Chad Ford's First Mock Draft

[mizzoupacers]

There will be a lot more of these, and even Ford's mock will change a lot between now and Draft Night. (And of course the lottery has not even been held yet--for now Ford is just placing the lottery teams in order by their odds of getting the first pick.) But for the sake of discussion:

1. Minnesota - Kyrie Irving
2. Cleveland - Derrick Williams
3. Toronto - Enes Kanter
4. Washington - Jan Vesely
5. Sacramento - Kemba Walker
6. Utah - Brandon Knight
7. Detroit - Bismack Biyombo
8. Cleveland (via L.A. Clippers)- Jonas Valanciunas
9. Charlotte - Kawhi Leonard
10. Milwaukee - Tristan Thompson
11. Golden State - Terrence Jones
12. Utah - Alec Burks
13. Phoenix - Jimmer Fredette
14. Houston - Jordan Hamilton
15. Indiana - Marcus Morris

Analysis: The Pacers' two biggest needs are an athletic guard who can create his own shot off the dribble, and a long, athletic big man who can block shots and rebound. Unfortunately neither of those players appears to be left on the board. So the Pacers have to settle for the next best thing.
Morris is more of a hybrid forward who can play both the 3 and the 4, sort of like Danny Granger. His ability to stretch the floor and rebound should be welcome in Indiana -- although I'm sure the Pacers will wish he was an inch or two taller. Boston College's Reggie Jackson is another real possibility here.

16. Philadelphia - Donatas Motiejunas
17. New York - Markieff Morris
18. Washington - Klay Thompson
19. Charlotte - Reggie Jackson
20. Minnesota (via Memphis) - Nikola Mirotic
21. Portland - Kenneth Faried
22. Denver - Tobias Harris
23. Houston (via Orlando) - Darius Morris
24. Oklahoma City - Tyler Honeycutt
25. Boston - Chris Singleton
26. Dallas - Davis Bertans
27. New Jersey (via L.A. Lakers) - Justin Harper
28. Chicago (via Miami) - Charles Jenkins
29. San Antonio - Lucas Noguiera
30. Chicago – Bogan Bogdanovic

[mizzoupacers]

Having watched a ton of Kansas games (they are Missouri's archrival), I'll say again that I would be unenthused about drafting Marcus Morris, but not outraged either. I think he'll probably be a pretty good pro, but I don't think he's what the Pacers need. I think Morris is "sort of like" an Al Harrington rather than a Granger. Granger is a pure small forward; Morris is much more of a power forward than a three, although he would indeed be a bit of a "tweener" in terms of size.

Reggie Jackson would be an interesting pick for the Pacers.

I'd be happy if Tristan Thompson fell to us.

Faried is interesting.

Justin Harper and Charles Jenkins look like interesting "sleeper" picks to me.

And I know absolutely nothing about the foreign players, which this mock is absolutely full of.

[glasket]

Agree that Tristan Thompson would be good if he fell to us.
He is still a little raw in terms of his offense but could develop into a good players

[Wizop]

Jackson can play but I don't see him going that high unless he kills in the predraft camp. if it goes in this order though, I'm on Donatas if his buyout is reasonable and not Morris.

[granger05]

I don't have any interest in Morris. I would prefer to either swing for the fences and grab a guy with a lot of potential (I have no idea who that would be right now) or if you want to take a safer play with limited upside and downside then I would like to see us take Faried. I can't see him not being useful and he seems like the kind of guy that could play minutes as an undersized backup C so he'd fill a need too.

Trade the pick for Avery Bradley.

[DWCP2]

Tristan Thompson would be nice, but I'm liking Klay Thompson. 6'6" 190 can play either wing position, but he has the quality ball handling that he can create his own shot and can make it outside or inside. Everything I reading and catching, he looks like a more athletic version of Dunleavy.

40% 3pt shooting and 20ppg scoring doesn't hurt him either.

[Wizop]

except Dunleavy is 4" taller.

[Moooose]

I honestly don't think Motiejunas will slip off the lottery. I know the list might be from a big board, but Motiejunas at 16 is just unbelievable. Though he might not be the big man we need, talent-wise, he's a capable player especially offensively. He's really much like Andrea Bargnani.

