This draft is becoming particularly hard to predict since there are many different players that have seen their draft stock fluctuate in the past few weeks. The aspect that makes it even harder is the number of trades that should be expected in the 1st round. Already, the Blazers reportedly purchased the 27th pick from the Hornets and the Bobcats have received the 20th pick from the Nuggets for a future 1st rounder. Also, the Rockets will send the 25th pick and Luther Head to the Wizards for the 18th pick and Jermaine O’Neal is being shipped to the Raptors for TJ Ford, the 17th pick, and other considerations. Other trades to expect are the Heat moving their pick, the Nets swapping picks and players with the Blazers, and many other lottery teams trying to move up or down to get the player they want.
1. Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose PG
2. Miami Heat – Michael Beasley F
3. Minnesota Timberwolves – OJ Mayo G
4. Seattle Supersonics – Russell Westbrook G
5. Memphis Grizzlies – Eric Gordon SG
6. New York Knicks -Danilo Gallinari SF
7. LA Clippers – Jerryd Bayless G
8. Milwaukee Bucks – Joe Alexander SF
9. Charlotte Bobcats – Brook Lopez C
10. NJ Nets – Kevin Love PF
11. Indiana Pacers – Anthony Randolph F
12. Sacramento Kings – DJ Augustin PG
13. Portland Trailblazers – Brandon Rush G/F
14. GS Warriors – Kosta Koufas C
15. Phoenix Suns – Mario Chalmers PG
16. Philadelphia 76ers – Marreese Speights PF
17. Indiana Pacers – DeAndre Jordan C
18. Houston Rockets – Courtney Lee SG
19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Darrell Arthur PF
20. Charlotte Bobcats – Robin Lopez C
21. NJ Nets – Roy Hibbert C
22. Orlando Magic – Donte Greene SF
23. Utah Jazz – JaVale McGee C
24. Seattle Supersonics – Nicolas Batum G/F
25. Washington Wizards – Jason Thompson PF
26. San Antonio Spurs – Ryan Anderson PF
27. Portland Trailblazers – Alexis Ajinca C
28. Memphis Grizzlies – JJ Hickson PF
29. Detroit Pistons – Chris Douglas Roberts SG
30. Boston Celtics – DJ White PF
The picks will probably not play out this way because, as stated before, there should be lots of trades. A recent trend that I would expect to see less of this year would be drafting foreign players late in the 1st round in the hopes of them developing overseas. Since 1st round contracts are fixed and the euro is currently superior to the dollar, it will be harder to coax international players to take less money to come over and play in the states. It makes more sense to take these players in the 2nd round, especially if they have already proven themselves in the European leagues.
