ESPN Mock Draft 1

[SmeggySmeg]

Here is Espn.com first mock draft done by Andy Katz


1. New Jersey -- Chris Mihm, 7-0, Jr., Texas: The Nets need a center and could go with Mihm or Kenyon Martin, but the pick here is Mihm. The Nets could either hold on to the pick and see if Jayson Williams plays next season, or deal it to the Bulls for the No. 4 and No. 7 picks.

2. Vancouver - Kenyon Martin, 6-9, Sr., Cincinnati: The Grizzlies would be getting a steal by grabbing Martin at No. 2. He's the hardest-working player in the draft and, with a healthy leg, the most effective low-post scorer. Martin could play next to Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bryant Reeves. If the Grizzlies aren't ready to go with Martin, he makes for a tantalizing trade.

3. Los Angeles Clippers - Stromile Swift, 6-9, So., LSU: The Clippers have already inquired about Swift and see him as a potential small/power forward (which goes against LSU coach John Brady's philosophy of how to use him defensively). But, if Swift knows he's going to the Clips, he could opt to return to school. He has said he will not hire an agent, leaving the door open for a return.

4. Chicago -- Joel Przybilla, 7-0, Soph., Minnesota: The Bulls need a center for their triangle offense. If they can't trade for Mihm, Przybilla is next in line. He needs work but he has the skills to develop into a better offensive product than Luc Longley was during the Bulls' championship runs.

5. Orlando -- Marcus Fizer, 6-8, Jr., Iowa State: The Magic love Darius Miles but won't let Fizer drop below No. 5 if he's available. Fizer gives the Magic an inside scorer and a tough presence on the backboard that they lacked last season. Doc Rivers will fall in love with his work ethic.

6. Atlanta -- Mike Miller, 6-8, Soph., Florida: The Hawks have been high on Miller for a month and won't let him slide past them. Miles might be a better scorer but Miller's versatility will win the Hawks over at No. 6. Atlanta wants a small forward over a big guard.

7. Chicago -- Darius Miles, 6-9, HS, East St. Louis (Ill.): The Bulls can package Miles and Przybilla to the Nets or keep two players who could be solid players in the league. Miles might have more of an upside than Tracy McGrady. Tim Floyd knows all about working with high school seniors and would have the patience to wait for Miles to develop.

8. Cleveland -- Iakovos Tsakalidis, 7-1, Greece: The Cavs want size and the third-rated center in the draft is Tsakalidis. The Celtics covet him, too, but Cleveland might not give them the chance because of the Cavs' need for size with the uncertainty in their frontcourt. Reviews on Tsakalidis are split -- either scouts love him or think he's too slow.

9. Houston -- Courtney Alexander, 6-5, Sr., Fresno State: Alexander could go higher but not above six. The Rockets need scorers and Alexander will produce during individual workouts. The choice of Alexander, DeShawn Stevenson, DerMarr Johnson or Morris Peterson is hard to argue. Alexander can rise over a defense for a jump shot and has a pro game.

10. Orlando -- DeShawn Stevenson, 6-5, HS, Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.): The Magic will take one of the two high school seniors with one of their three picks. If Miles is gone, Stevenson will be too by No. 11. Orlando has scouted him for months and Rivers can afford to let Stevenson mature without feeling pressured to play him next season.

11. Boston -- DerMarr Johnson, 6-9, Fr., Cincinnati: Johnson can't slip past 11 with his Lamar Odom-like skills on the wing. The Celtics need size but can't let a scorer get past them in the draft. Johnson learned defense from Max Good and Bob Huggins, so Rick Pitino's pressure defense shouldn't be much different.

12. Dallas -- Mamadou N'diaye, 7-0, Sr., Auburn: Trying to predict what Don Nelson will do is the most difficult thing in this mock draft. But the Mavericks need athleticism in the frontcourt. They can't afford to go with a foreigner or a slower big man. N'diaye fits here if he does well in workouts and in Chicago -- if he shows.

13. Orlando -- Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Sr., Michigan State: The Magic have to take a point guard with one of their three picks, but no one is good enough to spend the No. 5 or No. 10 pick on. Cleaves is at the top of the point-guard list list -- and would fit Rivers' style of play and coaching because of his leadership and toughness.

14. Detroit -- Morris Peterson, 6-6, Sr., Michigan State: The Pistons won't let the local hero leave the state. Peterson gives them a scorer to go next to or in place of Grant Hill if he leaves via free agency. Peterson could go higher -- if he's gone, the Pistons will take Alexander or Johnson.

