NBA Draft Night, 2007: Every Pick, Every Team

ROUND ONE

1. Portland: Greg Oden, Ohio State. Raef LaFrentz, Jamaal Magloire, Luke Schenscher, and Joel Przybilla are officially on notice. I say Przybilla stays. Just more chips for the Blazers to play with.

2. Seattle: Kevin Durant, Texas. Will Rashard Lewis be on the move now? Nick Collison? Chips, baby, chips. Also: Ray Allen to Boston for #5 pick (Cees will take Jeff Green and send him to Seattle) Delonte West and Wally World to Seattle, too. DAMN! The Sonics are doin’ thangs!

3. Atlanta: Al Horford, Florida. Al’s cool, no, he’s potentially a monster, but the Hawks better know they can get Acie Law at #11. Now, who is moving from the Ha

4. Memphis: Mike Conley, Ohio State. Damon Stoudemire of the 21st century. Light in the behind, will be posted up like what – and he can’t shoot (yet). They say he reminds people of Tony Parker, not at 6’1″.

5. Boston: Jeff Green, Georgetown. Andy Katz says the trade is on (see Seattle’s pick above)! Jeff Green and Kevin Durant! Two young cats who can pass, shoot, rebound, play defense – and are smart. That means many late nights for me. J. Green is my favorite player in the draft. Nice move by Danny Ainge. Up South got a palatable black dude in 32-year old Allen to go with Ray Allen, Boston might have elevated to somewhere between the #5 and #8 seed in the ‘offs next season – and Danny Ainge save his ass.

6. Milwaukee: Yi Jianlian, China. Oh, oh. Can you say 1.3 billion pissed off people (please don’t all jump up and down in disgust at once because of this pick!). There’s going to be some serious detente goin’ down in Wisconsin – Say cheese, Yi!

From the Comments… Davey Wayne says: “I saw how Yi reacted. His People said they didn’t wanna go to Milwaukee cause they didnt have a large Asian/Chinese population.”

From the Comments… Kolsky Says: “BTW Milwaukee is completely stupid if they don’t draft Corey Brewer…”

7. Minnesota: Corey Brewer, Florida. I was typing this before the Commish said it. Okay nice pick. But does it help Minny now? Yes and no. Brewer is much like Josh Howard and will be a star, believe it. Noah to the Bulls? Kolsky, does this make Kevin McHale smart?

8. Charlotte: Brandan Wright, North Carolina. Hmmmm, a MJ special pick? Once this fella fills out a little bit, he is might just be the steal of the draft. Now, what moves will the Bobcats make to get to the ‘offs?

9. Chicago: Joakim Noah, Florida. TOLD YOU. What, Ryan McNeill! I told anyone who would listen this is the player for the Bulls – hey, it’s probably the only pick I got right  in my mock picks! He loves defense and he loves to board, which will make Scott Skiles love him. His offensive game will improve to the point that Ben Wallace will be expendable in 2008-09. The three main Gators go in the top nine.

10. Sacramento: Spencer Hawes, Washington. I don’t know. He’s really nice around the rim, but he doesn’t play defense, he’s slow, he can’t jump. And “Big Baby” isn’t as good as Hawes? Sounds like a second round pick to me…. but you can’t teach 7’1″.

11. Atlanta: Acie Law IV, Texas A&M. Now the Hawks’ draft is nice. Acie carried the Aggies, and anybody who can carry a big-time team in a big-time conference is worthy of being picked in the first round.

From the Comments, Fashion talk… Mizzo: “Hawk Jerseys are sweet.” Kolsky: “the hawk jerseys are so NOT sweet.”

Man purses for you two?

12. Philadelphia: Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech. Wow, are the Sixers reachin’? He has talent, but can he play in the paint? If he was a Euro-dude, this would be a great pick, based on potential alone, but….? GM Billy King’s backside is on the line.

From the Comments… Mizzo says: “Thaddeus better work on his upper body strength. He’s another wide eyed talent. I hope he pays off. I wanted Wright or Thornton.”

13. New Orleans: Julian Wright, Kansas. Wright is a player, period. But he’s young, young, young. Al Thornton, Glen Davis? Are you serious? Wright is the Tyrus Thomas of this year’s draft.

14. L.A. Clippers: Al Thornton, Florida State. The Clips have a big small forward monster to go with Elton Brand and Chris Kaman. This is a really good pick for the other L.A. team – now they need a PG.

15. Detroit (from Orl.): Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington. Another “I told you so” special from me. This is the big PG the Pistons needed to replace Chauncey Billups (now why didn’t the Clips get him?). I saw Stuckey a couple of times late night and he’s good, really good. ESPN folks a re calling him a “poor man’s Dwayne Wade.” Stuckey will learn a great deal from Billups – if he stays in De Trois.

