2005 NBA Draft Thread

Dickau + 4th pick for Odom I can dream... actually I might just go and make that trade in ESPN 2K5.

Channing Frye's agent has said that Frye won't work out for anyone outside the Top 10 draft picks (meaning Clippers at 11 & Magic at 12)....

I think it's a bit foolish on his behalf as I don't see him as a Top 10 talent....I would luv it if he slid down to the late 1st Round, although by the sounds of it he'll end up in Top 10 in the draft by default....

I'm also glad to see Antoine Wright heading up the draft charts....it looks like he'll probably end up in anywhere in the 5-10 range if he continues his strong workouts....I've got a feeling he's leapfrog Danny Granger at his position on most people's draft boards....

Taft seems to be falling as well (aka John Wallace many years back)....apparantly Ike Diogu (who I'm a fan of) dominated him in a 1-on-1 workout....

lakers trade devean george, 1st for nawlins 1st round pick and trade odom and the 2nd round pick for boozer

ur dreamign! lol but those would be half ideal deals! Then maybe sign a PG for the MLE

Bucks get top pick, Blazers jump to 3rd

Now that we know the pecking order, here's my first mock draft of 2005:

1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Marvin Williams
NORTH CAROLINA | FRESHMAN | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 18
Most scouts feel Williams is the guy with the most upside in the draft and Milwaukee's roster puts the Bucks in good position to take him. While Andrew Bogut could help too, Williams gives the Bucks the best shot at being a contender someday.

2. ATLANTA HAWKS
Andrew Bogut
UTAH | SOPHOMORE | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 20
Atlanta slips a spot in the lottery but still gets its guy. The team has nothing in the middle and Bogut should be able to anchor that position immediately. Bogut doesn't play the up-tempo style that GM Billy Knight likes to play, but they just can't pass on a legit center.

3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Gerald Green
GULF SHORES ACADEMY | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 19
The Blazers wanted Bogut but are happy at No. 3 because it guarantees they get Green. Chris Paul is rated higher, but the Blazers don't need another small point guard. Next to Marvin Williams, Green has as much upside as anyone in the draft.

4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Chris Paul
WAKE FOREST | SOPHOMORE | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-1 | WEIGHT: 195 | AGE: 20
The Hornets' biggest need isn't at the point, but Paul is a big upgrade over Speedy Claxton and Dan Dickau. Suddenly the loss of Baron Davis doesn't sting as much. In fact, Paul's a better prospect than Baron was.

5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Deron Williams
ILLINOIS | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20
The Bobcats were the biggest losers tonight. They wanted either Paul or Marvin Williams and got neither. Look for them to try to use the No. 13 pick to move up in the draft. If it doesn't work, they settle for the next best point.

6. UTAH JAZZ
Fran Vasquez
SPAIN | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 22
The Jazz desperately need a point guard. But they also need more size and athleticism up front. If Paul or Deron Williams were available, they'd go that route, but they aren't high enough on Raymond Felton to pick him here. Vasquez is a safe pick who can play.

7. TORONTO RAPTORS
Danny Granger
NEW MEXICO | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 22
Granger's stock just keeps climbing. He's one of the most complete players in the draft and should have the Shawn Marion-type ability to play like a four while playing the three. He has a good handle, a dramatically improved 3-point shot and he's unselfish. He also has a great body and big-time athleticism. He's already an upgrade from Jalen Rose at the three. While the Raptors have greater needs at center and point guard, they'll settle this year for the best prospect on the board.

8. NEW YORK KNICKS
Chris Taft
PITTSBURGH | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 20
At the beginning of the year, scouts had Taft penciled in as a potential No. 1 overall pick. A lackluster sophomore season hurt his stock, but he still has the tools scouts love. He's big, athletic and strong. If he played harder, he'd be atop the board. As it stands, he slips to the Knicks, who don't have a decent player on their roster taller than 6-foot-9.

9. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Channing Frye
ARIZONA | SENIOR | CENTER
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 22
Two months ago we thought Frye would be a late first-rounder. But on second thought, Frye has the makings of a lottery pick. Great size, great athleticism and four years of experience. He would be perfect on a team like the Warriors. They need a young, athletic shot-blocker badly and Frye would be a safe and solid choice for Golden State.

10. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Raymond Felton
NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-0 | WEIGHT: 180 | AGE: 20
This is a real steal for the Lakers if they can land Felton here. He has the potential to go as high as No. 5 and the Raptors will give him a strong look at No. 7. He's the fastest point guard in the draft baseline to baseline, has improved his outside shooting and is an excellent floor leader. A major upgrade over Chucky Atkins.

11. ORLANDO MAGIC
Martell Webster
SEATTLE PREP | H.S. | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 235 | AGE: 18
The Magic could go several ways here, but after shipping their best shooter off to Sacramento for Doug Christie, the Magic would find that Webster has a skill they really could use. He's the best pure shooter in high school and one of the four or five best in the draft. He has great size for his position, is mature beyond his years and already has an NBA body. As far as high school guys go, he's the most ready to contribute right now.

12. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Martynas Andriuskevicius
LITHUANIA | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 7-3 | WEIGHT: 230 | AGE: 19
Andriuskevicius could go much earlier than this, but it's hard to see him slipping past the Clippers. They have a robust international scouting department and have been high on him for several years. Andriuskevicius is 7-foot-3 but his game is closer to Dirk Nowitzki than it is to a traditional big man. He's a good athlete for his size and an excellent shooter and ball handler, but he's going to have to add 30 pounds of muscle before he can even step into the paint in the NBA. This is a long-term project for a team that doesn't have a lot of holes to fill, for once.

13. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Antoine Wright
TEXAS A&M | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 21
Wright's versatility, perimeter shooting and athleticism make him a great fit in Charlotte. The Bobcats' front line is already set and if they land a point guard with their first pick, they can afford to address the swing position with the other.

14. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Joey Graham
OKLAHOMA STATE | SENIOR | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 22
The Wolves could go in a lot of different directions here. Kevin Garnett is the only guy on the team who's safe at the moment. They would like to get tougher and more athletic and Graham would be a great choice. He's a hard worker who can play both the three and the four. Reminds some of a bigger Corey Maggette.

15. NEW JERSEY NETS
Hakim Warrick
SYRACUSE | SENIOR | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 218 | AGE: 22
He's not Kenyon Martin, but he's long, athletic, runs the floor, and has the experience to contribute immediately. With Jason Kidd running the show, he should get a lot of dunks.

16. TORONTO RAPTORS
Sean May
NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 260 | AGE: 21
The Raptors need a tough scorer and rebounder in the paint and May should be a perfect fit. Though he's a little undersized to play his natural position (center) in the pros, he should be fine paired next to Chris Bosh. Bosh's ability to dominate in the high post along with May's ability to finish around the rim should give the Raptors an effective high-low punch in the paint.

17. INDIANA PACERS
Rashad McCants
NORTH CAROLINA | JUNIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20
McCants may be the toughest guy in the draft to project. On talent, he's easily a top-10 pick, maybe top five. But just about every team in the league has uncovered a number of red flags on the background check. He's going to have to prove to teams that whatever problems he had at North Carolina are behind him. If he does, he'll go higher. If he doesn't, he'll slip down to a team like Indiana, which is willing to take the risk on such a talent.

18. BOSTON CELTICS
Nemanja Aleksandrov
SERBIA | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18
Last year, many had Aleksandrov projected as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. An average summer and season combined with recent knee surgery to repair a partially torn ACL have really damaged his stock. Chances are he'll withdraw and try again next year. If he doesn't, it will be hard for the Celtics to pass up on such a talent. Given that they've had five first-round picks in the past two seasons, they can afford to wait for Aleksandrov to develop in Europe for the next couple of years.

19. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Marko Tomas
CROATIA | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-8 | WEIGHT: 210 | AGE: 20
Tomas is a sleeper who might move up if he could ever get to America for workouts. He absolutely dominated the Adriatic League this year. He has great size, can play three positions and plays aggressively. The Grizzlies have been shopping their first-round pick around. But if they keep it, they'll use it on a player such as Tomas, who can stay in Europe another year or two to develop.