15. Milwaukee -- Etan Thomas, 6-9, Sr., Syracuse: The Bucks want a power forward and Thomas is fourth on their list behind Martin, Fizer and Swift. None will be available by the time they pick. Thomas can give them a rebounder and defender, something they lacked in their playoff losses to the Pacers.

16. Sacramento -- Erick Barkley, 6-1, Soph., St. John's: The Kings need a backup point to Jason Williams. Barkley could come in and wouldn't be under any pressure to perform immediately. He's the No. 2 point guard behind Cleaves.

17. Seattle -- Quentin Richardson, 6-6, Soph., DePaul: Had Richardson stayed, he would have probably been in the lottery next season. But he doesn't fit all of the teams' needs above, which is why he falls all the way to the Sonics. He gives them another rebounding wing and a scorer to complement Rashard Lewis, if he re-signs.

18. Los Angeles Clippers -- Keyon Dooling, 6-3, Soph., Missouri: The Clippers need a point guard but won't take one at No. 3. Dooling has the upside that some of the senior points don't carry into the draft. But the potential of being a mid-teens draft pick may scare Dooling into returning to school.

19. Charlotte -- Jerome Moiso, 6-10, Soph., UCLA: Moiso could still slide up into the late lottery (maybe to Dallas) but if he falls, the Hornets will catch him. Moiso can play power forward or center for the Hornets because of his ability to block shots and score from 12 feet in to the basket. The Hornets could use a frontcourt player or shooting guard in this draft.

20. Philadelphia -- Jamal Crawford, 6-6, Fr., Michigan: The Sixers have already called on Crawford's behalf and love him as a combo guard to come off the bench. Crawford would likely stay in the draft if he's in the first round, regardless of where he's being picked.

21. Toronto -- Craig "Speedy" Claxton, 5-11, Sr., Hofstra: The Raptors have already begun working out point guards and have Claxton in their top five. If Cleaves, Barkley, Dooling and Crawford are all gone, Claxton is the natural pick for the Raptors.

22. New York -- Jamaal Magloire, 6-11, Sr., Kentucky: The Knicks took some heat for taking Frederic Weis last year. Jeff Van Gundy wants tough, physical players. Magloire gets the nod over Jason Collier if the Knicks go big. Magloire proved this season that he can play with passion in the post.

23. Utah -- Hanno Möttölä, 6-9, Sr., Utah: The Jazz can't go wrong with picking Möttölä from nearby Utah. He can score from the wing, but he'll end up playing more inside because of his defensive limitations as a small forward. If Möttölä doesn't go to the Jazz, he could slip out of the first round.

24. Chicago -- Jeryl Sasser, 6-7, Jr., SMU: The Bulls have to find a point guard in this draft but can't go after one in the lottery. The most intriguing point guard left could be Sasser. He can play both guard positions, he's one of the better defenders in the draft and would give the Bulls some versatility on the floor.

25. Phoenix -- Jason Collier, 7-0, Sr., Georgia Tech: The Suns need another big guy to go with Luc Longley -- either as a backup, or on the floor together. Collier has more offensive potential than many big men. The Suns have the luxury to allow Collier a few years to develop into a NBA center.

26. Utah -- Chris Carrawell, 6-6, Sr., Duke: The Jazz need to add athleticism and fresh legs, either with Carrawell or Oklahoma State's Desmond Mason. Carrawell will probably get the nod because of his Duke pedigree. He could still go higher but his 'tweener status fits more as a late first-round pick.

27. Indiana -- Donnell Harvey, 6-8, Fr., Florida: Harvey is getting rave reviews for his work ethic in workouts, and he didn't leave school early without some sort of assurance he could go in the first round. The Pacers have a history of going younger in the draft.

28. Portland -- Soumaila Samake, 7-2, Cincinnati Stuff (IBL): The Blazers don't need much but could go with a wacky pick by taking the first player to jump from the fledgling IBL to the NBA. Samake has the size, shot-blocking skills and potential to be an NBA center. Arvydas Sabonis doesn't have many miles left in his legs.

29. Los Angeles Lakers -- Desmond Mason, 6-6, Sr., Oklahoma State: Here's where any one of the bubble players could go, such as Rush, Karcher or Stephens. But Mason is a more polished, experienced player. He gives the Lakers an athlete on the wing who would fit in well in their system.

