THE LeCavs 2008 NBA Mock Draft!

Everybody is doing it, so we're doing it! We all love reading mock drafts, and this year I really feel like we've watched enough college basketball to do a somewhat realistic mock. (M's note: speak for yourself) Matt and I (Ori) will be alternating picks as we go along and comment on each other's picks. We may do the entire first round. We may just go up to the Cavaliers pick at #19. Or Matt may just delete this post as soon as he sees it. (tempting) That's how we roll at LeCavs. We'll see as we go along if we decide to trade picks and include traded players. I think we can and should. (fine, but the Cavs will end up 3 picks in the top 5)

So I held a draft lottery. I represented myself at the draft, and Matt sent an Arby's regular roast beef sandwich to represent him. (half eaten) I don't know much about how the NBA determines the NBA draft lottery winners because they do it behind closed doors. I do know that it has something to do with ping-pong balls and frozen envelopes. So I froze an envelope and placed it on my ping-pong table. I then threw a ball at it. If the ball stayed on the frozen envelope Matt got the first pick, and if it rolled off, I got the first pick.... By the grace of god, the ball fell completely off the table, ensuring me of the chance to pick first in the draft! (Editor's Note: I also used this process to win the rights to Matt's first born son, his mom's secret hamburger recipe, child support for said son, and membership into the pen 15 club that has eluded me for so many years! The lottery rules.) (you'll never get the hamburger recipe - or the iced tea!)

So without further ado:

With the #1 pick in the 2008 NBA draft, Ori and the Chicago Bulls select:
Michael Beasley PF, Kansas State

Ori's Thoughts: Let me be the first to say it. I think this entire draft is overrated. I don't believe that either Beasley or Rose will be able to dominate like they did in college, and I hope that the Cavs don't trade up thinking they will find answers in this draft. With that said, The Bulls should take the premier big guy in the draft. They signed Kirk Heinrich to be their PG of the future, and while he had a bad year last season, he's still considered to be a good PG. They may take a look at Rose especially if they don't resign Ben Gordon, but a Rose and Heinrich back court just won't do. The Bulls don't have much size up front but could easily get away with a Gooden, Beasley, Deng front court with all guys able to score and rebound.

Matt's Thoughts: Ugh, I'll never get to "What Went Right". Anyhow, the Bulls would be better off letting Ben Gordon go and picking Rose. So I hope you're right and they take Beasley. In the right situation, either one of them could be a multiple all-star, but I don't see either as a pantheon level player. You're taking the safe pick with Beasley, since he fits everything the Bulls supposedly need, but I think Rose is a better fit short term and a better talent long term.


With the second pick in the draft, Matt and the Miami Heat select:
Derrick Rose PG, Memphis

Matt's thoughts: I, as Pat Riley, can happily say we got our #1 pick. Though what a combination of personalities the Heat would have if Beasley went to South Beach. Dwayne Wade is well on his way to crazyville (Star Jones?), Shawn Marion is as insecure as a bulimic high school girl, and Beasley is known as petulant and immature and he's not even getting huge paychecks yet. Rose, instead, will be a calming influence, letting Wade play more off the ball and stay healthier, and give the Heat another good passer to make sure everybody gets enough touches to be happy.

Ori's thoughts: I can't really debate this pick. I think everyone knows that 1&2 are going to be Beasley and Rose (although maybe not in that order). I think Rose is very solid and could potentially be about as good as Brandon Roy from the Trailblazers. The comparisons to Chris Paul are a bit much.


With the third pick in the draft Ori and the Minnesota Timberwolves select:
OJ Mayo, SG, USC

Ori's Thoughts: Surprised? Don't be. The pick makes sense for Minnesota. The Timberwolves lack a guy who can attack the basket and isn't afraid to take the last shot. They already have a premier big guy in Al "movin' on up" Jefferson and took their PG of the future with Randy Foye. Now they need someone to give the ball to. Mayo can create his own shot and make things a bit easier for Jefferson. He's a decent defender and already has an NBA body. While he can improve his game, he certainly isn't a project player and should be able to contribute right away.

