Latest mock, 10 days before draft. Final one will be coming around a day or 2 before the actual draft.
1. Chicago - Derrick Rose
All signs point to this pick. The fans want it, the whole city wants it...its about thisclose to a consensus now.
2. Miami - Michael Beasley
No matter what happens, Miami will draft Rose or Beasley. Whether they keep Beasley is another matter. Will listen - but most likely keep.
3. Minnesota - OJ Mayo
Could go with size in Brook Lopez here, but would be fools to pass on the highly touted Mayo.
4. Seattle - Jerryd Bayless
Good fit, good pick.
5. Memphis - Kevin Love
This is where it gets interesting. If Mayo slips to #5 - Grizz will talk deal with the Heat. Otherwise, I think they take a guy whose ready to bang in the post now.
6. New York - Danilo Gallinari
Wants to be in NY or NJ - fits a Knick need, but might not go down well with the fans on draft night.
7. LA Clippers - Eric Gordon
Could go a PG here in Augustin or Westbrook, but Gordon is a superior scorer. Need to rebuild their guard stocks.
8. Milwaukee - Joe Alexander
I get the feeling Bucks want Gallinari, but they need a SF badly. Alexander is on a tear in workouts and would fit nicely.
9. Charlotte - Brook Lopez
His fall ends here. Bobcats would be happy with this solid pick. Should start straight away and shift Okafor to PF.
10. Nets - Darrell Arthur
Proven winner, fits in nicely as an athletic frontcourt component.
11. Pacers - DJ Augustin
Need a replacement PG, Augustin is the best remaining available
12. Sacramento - Anthony Randolph
Someone will take a gamble in the lottery. Kings need a frontcourt player and Randolph has a nice mix of skills.
13. Portland - Russell Westbrook
Could get some minutes straight away as a backup at either guard spot.
14. Golden State - Donte Greene
Looks to fit the Nellie ball style, can shoot it from deep.
15. Phoenix - Nicolas Batum
Have had success going international before. Long term replacement for Raja.
16. Philadelphia - DeAndre Jordan
Bigman to backup Dalembert, could be a steal.
17. Toronto - Robin Lopez
Need a banger down low. Will give hustle immediately.
18. Washington - Marreese Speights
Big man down low, a big need for Wiz.
19. Cleveland - Kosta Koufos
Local product who can replace Big Z in a few years.
20. Denver - JaVale McGee
Dont need someone who can play now. Learn from Camby young man.
21. New Jersey - Brandon Rush
Shooter from deep, will help their guard rotation.
22. Orlando - Chris Douglas-Roberts
Skilled swingman will fit nicely in their rotation.
23. Utah - Roy Hibbert
Will fit their team nicely. Should be a good pickup that can help immediately.
24. Seattle - Mario Chalmers
Can play both guard positions - handy player. Could go big on this pick also.
25. Houston - Serge Ibaka
Welcome to the D-League, Serge
26. San Antonio - Nathan Jawai
Big man will also go to the D-League more than likely. Pick could be traded.
27. New Orleans - Ryan Anderson
Can shoot it, would be a nice compliment to their current mix.
28. Memphis - Courtney Lee
Could go higher, but Lee is having a nice workout season so far from all reports.
29. Detroit - Bill Walker
Rumours about knee injuries aside, I think Pistons will take the punt.
30. Boston - Gary Forbes
Swingman to backup Ray and PP. Could go big on this pick also.
Your mock draft would be great from my perspective since most think Westbrook is the player the Blazers' brass wants. Most think that the Blazers would have to trade up from #13 to get him, so that would be great if they didn't have to.
You don't have J.J. Hickson going in the 1st round and I think he would be a steal in the 2nd round. If he had stayed in school another year he might have been a lottery pick...
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Last edited by DonCorleone : 06-17-2008 at 01:38 AM.
Reason: J.J. Hickson a 2nd round steal.
Yeah Rush could be a jumper, especially with Budinger out. There likely will be some shuffling on my final mock - but the middle 15-25 is quite hard to pick.
If he doesnt go to NY or the Clippers and gets passed on by the Pacers, its fairly possible IMO. I know theres a lot of 'ifs' there, but it'd be a good get for the Blazers though, for sure.
Well if Westbrook slips to Portland then I'm sure he'll be the pick...BPA if nothing else at that point. But that means he gets by Sacramento and Indiana who want PGs, not to mention the Clippers who could use him and NY who might like him too. I seriously doubt he's available at 13 unless someone outside the consensus big-12 jumps up, which you are Arthur doing.
I think Rush could be a bigger Raja Bell. If so then not bad at #13, but Portland already has a few SF prospects in Webster, Outlaw, and Jones. PG is the biggest need.
I think Sacramento's need for a big forward is more pressing than PG right now. They have Beno Udrih who they will want to resign, and have Douby as their developing backup. I do see Arthur moving up the boards - Nets would be a good fit because theyre at the stage where they need someone who isnt a project. They need a guy who can come in to their frontcourt and give them good NBA minutes right off the bat. Not saying DA will be a starter from day 1, but he would be an important piece for them. Its possible Rush jumps also to be in the equation in the late lotto/mid first round - but I think Arthur could go anywhere from 5-12, but id be suprised if he slips to 18-20.
Yeah he could fit there too, depending on how the 'Cats see Brooke Lopez (and if he falls that far). There are a lot of possibilities and a lot of information out there - its tough to decipher whats real and whats fake.
Here's how it's shaking out in front of them: We're told that Milwaukee is leaning heavily toward Joe Alexander at No. 8 - we'll see if he upholds his agreement to work out for the Nets on Friday - and Charlotte is smitten with Russell Westbrook. And that second part seems like a lock: Arn Tellem told the Nets in the last few days that Westbrook will not work out for them, so he has a guarantee somewhere in the top 9.
While hes unspectacular. It would be great to see Lopez fall to 10
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Posting way too many trade ideas since 1988
Nets Forum Fantasy Draft
PG: Chris Paul
SG:Kobe Bryant
SF:Lebron James
PF:Dwight Howard
C:Amare Stoudemire
If the Blazers didn't have Rudy and Roy already at the 2/3 then I would love to have Brandon Rush, just a great all-around ball player, but we are already going to have problems giving minutes to Roy, Rudy, Travis Outlaw, and if we keep them Martell and James Jones.
For the Blazers I think it's going to either them trading up for Westbrook/DJ or trading out.