Here's my first Mock Draft of the year

[Dat2U]

What do you guys think, I'd love to hear your opinions.

1. MIA - PG Derrick Rose
Pair him w/ Wade & Marion and Miami becomes competitive immediately w/ the ability to run teams out the building.

2. SEA - PF Michael Beasley
Durant & Beasley become one helluva of twosome in OK City, especially considering their already best friends.

3. MIN - C Brook Lopez
I don't trust McHale to make the right decision here. Brook will be a solid pro and low post scorer but he's not the defensive stalwart that they need next to Big Al.

4. MEM - SG O.J. Mayo
Mayo would really give them the explosive scorer they lack. A trio of Conley, Mayo & Gay on the perimeter will be exciting to watch, but they'll still need a big to really show improvement in the win column.

5. NYN - PG Jerryd Bayless
I love Bayless' talent but think he's a year or two away from really showing his wares in the L. He'll be worth the wait though if Knicks fans & management are patient. He got alot of Gilbert's game to him.

6. LAC - SG Eric Gordon
This seems like a perfect need pick. Clips need a SG to replace Mobley in the worst way. Problem is I'm not sure Gordon will live up to the hype. Built like a fire hydrant and has good range, but a little small in height and not a great athlete IMO. Bad traits for a supposed stud SG.

7. MIL - SF Danilo Gallinari
Seems like another perfect need pick. Bucks still have a gaping hole at SF with Desmond Mason & Bobby Simmons whose best days are behind them. Don't know too much about Gallinari but many believe he's a better prospect than former #1 Bargnani, I'd hope so.

8. CHA - PG Russell Westbrook
Reminds me of a young Antonio Daniels, hopefully he'll become a better shooter. Can get to the rack at will off the dribble and has excellent size. Should be a good defender from day one. The Cats need an improvement from the PG position to elevate themselves in the East.

9. CHI - PF Kevin Love
He's Paxson's type of player, the type he likes to draft. He's smart, hard working and is good guy in general. I think he's a potential steal at this spot if he can get with a professional trainer and tone his body. Not a great athlete but plays like a 15 yr vet. Amazing for a guy one year removed from HS.

10. NJN - C DeAndre Jordan
GM Rod Thorn has been looking for an answer at C for what seems like forever. Jordan has top 5 talent, but a 2nd round resume. Long on length & athleticism, short on skill and motivation. I think he'll eventually tease and disappoint.

11. IND - PF Anthony Randolph
The upside is tremendous for Randolph. He's alot like Tim Thomas skilll wise with the face up game and w/ the ability to be effective on the perimeter, hopefully he doesn't play like him. Great athlete and by all accounts he's got more self-motivation that Thomas. A good pick here and potentially good fit in Jim O'Brien's offense.

12. SAC - PG D.J. Augustin
Another perfect need pick here. The Kings have Anthony Johnson & Beno Udrih as FAs at the PG position, and Augustin should come in and be an immediate upgrade over both. A good candidate for rookie of the year outside of Beasley & Rose.

13. POR - SF Nicolas Batum
My guess is Portland will look to shore up their two remaining holes in their young talented roster. A real bonafide starting PG and a defensive minded SF who can hit 3s. With the best PGs off the board, Batum becomes a good pick here. I think he's become a bit underrated because he didn't dominate overseas this past season. He still should become an excellent role player.

14. GSW - C Javale McGee
The Warriors will be looking for a replacement for huge bust Patrick O'Bryant. Javale fits the bill. He's got tons o' talent, and decent offensive skills but defense will be a big time issue for him. Not sure if he's got the mindset to become a huge factor in the league.

15. PHX - SF Chase Budinger
I could see GM Kerr going for the local kid here. The 'Zona forward also fills a need at SF with the uncertainty of Grant Hill and the need to spread the defense from the 3 spot with a lineup of Shaq & Amare. Maybe w/o D'Antoni around this rookie might have a chance to play next year.

16. PHI - PF Darrell Arthur
Philly may look for a starting PF in free agency, but I still think they'd be thrilled if they could land Arthur on draft night. He's got an NBA ready made skill set with a high quality mid range game and turnaround J from the block. Hopefully his inconsistency will subside with maturity and he could stand to get a bit stronger, but I believe he's a very good pick at this stage of the draft.

17. TOR - SF Donte Greene
GM Colangelo seems enamored at surrounding Bosh & his penetrating PGs with shooters to spread the floor. He gets his wish here by adding a high level product in Greene who has the range to spread the floor but also accomplish alot more with the ability to create and get to the rim. His length is also enticing and I'm sure Colangelo would love the idea of seeing a long, athletic front court of Bosh, Bargnani & Greene cause all sorts of match up problems for years to come.