Matt's Thoughts: I like Randy Foye. He's a good ballhandler and a good passer, but I don't think he's your bona fide PG. Now, if I'm a GM, I'm looking to build my team with 2 of those Dwayne Wade "guard" types in the Jerry West/Gail Goodrich/Lakers mold. So if I'm sold that OJ Mayo can be that guy, or at least enough of a passer while Foye takes on the lion share, then I'm with you. Is he? ... No. I think OJ Mayo is an awfully smart player who could be great 3 or 4 years down the road. He's just not much of a passer. No matter what team he's on, I think he'll always average 20 PPG before he gets to 5 assists per. If you put Foye at the PG next to Mayo, Al Jefferson might never get the ball as much as and where he would like. Of course, with an ever improving Telfair in the fold, that 3 guard rotation might be the perfect blend. I guess I'm just in a wishy-washy mood, but you know what? I'm with you. Mayo is better than Bayless and I'll trust that the Wolves can always get a Telfair (or better, Brevin Knight, or better still, prime age Eric Snow) type to play 25 minutes and get 6 assists. Go Mayo.


With the fourth pick in the draft Matt and the Seattle/Oklahoma City Supersonics select:
Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona

Matt's thoughts: Let's do the championship test. Who is definitely going to be on this team when Kevin Durant leads the Sonics to a title? Kevin Durant and ... Nick Collison? So We can fit in KD anywhere from the 2 to the 4 and we need to get him a running mate. The first step might as well be to get him the ball and take some defensive pressure off him. Besides, by slipping from the top 3, the Sonics lose out on the top tier of talent and Bayless is alone on the next level. It's a talent and need pick.

Ori's thoughts: More than anything the Sonics need to get tougher, they seem like a team of tweener's. Durant is too small (physically) to play PF and too gangly (is that a word?) to guard a strong or fast SG, and he would prefer to stay outside the paint. Jeff Green is a 6'9 PF who averages less than 5 rebounds a game. Ridnour is serviceable at PG, but definitely not the PG of the future on this team, so I guess Jerryd "Skip" Bayless makes sense. Even though the Cavs continue to prove me wrong, I think it's easier to get a serviceable PG over a solid C, so I wouldn't be surprised if they took Brooks Lopez here.


With the fifth pick of the draft Ori and the Memphis Grizzlies select:
DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M

Ori's Thoughts: This situation almost reminds me of the Dwight Howard-Emeka Okafor scenario a few years back. Brook Lopez is probably more ready to play now, but Jordan has a higher ceiling and is built like a tank (a skinnier tank). You can maybe even be compare this pick to when the Cavs drafted Desagana Diop. This is a classic draft pick based on sheer potential and size. While the Grizzlies have a solid nucleus in Conley Jr., Mike Miller and Gay, they probably aren't thinking championship this year. I think they give Jordan some time to develop, and let him play with Conley who can set up nice easy looks around the basket to give him confidence. He's not there yet, but if the Grizzlies do him up right, he'll be the best player in this draft.

P.S.- LeCavs and our millions of readers wish Matt a happy birthday today!

Matt's thoughts: Take it back! Not the birthday part - thanks for that, the Desagana Diop part. I hated that pick then and I hate it now. There's just no reason to throw a lottery pick at a player who's proven so little when there are so many other options. I feel the same way about DeAndre You-won't-ever-mistake-me-for-Michael Jordan. The Grizzlies are in the asset accumulation phase of their rebuilding, and with an owner perpetually looking to sell, they want bankable assets. Jordan was a top 10 prospect coming out of high school and the #2 center. Now he's spent a year doing little to distinguish himself. Sure, he's a freakish good athlete and tons of potential, but what did he do to realize it? At least, what indication did he give that he's on the path to stardom? I'm not saying he'd be a bust, but let's compare him to last year's top center coming out of high school. Kevin Love was a key component to UCLA's dominance in the competitive Pac-10 and run to the Final Four. He was ahead of Jordan last year. Then he played better and in a tougher environment. He's not as athletic, so we won't rate his upside as high, but he's obviously more likely to get there and soon. I can't see the Grizzlies taking a young big man and going with Jordan over Love. Actually, I can see it, but it would be Desagana Diop dumb.


