Editors Note: This Mock Draft was updated from the Mock Draft posted yesterday due to the imminent trade between the Portland Trailblazers and the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets will send the 27th pick to the Blazers for cash considerations (usually means $3 million). Also, the Charlotte Bobcats have acquired the 20th pick from Denver for a future protected first round pick.
1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PF |
G, G/F |
Over the Cap w/ RFA |
Gordon (R), Deng (R), Duhon |
The Reason - The workouts are over, the players have been interviewed and there's nothing left to do but pick and second guess yourself until opening night. The Bulls will go with the quiet confidence and leadership of Derrick Rose over the boisterous scoring of Michael Beasley. It will be the right pick and one that will give them the best chance at returning to a championship contending team. With Rose, they have their leader for the next 15 years. He wants to be there more than Beasley. Beasley is nice to sell advertising but not necessarily to get titles.
Updated - 2. Miami Heat - O.J. Mayo, SG, USC |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, C, G |
None. They're awful |
$2 million under w/o RFA |
J. Williams, R. Davis, Mourning |
The Reason - Normally, I don't pay attention to the stories like ESPN.com is spouting with a prospect like Beasley being passed on by the first two teams in the draft. But this rumor seems to be picking up steam. The Heat can't deal with the Wolves to move down because the Wolves don't have much to offer. And the Heat can't move down to 4th to get Mayo because the Wolves are high on him. So to get their man, they're going to have to bite the bullet and just pass on Beasley. Mayo is the better prospect in my opinion and a better fit for what Miami is trying to do.
Updated - 3. Minnesota Timberwolves - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, C, G/F |
PF, SG |
No Cap Room |
Telfair (R), Doleac, Snyder (R) |
The Reason - Kevin McHale just
Oops I Crapped My Pants with Beasley dropping into his lap like this. He's now in the driver seat for the rest of the draft. The Sonics, Grizzlies, and Bucks are all very high on Beasley and would love to move up to get him. The Wolves already have Al Jefferson and I don't know that the two could play side by side, especially on the defensive end. So the Wolves could try to use their positioning here to get a favorable deal in moving down. They could move down to 4th or 5th, acquire a nice player like Chris Wilcox for cap relief next summer and still end up with Kevin Love. If they don't like a trade at end, then they settle for arguably the best player in this draft at the third pick.
4. Seattle Supersonics - Russell Westbrook, G, UCLA |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, C, SG |
F, SF |
$5 million under |
Wilkins (PO), Swift (R), Elson, Gelabale |
The Reason - The Sonics have seen Russell Westbrook work out and if they can't find a favorable deal to move down in the draft and still draft him, they have no problem taking him with the fourth pick in this draft. He has tons of potential and may end up making it a 3-horse race for who the best guard in this draft is 10 years from now. He won't be pressured to win now in Seattle/Oklahoma City and he'll prosper from that lack of pressure early in his career.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - Kevin Love, PF, UCLA |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
SG, PF, C |
SF, PG |
$12 million under |
Kwame Brown, Juan Carlos Navarro |
The Reason - Love is still the pick here right now but that's because a deal of Mike Conley and the #5 pick could go to the Heat for the #2 pick (Michael Beasley) and Daequan Cook. Love fits in perfectly with the Heat and if the deal goes down, it would be a huge coup for Pat Riley. Even if the deal doesn't go through, Kevin Love is the best big man available and he fills a big need for the Grizzlies. He won't be the great low post scorer that they're hoping for, but he'll definitely be an All Star big man to anchor the inside.
6. New York Knicks - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PF, C, PG |
SF, SG |
Way the F Over |
Fred Jones, Dan Dickau, R. Morris |
The Reason - The Knicks would love to move up to grab either OJ Mayo or Russell Westbrook but if they can't get a deal done to accomplish that then they'll definitely settle for someone like Bayless. He's a great point guard talent that may end up being more Gilbert Arenas than anything. He has a great feel for scoring and can create plenty of plays for his teammates. That fits in nicely to Mike D'Antoni's system and will allow them to build the team around Bayless' strengths.
7. Los Angeles Clippers - Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG, SF |
PF, C |
$3 million under w/ RFA |
E. Brand (PO), Maggette (PO), Livingston (R) |
The Reason - Gordon has impressed in workouts and may end up moving up in the draft. But if he's available at #7, the Clippers won't think about taking anybody else. Gordon has the potential to be an All-Star guard and may actually be the best guard in this draft class. He is a great scorer, a good rebounder, and a solid defender. Some GMs are scared by his height (6'4") but he plays above the rim and erases that disadvantage with his athleticism.
