Barring trades, NBA draft taking shape
Monday, June 23, 2008 | Print Entry
Barring trades -- and there are likely to be at least a few -- this is how I see the top dozen picks going in Thursday night's NBA draft (as of Sunday night after numerous conversations over the weekend with teams and agents):
1. Chicago -- Derrick Rose, Fr., Memphis: The Bulls will still play this close to the vest until Thursday. Rose does force them to make some personnel moves in the backcourt, but taking Rose means they get an extension of new coach Vinny Del Negro, a former NBA guard, at the point and an anchor at one of the most important positions on the floor.
2. Miami -- Michael Beasley, Fr., Kansas State: There is always a chance the Heat package this pick. But according to a number of sources within the league, the Heat probably won't pass on Beasley as an asset, at the very least. Putting Beasley next to Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion is a potent offensive machine for new coach Erik Spoelstra.
3. Minnesota -- O.J. Mayo, Fr., USC: The Timberwolves have considered Brook Lopez and Kevin Love and are scheduled to work out Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless on Monday. But here is the reality for the T-Wolves: Mayo is fast becoming the third-most coveted player in the draft. So, you take Mayo and then deal with your issues at guard.
4. Seattle -- Brook Lopez, Soph., Stanford: The Sonics are interested in Mayo, Lopez, Bayless and Russell Westbrook. There is always the possibility that the Sonics could deal, too. But Lopez makes sense for them, and I was told he is No. 1 on the list if Mayo is gone. Lopez gives the Sonics a solid low-post presence at the 5, with Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison easily playing next to him.
5. Memphis -- Kevin Love, Fr., UCLA: The Tigers need skilled post players, and no one is better than Love. This roster is screaming for someone like Love in the post. Don't underscore the value of having assistant coach Kevin O'Neill on the staff, too. O'Neill watched Love get the best of Arizona this past season and is a huge fan of Love's game.
6. New York -- Eric Gordon, Fr., Indiana: The Knicks will likely think long and hard about Gordon versus Italy's Danilo Gallinari, but Gordon is readier to contribute now. He's a combo guard who could play well in Mike D'Antoni's uptempo system. And it's an easier sell for Donnie Walsh in New York to go with an American player with name recognition. If Mayo somehow slipped, then he would be the top player on the board. Westbrook is also a possibility here, too.
7. L.A. Clippers -- Jerryd Bayless, Fr., Arizona: The Clippers need a point guard with Shaun Livingston's return from the knee injury still an unknown. Mayo is coveted, but he won't fall this far. Gordon and Westbrook are also in play, but Bayless probably gets the nod, according to a number of sources, over Westbrook if there is a choice.
8. Milwaukee -- Joe Alexander, Jr., West Virginia: The Bucks' interest in Alexander is increasing. Alexander wants to be a Buck, speaks Mandarin (which could help with Yi Jianlian), and the fact that other teams, like Phoenix, have an interest in Alexander makes him even more enticing.
9. Charlotte -- Russell Westbrook, Soph., UCLA: This is the drop spot for Love and Lopez. If either one is still on the board at No. 9, then he likely goes here. But in this mock, they're not available. Coach Larry Brown loves defense, and Westbrook can deliver on that end.
10. New Jersey -- Danilo Gallinari, Italy: There are certain sources that usually don't get a thing wrong. One of them is adamant that Gallinari won't slip past No. 10. Gallinari stayed in the draft to go in the top 10 and going to a team in the tri-state area was the intent.
11. Indiana -- D.J. Augustin, Soph., Texas: The Pacers want a lead guard. Augustin will likely be the best one remaining. This makes too much sense.
12. Sacramento -- Anthony Randolph, Fr., LSU: Coach Reggie Theus wants to continue to get his team up and down the court, and Randolph's game fits perfectly for that. Randolph was talked about at No. 8, but he's more likely to slide a bit to the back side of the lottery.
The NBA confirmed the following 16 players will be invited to New York for Thursday's draft:
Joe Alexander, Jr., West Virginia
Darrell Arthur, Soph., Kansas
D.J. Augustin, Soph., Texas
Jerryd Bayless, Fr., Arizona
Michael Beasley, Fr., Kansas State
Danilo Gallinari, Italy
Eric Gordon, Fr., Indiana
DeAndre Jordan, Fr., Texas A&M
Brook Lopez, Soph., Stanford
Robin Lopez, Soph., Stanford
Kevin Love, Fr., UCLA
O.J. Mayo, Fr., USC
Anthony Randolph, Fr., LSU
Derrick Rose, Fr., Memphis
Brandon Rush, Jr., Kansas
Russell Westbrook, Soph., UCLA
If you're looking for who will be left sitting the longest, it will likely be Jordan.
Final nuggets
(culled from a number of NBA sources the past few days)
• Phoenix did call Milwaukee trying to get No. 8 to get to Alexander. The Suns are looking for a small forward. It's no secret that guard Leandro Barbosa is on the block.
• Miami is still a viable trade partner for someone and had interest in Toronto's T.J. Ford up until a few weeks ago. Miami originally was intrigued by Ford in 2003 before going with Dwyane Wade.
• Portland is definitely shopping No. 13, and moving lower in the draft for someone like Serge Ibaka is a possibility.
• Other teams to keep an eye on for trades are Memphis, Seattle and New York.
• The player who may be moving up from the second round into the middle of the first is France's Alexis Ajinca.
• Kansas junior guard Mario Chalmers is also climbing and could go as high as No. 15 to Phoenix if the Suns keep the pick. Chalmers' drop spot may end up being Orlando at No. 22.
• Rider senior Jason Thompson is a viable candidate at No. 14 to Golden State. If that happens, it could be the upset of the draft.
• Stanford sophomore Robin Lopez may not get past Phoenix at No. 15, either.
• The two most disappointed players on draft night might end up being Nevada sophomore JaVale McGee and Syracuse freshman Donte Greene.
Sounds like a lot of teams are coveting Alexander in the mid lotto range (Portland and Phoenix tied to him already), I just don't think either of those teams have things they would trade that I would want to move back that far.
Interesting that he has Seattle going with Lopez and has Bayless falling to 7.
