The Bobcats and Clippers hooked up for a trade that has everyone scrambling to alter their mock drafts. Alas, that includes us. Here goes:
1. Orlando Magic: PF Dwight Howard might be a stud down the road, but C Emeka Okafor will be another Mourning. Orlando will take the 'Mek and hope Howard doesn't become the next Kevin Garnett.
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What Dwight Howard lacks in polish, he can make up for in raw talent. (Getty Images) |
3. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls have fallen out of love with Luol Deng, though there's still some serious like. Anyhow, Chicago goes for Arizona SG Andre Iguodala, who could be the next Scottie Pippen.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (from the Bobcats): After trading down with the Bobcats, the Clippers will take high school PG Shaun Livingston, who won't help next year but could have the highest ceiling of anyone in the draft, scouts say.
5. Washington Wizards: The Wizards are a mystery, but whoever they get will be better than Kwame Brown. That's not setting the bar very high for Latvian PF/C Andris Biedrins.
6. Atlanta Hawks: Thwarted in their efforts to trade up for a shot at hometown hero Howard, the Hawks still ought to feel good about landing Duke SF Luol Deng.
7. Phoenix Suns: Iguodala is gone, so the Suns will go for the next-best shooting guard in the draft, Stanford's Josh Childress, who could turn out to be just as good.
8. Toronto Raptors: Connecticut SG/PG Ben Gordon would fill all kinds of needs for the Raptors.
9. Philadelphia 76ers: Thanks to Allen Iverson, high school SF Josh Smith could learn the NBA game in pressure-free obscurity -- even if he plays 35 minutes a game.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bron-Bron needs someone to get him the bally-wally. Enter Saint Joseph's PG Jameer Nelson.
11. Golden State Warriors: New coach Mike Montgomery wouldn't have left Stanford if he could have signed players like Wisconsin PG Devin Harris.
12. Seattle SuperSonics: The Sonics seem destined to draft a foreign center. Our guess: 7-foot-5 Russian Pavel Podkolzine, whose ceiling is almost as high as the top of his head.
13. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers take the plunge on C Rafael Araujo of BYU, whose stock soars all the way to the lottery.
14. Utah Jazz: Russian SG Sergey Monya is 6-8, which makes him interesting. He's also an international, which makes him good. Right?
15. Boston Celtics: Danny Ainge is in love with Oregon SF Luke Jackson, who's a more athletic version of Wally Szczerbiak.
16. Utah Jazz: LSU's Jaime Lloreda is not a skilled guy, but he's nasty and he rebounds. The NBA loves guys like that.
17. Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks are a mystery. We're closing our eyes and guessing Atlanta will go for ... Brazilian PF Anderson Varejao?
18. New Orleans Hornets: While it would be so like the Hornets to go for Slidell, La., native Chris Duhon, they should pick Mississippi high school PF Al Jefferson instead.
19. Miami Heat: Miami needs a center. Who doesn't? Puerto Rican C Peter John Ramos would have no problem with the cultural transition in South Florida.
20. Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets need a center and might take Colorado's David Harrison, so in advance allow me: Bwah-hahahahahaha. Ahem. Now, Nuggets, get Carmelo Anthony some help and take high school SG J.R. Smith.
21. Utah Jazz: Minnesota Gophers PF Kris Humphries might not have a sexy ceiling, but he can help right now.
22. New Jersey Nets: The Nets can afford to be patient with high school SF Dorell Wright, whose upside is scary.
23. Portland Trail Blazers: No franchise needs a fresh face more than these guys, so Portland, meet charismatic high school PG Sebastian Telfair.
24. Boston Celtics: Ainge also loves high school C Robert Swift, although we're inclined to disagree with him.
25. Boston Celtics: Ainge sees a little of himself in Gonzaga PG Blake Stepp.
26. Sacramento Kings: It's time to groom someone at shooting guard. Try Nevada's Kirk Snyder, though Xavier's Romain Sato would be a decent choice, too.
27. Los Angeles Lakers: This soap opera could use stability and help at point guard. Enter Duke's Chris Duhon.
28. San Antonio Spurs: South Korean C Ha Seung Jin would give Tim Duncan a playmate.
29. Indiana Pacers: Texas Tech SG Andre Emmett has been among the college game's best pure scorers for two years. As Detroit showed, the Pacers need points.
