Official 2007 NBA Draft Thread

[grusom]

I was thinking the Grizzlies could trade Mike Miller for Marcus Camby straight up because the salaries match and why wouldn't the Nuggets want a sharp shooter like Miller? That's something they've been missing for like the past few years and with K-Mart coming back, they really just don't have as much need for Camby (along with Nene and Evans). That deal would help both teams out and even though Camby is old, he could still contribute alot and help give Pau sidekick he needs in the post. IF that deal ended up going down, I would think Memphis would keep the pick and draft Corey Brewer or Jeff Green and hopefully be able to sign Mo Williams if he wants to leave.

2006-07 Outlook:
C - Camby
PF - Gasol/Warrick
SF - Gay
SG - Brewer or Green/Kinsey
PG - Williams/Lowry

Just one of the many things Memphis could do. I think Miller is a little expendable, but it really depends on what Memphis does with the draft pick.

Camby for Miller straight up?!? That's the worst idea I have heard in 2007. Can you name 5 better centers than him? Yao, D. Howard, Amare and.... who? (And Amare and Dwight are actually 4s playing the 5). Then try to name 20 wing players better than Miller - I bet that'll be a whole lot easier.

No disrespect to Miller's game - he is a nice player, but nothing more. This just shows how Camby is one of the most underrated stars in the league.

What's the big deal on holding on to an injury prone player that may only play 50 games a season when you can get someone like Miller (A NEED) for Denver just like Camby is a bigger need for the Grizzlies. Miller is in his prime right about now at only 27 yrs old and Camby is 33 yrs old. The Nuggets see they aren't getting anywhere with what they already have, so why not bring in someone that can help knock down the outside shot consistently? I'm kind've leaning towards on them keeping Miller because I would rather see if they can get someone a little younger than Camby. Who knows how many years Camby have under his belt. I just hope West does what he says and bring in a player that can get tickets sold like a Billups, Carter or Lewis.

With an aging Iverson and K-mart back, Denver will look to win now rather than later, and ifthey don't succed this year, try to re-buld arounf Melo.

[Anthony15]

I was thinking the Grizzlies could trade Mike Miller for Marcus Camby straight up because the salaries match and why wouldn't the Nuggets want a sharp shooter like Miller? That's something they've been missing for like the past few years and with K-Mart coming back, they really just don't have as much need for Camby (along with Nene and Evans). That deal would help both teams out and even though Camby is old, he could still contribute alot and help give Pau sidekick he needs in the post. IF that deal ended up going down, I would think Memphis would keep the pick and draft Corey Brewer or Jeff Green and hopefully be able to sign Mo Williams if he wants to leave.

2006-07 Outlook:
C - Camby
PF - Gasol/Warrick
SF - Gay
SG - Brewer or Green/Kinsey
PG - Williams/Lowry

Just one of the many things Memphis could do. I think Miller is a little expendable, but it really depends on what Memphis does with the draft pick.

Camby for Miller straight up?!? That's the worst idea I have heard in 2007. Can you name 5 better centers than him? Yao, D. Howard, Amare and.... who? (And Amare and Dwight are actually 4s playing the 5). Then try to name 20 wing players better than Miller - I bet that'll be a whole lot easier.

No disrespect to Miller's game - he is a nice player, but nothing more. This just shows how Camby is one of the most underrated stars in the league.

What's the big deal on holding on to an injury prone player that may only play 50 games a season when you can get someone like Miller (A NEED) for Denver just like Camby is a bigger need for the Grizzlies. Miller is in his prime right about now at only 27 yrs old and Camby is 33 yrs old. The Nuggets see they aren't getting anywhere with what they already have, so why not bring in someone that can help knock down the outside shot consistently? I'm kind've leaning towards on them keeping Miller because I would rather see if they can get someone a little younger than Camby. Who knows how many years Camby have under his belt. I just hope West does what he says and bring in a player that can get tickets sold like a Billups, Carter or Lewis.

With an aging Iverson and K-mart back, Denver will look to win now rather than later, and ifthey don't succed this year, try to re-buld arounf Melo.

