Post by ballinhun8 on Jan 23, 2008 22:26:56 GMT -5
Well, the regular season is over for me and there's no point of writing Power Rankings so I turn my attention to the much anticipated Rookie Draft. I'm only doing lottery teams because it's much easier to do and well, it's time these teams get a mention. Oh, and there's no real way to determine the order so I'm just going by standings and if teams had the same record, I went with the team that was doing the worst to end the season. Please, don't get mad if I didn't make a selection on who you want, these are just my opinions on which players could fit on which teams.
#1) - Eric Gordon (Indiana University)
He's the best player in this year's draft hands down. The Bucks have a young team and a talented two-guard already in Belinelli but you don't pass on a franchise player like Gordon who prefers to hit NBA 3's in College. Plus he's a Midwest kid so he'll enjoy staying near home.
#2) - Nicolas Batum (France) [VIA MIA]
Luckily, the Knicks are a playoff team who happen to have a very high lottery pick. And, with that pick, I believe the Knicks already have enough talent that they can draft a project like Batum who could turn out to be a stud. The kid is young but he's oozing talent in every category. Already a defensive beast, he could win this year's 6th man.
#3) - Darrell Arthur (Kansas University)
Shelden, Bayless, Law, Green. The influx of young talent in Atlanta is going to grow and I believe adding the draft's best big man will put them as a playoff team and just a fun team to watch. A team full of lottery picks who actually have proven themselves will make fans in Atlanta want to watch their team.
#4) - O.J. Mayo (University of Southern California) [VIA SEA]
The Sonics must be kicking themselves because right about now they could be putting advertisements, posters, newspaper ads all about how OJ and LBJ are going to take over but no, sadly they dealt their pick and the Wizards own it now. The Wizards, surprisingly, were a playoff team this year but there's not a lot of talent on that team and I know adding Mayo will make them a a playoff team again next season. Mayo will step in at SG from day 1 and win the ROY.
#5) - Brook Lopez (Stanford University)
Lopez, already, with his ratings will start over Ty Thomas. Thomas just isn't your typical big man but a pairing of Lopez with Biedrins gives the Pacers a front-court to wet his pants about. The Pacers could opt for a swingman but there's no real impact one that can be drafted this high.
#6) - Tywon Lawson (University of North Carolina)
The Nets fell off in the 2nd half of the season. I won't blame it on Marcus Williams because he is young and the team dealt it's best player in the off-season. The Nets do have a young team so they can draft using a "Best Player Available" type of strategy. I'm not confident they'll keep this pick but if they do, Lawson definitely has to be the guy. He'll kick Williams into a more competitive mood and give the bench a sparkplug to rely on.
#7) - DeVon Hardin (University of California)
I know the Nuggs GM is saying he'll draft Augustin if he's available at his pick but the weakness of last year's Nuggets team is obvious and that was the lack of production from the big men. Anthony Carter played well enough last season down the stretch to warrant an extension and they still have last year's 1st round pick Anton Ponkrashov to rely on in the future. Hardin is a player who'll be able to step in and battle with K-Mart for the starting PF position and could be able to take over the spot very soon.
#8) - Kevin Love (University of California, Los Angeles)
Finally, my team. Damn, we literally self-imploded in the last 40 days of the season. And, while we could use help at the SF and C position, I believe that we could use a development player in Love to take over as a big man once TD retires/gets traded. Although a guy like Brandon Rush could step in as a starter, the potential on a guy like Love is just too tough to pass on.
#9) - DJ Augustin (Texas University)
Finally, Augustin can stop crying in the green room because his name has been called by Commissioner David YungOne Stern. Augustin vows to make all the teams who passed on him, pay. And, what a coincidence that the team who drafted him was the commish's team. Augustin, also, is a BPA player because the Bulls have young guys all over the place. Although, they could use another big man to give them a solid 3-man rotation, Augustin's potential as a game-changer will be too hard for them to pass up.
#10) - Chris Lofton (Tennessee University)
Lofton can fill needs in Sacramento. He can play some backup PG for Nelson or he can step in and give the Kings more outside scoring threats along with the "other" K-Mart. Martin would be able to slide to SF and Lofton at SG to give the Kings offensive firepower at almost every position. The Kings don't have to worry about big men and Lofton is basically, just like the other "SG's" picked above him, a tweener.
#11) - Shan Foster (Vanderbilt University) [VIA TOR]
Oh boy, the Raps GM is one happy fella that the Blazer "only" have the 12th pick now. Well, in a deep draft class like this, it doesn't matter where the pick had fallen because there is talent everywhere. And talent everywhere is what the Blazers have. With no urgency at any position the Blazers can draft a guy like Foster who is NBCSL-ready now.
#12)
- Chase Budinger (Arizona University)
Dallas, has an abundance of talent, at the F positions. Unfortunately, I think it was Dirk giving his talents away and made the Mavs a low lottery team. Budinger, IMO, could step in and start right away at SG for the Mavs. His handling is outstanding for a guy like him and it will help alot when he penetrates the floor and is able to find spot up guys like Peja and Dirk.
#13) - Ryan Anderson (University of California)
We get to the end of the lottery and have the team that dealt Kobe. Well, that 9-5 finish at the end of the season was THE WORST THING THAT COULDA HAPPENED. Instead of having at least a top 7 pick, the Lakers fall all the way to the end of the lottery and find themselves without impact guys. Mayo would've been perfect here because it was close to college and the spotlight would be all his. But, I think the Lakers have young talent and are able to draft a project big like Anderson. He has talent everywhere and the potential is there for him to develop into a stud. With his best rating being at outside, you know he'll be able to spread the defense.
