Mock Lottery Team Draft
What they SHOULD do…
By Jeff Fox
For those who thought luck was limited to leprechauns, add a red and black cartoon bull to the lucky list. Against all odds the Chicago Bulls won the NBA draft lottery and now have the enviable task of trying to decide on who to pick – Beasley or Rose. Fret not, Bulls’ management – Slamonline has all the answers for you, along with the rest of the lottery teams. Here are our suggestions on who each lottery team SHOULD pick, not who they will necessarily pick (this isn’t taking into account any trades that may occur).
1) Chicago – Michael Beasley
Team Needs: Low post scoring threat; back up point guard (if Chris Duhon bolts)
Heading into the draft lottery, it was a toss up as to who should go number one in the draft, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose. Considering neither one is a run away favorite as the top prospect in the draft, the Bulls should look to fill a serious team need and grab Beasley. His low post scoring and rebounding is just what the team needs and he would form a young and athletic frontcourt along with Joakim Noah. It will be hard to pass up a hometown talent like Rose, but with Beasley on the team the Bulls should be out of the lottery and back into the playoffs next season.
2) Miami – Derrick Rose
Team Needs: Point guard; post player.
The Heat should be counting their blessings if Derrick Rose falls into their laps. With Jason Williams off the books for next season, the Heat are in need of a quality point guard and Rose is by far the best one in the draft. A backcourt of Rose & Wade will be among the best in the league and the Heat could really burn opponents with the two of them and Shawn Marion running the break.
3) Minnesota – O.J. Mayo
Team Needs – True point guard; center.
O.J. Mayo doesn’t necessarily fill one of the T-Wolves most pressing needs, but a talent like this you don’t pass up on. Minnesota needs more young talent at every position, and Mayo is the most gifted guy in the draft outside of the Big Two. While Mayo should be able to help the team out at the point guard spot down the road, Minnesota should be patient with him and let him get his feet wet playing the 2-spot before shifting him over to the point.
4) Seattle – Brook Lopez
Team Needs – Center; point guard
For three years straight years (2004 to 2006) Seattle picked a center with its first pick, two of those in the lottery. Unfortunately for them, Robert Swift, Johan Petro and Saer Sene have not exactly set the NBA world on fire. It’s time for the Sonics to grab another big man – Brook Lopez. Lopez will find plenty of work rebounding all of Kevin Durant’s missed shots and will be another good, young athlete to take to Oklahoma City with them.
5) Memphis – Darrel Arthur
Team Needs – Power forward; center.
Poor Memphis – they don’t get one of the coveted first two picks and Chicago pushes them down a spot to slot number five. They really don’t need a point guard, so Jerryd Bayless is probably out of the question. They desperately need a quality big man, and with Robin Lopez off the board, Darrell Arthur is the next best big left. His athleticism, size and skills should help Grizzlies fans forget about the Kwame Brown era.
6) New York – Jerryd Bayless
Team Needs – Talent; non-head cases.
First New York steals Arizona’s best head coach, and now they’re going to grab the state’s best college player. While Jerryd Bayless isn’t a pure point guard, he should be able to run-and-gun to Mike D’Antoni’s liking.
7) Clippers – Russell Westbrook
Team Needs – Point guard; shooting guard
It wouldn’t be an NBA lottery without the Clippers involved. The team is bound to be better next year with Elton Brand healthy again, and picking local talent Russell Westbrook can help the team shore up their weak backcourt.
8) Milwaukee – Eric Gordon
Team Needs – Talent
The Bucks are getting some nice young talent onto their roster but they still aren’t winning many games. Whether the rumors about shopping around Michael Redd are true or not, Milwaukee should pick the best available talent left on the board with their pick comes around. That would give them scoring machine Eric Gordon, which might make the Redd trade rumors all the more prophetic.
9) Charlotte – Kevin Love
Team Needs – Center; healthy players
Charlotte is in need of someone to bang down low with Emeka Okafor, and Kevin Love would fill that need. While there is still debate as to how great a pro player he will be, with the players left available at this point in the draft, the Bobcats should be willing to roll the dice on him at pick nine.