With the sixth pick of the draft Matt and the New York Knicks select:
Brook Lopez, C, Stanford

Matt's thoughts: Damn, it's tough to be the Knicks. The big city pressure, the terrible roster, the new coach and administration. On the one hand, I wanted to take the point guard to start bringing things together, but Augustin or Westbrook would be too much of a reach this high. Of course, if the Knicks improve, they might not get a better PG in the draft any time soon. On the other hand, I wanted to take the freakish athlete, but Anthony Randolph would just sit on the bench for a few years, raw and blocked by Renaldo Balkman and David Lee. Brook Lopez is not a "7 seconds or less" style player, but he's definitely the biggest talent available, as nobody seems to project him dropping this far. This pick completely depends on D'Antoni's talent as a coach who can build around his players vs. a coach who needs players that fit his system. If they can make it work, they are getting a steal and giving themselves a stacked front line (and the flexibility to move a lot of pieces) with Randolph, Curry, Lee and now Lopez clogging the lane.

Ori's thoughts: He's nothing special. In most mock drafts, I see this guy going third.That is ridick. I watched a few Stanford games this year and he was mostly a disappointment. Stanford also had two 7 footers in their front court (The Lopez boys) and Brook, or Robin for that matter still couldn't dominate. In
fact, most colleges, have centers who are 6'10 or smaller (like Love with UCLA). I really don't think D'Antoni makes this pick, he wants the Knicks to run and he wants guys that can get up and down the floor. I think he liked his Suns team more with the athletic Amare playing C, than with Shaq.But size always matters in the NBA.


With the seventh pick of the draft Ori and (Matt's) Los Angeles Clippers select:
Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA

Ori's thoughts: They gots to do what they gots to do. And what they gots to do is pick Russell "Don't call me Jake" Westbrook. It's very possible that the Clippers might look to move Corey Maggette this summer, which might mean they might look towards a player like Eric Gordon, but the Clippers have to deal with they have now. And what the Clippers have now is a PG who broke in half last year, in one of the sickest injuries I cared to see. Livingston was a beast because he had size and speed, I doubt that he shrunk, but he may have lost a step after pulling an "Eight Belles" on us (too soon?). I think the Clippers have to go PG in this position and Westbrook fits the team best at this point.

Matt's thoughts: Man, can't I at least get on the right bandwagon while I'm out here? My Clippers? You know, the last time the Clips picked 7th, they nabbed Lamond Murray. Let's take a moment to fondly recall all the good times Lamond brought our Cavs.

Anyhow, I can't see Elton Brand opting out without proving his health. How many teams will risk megabucks on an undersize PF who might not jump too high? The Clippers will assume he's sticking around, meaning they're set up front for now with Elton next to Chris Kaman. I want to say it's a reach going for Westbrook this early, but with this draft, I'm not sure there's much difference between pick 5 and pick 15. So the Clips are going Westbrook, DJ Augustin, Eric Gordon or Courtney Alexander. Gordon seems to be widely accepted as the best talent of the bunch, but they get just about all the size and get a marketing headstart if they take Westbrook, the local product. But since I don't like Ben Gordon, I'd pass on both and go for Augustin.


With the eighth pick of the draft Matt and the Milwaukee Bucks select:
Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU

Matt's thoughts: The Bucks aren't knocking on championship's door. They need talent everywhere. Michael Redd and Mo Williams are locked up for the big bucks, but the biggest talents are youngsters Yi Jianlian, Andrew Bogut, and Charlie Villanueva. Redd might be on the way out (fingers crossed?, more on that later) so do you replace him with Gordon, another shoot first ballhandler to complement Williams? I think a team on the cusp of the playoffs would, but the Bucks are far from it. Instead, they're looking for the best talent and the player most likely to excite the dwindling fan base. That second bit is what differentiates Randolph from Danilo Gallinari, if Danny is as good as advertised. Randolph reminds me of a bigger, more natural 4 version of Shawn Marion. He has the same (in the sense that they're "different", to be polite) odd mechanics in their shot. They're skinny and quick, but incredibly long and able to play inside. If he matures well, Randolph could evolve in to the sort of player that knows when to pick his spots, can hit inside or out, and can guard the 3, 4 or 5. His high end is a cross between Marion and Rasheed Wallace, and that is a unique sort of talent none of the Bucks middling young bigs currently possess.

