Ranking the NBA Draft

Had The Best Draft Of All-Time

1. Portland Trailblazers
Drafted Greg Oden (1), Josh McRoberts (37), Taurean Green (52). Traded for the draft rights of Rudy Fernandez (24) and Petteri Koponen (30). Traded Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones and the draft rights to Demetris Nichols to the New York Knicks for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.

When I say this was the best draft for any single team of all-time, I’m not kidding. Portland not only got the cornerstone to their franchise in Oden, but dealt Randolph, a shoot-first forward who wouldn’t have fit in with Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge, for one of the best point guards in the game. Of course, injuries have limited Francis’ production in the past few years, so trading a 24 and 10 forward to get him is a little risky. Though a lot of his poor play in New York was attributed to a bum knee, I think most of it had to do with the lack of chemistry between Knick guards and Francis’ lack of desire to remain in New York. For all we know, Steve Francis’ knee could be almost 100% by now.
The additions of Frye and McRoberts give them tremendous length and depth in the frontcourt. Frye will flourish as a back-up and McRoberts, a great value at #37, brings some finesse and passing skills to the dangerous Blazer frontline.
Fernandez is regarded as a Manu Ginobili-type scorer and should come over right away to contribute off the bench. Koponen is an 18-year old point guard prospect from Finland who has ideal height and skills, but is still very rough around the edges and will not be in an NBA uniform for a few years. Nonetheless, he’s a good project to stash away.
Taurean Green was a tremendous value at #52. He will have to compete for playing time in a very crowded backcourt, but Green is the heady leader and clutch performer that would fit beautifully with Portland’s stars. The only real mistake I would say Portland made is including Nichols, the 53rd pick, in the deal. He is a long-armed three-point specialist who has the ability to be a starter in the NBA. Nichols would have gotten a lot of open looks from behind the arc playing with double-team magnets Oden and Aldridge.

Had Very Good Drafts

2. Seattle Sonics
Drafted Kevin Durant (2) and Carl Landry (31). Traded Ray Allen and the draft rights to Glen Davis (35) to Boston for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the draft rights to Jeff Green (5).

Pairing Durant with Green gives the Sonics a Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen tandem for the next decade. Ok, maybe that comparison is to a lesser degree right now, but it wouldn’t surprise me if both players end up as perennial All-Stars. West is the piece of the deal that will go unnoticed. He is coming off a season in which he averaged a stellar 12.2. points, 4.4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals for the miserable Boston Celtics. Now he is in a better situation and should only improve upon those numbers as he takes the reigns from the inconsistent Luke Ridnour. Immediately following the draft, the Sonics made it clear that they planned to re-sign Rashard Lewis, but truthfully, it would be difficult to play Lewis, Durant, and Green all at the same time. If Seattle signs Lewis and is able to trade him for a big man of his caliber, they would jump at the chance to do so, especially considering Szczerbiak will be a more than capable reserve when healthy.
The Sonics drafted Landry a bit earlier than most mocks had projected, but he was more than deserving of the 31st overall pick. Landry is a bruiser who didn’t get a lot of attention at Purdue, but quietly dominated the Big 10 and scored 24 points in the Boilermakers matchup with Greg Oden and Ohio State.

3. Golden State Warriors
Drafted Marco Belinelli (18) and Stephane Lasme (46). Traded Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson (36) to Charlotte for the draft rights to Brandan Wright (8).

When the draft started, it appeared unlikely that Golden State would leave with a quality big man, the one glaring hole on their roster from a year ago. Five hours later, the Warriors had acquired NBADraft.Net’s #3 and #10 ranked prospects. Brandan Wright has as much potential as anyone outside of Oden and Durant. His length and athleticism will fit in perfectly in Golden State’s fast-paced attack. For the next few years, he’ll play the role that Andris Biendrins currently does. Once Wright develops a consistent jumpshot and some more strength, he could be a 20 and 10 guy in Nellie’s system. The selection of Belinelli gives the Warriors a deadly three-point shooter to replace Richardson. Assuming the team re-signs Matt Barnes and Mikael Pietrus, Golden State will still be stocked at the swingman positions and won’t miss Richardson all that much. Lasme, a shot-blocking big man from UMass, will contribute in ways similar to Adonal Foyle. The only exception is that Lasme won’t be getting paid $10 million a year to play eight minutes, block two shots, and then serve as a cheerleader for the rest of the game.

Made the Most of Their Drafts

4. Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted Thaddeus Young (12), Daequan Cook (20), Petteri Kopponen (30), and Kyrylo Fesenko (40). Traded the rights to Daequan Cook to Miami for the rights to Jason Smith. Traded draft rights of Petteri Kopponen to Portland for the draft rights to Derrick Byars (42).

The Sixers came out of the draft with three key pieces to their future. Thaddeus Young has the potential to be a 20 point scorer alongside playmaking small forward Andre Iguodala. Swapping Cook for Smith was a wise move. Philly picked up a polished big man to complement the defense and rebounding (and sub-par offense) of Sam Dalembert. The real wildcard of this draft is Byars. He came on strong during his senior season at Vanderbilt and has just about as complete a game a rookie can have. Byars might end up starting for Philly at shooting guard next season. Fesenko, the 38th pick, is going to remain in the Ukraine for at least two more seasons. He is a 7-footer who can step out and shoot, but he is hardly ready for the NBA at this point.

5. Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted Al Thornton (14) and Jared Jordan (46)

Thornton was perhaps the steal of the draft with the last pick in the lottery. He is a big-time athlete and scorer who will immediately step in and average 12-15 points per game for the Clips. Though the team was projected to take a point guard in the first round, Acie Law was already gone and Javaris Crittenton would have provided little immediate help to a Clipper team that is in it’s prime and cannot afford to wait for a lottery pick to develop. Drafting Thornton and leaning on Sam Cassell and Daniel Ewing (if Shaun Livingston’s knee isn’t ready for next year) was the best option for LA. Jordan, the two-time NCAA assist leader at Marist, is a boom or bust pick. He could end up being the next Steve Nash, or he could fizzle out of the league in a few years. Since late second rounders rarely ever make an impact, they all come at a relatively low-risk but few present the high reward that Jordan does.


6. Atlanta Hawks
Drafted Al Horford (3) and Acie Law IV (11)

No, the Hawks didn’t trade for Kobe Bryant or Amare Stoudemire, but they took care of business with the two picks they had. Atlanta grabbed the draft’s third best player in Horford and then added the most NBA-ready point guard in Law. The big knock on Law is that he doesn’t pass the ball as well as Conley and Javaris Crittenton, but much of that criticism stems from the fact that Law had to score in order for Texas A+M to win. Law will have much more talent around him in Atlanta than he did in A+M and will be able to showcase his playmaking skills as he runs the floor with Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Horford.

7. New Orleans Hornets
Drafted Julian Wright (13) and Adam Haluska (43)

Wright’s stock dropped in the week leading up to the draft, but the Hornets, who were rumored to be targeting Nick Young, were wise in snatching up the versatile former Jayhawk. Wright’s outside shooting needs work, but he brings New Orleans a great deal of unselfishness, length, and athleticism right away. Depending on the future of free agents Desmond Mason and Devin Brown and the health of Peja Stojakovic, Wright could find himself playing a big role for a fringe playoff team next season. Haluska is an interesting second-round prospect. He is an above-average athlete who can knock down three-pointers. The Iowa product was well worth a second-round flier.

8. Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted Mike Conley Jr. (4)

There were rumors that Memphis would draft Brandan Wright and attempt to make Kyle Lowry their starting point guard. Thankfully, that did not happen. In order to win, a team needs a good point guard and a center. Those are by far the two most vital positions in basketball. Though it is painfully obvious and was said about 50 times by Mark Jackson on draft night, that cannot be emphasized enough. Memphis now has a potentially dominant point guard in Conley to go along with a roster of talented big men and wing players.

9. Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted Yi Jianlian (6) and Ramon Sessions (56)

Milwaukee may not be the ideal market for Jianlian, but at the end of the day he is still making millions to play basketball for a fairly competitive team. Odds are he’ll be in a Bucks uniform next season. Jianlian will be a key cog in a potentially scary frontline that also boasts Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva. If playing a major role for an exciting playoff team isn’t enough for Jianlian, he should seriously consider my idea for a reality TV show that would chronicle his adventures in the city of Milwaukee: Yi! True Hollywood Story.
Drafting Sessions 56th overall was a remarkable steal for the Bucks. He had late-first round talent, and if for whatever reason Milwaukee is unable to re-sign Mo Williams, Sessions will be able to give them some playmaking and defense from the point guard position. Though he could end up as a second-round gem like Williams, the Bucks should still try to re-sign their second leader scorer.

10. Orlando Magic
Drafted Reyshawn Terry (44). Traded the rights to Brad Newley (54) to Houston for cash considerations.

Prior to the draft, if you told the Magic that they would be able to select a starting-caliber small forward with the 44th pick, they would have been excited enough to forget about Billy Donovan for a minute. Low and behold, that is exactly what happened. Terry slipped a little bit and fell into Orlando’s lap in the middle of the second round. The four-year UNC player is certainly ready for the NBA from a physical perspective. He also possesses a diverse offensive game and has exhibited the ability to be a lockdown defender. There are questions about his desire and character, but at the end of the day, this is about as good a player as you are going to find in the second round.

11. Utah Jazz
Drafted Morris Almond (25) and Herbert Hill (55).

The Jazz won’t draw a lot of headlines for their draft, but they addressed two needs very effectively with low picks. Almond, the Conference USA Player of the Year out of Rice, can shoot from the outside, create his own shot, and defend at an NBA level. He and second-year pro Ronnie Brewer will give the Jazz some fresh legs behind the effective, but not overwhelmingly athletic combination of Derek Fisher, Gordan Giricek, and Matt Harpring.
Hill, the late bloomer out of Providence, is 6’11’’ and athletic. He will provide the team with the length and shot-blocking that undersized forwards Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap do not.

