Can Danny?

This draft is a complete crap shoot. WIth only five upperclassmen in the consensus first round and only one in the consensus top 10 (and that one being the uber-raw Joe Alexander at that) it's almost impossible to peg who should go where. After the top three (or four if you are high on Jerryd Bayless) there's little to no separation between #4 and #24. I think Kevin Love at #5 makes as much sense as Donte Green. So whom should take who? 

1. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley
The Heat pull the trigger on the Wade for #1, Ty Thomas, and Larry Hughes trade.  Afraid that Dwyane is on the Penny Express, the Heat pull the trigger to get younger and snag the point guard that could get Pat Riley to unseat his current head coach in a year or two. They also add a young player in Thomas who could pan out to be a Josh Smith type combo-forward. The Bulls weather Wade's injury history to add the superstar they've been waiting for. The lineup of Hinrich, Wade, Deng, Nocioni, and Noah could stir up some trouble in the East but, then again, if Wade goes down with another injury, John Paxson's days as a GM will be numbered.

2.  Miami Heat: Derrick Rose
If the Heat don't make this trade, they should seriously consider OJ Mayo over Derrick Rose. I probably wouldn't be able to pull the trigger on OJ over Rose but I think Mayo has as good of a chance to be a star player and he is also a better fit alongside Wade. However if the trade goes down, I'd love to see Rose running the point with Beasley and Marion on the wings (if they decide to keep Marion).

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: OJ Mayo
Mayo is the no-brainer pick here (and I wouldn't be stunned if Pat Riley decided to try to get a new version of Isiah/Dumars and draft Mayo and Rose). If the Wolves take any of the available big men and this spot, the entire front office should be banned from working in the NBA ever again. At the very least, they have to take Mayo here and trade down to one of the many teams that are trying to get him.

4. Seattle Supersonics: Jerryd Bayless
The key to this pick is moving Bayless to the 2 and Durant to the 3. If they try to use Bayless and Durant in the backcourt, it won't work. Neither guy has the playmaking skills to effectively run the offense and I just don't think you want to run the offense through Jeff Green at the 3.

5. Memphis Grizzles: Eric Gordon
Conley and Gordon will make for a small backcourt but Gordon's strength should make up for some of their shortcomings. The big men available simply aren't that enticing especially when the Grizlles have a late pick with which they can grab a PF.

6. New York Knicks: Russell Westbrook
If someone is dumb enough to take Zach Randolph and the #6 the Knicks should jump at the chance. I almost don't even care who they are getting in return (as long as their contract is no longer than two years). I'm sure some GM will be dumb enough to make that deal but for my mock draft, the Knicks are stuck with the pick and add a nice complement to Jamal Crawford (or Nate Robinson). Westbrook is a defensive-minded guard who can run the show while Crawford and Nasty Nate focus on scoring.

7. Memphis Grizzles: Anthony Randolph
The Grizz pick up a power forward prospect who should fit into their up-tempo scheme in a deal with Los Angeles. They send Kyle Lowry and Mike Miller to Memphis for Cuttino Mobley, #7, #35 and possibly the future Minnesota Timberwolves pick that is owed to them. It's top 10 protected through 2011 but given the Wolves track record, there's a good chance that the Grizz could net another high draft pick from this. The Clippers add a starting PG and shooting guard for their trouble.

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander
I don't really buy the Joe Alexander hype but he seems like a Scott Skiles type of guy and the kind of draft pick that might not be a star but should be a helpful player for a long time. Those things, plus the fact that there is still that hope that his potential hasn't been touched, is why the Bucks add him to the lineup.

9. Charlotte Bobcats:  Kevin Love
Love is another player I am skeptical about but with Gerald Wallace on one side and Emeka Okafor on the other, his defensive issues should be held in check on the Bobcats. Also, he's an old school player who should fit in well with Larry Brown (although Love does have himself quite the ego).  If the 'Cats can deal the pick for a big man, I think they do that but I'm just not sure what they can really work out before the draft.

10. New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez
Lopez has his doubters (and I'm one of them) but he's a solid big man and should fit in nicely alongside Sean Williams and Nenad Krstic. That's not a bad big man rotation.

11. Toronto Raptors: Danilo Gallinari
The Raptors acquire another pick and select Andrea Bargnani's compatriot. They give up TJ Ford but also take back Jamaal Tinsley. The Pacers are just happy to rid themselves of Mel Mel the Abuser and his off the court issues. The Pacers might get a future protected first rounder as well.

