Chad Ford Mock Draft 3.0

[mizzoupacers]

He has the Pacers taking Avery Bradley. I'd link to his column, but I don't get ESPN Insider. Anyway, here's what he says about the Pacers:

Indiana

Avery Bradley

Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: Texas
Analysis: The Pacers are one of the most difficult teams to peg right now. They have so many needs and are talking to everyone about moving up, moving down, or maybe even moving out of the draft, according to a number of other teams who have targeted the Pacers' pick.

The Pacers' biggest need is at point guard. A month ago, I think Bradley would've been considered a stretch here, but more and more scouts and GMs believe he could be this year's Russell Westbrook. Ekpe Udoh, Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry and Gordon Hayward are also possibilities here, too.

First of all, I will throw up in my mouth if the Pacers take Bradley. Bradley might have great measurements and look great in drills, but I've seen him play, live and in person, and he ain't no point guard, and he ain't no Russell Westbrook. Westbrook was moved to two guard because UCLA had Darren Collison; Bledsoe played two guard because Kentucky had Wall; Bradley played two guard because Texas had...Dogus Balbay? I think that says it all right there.

Taking Bradley at #10 in hopes that he can learn on the fly how to play point guard seems like a humongous stretch to me. There are lots of other guys I'd rather see the Pacers take at #10 than Bradley.

Thankfully, Ford himself writes that he has no clue yet what the Pacers are going to do. Ford seems to go completely on rumors he picks up from his NBA sources. His sources must be pretty good, because by draft night's eve he's usually pretty close to correctly picking the first round. But we're still a long way off from the night before the draft. These mocks will change a lot between now and then.

[ardthomp]

Here is the complete mock, minus the analysis from Chad Ford.
1. Wash - John Wall
2. Phil - Derrick Favors
3. NJ - Evan Turner
4. Min - Wes Johnson
5. Sac - Al-Farouq Aminu
6. GState - DeMarcus Cousins
7. Det - Ed Davis
8. LAC - Gordon Hayward - was listed as MIL pick in 2.0 Mock
9. Utah - Greg Monroe - same pick in 2.0...a promise?
10. IND - Avery Bradley
11. NO - Cole Aldrich - fell from 6th in 2.0
12. Mem - Luke Babbitt - same pick in 2.0...another promise?
13. Tor - Daniel Orton
14. Hou - Ekpe Udoh - dropped from 8th spot in 2.0 Mock
15. Mil - Xavier Henry - moved up from 19th pick
16. Min - Paul George
17. Chi - James Anderson
18. Mia - Eric Bledsoe
19. Bos - Solomon Alabi - jumped from 26th pick in 2.0 Mock
20. San - Damion James
21. OKC - Donatas Motejunas
22. Por - Patrick Patterson
23. Min - Kevin Seraphin - he was here in 2.0...promised spot by Min maybe?
24. Atl - Hassan Whiteside - fell from 14th in 2.0
25. Mem - Larry Sanders
26. OKC - Craig Brackins
27. NJ - Keith Gallon - keeps creeping up the board - 30th in 2.0 Mock
28. Mem - Quincy Pondexter
29. Orl - Willie Warren
30. Wash - Jarvis Varnado

[mizzoupacers]

Here's my best guess right now as to how the first ten picks are really going to go:

1. Wall
2. Turner
3. Favors
4. Johnson
5. Cousins
6. Monroe
7. Whiteside (this year's raw-but-really-big-guy-with-"upside" top-ten pick; past club members include Thabeet, Patrick O'Bryant, Saer Sene, Darko, Eddy Curry...and also Andrew Bynum, Tyson Chandler, and Dwight Howard)
8. Aminu (although anyone could go here; it's the Clippers)
9. Aldrich (or Davis, or Udoh)
10. Udoh? (I have no clue what the Pacers are going to do either)

I'm sure some of those will turn out to be wrong, but I'd also bet that Ford's final mock before the draft looks more like this than it looks like his 3.0.

[Grang33r]

Avery Bradley? hmm... interesting. Not exactly a name we have heard on this board often. Every report i've read on him is he's more of a shooting guard then pg, more like a combo guard. NBADraft.net compares his game to Monte Ellis.

Chad Ford tweeted later in the night about Bradley's measurments....

chadfordinsider

Avery Bradley's numbers: 37.5" vert | 3.14 sec sprint | 11.47 agility very close to Russell Westbrook's and George Hill's

http://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/14797891343

[DWCP2]

I'd be curious what the nets would want for #3? #10 and maybe our first round pick in 2011 (top 3 protected).

[PR07]

I'm really interested to see the Bledsoe vs. Bradley workout come early June. Honestly, I never heard Bradley's name during the college season, but he was apparently one of the top prospects coming out of high school and has some impressive measurables. You don't want to get to caught up in a measurement game, but at the same time, you want to get the player who projects to be the best.