8. Milwaukee Bucks - Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PF, PG |
SG, G/F |
No cap room |
Voskuhl, M. Ruffin, R. Ivey, A. Storey, D. Noel |
The Reason - Much to my surprise, Joe Alexander is being regarded as a top-10 pick in this draft. Milwaukee looks like they'll select him with the #8 pick because his athleticism is so amazing. Personally, I think this is a mistake but you can also make the argument of who is good enough to be selected at this point in the draft? This isn't a deep draft so if you can grab a guy that you're sure is a starter in this league then you have to take him, even if it's "too early."
Updated - 9. Charlotte Bobcats - D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, PF, SG |
C, SF |
$13 million under w/ RFA |
Okafor (R), D. Anderson, McInnis, Boykins |
The Reason - The Bobcats' acquisition of the 20th pick from Denver allows them to grab Augustin here and take a big man later on in the draft. Any big man they get here would be a project, so they might as well take the best player remaining, fill a need, and grab a project big man 11 picks from now. This was a great deal by the Bobcats and Michael Jordan deserves a pat on the back for pulling off such a trade. All they gave up was a protected pick, which should be easy to give up by the time it's actually available to Denver.
10. New Jersey Nets - Danillo Gallinari, SF, Italy |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PF, SG |
SF, PG |
No Cap Room |
Swift (PO), Magloire, Nachbar, Diop, Krstic (R) |
The Reason - Gallinari was smart to stay in this draft because his workouts have netted him a top-10 pick. The Nets love this guy and will take him despite the fact that he doesn't really fit in and will probably never be an All Star caliber player. Gallinari is a good role player who can find the open man and knock down perimeter shots, but they already have a better player with Richard Jefferson. Could grabbing the Italian kid mean that Jefferson is on his way out? Possibly to Portland? This pick has to signify future moves.
Updated - 11. Indiana Pacers - Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
SG, PG, C |
SF, PF |
No Cap Room |
Foster (PO), Harrison (R), Rush, Greene |
The Reason - Augustin was a lock here before the Charlotte deal went down. Now with him off the board, the Pacers will most likely try to fill that point guard void with Mario Chalmers. Chalmers doesn't have the potential of a D.J. Augustin, but he's extremely good, experienced, and will not hurt whatever team he ends up with. The Pacers still come out of this pick looking good, but they have to be disappointed now that they can't grab a guy perfect for Jim O'Brien's system.
Updated - 12. Sacramento Kings - DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, PF |
SF, C, SG |
No Cap Room |
Artest (PO), Lue, Wright, A. Johnson, Udrih |
The Reason - The Kings were happy to take whomever was left over from the Augustin-Chalmers duo. Now that both are off the board, the Kings can take a risk with someone like DeAndre Jordan to develop down the road. With his ability to play inside and Spencer Hawes' ability to thrive in the high-low, the Kings look stacked in the front court for the next 10 years. At worst they have two very good big men that will provide tough size to match up with.
13. Portland Trailblazers - Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
SG, SF |
PG, PF, C |
No Cap Room |
James Jones (PO), Von Wafer |
The Reason - If Alexander or Gallinari fall here then it's a no brainer that the Blazers take one of those guys. But Rush isn't a bad fall back option. Rush's knee history is a bit of a concern, but the Blazers are deep and young enough to take the risk. Rush can play both the 2 and the 3 and allows them to use their versatility and play Brandon Roy anywhere they want. Rush will knock down open jumpers and shots off the bounce. His scoring will be a great addition to the best young team in basketball.
14. Golden State Warriors - Brook Lopez, C, Stanford |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, C, SG, PF |
SF |
$8 million with RFA |
Pietrus, Barnes, Biedrins (R), O'Bryant, Ellis, Croshere, Azuibuike, Davis (PO) |
The Reason - Brook Lopez is probably too good to fall any farther in the draft and with the Warriors desperately needing a post presence, they'll gladly take the local guy. He's exactly what they need in low post scoring and he runs well enough to allow them to go big with a lineup of Lopez, Biedrins, Harrington, Jackson, and Baron Davis at times. The Warriors need some half court offense and can't just rely on Baron Davis to create everything. There has to be some inside-out game.
15. Phoenix Suns (via Atlanta) - Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SF, PF/C |
SG |
No Cap Room |
Grant Hill (PO), Piatkowski, Skinner, Giricek |
The Reason - After the Shaq trade, the Suns badly missed Shawn Marion at times throughout the season and playoffs. With the selection of Greene here, they potentially get someone that can do the things that Shawn did. Greene has all of the same skills and is better at creating his own shot. Greene would be a top-10 pick in next year's draft so the Suns have to feel good about getting him here if they don't try to move up for Brandon Rush.
