they were last the Dallas Mavericks, and they've done so by making smart personnel decisions and banking on player development. Tony Pastner's inefficiency might scare off a lot of teams, but the Thunder will see his strengths and realize that he's a great value at this spot.



25. Houston Rockets - Jermaine Jackson

The Rockets franchise returned to the Finals last season and, falling short, pushed their chips to the center by pairing Dwight Howard with LeBron James. KVBL Champions both, the duo seemed to finally hit their stride late this season. Depth is an issue for Houston. They'd love to grab a point guard here, but I don't know if they'll like the selection. Still, it's a decent bet. Jermaine Jackson seems the most like the Rockets' type.



26. Milwaukee Bucks - Shane Kersey

Free agency was kind to Milwaukee, as the team landed Tony Spence and Jonathan Jones, players that helped lead them back to the playoffs and nearly the #2 seed over the Hawks. The roster isn't too deep after the starting unit, so this pick should get some burn next season. Shane Kersey might be the best available.



27. Utah Jazz - Donny Bell

Defense is, again, the biggest need for the Jazz. Donny Bell gives them another big to compete for minutes, and could develop into a rotation player a few years down the line.



28. Orlando Magic - Adriano Matteoli

Orlando shook things up at the deadline by acquiring Bart Higgins and Serge Ibaka, players that improved the team a bit but not enough. Late firsts are good for fishing. I said Adriano Matteoli is definitely a first, and I stand by it. I think he goes here.



29. Philadelphia 76ers - Blake Diplarakos

The final pick of the first round goes to Philly, a team that picked up steam this year after acquiring Nicolas English from the Utah Jazz. Point guard is a need, but there's nothing to be found here. I'll throw one more international player into the first - Blake Diplarakos. The Greek wing should develop into a nice backup for Eddy Sweet.

2016 FRSL Champions: Indiana Pacers (Drizzy)
Lineup - PG Rajon Rondo | SG Jared Dudley | SF Nicolas Batum | PF J.J. Hickson | C Dwight Howard | 6th man SG/SF Wesley Matthews
Finals MVP: Dwight Howard

#55 Shaun Jacobs (Lions)

Jalen Rose - "Positions were created so the novice could follow the game. You ARE your skillset."



2024 KVBL Champions: Atlanta Hawks
2026 KVBL Champions: Atlanta Hawks
2027 KVBL Champions: Atlanta Hawks

Originally Posted by Kidd **** me for sounding like Smath right now but damn I do need some LUCK!

Originally Posted by Kidd Prediction: Nets will finish with a better record than the Blazers this season

2029 KVBL Champions: Miami Heat (Smath)
Lineup - PG Sergio Jose Salvadores | SG Chris Love | SF Malcolm Xavier | PF Skyler McClean | C Dwight Howard | 6th man SG Edd Timmons
Finals MVP: Malcolm Xavier

2025 KVBL Champions: Miami Heat (Smath)
Lineup - PG Chris Love | SG Gerrod Clifton | SF Malcolm Xavier | PF Skyler McClean | C Jeremy James | 6th man SG Edd Timmons
Finals MVP: Skyler McClean

2016-2017 FRSL Champions
PG: Jrue Holiday /// SG: Monta Ellis /// SF: Josh Smith /// PF: Tim Duncan /// C: Andrew Bynum /// 6th player: Devin Ebanks /// Playoffs MVP: Andew Bynum