NBA Mock Draft

[MEbenhoe]

With All-Star weekend rolling around, I figured it might be a good time for all the teams whose playoff hopes are slowly fading to take a look at what they might have to look forward to next year. The order is using current standings. I attempted to take team need into account instead of just using best player available.

1. Boston Celtics – Greg Oden C Ohio State

The Celtics are stocked at the 2/3 spot with Pierce, Szczerbiak, Gomes, Allen and Green. Without any PGs at the top of the draft the choice is easy for the Celtics to take Oden to man the frontcourt with Al Jefferson, and the Celtics will have to continue on with a PG by committee of Telfair, Rondo, and West.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Kevin Durant SF/PF Texas

With the Celtics taking Oden, the Grizzlies pick becomes easy. Durant and Gasol in the frontcourt could be scary if the Grizzlies ever fill out their backcourt.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Brandan Wright PF UNC

The 76ers have no reason to believe they’ll be anything but a bottom of the league team next year, so they might as well take the highest potential player on the board here in Wright, and not worry about whether or not he’ll be NBA ready right away.

4. Milwaukee Bucks – Julian Wright SF Kansas

The athletic forward from Kansas fits in perfectly with the Bucks team and would have a great chance at starting in the frontcourt with Bogut and Villaneuva right away. Being on a team where he won’t be expected to be a top offensive contributor right away should help as he still needs a little work there.

5. Charlotte Bobcats – Joakim Noah C Florida

A great fit for the young Charlotte team, should be able to immediately step in and start alongside Okafor to create a solid inside game for the Bobcats.

6. Seattle Supersonics – Thaddeus Young SF Georgia Tech

Athletic, quick, and able to shoot the 3, should fit in nicely to the Sonics starting rotation.

7. Phoenix Suns – Yi Jianlian C China

The big man from China is athletic, can shoot, and is still a big project. He has all the skills to fit in with the Suns style of offense, and Phoenix can afford to have him develop for a year or two as they are already stocked with talent.

8. Portland Trailblazers – Spencer Hawes C Washington

Zach Randolph desperately needs a solid frontcourt partner, enter Spencer Hawes. He’s got size and the ability to score, should fit well in Portland.

9. Sacramento Kings – Al Horford PF Florida

Horford is too good to pass up here, and the Kings, like a lot of teams, need big men.

10. Chicago Bulls – Chase Budinger SG Arizona

The Bulls take the best player available here, athletic scoring guard out of Arizona.

11. Golden State Warriors – Corey Brewer SG/SF Florida

Excellent defense, good inside and outside, just a great all around player.

12. New Jersey Nets – Jeff Green SF Georgetown

Solid inside and outside player from Georgetown and the Nets need to add some depth at SG/SF.

13. New Orleans Hornets – Hasheem Thabeet C UConn

Great size at 7’3”, will be a bit of a project, but could team up nicely with Tyson Chandler.

14. Los Angeles Clippers – Josh McRoberts PF Duke

Might as well add another Duke player to the roster.

[mmbt0ne]

Mebes,

I'm hoping that the last couple games will result in T.Young's stock dropping enough that he sticks around another year. Of course, I'm also desperately worried that Crittenton's past few games will have the opposite effect.

[WayAbvPar]

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6. Seattle Supersonics – Thaddeus Young SF Georgia Tech

Athletic, quick, and able to shoot the 3, should fit in nicely to the Sonics starting rotation.

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No chance. They will draft another 7 foot European who will never amount to [censored]. At least the people in Oklahoma will have to suffer through that BS instead of Seattle.

[JupiterUWG]

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Mebes,

I'm hoping that the last couple games will result in T.Young's stock dropping enough that he sticks around another year. Of course, I'm also desperately worried that Crittenton's past few games will have the opposite effect.

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if i was crittenton, i'd leave since he'll be the first PG taken most likely....that said, if they both come back, tech will be a force next year

[EvanJC]

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10. Chicago Bulls – Chase Budinger SG Arizona

The Bulls take the best player available here, athletic scoring guard out of Arizona.


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that would be wonderful for bulls fans. forget david lee: this guy is the Great White Hope

[Your Mom]

Budinger > Brewer ?

[JupiterUWG]

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Budinger > Brewer ?

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depends on what you need...budinger has a higher upside IMO but brewer is definitely more NBA ready and would already be a very good defender at the next level

[sean c]

The Hornets need a shooter. I don't think there is any way they are taking another big man this year after adding three last year.

[MoreWineII]

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8. Portland Trailblazers – Spencer Hawes C Washington

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I think a Julian Wright or a Corey Brewer would be a far better fit than Hawes. Miles is done and Outlaw isn't gonna cut it as the starter so they need an athletic big SG/SF type, preferably who can play defense.

The team just signed Joel to that deal and I think they will give Joel at least part of next season before they decide he's not the answer for them at center.

This is all assuming they pick somewhere around 4-9 of course, if they get a 1 or 2 it's obvious.

[capone0]

Isn't Peja supposed to be the shooter? They really need a swing guard. Isn't that role supposed to be filled by Mason?