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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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2007 NBA Mock Draft By Ron Jumper With it being time for my yearly mock draft, here are the guidelines: -I may have a certain pick with the assumption the team will make certain roster moves in order to create a role for that player to fill. -I'm only going to give a projected lineup for the lottery teams, as they are the focus of the NBA Draft anyway. -I will be giving possible trade scenarios that could happen because of the draft's impact on team rosters.  1. Portland Trail Blazers SF Kevin Durant, Texas They don't want to be the team that passes up on Oden, as they have learned their lesson the hard way before. In 1984, Portland took Sam Bowie 2nd ahead of no other than some kid out of UNC named Michael Jeffrey Jordan. How'd that turn out? The Blazers will be tempted to take Oden, though their roster is screaming for a long athletic wing player like Durant. Consider they have Zach Randolph and Lamarcus Aldridge at the 4 and 5, with Ime Udoka starting at the 3. Wouldn't Durant fill a bigger gap in their lineup than Oden? However, I have come up with the solution: Sign-And-Trade With Seattle: Portland gets: SF Rashard Lewis Seattle gets: PF Zach Randolph Doesn't this solve both teams problems perfectly? The Trail Blazers would have a young, talented frontline of Rashard Lewis, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden to go along with Jarret Jack and Brandon Roy at the guard spots. The Sonics would have Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen in the backcourt with Kevin Durant, Zach Randolph, and Chris Wilcox inside. I can't help but think both teams would be drastically better next season. Without the trade, Portland would look something like: PG Jack/Rodriguez SG Roy/Webster SF Durant/Udoka PF Randolph/Lafrentz C Aldridge/Magloire 2. Seattle Supersonics C Greg Oden, Ohio State If the trade above doesn't take place, the drafting of Oden probably will go a long way towards keeping Rashard Lewis on the roster. Lewis would be all but gone if the Sonics ended up with Durant. Assuming the Sonics take Oden, the lineup would look something like this: PG Ridnour/Watson SG Allen/Gelabale SF Lewis/Wilks PF Wilcox/Fortson C Oden/Collison 3. Atlanta Hawks PF Brandon Wright, UNC The Hawks are always tough to predict except for one thing, they love great athletes. No one fits the bill better than Wright. Atlanta could very easily trade down because the position they really need (point guard) would be a major reach here, especially when they have the 11th pick as well. Taking Wright is a simple, safe choice. PG Claxton/Stoudemire SG Johnson/Childress SF Smith/ M.Williams PF B.Wright/ S.Williams C Pachulia/ L.Wright 4. Memphis Grizzlies SF/PF Yi Jianlian, China The Grizzlies will be the team that buys into all the hype surrounding China's latest top prospect. For me, I have a few issues. First, the Chinese government isn't even 100% sure of his actual age! Some believe he is 2 or 3 years older than he is listed. Second, he will take time to be a contributor so taking him spells rebuilding for Memphis, which means Pau Gasol is probably on his way out (which could mean great news for Chicago). If I was GM, I would look into taking a point guard here because the Grizzlies need a promising young floor general badly. PG Stoudemire/Atkins SG Gay/Jones SF Miller/Jianlian PF Warrick/Swift C Gasol/Roberts 5. Boston Celtics PF/C Al Horford, Florida This isn't the way Bill Simmons and the rest of the Celtics faithful hoped it would turn out, but it isn't so bad after everything is said and done. Horford gives them another bruiser on the floor and fiery competitor in the locker room. The Celtics are in a tough spot here, as they have young talent at every position already so adding a piece here that would make them substantially better is doubtful. PG West/Rondo SG Szczerbiak/Green SF Pierce/Gomes PF Jefferson/Horford C Horford/Perkins 6. Milwaukee Bucks SF Jeff Green, Georgetown The Bucks have no real glaring need, so adding an all-around talent like Green is perfect. I think he could fit in very well with the Bucks because he will give them another passer and he is athletic enough to break down the defense off the bounce or post up smaller defenders. The question of him not being aggresive enough at times isn't really an issue here because he isn't going to be the focal point for the Bucks. PG Williams/Boykins SG Redd/Bell SF Green/Patterson PF Villanueva/Skinner C Bogut/Gadzuric 7. Minnesota Timberwolves SF Al Thornton, FSU We have our first reach of the night, as incumbent GM Kevin McHale makes a bold move by taking the 4-year stud at FSU. If this happens, the press won't like it and analysts will criticize it but I think it is a wonderful fit. Thornton was dominant in his senior season of college, putting up some ridiculous games against ACC competition. He has size (6'8", 220) and amazing athleticism, to go along with a nice mid-range stroke that occasionally would make its way out to the 3-point line. I see him being the steal of the draft 3 years from now. PG James/Hudson SG Davis/Foye SF Thornton/Hassel PF Garnett/ Smith C Blount/Madsen  8. Charlotte Bobcats PF/C Joakim Noah, Florida This is the kind of guy the Bobcats need, he plays hard and hates to lose. I've mentioned before that I believe bringing in winning players breeds winning. This wwould certainly fit that description. Noah probably won't ever be an All-Star but I see him being a more polished version of the Cavs Anderson Varejao, who does all the hustle plays (loose balls, charges, deflections, etc.). Also, Noah's passionate