12. Sacramento Kings
Drafted Spencer Hawes (10)

The Kings were expected to select either Al Thornton or Julian Wright, but looking back on it, Hawes was probably the best option there. He is probably the most skilled 7-footer to come out in a few years. As draft analysts have mentioned hundreds of times, unless you are Michael Jordan, you cannot win without a center. I hate to burst the bubble of Kings fans, but Kevin Martin isn’t quite at MJ’s level yet. Hawes might take a few years to fill out his body and become more agile, but once he does, Sacramento will have a very nice player. The Kings did a good job of following the #1 rule of the NBA Draft…if you have to choose between good small forward prospect and a good center prospect, always choose the center.

13. New York Knicks
Drafted Wilson Chandler (23). Traded Steve Francis and Channing Frye to Portland for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, and the draft rights to Demetris Nichols.

The Knicks had another very busy draft. Unloading Francis’ contract was key. It didn’t hurt that they got Randolph, the burly forward who averaged 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, in return. Randolph and Eddy Curry will create some mismatches because of their size and power, but will also be exploited because of their lack of quickness and athleticism. Back-up PF David Lee isn’t much of a shot-blocker either, so expect the Knicks to add one that will come at a relatively cheap price. (Note to Isiah: Emphasis on the Cheap!).
Drafting Chandler at #23 was definatley a bit of a stretch, but last season Renaldo Balkman, the unknown #19 pick, turned out to be a solid acquisition. Chandler is a much different prospect than Balkman, however. He is 6’7’’ 230 pounds, very athletic, and capable of knocking down perimeter shots. If Isiah can max out his potential, that pick will pay big dividends.
Nicholas was a steal with the 53rd pick (acquired via the Portland trade). He is a lights-out three point shooter, and in today’s game, you can never have enough shooters. If he’s given the opportunity, Nichols will thrive on the perimeter because of the double-teams Curry and Randolph will draw.

14. San Antonio Spurs
Drafted Tiago Splitter (28) and Marcus Williams (33). Traded the draft rights to Giorgous Printezis (58) to Toronto for the Raptors 2008 second round pick.

The Spurs continued to add pieces around their championship team, filling in two major holes in the form of draft picks. Splitter is a high-energy player who will come in and give San Antonio the production that Fabricio Oberto gave them last year. Oberto is a free agent this offseason and his size and potential might entice some teams to give him a hefty contract. Marcus Williams isn’t the classic Spurs pick because he is undisciplined and often reckless on the court, but he has all the skills to become a starter in San Antonio. Williams is an exceptional ballhandler for his size and could play some point forward while Tony Parker is getting a rest. Trading Printezis for a future second rounder was also a wise move because they will essentially be trading the 58th pick in this years draft for a pick in the 40s of the 2008 draft.

15. Washington Wizards
Drafted Nick Young (16) and Dominic McGuire (41).

The Wizards had two big needs- shooting guard and center. It is hard to add a quality center when you have a mid-first round pick, so Washington opted to draft the super-athletic Young to take over for inconsistent starter DeShawn Stevenson. If Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler both come back healthy and Young reaches his full potential, the Wiz might not need a center to make a deep run in the playoffs. They’ll have four legit 20 point scorers on the floor at once, and it will basically be a “pick your poison” scenario for opposing teams. McGuire is a fantastic athlete with long arms who has the potential to wreck havoc on the defensive end.

16. New Jersey Nets
Drafted Sean Williams (17).

Williams is a bit of a risk, but he comes with a huge upside. Williams is one of the most athletic centers to ever enter the NBA, and his offensive game is starting to catch up with his dominating defensive abilities. The Nets are set at point guard an on the wings (assuming they re-sign Vince Carter), so drafting a big man was essentially their only option. Not many people thought Williams would come off the board before Jason Smith, but Williams’ has far more upside and was well worth the risk for New Jersey.


17. Houston
Drafted Aaron Brooks (26).

Brooks is a lightning rod of a scorer who will give Houston some energy and point production off the bench. I wouldn’t expect him to overtake Rafer Alston as the team’s starting point guard, but Brooks will at least take some offensive pressure off of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

Could Have Done Better

18. Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted Corey Brewer (6) and Chris Richard (41).

The Wolves netted a terrific defender and all-around player in Brewer and also added some bulk to the frontcourt in the form of Richard. Brewer will start from Day 1 and ultimately upgrade the team, but Minnesota will probably still miss the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. It’s time for Minnesota to enter a full-fledged rebuilding process and unload Garnett for some more young talent to surround Brewer and Randy Foye. The draft would have been an ideal time to do so, but the Wolves were unable to strike a deal for KG.


19. Miami Heat
Drafted Jason Smith (21) and Stanko Barac (39). Traded the draft rights of Smith to Philadelphia for the rights to Daequan Cook (20). Traded the draft rights of Barac to Indiana for the Pacers 2009 second-round pick.

Miami did a nice job by adding Cook in the late first-round. He will give them some scoring in the backcourt to complement Dwayne Wade and inject some youth to the oldest team in the NBA. Miami did not address their need for some young frontcourt players. Instead of drafting and trading a project like Barac, the Heat would have been wise to draft someone like Dominic McGuire, Reyshawn Terry, or even Marc Gasol.


20. Dallas Mavericks
Drafted Nick Fazekas (34), Renaldas Seibutis (50), Milovan Rakovic (60).

The Mavs only had one pick in which they had the opportunity to draft an impact player. Fazekas is the classic Dallas big man. He can shoot from outside, is a hard-nosed rebounder on the interior, but lacks the athleticism to dominate the way he did in college. Fazekas will serve as a poor-man’s Dirk coming off the bench. Seibutis and Rakovic are both developmental players who need more seasoning before being brought over.

21. Chicago Bulls
Drafted Joakim Noah (9), Aaron Gray (49), JamesOn Curry (51).

Noah is a hustle player who will a provide Chicago with even more defense and hustle. I like Noah as a player and think he will be a solid pro, but the Bulls did not need him in the first round. He is very similar to Tyrus Thomas and Ben Wallace in the sense that outside of getting put-backs off offensive rebounds, there are not many ways Noah can score in the NBA. The Bulls made an attempt to shore up the offense in the frontcourt by drafting Aaron Gray in the second round, but he probably doesn’t have the foot speed or athleticism to defend in the fast-paced NBA game. If anything, Curry will serve as a spot up shooter.

22. Boston Celtics
Drafted Jeff Green (5) and Gabe Pruitt (32). Traded Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the rights to Green to Seattle for Ray Allen and the draft rights to Glen Davis.

The Celtics are probably going to be a playoff team next season. Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, and Allen are enough to make them somewhat competitive, so this appears to be quick-fix trade. Many people disagree with the move, but Allen and Pierce each have at least three good years left in them, and maybe Boston can put a run together and reach the finals sometime in the near future. The Celts really lost out on their two early second round picks. Pruitt is a major project who is too small to play forward but doesn’t handle the ball well enough to be a consistent guard. Davis is a wide-body inside, something they already have in Jefferson. Boston would have been better off going with an athletic forward instead of the slow-footed Davis.

23. Detroit Pistons
Drafted Rodney Stuckey (15), Arron Afflalo (27), Sammy Mejia (57).

Detroit got their point guard of the future in Stuckey, which was a major plus. After they drafted the Eastern Washington guard, the Pistons should have addressed the frontcourt with their next two picks. After all, Chris Webber, Antonio McDyess, and Dale Davis are all on the verge of retirement and Rasheed Wallace is no spring chicken either. Detroit could have picked up a big man such as Carl Landry, Josh McRoberts, or even Marc Gasol with the 27th overall selection.

24. Los Angeles Lakers
Drafted Javaris Crittenton (19), Sun Yue (40), Marc Gasol (48).

Crittenton was a nice value at #19. He has tremendous upside and could end up being the best PG in this draft. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Crittenton plays the same position as last year’s first-round pick, Jordan Farmar, and neither Farmar nor Crittenton will be ready to run the team by next season. To make matters worse, the Lakers reached for two HUGE projects in the second round when they could have drafted ready-made players like Reyshawn Terry or Derrick Byars. I’m sure Kobe is not happy about this draft.

25. Phoenix Suns
Drafted Alando Tucker (29). Traded the rights to Rudy Fernandez (24) to Portland for cash considerations.

Trading Fernandez was a mistake. The Suns continue to just give away draft picks for nothing and they are costing themselves some talented role players. Phoenix held on to their second pick and selected Tucker, an undersized, underwhelming athlete who struggles to make jumpshots. His game doesn’t translate well to the NBA, and it especially doesn’t translate to the Suns system. A back-up point guard such as Aaron Brooks (they would have needed to take him 24th because he went 26th to Houston) or Gabe Pruitt would have been a better fit than Tucker. As would Reyshawn Terry, Josh McRoberts, or even Jermareo Davidson.

26. Charlotte Bobcats
Drafted Brandan Wright (8) and Jared Dudley (22). Traded the rights of Wright to Golden State for Jason Richardson and the rights to Jermareo Davidson (36).

The Bobcats desperately needed some length and athleticism up front, so what do they do? Trade the longest, most athletic prospect in the draft for a shooting guard, a position in which they already have two reliable players in Adam Morrison and Matt Carroll. The acquisition of Richardson may mean the team plans to let leading scorer Gerald Wallace walk when his contract expires this summer. That would be a huge mistake.
Charlotte added to their questionable draft by selecting Jared Dudley 22nd overall. Dudley was a great college player, but his game doesn’t translate very well to the next level. That pick was a serious reach. Davidson could end up being a nice second-rounder, but this draft could have gone a lot better for MJ and the Bobcats.

Cleveland, Denver, and Toronto all did not have any picks in the draft. Indiana traded for one pick, Stanko Barac (40), but that pick honestly isn’t worth analyzing.

Recapping the Madness

The 2007 NBA Draft was one of the most anticipated drafts in years and it did not disappoint. Neither Kobe Bryant nor Kevin Garnett was traded, but the five-hour draft was chock full of unexpected big-name trades, surprise picks, intriguing story lines, and of course, Paul Allen buying as many draft picks as possible. Here are my first impressions on what could very well end up being one of the best drafts in history:

Draft Day Headlines
Portland selects Greg Oden #1 Overall
Portland can finally rejoice. As can Oden, who will finally retire from the boring 9-5 office job that he has held down for the past 25 years.

