Mock Lottery Fun!
While I can just sit back and enjoy the Celtics right now, let's see how other teams might be faring come draft day.
1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose
The last few drafts, Jon Paxson has drafted athletic big men who can run the floor. Wouldn't it make sense to finally add the point guard that can help them get going rather than adding yet another athletic big man? The Bulls core is the homegrown Rose and Deng with Ty Thomas getting one more chance. Paxson's next move should be to look to move the rest of his rag-tag crew to build around this unit.
2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley
Pat Riley doesn't get his man but he gets a perfect complement to Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion (if he can get Marion to stay). If Marion opts out, Beasley simply takes over his spot. In the end, no one pick is going to salvage the Heat this year. Next year, however, the Heat will have cap space and two expiring deals to work with in the offseason.
3. Denver Nuggets (via Minny): OJ Mayo
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Denver dealing 'Melo but this could be the way it happens. The Nuggets give up 'Melo, JR Smith, and Marcus Camby to New Jersey and get back Richard Jefferson, #3 pick, Sean Williams and Marko Jaric (or Antoine Walker's expiring deal - he has a team option after next year). Minnesota gets J.R. Smith in a sign & trade, the #7 and #21 picks.
- Jaric is overpaid but he's a solid defender and I actually think he's a perfect complement to AI in the backcourt. AI, Jaric, Jefferson, K-Mart, Nene with OJ Mayo and Sean Williams off the pine. In the end, I'd still stick with 'Melo but this is the team that improves defensively and is perfectly suited to feed off of Iverson.
- The Nets get 'Melo and Camby to go with Devin Harris, Vince Carter, and Nenad Krstic.
- The Wolves pick up 2 picks and a shooting guard with a load of potential who should be able to light it up when teams double-team Big Al Jefferson.
4. Seattle Supersonics: Jerryd Bayless
I'm not sure if Bayless is really the type of point guard that Seattle needs but he'll help keep some of the pressure off of Kevin Durant.
5. Memphis Grizzlies: Brook Lopez
They are hoping to get the next Pau Gasol but they might just be getting the new Darko Milicic.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (via NY): Danilo Gallinari
Mike D'Antoni wants to win now and he makes his first big move by dealing Stephon Marbury, #8 pick, and David Lee for Michael Redd and Mo Williams. It's the first of many moves by GM Donnie Walsh.
7. LA Clippers: Russell Westbrook
If the 'Melo deal doesn't happen, I woudn't be stunned to see the Clips make a run at OJ Mayo. I considered trades for Baron Davis or Gil Arenas but the odds of a contract negotiation working out with either of those two and Donald Sterling doesn't seem like a great bet. The Clippers opt for the local collegian Westbrook who can take over the point or handle the 2-guard spot should Shaun Livingston make it back.
8. Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Gordon
With Gallinari, Jianlian, and Bogut making up the frontcourt of the future, the Bucks add a scoring option at the 2 with Eric Gordon.
9. Detroit Pistons (from Charlotte): Anthony Randolph
In a stunning move, the Pistons decide, after getting knocked off by the Celtics, that it is time to reload. They strike a deal with the main players being Chauncey Billups and #29 to the Bobcats for Raymond Felton and the #8 pick, where they take Randolph.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (from NJ): Kevin Love
McHale gets the big white guy to team alongside Big Al Jefferson, Corey Brewer, J.R. Smith and Randy Foye.
11. Indiana Pacers: D.J. Augustin
When Jamaal Tinsley and Travis Diener are your PG's, you really need to start investing draft picks in the position.
12. Sacramento Kings: Donte Greene
With Ron Artest on the way out, the Kings add their SF of the future in Donte Greene.
13. Portland Trailblazers: Chase Buddinger
Chase's problems are defense and aggressiveness. But with Oden behind him and the tons of young talent around him, those weaknesses shouldn't be all that troubling in Portland.
14. Golden St. Warriors: Joe Alexander
They add a shooter to the future core of Ellis, Wright, and Biedrins.