play could be a great addition because of his natural tendency to pump up the crowd and show emotion, making the sometimes fickle Charlotte fans enjoy the action just a little bit more. I think if Noah falls to here, the Bobcats would be crazy not to take him. PG Felton/Knight SG Carroll/Anderson SF Wallace/Morrison PF Okafor/May C Noah/Brezec 9. Chicago Bulls C Spencer Hawes, Washington The Bulls desperately need to take an inside player with a scoring presence in the post. Hawes won't be an immediate big-time contributor but, hopefully, he will at least be able to catch the ball on the block and be productive in 7-10 point range. If the Bulls go big and put Hawes on the floor with Ben Wallace, it makes for a very long and athletic lineup. With time, Hawes could be a productive center in the East due to the lack of top-flight centers in the East. PG Hinrich/Duhon SG Gordon/Sefalosha SF Deng/Nocione PF Brown/Thomas C Wallace/Hawes 10. Sacramento Kings SF Julian Wright, Kansas The Kings really need a slasher to open up shots for their plethora of jumpshooters. Wright, given he plays signifigant minutes, could easily rack up assists dishing to Bibby and Martin for open 3's. I don't expect Wright to ever be a consistent 20-point scorer, but he could certainly play his role for the Kings. Keep in mind that if the Kings take a point guard here it could mean the end of Mike Bibby era in Sacramento. PG Bibby/Price SG Martin/Salmons SF Artest/Wright PF Abdur-Rahim/Williamson C Miller/Thomas 11. Atlanta Hawks PG Mike Conley Jr., Ohio State Conley falls down the draft board to the Hawks, who some feel might have taken him at 3. This has a Cleveland Browns feel to it, doesn't it? Suddenly, the Hawks have every piece they need to make a run at the playoffs in 07/08. I don't know if they have the right coach or ownership, but the talent is there if they stay healthy. PG Conley/Claxton SG Johnson/Childress SF Smith/M. Williams PF B. Wright/S. Williams C Pachulia/L. Wright 12. Philadelphia 76ers SG Corey Brewer, Florida I have Brewer falling a little bit, as I'm just not sold he is going to make a good NBA player. I love his intangibles (length, height, athleticism) and his nice stroke, but I just don't know if he can be productive creating his own shot on the wing against NBA defenders. His college nickname "The Drunken Dribbler" left a lasting impression with me, as it summed him up perfectly when he tries to create his own shot. PG Miller/Ollie SG Carney/Brewer SF Iguodala/Korver PF Hunter/Smith C Dalembert/Randolph 13. New Orleans Hornets SF Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech The Hornets are in no man's land here, there isn't really a position they need. The best thing to do would be to take the best available talent and Young is certainly that. He is a nice insurance policy to have for the always injured Peja. PG Paul/Jackson SG Mason/Pargo SF Stojakovic/Young PF West/Simmons C Chandler/Armstrong 14. Los Angeles Clippers SF/PF Josh McRoberts His passing and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect from the Clippers viewpoint. He provides toughness and athleticism on a thin frontline that depends heavily on Elton Brand. His versatility provides insurance in a sense, if they ever deal Corey Maggette. Some feel this would be a reach, but I think it is simple and safe. PG Livingston/Cassell SG Mobley/Ross SF Maggette/Thomas PF Brand/McRoberts C Kaman/Davis  15. Detroit Pistons PG Acie Law IV, Texas A&M Doesn't his toughness and heart make a perfect fit in the Motor City? 16. Washington Wizards PF Tiago Splitter, Brazil Wizards could really use a dose of athleticism on the interior. 17. New Jersey Nets C Jason Smith, Colorado State Nets looking to take best available big man, which would be Smith. 18. Golden State Warriors SG/SF Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt Byars is long, athletic, and can shoot from downtown, making him perfect for Nelson's system. 19. Los Angeles Lakers PG Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech Lakers badly need another point guard on the roster, Crittenton is the top one available. 20. Miami Heat SG Nick Young, USC Heat need to get younger and more athletic quickly. 21. Philadelphia 76ers C Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh 76ers need a big man that can score with his back to the basket, thus they take Gray here. 22. Charlotte Bobcats SG Aaron Afflalo, UCLA Currently, Matt Carroll is listed as their starting shooting guard... 23. New York Knicks PG/SG Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington Your probably wondering who this guy is, you won't be for long. 24. Phoenix Suns SG Marco Belinelli, Italy The Suns have time for an international player to develop, so why not? 25. Utah Jazz SG Alando Tucker, Wisconsin Jerry Sloan will love his toughness and fundamentally sound play. 26. Houston Rockets SG Marcus Williams, Arizona Great talent that could provide a scoring boost for low-scoring Rockets attack. 27. Detroit Pistons C Marc Gasol, Spain Pistons could use a true center with an aging Webber and a dissapointing Mohammed. 28. San Antonio Spurs SG Rudy Fernandez, Spain Spurs are famous for taking international players late and developing them into contributors. 29. Phoenix Suns PF Jemario Davidson, Alabama Considered a reach, but I think he would fit perfectly in their system. 30. Philadelphia 76ers PG Gabe Pruit, USC Philly could use a promising young floor general for the future. Second Round Sleepers C Kyle Visser, Wake Forest SF Reyshawn Terry, UNC SF Demetris Nichols, Syracuse PF Sean Williams, BC PG Taurean Green, Florida May 26, 2007 |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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