Final Mock Draft

Sorry, I will go further in depth about tonight's NBA Draft tomorrow. Before it all begins, here is my final Mock Draft for the First Round.
1. Chicago Bulls: Derek Rose, PG, Memphis
2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: OJ Mayo, SG, USC
5. Memphis Grizzlies: Kevin Love, SF/PF, UCLA
6. New York Knicks: Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA

7. Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Jarryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
10. New Jersey Nets: Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy
11. Indiana Pacers: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU
12. Sacramento Kings: D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas
13. Portland Trailblazer: Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas
14. Golden State Warriors: Robin Lopez, C/PF, Stanford C
15. Phoenix Suns: Alexis Ajinca, C, France
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
17. Toronto Raptors (Indiana Pacers): Donte Green, SF, Syracuse
18. Washington Wizards: Marreese Speights, PF/C, Florida
19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State
20. Denver Nuggets (Charlotte Bobcats): Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown
21. New Jersey Nets: Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
22. Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee, SG/SF, Western Kentucky
23. Utah Jazz: JaVale McGee, C, Nevada
24. Seattle Supersonics: J.J. Hickson, SF, NC State
25. Houston Rockets: Bill Walker, SG, Kansas State
26. San Antonio Spurs: Nicolas Batum, SF, France
27. New Orleans Hornets (Portland Trailblazers): Ante Tomic, C, Croatia
28. Memphis Grizzlies: Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis
29. Detroit Pistons: DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M
30. Boston Celtics: DJ White, PF, Indiana

NBA Mock Draft 1

So now we know the order of the lottery so it seems like the right time to get started with the Mock Drafts. This is a very basic lottery mock draft for now. I'll get more detailed with each pick soon, but wanted to get this one out there for now. A few things I'd like to mention: I think the Timberwolves should go with OJ Mayo at #3, but I think they will go Brook Lopez. Danilo Gallinari seems to be destined for New York because of his relationship with Mike DiAntoni, however if Mayo somehow falls to the Knicks it would make things interesting for them since it could bring legitimate star power back to the Garden and you know the fans would be impatient with Gallinari. Anyhow, best guess at this point in time:
1. Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose, PG Memphis
2. Miami Heat- Michael Beasley, PF Kansas State
3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Brook Lopez, C Stanford
4. Seattle Supersonics- Jerryd Bayless, PG Arizona
5. Memphis Grizzlies- O.J. Mayo, SG USC
6. New York Knicks- Danilo Gallinari, SF Italy
7. Los Angeles Clippers- Anthony Randolph, SF/PF LSU
8. Milwaukee Bucks- Eric Gordon, SG Indiana
9. Charlotte Bobcats- Kevin Love, C UCLA
10. New Jersey Nets- DeAndre Jordan, C Texas A&M
11. Indiana Pacers- DJ Augustin, PG Texas
12. Sacramento Kings- Russell Westbrook, PG UCLA
13. Portland Trailblazers- Joe Alexander, SF West Virginia
14. Golden State Warriors- Darrell Arthur, PF Kansas

That Just Happened!

A couple of notes about last night's NBA Draft Lottery:

1. My Bulls somehow bucked the odds and landed the #1 pick. I don't know exactly how to react to this. To be honest, it hasn't even sunk in. The team that some publications were picking to win the Eastern Conference this year, had a down year, but somehow landed the first pick? I think I was more excited when we found out the Bulls jumped into the top 3. At that point? Playing with house money. Also, sitting with a few Timberwolves fans, I was hoping they'd land #1 or #2 along with the Bulls. Then, the Wolves landed the #3 pick and I wanted to feel bad at that moment but then I realized: Holy shit, the Bulls are going to get Michael Beasley or Derrek Rose. That thought lasted for all of three seconds before the Heat's logo popped up and then I realized: Holy shit, the Bulls are going to have their choice between Michael Beasley or Derrek Rose!

2. You gotta feel for Timberwolves fans. They seemed to know they wouldn't get the first or second pick before the lottery began. Almost as if just having Kevin McHale in the front office makes you lose all hope in your team. After landing the #3 pick, you can almost see Danilo Gallinari getting fitted for his Timberwolves hat (You might think I'm just pouring salt into the collective wounds of Wolves fans, but Chad Ford thinks it's a distinct possiblity).

