SacSports

 Again, as always, although trades are not included, I will go over where I think trades are likely and, as with most mocks, I am picking this the way I think things WILL to go, not the way I think it SHOULD go. Otherwise, Brook Lopez would be going in roughly the second round and players like Jordan and McGee would already be free agents competing for a spot in the NBDL. So, without further adieu, here we go…

#1- Chicago Bulls- PG Derrick Rose

This should be a slam dunk. Rose is a great point guard and he’s ready right away. Quick- name an elite point guard who didn’t make the playoffs last year. The best argument would be Baron Davis, but 48 wins still isn’t bad. My point is this: teams with great point guards don’t fail. With Hughes, Hinrich, Gordon, and Sefolosha (spelling anyone?) in the fold, this gives the Bulls a lot of flexibility to make some moves  and put a decent team on the floor next year.

#2- Miami Heat- SF/PF Michael Beasley

This would be the spot where a trade could happen. Beasley’s stock is falling, just like his height. Apparently, he shrank 3 inches after the season ended or something. Anyway, I think he’d be a perfect fit with Minnesota (in theory) or New York, but let’s just assume he does go to Miami. In that case, he should consider him self lucky. He gets to play in sunny Miami along with Wade and Marion instead of playing in snowy Chicago with… uhhhhh…. hmmmm….. Drew Gooden?

#3- Minnesota Timberwolves- SG O. J. Mayo

Rumor has it that Miami wants Mayo and Minnesota wants Beasley. You know what that means… Either way, Mayo should be an elite player for a long time. I mean, technically, he’s been a professional athlete since eighth grade. I’m also really hoping Beasley doesn’t end up here, even though it makes sense. Putting Beasley (allegedly extremely immature) on a team with former high school dropouts Al Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair, not to mention about 15 other guys in their early 20’s is like Amsterdam’s NFL Europe team (formerly the NFL Europe I mean) signing Ricky Williams. It’s just a recipe for disaster.

#4- Oklahoma City Homewreckers (aka Seattle Sonics)- PG/SG Jerryd Bayless

You would be hard-pressed to find a mock that doesn’t have this. Unless the Sonics trade up for Beasley (which would be a bad idea), they’re ending up with Bayless. He will be a great fit along with Durant and Green. With both of them already being SF/PF type players, getting Beasley would just create a logjam. They need a penetrating guard who can run the offense, and Bayless is the answer. Also, how do you come up with JERRYD as a spelling for his name? My theory is that he was originally Jerry D. Bayless, but somewhere along the way, it just got combined into Jerryd. Thus, from now on, I will refer to him as Jerry Bayless.

#5- Memphis Grizzlies- C Brook Lopez

Ladies and gentlemen! Your 2008 Western Conference Champs! Seriously, without the Grizzlies, do the Lakers even make it out of the second round? Anyway, I really think the Grizzlies will trade down. Randolph or Love would be a reach, and Lopez is a poor man’s Andrew Bogut.(somewhere, Bogut is celebrating that he is now good enough to have a poor man’s version of him). The value here is at guard, and the Grizzlies taking a guard would be dumber than trading your best player in his prime for a mediocre young player who plays a position you’re stacked at, an NBDL mainstay, and a low first round pick. Wait a minute…

            Having said that, Lopez fills a need and will likely be the pick if the Grizz can’t trade down. However, if they can find a taker for Miller or Lowry, all of that could change. This pick could really be huge, and might determine how the rest of the draft goes.

#6- New York Knicks- SF Joe Alexander

It puzzles me why no one has Joe Alexander at this spot. Everyone thinks he’s a steal in the late lottery, so how about having him go higher? Oh yeah, and D’Antoni is now running the show, and I’m pretty sure he’d love to have Shawn Marion sans the attitude. That’s what Alexander brings to the table. I just feel like this pick makes way too much sense to not happen. But, then again, it is the Knicks…

#7- Los Angeles Clippers- SG Eric Gordon

The Clips are in an interesting position. They have a lot of uncertainty surrounding their lineup. Kaman and Thornton are there, but what else? Brand and Maggette may opt out, Livingston may not be the same again, and Mobley and Thomas are probably planning their summer vacations already (2009 vacations that is). It’s kind of a blessing in disguise, though. They can just draft purely for talent. Gordon is a solid pick no matter what. He played hurt for much of the year and still produced. Now, I’m not a huge fan of anyone or anything that comes out of the Big 10, but I think Gordon will be ok at #7.

#8- Milwaukee Bucks- SF Danilo Gallinari

Unfortunately for the Bucks, they can’t sign their draft pick to a $50 million deal, not develop him, and then blame it on their location. Seriously though, what’s the deal here? They have to make a trade more than any team in the league. Like the Clippers, they just have to take the best talent. They took Yi last year, so they’re willing to go overseas. Gallinari gives them more scoring and allows them to deal some of their other players to maybe get some toughness or post presence. Love would also be a good option here as well.

#9- Charlotte Bobcats- PG/SG Russell Westbrook

Now this is where things get interesting. The Bobcats have a lot of young talent, and they look pretty set at the 1-3 positions. However, Westbrook is just too good to pass up. He will back up Felton and Richardson, providing depth at both positions. Again, Love is a good pick here as well, but MJ must learn from his past mistakes and go for talent here. This could be the piece that puts the Cats in the playoffs.