20. DENVER NUGGETS
Rudy Fernandez
SPAIN | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-5 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 20
Last year, Fernandez was projected as a late lottery pick, but an injury-marred season has hurt his stock a bit. While no one questions his skills or athleticism, scouts wonder if his body can handle the rigors of the NBA. The Nuggets need a sweet-shooting two-guard badly and it would be tough to pass on a player with Fernandez's talent.

21. PHOENIX SUNS
Andrey Blatche
SOUTH KENT PREP | H.S. | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 18
Blatche has been under the radar all year, in part, because he's insisted on not playing like a 7-footer in order to show NBA scouts that he's versatile. Most scouts shook their heads in disgust. But that ability is more appreciated in Phoenix. Blatche has been referred to as a poor man's Kevin Garnett and he should be a perfect fit in the Suns run-and-gun offense. He runs the floor well, can handle the ball, has 3-point range on his jumper and is an excellent rebounder. He may be a year or two away, but eventually he and Amare Stoudemire could be a great pair on the Suns front line.

22. DENVER NUGGETS
Ersan Ilyasova
TURKEY | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 220 | AGE: 18
With multiple picks, the Nuggets' plan is to leave at least one guy in Europe for a few years. Many believe that Ilyasova was the best young prospect in Europe before a severe ankle injury kept him out most of the year. He's now back and playing well in Turkey and the lucky scouts that have seen him play claim he's the real deal. If he pulls out of the draft, he has a shot at the lottery next season. If he stays in, the Nuggets get a steal whenever they decide it's time to bring him over.

23. SACRAMENTO KINGS
Charlie Villanueva
CONNECTICUT | SOPHOMORE | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
Villanueva has the skills of a lottery pick and the heart of an NBDL all-star. He has all the skills to be a perfect replacement for Chris Webber on the Kings front line. But will Rick Adelman, or whoever is coaching the Kings, ever be able to trust him? For all of his skills, Villanueva has always been a "me first" player. Then again, maybe that's what makes him the perfect replacement for Webber.

24. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Tiago Splitter
BRAZIL | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-10 | WEIGHT: 240 | AGE: 20
It's probably a stretch that Splitter falls this far. He's got enough talent to warrant a late lottery selection. However, he isn't generating any buzz right now. Teams love his size, rebounding and toughness. But he's very raw offensively and is just starting to emerge in Spain. Another year in Spain would do him good and chances are, if he thinks he's slipping this far, he'll withdraw and try again next year.

25. SEATTLE SONICS
Johan Petro
FRANCE | CENTER
HEIGHT: 7-1 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19
The same may hold true for Petro. He has the size and talent of a lottery pick, but he's been very slow to develop it, which has caused some NBA teams to worry. Petro is probably another year or two away from helping a team, even if he does develop. However, if he ever gets it, he and Robert Swift could turn into a nice center duo for the Sonics.

26. DETROIT PISTONS
Yaroslav Korolev
RUSSIA | SMALL FORWARD
HEIGHT: 6-9 | WEIGHT: 215 | AGE: 17
Korolev is another young international player who could dramatically raise his stock in the next few years if he stayed in Russia. However, his stellar play in the junior tournament at the Final Four in Europe was enough to get him on every radar screen. He reminds me a little of a young Toni Kukoc. The Pistons, who have an eye for international talent, won't let him slip by.

27. UTAH JAZZ
Randolph Morris
KENTUCKY | FRESHMAN | CENTER
HEIGHT: 6-11 | WEIGHT: 250 | AGE: 19
The big kid from Kentucky should probably head back to school. One good year at Kentucky and he's in the lottery. As it stands, he won't slip past Utah, which is looking for a legit center to back up Mehmet Okur.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Julius Hodge
NORTH CAROLINA ST | SENIOR | SHOOTING GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-7 | WEIGHT: 205 | AGE: 21
Hodge may not be the greatest shooter in the draft, but he has all the intangibles the Spurs love in their players. He's tough, versatile and he seems to want it more than most guys on the floor. He's earned good reviews in every workout and seems to have moved himself into the late first round.

