Mock Draft (If I Ruled The NBA)

1. Portland - Greg Oden (7’0’’, C, Ohio State, Fresh.)
No Brainer.

2. Seattle - Kevin Durant (6‘10‘’, SF, Texas, Fresh.)
No Brainer 2.0.

3. Atlanta - Spencer Hawes (6’11’’, C, Washington, Fresh.)
I know this is a pretty big reach, but what use does Atlants have with another SF or PF? Hawes is a legit center with skills, sure he isn't a top 3 player in this draft, but the Hawks won't find a center at #11. It is time for them to fill needs.

4. Memphis - Brandan Wright (6’10’’, PF, North Carolina, Fresh.)
Memphis could certainly go Conley here, but Wright has the big time talent ceiling. Pairing him with Gasol, Gay, and Miller will be a potent young neucleus.

5. Boston - Al Horford (6'9'', PF, Florida, Jr.)
Horford would be the perfect PF to compliment Jefferson if he can play center. Horford is NBA ready and his soft jumper will open up the middle for the bull like Jefferson. Add in Paul Pierce and a handful of solid young role players and we could have a playoff team next year.

6. Milwaukee - Jeff Green (6’8’’, SF, Georgetown, Jr.)
Milwaukee needs a SF desperately. They wasted a ton of money on the average Bobby Simmons and still have a huge hole there. Bogut and Villanueva are a solid young frontcourt, they should resign Mo Williams, draft Green, and watch Michael Redd smile.

7. Minnesota - Mike Conley (6’1’’, PG, Ohio State, Fresh.)
Minny traded away there only average PG, so it stands to reason they would add Conley. Conley makes sense regardless of whether KG gets moved, as he is the BPA here.

8. Charlotte - Yi Jianlian (7’0’’, PF, China)
I am not sure how pleased Yi or the Chinese deligation will be to see him land in Charlotte, but from a basketball standpoint he is the perfect PF to play next to Okafor.

9. Chicago - Joakim Noah (6’11’’, PF, Florida, Jr.)
Chicago needs a low post scorer, they settle here for a good low post player who may develope into a scorer.

10. Sacramento - Julian Wright (6‘8‘’, SF, Kansas, Soph.)
Take the super athletic Wright and run Artest out of town.

11. Atlanta - Acie Law (6‘3‘’, PG, Texas A&M, Sr.)
Atlanta filled their hole at center and now do the same at PG. Law is ready to play right away and brings a winning mentality and big shot maker to Atlanta.

12. Philadelphia - Al Thornton (6’7’’, SF, Florida State, Sr.)
Philly can go a lot of different ways here, but I absolutely love Thorton's game. He will mesh well in Philly and play both SF and PF.

13. New Orleans - Nick Young (6’6’’, SG, USC, Jr.)
Chris Paul needs a wingman, Young fills there need for a SG. If Peja comes back healthy, they are a big time sleeper.

14. LA Clippers - Corey Brewer (6’8’’, SF, Florida, Jr.)
Mobley isn't getting any younger, and Brewer is the BPA. They surely need a PG, but Crittenton is a big time question mark and will not help this year like Brewer.

15. Detroit - Javaris Crittenton (6’5’’, PG, Georgia Tech, Fresh.)
Detroit needs a PG of the future and can afford to wait on Crittenton to develope behind Billups.

16. Washington - Jason Smith (7’0’’, C, Colorado State, Jr.)
Washington needs some kind of inside presence, Smith is flying up draft boards for a reason.

17. New Jersey - Josh McRoberts (6’10’’, PF, Duke, Soph.)
NJ needs inside scoring. McRoberts can do that and more. His game will transition better tho the NBA than a lot of people think.

18. Golden State - Tiago Splitter (6'11'', PF, Brazil)
Splitter won't play in the NBA until the year after next, but Golden State can afford to wait on him. He would be a great fit next to Beidrins.

19. LA Lakers - Thaddeus Young (6‘8‘’, SF, Georgia Tech, Fresh.)
Kobe is gonna get moved, so it stands to reason that the Lakers sould take the BPA and the guy with the highest upside left in the draft.

20. Miami - Derrick Byars (6’7’’, SF, Vanderbilt, Sr.)
Miami looks like they are losing Posey to free agency, and no one wants Antoine Walker playing starters minutes.

21. Philadelphia - Rudy Fernandez (6'5'', SG, Spain)
He won't play in the NBA this year due to buyout issues, but Philly can wait on him and have no desire to pay three rookies this year, so taking this extrememly talented SG this late is a steal.

22. Charlotte - Marco Belinelli (6’6’’, SG, Italy)
Charlotte needs a scoring SG, Belinelli is a scorer with no conscious. His lack of defense next to Morrison is concerning, but if Wallace comes back it is a non-issue.

23. New York - Arron Afflalo (6‘5‘’, SG, UCLA, Jr.)
New York will surely do something dumb with this pick like trade it for magic beans or take Wilson Chandler, but they should take the sure thing in Afflalo. Afflalo can shoot the three and defend and would fit right in at SG for the Knicks.

24. Phoenix - Nick Fazekas (6’11’’, PF, Nevada, Sr.)
Fazekas might be the best shooter in this draft, and he could step in and knock down open jumpers in Phoenix all day long. His lack of densense will fit right in and he might be the perfect guy to take over at PF if Marion gets moved.

25. Utah - Alando Tucker(6‘5‘’, SG, Wisconsin, Sr.)
Utah needs a SG in the worst way. Ronnie Brewer has not yet worked out and Tucker would bring his winning ways and ability to play right away to Utah.

26. Houston - Sean Williams (6’10’’, PF, Boston College, Jr.)
I am a confessed Sean Williams despiser, but Houston needs a PF desperately and there simplty are none here. Williams has big time talent and maybe the vets in Hosuton can get his head on straight.

27. Detroit - Jared Dudley (6’7’’, SF, Boston College, Sr.)
Goodbye Delfino, hello upgrade.

28. San Antonio - Kyrylo Fesenko (6’11’’, C, Ukraine)
San Antonio has made a living off of selecting no names late in the first round and watching them blossom. Fasenko might be the best kept secret in this draft.

29. Phoenix - Rodney Stuckey (6’4’’, SG, Eastern Washington, Soph.)
Simular player to Barbosa, and he might be on the move in a KG trade. Phoenix can never get too many athletic wings.

30. Philadelphia - Petteri Koponen (6’5’’, PG, Finland)
Heir aparent to Andre Miller, he is another big pass first point guard.