Portland Trades Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, and Fred Jones to New York for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.
This is another trade that I think benefits both teams. Given that Francis’ knee is healthy, which is a bit of a risk, Portland is getting a tremendous point guard to play alongside Brandon Roy. A lineup of Francis, Roy, Travis Outlaw/Martell Webster, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden (with Jarrett Jack, Frye, and Josh McRoberts coming off the bench) will have a legitimate chance to win a title in the next five years. The Knicks pulled off the unthinkable by ridding themselves of Francis’ contract and at the same time adding a 24 and 10 player in Randolph. The only question mark for New York is that Randolph is similar to Eddy Curry in the sense that he doesn’t move very well and block shots, so adding an athletic back-up forward in the offseason should be a priority. The trade of Francis also opens up playing time for Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, and Mardy Collins in a backcourt that didn’t have any chemistry when Francis was in the lineup.

Seattle selects Kevin Durant, and trades Ray Allen and the draft rights to Glen Davis to Boston for the draft rights to Jeff Green and Delonte West.
This works for both teams. Obviously, Seattle will build around Durant, but also will be getting a superb complimentary player in Green and an underrated point guard in Delonte West. Seattle still is in need of a post presence, and with Durant and Green in town, but has . As for Boston, they put themselves in good position to be very competitive in the East next year. They have a strong core of Allen, Paul Pierce, and Al Jefferson. Those three players alone will make them a threat in the East, but until Rajon Rondo becomes a reliable point guard and/or the team finds a legitimate center, the Celts will probably fall short of reaching the NBA Finals before Pierce and Allen retire.

Milwaukee selects Yi Jianlian #6 overall and releases their new slogan for the 2007-2007 season: Yi! True Hollywood Story.

After watching his interview and highlights on ESPN, Memphis insists that they picked Mike Conley Sr., and David Stern just got confused.
Stern has seen this one before. A team tries to retract their pick after seeing video of their new draftee’s 44-year old father/agent dunking from the foul line. Don’t think you’ll be able to pull that old trick, Memphis. Not on David Stern’s watch.

Big Winners

Portland
In addition to drafting Greg Oden, the Blazers acquired Steve Francis and Channing Frye, traded for two very intriguing European prospects in Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Kopponen, and arguably made the three best second round picks in Josh McRoberts, Taurean Green, and Demetris Nichols. All three of those players have the ability to start in the NBA, which is not something you can say about many second rounders. This is essentially the best draft a team can realistically have.

Seattle
The Sonics were able to pair Kevin Durant with Jeff Green and also picked up a solid guard in Delonte West. If the team plans to re-sign Rashard Lewis, as it has indicated, Seattle could be one of the best teams in the West over the next few seasons. The extent of their success will hinge on the development of at least one (or all three) of their young centers; Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Mohamed Sene.

Golden State
The Warriors came into the draft with the worst frontcourt in the NBA and left with some very promising young big men. They robbed Charlotte in trading Jason Richardson for potential All-Star Brandan Wright, and compensated for the loss of Richardson by drafting Italian sharpshooter Marco Belinelli with the 18th pick. Adding shot-blocker Stephane Lasme with the 46th pick doesn’t hurt Golden State’s cause either.

Philadelphia
The Sixers maxed out in this draft by acquiring Thaddeus Young, Jason Smith, and Derrick Byars. The Sixers have a terrific young core at the wing positions with Andre Iguodala, Rodney Carney, Young, and Byars. While Young has more potential than Byars, both should play a big role on this young 76er squad from Day 1. Smith, selected 19th overall and acquired for the rights to Daequan Cook, has a complete offensive game and will complement Sam Dalembert very well on the interior.

Atlanta
The Hawks didn’t make a lot of noise on draft day, but they took care of business. Atlanta grabbed the draft’s third best player in Al Horford and then added the most NBA-ready point guard in Acie Law. The big knock on Law is that he doesn’t pass the ball as well as Conley and Javaris Crittenton, but a lot of that stems from the fact that Law had to score in order for Texas A+M to win. Law will have much more talent around him in Atlanta than he did in A+M and will be able to showcase his playmaking skills

Didn’t Quite Have a Portland Trailblazer Draft

Detroit
The Pistons cleared up their point guard dilemma by drafting Rodney Stuckey 15th overall, who may start next season if Chauncey Billups leaves as a free agent. With several big men on the board when Detroit picked again at #27, they took hard-nosed shooting guard Arron Afflalo. Afflalo fits into the Detroit philosophy, but adding a big man such as Carl Landry or Josh McRoberts should have been the team’s priority there. Detroit ignored the frontcourt again in the second round as they took Sammy Mejia, another shooting guard. The fact that the Pistons did not even attempt to address the power forward and center positions is, as Stephen A. Smith would put it, simply inexplicable. When Antonio McDyess, Chris Webber, and Dale Davis all check into nursing homes this offseason, I’m sure Detroit will wish they drafted at least one young forward.

Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers unexpectedly took Javaris Crittenton with the 19th pick. The 6’5’’ Georgia Tech playmaker was probably the best prospect on the board at the time, but is not ready to make a big contribution right away and won’t serve as a reason for Kobe Bryant to retract his trade demand. Furthermore, the Lakers drafted a point guard, Jordan Farmar 26th overall last season. The selection of Crittenton signals that LA may have given up on Farmar after just one season. The Lakers’ second round picks, Sun Yue and Marc Gasol, are huge projects that are likely to remain overseas. LA is drafting like a very confused team that has no intention of putting pieces around Bryant.

Draft Day Steals

LA Clippers select Al Thornton 14th overall
The Clippers’ point guard situation is still in flux, but LA got an absolute steal in Thornton. He will come in and average 12-15 points per game and give the team tenacity on the boards and on the defensive end. Thornton should help push the Clippers back into the playoffs next season.

Philadelphia selects Derrick Byars 42nd overall
Byars was considered a mid-first rounder and was slotted to Washington at #16 in many mock drafts. He unexpectedly fell all the way to #42 and despite being Philadelphia’s last pick of the draft, he may have the most impact of all the Sixer rookies. Byars is has a big, strong body, a complete offensive game, and the athleticism to be a starter in the NBA.

Orlando selects Reyshawn Terry 44th overall
Terry would have been a terrific addition to a team picking in the late first or early second round, but slipped a bit and fell into Orlando’s lap at #44. He is a four-year player with great skills and athleticism who could conceivably start as a rookie. Depending on how he performs in training camp, this pick could signal the end of Grant Hill’s run in Orlando.


Questionable Moves

Chicago selects Joakim Noah 9th overall
Noah’s mother was runner-up Miss Universe, so the true mystery of this pick is how Joakim ended up looking like that. In all seriousness, Noah doesn’t exactly fit the Bulls needs, as he, Tyrus Thomas, and Ben Wallace are all energy players on the interior that lack developed offensive skills. Spencer Hawes would have been a much better fit for the team right now. Though Noah is considered a winning player who will come in and play right away, the true impact of this pick won’t be felt for a few years. Assuming they get better offensively, Noah and Thomas will be a good combination in the next 3-4 years, but next season Chicago will face the same problem that essentially eliminated them from the playoffs last year- the lack of an inside presence.



Phoenix trades away the 24th pick for cash and selects Alando Tucker 29th overall
The Suns traded away Luol Deng, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo, and Sergio Rodriguez in the last three years. Phoenix continued their trend by trading away Rudy Fernandez, a player who would have been a good fit in their system, for cash. The Suns are a few players away from getting over the hump, and there were some players available at #24 that could have helped them win next season. The Suns compounded that mistake by using the 29th pick to draft Alando Tucker, a gritty, undersized small forward who doesn’t shoot particularly well from outside. Tucker does not fit into Phoenix’s system, while athletic long-range shooters like Vanderbilt’s Derrick Byars and North Carolina’s Reyshawn Terry, who would both mesh well into the Suns offense, were on the board at the time.

Charlotte trades the rights to Brandan Wright to Golden State for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson
This was the biggest headscratcher of the entire draft. The Bobcats desperately needed some length and athleticism up front, so what do they do? Trade the longest, most athletic player in the draft for a shooting guard, a position in which they already have two reliable players in Adam Morrison and Matt Carroll. The acquisition of Richardson may mean the team plans to let free agent SF Gerald Wallace walk and rotate J-Rich, Morrison, and Carroll at the SG and SF positions. Davidson is a good athlete and can shoot, so he may pay off as a second rounder, but there is still no excuse for giving up Wright. Charlotte added to their questionable draft by selecting Jared Dudley 22nd overall. Dudley has all the makings of a great college player that


Puzzling Draft Day Occurences

Dick Vitale mentions Eva Longoria in every interview during the draft
Vitale somehow tied Longoria into conversations about Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and the Zach Randolph/Steve Francis trade. Now we officially add Longoria to the list of “Things Dick Vitale Loves,” which already includes Duke, four-year players, the entire ACC, talking about cancer, name-dropping, JJ Redick, and Mike Patrick.

New Jersey selects Sean Williams 17th overall
At #17, the Nets needed a big man and though Williams is a bit of a risk, there weren’t any post players available that can be considered a sure thing. Jason Smith was thought to be the pick if he was still on the board because of his offensive ability, but Williams may be a better fit in New Jersey’s system because of his freakish athleticism and ability to run the floor.

Chicago selects Snoop Dogg 9th overall
Wait…my bad, that was Joakim Noah.

Chris Richard is drafted before Taurean Green
Richard, who averaged 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in a reserve role for Florida last year, was taken 41st overall, 11 picks ahead of Green, the floor general who averaged 13.3 points per game for the national champion Gators.

Several Players wear braces during the draft
Joakim Noah and Brandan Wright both wore braces, a very unusual accessory for a 20-year old male to wear. Rumors were flying that both players were just trying to impress Greg Oden, who earlier in the night said he had dreamed of being a dentist when he was a child.

Giorgios Printezins was at the draft
Printezins, the 58th overall pick by San Antonio, was very lucky to have been drafted- or else it would have been a fairly awkward exit and walk back to his car.