I'd love to see Miller come to Denver, but where would he fit in. Lets say that now we got Nene at C, Martin hopefully stays healthy, Melo and AI at 3 and 2, because Iverson made it clear he doesn't want to play Point. That makes the resigning of Blake necessary. So that means we got JR Smith, Miller, Kleiza and Najera as the guys off the bench. Smith will not be happy with his situation in Denver, as Milelr will prob take away most of his minutes. Kleiza is gonna be a DNP again all year, which he'll be unhappy about either. Bringing in Miller will screw up our bench badly, I highly doubt that Mafia's trade will be even considered.

[maes]

Draft express released the NBA's list of physical-only players.
I was a bit surprised to see McRoberts and Crittenton in that list.

Corey Brewer
Mike Conley Jr.
Javaris Crittenton
Kevin Durant
Jeff Green
Spencer Hawes
Al Horford
Acie Law
Josh McRoberts
Joakim Noah
Greg Oden
Jason Smith
Rodney Stuckey
Al Thornton
Brandan Wright
Julian Wright
Yi Jianlian
Nick Young
Thaddeus Young

[magius]

I was thinking the Grizzlies could trade Mike Miller for Marcus Camby straight up because the salaries match and why wouldn't the Nuggets want a sharp shooter like Miller? That's something they've been missing for like the past few years and with K-Mart coming back, they really just don't have as much need for Camby (along with Nene and Evans). That deal would help both teams out and even though Camby is old, he could still contribute alot and help give Pau sidekick he needs in the post. IF that deal ended up going down, I would think Memphis would keep the pick and draft Corey Brewer or Jeff Green and hopefully be able to sign Mo Williams if he wants to leave.

2006-07 Outlook:
C - Camby
PF - Gasol/Warrick
SF - Gay
SG - Brewer or Green/Kinsey
PG - Williams/Lowry

Just one of the many things Memphis could do. I think Miller is a little expendable, but it really depends on what Memphis does with the draft pick.

i appreciate that its just an idea, but boy, i think that is a pretty one sided deal for memphis; i have no idea why any gm would trade dpoy camby for miller straight up. especially the nuggets who lack anything but scoring and wing players. evans will play a lesser role with kmart's return, or get traded. camby's value on defense when he's healthy is among the elite, without him denver very well might have one of the worst d's in the league.

personally i think gasol individually would benefit more from nene's toughness than camby....

[Anthony15]

We'd trade him anywhere, because 1. He'll never have a healthy season again, we got lucky this year 2. We need to get rid of his contract this offseason, so there wouldn't be luxury tax problems.

[maes]

Mike Miller makes more money than Camby and has a longer contract, there's no reason to trade for Miller if the Nuggets are trying to reduce salary, which they most definitely are.

[Lamrock]

Well, as horrible a trade Miller for Camby would be; the real issue is the 2007 NBA Draft, which is what this topic is about.

[maes]

Orlando 2007 Pre-Draft camp results, i put a copy of the spreadsheet up on imageshack.

I've highlighted some of the more higher projected picks like Oden & Durant.

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/3680 ... 007yb1.jpg

Pretty interesting overall.
* Oden & Durant scored very low (62, 78 out of 81), but they are freshman and very young kids.
* Mike Conley #4 out of 81
* Oden is 6' 11" w/o shoes, Brandan Wright is 6' 8.75"
* Durant has a longer wingspan than Oden (7' 4.75" vs 7' 4.25")
* Al Horford scored very high for a PF/C, #21 of 81, higher than Corey Brewer and way ahead of Noah (#43).

[Sauru]

very nice maes

[---]

Damn, I was late. I was mostly shocked by Oden's quickness... no way he doesn't go 1st overall.

[Its_asdf]

These combine results once again fuel my love for Thaddeus Young... I can't wait to see this leftie play next year.

[maes]

very nice maes

Looks like your team is working out Al Thornton & Corey Brewer...interesting, both are SFs.

http://www.hoopshype.com/workouts.htm

Pierce trade in the works?

