| Casini's Mock Draft On Draft Eve Authored by Kevin Casini - June 28, 2006 - 1:36 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Breaking Down The 2nd Round After a somewhat surprising first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs, we find ourselves with even better match-ups in the Round of Eight.
Prospect Report: Brook Lopez Of StanfordFor a team looking for a well-developed offensive game at center, Brook Lopez is the 2008 Draft’s best option.
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1. Toronto: I still think they take Andrea Bargnani, but not at 1. They could trade down with a team like Charlotte (MJ’s done dumber things as a GM), Portland or anyone else desperate for Brandon Roy or Adam Morrison and try to get a later pick as well. Just b/c they take the Italian Scallion doesn’t mean he’s staying; he could be packaged, or Villanueva could be headed south for the winter. Hear that sound? That’s half of Ontario yelling their computer screens.
2. Chicago: I swore they were taking LaMarcus Aldridge when I saw the lotto. Then I changed just about as quickly to the quicker, Tyrus Thomas, who has way more upside. Put me back down for Aldridge.
3. Charlotte: With MJ in charge of the ship Rudy Gay is no longer a lock. After the disaster that was Kwame “Help!” Brown, His Airness isn’t messing around and will look for an established 4-year player. That sounds like Brandon Roy at #3. But Roy never worked out for the Bobcats and Adam Morrison did. Don’t underestimate the gates that Morrison could bring to the NBA’s newest franchise. The ‘Stache is Cash.
4. Portland: Sorry Paul Allen, your boy isn’t here anymore. Tyrus Thomas is as athletic as anyone and would be tempting but don’t they already have 8 guys just like him? I bet they still go with a Pacific Northwest product and take Brandon Roy. Nate McMillan gets the guy he wanted all along. Only problem for Portland is that no fewer than 3 or 4 teams are attempting to get into the 2 hole to take the U-Dub senior. Well, to be honest, that’s certainly not the only problem for Portland.
5. Atlanta: Ok, so now we’re at 5 and Marcus Williams, Tyrus Thomas and Rudy Gay are all on the board. Billy Knight has been quoted as saying that he’ll take the best player available and let the coach figure it out, and that’s Gay. Everyone seems to think the Hawks need a true PG. And then word comes that the Hawks have asked Shelden Williams to shut down his workouts and may have given him a promise to take him 5th overall. Stranger things have happened, and taking a 4-year Duke vet isn’t a bad idea, but at 5? These guys just can’t get it right. If Roy was left they’d take him and trade him down to Houston at 8, where it makes a little more sense to get The Landlord. But Roy isn’t here, so Shelden is.
6. Minnesota: Hmm. Need a PG. Must...take…point…guard. But Rudy Gay looks so much like Ray Allen it’s sick. Last year’s 1st rounder, Rashad McCants, just had Amare surgery and is expected out at least 4 months. This changes things, and KG will have a new playmate in Rudy Gay. In related news there is an Open House at #31 Buckets Lane. Some people think Minnesota loves Randy Foye so much they may just go ahead and trade Gay to whoever takes Foye later on…
7. Boston: …which could be the Celtics. The last thing the Celtics need is any more youth. They could use a banger down low who can rebound and score, but who couldn’t? Randy Foye has been in for numerous workouts and Danny and the Doc have raved about his ability. They have shown a willingness to play larger combo-guards at the point (Delonte). Danny and Co. really hoped that Rudy Gay was slipping this far but old pal Kevin McHale went ahead and snatched him, so the C’s are in a bind: Take Tyrus Thomas, another young, raw forward with plus-potential or get the point guard you need in Marcus Williams and call it a day? How about neither? I don’t think the Celtics will ever pick at #7 and more likely we’ll see them at trade down or completely out of the draft and get a veteran. How about Jermaine ONeal and #17 for #7, Al Jefferson and Gerald Green?
8. Houston: Gosh, they need a lot, don’t they? They really wanted to get Brandon Roy, and Roy really wanted to be there. They might like to take Redick here, but that doesn’t really solve their problems. O’Bryant would be interesting, but I think the fact that Marcus Williams is available is too much for JVG and Co. to pass up. They may realize they can swap with Seattle and still get him, if the Sonics express interest in Tyrus Thomas, Houston will select the LSU PF for them and swap picks later.
9. Golden State: Now the Warriors are jumping with joy at the chance to get their choice of O’Bryant and Thomas, and probably will make the selection rather quickly. O’Bryant has huge potential but Thomas could be a force on defense and the glass right away. If they take the 7’ you’ll hear B-Dizzle peeling out of his driveway on his way to Minnesota. But they won’t. Tyrus Thomas goes to Golden State.
