Post by mops on May 15, 2009 22:13:53 GMT -5
#1- Minnesota Timber wolves (8-22)
The Timberwolves enter this first stage of the 1996 UOSLR Mock Draft with the worst record in the entire league and poised for a big off-season. Fan’s have stuck with the Timberwolves despite getting blown out almost every night. The Baby Wolves are led by the second year star Jason Kidd out of Cal and his two sidekicks come from rookies Gary Trent and Jerry Stackhouse. It’s a good young core they have built up as Kidd is already a top level point guard and Stackhouse has entered the league on a blaze scoring over 20 ppg and bringing in 6 boards. Grent is a solid PF that is providing 11 points and 6 board himself.
Needs
The Wolves have holes all over the team but its clear they will need to address the front court of their team as they don’t have any true big man outside of Trent who himself is only going to be a solid player. Other needs will be getting an upgrade at SF and also finding a third big man to get into the rotation.
Selection
The Wolves have two options here. Both are High School star players in Kevin Garnett and the other is Kobe Bryant. Either choice is clearly worthy of being selected number 1 but the direction of this team is what will decide who is picked. Does the Wolves want to run an uptempo offense and select Bryant and run with Kidd, Bryant, Stackhosue? Or do they take the big man in Garnett who can player either PF or C and play a slower pace but not at a snails pace? With this outside perspective the Wolves will select Garnett with the hope that Bryant either slips down to #4 and their next selection or will choose another wing from the great selection of talent left.
#2 Los Angles Clippers(5-16)-Goes to Cleveland Cavs via Bucks/Mavs/Cavs Trade
The Cavs have parted ways with their big man Shawn Kemp to get their first and also a few other selections, this one being one of them. With Kemp gone the Cavs will slide LaPhonso Ellis into the starting PF spot and see just a slight drop off. Why this team is 11-18 no one really knows but they have lots of young talent and look to be poised for a return to the playoffs with a successful draft. Nick Anderson, Rex Chapmen, Kenny Anderson, Lamond Murray, and Ed O’Bannon is a loaded backcourt and wings.
Needs
The Cavs need to find a replacement at PF and also need a C. The front court is horrid with only Scot Williams, Ellis, and Wingfield left. Thankfully the Cavs have multiple first round picks this year to solidify that front court.
Selection
With KG gone there is only one real choice here for the Cavs to pick while doing it smartly. Sure Kobe Bryant and Allan Iverson are better players but the Cavs are already set at PG, SG, and SF and can find a player to backup one of those positions at a later pick and it still be a good pick. Thus the Cavs will make a small reach and draft the Camby Man, Marcus Camby to start at Center with Ellis at PF. Camby brings an instant presence on defense with his amazing shot blocking ability and will also be able to guard most of the league’s big men outside of Shaq.
#3 Portland Trailblazers (7-17)
The Blazers are almost one player away from taking them from bottom level team to playoff caliber. They have a great tandem down low with Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith to bring along as both are very young bigs who are great defenders. Bob Sura is a very solid SG with Travis Best having a stellar year at Point Guard. With a solid bench and a good young core to develop this Blazer team looks poised to be lethal for years to come with a good pick.
Needs
The team could use some help down low at either PF or C as they only have 3 true post players. However a SF or SG could also be used depending on who is available for this selection. PF and C are the first choice but if they don’t have a good pick it’s not a big issue. Team needs a star player.
Selection
With Garnett and Camby going #1 and #2 the big man selection isn’t there and the Blazers are forced to move onto team need #2 which is a scoring guard or wing. Here is where the situation is tough. Do you select Allen Iverson who is more star ready than Kobe Bryant but can only play PG and SG? Or, do you go with the High School star in Bryant who could play SF for you down the road and will be just as good of a scorer as Iverson. Then there is the best shooter in the draft in Ray Allen who could come right in and be the team’s deep ball threat as they currently have no one as good as Allen shooting from outside. With Sura, Petrovic, and Phills all being able to slide over to SF and play it well the Blazers will go with Iverson and his ability to play SG or PG and fill the SG need while also being able to play back up PG for Best.
#4 Minnesota Timberwolves Via New York Knicks
The Wolves got lucky here getting the Knicks pick a few years back in a trade and saw it turn to gold with the Knicks struggling. With the 1st pick the Wolves selected Kevin Garnett when they were torn by selecting KG or the other HS star in Kobe Bryant. With the 4th pick now up the Wolves have lots of options and their fans are busting their load with the wide selection of talent still left while adding KG already.
