NBA Draft (With Commentary)

First Round

1. Milwaukee - Andrew Bogut (7'0'', C, Utah, Soph.)
This was a lock from the start. No matter how much they liked Marvin Williams, you don't pass on a skilled 7 footer like Bogut.
2. Atlanta - Marvin Williams (6'9'', SF, UNC, Fresh.)
Atlanta does not need another forward, but Williams is deemed too good to pass up. I'd have taken Paul, but you can't fault Atlanta for going for the homerun.
3. Utah - Deron Williams (6'3'', PG, Illinois, Jr.)
Utah deals the 6th, 27th, and a future first round pick to move up to get their man. Deron will give Utah the stability it desperately needs.
4. New Orleans - Chris Paul (5'11'', PG, Wake Forest, Soph.)
The Hornets are the big winners so far as the 2nd best player in the draft falls in their laps at 4. They, unlike some teams to come were smart enough to catch the falling star.
5. Charlotte - Raymond Felton (6'0'', PG, UNC, Jr.)
The Bobcats could have gone a few different places here, but with PG's at a premium they snatch up hometown boy Felton. Can't fault them for giving Okafor a running mate.
6. Portland - Martell Webster (6'7'', SG, HS)
Portland moves down 3 spots and still gets their man. I am a bit surprised Portland takes Webster over Green and Bynum. They must really love Martell.
7. Toronto - Charlie Villanueva (6'10'', PF, UConn, Soph.)
As per usual, the first head scratcher of the draft comes from Toronto, who gets Charlie at 7 when they could have gotten him with their 16th pick. Not to mention he plays the same position as Chris Bosh, their one solid player. Not smart.
8. New York - Channing Frye (6'11'', C, Arizona, Sr.)
New York needs a center who can start right away. Channing fills that bill. Better players are available, but NY needs a center.
9. Golden State - Ike Diogu (6'8'', PF, Arizona State, Jr.)
I like Ike, but this is a stretch taking him in the top 10. He is a solid fit for Golden State though.
10. LA Lakers - Andrew Bynum (7'0'', C, HS)
So much for Phil Jackson getting a player who can come in right away and play big minutes. Bynum could turn out to be one of the best players in the draft.
11. Orlando - Fran Vazquez (6'10'', PF, Spain)
With Granger, Green, Graham, and Wright still on the board I do not like this pick nearly as much as I would have yesterday. Vasquez and Howard will be a good, solid front line. But, Green or Granger were the better pick here.
12. LA Clippers - Yaroslav Korolev (6'9'', SF, Russia)
This is why teams do not make promises in the lottery. 2 future all stars fall in the Clippers laps, but being the Clippers they find a way to screw that up. Korolev may turn out good, but we have to wait 3 years to find out.
13. Charlotte - Sean May (6'8'', PF, UNC, Jr.)
I really hate this pick. It isn't that I don't like Sean May, I just don't see him as anything more than a serviceable backup PF in the NBA. There are so many better picks here for a team that needs everything. Gerald Green is a perfect fit here, and Granger, Wright, and Graham need a home still as well.
14. Minnesota - Rashad McCants (6'3'', SG, UNC, Jr.)
Will someone please draft Gerald Green or Danny Granger! McCant will give Minnesota a solid scorer, but he reminds me a bit too much of Joe Forte. I'd be uncomfortable taking him over so many better prospects.
15. New Jersey - Antoine Wright (6'7'', SG, Texas A&M, Jr.)
Love the player, hate the pick. Where is Wright going to fit in with Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter? Wright is a good player and New Jersey definitely could have done worse here. But, Warrick would have given them the PF they desperately needed.
16. Toronto - Joey Graham (6'7'', SF, Oklahoma State, Sr.)
Graham is a solid addition for Toronto who partially redeems themselves for picking Villanueva at 7. They should have taken Charlie here, and Joey Graham at 7.
17. Indiana - Danny Granger (6'8'', SF, New Mexico, Sr.)
Indiana proves once again that they are one of the best drafting teams in the NBA. This of course is because they are one of the few teams who use common sense. While they weren't looking for a SF here, they were smart enough to scoop up this steal.
18. Boston - Gerald Green (6'7'', SG, HS)
Steal of the draft. Add Green to Al Jefferson for one of the best young nucleuses in the NBA.
19. Memphis - Hakim Warrick (6'8'', PF, Syracuse, Sr.)
I'd have liked to see Jarrett Jack here, with Jay Williams supposedly on his way out, but Warrick will fill in nicely for the soon to be departed Stromile Swift.
20. Denver - Julius Hodge (6'6'', SG, NC State, Sr.)
The Nuggs desperately needed a SG, and Hodge is a good fit because of his unselfishness. Carmelo's new best friend.
21. Phoenix - Nate Robinson (5'9'', PG, Washington, Jr.)
A bit early to take a 5'9'' PG, but he is a perfect fit for the way Phoenix plays. Rumor has it he will be dealt to NY in the Thomas for Richardson deal. If that is true then Isaah has truly lost his mind.
22. Portland - Jarrett Jack (6'3'', PG, Georgia Tech, Jr.)
Portland moves into Denver's 2nd first round pick and adds Jack, a big PG who will fit nicely with the small Telfair.
23. Sacramento - Francisco Garcia (6'7'', SG, Louisville, Jr.)
Long and athletic Garcia is a good fit in Sacto where Cuttino Mobley will likely not be back.
24. Houston - Luther Head (6'3'', SG, Illinois, Sr.)
Hey, I actually got this one right. Houston was said to be in love with Head, but didn't think he would fall this far. Unselfish and a solid defender. Good fit here.
25. Seattle - Johan Petro (7'0'', C, France)
Petro and Swift, the frontcourt of the future in Seattle. Seattle needed to add a big, and nab a solid one here.
26. Detroit - Jason Maxiell (6'7'', PF, Cincinatti, Sr.)
This is a reach, but Maxiell is a Joe Dumars kind of guy. People have been calling him Ben Wallace light after his workouts.
27. Denver - Linas Kleiza (6'8'', PF, Missouri, Soph.)
This is the first of the 2 picks Denver got from Portland for Jack. This is a major reach, plenty of better bigs are still on the board.
28. San Antonio - Ian Mahinmi (6'9'', PF, France)
Who is this guy? Who cares...judging by San Antonio's track record, he will be an all star in 4 years.
29. Miami - Wayne Simien (6'8'', PF, Kansas, Sr.)
Simien is a steal this late. He will likely be the starter if Haslem leaves.
30. New York - David Lee (6'9'', PF, Florida, Sr.)
New York fans hate this pick, me too. I like Lee, but NY does not need another undersized PF.

