NBA Mock Draft II

The NBA Draft is less than 48 hours away. Even with a potential franchise center on the board, the Portland TrailBlazers are rumored to still have questions about whether to take Greg Oden or take high scoring forward Kevin Durant. If the No. 1 pick is still in doubt, imagine what the rest of the lottery could look like. Barring any major trade that would wreak havoc on the draft (keep a close eye on the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Bobcats), this will be final attempt at mocking the 2007 NBA Draft. One small note, after each pick, I have listed who I had going in that pick in my original Mock Draft. 1. Portland TrailBlazers: Greg Oden, C, Ohio State The Blazers may be in love with Durant but in the end they will not be able to pass on Oden. The big man will have an instant impact for Portland. (Mock Draft I - Kevin Durant) 2. Seattle Sonics: Kevin Durant, SF, Texas The Sonics will be thrilled to have Durant fall to them at No. 2. With the team expected to be on the move (to Oklahoma City) in the immediate future, a star of the caliber of Durant is just as valuable off the court as he is on it. (Greg Oden) 3. Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford, PF, Florida The Hawks are desperate for a point guard but taking Mike Conley Jr. at No. 3 is too early. Horford can be a force from the start with his low post offense. (Corey Brewer) 4. Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley Jr., PG, Ohio State Will the Hawks once again regret passing over the Draft's top prospect at point guard? Playing in the Western Conference -- home to Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Baron Davis and Devin Harris -- the Grizzlies need a top young point guard and they can afford to allow Conley to develop. (Al Horford) 5. Boston Celtics: Yi Jianlian, PF, China I really have no clue what the C's are going to do. They have been involved in so many rumors -- they seem to excel at pretending they are in on every marquee name in the rumor mill -- that my head is spinning. If they keep the pick and Paul Pierce (very unlikely) they'll probably take a more NBA-ready player such as Corey Brewer, Jeff Green or Joakim Noah. Pierce wants a veteran All-Star in Boston and the pick will have to be sold to get one. If they decide they can't get a veteran and that they will move Pierce (what I think will happen), expect them to take the Chinese Dirk (or is it the Chinese Darko?) and allow him to develop. (Mike Conley Jr.) 6. Milwaukee Bucks: Corey Brewer, SF, Florida The Bucks have a great scorer on the wing in Michael Redd so Brewer will be able to come in and concentrate on playing defense while his offense develops. (Joakim Noah) 7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown The Wolves have as much uncertainty surrounding them as the Celtics. They have publicly shopped Kevin Garnett throughout June and may be getting to a point where they have to make a move on him before the draft. With or without KG, Green can join 2006 first round pick Randy Foye in helping Minnesota rebuild its' roster. (Julian Wright) 8. Charlotte Bobcats: Joakim Noah, C, Florida The Bobcats have shown a liking for drafting successful college stars (Emeka Okafor, Ray Felton, Sean May, Adam Morrison) and Noah certainly fits into that profile. (Brandon Wright) 9. Chicago Bulls: Spencer Hawes, C, Wahington Hawes has a good arsenal of post moves and the Bulls are in need of interior scoring. (Yi Jianlian) 10. Sacramento Kings: Julian Wright, SF, Kansas The Kings are going downhill fast. Wright is a versatile player who will help Sacramento move Ron Artest. A future of Kevin Martin and Wright on the wing is a good thing. (Jeff Green) 11. Atlanta Hawks: Acie Law IV, PG, Texas A&M The Hawks finally address their point guard problem. (Law) 12. Philadelphia 76ers: Brandon Wright, PF, North Carolina Wright was once considered a Top 3 pick but has slid all month. The 76ers will be glad to stop his fall at No. 12. (Javaris Crittenton) 13. New Orleans Hornets: Al Thornton, SF, Florida State Chris Paul will be happy to see the Hornets add a wing scorer like Thornton. (Thornton) 14. Los Angeles Clippers: Nick Young, SG, Southern California Young is rising up the draft boards (the Celtics have worked him out recently) and would be a good fit on