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I don't buy most of their analysis, but at least they give their rationale:
“What SHOULD happen” Mock Draft
“What SHOULD happen” Mock Draft
The “What SHOULD happen” Mock Draft (as opposed to “what will”)
Jonathan Givony - President Printer Friendly Page
June 26, 2005
1. Milwaukee Bucks- Andrew Bogut- This is a no brainer as Bogut is a legit 7 footer center with an excellent array of all around skills. A center of his caliber comes along every five years or so, which is why Milwaukee will snatch him right up at #1 without thinking twice. We’ve been calling Bogut to go #1 since November, while going against the grain all of last year already saying that he should be a top 10 pick. We’re definitely not going to change that now.
2. Atlanta Hawks- Marvin Williams- When a player with the athleticism, skills, intangibles and especially the incredible upside that Williams has falls to you at #2, you make room for him on your team even though he doesn’t quite fill a need at the moment. He isn’t tantalizing enough to go #1 in our minds, but he’s still going to be a fantastic player for the Hawks for years to come. They are nowhere close to competing right now and should continue to stockpile young talent at every position until they are.
3. Portland Trailblazers- Chris Paul- Portland should try to find a way to either trade this pick or possibly move Sebastian Telfair for a starting caliber player at another position of need. This is most certainly a cop out here, but I feel very strongly about the fact that Chris Paul is going to be an allstar PG in this league for many years to come. It’s not even out of the question in my mind that he might end up being the best player in this entire draft if he manages to keep his head on straight and continue to work on a game that has very few weaknesses at the moment. This pick is more about the player that’s on the board rather than the team picking.
4. New Orleans Hornets- Gerald Green- The Hornets say that are looking for someone who can help them now rather than down the road, which is why they will probably end up going with Deron Williams. I think looking for a bandaid would be a mistake would be a mistake, though, which is why I believe swinging for the fences is what they should be looking to do. Green has all of the raw tools and skills you look for in a player his age at his position, and therefore deserves to get picked as high as number four. Whether or not he reaches his full potential (which is off the charts) is more up to the team that drafts him and the player himself, but with the right coach and plan for developing him Green should be absolutely fine.
5. Charlotte Bobcats-Deron Williams- Possibly more than anyone else in this draft, the thing that will ultimately decide just how good of a player Deron Williams turns out to will really depend on who he is drafted by and the type of players that are put next to him over the next few years. We’ve done a bit of a 180 on Williams over the last year and change. Last season we were trying to tell anyone who would listen that he is incredibly underrated compared with where most other people saw him as an NBA prospect (late 2nd round in 2006 according to some…), making him a permanent fixture in the lottery for most of last year and almost all of this. Now we’re not sure if he’s become overrated by those who just started watching him over the course of the NCAA tournament. It seems like a team that picks Williams expecting him to be able to create his own shot, score from different parts of the floor and break apart defenses by getting into the lane will be sorely disappointed. He’s a classic case of a point guard who needs great players around him to fully be able to take care of his strengths as a playmaker. If he can find that in his first few seasons he will be absolutely fine, if he’s stuck in mediocrity, though, asking him to be something that he’s not, there might be some issues.
6. Utah Jazz- Raymond Felton This is not only the right player for this team when taking positions into consideration, we’re also talking about a great fit as far as the skills he brings to the table. While Felton might be an inch or two undersized, he doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses to his game that can’t be corrected by playing for a coach like Jerry Sloan. His defense, leadership, passing ability and especially his speed will make the Jazz an extremely dangerous team in both the half-court offense (Sloan’s specialty) and on the break (where Felton really excels). Unless the Jazz can find a way to make a trade for an outstanding starting PG, I just don’t see where they are going to find a PG of Felton’s caliber that will be willing to play for them. Felton has the credentials to back himself up and could go a long way in making the Jazz a more attractive place to play for years to come.
7. Toronto Raptors- Danny Granger- The Raptors need a PG, but with the three best ones off the board and any move for a big man being a reach at this point, Granger is the safest and also the most sensible pick. He brings them a lot of skills that they can use right off the bat, including defense, perimeter shooting, length, scoring from both inside and out and a phenomenal personality and work ethic to along with that. He isn’t outstanding in any particular area right now and would probably be better off going to a playoff team, but this is a step in the right direction for the Raptors who need an identity and someone who the fans can rally around.
8. New York Knicks- Andrew Bynum- This seems like probably the exact opposite direction in which Isaiah Thomas will head, but with no legit starting center prospect on the board and no real way for the Knicks to escape mediocrity over the next few seasons, this is the direction that they should head in if they are truly serious about one day bringing a championship the Big Apple. I’m not sure what their scouts think about Bynum or whether this is even a feasible possibility for the Knicks in a city like New York, but Bynum’s size, body, athleticism and upside are something that every team drafting from this point on will be hard pressed not to take a long hard look at as things start to get awfully murky around this point.
