-Michael Beasley, Kansas St.
Miami considers Rose at first, but then decides that Beasley offers them way more and can create a dominant inside outside duo with Wade. He also can slide to the 3 or 4 if they keep Marion, or provide superb insurance if he leaves.
2)
- Derrick Rose, Memphis
Another obvious pick. Seattle has mere role players at the PG spot right now, and has enough 3/4/5's to be content with. Rose and Durant pair up to form a duo that could be one of the best a few years down the line.
3)
- OJ Mayo, USC
Lopez or Jordan seem to be the popular pick here, but with Memphis still rumored to be shopping Mike Miller in the offseason, they take a chance on a potential star at the 2 spot who could eventually draw some nice crowds to Memphis. A Conley/Mayo/Gay combo with Darko and whoever they get for Mike Miller (mid-first?) is a young but repectable core to work off of.
4)
Brook Lopez, Stanford
With Mccants and Foye, this doesn't seem like the spot for a Bayless or Rose. Jordan is a popular pick here, but Memphis decides to go with Lopez so Jefferson can move back to the PF spot, and has two legitimate threats to go to on the low block.
5)
Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
This is the spot for a Gordon or Bayless, and NYK takes Bayless to be their PG of the future. With the whole Marbury fiasco, NYK can sit with ease knowing they get a potential star out of this disastrous season. Even though he might be a little similiar to Marbury in a scoring PG role, he comes without all of the baggage. Way to high for Thabeet here (even though he could fit in nicely), and NY fans won't accept a big like Jordan who will take at least two years to see if he becomes anything, after a horrific season like this.
6)
Eric Gordon, Indiana
LAC doesn't really have any long term PG's or SG's (I consider Maggette more of a SF), so they take a guy who can play both positions. Nobody's stock was higher than Gordon's at the begginning of the year, but the once sharpshooter went to a tremendous shooting drought to end the season. However, a wrist injury and the Kelvin Sampson ordeal may be attributed to some of that, and while Gordon has his deficiencies, you know you will get a guy who can get to the line and defend. He's always been a great shooter, so I think he eventually gets back to being a great shooter despite his recent slumps.
7)
-Nicolas Batum, FranceThough changes are needed, Milwaukee has 4 of the 5 positions covered for the future with Mo/Redd/?/Yi/Bogut. They decide between Batum and Italian sensation Gallinari here, but in the end feel that Batum's ahtleticism, versatality, and great defensive potential outweigh what Gallinari offers in terms of IQ, since the Bucks are in dire need of defense.
DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M
Charlotte still has high hopes for Felton/J-Rich/Wallace/Okafor, so the main need is at center. I'm not particularly high on Jordan at all, but the potential is their for him to become a dangerous player. Hibbert also could make sense, but it's still a little too high for him.
9)
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Potential starters at all of the 5 positions (Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Thomas/Noah), so whoever they pick will draw questions to the future of the current player at their position. Bulls also have a ton of assetts to trade up (Hinrich/Thabo/Nocioni/Gooden) and their owner is somewhat cheap, so this is a team to keep your eye on and may very well try to make a run to move up to the 4 or 5 spot.
With that said, the Bulls take who they feel is the BPA and land Blake Griffin, who has the physical tools to become that dominating player under the glass and in the low post that they have needed for so long. Paxson has said that he also wants to get a true PG, so DJ Augustine gets a lot of consideration, but in the end they feel that may be able to pry a TJ Ford type away for Nocioni and future considerations. Don't be surprised to see a major shakeup in the offseason as well with Hinrich, Gooden and others all available to upgrade.
Also keep an eye out for Kevin Love at this pick, he seems to fit the character billing that Paxson has set and offers potential in one of the areas they need the most help in. A strong run in the final four could catapault him to number 9, or possibly higher.
10)
Russell Westbrook, UCLA
Tinsley is unreliable and they have no legitimate 2 guard, so Indiana takes a high risk high reward guy in Westbrook who offers help at both positions. Very athletic and has some very nice handles to work with, so the potential is there.
11)
Darrell Arthur,Kansas
Tough pick here. They might go for a 2 guard to replace Vince, but noone is really worthy of it right here. They have alot of young bigs with potential, but snag one more who's stock will surely rise if Kansas continues their winning ways. Potential to be a younger Joe Smith kind of player if things work out right.
12)
DJ Augustin, Texas
Seems to be a need with no Bibby, so Sac Town snags up Augustin who is a steal at this pick and has what it takes to start in this league for a long time.
13)
Danilo Gallinari, Italy
Portland's ecstatic. Gallinari is dominating his league at such a young age, and shows so much smarts and poise for being so young. His great shooting and smart passing will compliment Oden very nicely.
14)
Kevin Love, UCLA
So many options here with no immediate need (unless they take Collison who wouldn't pair well with Iverson defensively). Love would be an intruiging pair next to Camby, and would fit in nicely throwing outlet passes to AI, Melo, and Smith. Watch out though, because Love might be long gone by this spot on draft day if he can continue dominating in the tourney.
15) Phoenix Suns-Anthony Randolph, LSU
Seems like the perfect fit for them with what he can become in the future. Tyler Smith might also be intiguing.
A little too tired to do the rest, but i'll probably post a quickie tommorrow.