Had it not been for the Spurs’ love for foreigners, Printezins would have been an undrafted free agent. Going undrafted isn’t such a bad thing, however, as we’ve seen some players such as Udonis Haslem, Smush Parker, Matt Carroll, and Chuck Hayes make an impact over the last few years without hearing their name called on draft night. Here are five undrafted players from last night that could end up contributing for an NBA team next season.


1. Kyle Visser 6’11’’ 250 Wake Forest
Visser was thought to be a late first to early second round pick. He is a big body with good all-around skills, a combination that NBA GM’s usually jump at. If Visser was from Lithuania, he probably would have been a first-round pick

2. Ali Traore 6’9’’ 239 France
Traore was widely projected as a second-rounder and even as a late first-rounder at one point. He’s an athletic, wide-bodied forward who should have no trouble signing on with a team soon.

3. Caleb Green 6’7’’ 230 Oral Roberts
There is always a place for energy players, and that’s exactly what Green is. He will give a team a lot of effort and versatility at both forward positions.

4. Russell Carter 6’4’’ 220 Notre Dame
Carter is a terrific three-point shooter with NFL-like strength. He is a little rough around the edges, but has enough potential to warrant a free agent contract.

5. Ron Lewis 6’4’’ 195 Ohio State
Lewis was often overlooked on Ohio State last season, but at times was the best player on the floor. He is an excellent scorer and shooter who will find a place in the NBA as instant offense off the bench.

Final Mock Draft

Next Update: Wednesday

1. Portland Greg Oden C Ohio State
The Blazers next big decision will be what to do with Zach Randolph.

2. Seattle Kevin Durant SF Texas
Seattle shouldn’t be discouraged with Durant’s poor combine showing. His length and skill set make him second-best player available only to Oden.

3. Atlanta Al Horford PF Florida
The Hawks should take this stud out of Florida and take the best PG available (Javaris Crittenton, Acie Law, or even Mike Conley is he drops that far) with the #11 pick.

4. Memphis Mike Conley PG Ohio State
It’s not everyday you can get a franchise PG, and Memphis should take advantage of this opportunity. A great PG takes a good team and makes them great, or in this case, takes a horrible team and makes them average.

5. Boston Yi Jianlian PF China
It appears Boston will hold onto this pick, and if that’s the case, Jianlian seems to be the pick. There still is the possibility that a team would want to trade for this pick-possibly Memphis who would be targeting Joakim Noah. The Grizz might be willing to part with Pau Gasol for this pick and either a player or a future draft pick.

6. Milwaukee Brandan Wright PF North Carolina
If nothing else, Wright will bring tremendous length and athleticism and make plays similar to the way Tyrus Thomas did as a rookie. He has great long-term potential, and will get an opportunity to play right away considering how often Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva get hurt.

7. Minnesota Jeff Green SF Georgetown
Minnesota does not seem like they are going to deal Garnett. They balked at a trade with the Celtics and the four-team trade that would have sent KG to the Lakers appears to have fallen through. Green is going to be an impact player from Day 1 and paired with Randy Foye, could turn Minnesota into a very strong team while Garnett still is on the top of his game.


8. Charlotte Joakim Noah PF Florida
Noah, Green, and Corey Brewer all worked out for the Suns earlier this week, which means Phoenix has a deal in the works to move into the top 10. Chicago probably won’t want to trade their pick, and even though Sacramento would, there’s no guarantee Noah, Green, or Brewer will be available at #10. That leaves Charlotte as the Suns’ likely trade partner. Phoenix would likely give up their two first round picks this year (#24 and #29) and the rights to Atlanta’s unprotected first round pick next year to get Noah, a winner who will be a great addition to one of the best teams in the league.

9. Chicago Spencer Hawes C Washington
Hawes is a very good fit in Chicago. He’ll give them a post-up scorer, the one facet of the game that the Bulls lack. Hawes could go as high as #7 to Minnesota but probably won’t slide past the Bulls unless Noah is still on the board.


10. Sacramento Al Thornton F Florida State
Thornton is the perfect fit for the Kings. He is a complete offensive player who will help to revitalize a dying franchise in the Bay. This will be the first pick of a rebuilding project that will last the next few years.

11. Atlanta Javaris Crittenton PG Georgia Tech
With Corey Brewer still on the board, the Hawks may threaten to take him so a team makes an offer to move up and Atlanta can pick up an extra pick or player. That game probably won’t pay off because everyone knows the Hawks have to take a PG here, so they’ll opt for the local playmaker Crittenton over A+M’s Acie Law.

12. Philadelphia Corey Brewer SG Florida
The Sixers do not need Brewer, as they are stocked on the wings, but there aren’t any big men really worth drafting here. Brewer could be interesting trade bait, but if Philly can’t get the right deal, he will fit in beautifully in a four-man SG/SF rotation that would also include Andre Iguodala, Rodney Carney, and Kyle Korver.

13. New Orleans Thaddeus Young SG Georgia Tech
Young has as much potential as anyone in this draft. He stands 6’8’’, is a dynamic athlete, and can shoot from outside. He is an absolute steal for New Orleans here and will help make them a perennial playoff team over the next decade.

14. LA Clippers Acie Law PG Texas A+M
Law is ready to step in and start right away- and after looking at Shaun Livingston’s latest MRI- he’ll have to.

15. Detroit Julian Wright F Kansas
Wright’s stock is dropping fast, but Detroit won’t let him slide any further. Wright’s wingspan makes Tayshaun Prince look stubby, and when the two team together, opponents will have a hellacious time trying to get to the rim. This pick could be enough to keep Chauncey Billups in town.

16. Washington Nick Young SG USC
Young is a scrappy player who will likely replace disappointing SG DeShawn Stevenson.

17. New Jersey Jason Smith PF Colorado State
Word is that the Nets are trying to move this pick to Charlotte for Sean May. Smith would serve as an upgrade over May simply because he gives the Bobcats a dimension they do not have. May is very similar to Emeka Okafor, and the team could use someone with Smith’s length and shooting touch.

18. Golden State Derrick Byers SG Vanderbilt
Golden State needs some interior help, but no big man is worth taking here. Byers gives the team more offense and athleticism and also could enable them to trade the selfish and erratic Stephen Jackson.

19. LA Lakers Rodney Stuckey G Eastern Washington
Stuckey is a tremendous scorer who can play either guard position. He would help take a lot of the scoring load off of Kobe Bryant should Bryant remain a Laker.

20. Miami Rudy Fernandez G Spain
Fernandez would give Miami a versatile combo guard to share the scoring and ballhandling duties with Dwayne Wade.

21. Philadelphia Tiago Splitter PF Brazil
Splitter is a terrific shot-blocker and rebounder, but needs to develop his offensive skills. Philly desperately needs big men and Splitter is the best one available at this point.

22. Charlotte Josh McRoberts PF Duke
Having possibly added Jason Smith, the Bobcats will not shy away from taking another talented to big man to help Okafor on the interior. McRoberts will be the pick unless Rodney Stuckey is on the board, in which case he would be of better value.

23. New York Wilson Chandler SF DePaul
The worst-kept secret in the draft is that Isiah Thomas loves Chandler. He would be better off drafting Daequan Cook and then trading into the early second round (not very hard to do) to get Chandler, but this is Isiah and he usually looks to make things as difficult as possible.

24. Phoenix Daequan Cook SG Ohio State
No matter what team is picking here, Cook is sure to come off the board simply because he is the best player left.

25. Utah Gabe Pruitt PG/SG USC
Utah is said to love Pruitt’s speed and athleticism. He would be a great complement to Deron Williams in the Utah backcourt.

26. Houston Marco Belinelli SG Italy
The Rockets desperately need some scorers to surround Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Belinelli certainly fits the bill.

27. Detroit Taurean Green PG Florida
Green will provide the Pistons with some insurance in case Billups bolts as a free agent.

28. San Antonio Reyshawn Terry SF North Carolina
Terry is a tremendous role player with very few weaknesses. He is regarded as a lockdown defender on the perimeter and will serve as Bruce Bowen’s understudy for the next few years. This pick could be the steal of the draft.

29. Phoenix Petteri Koppenan PG Finland
This 19-year-old PG has come out of nowhere in the past few years. Phoenix may not be making this pick, but if they are, either Koppenan or Ramon Sessions will be the choice. Charlotte might also opt for Koppenan as a long-term plan if Ray Felton ends up leaving as a free agent when his contract is up.

30. Philadelphia Sean Williams C Boston College
Williams is a Sam Dalembert clone…who happens to smoke a lot of weed.

2nd Round

31. Seattle Marcus Williams G/F Arizona
Williams is a big guard who can handle the ball and alleviate the point guard responsibilities of Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson. Aka play instead of them because they suck.

32. Boston Marc Gasol C Spain
The Celts will need a big man regardless of whether they keep the 5th pick or include it in a trade for Kevin Garnett or Shawn Marion.

33. San Antonio Aaron Brooks PG Oregon
Brooks is another outstanding scorer in the backcourt to pair with Parker and Ginobili.

34. Dallas Morris Almond SG Rice
Almond should come in and get minutes right away. Eventually he will take over Jerry Stackhouse’s role.

35. Seattle Ali Traore PF France
The Sonics need all the interior help they can get and Traore is a good value here.

36. Golden State Demetris Nichols G/F Syracuse
Yes, they already took Derrick Byers, but Don Nelson collects long-armed three-point gunners like Jon Gruden collects crappy quarterbacks. Nichols is a perfect fit, and could get play a big role for the Warriors if Matt Barnes and Mikael Pietrus bolt during free agency.

37. Portland Alando Tucker SF Wisconsin
Tucker is ready to contribute right away and will help them turnaround the state of the franchise quickly. Well…Tucker and Greg Oden.

38. Philadelphia Carl Landry PF Purdue
Philly needs to continue to upgrade their frontcourt and Landry is a skilled offensive player who could be a real sleeper.

39. Miami Jared Dudley SF Boston College
The Heat would like to add a point guard here, but there aren’t any worth taking this high. Dudley (and 1st round pick Nick Young) will be tremendous role players alongside DWade and Shaq as Miami prepares to reclaim the Larry O’Brien trophy.

