Chad Ford has the Warriors taking Ike Diogu in the latest Mock Draft. Here were his comments... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Warriors wanted Frye or Granger, but if those two are off the board, they'll look for the next-best power forward. Sean May, Hakim Warrick and Chris Taft will all get looks here, as well. Diogu gets the nod because of his length (he has the reach of a 7-footer, a la Elton Brand) and shot-blocking ability. </div> Here are his official draft measurements from Chicago ... Name / Height / (w/ shoes) / Weight (lbs) / Wingspan / Reach Diogu, Ike / 6' 6?" / 6' 8" / 255.4 / 7' 3?" / 9' 1"
Hey thanks for posting that insider stuff, Shape! I like Ike Diogu and now there's less fear of a hit or miss now that we know his wingspan and ability to play bigger than his listed height indicates. If he was 6'7 in shoes with 6'10 wingspan... uh oh.
If the kid can learn to hit a 15 foot jumper consistently he could be the steal of the draft. If he's bright, Monty and Baron Davis will teach him the game. Maybe we'll get my Camby-light after all.
Anything closer to what Elton Brand and Ben Wallace do would be nice! Thanks CohanHater for also finding the extra news.
Insider's latest... I'll put it in the private lounge instead Now that the Chicago predraft camp is over, it's time for our second mock draft of 2005. The camp and team workouts have begun to weed out many of the young American and international underclassmen, and more space has been opened in the first round. Based on what we're hearing from agents and team officials, we expect several first-round prospects, including Martynas Andriuskevicius, Nemanja Aleksandrov, Tiago Splitter, Marko Tomas and Rudy Fernandez will withdraw from the draft. Therefore, we've taken them out of this mock draft, opening up five extra spots. If they get a promise between now and the June 21 deadline for underclassmen to withdraw, we'll add them back in when we run our next mock draft on June 22. 1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS Marvin Williams NORTH CAROLINA | FRESHMAN | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 18 The Bucks appear to be leaning toward taking Andrew Bogut in the draft, but we're sticking firm to the belief that Williams is the best prospect on the board. Bucks general manager Larry Harris has said he will draft on talent, not position, and we think once Williams rolls into town for a workout on June 19, he'll change his mind. 2. ATLANTA HAWKS Andrew Bogut UTAH | SOPHOMORE | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20 Bogut told Insider Friday the Hawks told him they'd take him with the No. 2 pick if he was still on the board. The team is desperate for a center, so it makes sense. If Bogut ends up going No. 1, they've told Williams they'll take him No. 2. 3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Gerald Green GULF SHORES ACADEMY (TX) | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 192 | AGE: 19 This is a tough pick to project because the Blazers are shopping it hard. Most of the teams trying to get up to this spot are after Chris Paul. The Blazers are looking at Paul, too, but given their commitment to Sebastian Telfair in the lottery last year, look for them to fill another need and grab Green, a player many feel has the upside of Tracy McGrady. 4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS Chris Paul WAKE FOREST | SOPHOMORE | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-1 | WEIGHT: 178 | AGE: 20 The Hornets' biggest need isn't at the point, but Paul is a big upgrade over Speedy Claxton and Dan Dickau. Suddenly the loss of Baron Davis doesn't sting as much. In fact, Paul's a better prospect than Baron was. 5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Deron Williams ILLINOIS | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20 The Bobcats are still trying to figure out a way to grab Paul or Marvin Williams. They'd trade No. 5 and No. 13 to get up to the second spot, but aren't willing to do it just to get to No. 3. If it doesn't work, they'll decide between Deron Williams, Raymond Felton and Danny Granger at this position. 6. UTAH JAZZ Fran Vazquez SPAIN | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22 The Jazz desperately need a point guard. But they also need more size and athleticism up front. The Jazz could move up a spot or two in the draft to grab Paul or Deron Williams, but they aren't high enough on Felton to pick him here. Vazquez is a safe pick who can step in and give them more depth in the paint. 7. TORONTO RAPTORS Danny Granger NEW MEXICO | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 225 | AGE: 22 Granger's stock just keeps climbing. He's one of the most complete players in the draft and should have the Shawn Marion-type ability to play like a four while playing the three. He has a good handle and a dramatically improved 3-point shot, and he's unselfish. He also has a great body and big-time athleticism. He's already an upgrade from Jalen Rose at small forward. While the Raptors have greater needs at center and point guard, they'll settle this year for the best prospect on the board. 8. NEW YORK KNICKS Channing Frye ARIZONA | SENIOR | CENTER HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 245 | AGE: 22 The Knicks secretly worked out Frye on the West Coast about a week ago and walked away pretty convinced he was their guy at No. 8. Frye is a skilled, athletic big man who has improved his body and his athleticism the last few months. Odds are, he'd be the tallest decent player on the Knicks' roster next season. (Bruno Sundov, 7-2, averaged 1.2 points per game in his 21 games in 2004-05.) 