Now that the order of the toilets has been decided, barring no skills, here’s my draft. I know that he read these things on which they are based; I am not used to many international players who can lower their status. This mock-draft”>mock-draft is also my estimate, not a guess. This is what I would do if I were an NBA General Manager .I didn’t try and get into the head of any current GM.
1. Rome: Marvin Williams, UNC
It’s the most powerful in the draft and provides even more compelling incentive to hasten the return of Michael Redd. Milwaukee needs almost everything, but Desmon Mason has done better off the bench, and moving Williams onto the stage gives the Bucks another great option, with the return of TJ Ford at the point.
2. Atlanta: Chris Paul, Wake Forest
The team is full of wings. However, with the running talent on the roster, a point guard who can score and dish will make more of a difference than a thin middle. With Paul, Josh Smith and Josh Childress supported by Ivey, Boris Diaw and Donta Smith, the Hawks can fly with a talented young backcourt. With a significant cap hit, the Hawks can address their need for a big man through free agency, most notably Samuel Delambert, Tyson Chandler or Kwame Brown.
3. Portland: Andreas Bogut, University of Utah
Portland needs arrows. Telfair is the PG of the present and future, Miles and Randolph are good closers and Pryzbilla and Ratliff are nice middles well. But Portland won’t pass on Bogut, who many see as Arvydas Sabonis’ junior. With Bogut on the board, the Trailblazers can move Ratliff or Pryzbill to find a shooting guard.
4. New Orleans: Raymond Felton, UNC
New Orleans needs protection. Byron Scott had Jason Kidd during his most successful times; Illinois’ Deron Williams draws the most comparisons to Kidd. However, Felton’s speed in the open floor approaches Kidd, and Felton’s choice is on Williams.
5. Charlotte: Danny Granger, New Mexico
Charlotte needs everything but more power. While Deron Williams looks like a terrific prospect, Granger gives the Bobcats a shot at scoring. Bernie Bickerstaff succeeded with a proven college draft last year, and he will make a similar choice this year, making NBA-ready Granger.
6. Utah: Deron Williams, Illinois
No player fits the coach’s potential more perfectly than Williams. The Jazz have struggled with consistency at the point last season, and Williams will add toughness, poise and stability.
7. Toronto: Christopher Taft, Pittsburgh
The Raptors need a player who can contribute immediately and can’t play on a player who struggles, like Rafael Araujo did. Taft certainly has talent, and they paint him as a terrific complement to Chris Bosh.
8. New York: Gerald Green, HS
Isaiah delights in the character of Thomas. And, New York actually needs two guards, Green means a good fit in the Big Apple.
9. Golden State: Charles Villanueva, UConn
Warriors are hard to figure out. All-Star quarterback (Baron Davis and Jason Richardson) and valuable centers (Adonal Foyle and Troy Murphy). Last season they brought in a big European (Andris Biedrins) and they can do well. They also have several small front parts, none of which really seem to fit. While Martell Webster makes sense, Villanueva has four athletic warriors to fill his market; with Richardson and Davis, Villanueva can succeed in attacking the offensive glass and using athleticism.
10. Los Angeles Lakers: Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech
I need to choose the bad guys who will enter the burning station, that they need a center or a guard point. While Fran Vazquez or Tiago Splitter makes sense as an available center for Europe, Jack makes more sense as a PG who can shoot and step up alongside Bryant, Butler and Odom.
11. Orlando: Tiago Splitter, Brazil
The Magic split allows the center to play alongside and defend Dwight Howard. He has experienced playing in Spain and will give the Magic another post option next season. It fills Magic’s biggest need, which is toughness, rebounding, and defense, especially in the post.
Los Angeles Clippers: Antoine Wright, Texas A&M;
With Bobby Simmons positioned elsewhere next season, Wright is a powerful replacement on the wing.
13. Charlotte: Roko-Leni Ukic, Croatia
After Granger finishes playing on the wing, Ukic gives the Bobcats a young, experienced, athletic point guard to run the show.
14. Minnesota: Fran Vazquez, Spain
The two need another post presence and Vazquez can fill this position alongside KG.
15. New Jersey: Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga University
Athletics need a strong, forward-looking powerhouse to replace Kmart. Turiaf may be getting to this early, but he has the size and athleticism to be an effective player for the Nets. A player like Johan Petro may make more “value” sense, but they need a net user now, as Kidd is getting no less.
16. Toronto: Joey Graham, Oklahoma
After hiring Chris Taft to play Bosh up front, Graham adds toughness and athleticism to the wing.
17. Indiana: Frye, Arizona
Frye complements Jermaine O’Neal well, adding shot blocking and a perimeter shooter if O’Neal or Artest double up on the runner.
18. Boston: Hakim Warrick, a Syracusan
Ainge likes athletes and few are more athletic than Warrick.
19. Memphis: Johan Peter, France
Memphis needs a seven-footer in another body in the paint, and Peter can be the guy next to Gasol.
20. Denver: Rudy Fernandez, Spain
Denver needs a shooter in the two and Fernandez is athletic and can step in and fill the Nuggets biggest need.
21. Phoenix: Sean May, UNC
Phoenix needs a medium, but none is available. He has great hands to catch Nash’s throats and the up-tempo style he played in college. It doesn’t add the size we need, but it does add some strength and steel inside.
22. Denver: Ralph Morris, Kentucky
Denver can afford to let Morris develop, which gives the Nuggets more flexibility with Camby and Nene.
23. Sacramento: Martell Webster, HS
He is an archer and kings as archers. He’s also NBA-ready and could battle Kevin Martin for the starting position next year if Maurice Evans signs elsewhere. And, he has enough size to give Peja his first backup since he was traded for Hedo Turkoglu.
24. Houston: Francisco Garcia, Louisville
Garcia and TMac on the wings of flint will provide tremendous length, speed, shooting and passing.
25. Seattle: Kennedy Winston, Alabama
So far it depends on Ray Allen and his imminent departure. Assuming Allen leaves, Seattle needs shooting guard. Of course, we also need a better story behind it. Winston immediately gives aid to the SG, while the Sonics will need to use free labor to find some help inside.
26. Detroit: Dijon Thompson, UCLA
No team is in a better position than the Bakers. There is no need for it. That’s why it makes sense to draft and recruit European players or high-profile players that the rookie would be hard-pressed to find minutes for the Pistons. But Thompson is a good middle shooter who can play back up minutes 2 and 3 for Hamilton and Prince.
27. Utah: Mickaël Gelabale, International
An athletic small forward who knows how to play with play, he fits well with the Jazz, proposed by Charles Boozer at AK47 on a power play.
San Antonio: Angelo Gigli, International
Powered by size and experience playing in Europe, Gigli Argentine Luis Scola can fight for the inevitable position of Tim Duncan back-up, with Dieter Sean Marks’ take on the position as the nice guy in the cool shirt at the end of the bench.
29. Miami: Wayne Simien, Kansas
They need a power forward, as Udon Haslem is a free agent. Simien is strong inside.
30. New York: Andreas Bynum, HS
New York has a lot of potential, but it doesn’t have a real center. A true seven-footer can change that, though drafting two high school players may be too big a risk to take. However, with Trevor Ariza, Bynum and Green, the Knicks would have a thriving u-20 team behind the veterans. The Knicks can’t go into a rebuilding period, and these talented young men could convince Thomas to build an excellent foundation once Hardaway, Houston and Thomas contract books in 2006.
