Post by Atlanta on Nov 18, 2006 2:19:53 GMT -5
Here is a mock with some explanations.. Definalty a good year to have a pick, though after pick 3 who knows who goes where as lots of talents are avail for teams. We could also see more wheeling and dealing at the top than ever before!
Los Angeles Lakers: [/u] How happy were the lakers to get #1?! Im not so sure they wanted this pick, cause it puts them in a wierd spot. They like Chris Bosh, but they also love Chris Paul and Ben Gordon. Perhaps they take one of them instead. The problem with that is Bosh is by most standards the player to take here. So either the lakers deal the pick to get out of making this choice.. or they stay here and take Chris Bosh. Bigs are always better to take than smalls in this league.
Denver Nuggets: [/u] Denver is also in an interest spot here, they traded last year to land their pg of the future in Gilbert Arenas. They want to stick with that plan. Doing so though means they may have to pass on the best talent here in Chris Paul, which could be a major mistake. The again SG's are not easy to find either and Ben Gordon fits their team very well. That said they are gonna try desperatly to trade to #1.. If they cannot I think they have to take need here in Ben Gordon.
New Jersey Nets: [/u] Mever in a million years would the nets be sitting here at 3 thinking they have a chance to draft the guy who could be the best player in the draft. But here they are. Problem they have is they have L. Barbosa who is a complete stud so far in the league. So do they go small and play both at the same time? Do they dangle the pick? or Barbosa? do they secretly hope Ben Gordon falls to them, cause he's the best fit? In the end, they cannot pass on the best player left. Chris Paul. They will figure out the rest later.
Toronto Raptors: [/u] Out of all the teams in the lotto, the raptors lost the most falling to this spot in the draft. It just goes to show its better NOt to have the worst record in the league going into the lotto. The Raptors too have a problem, they drafted Wade, and harris the past two years and need help up front. Problem is at this spot it maybe to high to take the bigs left in the draft. This is a team that really could trade out of this pick for some youth up front. BUt if they are forced to stick with the pick i think they reach and take Charlie Villanueva. At least with him they fill a need at sf/pf and get a talented player with upside to go with Wade and HArris.. Im not sure he's the best fit for an inside team, but he certainly helps them improve.
Seattle Supersonics: [/u] This team needs to reshape its roster desperatly. They continue to try and shop AI, but the market for an underachieving 20mil plus player just isnt there. Still i think the sonics would be super excited to see Deron Williams at this spot, and they grab him before a min goes by.
New Orleans Hornets: [/u] The draft really gets interesting at this spot cause there are a lot of solid talents left, but stand out ones? Its hard to pick out. They have a lot of needs, but big men are this teams most pressing. The good thing is the best center prospect in the draft is still avail, and could be a huge steal. Then again Nenad Krstic could also prove to be a bust.
Houston Rockets: [/u] Poor Rockets, they basically sacrificed this pick to go for a back to back title, and they failed. They could have really used this salary slot, and youth to help this team of vets. Unfortunatly this pick is gonna be forfeited.
Indiana Pacers: [/u]Another team looking for a fresh start. They pretty much have needs at every spot with Vlade retiring, and Sheed testing FA. Pretty much only pg Jameer Nelson is in this teams future plans.. So they grab the best player avail here in Gerald Wallace. This guy should start from day one in the league just because of his defense. Who knows with an upgrade or two or a solid TC and this guy could be rookie of the year!
Dallas Mavericks: [/u]Fresh of a playoff year, and a year in which this team rose from the ashes with some smooth moves. If it wasnt for the Hawks making moves at the deadline which helped them win the title, GM Elting may have been the GM of the year! With that they could use some help at the sf spot and were sad to see Wallace not drop to this point. Question becomes do they reach for a sf here, or take the best avail big man to really give themselves depth up front. I say they reach and take Ndudi Ebi, a player who benefited the most from saying in school another year. His offensive game is pro-ready.