[Sauru]

at this point in time i am all for tradeing pierce. i dont see him really helping the team much anymore. sure he can get us some wins but by the time this team is ready to compete he will be passing his prime. would not mind getting the most out of pierce if we can

[[Q]]

I had my doubts before, but i think that the workouts show Conley's an athletic freak and that might force ATL to pick him at 3 innstead of waiting for Law.

[Matt]

unless your a Celts fan this is kinda funny

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/art ... orts02.txt

[Sauru]

great, there it is, a history of shit drafts by the celtics. it amazes me looking at the list of players they could have had but didnt take. or in some cases(johnson,billups) had and got rid of way to early(damn you pitino). gotta tell ya, the celts were so good for so long this is probably just the universes way of balancing things out. how else can you explain the shit luck the celts have had the last 15 or so years?

[The X]

I had my doubts before, but i think that the workouts show Conley's an athletic freak and that might force ATL to pick him at 3 innstead of waiting for Law.

I don't see why everyone is so shocked about Conley's athletic ability, his father was a gold medallist in athletics after all....it runs in the genes....either way, Atlanta should skip on Conley IMHO....

[BigKaboom2]

unless your a Celts fan this is kinda funny

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/art ... orts02.txt

Nothing funny about Len Bias and Reggie Lewis...so sad.

[Sauru]

i still remember the game when lewis went down, its burned into my head forever i think. even though he died later on that was the end right there really.

[grusom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuDfRzY2 ... ed&search= - A clip of a young Joakim Noah showing of his 37 inch vertical.

[magius]

for some reason whenever i think of boston i think of billy crystal, celtic pride, some really old larry bird shooting video and his short shorts, and leprachauns.

"This next drink is called the Boston Celtic, its weak because its white"

"This has nothing to do with racism. If the Red Sox were playin the Orioles in the playoffs we'd kidnap Cal Ripken jr. and hes the whitest they come"

"You guys are so bad that Nike should take your shoes away."

[shadowgrin]

An article criticizing college players that applied (or not) early for the draft.

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10160766

I looked at the list. Knucklehead City. And this first guy is the mayor.

1. Daequan Cook, Ohio State: Addition by subtraction, meet Daequan Cook. This guy -- what a piece of, um, work. Cook isn't ready for the NBA, but he's tired of being kept down by OSU coach Thad Matta, who had the audacity to take away Cook's minutes as Cook slumped as a shooter -- the only thing Cook does well. Cook sulked, his mother complained, and now Cook is showing the world how talented he is by joining freshman teammates Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in the draft. Difference is, Oden and Conley will be drafted in the first round. Cook? Get your passport, baby. Because if I'm Thad Matta, I'm doing to Cook what former North Carolina State coach Herb Sendek once did to draft-testing program cancer Damien Wilkins and Wilkins' malignant father: saying goodbye.

2. Josh McRoberts, Duke: Before McRoberts it was Shavlik Randolph. Before Randolph it was Chris Burgess. Before Burgess it was Taymon Domzalski. Big men go to Duke with big names, and with some exceptions -- but not you, Casey Sanders or Eric Boateng or Michael Thompson -- they leave with diminished reputations. Such is the case with McRoberts, who was a definite lottery pick after high school and a possible lottery pick after last season but now is projected to go later in the first round. So why come out now, after his sophomore season? Because with another year at Duke, McRoberts would be a second-rounder. Imagine if he stayed through his senior year. He'd go undrafted, then get cut by some team in Korea.

3. Marcus Williams, Arizona: I've never drunk from the Marcus Williams-flavored Kool-Aid, and I'm not about to start now. ESPN.com draft expert Chad Ford compares Williams to longtime NBA wing Steve Smith, which is an insult to Smith. Williams is no Smith. Williams is a skinny Tayshaun Prince knockoff minus three inches of height, 20 percentage points of 3-point accuracy and the entire winning attitude. If Williams is in a hurry to get to the NBDL, good. Maybe Arizona will be good again now that he's gone.

4. Arron Afflalo, UCLA: He'll go down as one of the better players to come out of UCLA, but his legacy would have gone through the roof had he returned for his senior year, reached the 2,000-point plateau and led the Bruins -- who will be awesome again with freshman center Kevin Love -- to the national title. Instead, Afflalo is rushing off to the NBA, where he won't play a lot, won't score a lot, won't be thought of a lot. At UCLA, which returns Darren Collison and Josh Shipp at guard, he won't be missed a lot.

