1st Round Mock Draft

[lurkingobeiscity]

1. Chicago - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis - IMO Beasley is the frontcourt scorer they have been needing for years, but they go with Rose because he is a hometown product with top intangibles (unlike Beasley), has a ton of potential, and the Bulls see other young PGs becoming stars and making their team contenders.

2. Miami - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas St. - Miami may look to trade this pick but I think in the end they take Beasley so Wade doesn't have to create all of the teams offense.

3. Minnesota - O.J. Mayo, SG, USC - The Wolves may need a center, but Mayo comes in and is a very good compliment to both Foye and Jefferson as he can take some of the PG responsibilities off of Foye and help space the floor for Jefferson with his shooting.

4. Seattle - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona - Bayless isn't a perfect fit, but he is a very good player. This team needs another scoring threat badly, and Bayless can provide that to help take some pressure off of Durant. The team still needs improvement at PF and C but they can't fix it all in one off-season.

5. Memphis - Kevin Love, PF, UCLA - Love goes to Memphis over Lopez because he has a much better post game and after an off-season of working out he alleviates the concerns of GMs about his athleticism.

6. New York - Brook Lopez, C, Stanford - New York would love to get a PG to run D'antoni's system, but no PG is really worth this pick. They could reach for Augustin or take Gallinari to upgrade the SF spot but in the end they go with Lopez hoping he can add interior toughness and defense to a team in desperate need of it.

7. LA Clippers - Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana - The Clippers need backcourt help and they get it with a SG that should provide shooting and instant offense whether he comes off the bench or starts.

8. Milwaukee - Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy - Milwaukee's biggest position of need is probably at SF and Gallinari can be the answer there. His talent level makes him a very good fit here, but the Bucks still really need to improve their defense.

9. Charlotte - Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas - This may be somewhat of a surprise but Arthur has athleticism, a post game as well as a midrange game, and still a good deal of untapped potential. He would fit great next to Okafor or replace some post offense if Okafor leaves through trade. He also fits into Bobcats trend of selecting players with more than one year of college experience.

10. New Jersey - Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU - The Nets could use more talent and youth at about any position outside of PG. They end up choosing the guy with the most potential.

11. Indiana - D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas - Indiana takes a PG to backup/replace Tinsley.

12. Sacramento - Marreese Speights, PF/C, Florida - Sacremento has lacked an athletic PF since Webber became a has been. They hope he can reach his immense potential.

13. Portland - Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, UCLA - Westbrook has a long way to go before he can be called a true point guard but Portland takes him knowing that Roy can handle a lot of the point guard duties.

14. Golden State - Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse - Greene has a lot of potential and is a good fit for the style the Warriors employ.

15. Phoenix - Nicolas Batum, SG, France - Batum is a do it all wingman who can add depth to a team that could really use it.

16. Philadelphia - JaVale McGee, PF/C, Nevada - The Sixers had hoped a post scorer like Arthur or Speights would be available but they have to settle for McGee knowing their investment may take some time to pay off.

17. Toronto - Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia - Alexander is extremely athletic and has a great work ethic as well. Those two things combined usually mean that the player has a very good future. The only reason Alexander isn't projected higher is that he is still very raw. I see him having a career similar to Richard Jefferson's in that he improves every year because of his natural tools and will to get better. Toronto makes this pick because Alexander will help out immediately and he offers the potential to become the wing scorer they need.

18. Washington - DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M - Washington adds a talented center to a team dominated by perimeter players. They hope Jordan can contribute as a bench player and provide depth to their frontcourt as he improves his skill-set. They couldn't pass on his upside.

19. Cleveland - Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State - Big Z and Joe Smith are aging. Ben Wallace is a shell of his former self already. Varajao isn't the most reliable offensive weapon. The Cavs take Koufos hoping he can offer help offensively as early as his rookie year.

20. Denver - Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona - Denver adds a SG who should thrive in the fast paced system they employ.

21. New Jersey - Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis - The Nets select a guy that can come in and provide immediate depth at the wing position.

