1 - Milwaukee: Marvin Williams Just a gut feeling on my behalf - unbelievable upside. They need help in the middle, but Marvin's promise may be too much to pass up on in the end. 2 - Atlanta: Andrew Bogut By default. With Williams off the board, they take the Australian big man and plug him in the middle straight up. Need a point guard too, but polished seven footers come along a lot less often. 3 - Portland: Gerald Green They love Telfair, and Green's upside is very intriguing. They may still trade this pick, but right now Green is the guy they supposedly love. 4 - New Orleans: Chris Paul Delighted that Paul slips out of the top three, and he ain't going to slip any further. He'll keep JR Smith running and entice Magloire to stay on the floor. 5 - Charlotte: Deron Williams It's still a coin toss between Deron and Felton, but my gut is they ignore the hometown lure of Ray and go with the slightly better floor leader. 6 - Utah: Ray Felton They will try to trade up, no doubt, but they'll still be happy with Felton. #6 and Snyder for Portland's #3? Raymond is mature and a leader, something they have sorely lacked at the point since John Stockton. 7 - Toronto: Danny Granger No more projects for the Raptors. This may be high for Granger, but Babcock will want someone who pays off immediately - Danny is that guy. 8 - New York: Fran Vazquez Chris Taft's workouts have left Zeke dumbfounded - and not in a good way. Vazquez can play centre, and can play right away. 9 - Golden State: Tiago Splitter Tough pick. Granger and Vazquez off the board, so the Warriors go for size, which Splitter certainly has. A nice combo with Biedrins beckons in a few seasons. 10 - LA Lakers: Jarrett Jack A lot of talk that if Jackson signs, then they'll draft Jack. Too high for my liking, but it makes sense. 11 - Orlando: Antoine Wright They love Splitter, but he's gone. Wright is a solid 2/3 prospect who can play right away, and gives Orlando a nice young inside/outside combo with Howard. 12 - LA Clippers: Martell Webster Livingston at the point and a re-signed Simmons is great for the future, and adding Webster keeps their young roster stacked with raw talent. 13 - Charlotte: Chris Taft With a second lottery pick, the 'Cats can take a chance. Forget the fact he's lazy, forget the fact he naturally plays the same spot as Okafor - the talent is obvious and who knows what being drafted will spark in Taft. 14 - Minnesota: Channing Frye Minnesota buy the hype, as they continue to look for someone not named Olowokandi to man the centre. With Garnett next to him, that is a lot of long arms in the defensive paint. With the amount of defensive attention KG gets on offense, Frye's ability to hit the midrange jumper will be a perfect foil. ----------------- 15 - New Jersey: Sean May He's not going to run the floor, but New Jersey have plenty of that in Carter and Jefferson. What he does have however is the ability to defensive rebound and start the break with his soft hands and passing, and those hands will love catching Kidd passes into the post too. 16 - Toronto: Rashad McCants They went big last pick, and with the top four point guards off the board, the Raptors go with the extremely talented, but moody McCants. Hey, it works for Jalen, doesn't it? 17 - Indiana: Marko Tomas Well, there are rumours Larry Bird loves this guy, but even if they're not true, it still makes sense. Still young, Tomas is a proven athletic scorer in Europe, and can play right away with the retirement of Reggie and question marks over Artest's place. 18 - Boston: Hakim Warrick Close to best talent available here, without any pressing needs for the Celtics. Warrick gives them more depth, and a guy to excel in an up-tempo game. 19 - Memphis: Johan Petro I don't expect Jerry West to keep this pick, but if so, he can draft Petro and possibly leave him in Europe for a season. They need a presence in the middle, and the Frenchman is certainly that. A great pick for the Grizz. 20 - Denver: Rudy Fernandez With McCants gone, Fernandez is the logical pick. They need someone who can shoot; Fernandez is certainly that, and then some. The Nuggets will be delighted he hasn't gone in the teens, and he fits what they want perfectly. 21 - Phoenix: Andrew Bynum A big man who can block shots and run the floor. May not stay in the draft if he doesn't get a lottery guarantee, but if he remains and is available here, it's a great pick for the Suns. They would want the local Frye, but he's already long gone. 22 - Denver: Andray Blatche They filled their need for a shooting guard two selections prior, and with Nene, Camby and Kenyon Martin filling the frontcourt, they take a chance on Blatche's raw ability and let him develop. He has amazing range for a big man, but will learn to play inside from Denver's bruising frontline. 23 - Sacramento: Charlie Villanueva How does he fall this far? Easy, he is lazy, inconsistent and can be a defensive liability. The Kings probably need a roster overhaul and take him on talent alone, and in the early 20s it's not a high risk. 24 - Houston: Ike Diogu They look at Wayne Simien here, but decide Diogu is just too powerful to pass up on. Lives at the line and shoots a high percentage, has the best post-up game in college (with Bogut), and fills Houston's need for a physical power forward. 25 - Seattle: Tiras Wade The intrigue surrounding this kid is slowly rising, and he may force himself into the late first round. With a complete offensive game and NBA size to match, he is a potential sleeper pick for a team with three guards out of contract (Allen, Murray and Daniels). A true gymrat too, which will sit well with Coach McMillan. 26 - Detroit: Kennedy Winston A good value pick this late, Winston has the size and arsenal to become an impact scorer off the bench for Detroit right away. A nice luxury and one they won't pass on. 27 - Utah: Randolph Morris They want Winston, and he's gone a pick too early. Cutting their losses on Curtis Borchardt, the Jazz take the talented Morris and sit him behind Okur and Collins as he learns the NBA game under one of it's best teachers in Jerry Sloan. 