18. WAS - C Kosta Koufos
GM Ernie Grunfeld generally drafts for high upside. Koufos has probably the highest upside of the players on the board, but also he's an extremely risky pick. KK was considered a potential top 5 pick early on but thoroughly disappointed throughout the college season. I also think there's a definite lack of toughness there. He reminds me alot of Kwame Brown in terms of on-court demeanor & body language. That's not a good thing. I hope I'm wrong about him. If he is drafted, expect him to play overseas for a year or two of further seasoning.

19. CLE SG Chris Douglas-Roberts
CDR would be a good value pick for Cleveland here. He would immediately become their best SG (Sorry Pavlovic...) on the roster and he provides them with much needed athleticism.

20. DEN PG Ty Lawson
Denver needs a PG in the worst way. Carter who played over his head, is a FA and he wasn't that good anyways. Atkins is coming off an injury plagued year and Karl didn't trust to play him when healthy at the end of the season. I can see Denver reaching a bit for an undersized sparkplug in Lawson who needs to refine his PG skills a bit, become a better decision maker and develop a jumper to keep defenses honest.

21. NJN - SF Joe Alexander
My guess is Jersey goes for value with this pick. Alexander could go 6-8 picks higher but I can see him falling based on need. With backup F Bostjan Nachbar as a FA, Alexander may be his replacement. A hard-working kid with a ton of skills and good range though foot speed may always be an issue with him.

22. ORL - C Marresse Speights
The playoff series with Detroit showcased a desperate need for a real PF beside Dwight Howard. Speights has the highest upside of the remaining players on the board and has the potential to become an effective low post option on his own. He may not be a perfect fit offensively with Howard due to lack of a skillset outside of five feet but Orlando is desperate for size. With his athleticism, he could become an excellent rebounder however.

23. UTA - C Roy Hibbert
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Words have never been truer for Hibbert's draft stock. Utah will get a steal here. Hibbert in my opinion will excel in a backup C role as a true low post option and shot changer defensively.

24. SEA - SG Brandon Rush
Seattle needs a SG with the Durant at guard experiment hopefully coming to an end next season. Rush has a nice shot with range and is a good facilitator but doesn't drive or finish much. He should find a role as a spot up shooter with plenty of open looks coming off Durant forays to the basket and possibly post ups from Beasley.

25. HOU - C Robin Lopez
This Lopez brother will impact games defensively as opposed to his brother who's a offensive minded player. A great value at this stage I think he can contribute in limited minutes pretty quickly for a team. The Rockets also need insurance for Yao.

26. SAS - PG Mario Chalmers
Jacque Vaughn, your replacement has just arrived. Seriously, this a good need pick here for the Spurs. Chalmers can be an ideal sparkplug as a backup on this level and a darned good defender as well. Plus he's from Kansas too, like Vaughn was.

27. NOH - PF Jason Thompson
The Hornets need depth upfront with such limited production after West & Chandler. Thompson has the physical tools to contribute one day but lacks the maturity or experience relative to competition to make an impact right away. He's a good candidate for the D-League.

28. MEM - PF J.J. Hickson
This team could use a definite dose of strength & toughness down low. They may pass up the best available guy to fill those needs in Hendrix for the guy with the higher upside in Hickson. He's got a raw, live body and could grow into a handful downlow but he's going to need alot of seasoning.

29. DET - C DeVon Hardin
Supposedly GM Joe Dumars made a promise to draft Hardin had he stayed in the draft last year. After Hardin's improvement over the year and the fact that Detroit has a need for a backup C that can be aggressive on the glass, Hardin makes sense here.

30. BOS - PF Alexis Ajinca
GM Danny Ainge will probably draft for the future and look to keep a guy overseas for a few years. Ajinca is the best remaining overseas prospect on the board. He's got a good wingspan and offensive ability but he's got to get stronger to ever play in the NBA.

[HeavyP]

If we got Beasley we'd take Lopez at that spot. Durant would be playing SG with Beasley SF and Green at PF.

[Dat2U]

If we got Beasley we'd take Lopez at that spot. Durant would be playing SG with Beasley SF and Green at PF.

Robin Lopez would be a good pick at 24, but with Collison, Swift, Petro & Sene all still on the roster, I'm not sure where Lopez would fit in.

Plus Seattle doesn't have anyone outside of Wilkins who can play the SG, he's really more of a SF in my humble opinion.

