Post by donatello2424 on Oct 23, 2009 9:47:19 GMT -5
It is never too early for a mock draft. Everybody loves them. granted the draft file isn't very big, but who cares? There is still a lot of great talent out there and this gives people an idea of how it is gonna go down. I did the order based on winning percentage, so that is why some times are higher on the standings page but have a better pick here. With teams playing a different number of games so far, it seemed like the best way to decide to the order.
If I messed up on who has a pick, just let me know and I will go back in a fixed it. With the huge number of trades that just happened, just went by what was on the roster page and even then I might have missed something.
1. San Antonio Spurs- C Yao Ming
San Antonio is currently the worse team, and it is easy to see why. They have a young team full of shooters, but they can’t play defense at all. They have 3 sharpshooters in Mo Williams, Jason Terry, and Mike Miller. Kenyon Martin is also having a decent season. However they have one BIG need. Since they traded center Michael Olowkandi off, they lack a true inside presence. That is why they take the huge center out of China. Yao Ming gives them a franchise big to build around and upgrades their defense inside. However, there are some concerns about getting him over to the US to play. There are some reports than the Chinese Government wants a huge buyout, in the range of 15 to 20 million for this season. If that is the case, then the Spurs may want to go a different route. Amare Stoudemire and Pau Gasol are also too very good bigs, and Jay Williams is a nice point who would provide defense.
Is this serious or confused Yao?
2. Los Angeles Clippers- PF Amare Stoudemire
The Clippers are trying to rebuild after losing Dirk to the Kings via free agency. They don’t have much, but it is something. Right now their main piece is center Kwame Brown, the 19 year old boom or bust prospect from a year ago. He isn’t getting a ton of playing time right now since the Clipper have about 50 big men, but he should be the focus of their team next year. They do have a 21 year old power forward, but I think Swift’s days to be a great big are past him. There are two logical choices for the Clippers. They go big and pair Kwame with a 19 year old Amare Stoudemire, or go small and give Kwame a nice point in 20 year old Jay Williams. I think they go for the stud big man in Amare and have a very good young core. I didn’t go with Pau Gasol for the simple reason that he is older. With the Clippers, they have Kwame who is a project so taking a ready player now doesn’t make much sense. Plus they are very similar.
This picture is the best part about drafting him
3. Los Angeles Lakers- PF Pau Gasol
After failing to rape the Trailblazers into getting their pick back, the Lakers windup here. So, what do they do? They have a ton of youth, but I don’t see any of it being a true star for their team. Murphy and Diop will be nice role players, Zbo’s defense will make him a role player as well, and Peterson, Qrich, and Davis are all scoring role guys. They need a star, but I’m not sure there is one guy who will be a star. I say they take the guy who could become it, and go with Pau Gasol. Gasol’s age might be a concern, but he is really the bpa. They could go small, which is a position of need, but with many point guards available on the market, getting a nice big is always nice.
Remember it is this Gasol, not the wild-hair version
4. Denver Nuggets (via Los Angeles Clippers via Charlotte Hornets)- PF Nene Hilario
Talk about interesting. Denver lucks out here, but it is very interesting. The BPA would be Jay Williams, But Earl Watson is doing some great things in Denver. Do they take the bpa or a slightly worse guy (in my opinion) at a position of need? While most people would probably take the bpa anyway, I will go against that. They need some help inside, and Nene Hilario would do just that for them. He is a young big body that does need some work in developing, but he does give the Nuggets a nice young player to compliment Stevenson and Watson.
Why did he change his name to just Nene? Is he fucking Cher?
5. Atlanta Hawks- PG Jay Williams
They Hawks have a lot of wings, and by a lot I mean A LOT. They have so many that they are playing their franchise SG at the point. When you break it down, not many of these guys will be on their team next year. They will have Wagner, Joe Johnson, Corey Maggette, and Antwan Jamison (if you count him as a SF) left on their team. Their logical choice would be a big man. However outside of the top 3, it gets a little shaky. But I don’t see them reaching for a big here. I know they are wanting to play Wagner at the point, but they would be better getting a pure point guard. Jay Williams goes here and looks solid. Having him, Wagner, and Johnson gives them a nice 1-2-3 punch, and then they still have Maggette and Jamison. They do need a PF since I believe Jamison is more a small forward than a power one. Maybe they can trade Jamison and Maggette for a young 4. If they can they are a deadly team. Plus their 3 main guys would be 21, 20, and 19. They will be dangerous for years to come.
Could this be his future?
6. Toronto Raptors- PF Nenad Krstic
After starting slow with hopes to land one of the top picks again, the Raptors have won 7 straight. The Raptors have a very solid base with Boozer and Pierce. Francis is a wildcard since he isn’t a good enough ball handler to play the point but really isn’t that great of a fit at the 2 either. They need a big man, but like the Hawks I have no idea which direction they go. It is either Nenad or Mario Kasun. Nenad would of course have to move to the center position, but I feel he is the safest pick here. Kasun’s lack of rebounding can be scary, especially since Boozer isn’t a stud at that either. Nenad has trouble defending, but that is okay.
How great would a balding Nenad be?