Memphis Grizzlies: [/u]They only have 3 players under contract which means this offseason is HUGE for them. Resigning shaq to a reasonible contract could prove huge. So what do they put with him? Because pgs are deep in FA i think they pass on Felton here, and go for a big to put alongside Shaq. Eddie Griffin would be the best power forward this team has had in years and would start right away perhaps putting the memphis frontcourt near the top of the league again.
Utah Jazz: [/u]Besides the Raptors, the Jazz were the team that really wanted in the lotto badly. They need a sg in the worst way to really get them on the playoff level. They won't find one worth taking here unless they reach on a guy like Rashad McCants. I actually like that pick here myself but im not sure GM mario has the courage to make it. So he takes a safer pick Channing Frye, hoping maybe he can dangle a big to some other teams in the league for an upgrade at sg. Frye also gives this team options up front with Garnett and AK.. Could we perhaps see KG move back to SF? AK moved in a deal, or to SG? At least a big here gives his team more flexibilty. Don't be shocked to see a trade here either, the bulls perhaps? They would love to move mobley/ Brian Grant perhaps to get into this spot.
Boston Celtics: [/u]This is a very frustrating team to watch. They have VC, who could be the most underappreiated player in this league, but little else around him to put this team over the top. They have some other pieces, CAmby, Micheal Wiz, but those names dont grab you. They won't find a player here to either but perhaps in Sean May at least they start to show some girth up front. May has a ton of upside and some offensive game, this team needs it big time inside.
Minnesota Timberwolves: [/u]They drafted Izzy last year which was a nice pick up. They still have Zo, Chandler and Jason Williams. They are not totally far off. Sg has been a need for a long time and they take the best one left here. Rashad McCants has the potential to be a nice SG in this league, hes raw, with plenty of upside. The Twolves nab him here and pray he develops.
Washington Wizards:[/u] How the hell has Raymond Felton fallen this far? Can the wiz pass him up here. I think they have to cause in MArcus BAnks they have a solid pg, and needs at other spots. Hakim Warrick makes a lot of sense here, they could use a sf so they can move childress to sg. Warrick also with some work could move up front and play a little pf.
Milwaulkee Bucks: [/u] Raymond Felton falls to the bucks and they nearly shit themselves. They have a huge hole at pg now and would love to see him here. Obviously Jarrett Jack i think goes here if Felton is gone, but the needs of other teams dictate he falls to this spot.
New Jersey Nets: [/u]Plenty to choose from here, and we know PG is not a spot they need. Every other spot though is. I think they reach a bit here and take the super talented Fran Vazquez. He's big, he's got upside and could play alongside HArrison upfront. Give this team a half way decent sf in FA or next year and they could rise quickly.
Los Angeles Lakers: [/u] Who knows what the lakers do at this spot. If they have not drafted or traded for a pg they probably need to grab one here. That leaves Jarrett Jack as a great grab for a team that loves Defense.
Houston Rockets: [/u] Over the hardcap? They forfeit this pick again. What a waste in a deep draft.
Utah Jazz: [/u] Up again the Jazz probably grab the best avail player. The problem is who might it be? They take a flier on Danny Granger. Maybe he can play some SG for them.. or worst case gives them a nice SF off the bench.
Atlanta Hawks: [/u] For a long time now the champs have been looking for a young pg. Kenny Anderson is getting old and its his last year. NAte Robinson is a great fit for them.. BUT they hawks would prefer size at this spot, and more importantly defense. They grab a pg, but its not Robinson. They take Luther Head.
San Antonio Spurs: [/u]Boy would this team love to make a pick here. But again, the hardcap shows its ugly head. The pick is forfeited.
Orlando Magic: [/u]See Above. Due to the hardcap this team loses its pick here, another forfeited.
Seattle Sonics: [/u] Ike Diogu is just the kind of scorer the sonics would love to have, but they already have on in Swift. So they take another solid player Quinton Ross because they need defense and a true SG badly. A solid pick this late in the first round.
