By Tony Mejia
Pro Basketball News
OK, I lied. This is my final mock.
A lot of shuffling was done in the final few hours preceding the draft, with the largest domino yet to drop. Miami continues to hold the fortunes of Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo in its grip as it pursues a trade, but despite exploring every angle, doesn't appear to be in any hurry to make something happen before July 9. Unless the Clippers moved up to No. 4 to sweeten the pot for the Heat and strengthen the likelihood of keeping Mayo in L.A., the rumored swap of
Elton Brand, Shawn Marion and the team's lottery picks
won't get done.
The following projection is based on that premise, with Mayo
slipping to the Timberwolves and Seattle getting the player it settled on down at No. 7.
Projecting the 2008 NBA Draft:
1. Chicago - Derrick Rose, G, 6-3, 190, Fr., Memphis: The hometown boy has practically campaigned to lead the next Bulls' revival, making the decision to take the draft's top playmaker. Despite last year's down season, Kirk Hinrich is still locked in to a long-term deal at a reasonable rate and remains a valuable commodity, so it will be interesting to see whether the Bulls try to trade him or move him off the ball alongside Rose. At any rate, Ben Gordon looks to be a goner.
2. Miami - Michael Beasley, F, 6-8, 240, Fr., Kansas State: The Heat have thought about trading down and shopped around the league looking for a taker. Barring last minute developments, expect that to wind up being an example of due diligence, with Pat Riley ultimately taking the player many believe is this draft's most talented. Now, whether he holds on to him is another story, one dependent on getting an asset he wants his hands on, namely, Brand.
3. Minnesota - O.J. Mayo, G, 6-5, 195, Fr., USC: Despite the scandals that have haunted him as an amateur, Mayo has already displayed the people skills necessary to smooth over rough edges, impressing everyone who has come into contact with him with his professionalism. All that's left is for his game to match. The Timberwolves envision him flourishing alongside Randy Foye in a backcourt featuring potentially interchangeable parts.
4. Seattle - Eric Gordon, G, 6-3, 215, Fr., Indiana: The Hoosiers standout has drawn comparisons to Chicago's Gordon due to his size and skill set, but he's expected to be less of a defensive liability due to the fact he's so thick and strong. The Clippers are convinced, packaging a future first-rounder and the No. 7 pick to move up ahead of the Grizzlies, who have him high on their board.
5. Memphis - Kevin Love, F, 6-9, 255, Fr., UCLA: Provided they keep the pick and don't strike a deal to get Beasley, Love's the guy they've embraced. He'll give them some badly needed toughness and is more than capable of kicking out boards to key Memphis' fast-break offense.
6. New York - Jerryd Bayless, G, 6-3, 200, Fr., Arizona: His game has drawn comparisons to former Wildcat standout Gilbert Arenas, which means scouts are hesitant to endorse him as the prototypical point guard. There are concerns that he wouldn't be able to play alongside Jamal Crawford, but is the best guard left on the board.
7. L.A. Clippers - Brook Lopez, C, 7-0, 260, So., Stanford: He's the most polished big man in the draft by a long shot, efficient at scoring in the post and far more athletic than typically given credit for. Seattle, who would acquire his rights, sees him as the sure thing that recent draft picks Saer Sene, Robert Swift and Johan Petro haven't been.
8. Milwaukee - Joe Alexander, F, 6-8, 230, Jr., West Virginia: Perhaps this draft's greatest success story, Alexander went from being completely off the radar to emerging as one of the country's most intriguing weapons under the tutelage of Bob Huggins, who clearly doesn't get the credit he deserves for his coaching ability. After tearing up the Big East, Alexander is capitalizing while the time is right and projects as a solid combo forward who will be able to compensate for what he lacks in size to be a prototypical '4' thanks to his impressive athleticism and dominant mid-range game.
9. Charlotte - Russell Westbrook, G, 6-3, 190, So., UCLA: A phenomenal athlete whose best days are in front of him, Westbrook may ultimately develop into an Antonio Daniels-type. At the very least, he'd push Raymond Felton for minutes and expedite his development.
10. New Jersey - Danilo Gallinari, F, 6-9, 210, Int'l, Italy: At this point last year, many people I talked to lumped this kid's name in as a candidate to be the top selection in this year's draft. It's hard to tell whether Andrea Bargnani's struggles hindered his chances, but it sure looks like they didn't help. More scouts got a chance to see him, so this could be a case of increased familiarity killing the buzz that typically surrounds top European prospects. Rumor has it the Nets are enamored, hoping that he can blossom into a draw who can aid the move to Brooklyn.
