On most of the mock drafts I read Cleveland's taking Johnson. Is this based on rumors of Cleveland really liking the guy? I wonder because this draft is so deep I thought there might be better players available at 8. Here are ten guys I would think most teams would draft ahead of JJ: 1. Brown 2. Griffin 3. Battier 4. Gasol 5. Chandler 6. Curry 7. White 8. Diop 9. Woods 10.Richardson Two others I thought were possibilities: 11.Radman 12.Murphy Three others I could see being picked ahead based on team need: 13.Tinsley 14.Haywood 15.Randolph Am I crazy to think Joe Johnson might be available at thirteen, or would the Rockets have to move up ahead of Cleveland to get this guy? What would it take to move up that high? ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited June 21, 2001).]
Actually I don't know if J.J. falling to us is all that much of a stretch. I believe that there will be a run on big men since a good 7 footer is hard to find in the NBA. Detroit is said to be in love with Brendan Haywood, Boston needs frontcourt help and doesn't need an Antoine Walker clone, and Seattle needs frontcourt help as well. I think if Johnson slips past the Cavs, he'll fall to the Rockets. It all depends on where Rodney White goes, it he falls to 8(which is unlikely), Johnson definitely falls. Here's my lottery predictions: 1.Griffin 2.Brown 3.Battier 4.Curry 5.Chandler 6.Gasol 7.Richardson 8.White 9.Haywood 10.Woods 11.Murphy 12.Diop 13.Johnson Any thoughts? ------------------
RocketFan007, I don't know about Diop before Haywood. I read that Dumars liked Haywood. Have you heard more that would make you think that he is definitely the Pistons' man? I really would like the Rockets to get Mr. Johnson. The cool thing is that it looks like the Rockets could get a pretty good player at 13 even if they don't move up and Johnson doesn't slide. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited June 21, 2001).]
Cleveland needs a power forward in the worst way. Weatherspoon and Traylor just aint gonna cut it. Don't be surprised if they go big, and Joe falls to the Celtics who would snatch him up in a second. ------------------
TPL- Are you sure that the Celtics would draft J.J.? It seems that Joe Johnson would be a duplicate of Antoine Walker. I guess that Paul Pierce could play the 2, with Johnson and Walker at the 3 and 4. And since Pierce is a free agent soon Johnson would be a good insurance policy. But I just see the Celtics needing help at the 4 and 5 because Walker is much more natural at the 3 than at the 4. At they could definitely use a guy like Woods, Diop, or Haywood to help out at center. Or maybe even Jamal Tinsley or Omar Cook to run the point. ------------------