Needs
The Wolves have found their big man in KG and now need to find a SG or SF. Or they could go and draft another big man to play PF or C along with KG and have Trent come off the bench down the road.
Selection
With the Blazers passing on Bryant the Wolves quickly choose Kobe Bryant after thinking shortly on selecting high school star Jermaine O’Neal. With Bryan’s ability to play SG or SF and the same going to current shooting guard Stackhouse the Wolves now have a very scary starting lineup with KG/Trent/Stackhouse/Bryant/Kidd. The future is very bright for this team and Wolves fans are dancing in the street to the tune of Dancing in the dark by “The Boss”
#5 Dallas Mavericks via Detroit Pistons (14-10)
The Mavs traded the Clippers pick for another lotto pick just a few spots back but also got the Denver Nuggets 1998 pick as well. Very good value for the trade. With the Mavs rising the ladder of the Western Conference this selection is a very good situation to have. They already have good players on their team and don’t necessarily need a produce now player and can take their time bringing along their selection of whoever they pick.
Needs
The center position is solid but could be a tad better. However that is not the issue. The need is at PF where the Mavs have Gugliotta and Andrei Festisov with Googs coming off the cap this season. Both players are solid at best and would be better suited to be a back up at their stages in their career.
Selection
With Childress, Rose, Barry, Majerle, and Finley at the wings the guards are solid while the Mavs also have center figured out with Muresan and Ostertag. The Mavs are looking for an improvement at C or PG but with Shareef Abdul-Rahim and Jermaine O’Neal available the option to go big and bring either one along as the immediate need to produce isn’t there as the Mavs title hopes are still a year or two away. With that in mind the Mavs go with Abdul-Rahim and his inside scoring and potential to get even better. Abdul-Rahim can play both PF and SF right away and with a good TC could be a starting player who can hold his own. If not the Mavs have the MLE to go out and bring in a PF to allow him to progress at his own pace.
#6 Los Angles Lakers (7-12)
The Lakers enter the draft with a few question marks but the two biggest glaring needs are at Center and Point Guard. Dare is a solid player who is coming along nicely but is still a question mark in how good he will become. Point is manned by Greg Anthony at age 27. The team also has Harold Miner who has defied the odds of dying and turned into a very good scorer where he’s getting 26 a game. Antonio Davis was a nice surprise in FA and has transitioned well into the UOSLR. Russell is a good player off the bench for defense and outside scoring as is Wesley. The team looks ready for a big off-season as they also have lots of cap coming off the books and are already 7 million and change under the cap.
Needs
Point Guard, SF, and PF in that order are this team’s needs. The Lakers could go in any order here as each area is almost just as important.
Selection
This selection could really change the draft for the direction of the rest of the teams. The Lakers could go all over the place depending on who they select. With the idea that guards are a dime a dozen in the UOSLR and considering the cap space they have the Lakers select to go big and draft Jermaine O’Neal. JO brings great shot blocking ability and also youth that could allow the Lakers to develop him at PF or C. There could also be a small chance with a lot of work JO could play some SF if he works on his speed.
#7 Cleveland Cavs (11-18)
The Cavs traded Kemp to land their own pick along with the #2 pick as well. Selecting Camby at #2 the Cavs helped fill the void down low that Kemp created. Now with the 7th pick they can address another area of need which is still PF or C with maybe looking to add another SF to the mix.
Needs
The Cavs are still pretty weak in depth down low even after adding Camby. SF is also an area they could improve upon while also maybe looking at adding a better backup to Kenny Anderson.
Selection
With no real PF or C worth selecting here at #7 the Cavs should either look into trading one of their many young guns at the wings and guards or trade down and add another pick and use one of the picks gained to select a big man worthy of a later pick then. That said Peja Stojakovic is available as is Ray Allen. With Nick Anderson on board and the Cavs will take Allen and slide Anderson over to SF and start Allen or Chapmen at SG.
#8 Portland Trailblazers via Philadelphia 76ers
The Blazers selected Allen Iverson earlier in the draft to take the starting SG spot and then slide Sura at SF or keep Petrovic with the team despite trade rumors. With the 8th pick the Blazers’ fans are pleased to see who’s left and the team really cant make a bad move here with whatever they do.
Needs
The Blazers could improve their frontcourt depth or find another SF to replace Phills or Petrovic. it’s a tough choice but with the talent that is still left it is an easy choice.
