Mock Draft Part 3 (picks 21-30)

You can read the run down of picks 1-20 below but to finish off my first round mock draft here are picks 21-30. There could still be alot of talent left in these picks, so teams selecting down here will definitely want to do their homework.

21) NJ- Batum

After drafting a post presence early in the draft the nets can either look to strengthen their bench with a shooter or can look to the future with an international pick that they can ideally stash over in Europe for a year or two. I say with Harris, M. Williams, Carter Jefferson, Speights Boone and S. williams around not to mention probably Nachbar you can afford to look ahead. Batum is young and was talked about as a lottery pick before the season I say draft him, put him in Europe and you have a potential replacement for carter in the future or Jefferson should you trade him.

22) Orl- CDR

Orlando needs a guard with quickness, who can penetrate when necessary or knock down shots when Howard passes it out. CDR is a perfect fit who is quick enough and big enough to handle the taller guards who Orlando is not currently equipped to guard.

23) Utah – Hibbert

They need quickness badly. Part of the reason they were eliminated this year was their inability to get back in transition because quite frankly they were too slow. However as I don’t have anyone on the board left who’s likely to help solve that problem so I take Roy Hibbert. They don’t like to run anyway so his lack of quickness wouldn’t be a huge problem, and he should be an improvement over Jarron Collins.

24)Sea – Chalmers

With all the young guys seattle is going to have on their roster I want a guy who’s been to the highest place possible, someone who’s seen what it takes to win. They need a pg and having based up on bayless I take Chalmers here.

25) Houston- Courtney Lee

Aside from T-mac and Yao every other position could probably be upgraded., raefer alston was very good last year so point isn’t a major need. With T-macs window closing they need people who can contribute right away, so I’m looking at one of the few seniors in the draft. Lee will knock down shots off passes from rafer and T-mac or Yao double teams and can also but the ball on the floor himself. When the rockets are struggling to score like they often do Lee will be a big help coming in for Battier or for T-mac when he needs to rest.

26) San Antonio- JJ Hickson

They have their big three, and a bunch of professionals but not a whole lot of athleticism. The spurs often look international and I would be surprised if they don’t, but Hickson will provide a nice option to help defend some of the quicker big men and aid their overall team speed.

27) New Orleans- Bill Walker

They don’t have too many needs. They could look to take a big man so they don’t have to play Melvin Ely ever again. Walker is too good to pass up here and with Bonzi Wells a free agent they can let him go Walker should be able to step into his role.

28) Mem- Kofous

I have them taking Eric Gordan at 5 so I would look big man here. Kofous I don’t see as a great NBA prospect due to his lack of athleticism but he should be able to score some points in the paint and that’s all the grizzlies can hope for here.

29) Det- Serge Ibaka

Mcdyess could call it quits which would change things a bit and rasheed could be dealt but right now it doesn’t look like too many guys will be getting playing time here so I’m looking to stick a guy in Europe for a year or two till sheed, mcdyess, rip and billups are closer to moving on. Ibaka is 18, you can let him learn the game in Europe for a couple years and bring him over when he’s ready and he’ll still only be 20-21.

Note: I’ve heard DJ whites name here, but I don’t see how that helps with maxiell already around.

30) Bos- Lawson

This pick will likely change based on how rondo does in the finals, but the Celtics need a pg that won’t be afraid to take open shots. I like rondo but they can use a replacement for House and Cassell and possibly a starter if rondo refuses to take the open shots he’s given. More likely the Celtics will look to a foreign big man like Ante Tomic, or Alexis Ajinca, but as I said I think the finals will show more about what the Celtics need to do.

Mock Draft Part 2 (picks 11-20)

After laying out my mock draft parameters and the first 10 picks in part 1, part 2 is here to give you picks 11-20.

To recap this is not what will happen, it's what should happen. i choose based on need and i don't care about what position you play just that you're the most talented player who will help my team get to the next level.

take a look at part 1 below for my reasoning as to why i have each guy at the positions but picks 1-10 where: Beasley, Rose, Randolph, Lopez, Gordon, Bayless, Mayo, Westbrook, Love, Speights

on to part 2:

11) Ind- Augustin

Indiana by all accounts is sick of Jamal Tinsley’s inability to play anything close to a full season. Assuming they don’t make some major changes (such as trading J. O’neal or Tinsley etc) it looks like Augustin is their best bet. Coming of a 19 pt 5 board a game season I might also look to deal Dunleavy and draft Galinari here.