28 - San Antonio: Wayne Simien Coach Pop loves guys with work ethic, and no one works harder than Simien. In reality they don't have any real gaps, but Simien can step into Malik Rose's role. Robert Horry probably won't be back if they win the title, Tony Massenburg won't be anyway. 29 - Miami: Ronny Turiaf Will Haslem be back? Probably, but Turiaf still gives them another energy guy to plug into the frontcourt. A good pick this late, Turiaf is still a bit raw, but will learn from the best in the middle, and gives them another six fouls from a guy who will use them properly. 30 - New York: Monta Ellis New York's roster is a shambles anyway, and they already picked a guy to play right away in Vazquez, so with a second first rounder to play with, they take the talented, but small Ellis. Just don't let Marbury teach him how to play point guard. Those who missed out on this version: Roko-Leni Ukic Probably needs to go top 20 to make his contract buyout worthwhile, and I couldn't squeeze him in there at this stage. Is very talented. Francisco Garcia I have gone off him a bit - he plays with heart, but what else is going to put him ahead of guys like Tomas, McCants and Winston at this stage? Angelo Gigli Understands the game and works hard, but doesn't quite have the upside of most Europeans. At 6'11 and only around 210 lbs, he is not a good weight for someone who doesn't have a great perimeter game either. David Lee Another guy I like, but really just couldn't find a spot for him. Should go early second round pretty comfortably, though.
Nice job. This is probably the best Member Mock Draft yet; right up there with Kickdaddy's. I only have one concern - <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">25 - Seattle: Tiras Wade The intrigue surrounding this kid is slowly rising, and he may force himself into the late first round. With a complete offensive game and NBA size to match, he is a potential sleeper pick for a team with three guards out of contract (Allen, Murray and Daniels). A true gymrat too, which will sit well with Coach McMillan.</div> How can you possibly put that kid in the first round? I know he's good, but he'll likely be available with the Sonics' 48th pick. The majority of mock drafts don't even have the kid being drafted.
Tiras Wade is as good as Francisco Garcia, they battled in a good first round game this year, and they were even. Just because he played for a mid-major, he isn't a first rounder? Then why in the world would Utah waist a pick on Randolph Morris, Ronny Turiaf is better and they would take him over Randolph Morris.
Not too bad, not too bad. I like some of the modifications you've made from your first to now. Although slight in the lottery, you've gone away from some popular 20+ choices and justified yourself well. I like the "dont let Starbury teach Ellis how to play the point" Got me chucklin'! My only beef is Warrick at 18. If he continues to workout like he has been. We're talking Top 10. Anyway, good once again. And VooDoo, thanks for the compliment!
Marco Tomas is a good player, but 18th is way too high for him. It's not going to happen. I don't really see it. I like New Jersey's pick though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you accidently left Ryan Gomes off of your mock draft.</div> Nah I didn't, it's a first round mock, not a second.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Nah I didn't, it's a first round mock, not a second.</div>Hmmmm.... Yup, you're right. You never claimed to be accurate. Sorry about that, sir.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not going to happen.</div> Shit! Why didn't you tell me this before? Now I just look like an idiot. 44, you sound like you need a hug.
I think the Knicks will draft Taft over Fran, there both the same size but Taft is a better rebounder and scorer he will fit right in with Sweetney and Thomas under the basket.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bball4life1:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the Knicks will draft Taft over Fran, there both the same size but Taft is a better rebounder and scorer he will fit right in with Sweetney and Thomas under the basket.</div>Taft did not impress anyone in the Knicks organization when he worked out with them. For that matter, that workout made Isiah wonder if he'd be worth their pick. Only time will tell what happens, but if his workouts continue to suck, he might slip out of the lotto, if he already hasn't.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">Taft did not impress anyone in the Knicks organization when he worked out with them. For that matter, that workout made Isiah wonder if he'd be worth their pick. Only time will tell what happens, but if his workouts continue to suck, he might slip out of the lotto, if he already hasn't.</div> He's way out of the lottery. The Knicks are thinking about taking him with their 30th pick.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">He's way out of the lottery. The Knicks are thinking about taking him with their 30th pick.</div>I can see Taft dropping out of lottery, but not all the way down to the 30th pick. He's too good of a talent to drop that far. He may be lazy now and unmotivated, but that could change when he gets drafted. He may not be a lottery pick anymore, but he should still land somewhere in the top 25 or so.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I can see Taft dropping out of lottery, but not all the way down to the 30th pick. He's too good of a talent to drop that far. He may be lazy now and unmotivated, but that could change when he gets drafted. He may not be a lottery pick anymore, but he should still land somewhere in the top 25 or so.</div> Maybe that was an overstatement on my part, but it was to show how badly Taft?s stock has sunk.