10) New Jersey – Danilo Gallinari
Team Needs – Low post scorer
While Gallinari won’t give the Nets a low post scorer, he is the most talented player out of Europe this year and the best guy left on the draft board pick 10. His addition to the roster could make Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson trade bait.
11) Indiana – D.J. Augustin
Team Needs – Point guard; hope
The Pacers have been in desperate need of a point guard since Mark Jackson left town in 2000. D.J. Augustin will fill that void, but his lack of size will probably prevent him from being a star. And if he could bring along some magic elixir to keep Jermaine O’Neal healthy, that would be helpful too.
12) Sacramento – Anthony Randolph
Team Needs – Point guard; power forward
Unfortunately all the top point guards will probably be gone by the time the Kings get to pick at 12. Randolph probably isn’t ready to contribute right away, but with a little time he could develop into a top-shelf small/power forward.
13) Portland – Nicolas Batum
Team Needs – Point guard; healthy Greg Oden
It almost seems unfair that a team this young and talented gets another lottery pick. Batum’s smart, unselfish skills should blend in well on the Blazers’ roster.
14) Golden State - Joe Alexander
Team Needs – Backup point guard; move to the Eastern Conference
Pretty crazy that a 48-win team finds itself in the lottery. Alexander is big, athletic and a good scorer – perfect for G-State’s style of play.
Jeff Fox writes more extensively about the NBA draft and college basketball at www.collegehoopsnet.com. All hate mail can be directed to him at foxyjj@sympatico.ca.
66 Responses to “Mock Lottery Team Draft”
May.22 at 12:03 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Just like Jordan Farmar grew up with dreams of playing for the Bruins, and then one day,the Lakers; I am certain that Russell Westbrook’s walls were adorned with the likes of Loy Vaught and Pooh Richardson.
Good stuff, Jeff.
May.22 at 12:28 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
No Hibbert? but he’s like the new Shaq only younger, taller, and fatter.
May.22 at 12:48 pm
TADOne says:
Good stuff Jeff. Are you going to do the rest of the 1st round predictions?
May.22 at 12:55 pm
H to the izzo says:
Hibbert exactly like Shaq except he’s younger,taller,fatter,slower,less athletic,has no post game,is a limited defender and a piss poor rebounder,other than that they’re like twins.
May.22 at 12:58 pm
Diesel says:
Bulls need a starting point gaurd. Not a back up point gaurd. Watching Gordon dribble off his foot 13 or 14 times in pressure situations is all I need to know when picking Rose first.
May.22 at 12:58 pm
Knicks! says:
Nice draft
I would love to see Jerryd Bayless on the Knicks squad. I mean, they definately need his runnin’ & gunnin’ mentality. If we can’t get him or O.J. Mayo (which I really hopes happens) I would rather not have Gallinari but instead Eric Gordon.
Trading for the Heat pick would make this the best Knicks season ever, but probably not happening..
May.22 at 1:03 pm
Jeff Fox says:
All SoCal kids grow up dreaming of wearing the same jersey that Benoit Benjamin did, don’t they Cub?!?
May.22 at 1:05 pm
Jeff Fox says:
Fatter than Shaq?!? - that’s unpossible! Fu-Schnickens’ management are contacting Hibbert as we speak.
May.22 at 1:05 pm
Jeff Fox says:
Don’t know if I’m going to do the rest of the 1st round or not TADOne - we shall see if time allows (or if my millions of fans beg me to do it).
May.22 at 1:09 pm
TADOne says:
That’s cool Jeff. Where do you see CDR ending up? That idiot Chad Ford had him at #29, which is ridiculously low if you ask me.
May.22 at 1:12 pm
H to the izzo says:
TAD:I know you didn’t ask me but I’ll answer anyway because I’m good like that,before the tournament the general consensous was that he was an early 2nd round pick,the tournament raised his stock and I think he’ll go mid to mid-late first round,but he’s just not THAT guy,defintely not top 15.I hope he ends up with the Pistons.
May.22 at 1:21 pm
Jeff Fox says:
Izzo pretty much summed it up - CDR is mid to late 1st round material.
May.22 at 1:31 pm
ciolkstar says:
CDR will be a strong NBA player. The draft is so much about potential and contributinf down the line, but I feel like CDR could contribute right away for a lot of teams. reminds me a lot of Rip Hamilton, the Pistons have so much young, atheletic talent it’d be scary if he wound up there. Though it does seem like a perfect fit.