12. New Jersey Nets: Donte Green
The Nets clear cap space and move up in the draft by swapping Richard Jefferson, Marcus Williams, and #21 for Ron Artest, Kenny Thomas, #12. Artest lets the Nets continute to compete while also giving them a shorter contract in order to open up the books for the great free agent class of 2010. The Kings get a good young SF who is locked into a contract (and thus won't be high-tailing it out of Sactown) as well as a promising young point guard. And to be bonest, in this draft, the difference between 12 and 21 could be minimal. The Nets consider Brandon Rush but decide to use this pick on Donte Green's upside.

13. Phoenix Suns: Brandon Rush
I'm not sure about the exact details of the trade but Leandro Barbosa to Portland for the #13 and a player or two seems like the best bet. Barbosa is almost an ideal PG for the Blazers because they already have Brandon Roy running the show at the 2 so they can use a score-first PG like Barbosa. The Suns get the guard they want in Rush.

14. Milwaukee Bucks: DJ Augustin
The Bucks deal Charlie Villanueva and #37 for the 14th pick where they add a PG in DJ Augustin. The Warriors really had little interest in this pick and Charlie seems like the kind of player who could flourish in Nellie's system.

15. Phoenix Suns: Mareese Speights
With a second pick, the Suns can take a gamble and Speights is worth the risk. He would give the Suns a hell of a twin towers with him and Amare. The problem is whether or not he has the attitude and motor to ever reach his potential.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Darrell Arthur
The best move might be to package this pick with Andre Miller, who sounds like he's going to be leaving Philly after next season.  However, if the Sixers can't find a good deal, they should probably go for Arthur, who could be a nice complement to Thad Young at the forward spot. All of the big man prospects now are hit-or-miss but I think Arthur has the best shot at being, at the very least, servicable.

17. Toronto Raptors: Chris Douglas-Roberts
CDR and his rather unorthodox style is usually the type of player I would shy away from but the Raptors don't need a big man and Roberts looks to be the best fit and the only shooting guard worth taking this high. His defense will be key and, at the very least, you hope that he's a step up from Jamario Moon.

18. Washington Wizards: Roy Hibbert 
Hibbert stays home and the Wiz add a solid big man who should help out immediately. I'm sure during his first tour of the NBA, a lot of GM's will be thanking him for taking his name out of last year's draft and saving them from wasting a top lotto pick on him.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers:  DeAndre Jordan
This late in the draft, there's really not much left for the Cavs to choose from. Mario Chalmers is an option but the Cavs seems happy with Delonte West and Boobie Miles. Hopefully, the prospect of playing alongside LeBron James will wake Jordan up and help him reach his potential.

20. Denver Nuggets: Mario Chalmers
Chalmers can shoot and defend, making him a nice complement to A.I. He'll be great in the Eric Snow role.

21. Sacramento Kings: Robin Lopez
Dropping down in the draft, the Kings still get a nice prospect with upside. If they want offense, they could go after Mareese Speights but Lopez seems like a better fit alongside Spencer Hawes.

22. Orlando Magic: Alexis Ajinca
The Magic might have a huge steal and this point in the draft or they could have a guy that will sit around and laugh with Fran Vazquez about how they'll never come over to the US.

23. Utah Jazz:  Courtney Lee
Nothing great but could prove to be a solid role player for the Jazz. 

24. Seattle Supersonics: Serge Ibaka
The Sonics use their last pick on a foreigner that they'll stash overseas for a couple of years. 

25. Houston Rockets:  Nicolas Batum
It's been one thing after another with this overhyped sensation but the Rockets decide to take a flyer on him.

26. San Antonio Spurs: Kosta Koufos
I know he's the new mover in the draft but there's something I just don't like about the kid.

27. New Orleans Hornets: Bill Walker
I still hate the Peja signing and Walker give the Hornets another option at the SF and someone else who could take advantage of Paul's alleyoops.

28. Memphis Grizzlies: JJ Hickson
The Grizz add another young big man to their stable. 

29. Detroit Pistons: Jamont Gordon
Worst case scenario, he becomes Lindsay Hunter's heir apparent but more likely he becomes a super-sub for the Pisons.

30: Boston Celtics: Keith Brumbaugh
Ante Tomic sounds like a guy that will never pan out, Javale McGee doesn't sound like much of anything, and all of the other big men seem like Leon Powe clones. The C's might as well give the former Mr. Florida a shot. He's had MAJOR character issues which makes this choice highly unlikely but at 30, the Celtics can give the kid a shot.