Selection
The Blazers have added a great player in Iverson who can get to the whole and draw in the defense. Now they need a guy who is deadly from outside. There are two players in this draft who are instantly one of the league’s best at hitting the trey ball. Ray Allen and Peja Stojakovic. Allen is gone so the Blazers draft Stojakovic and have themselves a very good SF who could be lethal from down town with Iverson and Best getting to the basket.
#9 Utah Jazz (9-14)
The Jazz have made it known they will be trying to tear the franchise down and start fresh now that a new GM has tried to win with the pieces he got when hired and hasn’t felt the success he wanted. However Jazz fans are hoping he can hold off on the rebuild because the draft in 1996 is very deep and the Jazz have a lot of players who can slide over to a different position starting with Penny Hardaway and also Kenny Smith. The window no doubt is closing in but they got extremely lucky getting the 1996 draft while being a lotto team.
Needs
The Jazz could go anywhere with their pick and the biggest need right now is Small Forward. Thankfully they have Hardaway who could slide over to SF and play it well.
Selection
The Jazz will eventually move the talented Hardaway over to SF and then move the 31 year old vet Kenny Smith to SG and then they will need to decide if they want to resign Sherman Douglas or not. Either way the pick here is the obvious choice. Steve Nash. Nash is the best player left on the board and the best PG in the entire draft. Nash might not have the upside as Stephon Marbury but he does have better outside shooting, handles, and decision making. Getting Nash allows the Jazz to either bring him off the bench and go with Kerr or Douglas or start Nash and see him flourish.
#10 Miami Heat (8-11)
The Heat don’t have any glaring needs right now and the fans are more so just upset with their coach and GM for not getting the line-up in order to producing a winning season. That said the heat isn’t on for the GM and coach and the draft will be a way the Heat can add yet another good player to what is full of solid players across the way.
Needs
The Heat could go for a youth movment at PF or Center but neither is a real big must right now. SF could also use an upgrade as well, but again, its not a big glaring need. This team is more just trying to add more talent to an already solid core all around and seeing what can happen with another year of development.
Selection
The Heat are in a tough position as there is no real big man available worth selecting right now and not be blamed for reaching and there isn’t a SF that’s available either. Stephon Marbury is still available and even though the Heat have Mahmo Abdul-Rauf that is their choice. Marbury is young and is the perfect age to learn under Abdul and then take over when he gets a few years under his belt. Kerry Kittles is another selection that could be taken here if not Marbury.
#11 Chicago Bulls (12-16)
The Bulls are a young team and have a good amount of cap coming off the books. Yet they are still just a hop, skip, and a jump away from making the playoffs. The fans are calm and collect as they wait and watch this team grow and become better. They traded JR Rider for another late first in this year’s draft and getting rid of his contract while at it. With PF Rasheed Wallace and PG Etienne Preira the Bulls look solid for years to come. Now they just need to continue to add depth and sign that star player.
Needs
The team needs to improve at SG or SF while also improving the overall depth of the team. PF or Center could also be a selection here depending on personnel moves within the team if done.
Selection
With Sheed and I-Rod the Bulls go with SG Kerry Kittles and his ability to score and also play defense. Kittles won’t bring that star feeling to the team but he does a lot of dirty work and with the cap available they could easily bring in another SF that’s an upgrade or let Chris Gatling improve and go with a big man during free-agency.
#12 Seattle Sonics (10-13)
The Sonics and Lakers are still in talks of a trade and the chance that the Sonics get the 6th pick are good sources say. That said the deal hasn’t been approved yet so this is the only pick the Sonics have right now. That said the Sonics need to improve the overall depth and also SG. Fans know they are just a player or two away from being in the thick of things.
Needs
SG, SF, and overall depth of the franchise will get this team over the hump.
Selection
With no guards worth taking right now the Sonics are forced to either trade the pick, trade other players for a SG, or go with a big man. If they can’t find a team willing to take this pick for a SG or a SF they will be forced to pick. That said the Sonics select Lorenzen Wright.
#13 Orlando Magic (13-15)
The Magic are hovering the hard cap and will be forced to make some tough choices regarding FA this off-season. One of the choices will be do they go and draft a SG or do they try and improve the front court via the draft or FA?
Needs
The Magic could use some better talent at PF as Pete Chilcut and Corie Blount are solid players but suited to come off the bench. Alejandro Camby is a FA this off-season so that is an interesting development.
Selection
With Camby coming off the books, lack of a power forward, and the hard cap issues the Magic go with drafting a big man and that big man is Samaki Walker with hopes that Walker’s worth ethic is better than believed and he can develop himself into a solid starter at PF.
