Wiz' 2007 Mock Draft I

So the NBA just had its lottery to decide the draft order for the upcoming draft in June. There were three important things that happened that were especially key:

1. Atlanta gets the #3 pick: As a Laker fan, this was HUGE HUGE HUGE. Had the Hawks not been able to get into the top 3, they would have had to surrender their pick (which would’ve likely been the #4 pick) to the disgusting Suns. This would’ve given the Suns a lot of options. As they are desperate to free up some cap room, they could’ve gotten a player like Brewer who would be perfect for them, and at the same time allow them to trade away Marion. For Marion they could then get another player, cap relief, and extra draft picks. Thus they take only a baby step back but secure many more years of greatness. Even scarier were talks that should the Suns get the #4 pick, of them trading up to the #2 spot for Durant. Now you might think Oden and Durant are untouchable. Oden basically is….and Durant might almost be. But if you are the lowly Sonics with an old Ray Allen and about to lose Rashard Lewis, this could be a great chance to start over. As great as Durant is…and offer of Marion and the #4, 21, and 30 picks starts to look tempting at least. Anways, none of this matters, the Suns lost. Consolation prize, they still have picks 21 and 30 and no cap space haha.
2. Memphis doesn’t get a top 3 pick: Again, for a Laker fan, this was also good news. As there is a lot of talk of the Lake Show making a blockbuster move for KG, Jermaine, or Gasol this offseason. While I would love to see KG or Jermaine in a Laker uniform….Gasol actually might be the best value. KG makes a buttload of $, and Jermaine makes a whole lot as well, while always being an injury risk. So Gasol is the cheapest, the youngest, and has the best back to the basket game of the 3. So Gasol is unhappy and wants out…but perhaps getting Oden or Durant changes his mind? Well, too bad! No top 2 pick for Memphis….and I don’t think Yi Lianjiangdifudijadifjiangijalinagnnananiang is gonna be enough to make him change his mind.
3. The Celtics get the #5 pick. As a Laker fan this is good because…..well, really it has nothing to do with us except that it was pretty hilarious. Every Laker fan still has a deep hatred for the Celts since the 80s and for this to happen to them is just great fun for us. The faces of the Celtic fans as they looked like they were going to jump out the windows….the look on Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge’s face, trying to hold back the tears…hahahaha HAHAHAHA ….priceless.

Doc and Danny the day before the lottery.....

Doc and Danny right after the lottery....

Doc and Danny spotted in public using disguises..... (btw, yes that is Jeff Van Gundy's little brother at the top and yes, that is Phil Jackson's little bro at the bottom.)

Now by now I'm sure you guys are probably wondering "Why the heck are Doc and Danny always wearing matching clothes or color coordinated clothes?!"
I know this question will haunt you all the rest of your lives, and so after much research, I finally found the reason....








"Oooh, his belly button is so nice....."



"Is he feeling my belly button!? .......I like it."









Anyways, now, onto the real stuff….the Mock Draft:

(Note: This Mock Draft isn’t the same as a draft board or who I would pick, but its who I think each team will pick.)

1. Portland Trailblazers: Greg Oden, C, OSU: The Blazers have one of the best young nucleuses (or is it nuclei?) in the L, with last years rooks Roy, Aldridge, and Rodriguez (aka Spanish Chocolate) and also nice young potential in Webster, Outlaw, and Jack. They could use a SF, but GM Kevin Pritchard knows whats up. One of the better GMs in the league, he wont hesitate to take Oden.
2. Seattle Supersonics: Kevin Durant, SF, Texas: Will go down as one of the best draft consolation prizes ever (yes, even better than Sam Bowie at #2). The most talented and versatile college talent I’ve ever seen. Expect scoring titles and all-star games in the near future.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Mike Conley, PG, OSU: It seems the consensus #3 pick is Brandan Wright. But the Hawks have been looking for a legit C and PG for the last billion years. I actually think the Hawks should and will look to trade down a little bit. But after biffing on passing Chris Paul and Deron Williams, and reaching on Sheldon last year, I think if they can't trade out of this spot, they will reach a little for Conley.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Corey Brewer, SF, Fla: West has been looking for a real C forever and Yi Jianlian might get some consideration here. But I think Brewer will test out as one of the best players in the draft and would give Memphis a ridiculously athletic team overall. (Adding Brewer to the group of freak athletes Gay, Warrick, Stro, and Alexander Johnson.) Plus if West trades Gasol, he’ll likely get a big back anyways. (Maybe Kwame and Bynum???)
5. Boston Celtics: Yi Jianlian, C, China: Noah would be a good fit here as well. But after missing out on Oden, I think Ainge will look to trade Pierce and simply go back to rebuilding with his talented young players. So I think he goes with the upside of Yi over Noah. Most drafts have Wright and Horford as the best players after Durant, but I can’t see Ainge taking a PF after the year Al Jefferson had.
6. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandan Wright, PF, UNC: The Bucks are glad Wright falls into their lap. Though eventually will likely be a PF, with his slight frame Wright can slide right into the starting SF spot and give the Bucks a nice young frontcourt with Bogut, Charlie V, and Wright. (Though if the Hawks take Wright at 3, this pick will likely be Conley here as they could lose both Mo and Bell to free agency.)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Al Horford, PF, Fla: Like Wright before him, Horford slips a little in the draft. The Timberwolves are happy to snatch him up and get some toughness to play next to KG…..or will he be a KG replacement???
8. Charlotte Bobcats: Julian Wright, SF, Kansas: A do it all point forward type with a ton of skills, intangibles, and a ton of potential. Well, he has all the skills except shooting….but if the gets his jumper down, he will be the whole package. His all around skill should net him some mins since heck, their “shooter” SF (Morrison) can’t shoot anyways.
9. Chicago Bulls: Spencer Hawes, C, Washington: The Bulls have a ton of young talent, but they need a C, and more specifically a C with some low post scoring skills.
10. Sacramento Kings: Joakim Noah, PF/C, Fla: They’ll take a look at Jeff Green as a replacement for Crazy Ron Ron. Still, the Maloofs are no goofs. Noah is the best player available at this point and they won’t likely let Noah slip by them.
11. Atlanta Hawks: Tiago Splitter, C, Brazil: Knight is cursing Noah went one spot above him. Wait a second, were talking about Knight here, he might have been hoping for another swingman and one of the Wrights to drop. The Hawks reach again a few spots and take the next best 7ftr in Tiago.
12. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown: Could use a PF, but do-a-little-of-everything Jeff Green will be a nice complement to more specialist SFs Korver and Carney.
13. New Orleans Hornets: Nick Young, SG, USC: This seems too high for Young. But this kid got game and I think his stock will rise when he shows off his skills and the Hornets will strongly look at him here.
14. Los Angeles Clippers: Acie Law, PG, Texas A&M: One of my favorite players in college last year. This guy is a clutch gamer that carried his team on his back many times. This is a great pick for the Clippers. Cassell is getting old and that Livingston injury looked REALLY BAD. Who knows what his status is now. Plus Mobley is getting up there in age, and Law could play some SG as well.
15. Detroit Pistons: Sean Williams, PF, BC: Huh? Who? Didn’t I see this guy’s name in the second round of all mock drafts? Ok, this pick is a serious reach….for now. What’ll happen though is GMs will start turning their heads at this guy’s freakish athletcism and he’ll start rising up the boards. This still might be high for him but Dumars isn’t afraid to go against the norm (Darko) and he might have found his Ben Wallace replacement in Williams. (This guy’s shot blocking is straight nasty!)
16. Washington Wizards: Rodney Stuckey, SG, E.Washington: Sorry to my friend Bert who discovered this guy months ago. An explosive combo guard in the mold of Wade, Gordon, Foye, etc. A super athlete and explosive scorer. Since then, we’ve been secretly hoping the Lakers draft this guy….ah woulda been nice. This is another guy that is low in mock drafts, but he’s starting to show up on the map. After GMs get a better look at him, his stock will definitely rise.
17. New Jersey Nets: Al Thornton, SF, FSU: Looks like there’s a good chance Vince isn’t a Net next year. Thornton is likely the best player available at this point. RJ can slide over to the 2 and Thornton should be able to contribute some right away.
18. Golden State Warriors: Jason Smith, PF/C, Colorado: The Warriors are a team on the rise and are pretty good at every position. Smith will give them some frontcourt depth and will fit in with the Warriors uptempo style.
19. Los Angeles Lakers: Thaddeus Young, SF, Georgia Tech: Ok, this is MY pick. So far all the picks have been what I think each team will do…but as a Laker fan, I’m reserving the right to make this pick myself. I’ve had my eye on Young for a while now. This is really an upside pick more than anything. This guy was a top 3-4 player in his high school class behind Oden and Durant. He has great athleticism and can shoot outside as well. While still very raw both on offense and defense, his athleticism gives him great potential. Anyways, SF is a great area of need for the Lakers and Young is a great compliment to Luke Walton. Young is very raw but has great athletcism, quickness, agility and a ton of upside. Luke is very polished and has great unathletcism, mind-blowing slowness, and no upside whatsoever. Ok, for those of you that don’t care about my pick and want to know who the Lakers will pick, here it is: 19. Los Angeles Lakers: Josh McRoberts, PF/C, Duke: Why will the Lakers take him? Is it cuz he was a high school all-american? Is it cuz of his versatility? Is it his Duke pedigree, learning under Coach K? Well, maybe, but how I came to this pick is, I simply asked myself “Who is projected to go in this range that Phil would want and that I would LEAST want? The player who, if the Lakers select him, I will go jump out the window into oncoming traffic while yelling “DAMN YOU MITCH!!!!!”. And that person is Josh McRoberts.
    

Ok, that concludes my Mock Draft #1. I stopped at 19 cuz first, I’m a Laker fan and had to make it to at least #19. Second, its 2am and I’m tired. And third none of you really care whether Ante Tomic gets drafted before Kyrylo Fesenko or not.