a Clipper team that could use his outside shooting. (Rodney Stuckey) 15. Detroit Pistons: Jason Smith, PF, Colorado State The Pistons are getting older. Smith, an offensive minded power forward, can help them now and down the road. (Gabe Pruitt) 16. Washington Wizards: Sean Williams, C, Boston College With Gilbert Arenas talking about leaving after 2008, the Wizards need a player who can contribute immediately. Williams, who was tossed out of BC for repeated team violations, can play interior defense as good as anyone in this draft -- including Oden. (Spencer Hawes) 17. New Jersey Nets: Rodney Stuckey, SG, Eastern Washington Stuckey is a versatile guard who, along with 2006 first rounder Marcus Williams, will support the aging Nets backcourt of Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. (Nick Young) 18. Golden State Warriors: Gabe Pruitt, PG, Southern California Pruitt would be a good fit behind Baron Davis. He is athletic and is an above average shooter. (Jason Smith) 19. Los Angeles Lakers: Thaddeus Young, SF, Georgia Tech Young won't get Kobe -- who wants out of LA if the Lakers don't get KG -- excited but Young's potential is very high and teamed with emerging center Andrew Bynum, the Lakers future could be bright even without Kobe. (Young) 20. Miami Heat: Javaris Crittenton, PG, Georgia Tech The Heat need a point guard and although they may prefer the more experienced Pruitt, they will gladly place Crittenton next to Dwayne Wade. (Sean Williams) 21. Philadelphia 76ers: Tiago Splitter, PF, Brazil Splitter can't get out of his contract with his team in Spain until 2008 but the 76ers can afford to wait for him (and for his game to develop). (Splitter) 22. Charlotte Bobcats: Derrick Byars, SF, Vanderbilt With Gerald Wallace testing free agency, Charlotte needs insurance at small forward. Byars' terrific NCAA Tournament showed he can play at a high level. (Daequan Cook) 23. New York Knicks: Wilson Chandler, SF, DePaul One of the millions of rumors flying around is that the Knicks gave a promise to Chandler at No. 23. Your guess why is as good as mine. (Josh McRoberts) 24. Phoenix Suns: Jared Dudley, SF, Boston College The ACC Player of the Year might not fit into the fast break offense the Suns run but his defense, toughness and intensity would make him a good player off the bench. (Morris Almond) 25. Utah Jazz: Morris Almond, SG, Rice The Jazz need more offense, especially from the perimeter, and the shooting touch of Almond fits their need. (Derrick Byars) 26. Houston Rockets: Glen Davis, PF, Louisiana State The Rockets were exposed by the Jazz in the playoffs as being soft inside. "Big Baby" will give them a physical presence as well as inside scoring. (Jared Dudley) 27. Detroit Pistons: Josh McRoberts, PF, Duke McRoberts was never the star at Duke some expected him to be but his athleticism and ability give him the opportunity to be a successful pro. (Glen Davis) 28. San Antonio Spurs: Alando Tucker, SF, Wisconsin Michael Finley and Brent Barry aren't getting any younger and Tucker would provide the type of leadership and toughness that the Spurs love in their players. (Marco Belinelli) 29. Phoenix Suns: Jared Jordan, PG, Marist Steve Nash is an All-NBA point guard and two-time MVP but he can't go on forever. Jordan has been compared to Nash, when he was a small college point coming out of Santa Clara. (Alando Tucker) 30. Philadelphia 76ers: Marco Belinelli, SG, Italy Belinelli reportedly can shoot from anywhere and on a team built around a slasher like Andre Iguodala, a shooter will help to spread the floor. (Kyle Visser) Random Draft Thoughts: With all the trade talk and rumors flying around, isn't it sad to think that the NBA Finals didn't gain this kind of attention ... It amazes me that highly successful college players -- like Jared Dudley, Alando Tucker, Glen Davis -- get discounted in the draft so easily because of perceived physical weaknesses ... The top five players I would love the C's to get a shot at with pick No. 32: Jared Jordan, Herbert Hill, Demetris Nichols, Stephane Lasme, Arron Afflalo ... As a Celtic fan, I am happy that Billy Knight (Atlanta) and Chris Wallace (Memphis via Boston) are drafting directly ahead of us ... Bash Danny Ainge all you want for his decisions on NBA players but his drafting skills have been excellent