Your Draft Board

[Harry10]

1. Derrick Rose
2. Jerryd Bayless
3. Michael Beasley
4. OJ Mayo
5. Eric Gordon
6. DeAndre Jordan
7. Darrell Arthur
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Anthony Randolph
10. Brook Lopez
11. Joe Alexander
12. JaVale McGee
13. Nicolas Batum
14. Kevin Love
15. Marreese Speights

i'm not trying to put down Beasley, i just think Bayless is that good. i'm not that high on Lopez, i just keep thinking Rafael Araujo.

[HoopsGuru25]

1.Bealsey
2.Rose
3.Mayo
4.Bayless
5.Randolph(although he is a 200 pound PF)

I'm not sure how I would rank the others. Too many 19 year olds who have bust potential. I like Westbrook...he is a little raw though. Augstin is a true pg but I can't really think of any starting pg's who were that short and not extremely quick. Gordon is a nice player I guess...but I think he's less talented than J.R. Smith who probably won't get more than the MLE this year. Lopez looked good when I saw him but why is his shooting percentage so low for a low post player? Channing Frye(who is soft as Cotton)shot a MUCH higher percentage than Lopez did in the Pac 10. I see Love as a Sean May/Sweetney type of player(which is OK if he can stay healthy and in shape)...the only 4 I can think of who is considered good who plays below the rim like Love is Zach Randolph. Players like Jordan need more time to develop..could be Andrew Bynum or could be Stephen Hunter.

[Skyhawk1]

I barely watch college basketball, guess I'm way too used to seeing the best in the NBA that any other kind of basketball is just not very appealing to me, but I think J. Alexander will be a stud in the NBA. I wish we could somehow get him. I also like Beasley's game. Other than that, I do not know much about anyone else.

[conleyorbust]

I like Rose a lot but, as hoopsguru mentioned in another thread, people are starting to classify him as things he isn't. He is a true pg for sure, but he isn't a passing prodigy like Kidd or Paul. Hoops called him Tony Parker on roids, I'd say a less (Please Use More Appropriate Word) Baron Davis with a little less range. Anyway, he might be worthy of the top pick but Beas measured 6'9 with a 7'1 standing reach at the Nike Hoop Summit last year and if he has actually grown another inch like some people expect, it will be hard for the Bulls to pass him up.

Today I'd go:

Beasley
Rose
Mayo
Bayless
Gallinari
Gordon
Lopez
Randolph
Westbrook
Jordan

although I do like Augustin too (says he models his game after Nash), people draft size

[killbuckner]

I think that I would take Rose over Beasley. Just that with the handchecking rules another Wade is more important than another Bosh. I just think the NBA rewards guys like Rose.

I'd do Bayless over Mayo. Mayo is actually pretty old already- that makes him look better than he actually is.

Gallinari I have no clue how anyone can even rate. Lopez I wouldn't touch- like I said I think he is someone who would have had value 10 years ago when the rules were different but in today's NBA I just don't see it. THe person who takes him is going to be a "don't trade big for small" which has become a ridiculous notion. I think we might be lucky that the Hawks don't have a top 5 pick because given Sund's history Lopez seems like a guy he would love.

[LL Cool Scott]

That list is pretty good, Harry. My only quibble is Beasley is better than Bayless, and Love is better than lot of those guys.

I guess mine would be:
1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Mayo
4. Bayless
5. Love

12,384. Hibbert

I'm glad we don't have a pick this year, because with Sund's record, drafting Hibbert would be a stone-cold lock.

[killbuckner]

LL- you are dead right on that one. Once HIbbert starts to drop I wonder if Sund will try and make a move. I didn't fully realize the implications of Sund until right now. Sund is a traditional NBA guy on a team without a traditional NBA center. he is going to find some way of addressing that problem. And I wonder if Sund getting the job decreases the chance that Andersen comes over.

[ATLfan]

1a. Rose
1b. Beasley
3. OJ Mayo

[HoopsGuru25]

Mayo is only a year older than the rest of the freshman. There are alot of players in the NBA like that(Monta Ellis,Josh Howard,Al Thornton,etc). The reason I think Mayo will be better than Bayless is because he's going to end up being a liability on defense(I see him as a 2) while that will be one of Mayo's strengths.

[Harry10]

i do not agree with all the Rose/Wade/Paul compairisons.

i think a more apt compairison would be Rose / 2002 Steve Francis

Rose seems like less of a ball hog than Francis, and hopefully Rose will be able to take that next step that Francis never took, but Rose could turn out to be a rich man's Steve Francis.

[HoopsGuru25]

Rose reminds me of a coachable Steve Francis or a bigger/more athletic Tony Parker. I think comparing his court vision to players like Jason Kidd and Chris Paul is pretty far off. His main value will be scoring(as killbuckner said)and not "making his teammates better". The last 2 final mvp's have been guards who could get to the basket anytime they wanted.

[UGA Hayes]

If I were Atlanta I would give a promise to Ty Lawson right now. Fills a need and is an up tempo guard. I don't understand how he is not a lottery pick given how productive in collegge he was when not hurt.

[ATLfan]

We don't have a draft pick this year.

[killbuckner]

lol- UGA Hayes I don't think you quite understand how this promise thing works.

[tontoz]

Rose: Beasley Is Better Than Me
May 30, 2008 - 11:01 am
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel -
Memphis point guard Derrick Rose believes that fellow top prospect Kansas State forward Michael Beasley is the better player, according to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"It's definitely him," Rose said of Beasley, when asked about which was the superior player. "He's way better than me. He's versatile."

