2012 NBA Draft

[TakingthePapiss]

Latest Mock courtesy of Chad Ford:

Now that the NBA regular season has ended, the draft order from 15-30 is finally set and the NBA's deadline to declare for the draft has passed, it's time to check back in with our fourth Mock Draft of the season.

(If you want to see what your team would do with the No. 1 pick, check out our Lottery Mock Draft with more than 2,000 scenarios).

Here's our best stab at a first-round mock draft after taking into account team needs.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Charlotte

Anthony Davis

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 220 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
(The Bobcats have a 25 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: Well, that 23-game losing streak combined with the worst winning percentage in the history of the NBA better pay off. If the Bobcats land Davis, they have their frontcourt of the future and a young point guard, Kemba Walker, to start building around. If they miss out on Davis, the task becomes much more difficult.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Washington

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 18
School: Kentucky
(The Wizards have a 19.9 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Wizards desperately need Kidd-Gilchrist's leadership, toughness and work ethic. But they could also really use Brad Beal's shooting ability. I think the Beal versus Kidd-Gilchrist scenario is a toss-up right now, but I'd be surprised if there's anyone else seriously in the mix for the Wizards at No. 2.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Cleveland

Bradley Beal

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 18
School: Florida
(The Cavaliers have a 13.8 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: If the Cavs can stay in the top 3, it's a huge outcome for them. The Cavs scored big time when they landed Kyrie Irving last year. They would complete their backcourt overhaul if they could put Beal next to him. That would give them two high-octane scorers who can both handle the ball, get to the rim and shoot it -- an ideal scenario for the Cavs.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


New Orleans

Thomas Robinson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 237 pounds
Age: 21
School: Kansas
(The Hornets have a 13.7 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Hornets need both size and a point guard. But since there isn't really a point guard worthy of going this high in the draft, their choices are Robinson or Drummond. While Drummond might be the sexy pick here, Robinson is more of a sure thing and brings a toughness that the Hornets value.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Sacramento

Andre Drummond

Position: C
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 275 pounds
Age: 18
School: UConn
(The Kings have a 7.6 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: I can't really think of a more ideal pick for the Kings. Every year they tend to get the really huge upside guy who other teams pass on because of major red flags. In Drummond's case, the red flags are production. He has the physical talent to be a dominant pro, but only showed it in flashes as a freshman. If he puts it together, Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins would be a devastating front line.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Portland (via Nets)

Harrison Barnes

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: North Carolina
(The Blazers have a 7.5 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Blazers grabbed this pick from the Nets as part of the Gerald Wallace trade. It's top 3 protected so if the Nets win one of the top three spots in the lottery, the pick will revert back to Brooklyn.

The Blazers need help at both backcourt positions and at center. Not sure that Barnes really qualifies as a 2-guard and, in some ways, he duplicates what the team has in Nic Batum. But Portland needs shooters and players who can score the basketball and Barnes is terrific at that.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Golden State

Perry Jones III

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 20
School: Baylor
(The Warriors have a 3.6 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Warriors dodged a huge bullet on Friday when they won the coin toss and landed the No. 7 pick. Unless a team ranked No. 8 or below leapfrogs them in the lottery (there's roughly a 29 percent chance of that) they won't have to send this pick to the Jazz. I guess tanking pays off sometimes.

Jones has the talent to be a top 3 pick and many scouts believe his best pro position will be at the 3, which is a need for Golden State. If he lives up to his potential, this is a home run of a pick. But the Warriors have had their share of athletic, underperforming tweeners (Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright) in the past.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Toronto

Damian Lillard

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 21
School: Weber State
(The Raptors have a 3.5 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Raptors need help at both the wing and the point. Lillard can play some of both. His versatility and ability to shoot and score the basketball should serve them well.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Detroit

John Henson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 21
School: North Carolina
(The Pistons have a 1.7 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Pistons really need both length and athleticism in their frontcourt. We've had Jared Sullinger in Detroit the past few mock drafts, but I'm getting a sense that a player like Henson, or even Arnett Moultrie or Meyers Leonard, may have a better shot. All three seem like a bit of a reach at No. 9, but long athletes don't grow on trees and the Pistons might have to just take a risk here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