May.22 at 1:47 pm
TADOne says:
Maybe my stock of CDR is higher than everyone else’s? I actually thought his dropped a tad bit from his performance in the tournament, and Rose’s went up. In my opinion, CDR played better during the regular season and he is a player who could contribute so much to a team, a stat-filler if you will.
May.22 at 1:50 pm
DP says:
I just don’t see Kevin Love being much of anything in the NBA. I might be a Jay Bilas type of guy right now and I’m treating him like Josh Smith but I believe Big Love is going to be a bust. All those pump fakes aren’t going to go in the NBA buddy. He better learn how to jump and throw that b*tch down or he will be destroyed in the L. I don’t even think his height suggets that he is a TRUE center at 6-9. It’s just not promising if you ask me.
May.22 at 1:53 pm
DP says:
I agree with TAD. CDR could be a skinny version of Andre Iggy. I could see CDR winning the rookie of the year with the tune of 14ppg, 6reb,4ast, and 2stls a game. Yeah, has anybody seen ROY HIBBERT OR YO BOY DARREN COLLISON…BUSTERS.
May.22 at 2:15 pm
B. Long says:
CDR aint winning ROY he’ll be a solid contributor for years but I don’t see him as an all-star caliber player.
May.22 at 2:57 pm
WhaHuh says:
Minnesota will go for Brook Lopez, Big Al Jefferson needs the help, even D12 plays with another Big man
May.22 at 3:11 pm
Diogo says:
Are we getting a review for the guys outside the first 14? I’d like to know what my Sixers may be getting.
May.22 at 3:13 pm
ciolkstar says:
who’s the other big man in Orlando?
The diference is that Al struggles defensively as a C, and when paired with an offensive minded/undersized 4 the Timberwolves interior D is atrocious. I’m not completely sold on Lopez as a pro, but he does address a need for the Twolves.
May.22 at 3:15 pm
ciolkstar says:
i really really like CDR as a pro. the guys got a ton of ways to score and can contribute in all facets of the game, if he’s available and the Spurs don’t take him they’re out of their minds (unless Batum is also still available.)
May.22 at 3:35 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
I’m not so sure about CDR’s scoring ability carrying over to the pros. Think he could have trouble with the bigger more athlethic defenders in the L. But he’ll be solid for sure. Tatum will be very good in a couple of years. The Lopez-twin I haven’t seen play, is he a player or just a big body?
May.22 at 3:43 pm
E. Sneed says:
I’m not a Knicks fan, and I don’t pretend to be, but even I am getting saddened by their misfortune. Can somebody at least make me think that they will try to trade up with the t-wolves to get MAYO since Minnesota really needs Bayless? Please! Anybody?
May.22 at 3:44 pm
what says:
Roy Hibbert is like Zydrunas Ilgauskas without the jumpshot.
May.22 at 3:46 pm
what says:
CDR kinda reminds me of Josh Childress, but less awkward looking and with a better J…
May.22 at 3:49 pm
Knicks! says:
the Knicks havin’ Mayo .. I WOULD LOVE THAT but I definately don’t sleep on CDR, he’s a monster (not like the top 10 players) but a pretty dhamn good scorer
and yes his game looks like rip
May.22 at 3:53 pm
Tom says:
If Minnesota drafts OJ Mayo (which Id be surprised if he goes #3), is there a chance Mayo pulls a Yi and refuses to go? After all the whole point of him going to USC is that he wanted to feed his huge ego and “market” himself in a big market like LA.
May.22 at 3:54 pm
Knicks! says:
in new york he can, come to us OJ!
May.22 at 3:55 pm
Knicks! says:
but indeed I do see him doing something like that..
May.22 at 4:19 pm
BETCATS says:
we wont get Kevin Love because we learned from Sean May. Look at Kevin ‘Oven Fresh’ Love body type, it is the same as Sean ‘Cheeseburger’ May’s was. We already wasted 2 great 1st round picks on guys who were excellent in college but have health problem in the pros (Adam Morrison and Sean May) and we dont need to add to that collection. Crash is has 2 more hits to the ground before he has to call it a career and Jason Richardson is Jason Richardson; a great #2 option, but not a #1. Please Jesus get us Darrell Arthur or maybe trade the pick for an expericend C/PF. Udonis Haslem, Stromile Swift, Z-Bo, or Amir Johnson is who i want.