With teams like Utah, Detroit, and Charlotte needing talent, Moteijunas would be a good fit.

[paulgeorge24]

Tristan Thompson would be nice, but I'm liking Klay Thompson. 6'6" 190 can play either wing position, but he has the quality ball handling that he can create his own shot and can make it outside or inside. Everything I reading and catching, he looks like a more athletic version of Dunleavy.

40% 3pt shooting and 20ppg scoring doesn't hurt him either.

Google "Klay Thompson s", you'll see "Suspended for drug arrest". I'll pass.

Not surprised, but i wont care one way or another about this draft. You cant really go wrong if you're adding a big man in our case I suppose.

[Moooose]

I don't like Klay Thompson at all. Yes he had some big nights back in Washington but when he's off, his whole game is off.

[laydo]

If Bismack Biyombo doesn't fall to #15, I think it's better for the Pacers to trade the first round. After all, if we resign J-Mac or sign Lorbek, all we need inside is shot blocking and rebounding.

BTW, anyone notice some 2nd rounder the Pacers might pick?
David Lighty? Ben Hansbrough? Justin Holiday? Scotty Hopson?

[Miller4ever]

I'm always in camp Fighting Irish and having seen good things from a Hansbrough at this level, I wouldn't mind taking a flyer on him.

[Moooose]

Since we really need depth at frontcourt, i think i'd like any of these guys in the 2nd round, in order:

Justin Harper, Richmond
Jeremy Tyler, Int'l.
Keith Benson, Oakland
Greg Smith, Fresno St.

if we decide to add depth at pg/sg, right now the only one i want is Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh.

[DWCP2]

Tristan Thompson would be nice, but I'm liking Klay Thompson. 6'6" 190 can play either wing position, but he has the quality ball handling that he can create his own shot and can make it outside or inside. Everything I reading and catching, he looks like a more athletic version of Dunleavy.

40% 3pt shooting and 20ppg scoring doesn't hurt him either.

Google "Klay Thompson s", you'll see "Suspended for drug arrest". I'll pass.

Not surprised, but i wont care one way or another about this draft. You cant really go wrong if you're adding a big man in our case I suppose.

That was one game for possession of marijuana and a localized incident, he has no other suspensions or trouble with the law beyond that.

[IndieRuso420]

This is a terrible draft, ide seriously consider trying to move the pick for a proven player theres gonna be nothing usefel at 15.

[paulgeorge24]

Tristan Thompson would be nice, but I'm liking Klay Thompson. 6'6" 190 can play either wing position, but he has the quality ball handling that he can create his own shot and can make it outside or inside. Everything I reading and catching, he looks like a more athletic version of Dunleavy.

40% 3pt shooting and 20ppg scoring doesn't hurt him either.

Google "Klay Thompson s", you'll see "Suspended for drug arrest". I'll pass.

Not surprised, but i wont care one way or another about this draft. You cant really go wrong if you're adding a big man in our case I suppose.

That was one game for possession of marijuana and a localized incident, he has no other suspensions or trouble with the law beyond that.

I've seen this movie before. Sensing some favoritism/double standards here. People wanted to get rid of Rush as soon as he got busted for something involving weed.

Thompson isnt even that great of a player either to be honest. Sorry, i'll pass.

[Grang33r]

Reggie Jackson would be an interesting pick for the Pacers.

Jackson for sure would be a interesting and welcomed pick for the Pacers. IMO it'd be more of a luxury pick, i am not too sure he'll ever be able to be that true starting player on a team. I have watched him several times this season because his skill set has interested me. He reminds me of a Jamal Crawford, but plays excellent defense. He is a play maker and someone who can make it happen with the ball, something we lacked late in the games against Chicago.

[Wizop]

I'm adding Justin Harper from Richmond to my draft watch list.

[Grang33r]

Mack stays in draft.... could be a steal if he drops to the 2nd round as expected.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... aft_050811

[Moooose]

It would take more than luck to have Mack slip that far, IMO. He's too good to slip into mid-2nd rd.