New Orleans
(via Wolves)

Kendall Marshall

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 188 pounds
Age: 20
School: North Carolina
(The Hornets have a 1.1 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: We have the Hornets taking a power forward with their first pick (No. 4). The question here is whether they go for a point guard like Kendall Marshall or whether they add some help in the middle. Marshall is a pass-first point guard who makes everyone around him better.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Portland

Tyler Zeller

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: North Carolina
(The Blazers have a 0.8 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Blazers don't have much of anything in the middle. Although Zeller doesn't project to be a star, he is big, runs the floor well and has a soft touch around the basket.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Milwaukee

Jared Sullinger

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 280 pounds
Age: 20
School: Ohio State
(The Bucks have a 0.7 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: Ersan Ilyasova had a breakout year for the Bucks at the power forward position this season, but he's a free agent and Milwaukee may not be able to afford to keep him. Sullinger might be a terrific alternative. He's a bit undersized, but his rebounding ability and offensive prowess make him a very attractive option at this point in the draft.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Phoenix

Austin Rivers

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 19
School: Duke
(The Suns have a 0.6 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Suns need a little bit of everything, but what they really need is star power. With Steve Nash possibly on the move this summer, someone has to sell tickets. If Rivers ever lives up to his potential, he could be a great get this low. He's going to have to rein in his game and get comfortable with who he is at the NBA level, but the talent is definitely there.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Houston

Terrence Jones

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 244 pounds
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
(The Rockets have a 0.5 percent chance of winning the lottery.)

Analysis: The Rockets drafted in the same spot last year and came away with Marcus Morris. Jones has some similar talents, but with more upside. At this point, the Rockets take the player with the most upside.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Philadelphia

Terrence Ross

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 21
School: Washington
Analysis: Jodie Meeks is the closest thing the Sixers have to a great 3-point shooter right now. Adding Ross would be an instant upgrade at the backup shooting guard spot.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Houston (via Knicks)

Arnett Moultrie

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 21
School: Mississippi State
Analysis: Moultrie has been steadily rising on draft boards the past few weeks as GMs and scouts go back and look at tape. His size, elite athletic ability and rebounding prowess make him worth the risk. In fact, I wonder if he'll really go this low. The Pistons could grab him at No. 9.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Dallas

Jeremy Lamb

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 19
School: UConn
Analysis: This would be a very surprising slide if Lamb drops this far. A few GMs believe he's a top 7 or 8 talent. But his laid-back nature and so-so shooting ability have given some teams pause. If he went 10 spots higher I wouldn't be surprised. But if he slipped this low I wouldn't be shocked, either. With the Mavs looking to shore up young talent just about anywhere on their roster, Lamb is a great get at 17.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Wolves (via Jazz)

Dion Waiters

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 20
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Wolves' biggest need is at the 2-guard spot right now. While I'm sure they'd prefer a better shooter, Waiters' ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket should make him a coveted pick here. Like Moultrie, Waiters has been moving up draft boards the past few weeks. I could easily see him in the lottery by draft night.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Orlando

Meyers Leonard

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Illinois
Analysis: The Magic are in serious danger of losing Dwight Howard in the next year. Leonard is a far cry from Howard, but he's big, he's athletic and he has shown some raw promise, especially on the defensive end.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Denver

Quincy Miller

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: Baylor
Analysis: The Nuggets don't have any real glaring needs right now, which gives them the luxury of taking the best player left on the board. Had Miller stayed in school another year, he would've likely been a top 10 pick in 2013. He's great value here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Boston

Fab Melo

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 274 pounds
Age: 21
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Celtics are in desperate need of size. While Melo is miles away from being ready, he is big and can block shots and rebound. If he stays focused and in shape, he could be good value here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Boston (via Clippers)

Royce White

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Iowa State
Analysis: White is an enigma. He's clearly one of the most talented players in the draft, but concerns about an anxiety disorder and fear of flying will lower his stock. Celtics president Danny Ainge hasn't been afraid to gamble in the past and White could be worth the risk at this point in the draft.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Atlanta

Tony Wroten Jr.

