1. Orlando Magic - Adam Walters

The greatest scorer in the game not named Caramel is making strides every year in Orlando, and I think this lotto luck that the Magic found might be enough to finally give Mr. Tyler what he needs to get to the playoffs. Orlando fans have suffered through a LOT of losing seasons, but it might finally be time for them to get it done. Brooks Melvin is one heck of a young point guard, a very smart player, and their recent trade for Jaxon Blake should make them that more difficult to defend. I think the pieces are mostly in place, they just need to step it up when it comes to coaching decisions and playing consistent basketball. The #1 guy in the US this year was Adam Walters, and I think he's gotta be the pick. The Magic offense with him should be top five in the league, they'll just need to step it up on D.



2. New Orleans Hornets - Felix Bangerter

The Hornets are a nearly empty cupboard entering this offseason, but, luckily for them, they do have some young talent in place. Their trio of Carlos Rivera/Victor Osborne/Harold Kiba is still very young (Osborne is just 24 but has 5! years of KVBL experience) and offers a nice foundation from which to they can build. Most folks would think that a big would be the way to go here, and normally I'd agree, but I don't see how the Hornets can pass on Felix Bangerter. This guy can score and score and score some more, and New Orleans is going to need that to go along with Kiba's defense (and to give Rivera somebody great to pass to!). I do think Clifford Grice is going to be a very good player, but if you grab a guy like that then this team's going to be hurting for points. I've always personally felt that Osborne is a better four than he is a wing, so grabbing Bangerter would leave them only needing a starting center. They've got cap space, isn't that what free agency is for?



3. Brooklyn Nets - Chad Severt

There's going to be people calling me crazy for this, but hear me out. The Nets most recent run at the KJ Trophy was spearheaded by a great point guard/center combo (arguably the two best in KVBL history). I don't see the next great big man in this draft class. That was last year, Lord Jr. I do, however, see a guy in Chad Severt that could very well be a championship level PG for somebody. Now, the Nets might not be that team, but they've gotta go for it, no? I can see the appeal of a guy like Clifford Grice or even Sean Carter (who some think is better than Bangerter), but I've gotta stand by my evaluation of Severt. It's very possible I'm looking through rose colored glasses here in Germany, but I can't much do anything about it.



4. Phoenix Suns - Clifford Grice

The Suns had a masterfully bad season last year in which they won half as many games as the next closest team. What did they get for it? A three spot drop in the lottery. It can be a cruel mistress sometimes, that's for sure. In any case, the Suns enter the offseason with some young talent and an abundance of cap room. Given their roster for next season likely consisting of just two second year players at this point, they're really just going to need to grab the best player still standing here. I'm tempted to go with another international talent, but I don't think Paolo Forlini is Suns management's cup of tea. That leaves the aforementioned Clifford Grice. Grice plays very good team defense and has potential to be a lockdown man defender as well, all while rebounding well and getting loads of steals with his quick hands. I think this one's a guarantee if the first three go my way.



5. Memphis Grizzlies - Sean Carter

The (not so) new ownership in Memphis has had some missteps early, but it seems like they're finally willing to rebuild and see how far a Duke Lazear team can go. Lazear is a great player who can do a bit of everything, but he struggled last season (especially with efficiency) due to having to carry such a heavy load. Moving forward, the team is going to need a point guard and an improved big rotation. The fifth pick this year isn't going to get them a player that fills either of those holes. Instead, they'll have a very good all around player in Sean Carter fall into their laps. I do think there's a chance (albeit slight) that Carter ends up being the best player from this draft class, something that could make a Lazear/Carter pairing on the wings absolutely terrifying (and even better if Li Mingwei can develop like I know he can and be a superb sixth man). Carter's not a perfect fit, but sometimes you've just got to play the hand you're dealt.



6. Detroit Pistons - Floyd Banks

I keep wondering how it is that Detroit isn't able to win more games, but maybe things will finally take a turn for the better after this offseason. Stranger things have happened, right? Detroit has a lot of talent that doesn't really seem to fit together as well as you'd want, so their main priority at this point should be evaluating who to build around and who they can keep that will complement those players. Nick Walker and Roderick Phillips seem to be a nice fit together, but the mix of veterans they acquired last season make things really hard to predict. I think they've just gotta take the best player they can get here, and that's going to be Floyd Banks. Banks and Karim Franco could be a great post combo if the team opts to move Linas Mulroney to another team. Defense behind Nick Walker certainly wouldn't be a problem any more, that's for sure.



7. Cleveland Cavaliers - Paolo Forlini

Cleveland is another team with a recent ownership change, and the new regime looks to have quite a bit of work to do before this team can return to relevancy. Barry Wagner is a magnificent player to watch, but a part of me thinks that he's not the cornerstone type and would do better in a situation where he had less pressure to do it all. Given that I'm not running the team, perhaps I should stick to just talking about who they should take with the seventh pick. A draft like this one is much less star studded than some in the KVBL's history, but there is potential for it. I think the Cavs have to roll the dice and go with Paolo Forlini. I have my own reservations about the kid, but given the other options here I think that he's worth nabbing. Forlini should benefit from playing next to offensive talents like Matt Kilmartin and Wagner, I think it could work.



