Sport-Blog.com

By Ed Jennett


This is a very unusual year for the NBA Draft. Normally there is a player that is considered to be a clear cut number one overall pick. That is not the case this year as the first five players in this mock draft could all possibly be taken at number one. It is also unusual for a draft to be blasted for being embarrassingly weak. That opinion was formed about this one last offseason and proved to be correct. Although they are not going to find any super stars, if teams are smart they can still improve themselves. A handy guide has been provided here for them:


1. Raptors: Adam Morrison SF: Morrison is the player most likely to be drafted first overall. But he might not necessarily remain with the Raptors. There are rumors that Toronto will trade this pick and SF/PF/C Charlie Villanueva to the Indiana Pacers for PF/C Jermaine O’Neal and pick number. The trade makes little sense for either team though. The Raptors are rebuilding and cannot afford to give up two high quality youngsters for the injury prone O’Neal. Indiana plans to re-sign sharp shooting small forward Peja Stojakovic, so they have no need for Morrison. Toronto will most likely trade down to take PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge (who is friends with Raptors All-Star PF Chris Bosh) or SF/PF/C Andrea Bragnani (who played for the Italian League team of new Raptors Vice President and Assistant General Manager Maurizio Gherardini this past season).

2. Bulls: Tyrus Thomas PF: Thomas would team with C Tyson Chandler to give the Bulls one of the best defensive combos in the league.

3. Bobcats: Rudy Gay SF: There will be a great deal of pressure on Gay, who will become the first draft pick of the Michael Jordan era in Charlotte. Preseason hype had Gay being the first overall pick in the draft this year. Ironically he will now be selected by the man who should have gone first overall in 1984.

4. Trailblazers: Andrea Barganani SF/PF/C: Portland is an absolute mess, so the multi-positional Barganani should be a no-brainer. Starting C Joel Pryzbilla may leave this summer as a free agent, while starting PF Zach Randolph and starting SF Darius Miles are on the trading block.

5. Hawks: LaMarcus Aldridge PF/C: There are several rumors swirling around the Hawks and this pick. One insane rumor has the Hawks having promised PF/C Shelden Williams that they will take him with this pick. Another, far more logical rumor, has Atlanta trading down to select Williams. The intelligent decision would be to fill their huge hole at center with Aldridge, who will by far be the best big man still available.

6. Timberwolves: Brandon Roy SG: Roy has become much more than just the clear cut best player available at this position. Minnesota recently lost their lottery pick from a year ago, SG Rashad McCants, to microfracture surgery. Shooting guard has now become the most pressing need of the club.

7. Celtics: Marcus Williams PG: Although they have talented young Delonte West starting at point guard, the Celtics are in need of a true floor general. West is a combo guard, and would be best suited coming off the bench backing up All-Star SG Paul Pierce and the new starting point guard for the Celtics, Marcus Williams.

8. Rockets: Randy Foye PG: Due to their awful trade of PG Mike James for PG Rafer Alston last offseason, the Rockets are in desperate need of a legitimate starting point guard. Foye will either cause the immature and unprofessional Alston to be sent to the bench or sent to another team.

9. Warriors: Patrick O’Bryant C: As the roster stands right now, either overpaid C Adonal Foyle or disappointing rookie PF Ike Diogu will be the starting center for Golden State next season. The Warriors should select O’Bryant so quickly that NBA Commisioner David Stern will not even have the chance to turn around to try to leave the lecturn.

10. Supersonics: Shelden Williams PF/C: Due to starting PF Chris Wilcox being a free agent, and backup PF Danny Fortson being on the trading block, the Sonics have to take a power forward. If he is not already selected by misguided Hawks this should be were Williams is taken.

11. Magic: Ronnie Brewer SG: Current starting shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. The Magic would be wise to have a replacement ready in case his asking price is too much.

12. Hornets: Cedric Simmons PF/C: Whether they will be playing in New Orleans or in Oklahoma City, the Hornets are in urgent need of big men. Simmons can play either spot and will be the best big available.

13. 76ers: Rodney Carney SG/SF: Philadelphia may completely blow up their disappointing team this offseason. The two Sixers most likely not to get hit by the wrecking ball are SG Andre Iguodala and SF Kyle Korver. Carney would provide the team with a third perimeter keeper in a possible post-Iverson world.

14. Jazz: J.J. Redick SG: This is the draft pick that had to happen. Utah is in desperate need of a shooting guard. Swingman Matt Harpring may leave the team as a free agent this summer. Look very closely at Harpring and Redick. The Jazz will not pass on Redick.

15. Hornets: Hilton Armstrong PF/C: One will not be enough for the Hornets. Armstrong should still be available when the Hornets pick again and he is another multi-positional big man that they cannot afford to pass up.

