Mock Draft: The Cavs are up at #10!

[elindholm]

1. Orlando -- Emeka Okafor
2. L. A. Clippers -- Dwight Howard
3. Chicago -- Luol Deng
4. Charlotte -- Shaun Livingston
5. Washington -- Andris Biedrins
6. Atlanta -- Ben Gordon
7. Phoenix -- Andre Iguodala
8. Toronto -- Pavel Podkolzine
9. Philadelphia -- Josh Childress
10. Cleveland
11. Golden State
12. Seattle
13. Portland
14. Utah
15. Boston
16. Utah
17. Atlanta
18. New Orleans
19. Miami
20. Denver
21. Utah
22. New Jersey
23. Portland
24. Boston
25. Boston
26. Sacramento
27. L. A. Lakers
28. San Antonio
29. Indiana

 

[elindholm]

I'm waiting on this pick until I read all of the new rumors tomorrow morning.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

At this point I am thinking Harris, but I wont cast my vote till tomorrow sometime.

 

[F-Dog]

I think that there's a 99% chance that Josh Smith will be off the board by this point, so I'm going with him over Devin Harris. It's clear already that Harris will be the pick here, though.

Question--has Josh Smith worked out for anybody since he met with the Suns? Does anybody know what his schedule is like from this point onward?

 

[elindholm]

For what it's worth, I have been reading that Smith's stock is dropping fast owing to his questionable attitude. So I don't think it's that unlikely that he falls out of the top 10. In their recently updated mock drafts, nbadraft and hoopshype both have him at #11 (Golden State), for whatever that's worth.

 

[F-Dog]

For what it's worth, I have been reading that Smith's stock is dropping fast owing to his questionable attitude. So I don't think it's that unlikely that he falls out of the top 10. In their recently updated mock drafts, nbadraft and hoopshype both have him at #11 (Golden State), for whatever that's worth.

I'm starting to think that the Suns have locked him down, actually.

I'll have to scrounge around looking for his itinerary so I can see whether the facts support my little hunch.

 

[George O'Brien]

Back to the Cavs in their gallant quest to make the playoffs next season...

The Cleveland papers seem pretty clear that the Cavs are looking for another PG. Jeff McInnis averaged 35 minutes a game after going to the Cavs and his injury killed their run for the playoffs. No one doubts they will pick up his option for next season at $3.6 million for next season. But they need more depth. Kevin Ollie signed a big contract with them, but really stunk the place out while Dajuan Wagner prove beyond all doubt that he is NOT a PG.

There is also discussion that they may be looking for an SF. Eric Williams was their starter, but only shot 36%. Kendrick Brown may end up taking over at that position, but he has not really shown much in three years although his shooting is better this year.

I think if someone like Childress fell this far he might be taken, but otherwise i think it will be a PG. If Harris is gone, I would expect they would take Nelson.

Harris.

 

[Southpaw]

I voted for Rafael Araujo. Zydrunas is either gone or potentially hurt. Actually I would think the Cavs need to slide Lebron over to the 2 or 3 and get a full time PG, but I don't like Jameer Nelson at all. 2nd coming of Mateen Cleeves.

 

[elindholm]

I voted for Rafael Araujo. Zydrunas is either gone or potentially hurt.

I was thinking about that too. They really could use a center, unless they still have high hopes for DeSagana Diop. Boozer "can play center," but that's a fraud; Mihm was giving them decent backup minutes early last year, but they traded him away to get rid of Ricky Davis.

So it could be a PG or a center, unless (as George O'Brien observes) someone irresistable falls into their laps.

Edit: Heh, I just looked at the voting so far. It doesn't appear that my opinion is going to matter much!

 

[George O'Brien]

Harris is the last of players discussed as possible "early" picks. The other options are all described as "late lottery - mid round" type picks. They may regret passing on a big man, but Harris is likely to be considered a BPA as well as a need pick.

IMO, the Cavs will resign Z to a lower salary after next year. Everyone keeps saying his not in their plans, but he is hardly a stiff.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: C
Height: 7-3 Weight: 260
From: Lithuania
Player file | Team stats

2003-04 Statistics
PPG 15.3
RPG 8.1
APG 1.3
SPG .48
BPG 2.48
FG% .483
FT% .746
3P% .286
MPG 31.3

In the past two seasons he has played 81 games each and averaged over 30 minutes a game.

 

[elindholm]

I'm a bit busy this evening and this poll's outcome is clear, so I'll close it now.

The Cavaliers select Devin Harris.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm starting to think that the Suns have locked him down, actually.

I'll have to scrounge around looking for his itinerary so I can see whether the facts support my little hunch.

I was thinking the same thing earlier this evening. If they keep the pick I think they will take him. We will see how I feel about this tomorrow.

Joe Mama

 

[JCSunsfan]

The conspiracy theorist in me still believes they are taking Marty V. He hasn't pulled out of the draft yet has he? Many believe he will be the #1 or #2 pick next year.

If the Suns were convinced of that, let's just say that they figured the risks and gave him a guarantee REGARDLESS of how the lottery turned out. They would pick him 1-3 if the ping pong balls fell so. You all know that this is just the type of gamble that JC would take.

But the Suns also know that it is not likely at all. He has to remain in the draft and the Suns give him a top 7 guarantee. In return, Marty has to constantly leak that he will pull out if he doesn't get a top 5 guarantee.

Other teams look elsewhere, figuring Marty will not be available, but on draft day he's still in, slips under the radar, and the Suns pick him up.

It just seems like something they would do.

 

[George O'Brien]

The conspiracy theorist in me still believes they are taking Marty V. He hasn't pulled out of the draft yet has he? Many believe he will be the #1 or #2 pick next year.

If the Suns were convinced of that, let's just say that they figured the risks and gave him a guarantee REGARDLESS of how the lottery turned out. They would pick him 1-3 if the ping pong balls fell so. You all know that this is just the type of gamble that JC would take.

But the Suns also know that it is not likely at all. He has to remain in the draft and the Suns give him a top 7 guarantee. In return, Marty has to constantly leak that he will pull out if he doesn't get a top 5 guarantee.

Other teams look elsewhere, figuring Marty will not be available, but on draft day he's still in, slips under the radar, and the Suns pick him up.

It just seems like something they would do.

Why would they bother?

None of the first six teams are willing to wait on a long term project player. Right now I think there is a very good chance that Howard will be only non-college player taken in the first six. Guys like Childress and Gordon may not have the upside of MA, but they will play and in some cases even start next season. MA won't leave IR if he leaves Europe. He is simply not strong enough to play next season even in a limited role.

Right now I'm convinced that Biedrins will not be taken in the first six and he is generally considered to be far closer to being NBA ready than either MA or Pavel. The teams drafting 1-6 simply can't afford to wait on projects, they need to sell tickets.

The Suns can afford to be a bit more patient than the other teams, but the Colangelos may not even be running things in three years when MA starts to get minutes.

 

[Joe Mama]

There would be absolutely no reason for the Phoenix Suns to give Martynas a promise so early. Now if he stays in the draft after the deadline to drop out it's much more likely the Phoenix Suns have given him a promise.

Joe Mama