5. Sean Williams, parts unknown: Captain of the All-Knucklehead team, Williams was kicked off the Boston College team this past season for being the ACC's version of Pacman Jones. Rather than transfer to a Division II or NAIA school for his senior season, rehabilitate his image and work on his still unrefined game, Williams has declared for the draft. He might be picked in the first round because the NBA loves a good shot-blocker, but he'll be out of the league within three years. As should the general manager who drafts him.

6. Gabriel Pruitt, USC: He's a tall (6-foot-4), good college point guard, which will earn him a spot at the end of some NBA team's bench. If Pruitt stays in the draft, I'll read into it that he doesn't want to play with incoming USC freshman O.J. Mayo, who will absolutely dominate the ball. But Mayo's arrival could be a good thing for Pruitt, who needs to improve his shooting -- 41.6 percent from the floor as a junior, 35 percent on 3-pointers -- and scoring (12.5 ppg) before hitting the NBA. Mayo can't shoot it every time, can he? Oh, you're right. He can, and he will. The selfish pig. Go to the NBA, Gabe. It's not like you'd touch the ball next season.

7. Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech: He was a disappointment this season, when he averaged 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and two assists. Think about that: an ACC freshman putting up those numbers and being a disappointment. But he was. Young wasn't as good as advertised, a memo that apparently didn't reach his (father's) desk, because now Young is entering the draft after a freshman season that did more to hurt his stock than help it. Had he been eligible to enter the draft out of high school, Young would have been a 2006 lottery lock. Now? Maybe lottery, maybe not. Either way, his 'tweener game needs work before it's ready for meaningful NBA minutes.

8. Aaron Bruce, Baylor: I'm thinking this is a joke. Bruce was brilliant as a freshman, but doing his best Brett Nelson impersonation, it has been all downhill to his junior season. Maybe Bruce is entering the draft to find out what he has to work on (pssst ... it's your streaky shooting and lack of athletic ability). Maybe he's going to turn pro in his native Australia. Or maybe he was just hoping to land here, in Ten For Tuesday, where it's an honor until you read what I actually think about you.

9. JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State: Most players, maybe 99 out of 100, don't owe their college team or coach a damn thing. If they think they're ready for the NBA, they can go without looking back. Not Curry. He's that 1-in-100 long shot. Curry owes OSU, and he owes Sean Sutton. Three years ago Curry was radioactive after pleading guilty to six felony marijuana counts. North Carolina pulled his scholarship. Most schools wouldn't touch him. Oklahoma State and the Suttons -- Sean and Eddie -- risked their reputation on Curry, and Curry has repaid them by staying out of trouble and playing well. But he has not repaid them in full, and won't unless he stays all four years. (If it matters, Curry is a second-round pick at best, so what's his hurry anyway?)

10. Brook Lopez, Stanford: What was this guy thinking? Lopez might have gone No. 3 overall (after Oden and Kevin Durant) had he entered the draft, but he'll return to Stanford for another year with his twin brother. Don't give me any spiel about education, unless you want me to throw that spiel back in your face when Lopez turns pro after next season, a long way from a Stanford degree. His stock can't get much higher than it is now, especially with a deep crop of stud freshmen expected to turn pro in 2008. Lopez's return is good news for Stanford, but I'm not sure it's good news for Brook Lopez.

[---]

I don't know who wrote that, but that entire article is absolute bullshit. Thats one of the worst draft articles I've seen.

1. Daequan Cook, Ohio State: Addition by subtraction, meet Daequan Cook. This guy -- what a piece of, um, work. Cook isn't ready for the NBA, but he's tired of being kept down by OSU coach Thad Matta, who had the audacity to take away Cook's minutes as Cook slumped as a shooter -- the only thing Cook does well. Cook sulked, his mother complained, and now Cook is showing the world how talented he is by joining freshman teammates Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in the draft. Difference is, Oden and Conley will be drafted in the first round. Cook? Get your passport, baby. Because if I'm Thad Matta, I'm doing to Cook what former North Carolina State coach Herb Sendek once did to draft-testing program cancer Damien Wilkins and Wilkins' malignant father: saying goodbye.