11. Indiana - Anthony Randolph, F, 6-11, 220, Fr., LSU: Whoever takes Randolph will be banking that he'll fare better out of the gate than former LSU standouts Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas. Randolph has an amazing amount of natural talent at his disposal and is able to put the ball on the floor and make others better, though his development will take time and patience.
12. Sacramento - D.J. Augustin, G, 5-11, 175, So., Texas: The Given their lack of floor generals under contract, it would be hard to pass up on a point guard of Augustin's pedigree if he'd fall into their lap. Augustin might be undersized, but he's got a floor presence too great to ignore.
13. Portland - Brandon Rush, G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Kansas: He showed off his versatility and an increased maturity level in bouncing back from a torn ACL that threatened to jeopardize his pro aspirations.
14. Golden State - Robin Lopez, C, 7-0, 255, So., Stanford: Twin brother Brook provided the inside scoop that this is where Robin wanted to end up, so if the Stanford product does his part in workouts, he just might get his way and stay close to home. Lopez isn't as polished a scorer as his brother but is an excellent defender and shot blocker and has an excellent feel for the game and runs the floor well. The Warriors could end up with the perfect complementary piece to Andris Biedrins and Brandan Wright, rounding out a great young frontcourt.
15. Phoenix (via Atlanta) - DeAndre Jordan, C, 7-0, 260, Fr., Texas A&M: This gamble on Jordan's potential wouldn't be too far a reach since his physical tools are so impressive; he won't turn 20 years old until July and could be ready to ease the Suns' transition into the post-Shaq era.
16. Philadelphia - Kosta Koufos, C, 7-1, 245, Fr., Ohio State: The man who essentially replaced Greg Oden as the focal point at Ohio State didn't get the attention his predecessor enjoyed, but did put up solid numbers that would've been even better if he had someone the caliber of Mike Conley getting him the ball. Despite the Buckeyes' lack of success, the enormous Koufos impressed enough scouts to make this leap with the knowledge that he could potentially emerge as a lottery pick and may ultimately go higher than this.
17. Indiana (from Toronto) - Roy Hibbert, C, 7-2, 270, Sr., Georgetown: Although he's improved considerably over the years, most feel he's still got miles to go to become a consistent performer at the pro level. His tendency to pick up fouls and disappear for stretches dumbfounded scouts and probably cost him a spot in the lottery, but there's still plenty of teams willing to gamble on his size and potential. After acquiring a second first-round pick, word was that Larry Bird was inquiring heavily about him.
18. Washington - Marreese Speights, F, 6-10, 250, So., Florida: After taking his lumps against Al Horford and Joakim Noah as a freshman during UF's 2006 national title run, Speights took what he learned and put together a very effective sophomore season under Billy Donovan. He'd probably be a lock for the lottery if he returned for his junior year, so he looms as an excellent value pick at this point in the draft due to his great size and undeniable upside.
19. Cleveland - Darrell Arthur, F, 6-9, 215, So., Kansas: The Cavs need to get younger up front with Joe Smith and Ben Wallace on board and Anderson Varejao's situation up in the air, so Arthur would fill that need. He's got a nice face-up game and potential as a solid defender, but has seen his stock slip in recent weeks.
20. Charlotte (from Denver) - Donte Greene, F, 6-10, 220, Fr., Syracuse: A lottery-caliber talent who also struggled to perform consistently as a freshman, he could wind up being the steal of the draft. His raw skills are undeniable, but whoever selects him must be willing to be patient with his ups and downs. He's got to learn how to play the game, but if he gets the hang of it, watch out.
21. New Jersey - Alexis Ajinca, C, 7-1, 225, Int'l, France: Painfully thin, but teams have been lining up for the opportunity to allow this impressive 20-year-old to grow into his frame overseas. His wingspan and timing are reminiscent of Detroit shot blocking specialist Chiekh Samb, but he looks to have a better offensive game and has become a favorite of a number of teams.
22. Orlando - Mario Chalmers, G, 6-2, 190, Jr., Kansas: A winner whose defense is far ahead of his offense, Chalmers leaves college on a high note after draining a result-altering 3-pointer in the NCAA Championship Game. Chalmers would be considered by many the top player remaining on the board and would fill an area the Magic are hoping to address.