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 205 pounds
Age: 18
School: Washington
Analysis: The Hawks have been cursed at the point guard position ever since they decided to pass on Chris Paul to draft Marvin Williams. Wroten is no CP3, but he may have the most talent of any point guard in the draft. He's big, he's athletic and he can get to the basket. If his shot wasn't broken and if he had a better rep as a teammate, he'd be a top 10 pick.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Cavs (via Lakers)

Moe Harkless

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 18
School: St. John's
Analysis: Harkless reminds me a little of Trevor Ariza. He is a terrific scorer and defender who needs to get a more settled jump shot. Put him on the floor with Kyrie Irving, Brad Beal, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao and the Cavs suddenly have a team that should be fighting for the playoffs again.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Memphis

Jeff Taylor

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 22
School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: Taylor is an elite athlete who can defend multiple positions. And this year he added a jump shot to top things off. With O.J. Mayo likely out the door, he's a good replacement.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Indiana


Marquis Teague

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 178 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
Analysis: Not only do the Pacers need more help at the point, but Teague is an Indy native who would be a great get here. He's not the pure point guard the Pacers really need, but he can push the ball effectively, get to the basket and create problems as a defender.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Miami

Draymond Green

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: Michigan State
Analysis: The Heat need players with experience who excel in bringing out the best in their teammates. Green can be a point-forward type who does a little of everything. Think of him as a better-passing Udonis Haslem.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Oklahoma City

Evan Fournier

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 206 pounds
Age: 19
School: France
Analysis: This draft is pretty thin on international players, with Fournier the only player with a serious shot at landing in the first round. He's a scorer who is putting up impressive numbers in Europe at a young age, making him a nice pick-and-stash prospect for the Thunder.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Chicago

Doron Lamb

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
Analysis: The Bulls are always looking for shooters and would have a tough decision between Lamb and Vandy's John Jenkins here. Both are lights out from long range, but I give Lamb the nod because he has a little more versatility than Jenkins.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Golden State
(via Spurs)

Andrew Nicholson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 222 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. Bonaventure
Analysis: Nicholson has gotten dramatically better every season and has some David West to his game. He would be a good fit in Golden State as a backup to David Lee.

[TakingthePapiss]

The lottery results are in and the New Orleans Hornets are the big winners of this year's draft lottery. That means it's time for Mock Draft 5.0.

At this point very little is set in stone, so expect our mock draft to fluctuate greatly over the course of the next four weeks. The Chicago NBA predraft combine, the adidas Eurocamp and hundreds of team workouts will dramatically alter the face of the draft.

But here's our best stab for now, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, on how the draft might play out on June 28.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


New Orleans

Anthony Davis

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 220 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
Analysis: What a huge win for the Hornets. They lost a superstar this year (Chris Paul) and then replace him with Davis. Pair him with Eric Gordon and New Orleans has a very strong foundation to build upon.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Charlotte

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 18
School: Kentucky
Analysis: This is a major blow for the Bobcats. Kidd-Gilchrist is the second-best player in this draft and will add toughness and leadership. Michael Jordan wants winners and Kidd-Gilchrist is a winner.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Washington

Bradley Beal

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 18
School: Florida
Analysis: Beal is a great get for the Wizards. The team could really use a dominant 2-guard to pair with John Wall. Beal is a very good fit who should be able to step in and contribute right away.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Cleveland

Harrison Barnes

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: North Carolina
Analysis: Thomas Robinson may be the best player left on the board but he's not a great fit with Tristan Thompson. The Cavs loved Barnes last year and I think they'll roll the dice on him again this year.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Sacramento

Thomas Robinson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 237 pounds
Age: 21
School: Kansas
Analysis: The Kings need toughness and athleticism on their front line and Robinson delivers both. He could help Sacramento turn around its culture.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Portland (via Nets)

Andre Drummond

Position: C
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 275 pounds
Age: 18
School: UConn
Analysis: The Blazers need size and Drummond is huge. He's a major project, but in the right team environment, Drummond could be another Andrew Bynum.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Golden State

