Here we present our first LIVE MOCK DRAFT of the year.
NBADraft.net’s Aran Smith and Adi Joseph played GMs for the entire first round and traded off on picks giving analysis on every selection….
The picks factor in team need and are based on who we think the teams SHOULD take, not who they will take.
Picks were made every 3-5 minutes completing the first round based on the current order of teams (which will change).
Join the discussion and leave comments about the picks below!
1. New Jersey Nets John Wall – Because there’s no question…….So I think everyone knows who you will take 2nd but… If Ohio State bows out early, would Turner’s stock be hurt? – Adi
2. Minnesota Timberwolves Evan Turner Wow, tough pick there at #1. Alright well I know I’m higher on him than you are: I’m taking Evan Turner at #2 for the T-Wolves. He fits in better with this team than Wall would after they took Flynn and Rubio last year, since you can play him at the 2 and 3 positions. Turner is an improved jumpshot away from being a bigger, stronger version of Brandon Roy showing a lot of the same attributes that make Roy such a versatile and effective NBA player. And no I don’t see Turner’s stock dropping him out of the top 2 with a disappointing tournament. -Aran
3. Golden State Warriors Hassan Whiteside I know this is going to draw some Ire from the message board fans, but with the third pick, I’m going with Hassan Whiteside. He’s a perfect fit for what the Warriors NEED. Maybe not for what Don Nelson wants, though. I just believe with Whiteside running next to Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, I’m not sure how anyone gets a shot off against that trio. Now Aran, you and I both know the Pacers are taking either Jon Scheyer or Sherron Collins with the fourth pick. But who would you take? – Adi
4. Indiana Pacers Derrick Favors Alright, I realize Larry Bird only takes 4 year players and preferably white ones but Favors would add some much needed athleticism to this team. Cousins obviously is the more polished player now and if he can pass the psychological and background checks, he might have a chance to go here. But Favors gives them a young, Al Horford type of high motor beast in the paint. He needs time, but this team isn’t exactly going anywhere any time soon….Luke Harangody is back having put up 20 points in an impressive win. In related news, Larry Bird is now shopping for a late first round pick.
So Adi, the Kings grabbed a guy last year who has become the face of their franchise in less than a year (Tyreke Evans), what does Geoff Petrie do for an encore?-Aran
5. Sacramento Kings Wesley Johnson I think the perfect compliment to Evans would be Wesley Johnson. He’s not very ball-reliant, he helps spread the floor, and he doesn’t kick Carl Landry out of the post. I like the core group the Kings have assembled, but another wing would be a huge addition. Johnson is a solid all-around player, and though he’s a hair lower on my board than Cousins and Al-Farouq Aminu. I think he’s a better fit here, both in terms of what he brings to the roster and what the team is trying to do. -Adi
6. Detroit Pistons DeMarcus Cousins I think if Cousins indeed falls as we both think he could, at some point you have to take him and hope for the best. This is a team in need of a center, and a highly skilled one such as Cousins fits the bill. With the Piston’s "Bad Boys" history, who better to step into Rasheed’s role than Cousins? Can he learn to antagonize refs the way only Sheed knew how? Only time will tell. Who are you taking at 7 Adi O’Connor? -Aran
7. Utah Jazz Al-Farouq Aminu Well if I’m the Jazz, who have the Knicks pick because God hates New York Knicks fans, I’m keeping Carlos Boozer. I am a huge Boozer fan, and I don’t understand all the negativity around the guy. With that said, I would use this pick to address an area of concern, while also taking the player I believe is the best available: Al-Farouq Aminu. Andrei Kirilenko will only remain reliable for so long. Aminu will step into the starting role in a year or two and provide the kind of length and athleticism the Jazz lack. Whiteside would be perfect here, but he’s long gone IMO. – Adi
8. Washington Wizards Donatas Motiejunas With all that has gone wrong in Washington over the past couple seasons, it wouldn’t surprise me if they had a new GM by draft day. If Ernie Grunfeld somehow makes it to draft night, he’s got to be looking first and foremost for talent. Motiejunas happens to play the same position as Andray Blatche, a player who has really come on over the past month. But in my opinion Motiejunas has top 5 talent and will pay dividends a la Andrea Bargnani for a team in position to be patient and wait for him. Whether this team can afford to be patient could depend on who their GM is. -Aran
9. Philadelphia 76ers Xavier Henry The 76ers have been starting Jrue Holiday and Louis Williams together in the back court. They’re both good prospects, but they’ve lacked chemistry so far..Philly should just take Xavier Henry, a ready-made starting shooting guard, and put an end to it. -Adi
10. Los Angeles Clippers Devin Ebanks Let the forum bashers start bashing, this kid has TALENT. Travis Outlaw is their weakest link among their starters making the top SF on the board a priority. On a team full of young talent and able scorers, Ebanks’ defensive ability and potential would fit them well. With a need at SF and a lot of depth at the position in this year’s draft, the Clips could look to move down with this pick for a package from a team like OKC (21 and 22) and grab 2 SFs or one and add depth, with OKC looking to move up for a guy like Aldrich or Patterson. The Clippers finally ridded themselves of Mike Dunleavy, now if only the league could somehow do the same with their owner Donald Sterling. -Aran
11. Charlotte Bobcats Patrick Patterson Michael Jordan has gravitated toward players who made their names with strong college careers. In this case, that’s the right move. With the 11th pick, I’m taking the best player available who also might be the draft’s safest choice: Patrick Patterson. It’s not an easy call, as Cole Aldrich would better fit the team’s needs. But Patterson is a tremendous value pick here, and Tyrus Thomas, as much as I like him, has yet to show any real consistency.