40. LA Lakers Dominic McGuire SF Fresno State
McGuire is a terrific athlete who could see big minutes if the Lakers trade Lamar Odom this offseason.

41. Minnesota Aaron Affalo SG UCLA
Afflalo is a great value here. If the Wolves end the day with this first-team All-American and Jeff Green, KG may want to stay in Minnesota after all.

42. Portland Marko Tomas SG Croatia
Portland is all about the youth movement, but between last year and this year’s draft, they’ll have added eight new players to the roster. Tomas is a talent that they can keep overseas for a little while (like Joel Freeland last year) and bring over when they are needed.

43. New Orleans Quinton Hosley SF Fresno State
Hosley is still a raw prospect but would provide insurance if Devin Brown and/or Desmond Mason left as free agents.

44. Orlando Russell Carter SG Notre Dame
Steal of the draft. Carter is Corey Maggette with a better jumpshot. He would be a great fit alongside Jameer Nelson, Dwight Howard, and (ahem) Vince Carter. Congrats, Billy Donovan…not bad for your first draft. Oh wait…my bad.

45. LA Clippers Kyle Visser C Wake Forest
Visser is considered a fringe first-rounder and the Clips would be ecstatic to see him on the board here. He’ll give them some more depth behind Elton Brand and Chris Kaman.

46. Golden State Stephane Lasme PF UMass
Lasme is a long-armed shot blocker that will give them the same presence that Andris Biendris does without being so awkward.

47. Washington Zoran Erceg PF Serbia
Erceg is a classic European big man…he can shoot the lights out but is a bitch inside. Exactly what the Wizards need.


48. LA Lakers Aaron Gray C Pittsburgh
Gray will hopefully pan out better than LA's last big, white center- Chris Mihm (This is why I'm Hot).

49. Chicago Milovan Rakovic F/C Serbia
Rakovic isn't your typical Serbian big man. He is 6'`0'' 265 lbs and is extremely physical inside. He'll wait a few years but could make an impact once he comes over.

50. Dallas Glen Davis PF LSU
Davis has some nice offensive skills and a big body to complement the finesse of Dirk.

51. Chicago DJ Strawberry SG Maryland
Strawberry is a terrific athlete and defender who may have trouble finding minutes on Chicago’s current squad, but should the Bulls trade away Luol Deng and Ben Gordon for Kevin Garnett, he could get some minutes as a back-up.

52. Portland Mustafa Shakur PG Arizona
Shakur will add some depth to a relatively weak Trailblazer backcourt.

53. Portland Kyrylo Fesenko F/C Ukraine
The Blazers have a lot of picks and can afford to bolster depth down low behind Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge. Fesenko will likely wait a few years (as will last year’s #30 pick Joel Freeland) before joining the roster.

54. Orlando Herbert Hill PF Providence
Hill is a good athlete who blossomed in his late college years. He’s a good value at 54.

55. Utah Stanko Barac C Bosnia
Its only fitting the Jazz would take the best Bosnian available.

56. Milwaukee Bobby Brown PG Cal State-Fullerton
Brown is expected to go higher and would provide some insurance should Mo Williams leave as a free agent.

57. Detroit Coleman Collins PF Virginia Tech
Collins is a bruiser with good athleticism. He could find his way into Detroit's rotation if Chris Webber, Antonio McDyess, and Dale Davis all move into a nursing home as expected.

58. San Antonio Nick Fazekas PF Nevada
Fazekas was a tremendous college player who has the face-up game and feel for the game to contribute off the bench as a Spur.

59. Phoenix Jared Jordan PG Marist
There’s no better player for Jordan, the two-time NCAA assist leader, to learn under than Steve Nash.

60. Dallas Chris Richard PF Florida
This year’s last pick is hardly Mr. Irrelevant. Richard is used to coming off the bench, and will give the Mavs a bruiser inside.

Potential Winners/Losers

Each year after the draft, analysts go over the teams that “won” and the ones that “lost” on draft day. This year, we are one step ahead of them. We will take a look at possible picks and trades that could potentially turn each team’s draft into a success, and also go over moves that would turn June 28th into a complete disaster. Check out how your team could score big or bomb on draft day:

Portland Trailblazers (1, 37, 42, 52, 53)
How they can win: Two words- Greg Oden.
How they can win big: Drafting Oden will inevitably give Portland a chance to have the league’s best draft, but the Blazers also pick 37th, 42nd, 52nd, and 53rd. If they are able to grab an impact player such as North Carolina SF Reyshawn Terry, Wisconsin SF Alando Tucker, or UCLA SG Aaron Afflalo with early in the second round and take some developmental Euro prospects late, it could turn into a true franchise-changing draft for Portland. The team has also expressed interest in trading back into the lottery and drafting Oden’s personal point guard Mike Conley Jr. If Conley is sitting there at #9, there is a good chance Portland could trade Zach Randolph to Chicago for the pick (and a big contract so the money evens out) and come out of the first round with both Oden and Conley.
How they can lose: If the Blazers come out of this draft without either Greg Oden, Tim Duncan, or Kobe Bryant, it would be one of the worst drafts in league history.

Seattle Supersonics (2, 31, 35)
How they can win: If for whatever reason Portland drafts Kevin Durant, the Sonics would be in the same position as the New Orleans Saints during the 2006 NFL Draft when Reggie Bush unexpectedly fell to #2. That is very unlikely to happen because as shaky as Portland’s recent drafts have been; they are not as dumb as the Houston Texans. Even if Seattle has to “settle” for Kevin Durant, the Sonics will be in good position to put together the best draft in the league.
How they can win big: Seattle also has the 31st and 35th picks and will be able to take a point guard such as USC’s Gabe Pruitt, Oregon’s Aaron Brooks, or Nevada’s Ramon Sessions to compete with Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson. The Sonics also could go for Arizona’s Marcus Williams, a swingman who can handle the ball and play point forward at times. The Sonics need frontcourt help and it’s possible that a big man such as Duke’s Josh McRoberts or BC’s Sean Williams will be available when they pick in the early second round.
How they can lose: It’s pretty much set in stone that the Sonics are drafting Durant, so the draft will be measured as a success no matter what. Unless they really reach for players at the top of the second round, June 28th will be a day of celebration in Seattle.

Atlanta Hawks (3, 11)
How they can win: The Hawks need to come out of this draft with a point guard. At first, it appeared they would reach to take Mike Conley at #3, but as the draft quickly approaches, it is becoming more apparent that they will draft Al Horford with the 3rd pick and wait until #11 to take a PG. There are only a few teams in the lottery that would consider taking Conley, so there is a fair chance that he will be available at #11.
How the can win big: The Hawks could push themselves beyond “winner” if they can finagle a trade for Kobe Bryant. Atlanta certainly has the pieces to make the Lakers a more than reasonable offer. Packaging Joe Johnson, #3 pick, and the #11 pick for Bryant and the #19 pick would be beneficial to both teams. The Lakers would be able to get out of the unchanging state of mediocrity that they are in right now. LA would have a solid, young core of Johnson, Lamar Odom, Horford, and either Conley or Crittenton. Atlanta would be instant contenders with a lineup of Acie Law (if he falls to #19), Bryant, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Kwame Brown/Shelden Williams.
How they can lose: It will take a lot for Atlanta to screw up this gift that was dropped upon them at the draft lottery, but they could lose out on a great young forward if they took Conley at #3. If the Hawks end up taking Brandan Wright over Horford, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but the team would certainly turn around faster if they drafted Horford- by far the more NBA-ready of the two.

Memphis Grizzlies (4)
How they can win: Even though they had the worst record in the league, Memphis has some pieces in place. The Grizzlies really lack a PG, and drafting Mike Conley 4th overall is probably the best scenario for the club.
How they can win big: If Memphis decides to draft Brandan Wright or Al Horford over Conley; it would be in the position to trade Pau Gasol for a proven veteran PG such as Jason Kidd. Such a trade would turn around the franchise very quickly.
How they can lose: Memphis wouldn’t make much progress if they come out of the draft without a PG and with Brandan Wright. Wright has a lot of upside, but like the rest of the Grizzly frontcourt (Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift), he is very skinny and unpolished. He is still a few years away from contributing.

Boston Celtics (5, 32)
How they can win: Boston would upgrade their roster if they can add an athletic forward such as Brandan Wright to complement the powerful Al Jefferson. If Wright is gone, drafting a player who can step in right away, such as Jeff Green or Al Thornton, would help. Boston also will be able to grab an impact player such as Marcus Williams with the 32nd overall pick.
How they can win big: Rumors are flying that the Celtics and T’Wolves are having serious trade talks surrounding Kevin Garnett. The most logical scenario would have Boston sending Jefferson, the 5th pick, and Wally Szcerzbiak (for salary cap purposes) to Minnesota for KG. Teaming Garnett with Paul Pierce, an emerging Gerald Green, a steady forward in Ryan Gomes, and an underrated point guard tandem of Delonte West/Rajon Rondo will make Boston a contender in the East.
How they can lose: GM Danny Ainge apparently loves Yi Jianlian and will be very tempted to take him 5th overall. There is no doubting that Jianlian has upside, but the risk may outweigh the reward. The Celtics need players to contribute now and quite frankly, a bad draft may cost Ainge his job.

Milwaukee Bucks (6, 56)
How they can win: The Bucks can go any direction with the 6th overall pick. If they decide they are not going to re-sign free agent PG Mo Williams, Milwaukee would be wise to draft Mike Conley. Charlie Villanueva was injured most of the year and Ruben Patterson is better suited for a role off the bench, so a combo forward like Al Thornton, Brandan Wright, or Julian Wright would make perfect sense. Corey Brewer would also fit in nicely as a SF.
How they can win big: If they can bring in an impact rookie such as Thornton and re-sign Williams, the Bucks will find themselves in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt next year.
How they can lose: If the Bucks pass on Conley and choose to draft a forward, they should be sure they will be able to re-sign Williams or sign a capable lead guard in free agency. Otherwise, Earl Boykins will be the starter when the 07-08 season starts.