May.22 at 4:20 pm
BETCATS says:
and for the record, i have much love for K-Love, he was a great SLAM diary keeper no doubt and i wish him to have a great career, but i think his knees will give out just like Sean May’s already have, so he could go that route or he might go the Big Baby way and lose weight. If he sheds some pounds, he would be a great pick for us.
May.22 at 4:30 pm
matt(ballislife says:
I’d be highly surprised to see ej eric gordon drop that far in the draft. He’s arguably the best shooter in the draft and he’s a workhorse. If minnesota takes mayo over gordon, or even seattle lopez over gordon, they would both be making a mistake. Who would not want a prolific scorer to fill out their teams? could you even imagine eric gordon and kevin durant growing up together on the same team? A sg and a forward as your main scorers, and on top of that, a sg that can pound the ball inside, and score from just about anywhere on the court. If seattle passes up a scoring tandem that could land them 50+ points per game between 2 people, than they are simply CRAZY!!! haha, but then again, im not a gm.
May.22 at 4:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Am I the only one who thinks Brook Lopez has the potential to be a TREMENDOUS bust?
May.22 at 4:46 pm
H to the izzo says:
Russ:No you are not.
May.22 at 5:01 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Betcats, you are gonna have to explain to me and the slam fam how you can honestly say you want stromile swift. u want the stro show’s non-factorness coming to your town. what has he EVER done? seriously dude, stay off the drugs.
May.22 at 5:05 pm
Myles Brown says:
This is me raising my hand in answer to Russ’ question.
May.22 at 5:05 pm
Captain America says:
Jeff, the only Mayo in Minnesota is the Mayo Clinic. No O.J. to the Timberwolves, who have a bevy of combo guards already. Get real.
May.22 at 5:05 pm
Silky Slim says:
B. Easy will be the #1 pick. K. Love will not be able to bang on the NBA level. He may have the size, but he doesn’t have the strength or athleticism to bang in the league. I can’t see the Bucks drafting E. Gordon, because they already have Mo Williams. Aside from B. Easy, D. Rose, and O.J. Mayo(?), I don’t see any other players making an immediate impact in this year’s draft. Most of these cats aren’t even NBA ready.
May.22 at 5:10 pm
Captain America says:
Hibbert is a doughnut away from Eddie Curry. He was slooo by NCAA standards much more the NBA.
May.22 at 5:13 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Why are people so down on Kevin Love?? I’d take him on the Sixers in a second.
May.22 at 5:18 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’d take Kevin on the Bulls in a second, too. Oh wait, what? They got the NUMBER-ONE PICK? Nevermind. (I’d still take him, though.)
May.22 at 5:20 pm
WhaHuh says:
Minnesota has drafted guards 6′4″ and shorter for the last 4 years (except brewer-bust) and at 6′10″ Al Jeffeson is the tallest on the team. Hedo and Lewis are bothe 6′10″ at orlando. The Twolves need height but im sure Lopez will be a bust. They should draft OJ and trade one of their many lackluster PG/SGs for a big man.
May.22 at 5:25 pm
Cub Buenning says:
I am a fan of both Lopez twins. They are both more talented and skilled than the Collins brothers EVER were. If they are given continued instruction on how to play the low-block, they can be great. Consider me one of the few believers.
May.22 at 5:27 pm
Cub Buenning says:
I love when dudes catch one game of a player (like a tourney game) and KNOW that he will be a bust. Body of work, my friends, body of work. The twins were good/great for two seasons in the most competitive conference in the nation. Stay up late and watch games.
May.22 at 5:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
The Olsen twins are more talented and skilled than the Collins twins.
May.22 at 5:29 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And I didn’t say I KNOW anything.
May.22 at 5:31 pm
BETCATS says:
Khalid, he can jump. He is like a homeless, blindman’s Amare, except he sucks. Arent the Bobcats a homeless/blindman’s Hornets? You guys gave him the article a while back, not me when he first came to Houston. I think if we need somebody just to dunk a basketball, we get the Stro Show.