12. Houston Rockets Cole Aldrich With Yao Ming’s uncertain status, grabbing the top center on the board makes a lot of sense. Aldrich could learn behind Yao for a few seasons until Yao is finished (something that could come sooner than later). With a 7-6 wingspan, Aldrich brings shot blocking ability and NBA readiness to a scrappy young team. -Aran
13. New Orleans Hornets Greg Monroe The Hornets need a small forward. In this scenario, I don’t see one worth taking this high. So I’m again going to the "best available" option and drafting Greg Monroe. David West is a very skilled player. Together, he and Monroe would be a super-skilled set of big men, with Monroe coming off the bench and backing up West and Emeka Okafor. It could work, and the Hornets will draft best available. They’ve proven that in the past. It could work, and the Hornets will draft best available. They’ve proven that in the past. -Adi
14. Memphis Grizzlies Damion James I’m sure I’ll get ripped for this one but…The Grizzlies areas of need are PG and potentially SF, if Rudy Gay is allowed to walk in free agency. PG is not a strong position in this years draft and something they can target with their 2 late first round picks. Is this a reach? Probably. But James is a proven commodity. He doesn’t have the skills of Gay but isn’t far off in the athleticism department. He would provide depth if they are willing to max out Gay this summer. -Aran
15. Chicago Bulls James Anderson That Damion James pick seems like a pretty big reach, but I don’t like him very much. I’m taking the Big 12’s best player, James Anderson. The guy can score, and Chicago has needed some punch from the perimeter since letting Ben Gordon walk. Anderson has the potential to be the perfect kickout option for Derrick Rose. Ideally, the Bulls would love to see Monroe or Patterson available here, but I doubt that happens. -Adi
16. Miami Heat Larry Sanders With back to back picks here, the Heat have a chance to add some talent around their nucleus of Dwyane Wade. The Larry Sanders Show is certainly a project but with his combination of length (7-7 wingspan) and athleticism, he shows the potential to be a Theo Ratliff type of defensive presence. -Aran
17. Miami Heat Paul George With that said, a good argument could be made toward going with a safe pick on the second chance. I’m ignoring that logic and going with the talent. Paul George at one time looked like a potential top-10 pick. Now, he’s slid. But Miami is starting Quentin Richardson, and George still has big time talent. He’s a risk, as he’s turnover prone. But in a system with a dominant ball-handler like Dwyane Wade, who we are assuming will come back, I think George could fit in very nicely with his great defensive abilities on the wing. -Adi
18. Milwaukee Bucks Dominique Jones The Bucks hit a homerun with the 10th pick last year grabbing their floor general of the present and future in Brandon Jennings, and have surprisingly developed into a playoff team without Michael Redd. Jones could become their SG of the future as the 31 year old Redd appears to be falling apart at a fast rate. Jones also brings the versatility to run the point and be a physical presense defensively filling in for Jennings at times. -Aran
19. Portland Trailblazers Jan Vesely What to do when you’re the team with too much depth? When healthy, the Blazers are just loaded at every position. Well, as a result, they can take more risks than any other team. They’ve had tremendous success with foreign prospects recently, and while a sturdy backup center might be better, they can retain Marcus Camby for those duties. Vesely has great upside and he’s pretty fun to watch. In addition, he can play both forward spots, and if the Blazers are missing anything, it’s a good combo forward. He also gives them the option to possibly leave him in Europe (and off the books for another year). -Adi
20. San Antonio Spurs Ed Davis The aging Spurs could use a guy like Dominique Jones with his NBA ready skill set, but he’s already off the board. San Antonio moved their first rounder again last year (they have done so in nearly every draft over the past 10 years), but could look to hold onto their pick since it will be higher than usual this year. Ed Davis’ skills would mesh well with Blair’s looking to the future. He may ultimately opt to return to school after suffering a broken wrist that put him out for half the season. His potential would be tough to pass up at 20 for the Spurs, a team that will need to start looking toward the future at some point soon. -Aran
21. Oklahoma City Thunder Trey Thompkins I’m not sure any team in the NBA has a more specific need than the Thunder’s lack at center. With that said, I’m not picking one. Solomon Alabi would be a huge leap here on my draft boards, and the Thunder already have a project center in B.J. Mullens, who is younger and more gifted. Thompkins is a guy who has received almost no hype, but he is a sturdy, thick-bodied power forward who can step out and shoot with surprising accuracy. He’s a talented post scorer on a team that could actually use such a player. Do I think the Thunder actually would make this pick? No. But I think they should. And I’m Sam Presti today, so it’s my call. -Adi
22. Oklahoma City Thunder Stanley Robinson That was a ballsy pick Mr. Presti. And you make a good point, after this franchise’s hard luck drafting centers, (Swift, Sene, Petro, and now potentially Mullens), taking Solomon Alabi could easily be more of the same. This team already has one defensive dynamo in Sefalosha and could potentially add another with the long armed, athletic Robinson. His game really dropped off after he made the decision to lose the braids. Unfortunately the entire team tanked and now there will be no NCAA tourney for these guys. -Aran
23. Atlanta Hawks Terrico White I don’t think Atlanta will be resigning Joe Johnson. Call it a hunch, but with so many teams under the salary cap and looking for a franchise star, an all-star caliber player like Johnson seems destined to be drastically overpaid. With that said, White is a great fit. He’s a unique talent who has been shoved aside a bit with the return of Chris Warren to the Ole Miss lineup. But those who remember his play down the stretch last season will understand why I believe he may be the second-best point guard in this draft class. But he’s also big enough to defend shooting guards, making him a perfect compliment to scoring points Mike Bibby and Jeff Teague. White has the ability to step in for Johnson, and even if he can’t be a star right away, down the road, he could be very good. -Adi