I don't know about Beasley playing the 3. I think players are better off playing their natural positions regardless of size advantage or disadvantages at another position. That goes for Durant too, who needs to operate closer to the basket instead of standing out on the wing. He'd get more rebounds and possibly settle for less long range jumpers.

[Paydro70]

I sincerely doubt the Bobcats would take Westbrook, a combo guard, instead of a PF that fills a clear hole. Love or Randolph, both on the board for your draft, would not be passed on.

[Smills91]

I see the Bobcats taking Jordan so they can slide Okafor to the 4.

[Dat2U]

I sincerely doubt the Bobcats would take Westbrook, a combo guard, instead of a PF that fills a clear hole. Love or Randolph, both on the board for your draft, would not be passed on.

That may very well be true, but what's really the bigger hole? The Cats have Okafor, Mohammed & May who could man the PF & C spots but have no one outside of Ray Felton, who's been a huge disappointment, at PG. Also would the Cats consider taking Love, a PF who is built very similarly to Sean May?

Remember, this is the team that was so unsatisfied with Felton, that they played freaking Jeff McInnis, a guy who might not stand out at your local YMCA, an ungodly amount of minutes at point guard. Then after they had enough sense to release McInnis, they sign the old & tiny Earl Boykins who played every bit like a typical guy of his height and age.

Knowing Jordan the GM, as I do as a Wizards fan, Westbrook would be his type of player, he likes combo guards that can swing b/w the 1 and 2, handle, slash and create off the dribble. He signed Larry Hughes as a FA, and he on more than one occassion tried to pry away Jamal Crawford when he was in Chicago.

[GswStorm3]

Bad pick for the Warriors

[Paydro70]

I hope, at least, that the Bobcats are not strongly relying on Sean May to be a lynchpin of the PF position. He's played barely 50 games in three seasons, and will be coming off of microfracture in the fall.

Neither Okafor nor Mohammed are power forwards, and played only very sparingly together this season. This is a common misperception by fans around the league, but Okafor has a great deal of trouble guarding PFs, and has very limited range on his jump shot. He's really not a PF in any way, and has only played it when Primoz Brezec was still on the team (which worked, because Brezec could shoot). What the team actually does, and has for two years now, is played Gerald Wallace at the PF with one of the other two at C. This is not optimal.

Felton's a disappointment, but he's at least a decent PG, while out-of-position Wallace is not a decent PF, especially not with the injury woes. The biggest criticism of Ray is that he doesn't run the team well enough and shoots too much... bringing in a combo guard is probably the worst possible solution for this. If you had us taking DJ Augustine, even, it would be considerably more defensible than Westbrook, in my opinion.

[HeavyP]

Robin Lopez would be a good pick at 24, but with Collison, Swift, Petro & Sene all still on the roster, I'm not sure where Lopez would fit in.

Swift is an UFA and Sene is having Microfracture Surgery. My guess is Wilcox is gone.

Plus Seattle doesn't have anyone outside of Wilkins who can play the SG, he's really more of a SF in my humble opinion.

We have 4 2nd round picks to try to find a backup.

I don't know about Beasley playing the 3. I think players are better off playing their natural positions regardless of size advantage or disadvantages at another position. That goes for Durant too, who needs to operate closer to the basket instead of standing out on the wing. He'd get more rebounds and possibly settle for less long range jumpers.

Durant is fine, he's the last thing I'm going to worry about. His numbers after the all star break were great. Beasley could go to the 4 and Green to the 3. Realistically all 3 going to be interchangeable at those positions. But right now Durant is a 2/3 Green is a 4/3 and Beasley I believe is a 3/4

[mattyj]

Happy with the Pistons taking DeVon Hardin

[lurkingobeiscity]

That's a good well thought out mock. Only issues I see are that I don't think Randolf and Ajinca fall as far as they do, and the Bobcats would probably take a PF given Okafor's impending free agency.

[theTHIEF]

you think Speights will fall down to the 22 spot? there is a lot of hype behind that kid...

[eyriq]

you think Speights will fall down to the 22 spot? there is a lot of hype behind that kid...

It seems his draft range is all over the place. I would absolutely love him in Orlando!

[lurkingobeiscity]

Speights really is all over the place. Not many people have seen a lot of him. If his skill set is as good as I've heard then I doubt he goes that low.

[totallyr]

You did a nice job, congrats

[Young_Star11]

You've done pretty well.

Only concern is Minny taking Brook Lopez at 3 and Westbrook at 8.

[gswhoops]

God I would shoot Mullin if he took McGee with Speights, Arthur and Greene still on the board.

[KnickJunior]

I like the Knicks taking Bayless.