Off-Season Lowdown

D-Day Is Here: Another Mock
By Steve Alexander
Rotoworld.com
June 26, 2008

I thought I had posted my final mock draft on Tuesday, but several trades since then, some hedging in Miami, and some lost sleep over inexplicably putting Eric Gordon at No. 4 has me back for more punishment.

The Pacers sent Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, an unnamed player and the No. 17 pick in the draft, giving them a second first-rounder to go along with No. 11.

The Bobcats picked up the Nuggets' No. 20 pick for a future first-rounder.

And the Blazers bought New Orleans' No. 27 pick, supposedly to use on F Ante Tomic.

So, now that cooler heads have prevailed (well, except in Miami), here's what I hope is my final mock draft, at least until the fantasy mocks start rolling out.

1. Chicago Bulls – PG Derrick Rose – This is the only thing we're certain about, and the reality is they could still shock the world and take Michael Beasley. But don't count on that happening.

2. Miami Heat – F Michael Beasley - Do I think Beasley will play for the Heat? Not really. Pat Riley has decided that he is going to do whatever he can to trade this pick. Trade Shawn Marion, trade Beasley, trade D-Wade, sell his championship rings…whatever. But regardless of how much Riley doesn't want Beasley, he has to take him here. Beasley is a friggin' stud and is going to be a great pro. There's no reason for Riley to be acting this way, except that he's going to try to turn Beasley into three solid players. We'll see if he can pull it off. As much as Riley doesn't want to take Beasley here, he simply has to. But don't be surprised if Beasley gets traded for O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, D.J. Augustin, Mike Miller, whoever.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves – G O.J. Mayo - The Wolves could take Brook Lopez or Kevin Love, but after all the hullabaloo about Mayo, I'm not sure even Kevin McHale can pass him up. If he does take Lopez, it probably changes the rest of the draft dramatically and messes up all my picks.

4. Seattle SuperSonics – PG Russell Westbrook - Jerryd Bayless was the pick here for weeks, but the Sonics have soured on him. I threw Eric Gordon in here on Tuesday, but never felt right about it. They may very well go Brook Lopez or Love here, but that would be a bad omen after the last four center busts the Sonics have drafted over the last five years. So I'm gonna go with my gut and say they're going to take the second most exciting true point guard in the draft.

5. Memphis Grizzlies – C Brook Lopez - Memphis is wheeling and dealing and very well may not be making this pick for themselves. Maybe they're paring things down in preparation for a sale? I'm just saying. Lopez makes sense, Love makes sense and Gordon makes sense. Most mocks have Gordon going to Memphis, but I'm going to buck that trend and have them take a center to help replace Gasol. But things are so up in the air here, as they are getting calls from every team in the league…and they're listening.

6. New York Knicks – PG Jerryd Bayless - Everyone now has Danilo Gallinari going here, but I am still thinking point guard. Donnie Walsh would really like to see Westbrook or Mayo available here, and he might make a trade to move up. But if they stick with the pick, Bayless looks good to me.

7. Los Angeles Clippers – G Eric Gordon - Gordon could easily go higher than this, but I feel better having him at No. 7 instead of No. 4.

8. Milwaukee Bucks – F Joe Alexander - He's listed here in every mock on the planet, so go ahead and pencil the Bucks in for someone else.

9. Charlotte Bobcats – F Kevin Love - Love, who is the nephew of Beach Boys singer Mike Love, could easily go before this pick. But who knows? The Cats want a point guard or center, but Love will probably be the best player available. They could also pull off a surprise and go with point guard D.J. Augustin.

10. New Jersey Nets – F Danilo Gallinari - Call me crazy, but all signs 10 days ago said the Nets and Gallinari had poked some needles into their hands and shook on it, blood brother style. There's a new twist though, as the Blazers are said to have offered Jarrett Jack, No. 13 and 33 in exchange for this pick. And with that pick, they'd take D.J. Augustin to run the point in Portland. One high-ranking Portland executive even said something to the effect that Augustin was better right now than any point guard they had on their roster. Stay tuned.

11. Indiana Pacers – PG D.J. Augustin - Even though they have Ford, he's not exactly a guarantee with his chronic neck and back problems. Jamaal Tinsley is done in Indy and Travis Diener, is, um, Travis Diener. If the Blazers do sweep in and take Augustin at No. 10, I have no idea what the Pacers do here. Anthony Randolph?

12. Sacramento Kings – PF Anthony Randolph - Yeah, he's skinny and his stock is falling. But a lot of teams still love him and he makes perfect sense here.

13. Portland Trailblazers – G Mario Chalmers - There's almost no way they have this pick in the end, but if they do, Chalmers seems to make sense.

14. Golden State Warriors – SG Brandon Rush - Baron is as good as gone in the next 365 days, if not sooner. Eventually slide Monta Ellis to PG and then throw Rush out there at the 2?

15. Phoenix Suns – C Kosta Koufos - Shaq's career is winding down.

16. Philadelphia 76ers – PF Darrell Arthur - Reggie Evans is old.

17. Indiana Pacers (traded) – C Roy Hibbert - Pacers love Hibbert and might break Wizards' heart here. Coming out of the draft with Augustin and Hibbert would be viewed as a success.

18. Washington Wizards – C Alexis Ajinca - Ajinca will add to mediocre big-man collection in Washington, but they'll take Hibbert if he's there.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers – C Robin Lopez - Anderson Varejao may not be in Cleveland much longer, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is reaching the end of the road.

20. Charlotte Bobcats (traded) – C Marreese Speights - Cats want Hibbert here, but I bet he's gone. Speights could be a steal here and they want someone to fill the paint so Emeka Okafor can play power forward.

21. New Jersey Nets – PF JeVale McGee - Add McGee to the cluster of Nets big men.

22. Orlando Magic – SG Chris Douglas-Roberts - Would be a steal for Orlando here.

23. Utah Jazz – PF J.J. Hickson - They don't need another big, so might look at Donte' Greene instead.

24. Seattle SuperSonics – C DeAndre Jordan - Better to take a shot at center here instead of at No. 4.

25. Houston Rockets – SF Donte' Greene - Great shooter, but can he do anything else?

26. San Antonio Spurs – F Ryan Anderson - Anderson's stock has been climbing and would make sense here. Great shooter and ready to play in the NBA. Spurs may be foaming at the mouth over this one, even though I didn't even include him in my last mock.

27. Portland Trailblazers – F Ante Tomic - Supposedly bought this pick with Tomic in mind, and have been eyeing him for years.

28. Memphis Grizzlies – SG George Hill - Best player in the draft you've never heard of, out of tiny IUPUI in Indy. If Conley, Lowry or Mike Miller get moved, Hill might make it.

29. Detroit Pistons – F Bill Walker - A solid prospect and possibly best late-value pick on the board - If he proves to be healthy.

30. Boston Celtics – G Courtney Lee - Indy product via Western Kentucky could evolve into solid backup for Ray Allen.

Steve "Dr. A" Alexander is the senior editor for the NBA and PGA Tour for Rotoworld.com. The 2009-10 NBA season marks his eighth year of covering fantasy hoops for Rotoworld.com, and he was a Top 3 finalist for NBA Fantasy Writer of the Year in 2008-09. Follow him on Twitter at docktora.

Contact Steve Alexander