Minnesota Timberwolves (7, 41)
How they can win: The T’Wolves have holes everywhere and would upgrade their roster simply by putting a bunch of names in a hat and drawing one. Mike Conley, Brandan Wright, Corey Brewer, Jeff Green, Al Thornton, Yi Jianlian and Julian Wright all would be impactful picks.
How they can win big: Right now, Minnesota is stuck in limbo. They are a very average veteran team with no way of getting better thanks to Kevin Garnett’s huge contract and the lack of other appealing young players to trade. If the T’Wolves hold onto Garnett, they will be stuck in this situation until he retires. If Minnesota deals their lone wolf to Boston for Al Jefferson and the 5th overall pick, a trade rumored to be in the works, they would be in position to put together a talented young roster that may not win games right away but will have a terrific future. Minnesota would hold the 5th and 7th picks, and probably would look to take Brandan Wright or Mike Conley Jr. at #5. At #7, they might be able to grab the one they didn’t pick. If Wright and Conley are both gone, Jeff Green or Al Thornton would each be a nice building block to add. Throw in the 41st pick, where Minnesota may be able to pick up a potential impact player like Dominic McGuire, Ali Traore, or Demetris Nichols, and the T’Wolves can get a huge jumpstart on their rebuilding project.
How they can lose: If the Wolves don’t trade Garnett, it’s not fair to say they “lost” because after all, KG is a Hall of Fame PF. But Minnesota could really end up big losers if they pick a player who is not ready to contribute at #7, such as Yi Jianlian, Julian Wright, or Spencer Hawes.

Charlotte Bobcats (8, 22)
How they can win: Charlotte seems obsessed with drafting “winning” college players in the lottery. So far, their strategy has yielded one good player (Emeka Okafor), one emerging starter (Ray Felton), and two players who will never be as good as they were in college (Adam Morrison and Sean May). If the Bobcats abandon that strategy and draft more for upside by taking someone like Brandan Wright, Al Thornton, or Yi Jianlian, it could benefit them a lot more than drafting Joakim Noah. Corey Brewer is the only “winner” that would make sense because he fills a need for a perimeter defender and has a great deal of potential.
How they can win big: You have to figure any player Charlotte takes at #8 will give them a lift, but the Bobcats could make the draft a real success if they can find a gem at #22. Colorado State F/C Jason Smith would give the team some more offense up front, and if Eastern Washington G Rodney Stuckey were to fall to 22nd, he could be a lightning-rod off the bench.
How they can lose: The Bobcats have a tendency to draft way too conservatively. Taking Noah with the 8th pick and someone like Alando Tucker or Aaron Afflalo 22nd won’t help Charlotte get to the next level.

Chicago Bulls (9, 49, 51)
How they can win: The Bulls are basically playing with house money at this point. The Bulls netted Tyrus Thomas last year as part of the Eddy Curry trade, and this season they get the Knicks’ 9th overall selection. With that pick, Chicago seems to be targeting either Spencer Hawes or Yi Jianlian, both of whom would give them some kind of offense inside, the one facet that the Bulls are truly lacking in.
How they can win big: The Bulls would be big winners if they were able to acquire Kevin Garnett for the right price. Parting with the 9th pick, Luol Deng, and maybe Tyrus Thomas would be reasonable.
How they can lose: Chicago does not necessarily need Garnett. They have a very talented, young roster and would be foolish to part ways with Ben Gordon, Deng, and Thomas all for KG. It’s logical to trade either Gordon or Deng, but the Bulls shouldn’t deal both of them.

Sacramento Kings (10)
How they can win: Sacramento has just one pick, the 10th overall selection, and will make the most of it by drafting a forward or center to replace the struggling and aging frontcourt of Brad Miller, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Corliss Williamson, and Kenny Thomas. Florida State Al Thornton is the name that is being thrown around the most, and if Florida’s Joakim Noah falls, he would also be a valuable addition.
How they can win big: Even though they need help at PF and C, if Jeff Green is available, he will be tough to pass up. In that scenario, the team would be able to deal Artest for a veteran big man. Green is ready to start from Day 1 and would greatly accelerate the rebuilding process, as would a big man such as Zach Randolph that they could attain in exchange for Artest.
How they can lose: The only way Sacramento’s draft would be deemed a failure is if they drafted a shooting guard- the only position that they have a future with. Drafting Thaddeus or Nick Young that high would be a huge stretch, even for the goofy Maloof brothers.

Philadelphia 76ers (12, 21, 30, 38)
How they could win: Due to their excessive amount of picks, the Sixers will be able to add some potential at every single position. The Sixers will likely decide between Florida State’s Al Thornton and Washington’s Spencer Hawes with their first pick (12th). Their second selection (21st) will come down to another big man- possibly Duke’s Josh McRoberts or Brazil’s Tiago Splitter. With the last pick in the first round, Philly will hope a talented guard, such as Oregon’s Aaron Brooks or Nevada’s Ramon Sessions will be on the board. They could go anywhere with their last selection (38th), but likely will continue to attempt to upgrade the frontcourt by drafting BC C Sean Williams, Pittsburgh C Aaron Gray, or Purdue PF Carl Landry.
How they could win big: There probably won’t be any takers if Philly tries to trade up for a stud such as Al Horford. The best case scenario on draft night would be for the Sixers to get great value on all their picks. A draft consisting of Thornton, Rodney Stuckey/Acie Law, McRoberts, and Marcus Williams would be an example of that.
How they could lose: The Sixers will be in a precarious situation in the late first round because the best available players will mostly be small forwards/shooting guards, a positions that Philly is more than set at with Andre Iguodala, Rodney Carney, and Kyle Korver. They could end up reaching for big men with those picks, or even worse, draft a swingman that will never get any playing time.

New Orleans Hornets (13, 43)
How they can win: The Hornets are the 13th pick away from being a perennial playoff team. Lucky for them, they have the 13th pick and will be able to get either Joakim Noah, Al Thornton, Julian Wright, Yi Jianlian, or Thaddeus Young with that pick. Young, a dynamic athlete and improving shooter, fits the team’s needs the best and would be a terrific addition.
How they can win big: The Hornets will benefit no matter who they pick. The real difference next season will be if David West and Peja Stojakovic can stay healthy and Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons can prove they were worth first-round picks in 2006.
How they can lose: If New Orleans drafts a forward such as Julian Wright and then is unable to re-sign Desmond Mason and Devin Brown, there would be a big hole at shooting guard to start the season. That scenario, however, is very unlikely.

LA Clippers (14, 45)
How they can win: Drafting Acie Law or Javaris Crittenton with the 14th pick would fill the big question mark that lingers over the point guard situation in LA.
How they can win big: The Clips should count their blessings if Mike Conley falls to #14 or they are able to trade up to get him without giving up much. Conley would thrive alongside Elton Brand and Corey Maggette.
How they can lose: Los Angeles would be in terrible shape if they came out of the draft without a point guard. Unless Greg Oden falls to #14 or Shaun Livingston’s knee magically heals before June 28th, the Clips should be taking a lead guard with their first pick.

Detroit Pistons (15, 27, 57)
How they can win: If Detroit can come out of the draft with two NBA-ready players, the day will be deemed a success. Considering they pick 15th and 27th, that shouldn’t be a problem. The team apparently loves Rodney Stuckey and will take him if he is there at #15. With the 27th pick, the Pistons would be fortunate to see Josh McRoberts on the board. He would bring an important dynamic to the Pistons frontcourt. That dynamic, of course, is not having any grandchildren.
How they can win big: It appears that Julian Wright could fall into the Pistons’ lap at #15 if Atlanta takes Javaris Crittenton at #11 and New Orleans takes a SG- either Thaddeus Young or Nick Young- at #13. Wright’s length and athleticism would be absolutely terrifying alongside Tayshaun Prince.
How they can lose: If Detroit reaches for McRoberts at #15 and then settles for a guard like Aaron Brooks or Ramon Sessions at #27, the draft would be a major disappointment.

Washington Wizards (16, 47)
How they can win: Drafting Derrick Byers, a versatile shooting guard ready to step in and replace DeShawn Stevenson, would fill a big need for the Wizards. Jason Smith also must be considered because the team lacks a true post scoring threat.
How they can win big: If Thaddeus Young is available when the Wizards pick 16th, it would be very hard to pass up on his talent and athleticism. The combination of Gilbert Arenas, Young, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison would be virtually unguardable.
How they can lose: By trading for Kwame Brown.

New Jersey Nets (17)
How they can win: If New Jersey comes out with a big man that can give them some offense, they will be winners. Jason Smith would be the perfect pick at #17.
How they can win big: If Thaddeus Young, Nick Young, or Derrick Byers is available, the team could grab one of them and then try to move Vince Carter for a post player such as Zach Randolph or Jermaine O’Neal. The Nets would be set on the wing with Richard Jefferson, Antione Wright, and one of the aforementioned draft picks. They would also have a go-to post player, a dimension New Jersey has been missing since Kenyon Martin left.
How they can lose: The Nets wouldn’t be upgrading their roster much if they took a project big man such as Josh McRoberts or Tiago Splitter. Both need work before they can contribute, and given the age of New Jersey’s key players, the window to reach the NBA Finals will not be open much longer.

Golden State Warriors (18, 36, 46)
How they can win: The Warriors need frontcourt help as bad as Greg Oden needs Botox. If Jason Smith were available here, the pick should be a no-brainer. If he’s not, the Warriors would still benefit by drafting a small forward because there is the possibility that Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus could leave this offseason via free agency.
How they can win big: The best scenario would be for Golden State to take Smith in the first round and then hope that Syracuse G/F Demetris Nichols is available when they pick in the early second round. Nichols, a long-armed three-point bomber, was made for Don Nelson’s system. He would be a terrific addition regardless of what they do with Barnes and Pietrus.
How they can lose: Golden State would be in a tough spot if they drafted two swingmen, say Spain’s Rudy Fernandez and Nichols, and then were able to re-sign Barnes and Pietrus cheaper than they expected. Golden State would be overloaded at small forward and still very thin up front. They probably would have to engineer a trade for some type of forward or center before the season started.