24. Minnesota Timberwolves Luke Babbitt After grabbing do-everything Evan Turner at pick 2 who fits in well with Flynn and company, they can look for the best player available. Babbitt gives the team the versatility to play both forward positions along with scoring ability and toughness. This team could look to go in a number of directions but Babbitt gives them good value at this pick. -Aran
25. Boston Celtics Elliot Williams There are two targets I had in mind with the Celtics’ pick: Elliot Williams and Gani Lawal. Each would provide a potential replacement for an aging Hall of Famer. Each would provide much-needed athleticism. But what stood out with Williams was how he might fit next to Nate Robinson, should Robinson remain a Celtic next year. Robinson isn’t a point guard, and neither is Williams. But together, the combo guards are big enough and skilled enough to make it work in the Celtics’ backcourt. A power forward would have been nice, but I’m not sure Lawal is the best fit here. -Adi
26. Memphis Grizzlies Armon Johnson The Grizzlies haven’t given up on Mike Conley but he obviously was a mistake taken so high (at 4) in 2007. After addressing the SF position with their 14th pick, Johnson gives them a high upside pick late in the first round with potential to develop into a starter. He’s not a pure PG, but his size, athleticism and scoring ability should help him develop into an NBA contributor. -Aran
27. New Jersey Nets Gani Lawal So we’ve given the Nets the best player in the draft. Who’s next? I’d already mentioned Lawal as the top power forward left on my board, and he’s my pick here. I have concerns with his hands and post skills, but he’s got a nice touch and a lot of springy athleticism. For a junior, he’s a risk. But at this point, his upside is looking nice as Yi Jianlian seems to have leveled out at not-quite-good-enough-to-start. -Adi
28. Orlando Magic Alec Burks The soon-to-be-crowned World Champs (yes, you heard that right) will eventually need a replacement for Vince Carter. Burks is unlikely to enter, nor would I advise him to since he still needs time. But he would make a nice upside pick for the future. After being an afterthought in recruiting circles, Burks has progressed incredibly in the past year and has lottery potential for 2011.
It’s about time Lawal got selected, I have him a lot higher on my board but just couldn’t find a good fit for him. -Aran
29. Memphis Grizzlies DeSean Butler Aran’s getting pretty fiesty with some playoff picks now. I’ll make a safe one: I don’t think the Grizzlies will be winning the title this year. But I do think, with our projection that Rudy Gay will be leaving town in place, they could use yet another wing. Butler is a very, very safe choice, a senior who has proved his meddle on both ends of the court. He’s smart, he doesn’t require a whole lot of time with the ball and he’s able to play both wing positions. I doubt he ever starts, but he’s a very nice value pick this late in the draft. – Adi
30. Washington Wizards Ekpe Udoh After taking the European 7-footer Motiejunas who has excellent offensive ability with their first pick, I’m taking a player with standout defensive ability with their 30th pick in Ekpe Udoh. Udoh is still a project lacking strength and his offensive skills are a work in progress, but at pick #30 there are no perfect prospects available. Lazar Hayward and Solomon Alabi were also considerations here. -Aran
Thanks to all that joined us for the LIVE MOCK! We will be back with another one before long. The list is sure to change considerably based on tourney performances and workouts.
So Adi gets the first pick??
So Adi gets the first pick?? Is he going to take Wall for NJ?? Even though they have DHarris?? IMO, Harris can play off Wall but everyone seems to disagree with me.. Hmmm..
Sounds fun.
Neat idea
I’ll try to check in on this while I’m at work.
I definitely think both of
I definitely think both of them would be better gms than a lot of those bums who get it just because of connections.
Im willing to take it to the
Im willing to take it to the bank that Evan Turner is going to be the best player in this class. Tremendous leader, versatile, does things with the ball no 6’7 guy should be able to do and is a humble dude
Well, little teaser hint.
Well, little teaser hint. Turner’s not my choice with the first pick.
no?? then who could it be?
no?? then who could it be? Im gonna guess Dogus Balbay lol
If we were going by need for
If we were going by need for NJ, I would say Monroe would be an excellent fit for their young, promising team.
Monroe?!?!
I know it was awhile ago but I was reading some posts and someone said Greg Monroe would be a good #1 pick for the Nets????? Yes, he is a solid big man who will have a lengthy NBA career as a borderline All-Star. Along the lines of an Andrew Bogut, Al Horford, etc. But not as the #1 overall pick, and yes I realize Bogut was a #1 pick but that goes down as huge mistake passing on Deron Williams and Chris Paul. This class has a few potential game changers, Wall, Turner, Johnson, Cousins, and I even include Henry. While Monroe is a low risk pick he is low reward as well, he doesn’t have the upside of the rest of the class. He makes sense in the 8-12 range.
legend
This is going to be legendary for NBAdraft.net. Can’t wait til it starts.
First pick Wall. Either Adi
First pick Wall. Either Adi thinks they will trade Harris or he can play the 2.
NBA Draft Lesson: Always
NBA Draft Lesson: Always take the best player first overall. For the rest of the draft, you can discuss need and best fit and system-type stuff. But at the top pick, you take the best guy.
Agree
Could not agree more Adi, I’m calling Turner is next if Aran believes that too. Plus, I think he’s the best fit as well…
Hey we’re having some
Hey we’re having some technical difficulties. Start time getting pushed back to 2:15. Bare with us.
Yeah Turners next almost for
Yeah Turners next almost for sure. they need a good shooting guard.
Yea to follow trend, Turner
Yea to follow trend, Turner is most defiantly next. The Wolves are in a great position with their team if they get, and keep, Turner. Flynn can play off the ball because Turner likes to dominate it. Their potential lineup:
Flynn
Turner
Brewer/Gomes
Love
Jefferson
Lots of potential there.
if your supposed to take the
if your supposed to take the best player then take evan turner. nj needs a shooter which wall can not do plus turner is a better paser than wall and an overall better player.
john wall
if your supposed to take the best player then take evan turner. nj needs a shooter which wall can not do plus turner is a better paser than wall and an overall better player.
turner isn’t very good as a
turner isn’t very good as a jump shooter either. here you pick the undisputed number one pick. why would they pass up on wall if they had a chance to get him?