#10- New Jersey Nets- PF/C Kevin Love

The Nets couldn’t be more thrilled. All they really need to compete is a post presence. Love is ready right now and will add a new dimension to their team. Harris, Carter, Jefferson, Love, and Boone/Williams will give them a team that can really compete in the Leastern Conference. Although Love could easily go earlier, this might be the best fit for him. Even better, this might convince Vince to start going to practice, and it could be yet another reason for Lebron to join the Nets and his buddy, Jay-Z. Don’t laugh, it will happen.

#11- Indiana Pacers- PG D. J. Augustin

The Pacers are doing backflips. This is the perfect fit for them. He has the two qualities that the Pacers look for in a basketball player: he knows how to play basketball, and he won’t jump into the stands and beat up any fans. Augustin puts an end to the Jamaal Tinsley era in Indiana basketball, and not a moment too soon. He will team up with Dunleavy and Granger to give the Pacers a young nucleus to build around.

#12- Sacramento Kings- PF Anthony Randolph

I bet you thought he’d be gone by now, didn’t you? Well, someone had to drop a little, and Randolph is it. He was looking like he was going to follow Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas as skinny athletic power forwards from LSU taken in the top 5 (about 10 spots too high), but this should be about right for him. He can take his time behind Shareef, Kenny Thomas, and the Kings’ other 10 power forwards. Eventually, he will be a nice frontcourt compliment to Spencer Hawes once former Olympian Brad Miller (insert joke here) parts ways with the Kings.

#13- Portland Trailblazers- SG/SF Nicolas Batum

My own rules are really killing me here. This pick HAS to be traded. The Blazers have young players at every position, and they certainly don’t need another one. Word is they will package the pick along with Jack or Outlaw to get a veteran, which for them is apparently someone over 25. Seriously, will Jarrett Jack set the record for being involved in the most trade rumors without actually being traded? Just trade him for a second rounder and get it over with already!

            Back to the pick. If no one does trade with the Blazers, Batum is a good backup plan. He doesn’t need PT right away, and he could give them a big time perimeter scorer along with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. It’s a low risk-high reward pick.

#14- Golden State Warriors- PF/C Marreese Speights

I want to clear something up right now- anyone who the Warriors taking the following players knows nothing: McGee, Arthur, Robin Lopez. One site actually compared McGee to Patrick O’Bryant, and still had the Warriors taking him! Arthur is good, but tell me what he does that Branden Wright doesn’t do better. Speights will give them a bigger body and has a higher ceiling than Arthur. The Warriors need size, but Mullin has learned from the past what can happen when you just take a center for the sake of taking a center. Speights will be good, and he brings much more to the table than other big man at this point in the draft.

#15- Phoenix Suns- C DeAndre Jordan

This is actually a tough spot for the Suns. They can either try to add a piece for another title run, or they can start planning the inevitable rebuilding after Nash and Shaq hang it up (or they can just sell off the pick for money again). Jordan has too much potential at this point to pass on, and having Shaq as a mentor makes this an even better pick.

#16- Philadelphia 76ers- PF Darrell Arthur

Now this is the perfect fit for Arthur. He’s a great fit in a frontcourt with the offensively-challenged Samuel Dalembert. With Miller, AI, Young, Arthur, and Sammy as their starting 5, the 76ers have a nice blend of youth and veteran leadership. Seriously, if this happens and the 76ers use all their cap room wisely, they could rise to the top of the Leastern Conference quickly (that joke just doesn’t get old, does it?).

#17- Toronto Raptors- C Roy Hibbert

Greene would be a nice pick here, but Hibbert will allow Bosh to play more power forward than center, a huge plus. Hibbert may not ever be an all-star, but he could be a Brendan Haywood type player- play solid low post defense, provide a good amount of rebounding, and can even make a slam dunk or two over the course of an entire game. Remember, Hibbert was a lottery lock last year. This is a good pick.

#18- Washington Wizards- SG/SF Brandon Rush

The Wiz could go in a lot of different directions, especially with Arenas and Jamison being free agents. Rush is versatile. He provides another option at shooting guard (along with former #1 Nick Young) in case Arenas leaves, and he is an insurance policy for Butler, since they struggled so much with him hurt last year. Oh, and he’s a pretty good basketball player too.

#19- Cleveland Cavaliers- C Javale McGee

I like West, Gibson, and Wally as support for the King, but the Cavs need more size to compete. To me, Koufos makes more sense. However, I just get this feeling that the Cavs will go more for potential than for what makes sense. McGee might end up being good, and he will probably come into his own once Big Ben and Z are gone. To be honest, this pick doesn’t matter unless Lebron stays past his current contract.

#20- Denver Nuggets- C Kosta Koufos

Do they reach for a point guard or do they take a center? Camby is good, but can only play for so long. With the original AI in the backcourt, does it really matter who’s there with him? Koufos will be a great compliment to Camby and can eventually be his replacement.

So, that’s 1-20. Tomorrow, I will have the entire first round up, complete with analysis and smart-ass remarks.

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