16. Bulls: Saer Sene C: Having filled their need of a legitimate starting power forward earlier in the draft by selecting Thomas, the Bulls can now address their other need of a backup center with the selection of Sene. Like Chandler and Thomas, the athletic Sene focuses on defense, rebounding and shot blocking. The young Bulls will be a nightmare for their opponents next season.

17. Pacers: Maurcie Ager SG/SF: Where there is smoke there is fire is definitely true in the case of the Indiana Pacers. Trade rumors have been swirling around the club, and more specifically O’Neal and SG/SF Stephen Jackson, since late in the season. If the Pacers can find a taker for the volatile Jackson they will already have another swingman in the pipe line with Ager.


18. Wizards: Jordan Farmer PG: The Wizards only consistent backup guard last season was PG/SG Antonio Daniels. Farmer will ease the pressure on Daniels and All-Star PG Gilbert Arenas. He will also be insurance in case the rumors that Arenas will leave the team if it continues to regress as it did this pass season prove to be true.

19. Kings: Sergio Rodriguez PG: Sacramento has been in need of a backup point guard ever since injury prone Bobby Jackson was shipped to Memphis. Ironically the flashy Rodriguez is often compared to former Kings starting point guard Jason Williams, and would end up being the backup to the man Williams was traded for, Kings starting PG Mike Bibby.

20. Knicks: Shawne Williams SF: Despite the unquestionable success that Knicks President/General Manager/Head Coach Isiah Thomas has had in drafting players Williams will most likely be booed out of the building. It will not have anything to with the versatile Williams, who can play every position except center. Williams will be another solid pick by Thomas, but this will be a great opportunity for Knicks fans attending the draft in New York to show the embarrassing franchise how they feel.

21. Suns: Mardy Collins PG/SG: Although he is not considered to be a great athlete, Collins will be a great fit in Phoenix. The Suns have spent the last two seasons looking to improve the backup point guard to Steve Nash. Collins will not only help in that area he can also backup starting shooting guard Raja Bell.

22. Nets: Oleksiy Pecherov PF: The Nets have four excellent starters but an absolutely awful bench. New Jersey can start working on correcting that flaw with Pecherov, who may also be able to eventually play some center if he can gain weight.

23. Nets: Kyle Lowry PG: New Jersey also needs a backup point guard and can chose between a few with their other draft pick. Lowry is the best of the remaining bunch and will run the team well enough to let starting PG Jason Kidd catch his breath and decide whether his next alley oop pass will be to SG Vince Carter or SF Richard Jefferson.

24. Grizzlies: Rajon Rondo PG: Jackson is a free agent this summer and has already bashed Grizzlies Head Coach Mike Fratello. He obviously has no interest in returning and would not be welcome back in Memphis anyway. If starter Damon Stoudamire has not fully recovered from his midseason knee injury, Rondo could see a lot of minutes early on.

25. Cavaliers: Quincy Douby PG/SG : Cleveland is not expected to keep free agent shooting guard Flip Murray as he should be able to find a starting job on another team. Douby is a combo guard who will help fill the void along with fellow PG/SG Damon Jones. If Celveland can somehow acquire a legitimate starting point guard, incumbent starting PG Eric Snow will come off the bench and Douby would probably head to the inactive list.

26. Lakers: Marcus Vinicius SF: With a pick this late the Lakers cannot worry about their positional needs (point guard) and have to take the best player available. Vinicius is a good ball-handler, so if he can improve his defense he might eventually find a role in the Triangle Offense of Head Coach Phil Jackson as a point forward.

27. Suns: PJ Tucker SG/SF: The Suns are more in need of big men, but athletic PJ Tucker will be a nice fit for them. Tucker may not have the size that most teams want in a small forward or the skill set that they want in a shooting guard, but he is tough, a good defender, and can run the floor. Tucker will even more valuable if Phoenix does not re-sign free agent backup SF/PF Tim Thomas or trades All-Star starting SF/PF Shawn Marion. has also improved at creating shots for himself off the dribble.

28. Mavericks: Denham Brown SG/SF: Brown is a do everything well, but nothing spectacular, type of player that will do great with Dallas. Brown is similar to current Mav PG/SG/SF Marquis Daniels, although he will not be able to play the point or be as good a defender.

29. Knicks: Josh Boone PF/C: New York is looking for big men to play defense, rebound, and block shots. The hard-working Boone certainly fits that description. Despite playing at UCONN he may also be booed out of the building by Knick fans who want to take advantage of any chance they get to boo the debacle that their franchise has become. Expect well-deserved boos even if the team can use its expiring contracts to pull off a good trade or two.

30. Portland: Alexander Johnson PF: Johnson will have the good fortune of being the last player to get drafted in the first round, thus earning a guaranteed contract. He will also have the misfortune of having to go to Portland, which has taken over the Clippers old role as the laughingstock of the Western Conference.