3. So Bulls take Beasley/Rose and Miami takes option #2, do both teams make the playoffs next year? I think the Bulls are in (they just had a quirky season) but assuming Wade is healthy and Marion resigns with the Heat? Is it really that far fetched? That could end up being a 7 or 8 seed.

4. Fred Hoiberg's reaction to the Wolves landing at #3 is priceless. The teddy bear he was holding didn't do him any favors (yes, I know the bear was a gift from a sick kid to bring the Wolves good luck, but combine the teddy bear with Hoiberg looking 12 years old--even if you're Wolves fan, you have to find it funny). Don't agree? Go to the 5:33 mark in this video and try and tell me it's not funny.

We'll have much more on the NBA Draft over the next few weeks leading up to the draft. Josh Nguyen will be posting more draft bios and I'll be doing my weekly mock draft starting this week.

Another Lottery That I Will Not Win Anything In

Tonight is the NBA Draft Lottery. If you've never seen the lottery before here's how it breaks down: a bunch of guys affiliated with the NBA teams that missed the playoffs sit in a room while wearing suits and watch an old guy open envelopes that will decide the draft order. Then, in about a month, another old guy will proceed to list names off. And yes, I'll watch both in their entirety (the NBA Draft is one of my biggest--if not my biggest vice in the sporting year). A few times over the last two decades or so there have been a few players that were considered the big prizes of the lottery (meaning they would be the number one overall pick no matter what because they were considered "sure things") like Lebron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and Greg Oden last year.
Although there are no players considered to be definitive #1 picks the consensus is that Kansas State's Michael Beasley and Memphis point guard Derrek Rose will be the first two picks in either order depending on who drafts.
My Bulls? 1.7% chance of the #1 pick. I would love Rose over Beasley, but I cannot imagine that situation going down. The Bulls seem destined to stay in their place and grab Kosta Koufos.
If you can't wait until tonight, go over to ESPN.com and check out Chad Ford's lottery machine.

Chad Ford's NBA Draft Lottery Machine

Get To Know Your NBA Draft Prospects: OJ Mayo

The NBA Draft is June 26. Between now and then The Reach Blog is going to try and get you up to speed with the players who will be drafted. Josh Nguyen is a guest analyst and his views will either make you laugh, cry, or yawn (hopefully none of the three). Today's prospect is USC Freshman OJ Mayo.

O.J. Mayo, SG, 6’5 200 lbs
20.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 4.5 rrb, 1.5 spg
Projected 3rd thru 7th Pick
If your team is lucky enough to get the first or second pick in the NBA Draft don’t be upset because O.J. is a great consolation prize. Well he isn’t Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose but his potential to be an NBA all-star is just as good.
The more I watch his game along clips from his freshman year at USC and his high school tapes he reminds me of Gilbert Arenas. Like Agent Zero, Mayo is willing to pull the trigger from anywhere on the court but that also leads to shooting his team out of games. You’ll love that fact that he can take over a game at any moment buts it more of a “let me score and no one else” type of performance. He doesn’t really make his teammates better by passing but he will by drawing double teams and breaking down zones defenses by driving to the lane. To give Mayo some credit he wasn’t really working with much at USC. One last thing on Mayo’s game he can be a shut-down defender when he wants to.
The off-the-court questions have plagued him during his quest to the NBA since 9th grade when he popped on the scene. Especially with the recent allegations of him accepting over 30 grand in money from an agent. Not to worry, you’ve got to understand that these allegations are coming from a convicted cocaine dealer and as much as we trust the people who supply drugs he may not be the most creditable person. So if these are false, O.J. has been at one of the most distracting college campuses in the nation and has come out with a better reputation then he entered with. We all have dreams of getting the 1st or 2nd pick but if it doesn’t happen don’t be sad. Be happy, because you can get a guy who can be a 20 point per night scorer in the league. The question I leave you with is, would you like to have Gilbert Arenas on your favorite team?

