As of 5/27 - ESPN Mock Draft v2.0 25. Nicolas Batum Position: SF Height: 6-8 Weight: 210 Age: 19 Country: France The skinny: The Rockets will have a hard time passing on Batum, an athletic swingman who can do just about everything. He still lacks experience, but at this point in the draft, you take the best talent available. Passing up CDR, Hickson, and Jawai for this kid. ------------------------------------------- RealGM 2008 NBA Mock Draft, Version 8.0 (Post-Lottery Edition) 25. Roy Hibbert Center. Georgetown Hibbert is one of the best passing big men in this draft and would easily become a key cog in Rick Adelman’s offense. He instinctively knows how to make crisp passes to cutters because of his experience in John Thompson III’s hybrid Princeton offense. His footwork on the pick and roll is very good and he has excellent vision and anticipation for where his teammates and their defenders will be. He unquestionably struggles against better/taller defenders, but overall is strong with the ball and is effective with his baby hook or even a 10-foot in jumper. His biggest weakness is unfortunately an incurable one, as it is his hands. Hibbert too frequently must take an unnecessary gather dribble when catching the ball before he goes to the basket. 54. Alonzo Gee - Shooting Guard. Alabama ----------------------------------------- NBADraft.net 25. Brandon Rush 6-6 210 SF Kansas Jr. 54. Richard Roby 6-6 205 SG Colorado Sr. ----------------------------------------- Draft Express 25. Robin Lopez PF/C 20 years old; 7'0"; 255 lbs. Stanford, Sophomore 54. James Gist PF 21 years old; 6'8"; 223 lbs. Maryland, Senior ----------------------------------------- NBADraftGuru 25. Houston - Chris Douglas-Roberts (6'7'', SG, Memphis, Jr.) 54. Houston - Keith Brumbaugh (6‘8‘’, SF, Hillsborough CC, Soph.) ----------------------------------------- CNNSI Mock Draft v1.0 25. Alexis Ajinca Hyeres-Toulon (France) 7-1, 240 The 20-year-old showed big improvement this year. He's long and nimble with perimeter shooting skills, but he needs to keep building his strength. ----------------------------------------- Any more mocks, throw it in this thread....
http://dcprosportsreport.com/?p=297 25. Houston Rockets: PF Nathan Jawai [Australia]. He’s ripping it up in Australia, but will need some seasoning before he can do anything similar in the U.S. Still, he’s big, very strong, athletic and not afraid of banging bodies in the paint. http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2008/04/2008-nba-mock-draft.html 25. Houston - DJ Augustin - PG - Texas (SO) http://thehoopdoctors.com/online/?p=50 25. Houston Rockets - Robin Lopez Since we have to assume that the great Dikembe Mutumbo truly can’t play forever, it’s time for Houston to start thinking about a good backup for Yao. Robin is a great shot blocker and a decent role player. Listed as PF, but at 7’0” he might be a better resource as a backup C. College Team - Stanford http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/784505/final_2008_nba_mock_draft.html?page=2 25. ROCKETS - Robin Lopez, C, Stanford http://socalsportshub.com/2008/05/24/nba-mock-draft-10/ 25. Houston: PG Ty Lawson, North Carolina http://nbamock.com/ Mario Chalmers 6'2 185lbs PG Kansas Jr. http://www.freewebs.com/apfootball/2008nbamockdraft.htm Houston Rockets-Marreese Speights PF/C, Florida http://defpenradio718.com/blog/2008/05/23/def-pen-official-2008-nba-mock-draft-update/ 25. Houston: Bill Walker (SF 6-6 220 Kansas State) http://zagaholic.blogspot.com/2008/05/mock-draft-v2.html 25. Houston- Donte Green 6-10 230 SF/PF Syracuse
After #25 for #31 and #34: #31 -- J.J. Hickson, 6-9, PF #34 -- Will Daniels, 6-8, SF #54 -- Richard Roby, 6-6, SG
I was just about to post how Chad Ford's mock draft has us taking Hickson. Not a bad idea considering his upside and potential. Same with Batum. I prefer somebody that's NBA ready but I wouldn't be against taking on a low risk/high reward project either. The "new NBA" is all about youth, speed, athleticism, versatility and upside. Hickson and Batum definitely fit the bill in that regard.
dude that is awesome and all but no one had us drafting ab last year so mock drafts fail. still fun to look at the posibilities though and glad all of our mock drafts have us adding someone over 6'6"
I don't see what makes Augustin so much better than Lawson that he will make the lottery and Lawson will miss the first round. I would actually be disappointed if we got Augustin at 25, I don't care how high mock drafts say he will go. What is supposed to make him better than Acie Law was last year?? We already have Brooks. The list of short PG's that are superstars begins and ends at Chris Paul.
If we don't use our 54th pick in the 2nd round this year in a trade, then I think we should spend it on a reliable defender. My choice (and I'm being objective about this too): Marcus Dove, 6-9 SR, OKlahoma State -long -good (not great) athlete; very fluid for his size -great teammate -hustler (ie rebounds, defends, provide leadership) -GREAT defender; great quickness for his size; great instinct; can defend four positions (SG, SF, PR, and some C) -Can shoot the three, but not quick release, but semi-reliable and certainly improvable basically, he's like Shane Battier except slightly thinner, but more athletic. Same mentality too. So, what do you guys think?