Los Angeles Lakers (19, 40, 48)
How they can win: If the Lakers are going to trade Kobe Bryant, the best time to do so would be on draft night. Ok, maybe that’s just the most exciting time to do so, but draft picks may play a key role in the trade. If Atlanta is willing to part with Joe Johnson, the #3 pick, and the #11 pick for Bryant and either Kwame Brown or the #19, the Lakers should do it. They might not make the playoffs next year, but it will give them a good, young nucleus, some cap space, and a high draft pick next year. The current Laker squad will never make it past the second round of the playoffs, so if LA is serious about winning, rebuilding right now would seem like a logical option.
How they can win big: The best scenario would be for LA to upgrade the talent on their team without moving Bryant. After all, Kobe is the best player in the NBA. If LA can draft Rodney Stuckey, a player who would take some of the scoring and ballhandling responsibilities off Kobe’s shoulders, they should do so. Even better, if they can trade Andrew Bynum and the 19th pick for Jermaine O’Neal, Los Angeles would come out as big winners. Unfortunately, they probably do not have enough pieces to acquire O’Neal, and therefore will have to upgrade solely through the draft.
How they can lose: Drafting a low-potential player such as Alando Tucker or an unpolished big man such as Tiago Splitter wouldn’t serve as a reason for Bryant to remain in LA for another year.

Miami Heat (20, 39)
How they can win: The Heat is aging faster than Robin Williams in Jack. Because of that, Miami will be looking for some young, athletic players who had a lot of college experience and could play right away. Acie Law and Jared Dudley are players who would fit into the system.
How they can win big: If Shaq, Pat Riley, and the rest of the Heat actually took the regular season seriously this time around.
How they can lose: Miami has a maximum of two years to win another title before they have to build a new team around Dwayne Wade. Drafting foreign prospects that can’t get out of their contract or unpolished college players would not help the Heat’s cause.

New York Knicks (23)
How they can win: The Knicks supposedly have promised DePaul SF Wilson Chandler that they will draft him if he is available when they pick. Believe me, he will be. Chandler is very athletic and has a good jumpshot, so needless to say, he has the potential. But Ohio State SG Daequan Cook has more potential and he should be the pick here.
How they can win big: Though the Knicks have only one pick, they would have the first successful draft day in years if they chose Cook in the first round, then traded into the early second-round and picked up Chandler.
How they can lose: By finally announcing that Frederic Weis is joining the team.

Phoenix Suns (24, 28, 59)
How they can win: The Suns will be able to choose a player that fits into their system with both of their first-rounder picks. Italy’s Marco Belinelli has come up as a likely selection at #24, and at #28 Phoenix could go for Oregon’s Aaron Brooks, a speedy point guard who will be able to keep the Suns running and gunning while Steve Nash rests. If they decide not to take Brooks, BC C Sean Williams would be a valuable addition as a shot-blocker and rebounder. He would also get a lot of easy buckets because of his athleticism, similar to the way Amare Stoudemire scored before he developed a complete offensive game.
How they can win big: By not trading Shawn Marion. Phoenix has been mentioned in the Kobe Bryant rumors, but the Suns don’t need Bryant to succeed. They were a suspension away from beating the Spurs last year and potentially winning the championship. Phoenix should keep the core of their team together and add complementary pieces through the draft.
How they can lose: Adding players through the draft has been a problem of late for Phoenix. They traded away Luol Deng in 2004, Nate Robinson in 2005, and Rajon Rondo and Sergio Rodriguez in 2006. If the Suns continue to deal away their picks, they won’t be able to add players that can help them win next year.

Utah Jazz (25, 55)
How they can win: Adding some speed and athleticism to the roster should be Utah’s top priority. The team is said to covet USC PG/SG Gabe Pruitt with the 25th pick. He has tremendous quickness and would be a good change of pace from Matt Harpring and Gordan Giricek.
How they can win big: Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur are good offensive players, but neither is an imposing shot-blocker on the interior. UMass PF Stephane Lasme would be a nice addition in the late second round.
How they can lose: Utah has a tendency to draft skilled players who may not be the best athletes. Picking a guy like Nevada’s Nick Fazekas in the first round is the last thing the Jazz should do.

Houston Rockets (26)
How they could win: The Rockets desperately need some offensive help for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Luther Head is a good shooter, but he shouldn’t be serving as the Houston’s third option. Gabe Pruitt, Rice’s Morris Almond, or Arizona’s Marcus Williams all seem like logical picks.
How they could win big: The team’s biggest weakness is at power forward, and if Josh McRoberts falls to them, his skill set would be a good complement to the hard-nosed play of current Rocket power forward Chuck Hayes.
How they could lose: Drafting a power forward that doesn’t bring much offense, such as Sean Williams or Tiago Splitter wouldn’t necessarily be a smart move.


San Antonio Spurs (28, 33, 58)
How they can win: The Spurs are in great position to upgrade their championship roster. If they can nab Reyshawn Terry at #28 and Marc Gasol at #33, San Antonio can improve on their two weakest postions.
How they can win big: Drafting Terry, a very underrated player with both experience and potential, would be the biggest victory the Spurs could pull of on draft night.
How they can lose: With Bruce Bowen aging and Fabricio Oberto a free agent, San Antonio would be in trouble if they didn’t select players who could replace both of them right away.

Dallas Mavericks (34, 50, 60)
How they can win: Dallas can get a valuable player with the 34th pick. The choice most likely will be a shooting guard such as Aaron Afflalo, Morris Almond, or Marcus Williams. Any of those three would find minutes in Avery Johnson’s rotation.
How they can win big: Dallas doesn’t necessarily need to do anything drastic, such as trade the core of their team for Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, or Jason Kidd. If Mark Cuban can avoid a blow-up and can make wise choices with all his second rounders, draft day will be a success in Dallas.
How they can lose: If they have to play the Golden State Warriors for the rights to all their draft picks.

Orlando Magic (44, 54)
How they can win: Drafting swingmen who can score should be a priority for Orlando. Notre Dame’s Russell Carter and Fresno State’s Dominic McGuire would be a nice tandem in the second round.
How they can win big: By drafting Billy Donovan.
How they can lose: By drafting Stanko Barac.

Denver Nuggets (No Picks)
How they can win: For the second consecutive year, Denver does not have a draft pick. They are a likely candidate to be involved in basketball’s most common trade- when a team with no interest in drafting 27th overall trades their selection for a future first round pick. If this happens, expect Denver to move in to the end of the first round and go for a big man such as French PF Ali Traore.
How they can win big: The 2007 draft won’t be a big difference maker for Denver. Instead, their progress next year will hinge on the recovery of Kenyon Martin’s bum knee and the gelling of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
How they can lose: You can’t lose when you don’t have any picks. That is, unless you are Minnesota and you don’t have any picks for a decade because you signed Joe Smith.


Toronto Raptors (No picks)
How they can win: Toronto does not have any picks in this year’s draft, and unless there is a center on the board in the late first or early to mid second round that they covet (such as BC’s Sean Williams, Pitt’s Aaron Gray, or Wake Forest’s Kyle Visser), they probably won’t make a trade. If they do, they will likely give up a future first or second round pick, because that seems to happen an awful lot on draft day.
How they can win big: If Rasho Nesterovic wins the powerball and retires.
How they can lose: By trading away all of their draft picks for next year too.

Cleveland Cavaliers (No Picks)
How they can win: going to be a very boring draft for Cavs fans…as Cleveland has no picks. The Cavs need to upgrade LeBron’s supporting cast, but unless they make a big trade (dealing Larry Hughes for a better fit), we will likely be looking at the same Cavs team next year.
How they can win big: By signing LeBron’s high school teammates Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce, both of whom finished their senior seasons at Akron last spring.
How they can lose: By not improving. If Miami, Detroit, Chicago and New Jersey all make changes to their roster and get better, the Cavs will have a tough time making a repeat finals appearance.


Indiana Pacers (No Picks)
How they can win: Indiana might try to trade into the end of the first round or beginning of the second if a player falls down the board that they like. Don’t be surprised to see them try to acquire a point guard such as Acie Law who would serve as an upgrade over incumbent Jamaal Tinsley.
How they can win big: It’s difficult to win big when you don’t have any picks, so this one could be tricky.
How they can lose: The Pacers already lost last season when they passed on Marcus Williams and traded Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and Ike Diogu.

NBA Mock Draft #3

1. Portland- Greg Oden C Ohio State
The Blazers next big decision will be what to do with Zach Randolph.

2. Seattle- Kevin Durant SF Texas
Seattle shouldn’t be discouraged with Durant’s poor combine showing. His length and skill set make him second-best player available only to Oden.

3. Atlanta- Al Horford PF Florida
The Hawks should take this stud out of Florida and take the best PG available (Javaris Crittenton, Acie Law, or even Mike Conley is he drops that far) with the #11 pick.

4. Memphis- Mike Conley PG Ohio State
It’s not everyday you can get a franchise PG, and Memphis should take advantage of this opportunity. A great PG takes a good team and makes them great, or in this case, takes a horrible team and makes them average.

5. Boston- Jeff Green SF Georgetown
This pick may not be for the Celtics. If they plan on making a trade to acquire Kevin Garnett, Green would be a much more intriguing piece to that deal than say…Yi Jianlian. If Green does end up in a Celts uniform, his versatility and unselfishness will complement scorers like Paul Pierce and Gerald Green very well. .

6. Milwaukee- Brandan Wright PF North Carolina
Given injury bug that has been biting the hell out of Milwaukee’s frontcourt, taking Wright is almost a no-brainer. He has tremendous upside and would be a force alongside Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva.

7. Minnesota- Al Thornton F Florida State
Thornton has impressed in workouts and was a dominant player in college, but didn’t receive a lot of recognition because his team wasn’t a national power. If Minnesota ends up trading KG to Boston for Al Jefferson and the 5th pick, they will have a great young nucleus of Randy Foye, Jeff Green, Thornton, and Jefferson to build around.


8. Charlotte- Corey Brewer G/F Florida
Gerald Wallace may opt out of his cotract, so this pick is insurance in case he does. Brewer is a terrific defender and even if Wallace stays, he would share time with Matt Carroll and Adam Morrison at shooting guard.

