By Zach Harper - Email Zach
1. Portland- Greg Oden, C, Ohio State
This is a no-brainer. The Portland Trailblazers have won the jackpot here and will be set in the front court for the next 15+ seasons. This guy is the most important player to be drafted since Tim Duncan. He will be THE dominant big man in the league and in a couple years, nobody will know how to stop him.
NBA Comparison- David Robinson
2. Seattle- Kevin Durant, SF, Texas
This is not a bad consolation prize. Oden would’ve been a better fit here, but this allows the Sonics to become very potent offensively. They now can keep Rashard Lewis, play him at the PF, and launch threes from everywhere on the court. Or they can afford to let Rashard Lewis go, and save a significant amount of money. With Durant as the main guy, Ray Allen won’t have to do so much and will be healthier at the end of seasons.
NBA Comparison- Tracy McGrady
3. Atlanta- Mike Conley, Jr., PG, Ohio State
They probably trade down to grab Conley because #3 is pretty high for him, but this has to be their guy. They desperately need a point guard and this solves the problem for them in a big way. He won’t get it right away, but he’ll get it by his second year and should make this young athletic team very dangerous in a couple years.
NBA Comparison- Kenny Anderson
4. Memphis- Corey Brewer, SG, Florida
Memphis is not happy at all here. But they’ll make the best of a bad situation. They need an athletic 2 that can do a little bit of everything and most importantly defend. Brewer will come in right away and improve the team. Griz would love for Conley to fall here.
NBA Comparison- Tayshaun Prince as a shooting guard
5. Boston- Brandon Wright, PF, North Carolina
It’s either Yi Jianlin or Wright here. Yi is the better player, but Wright is this year’s Marvin Williams. Looks good on paper and in workouts but won’t quite fit in for a few years. Boston can’t afford a few years but that’s what happens when you bank your whole future on ping pong balls. Time to blow it up, Mr. Ainge; that’s starting with you.
NBA Comparison- LaMarcus Aldridge
6. Milwaukee- Al Horford, PF, Florida
An absolute beast to put alongside Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva. He will be an immediate impact on the boards and on defense. His low post game will come around in a few years and he will turn into a perennial All-Star. Best possible scenario after losing the lottery.
NBA Comparison- Elton Brand
7. Minnesota- Joakim Noah, C, Florida
In case you were wondering how Kevin McHale will screw this draft up; here it is. They’ll go with Noah to bang alongside Garnett and sell it as a proven winner and someone that does the little things. What it won’t help with is the atrocious offense that Minnesota put out there. They’ll want Nick Young here but that’s too high of a pick for him. Jeff Green makes the most sense which means Noah goes here.
NBA Comparison- Anderson Varajaeo
8. Charlotte- Yi Jianlin, PF, China
A steal for Charlotte at #8. He is going to end up being the Chris Bosh of this year’s star studded draft class. Carmelo and LeBron were the stars of the ’03 draft, but Bosh to the Raptors was a great pick, only nobody realized it. This is what Yi will do here. He can flat out play and once he learns the NBA game and gets 3 or 4 seasons in America, he will turn into a big time scorer.
NBA Comparison- Dirk Nowitzki
9. Chicago- Spencer Hawes, C, Washington
I really don’t understand why guys like Spence keep getting so much love pre-draft. Sure this guy has skills in the post and is young. But he isn’t athletic. He can’t move real well. If you want Joel Pryzbilla, Chris Mihm, or Rasho Nesterovic, then sign them. But don’t draft this guy and tell me it solves your problems scoring down-low.
NBA Comparison- Chris Mihm
10. Sacramento- Julian Wright, SF, Kansas
What a steal at #10 here. This has Caron Butler, Paul Pierce potential for the Kings. If Roy Hibbert were staying in the draft, they’d foolishly pick him to get bigger, but instead they’ll go with the best player available that also allows them to trade Ron Artest for 50 cents on the dollar. Julian Wright can do a bit of everything and when he fine-tunes his outside jumper, he’ll be hard to handle.
NBA Comparison- Boris Diaw
11. Atlanta- Jason Smith, PF, Colorado State
The Mike Conley pick will make too much sense for Billy Knight to make so look for them to stretch at this pick and completely blow it. Smith has good skills but should be more of an early second round pick. Instead, he’ll go lottery because Chad Ford and company love his workouts.
NBA Comparison- Brian Cook
12. Philadelphia- Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown
If Minnesota doesn’t select Green, he could very well fall to Philly here. Green will allow Iguodala to permanently flourish at the shooting guard position and will give the Sixers tons of athleticism and play-making ability at the wings. They need a competent big man here but there isn’t much in the department left.
NBA Comparison- Josh Howard
13. New Orleans- Al Thornton, SF, Florida State
Al Thornton will have the best immediate impact of the mid-first round picks. He can score and make plays and will be a great addition as a weapon for Chris Paul to dish to. Byron Scott and company would be foolish to pass on him and they usually draft pretty well.
NBA Comparison- Danny Granger
14. Clippers- Acie Law IV, PG, Texas A&M
If Shaun Livingston were healthy, Acie Law may fall to the Lakers. But since his knee is about as well put together as a Danny Ainge roster, Acie Law will be the last lottery selection of the draft. He will be able to come in right away, lead the team, command respect and keep the Clippers going when Sam Cassell isn’t on the floor. Clippers have to select him here.
NBA Comparison- Mark Jackson
15. Detroit (from Orlando) - Nick Young, SG, USC
Nick Young has more length and potential than Rodney Stuckey here and so the Pistons roll the dice and hope he can give them more than Flip Murray. Young could end up being one of the most dynamic players of this draft. Or he could also end up being Dermarr Johnson revisited.