Comments?
Could you actually provide a comment for each pick explaining why this team should pick this player.
Problem Is Flynn isnt much
Problem Is Flynn isnt much of a fit in the triangle. hes more of a slasher, i still think Turners next.
Delfam I think you are
Delfam I think you are seriously underestimating Walls ability. Wall is by far the best player. An excellent leader. Wall can shoot, maybe not as good as Turner, but in the end his talent exceeds that of Turner’s. Wall will play the 2 in my opinion, while Lee comes off the bench.
@dwill as a nets fan, we’ve
@dwill as a nets fan, we’ve been hearing that Harris might be moved if they end up with the first overall pick. It’s all speculation at this point.
Yea. Wall is a decent
Yea. Wall is a decent shooter from 3. He shoots right at 33% from long range.. It could be alot better but you make it sound like he is terrible from there. 1 out of 3 isnt too bad IMO. Especially if thats the only knock everyone has on this guy.
So is the whole draft going
So is the whole draft going to be done from this page now?
audio
They should have done it via podcast. Would have made much more sense
I think this site really
I think this site really overrates Hassan Whiteside. I see his stock rising and falling like DeAndre Jordan’s a couple years ago. Many, including this site, had him projected in the lottery. The guy plays for Marshall. Sure we shouldn’t always judge a player by the program he plays for but look at the competition he has played against. He’s a huge project. The guy has less polish than Thabeet.
Ay
Ay, I called it. No big deal.
Great explanation Aran!
Wesley Johnson has to be next, right? Either him or Favors.
pacers
Since Wesley Johnson plays the same spot as Granger, Im thinking the pacers will take Favors. Psycho T is a role player at best so they are in need of a starting PF
Like I mentioned earlier,
Like I mentioned earlier, Turner is a great fit for the Wolves.
Well, as far as Jordan goes,
Well, as far as Jordan goes, Remember his stock had slipped by about midseason. Whiteside’s only getting better.
And everyone, keep refreshing the page. It will keep updating.
Lol. So does this mean that
Lol. So does this mean that Bedrins (spelling?) is on the move?
Didnt Jordan have a lot of
Didnt Jordan have a lot of work ethic questions?? Some questions about his fire and how much he wanted to play?? That isnt there with Whiteside..
Good!
Great pick. Love Whiteside’s upside. (As does everyone else)
Biendrins needs to go in the future, not now though. Wait til’ he develops, then move Andreis.
I like Cousins better then
I like Cousins better then Whiteside. More the Warriors kind of player. Too early for Whiteside.
You gotta go with xavier for
You gotta go with xavier for that pick. The kings need a space the floor shooter.
Wow Whiteside at #3? I can
Wow Whiteside at #3? I can imagine Don Nelson making that kind of a reach. He just falls in love with certain guys. However, I don’t see him as a typical Nelson mistake. He goes for guys with a skillset already.
What’s the hype around Whiteside anyway?
dwilljazz8: Frankly, you’re
dwilljazz8: Frankly, you’re right. Cousins’ is more the type of player the Warriors would normally take. Also, the Warriors have the third worst record in the NBA.
hmm..
I really have no idea who Adi should pick…
Kings should go with a PG so
Kings should go with a PG so that Evans can play the 2. Preferably a PG with a great stroke.. IDK who though.
They will probably put Wes Johnson there.
If the Kings need a wing to
If the Kings need a wing to space the floor, Wes Johnson is the way to go. He’s older than Xavier but he is much more athletic and has a mismatch potential body for a three. There are questions about his toughness and ability to score inside (and scoring off the dribble in general). Those have been highlighted today vs G’Town.
There is no point guard to
There is no point guard to take here, otherwise I would agree with you, 8th.
Next best point guard is probably Armon Johnson or Eric Bledsoe, neither of whom should be top-20
Kings?
Would their lineup be this?
Evans, Casspi, Johnson, Landry, Thompson?
Favors is growing on me and
Favors is growing on me and he’s as much of a project as Whiteside. He has a good demeanor about him and he should fit into Indiana nicely.
Darn my guy went too early.
Darn my guy went too early. That’s what I feared. The Knicks seriously need to start tanking(for my sake at least). Wes Johnson fits perfectly for the Jazz.
@76ers That’s one giant
@76ers That’s one giant lineup if they play Evans, Johnson (quick enough to play the 2), Casspi, Thompson, Hawes.
pistons
Pistons gotta with Aldrich or Cousins, I think Aldrich is the better fit because he is superior defensively, and could help take the place of an aging Ben Wallace
@dwill I agree. Johnson is
@dwill I agree. Johnson is almost tailor made for the Jazz. You guys could use some interior defense though. You will lose Boozer this offseason (no way is the ownership going to pay him what he wants) and Okur is getting older. Fes and Kosta need to develop faster.
Whiteside Scares Me
Every year there is a complete bust in the top 3-5. Hassan Whiteside is this year’s in my mind. I just don’t see it, I see the potential but potential is meaningless. With the talent pool out their I wouldn’t take the risk……with that said I can see the Warriors taking it.
When I said Monroe needed to
When I said Monroe needed to go to the Nets, I just said that based on what they needed with their current roster. I never said he deserved to be the number one pick..
Cousins is a great fit to replace Ben Wallace in Detroit.
Johnson was a good pick for the Kings.
Utah should go with monroe
Utah should go with monroe and hope for the best
Monroe is the best available
Monroe is the best available in my opinion.