22. Orlando - Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina - Orlando adds a point guard who they hope can help run the offense and take some responsibility off of Nelson and Turkoglu.

23. Utah - Robin Lopez, PF/C, Stanford - Utah wants interior defense. Lopez offers that. They hope he can develop his other skills and become a good enough all around player to earn more playing time.

24. Seattle - Alex Ajinca, C, France - Seattle has youth at every position. They already have multiple big men projects but Ajinca (who has immense potential) can stay overseas while they try to work out which guys are worth keeping long-term.

25. Houston - Brandon Rush, SF, Kansas - Houston brings in a young guy who can shoot and defend. It is understood that he isn't going to be the 3rd option the Rockets really need but Rush can play an important role taking passes from Yao and Tmac.

26. San Antonio - Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky - San Antonio has been known to peruse the overseas market but they take a college player for a change. Lee is a consummate role player who can be a great addition to the aging San Antonio bench.

27. New Orleans - Bill Walker SF, Kansas State - New Orleans goes with the best talent available, taking Walker who still has a lot of untapped potential.

28. Memphis - Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown - Memphis adds a center as they attempt to rebuild their frontcourt after the Gasol debacle.

29. Detroit - Devon Hardin, C, California - Detroit looks to add more size upfront after hitting on Stuckey last year.

30. Boston - Lester Hudson, PG/SG, Tennesse Martin - Ainge provides another surprise when he takes Hudson at the end of the 1st. The Celtics hope Hudson can become a scorer/shooter off the bench to help out the big 3.

[GJense4181]

DeAndre "I have a top 5 promise" Jordan falls to 18?

[lurkingobeiscity]

DeAndre "I have a top 5 promise" Jordan falls to 18?

I don't believe in the top 5 promise for one second. I see Jordan falling like Taft did in 2005 (though I don't think he falls as far). Jordan has shown very very little in college, and you can only get so far based on physical potential. Personally I wouldn't take him as high as 18 either.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

DeAndre "I have a top 5 promise" Jordan falls to 18?

I can see it. He showed absolutely nothing at a&m...well against the great colorado buffs he had some cool dunks

[LyNx]

This is a solid mock at this point. I probably wouldn't change around too much. Maybe Love is a bit high at 5, but if he shows more stamina/athleticism in workouts, I can see it becoming a possibility.

[legacyinthemakin89c]

No reason for Orlando to take Ty Lawson, they have too many point guards as it is. And no way the Suns pass on Alexander if he is still on the board at 15

[RyGuy24]

Only problem i'd have is with Lopez as he's not really much of a defender like you make him out to be (he's not terrible, but he'll never stand out in that regard). Everything else looks right on.

[GJense4181]

^Nope.
They only have Nelson under contract for next season. Arroyo will not be back, although Dooling has a chance.

[legacyinthemakin89c]

Um no..

Nelson signed like a 5 year extension last summer. He's Orlando's point guard. They need to take either a big man, or a shooting guard, everything else they are fine at.

[Griff83]

solid mock.

like it alot from a raptors point of view.

[GswStorm3]

No guarantee Jordan received at top 5 promise, don't believe everything you hear.

[kookie_819]

Orlando takes Robin Lopez or Rush.

[Downtown]

I think Seattle would take Rush if he was still there at #24. Wilkens isn't in their longterm future, plus if Durant and Green do eventually slide over one position each, Rush moves into the shooting guard role if he proves able to handle it. For the short term Rush plays the Manu Ginobli role off the bench.

I think Seattle will pass on another raw center in the first round and instead use one of their 4 second rounders on one such as Pekovic or Jawai to stash away for a while.

IF, they don't trade their top pick then yes, either Bayless or Mayo will be a Sonic.

But I wouldn't be surprised to see their GM pull off a deal to move up with Miami to get either Beasley or Rose, and using the #24 pick on Hudson or Mario Chalmers, and using either as the backup behind Watson, after they trade Ridnour.

I must say that of all the picks in the mock, Joe Alexander to Toronto looks like the absolute best fit. And if I were New Jersey I might take Spreights over Randolph.