Post by duncanonu on May 26, 2008 21:44:50 GMT -5
Disclaimer: This is just for entertainment. We are not to be held responsible if you enter draft prediction contests using the following Mock. These are never correct but stir up some conversation.
1. Bulls - PF Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
This is a no-brainer if there ever was one. Howard has the athletic ability to be one of the best ever. But just how far he can develop remains to be seen. If Bulls management can be patient, a future lineup of Howard, Amare, Carmelo, and Hinrich isn't bad at all.
2. Timberwolves - C Emeka Okafor, UCONN
This is a tough choice really. The Wolves have Zach Randolph at PF, who is a nice scorer and rebounder, but an average defender. Do they take the steady defense and rebounding of Emeka playing next to Zach? Do they favor the better inside game and youth of Al Jefferson? Do they go small and take someone like Andre Iguodala or even smaller with Devin Harris? These are all possibilities, but I say they take Emeka and solidify their two starting big positions for the next decade.
3. Pacers - PF Al Jefferson, Prentiss HS
This is an even tougher choice. The Pacers are set at the SF position with SAR, and either PG or SG, depending on where Arenas plays. So, that leaves one of the guard spots and both big men spots as in need of improvement. It is possible to see Iguodala taken here and later converted into a SG, but that still leaves the Pacers desperately needing improvement in the post. I say the take a shot at Jefferson here, leaving the Pacers a guard and a big away from potentially being dangerous.
4. Suns - SF Andre Iguodala, Arizona
The Suns are still looking for that first true building block to go with TJ Ford. Andre Iguodala has the potential to be that more than any other remaining player.
5. Hawks - SG Ben Gordon, UCONN
The Hawks have rebuilt with a solid Nucleus of LeBron James, David West, and Chauncey Billups. That leaves a wing and a big left to go. If they go big, the choice should be Andris Beidrins, but I'm going to predict Ben Gordon goes here on a whim.
6. Nuggets - PF Andris Biedrins, Latvia
The Nuggets have young Chris Kaman and Udonis Haslem in support to Jason Richardson. They have Jason Williams leading a roster full of PG's. Possibilities here could be to send Williams to the bench eventually by drafting Devin Harris. Another could be to take Kevin Martin to take some scoring load off of Richardson. Although I am torn between Biedrins and Harris, I'll toss a coin and say Biedrins goes here.
7. Pistons - SG Kevin Martin, Western Carolina
The rebuilding Pistons could go anywhere here, but I say they take the scorer to begin their rebuild. They would like to start with a big, but Biedrins seems to be the last good one worthy of a top 10 pick.
8. Hornets - PG Devin Harris, Wisconsin
Well, the Hornets have good wings with Maggette, Rashard Lewis, and Raja Bell. They have a good PG in Damon Stoudamire, but lack a true backup PG. At the Bigs they have veteran scorer Marc Jackson, and young potential in Nene Hilario. With the lack of bigs and the Hornets strength at the wings, they take Devin Harris here, but might shop him around immediately. This could be a pick where the Hornets take the best asset, and Harris seems to be that at this point.
9. Celtics - SF Josh Smith, Oak Hill Academy
The Celtics are a SF away from having a solid starting 5. To me the question here is would you rather have Luol Deng or Josh Smith playing with Jason Terry, Anthony Parker, Dale Davis, and Ben Wallace? Again, this is tough, but I'll go with a slight edge for Smith.
10. Timberwolves - SF Luol Deng, Duke
According to this mock, the Wolves already grabbed Emeka Okafor to play next to Zach Randolph. Now it's time to start addressing the other 3 positions. Deng is my choice, but if they decide to go for a PG instead of wing, then Jameer Nelson might be the guy.
11. Pistons - PG Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's
The Pistons take arguably the best PG available to learn from Gary Payton for a year. The hopes are that a future backcourt of Nelson and Martin can win some games if ever given some bigs to play with.
12. 76ers - SG J.R. Smith, St. Benedict's HS
This pick could easily be Josh Childress, Delonte West, David Harrison, Chris Duhon, Nocioni, or a few others, but I'll go with the potential of J. R. Smith.
13. Grizzlies - SF Josh Childress, Stanford
The last lottery pick is another interesting one. The Grizzlies will take the player they feel has the best chance to develop. Childress may or not be that player. This appears to be the best shot.
The Non-Lottery 1st Round
14. Grizzlies - C David Harrison, Colorado
15. Timberwolves - PG Delonte West, St. Joseph's
16. Rockets - PG Chris Duhon, Duke
17. Suns - C Didier Llunga-Mbenga, Congo
18. Pacers - SF Andris Nocioni, Argentina
19. Clippers - SG Sasha Vujacic, Slovenia
20. Nuggets - SF Donta Smith, Southeastern Illinois
21. Spurs - PG Beno Udrih, Slovenia
22. Pacers - SF Damien Wilkins, Georgia
23. Lakers - PG Shaun Livingston, Peoria Central HS
24. Timberwolves - PG Sebastian Telfair, Abraham Lincoln HS
25. Warriors - SF Trevor Ariza, UCLA
26. 76ers - PF Anderson Varejao, Brazil
27. Nets - C Robert Swift, Bakersfield HS
28. Kings - C Pape Sow, Cal State Fullerton
29. Hornets - C Peter John Ramos, Puerto Rico
1. Bulls - PF Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
This is a no-brainer if there ever was one. Howard has the athletic ability to be one of the best ever. But just how far he can develop remains to be seen. If Bulls management can be patient, a future lineup of Howard, Amare, Carmelo, and Hinrich isn't bad at all.