May.22 at 5:41 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
so you are offiically saying that you are a fan of the the stro show? consider me shocked and saddened……
May.22 at 5:42 pm
H to the izzo says:
Body of work does not a good prospect make.
May.22 at 5:42 pm
Silky Slim says:
@Cub: If the Lopez twins are so good, then we would be talking about one or perhaps both of them being drafted 1 or 2. Also, it’s debatable whether the PAC-10 is the most competitive conference in the nation.
May.22 at 6:05 pm
what says:
I think Lopez is a lot less likely to be a bust than K-Love.
May.22 at 6:07 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Russ, I was referencing WhaHuh’s blanket statement. Ill stop trying to convince. AR, I’ve just seen at least a dozen-20 quality games by each in a league that actually has some quality bigs.
May.22 at 6:14 pm
H to the izzo says:
Cub:I’ve seen them play around 10 games myself and don’t get me wrong,he is good.I just can’t see him being more than maybe a 13 and 6 guy,since he’ll probably go anywhere between 3-5,I think that’s a bust.I actually have more hope for Robin.
May.22 at 6:35 pm
B. Long says:
Chi-town will def. take Rose. This kinda reminds me of the 2006 NFL draft when Houston passed on Vince Young, the hometown hero, for Mario Williams a physical freak who had a stellar college career but nothing as incredible as Vince Young. Even though the players have kinda evened out as far as production now, there was a huge backlash in Houston and I don’t think Paxson has the sack for that. Somehow O.J. Mayo is the Reggie Bush of this draft too. Creepy…
May.22 at 6:59 pm
DP says:
Being more talented than the Collins brothers makes me feel a hell of a lot better about the Lopez brothers…NOT.
May.22 at 7:04 pm
WhaHuh says:
I’ve never seen any of them play, im just buls#itting to fit in
May.22 at 7:09 pm
Cub Buenning says:
I guess guys that have decade long pro careers holds no weight ’round these parts.
AR, that’s a fair statement and I always respect your opinion on the college game (as one of our big ncaa fans) I hope robin falls to Denver late in the first round
May.22 at 8:31 pm
Captain America says:
Wha…, Mayo showed nothing exceptional during his USC time other than his self impression. I’d put Brewer’s 2nd season against Mayo’s rookie anytime. There are several good guards in the draft, some will fall to second round. The Twollves will be looking for a big who will defend the rim and grab the rebounds Big Al doesn’t get.
May.22 at 8:52 pm
Cub Buenning says:
I am a bit aghast at how many people speak about stuff they have no basic knowledge about. The PAC-10’s 2nd leading scorer (at 20+)is at least “slightly” exceptional, especially for a freshman. C’mon Cap’n!
May.22 at 10:45 pm
Jukai says:
Darrel Arthur is really that high? Really?
May.23 at 6:51 am
Jeff Fox says:
21 points, 5 boards, 3 assists in the Pac-10 as a freshman. Attach any name to those averages other than O.J. Mayo’s and people would be claiming he’s the second coming. Yes, Mayo needs to work on his shot selection and cut down his turnovers, but you can argue he’s the most talented guy in the draft.
May.23 at 6:52 am
Jeff Fox says:
Arthur at pick 5 does seem high, but the way I see it Memphis won’t be picking any guards or wings this draft and Arthur is just as talented a prospect as any other guy available outside the top 4.
May.23 at 9:34 am
BETCATS says:
Khalid i think Stro can dunk, and only dunk, since they said we need a banger to complement Emeka and all Stro does is bang, it would be a good fit
May.23 at 10:35 am
HoopDreamz says:
Jeff Fox from Hooplife.ca in Canada!!! Doin big things… good story
May.24 at 12:30 am
Russ Bengtson says:
For the record, I really want the Bulls to take Rose, because I think he could DRAMATICALLY affect Tyrus Thomas’s game, on some CP/Tyson ish. To me, Rose is Marbury with a better attitude and without the baggage.
Jun.6 at 8:05 am
Tom Chou says:
I think K.Love will be picked at a higher place