1. Portland  Greg Oden Praying this isn't Jordan all over again
2. Seattle  Kevin Durant Obvious
3. Atlanta  Brandan Wright Best player available
4. Memphis  Al Horford Grunt to play next to Pau
5. Boston  Yi Jianlian Merchandise baby!!!!
6. Milwaukee  Mike Conley Maurice maybe too expensive
7. Minnesota  Corey Brewer Good SF to play next to KG (or whoever they trade him for)
8. Charlotte  Joakim Noah Proven winner and solidifies the defence with Wallace and Okafor
9. Chicago  Spencer Hawes Big with post moves
10. Sacramento  Jeff Green Best player available

Tiebreaker  Brad Newley  drafted by Bucks Pick 56

1. Portland - Oden
2. Seattle - Horfprd
3. Atlanta - Durant
4. Memphis - Noah
5. Boston - Wright
6. Milwaukee - Conley
7. Minnesotta - Hawes
8. Charlotte - Brewer
9. Chicago - Jianlian
10. Sacramento - Green

Newley to the Bucks

Stern to make sure a trade happens so the first 2 do not strengthen the West even more..and to bail out the hapless Hawks..

Is that just wishful thinking DB5 or are you serious?

Which part?
If you are referring to the Stern comment, bit wishful, however would not suprise me..something has to be done, and Stern has been known to "fudge" things before...

That and Atlanta is starting to look like Dallas in the early 90's..

1: Oden - Portland
2: Durant - Seattle
3: Horford - Atlanta
4: Conley Jr - Memphis
5: B.Wright - Boston
6: Green - Milwaukee
7: Noah - Minnesota
8: Brewer - Charlotte
9: Hawes - Chicago
10: Jianlian- Sacramento
11: Law III - Atlanta

To a small degree Atlanta holds the key to this draft. Do they fill the PF position first (Horford/B.Wright) with the third pick or do they fill their other need at the PG position with Conley at three??? My above draft is Atlanta with a PF, below is Atlanta with a PG. If I'm Atlanta I'm doing the above as Law III and Crittenon will still be around at 11 and both have had good workouts.

1: Oden - Portland
2: Durant - Seattle
3: Conley Jr- Atlanta
4: Horford - Memphis
5: Wright - Boston
6: Green - Milwaukee
7: Noah - Minnesota
8: Brewer - Charlotte
9: Hawes - Chicago
10: Jianlian- Sacramento
11: Splitter - Atlanta

I also expect that there will be some movement in the 3-9 range with teams shuffling and wanting to move up or down.

SVD, for the points system take my first draft.

I agree with TR. Though for mine, if ATL don't take Conley, he falls to Milwaukee at 6.

1 Blazers: Oden
2 Sonics: Durant
3 Hawks: Horford
4 Grizzlies: B Wright
5 Celtics: Jianlian
6 Bucks: Conley
7 Wolves: Brewer
8 Bobcats: Green
9 Bulls: Noah
10 Kings: Hawes

Oh, and Newley at #55.

1. Portland !! Oden - Can't pass up a championship centre piece
2. Seattle !! Durant - No brainer
3. Atlanta !! B Wright - Tight one with Horford..Seem to go for potential over performance
4. Memphis !! Horford - No brainer
5. Boston !! Brewer - Most underrated in the draft
6. Milwaukee !! Conley - sures up pg spot for yrs
7. Minnesotta !! J Wright - athleticism and versatility for a rebuilding franchise
8. Charlotte !! Noah - sticking with drafting proven winners & competitors
9. Chicago !! Hawes - Need his scoring from the frontcourt
10. Sacramento !! Green - Best player available

Also think Newley is going in the 2nd rd.

Not sold on the mystery man from China & im not sure if any team is.

1. Portland - Oden
2. Seattle - Durant
3. Atlanta - B Wright
4. Memphis - Horford
5. Boston - Brewer
6. Milwaukee - Noah
7. Minnesotta - Green
8. Charlotte - Noah
9. Chicago - Jianlian
10. Sacramento - J Wright

Newley Undrafted

I think Atlanta will trade down. Too many PF already, and they won't pick Conley at 3, would be a waste of a good pick.

Jianlian is the big unknown... who will gamble on him??? I don't think he is strong enough for the league. Will take him 4-5 years to do anything.

Plus didnt they say they had trouble verifying his true age ?(Jianlian)

Yeah, but they said that about Mutumbo his whole career....