Cousins could fall even
Cousins could fall even further than that if he proves to be a headcase. Nice pick for the Pistons though. Cousins has what they’re missing.
Cousins
Cousins is a great pick, he has a huge upside and the Pistons need to rebuild. At the beginning of this season I questioned his work ethic and coachability but he has completely won me over.
Monroe
Like I said Monroe’s not a bad pick at the right spot. And you’re right he would fit with the Nets but as I said you could never justify him at #1.
I think Utah should pass on
I think Utah should pass on Henry and go with Aminu.. He could be an excellent player behind Milsap, who will start when Boozer leaves and maybe start in front of AK47. A defensive guy who can play both positions, which will be thin when Korver and Boozer leave, and a great athlete.
Monroe has very little post
Monroe has very little post game. He does use his pivot foot well though so there’s hope to build on that. He has great vision and hands for a PF/C. He’s not a great athlete and looked slow going up and down against ‘Cuse today. His defensive awareness was much better today and forcing 2 or 3 of Rautins’ 5 or so turnovers. He has a nice face up game though and good handles for a big man.
On my draft board, Aminu was
On my draft board, Aminu was the best available. I think he’s got a lot more potential than Monroe. Anyone see the game they played against each other in high school? Aminu rocked Monroe.
Washington can, almost, not
Washington can, almost, not go wrong here. They need help at every position.
Jazz
If I were the Jazz I would not pass on Henry. He is a bit of a project but he may have the biggest upside in the whole class. Long, athletic, he can shoot and play D, and he works his butt off on the floor. Get him with the right coaching staff and he’ll be great. And there might not be a better staff in the League than Jerry Sloan and the Jazz Staff
@8th Yeah. Henry’s stock has
@8th Yeah. Henry’s stock has dropped quite a bit probably because everyone else on Kansas, especially the Morris’, overshadow him. At least he shows that he can be a role player.
I like Aminu but I don’t think he should be going there. The Jazz are in a great spot for the future.
I think the Wiz should go
I think the Wiz should go with Anderson or Monroe, Monroe could fit in real nice in releif for McGee and Blatche and his versatility would be a huge asset for them. Anderson could help push Nick Young or beat him out and is NBA ready off the bat
I don’t think Aminu can play
I don’t think Aminu can play the 4 8thdeadlySin. He is raw offensively, and I just don’t see the Jazz taking Aminu. Monroe is a better fit, and I also think he is the best available. They should trade this pick to the Kings for Johnson.
Hmm..
I’m kind of surprised Favors was not picked here!
…Aran’s about to get
…Aran’s about to get ripped for taking the foreigner, isn’t he?
Favors is off the board already though
Favors
Yeah Favors is gone but I honestly don’t see him going to Indiana. He doesn’t seem like the type of player Bird would take. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bird took Aldrich, it would be a huge mistake but it wouldn’t shock me.
The question is, Is Aminu a
The question is, Is Aminu a Sloan type of player? Does he show commitment on both sides of the floor and play within his role?
Good pick for Wiz. 76ers
Good pick for Wiz.
76ers need to pick Henry to company Iggy. They have similar bodies and similar games which is good because while their games are similar, Iggy is better attacking the rim and Henry is better at shooting outside. Just seems like a hand in glove fit.
Clippers need to go with Ebanks. I hate to see a Mountaineer go to the Clippers but he would fit in well. He is a defender who will rebound and distribute the ball. He wont be taking shots from the guys that need to take them. He will help set up guys like Gordon, Davis, Kaman, and Griffin. The kind of guy that every team needs. IMO, he is a better version of Mbah a Moute.
Aminu is actually a pretty
Aminu is actually a pretty hard-working defender, though I see your concerns.
And yes, no way would Larry Bird take Favors. But we would. We also wouldn’t have drafted Brandon Rush or Tyler Hansbrough in the lottery.
And I think Henry and Iguodala could easily play together. Henry is a pure shooter with some ups. Iguodala is a slasher and creator.
Nice Pick
I love Xavier Henry, I think I have made that kinda clear. I like him anywhere. If he goes to Philly does that mean Igoudala is really on his way out now?
Anderson is going to be the
Anderson is going to be the better pro at shooting guard and is more NBA ready than Henry, He may not look for the 3 as much as Henry, but has a good shot, and is more well rounded. I just think Iggy and Anderson paired up would be great because they both are extremely well rounded.
@wheezy I think they see
@wheezy I think they see something in Hibbert. I don’t think drafting Aldrich would add much for the Pacers. A future PG here would’ve been great but clearly this draft doesn’t have many good ones. Rush showed some scoring ability last year but has disappeared again.
Rush isn’t a scorer, he is
Rush isn’t a scorer, he is just a good guy to hit open shots, he is poor at creating shots and should stick to defense and using his mid range game as a 3rd or 4th option
Bobcats should go with Cole
Bobcats should go with Cole Aldrich. He will do what Larry Brown tells him and he could be the solution at C.
Rockets should go with Patterson because they lost their hustle guy and Hill or Jefferies isnt the solution. He could replace Landry and do everything he did for them. Defend, pound, and score a little.
Hornets would jizz in their pants if Monroe fell this far to them. He would help sure up the depth in their post game. He would be a great fit beside Okafor, who is under contract for the longest, and CP3 would make him an allstar faster than he did West.
I actually like ebanks good
I actually like ebanks good pick i think
Larry Bird
I know Aldrich doesn’t make sense, but Larry Bird’s picks rarely do. And in response to the Anderson/Henry debate Anderson doesn’t have close to the upside of Henry, I just watch Henry and feel the sky is the limit. And I am not a Kansas fan by the way, I promise.
Ebanks for the win!! The kid
Ebanks for the win!! The kid is a young Evan Turner in the making. Like Lance Stephenson, they both bring the ball up on a lot of possessions and initiate the offense.