------------------
CUT Tino
Isn't it amazing how quickly everyone did a Cat Backflip!!!!!

[gr8-1]

johnson has odom-like skills ? maybbe we need to take a look at him. stevenson at 10 ? that's a reach, but i think in 3 years, stevenson is a star.

------------------
"Don't they get cable in Canada ?" Keith olbermann, after watching hakeem block terry catledge's shot 5 times.

[CriscoKidd]

Smeg needs to tell Katz the Rockets dont need no more stinking guards.

NO MORE ALL GUARD LINE UPS!

------------------
Cato is 7 feet tall.

[TraJ]

That's what I was thinking Crisco. Do writers even look at rosters before making comments? Yes, the Rockets could use some more scoring, but where they need it is from frontcourt players. We don't need another guard or an undersized small forward.

------------------

[RichRocket]

Maybe this guy knows something we don't know...like Mobley is going to the Celtics or something. I love Mobley, but I would take this kid Alexander plus sign Rashard Lewis (the Seattle FA) for the 3 spot.

------------------
There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.

[SmeggySmeg]

Cisco and Traj,

Thats exactly what i thought when i read it, why do we need another guard or undersized SF, rudy has already shown he doesn't really like playing Anderson at the 3 spot much, so why draft Alexander?????
We need someone at least 6-7 or 6-8, so i would reckon DeMArr Johnson would be a better fit for us, especially if he has Odom like skillz.
Rockets would want the Mobley decision finalised before the draft in case they do need a guard.

Smeg

PS I will give Andy Katz a call and let him know, the rockets don't need a guard

------------------
CUT Tino
Isn't it amazing how quickly everyone did a Cat Backflip!!!!!

[Panda Byte]

what about Jerome Moiso, I thought he was supposed to be a good power forward that the rockets could take at 9.... they have him slippin to 19 to Charlotte?

------------------

[JuanValdez]

I'm not too impressed with the prognostic powers of Andy Katz. His assigning a SG to the Rockets was only one of several questionable opinions of his. I really liked the one about Charlotte needing more size. I've actually started liking Moiso a lot ever since I learned he was born in the Motherland (does anyone know his citizenry?). Not ever watching college ball, I have no idea how good he is.

------------------
http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/

[Clutch]

JuanValdez -- I agree completely. What was this the Rockets need scorers so they draft a guard who shoots, shoots, shoots? I thought that was way off base.

BTW, I don't think it can go much worse than the way ESPN listed it.... actually it can (great to see Iakovos Tsakalidis and Joel Przybilla in the Top 8) -- but seeing Fizer, Swift, Martin, Mihm, Miles and Miller go 6 of the first 7 is bad news IMO.

5 players I would love to get: Swift, Martin, Miles, Miller and Fizer.

4 I really hope will go in the Top 8 (but doubtful all 4 will): Courtney Alexander, Iakovos Tsakalidis, Chris Mihm, Joel Przybilla

Mihm will... and looking likely Przybilla will. Tsakalidis and ironically even Alexander now look not so hot in the Top 8. But if all 4 of them go in the Top 8 we can get atleast one of the aforementioned players.

------------------
NOTHING BUT .NET
CLUTCHCITY.NET

[Prempeh]

Moiso's from either Guadeloupe or Martinique (both in the Caribbean)--I'm not sure which one. I've liked him a lot, ever since the first time I saw him as a freshman at UCLA. Was blocking everybody's stuff

------------------

[NIKEstrad]

Yeah. Also, Moiso's French . His athleticism/size combination is GREAT, I'd take a good look at him for 9. Johnson's more of a shooter, not as much of a slasher like Odom, or a ball distributor.

------------------
Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com

Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!

[writhe]

I don't think Andy Katz knows what he is talking about. Case in point: "The Kings need a backup point to Jason Williams." With Derrick Martin and Tony Delk, White Chocolate may not even be the best point guard on the Kings' roster. Alexander to the Rockets? Not in a million years. DerMarr Johnson is the man the Rockets need. I saw him play a couple of games this year and he is legit. Comparisons to Odom are NOT a stretch. He's got game and he's tall.

------------------

[JayZ750]

How about Desmond Mason??? I know he is a tweener, but from what I've heard he is one of those guys with crazy athleticism.

Other than that, I'm with all of you guys. I would shoot myself if we picked Alexander, with Demarr still on the board, unless we intended to trade him.

------------------
Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things!