Ori's Thoughts: I don't know much about this guy, except for that he's pretty athletic and big. I'm pretty sure the Bucks don't really need athletic or big though. They have Andrew Bogut, Yi Jianlian, Charlie Villanueva and even sweet sweet Dan Gadzuric. I think they are pretty much all set with their size. Word on the street is that they are trying to get rid of Michael "I'm not good enough to lead the Cavs to the championship by myself, if that's the only move they make and I'm pretty much a bigger and slightly better version of Boobie Gibson except for the fact that I dissapear in crunch time, while Boobie absolutely shines and destroys teams when it counts...it is way to soon to give up on Boobie especially when we can maybe mold him into a more productive PG, especially considering he's only 7 years old, while I have already hit his prime and am overpaid for what I bring to a team" Redd and Bobby "Don't call me Bill" Simmons. I think the Bucks have to look to draft a SG scorer by the name of Eric Gordon here.



With the ninth pick of the draft Ori and the Charlotte Bobcats select:
Danilo Gallinari, SF from Armani Jeans

Ori's Thoughts: First things first, anytime you have the opportunity to draft a player from Armani Jeans you can't pass that up. The Bobcats get themselves a solid SF and quickly become the flyest team in the league. Gallinari is 6'9 and has the skills that pay the bills, with that said, he's not ready to come in and give you 40 minutes a game at the NBA level. So you let him play a little behind Gerald Wallace (who I love, and wish the Cavs could get) and Jason Richardson and take some pressure off of him. The Bobcats have a young and really talented team, with the only real need here being a C. There is no Center at this point of the draft who is worth taking a chance on this early. It's about time a Euro was picked anyway right?

Matt's thoughts: I can't argue with the Armani Jeans logic. That's a once in a franchise opportunity. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but Danilo Gallinari reminds me an awful lot of Toni Kukoc, and he never quite lived up to the hype. Great handle for a big guy, but he's a bit pudgy and not especially athletic. Does he play the 3 or put on weight and play the 4 as a post passer and 3 point shooter? He's supposed strong and big for a 3, but too slow. He's supposed to be able to create his shot, but isn't especially quick or athletic. He doesn't bang, as he doesn't have post moves and has never dominated the boards. And his 3 isn't even considered a weapon. When your biggest strength is your intangibles, it means you're not very good. Check it again: post guard like vision and passing, but a streaky shooter with no inside game, a lack of strength despite a big body and no quickness. Where is the upside?


With the tenth pick of the draft Matt and the New Jersey Nets select:
Kevin Love, PF, UCLA

Matt's thoughts: Devin Harris is their point guard of the future, Vince Carter is locked up for a while, as is Richard Jefferson. Now if only Nenad Krstic could stay healthy and play the role of offensive big man next to bruiser Sean Williams. Enter Kevin Love. He might need a year or two to get into tip top shape, but he can play anywhere on the floor and pose a threat, plus give a team with a fast break pedigree an outlet passer. His skills translate to the pros and he's already shown, as a freshman, that he can play at a high level, throughout a pressure packed season in a tough conference and deep into the postseason.

Ori's thoughts: Yeah Spoonie Love isn't actually a bad pick, and I'm higher on him than most people are, reminds me of Brad Miller. I keep looking at the Nets roster and wonder why they aren't a better team, especially when they had J-Kidd. But Love should help as he suddenly becomes the best passer on the team, and can hit shots from all over. As long as he doesn't get intimidated by the NBA bigs, I think he'll be a "Sally Surprise" pick of this draft.

(I got tired of the phrase "sleeper", I'm single-handedly going to try to start the "Sally Surprise" bandwagon, and will not stop until I hear it in ESPN)


With the eleventh pick of the draft Ori and the Indiana Pacers select:
Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana

Ori's Thoughts: Really no reason for him to fall this far down to begin with. He's a bit small for a SG, but in terms of talent he's top 3. He actually compares a little to Dwyane Wade in both size and game. At this point, the Pacers really will take what they can get. They aren't exactly "set" at any position, and I can't even really think of one untouchable player on the team that can't be moved. So when you have a team that can move guys into different positions, and that isn't building around one specific player, you take the best available player. Take Eric Gordon if he's still around.

Matt's thoughts: From a need perspective, I can't argue. The Pacers are a long way from contending and need talent. If Gordon is that good, if he is Dwayne Wade, this is the steal of the draft. But he's not. We could look at style, team pace, level of competition, but we won't; we'll just check the stats. As a 20 and 21 year old, Wade managed 3.9 assists to 3.1 turnovers while shooting well and rebounding. Gordon, at 19, went for 2.4 vs. 3.6, while shooting poorly and not rebounding. I'll definitely concede some of that difference to Wade playing at Marquette, but the Big Ten sucked this year and Eric Gordon still wasn't that good. He's an undersized scorer and that's it. I wish he could've gone to the Bulls so we could have him and Ben Gordon fight to the death.


