My First Mock Ever, Lottery Only (3-23)

[Villanova1L]

Miami- Michael Beasley: In my mind the consensus number one pick in this draft. I think he brings the most to the table immediately and that he'll be the most dominant player from this draft right away.

Minnesota- Brooks Lopez: Post scoring threat to couple with Al Jefferson. I also don't think they're ready to give up on Foye, although Derrick Rose is obviously a really big possibility here. I'd take Lopez because he brings a lot to both sides of the ball and coupled with Jefferson can lock down the front court for years.

Memphis- DeAndre Jordan: Can't justify taking Rose here with the number of young PG's they already have. I think they roll the dice with a big man with a ton of potential, althought Mayo, Gordon, and Gallinari are all possibilities here. Hell, it's Memphis I guess Rose is still a possibility.

Seattle- Derrick Rose: Don't think they go anywhere else if Rose is there. The best point guard option in this draft, especially for a team that already features KD and Jeff Green. Can't see them going anywhere else, although Bayless giving them another scoring option is an option.

New York- OJ Mayo: Big market, potential head case, but hey he's marketable. I say this is where Mayo goes, to me he's the biggest wild card in the draft, and if he does it'll make him or break him. I can't imagine them passing on him for Bayless or Gordon, but it is possible. The size Mayo has coupled with his ability to score really makes him attractive to a team that doesn't have nearly enough scoring guards.

LA Clippers- Jerryd Bayless: I think the Clippers are ecstatic to score the athletic combo guard here. He doesn't crowd the backcourt that much because he or Livingston can bring the ball down and have the size go guard both guard positions. Gordon is an option, but I think Bayless brings more to the table.

Milwaukee- Haseem Thabeet: I think they're taking the game changing big man here. This guy changes a lot of shots and will get more polished on the offensive end. I don't see them taking Gordon because they already have Redd, and Gallinardi is an option, but I think with Yi they'll shy away from a player at the same position.

Charlotte- Danilo Gallinari: Little hope of not stacking at positions here (they have a set starting 5), so they go with the best player available here.

Indiana- Eric Gordon: Probably looking to add a scorer here, and Gordon has shown he can do that. Give him a few years and hope he can get more consistent with the ball and getting his own shot. I really like this pick for a Pacers team that needs a player of his caliber.

Chicago- Russell Westbrook: Can give them more energy off the bench and can guard either PG or SG. Adds depth to the backcourt and is probably the best talent available.

New Jersey- Roy Hibbert: After adding Devin Harris with Marcus Williams the PG position is locked down. Adding another swing player doesn't seem like the best idea. Finally, having Kristic as a question mark because of injury I think they add the 7'2" Hibbert.

Sacramento- Darren Collison: Add a PG to the mix after losing Bibby to the Hawks.

Portland- Anthony Randolph: Super long, very athletic and a guy that can grow as the rest of the Blazers grow. Adding another athletic SF doesn't seem to hurt a team that would like to go PG if the draft was deeper. Maybe they took a look at DJ Augustin.

Denver- Donte Green: Take a risk reward guy at this spot. I don't like the talk of adding another big man here. I guess Augustin could be a possibility but I think Green is a good pick here for the value. It worked pretty well for the last Syracuse freshmen they took.

Comments welcome.

[Goldbum]

I think PDX takes Green if they cant move up to get Mayo or Bayless.

[Cammo101]

Rose in Minnesota is a perfect fit. And if they would rather have Lopez, they should trade down for value.

[Villanova1L]

Rose in Minnesota is a perfect fit. And if they would rather have Lopez, they should trade down for value.

Don't you think that it'd be hard for them to trade down and still get Lopez? If they swap with Seattle they run the risk of losing Lopez to Memphis.

[yearsago]

Seattle is #2, but they would take Rose.

[gswhoops]

Miami- Michael Beasley: In my mind the consensus number one pick in this draft. I think he brings the most to the table immediately and that he'll be the most dominant player from this draft right away.

Minnesota- Brooks Lopez: Post scoring threat to couple with Al Jefferson. I also don't think they're ready to give up on Foye, although Derrick Rose is obviously a really big possibility here. I'd take Lopez because he brings a lot to both sides of the ball and coupled with Jefferson can lock down the front court for years.

Memphis- DeAndre Jordan: Can't justify taking Rose here with the number of young PG's they already have. I think they roll the dice with a big man with a ton of potential, althought Mayo, Gordon, and Gallinari are all possibilities here. Hell, it's Memphis I guess Rose is still a possibility.

Seattle- Derrick Rose: Don't think they go anywhere else if Rose is there. The best point guard option in this draft, especially for a team that already features KD and Jeff Green. Can't see them going anywhere else, although Bayless giving them another scoring option is an option.

New York- OJ Mayo: Big market, potential head case, but hey he's marketable. I say this is where Mayo goes, to me he's the biggest wild card in the draft, and if he does it'll make him or break him. I can't imagine them passing on him for Bayless or Gordon, but it is possible. The size Mayo has coupled with his ability to score really makes him attractive to a team that doesn't have nearly enough scoring guards.