Jared Sullinger

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 280 pounds
Age: 20
School: Ohio State
Analysis: The Warriors may be tempted by Perry Jones III, but I think they will instead go with a more proven player to help them on their front line. I hear the Warriors are quite high on Sully.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Toronto

Dion Waiters

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 20
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Raptors are filled with a roster of mostly soft jump shooters. What they really need is a tough player who can get to the basket and get his own shot at the end of games. They need a true scorer. DeMar DeRozan might get there someday, but Waiters is there right now. The fact that Waiters can also play some point guard is a bonus. He could go anywhere from No. 6 to No. 15 on draft night.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Detroit

John Henson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 21
School: North Carolina
Analysis: Greg Monroe has been a revelation in the middle for the Pistons, but they really need to pair him alongside an athletic shot blocker. Although Henson is painfully thin, he rebounds, blocks shots and defends multiple positions. It wouldn't be a perfect solution in Detroit, but the Pistons don't have a lot of other options here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


New Orleans
(via Wolves)

Damian Lillard

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 21
School: Weber State
Analysis: The Hornets lost their star point guard to the Clippers in a trade at the beginning of the season and had to piece it together this season. While Lillard is no CP3, he's the best point guard int he draft and should be a terrific pick. Lillard could go as high as No. 6.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Portland


Jeremy Lamb

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 19
School: UConn
Analysis: The Blazers really need a center or a point guard. But with Lillard off the board, I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the trigger on Lamb, who could go anywhere from No. 6 to No. 13 on draft night. Portland's scouting staff has been high on him all year and, while he wouldn't fill a primary need, he has the talent to eventually earn a spot as the team's starting 2-guard.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Milwaukee

Perry Jones III

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 20
School: Baylor
Analysis: The Bucks gambled a few years ago on Brandon Jennings and it paid off big time. At this point in the draft, Jones is less risk and more reward.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Phoenix

Terrence Ross

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 21
School: Washington
Analysis: The Suns need a little bit of everything, but they have a major hole at the 2-guard position. Ross has potential star power -- he is a great athlete, has good size and can really stroke the basketball. He'd be a nice addition in Phoenix.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Houston

Tyler Zeller

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: North Carolina
Analysis: The Rockets' biggest need is in the middle and Zeller should be a solid option. Scouts don't think Zeller is going to be an All-Star someday, but he's big, he runs the floor very well and he has a great touch around the basket. Zeller should ultimately land somewhere between picks 8 and 14.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Philadelphia

Arnett Moultrie

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 21
School: Mississippi State
Analysis: The Sixers need big athletes and Moultrie might be a great fit. He's long and athletic, he rebounds and he can stretch the floor with his jumper. Moultrie could be one of the real sleepers in the draft.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Houston (via Knicks)

Terrence Jones

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 244 pounds
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
Analysis: Jones is a bit of an enigma. He could go as high as No. 7 or he could slide to here. No one doubts his talent; they're just not sure what position he would play in the pros and whether he'll be willing to put in the work to be great. At this point in the draft, though, he's worth the risk.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Dallas

Kendall Marshall

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 188 pounds
Age: 20
School: North Carolina
Analysis: With Jason Kidd 39 and a free agent, and Rodrigue Beaubois more of a combo guard, Marshall would bring much of what Kidd brings to the table -- incredible court vision and size -- right away. He's not a great athlete or a great shooter, but he could keep Dirk and company happy.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Wolves (via Jazz)

Austin Rivers

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 19
School: Duke
Analysis: The Wolves' biggest need is at the 2 and Rivers could be a great get here. He can really shoot the basketball and has a killer crossover. He's going to have to get comfortable playing off the ball, but playing with Ricky Rubio could really help his game.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Orlando

Meyers Leonard

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Illinois
Analysis: The Magic are in serious danger of losing Dwight Howard in the next year. Leonard is a far cry from Howard, but he's big, he's athletic and he has shown some raw promise, especially on the defensive end.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Denver

Moe Harkless

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 18
School: St. John's
Analysis: The Nuggets don't have any glaring needs right now, which gives them the luxury of taking the best player left on the board. We've had Quincy Miller here the past few mock drafts, but there seems to be a growing consensus that Harkless might be the better prospect.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Boston