12) Sac- Arthur

Assuming the top four point guards are off the board its probably too high to take a pg at 12, so I’m either looking to trade up (if Artest stays do they really need Francisco Gracia?) or trade down and get a power forward and a point guard (like Lawson or Chalmers later in the draft. If they stay here it looks like the choices would be Jordan or Arthur. I take Arthur.

13) Por- Alexander

Like Sac their biggest need is probably a pg and with Raef Lefrentz expiring deal they can probably make some moves, but with Brandon Roy on the roster they don’t neeeeed a pg. So Chad Ford tells me they’ll draft Joe Alexander and I have no problem with that.

14) G.S. – Galinari

Do they need Galinari? No, but we’re talking about G.S. here, Nelson loves 6’5”- 6’9” guys who can slash, shoot and pass. They could also draft Jordan here as they’re looking for more of an inside presence

15) Pho- Rush

Realistically their window has probably closed, because they’re not likely to overtake L.A., N.O., Utah, and S.A. but with Shaq and Nash around they need to win NOW. You’re looking for someone who can step right in and contribute so I think you’re looking at Rush or CDR. Rush is probably the better athlete and shooter and since they’re not looking for him to star anyway his reticence to do so is not a problem.

16) Phi- Jordan

Philly is an athletic team in need of more of an inside presence, put Jordan in the mix and they can keep their uptempo style while hopefully developing a low post scorer for the future. Note I have Jordan this low because I think he has high bust potential, at 7 ft you shouldn’t be averaging 8 pts and 6 boards in college. Granted he was a frosh, but was he even a starter at A&M?

17) Tor – Robin Lopez

With the team they have they need an athletic big who can also defend. They’re going to play uptempo and they have sufficient shooters, Lopez can run with them, but also defend guys who Bargnani and Bosh will struggle defending. SF is another option and Donte Green and CDR deserve looks

18) Was- Budinger

They have Caron Butler and a lot of question marks. I’ve seen McGee here, but with Blatche they don’t really need another tall developmental prospect. With Arenas, Jamison and Butler I put Budinger at the 2 and see if we can’t out shoot people. I’m not sure he’s a great pick for them but he’s the only one I see left having a chance to fit/contribute with them

19) Cleveland – Donte Greene

Simply put they need people who can score the basketball, and ideally some shooters. Hopefully Greene will add a little strength and develop a low post game in the future (he is 6’10”) but for now he’ll be a talented outside shooter not afraid to put up shots when Lebron throws it to him.

On a side note if they fail to turn Eric Snow and or their other expiring deals (Wally Sczcerbiak) into talented pieces then Danny Ferry needs to be catapulted out of town.

20) Denver- Mcgee

PG is definitely an option, with Chalmers being the pick over Lawson since they can’t get by with 2 under 6 foot guards in the backcourt. However with Camby getting up there in age, I take Mcgee who is a similar player and groom him as Camby’s replacement given Camby may even be traded.

Mock Draft Part 1 (picks 1-10)

To start I need to explain my mock draft a little.

This is in no way meant to be a prediction of what the actual GM’s will do. They have their favorites, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree it’s the best choice. So I give you what I think each team should do.

I believe in leaning towards need over talent. In some cases this would lead the hawks to choose mike conley over Al Horford, but in general I think you need to take a player who fits your system and who fits your needs. People will also bring up Bowie over Jordan but I would argue when your only other talented player is a SF, taking a SG is filling a need as well, so I’d like to believe I draft Jordan in that situation. In general that will ensure the hawks aren’t looking for their pg of the future for the past 10 years and the bulls a low post presence for the past 20.

I also don’t favor any one position over another unless it matters for your specific team. Jordan, Bird, Shaq, Duncan, Magic have all been the crucial components to multiple championship teams in the past and all play vastly different styles and positions.

1) Chicago- Beasley

They already have hinrich at pg, and have been looking for low post scoring for at least 2 decades. If they can trade hinrich for value they can consider Rose, but moving Gooden and Thomas will be muuuuuch easier. I’ve heard knocks on Beasley that he’s not necessarily a low post scorer, but lets not confuse his ability to do other things well with a lack of post scoring. After having one of the best freshman seasons EVER in college he will be a dominant force down low for the bulls and is the perfect fit.

2) Miami- Rose

I’m putting Rose here because he’s too talented to fall past the two spot, but if I’m Miami I’m seriously looking to trade down at least one spot and take Mayo or someone else. As Chard Ford has pointed out in his mock drafts with Rose and Wade in the backcourt they’d have one of the worst shooting backcourts in the league allowing defenses to sag off them and play their drives. However Rose would look damn good running the break with Wade and Marion.

