First Round Draft Possibilites 06.15.2007 - Updated on 06.15.2007
 | | | | | | | | | | Now that players have started working out for teams, and we’re starting to get an idea of what teams think about certain players. I will do a first round analysis on what I think a team might do and comment about a player. 1. Portland- Greg Oden- Is the top player in the draft, they need a center, he plays center enough said.
2.Seattle- Kevin Durant- Will go to the Supersonics by default, which is one of the most simple decisions ever made in mankind. Even though his skills are advanced he might just put up a solid 14 pts and 6 rbs his first year.
3. Atlanta- Mike Conley Jr- Should be the third pick, the hawks need a true PG and Mike is definitely that. They have went big for the past couple seasons, and the hawks seem confident in those selections, to not feel they need to go big with their first selection.
4. Memphis- Al Horford- New coach Marc Iavaroni wants to be very athletic and want a PF to go along with Pau Gasol and Rudy Gay in the line up. They want a player thats quick, physical and can give instant help to the team. Horford provides all those things for them.
5. Boston- Brandan Wright- Danny Ainge would really like a PF to play along side Al Jefferson, and the quality skills that Brandan brings, and the fact that he plays best when the other big man is skilled will help out a lot. Brandan would make a nice complement in the post.
6. Milwaukee- Corey Brewer- The Bucks are in need of a good perimeter defender. Corey is the best in the draft. He would be the Bucks top defender coming in, and fits perfect because he you have good scorers, so his offense could be a bonus.
7. Minnesota- Jeff Green- At first I was gonna have them go big, but since they just got Juwan Howard in a trade, they’ll probably go with a versatile player. Green can play 4 spots, and can fill many voids when needed, and with the T’wolves history of constant injuries, they’ll need a player like him.
8. Charlotte- Al Thornton- I’m not gonna front to you readers. I have no idea what they may do at #8, it would be easier if Spencer Hawes would want to play with them. But since Gerald Wallace is a free agent and may or may not be back. A player like Thornton picks up the slack and can contribute scoring sooner than later.
9. Chicago- Joakim Noah- From what I’ve been told, the bulls are very high on Joakim and feel he has Tyson Chandler potential. They want an athletic big man to go along with Tyrus Thomas in the future when Ben Wallace is gone. They’re looking for more of a defensive presence than offensive, Noah fits that perfectly.
10. Sacramento- Yi Jianlian- Now we’re at the point in the lottery where you take the best player available. That would be Yi, his talents can fit in at Sac-town, being a PF or an SF. The kings are looking to trade some forwards off their team, making the Yi selection makes it easier for them to want to pursue trades.
11. Atlanta- Spencer Hawes- Wow now the hawks may actually have an A+ draft. If Hawes is still around at 12, he’d be a major steal in their hands. He is the skilled type of center they’re looking for.
12. Philadelphia- Thaddeus Young- The 76ers will need a future big time scorer, and the fact they could use a versatile player makes him a great choice.
13. New Orleans- Nick Young- With Desmond Mason as a free agent now, they’ll need another SG to replace him. Nick is a good choice, he may not fill it in his first year. But they won’t need him to if they stay injury free.
14. L.A. Clippers- Acie Law- Is the perfect choice for the Clippers, with Livingston out and Cassell getting old. Acie can come in a play right away, who knows how win, to help this playoff caliber team.
15. Detroit- Julian Wright- I always felt he was a top 10 pick, but his perimeter game and inconsistent style is hurting his stock. But Wright fits the Pistons style of play and this could be a good match.
16. Washington- Marcus Williams- They need a player who is skilled and play Guard/Forward. He fits their style of play and would provide the same presence Jared Jeffries when he played with them.
17. New Jersey- Josh McRoberts- They wanna go with a skilled big man. The nets really like McRoberts and they feel he’s a steal for them. He fits there style of play, and contribute some.