With the twelfth pick of the draft Matt and the Sacramento Kings select:
Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia

Matt's thoughts: I wanted to give the Kings a point guard, especially if they plan on losing Beno Udrih (to the Cavs?). However, with Kevin Martin surrounded by Quincy Douby and John Salmons, with lane cloggers Spencer Hawes and Shelden Williams, the team needs another big, young athlete to put on the wing in place of Ron Artest. I think Alexander is a kid who needs some time to develop, but with the Kings led by a young core, this is the perfect situation for him to blossom into the new age hybrid forward, in the mold of Shawn Marion.

Ori's thoughts: Apparently, in Matt's eyes, everybody in this draft can be compared to Shawn Marion. I can't wait until the Cavs draft Kosta Koufas and Matt describes him as a "younger, slighty fatter Shawn Marion". I don't really like Joe Alexander. It's not because I don't think he's a good player, it's because I'm a racist. But only against white people, so it's ok. Alexander is nice player, but I just don't see how his game translates in the NBA. He actually kinda reminds me of Tayshaun Prince, except he's not a very good defender. Good luck to Joe, but I don't think we'll be seeing or hearing much from him in the next few years.



With the thirteenth pick of the draft Ori and the Portland Trailblazers select:
D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas

Ori's thoughts: First of all, what the hell are the Portland Trail Blazers doing here? If Greg Oden turns out to just be a solid player, they have one of the best teams in basketball. They are pretty much set at every position. They have potential (or already) All-Stars at SG, PF and C with Roy, Aldridge and Oden. Travis "Bo" Outlaw is showing some potential at SF and Sergio Rodriguez is going to be a solid PG. This team even has a pretty strong bench. I'm betting that Portland actually trades this pick, maybe even to the Cavs. If they do, and the draft goes as Matt and I have projected, expect this pick to be the same. If Portland does keep this pick, they have to go for depth and PG is a position where you can use two good players. Augustin is a good shooter and probably the best passer in this draft. He has a lot to pass to on this team.

Matt's thoughts: This is the perfect pick for the Blazers. Augustin is like a tiny, passing Shawn Marion, except without all the stuff Shawn Marion does, and with all the point guard skills, which is exactly what the Blazers need. With Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernandez, I'd be a little surprised to see them go Augustin over Russell "Healthier than Jake" Westbrook, but that call just comes down to the style they choose. A pure point means they're rife with passers while a scoring point like Westbrook would mean that any guard they put on the floor can pass or score. I can't argue with Augustin.


With the fourteenth pick of the draft Matt and the Golden State Warriors select:
Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse

Matt's thoughts: The Warriors aren't losing Baron Davis. They would love to develop somebody behind him for a year (Russell Westbrook), but at 14, nobody is left. Instead, they opt for another big who can run, shoot and bang. Since he's nearly 7 feet and German (check it out), I'll make the "obvious" comparison to Dirk. Realistically, Donte needs to prove he can either keep up with the 3s or bang with the 4s. With Al Harrington, Junk Jackson, and Brandan Wright in front of him, he'll have some time to figure it out while getting acclimated to the Warriors controlled chaos offense.

Ori's thoughts: Good pick for the Warriors. I don't know how many Syracuse games Matt watched this year, but this guys strength is that he can really get up and down the court. On the Cavs he would be another Sasha Pavlovic, with the Warriors, he'll get the chance to replace Mikael Pietrus (who the Warriors won't re-sign). In the few games, I saw of his, he was really a match-up problem for other teams because of his size and speed, but wasn't really a featured part of the offense. I can't imagine a better fit for him in the NBA. Good scouting Matt!


With the fifteenth pick of the draft Ori and the Phoenix Suns select:
Darrell Arthur, PF Kansas

Ori's thoughts: But Ori, they already have Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal and the ghost of Shawn Marion! First of all, shut your mouths...all of you. Arthur brings defense, shot-blocking ability and quickness off the bench for this team. At Kansas, Arthur was the anchor of the team and really made a lot of big plays. If I remember correctly he had a pretty crucial block in the championship round, and has a few nice moves around the basket. I think with time, Arthur can be developed into a really good player, and will form a great, athletic (albeit small) front court with Amare.