Clips could be dangerous if they’re healthy. Post scorer (Kaman), garbage man (Griffin), playmaker (Bdiddy), Shooters (Gordon, Butler), Facilitators (Davis, Ebanks).
Henry and Iggy play the same
Henry and Iggy play the same position. Monroe better fits this team, since Brand gets injured to often and he is getting old. Then again the Sixers were thinking of trading Iggy earlier, maybe they will stick with that plan and go for Henry to replace Iggy.
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin will be injured forever, him and Oden were huge wastes of picks.
What kind of guys does Larry
What kind of guys does Larry Bird go after?
Monroe for the Sixers
I like the idea, but as I said I would have a tough time passing on Wall that late.
Monroe for the Sixers
I like the idea, but as I said I would have a tough time passing on Wall that late.
I want to see the Bulls get
I want to see the Bulls get James Anderson. He is just what that team needs to lessen the scoring burden for Rose.
They could then focus their attention on Bosh or Boozer.
The Bulls need a larry
The Bulls need a larry sanders type, someone who can rebound and block shots
Monroe for the Sixers
I like the idea, but as I said I would have a tough time passing on Wall that late.
The Bulls need a larry
The Bulls need a larry sanders type, someone who can rebound and block shots
The Bulls need a larry
The Bulls need a larry sanders type, someone who can rebound and block shots
I think Noah and Sanders
I think Noah and Sanders would overlap a bit too much.
Anderson is an interesting
Anderson is an interesting pick, dont know to much about this guy but if we get johnson in the offseason he will barely see any playing time
The Bulls would be very
The Bulls would be very happy with Anderson…perfect pick for them
Typo
I meant to say Henry and I didn’t mean to send it 30 times. My computer went crazy.
The Heat have 2 back to back
The Heat have 2 back to back picks. What are they going to do with that??
This wont happen but It would help them if it did. Also, it would make me happy to see a Mountaineer go so high.
One pick should be Da’Sean Butler. He would essentially replace James Jones but be better. He isnt the athlete that Wright is but he gets it done. He can do it all. Shooting is his fortay and he is best off the ball. That is great because Wade dominates.
The other pick should be Lance Stevenson. If Wade decides to leave, this guy could be your playmaker off of Beasley. He is raw, crazy, and street but he can play. With a year or 3 of experience, I think this guy could be pretty good.
They get some help at the 3 spot in a project and the sure thing..
“Raw, crazy and street” =
"Raw, crazy and street" = Low on my draft board. Lance has some talent, but I don’t think he matches Paul George in terms of physical abilities. And George (and pretty much everyone else) is less of a headcase.
Yea.. Good call. Better as
Yea.. Good call. Better as a second round guy.. He is low IMO also but they need help at the 3 and im not sold on George.. However, I have only seen him play 2 games.
Memphis trades one of their
Memphis trades one of their late firsts for CDR. Nets get a second late first and move up:D
Stephenson
Lance Stephenson has such as upside but I can see him having problems off the court but I think he is well worth the risk. He has shown great maturity and leadership at Cincy and the kid is fearless. I think he will end up as a steal in this draft.
Jones Will Stay
I don’t think Jones will leave USF early. And the kid can’t hit a jump shot.
I wanted Dominique Jones!
I wanted Dominique Jones!
I don’t really see him improving his stock, but he’s a heck of a well-rounded guard.
Would have taken him for the Heat, but he wouldn’t work well with Wade.
You would expect some team
You would expect some team to fall in love with a Sherron Collins or a Kalin Lucas and pick them around here in the draft.
Looks like Cole Alrich is
Looks like Cole Alrich is going to OKC according to Aran and Adi unless the Spurs grab him. However, the Spurs dont need another 25 year old rookie. They need a young pup to spice things up at the 3 spot. Maybe even a SG…
Jan Vesely
Not gonna lie I have no idea who Jan Vesely is?
Aldrich is off the board
Aldrich is off the board already. Taken 12th by the Rockets as Yao’s insurance policy.
@ 8th Cole already went to
@ 8th Cole already went to the Rockets.
The Jan Vesely pick looks like a typical Portland pick (Freeland, Kopponen, Fernandez, Claver, etc). Maybe they should go for another big to add insurance. I’m not sure Pendergraph is the answer.
.
Moment of truth, what will OKC do?
So do we, 8th. Just click
So do we, 8th. Just click his name.
Duh.. I knew that.. brain
Duh.. I knew that.. brain fart.
I know but the guy acted
I know but the guy acted like he didnt know who he was.. I figured 2 pages was better than 1.
Vesly is a Euro. IMO he is
Vesly is a Euro. IMO he is Gallo without the crazy shooting. They compare him to Yi but I think he moves alot better than Yi
Stanley Robinson
As a die hard UConn fan I say this: Stanley Robinson can do nothing outside of jump high. As a big man he can’t rebound or defend and as a wing he can’t shoot or dribble. Fun to watch his highlights not to have on your team. All that said I hope he does well cause I actually like him. Best case scenario he can become Josh Smith.
my nets are projected with the # 1 pick
do we take wall and move harris to the 2 or do we get rid of harris and build around wall
Robinson can do more than
Robinson can do more than hop. I remember he hit a huge 3 against WVU. It was only like his 3rd of the year but he hit it. He defends pretty well on the weak-side and looks to be a pretty good rebounder.
Robinson
By defends well on the weak side do you mean goes for the block every time and forgets that he leaves no one to get the rebound?
Alabi for Boston???
Alabi for Boston???
No.. Williams is a good fit. I question his 3 ball though. I think the Cs need to keep good three point shooters around for when Pierce and Rondo attack..
Nope robinson is an athlete.