Fab Melo

Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 274 pounds
Age: 21
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Celtics are in desperate need of size. While Melo is miles away from being ready, he is big and can block shots and rebound. If he stays focused and in shape, he could be good value here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Boston (via Clippers)

Andrew Nicholson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 222 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. Bonaventure
Analysis: Nicholson is another draft sleeper who may really rise with workouts. He's big stretch 4 who has drawn some comparisons to David West. He would be another welcome addition to the Celtics' summer makeover.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Atlanta

Tony Wroten Jr.

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 205 pounds
Age: 18
School: Washington
Analysis: The Hawks have been cursed at the point guard position ever since they decided to pass on Chris Paul to draft Marvin Williams. Wroten is no CP3, but he may have the most talent of any point guard in the draft. He's big, he's athletic and he can get to the basket. If his shot wasn't broken, and if he had a better rep as a teammate, he'd be a top-10 pick.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Cavs (via Lakers)

Quincy Miller

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: Baylor
Analysis: Miller is an enigma. He began the season as a top-10 prospect, but struggled to overcome the effects of an ACL injury and never quite found his rhythm. If he finds his stride, this could be the steal of the draft for Cleveland.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Memphis

Evan Fournier

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 206 pounds
Age: 19
School: France
Analysis: I'm hearing the Grizzlies are looking to stash a player over in Europe this year. Fournier, a scoring wing from France, is the best European prospect on the board.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Indiana


Marquis Teague

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 178 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
Analysis: Not only do the Pacers need more help at the point, but Teague is an Indy native who would be a great get here. He's not the pure point guard the Pacers really need, but he can push the ball effectively, get to the basket and create problems as a defender. Picking Teague could make Darren Collison a very interesting trade chip in July.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Miami

Draymond Green

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: Michigan State
Analysis: The Heat need players with experience who excel in bringing out the best in their teammates. Green can be a point-forward type who does a little of everything. Think of him as a better-passing Udonis Haslem.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Oklahoma City

Jeff Taylor

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 22
School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: An elite athlete, Taylor can be a lockdown defender and has range on his jumper. He's probably undervalued at this point, but that happens to seniors. The Thunder will capitalize.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Chicago

John Jenkins

Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 21
School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: The Bulls need a shooter and Jenkins has one of the best strokes in the draft. His super-quick release and ability to finish at the basket make him an interesting prospect here.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


Golden State
(via Spurs)

Royce White

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Iowa State
Analysis: White, on talent alone, is a top-10 pick. But he's slipping a bit as teams worry that his anxiety disorder could disrupt his development. At pick 30, he's worth the risk.

[drd23]

For those that actually watch college basketball, is John Henson actually any good?

[sblack]

For those that actually watch college basketball, is John Henson actually any good?

He has a lot of upside. He is almost Davis-lite. Good defender, rebounder with solid offensive fundamentals which when he fills out and gains strength (hes like 220lbs or some shit), will help him. Can play back to the basket and score from there ... but in the NBA, won't be able to back down most guys yet.

He was very highly recruited out of HS. Top 3 I think.

[Dagger]

Seems rigged as fuck especially since New Orleans are about to be sold.

[sblack]

Seems rigged as fuck especially since New Orleans are about to be sold.

If it was rigged, it wouldve gone to Brooklyn imo.

[drd23]

Seems rigged as fuck especially since New Orleans are about to be sold.

If it was rigged, it wouldve gone to Brooklyn imo.

Long term vs short term imo.

Rigging it in favour of the Hornets immediately gives the franchise added value, which benefits the NBA in the short term as they are more likely to find buyers (and get more out of them).

Rigging it in favour of Brooklyn is more of a long term move imo because the NBA would then be banking on the addition of Davis leading to a good Nets team in the future (which obviously isnt guaranteed)

[yeah_nah]

You honestly think it was rigged?

[azm]

Isn't it always rigged

[sblack]

Only reason I could see it being rigged, is if Benson said he will only buy the team if they get the #1 pick.