Sacramento Kings: [/u]The Kings are in a nice spot here in the round cause they don't have huge holes to fill anywhere and can basically take the best prospect out there. DeAngelo Collins is raw, but gave players like Amare Stoudmire fits when they played against each other. He can score and has some huge upside. This late in the draft the kings could stike gold, and well if they don't ehh its worth a shot when its near the end of a round.
Phoenix Suns: [/u]The suns have two options. Go big again like they have in years past in guys like Ronny Turiaf or Wayne Simean. Or they start to think about finding a guy to replace Grant Hill. They opt for the latter this year and pick out Joey Graham, a steal this late who should if nothing else give them solid min off the bench this first year.
Los Angeles Lakers:[/u] What the lakers again? Damn.. Who's left to take? I think the lakers take a flier on Francisco Garcia who could develop into a nice role guy for this team down the road.
Detroit Pistons: [/u]If the pistons choose not to pay McDyess they need a pf badly.. Sg is also a big need here unless they wanta go small and move Francis there who at least can score a bit. I think they do that and draft Nate Robinson, whos got lotto talent, and would be a big time steal at this spot.
Orlando Magic: [/u]The magic getting under the hardcap before the draft do get to keep this pick, and its nice they do cause there are some nice talents left. They jump quickly for Ike Diogu. I really doubt this guy falls to him here, but if he does great for them. Dont' be shocked to see Wayne Simien here too.
Atlanta Hawks: [/u]With the last pick in the first round the hawks go big and take Ronny Turiaf . This team believes the more depth up front the better, and with Zach Randolf on the block, and STanley Roberts likely gone in the offseason adding another pf type would be nice at the end of the first round.
So there you have a mock with reasons, and everything. Definalty an interesting draft this year. Take a look at the talents still left at this point. players like
Ryan Gomes
Salim Stoudamire
Julius Hodge
Lenny Cooke
Wayne Simien
James Lang,
David Lee
Kendrick Perkins
Pavel Podkolzin
If i were you i wouldnt give away those second round picks this year!!
Los Angeles Lakers: [/u] How happy were the lakers to get #1?! Im not so sure they wanted this pick, cause it puts them in a wierd spot. They like Chris Bosh, but they also love Chris Paul and Ben Gordon. Perhaps they take one of them instead. The problem with that is Bosh is by most standards the player to take here. So either the lakers deal the pick to get out of making this choice.. or they stay here and take Chris Bosh. Bigs are always better to take than smalls in this league.
Denver Nuggets: [/u] Denver is also in an interest spot here, they traded last year to land their pg of the future in Gilbert Arenas. They want to stick with that plan. Doing so though means they may have to pass on the best talent here in Chris Paul, which could be a major mistake. The again SG's are not easy to find either and Ben Gordon fits their team very well. That said they are gonna try desperatly to trade to #1.. If they cannot I think they have to take need here in Ben Gordon.
New Jersey Nets: [/u] Mever in a million years would the nets be sitting here at 3 thinking they have a chance to draft the guy who could be the best player in the draft. But here they are. Problem they have is they have L. Barbosa who is a complete stud so far in the league. So do they go small and play both at the same time? Do they dangle the pick? or Barbosa? do they secretly hope Ben Gordon falls to them, cause he's the best fit? In the end, they cannot pass on the best player left. Chris Paul. They will figure out the rest later.
Toronto Raptors: [/u] Out of all the teams in the lotto, the raptors lost the most falling to this spot in the draft. It just goes to show its better NOt to have the worst record in the league going into the lotto. The Raptors too have a problem, they drafted Wade, and harris the past two years and need help up front. Problem is at this spot it maybe to high to take the bigs left in the draft. This is a team that really could trade out of this pick for some youth up front. BUt if they are forced to stick with the pick i think they reach and take Charlie Villanueva. At least with him they fill a need at sf/pf and get a talented player with upside to go with Wade and HArris.. Im not sure he's the best fit for an inside team, but he certainly helps them improve.