NBA Comparison: Gilbert Arenas

Knowing Your NBA Draft Prospects: Kevin Love

The NBA Draft is June 26. Between now and then The Reach Blog is going to try and get you up to speed with the players who will be drafted. Josh Nguyen is a guest analyst and his views will either make you laugh, cry, or yawn (hopefully none of the three). Today's prospect is UCLA Freshman Center, Kevin Love.
Kevin Love, C, 6’10 270 lbs
17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.4 bpb, 1.4 apg
Projected 6th thru 12th Pick
Does your team need a low post scoring threat? Are you in need of a quality rebounded? If you answered yes to either or both of the questions The University of California Los Angeles has a guy for you. Please give a Reach-Around Blog welcome to Lake Oswego’s favorite son, Center, Kevin Love.
During his time at UCLA Kevin Love played all his games at Center, but even before he upgrades out of his 12ft’ by 20ft’ dorm, he will change his position to play Power Forward in the league. At 6’10 and 270 pounds he just too small to play center and he lacks the athleticism to stick at the “5’. He had a tough time when he played The Twins from Stanford (Brook and Robin Lopez), holding him under his season average points and rebounds in the three times they played. It’s been mostly bad on Love to this point but there are some good things about his game that will translate to the NBA.
First, he will be able to score in the league on and off the block. Kevin is able to hit the jumper in the 15 to 18 foot range will ease. When Love is posting up he’s not the biggest guy or the best athlete, but he makes up for both by being fundamentally sound and getting superb position on the block. Secondly, the part of his game that sets him apart from most big men is his passing. He passes extremely well at the top of the key and he is the best outlet passer in College Basketball. I will apologize now but there is more negative, he gives you almost nothing as defense goes. The biggest question for him is that will he be able to guard anyone. Even though Kevin is a bad defender he cleans the glass well.
As I rack my NBA mind to see who Love reminds me of, the best comparison I came with up is former NBA All-star Vin Baker. Like Baker, he lacks explosion and size but a very good mid-range game and more then adequate rebounding will keep him in the league. If he wants to stay there he’s got to keep his weight down so he can keep what little hoops he has. By the way I’m talking Vin Baker when he played for the Bucks and early with the Sonics and not when he was hitting the bottle. I see no problem with Kevin Love averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds in his career. So if you team need a constant scorer and rebounded, this is your guys.
NBA Comparison: Vin Baker (Pre Happy Hour)

Knowing Your NBA Draft Prospects: Brook Lopez

The NBA Draft is June 26. Between now and then The Reach Blog is going to try and get you up to speed with the players who will be drafted. Josh Nguyen is a guest analyst and his views will either make you laugh, cry, or yawn (hopefully none of the three). Today's prospect is Stanford Cardinals' sophomore center, Brook Lopez.
Brook Lopez, C, 7’0 ft, 260 lbs
19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.4 apg
Projected 3rd thru 6th Pick
This is where the drop-off beings as far as potential goes in the NBA Draft. A lot like last year everyone was drooling over the talents of the Top 2 and the same goes for this year. I think of Brook Lopez as the Al Horford of this year’s draft.
Brook has a lot of good qualities in his game but doesn’t really have any great or defining skills to set him apart. I wouldn’t hold that against him because you need those guys that are solid all the way around to have a winning ball club. Think Kevin Willis without the crazy guns (yes, I just referred to another mans arms as guns) and that would be a good reflection of Brook Lopez’s game.
In college he was a good scorer but it was much to do because of his size. At 7’ft he would shoot over a lot of smaller players and even though he did that a fair amount. Brook did expand his game this year by trying to extend his range. One problem with that is some bad shots came out of the deal and it lead to some bad shooting performances. You’re in good shape if he is a 3rd or 4th options offensively, but beware he can take over a game. Love his intangibles he brings to the table, intensity and leadership are a main reason he is such a highly coveted prospect. For Brook and his career in the NBA, his rebounding and defensive will be the key to his longevity.
Put Lopez on a team where he doesn’t have to be a vocal point of the offensive and he will excel. Let him get his buckets off the offensive glass until his mid-range gets better and you will have a quality big man for a while. So if you’ve given up on the top two pick be content with getting a guy who can help you win for along time.
NBA Comparison: Kevin Willis