The Timberwolves enter this first stage of the 1996 UOSLR Mock Draft with the worst record in the entire league and poised for a big off-season. Fan’s have stuck with the Timberwolves despite getting blown out almost every night. The Baby Wolves are led by the second year star Jason Kidd out of Cal and his two sidekicks come from rookies Gary Trent and Jerry Stackhouse. It’s a good young core they have built up as Kidd is already a top level point guard and Stackhouse has entered the league on a blaze scoring over 20 ppg and bringing in 6 boards. Grent is a solid PF that is providing 11 points and 6 board himself.
Needs
The Wolves have holes all over the team but its clear they will need to address the front court of their team as they don’t have any true big man outside of Trent who himself is only going to be a solid player. Other needs will be getting an upgrade at SF and also finding a third big man to get into the rotation.
Selection
The Wolves have two options here. Both are High School star players in Kevin Garnett and the other is Kobe Bryant. Either choice is clearly worthy of being selected number 1 but the direction of this team is what will decide who is picked. Does the Wolves want to run an uptempo offense and select Bryant and run with Kidd, Bryant, Stackhosue? Or do they take the big man in Garnett who can player either PF or C and play a slower pace but not at a snails pace? With this outside perspective the Wolves will select Garnett with the hope that Bryant either slips down to #4 and their next selection or will choose another wing from the great selection of talent left.
#2 Los Angles Clippers(5-16)-Goes to Cleveland Cavs via Bucks/Mavs/Cavs Trade
The Cavs have parted ways with their big man Shawn Kemp to get their first and also a few other selections, this one being one of them. With Kemp gone the Cavs will slide LaPhonso Ellis into the starting PF spot and see just a slight drop off. Why this team is 11-18 no one really knows but they have lots of young talent and look to be poised for a return to the playoffs with a successful draft. Nick Anderson, Rex Chapmen, Kenny Anderson, Lamond Murray, and Ed O’Bannon is a loaded backcourt and wings.
Needs
The Cavs need to find a replacement at PF and also need a C. The front court is horrid with only Scot Williams, Ellis, and Wingfield left. Thankfully the Cavs have multiple first round picks this year to solidify that front court.
Selection
With KG gone there is only one real choice here for the Cavs to pick while doing it smartly. Sure Kobe Bryant and Allan Iverson are better players but the Cavs are already set at PG, SG, and SF and can find a player to backup one of those positions at a later pick and it still be a good pick. Thus the Cavs will make a small reach and draft the Camby Man, Marcus Camby to start at Center with Ellis at PF. Camby brings an instant presence on defense with his amazing shot blocking ability and will also be able to guard most of the league’s big men outside of Shaq.
#3 Portland Trailblazers (7-17)
The Blazers are almost one player away from taking them from bottom level team to playoff caliber. They have a great tandem down low with Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith to bring along as both are very young bigs who are great defenders. Bob Sura is a very solid SG with Travis Best having a stellar year at Point Guard. With a solid bench and a good young core to develop this Blazer team looks poised to be lethal for years to come with a good pick.
Needs
The team could use some help down low at either PF or C as they only have 3 true post players. However a SF or SG could also be used depending on who is available for this selection. PF and C are the first choice but if they don’t have a good pick it’s not a big issue. Team needs a star player.
Selection
With Garnett and Camby going #1 and #2 the big man selection isn’t there and the Blazers are forced to move onto team need #2 which is a scoring guard or wing. Here is where the situation is tough. Do you select Allen Iverson who is more star ready than Kobe Bryant but can only play PG and SG? Or, do you go with the High School star in Bryant who could play SF for you down the road and will be just as good of a scorer as Iverson. Then there is the best shooter in the draft in Ray Allen who could come right in and be the team’s deep ball threat as they currently have no one as good as Allen shooting from outside. With Sura, Petrovic, and Phills all being able to slide over to SF and play it well the Blazers will go with Iverson and his ability to play SG or PG and fill the SG need while also being able to play back up PG for Best.
#4 Minnesota Timberwolves Via New York Knicks
The Wolves got lucky here getting the Knicks pick a few years back in a trade and saw it turn to gold with the Knicks struggling. With the 1st pick the Wolves selected Kevin Garnett when they were torn by selecting KG or the other HS star in Kobe Bryant. With the 4th pick now up the Wolves have lots of options and their fans are busting their load with the wide selection of talent still left while adding KG already.