9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Ike Diogu ARIZONA STATE | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 21 The Warriors wanted Frye or Granger, but if those two are off the board, they'll look for the next-best power forward. Sean May, Hakim Warrick and Chris Taft will all get looks here, as well. Diogu gets the nod because of his length (he has the reach of a 7-footer, a la Elton Brand) and shot-blocking ability. 10. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Raymond Felton NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20 This is a real steal for the Lakers if they can land Felton here. He has the potential to go as high as No. 5, and the Raptors will give him a strong look at No. 7. He's the fastest point guard in the draft baseline to baseline, has improved his outside shooting and is an excellent floor leader. A major upgrade over Chucky Atkins. 11. ORLANDO MAGIC Martell Webster SEATTLE PREP | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 18 The Magic could go several ways here, but after shipping their best shooter off to Sacramento for Doug Christie, they would find Webster has a skill they really could use. He's the best pure shooter in high school and one of the four or five best in the draft. He has great size for his position, is mature beyond his years and already has an NBA body. As far as high school guys go, he's the most ready to contribute right now. 12. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Antoine Wright TEXAS A&M | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 21 There's talk that the Clippers are the team that promised Russian forward Yaroslav Korolev they'd pick him. However, it will be tough for the Clips to pass on Wright's versatility, perimeter shooting and athleticism. The Clippers have depth just about everywhere, but Wright will provide insurance should Donald Sterling decide not to pony up for free agents Bobby Simmons and Marko Jaric. 13. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Joey Graham OKLAHOMA STATE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 216 | AGE: 22 The Bobcats could go in a lot of different directions here. They would like to get tougher and more athletic, and Graham would be a great choice. He's a hard worker who can play both the three and the four. Reminds some of a bigger Corey Maggette. 14. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Charlie Villanueva CONNECTICUT | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20 Villanueva has the skills of a lottery pick but proved to be a bit lazy and unreliable at UConn. Still, after so many years without a lottery pick, the Wolves have to swing for the seats. If Villanueva will work hard and focus (Kevin Garnett will demand it), he'll be a nice addition to the Wolves' front line. Korolev is also rumored to be a real possibility here. 15. NEW JERSEY NETS Hakim Warrick SYRACUSE | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 22 He's not Kenyon Martin, but he's long, athletic and runs the floor, and he has the experience to contribute immediately. With Jason Kidd running the show, Warrick should get a lot of dunks. 16. TORONTO RAPTORS Sean May NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 21 The Raptors need a tough scorer and rebounder in the paint, and May should be a perfect fit. Though he's a little undersized to play his natural position (center) in the pros, he should be fine paired next to Chris Bosh. Bosh's ability to dominate in the high post along with May's ability to finish around the rim should give Toronto an effective high-low punch in the paint. Jarrett Jack will also get a long look here by the Raptors. 17. INDIANA PACERS Rashad McCants NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20 McCants might be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top-five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like Indiana, which is willing to take the risk on such a talent. 18. BOSTON CELTICS Yaroslav Korolev RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17 Danny Ainge swears the Celtics aren't the ones who promised Korolev they'd draft him, and I believe him. However, I think Boston would seriously consider him if he were on the board. Korolev dramatically raised his stock in the junior tournament at the Final Four in Europe. He reminds me a little of a young Toni Kukoc. Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova is another possibility here. The Celtics could use a long, lanky, skilled small forward, and both players fit the bill. 19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Julius Hodge NORTH CAROLINA STATE | SENIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 205 | AGE: 21 Hodge might not be the greatest shooter in the draft, but he has all the intangibles Jerry West loves in his players. He's tough and versatile, and he seems to want it more than most guys on the floor. The Grizzlies believe he'll be a point guard, at least part-time, in the pros. It looks as though they'll lose Earl Watson to free agency and wouldn't mind losing Jason Williams in a trade, so the position is a need. Hodge has earned good reviews in every workout and seems to have moved himself up with every one. West has a history of ignoring convention, which explains why a player like Hodge would go this high. 20. DENVER NUGGETS Ersan Ilyasova TURKEY | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18 With multiple picks, the Nuggets plan to leave at least one guy in Europe for a few years. Many believe Ilyasova was the best young prospect in Europe before a severe ankle injury kept him out most of the year. His workouts went well enough in Chicago to secure his place in the mid-first round. 