Seattle Supersonics: [/u] This team needs to reshape its roster desperatly. They continue to try and shop AI, but the market for an underachieving 20mil plus player just isnt there. Still i think the sonics would be super excited to see Deron Williams at this spot, and they grab him before a min goes by.
New Orleans Hornets: [/u] The draft really gets interesting at this spot cause there are a lot of solid talents left, but stand out ones? Its hard to pick out. They have a lot of needs, but big men are this teams most pressing. The good thing is the best center prospect in the draft is still avail, and could be a huge steal. Then again Nenad Krstic could also prove to be a bust.
Houston Rockets: [/u] Poor Rockets, they basically sacrificed this pick to go for a back to back title, and they failed. They could have really used this salary slot, and youth to help this team of vets. Unfortunatly this pick is gonna be forfeited.
Indiana Pacers: [/u]Another team looking for a fresh start. They pretty much have needs at every spot with Vlade retiring, and Sheed testing FA. Pretty much only pg Jameer Nelson is in this teams future plans.. So they grab the best player avail here in Gerald Wallace. This guy should start from day one in the league just because of his defense. Who knows with an upgrade or two or a solid TC and this guy could be rookie of the year!
Dallas Mavericks: [/u]Fresh of a playoff year, and a year in which this team rose from the ashes with some smooth moves. If it wasnt for the Hawks making moves at the deadline which helped them win the title, GM Elting may have been the GM of the year! With that they could use some help at the sf spot and were sad to see Wallace not drop to this point. Question becomes do they reach for a sf here, or take the best avail big man to really give themselves depth up front. I say they reach and take Ndudi Ebi, a player who benefited the most from saying in school another year. His offensive game is pro-ready.
Memphis Grizzlies: [/u]They only have 3 players under contract which means this offseason is HUGE for them. Resigning shaq to a reasonible contract could prove huge. So what do they put with him? Because pgs are deep in FA i think they pass on Felton here, and go for a big to put alongside Shaq. Eddie Griffin would be the best power forward this team has had in years and would start right away perhaps putting the memphis frontcourt near the top of the league again.
Utah Jazz: [/u]Besides the Raptors, the Jazz were the team that really wanted in the lotto badly. They need a sg in the worst way to really get them on the playoff level. They won't find one worth taking here unless they reach on a guy like Rashad McCants. I actually like that pick here myself but im not sure GM mario has the courage to make it. So he takes a safer pick Channing Frye, hoping maybe he can dangle a big to some other teams in the league for an upgrade at sg. Frye also gives this team options up front with Garnett and AK.. Could we perhaps see KG move back to SF? AK moved in a deal, or to SG? At least a big here gives his team more flexibilty. Don't be shocked to see a trade here either, the bulls perhaps? They would love to move mobley/ Brian Grant perhaps to get into this spot.
Boston Celtics: [/u]This is a very frustrating team to watch. They have VC, who could be the most underappreiated player in this league, but little else around him to put this team over the top. They have some other pieces, CAmby, Micheal Wiz, but those names dont grab you. They won't find a player here to either but perhaps in Sean May at least they start to show some girth up front. May has a ton of upside and some offensive game, this team needs it big time inside.
Minnesota Timberwolves: [/u]They drafted Izzy last year which was a nice pick up. They still have Zo, Chandler and Jason Williams. They are not totally far off. Sg has been a need for a long time and they take the best one left here. Rashad McCants has the potential to be a nice SG in this league, hes raw, with plenty of upside. The Twolves nab him here and pray he develops.
Washington Wizards:[/u] How the hell has Raymond Felton fallen this far? Can the wiz pass him up here. I think they have to cause in MArcus BAnks they have a solid pg, and needs at other spots. Hakim Warrick makes a lot of sense here, they could use a sf so they can move childress to sg. Warrick also with some work could move up front and play a little pf.
