If this is the way the draft went, (although I don't think so) and we weren't able to trade up to the Vancouver or New Jersey pick and take Richardson or Chandler, then I'd take Rodney White at #13, Jefferson at #18, and Wallace at #23. Then I'd pick up a center in FA, such as Jackson, or trade for someone like LaFrentz. I'm sick of the Webber craze. If we could actually pick up Richardson and Wallace, keep MoTay and Moochie, sign Jackson, trade for LaFrentz, and get rid of Cato, I'd figure we scored like bandits this year. If we traded with Vancouver, gave them our #13, #18 and got their #6 and second round pick and took Morris, that would be even better. Jackson/LaFrentz/Collier Taylor/Thomas/Bullard Langhi/Wallace/Morris Mobely/Richardson Francis/Moochie An even better option could be that Vancouver might trade us SAR and Big Country, their #6 and #33 for Williams, Cato, #13, and #18, just so they could get cap room, and ship off the #18 to Detroit. We'd lose Dream and Shandon. That would still give us enough to resign Taylor and Moochie, and sign Jackson to our 4.5 million exception once we're over the cap, and still not be in the penalty. Then we would have: Jackson/Country/Collier Taylor/Thomas/Bullard SAR/Langhi/Morris Mobely/Wallace/Richardson Francis/Norris ------------------ the more I know, the more I know I don't know...
jozersky, I hear ya. And who is "Antonio Fotsis"? Is he related to "Antonis Fotsis"? ------------------ "If a nuclear bomb dropped on earth, two things would survive: roaches and David Falk." -- Kevin McHale quote courtesy of Patricia Bender's website.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/feature/0,1518,3921899_54,00.html 1. Washington Eddy Curry 6-11 C Chicago Thornwood (HS) Wizards probably will trade this pick and move down to get two young talents for the price of one. Since Michael Jordan knows this kid, it could be good or bad. 2. L.A. Clippers Shane Battier 6-8 F Duke This was great fortune for the Clippers, who more than doubled their win total from last season. On the other hand, they can take a very mature talent like Battier to produce some positive leadership out of this youth. 3. Atlanta Eddie Griffin 6-11 F Seton Hall Probably the most talented of the group up front, but he's already a problem, getting into fights with college teammates, and seems to have little interest learning how to function on a team. He will require patience. 4. Chicago Kwame Brown 6-10 F Glynn (HS) Academy (Ga.) This is the gifted small forward the Bulls need, but look for Jerry Krause to make a parlay attempt for another player or two. He'd love to put Battier next to his former teammate Brand. 5. Golden State DeSagana Diop 7-0 C Oak Hill (HS) Academy (Va.) In dire need of power players in the West, Diop is a native of Senegal and is raw, but he weighs 310 pounds, has soft hands and touch. They need all the help they can get inside. 6. Vancouver Michael Bradley 6-10 C Villanova The safe pick for a team that so badly needs help up front. He's a second team All-American, with great skills around the basket on a team that has a bunch of outside shooters. 7. New Jersey Jason Richardson 6-7 F Michigan State The best athlete in the draft, the Nets can develop him at the big guard position between Stephon Marbury, Keith Van Horn and Kenyon Martin considering Kerry Kittles appears to be finished with knee problems. 8. Cleveland Pau Gasol 7-1 F-C Barcelona The consensus best international player in the draft, he plays on the perimeter and can score big time. The Cavs need size and scoring as they hope last year's top pick center Chris Mihm develops, so this is part II of the equation. 9. Detroit Tyson Chandler 7-0 F-C Compton (Calif.) Dominquez HS Another very talented teen without the body to play inside in the NBA. But he can shoot and run, and the Pistons need size and talent as they rebuild their decimated roster. 10. Boston Jamal Tinsley 6-3 G Iowa State The Celtics are ready to make a move for a point guard to replace Kenny Anderson and here is the guy. He's still improving his decision-making, but his floor leadership is excellent, he's strong and quick, and can hit the big shot. 11. Denver Joe Johnson 6-8 F Arkansas This will be the guy to replace the bust that Tariq Abdul-Wahad has been, but the fear is he just might be a replication. Johnson is wonderfully gifted in all phases but intensity. If he were Snow White's pal, you'd call him Sleepy. 12. Seattle Loren Woods 7-1 F Arizona The Sonics need serious help up front, and even though Woods is considered soft, he has shown up in big games, and has all the requisite skills that should make him a better NBA people than most people think. 13. Houston Brendan Haywood 7-0 C North Carolina The Rockets need a center to groom and Haywood has the talent to develop if Rudy T can get through to him. He suffers from the same yawning disease as Joe Johnson. 14. Indiana Alvin Jones 7-0 C Georgia Tech Jones improved dramatically his senior year and as a rebounder and shot-blocker, he closes the circle for the Pacers' needs up front next to Jermaine O'Neal. Now they along with Jonathon Bender, Austin Croshere and Al Harrington would be the young scorers. 