My first NBA mock draft
Yes, I realize this blog is intended to be a Division III sports blog. But I’ve always wanted to be able to post an NBA mock draft online for the public to see, so I’m taking that opportunity now. As a die hard Minnesota Timberwolves fan, this year’s draft (7 p.m. Thursday, June 28) is arguably the most important in the team’s history. The team pretty much sucks, except for Kevin Garnett, who can become a free agent in the very near future. The T’wolves need to add an impact player that can help return the team to the playoffs. And, fortunately, that seems very possible in this year’s deep draft.
So without further ado, here’s my first mock draft. Note: trades are not taken in account and I reserve the right to change any of my picks before 7 p.m. next Thursday. Enjoy.
1. Portland Trail Blazers - Greg Oden, Ohio State University
The man is a combination of David Robinson and Patrick Ewing. Consensus top pick. No surprise here.
2. Seattle Sonics - Kevin Durant, University of Texas
Any other year he’d be the clear top pick. Might actually have a better statistical career than Oden.
3. Atlanta Hawks - Al Horford, University of Florida
Another forward for Atlanta? Yup. As talented as Horford is, this is a bad pick for the Hawks, but one they will inevitably make anyway.
4. Memphis Grizzlies - Mike Conley Jr., Ohio State University
The Grizzlies desperately want Horford, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this pick was traded. If no trade happens, Conley is the best way to go.
5. Boston Celtics - Brandan Wright, University of North Carolina
Another pick that I could see being traded. If not, the Celtics will pair the high-flying Wright with stud Paul Pierce.
6. Milwaukee Bucks - Corey Brewer, University of Florida
Brewer is a solid defender and shooter, so he will fit in well with basically any team. The Bucks will draft best player available, and that’s Brewer.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jeff Green, Georgetown University
Great pick for the T’wolves…if they make it. I’m hearing a lot of talk about Spencer Hawes, and I hope that’s not the case. Hawes is a few years away, while Green is NBA-ready.
8. Charlotte Bobcats - Joakim Noah, University of Florida
High-energy Noah fits the team’s need for a marketable face and a tough inside player. Should mesh well with young Bobcats.
9. Chicago Bulls - Spencer Hawes, University of Washington
Solid big man with great tools. Bulls, already a playoff contender, can afford to let Hawes sit and develop for a year or two.
10. Sacramento Kings - Yi Jianlian, China
The seven footer from China is a bit of a mystery. Still, scouts maintain he has extremely high upside.
11. Atlanta Hawks - Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech University
No way the Hawks pass up a point guard with this pick. Crittenton is not as polished as Conley, but is still an upgrade over the Hawks’ current point guards.
12. Philadelphia 76ers - Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech University
The first big surprise of the night. Might be a reach for the athletic Young, but 76ers choose him over Al Thornton.
13. New Orleans Hornets - Julian Wright, University of Kansas
Another bit of a reach. But Hornets like the thought of Wright running the wing on Chris Paul-led fast breaks.
14. Los Angeles Clippers - Al Thornton, Florida State University
Great value pick here for the Clippers, as Thornton has been projected as high as number five overall. He should vie for big minutes early on.
15. Detroit Pistons - Nick Young, University of Southern California
A lot feel that Rodney Stuckey is the pick here. Young has more upside and is a tremendous outside shooter.
16. Washington Wizards - Tiago Splitter, Brazil
The Wizards have last year’s first-round pick, Oleksiy Pecherov, coming over from Europe this season, so they can afford a similar wait on Splitter.
17. New Jersey Nets - Jason Smith, Colorado State University
Seven footer adds much needed inside presence to a thin Nets team. Should become an immediate contributor.
18. Golden State Warriors - Acie Law, Texas A & M University
The Warriors will do everything they can to trade this pick. If for some reason they choose here, Law would be an interesting addition to their already potent backcourt.
19. Los Angeles Lakers - Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington University
Amid the latest Kobe Bryant trade rumors, no one knows what the Lakers will do on draft night. Stuckey is a great pick if he’s still available.
20. Miami Heat - Gabe Pruitt, University of Southern California
The Heat are still looking for a young point guard to solidify that position, and Pruitt fits the bill perfectly.
21. Philadelphia 76ers - Sean Williams, Boston College
Big, physical inside presense. Williams is a gifted shot blocker. 76ers might look to trade this pick though.
22. Charlotte Bobcats - Josh McRoberts, Duke University
This pick is hard to forecast, and is a prime candidate to be traded. If not though, the Bobcats could continue their trend of drafting high profile college players.
23. New York Knicks - Wilson Chandler, DePaul University
The Knicks would love to trade this pick, but that could prove difficult. Chandler gives them a solid outside shooter.
24. Phoenix Suns - Rudy Fernandez, Spain
The Suns love international players, so the versatile Fernandez makes sense here.
25. Utah Jazz - Morris Almond, Rice University
Another solid shooter, Almond falls into a good situation with the Jazz. Utah will utalize his skills early on.
26. Houston Rockets - Marc Gasol, Spain
The biggest surprise of the night. Pau’s younger brother gets nabbed by Houston to be groomed as the future power forward to play alongside Yao Ming.
27. Detroit Pistons - Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt University
A steal for the Pistons this late in the first round. The versatile Byars will fit in nicely in Detroit’s system.
28. San Antonio Spurs - Petteri Koponen, Finland
Like the Suns, the Spurs absolutely love European players. They will take Koponen and bring him over when he’s ready.
29. Phoenix Suns - Jared Dudley, Boston College
A strange choice on paper, but the Suns have a habit of making odd choices look brilliant.
30. Philadelphia 76ers - Nick Fazekas, University of Nevada
Another surprise with the final pick of the first round. Fazekas, a dominant force in college, will likely ride the 76ers’ bench early on.
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It figures you would be the fan of someplace like Minnesota.
Of course. Minnesota, Arizona, Buffalo, Seattle and Michigan are the locations of my favorite teams. I’m pretty much as far across the country as I can go.