Second Round

31. Atlanta - Salim Stoudamire (6'1'', SG, Arizona, Sr.)
Good pick here by the Hawks. Salim has a chance to step right in at the point in Atlanta. The Hawks now have the pieces to run and gun with the best of them.
32. LA Clippers - Daniel Ewing (6'3'', PG, Duke, Sr.)
Solid college player will be a backup to Livingston.
33. New Orleans - Brandon Bass (6'8'', PF, LSU, Soph.)
Could start soon in New Orleans.
34. Utah - CJ Miles (6'6'', SG, HS)
Utah could have used a SG who is ready to play right away, but will settle for waiting on this poor man's Ray Allen.
35. Denver - Ricky Sanchez (6'11'', PF, HS)
This guy is the real reason Denver made the Jack trade. They fell in love with this big high schooler in a workout a couple days ago.
36. Milwaukee - Ersan Ilyasova (6'9'', SF, Turkey)
Ersan fell due to an injury that seems to just have been found out. He is a better prospect than half the first round and well worth the gamble here. Solid draft for the Bucks.
37. LA Lakers - Ronny Turiaf (6'10'', PF, Gonzaga, Sr.)
Brian Grant 2.0, complete with matching dreadlocks. Ronny is a blue collar guy who will play right away for the Lakers.
38. Orlando - Travis Diener (6'1'', PG, Marquette, Sr.)
Orlando needs a backup PG and a shooter, they get both here.
39. LA Lakers - Von Wafer (6'5'', SG, Florida State, Soph.)
High risk, high reward pick. Most people didn't have Wafer being drafted. Good talent, but a bit raw and uncoachable.
40. Golden State - Monta Ellis (6'3'', SG, HS)
This is why the NBA wants to do away with the high schoolers. Ellis seemed to think he was a 1st round pick. He and his agent are about the only people who thought that. Good pick here for Golden state though, who can wait for him.
41. Toronto - Roko Ukic (6'5'', PG, Croatia)
May be one of the steals of the draft. I thought Ukic would go mid 1st round. Toronto was smart to scoop him up here. Toronto ended up with a solid draft, even with the bonehead pick at 7.
42. Golden State - Chris Taft (6'10'', C, Pitt, Soph.)
Wow! Taft really feel from grace. Everyone knew Taft had fallen out of the lottery, but most still assumed he would end up in the 1st round somewhere. Golden State landed 3 solid players in Diogu, Ellis and Taft.
43. New Jersey - Mile Ilic (7'1'', C, Bosnia)
The only pick I got right in the entire 2nd round. NJ has had good luck with Euro's lately. Ilic has big skills for his size, but will take time to develop.
44. Orlando - Martynas Andriuskevicius (7'3'', C, Lithuania)
Marty was a top 5 pick in my first mock draft 5 months or so ago. He has really fallen. He'd have been a top 10 pick last year. He should fire his agent. Orlando will leave him in Europe for a couple years and hope his game and body develop.
45. Philadelphia - Louis Williams (6'2'', SG, HS)
Another guy who thought he was a 1st rounder. He is a good athlete, but likely too small to be a 2 guard.
46. Indiana - Erazem Lorbek (6'11'', PF/C, Slovenia)
Indy adds one of the the best centers in Europe to a team that doesn't have any decent American center. Could be a starter sooner than later.
47. Minnesota - Bracey Wright (6'3'', SG, Indiana, Jr.)
Minnesota must be collecting undersized 2 guards who do nothing but score. Wright will be a bust in the NBA.
48. Seattle - Mickael Gelabale (6'7'', SF, France)
Good worker who does a lot of things well. He is a solid pick at this point in the draft.
49. Washington - Andray Blatche (6'11'', C, HS)
Blatche did not work out for many teams, and the ones he did workout for were unimpressed. Washington needs bigs, so this is a good pick.
50. Boston - Ryan Gomes (6'8'', SF, Providence, Sr.)
Danny Ainge seems to have this draft thing down. Gomes is the short term, Green is the long term.
51. Utah - Robert Whaley (6'9'', PF, Walsh, Sr.)
Ex-Cincinatti player played very well in Chicago, and managed to snag a spot in the 2nd round.
52. Denver - Axel Hervelle (6'9'', PF, Belgium)
Denver will leave him overseas and see what happens.
53. Boston - Orien Green (6'5'', PG, La-Lafayette, Sr.)
Boston gets the big, athletic PG I had them picking at 18, at 53. Orien Green remind me of a bigger Darrell Armstrong.
54. New York - Dijon Thompson (6'8'', SG, UCLA, Sr.)
If this pick is to keep, then Isaah must not understand positions in the NBA, and that you need a few of each. If Dijon is headed to Phoenix in the Thomas for Richardson deal, then I love the fit in Phoenix.
55. Seattle - Lawrence Roberts (6'9'', PF, Mississippi State, Sr.)
Seattle gets another Nick Collison type big man. Good pick for a team about to lose a few bigs to free agency.
56. Detroit - Amir Johnson (6'9'', PF, HS)
Look for Amir to take advantage of the new rule allowing 1st and 2nd year players under contract to play in the NBDL.
57. Phoenix - Marcin Gortat (7'0'', C, Poland)
Unknown big that will stay in Europe for a while.
58. Toronto - Uros Slokar (6'11'', PF, Slovenia)
Solid big man who could become a very good player if he stays in Europe.
59. Atlanta - Cenk Akyol (6'4'', PG, Turkey)
Long, lean PG of the future who is very young. Atlanta will leave him overseas and hope he becomes a player.
60. Detroit - Alex Acker (6'5'', SG, Pepperdine, Jr.)
Detroit needs a 2 guard off the bench, Acker is a solid player who could make this team.