21. PHOENIX SUNS Johan Petro FRANCE | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19 Petro has the size and talent of a lottery pick, but he has been very slow to develop it, which has caused some NBA teams to worry. Petro is probably another year or two away from helping a team even if he does develop. However, if he ever gets it, he could be the perfect center in the Suns' system down the road. 22. DENVER NUGGETS Francisco Garcia LOUISVILLE | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 190 | AGE: 23 The Nuggets opt for upside with their first pick and go with need for their second. The team needs perimeter shooting badly, and Garcia can deliver. He's not the greatest athlete in the world, but he can stroke it and plays with the passion George Karl likes in his players. High school guard Monta Ellis is also a possibility here. The Nuggets love him, but would Karl ever play him? 23. SACRAMENTO KINGS Chris Taft PITTSBURGH | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20 Taft has the size and strength of a lottery pick and the heart of an NBDL player. He has the physical tools to replace Chris Webber on the Kings' front line. But will Rick Adelman, or whoever is coaching the Kings, ever be able to motivate him? 24. HOUSTON ROCKETS Wayne Simien KANSAS | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 22 The Rockets could use a tough rebounder with experience, and Simien fits the bill. Concerns about injuries and size are the only things keeping him out of the lottery. He's one of the few guys who isn't afraid to go inside and bang but also has a nice perimeter game. He has worked out really well just about everywhere. 25. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Jarrett Jack GEORGIA TECH | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 21 Jack could be off the board in the mid-first round, but it's conceivable he could slip all the way to here. He's a very good point guard prospect who just needs to cut down on his turnovers. With Antonio Daniels set to bolt in free agency, the Sonics will have a strong need for a backup point guard with size and toughness. 26. DETROIT PISTONS Ryan Gomes PROVIDENCE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 22 Gomes is a skilled forward, an inside-outside scoring threat who reminds some scouts of Corliss Williamson. He started his career at the four, but played really well at the three this year. He's a good offensive rebounder, has extended his range to the NBA 3-point line and is a good passer. He also has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. 27. UTAH JAZZ Roko Ukic CROATIA | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-6 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 21 He has had a great year in Croatia. A little wild for Jerry Sloan's taste, but he's long, plays defense, and is very tough and experienced. If he could shoot, he'd be a much higher pick. Look for the Jazz to leave him overseas for another season or two. 28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS David Lee FLORIDA | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22 The Spurs have a history of going international and will also look at France's Mickael Gelabale here, but Lee fits the profile. He's tough, plays defense, runs the floor well and does all the little things Gregg Popovich appreciates. 29. MIAMI HEAT Randolph Morris KENTUCKY | FRESHMAN | CENTER HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19 The big kid from Kentucky should probably head back to school. One good year at Kentucky and he's in the lottery. However, he's too big to slip all the way out of the first round if he decides to stay. 30. NEW YORK KNICKS Andrew Bynum ST. JOSEPH (METUCHEN, N.J.) | H.S. | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 300 | AGE: 17 Bynum has the size to rise much higher in the draft if he works out well. Right now, the general consensus is that he's too big a project to take much higher than this. Still, the Knicks aren't likely to pass. They need size and upside, and Bynum has both. If he played two years at UConn, he'd likely be a lottery pick. Other first-round possibilities: Andray Blatche, PF, HS Senior; Monta Ellis, G, HS senior; Luther Head, G, Illinois; Kennedy Winston, G/F, Alabama; Nate Robinson, G, Washington; Ronny Turiaf, PF, Gonzaga; Matt Walsh, G/F, Florida; Linas Kleiza, F, Missouri; Mickael Gelabale, F, France; Jason Maxiell, PF, Cincinnati; Mile Ilic, C, Serbia; Peja Samardziski, C, Serbia
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">9. Ike Diogu ARIZONA STATE | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 21 The Warriors want Frye or Granger, but if those two are off the board, they'll look for the next-best power forward. Sean May, Hakim Warrick and Chris Taft will all get looks here as well. Diogu gets the nod because of his length (he has the reach of a 7-footer, a la Elton Brand) and shot-blocking ability. </div> Mock 3 has the Warriors taking Ike, Frye goes #6 in Chad Ford's Mock. Overall his Mock is very bizzarre.
