Decided to whip this up, got a little contest going with a couple buddies so I just threw in some explanations. Made it on noon draft day, so it may seem a bit rushed Tried to be a little different than the normal mock... 1. Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Oden, Center | Ohio State ? Not even Portland can mess this up, and apparently they won?t. They have announced that they will select Oden with the top pick. Great decision by the staff, you need a big to win in the league and that?s obvious. 2. Seattle Sonics: Kevin Durant, Forward | Texas ? Sonics management have the easiest job in the draft to just sit back and take Durant with the second overall pick. The draft starts at 3, we?ve known that for a months already. 3. Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford, Power Forward | Florida ? This is where the draft starts to get interesting. I'm absolutely dying to put Yi Jianlian here, but it's not going to happen. Horford is the pick here at no. 3, considering a blockbuster trade doesn't go down. 4. Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley Jr., Point Guard | Ohio State ? Best case scenario for Grizzlies would be Horford falling to them at the four spot. However, picking Conley Jr. here to run your team's offense for years to come isn't a bad idea either. 5. Boston Celtics: Yi Jianlian, Forward | Guangdong Tigers (China) ? It looks like the Celtics are leaning toward Yi, and they should be. He's probably the only player still left at no. 5 that has the potential to change around a franchise; then again, he could run it straight into the ground if he's a bust. 6. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandan Wright, Power Forward | North Carolina ? They need a point more than anything in the draft, but Conley goes off the board at no. 4. They select the best player on the board in Wright, in hopes of using him to trade back into the first with a team in the 10-16 range to get either Law or Crittenton. 7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Spencer Hawes, Center | Washington ? Minnesota is desperate for a center, and Hawes is one of the few true center prospects in the draft. Got a weird feeling that he gets picked here. 8. Charlotte Bobcats: Corey Brewer, Guard/Forward | Florida ? They have to go defense with Brewer here. Jeff Green and Nick Young will also be strongly considered, but really can?t just see how they pass on Brewer. 9. Chicago Bulls: Jeff Green, Forward | Georgetown ? Chicago is going to be involved in a blockbuster trade this summer, they have to pick the best player on the board so they can make some guys expendable. Green might be able to make a guy like Luol Deng expendable to use in a deal to get Kobe. 10. Sacramento Kings: Joakim Noah, Forward/Center | Florida ? It appears that the Kings will be in a perfect position to grab either Noah or Hawes with this pick. The future doesn?t look good for the Kings, so they go ahead and grab Noah to secure a big man spot. 11. Atlanta Hawks: Acie Law, Point Guard | Texas A&M ? They grabbed Yi with no. 3, now it?s time to look to address the point guard need. Law would be an ideal fit for the Hawks, who are really establishing themselves as a promising young team. 12. Philadelphia 76ers: Al Thornton, Forward | Florida State ? Philly needs someone to score, and Thornton can certainly do that. This looks like it has been the pick for a month or two. 13. New Orleans Hornets: Nick Young, Guard | USC ? He?s been quickly going up the draft boards in large part because he can just flat out score. He?ll be a nice compliment to Chris Paul in the back court. 14. Los Angeles Clippers: Julian Wright, Forward | Kansas ? This would be a huge steal for the Clippers if they can grab him at no. 14. He can play multiple positions, as the Clippers would certainly find use for him. 15. Detroit Pistons: Rodney Stuckey, Guard | Eastern Washington ? There?s rumors that he has a promise within the top 15, and with Detroit picking at 15 it doesn?t surprise me. I?m not a huge fan of small shooting guards, but all things point to him being the pick here. 16. Washington Wizards: Jason Smith, Forward/Center | Colorado ? Wizards need size, and they can afford to have somebody that?s on the soft side. 17. New Jersey Nets: Josh McRoberts, Forward/Center | Duke ? Smith could have really been the pick here, so the Nets have to reach for a guy like McRoberts. 18. Golden State Warriors: Rudy Fernandez, Guard | Spain ? They always seem to draft international guys, and this year is no different. Fernandez could be a special player, if he could be bought out of his contract overseas. 19. Los Angeles Lakers: Thaddeus Young, Guard/Forward | Georgia Tech ? The Lakers have to start preparing for the era after Kobe, whether they like it or not. Young has some serious upside as the Lakers might have to consider a rebuilding process if Kobe bolts town. 20. Miami Heat: Javaaris Crittenton, Point Guard | Georgia Tech ? Excellent addition by the Heat. This allows Wade to revert back to his original position of shooting guard. 21. Philadelphia 76ers: Marco Belinelli, Guard/Forward | Italy ? The Sixers have yet to get involved with picking international players in the draft. They really need somebody who is not named Korver to knock down jumpers consistently. 22. Charlotte Bobcats: Nick Fazekas, Forward/Center | Nevada ? They are all for picking players that were successful in college, and Fazekas would fall in that category. Walking out of the first round with Fazekas and Corey Brewer would be big for the Bobcats. 23. New York Knicks: Wilson Chandler, Guard/Forward | DePaul ? Is there a promise to Chandler here? Apparently some draft experts think so. That?s good enough for me to put Chandler here, makes a lot of sense. 24. Phoenix Suns: Morris Almond, Guard | Rice ? Steve Kerr is now running the show in Phoenix, and it would only make sense that his first pick would be a shooter. Almond might be an underrated prospect only because he attending Rice. 25. Utah Jazz: Derrick Byars, Forward | Vanderbilt ? Great fit here for the Jazz. It really seems like they?re determined to pick a wing player here at no. 25. 26. Houston Rockets: Marc Gasol, Center | Spain ? It really seemed like they liked Fazekas with this pick, but he?s gone to the Bobcats. Anoter big body for the Rockets is necessary, they?ll go with the best one available in Gasol. 27. Detroit Pistons: Aaron Gray, Center | Pittsburgh ? Chris Webber and Rasheed Wallace aren?t getting any younger. The Pistons have to look to the future with their big man spot, Gray is a safe pick here. 28. San Antonio Spurs: Daequan Cook, Guard | Ohio State ? You just know whoever gets picked here will eventually make an all-star game. Cook is best on the board, brings youth to the Spurs bench. 29. Phoenix Suns: Tiago Splitter, Forward/Center | International ? They need someone to keep overseas, that?s just what Splitter is. Eventually he could be an impact player, but for now they?ll groom him. 30. Philadelphia 76ers: Sean Williams, Center | Boston College ? All character problems aside, this kid is one of the most dominate centers on the defensive end in the draft. Philly can roll the dice with their final pick, by taking a chance on Williams.
