Here's my mock (pre-mock?) draft covering the 14 lottery teams, and the first two picks are so easy Jessica Simpson could make them.
1.
Portland --- C Greg Oden. Jessica says, Take the tall guy in the boy band. That's right.
Always take a star big man, and that's what the Blazers will do. Once Team Rap sheet, they are now the Team of the Future.
2.
Seattle --- F Kevin Durant. Durant might have a greater impact off the floor. Seattle needs a shot in the arm to land a new arena.
As spectacular as he might be, he won't be original. We've already seen Kobe and T-Mac.
3.
Atlanta --- PG Mike Conley Jr. It's too high for Conley, Oden's running mate at OSU. But the poor Hawks -- who really needed Oden to give Atlanta a basketball buzz --- need to correct the blunder they made when they passed on PG Chris Paul two years ago.
The Hawks have the 11th pick, too. But unless they can trade down and assure themselves that Conley will be there, they need to grab him here.
4.
Memphis --- PF Brandan Wright. Griz have Pau Gasol and Hakim Warrick, but they can't pass on Wright, a 6-10 athletic freak who might be a top 10 player in three years.
5.
Boston --- Doc Rivers is still having Greg Oden withdrawals. The Celts tried, but they couldn't win Oden for all their losing. Rivers couId go with C Roy Hibbert if he stays in draft.
If I'm Danny Ainge, I trade out of this spot for a veteran. Doc has a daycare center as it is. If not, I take Corey Brewer to go with Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson and Tony Allen.
Brewer can defend and shoot --- a rare combo for a young player.
6. Milwaukee --- PF Al Horford.
Bucks probably wanted Brewer, but they need to get tougher.
7. Minnesota -- T-Wolves missed on Brewer.
If they keep Kevin Garnett, I'd try to trade out. If not, I try to get younger and take the hustling, refreshing Joakim Noah.
8.
Charlotte --- Bobcats to go big with C Spencer Hawes. They are young enough, and Michael Jordan should try to move pick for a veteran if he can.
9.
Chicago --- Bulls have the Knicks' pick and it's not all that appealing for a team that is pretty set but needs a scoring power forward. They take Jeff Green unless Hawes is still around.
10.
Sacramento --- Kings have talked about dealing PG Mike Bibby and want to move PF/nut job Ron Artest. They could go for PG Acie Law or PF Al Thornton of FSU. I say Thornton.
Kings could roll the dice on PF/C Yi Jianlian of China, although I'm not sold.
11. Atlanta --- Hawks ought to trade out for a vet, but that's always easier said than done.
With Conley at point, along with Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams and Josh Smith, Hawks can't let SF Julian Wright slip past.
12. Philadelphia --- If I'm the Sixers, I try to trade up.
They could go for size with Yi or PF Josh McRoberts.
13. New Orleans -- Hornets need a big man and will take C Jason Smith or Yi, should he drop.
14. LA Clippers --- Clippers need a point guard --- Sam I Am can't play forever. But with no points left, they have to go best player available.
And that's SG Nick Young.
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