Can Danny?

Of course things can change and the lottery is always unpredictable but here's a first look at the current lottery picks for 2008:

1. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley
Beasley has played himself into the #1 overall and there's really only a couple teams that would even consider taking Derrick Rose over him. Beasley is a great fit for everyone (besides New York since I'm not sure anyone really fits into that mess). Teaming him with Wade and Marion would be the ideal situation but having him alongside Rudy Gay/Mike Conley in Memphis, Big Al Jefferson in Minny, Kevin Durant in Seattle, or Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor in Charlotte would be amazing.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Rose
Yes they already have Foye and McCants but I just can't see passing on a pure point guard because you have either of those two guys. Honestly, I'm not sure if those two are even good enough to pass on a good combo guard.  The Wolves have one core piece and that's Al Jefferson. I'm sure Wolves fans will pray that Big Al and Rose will be the second coming of the KG and Marbury duo that flamed out far too fast.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: OJ Mayo
After trading Pau Gasol and using their cap space on Darko Milicic, the Grizz could use a big man but this is just too early to take any of the top 4 or 5's. Eric Gordon is a possibility but since he's just 6'3, it probably won't happen. Teaming him with the short Mike Conley Jr. won't work. The Grizz can try to grab a big man for Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry and try to wake up the fans in Memphis with the fast-paced play of Conley, Mayo, and Rudy Gay.

4. Oklahoma Sooner-or-Later: Jerryd Bayless
The team that used to be the Sonics had such bad management in the past that they've used first round picks in three of the last four years on centers (two of them being lotto picks) and they'd still probably consider taking a big man. But I think their biggest need is at the point and even thought Bayless isn't exactly a pass-first point guard, he's someone who can bring the ball up the court and help fill the seats when the team moves to Oklahoma. The playmaking skills Bayless may lack should be made up for by Jeff Green's point-forward abilities.

5. New York Knicks: Eric Gordon
Honestly, the team is in need of a full makeover and I'd be surprised if they didn't sacrifice the pick and use Gordon to move one or two of their lousy contracts. I wouldn't be stunned to see this pick in some sort of deal that nets the Knicks Michael Redd.

6. Charlotte Bobcats:  DeAndre Jordan
I'm not a fan of Brook Lopez and, honestly, the Bobcats can afford to gamble. Jordan is a freak of nature and I'd rather role the dice on him than settle for Lopez or Hibbert.

7. Los Angeles Clippers: Danilo Gallinari
The Clippers want to win now so I think they move this pick. I'm not sure exactly how it would work but I see the Raptors going after Gallinari or Nicolas Batum here in some sort of deal involving the Clips and the Wizards. The main players would be Chris Kaman and Jose Calderon to the Wizards, Gilbert Arenas to the Clippers, and the #7 to the Raptors. More players would have to be moved in but something like that. Either way, Donald Sterling is tired of losing (especially now that he has sunk some money into this team) so I think the Clippers are going to make a big move in order to win some more games next season.

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Nicolas Batum
Batum is another foreign prospect with highlight reel material but questionable ability in terms of making it in the NBA. Still, I think the new Bucks GM should be able to buy himself some time because of the potential of Gordon, Batum, Jianlian, and Bogut. The team still needs a point guard but they'll be in the lottery next year to sort that out.

9. Indiana Pacers: Brook Lopez
This offseason the Pacers should finally realize that they are Danny Granger's team and start rebuilding accordingly. The main needs are PG and C and I think Larry Legend and Co. are much more likely to snag Lopez than to reach for any of the remaining PG's.

10. Chicago Bulls: Darrell Arthur
Roy Hibbert might make more sense but Arther seems more like a Paxson-type pick: athletic, unrefined, potential.  If Hasheem Thabeet shows something in workouts I wouldn't even be stunned to see hiim go here. I'm sure Paxson would love to deal this pick but, as always, it's just not going to fetch what he really wants in return.