Cook was never a lottery pick anyway, and he will still be drafted in the late first round. I garauntee that. He's still a freshman and didn't play a whole lot at OSU, so his potential is considered very high with his age. He has alot you won't in a shooting guard and the only thing that really hurts him is his size (6'4 - 6'5), because all the other things he does wrong (which there aren't a whole lot of) will be fixed with experience. If he thinks Daequan is going in the second round he's an idiot.

2. Josh McRoberts, Duke: Before McRoberts it was Shavlik Randolph. Before Randolph it was Chris Burgess. Before Burgess it was Taymon Domzalski. Big men go to Duke with big names, and with some exceptions -- but not you, Casey Sanders or Eric Boateng or Michael Thompson -- they leave with diminished reputations. Such is the case with McRoberts, who was a definite lottery pick after high school and a possible lottery pick after last season but now is projected to go later in the first round. So why come out now, after his sophomore season? Because with another year at Duke, McRoberts would be a second-rounder. Imagine if he stayed through his senior year. He'd go undrafted, then get cut by some team in Korea.

Josh played behind Sheldon his freshman season and showed alot of promise. This year he was the man and didn't play so well. If he stays at college again, he gets one year older and may match what he did this season, changing his image as a "disappointment". If he goes, he is a sophomore big that had a lottery pick type game and will go in the mid first round, just out of the lottery. He will also have alot more freedom in the NBA and should do quite well once he polishes his post game a bit. Getting older hurts your stock.

3. Marcus Williams, Arizona: I've never drunk from the Marcus Williams-flavored Kool-Aid, and I'm not about to start now. ESPN.com draft expert Chad Ford compares Williams to longtime NBA wing Steve Smith, which is an insult to Smith. Williams is no Smith. Williams is a skinny Tayshaun Prince knockoff minus three inches of height, 20 percentage points of 3-point accuracy and the entire winning attitude. If Williams is in a hurry to get to the NBDL, good. Maybe Arizona will be good again now that he's gone.

Tayshaun Prince? Because he's skinny? Marcus is one of the best offensive players in this draft but his lable as "team cancer" hurts his stock quite alot. Sean Williams would be a lottery pick had he not been kicked of his Boston College team. Marcus may have been a lottery pick had he not had this "cancer" image. He's quite tall and has great offensive skills, probably only second to Kevin Durant in this draft. Huge wingspan, great passer and ballhandler (even played some PG at 6'7), great shooter, quick and has alot of potential. The only thing he doesn't do well is defend. NBA teams love scoring wings, especially those who can create their own shot.

4. Arron Afflalo, UCLA: He'll go down as one of the better players to come out of UCLA, but his legacy would have gone through the roof had he returned for his senior year, reached the 2,000-point plateau and led the Bruins -- who will be awesome again with freshman center Kevin Love -- to the national title. Instead, Afflalo is rushing off to the NBA, where he won't play a lot, won't score a lot, won't be thought of a lot. At UCLA, which returns Darren Collison and Josh Shipp at guard, he won't be missed a lot.

Yes, he should stay and improve his chance at having a good NBA career by returning to a team where he will have a less of a role and try win a title with a talented freshman center. Of course, if he goes down in UCLA records books he is bound to have a great shot at the NBA. Like JJ Redick at Duke. Afflalo is looking to make the NBA and his best shot is now. He had a great year (17/3/2) on a great team. Incredibly solid all round and should go late first or early second. If he stayed another year and duplicated his efforts (which would be hard with less of a role) he goes lower because he's a year older. Seniors are almost always drafted lower just because they are older.

5. Sean Williams, parts unknown: Captain of the All-Knucklehead team, Williams was kicked off the Boston College team this past season for being the ACC's version of Pacman Jones. Rather than transfer to a Division II or NAIA school for his senior season, rehabilitate his image and work on his still unrefined game, Williams has declared for the draft. He might be picked in the first round because the NBA loves a good shot-blocker, but he'll be out of the league within three years. As should the general manager who drafts him.

