Final NBA Mock Draft

By David K.
The Sports Bank
TLOS Special Contributor

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

It’s already been an eventful pre-draft with some quality trades. Toronto rolled the dice by acquiring Jermaine O’Neal from Indiana in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Neterovic and the Raptors’ first round pick (#17). Charlotte acquired Denver’s first rounder (#20) for a protected future first rounder. And Portland pretty much bought New Orleans’ first rounder (#27) for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Here’s my final Mock Draft going into tonight, which will likely be useless once a major trade among the Top 10 happens!

So many wild cards this year. I hate it.

FINAL MOCK DRAFT

1. Chicago - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis

I am now of the mind-set where I would genuinely be shocked if the Bulls take Beasley. Chicago will draft a franchise changing guard in Rose, then look to trade Kirk Hinrich for an offensive-minded big man.

2. Miami - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State

The O.J. Mayo to the Heat rumors continue to gain more and more steam. I still maintain that Beasley will be the pick, but it’ll be by whichever team offers enough to move into this spot.

3. Minnesota - O.J. Mayo, G, USC

The T-Wolves could swap picks with Miami here. If another team moves into the two spot, Mayo will be the choice. If the Heat DO grab Mayo, the Wolves will be ecstatic to land Beasley. Kevin Love or Brook Lopez could be a safe Kevin McHale-type pick as well.

4. Seattle - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona

If the Sonics stay at this spot, a point guard should be the pick, since current Sonic PGs Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson are obviously not the answer. Forget drafting a post player like Love or Lopez. Kevin Durant NEEDS a point guard alongside him.

5. Memphis - Kevin Love, PF, UCLA

The Grizzlies are loaded with young guards and wing players, so they need a low post player with this pick. If the Heat and Grizz end up swapping picks, expect Miami to take Lopez here (and therefore destroy my mock).

6. New York - Danillo Gallinari, SF, Italy

Mike D’Antoni wants a point guard to lead his up-tempo style of coaching, but I’m not sure he thinks UCLA’s Russell Westbrook is the answer. For a team in need as much as the Knicks are, taking the best available player here sounds about right.

7. L.A. Clippers - Russell Westbrook, G, UCLA

Eric Gordon seems like a good possibility as well, but Westbrook has more ability to run the point, a glaring weakness for L.A.’s “other team.”

8. Milwaukee - Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia

Alexander worked out for the Bucks for a second time Monday and seems to be one of the few players who actually wants to play in Milwaukee. New head coach Scott Skiles seems to covet his toughness. If Gallinari falls, I think the Italian would be the better pick, though.

9. Charlotte - Brook Lopez, C, Stanford

Lopez would provide some immediate help up-front for Emeka Okafor. He potentially could go as high as #3 to the T-Wolves and would be a solid value at this spot as well. D.J. Augustin and Westbrook also look like possibilities now that the Cats acquired a second first rounder on Wednesday.

10. New Jersey - Anthony Randolph, F, LSU

A lengthy, athletic forward chosen on potential, Randolph will likely need a year or two to develop physically. This pick makes more sense if the Nets are seriously shopping Richard Jefferson.

11. Indiana - Eric Gordon, G, Indiana

I’m not sold on the basketball Judas. He’s undersized for the two and not skilled enough to run the point, which is why I have him this low. With the Pacers acquiring T.J. Ford, their biggest need turns from a point to a scoring two guard. Then again, Gordon could go as high as #4, too.

12. Sacramento - D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas

The Kings will be counting their blessings if Augustin falls to them. Sacramento’s biggest need is a floor leader and without the Pacers trade, were likely not getting one through the draft.

13. Portland - Brandon Rush, G/F, Kansas

The Blazers seem to be shopping this pick in hopes of landing a small forward to come in and contribute right away. Rush is best option if a trade isn’t made, because he is NBA ready and could add some shooting and defense on the wing.

14. Golden State - Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State

The Warriors could use backcourt help in case Monta Ellis leaves via free agency or in case Andris Biedrins is gone after this season. Koufos is a foreign seven-footer who can hit from outside and would be a nice fit in the Warriors’ high scoring offense.

15. Phoenix - Robin Lopez, C, Stanford

The Suns need to add some depth behind Shaq. Lopez doesn’t have “superstar” written on him, but he’ll be a solid contributor doing the little things on both ends of the floor.

16. Philadelphia - Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas

The Sixers need an offensive-minded frontcourt player to plug in at the four. Arthur’s solid with his back to the basket or facing the hoop. In my opinion, this pick is the perfect match.

17. Indiana (from Toronto) - Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown

With the Pacers trading O’Neal for Nesterovic (a free agent at the end of the year), they’ll need to add a big with one of their two picks. Hibbert seems like the safest bet at this point.