16. Philadelphia 76ers - Kostas Koufos, C, Ohio State |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG |
F, PF, C |
$20 million under w/ RFA |
Iguodala (R), L. Williams, Ollie, Randolph |
The Reason - Koufos has been a workout wonder so far and has really improved his draft stock. He gives them a scoring big man to go along with Samuel Dalembert. The main problem is Koufos' defense and rebounding. He needs to improve in both aspects of the game if he wants to be a full time starter for years to come. But if the pre-draft workouts are any indication, then he's going to be just fine in those fields of the game.
17. Toronto Raptors - Robin Lopez, C, Stanford |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PG |
SF, SG, PF |
No Cap Room |
Calderon, Brezec, Delfino (R) |
The Reason - Here's an alarming fact about Robin Lopez last year besides the fact that he and his brother are obsessed with Disney : he only averaged 5 rebounds per game last season. That's way too low for a man of his size and draft stature. I still believe that he's a very good defender and will be so in the NBA, but if he can't rebound effectively then this is a bad pick here for the Raptors. They need something inside with the loss of Garbajosa.
18. Washington Wizards - Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, PF, C |
SF, SG |
$5 million under w/o PO |
Jamison, Arenas (PO), Mason |
The Reason - Anthony Randolph could go as high as #6 to the Knicks or he could fall here or perhaps even lower. He's an enigma because his skills aren't very sharp but he's all kinds of athletic. He could end up being another Shawn Marion or he could end up being another Stromile Swift. He falls here because his workouts weren't great and he should have probably stayed in college another year.
Updated - 19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG, PF |
SF, C |
No Cap Room |
Devin Brown, Daniel Gibson |
The Reason - If Arthur free falls this much in the draft, then he'll be a no-brainer for Cleveland at #19. Ben Wallace at power forward is NOT the answer and they need someone that can stretch the offense a bit. Arthur has a great face-up and spot-up jump shot that LeBron can trust in drive and kick situations. Arthur will be yet another good young power forward that the Cavs have employed in the past few seasons. Great pick for them here.
Updated - 20. Charlotte Bobcats (via Nuggets) - Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG |
SF, PF, C |
No Cap Room |
E. Najera, J.R. Smith (R), A. Carter, Y. Diawara |
The Reason - Bobcats took this pick so that they could use their 9th pick to grab D.J. Augustin. Larry Brown and Michael Jordan are high on Hibbert and think he can be a valuable distributor in their offense. Hibbert was probably looking at a second round selection before this deal and will now get guaranteed first round money. No matter what you think of Hibbert, this is a great play by the Bobcats in order to get their point guard.
21. New Jersey Nets (via Dallas) - Marreese Speights, C, Florida |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PF, SG |
SF, PG |
No Cap Room |
Swift (PO), Magloire, Nachbar, Diop, Krstic (R) |
The Reason - Speights is a big time project but he's good and athletic enough to take a chance anywhere from the late lottery to the rest of the draft. He fills a big need in New Jersey here and allows them to have a very good and young front court with Josh Boone and Sean Williams. His selection could mark the end of the Nenad Krstic experiment.
22. Orlando Magic - Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, PF, SG, PG |
SF |
$1 million under |
Carlos Arroyo, Garrity, Dooling, Evans |
The Reason - Courtney Lee has been my sleeper of the draft and I think he's one of the top-10 players in this draft. He falls here because he's a couple inches too short for the typical NBA shooting guard and he went to a small program. Fortunately for him, he's a pure scorer and has an NBA body so he'll be able to take the Magic's starting shooting guard spot immediately.
23. Utah Jazz - JaVale McGee, C, Nevada |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, SG, PG |
SF, PF |
No Cap Room |
C.J. Miles |
The Reason - McGee is an intriguing big man project that could either be the All Star version of Jamaal Magloire or the New Jersey Nets version of Jamaal Magloire. With Boozer and Okur's contracts coming up soon, he's a nice talent to try to cultivate in Utah.
24. Seattle Supersonics (via Phoenix) - Serge Ibaka, PF, Congo |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, C, SG |
F, SF |
$5 million under |
Wilkins (PO), Swift (R), Elson, Gelabale |
The Reason - Ibaka is not a short term solution to any need. He's very raw and is about 4 or 5 years away from contributing in this league. However, when those 4 or 5 years are up, he coudl very easily be the next David West. He's a great low-post scorer and the Sonics could desperately need his athleticism in the front court next decade.