Sean Williams should be a first round pick because he's just extremely talented. What if he got kicked off his team for smoking pot? I would bet most of the NBA smokes weed, just like other professional sports leagues. It's not a big deal at all. Why stay at school and clean up his image if he's going to Div II? He will put up monster stats but why hurt your stock by staying a year longer and playing Div II? He's most likely a first rounder this year and I don't think he's going to be a lottery pick coming out of a Div II school and a year older in 08. He's in a great position now. By the way, don't you have to sit out a year if you transfer? If so he would be entering the draft 2 years from now as a 5 year senior out of a division II school. That looks really attractive to GM's doesn't it?

3 years and he's out of the league? Please. The GM that drafts him has a steal.

6. Gabriel Pruitt, USC: He's a tall (6-foot-4), good college point guard, which will earn him a spot at the end of some NBA team's bench. If Pruitt stays in the draft, I'll read into it that he doesn't want to play with incoming USC freshman O.J. Mayo, who will absolutely dominate the ball. But Mayo's arrival could be a good thing for Pruitt, who needs to improve his shooting -- 41.6 percent from the floor as a junior, 35 percent on 3-pointers -- and scoring (12.5 ppg) before hitting the NBA. Mayo can't shoot it every time, can he? Oh, you're right. He can, and he will. The selfish pig. Go to the NBA, Gabe. It's not like you'd touch the ball next season.

Who stays at school after a good junior season when next year they will be backing up a freshman prodigy who will be the number one pick in the 08 draft? Oh thats right, all NBA hopefuls just want to win a college championship. They don't worry about how they will make there money in the future. They would rather stay and win a championship while severly hurting their stock (see: Joakim Noah) than step up to the big stage in a great position. Pruitt should stay for his senior season, ride the bench while OJ grabs all the attention and skip on one of the most weak drafts PG wise of recent years, for next year which is full of point guards, Pruitt's position.

Seriously, Gabe is a first round talent and has the size and the advantage of this PG weak draft to go there. He's a "knucklehead" because he is leaving for the NBA in the best position he can currently be? What?

7. Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech: He was a disappointment this season, when he averaged 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and two assists. Think about that: an ACC freshman putting up those numbers and being a disappointment. But he was. Young wasn't as good as advertised, a memo that apparently didn't reach his (father's) desk, because now Young is entering the draft after a freshman season that did more to hurt his stock than help it. Had he been eligible to enter the draft out of high school, Young would have been a 2006 lottery lock. Now? Maybe lottery, maybe not. Either way, his 'tweener game needs work before it's ready for meaningful NBA minutes.

Thaddeus is a lottery pick, no doubts about that. He may even go top 10. What does the fact that he would of been a lottery pick in 06 have to do with anything? Even if he wanted to he couldn't go. The only thing that really hampers Young is his ballhandling with his offhand, which means defenders can force him one way which essentially halves his offensive scoring ability. Thaddeus would of put up 20/5/3 easily had that not been a problem. GM's know that and will take him in the lottery despite the diappointing season. He will develop into the NBA and show why he was on the same level stockwise as Kevin Durant coming out of high school.

He can stay and have a better season, but he's a lottery pick now and easily one of the most potential filled players in the draft. What more do you want?

8. Aaron Bruce, Baylor: I'm thinking this is a joke. Bruce was brilliant as a freshman, but doing his best Brett Nelson impersonation, it has been all downhill to his junior season. Maybe Bruce is entering the draft to find out what he has to work on (pssst ... it's your streaky shooting and lack of athletic ability). Maybe he's going to turn pro in his native Australia. Or maybe he was just hoping to land here, in Ten For Tuesday, where it's an honor until you read what I actually think about you.

A streaky shooting point guard with little athletic ability who impressed in his freshman season but did less as a junior in with less minutes is in a better draft position than an unathletic senior point guard with streaky shooting, even if he does match his freshman numbers. His stock can only get a little better and thats if he has a monster senior season, monster enough to make a GM draft a slow, unathletic streaky shooting point guard who never had amazing passing ability - just solid, in the first round. That was never going to happen, so he hasn't really hurt his potential NBA career much, because it was never, ever a sure thing.