16. Washington: Nick Young, Southern California. DeShawn Stevenson is officially on trade watch, if not before the season begins, certainly before the All-Star break. Now, the thing is, the Wizards needed a big man – BIG BABY???!

Ric Bucher reports, Zach Randolph, Dan Diackau, Fred Jones (Portland) for Steve Francis and Channing Frye. Now Isiah just made a beautiful trade. Stevie, “I Broke the Franchise” and his contract is gone and the Knicks got an auto 20 and 10 from Z-Bo plus a younger and more athletic Francis in Jones.

17. New Jersey: Sean Williams Boston College. The other big man the Wizards should have taken. This dude is a B-E-A-S-T! He did his rehab at John Lucas’ spot, so if he’s cooled out on the chronic —— watch out NBA. Is Sean Williams the new Kenyon Martin?

18. Golden State: Marco Belinelli, Italy. The international peeps say he’s good, really good At 6’5″ and 21 years old with five years of Italian League ball under his belt, 6’5″ Belinelli will fit right in with Nellie ball.

19. L.A. Lakers: Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech. The Lakes are on franchise suicide watch. Shaq gone, Kobe pissed. But Crittenton might be the PG Phil has been looking for. He’s a big guard (6’4″) and a strong guard. He has much to learn, but if he practices as hard as Kobe Bryant and lays off the video game and porn (Phil said that’s what the young Lakers love most), he’ll be cool.

RUMOR (NBA TV): Orlando gets Rashard Lewis? With Fran Vasquez coming to Orlando, what happens to Darko Milicic?

20. Miami Heat: Jason Smith, Colorado State. This is the big man Sacto needed to take instead of Spencer Hawes. He’ll learn the hard way from Shaq and maybe Alonzo Mourning, too. Hopefully the bumps and bruises he’ll incur from the preseason will translate to productivity during the regular season.

STUPID: Way to go Jim Gray. Asking Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak to talk about a trade for KG which is against NBA rules is about the most asinine thing he could have asked, but that’s Gray for you.

21. Philadelphia (from Den.): Daequan Cook, Ohio State. Cook to Miami, Jason Smith to the Sixers and cash. Jeez, that was a waste for Miami, but Cook is a bad young man. He’s 6’6″ and really strong. Except for his attitude, he’s a rich man’s Dwayne Wade. If any coach and any team can help Daequan see the light, it’s the Heat organization. And in Smith, Philadelphia got a great big man prospect.

From the Comments… Mizzo: “Philly sucks. Why not Big Baby there? Who the hell is Jason Smith? Philly kills me with these tryin to put people in the stands picks that they pull off year in and year out.”

22. Charlotte (from Toronto): Jared Dudley, Boston College. Dudley can play, but I swear he’s trade bait. Brandan Wright, Sean May leave Dudley little room on the Bobcats’ roster even if they Bobcats do get rid of some forwards. Maybe Gerald Wallace is gone?

23. New York Knicks (from Chi.): Wilson Chandler, DePaul. Chandler knew something because he showed up in New York with no fanfare and ended up a first round pick. He might be a good player but, other than being athletic how does he fit with Ronaldo Balkman and David Lee?

24. Phoenix (from Cleve.): Rudy Fernandez, Spain. Ric Bucher says Portland is buying this pick from Phoenix for $3M. Fernandez is 22 years old. And a buyout is in order with Fernandez’s Euro team, so the Blazers might not see him for a year or so. This means the Suns will be doing some serious sailing on the trade winds this summer.

25. Utah: Morris Almond, Rice. Almond is a pure scorer. ESPN’s Jay Bilas says he’s not a great defender, but he will be after Jerry Sloan gets through with him. But. Ronnie Brewer, Gordon Giricek, Matt Harpring, and C.J. Miles are all ahead of Almond. Is one of them gone, or is Morris going elsewhere?

From the Comments… Cornelius: “is he from the same family as morris chestnut?”
Whew, it’s a good thing Cornelius didn’t say chin nuts!

26. Houston: Aaron Brooks, Oregon. This is the small guard who should have gone in the lottery, not Mike Conley. Brooks, like Acie Law, carried his team and nobody, nobody stopped Brooks. Rafer Alston can go bye-bye.

RUMOR: Andy Katz says, Yi Jianlian might not show up in Milwaukee for his Bucks intro. You know what, Yi, just because Eli Manning pulled this crap with the NFL doesn’t mean you can do the same in the Lig. AYo Yi’s handlers, y’all need to talk to William Wesley and let him hook up your boy.

27. Detroit: Aaron Afflalo, UCLA. Wow, the San Antonio spurs might be really pissed off at Joe Dumars right now. Afflalo probably would have been Bruce Bowen’s understudy. As it stands. Afflalo is a clutch offensive player and a better defender than he’s given credit for (Jay Bilas). However, with Rodney Stuckey already in Detroit maybe Afflalo will end up on the Riverwalk, after all.

28. San Antonio: Tiago Splitter, Brazil. I’ve heard everything from Splitter is the next Ginobili/Oberto to he’s the next Euro-stiff. Splitter’s buyout is astronomical so he won’t be with the Spurs this season, but I bet he arrives in the future just in time to make the Spurs a younger, more athletic team that stays a nose ahead of all those Western Conference teams that will be breathing down the Spurs’ necks.

29. Phoenix: Alando Tucker, Wisconsin. Ahhh, the other big guard the Spurs could have taken. Tucker can learn under Mr. Anger Management Raja Bell. Alando is a better offensive player than Bell was when he came into the league and will make Bell expendable next season.

30. Philadelphia (from Dal.): Petteri Koponen, Finland. I don’t know crap about this guy. He’s 6’4″. Fran Fraschilla says he’s like a high school All-American and will stay in Europe. So why pick this guy?

From the Comments…. Cornelius: “They play basketball in Finland?”

ROUND TWO

31. Seattle: Carl Landry, Purdue. NDBL-bound.

32. Boston: Gabe Pruitt, Southern California. Better PG than the experts think. Remember, Pruitt was USC’s emergency PG.

33. San Antonio: Marcus Williams, Arizona. The Spurs take a chance. Williams showed he was really immature under Lute Olsen.

34. Dallas: Nick Fazekas, Nevada. Softy.

35. Boston (from Sea.): Glen Davis, LSU. It’s about time! Enjoy your stay Up South, you’ll feel right at home, Glen.

36. Golden State: Jermareo Davidson, Alabama. Another Mikki Moore.

37. Portland: Josh McRoberts, Duke. Ack! He’s such a whiner and he’s as soft as they come. But he played summer ball with Greg Oden and flourished, so maybe there’s hope for him, after all.

38. Philadelphia: Kyrylo Fesenko, Ukraine. 7’1″, supposed to have good potential and an attitude. Matbe he turns out good, maybe not. Whatever.

39. Miami: Stanko Barac, Croatia. 7’2″ perimeter player. He’ll stay in Europe.

40. Los Angeles Lakers: Sun Yue, China. Fran F. says, Chinese Toni Kukoc?

41. Minnesota: Chris Richard, Florida. Might be a sleeper for a 2nd-rounder.

Charlotte trades Brandan Wright to Golden State for Jermareo Davidson and Jason Richardson.

42. Portland (from Ind.): Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt. Serious sleeper.

43. New Orleans: Adam Halusk, Iowa. Banger.

44. Orlando: Reyshawn Terry, North Carolina. Might play in the Lig – soon.

45. L.A. Clippers: Jared Jordan, Marist. Little dude, but he can play. But can he play in the NBA? As Jat Bilas said, “he’s 6’1″ but he has 6’0″ arms.”

46. Golden State: Stephane Lasme, UMass. A-10 POY.

47. Washington: Dominic McGuire, Fresno State. 6’8″, 210. I have no clue about this guy. Ahhh, here we go. He’s a good rebounder (9.8 rpg) and averaged 13.2 ppg as a junior for the Bulldogs last season.
48. L.A. Lakers: Marc Gasol, Spain. Weak pick. News is, he’s a head case living off his bro’s name and game.

49. Chicago (from G.S.): Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh. He played some good games for Pitt and some bad games for Pitt, but he’s 7′ tall.

50. Dallas (from Mia.): Renaldis Seibutis, Lithuania. Project, at best.

51. Chicago (from Den.): JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State: He’s going to play somewhere. He’s a deadly shooter.

52. Portland (from Tor.): Taurean Green, Florida. The last of the Gators. He was Florida’s leading scorer (13.3) and is a really solid PG. He might spend some time in Europe, but I think he can play in the Lig.

53. Portland (from Chi.) : Demetris Nichols, Syracuse. I’m surprised he lasted this long. He’s a good shooter and might stick with Portland.

54. Houston (from Cle.): Brad Newley, Australia. 6’6″ Aussie. Australian League hoops isn’t nearly as good as Euro-ball, so that tells you something.

55. Utah: Herbert Hill, Providence. Comes to work every game.

56. Milwaukee (from Hou.): Ramon Sessions, Nevada. Should have stayed in school.

57. Detroit: Sammy Mejia, DePaul. another PG for the Pistons.

58. San Antonio: Giorgis Printezis, Greece. 6’9″ Bruiser.

59. Phoenix: D. J. Strawberry, Maryland. D.J. can really play defense, like lockdown D. I really feel he’ll make some NBA team.

60. Dallas: Milovan Rakovic, Serbia. Strong, athletic – another bruiser. Will play in Europe again next season.

Curious. When I began typing this evening, my computer froze. When finishing Rakovic, my computer froze. But. There, I did it. Every pick from beginning to end. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented. Maybe we’ll all be able to be in New York next year.

I’m out.