18. Golden State- Sean Williams- First off, the warriors never seem like they have a problem bringing in troubled players, as long as they help them win. Seans defensively presence could help take them to the next level, as long as he stays out of trouble this is a good match.
19. L.A. Lakers- Rodney Stuckey- Is just what the Lakers need a combo scoring guard that plays good defense. He could help the Lakers sooner than later, which is exactly what they need.
20. Miami- Javaris Crittenton- Is young and needs atleast 2 years before we see his special PG skills in the NBA. The heat need a future PG to play along side DWade. Crittenton can play behind J-Will for a season then take over.
21. Philadelphia- Jason Smith- The 76ers need a skilled PF, who will beable to do alot of diffrent things for their front court. He can fill the void that Joe Smith will leave if he doesn’t resign with the team.
22. Charlotte- Aaron Gray- He would make a good choice for the bobcats because they could use an upgrade from Brezec who will be a free agent next year. Then they could move Okafur to PF, where he may be better off. Center is the bobcats weakest spot.
23. New York- Rudy Fernandez- I heard today he may stay overseas one more year. But according to Isiah Thomas, this is a freebie pick anyway since they got Randolph Morris late last season. The knicks need a good shooter who knows how to play basketball. Rudy would make a good choice whether he plays this year or next.
24. Phoenix- Daequan Cook- The suns would like a big athletic player like DeVon Hardin, but he’ll probably go back to school. So Cook is what they would look for next a good scoring shooter, who can run with the up tempo style they play.
25. Utah- Derrick Byars- Utah wants an all around player to fit in with what they already have, a player that can contribute sooner than later. Byars is that type of player to provide help and be versatile for them.
26. Houston- Nick Fazekas- They just traded Juwan Howard, so PF is really their weakest spot. Fazekas can step in right away, with decent skills to contribute. This is a safe choice for them.
27. Detroit- Morris Almond- Just what Detroit needs to reload the team with young talent that can play now. He gives them the great shooter abd scorer they lack from the bench. He also fits their style of play.
28. San Antonio- Alando Tucker- The Spurs perimeter players are getting old, and they need a young player who fits their style and can play sooner than later. Alando is the man for the job, he would provide a balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
29. Phoenix- Taurean Green- The suns still are looking for a 3rd PG that can take the load off of Steve Nash. With Marcus Banks on the market, and Greens ability to run a winning fast paced team, this seems like a good fit.
30. Philadelphia- Gabe Pruitt- Philly needs another solid back up PG. Pruitt can play combo guard to give them that different attack they’re looking for. He could close the deal for all the pieces they’re looking for to complete the new young 76ers. |
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Posted by
on 06.17.2007 | I’ve been reading the comments and I just wanted to say hurryduck is an azz. I can see if there were major issues with the article, but I see minor mishaps like that in articles everywhere. There wasn’t even nothing wrong with the Atlanta Hawks statement. I also agree with Dale a person who has alot to oversee he does a pretty good job. . | Posted by
Victoria
on 06.17.2007 | I enjoy your views Lance. I love your work, have a good father’s day with your wife and baby. . | Posted by
Nelson
on 06.17.2007 | Ha Ha! Hurryduck is a salty dude. Trying to be a know it all. I agree people are intitled to their opinons, but that don’t mean we can’t make fun of them fun of them for what they. People like hurryduck can get annoying real quick. . | Posted by
Future Scout
on 06.17.2007 | What is hurryduck complaining about it wasn’t even that bad. What a dork. I didn’t know you was a dad Lance, Happy Dad’s Day! . | Posted by
Serigo Santiago
on 06.17.2007 | happy papi day holmes! I’m fan of yours, enjoy your day you deserve it Lance! . | Posted by
SAVANNA BARKER
on 06.17.2007 | HAPPY FATHER’S DAY LANCE, YOU ROCK, FU*K THEM HATERS BABY! YOU DO GREAT WORK! . | Posted by