The deadline for withdrawing from the NBA draft passed on Tuesday with way too many underclassmen still making themselves available. First-round hopefuls Martynas Andriuskevicius, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev, Ike Diogu, Jarrett Jack, Randolph Morris, Roko Ukic, Ersan Ilyasova, Johan Petro, Mile Ilic, Linas Kleiza, Matt Walsh, C. J. Miles and Louis Williams all decided to roll the dice on the first round. The good news is that the second round of this year's draft might be the strongest in the history of the draft. The bad news is that a number of those first-round hopefuls are going to be the players that make the second round so great. There just isn't enough room in the first round for all of them. Then factor in a new collective bargaining agreement that creates the NBA's first true minor league. In my breakdown Tuesday night of the new CBA, I wrote that the NBDL and age minimum could seriously alter this year's draft strategy for a number of teams ? encouraging teams to draft younger players with big upsides because of the ability to develop players down the road. Big-upside players such as Martynas Andriuskevicius, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev and Ersan Ilyasova suddenly look much more interesting to teams than they did 24 hours ago. Combine that with lots and lots of trade talk and rumors of promises, and the draft is still virtually impossible to mock just seven days before selection day. Here's our best shot. 1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS Andrew Bogut UTAH | SOPHOMORE | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20 A mock draft is supposed to tell you who the Bucks are going to take ? not who they should take. I still believe that Marvin Williams should be the No. 1 pick in the draft, but all the chatter I'm hearing out of Milwaukee is that the Bucks are leaning strongly in Bogut's direction. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad pick. Bogut has the chance to be special and he's a low-risk player. But I'm still not convinced it's the right decision. 2. ATLANTA HAWKS Marvin Williams NORTH CAROLINA | FRESHMAN | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 18 There's talk that the Hawks want Deron Williams and are flirting with him at No. 2. He's a great point guard, but he's the wrong Williams at No. 2. If the Hawks really want Deron, they should swap with the Blazers or Hornets, both of whom would love to get their hands on Marvin. Otherwise you take Marvin and trade the other guys on the team that play the same position. 3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Chris Paul WAKE FOREST | SOPHOMORE | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-1 | WEIGHT: 178 | AGE: 20 The Blazers won't take Paul at No. 3. If, for some reason, they own this pick on draft night, Gerald Green would be the guy. So why is Paul the pick here? Because it's now almost a foregone conclusion that the Blazers are going to trade this pick. It could be to the Hawks, Bobcats, Jazz, Raptors or Lakers ? but the chances of Portland selecting at No. 3 seem very slim at this point. Anyone else in this position will be deciding between Paul and Deron Williams. 4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS Deron Williams ILLINOIS | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20 The Hornets have a greater need at small forward. They'd love to move up and get Marvin Williams and they're flirting with swapping with Utah and taking Danny Granger. If they stay here, Williams is the guy. They think he's a big upgrade over Speedy Claxton and Dan Dickau. It's hard to argue with that. 5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Danny Granger NEW MEXICO | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 225 | AGE: 22 The Bobcats are trying to move up in the draft to get their hands on Marvin Williams or Paul. If Paul, Marvin and Deron Williams are off the board, the team will choose between potential (Green) and immediate impact (Granger). Given Bernie Bickerstaff's track record last year, don't be surprised if it's Granger. 6. UTAH JAZZ Channing Frye ARIZONA | SENIOR | CENTER HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 245 | AGE: 22 Call this a hunch. The Jazz still are trying to move up to get a shot at Paul or Deron Williams. If they're unsuccessful, they'll try to address their other need for a big, athletic shot blocker. For months they were high on Vazquez, but have cooled considerably in the last week. That leaves Frye as the most logical choice. He hasn't worked out for the Jazz, but that doesn't mean they won't take him. He'd be a good fit in Utah. 7. TORONTO RAPTORS Gerald Green GULF SHORES ACADEMY (Texas) | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 192 | AGE: 19 This is a dream scenario for the Raptors. Green could go as high as No. 3 and he'll get long looks from both the Hornets and Bobcats. If he falls here, the Raptors would get a potential star to pair with Chris Bosh. He reminds many scouts of Tracy McGrady and for good reason. He's a few years away from being that player, but the potential is well worth it. If he's gone, Raymond Felton, Fran Vazquez, Frye and Granger would all get serious consideration. 