Happy 2008 NBA Draft Day!

By David K.
Final Mock Draft 1st round scores:

www.draftexpress.com: 10 out of 30

My mock: 9 out of 30

ESPN’s Chad Ford: 9 out of 30

www.nbadraft.net: 7 out of 30

1. Chicago-Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
My Prediction: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
My thought: Bulls GM John Paxson avoids causing a riot in the Chi tonight.  Let the Kirk Hinrich/Ben Gordon trade rumors roar.

2. Miami- Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
My Prediction: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
My thought: Let’s see if he ends up wearing that Heat hat the rest of the night…

3. Minnesota- O.J. Mayo, G, USC
My Prediction: O.J. Mayo, G, USC
My thought: Text message from TSB.net writer and T-Wolves fan Peter Christian: “If he isn’t traded within an hour, I’m writing my resignation as a T-Wolves fan… Then I’ll jump off a cliff.”  Personally, I like the pick.

4. Seattle Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA
My Prediction: Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
My thought: Right position, wrong guy.  I think Bayless will be the better player down the line.

5. Memphis- Kevin Love, PF, UCLA
My Prediction: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA
My thought: This pick just makes sense as the Griz need a power forward.

6. New York- Danillo Gallinari, SF, Italy
My Prediction: Danillo Gallinari, SF, Italy (over Bayless)
My thought: Hopefully “boo” translates to “we love you” in Italian.  Poor kid.

7. L.A. Clippers- Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana
My Prediction: Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
My thought: Makes sense I guess, Clips NEED a guard.  2-1 odds he backs out of going to the Clippers and plays overseas.  I mean he is the Basketball Judas.

8. Milwaukee- Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia
My Prediction: Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia
My thought: Expected.  Just for the record, I love the Richard Jefferson trade.  Scott Skiles is getting two players perfect for his style of coaching.

9. Charlotte- D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas
My Prediction: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
My thought: Interesting… Jay Bilas is about to go nuts because he LOVES Brook Lopez.  This means the Bobcats are going with a big at #20.

10. New Jersey- Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
My Prediction: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
My thought:  When is the first Brook Lopez/Jay-z meeting and can I be there to witness it.  By the way, hearing his voice makes me want to stab my ear drums with an ice pick. 

11. Indiana (traded to Portland)- Jerryd Bayless, G, Arizona
My Prediction: Jerryd Bayless, G, Arizona
My thought: I’m surpsied he went this low.  Now with him and T.J. Ford, the backcourt in Indiana has dramatically improved. 

12. Sacramento- Jason Thompson, PF, Rider
My Prediction: Anthony Randolph, F, LSU
My thought: WOW… I heard his stock was rising, but this is ridiculous.  Anyone know where Rider is?

13. Portland (traded to Indiana)- Brandon Rush, G/F, Kansas
My Prediction: Brandon Rush, G/F, Kansas
My thought: Where are all the trades?  I expected a lot more movement than this.

14. Golden State- Anthony Randolph, F, LSU
My Prediction: Kosta Koufus, C, Ohio State
My thought: Immediately after making this pick, the Warriors purchased some HGH for Randolph.

15. Phoenix- Robin Lopez, C, Stanford
My Prediction: Kosta Koufus, C, Ohio State
My thought: Sideshow Bob will give Phoenix a back-up for when Shaq is wearing a suit on the bench for half the season.  In my opinion, Koufus’ offensive ability would have been a better fit in Phoenix.

16. Philadelphia- Marreese Speights, PF, Florida
My Prediction: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
My thought: Right position, wrong guy.  PF is a glaring need in Philly.  Jay Bilas just gave the first “motor” reference I’ve heard so far.

17. Toronto (will be traded to Indiana)- Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown
My Prediction: Kosta Koufus, C, Ohio State
My thought: Picked Hibbert in my final mock, should have stuck to my guns.

18. Washington- Javale McGee, C, Nevada
My Prediction: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
My thought: Stu Scott just dropped some knowledge on us that his mom played in the WNBA.  Great job, Stu!

19. Cleveland- J.J. Hickson, PF, N.C. State
My Prediction: Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse
My thought: I’m not sure drafting a guy who needs time to develop is the answer to help LeBron now.

20. Charlotte (from Denver)- Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
My Prediction: Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
My thought: I heard Charlotte was hot for him.  Dammit, Chad Ford had this in his final mock.

21. New Jersey- Ryan Anderson, PF, California
My Prediction: Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse
My thought: Nets have to be making another trade, right?  They now have a glut of young post players with Yi, Lopez, Sean Williams, Josh Boone, and Anderson.

22. Orlando- Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky
My Prediction: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
My thought: Why is Arthur slipping so low?  Wouldn’t he have been a great compliment to Dwight Howard up-front?  I do like Lee though.  Dammit, Ford had this one too.

23. Utah- Kosta Koufus, C, Ohio State
My Prediction: Kosta Koufus, C, Ohio State
My thought: Okur and Koufus: two goofy white guys with similar game.  Sounds like a perfect fit in Utah.

24. Seattle- Serge Ibaka, PF, Congo
My Prediction: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
My thought: I had Ibaka going to the Sonics with their 32nd overall pick in my final mock.  Drafting a foreign player who will need time to develop makes sense. 

 

25. Houston- Nicolas Batum, SF, France
My Prediction: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
My thought: Since I have nothing intelligent to say here, Chad Ford and I are even at 9 right picks for our final mock drafts.  I need to bring it home down the stretch.  And we just found out Arthur has an undisclosed kidney problem which explains his free fall.

26. San Antonio- George Hill, PG, IUPUI
My Prediction: Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
My thought: IUPUI… Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis.  Big-time reach.

27. Portland (from New Orelans)- Darrell Arhur, PF, Kansas
My Prediction: Ante Tomic, C, Croatia
My thought: Worth the risk at this point, kidney and all.  If I was New Orleans, I would tell Portland I had my fingers crossed about the whole trade thing.

28. Memphis- Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse
My Prediction: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis
My thought: Let me channel my inner Dickie V: “He should have stayed in school, baby!  What was he thinking?” 

29. Detroit- D.J. White, PF, Indiana
My Prediction: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis
My thought: CD-R would have been a great fit off Detroit’s bench.  White is a little too similar to Jason Maxiell in my opinion.

30. Boston- J.R. Giddens, SG, New Mexico
My Prediction: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis
My thought: YES!  CD-R was not the choice!!!!