Best looking 70 year old ever!

Skyhook - does it really matter if he's 19 or 22?

1: Oden - Portland
2: Durant - Seattle
3: Horford - Atlanta
4: Conley Jr - Memphis
5: B.Wright - Boston
6: Green - Milwaukee
7: Noah - Minnesota
8: Brewer - Charlotte
9: Hawes - Chicago
10: Jianlian- Sacramento

With Law III, Crittenton probably the next to go.

1. Portland - Oden
2. Seattle - Durant
3. Atlanta - Horford
4. Memphis - B Wright
5. Boston - Brewer
6. Milwaukee - Conley
7. Minnesotta - Green
8. Charlotte - Noah
9. Chicago - Jianlian
10. Sacramento - J Wright

Newley at #54

Olskoolgamer you have Noah twice =)

Mountbatten, isn't there a minimum age requirement for international draftees?

would that not have been worked out when he declared?

I still think Newls is in with a very good chance of being drafted by Dallas with the final pick of the draft

No one really knows. There are declared ages and then rumours about his real age. I read somewhere that on a tour to the US he once told Shane Battier he was a certain age that would put him significantly older than his declared age (e.g., 24 vs 19 or something like that).

I'd say that the NBA will go by his declared age in assessing his eligibility, but the truth will matter to teams. If he's 19, then he has years to develop, but if he's 24, that puts him only a handful away from his prime - the uncertainty could scare off a few teams?


I don't know the draftees that well, so if I put up a list I'd only be guessing based on those of the pros, but I reckon Newley will go at #55 to Utah who are in need of a shooting guard.

I heard somewhere that for him to play in the national team when he was younger, China had to lie about his age in order for him to play (saying he was old enough to compete when he was actually too young)

I'm confident that the only discrepency was overstating his age and that he is actually 19.

Atlanta too many PF's? Last time i checked Zaza Pachulia was their primary post option. They've got the choice between 2 of the best big men prospects of the last few drafts, with interior scoring and defense being their major weaknesses as a team. If they stay at 3 why would they not go big? oh yeh...it's the hawks

When Shelden Williams is your best power forward there is a tonne of room for improvements. B.Wright or Horford would instantly become the starting PF.

A yes I know Josh Smith plays PF, but he's a better SF.

Check out this Mock Draft.
Especially pick 50
Gives Brad a good review

http://themelobackpedal.com/2007/06/13/2007-nba-mock-draft-updated-6-14-07-3rd-edition

Not sure how respected the site is but http://hoopsaddict.com seem to like the website

1. Portland - Greg Oden

2. Seattle - Kevin Durant

3. Atlanta - *if they dont trade it* Mike Conley

4. Memphis - Al Horford

5. Boston - *if they dont trade it* Yi Jianlian

6. Milwakee - Brandon Wright

7. Minnesota - Joakim Noah

8. Charlotte - Corey Brewer

9. Chicago - *if they dont trade it* Jeff Green

10. Sacremento - Thaddeous Young

Newley - undrafted

Thanks AK-47, damn copy and paste!!!!

Updated list:

1. Portland - Oden
2. Seattle - Durant
3. Atlanta - B Wright
4. Memphis - Horford
5. Boston - Brewer
6. Milwaukee - Noah
7. Minnesotta - Green
8. Charlotte - Hawes
9. Chicago - Jianlian
10. Sacramento - J Wright

Newley Undrafted

1. Portland: Oden
2. Supersonics: Durant
3. Atlanta: Conley
4. Memphis: Al Horford
5. Boston Celtics: B Wright
6. Milwaukee: Brewer
7. Minnesota: J Green
8. Charlotte: Noah
9. Chicago: Jianlian
10. Sacramento: Hawes

Newley to go to the Spurs at pick 58.

1. Blazers - Oden
2. Superonics - Durant
3. Hawks - Al Horford
4. Grizzlies - Mike Conley Jnr
5. Celtics - Jeff Green
6. Bucks - Brandon Wright
7. Timberwolves - Spencer Hawes
8. Bobcats - Corey Brewer
9. Bulls - Joakim Noah
10. Kings - Yi Jianlian

Newley to scrape in at 59 and go to Suns.

Yi could go higher, cause his stocks have rised. Maybe even 3 or 4.

Hey - I am watching the draft tomorrow so probably won't be in at work - so I can tally up our picks over the weekend or Monday.

Let's hope it is a good one