Nope robinson is an athlete. He’s working on his game still and at 22? he’s still a project. He has poor handles for a supposed 3. Some people think he can be the next crash but I don’t see it. and yeah im a pretty big huskies fan myself.
Pierce is one of the best
Pierce is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, and Williams has shown good range and a natural stroke, even if he’s still got to improve consistency.
No.. I meant he helps well
No.. I meant he helps well on the weak side.. Stops drives, closes out, stone walls, and yes, blocks shots..
SF Robinson
no reason he cant go at 10 or 13-Ebanks or george? please. Robinson’s numbers are better than ebanks and george played weak comp, and neither is the athlete that he is. and Wes johnson in the top 5 is a joke, he has no solid NBA skill, hes a tony allen clone.
Lol thats funny its halftime
Lol thats funny its halftime of a game im watching and i just found out Vessley is in it.
Adi, actually one of the
Adi, actually one of the best in history….
I’m not sure if you’ve seen
I’m not sure if you’ve seen any of the players you just mentioned play, ryanella.
Wes Johnson is nothing at all like Tony Allen. He’s not as strong and compact, instead being lithe and long, he’s a much better shooter, and he’s a much better ballhandler.
George and Ebanks are both at least close to the athletic abilities of Robinson, and he’s older than either.
wrong
I guess my point is why George over Robinson? He shot 43% from the field against weaker comp while Robonson was 50%+. and also only 1.8 offensive rebounds/game vs 3 for robinson. I watched Fresno get smoked 2 games in a row by san jose and Utah St, amd George scored 0 and 12 in the two, was non-exitstent. And anyone who has seen him play knows he is an avg athlete at best, while Robinson is an ELITE athlete. My point is, outside of being younger, no justification for pciking him 10th.
wheres jarvis varanardo
wheres jarvis varanardo
Ya mean Ben Wallace at 35
Ya mean Ben Wallace at 35 years old?
Figures that a big is taken
Figures that a big is taken by the Nets. I wonder if Lawal is they guy they’re looking for. We already have a half decent backup in Humphries who plays ok defense and rebounds pretty well. We need a big to back up Brook. A shooter would’ve been fine as well.
Scoring Guard
I think Willie Warren would be a great steal for my nets if we could get him in the second round
Wes Johnson/Stanley Robinson
First off Wes Johnson is going to be a great player. I still like Henry and Turner more but outside of those 2 he is the best wing in the draft.
And the only reason I am such a harsh critic of Stanley is because as a recent UConn grad and lifelong fan I have had such high hopes for him and I still do but I question his intelligence and ability to improve. He works hard and I don’t question his heart, I like him as a player and having met him as a person as well and hope he suceeds.
I cant believe that no
I cant believe that no senior PG was taken in the first round…
I mean:
Reynolds
Collins
Vasquez
Bouldin
Or even Rautins
Well, Bouldin and Rautins
Well, Bouldin and Rautins are fighting to be drafted at all. Vasquez was a consideration even in this field, and Collins would have been taken if we hadn’t made all eligible players available.
Can’t wait for the next live
Can’t wait for the next live mock draft. Maybe then the Jazz will have a higher pick and possibly have the luxury to go for Wes Johnson.
Senior PGs
One or two of those guys will be solid NBA players, the question is who? My pick as the best NBA career is Vasquez. I think people will look back in a 5 or so years and wonder why he went so late. But that happens every year.
Yeah I hope everything works
Yeah I hope everything works out for Stanley. Great life story even if he doesn’t make it in the NBA. He has a degree and can alter the course of his life as well as his family’s.
Second that
Yeah, for anyone who has ever spoken to Stanley for 5 min or so since he went through all that stuff you realize what a great person he is. I hope he can grow on the court the way he has off it.
Warren
Warren is gonna stay.
.
Great Job guys. I could not disagree with one pick. Great points, great explainations.
wow..u guys suppose to be
wow..u guys suppose to be experts and have monroe going at 13 and cousins at 6? henry too high.. i agree that eubanks is underrated..but wesley johnson is overrated.
after watching them play
after watching them play yesterday Harris best position probably is the two because they allow other people to handle the ball now and harris is one of their best scorers. They really need help at pf though Humpries is nice off the bench but I dont see him as a starter. Josh Boone sucks. He played a few minutes and totally killed Nets momentum and kept fouling. I guess Adi has GSW trading Biendris because Whiteside is a similiar player. lil Offense but can defend and finish off with dunks. White is maybe longer and more athletic but Biendris is not slouch. Cousins may actually be a better fit but GSW have no clue and Cousins is a risk. Golden state does not have any physical size in the front court. I like Anthony Randolph but GSW will not be where he takes off he will probably leave as a free agent.
I see a lot of team trading
I see a lot of team trading picks like Minny has too many picks this year and will probably keep some early 2nd rounders and sell off a late first. Indiana would be smart to take Favors who would immediately increase their athleticism. Sacramento should take Cousins. Spence Hawes is not the answer and neither Laundry nor Thompson have big physically presence. I dont even see where Johnson would fit with the Kings. Why would you replace Martin with Johnson. Laundry could play well off the bench backing up Cousins or Thompson depending. Hawes can get moved. Johnson is a good swingman a position that Kings are stacked at. Greene and that that rookie are both young and getting better and should play that position well. If Evans is the point guard than you may need a 2 guard but they have money to grab a vet there and draft size which is harder to come by.
I don’t like Aminu @ 7, I
I don’t like Aminu @ 7, I hate X. Henry @ 9 over James Anderson???? Henry does nothing better than Anderson and Anderson is taller, longer, and more athletic, and if Ed Davis comes out he won’t fall to 20th….but he’s not coming out.