8. London Raptors - Antonio Diggs

London fans have suffered through a lot of mediocrity in recent years, including a six year run of first round playoff exits. I know that Raptors brass hates to lose and that the desire to make the playoffs at all costs has governed some of their decision making, but at some point you've gotta take a step back and realize that young talent is the way to go. You might not win so much right away, but the eventual payoff will be worth it. That's the hope, anyway. With talent of any sort being welcome to this team, the Raptors should draft the best player and ignore anything like need. Antonio Diggs is consistently thought to be the greatest talent among those players still remaining, so he's gotta be the guy. I think his smart play will fit in nicely and could have a positive effect on Cade Rookwell. That duo might do wonders in the future.



9. Cleveland Cavaliers - Darryl Mizell

Pick number two for Cleveland is another BPA type selection, because there's really no reason to do anything else. Despite the presence of Kilmartin and Forlini (so I think), the way they should go is probably Darryl Mizell. Mizell doesn't wow you, but the ninth pick isn't always going to do that. Take the best player and don't worry about it.



10. Boston Celtics - Jason Simmons

Boston took a step back this season, something that prompted them to dramatically reshape their team by shipping off Xerxes Khoroushi and Xie Dong. Now, a bigger group of players will look to do what Xerxes and Dong couldn't: return the Celtics to championship glory. I don't think the piece that will lead them back to that point is going to be here at number ten, but they can definitely nab a player that will stick around and contribute as they continue to make trades and put together a winning roster. There's a few possibilities here, but I think the Celtics go with Jason Simmons to help with their complete lack of a point guard. Simmons will be a steady presence for Boston, unlikely to ever play spectacularly, but never playing terribly either. This team's current power duo is Jude Parker and Dmitriy Mikhailov, so anybody who can help them play better is a good call. Simmons fits the bill.



11. Philadelphia 76ers - Douglas Ridenhour

The 76ers have had a few losing seasons in a row after moving on from the Detlef Landros era, but they have been getting better. The tricky thing for this team is that they just really don't seem to have a go to guy, and that's potentially going to keep them in this mucky area for a while. Still, there is hope. DJ Alexander showed flashes in his rookie year, and him getting better could do wonders for this team. Here, though, the Sixers should just try to get a useful player that can give them good minutes. I think Douglas Ridenhour is the best bet with that goal in mind. He'll be able to play solid minutes and could grow into a key rotation big and possible starter down the line with some improvements to his game.



12. Phoenix Suns - Joseph McDaniels

As with the fourth pick, Phoenix is just going to be taking the best available player at this spot. Michael Shakur might beat out Joseph McDaniels due to his potential, but I'm going to stick with the safer option. I think McDaniels could do really well for this team as either a starter or a reserve.



13. Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Shakur

This sure does seem like a recurring theme, but taking the best player is just about always the way to go. Philly isn't lacking when it comes to guards, but Shakur is a nice talent and could be a steal if he can overcome some of his flaws. I don't think there's a better option here for them.



14. Washington Bullets - Scott Diamond

Scott Diamond is very much an imperfect player, something that actually makes him match up reasonably well with the Bullets if you think about it. This draft has a lot of flawed players hanging around, and Diamond is no exception. Why draft him here then? Well, defense. The Bullets had issues on that end of the floor despite the presence of James Russell, and Diamond is at least going to do his part to fix that. The talent drop off this year after the lottery is pretty bad, but sometimes that'll happen. Maybe they go with a big instead, it's hard to say.



15. Québec Sharks - Nasir Muhammad

The Sharks made the playoffs for the second time in their eight seasons this past year, something they will be looking to build on moving forward. Victor Lord Jr. ensures they will be in the conversation no matter what, but they're going to continue to need to improve their depth and make some improvements before they can challenge the contenders in the Eastern Conference. I think Cristian Ramirez is going to be key for them, as he's got a lot of potential to improve and might need to once Trevor Gordon starts to decline in a few years. Right now, the Sharks should look to address their wing depth behind those two. Defense is not Muhammad's strong suit, but it's apparent to most of us that the Sharks need some more offensive punch to succeed. Nasir will bring that.



16. Boston Celtics - Antwan Benjamin

Boston's second selection is a bit trickier to forecast than the first. The talent level is so even from here on out that it's hard to say which way to go. I'll call it a hunch that they're going to take Antwan Benjamin. The nineteen year old definitely has potential and should have time to grow in Boston as the team looks to reestablish itself as a force in the East.



17. Québec Sharks - Wayne Lee

The Sharks get another shot at grabbing a rotation player in the middle of the first round, something that will slowly begin to disappear as Lord Jr. matures. The Sharks aren't hurting for big men, but that doesn't mean they should avoid them completely. Wayne Lee looks like a nice prospect, gotta scoop him up.



