First Round
by Zach Harper - Email Zach1. Portland Trailblazers- Greg Oden, C, Ohio State
There's a smoke and mirrors act right now with the Blazers considering Kevin Durant with the first pick, but don't believe it. Oden is still the guy unless GM Kevin Pritchard is trying to lose his job. NBA Comparison- David Robinson
2. Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant, SF, Texas
Durant is still the second best player in this draft and probably the best all around talent. Sonics will grab him and gladly let the inconsistent Rashard Lewis go this off-season. NBA Comparison- Tracy McGrady
3. Atlanta Hawks- Al Horford, PF, Florida
Either the Hawks have a very good intel that Mike Conley is actually retiring as soon as he signs his rookie contract or Royal Ivey isn't playing like Royal Ivey anymore. Horford will give them what Shelden Williams couldn't give them last year, production.
NBA Comparison- Elton Brand
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Mike Conley Jr., PG, Ohio State
Memphis really wanted Horford but will settle for Conley running the show for now. This pick probably means they will push hard to get Gasol out of town and completely rebuild around Conley, Rudy Gay, and Hakim Warrick. NBA Comparison- Kenny Anderson
5. Boston Celtics- Yi Jianlin, PF, China
Boston may try to turn this pick and several players into Kevin Garnett before the day is done, but if they decide to keep it, they'll put their rebuilding hopes on the best Chinese basketball draftee since Yao Ming. Wait, isn't he the only one since Yao? NBA Comparison- Dirk Nowitzki
6. Milwaukee Bucks- Brandan Wright, PF, North Carolina
Milwaukee can NOT be happy will probably try to move this pick. They can't afford the defensive liabilities of putting Wright, Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva in the frontcourt together. They really wanted Conley. NBA Comparison-LaMarcus Aldridge
7. Minnesota Timberwolves- Spencer Hawes, C, Washington
Ohhhh, this is how Kevin McHale is going to screw me. I actually miss the idea of Randy Wittman wanting to draft Joakim Noah. Kevin McHale claims to see a lot of himself in Hawes. How? Is also he incapable of being a successful GM someday?
NBA Comparison- A less athletic Chris Mihm
8. Charlotte Bobcats- Corey Brewer, SG, Florida
This is truly the best scenario for Charlotte at #8. The only thing better would be Michael Jordan convincing Kevin McHale to move down a spot while also giving Charlotte 4 lottery picks in the next 6 years and then still being able to get Brewer. NBA Comparison- Tayshaun Prince as a SG
9. Chicago Bulls (from New York)- Joakim Noah, PF, Florida
He's a Scott Skiles kind of guy. He always hustles, plays great defense, has a high basketball IQ, is a proven winner, and is hard to pick out in a crowd of transvestites. NBA Comparison- Anderson Varajaeo
10. Sacramento Kings- Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown
Green must be staying in the draft because he has a top 10 guarantee. Geoff Petrie always drafts well and this guy would actually be the best player available. Green can do it all and is 6'10" while he's doing it all.
NBA Comparison- Josh Howard
11. Atlanta Hawks (from Indiana)- Javaris Crittenton, PG, Georgia Tech
Billy Knight just remembered who Royal Ivey is and will use this pick to grab a point guard. Crittenton is a bit of a project but then again, so are the Hawks NBA Comparison- Steve Francis
12. Philadelphia 76ers- Julian Wright, SF, Kansas
This could turn out to be an exact replica of the Paul Pierce situation. Wright can do just about everything and will have all the upside in the world playing alongside Andre Iguodola and Andre Miller. NBA Comparison- Boris Diaw
13. New Orleans Hornets- Al Thornton, SF, Florida State
They would love Jeff Green because he's a more complete player but they love Thornton's ability to score. They need a reliable scorer for Chris Paul to pass to. NBA Comparison- Danny Granger
14. Los Angeles Clippers- Acie Law IV, PG, Texas A&M
He's been the guy since the lottery was selected. Law will be Sam Cassell's protege and Sam will turn him into a great leader for the next 15 years.