Interesting piece though, always love any live draft
Johnson could fall to Utah
Johnson could fall to Utah but if GSW can maybe trade Ellis for a position they need help with Johnson may fit but I doubt this because GSW is the one team that should just stop drafting swingman when they can find swingman that are decent from undrafted or d league. Going big seems a better choice for them
Alrich taken by Houston
Alrich taken by Houston looks good initially but if Houston do go in different direction with Center they would be wise to get someone longer and more athletic than Alrich. Someone that could potentially hang with some power forwards. One of the ways teams would punish Houston with Yao on the floor would be to put a smaller line up on the floor. I think if they could it may be best that they wait on a legit center and take a good power forward like maybe Patterson or Monroe. I would switch New Orleans and Houston picks here even though i would love to see Monroe play in his hometown. Monroe is about 6’11” and could play some spot Center. his passing should help with him having all those shooters. New Orleans needs a small forward but getting front court help would be great and Alrich is nice and give you a different look that Okafor.
Alrich taken by Houston
Alrich taken by Houston looks good initially but if Houston do go in different direction with Center they would be wise to get someone longer and more athletic than Alrich. Someone that could potentially hang with some power forwards. One of the ways teams would punish Houston with Yao on the floor would be to put a smaller line up on the floor. I think if they could it may be best that they wait on a legit center and take a good power forward like maybe Patterson or Monroe. I would switch New Orleans and Houston picks here even though i would love to see Monroe play in his hometown. Monroe is about 6’11” and could play some spot Center. his passing should help with him having all those shooters. New Orleans needs a small forward but getting front court help would be great and Alrich is nice and give you a different look that Okafor.
Ebanks to the clippers was
Ebanks to the clippers was pretty good. I need to check to see who i put there on my mock. I think it was Ebanks or Aminu
I really hope Cousins
I really hope Cousins doesn’t go to the Pistons lol I hate the Pistons…but it makes sense for them to pick him though. Here’s a wild idea: could the Kings take Cousins at 4 and try to sign an SG (Like Joe Johnson, if they have enough cap space) in free agency?
Charlesgarcia, I seriously doubt Varnado goes in the 1st round. Way too skinny for a PF/C, and not good enough offensive skills. Obviously defense is his strong suit, but he’ll get bullied under the goal in the NBA.
I think when Wall goes to the Nets, Wall and Harris should play together. Those 2 together in the backcourt would be perfect if they ran the dribble-drive like Wall is doing right now in Kentucky. It could give them and Terrence Williams driving opportunities and get guys like Lee and CDR open for 3’s
“I just believe with
“I just believe with Whiteside running next to Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright, I’m not sure how anyone gets a shot off against that trio.”
By going right through their boney chests. If you wonder what a team would look like with Randolph, Wright, and another long, skinny 7-footer known for his ability to block shots, you can pop in a tape from the 08-09 Warriors when they had Wright, Randolph, and Biedrins. If my memory is correct, teams did just fine scoring against them.
If you don’t envision the Kings going big with Monroe, Cousins, or Aldrich, then it would make much more sense for them to try and deal the pick for Darren Collison than add another wing who isn’t going to be a star. They already have Garcia, Nocioni, Casspi, Greene, and McGuire. What dynamic does Johnson bring to that group?
“Travis Outlaw is their weakest link among their starters making the top SF on the board a priority.” The Clippers are 25-40. They aren’t just one small forward away unless that guy is LeBron James. The value of getting Monroe or Aldrich at ten is just too much to pass on.
Damion James wouldn’t really add anything to Memphis that they don’t already have in Sam Young. I like both James and Young, but a team doesn’t need two of them. I’d rather see them go for Vesely as he would add a ton of length at the 3 spot as well as more range.
If Larry Sanders was a GM, would he take himself over Ed Davis?
Does anyone else think that there are way too many NIT-bound players going in the first round of this mock? And not just on big conference schools, though there are plenty of those, but also from the WAC and, CUSA. Seriously, what about Hassan Whiteside’s game suggests he has more potential than Cousins, Monroe, or Aldrich? Why would Luke Babbitt project to go higher than Kyle Singer? I might need a little help with Dominique Jones declaring and going in the first while Avery Bradley would not declare despite being better.
WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD
WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD G-STATE DRAFT….PATRICK O’BRYANT 2.0 ………jeez hope they learned there lesson!!!!!
Hassan Whiteside looks
Hassan Whiteside looks pretty good especially on the defense end and he could learn behind Biendris until he get bigger. Also O’Bryant was not a defense guy but an offense guy who had low basketball IQ. Who else would GSW take because they like to run and i don’t know how well that style would fit for Cousins who would not be a bad fit at the 4 and they can move Ellis and Randolph in a trade I am sure someone would bite. Whiteside seems to be the guy they would take or maybe favors it depends on workouts. I think Whiteside will kill it at workout though and GSW has time for him to grow.
I like that live draft,as
I like that live draft,as always it is impossible not to make some mistakes in it
anyway I think that there will be some good talents in 2nd rounds that teams can make some steals(like Blair in 2009)
Sidney
Does anyone think Renardo Sidney will come out instead of returning because he has to sit out 9 games next year and repay $11k?
I like the picks for the
I like the picks for the Hawks and Bulls. The Hawks getting Terrico White would be a jackpot pick. Its so much going on with Joe Johnson with him possibilty going to the Knicks or Bulls. I also like James Andersom going to the Bulls. He would be a good sidekick for D-Rose if D-Wade or Joe Johnson doesnt come into the Chi. I really like Dominique Jones for the Bucks.
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You know very little about basketball
You clearly don’t know much about what you are talking about.
You say Bird prefers only white players with 4 years college. Yet he acquired Hibbert, Rush, and Price all of whom are not white
You don’t know what you are talking about and you border on racist comments. No doubt you will have this post removed because it rocks your little kingdom.
No more reading the drivel on this site.
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