Updated - 25. Houston Rockets - Alexis Ajinca, PF, France |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PF, C, SF |
SG, PG |
No Cap Room |
Chuck Hayes, Mutombo, G. Green |
The Reason - With Ajinca available, the Rockets will gladly take him and hope to put him alongside Yao Ming within the next 3 seasons. Ajinca's ability to knock down jumpshots and play with his back to the basket makes him a great sidekick to Yao Ming. They now have the option to go high-low with both players, which Rick Adelman employs better than any other coach in this league.
26. San Antonio Spurs - Ante Tomic, C, Croatia |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG, SF |
C, PF |
No Cap Room |
K. Thomas, Horry, Finley, Stoudamire |
The Reason - Tomic is a classic Spurs first round pick. Take a Euro big man in the end of the first round, keep him in Europe for a few years and bring him over when he's ready to contribute on a championship level. Tomic isn't going to be an All Star but he'll be a fantastic young player when Tim Duncan is at the end of his line.
Updated - 27. Portland Trailblazer (via Hornets) - Nicolas Batum, SF, France |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG, C |
SF, PF |
No Cap Room |
Bonzi Wells, Pargo (PO), Ely |
The Reason - The Blazers have purchased this draft pick from the Hornets in order to ensure that they get Batum. Until Batum's concerns about his heart (physically not mentally) in a previous workout, the Blazers apparently were going to take him with the 13th pick. Now that everything has been cleared for Nicolas to play again, GM Kevin Pritchard was happy to purchase the pick and end up with a guy that they're very high on.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (via Lakers) - J.J. Hickson, PF, NC State |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
SG, PF, C |
SF, PG |
$12 million under |
Kwame Brown, Juan Carlos Navarro |
The Reason - J.J. Hickson has a lot to work on but can provide good scoring in the post and athleticism on the boards. The Grizzlies have a weak core of big men and if they can replenish that in the draft then they've walked away successfully.
Updated - 29. Detroit Pistons - Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
C, SF |
PF, PG, SG |
No Cap Room |
Dixon, Hunter, Herrmann, Ratliff |
The Reason - CDR is not a starter in this league by any means, but off the bench he could be what Ron Mercer should have been. He's a natural scorer that can provide a spark off the bench in a similar way that Bobby Jackson does. The Pistons will love having his scoring off the bench and putting him on the same team as Richard Hamilton could really turn him from a good scorer to a great scorer in this league.
30. Boston Celtics - Jamont Gordon, SG, Mississippi State |
Team Needs |
Team Surplus |
Cap Situation |
Key Free Agents |
PG, SG, C |
PF, SF |
No Cap Room |
Posey (PO), T. Allen (R), Pollard, P.J. Brown, Cassell |
The Reason - Another sleeper at the guard position. Jamont Gordon can play both guard positions and is nearly impossible to stop when he attacks the basket. He's a consistent three-point jumper away from being the next Rodney Stuckey and would be a great addition to back up Ray Allen next season.
2nd Round Mock Draft
31. Minnesota - Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State |
32. Seattle - Kyle Weaver, PG/SG, Wisconsin |
33. Portland - Jason Thompson, PF, Rider - Updated |
34. Minnesota - Nathan Jawai, PF, Australia - Updated |
35. LA Clippers - Davon Jefferson, SF, USC |
36. Portland - D.J. White, PF, Indiana |
37. Milwaukee - Devon Hardin, C, Cal-Berkeley |
38. Charlotte - Ryan Anderson, PF, Cal-Berkeley |
39. Chicago - Trent Plaisted, C, BYU |
40. New Jersey - J.R. Giddens, SG, New Mexico |
41. Indiana - Omer Asik, C, Turkey |
42. Sacramento - Damjan Rudez, SF, Croatia |
43. Sacramento - Nikola Pekovic, C, Serbia |
44. Utah - Anton Ponkrashov, PG, Russia |
45. San Antonio - George Hill, PG, IUPUI |
46. Seattle - Goran Dragic, PG, Slovenia |
47. Washington - Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama |
48. Phoenix - Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas |
49. Golden State- Josh Duncan, SF, Xavier |
50. Seattle - Bryce Taylor, SG, Oregon |
51. Dallas - Joey Dorsey, PF, Memphis |
52. Miami - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA |
53. Utah - Sonny Weems, SG Alabama |
54. Houston - Malik Hairston, SG, Oregon |
55. Portland - Mantas Kalnietis, PG, Lithuania |
56. Seattle - Semih Erden, C, Turkey |
57. San Antonio - Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia |
58. LA Lakers - Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas |
59. Detroit - C.J. Giles, C, Oregon State |
60. Boston - Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt |