(Edit — draft changed to reflect the fact that I forgot that Ty Lawson and Chase Budinger had returned to school)
I’ve been way too busy lately to write much, and I apologize. But I’ve heard enough odd rumors that I’m ready to put together a new draft preview.
My prospect rankings are here, and here we go with the predictions:
1: Chicago, Derrick Rose. When it’s all said and done, there is no way the Bulls don’t draft and keep Rose.
2: Miami, Michael Beasley. I’ve heard all sorts of rumors (including Mo Williams and the #8 for Udonis Haslem and the #2) but I don’t think any of them will come to fruition. Whether Miami takes Beasley for themselves or someone else, they still take Beasley. I think they will wind up keeping him.
3: Minnesota, OJ Mayo. Sounds like NBA types are convinced that Mayo is the third-best player in the draft, and someone is likely to try and trade into this spot. Another fairly ridiculous rumor has the Bucks trading Charlie V and the #8 for the #3. Won’t happen.
4: Seattle, Jerryd Bayless. One thing about Bayless, his character isn’t in question. He’s the pick here.
5: Memphis, Kevin Love. I still think they take him, I just don’t know if they will keep him.
6: New York, Dalino Gallinari. I’m back to thinking he goes to the Knicks. Gallinari, much like Yi, wants to go to a big market and has refused to work out for anyone but the Knicks and Nets. He also has more bargaining power than Yi, since Gallinari can sign a European contract for more than he would make on a rookie NBA contract whenever he wants. So, since he has stayed in the draft, I think he’s gotten a promise from someone.
7: LA Clippers, Russell Westbrook. When push comes to shove, I think they take the local guy.
8: Milwaukee, Joe Alexander. For the same reasons I said in mock 3.0. I don’t think Michael Redd will be traded, and I think they wont want to wait for Eric Gordon.
9: Charlotte, Brook Lopez. It makes too much sense.
10: New Jersey, Robin Lopez. It doesn’t make much sense, but it looks like Lopez got a promise from the Nets. He canceled his remaining workouts after visiting Jersey.
11: Indiana, Eric Gordon. I would simply be shocked if the Pacers pass on the local kid.
12: Sacramento, Darrell Arthur. Much like Lopez at #10, apparently Arthur canceled all of his scheduled workouts after meeting with the Kings. I have no idea why they would want him, though.
13: Portland, DJ Augustin. Once again, a pick that makes too much sense to happen.
14: Golden State, Anthony Randolph. He’s 6′11″, 197. Doesn’t that seem like a bit of a problem? Randolph has been compared to Chris Bosh many times, but compared to Bosh’s season at Georgia Tech, Bosh had him by 30 pounds, 0.1 IPM (0.93 vs. 0.84) and 10% from the floor (46% vs. 56%). Bosh was also the same age as Randolph in college. Anthony Randolph is no Chris Bosh.
And my guess for the rest of the first (I’m just ignoring the foreign players):
15: Phoenix, Donte Greene
16: Philadelphia, Marreese Speights
17:Toronto, Kosta Koufos
18: Washington, DeAndre Jordan
19: Cleveland, DJ White
20: Denver, Mario Chalmers
21: New Jersey, Courtney Lee
22: Orlando, Brandon Rush
23: Utah, Roy Hibbert
24: Seattle, JJ Hickson
25: Houston, Kyle Weaver
26: San Antonio, Richard Hendrix (because they are geniuses)
27: New Orleans, Joey Dorsey
28: Memphis, JaVale McGee
29: Detroit, Chris Douglas-Roberts
30: Boston, Jamont Gordon
2 responses so far ↓
1 Blake // Jun 20, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hey bro nice mock, i hope the bucks get JA, he looks pretty promising, he even said in an interview that he would love to play for the bucks! He’s a sure lock unless we make some crazy deal to get OJ or Beasely. Oh and btw Ty lawson and the rest of the tar heels have decided to stay for another year if my memory serves me right so i’d just like you to know that.
2 Brett Boyer // Jun 21, 2008 at 4:03 am
I had not noticed that both Lawson and Budinger returned to school. Thanks for pointing that out.
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