8. NEW YORK KNICKS Fran Vazquez SPAIN | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22 Sources claim that the Knicks made a promise to Frye and shut down his workouts. It may have been too little, too late. Other teams are on to Frye and the chances he makes it to the Knicks have now diminished. If he's not there, the Knicks will still look to go big. Vazquez is the other big guy who could come in and play right away. 9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Ike Diogu ARIZONA STATE | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 21 The Warriors want Frye or Granger, but if those two are off the board, they'll look for the next-best power forward. Sean May, Hakim Warrick and Chris Taft will all get looks here as well. Diogu gets the nod because of his length (he has the reach of a 7-footer, a la Elton Brand) and shot-blocking ability. 10. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Martell Webster SEATTLE PREP | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 18 There is talk, a lot of talk, that the Lakers have promised high school center Andrew Bynum that they'll take him if they keep their pick. Bynum sure looks like Shaq, and he's worked out well, but it's just a little too much to believe right now. It would be years before Phil Jackson would give him a whiff of playing time. Until we get to the bottom of the Bynum stuff, we're moving Felton out and Webster in. With Jackson running the show, the Lakers are going to need a big shooter. Webster is the best on the board. Think of him as a young Glen Rice. 11. ORLANDO MAGIC Sean May NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 21 The Magic like Webster as well, but also feel like they need a tough scorer and rebounder in the paint, and May should be a perfect fit. Though he's a little undersized to play his natural position (center) in the pros, he should be fine paired with Dwight Howard. 12. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Yaroslav Korolev RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17 We're torn. We've heard two names associated with the Clippers all month. One is Korolev, who Russian sources claim received a promise from the Clippers. The other is Antoine Wright, whom Dunleavy fell in love with early in the draft process. Whom to choose? Our Clippers source told us in Treviso that there were certain players they'd take in front of Korolev. Is Wright one of them? We're still sorting it out, but until we hear otherwise, we've got to go with Korolev here. Given the latest revelations about the new NBDL minor league, Dunleavy can bring him over and get him some valuable experience in the D league. 13. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Raymond Felton NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20 This is a real steal for the Bobcats if they can land Felton here. The Bobcats need a point guard badly and he's a local kid to boot. He's the fastest point guard in the draft baseline to baseline, has improved his outside shooting and is an excellent floor leader. A major upgrade over what they have now. 14. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Antoine Wright TEXAS A&M | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 21 There are lots of different ways the Timberwolves could go here. Bynum, Joey Graham and Charlie Villanueva could also get looks. It will be tough for them to pass on Wright's versatility and perimeter shooting ? especially with Latrell Sprewell heading into free agency. 15. NEW JERSEY NETS Hakim Warrick SYRACUSE | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 22 He's not Kenyon Martin, but he's long, athletic and runs the floor. Plus, he has the experience to contribute immediately. With Jason Kidd running the show, Warrick should get a lot of dunks. 16. TORONTO RAPTORS Andrew Bynum ST. JOSEPH (METUCHEN, N.J.) | H.S. | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 300 | AGE: 17 The talk is that he's going to either the Lakers or the Timberwolves. But if he falls this far, Raptors GM Rob Babcock will be tempted. The Raptors desperately need a big man with size and toughness. Bynum has that. He's blown people away in workouts with his skills, soft touch and intelligence. He may be a few years away, but landing two potential stars in Green and Bynum to team with Chris Bosh could completely turn the Raptors around in a couple of years. If Bynum's off the board, Croatian point guard Roko Ukic has turned a lot of heads in Toronto. 17. INDIANA PACERS Martynas Andriuskevicius LITHUANIA | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 7-3 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 19 The Pacers do need to find a replacement for Reggie Miller's shooting, but will likely try to do that with a veteran in free agency. Guys such as Francisco Garcia and Rashad McCants are possibilities, but neither would likely be able to crack the lineup next year. Andriuskevicius could go much earlier than this, based on potential, but it's been tough to find a place for a guy who physically is still a good two years away from being able to contribute. He needs a team willing to be patient. No one has a better track record of that over the years than the Pacers. Now that teams will be able to send players down to the D League, the risk is minimized. This is a long-term project for a team that doesn't have a lot of holes to fill. 18. BOSTON CELTICS Joey Graham OKLAHOMA STATE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 216 | AGE: 22 The Celtics were flirting with taking an international player (such as Ersan Ilyasova or Andriuskevicius) and stashing him overseas, but it's tough to see them passing on Graham, a big, physical small forward who tested out as the best athlete in Chicago. He could step in and immediately help the Celtics next season . 