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I have been following the top talents in college basketball this year trying to figure out all their games. The draft is still months away but a mock is not to hard to predict to this day because many teams have specific needs. Loads of talent and character are in this draft. It is severely deep and I am excited for draft day. So here's my mock.

*Draft order determined by records to this day*


1. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Selection: DeAndre Jordan

The Timberwolves will not draft Derrick Rose because they have strong confidence in the talented Randy Foye. They also have their sharp shooter (Rashad McCants) so they will not draft a Donte Greene or Eric Gordon. Last year, they took a SF in the draft (Corey Brewer) and he has shown finesse in his limited play. DeAndre will be the best selection for them, although he is a project, he is a 7 footer that would compliment Big Al perfectly.



2. MIAMI HEAT
Selection: Michael Beasley

The Miami Heat select the best talent in the draft. Beasley, an explosive foward has potential superstar status in the NBA. He is a good comparison to Carmelo Anthony but with more explosiveness, he can do it all. A healthy Wade playing with Michael Beasley would potentially be one of the most prolific offenses in the NBA if they both stay healthy. The reason they don't select Derrick Rose is because Rose fits more on a fastbreak styled NBA offense and also simply because Beasley is still on the board.



3. SEATTLE SONICS
Selection: Derrick Rose

Sonics won't even think of a different guy to select if this guy is on the board for them. If they have the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick they will definitely choose the top PG in the draft. Derrick Rose is the perfect fit for the Sonics style offense. Sonics are in need for a pure PG. Rose is a big 6'4 PG and will be the most athletic point guard in the NBA once he enters it.



4. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Selection: Eric Gordon

The young Grizzlies do not need another guard but adding Gordon would be an upgrade. This would force the Grizzlies to have a great 6th man in Mike Miller. Eric Gordon is the best scorer in this class and he has a great basketball mindset. He has the explosiveness of a Monta Ellis but with more strength. A star in the years to come.



5. NEW YORK KNICKS
Selection: Jerryd Bayless

If you have followed the Wildcats this year, they look like a Division II basketball team without this man and the Cats do have talent on their team outside Bayless (Chase Budinger). The Knicks seem to have that lost man on their team, a man who can unite the team and get them some wins. Jerryd would be a great fit in the arms of the Big Apple.



6. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Selection: OJ Mayo

The Clippers need to bring this type of player there to Los Angeles. OJ has "superstar" status because he was discussed about since his junior high days. He is currently playing in USC so he'll only be miles above playing in LA. Clipper could potentially have a Mayo, Thornton, Kamen combination which looks well balanced.



7. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Selection: Donte Greene

Versatile foward from 'Cuse. If Beasley had not been in the draft, Donte would not be living under his shadow this year. He can do everything on the floor. Hit threes, block shots, and is a strong rebounder. Streaky shooter and when he is hot he can really get it on. He also has a passion for the game and do whatever it takes to win. Sixers select him with the 7th overall, he can play SG, SF, and PF, he will fit with AI well.



8. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Selection: Nicholas Batum

I feel the Bobcats would love to pick him mainly because he is a team guy. He is a raised man from France. Emeka Okafor is as good a team player you can have so him and Nicolas would mesh well together. Bobcats are also in need of a guard. Future lineup of Felton - Batum - Wallace - Okafor - Nazr. Jason Richardson as 6th man.



9. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Selection: Tyler Smith

Tyler is a mature foward out of Tennessee. Maybe the reason for that is because he is already 21 as a sophmore. He drops in this years draft because of this. Bucks select him because he has athleticism to the max and will solidify their backcourt with Mo Williams and Michael Redd.



10. CHICAGO BULLS
Selection: Kevin Love

Love is one of the very few power fowards in this class. He is the perfect fit for the poorest frontcourt in basketball. Him being in the lineup would actually make Ben Wallace more efficient. Kevin has a great basketball IQ and is a prolific scoring big man. Amazing toughness as well, the toughness of Tyler Hansbrough from UNC.



11. SACRAMENTO KINGS
Selection: D.J Augustin

With an aging Mike Bibby, DJ will take his place in Sac-Town. A pass first kind of point guard with quickness. His jumpshot keeps improving and his draft stock has improved over this year. A future pure PG at the big stage, I really have confidence in this guy.



12. INDIANA PACERS
Selection: Roy Hibbert

Pacers in need of a center, go with the best center on the board. Roy reminds me a little of Emeka Okafor. He has great character and works extremely hard and will never reach 20-10 potential. His great FT shooting is very rare for a 7'3 center.



13. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Selection: Danilo Gallinari

Athletic GF from Italy. Has the handles of a point guard and has good upside for the NBA. Has the potential to be a Manu Ginoboli but is far away from that level right now. Also has a great shot. He fits the Rockets because they are a high market team and the Rockets need some more fundamental basketball in order to make them pass teams in the West.



14. UTAH JAZZ
Selection: Hasheem Thabeet

It was either Hasheem or Stanford's Brook Lopez in this selection. Went with Hasheem though because he has more of a defensive mindset than Lopez. This is exactly what the Jazz need. He is a 7'3 center and an outstanding shot blocker. Him and Okur rotating with Millsap and Boozer would be one of the most well balanced front courts in the NBA and it would be handled by Deron Williams, just unfair.



15. NEW JERSEY NETS
Selection: Brook Lopez

Great fit for the Nets. Lopez has offensive capability which the Nets need. Sean Williams and Josh Boone are one of the sloppiest offensive PF/C starting combinations in the NBA. Brook has a great touch from inside to midrange and would work beautifully with Jason Kidd.






That's it, thanks for reading!

What do you mean by Roy Hibbert will "never reach 20-10 potential" I don't like Hibbert but I just didn't know what you meant by that.

jeremy1215 wrote:What do you mean by Roy Hibbert will "never reach 20-10 potential" I don't like Hibbert but I just didn't know what you meant by that.

20 points, 10 boards a night type of center. Emeka isn't that type of player either so I compare them.

you put Gordon and Rose before yourself?

Bucks might pick Tyler Smith, but it would be to solidify the SF position; not the backcourt.

Ruzious wrote:Bucks might pick Tyler Smith, but it would be to solidify the SF position; not the backcourt.

Trio combination of Mo, Redd, and Smith basically.

Jerryd Bayless wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Trio combination of Mo, Redd, and Smith basically.

Dude, your sig is way too big. You have to limit it to 400x90 pixels combined for all pictures. Ask around for someone to make you a Bayless sig but the two you have has to get taken down. You don't want to lose sig priveleges, which is what will happen if you don't replace what you have with something else.

I think the Bulls might take a look at Hibbert before Love.

i like your mock, i agree about Bayless top 5.

Jason Richardson as 6th man.

i know Bayless is a pg, but he seems selfish to me. If we are going selfish guard with the pick, why not OJ Mayo?

i still think the right pick for the knicks no matter where they pick if Rose isn't on the board is to take Brook Lopez

You nailed the Sonics. And if D Rose is already gone it's J Bayless. No way the Sonics pick another center.

Shoot, Jerryd. I know you want to play for the Knicks, but don't they have enough guards on their roster that aren't getting any playing time? And are you worth taking over a shooter like Donte Greene or a grinder like Kevin Love? OJ Mayo is bigger and would sell more tickets than you. Why would the Knicks take you ahead of him? Bayless, I like your mock, and I like your confidence in yourself that you're a Top 5 pick, but don't you need to prove you're not another Monta Ellis clone in that you can score but can't run the point full-time?

magee wrote:Shoot, Jerryd. I know you want to play for the Knicks, but don't they have enough guards on their roster that aren't getting any playing time? And are you worth taking over a shooter like Donte Greene or a grinder like Kevin Love? OJ Mayo is bigger and would sell more tickets than you. Why would the Knicks take you ahead of him? Bayless, I like your mock, and I like your confidence in yourself that you're a Top 5 pick, but don't you need to prove you're not another Monta Ellis clone in that you can score but can't run the point full-time?

What? Bayless makes his teammates around him better, he also has an outside shot which Monta doesn't have. In fact, Jerryd has one of the best jumpshots in the nation. He is pure from out there.

the wolves would be crazy not to pick beasley with the 1st pick....

Selfish?

Bayless is in the top 3 in assists pg in the pac ten.

Agent Zona wrote:Selfish?

Bayless is in the top 3 in assists pg in the pac ten.

Damn straight, boo

bravesatl wrote:the wolves would be crazy not to pick beasley with the 1st pick....

i dont think he will take jefferson spot at pf

and i dont think he can play sf

i would not go past Rose he would make this whole team so much better not forgetting he will be looking too go to Al Jefferson a lot

jefferson can play some minutes at center, brewer some minutes at SG, and then you can ever sit one of those guys on the bench every once in a while.

The point is I think you can make Beasley work.

I like this mock draft, except I just don't see DeAndre Jordan as a 1st overall pick when Beasley and Rose are still available. Even taking team needs into account, I would think it'd be Rose #1, Beasley #2, Jordan #3 (Beasley should probably be #1, but as you said, he doesn't really fit on a team with Al and Brewer).