Matt's thoughts: But Ori, they already have Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal! And no, I will not. One of the rationales behind moving Marion for Shaq was to put Stoudemire back at his natural position. Now that they've lost D'Antoni, it's almost certain they will continue playing a more classic style of offense. Arthur has talent, and Amare would be the frontcourt star, but Arthur isn't a legit starting big if you're asking him to play next to an undersized center. Then again, with Amare and Shaq he won't need to. They don't really have another big, no matter where they list Diaw, so Arthur fills a need nicely and while Shaq's behemoth contract runs it's course, the Suns will have a chance to see if Arthur can play the 4, first against backups and then against starters as Shaq's minutes decline.


With the sixteenth pick of the draft Matt and the Philadelphia 76ers select:
JaVale McGee, C, Nevada

Matt's thoughts: I feel bad for the Sixers after having to make this pick. They play at a surprisingly low pace given how many athletes are on their roster. Then in the halfcourt, they don't have anybody who can put their back to the basket. It's no wonder they want Elton Brand, Mr. Hard-working, back-to-the-basket. Their best case scenario is to see somebody the Clippers love slip to 16, since Brand isn't opting out of $16 mil after missing a year. Short of that, with all the available talent in the form of bigs and swingmen, they'll take a big. It would make sense for them to look at Marreese Speights, since he's the most polished with his back to the basket, but I see him as having such a limited upside. For a minute, I wanted to slip them the Koufos pill, but there's no way they're that foolish, right? Instead, I see them taking McGee. He has the size and athleticism to fit into their front court right away and he seems like the guy who will put on 20 pounds of muscle every offseason until he's a threat to push people around in the post. The Sixers are still more than a year away, so waiting for McGee makes sense.

Ori's thoughts: The Sixers are "more than a year away"? I assume they, like all teams, feel that they can win now, and have to have been reassured by thier performance in the play-offs this year. With that said, this is still a solid pick for the team. The backcourt is set, and they have a C with Dalembert and Shavlik Randolph. At this point of the draft, there are really no home-runs anymore, and unless teams find a "Sally Surprise" this late in the draft, they can expect the player to hopefully fill in as a solid role player and give them 10 minutes off the bench. That's what I expect for Javale "Maniac" McGee.


With the seventeenth pick in the draft Ori and the Toronto Raptors select:
Kosta Koufos, C, THE Ohio State University

Ori's thoughts: Not to be dissin up my BFF, but I don't get Matt's thinking. Matt has made no secret of his love of "Pecos" Bill Walker. Walker was a highly touted mug coming out of high school, considered to be one of the top recruits in the country, and then had a maybe better-than-average few games at Kansas State before blowing out his ACL. Koufos is basically the same story except for the blowing out his ACL part. Why doesn't Matt love Koufos? I'll tell you why, but you ain't gonna like it:

1. Because he's secretly racist like me.
2. He has long forgotten about his OSU roots and is now a USC fan.
3. He was molested as a child by his Albian uncle named Kosta.

The Raptors make this pick, because they are set at every position except C, usually two deep at every position. Worse case scenario, the Raps now have two Rasho Nesterovic's on thier team, Best case, Kosta Koufos turns out to be good...and Matt finally forgives Kosta Nechamovitz.

Matt's thoughts: When was Koufos ever really highly touted? Would he have been top 5 if he could have entered the draft last year? And if he's such a beast, where were the dominant games against the weak Big 10? Where were the jaw dropping skills? Have we ever seen them?

1. Yes, I am racist. I believe 7 foot white guys can be good in the league, but only if they're Spaniards named Gasol, because said Spaniards have Moor-ish blood deep down. Moor isn't an epithet, right? I'm not offending anybody?
2. I can't wait for the BJ Mullens era! I hope he's the best Ohio State center since Greg Oden. As for being a USC fan, I would take OJ Mayo over Derrick Rose at #1. Seriously.
3. Albian? Is that somebody who worships at the alter of Jessica Alba? I do have that one creepy uncle... but why do you know so much about what he does in his free time?