9. Golden State Warriors- Joey Graham- For a team that’s stockpiled talent for the last few years and is clearly on the rise and finally ready to compete thanks to Baron Davis, a pick in this part of the draft could be a great way for them to add some more toughness and athleticism at two positions in which they are lacking those things the most. Graham brings them both in huge bundles, and would fit in extremely will in the type of uptempo Phoenix Suns style system that they say they will be utilizing next year.
10. Los Angeles Lakers- Jarrett Jack- The first major reach on our mock draft brings us to one of the most underrated prospects in this entire draft. Most people seem to be overlooking Jack because of the depth of the PG position this year and the fact that he was forced to take more on himself than he should have had to playing for Georgia Tech, but he has all the tools you look for in a starting caliber NBA PG for years to come. Jack has phenomenal size, toughness and defensive ability and has enough athleticism, playmaking and shooting ability to contribute big minutes for a team right off the bat if he lands in the right situation. With the hiring of Phil Jackson and the return to the triangle system, Jack would be absolutely perfect for them as their lead guard as he does everything a PG in Jackson’s system needs to be able to do, including being able to play off the ball if needed.
11. Orlando Magic- Antoine Wright The Magic are looking for a pure shooting guard who can knock down shots and play good defense for them and they get exactly what they are looking for if Wright falls to them at #11.
12. Los Angeles Clippers- Johan Petro- While Petro will probably go lower than this, there is no one better here on the board for the Clippers to reach for, which usually means that it’s time to draft for size. Petro has an NBA body and athleticism for the center position, along with the raw skills along and upside to warrant being drafted this high. He has to prove to people that he has the desire and heart to be a force in the NBA, but at age 19 and with those physical attributes this is the type of gamble you can afford to make.
13. Charlotte Bobcats-Fran Vazquez- While I’m not necessarily buying into the “immediate impact” argument that everyone seems to be making for him, strictly because of the fact that I went out of my way to actually see him play, at this point in the draft Vazquez makes good value because of his size, athletic ability, and the few, but very important NBA skills he brings to the table. There will certainly be an adjustment period for Vazquez, but the Bobcats are a team that can definitely afford that.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves- Roko Leni-Ukic- This is probably a big higher than he’ll actually get drafted, but Ukic would make a very good fit for the T’Wolves and generally is going to make a very nice pro thanks to his size and talent. It’s baffling why, but people have been sleeping on him all year long despite the fact that he’s been on the radar for a long time and is a very productive player in a fairly competitive league, leading one competition he played in this year in scoring and the other in assists. Ukic brings a nice mix of a lot of the characteristics you look for in a European prospect, but unlike most Euros, he has an NBA game, speaks perfect English, really wants to be an NBA player and is willing to sacrifice to make that happen. He should be a nice pro once he settles in.
15. New Jersey Nets- Ike Diogu- The Nets are in a position to draft a number of excellent NCAA power forwards that can step right in and make an impact for them, but Ike Diogu is the best of the bunch and fits their needs better than anyone else on the board. Despite being an inch or two undersized, Diogu’s length, toughness and heart will make up for him being undersized and allow him to be an effective NBA power forward for years to come. We’ve been extremely high on him all year long and had him slated around this area for almost the entire year. Diogu is going to make a very good pro when it’s all said and done.
16. Toronto Raptors- Channing Frye- With the top four PG’s all off the board at this point and their needs on the wing filled with their earlier pick, the Raptors can afford to take a player with some size who can come in and be a decent rotational player right off the bat. Frye will get drafted higher than he should because of the fact that there just aren’t that many big men in this draft, but only time will tell us how much of a mistake that was. His NCAA career was underwhelming for the most part and there are major questions regarding whether he’s tough enough physically and mentally to be a factor in the league while playing extended minutes.
17. Indiana Pacers- Martell Webster- The fact that he’s probably the best shooting prospect on the board (considering his size and age) ends his slip from the lottery, but it’s still up to Webster to prove that he’s worthy of being drafted at this spot. We’ve openly questioned whether Webster is athletic enough to automatically be granted the upside card that every high school player is just handed, but the measurements revealing that he’s essentially 6-8 makes that a little bit less of a concern considering that he can play the small forward position.
18. Boston Celtics- Hakim Warrick- Picking at 18, Warrick’s freakish athleticism and reach override the fact that he really doesn’t have a position at the next level. Danny Ainge (or whoever drafts him) would have to get Warrick an uptempo PG who can really let Warrick play to his strengths, but at the end of the day, Warrick has great potential as an off the bench mismatch sparkplug almost wherever he gets drafted.