29. MIAMI HEAT
Jarrett Jack
GEORGIA TECH | JUNIOR | POINT GUARD
HEIGHT: 6-3 | WEIGHT: 200 | AGE: 21
Jack could be off the board in the mid-first round, but it's conceivable that he slips all the way to the end of the round. He's a very good point guard prospect who just needs to cut down on his turnovers. With Damon Jones possibly hitting free agency this summer, Jack would be a great fit in Miami.

30. NEW YORK KNICKS
Andrew Bynum
ST. JOSEPH, N.J. | H.S. | POWER FORWARD
HEIGHT: 7-0 | WEIGHT: 300 | AGE: 17
Bynum has the size to rise much higher in the draft if he works out well. Right now, the general consensus is that he's too big a project to take much higher than this. Still, the Knicks aren't likely to pass. They need size and upside and Bynum has both.

Other first-round possibilities: Monta Ellis, G, HS senior; Peja Samardziski, C, Serbia; Kennedy Winston, G/F, Alabama; Wayne Simien, PF, Kansas; Ike Diogu, PF, Arizona State; Nate Robinson, G, Washington; Roko Ukic, PG, Croatia; Ronny Turiaf, PF, Gonzaga; Francisco Garcia, G/F, Louisville; Matt Walsh, G/F, Florida; Linas Kleiza, F, Missouri; Mickael Gelebale, F, France; David Lee, F, Florida

I don't agree with a large majority of those picks, but we'll see what happens.

Sonics want to trade their pick for a veteran, btw.

I thought this was interesting and very plausible.

"Atlanta, at No. 2, is said to be desperate for Bogut. Would Milwaukee trade down? The Bucks remain unsure about the return of T.J. Ford, who is recovering from back surgery, so they need a point guard. Would Atlanta, rich in wing players, put together a package with Al Harrington to move up and get Bogut? The Bucks then would have a post-up scorer to complement Michael Redd (assuming he re-signs) and could draft a point guard." Chicago Tribune

Still, my guess is MIL keeps Bogut.

I seriously doubt Atlanta would give up a pick and Al Harrington to move 1 place up the draft, they might still get Bogut at No2

Bucks will be standing pat and so will Hawks....

Dee Brown unknowingly caught a break by breaking his foot (pun intended)....

he now has no choice but to go back to college and will return next season in a draft that isn't so strong with PG's and he could get into the late 1st Round (anywhere in the 20s) with a strong senior season at the PG position....

luvin' that Travis Diener is moving up the charts....Diener is moving up to early to mid 2nd round pick....a guy like John Gilchrist could conceivably go undrafted when you think about it.....I wouldn't be surprised if he did go undrafted despite his solid 1st game of the camp....

hey Jae, I know you like Jawad Williams and all, but he's gotta pick up his game....5pts on 2/9FG (1/2 3Pt), 0rebs and 1TO in 20mins won't cut it....I know it's a guard-oriented camp, but he didn't grab any boards at all....let's hope he shows up tomorrow

If you want clips of top draft prospects: http://events.startcast.com/events/23/B0022/code/browser/archive.asp

I like Diogu, Felton, Marvin Williams and Bogut. He (AB4) really lost some weight since last time I saw him play. He looks faster and more athletic. BTW, Paul looks like a midget .

Jawad's been rubbish by all accounts. I've read some pretty bad things about Gilchrist's attitude, which can't help him. One that really starting to intrigue me is Joey Graham's twin brother Stephen... or Stevie, depending who you listen to. From what I've read he's actually been looking just as impressive, if not more than his brother.

