Post by Los Angeles Lakers on Jan 1, 2007 22:32:47 GMT -5
2006 Lottery Mock Draft
1. Philadelphia 76ers - Lebron James
Philadelphia has a no brainer pick here. Lebron James is the man in this draft and probably the man of all drafts from recent memory. I don't think theres ever been a more talented player to enter a draft like LBJ and Philly would be stupid to pass him up. Maybe T-Mac can be LBJ's Scottie Pippen.
2. Memphis Grizzlies - Andrew Bogut
The Grizz have Josh Howard so now they really just need a nice solid compliment on the inside. Andrew Bogut is that guy. He's a great defender and rebounder. Those are key elements that you want in a big guy. He may not be an inside scoring force but his terrific hands make up for that. Andrew Bogut is a guy that create plays for you with his passing ability.
3. New Orleans Hornets - Darko Milicic
New Orleans has got Dajuan Wagner who had a very solid season and looks to be on the rise. They now need an force in the paint and Darko can fit that mold. He's not as great of a rebounder as Bogut but defensively - Darko is perhaps the best available defensive big man in this draft. He is a monster of a shotblocker and that could compliment Dajuan Wagner who is not that great of a defender.
4. Seattle Sonics - Brandon Roy
Brandon Roy won't have to move too far from home with Seattle having this pick. Seattle is a team that seems to be building from scratch and the best available player next has to be Roy. He's the most complete shooting guard available next to Lebron James in this draft. He and Hinrich will make a terrific backcourt combo in Seattle with this choice.
5. New Jersey Nets - Sofoklis Schortsanitis
The next best available big man has to be the big man who has drawn comparisons to a young Shaquille O'Neal - Sofoklis Schortsanitis. He's got terrific hands and range on his outside scoring ability for a big guy. He's extremely agile and is perhaps the best scoring big guy available in this draft. The Nets could use him at either power forward or center - depending on how Sean May or David Harrison pans out. He may not be that great defensively yet but his overall combination of size, hands, and ability to knock down a jumper gives the Nets good reason to take Baby Shaq here at 5.
6. Golden State Warriors - Randy Foye
Randy Foye is a guy that the Golden State Warriors can build around. They are starting from scratch and Foye is capable of possibly playing both SG and PG in this league. He's got the tools and the talent to be successful in this league. I am not exactly sure that Randy Foye can be a franchise player in this league but he'll have a chance to prove that since Golden State won't have much going into next season.
7. Boston Celtics - Luol Deng
The Celtics have got a very solid backcourt with Arenas and Felton. The next best available player at seven would probably be Luol Deng. Deng is a very talent small forward, somewhat in the mold of Grant Hill. He can help this Boston team on the boards which is something they have had trouble with after the departure of Vince Carter and Marcus Camby.
8. Houston Rockets - Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison was the player of the year but that was in the college game. The pro game is a whole new ball game and player that is 6'8 and terribly slow defensively and a poor defender is going to take a hit when it comes to the draft. Adam is a talented scorer that can score in many ways but defensively he's terrible. He's also a very bad rebounder and what better team to hide those deficiences than that Houston Rockets? They've already got four talented players in Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and Brad Miller. Miller and O'Neal especially can help hide Morrison's poor defensive and rebounding abilities and allow him to focus purely on what he does best - score.
9. Toronto Raptors - Ronnie Brewer
The Raptors need a small forward to complete their young youthful lineup. Ronnie Brewer is that guy. He has a very similar game to Luol Deng which should be a win for the Raptors. He should fit in nicely with this young up and coming squad.
10. Orlando Magic - Shaun Livingston
Livingston is perhaps the most talented point guard in this draft. He's got tremendous court vision and because of his height - he is a matchup problem for many other point guards in this league. However, during his time at Duke, he did not improve his outside shot as well as many had hoped he would which is why he falls this far to 10. This would be a huge steal for the Orlando Magic who will be in obvious need of a point guard with Steve Nash testing the free agent waters.
11. Houston Rockets - Shelden Williams
Shelden Williams will be a nice solid player in the mold of a Loy Vaught possibly. He can instantly contribute to a team like Houston who will be looking to make a run back to the playoffs this upcoming season.
12. Sacramento Kings - Sebastian Telfair
For the Kings, they are in luck that there just happens to be much more talented player available at SF and SG in this draft early. They need a lot of things but one position that they can fill with the draft is point guard. Sebastian Telfair will amazingly still be available at this point and his tremendous quickness and handling ability will be a nice combo with Ginobili in the back court. He may not be the best outside shooter at point guard but his ability to get to the basket will dispell any question of his ability to put points on the board.
13. Indiana Pacers- J.R. Smith
The Pacers are fairly set at every spot except shooting guard. J.R. Smith improved his outside shooting after spending the past two years at Carolina under Roy Williams however he has too much of a tendency to stay on the outside rather than use his tremendous leaping ability to get to the basket. J.R. would be a nice piece to add to this Pacers team that doesn't seem like it's too far from making a push in the Eastern Conference.