15. Orlando Rodney White 6-10 F UNC-Charlotte Has a rapidly developing game and has the size the Magic are lacking up front. Like so many teams, they are loaded at the wing positions, and any chance they have to add size, they must. 16. Charlotte Zach Randolph 6-8 F Michigan State A very talented athlete who lacks definition in his game, Randolph could end up being groomed as a shooting guard or a small forward out of the same mold as Jamal Mashburn, but it's doubtful he'll ever have as much game as Mash. 17. Toronto Troy Murphy 6-10 F Notre Dame A two-time All-American and big player, there are questions whether that will transfer to the NBA, but he's a great competitor and has the size and touch that could be a difference-maker on a team that doesn't need immediate help. 18. Houston Richard Jefferson 6-7 F Arizona A top quality player and a steal if he slips to 18. He'll fit in perfect at small forward next to the dynamic young guard tandem of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, where Shandon Anderson and Walt Williams have not. 19. Portland Jason Collins 6-11 C Stanford A big body who can defend and rebound, and give the Blazers some more depth up front which they are gradually losing for a number of reasons. He might not help immediately, but they need to have somebody big developing up front. 20. Cleveland Gilbert Arenas 6-3 G Arizona The third pick from the Cats in the top 20, Arenas is a clutch shooter who needs to improve his ballhandling skills. But they need an infusion of youth and scoring ability from the perimeter and they'd be lucky to get him here. 21. Denver Ken Johnson 6-11 C Ohio State A raw offensive player, Johnson would give the Nuggets a shot-blocking big man to develop next to Antonio McDyess. With Raef LaFrentz playing more like a forward, it's possible they could experiment with McDyess at small forward to go big. 22. Houston Trenton Hassell 6-5 G Austin Peay Another shooter to add to their stable. He can break defenders down or drain it from very deep. Suddenly, the Rockets look as explosive offensively as any young team around. 23. Orlando Samuel Dalembert 6-11 C Seton Hall Another long body to add to the mix for the Magic. He'll rebound and block shots, and just give them more depth up front. They'll probably need another point guard, but can pick up someone to develop with the 32nd pick. 24. Utah Kirk Haston 6-10 F Indiana A big body with good shooting range, as the Jazz work at retooling an aging team. He isn't much different than young Scott Padgett, but it never hurts to have players around who can shoot, particularly with the changing rules. 25. Sacramento Joseph Forte 6-4 G North Carolina A best player available scenario here, unless Geoff Petrie returns to the well of European players with whom he's been so successful. This is a tough spot at 25 to get the rugged player they really need. 26. Philadelphia Kedrick Brown 6-7 F Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC Brown is an athletic player who can fit into the Sixers energy style of play. He's strong and multi-talented, but hasn't played at a high level of competition. 27. Vancouver Antonio Fotsis 6-9 G Panathinaikos (Greece) The Grizzlies have nothing to lose with this pick and Fotsis is another in a long line of European deep shooters who must develop the rest of his game. They need players and this would be a good gamble. 28. San Antonio Omar Cook 6-1 G St. John's At this point of the draft, without any real need other than someone to guard Kobe or wrestle with Shaq, they can take a flier on a talented, very young point guard. On a veteran team like this, it might just be a great fit. -------------------------------------------- wow , with Griffin so far down the Rockets would certainly benifit from moving up . ------------------ The Rocket Saint ST.eve Francis of a CC.net
Amazing how little work some of these sportswriters put into their jobs. Any of us could and have made better mock drafts. Zach Randolph at 16? As a shooting guard? Is this guy high? His top ten picks are laughable as well. So far, Andy Katz has done the best job I think. Plus, I love how they don't even know who gets what picks. Boston has the 21st pick; and the eleventh too, in all probability. No way do the Celtics take Tinsley with a lotto pick; they desperately need scoring and athleticism, and they already have four point guards on teh roster, one of whom makes 8 m a year and is untradable. ------------------ Josh Ozersky Celtics Columnist bskball.com
jozersky, I think they switched Randolph's profile with White's. Brendan Haywood at #13, huh? White would be a MUCH better option. Jefferson at #18 and Hassell at #22 is fine. ------------------
sherlock, Once you fall below the cap (by more than the value of your combined exceptions), you lose all of your exceptions and don't get them back until the next season that you start over the cap. Also, Jackson is overrated imo and has said that he does not want out of GS and will immediately take their 4.5 mil on August 1. ------------------ You can't stick a porcupine in a barn, light it on fire, and expect to get licorice.
Hey I don't think sportsline has a clue of who's going where although I can say that Katz seems to have the best idea of where players are going but I recently saw a mock by Matthew J. Maurer (scout I guess)use the link below while not as good as Katz it is still very good and easily one of the best out there. http://www.geocities.com/maurerscouting/