Bruce is returning for his senior season anyway.

9. JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State: Most players, maybe 99 out of 100, don't owe their college team or coach a damn thing. If they think they're ready for the NBA, they can go without looking back. Not Curry. He's that 1-in-100 long shot. Curry owes OSU, and he owes Sean Sutton. Three years ago Curry was radioactive after pleading guilty to six felony marijuana counts. North Carolina pulled his scholarship. Most schools wouldn't touch him. Oklahoma State and the Suttons -- Sean and Eddie -- risked their reputation on Curry, and Curry has repaid them by staying out of trouble and playing well. But he has not repaid them in full, and won't unless he stays all four years. (If it matters, Curry is a second-round pick at best, so what's his hurry anyway?)

...And a very late 2nd rounder or most likely undrafted as a senior. If he goes now he's leaving with the best stock he can hope for right now. Staying next season will only hurt him unless he has a Kevin Durant like season. I mean, the guy had the best season of his college career, almost a breakout type season, and you expect him to stay? Because he 'owes' Oklahoma State for letting him play? They risked their reputation on him and gained a very good player. You seriously think Curry would potentially trade his career as an NBA player, a very high paid job, for a shot at "repaying" his debt to Oklahoma State? Jesus Christ.

10. Brook Lopez, Stanford: What was this guy thinking? Lopez might have gone No. 3 overall (after Oden and Kevin Durant) had he entered the draft, but he'll return to Stanford for another year with his twin brother. Don't give me any spiel about education, unless you want me to throw that spiel back in your face when Lopez turns pro after next season, a long way from a Stanford degree. His stock can't get much higher than it is now, especially with a deep crop of stud freshmen expected to turn pro in 2008. Lopez's return is good news for Stanford, but I'm not sure it's good news for Brook Lopez.

Lopez would not have gone top 3 in this draft. Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Brandan Wright, Al Horford, Yi Jianlian and Corey Brewer would of go ahead of him. I count 6 players ahead of him, which leaves him at 7th at best. He even had a "disappointing" season (if Thaddeus Youngs freshman season was disappointing, Lopez definately was) and his team didn't get much exposure because they were awful. Saying "his stock can't get much higher than it is now" is one of the most stupid draft related comments I have ever heard.

Next year he gets good freshmen, none of which takes his starting job. He improves upon his somewhat disappointing freshman year and his team gets better, giving him more exposure. His stock can only rise, and the fact that next years draft is dying for big men (Roy Hibbert may go in the top 3-4 next year as a senior!), he has a massive oppurtunity waiting there for him.

This guy is a complete idiot. I'm gonna post this on his site.

[Indy]

OK, here's my mock as of 6/14.

Only up to 16, the rest will come later.