Official Chicago Pre-Draft Measurements:
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1001

-Bogut is a legit 7-footer (7'0 1/2'' with shoes).
-Andriuskevicius has very, very short arms (2 inches less than his height in socks).
-Danny Granger is 6'8 1/2'' with his shoes and a very long wingspan (7'1 1/2'')! He's so gonna rock.
-Felton and Paul are roughly the same size (6'1'').
-Taft is not even 6'10''! (6'9 1/2'' with shoes.)
-Turiaf is 6'9''.
-Green is 6'7'' and not 6'8'' as advertised. That hurt me a bit.
-Marvin Williams is also an inch shorter (6'8), but he has a wingspan of a 7-footer (7'3 1/2''). I bet he'll be listed at 6'9'' when he comes into the NBA (same thing happened with Josh Smith, even though he had shorter arms).

Not bad.

But the true wingspan monster is still fred jones. 6' 2"...6' 11" wingspan.

fred jones. 6' 2"...6' 11" wingspan.

His arms must be very close to reaching the ground when he's walking...

Azn isn't that Chad Ford Mock Draft on espn. it espn insider, i got that too

Lol he copy/pasted a mock draft?

-Bogut is a legit 7-footer (7'0 1/2'' with shoes).

Kick ass Chris Paul's size is kinda surprising, people are saying he's too small but 6'1 is alright for a PG.

Bogut should go No. 1....Williams will go No. 2....Paul will go No. 3 apparantly Deron Williams is getting a promise at 4 which makes sense....I have a feeling Green will go to No. 5 and a trade between Blazers and Bobcats....No. 6 will either be Felton or Vazquez....No. 7 will either be Wright, Granger or the player that the Jazz don't pick....it's shaping up nicely....

yep Jae....Jawad Williams will go undrafted....John Gilchrist will probably fall to late 2nd Round even though he has talent of a mid-to-late 1st Rounder....Sean Banks will probably go undrafted even though he has talent of a 1st Rounder....as for Stevie Graham, from reports he is a little smoother than his brother Joey but they expect Joey to develop that aspect to his game....workouts against his twin hasn't help Joey out, but has helped his twin bro out....I'd say Joey Graham will be somewhere in the 15-25 range....Stevie Graham will be a mid-2nd Rounder probably in the 40-55 range....

hey Jae or anyone else....can you tell me the exact date that the NBA draft is on....I thought it was on June 30 (US time) which is July 1 (Aussie time) but I've read somewhere it's June 28 (US time) which is a Tuesday and June 29 (Aussie time)....the June 28 one makes more sense as usually NBA draft was on last Tuesday of June or 4th Tuesday of June....just need to know for sure so I know what day to have off

According to NBA.com it's June 28th. I wonder if it'll be televised at all here? Otherwise I'll just end up on MSN bagging the Lakers.

no chance....I'll probably just listen to the audio and watch my mock draft fall apart in tatters

Ah yes, trusty audio that didn't work for me last year. I ended up in RealGM chat with a bunch of tools screaming "DWIGHT HOWARD!" through the whole thing.

Ah yes, trusty audio that didn't work for me last year. I ended up in RealGM chat with a bunch of tools screaming "DWIGHT HOWARD!" through the whole thing.

that's what you get for being in a chat with Homer

but yep, probably MSN and have NBA.com or whatever audio going, even though the scouting reports/announcers are tools....at least you get to hear Stern announce the decisions and hear the New York crowd boo with every Knicks pick ....they need some comedians commentating, like Roy and HG analysing each pick....that'd be alright...no doubt my computer will freeze just prior to the announcement of the No. 1 pick, Mr. Bogut to the Bucks

okay, just checked NBA.com....draft ticker means it's definitely on June 28 US which means June 29 Aussie and a Wednesday....I'll take that day off....looks like it will start around 9.30am EST give or take....gutted, was hoping I could sleep in....

That's alright the draft is something I'll wake up for. Although I'm going to have to try and bribe my pathetic little hermit brother from using the computer for a few hours. Maybe pay him to actually go and meet his internet girlfriend instead of spending 12 hours a day on here talking to her

ahh well, I'd prefer to wake up at 9am rather than 6.30am like I do everyday for work

That's alright the draft is something I'll wake up for. Although I'm going to have to try and bribe my pathetic little hermit brother from using the computer for a few hours. Maybe pay him to actually go and meet his internet girlfriend instead of spending 12 hours a day on here talking to her

LMFAO