19. Memphis Grizzlies-Sean May- There is no center or point guard here on the board to help the Grizzlies fill a need, which means that Memphis should just either trade the pick or select the player they think is the best available on the board. Sean May would probably be that guy here, not to mention that Jerry West has always been super high on experienced college players who can come in and contribute immediately.
20. Denver Nuggets- Yaroslav Korolev- The Nuggets are looking to pick one European player that they can keep overseas for a few years, and Korolev is the most talented of the bunch. With absolutely no precedent for a player of his age and limited experience entering the draft and actually panning out, it’s hard to justify taking him any higher.
21. Phoenix Suns- Andray Blatche- With one eye on the future, the Suns should take a high school player who fits in with their system, compliments Amare Stoudamire and has one of the highest ceilings of any player in this draft.
22. Denver Nuggets- Francisco Garcia- The Nuggets need to come away from this draft with at least one sharp-shooting two guard to address an immediate need. Garcia fills that role perfectly and should be ready to contribute at least to some extent right away.
23. Sacramento Kings- Charlie Villanueva- The Kings play in a perfect way to maximize Villanueva’s strengths. This is one franchise where he could actually flourish playing facing the basket. There are too many question marks about Villanueva’s personality to justify him going any higher than this, although in the real draft that’s certainly out of the question.
24. Houston Rockets- Chris Taft- Taft is one of those players who everyone just assumed will get drafted high because of his size and athleticism, but it seems like the cat got out of the bag about a month too early about his spotty work ethic and heart This late in the draft he could be a potential steal and a player who can really contribute if Coach Van Gundy can light a fire underneath him. If he indeed goes this low he has no one to blame but himself.
25. Seattle Supersonics- Martynas Andriuskevicius This late in the draft, the Sonics can afford to gamble on a player like Andriuskevicius. There is no telling whether or not he’ll pan out, as history and early indications seem to tell us that the odds seem to be stacked against him. Regardless, he’s 7-3 and in the draft and someone will probably be willing to roll the dice.
26. Detroit Pistons- Matt Walsh- With no one shooting over 29% from outside, the Pistons found out in the NBA finals that they desperately need a shooter to open up the floor for their slashers and big men. Walsh has a phenomenal stroke so he can help them in that aspect right away, as well as give them some ball-handling and toughness to go along with that.
27. Utah Jazz- Wayne Simien Questions about his athleticism and injury problems in the past drop him a lot farther than he should, but Simien is still a first round talent at the end of the day and had a long and excellent NCAA career to back that up.
28. San Antonio Spurs- Ersan Ilyasova- The Spurs have no major needs they can address this late in the draft, and therefore can afford to stick to what’s worked for them in the past by taking a long term prospect with potential who may or may not pan out for them down the road.
29. Miami Heat- Luther Head- Next to Dwayne Wade Head will not be able to play the point in small stretches until he feels comfortable at the position, but will still be able to contribute by guarding point guards, using his excellent athletic ability and knocking down three pointers.
30. New York Knicks- Randolph Morris- This late in the first round, Morris is a gamble that could really pan out if the light switch comes on for him one day and he learns how to maximize his size and NBA body in the post. If not, they can always cut him after two or three years thanks to the new CBA. We’re talking about a low risk, high reward type proposition, a la Nazr Mohammed a couple of years back.
Second Round
31. Atlanta Hawks- Orien Greene
32. LA Clippers- Rashad McCants
33. New Orleans- Julius Hodge
34. Utah- Tiras Wade
35. Portland- David Lee
36. Milwaukee- Linas Kleiza
37. LA Lakers- Jason Maxiell
38. Orlando- Kennedy Winston
39. LA Lakers- Salim Stoudamire
40. Golden State- Mickaël Gelabale
41. Toronto- Ryan Gomes
42. Golden State-Louis Williams
43. New Jersey- Angelo Gigli
44. Orlando-Ronny Turiaf
45. Philadelphia- Brandon Bass
46. Indiana- Monta Ellis
47. Minnesota- Nate Robinson
48. Seattle- Stephen Graham
49. Washington- Erazem Lorbek
50. Boston- Mile Ilic
51. Utah- Robert Whaley
52. Denver- Eddie Basden
53. Boston- Travis Diener
54. New York- Lucas Tischer
55. Seattle- Will Conroy
56. Detroit- Uros Slokar
57. Phoenix- Stefano Mancinelli
58. Toronto- Ian Mahinmi
59. Atlanta – Aaron Miles
60. Detroit- Alan Anderson