1.) Portland Trailblazers- Greg Oden (C, OSU)
The Obvious Pick here.
2.) Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant (F, Texas)
The other obvious pick.
3.) Atlanta Hawks- Al Horford (PF, Florida)
This is where it gets interesting. They have a lot of players to choose from, but go with the safest pick here. Horford has the body and skills to be a very good NBA player. In the mold of other Florida big bodies like Udonis Haslem, but with much better post skills. If a Horford/Williams frontline can make up for its lack of height with the shotblocking ability of Josh Smith they could be pretty scary.
4.) Memphis Grizzlies- Yi Jianlian (C, China)
This is a very tough call for Memphis. Conley would fit right in here, and Brandan Wright could flourish next to Gay and Gasol as well but Yi is a basketball and business choice. Memphis is a struggling team money wise, if Yi pans out he will bring worldwide audiences and popularity to Memphis. He's worked out well, and is not a stretch this high.
5.) Boston Celtics- Brandan Wright (F, NC)
Boston gets a super athletic, long, tall player in Brandan Wright. Definitley not what they were hoping for in Greg Oden before the lottery, but it is an OK consolation prize if they end up keeping this pick, but I expect them to trade it.
6.) Milwaukee Bucks- Corey Brewer (SF, Florida)
Brewer will be a nice player for a Bucks team that could use some wing depth. Mike Conley is attractive especially if Mo Williams is on his way out, but it isn't likely they'll take him because they are going to go hard after Chauncey Billups and the rest of the point guard market.
7.) Minnesota Timberwolves- Joakim Noah (PF, Florida)
I don't know how Joakim will fit in in Minny, but i think they like him. He'll be an improved version of Mark Madsen in some aspects, but he's a good ball handler and passer in the open court. [i]
8.) Charlotte Bobcats- Al Thornton (F, Florida St.)
[i]This is not one you are going to see many places, but I think Al Thonton is going to sneak up here. He fits in extremely well with this Bobcat team. He does a lot of things well on the floor and will be a great compliment to Gerald Wallace.
9.) Chicago Bulls- Jeff Green (F, Georgetown)
The Bulls targeted Al Thornton and are shocked to see him go ahead of them. It is panic in the Bulls war room, but they make the right choice in Jeff Green. They could trade down, but Jeff Green is an athlete they like that gives them even more room to move Nocioni or Deng if they want to do a Kobe or Garnett type trade. [i]
10.) Sacramento Kings- Mike Conley Jr. (PG, OSU)
[i]Conley slips a little bit from what he was getting projected a few weeks ago, but goes to a good situation for him. The Kings have no plans to keep Bibby as the starting point guard long term. Conley and Kevin Martin forms a nice young backcourt.
11.) Atlanta Hawks- Spencer Hawes (C, Washington)
Atlanta actually uses both picks wisely and fills 2 needs. They have a really nice young frontcourt now with Marvin Williams or Josh Smith at the 3 along with Hawes, Shelden Williams, Al Horford and Zaza. A great mix of players there. Unfortunately, with Conley grabbed one spot earlier, the Hawks once again fail to get a point guard.
12.) Philadelphia 76ers- Julian Wright (F, Kansas)
Julian is another athletic youngster that came out too early, but he could actually surprise some people. He doesn't force things, so he's not going to make as many mistakes as most guys in his situation would. Andre Miller is the perfect point guard to start his career with. This would be a good situation for him.
13.) New Orleans Hornets- Thaddeus Young (G, GT)
Thaddeus impressed the Hornets, and I think they've given him a promise they'll take him if he's there. They continue to get younger and better.
14.) L.A. Clippers- Acie Law (G, Texas A&M)
With Shaun Livingston's future in question and Sam Cassell continuing to get older the Clippers need to go Point Guard. Who better for Acie Law to learn from then Sam Cassell, talk about similar players. This would be the perfect way for Cassell to end his career too, helping a guy like Law get going.
15.) Detroit Pistons- Jarvis Crittenton (PG, GT)
Crittenton is a talented big point guard that can get the the hole. Remind you of anyone? Could be the next scrappy Pistons point guard in a long line of them, especially if Chauncey is out the door.
16.) Washington Wizards- Derrick Byars (G/F, Vandy)
Reminds me of Ruben Patterson, but more athletic. Derrick Byars will shoot a lot of free throws in the NBA, and can be a solid defender for any team he goes to.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I was just about to make a post that Memphis should go ahead and pick up Yi. After watching some of these videos:

http://www.56.com/u15/v_MTQzNDY1NTY.html

http://www.56.com/u91/v_MTExMzg5Ng.html

http://www.56.com/u64/v_MTQzNjc0NjE.html

http://www.56.com/u43/v_MTM3ODE5NzY.html

http://www.56.com/u47/v_MTM5MTQwNjg.html

http://www.56.com/u32/v_MzkxMTk3Mw.html

http://www.56.com/u42/v_MTQwNzE3NTk.html

I believe Yi can definitely compete and a high-level in the NBA and Memphis would be a fool to pass him up especially if Horford is already taken in the draft. I believe passing on Yi in this draft is just like how Memphis drafted Gooden and passed on Stoudemire in the 02' draft. Having a Gay, Yi, Gasol frontline would be very athletic, long and quick. I know Iavaroni could definitely work that frontline. He can block shots, he has the post up moves and a sweet touch from the outside probably just as good as Dirk (shooting wise). He is also only 10 lbs lighter than Oden with just about the same measurements. Nice mock draft Indy.