3) Min- Anthony Randolph

I doubt they’d have the balls to take Randolph here, but to me he’s by far the best fit. He’s extremely talented with a skill set that’s been compared to Chris Bosh, but most importantly from what I can tell he can defend. He averaged 2.3 blocks a year, and with Al Jefferson being an extremely talented offensive player and equally disinterested defender they need to pair someone like Randolph with him.

4) Sea- B. Lopez

With no real inside presence to write of offensively or defensively I like Lopez here. Seattle does need a PG so Bayless is an option, but i’d be looking at a Mario Chalmers or Ty Lawson with their second first round pick rather then using the first pick on Bayless.

5) Mem- Gordon

I like Conley at point, Gay at SF and Warrick at PF the grizzlies could use a SG or C. Gordon is by far the best talent at either position available. Mayo is definitely an option if available as Anthony Randolph would be, but I have Randolph off the board and I’m not sure Mayo is big or strong enough for 2 guard in the NBA.

6) Knicks- Bayless

While Mayo is probably too talented to pass up here, I have my doubt about his ability to run an offense and with D’Antoni you need a strong PG.

7) LAC- Mayo

Clippers run up to the podium and rejoice that LA’s own OJ Mayo falls to them. The clips need a PG and whether Mayo is the prototypical pg or not he will fit in with them just fine.

8) Mil- Westbrook

With Mo Williams being more of a scoring pg, I’d like to pair him with another combo guard who can defend. The bucks have competent players at every position, but not necessarily any stars anywhere, so I take the best player available, but I think Westbrook is the best fit.

9) Char- Love

If I’m charlotte I probably look at Darrell Arthur, Speights, or DeAndre Jordan as they all have much higher upsides. However knowing Jordans hard on for guys that produce in college as well Larry Browns complete lack of patience in developing young guys I take Kevin Love. At least Love will get some playing time and contribute.

10) NJ- Speights

With harris, carter and Jefferson the nets are set 1-3, they have Williams and boone to provide a defensive presence so the nets need to look at the best scoring low post option. After averaging 14.5 pts on 62% shooting and 8 boards per game in the SEC last year I think he’s their guy. In comparison to other choices Darrell Arthur’s numbers were 12.8, 54%, 6.3 and DeAndre Jordan’s were… 8, 61% and 6.

NFL Mock Drafts Are a Waste of Time

Our country is addicted to the NFL. Despite a total of 21 weeks of meaningful games and only one game at most each week for your team you probably follow the game the entire year round. You probably follow the combine and you probably follow free agency etc. That’s all in good fun but when you take the time to do your own mock draft you’re wasting your time and more importantly you’re wasting mine.

Now i don't think all mock drafts are a waste of time. Mock drafts by professionals and mock drafts in the NBA are interesting. Yet I think NFL ones are a waste of time… so why the difference? Well let’s take a look at the talent pools which the nfl and NBA are coming from. NBA players are coming from 12 person college teams, where generally there aren’t more then 1-2 NBA players on that team and if there are then their team is on tv constantly (like a UNC for example). On the other hand The NFL is taking players from 50+ person teams where there could be up to 5 or more guys taken from that team.

Then let’s think about watching the games. Let’s say Joakim Noah is a top prospect and you’re watching Florida play it’s relatively easy to see what he’s doing on the court. Even if he’s not directly involved in the play it’s easy enough to see if he set a pick, how he's spacing the floor etc. Now let’s think about an offensive tackle or a defensive back. Are you really paying attention to what the left tackle is doing every play? If a cornerback is not being thrown at is that because of his coverage or are they getting more help from the safety so the qb is going to the other side?

Now if you’re Todd Mcshay and you have access to all the game footage from all the games and multiple views of it you can get a pretty good view of what the guy can do. How many of us have that kind of access? You might say, sure we don’t have all that extra video but we still can see the combine and we can still see what the scouts are saying and form our own opinions. Why shouldn’t we take all that, take look at team needs and go from there?

Well because quite frankly it’s useless. Should the Dolphins take Matt Ryan with the number one pick? Well I’ve never really seen Joe Flaco play, so should I tell them to take Matt Ryan with the number one pick when I don’t know whether taking Flaco in the second round could be a better value? Are you prepared to even look at the second round to see if they need to pick a certain Ryan that high?

One of the most valuable players on the Giants this season was a defensive end out of Troy that they took in the fourth round. You might have heard of Osi now, but I can’t imagine you did out of college. Yet you might have wanted the Giants to take a defensive end in the first round that year not knowing they were gonna take Osi in the fourth round.

To put it another way… people who do mock drafts are the same people who boo Donovan Mcnabb on draft day because they wanted Ricky Williams.

So enjoy your mock draft, but unless its your job, I’m not interested.