31. New Jersey Nets Keith Gallon | F | Oklahoma The Nets will consider Gallon with the 27th pick, but if he falls here, he'd be tough to pass. While Gallon needs to lose weight, he's one of the most skilled big men in the draft. If he gets in better condition, he could be a steal here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32. Miami (via Minnesota) Elliot Williams | SG | Memphis The Heat acquired this pick from Oklahoma City as part of the deal that sent the Thunder the 18th pick. The Blazers are hoping Williams slides to them at No. 34, but I'm told Williams goes here if he slips. He would be a good pick for Miami. The Heat need help in the backcourt and Williams can play both the 1 and the 2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33. Sacramento Kings Ryan Richards | PF | England The Kings could take a flier on this unproven big man from England. He doesn't know how to play yet, but he has the physical tools to be special. He had a great workout in Sacramento. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State) Terrico White | G | Mississippi The Blazers paid $2 million plus the 44th pick for this pick, so they'd better get something good. The Blazers believe White is the best athlete in the draft and his ability to play both guards intrigues them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35. Washington Wizards Gani Lawal | PF | Georgia Tech The Wizards are thin all along their frontcourt and Lawal, who played three years in college, should be able to get minutes right away. He's not spectacular, but he's a pretty solid pick at this point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36. Detroit Pistons Dexter Pittman | C | Texas The Pistons need a lot of help in the paint, and Pittman, if he ever got in shape, could make a huge impact in the middle for them. Trevor Booker is another possibility here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37. Milwaukee Bucks (via Philadelphia) Lance Stephenson | SG | Cincinnati The Bucks are considering Stephenson at 15, so if he were to slide here they'd be thrilled. Stephenson is a very good offensive player. It's his questionable attitude that's causing him to slip this far. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38. New York Knicks Armon Johnson | PG | Nevada Knicks fans don't have a lot to cheer about, but if Johnson falls this far, they can get a little excited. The Knicks have been trying to move up in the draft to get this explosive, athletic guard. He lacks a great jump shot, but he really knows how to push the basketball. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39. New York Knicks (via Clippers) Dominique Jones | SG | South Florida It would be another steal for the Knicks if Jones were to slide this far. He's getting looks as high as 17 and is a terrific scorer who can get to the rim. The Knicks are in major need of another backcourt scorer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40. Indiana Pacers Ben Uzoh | PG | Tulsa This combo guard is a great athlete who could provide a spark off the bench for the Pacers at both backcourt positions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41. Miami Heat (via New Orleans) Jarvis Varnado | C | Mississippi State Varnado is the best shot-blocker in the draft, and -- given the huge holes the Heat have in the paint thanks to free agency -- he might be able to find some minutes in Miami. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42. Miami Heat (via Toronto) Devin Ebanks | SF | West Virginia Ebanks is a Pat Riley type of player. He might not be a special offensive player, but he can guard three positions on the floor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43. Los Angeles Lakers (via Memphis) Willie Warren | G | Oklahoma The Lakers know Derek Fisher can't keep going forever, and it's unclear whether Jordan Farmar is really the point guard of the future. Warren was projected as a potential top-10 pick at the beginning of the season, but injuries, a terrible sophomore season at Oklahoma and questions about his attitude have torpedoed his stock. At 43, the combo guard is a steal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44. Milwaukee Bucks (via Chicago) Trevor Booker | PF | Clemson This pick has already been traded twice. The Bucks got the pick from Golden State via the Corey Maggette trade. Booker is a physical player who reminds me of Jason Maxiell. A great pick for Milwaukee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 45. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Houston) Miroslav Raduljica | C | Serbia With three picks in the first round, it's highly unlikely that the Wolves will take another American player here. Raduljica had an excellent season, and you can expect the Wolves to keep him in Europe for a few years to continue developing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46. Phoenix Suns Stanley Robinson | SF | UConn Robinson has struggled in workouts and his stock has dropped from the mid-first round all the way to here. He shouldn't be discouraged. If ever there were a team Robinson could thrive on, it's the Suns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47. Milwaukee Bucks Jerome Jordan | C | Tulsa The Bucks lost Andrew Bogut to injuries this past season and didn't have a lot to replace him in the middle. Jordan is huge and talented. If his motor revved higher, he'd be a first-round pick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48. Miami Heat Thomas Heurtel | PG | France Heurtel won MVP honors at the adidas Eurocamp. He's a good floor leader but not an amazing athlete. The Heat likely would leave him in France to continue to develop. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49. San Antonio Spurs Alexy Shved | G | Russia Shved is a skilled Russian combo guard, and the Spurs could stash him in Europe for a while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50. Dallas Mavericks Sylven Landesberg | SG | Virginia Landesberg was productive in his first two years in college. He's a slasher who knows how to get to the basket. At pick No. 50, he's a good value. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Blazers) Nemanja Bjelica | SF | Serbia Bjelica is a crafty player who can play a little point forward. He's not a great athlete, but at this point in the draft, the Thunder don't need any more American players. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52. Boston Celtics Manny Harris | SG | Michigan Harris is a high-scoring combo guard who, based on talent, is probably a first-round pick. With the Celtics needing help in the backcourt next season, Harris has the capability to fill in at both positions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53. Atlanta Hawks Lazar Hayward | F | Marquette He's a gritty, athletic small forward who had a productive career at Marquette. Could be a solid rotation player. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 54. Los Angeles Clippers (via Denver) Sherron Collins | PG | Kansas Collins has struggled in workouts because of his weight, but he recently weighed in at 219. He might be the perfect guy to come in and help the Clippers' other conditioning-challenged point guard, Baron Davis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55. Utah Jazz Jon Scheyer | SG | Duke Before you start cracking jokes about Scheyer, don't overlook the fact that he'd be a terrific fit in Utah. He can play both guard positions and can shoot the lights out. I've heard him be compared to Jeff Hornacek, and it's not a bad comparison. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Phoenix) Artem Zabelin | C | Russia The Wolves have a total of five picks and certainly aren't keeping them all for this year. Zabelin is thin but very skilled. He's a long-term project who could pay off down the road. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57. Indiana Pacers (via Dallas) Andy Rautins | SG | Syracuse Jim O'Brien loves shooters, and Rautins might be the best shooter in the draft. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58. Los Angeles Lakers Brian Zoubek | C | Duke Zoubek didn't have a huge career at Duke, but he was a terrific rebounder and could give the Lakers some size and toughness in the middle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59. Orlando Magic Mikhail Torrance | PG | Alabama The athletic combo guard starred at the Portsmouth Invitational, but some concerns about his physical might cause him to slide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland) Luke Harangody | F | Notre Dame Harangody might not be the most athletic guy in the world, but he was super productive in college. The next Jared Dudley? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next five in: Dwyane Collins, PF, Miami; Charles Garcia, F, Seattle; Jerome Randle, G, Cal; Derrick Caracter, PF, UTEP; Magnum Rolle, C, Louisiana Tech;