[8305]

If we are looking at Bradley as combo guard who can be a lock down defender. Maybe take on either the pg or sg and is capable of evolving into a competent offensive player. I can actually see that logic. Could a guy like this who can really get after the opposing team's pg allow you to use Dunleavy as the primary ball handler?

Just read the write ups on draft express. Monta Ellis offensive game, the quicks to defend point guards and silly length. Wonder if he'll be there when we are picking.

[laydo]

The only question may be, "Will Larry Bird pick a freshman?" Remember Larry picked tons of seniors and juniors. Will the shadow of Shawne Williams effect Larry to pick someone we don't expect?

[ardthomp]

The only question may be, "Will Larry Bird pick a freshman?" Remember Larry picked tons of seniors and juniors. Will the shadow of Shawne Williams effect Larry to pick someone we don't expect?

Agreed...he will pick the best available upperclassmen...the only way we pick an underclassmen is if it is within the first three picks or someone unexpected falls to us.

[BiggDawg897]

Really starting to like Xavier Henry. Which means possibly trading out of the pick and maybe offing Rush in the process. Sorry Brandon... Rush and the 10th for Memphis 12 and 25?? 12- Henry, 25- A number of the big guys that have been mentioned as a huge reach at 10. Sanders, Whiteside, Patterson, OR a point. Probably have to do something a little sweeter than that for Memphis to bite, but the trade down gets what we need, two solid developmental rotational players that can develop into future starters. The same thing that Rush/(Hansbrough??) were supposed to be groomed for.

[Gremz]

Sorry Brandon... Rush and the 10th for Memphis 12 and 25??.

That's a bit much to give up really. I think we should be able to get away with #10 for #12 and #25. Worst case scenario, give up the 2nd that Dallas owes us.

[BiggDawg897]

^^^ Possibly keep Rush and try to complete a sign and trade with Charlotte for Felton then??? The only thing is that, 1) Does Memphis value someone at 10 enough to move up just spots for both of their first?? 2) Will the draft play out for the Pacers to pull the trigger to trade down, or do they value someone so much they won't want to move down. (I don't see anyone that great)... Either way, most of the moves the Pacers make in this off-season have to come on draft night given that they have little money to spend. There needs to be something to build with going into NEXT off-seasons big money anticipations. If not, no one will want to come here, and we'd just looking to throw money around. Which is usually not a fix all, and we'd be stuck as mediocre team still...

[Boneman2]

Sometimes late first round picks hold negative value depending on a teams status. If they have targeted a player and feel they need to leap-frog two teams then they would probably do it.

My proposal to Memphis would be like this:

Conley, 12, 25
for
Rush, 10, 40

[Moooose]

Sometimes late first round picks hold negative value depending on a teams status. If they have targeted a player and feel they need to leap-frog two teams then they would probably do it.

My proposal to Memphis would be like this:

Conley, 12, 25
for
Rush, 10, 40

That looks good, and it's quite feasible too.
It'll give the Pacers the chance to land in Xavier Henry with the 12th and maybe Sanders at the 25th.

[Boneman2]

Sometimes late first round picks hold negative value depending on a teams status. If they have targeted a player and feel they need to leap-frog two teams then they would probably do it.

My proposal to Memphis would be like this:

Conley, 12, 25
for
Rush, 10, 40

That looks good, and it's quite feasible too.
It'll give the Pacers the chance to land in Xavier Henry with the 12th and maybe Sanders at the 25th.

I like Henry and Sanders too.

[8305]

Sometimes late first round picks hold negative value depending on a teams status. If they have targeted a player and feel they need to leap-frog two teams then they would probably do it.

My proposal to Memphis would be like this:

Conley, 12, 25
for
Rush, 10, 40

I'm all for it if you can make this trade and come away with Conley, Henry and Sanders. Might be a little optomistic to think Sanders would be there at 25. Worst case scenario maybe you get Lawal at 25. I could live with that too. Wonder who would have to be there at 10 to motivate Memphis to do this?

[Grangerous]

i like the memphis trade, i would definaltely to that because i think we could find our shooting guard in the draft with xavier henry...but otherwise i want bledsoe, he's gonna be the steal of the draft wether he's drafted in the lottery or the second round.

[IndieRuso420]

What about a trade down with MIN?

#10 for #16, #23

I think it makes a lot of sense for us. I think this draft is just such a crapshoot after the top 5 that it might just be smart to move down and see if we can get 2 young & solid rotation guys for the next 5 years (hope they end up better than that).

[Starkiller]

I just want to come out of this draft w/ Henry and Bledsoe. How it happens I don't care as long as Danny and Roy are still here with them.

[ardthomp]

I just want to come out of this draft w/ Henry and Bledsoe. How it happens I don't care as long as Danny and Roy are still here with them.

The more I think about Henry, the more I don't want him. He comes from the same system as Brandon Rush. He can get hot and make some big plays, but he often floats and looks lost when on the court, ala Brandon Rush.