9. Chicago- Yi Jianlian F China
The Bulls are said to love Yi and Joakim Noah, and it’s surprising that both would be available here. In the end, the upside of Yi will be too much to pass up.

10. Sacramento- Joakim Noah F/C Florida
The Kings are about to start a massive rebuilding project. Ron Artest and Mike Bibby are on the block, and if Artest is going to be traded, Julian Wright may be the pick. Noah’s energy and enthusiasm is needed to revive this a franchise that has fallen off after a decade of being basketball’s most exciting team.

11. Atlanta- Javaris Crittenton PG Georgia Tech
Crittenton may not be NBA-ready right now, but he has the best potential of any guard in this draft (including Mike Conley).

12. Philadelphia- Spencer Hawes C Washington
Samuel Dalembert is a great defender but doesn’t give the Sixers the offense that Hawes will. The two should be able to co-exist in the Philadelphia frontcourt.

13. New Orleans- Thaddeus Young SG Georgia Tech
Young has as much potential as anyone in this draft. He stands 6’8’’, is a dynamic athlete, and can shoot from outside. He is an absolute steal for New Orleans here and will help make them a perennial playoff team over the next decade.

14. LA Clippers- Acie Law PG Texas A+M
Law is ready to step in and start right away- and after looking at Shaun Livingston’s latest MRI- he’ll have to.

15. Detroit- Julian Wright F Kansas
Wright’s stock is dropping fast, but Detroit won’t let him slide any further. Wright’s wingspan makes Tayshaun Prince look stubby, and when the two team together, opponents will have a hellacious time trying to get to the rim. This pick could be enough to keep Chauncey Billups in town.

16. Washington- Nick Young SG USC
Young is a scrappy player who will likely replace disappointing SG DeShawn Stevenson.

17. New Jersey- Jason Smith PF Colorado State
Smith will give the Nets some semblance of an inside scoring game, something they’ve been lacking ever since Kenyon Martin left.

18. Golden State- Derrick Byers SG Vanderbilt
Golden State needs some interior help, but no big man is worth taking here. Byers gives the team more offense and athleticism and also could enable them to trade the selfish and erratic Stephen Jackson.

19. LA Lakers- Rodney Stuckey G Eastern Washington
Stuckey is a tremendous scorer who can play either guard position. He would help take a lot of the scoring load off of Kobe Bryant should Bryant remain a Laker.

20. Miami- Nick Young SG USC
Young isn’t expected to be available at this point, but if he is, Miami will jump on him. Young is a scrappy player who will instantly energize an aging team.

21. Philadelphia- Tiago Splitter PF Brazil
Splitter is a terrific shot-blocker and rebounder, but needs to develop his offensive skills. He will team with Spencer Hawes and Samuel Dalembert to give Philly a formidable front line.

22. Charlotte- Josh McRoberts PF Duke
As good as Emeka Okafor and Sean May are, McRoberts is longer and brings with him a finesse offensive game to compliment Charlotte’s muscle inside.

23. New York- Daequan Cook SG Ohio State
Cook is very high on the Knicks’ draft board. He is more ready for the NBA than his age and freshman stats might imply.

24. Phoenix- Marco Belinelli SG Italy
Belinelli can light it up from outside and will be a stellar addition to a team run by a bunch of Italians. If not, the Suns could very well trade their two picks to move up into the late lottery.

25. Utah- Gabe Pruitt PG/SG USC
Utah is said to love Pruitt’s speed and athleticism. He would be a great complement to Deron Williams in the Utah backcourt.

26. Houston- Ali Traore PF France
Traore is quickly rising up the draft boards after a strong showing at the pre-draft camp. At 6’9’’ 240, he will bring strength and athleticism to compliment Yao in the frontcourt.

27. Detroit- Taurean Green PG Florida
Green will provide the Pistons with some insurance in case Billups bolts as a free agent.

28. San Antonio- Reyshawn Terry SF North Carolina
Terry is a tremendous role player with very few weaknesses. He is regarded as a lockdown defender on the perimeter and will serve as Bruce Bowen’s understudy for the next few years. This pick could be the steal of the draft.

29. Phoenix- Sean Williams C Boston College
They’ll be tempted to add speedy Oregon PG Aaron Brooks, but will pass on him because his name suggests he may be a very bad passer. Williams gives them some more depth and shot-blocking up front.

30. Philadelphia- Aaron Brooks PG Oregon
After drafting two white players, there is no way Philly can take Rudy Fernandez (arguably the best player available.) Brooks, a cat-quick African-American guard, has to be the pick.

Second Round

31. Seattle Ramon Sessions PG Nevada
Sessions is a good value here and could end up starting as a rookie.

32. Boston Marc Gasol C Spain
The Celts will need a big man regardless of whether they keep the 5th pick or include it in a trade for Kevin Garnett or Shawn Marion.

33. San Antonio Marcus Williams G/F Arizona
Williams is a big guard who can handle the ball and play some point when Tony Parker is making out with Eva on the sidelines.


34. Dallas Morris Almond SG Rice
Almond should come in and get minutes right away. Eventually he will take over Jerry Stackhouse’s role.

35. Seattle Dominic McGuire SF Fresno State
The pick of this super-athletic wing will team with Durant and officially put Rashard Lewis on the sign-and-trade block.

36. Golden State Demetris Nichols G/F Syracuse
Yes, they already took Derrick Byers, but Don Nelson collects long-armed three-point gunners like Jon Gruden collects crappy quarterbacks. Nichols is a perfect fit, and could get play a big role for the Warriors if Matt Barnes and Mikael Pietrus bolt during free agency.

37. Portland Alando Tucker SF Wisconsin
The Blazers are apparently high on DePaul’s Wilson Chandler (I am also), but Tucker is ready to contribute right away and will help them turnaround the state of the franchise quickly. Well…Tucker and Greg Oden.

38. Philadelphia Aaron Afflalo SG UCLA
Afflalo is an easy pick here. Philly has already taken a center (Hawes), a power forward (Splitter), and a point guard (Brooks), so drafting a shooting guard makes perfect sense because they are set at small forward with Andre Iguodala and Rodney Carney.

39. Miami Jared Dudley SF Boston College
The Heat would like to add a point guard here, but there aren’t any worth taking this high. Dudley (and 1st round pick Nick Young) will be tremendous role players alongside DWade and Shaq as Miami prepares to reclaim the Larry O’Brien trophy.

40. LA Lakers Carl Landry PF Purdue
Landry dominated the Big Ten and is a great value here. Should LA decide not to re-sign Luke Walton, Landry will be able to give them some minutes and production inside.

41. Minnesota Zoran Erceg PF Croatia
Erceg is a classic European big man…he can shoot the lights out but is a bitch inside. His sissiness will complement the muscularity of Craig Smith and potential T’Wolve Al Jefferson.


42. Portland Marko Tomas SG Croatia
Portland is all about the youth movement, but between last year and this year’s draft, they’ll have added eight new players to the roster. Tomas is a talent that they can keep overseas for a little while (like Joel Freeland last year) and bring over when they are needed.

43. New Orleans Wilson Chandler SF DePaul
Chandler is a big-time athlete with a good outside shooting stroke. He is a first-round talent but work ethic issues push him down to the middle of the second round.

44. Orlando Russell Carter SG Notre Dame
Steal of the draft. Carter is Corey Maggette with a better jumpshot. He would be a great fit alongside Jameer Nelson, Dwight Howard, and (ahem) Vince Carter. Congrats, Billy Donovan…not bad for your first draft.

45. LA Clippers Kyle Visser C Wake Forest
Visser is considered a fringe first-rounder and the Clips would be ecstatic to see him on the board here. He’ll give them some more depth behind Elton Brand and Chris Kaman.

46. Golden State Stephane Lasme PF UMass
Lasme is a long-armed shot blocker that will give them the same presence that Andris Biendris does without being so awkward.

47. Washington Petteri Koponen PG Finland
Kopenen is a tall, lean PG who can shoot. He’ll give the Wiz some options should Gilbert Arenas’ knee problems linger.

48. LA Lakers Ron Lewis SG Ohio State
Lewis might be a little undersized, but he is a legit scorer. LA will continue to add weapons to help keep Kobe in town.

49. Chicago Aaron Gray C Pittsburgh
Gray is falling fast, but will be a perfect fit in Chicago. He will give the Bulls some semblance of a low post scorer.

50. Dallas Milovan Rakovic F/C Serbia
Rakovic isn’t your typical Serbian big man. He is 6’10’’ 265 and is extremely physical inside. He’ll fit well around all of the Mavs finesse players.

51. Chicago DJ Strawberry SG Maryland
Strawberry is a terrific athlete and defender who may have trouble finding minutes on Chicago’s current squad, but should the Bulls trade away Luol Deng and Ben Gordon for Kevin Garnett, he could get some minutes as a back-up.

52. Portland Mustafa Shakur PG Arizona
Shakur will add some depth to a relatively weak Trailblazer backcourt.

53. Portland Kyrylo Fesenko F/C Ukraine
The Blazers have a lot of picks and can afford to bolster depth down low behind Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge. Fesenko will likely wait a few years (as will last year’s #30 pick Joel Freeland) before joining the roster.

54. Orlando Herbert Hill PF Providence
Hill is a good athlete who blossomed in his late college years. He’s a good value at 54.

55. Utah Stanko Barac C Bosnia
Its only fitting the Jazz would take the best Bosnian available.

56. Milwaukee Bobby Brown PG Cal State-Fullerton
Brown is expected to go higher and would provide some insurance should Mo Williams leave as a free agent.

57. Detroit Glen Davis PF LSU
This pick is purely for one reason…they need some big bodies to defend Shaq in the playoffs if they are going to make it back to the NBA Finals.

58. San Antonio Nick Fazekas PF Nevada
Fazekas was a tremendous college player who has the face-up game and feel for the game to contribute off the bench as a Spur.

59. Phoenix Jared Jordan PG Marist
There’s no better player for Jordan, the two-time NCAA assist leader, to learn under than Steve Nash.

60. Dallas Chris Richard PF Florida
This year’s last pick is hardly Mr. Irrelevant. Richard is used to coming off the bench, and will give the Mavs a bruiser inside.