10. Seattle: A lot here depends on what the Sonics plan to do with free-agent to be Chris Wilcox, who showed great rebounding ability to match his athleticism after coming over in a trade from the Clips. Shelden Williams is no longer available, so they could easily move down and take another big like Simmons or Johnson. The choice here is Ced Simmons, who has been climbing steadily up draft boards since workouts began.
11. Orlando: Assuming the wing players the Magic wanted were not available at 7, Orlando is content to sit back with the 11th pick and let the rest of the lotto come to them. Ronnie Brewer and Rodney Carney are interesting choices as they do need someone in the backcourt to pair with Jameer and someone (anyone) besides Dwight Howard to play some D. Both tested outstanding in athleticism in the pre-draft combine but I still think Carney’s defense is too much to pass up. Could go either way.
12. New Orleans: The Hornets come in at 12 knowing they have another pick at 15 and have the potential to steal two players that can make big contributions next year. Two guys I love for them are UConn’s Hilton Armstrong and FSU’s Alexander Johnson. Johnson may be a reach here but Hilton is not. Other options are to take whomever the magic leave at 11, Carney or Brewer, or do a 2-for-1 swap with a team in the Top 5. This might be advisable to do as one top flight talent teamed with Chris Paul could really boost their chances in the conference. Imagine CP3 and Adam Morrison.
13. Philly: I defer to Special Ed on 76ers talk and he says they’re going big. If Armstrong is there, he may go. Ditto O’Bryant or NC State’s Cedric Simmons, an absolute Theo Ratliff clone (but much cheaper.) Here’s a vote for them moving down and nabbing another pick and Alexander Johnson, that guy keeps getting better. If Ronnie Brewer is still on the board, the Arkansas guard could be too good to pass up. Brewer’s size and ability to play the point at times could give Philly the body they need to move AI to SG full-time. How about this? 76ers trade down to get Shawne Williams, a 6’9” forward and terror on D.
14. Utah: They’d like nothing more than J.J. Redick to sell tickets to a fan base that has historically supported white players more than any other town this side of Boston. But his recent DUI arrest has to have them thinking twice about upsetting the moral majority that loves this team. Rumors of a failed physical can’t help either. They’d also love a shot at a Hilton Armstrong but signs are pointing to them REALLY loving 7’ Senegalese Center Mouhamed Saer Sene and his 7’8” wing span. Sene’s hype has died down since workouts and its looking like he’s going somewhere in the 20’s. If the 76ers do in fact go big, look for Utah to nab Rodney Carney or Randy Foye.
15. New Orleans: Carney, if he’s left. If not, maybe another Euro guy goes here.
16. Chicago: Thabo Seflosha. This could be part of a bigger trade as well.
17. Indy: How about FSU stud Alex Johnson?
18. Washington: Rajon Rondo. How does a guy that could go 5th slide to 17th?
19. Sacramento: Forget Spanish Chocolate, they don’t want another J-Will on their hands. Could Pat O’Bryant last this long?
20. New York: Josh Boone or Marcus Vinicius. Too high for either but the Knicks had an offer to Boone and will need to take him here b/c they’ll trade the later pick.
21. Phoenix: JJ Redick
22. NJ: Kyle Lowry
23. NJ: Quincy Douby
24. Memphis: Jordan Farmar? Lowry, if he’s here.
25. Cleveland: Shannon Brown
26. LA Lakers: James White. Freak jumper.
27. Phoenix: Leon Powe, as in Whoa. Explosiveness returns after surgeries.
28. Dallas: Paul Davis.
29. New York: Guillermo Diaz, from Miami for Miami.
30. Portland: Some 6’11 Ukranian or a 7’ British dude.
• NBA Draft, Part II: Movers and Shakers. As I’ve said before this is one of the more unpredictable, and more entertaining, drafts in recent history. We’ll put forth some of the things we think may go down.
- Guaranteed locks: Both Nova guards go 1st round. Leon Powe is the steal of the draft now that people know about Alexander Johnson. The highlight reel for Sergio Rodriguez will be ridiculous. LaMarcus is back in a big, big way.
- Solid possibilities: Chicago, Minnesota and/or Houston trades down. Seattle, OKC and/or Orlando trade up. Knicks and Heat make a trade. A 1st rounder gets arrested between now and camp. An All-Star is looking for an apartment in Boston July 1st.
- Fat chance: Shelden Williams is actually being picked at #5 by the Atlanta Hawks and signing with them. MJ drafts someone he hasn’t seen live. Iverson gets traded.
• Mark my words: The Hawks will screw this up.
Think you know better than me? Ha. HA! If so, send mock drafts to Kevincasini@hotmail.com, Subject line mock draft. |