18. Brooklyn Nets - Talib Kasim

The Nets have a lot of picks this year, along with lots of roster space. Good match. I think they'll dig into the international well again and grab Talib Kasim out of Algeria. Kasim isn't going to be a star, but I think he's a better option for the Nets to roll with versus the US talents still hanging around.



19. Utah Jazz - Kurt Thompson

Utah continues to surprise me with its unique lineup configurations, and by all accounts they'll be yet again rolling with Montgomery/Perry/Smith/Rogic/Yanukovych next year. I'm glad to see Volodymyr playing well, I knew he had that in him. Anyhow, this pick is unlikely to get any minutes right away and should be stashed like Willy Grant and others have been. Kurt Thompson has a lot of holes in his game, but boy can he shoot the three ball. Is there anything else you need to know about him to see that he'll end up in Utah?



20. London Raptors - Tim Matlin

Tim Matlin plays strong defense inside and blocks his fair share of shots. That might be enough for the Raptors to consider grabbing him here. The Polish center isn't going to wow anybody with athleticism anytime soon, but you can't teach big. Maybe he'll end up surprising the way Yanukovych has, you never know.



21. Houston Rockets - Hunter Hawkins

Houston made the gutsy call to trade off a lot of its assets for Xerxes Khoroushi this past season, and now have to set about putting the right pieces around him to contend in a deep Western Conference. Thirty million in cap space is going to help in that regard, but a nice pick here could also do wonders for depth on a team that's going to need it. Hunter Hawkins gets the call here. His offensive rebounding will do wonders for the Rockets, I think.



22. Oklahoma City Thunder - Clive Jones

The Thunder are awaiting Dwight Howard's decision on whether or not to retire, but while they wait they're going to need to keep making smart decisions with the roster they have in tow. There isn't much of a chance for a steal at this point in the draft, so OKC should just try to get somebody that can contribute. Clive Jones will do that and also gives them some emergency big depth in the event that they need it (especially important now that Yetende Yoruba is gone).



23. Cleveland Cavaliers - Earl Lynn

Cleveland's first pick in a while is going to be of the BPA variety, but not another wing. Earl Lynn is a nice get here as a guy who can provide some needed passing to a lineup that should be full of scorers. Lynn's got a lot of issues, but passing the ball isn't one of them.



24. Brooklyn Nets - Malik White

Brooklyn grabs Malik White here as BPA, hoping that he can develop into a worthwhile player. Mostly just a stash scenario here.



25. Brooklyn Nets - Niels Lampen

The penultimate first round pick for Brooklyn will be Niels Lampen. Lampen will give the Nets a great young backup for Severt and will allow them to focus on other needs in free agency.



26. Las Vegas Timberwolves - Anthony Scruggs

The Timberwolves are living the life these days, finally capitalizing on some of their potential and also finding themselves in a new home in Las Vegas (I'm jealous!). They really aren't lacking for talent, so this is just going to be a case of taking somebody they hope can contribute down the line or be used as a trade asset. I think Anthony Scruggs'll work (and give them Scragg/Scruggs on the bench too).



27. Brooklyn Nets - Corey Coles

The final first round pick for Brooklyn is unlikely to matter much, but I guess they can hope for Corey Coles to progress and have some potential. They don't really need him, but they can't get guys they need at this spot.



28. Chicago Bulls - Stanley McCane

The Bulls have lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals three years in a row, something that must be eating away at a competitor like Phil Scates (particularly with Caramel Love being out for this most recent one). This pick isn't likely to alter their success much, but they might be able to get a deep bench piece out of it. Stanley McCane's defense seems like it'd appeal to them, we'll see if I'm right on draft day.



29. Atlanta Hawks - Delvon Michaels

The two-time defending champs are riding high at the moment, but could be dealt a mortal blow if Caramel Love opts to seek greener pastures in free agency. If he comes back, a threepeat is definitely doable, but if not then this team is going to be the worst its been in ages. This pick doesn't have much of an impact either way. I think they go with Delvon Michaels, they could use his three point shooting.

Originally Posted by Javale McGee If we played dirty then they must have played unsanitary.

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

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)

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Originally Posted by RollWithEm So the first draft I am working on for 2028 should have write-ups about this size for each guy? Do I have a min or a max on what I put together?

Los Angeles Clippers HQ

Originally Posted by RollWithEm So the first draft I am working on for 2028 should have write-ups about this size for each guy? Do I have a min or a max on what I put together?

Originally Posted by Dissonance I can feel the buzz surrounding this draft. [/sarcasm] Apologies for having you to change your original plans after last yrs, KJ

Originally Posted by Drizzy Full 1st round KJ analysis of each team makes me regret trading my pick!

Originally Posted by Javale McGee If we played dirty then they must have played unsanitary.