They say good things come in 3s, so the Raps need another another center in the Euro-mold to go Rasho and Andrea. Kosta should work perfectly, ensuring that the Cavs never play a Game 7 in Toronto. I'm not saying he's bad. I just don't want him. If he goes before #19, that's one less trick Danny Ferry has in his trunk that worries me.


With the eighteenth pick in the draft Matt and the Washington Wizards select:
Nicholas Batum, SF, LeMans Sarthe Basket (France)

Matt's thoughts: Do you realize the Wizards don't have anybody under 6'4"? Like the Cavs, Lawson has to be out of the picture now, even if a pushing point would be perfect. And there's no way they take Supernintendo Chalmers this high, right? If feel like every vet is backed up with young talent, so it's the perfect time for a project. Within a few years, he'll either bulk up - or he won't. If he doesn't he could be the skilled big who fits perfectly behind or in place of Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison and if he doesn't, he might end up on the floor with them, as a French Tracy McGrady (soft).

By the way, I know I'm supposed keep my comparisons white/white, black/black and Euro/Euro, but am I allowed to go mix races on Euros? He gets cred as an on the ball defender, so I can see Batum as a smaller Andrei Kirilenko, but just in case that's not Kosher, let's just call him the next Thabo Sefolosha.

Ori's thoughts: If you like the Wizards, you like this pick. If there is one team that has proven they cannot stop Lebron James at all, it's the Wizards. And seeing as how they have run into the Cavs in the playoffs for three years in a row now, they need a "Bron-Stopper". This is the closest they will get. Batum is long, annoying and appears to have a decent offensive game.

I haven't seen many French games, so I can't pretend I've seen much of him actually play, other than his YouTube highlights. And even I look like a lottery pick based on my YouTube highlights (Matt's going to be the smallest "Shawn Marion-ish" PF ever drafted based on his YouTube highlights) so it's tough to say on this guy. From what I've read and from what I've heard, this guy is good (in bed). I've read that he may be drafted earlier, but could be a steal for the Wiz.


WITH THE NINETEENTH PICK IN THE DRAFT ORI AND THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS SELECT:
Bill Walker, SG, Kansas St.

Ori's thoughts: What?! I agree that right now this pick doesn't make any sense, and I do have a sneaking suspicion that the Cavs are actually going to draft Ty Lawson with this pick (His DUI was really not a big deal, he blew a .03, he just got in trouble because he isn't 21 yet). But I have an even sneakier suspicion, that something big is happening with the Cavs this offseason. If that something big is trading for Michael Redd, then you can forget about picking Billiam Walker and say hello to Ty "Beanie Baby" Lawon or "Mo" Lester Hudson.

First, I feel like Jermaine O'Neal is coming here, I'm not sure why or how, but the Pacers want to get rid of him and I really like him on this team. When he is healthy, he puts up Garnett like numbers on offense. I also feel like the Pacers might try to package Jamal Tinsley with O'Neal in a deal.

If that trade does indeed go down, then we are set at pretty much every position, except for our weaker backcourt. To me Tinsley, Delonte and maybe Boobie, seems more solid than Pavlovic and Devin Brown (if we resign him)...assuming that Wally is part of the O'Neal trade. So now we need a scoring SG who is pretty close to NBA ready. I'm not as high on Walker as Matt is, but he appears to already be a pretty polished offensive player, plays hard, and definitely has an NBA size body.

Ferry would be taking a pretty big risk with this pick, but he has shown that he has been willing to take risks in the past. Also at #19, most fans are willing to live with the opportunity costs of a pick like "Pecos" Bill Walker rather than just playing it "safe" and taking a Roy Hibbert type.

Matt's thoughts: Whoa there cowboy! First of all, save it for a full post. We just needed a pick here. No seriously, go write a full post about it. I've never seen you so all over the place in just 14 words. Tinsley? Redd? O'Neal? AC back in uniform? We can only dream!

Second, welcome to the dark side. Here's my thinking for this pick: It's trendy for Walker to go lower, and if somebody got him in the 2nd it would be an absolute steal. Can we agree on that? What about Brandon Rush? When would he be a steal? I like Brandon Rush... do I really think he's all that and a bag of pretzels better than Walker? Hell no. I hope Danny Ferry doesn't just pick the guy he's supposed to take; I hope he takes the guy who is most likely to be the best at the next level, and that's Bill (another knee surgery and I'll need a) Walker.