23. Utah - JaVale McGee, C, 7-0, 240, So., Nevada: This kid drips potential, but also scares teams with his lack of production at a mid-major where he couldn't match the production Nick Fazekas, who was forced to toil through the NBDL as a rookie. The names Channing Frye and LaMarcus Aldridge are thrown around when describing his game, but the biggest variable will be his temperament. He's got to become more aggressive and display a willingness to make the most of his great size.
24. Seattle - Nicolas Batum, F/G, 6-8, 215, Int'l, France: It's been said that Batum's stock has slipped due to a poor showing last season, but one look at this kid's jaw-dropping athleticism makes it easy to believe the rumor I've heard that there's sand-bagging involved with this 19-year-old. The Rudy Gay comparison isn't far-fetched and he can offer the Sonics a great defensive option on the wing.
25. Houston - J.J. Hickson, F, 6-9, 240, Fr., N.C. State: Most scouts would've preferred if he'd honed his game in college another year, but the strides he made through his freshman year will have to be enough to serve as an enticement. He's got game, but his maturity has been called in question in the past.
26. San Antonio - Jason Thompson, F, 6-10, 250, Sr., Rider: The road from the MAAC to the NBA isn't traveled often, but this kid has drawn favorable reviews from enough people that he's almost certain to be earning a pro paycheck next season.
27. Portland (via New Orleans) - Courtney Lee, G, 6-5, 200, Sr., Western Kentucky: Strong guard who has thrived at the mid-major level for years, dealing well with being the focal point of opposing defenses. He can stand to improve his range and ball handling, but is a good choice at this point in the draft. He can best be described as solid.
28. Memphis (via L.A. Lakers) - Chris Douglas-Roberts, F, 6-7, 195, Jr. Memphis: Although he'd no doubt like to go earlier, this would be a nice landing spot for CDR, a hero for the Tigers the last few years.
29. Detroit - Davon Jefferson, F, 6-8, 210, Fr., USC: Fantastic athlete always left you wanting more during his freshman year because his talent stands out so easily to the naked eye. He probably would've been a lottery pick if he'd come out and dominated as a sophomore, but his potential is too great for him to slip all the way out of the first round.
30. Boston - Trent Plaisted, F, 6-10, 240, Sr. BYU: He's a hustler, a kid who will improve any team he ends up on. Danny Ainge is no doubt aware of him, adding to the likelihood of the Celtics going this route with no clear cut options available to them.
Tony Mejia is a columnist for Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at mejia@probasketballnews.com.
Copyright 2008 Pro Basketball News. All rights reserved.
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NBA DRAFT: June 26, 2008
Mejia's final mock draft
Sidelines
1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Minnesota
4. Seattle
5. Memphis
6. New York
7. L.A. Clippers
8. Milwaukee
9. Charlotte
10. New Jersey
11. Indiana
12. Sacramento
13. Portland
14. Golden State
15. Phoenix
16. Philadelphia
17. Toronto
18. Washington
19. Cleveland
20. Charlotte
21. New Jersey
22. Orlando
23. Utah
24. Seattle
25. Houston
26. San Antonio
27. Portland
28. Memphis
29. Detroit
30. Boston
No Picks: Hawks, Mavericks, Lakers
Two Picks: Memphis, New Jersey, Seattle
First-round draft order
TEAM-BY-TEAM NEEDS
Compiled by Sam Amico, PBN
Atlanta
Center, point guard
Boston
Center, backup guards
Charlotte
Center, scoring off bench
Chicago
Point guard, center, power forward
Cleveland
Power forward/center, shooting guard
Dallas
Center, shooting guard
Denver
Point guard, backup big men
Detroit
Power forward, center
Golden State
Power forward, center
Houston
Small forward, power forward
Indiana
Point guard, center
L.A. Clippers
Point guard, backup shooting guard
L.A. Lakers
Point guard, backup center
Memphis
Shooting guard, center, overall depth
Miami
Power forward, center, point guard
Milwaukee
Center, small forward
Minnesota
Point guard, center, small forward
New Jersey
Center, backup guards
New Orleans
Shooting guard, backup center
New York
Small forward, backup power forward
Orlando
Shooting guard, power forward
Philadelphia
Shooting guard, power forward
Phoenix
Small forward, shooting guard
Portland
Small forward, point guard
Sacramento
Center, backup point guard
San Antonio
Small forward, center, overall youth
Seattle
Point guard, center, power forward
Toronto
Center, small forward
Utah
Small forward, backup center
Washington
Shooting guard, center