LA Clippers- Jerryd Bayless: I think the Clippers are ecstatic to score the athletic combo guard here. He doesn't crowd the backcourt that much because he or Livingston can bring the ball down and have the size go guard both guard positions. Gordon is an option, but I think Bayless brings more to the table.

Milwaukee- Haseem Thabeet: I think they're taking the game changing big man here. This guy changes a lot of shots and will get more polished on the offensive end. I don't see them taking Gordon because they already have Redd, and Gallinardi is an option, but I think with Yi they'll shy away from a player at the same position.

Charlotte- Danilo Gallinardi: Little hope of not stacking at positions here (they have a set starting 5), so they go with the best player available here.

Indiana- Eric Gordon: Probably looking to add a scorer here, and Gordon has shown he can do that. Give him a few years and hope he can get more consistent with the ball and getting his own shot. I really like this pick for a Pacers team that needs a player of his caliber.

Chicago- Russell Westbrook: Can give them more energy off the bench and can guard either PG or SG. Adds depth to the backcourt and is probably the best talent available.

New Jersey- Roy Hibbert: After adding Devin Harris with Marcus Williams the PG position is locked down. Adding another swing player doesn't seem like the best idea. Finally, having Kristic as a question mark because of injury I think they add the 7'2" Hibbert.

Sacramento- Darren Collison: Add a PG to the mix after losing Bibby to the Hawks.

Portland- Anthony Randolph: Super long, very athletic and a guy that can grow as the rest of the Blazers grow. Adding another athletic SF doesn't seem to hurt a team that would like to go PG if the draft was deeper. Maybe they took a look at DJ Augustin.

Denver- Donte Green: Take a risk reward guy at this spot. I don't like the talk of adding another big man here. I guess Augustin could be a possibility but I think Green is a good pick here for the value. It worked pretty well for the last Syracuse freshmen they took.

Comments welcome.

My thoughts:

-Rose WILL be the #2 pick. IMO Minnesota would be better off trading Foye for a C than reaching for Lopez. Or if they really like Foye, trading down and picking up someone they like.

-Hasheem Thabeet is too high, especially since the Bucks have Bogut.

-Chicago will probably be looking for a PF in the draft, Darrell Arthur if he comes out.

-Collison and Green before Augustin?

[BigSlam]

Charlotte- Danilo Gallinardi: Little hope of not stacking at positions here (they have a set starting 5), so they go with the best player available here.

Not with Wallace, Morrison and Dudley already on the roster.

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

who would the mavs take if they do slip into the lottery?

I like Batum

[ponder276]

You focus too much on team needs. Teams draft mostly for BPA, only looking at team needs when they consider players to be interchangeable skill-wise. I love Lopez, but I can't see him going ahead of Rose. Jordan going ahead of Rose is absolutely not going to happen, I would bet everything I own on that.

[Villanova1L]

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Not with Wallace, Morrison and Dudley already on the roster.

Where do you see them going instead? Also, Morrison hasn't exactly been great, so I don't see why they'd pass on the BPA.

[Villanova1L]

You focus too much on team needs. Teams draft mostly for BPA, only looking at team needs when they consider players to be interchangeable skill-wise. I love Lopez, but I can't see him going ahead of Rose. Jordan going ahead of Rose is absolutely not going to happen, I would bet everything I own on that.

I think Jordan ahead of Rose would have to be in this scenario only, where Memphis isn't going to take on another young PG. Thanks for the response and I will keep that in mind for my next mock.

[Villanova1L]

[quote="gswhoops"][/quote]

I think you're right on Rose, except in the scenario I have up. I wouldn't be surprised if Minnesota was content with Foye at PG, and would rather have Lopez, so they pass on Rose and then Memphis doesn't take a PG because of all the young PGs they have already. I think Rose is the second best prospect in the draft.

Who would the Bucks take instead of Thabeet? Also, you're obviously drafting Thabeet on potential to change games on the defensive end and hopefully develop into a post scorer.

Not sure why Chicago would go PF with the last 2 first rounders spent on Thomas and Noah.

Yes Collison and Green before Augustin. I think Green is more highly regarded within the league then people thing, also I think for the way the rest of the mock shook out Augustin going somewhere ahead of him is unlikely (except Sacto, where I have Collison right now).

[BigSlam]

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Where do you see them going instead? Also, Morrison hasn't exactly been great, so I don't see why they'd pass on the BPA.

Based on the guys left on your board when we pick, I'm thinking Hibbert or Augustin.

[Villanova1L]

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Based on the guys left on your board when we pick, I'm thinking Hibbert or Augustin.

Seems fair enough, I guess if you can't fill a need then get the best guy there, but you definitely know the Bobcats needs better than I.

[Paydro70]

Teams do draft BPA frequently, but usually not in a way that completely duplicates their best positions, unless they're a playoff team looking for backups. The Bobcats are not. Felton is not a secure starter, and we need a big to play alongside Okafor... ideally we'd be drafting either a PF (Randolph perhaps) or a PG (Augustin, etc.). Slam likes Hibbert, but some Bobcats fans aren't very excited about watching Okafor try to defend PFs.

[bargs]

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Not with Wallace, Morrison and Dudley already on the roster.

gallinari, not gallinardi..please

[Villanova1L]

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gallinari, not gallinardi..please

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