2. Timberwolves - C Emeka Okafor, UCONN
This is a tough choice really. The Wolves have Zach Randolph at PF, who is a nice scorer and rebounder, but an average defender. Do they take the steady defense and rebounding of Emeka playing next to Zach? Do they favor the better inside game and youth of Al Jefferson? Do they go small and take someone like Andre Iguodala or even smaller with Devin Harris? These are all possibilities, but I say they take Emeka and solidify their two starting big positions for the next decade.
3. Pacers - PF Al Jefferson, Prentiss HS
This is an even tougher choice. The Pacers are set at the SF position with SAR, and either PG or SG, depending on where Arenas plays. So, that leaves one of the guard spots and both big men spots as in need of improvement. It is possible to see Iguodala taken here and later converted into a SG, but that still leaves the Pacers desperately needing improvement in the post. I say the take a shot at Jefferson here, leaving the Pacers a guard and a big away from potentially being dangerous.
4. Suns - SF Andre Iguodala, Arizona
The Suns are still looking for that first true building block to go with TJ Ford. Andre Iguodala has the potential to be that more than any other remaining player.
5. Hawks - SG Ben Gordon, UCONN
The Hawks have rebuilt with a solid Nucleus of LeBron James, David West, and Chauncey Billups. That leaves a wing and a big left to go. If they go big, the choice should be Andris Beidrins, but I'm going to predict Ben Gordon goes here on a whim.
6. Nuggets - PF Andris Biedrins, Latvia
The Nuggets have young Chris Kaman and Udonis Haslem in support to Jason Richardson. They have Jason Williams leading a roster full of PG's. Possibilities here could be to send Williams to the bench eventually by drafting Devin Harris. Another could be to take Kevin Martin to take some scoring load off of Richardson. Although I am torn between Biedrins and Harris, I'll toss a coin and say Biedrins goes here.
7. Pistons - SG Kevin Martin, Western Carolina
The rebuilding Pistons could go anywhere here, but I say they take the scorer to begin their rebuild. They would like to start with a big, but Biedrins seems to be the last good one worthy of a top 10 pick.
8. Hornets - PG Devin Harris, Wisconsin
Well, the Hornets have good wings with Maggette, Rashard Lewis, and Raja Bell. They have a good PG in Damon Stoudamire, but lack a true backup PG. At the Bigs they have veteran scorer Marc Jackson, and young potential in Nene Hilario. With the lack of bigs and the Hornets strength at the wings, they take Devin Harris here, but might shop him around immediately. This could be a pick where the Hornets take the best asset, and Harris seems to be that at this point.
9. Celtics - SF Josh Smith, Oak Hill Academy
The Celtics are a SF away from having a solid starting 5. To me the question here is would you rather have Luol Deng or Josh Smith playing with Jason Terry, Anthony Parker, Dale Davis, and Ben Wallace? Again, this is tough, but I'll go with a slight edge for Smith.
10. Timberwolves - SF Luol Deng, Duke
According to this mock, the Wolves already grabbed Emeka Okafor to play next to Zach Randolph. Now it's time to start addressing the other 3 positions. Deng is my choice, but if they decide to go for a PG instead of wing, then Jameer Nelson might be the guy.
11. Pistons - PG Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's
The Pistons take arguably the best PG available to learn from Gary Payton for a year. The hopes are that a future backcourt of Nelson and Martin can win some games if ever given some bigs to play with.
12. 76ers - SG J.R. Smith, St. Benedict's HS
This pick could easily be Josh Childress, Delonte West, David Harrison, Chris Duhon, Nocioni, or a few others, but I'll go with the potential of J. R. Smith.
13. Grizzlies - SF Josh Childress, Stanford
The last lottery pick is another interesting one. The Grizzlies will take the player they feel has the best chance to develop. Childress may or not be that player. This appears to be the best shot.
The Non-Lottery 1st Round
14. Grizzlies - C David Harrison, Colorado
15. Timberwolves - PG Delonte West, St. Joseph's
16. Rockets - PG Chris Duhon, Duke
17. Suns - C Didier Llunga-Mbenga, Congo
18. Pacers - SF Andris Nocioni, Argentina
19. Clippers - SG Sasha Vujacic, Slovenia
20. Nuggets - SF Donta Smith, Southeastern Illinois
21. Spurs - PG Beno Udrih, Slovenia
22. Pacers - SF Damien Wilkins, Georgia
23. Lakers - PG Shaun Livingston, Peoria Central HS
24. Timberwolves - PG Sebastian Telfair, Abraham Lincoln HS
25. Warriors - SF Trevor Ariza, UCLA
26. 76ers - PF Anderson Varejao, Brazil
27. Nets - C Robert Swift, Bakersfield HS
28. Kings - C Pape Sow, Cal State Fullerton
29. Hornets - C Peter John Ramos, Puerto Rico