Well, I hope you guys enjoy yet another one of my pic-famed articles. I hope to have another two or three more updated Mock Drafts as trades and the final order are announced.
#1) - Eric Gordon (Indiana University)
He's the best player in this year's draft hands down. The Bucks have a young team and a talented two-guard already in Belinelli but you don't pass on a franchise player like Gordon who prefers to hit NBA 3's in College. Plus he's a Midwest kid so he'll enjoy staying near home.
#2) - Nicolas Batum (France) [VIA MIA]
Luckily, the Knicks are a playoff team who happen to have a very high lottery pick. And, with that pick, I believe the Knicks already have enough talent that they can draft a project like Batum who could turn out to be a stud. The kid is young but he's oozing talent in every category. Already a defensive beast, he could win this year's 6th man.
#3) - Darrell Arthur (Kansas University)
Shelden, Bayless, Law, Green. The influx of young talent in Atlanta is going to grow and I believe adding the draft's best big man will put them as a playoff team and just a fun team to watch. A team full of lottery picks who actually have proven themselves will make fans in Atlanta want to watch their team.
#4) - O.J. Mayo (University of Southern California) [VIA SEA]
The Sonics must be kicking themselves because right about now they could be putting advertisements, posters, newspaper ads all about how OJ and LBJ are going to take over but no, sadly they dealt their pick and the Wizards own it now. The Wizards, surprisingly, were a playoff team this year but there's not a lot of talent on that team and I know adding Mayo will make them a a playoff team again next season. Mayo will step in at SG from day 1 and win the ROY.
#5) - Brook Lopez (Stanford University)
Lopez, already, with his ratings will start over Ty Thomas. Thomas just isn't your typical big man but a pairing of Lopez with Biedrins gives the Pacers a front-court to wet his pants about. The Pacers could opt for a swingman but there's no real impact one that can be drafted this high.
#6) - Tywon Lawson (University of North Carolina)
The Nets fell off in the 2nd half of the season. I won't blame it on Marcus Williams because he is young and the team dealt it's best player in the off-season. The Nets do have a young team so they can draft using a "Best Player Available" type of strategy. I'm not confident they'll keep this pick but if they do, Lawson definitely has to be the guy. He'll kick Williams into a more competitive mood and give the bench a sparkplug to rely on.
#7) - DeVon Hardin (University of California)
I know the Nuggs GM is saying he'll draft Augustin if he's available at his pick but the weakness of last year's Nuggets team is obvious and that was the lack of production from the big men. Anthony Carter played well enough last season down the stretch to warrant an extension and they still have last year's 1st round pick Anton Ponkrashov to rely on in the future. Hardin is a player who'll be able to step in and battle with K-Mart for the starting PF position and could be able to take over the spot very soon.
#8) - Kevin Love (University of California, Los Angeles)
Finally, my team. Damn, we literally self-imploded in the last 40 days of the season. And, while we could use help at the SF and C position, I believe that we could use a development player in Love to take over as a big man once TD retires/gets traded. Although a guy like Brandon Rush could step in as a starter, the potential on a guy like Love is just too tough to pass on.
#9) - DJ Augustin (Texas University)
Finally, Augustin can stop crying in the green room because his name has been called by Commissioner David YungOne Stern. Augustin vows to make all the teams who passed on him, pay. And, what a coincidence that the team who drafted him was the commish's team. Augustin, also, is a BPA player because the Bulls have young guys all over the place. Although, they could use another big man to give them a solid 3-man rotation, Augustin's potential as a game-changer will be too hard for them to pass up.
#10) - Chris Lofton (Tennessee University)
Lofton can fill needs in Sacramento. He can play some backup PG for Nelson or he can step in and give the Kings more outside scoring threats along with the "other" K-Mart. Martin would be able to slide to SF and Lofton at SG to give the Kings offensive firepower at almost every position. The Kings don't have to worry about big men and Lofton is basically, just like the other "SG's" picked above him, a tweener.
#11) - Shan Foster (Vanderbilt University) [VIA TOR]
Oh boy, the Raps GM is one happy fella that the Blazer "only" have the 12th pick now. Well, in a deep draft class like this, it doesn't matter where the pick had fallen because there is talent everywhere. And talent everywhere is what the Blazers have. With no urgency at any position the Blazers can draft a guy like Foster who is NBCSL-ready now.
#12)
- Chase Budinger (Arizona University)
Dallas, has an abundance of talent, at the F positions. Unfortunately, I think it was Dirk giving his talents away and made the Mavs a low lottery team. Budinger, IMO, could step in and start right away at SG for the Mavs. His handling is outstanding for a guy like him and it will help alot when he penetrates the floor and is able to find spot up guys like Peja and Dirk.
#13) - Ryan Anderson (University of California)
We get to the end of the lottery and have the team that dealt Kobe. Well, that 9-5 finish at the end of the season was THE WORST THING THAT COULDA HAPPENED. Instead of having at least a top 7 pick, the Lakers fall all the way to the end of the lottery and find themselves without impact guys. Mayo would've been perfect here because it was close to college and the spotlight would be all his. But, I think the Lakers have young talent and are able to draft a project big like Anderson. He has talent everywhere and the potential is there for him to develop into a stud. With his best rating being at outside, you know he'll be able to spread the defense.
Well, I hope you guys enjoy yet another one of my pic-famed articles. I hope to have another two or three more updated Mock Drafts as trades and the final order are announced.