19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Julius Hodge NORTH CAROLINA STATE | SENIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 205 | AGE: 21 Hodge might not be the greatest shooter in the draft, but he has all the intangibles Jerry West loves in his players. He's tough and versatile, and he seems to want it more than most guys on the floor. The Grizzlies believe he'll be a point guard, at least part-time, in the pros. It looks as though they'll lose Earl Watson to free agency and wouldn't mind losing Jason Williams in a trade, so the position is a need. Hodge has earned good reviews in every workout and seems to have moved himself up with every one. West has a history of ignoring convention, which explains why a player like Hodge would go this high. 20. DENVER NUGGETS Ersan Ilyasova TURKEY | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18 With multiple picks, the Nuggets plan to leave at least one guy in Europe for a few years. Many believe Ilyasova was the best young prospect in Europe before a severe ankle injury kept him out most of the year. His workouts went well enough in Chicago to secure his place in the mid-first round. 21. PHOENIX SUNS Johan Petro FRANCE | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19 Petro has the size and talent of a lottery pick, but he has been very slow to develop it, which has caused some NBA teams to worry. Petro is probably another year or two away from helping a team even if he does develop. However, if he ever gets it, he could be the perfect center in the Suns' system down the road. 22. DENVER NUGGETS Francisco Garcia LOUISVILLE | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 190 | AGE: 23 The Nuggets opt for upside with their first pick and go with need for their second. The team needs perimeter shooting badly, and Garcia can deliver. He's not the greatest athlete in the world, but he can stroke it and plays with the passion George Karl likes in his players. High school guard Monta Ellis is also a possibility here. The Nuggets love him, but would Karl ever play him? 23. SACRAMENTO KINGS Rashad McCants NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20 McCants might be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top-five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like the Kings, who need that help at the two and are willing to take the risk on such a talent. 24. HOUSTON ROCKETS Wayne Simien KANSAS | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 255 | AGE: 22 The Rockets could use a tough rebounder with experience, and Simien fits the bill. Concerns about injuries and size are the only things keeping him out of the lottery. He's one of the few guys who isn't afraid to go inside and bang, but also has a nice perimeter game. He has worked out really well just about everywhere. 25. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Jarrett Jack GEORGIA TECH | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 21 Jack could be off the board in the mid-first round, but it's conceivable he could slip all the way to here. He's a very good point guard prospect who just needs to cut down on his turnovers. With Antonio Daniels set to bolt in free agency, the Sonics will have a strong need for a backup point guard with size and toughness. 26. DETROIT PISTONS Ryan Gomes PROVIDENCE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 22 Gomes is a skilled forward, an inside-outside scoring threat who reminds some scouts of Corliss Williamson. He started his career at the four, but played really well at the three this year. He's a good offensive rebounder, has extended his range to the NBA 3-point line and is a good passer. He also has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. 27. UTAH JAZZ Roko Ukic CROATIA | POINT GUARD HEIGHT: 6-6 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 21 He has had a great year in Croatia and wowed scouts at the Reebok Eurocamp. Could go as high as No. 16 to the Raptors and will get long looks from the Celtics and Nuggets. A little wild for Jerry Sloan's taste, but he's long, plays defense, and is very tough and experienced. If he could shoot, he'd be a much higher pick. Look for the Jazz to leave him overseas for another season or two. 28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS Charlie Villanueva CONNECTICUT | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20 Villanueva has the skills of a lottery pick but proved to be a bit lazy and unreliable at UConn. He could go as high as the late lottery or he could slip all the way to San Antonio. He has all the offensive skills to be a perfect fit for the Spurs. And head coach Gregg Popovich is the right coach to motivate Villanueva to play some defense. 29. MIAMI HEAT Mile Ilic SERBIA | CENTER HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20 Ilic surprised a lot of people by keeping his name in the draft. He's a young, talented, big man who has really come on of late. Recently had an impressive 24-point, 10-rebound, two-block performance in front of a number of NBA scouts during the Serbia playoffs. Apparently that sealed the deal. Ilic doesn't have a buyout this year, so he may not come over right away. The Nuggets and Knicks are other teams who have shown a lot of interest in him.
I like JBB's mock better, but Ford is as close as a person can get to the real draft so he's probably more reliable, obviously. Thanks, CH, Shape.
I like this guy's suggestion. Nate Robinson at #9, baby! http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_2816875