The pair also spent time over the last few days discussing rumors that Rose's teammate Joey Dorsey had "inside information" that the Bulls were going to take Beasley.

"He was just in the arcade room and I was just asking him what was he thinking when he said that," Rose said with a grin. "He was just playing around. If anybody knows, it wouldn't be Joey."

That is a strange thing to say before the draft.

[Rip2137]

Rose: Beasley Is Better Than Me
May 30, 2008 - 11:01 am
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel -
Memphis point guard Derrick Rose believes that fellow top prospect Kansas State forward Michael Beasley is the better player, according to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"It's definitely him," Rose said of Beasley, when asked about which was the superior player. "He's way better than me. He's versatile."

The pair also spent time over the last few days discussing rumors that Rose's teammate Joey Dorsey had "inside information" that the Bulls were going to take Beasley.

"He was just in the arcade room and I was just asking him what was he thinking when he said that," Rose said with a grin. "He was just playing around. If anybody knows, it wouldn't be Joey."

That is a strange thing to say before the draft.

Lets see...you can go to Chicago where you can be part of a rebuilding project where they still won't have addressed the reason they can't win (no person to demand a double and no down low scorer) OR you get to live in MIAMI, where you also happen to play with Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion.....

I think I would be trying to convince the Bulls to take Beasley .

[tontoz]

I think I would be trying to convince the Bulls to take Beasley .

The Bulls are Rose's hometown team.

[Rip2137]

I am from Troy Alabama. Being from there doesn't mean I don't know it sucks to live there.

Being from Chicago doesn't mean he wouldn't rather be in a better climate, with better teammates and better women(although Chicago does have some nice women...no one beat me up)

[evildallas]

Well, as some have already pointed out a promise to Lawson is impossible considering we have no picks, but he is a good example of a player who could drop so low that he'd be an interesting reason to try to acquire a late first or early second.

I would break the draft down into multiple boards. One board would rank talent from the top, but in all honesty that board doesn't come into play for us unless someone really drops because we don't have the fire power to move up high enough to matter. Normally I feel you need to get a cornerstone to build on in the top 10 and a star in the top 5 (one of the reasons I hated BK's drafting). I would be discussing with at least one team that wants to move out to determine the cost associated with the pick in case someone I like slips enough. It is very unlikely because the cost would be high (Marvin and taking back a contract to get a #8 or #9 or that plus a future first to get #5 or #6).

1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Mayo
4. Lopez
5. Bayless
6. Gallinari
7. Randolph
8. Love
9. Westbrook
10. Augustin

My next board is to take a pick that you know that you can acquire for a future pick and make a list of players that may fall to that spot would be worth acquiring. The pick I choose to do this with is the #13 from Portland who seem to geniunely want to deal it for a future pick because of their packed roster. This list depends a lot on our roster and roster plans. The thought here should be that this is a player that will be starting for you before their rookie deal is up and that you can get as a bargain or that they give you flexibility to do other roster moves.

A. Russell Westbrook
B. DJ Augustin
C. Joe Alexander
D. DeAndre Jordan
E. JaVale McGee

I do the same thing with a late 1st. Normally Phoenix is there to sell a pick, but even without them there is normally someone else who will take cash for a pick (according to Mark Cuban). These are players who I think might be enough of steal to discuss spending the 3M to get them under contract. The list is flexible in that if someone you really never expected to be available drops like a rock you might consider them. You can also look for trading for a pick with a future pick with higher protection. Note that it is a smaller list here because of the cost involved. Out of this pick I want someone who will be a top 8 rotation player before their rookie deal is up and could play some right away. If the player can turn into a starter it is a bonus.

A. Robin Lopez
B. Chris Douglas-Roberts
C. Mario Chalmers
D. Ty Lawson

Then I would do the same thing with a 2nd round pick and create a board for players that I would be willing to deal a future 2nd for the right to pick. Some teams like Seattle, Portland, and Minnesota have multiple 2nds and would probably be willing to move a pick for a future pick. History shows that if you keep multiple 2nds that it normally means that their is no room on the roster for them to make the team and you either waste a pick (by releasing them) or use one on a foreign player that you can hold on to their rights for some time without signing and releasing. I am eyeballing the 36/37 range for a player. Not looking for a star here or even a starter or top 8 rotation guy. Filling a specific role like scorer off the bench or bruising PF or 3rd string PG to groom for a bigger role or cheap big to take a shot on developing as a C or maybe defensive specialist. This list tends to be longer because of the low cost associated with trading for or buying a pick as well as the greater likelihood that different skills will fit on the bench.

A. Mario Chalmers
B. Ty Lawson
C. Bill Walker
D. Joey Dorsey
E. DJ White
F. Courtney Lee
G. Omer Asik
H. Devon Hardin

Obviously if you pick up a late lottery, you wouldn't also do a late first. If you pick up any first, you are less likely to do a 2nd rounder or at least limit it to 1 depending on roster openings and where you find value. Adding one guaranteed rookie deal adds flexibility to your cap, adding multiple guarantees make your roster seem too young. I feel early 2nds are for getting instant roster help that might have a lower ceiling (Joey Dorsey, DJ White, Courtney Lee, Mario Chalmers) rather than long term projects. The exception would be a guy who fell a lot farther than he should because of injuries (Lawson or Walker). As such the number of players you go after should be restricted by job opportunities. You shouldn't be trading to get 2nd round picks to fill the 14th spot on the roster, but rather to upgrade the 10th spot. 13th-15th spots on the roster should be reserved for long term projects or undrafted free agents.

[Rip2137]

I personally would love Robin Lopez. I also think some team is going to reach though.