Undrafted Players (good players looking for a home)

Randolph Morris (6'11'', C, Kentucky, Fresh.)
I knew it was a mistake for Randolph to declare for the draft, but I had no idea he'd go undrafted. He is a center one year removed from being one of the top C's in a very talented high school class. I can't believe no one took a shot on him. It is criminal that the Knicks passed on him twice.
Angelo Gigli (6'10'', PF, Italy)
A better European big man than most that were draft. Would have been a top 10 pick next year.
Kennedy Winston (6'6'', SG, Alabama, Jr.)
An injured knee and questionable work ethic dropped this very good player out of the draft. He will catch on somewhere.
John Gilchrist (6'2'', PG, Maryland, Jr.)
Ditto what I said about Winston, minus the hurt knee.
Matt Walsh (6'6'', SG, Florida, Jr.)
Walsh really thought he was going in the first round. Even I am surprised that after his great workouts someone didn't take a chance on him in the 2nd round.
Stefano Mancinelli (6'8'', SF, Italy)
Athletic Euro will likely head back and play overseas.
Alan Anderson (6'6'', SG, Michigan St., Sr.)
Another solid college player who will catch on somewhere. Cleveland, get on the phone.
Sean Banks (6'8'', SF, Memphis, Soph.)
Way too talented to go undrafted.
Eddie Basden (6'5'', SG, Charlotte, Sr.)
Good defender will catch on somewhere.
Mindaugas Katelynas (6'9'', SF, UT-Chattanooga, Sr.)
Very athletic, may head overseas or to the NBDL.
Tiras Wade (6'7'', SG, La. Lafayette, Jr.)
Long, athletic SG should have been picked by someone.
Chuck Hayes (6'6'', SF, Kentucky, Sr.)
Has a chance to make a team based on work in the summer league.
Filiberto Rivera (6'2'', PG, UTEP, Sr.)
Ditto. Atlanta, make the call.
Jawad Williams (6'8'', SF, UNC, Sr.)
Heart and soul of the Tarheels title team should look to join his boys in Charlotte.