With the twentieth pick in the draft Matt and the Denver Nuggets select:
Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

Matt's thoughts: I just don't like this pick, but it makes too much sense to not make. Short of a promise from the Nuggets (or somebody higher) I'm assuming Lawson is going back to school in hopes of hitting the lottery next year. Still, if he's there, he works for the Nuggets. Let's assume they don't care so much about his defensive deficiencies, or that they're amplified by putting him on the floor with Iverson. This team is about scoring points. They do it best when they create easy baskets and a high speed point guard like Lawson fits perfectly. He also takes the pressure off of Iverson to create in the half court, meaning he can be more of a threat off the ball, taking some pressure off Carmelo Anthony in a domino effect.

Ori's thoughts: Who cares after the Cavs pick!? But seriously, I fully expect this to be the Cavs pick. A last minute change and some insanity in the membrane, made me sswitch my pick to Bill Walker. Probably cause I just want Matt to love me like he once did. Ty Lawson is a great pick for the Nuggets (and Cavs). He pushes the ball, is a great passer and is super quick in transition. Ty and Carmelo (LeBron) running breaks together might be a thing of beauty. If Lawson improves his jumper, and keeps playing as hard as he does, he could turn out to be the best PG in this draft.


With the twenty-first pick in the draft Ori and the New Jersey Nets select:
Mareese Speights, PF, Florida

Ori's thoughts: The Nets might be the wussiest team in the East. Assuming they don't trade away the whole team, They have a PG in Harris, and SG in Jefferson, a SF in VC, and a C in Kristic. Sadly, for the Nets, each one of these guys is a little-r bitch than the next. This team needs strength and size and Speights gives them that. Speights needs to toughen up a bit himself since he seemed to dissapear at times, but he has played with and against NBA level players at Florida and that should help him settle in and contribute earlier in New Jersey.

Matt's thoughts: If you couple Speights with Carter and Krstic in the Nets's frontcourt, is there anybody left to play in the paint? Speights might be solid, in a broad shouldered but undersized center sort of way, but those knocks of his desire have to make you worry. Still, he wouldn't be the first person to go out and prove everybody wrong by busting his ass just long enough to get a big contract. And he'll be getting lessons on doing that from the best.


With the twenty-second pick in the draft Matt and the Orlando Magic select:
Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas

Matt's thoughts: Best available here, and he happens to fit for the magic. If there was a point guard, the Magic would go that route, but after Jameer Nelson looked useful during the playoffs, they're not going to reach for a 2nd rounder when they're getting a steal here in Brandon Rush. He'll fit well alongside Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis as a smaller player in the same mold of ball-handling swingman. It's just too bad another SG on the roster leaves that many fewer minutes for Ori's old man-crush JJ Redick-ulous.

Ori's thoughts: Nope and nope. I don't see why everyone is so high on this guy. I suppose he fits the Magic, if you play Rashard Lewis at PF and Hedo at the 3. It would be a very quick team fo sho. I'm sure the Magic are actually hoping that Ty Lawson falls to them here because he's more of a need pick for them. No matter what, I don't like Rush for the Cavs. I know it's a bit of tangent, but this is after all, a Cavs blog. Cavs just need a scorer, someone to push the ball, and take shots. Rush seems to fit the Cavs offense too well for my liking.

With the twenty-third pick in the draft Ori and the Utah Jazz select:
Chris Douglas Roberts, SF, Memphis

Ori's thoughts: This is a nice pick for the Jazz and I should know, because I picked it myself! CDR fits on the Jazz perfectly. I'm still not sure that the Jazz are enamored with Andrei "The Giant" Kirilenko and they could use another solid scorer and player. He's actually one of the best all-around players in this draft and probably the most NBA ready right now. In fact, if he was probably a bit more athletic, he might be a top 5 pick. The Jazz have a good team and adding this kind of depth to their bench can only help them lose more nicely when they get knocked out of the Playoffs in the second round of 2009. Also, Boozer is a douche.

(Note to Matt: Please destruct this message after you read it. I haven't been able to spell-check since the 12th pick of the draft. Is it because this post is too long?)

WHOA NELLIE!
After Bill Walker got hurt, we had to go back and pretend the last few picks never happened. Check here for the new mock draft thread to see how we covered our tracks.