<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> While Bryant wiped the draft out of the news for a few days, this is coming down to a nail-biter. It clearly begins with the Hawks at No. 3 after Greg Oden goes to the Trail Blazers and Kevin Durant to the Sonics. The latest buzz has the Hawks trading out of the third spot or going for Florida power forward Al Horford, the most ready to play of the second tier of players. The buzz had been the Grizzlies aren't enamored of North Carolina's Brandan Wright, who was thought to be the consensus No. 4 pick, and like Joakim Noah, also more ready to play. But all this could change with a new general manager moving in this week. The Celtics at No. 5 also are said to be most interested in trading down or in taking China's Yi Jianlian or Georgetown's Jeff Green, who played with coach Doc Rivers' son and whom Rivers admires. That could have Wright or guard Mike Conley Jr. sliding to the Bucks at No. 6 for an all-Ohio State backcourt with Michael Redd. That makes sense because the Bucks could lose free-agent point guard Mo Williams. And it would open the No. 5 spot for a possible trade with teams like the Bulls, because if the Celtics really want Green, they could trade down. Meanwhile, the latest dark horse moving up is Colorado State's Jason Smith, an agile 7-footer who can shoot. He could be a prospect for which a team like the Bulls could trade down. It's setting up as a wild 10 days until the June 28 draft. </div> Source: Chicago Tribune
If it's between Horford/Wright on a team already with a star, you have to go with Horford, because he has much less room for error. I would think those teams would want to make sure that their star has a guy that will be able to step in and play. If you are on a team without really a star and are in serious rebuild mode for a couple more years, then you go with the star potential of Wright. Memphis to me would be a no-brainer to draft Horford to play alongside Gasol, Gay, Mike Miller. Atlanta could be the same way with superstar Joe Johnson and potential superstars in Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. Not to mention that Wright has been working out by himself, while the others have been working out against someone else.
Horford's stock might be dropping a little too: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-Al Thornton is not drawing the best reviews in his individual workouts so far, while some teams are now quietly wondering whether he might end up being available in the late teens portion of the draft. People we’ve spoken to have questioned his ability to play and defend the perimeter, pointing out his lack of fluidity, and even going as far as to call him “robotic” moving his feet outside of the paint. In addition to that, losing an inch on measurements from 6-8 to 6-7 did not help him, while his very soft-spoken off the court demeanor and more advanced age at 23 ? has been working against him as well. His poor feel for finding the open man or picking up on advanced sets both defensively and offensively has also been mentioned as a negative in some people’s eyes. When’s Thornton perimeter shot is not falling he might not be the most aesthetic workout player to take in, but scouts might want to remind themselves of the way he dominated the ACC this year by rewatching some of the film they have at their disposal. He’s clearly not a finished product at this point despite his age, and relying heavily on workouts to compare him with other prospects in this draft does him a tremendous disservice. </div> <div align="center">Source: DraftExpress</div> I don't really buy either report.
