RIF's Mock Draft--Week 2

<u>2001 NBA Mock Draft:</u>

01) Washington--Kwame Brown 6-11 240 PF Glynn Academy HS Sr

Brown is the best player in the draft and could be the franchise player Jordan is looking for. If Barkley suits up next season, he will be a good mentor for Brown.

02) LA Clippers--Eddy Curry 6-10 300 C Thornwood HS Sr

The franchise isn’t happy with Olowokandi and Curry is friends with Miles and Richardson. Will draft a HS player because they want them to grow up together.

03) Atlanta--Eddie Griffin 6-9 220 SF Seton Hall Fr

Most dominate player in college. With Griffin and Johnson as the future at SF and SG, they’re set for years.

04) Chicago--Pau Gasol 7-1 220 SF F.C. Barcelona (Spain)

Krause loves his foreigners and loved Kukoc most of all. Gasol is very similar to Kukoc, hard to imagine Krause passing him up.

05) Golden State--Rodney White 6-9 230 PF Charlotte Fr

Realized drafting the local guy, Tyson Chandler, this early would be a huge mistake so they take the player Michael Jordan dubbed “the best player in the draft.”

06) Vancouver--Jason Richardson 6-6 220 SG Michigan St So

The Grizzlies have been targeting Richardson since day 1. They believe he’ll turn out to be a superstar of Jordan-like proportions. At the very least he’ll add depth to SG and SF.

07) New Jersey--Shane Battier 6-8 215 SF Duke Sr

Have been in serious need of a SF with Kittles and Gill injured this season. Gill is likely on his way out and they need someone to step in and contribute right away.

08) Cleveland--Joe Johnson 6-9 225 SF Arkansas So

The player they want, Rodney White, is gone so they take a good outside shooter and ball handler in Johnson. Hopefully he’ll take some pressure away from Andre Miller.

09) Detroit--Loren Woods 7-1 240 C Arizona Sr

All the players they have been targeting are gone. They are impressed by Woods attempt to bulk up and grab their starting center for next season with this pick.

10) Boston--Jamaal Tinsley 6-3 175 PG Iowa St Sr

With Kenny Anderson either gone or more likely, not going to contribute, they’ll have to take a PG. Tinsley could step in and start right away.

11) Boston--Sagana Diop 7-0 310 C Oak Hill HS Sr

The Celtics have said they’ll draft outside the box, unlike their years under Rick Pitino, and taking a HS project defiantly fits in that category.

12) Seattle--Michael Bradley 6-10 240 PF Villanova Jr

They’ll likely blow up the team and start anew this offseason. They’re weak in the frontcourt so a low post banger like Bradley will help.

13) Houston-- Vladimir Radmanovic 6-9 SF (Yugoslavia) 1980

Had an “UNREAL” workout with Houston says GM Carroll Dawson.

14) Golden State--Tyson Chandler 7-1 220 PF Dominguez CA HS Sr

Patience is a virtue in this case, Chandler falling to the Warriors second pick in the draft. Now they’re prepared to battle their injury bug with two versatile forwards.

15) Orlando--Troy Murphy 6-11 240 PF Notre Dame Jr

Will draft big although a PG is an option too. Murphy’s stock has risen and the Magic need a PF and a C. Murphy has a good jump shot and good post moves.

16) Charlotte--Omar Cook 6-1 180 PG St. John's Fr

Cook’s stock has risen since the Pre-Draft Camp and Charlotte doesn’t have a backup PG. Cook will fit in nicely in Charlotte.

17 Toronto--Zach Randolph 6-9 270 PF Michigan St Fr

Toronto is on the verge of losing Antonio Davis to Orlando and Charles Oakley by trade. They have to draft big and Randolph is defiantly big. He can talk MSU with Morris Peterson.

18) Houston--Richard Jefferson 6-7 215 SF Arizona Jr

The Rockets weren’t too impressed with him when he worked out for them but at #18 they have to take the best player available.
19) Portland--Brendan Haywood 7-0 270 C North Carolina Sr

Sabonis may flee the country, Kemp is a drugatic, Davis is unhappy, and Wallace is one word away from being ejected. Their seemingly invincible frontcourt is now in need of help.

20) Cleveland--Joseph Forte 6-3 185 SG North Carolina So

Looking for scoring to help Andre Miller. Johnson at #9 and Forte can defiantly score, but they are in need of a big man.

21) Boston--Trenton Hassell 6-5 205 SG Austin Peay Jr

Want Paul Pierce to play SF so they need a SG. Hassell needs reassurance of his draft position so Boston will need to tell him they’ll take him at #21 for him to stay in.

22) Orlando--Jason Collins 6-11 255 C Stanford So

Orlando coveted him at #15 but Murphy is a better talent. They get their man with their second pick though. Their frontcourt is now set.

23) Houston--Steven Hunter 6-11 224 C DePaul So

Has risen out of nowhere to become a first round pick. Has bulked up and with a little more weight he’ll be able to play center in the Western Conference.

24) Utah--Alvin Jones 6-11 257 C Georgia Tech Sr

Olden Polynice is a FA and Ostertag is horrible. Alvin Jones gives them a shot blocker and rebounder and could see playing time right away.

25) Sacramento--Ken Johnson 6-11 230 C Ohio St Sr

With Webber’s future in doubt they’ll need a big man. Johnson can play PF and C and is a good shot blocker. I wouldn’t be surprise if they “wasted” this pick on Lazaros Papadopoulos.

26) Philadelphia--Samuel Dalembert 6-11 232 C Seton Hall So

With Tyrone Hill opting out and Dikembe Mutumbo and Todd McCulloch Fas they’ll want insurance in the draft.

27) Vancouver--Gerald Wallace 6-7 210 SF Alabama Fr

Best player available. Vancouver has solved it’s depth problem by drafting Wallace and Richardson at #6.

28) San Antonio--Gilbert Arenas 6-3 188 SG Arizona So

Avery Johnson, Terry Porter, and Steve Kerr can’t last forever. Some may already be gone. Arenas can take over Porter’s role off the bench.

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