NBA Comparison- Sam Cassell
15. Detroit Pistons (from Orlando)- Rodney Stuckey, SG, Eastern Washington
What he lacks in height (6'5" is now short for shooting guards apparently) he more than makes up for in toughness. He'll be a great replacement for Flip Murray in Detroit. NBA Comparison- Randy Foye
16. Washington Wizards- Thaddeus Young, SF, Georgia Tech
The Wizards are grabbing the wrong Young here. They should be taking Nick Young but will risk it by gambling on Thaddeus' potential. He'll probably be on a different team in 4 years. NBA Comparison- Al Harrington
17. New Jersey Nets- Nick Young, SG, USC
The Nets could really use a big man but they'll opt for USC's Nick Young instead. He's a athletic freak that will be a nice replacement for Vince Carter. Young's exactly like Vince Carter actually except Nick doesn't play like a female body part.
NBA Comparison- J.R. Smith
18. Golden State Warriors- Jason Smith, PF, Colorado State
Warriors will go for Smith who can run the floor and hit outside jumpers. He fits right in with their run and gun style and will stretch the defense out even more. NBA Comparison- Brian Cook
19. Los Angeles Lakers- Marco Belinelli, SG, Italy
He shoots like Giricek but has developed his game into more of a Manu Ginobili style that can hurt you in multiple ways. He should be a great compliment to Kobe Bryant if he sticks around.
NBA Comparison- Gordan Giricek
20. Miami Heat- Gabe Pruitt, PG, USC
They have to get someone to replace Gary Payton. With J-Will's knees failing him and the Heat needing production out of their floor general position, Pruitt will be playing significant minutes in no time.
NBA Comparison- Devin Harris
21. Philadelphia 76ers (from Denver)- Glen Davis, PF, LSU
Billy King won't risk letting Big Baby get picked before #30 so he'll grab him here and pray for McRoberts to be there at 30. Luckily for Billy, everyone has tapes of Duke's games last year, so McRoberts will be there. NBA Comparison- Robert “Tractor” Traylor
22. Charlotte Bobcats (from Toronto via Cleveland)- Morris Almond, SG, Rice
Bobs are picking not only the best player available at this point and the best shooter in the draft, but they're also getting an insurance policy in case Wallace and/or Matt Carroll get signed away.
NBA Comparison- Allan Houston
23. New York Knicks (from Chicago)- Wilson Chandler, SF, DePaul
Isiah wouldn't pull a Renaldo Balkman two years in a row, would he? You bet your ass he will. Chandler can play and will be someone for the Knicks' fans to boo until the season starts and he plays some minutes. Then they'll really boo him. NBA Comparison- Renaldo Balkman
24. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland via Boston)- Daequan Cook, SG, Ohio State
The Suns are hoping for another Michael Redd out of Ohio State here if they don't trade this pick. More realistically, he probably settles into a good shooter and nothing more. NBA Comparison- Cuttino Mobley
25. Utah Jazz- Derrick Byars, SF, Vanderbilt
This is a guy that Jerry Sloan would love to have. He is a decent defender and can score the ball which is good in case Matt Harprings' knees retire this season.
NBA Comparison- Raja Bell
26. Houston Rockets- Ali Traore, PF, France
This guy could turn into a very surly French man when he doesn't receive regular touches but he will round into being a good shot blocker and a good rebounder next Yao.
NBA Comparison- Nene
27. Detroit Pistons- Sean Williams, C, Boston College
He's Sam Dalembert without the constant goaltending. Williams has character issues but he'll stay in line with veterans like McDyess and Rasheed Wallace showing him the ropes. NBA Comparison- Samuel Dalembert
28. San Antonio Spurs- Petteri Koponen, PG, Finland
Mr. Longoria needs a backup and Pop loves foreign point guards. Petteri had great workouts and nobody had workouts elevate them higher on draft boards than this kid. NBA Comparison- Beno Udrih
29. Phoenix Suns- Rudy Fernandez, SG, Spain
This is a pick that the Suns should definitely keep. He won't cost much to sign because it's at the end of the first round and he'll be in the regular rotation by the end of the year. Great all round guard, waiting to find his groove.
NBA Comparison-Manu Ginobili
30. Philadelphia 76ers (from Dallas via Golden State and Denver)- Josh McRoberts, PF, Duke
Don't they already have Shavlik Randolph? At best, McRoberts will be the Christian Laettner that NBA fans saw for 10+ years. But Billy King loves him.
NBA Comparison-Shavlik Randolph