NBA as a whole, Brooklyn wouldve been a much better move.

[Forbes]

Sort of feel bad for the Bobcats srs

[sXe]

Kinda mindblowing stuff all this if true from Woj.

NBA's problematic ownership of Hornets opens door to talk of rigged draft lottery - Yahoo! Sports

This was the fitting end to one of the darkest, most unseemly episodes in the history of the NBA, the perfect punctuation on the commissioner's manipulation of the sale and salvation of a lost franchise.

The New Orleans Hornets won the draft lottery and get to pick one of the most transcendent prospects in years, Kentucky's Anthony Davis. The NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets, with a 13.7 percent chance, won the lottery. For over a year, David Stern pushed hard to get maximum value for his owners on the re-sale of the Hornets, and Tom Benson gave Stern an asking price and an assurance the franchise wouldn't leave New Orleans.

"It's such a joke that the league made the new owners be at the lottery for the show," one high-ranking team executive told Yahoo! Sports. "The league still owns the Hornets. Ask their front office if new owners can make a trade right now. They can't. This is a joke."

Hornets coach Monty Williams represented the franchise at the draft lottery. (AP)The reaction of several league executives was part disgust, part resignation on Wednesday night. So many had predicted this happening, so many suspected that somehow, someway, the Hornets would walk away with Davis. That's the worst part for the NBA; these aren't the railings from the guy sitting at the corner tavern, but the belief of those working within the machinery that something undue happened here, that they suspect it happens all the time under Stern.

There's no proof, and there will never be proof. Yet, there's an appearance of impropriety – always an appearance – that marches arm-and-arm with Stern into the twilight of his commissionership, marches right out the door with him.

In New Orleans this season, everyone followed orders. The Hornets feared crossing Stern could cost them not only jobs with the Hornets, but futures in the NBA. They ate that trade for Chris Paul to the Lakers, and dutifully sold the commissioner's story that it was never agreed upon, never completed. The Hornets played Darryl Watkins, Jerome Dyson and Lance Thomas 41-plus minutes in the final game of the season in an 84-77 loss to Houston. They played them until the Hornets bottomed out with six points in the fourth quarter of the loss that left them at 21-45 for the season.

"I bet I could get my owner to tank if I knew the chance of getting the No. 1 pick was 100 percent," an NBA team president said in an email.

Perhaps this is too harsh, but it's how rivals feel; a lot of them. They're suspicious, dubious, and the Hornets' winning the lottery fed all of that in an immense way. Monty Williams had the Hornets playing hard for so much of the season, making the most out of so little. They weren't designed to win 21 games in that shortened schedule, and that's a credit to Williams, one of the NBA's fine young coaches.

This is the problem for Stern, and will always be: Within his own league, they're dubious about him, his underlings, about the centralized power structure in New York. Stern created the mayhem of the Hornets season – the vetoed Paul trade that disrupted the operations and balance of several teams – and the fallout never relented. Here comes Tom Benson now, whose NFL organization is mired in one of the great institutional scandals in pro sports history, walking into New York for the draft lottery with a bad team, in a bad arena, and leaving with a franchise star.

Yes, the Hornets are staying in New Orleans, and that's wonderful news for the people there, for the NBA. All around the league, though, everyone will forever wonder: At what cost?

[Jobe]

Surely even considering the draft might be rigged is idiotic.

[r Kerrigan_DE]

Surely even considering the draft might be rigged is idiotic.

yeah i dont buy into any of that bullshit. Stern is a bit of a tosser but he wouldnt risk the reputation of himself and the league just for a franchise in New Orleans.

[sblack]

Surely even considering the draft might be rigged is idiotic.

Not at all really.

Plenty of Lotteries have fallen the way of a team with a story.

2011: Cleveland lose LeBron
2010: Long time loved Owner dies during the season.
2008: Home town, state wide loved star HS player returns home to revive historic franchise who has struggled since MJ left.
2003: Home town hero, best prospect in forever.

Could probably go one, but would stretch my knowledge of underlying storylines in the league

Although, the first lottery will always be remembered. Star franchise of the league, struggling for years ... bent envelope, etc