1. Philadelphia 76ers - Lebron James
Philadelphia has a no brainer pick here. Lebron James is the man in this draft and probably the man of all drafts from recent memory. I don't think theres ever been a more talented player to enter a draft like LBJ and Philly would be stupid to pass him up. Maybe T-Mac can be LBJ's Scottie Pippen.
2. Memphis Grizzlies - Andrew Bogut
The Grizz have Josh Howard so now they really just need a nice solid compliment on the inside. Andrew Bogut is that guy. He's a great defender and rebounder. Those are key elements that you want in a big guy. He may not be an inside scoring force but his terrific hands make up for that. Andrew Bogut is a guy that create plays for you with his passing ability.
3. New Orleans Hornets - Darko Milicic
New Orleans has got Dajuan Wagner who had a very solid season and looks to be on the rise. They now need an force in the paint and Darko can fit that mold. He's not as great of a rebounder as Bogut but defensively - Darko is perhaps the best available defensive big man in this draft. He is a monster of a shotblocker and that could compliment Dajuan Wagner who is not that great of a defender.
4. Seattle Sonics - Brandon Roy
Brandon Roy won't have to move too far from home with Seattle having this pick. Seattle is a team that seems to be building from scratch and the best available player next has to be Roy. He's the most complete shooting guard available next to Lebron James in this draft. He and Hinrich will make a terrific backcourt combo in Seattle with this choice.
5. New Jersey Nets - Sofoklis Schortsanitis
The next best available big man has to be the big man who has drawn comparisons to a young Shaquille O'Neal - Sofoklis Schortsanitis. He's got terrific hands and range on his outside scoring ability for a big guy. He's extremely agile and is perhaps the best scoring big guy available in this draft. The Nets could use him at either power forward or center - depending on how Sean May or David Harrison pans out. He may not be that great defensively yet but his overall combination of size, hands, and ability to knock down a jumper gives the Nets good reason to take Baby Shaq here at 5.
6. Golden State Warriors - Randy Foye
Randy Foye is a guy that the Golden State Warriors can build around. They are starting from scratch and Foye is capable of possibly playing both SG and PG in this league. He's got the tools and the talent to be successful in this league. I am not exactly sure that Randy Foye can be a franchise player in this league but he'll have a chance to prove that since Golden State won't have much going into next season.
7. Boston Celtics - Luol Deng
The Celtics have got a very solid backcourt with Arenas and Felton. The next best available player at seven would probably be Luol Deng. Deng is a very talent small forward, somewhat in the mold of Grant Hill. He can help this Boston team on the boards which is something they have had trouble with after the departure of Vince Carter and Marcus Camby.
8. Houston Rockets - Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison was the player of the year but that was in the college game. The pro game is a whole new ball game and player that is 6'8 and terribly slow defensively and a poor defender is going to take a hit when it comes to the draft. Adam is a talented scorer that can score in many ways but defensively he's terrible. He's also a very bad rebounder and what better team to hide those deficiences than that Houston Rockets? They've already got four talented players in Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and Brad Miller. Miller and O'Neal especially can help hide Morrison's poor defensive and rebounding abilities and allow him to focus purely on what he does best - score.
9. Toronto Raptors - Ronnie Brewer
The Raptors need a small forward to complete their young youthful lineup. Ronnie Brewer is that guy. He has a very similar game to Luol Deng which should be a win for the Raptors. He should fit in nicely with this young up and coming squad.
10. Orlando Magic - Shaun Livingston
Livingston is perhaps the most talented point guard in this draft. He's got tremendous court vision and because of his height - he is a matchup problem for many other point guards in this league. However, during his time at Duke, he did not improve his outside shot as well as many had hoped he would which is why he falls this far to 10. This would be a huge steal for the Orlando Magic who will be in obvious need of a point guard with Steve Nash testing the free agent waters.
11. Houston Rockets - Shelden Williams
Shelden Williams will be a nice solid player in the mold of a Loy Vaught possibly. He can instantly contribute to a team like Houston who will be looking to make a run back to the playoffs this upcoming season.
12. Sacramento Kings - Sebastian Telfair
For the Kings, they are in luck that there just happens to be much more talented player available at SF and SG in this draft early. They need a lot of things but one position that they can fill with the draft is point guard. Sebastian Telfair will amazingly still be available at this point and his tremendous quickness and handling ability will be a nice combo with Ginobili in the back court. He may not be the best outside shooter at point guard but his ability to get to the basket will dispell any question of his ability to put points on the board.
13. Indiana Pacers- J.R. Smith
The Pacers are fairly set at every spot except shooting guard. J.R. Smith improved his outside shooting after spending the past two years at Carolina under Roy Williams however he has too much of a tendency to stay on the outside rather than use his tremendous leaping ability to get to the basket. J.R. would be a nice piece to add to this Pacers team that doesn't seem like it's too far from making a push in the Eastern Conference.