NBA Comparison- J.R. Smith
16. Washington- Ante Tomic, C, Croatia
Raw, solid big man that is 3 or 4 years away from sniffing regular time in the NBA. He’ll be able to provide a decent mid-range jumper and good enough post skills to keep teams honest as Gilbert keeps chucking up quality shots. Hope he can rebound.
NBA Comparison- Nenad Krstic
17. New Jersey- Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas
Next year, Brandon Rush is a top-5 pick. This year, he falls to New Jersey at 17 and allows them to brace for Vince Carter possibly leaving. He’s a great backup plan and will love catching passes from Jason Kidd. He also has a very Paul Pierce feel to him.
NBA Comparison- Caron Butler
18. Golden State- Javaris Crittenton, PG, Georgia Tech
Golden State’s lack of depth at the point guard position nearly killed Baron Davis. They know they can’t play Monta Ellis there and need a big point guard to help shave some minutes off of Baron’s stat sheet. Javaris will be able to run the frenetic pace of Don Nelson and allow Baron’s back fat to heal.
NBA Comparison- Steve Francis
19. Lakers- Gabe Pruitt, PG, USC
Lakers want Crittenton but will settle for Pruitt. Pruitt is a tall point that can run the offense very well. He’ll team nicely with Kobe and by the end of his first year will have a battle with Jordan Farmar for the starting spot. Best part about Pruitt is his name reminds me of Ray Pruitt from 90210. Ah, memories!
NBA Comparison- Devin Harris
20. Miami- Tiago Splitter, PF, Brazil
They have no idea where to go with Shaq and Zo aging quickly before their eyes. They’ll roll the dice on Splitter and hope the talent that was supposed to keep him in the draft the past 3 years shines through come the regular season. Splitter is a couple years away from contributing, but he has tons of potential for Wade to mold.
NBA Comparison- P.J. Brown
21. Philadelphia (from Denver) - Josh McRoberts, PF, Duke
Now, it’s really time for Billy Knight to be himself. The Jeff Green pick helps the team immensely so he needs to grab someone to under-perform and then give a $50 million extension to in a couple of years. Don’t they already have Shavlik Randolph?
NBA Comparison- Christian Laettner
22. Charlotte (from Toronto) - Rodney Stuckey, SG, Eastern Washington
Stuckey falling to this position is a steal again for the Bobs. He is a tough guard that attacks the rim fearlessly and is able to absorb a lot of contact and still convert. Great day for Charlotte if Rodney can land here.
NBA Comparison- Randy Foye
23. New York (from Chicago) - Sean Williams, C, Boston College
Normally Isaiah Thomas drafts well, but this might be the year he really messes it up. Williams is a great defender that can really help a team in need of a down low defensive presence. But Williams has character issues like Robert Downey Jr. can’t believe. This might end up burning the Knicks in the end.
NBA Comparison- Samuel Dalembert
24. Phoenix (from Cleveland) - Daequan Cook, SG, Ohio State
The Suns badly want to trade their picks for a veteran and unload a big contract in the process but they could also bite the bullet and add a ton of depth to their squad through this draft. One thing that Cook can flourish as is a gunner. He is a great outside shooter. Phoenix can always use more shooters just like baseball teams can always use more pitching.
NBA Comparison- Cuttino Mobley
25. Utah- Morris Almond, SG, Rice
I don’t care who you want to submit as the best shooter in this draft. If you’re not talking about Almond, then you’re nuts. Get it? Almond? Nuts? Oh, F you then. Anyway, Morris can flat out shoot. He would be a perfect compliment to Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.
NBA Comparison- Allan Houston
26. Houston- Thaddeus Young, SF, Georgia Tech
Thaddeus Young has top 5 talent with CBA effort. He doesn’t have the heart and determination that would easily make him one of the most coveted players in any draft. If he can figure out how to give a damn, then he’ll be a great pick. But his lack of passion has him dropping a dozen or so spots. Great roll of the dice by Houston here.
NBA Comparison- Al Harrington
27. Detroit- Devon Hardin, C, Cal-Berkeley
Not a very good player but he can end up being a quality rebounder and defender. With the way Dale Davis and Nazr Mohammed have played, Detroit will have no problem giving Hardin a try.
NBA Comparison- Steven Hunter
28. San Antonio- Petteri Koponen, PG, Finland
Popovich is D-U-N done with Beno Udrih. He loves foreign point guards and will try and mold the 19 yr old Fin here. He’s a bit of a stretch as a first round pick, but they can leave him in Europe for a couple of years before molding him into Mr. Longoria’s backup.
NBA Comparison- Beno Udrih
29. Phoenix- Marc Gasol, C, Spain
Why trade for Pau Gasol when you can get his brother at a fraction of the price. Marc is a quicker version of his brother and apparently just as good. They can keep him in Europe a little while longer so they don’t have to pay for him now. Gasol will get plenty of experience over there before forcing some team to sign him to a ridiculous contract someday.
NBA Comparison- Pau Gasol
30. Philadelphia (from Dallas) - Glen Davis, PF, LSU
Big Baby will be lucky to go here. He’s a second round player that won’t be more than a role player off the bench, but he still thinks he’s a #1 guy. In the NBA, reality will be thrown his way every day. He’ll probably eat his way out of the league, but Philly needs a big man that can bang and will take a risk for 3 years to see if Davis pans out.
NBA Comparison- Robert “Tractor” Traylor