18. Washington - Jason Thompson, PF, Rider

Thompson’s starting to make some noise in the middle of the draft. Rumor has him going as high as #14 to the Warriors. With Antwan Jamison possibly leaving via free agency, a power forward seems like the best option for the Wiz.

19. Cleveland - Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse

I think a player like Chris Douglas-Roberts would be a perfect fit, but with Greene dropping this low the Cavs can stick him on their bench and hope he develops into a Rashard Lewis-type player and help LeBron in the next year or so.

20. Charlotte (from Denver) - Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas

Assuming the Cats land a big with the ninth pick, a guard is the obvious choice here. Of course, it could go vice versa and further mess up my mock. Obviously, Charlotte acquired this pick with a certain player in mind.

21. New Jersey - DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M

I haven’t been high on Jordan all year.  Besides, he barely cracked 20 minutes a game in his freshman season with the Aggies, but the Nets can afford to pick a young player based on potential with their second first rounder.

22. Orlando - Ryan Anderson, PF, California

A scoring big who can hit from the outside seems like the perfect compliment to Dwight Howard. A shooting guard could be another route for the Magic to go, yet they still do have J.J. Redick on the team.

23. Utah - Marreese Speights, PF, Florida

The Jazz could lose Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur to free agency after next season, so drafting a young post player seems to make sense. Speights could be a great pick at this point.

24. Seattle - Alexis Ajinca, PF, France

With their second first rounder why not add a foreign prospect who could be a running mate for Kevin Durant? Ajinca could easily go in the late lottery based of his potential.

25. Houston - Javale McGee, C, Nevada

Yao Ming is coming off season-ending surgery and Dikembe Mutumbo cannot play forever, making a big the best option. McGee will need some seasoning before he becomes a contributor in the NBA, though.

26. San Antonio - Nicolas Batum, SF, France

It’s likely he doesn’t contribute right away, but developing foreign talent is what the Spurs seem to do best. Concerns over a rumored heart issue appear to be no more.

27. Portland (from New Orleans) - Ante Tomic, C, Croatia

The Blazers don’t need to add a player who can contribute right away. Tomic can continue to develop overseas and potentially be a nice eventuall backup for Greg Oden.

28. Memphis - Chris Douglas-Roberts, G/F, Memphis

If the Griz go with a big at #5, a two-guard seems like the logical choice here. Memphis could also opt to take a foreign player to develop overseas.

29. Detroit - Bill Walker, G/F, Kansas State

Detroit,
You better lose yourself in the #29 pick, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime ...

A knee injury during workouts hurt Walker’s stock, which at the time, was on the rise. This late in the draft, he seems like a safe risk for the Pistons. Athletes like him don’t come around too often.

30. Boston - Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky

Ray Allen came through big in the NBA Finals, but seemed to lose gas early in the playoffs. An NBA-ready two-guard to come off the bench seems like a wise choice for the Celtics.

What? No Trent Meacham in the first round? LOL! There’s always the 2009 NBA Draft!

SECON ROUND

31. Minnesota - Jamont Gordon, G, Mississippi State
32. Seattle - Serge Ibaka, PF, Congo
33. Portland - J.J. Hickson, F, N.C. State
34. Minnesota - DeVon Hardin, C, California
35. L.A. Clippers - D.J. White, PF, Indiana
36. Portland - Gary Forbes, G/F, UMass
37. Milwaukee - Kyle Weaver, SG, Washington State
38. Charlotte - Goran Dragic, PG, Slovenia
39. Chicago - Trent Plaisted, C, BYU
40. New Jersey - Nikola Pekovic, PF, Serbia
41. Indiana - Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama
42. Sacramento - Joey Dorsey, PF, Memphis
43. Sacramento - George Hill, PG, IUPUI
44. Utah - Nathan Jawai, PF, Australia
45. San Antonio - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA
46. Seattle - Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas
47. Washington - Davon Jefferson, SF, USC
48. Phoenix - Chris Lofton, G, Tennessee
49. Golden State - Anton Ponkrashov, PG, Russia
50. Seattle - Omer Asik, C, Turkey
51. Dallas - Shan Foster, G/F, Vanderbilt
52. Miami - Pat Calathes, PF, St. Joseph’s
53. Utah - Sean Singletary, G, Virginia
54. Houston - Malik Hairston, SG, Oregon
55. Portland - Semih Erden, C, Turkey
56. Seattle - Mantas Kalnietis, PG, Lithuania
57. San Antonio - Joe Crawford, SG, Kentucky
58. L.A. Lakers - Bryce Taylor, SG, Oregon
59. Detroit - Josh Duncan, PF, Xavier
60. Boston - Othello Hunter, PF, Ohio State

(Be sure to read more of David K.’s work over at The Sports Bank.net.)