Dale
on 06.17.2007 | To Hurryduck: Lance is a good friend of mine and knowing Lance he respects what you have to say. Lance writes all the articles, but doesn’t always type them up his assistant does that sometimes because he doesn’t always have the time, so sometimes they make mistakes it happens. As far him advancing in sports writing that is not an interest of his. He is a successful business person who has a Multimedia company to run, along with other ventures, and also does draft reporting. For a person who works literally 20 hours a day I say he does a good job. But everyone is intitled to their opinons. . | Posted by
hurryduck
on 06.16.2007 | I wasn’t addressing my comments about proper language usage to the crowd but to Mr. Walton. I enjoyed your analysis and I am suggesting you hone your craft if you want to advance in sports journalism. The next level, which I hope you reach, will be demanding more than good insights and analysis. Ex-pros can get away with poor language, but laymen cannot. . | Posted by
Evan Longoria
on 06.16.2007 | You can barely notice anything, stop trippin you guys. Anyway I definetly agree that Kevin Durant will put up decent numbers like 14 pts and rbs a game his 1st year. Then he’ll break out. Overall this was a very valid article good stuff LW! . | Posted by
on 06.16.2007 | no doubt Lance, I liked seeing your point of view on the 1st round, I don’t care about no silly harmless errors. . | Posted by
Almoa Shubez-Kabukc
on 06.16.2007 | This was a good article Mr.Walton, I like the possibilites and reasons. Them haters are wack you’re a good hoops analyst and writer and I enjoy your work. . | Posted by
Hoops Lover!
on 06.16.2007 | OMG! 3 small errors and all of sudden we have a crisis on our hands. Get the stick out of your butts and talk basketball Be Reasonable put it the best. Just shut up, over 30 people don’t care we know mistakes slip through, we’re here to talk hoops. You 2 complainers should take that somewhere else, cuz you’re wasting valuable space and hoopd talk time. . | Posted by
Jessica S
on 06.16.2007 | I agree Be Reasonable. You couldn’t have said it anymore simple and better. . | Posted by
Be reasonable
on 06.16.2007 | Like mike and mike say "just shut up!" Yaw need to quit complaining about minor things, and just talk hoops. This is a good topic to talk about and yaw wastin space talking something most don’t really care about. Hmm... let’s see 31 comments so far and only 2 people are complaining about minor things. Looks like the majority understood. I understand where yaw coming from but just let it go he’s a good writer regardless. . | Posted by
Haters!
on 06.16.2007 | I guess bettor2b and hurryduck live in a perfect world, where mistakes don’t slip through. It must be nice being so perfect and everything or NOT! . | Posted by
Stop Trippin
on 06.16.2007 | Woop di du, you guys that are being so picking about the writing are really annoying. The statement hurryduck was talking about, nothing was wrong with it, if you don’t knwo hoops lingo that’s your problem. So what there were 2 other minor errors. Get off Lance’s balls, it was a good article and most of us knew what he was talking about anyway. Proof read my azz. . | Posted by
bettor2b
on 06.16.2007 | HURRYDUCK is 100% correct about the grammar errors in the article. I have great respect for Mr. Walton’s basketball knowledge. This is as good a mock draft as any with some very good observations, but there is a definite need for a proof reader. . | Posted by
Bob Tha Cat
on 06.16.2007 | Al Thornton is the perfect replacement to fill the void of Gerald Wallace. I hope that’s who we go with. I also think Aaron Gray is a good selection to Center is our weakest spot, and I would rather see Emeka play PF. . | Posted by
T’Wolves 4 Life!
on 06.16.2007 | Jim Stack said he sees Jeff Green fitting in real well with the T’Wolves plans. Ultimately he has more say than Randy Foye. Honestly I think Green is a better choice than Thornton. Both got skills but I see Green being a Better fit for us. . | Posted by
Bucks fan!
on 06.16.2007 | Milwaukee is gonna be sweet next year. I hope we pick up Brewer and Billups that would upgrade our perimeter D,and the give a nice tempo. They make great additions who fit in. . |
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