7. Denver Nuggets- SF Andrei Kirilenko
They took Nene Hilario over Jay Williams because of how much they love Watson, but what do they do here? They have the 4, 3, and 1 set. The problem is that no one else sticks out. They have the option of taking Andrei Kirilenko, but he is a small forward and Stevenson is making a name for himself there. But I do think they take the bpa here and do some shuffling with their lineup. They can move Stevenson back to the 2-guard position and have Kirilenko play the 3. Stevenson will provide the scoring and Kirilenko the stifling defense. Plus they could possibly switch them around and play based on the matchups. If they add some point to Kirilenko he could be a very good player, but he likely won’t get them with Stevenson, Watson, and Nene taking all of the upgrades. But a team of Nene-Kirilenko-Stevenson-Watson is a nice base. Not nearly as nice as Kandi-Jamison-Johnson-Wagner-Williams, but still nice.
I could have done a picture of his wife, but I’m not gonna to
8. Washington Bullets- SF Andres Nocioni
Washington has their franchise player already in McGrady and some other solid pieces, like Jason Richardson and Jamal Crawford, but they need more. They don’t have a dominant big man, and that will hurt them. They also need a true point guard in order to run a fast paced offense with T-mac and J-Rich, and unless Speedy Claxton improves greatly during TC, they will be looking for one. But they missed out on all of those. The top 3 bigs are gone as is the best point guard. So the Bullets take bpa. Nocioni isn’t going to start, but he could be the 6th man for them backing up both wing positions. He isn’t young and could turn into a bust-like Trenton Hassell in terms of being a backup, but he really is the bpa for them. They might be better off trading the pick for some talent.
Kinda makes me want to have them both
9. Indiana Pacers (via Phoenix Suns)- SF Bostjan Nachbar
Indiana has been trying their hardest to ship off Harold Miner with no luck. Ronnie Fields is also someone they have been trying to ship off, but can’t find any takers. They are both expiring, which might be one of the reasons as to why they can’t be traded, but it also leaves them at a crossroads. Do they rebuild or contend? With some carefully placed pieces, they could make the playoffs easily. Not sure if they are ring contenders though. In order to rebuild they would either have to let them leave via free agency, or maybe work a sign and trade. Until then they do have two picks in this draft to make a move. They take Nachbar who isn’t flashy but might develop into something. It is a crapshoot right now, but with 2 picks they are likely to be movers in the draft game.
Yeah I got nothing. He is just a goob
10. Orlando Magic- SG Jiri Welsch
The Magic have recently made some big trades to improve their team, and boy did they. Sam Cassell and Alan Houston are nightmares for teams, and they have a good SG rotation with Anthony Parker and Hu Weidong. Elton Brant, Theo Ratliff, and Rasheed Wallace man the middle for them, giving them solid defense. They do have some problems. First, Sam Cassell is expiring and will demand big bucks. Hu Weidong is also expiring and could bolt. Parker can fill in for Weidong, but they would have a hold without Cassell. The solution? Nothing via the draft, that’s for sure. Jiri Welsch is a solid player who could fill in if needed. He might be a one-trick pony, but he is worth a risk with A scouted.
Yeah he is a bad ass *snicker*
11. Indiana Pacers (via Detroit Pistons)- C Mario Kasun
Here they are again. Having these late picks hurts the Pacers, but it’s better than nothing. Previously, they took the SF Nachbar, now they take a big man. Kasun isn’t a big name guy but he does have decent scouted potential. He is very raw, but one TC could make him into a nice prospect. By taking him, the Pacers would have a balanced young core with Tinsley, Nachbar, and Kasun. I still say they try and move up or possibly gain even more firsts in a possible sign and trade with Fields or Miner (if they choose to resign). Having upwards of 4 or 5 picks (possibly lotto) would mean they could likely go after a guy; however with their not being a ton of depth that will be tricky.
Ha Mario, there are no girls in Indiana
12. New York Knicks (via Boston Celtics)- SF Nikoloz Tskitishvili
The Knicks have been a surprising team. They are 4th in the East without a superstar. Their offseason trade for Terrell Brandon has been great. He is shooting great percentages, takes some pressure off of Marion, and is really bringing the team together with his distribution. They are playing a SG by committee type of deal with Jefferson and Bowen each playing some time there, and it works with their great defense. Shawn Marion is the star of this team since he can do it all. Wang Zhi-Zhi has been the surprising starter. He is leading the team in ppg and rpg and is on a very friendly contract. He has proved to be a great signing a couple years ago with his production. But what do they do via the draft? Since they have their team, I say they take a flier on a young SF. Tskitishvili is bigger than most small forwards, but is very skinny. He is 19 so the Knicks can afford to take a chance with him. He could develop into a nice combo-forward type of backup to give the Knicks two of those with Marion and himself. If he doesn’t develop then oh well.
He will be doing a lot of this in New York
13. Utah Jazz- PF Luis Scola
What is this team? I have no idea. They are playing a PG at SG, a SG at SF, and a SF at C. Yes, I said Center. Pat Garrity is in the middle for them. They are paying Shawn Kemp a lot to be mediocre and that is gonna kill them in the future. Rip will need to be extended after next season, and if they lose him their screwed. They could bring Rafer Alston back but if it is at a high cost it would kill them. They need some help inside and it could come from 1 of any 3 guys. Robertas Javtokas is a defensive rebounder which could help them since they only have Dampier. David Andersen is raw and is a gamble, which could payoff. Luis Scola is a very good scorer inside, but the rest of his game lacks. They are all 22 so one isn’t higher on the lsit than the others because of age. Andersen has A scouted, but he is 22. I say they go with Scola. He is already a solid scorer and the rest of his game isn’t too bad either. He can could be solid.
Someone needs him, Nocioni, Manu, Oberto, and Delfino when they come out. Oberto-Scola-Nocioni-Manu-Delfino=best team eva!