Milwaulkee Bucks: [/u] Raymond Felton falls to the bucks and they nearly shit themselves. They have a huge hole at pg now and would love to see him here. Obviously Jarrett Jack i think goes here if Felton is gone, but the needs of other teams dictate he falls to this spot.
New Jersey Nets: [/u]Plenty to choose from here, and we know PG is not a spot they need. Every other spot though is. I think they reach a bit here and take the super talented Fran Vazquez. He's big, he's got upside and could play alongside HArrison upfront. Give this team a half way decent sf in FA or next year and they could rise quickly.
Los Angeles Lakers: [/u] Who knows what the lakers do at this spot. If they have not drafted or traded for a pg they probably need to grab one here. That leaves Jarrett Jack as a great grab for a team that loves Defense.
Houston Rockets: [/u] Over the hardcap? They forfeit this pick again. What a waste in a deep draft.
Utah Jazz: [/u] Up again the Jazz probably grab the best avail player. The problem is who might it be? They take a flier on Danny Granger. Maybe he can play some SG for them.. or worst case gives them a nice SF off the bench.
Atlanta Hawks: [/u] For a long time now the champs have been looking for a young pg. Kenny Anderson is getting old and its his last year. NAte Robinson is a great fit for them.. BUT they hawks would prefer size at this spot, and more importantly defense. They grab a pg, but its not Robinson. They take Luther Head.
San Antonio Spurs: [/u]Boy would this team love to make a pick here. But again, the hardcap shows its ugly head. The pick is forfeited.
Orlando Magic: [/u]See Above. Due to the hardcap this team loses its pick here, another forfeited.
Seattle Sonics: [/u] Ike Diogu is just the kind of scorer the sonics would love to have, but they already have on in Swift. So they take another solid player Quinton Ross because they need defense and a true SG badly. A solid pick this late in the first round.
Sacramento Kings: [/u]The Kings are in a nice spot here in the round cause they don't have huge holes to fill anywhere and can basically take the best prospect out there. DeAngelo Collins is raw, but gave players like Amare Stoudmire fits when they played against each other. He can score and has some huge upside. This late in the draft the kings could stike gold, and well if they don't ehh its worth a shot when its near the end of a round.
Phoenix Suns: [/u]The suns have two options. Go big again like they have in years past in guys like Ronny Turiaf or Wayne Simean. Or they start to think about finding a guy to replace Grant Hill. They opt for the latter this year and pick out Joey Graham, a steal this late who should if nothing else give them solid min off the bench this first year.
Los Angeles Lakers:[/u] What the lakers again? Damn.. Who's left to take? I think the lakers take a flier on Francisco Garcia who could develop into a nice role guy for this team down the road.
Detroit Pistons: [/u]If the pistons choose not to pay McDyess they need a pf badly.. Sg is also a big need here unless they wanta go small and move Francis there who at least can score a bit. I think they do that and draft Nate Robinson, whos got lotto talent, and would be a big time steal at this spot.
Orlando Magic: [/u]The magic getting under the hardcap before the draft do get to keep this pick, and its nice they do cause there are some nice talents left. They jump quickly for Ike Diogu. I really doubt this guy falls to him here, but if he does great for them. Dont' be shocked to see Wayne Simien here too.
Atlanta Hawks: [/u]With the last pick in the first round the hawks go big and take Ronny Turiaf . This team believes the more depth up front the better, and with Zach Randolf on the block, and STanley Roberts likely gone in the offseason adding another pf type would be nice at the end of the first round.
So there you have a mock with reasons, and everything. Definalty an interesting draft this year. Take a look at the talents still left at this point. players like
Ryan Gomes
Salim Stoudamire
Julius Hodge
Lenny Cooke
Wayne Simien
James Lang,
David Lee
Kendrick Perkins
Pavel Podkolzin
If i were you i wouldnt give away those second round picks this year!!