Needs
The Wolves have found their big man in KG and now need to find a SG or SF. Or they could go and draft another big man to play PF or C along with KG and have Trent come off the bench down the road.
Selection
With the Blazers passing on Bryant the Wolves quickly choose Kobe Bryant after thinking shortly on selecting high school star Jermaine O’Neal. With Bryan’s ability to play SG or SF and the same going to current shooting guard Stackhouse the Wolves now have a very scary starting lineup with KG/Trent/Stackhouse/Bryant/Kidd. The future is very bright for this team and Wolves fans are dancing in the street to the tune of Dancing in the dark by “The Boss”
#5 Dallas Mavericks via Detroit Pistons (14-10)
The Mavs traded the Clippers pick for another lotto pick just a few spots back but also got the Denver Nuggets 1998 pick as well. Very good value for the trade. With the Mavs rising the ladder of the Western Conference this selection is a very good situation to have. They already have good players on their team and don’t necessarily need a produce now player and can take their time bringing along their selection of whoever they pick.
Needs
The center position is solid but could be a tad better. However that is not the issue. The need is at PF where the Mavs have Gugliotta and Andrei Festisov with Googs coming off the cap this season. Both players are solid at best and would be better suited to be a back up at their stages in their career.
Selection
With Childress, Rose, Barry, Majerle, and Finley at the wings the guards are solid while the Mavs also have center figured out with Muresan and Ostertag. The Mavs are looking for an improvement at C or PG but with Shareef Abdul-Rahim and Jermaine O’Neal available the option to go big and bring either one along as the immediate need to produce isn’t there as the Mavs title hopes are still a year or two away. With that in mind the Mavs go with Abdul-Rahim and his inside scoring and potential to get even better. Abdul-Rahim can play both PF and SF right away and with a good TC could be a starting player who can hold his own. If not the Mavs have the MLE to go out and bring in a PF to allow him to progress at his own pace.
#6 Los Angles Lakers (7-12)
The Lakers enter the draft with a few question marks but the two biggest glaring needs are at Center and Point Guard. Dare is a solid player who is coming along nicely but is still a question mark in how good he will become. Point is manned by Greg Anthony at age 27. The team also has Harold Miner who has defied the odds of dying and turned into a very good scorer where he’s getting 26 a game. Antonio Davis was a nice surprise in FA and has transitioned well into the UOSLR. Russell is a good player off the bench for defense and outside scoring as is Wesley. The team looks ready for a big off-season as they also have lots of cap coming off the books and are already 7 million and change under the cap.
Needs
Point Guard, SF, and PF in that order are this team’s needs. The Lakers could go in any order here as each area is almost just as important.
Selection
This selection could really change the draft for the direction of the rest of the teams. The Lakers could go all over the place depending on who they select. With the idea that guards are a dime a dozen in the UOSLR and considering the cap space they have the Lakers select to go big and draft Jermaine O’Neal. JO brings great shot blocking ability and also youth that could allow the Lakers to develop him at PF or C. There could also be a small chance with a lot of work JO could play some SF if he works on his speed.
#7 Cleveland Cavs (11-18)
The Cavs traded Kemp to land their own pick along with the #2 pick as well. Selecting Camby at #2 the Cavs helped fill the void down low that Kemp created. Now with the 7th pick they can address another area of need which is still PF or C with maybe looking to add another SF to the mix.
Needs
The Cavs are still pretty weak in depth down low even after adding Camby. SF is also an area they could improve upon while also maybe looking at adding a better backup to Kenny Anderson.
Selection
With no real PF or C worth selecting here at #7 the Cavs should either look into trading one of their many young guns at the wings and guards or trade down and add another pick and use one of the picks gained to select a big man worthy of a later pick then. That said Peja Stojakovic is available as is Ray Allen. With Nick Anderson on board and the Cavs will take Allen and slide Anderson over to SF and start Allen or Chapmen at SG.
#8 Portland Trailblazers via Philadelphia 76ers
The Blazers selected Allen Iverson earlier in the draft to take the starting SG spot and then slide Sura at SF or keep Petrovic with the team despite trade rumors. With the 8th pick the Blazers’ fans are pleased to see who’s left and the team really cant make a bad move here with whatever they do.
Needs
The Blazers could improve their frontcourt depth or find another SF to replace Phills or Petrovic. it’s a tough choice but with the talent that is still left it is an easy choice.
Selection
The Blazers have added a great player in Iverson who can get to the whole and draw in the defense. Now they need a guy who is deadly from outside. There are two players in this draft who are instantly one of the league’s best at hitting the trey ball. Ray Allen and Peja Stojakovic. Allen is gone so the Blazers draft Stojakovic and have themselves a very good SF who could be lethal from down town with Iverson and Best getting to the basket.
#9 Utah Jazz (9-14)
The Jazz have made it known they will be trying to tear the franchise down and start fresh now that a new GM has tried to win with the pieces he got when hired and hasn’t felt the success he wanted. However Jazz fans are hoping he can hold off on the rebuild because the draft in 1996 is very deep and the Jazz have a lot of players who can slide over to a different position starting with Penny Hardaway and also Kenny Smith. The window no doubt is closing in but they got extremely lucky getting the 1996 draft while being a lotto team.
Needs
The Jazz could go anywhere with their pick and the biggest need right now is Small Forward. Thankfully they have Hardaway who could slide over to SF and play it well.
Selection
The Jazz will eventually move the talented Hardaway over to SF and then move the 31 year old vet Kenny Smith to SG and then they will need to decide if they want to resign Sherman Douglas or not. Either way the pick here is the obvious choice. Steve Nash. Nash is the best player left on the board and the best PG in the entire draft. Nash might not have the upside as Stephon Marbury but he does have better outside shooting, handles, and decision making. Getting Nash allows the Jazz to either bring him off the bench and go with Kerr or Douglas or start Nash and see him flourish.
#10 Miami Heat (8-11)
The Heat don’t have any glaring needs right now and the fans are more so just upset with their coach and GM for not getting the line-up in order to producing a winning season. That said the heat isn’t on for the GM and coach and the draft will be a way the Heat can add yet another good player to what is full of solid players across the way.
Needs
The Heat could go for a youth movment at PF or Center but neither is a real big must right now. SF could also use an upgrade as well, but again, its not a big glaring need. This team is more just trying to add more talent to an already solid core all around and seeing what can happen with another year of development.
Selection
The Heat are in a tough position as there is no real big man available worth selecting right now and not be blamed for reaching and there isn’t a SF that’s available either. Stephon Marbury is still available and even though the Heat have Mahmo Abdul-Rauf that is their choice. Marbury is young and is the perfect age to learn under Abdul and then take over when he gets a few years under his belt. Kerry Kittles is another selection that could be taken here if not Marbury.
#11 Chicago Bulls (12-16)
The Bulls are a young team and have a good amount of cap coming off the books. Yet they are still just a hop, skip, and a jump away from making the playoffs. The fans are calm and collect as they wait and watch this team grow and become better. They traded JR Rider for another late first in this year’s draft and getting rid of his contract while at it. With PF Rasheed Wallace and PG Etienne Preira the Bulls look solid for years to come. Now they just need to continue to add depth and sign that star player.
Needs
The team needs to improve at SG or SF while also improving the overall depth of the team. PF or Center could also be a selection here depending on personnel moves within the team if done.
Selection
With Sheed and I-Rod the Bulls go with SG Kerry Kittles and his ability to score and also play defense. Kittles won’t bring that star feeling to the team but he does a lot of dirty work and with the cap available they could easily bring in another SF that’s an upgrade or let Chris Gatling improve and go with a big man during free-agency.
#12 Seattle Sonics (10-13)
The Sonics and Lakers are still in talks of a trade and the chance that the Sonics get the 6th pick are good sources say. That said the deal hasn’t been approved yet so this is the only pick the Sonics have right now. That said the Sonics need to improve the overall depth and also SG. Fans know they are just a player or two away from being in the thick of things.
Needs
SG, SF, and overall depth of the franchise will get this team over the hump.
Selection
With no guards worth taking right now the Sonics are forced to either trade the pick, trade other players for a SG, or go with a big man. If they can’t find a team willing to take this pick for a SG or a SF they will be forced to pick. That said the Sonics select Lorenzen Wright.
#13 Orlando Magic (13-15)
The Magic are hovering the hard cap and will be forced to make some tough choices regarding FA this off-season. One of the choices will be do they go and draft a SG or do they try and improve the front court via the draft or FA?
Needs
The Magic could use some better talent at PF as Pete Chilcut and Corie Blount are solid players but suited to come off the bench. Alejandro Camby is a FA this off-season so that is an interesting development.
Selection
With Camby coming off the books, lack of a power forward, and the hard cap issues the Magic go with drafting a big man and that big man is Samaki Walker with hopes that Walker’s worth ethic is better than believed and he can develop himself into a solid starter at PF.
