1. Derrick Rose
Point Guard. MemphisI miss the good old days when GMs once brought the jersey of the top overall pick with them to the lottery in case they won it. Now the league doesn’t like teams with the first overall pick to even reveal the selection before the official announcement, but this is the best kept worst secret in the draft.
2. Michael Beasley
Power Forward. Kansas StateMiami remains eager to dump Beasley off on another team, i.e. Memphis if they are willing to part with Mike Conley in the package.
He might be undersized, but he can share a frontcourt with Shawn Marion in the interim and is a perfect scorer to complement with Dwyane Wade. A Mayo or Bayless would seriously interfere with Wade's playmaking abilities.
3. O.J. Mayo
Shooting Guard. USCThe third overall pick looks a whole lot better in most people's eyes than it did on the night of the lottery. Mayo will be a great NBA player and a backcourt with he and Randy Foye will have some overlap, but also be explosive.
4. Jerryd Bayless
Combo Guard. ArizonaRobin Lopez is the popular pick, but I will only believe it when I see it. They have so many other picks and the eventual talent gap between Lopez and Alexis Ajinca, who they might have a chance at with the 24th pick, is far narrower than Bayless and even a D.J. Augustin. If they prefer Westbrook to Bayless, I wouldn't argue but Bayless fits much better.
5. Kevin Love
Power Forward. UCLALove fits their need most closely and is the safe pick they need, but trading up with Memphis looks like a 50-50 proposition at this point.
David Lee is a nice player, but he's not worth that much even if they can shed a bad contract along the way.
6. Russell Westbrook
Combo Guard. UCLAWestbrook changes the culture of the club, particularly on defense. He may not become the franchise player they need, but he is a definite franchise changer and they have their sights on free agency for that difference maker.
7. Eric Gordon
Shooting Guard. IndianaThe Clippers lost that flip, but they still get a potentially dominant guard in the process, who is probably the most currently undervalued/overlooked player in the lottery. I hear that they're not locked in at guard because of the Corey Maggette situation and could look wing if Bayless, Westbrook and Gordon are all off the board.
8. Joe Alexander
Small Forward. West VirginiaLove his mental approach, disposition, athleticism and feel for the game. Like Westbrook for New York, Alexander's mere presence will change things and light a much needed fire under an all too sober Milwaukee club.
9. Brook Lopez
Center. StanfordThe Bobcats wisely acquired a second first round pick on Wednesday and will complete some sort of combination of guard and big. If Lopez is off the board, then that will likely mean that Gordon or Bayless slips to them and they then go with Roy Hibbert at 20 if he is still available.
10. Danilo Gallinari
Small Forward. ItalyGallinari will be a tremendous facilitator in this league and will take a lot of pressure off Devin Harris.
11. Kosta Koufos
Center. Ohio StateI like the Toronto trade for both teams, but this means passing on the other Texas point guard that so many Pacers' fans were falling in love and wishing for over the past few months.
Koufos has an ideal skill set for Indiana's system and should thrive playing beside wings like Granger and Dunleavy.
12. D.J. Augustin
Point Guard. TexasThe Kings have talent, but really need a guy with the character of Augustin to make them gel. He's a true playmaker, true leader and will make those Bibby days seem long gone.
13. Brandon Rush
Shooting Guard. KansasThis pick has been consistent for the past few mocks even though we still expect Portland to trade out of this slot in some way, shape or form. Until that trade manifests itself, we'll leave it with Rush.
14. Marreese Speights
Power Forward. FloridaI'm a broken record on this pick, but it really should be a no brainer for Golden State.
15. Donte Greene
Small Forward. SyracuseI've been told that GMs are reconsidering their previous opinions of Greene and are realizing that he has an excellent chance of being the player many teams are afraid of passing on. A situation like Phoenix where he can be a second option would be ideal for Greene. He is a much more versatile scorer than people give him credit for and would thrive playing alongside the personnel they have there.
16. Anthony Randolph
Power Forward. LSURandolph is one of the odd guys out of the lottery, but an absolutely perfect fit for Philadelphia. With that personnel, they really could use a point forward facilitator.
17. Darrell Arthur
Power Forward. KansasThis pick will eventually be property of the Pacers following the completion of the Jermaine O'Neal/T.J. Ford trade. There is still a chance Indiana could go for a home run at 11 at the four spot with a higher risk Randolph and then go with Hibbert here, but a Koufos/Arthur night has better overall upside and less risk.
18. DeAndre Jordan
Center. Texas A&MErnie loves to take the best talent available and they also have a need at center, so picking Jordan here at 18 nets him a high reward player at a reasonable cost.
19. Roy Hibbert
Center. GeorgetownHibbert is the most NBA-ready player outside of the top-3. I hear he looked incredible earlier this week in a workout and how many 7-2 guys come into the NBA with his kind of skill set?
20. Mario Chalmers
Point Guard. KansasThe Bobcats will go big here if they don't get Lopez at nine, but walking away with Brook and Mario will complete a day that should finally net Charlotte that playoff berth they so desperately covet.
21. Robin Lopez
Forward/Center. StanfordRobin is a great energy rebounder who would benefit from finally playing beside guards and wings who can create easy buckets for him.
22. Chris Douglas-Roberts
Shooting Guard. MemphisI keep hearing from everywhere and everyone I turn that Lee is definitely their guy at 22, but I don't believe he is a starting wing in the NBA and doesn't shoot well enough as a spot-up shooter for Orlando. Douglas-Roberts is a superior fit and I think there is some smoke-screening going on.
23. Alexis Ajinca
Center. HTV Hyeres-ToulonHibbert would have been nice for Utah, but I think they have enough present talent to be satisfied with a player who clearly projects as a longer term project, but one that should be worthwhile because he would be a great finisher to offset Boozer.
24. J.J. Hickson
Power Forward. N.C. StateHickson is a potential low-post stud, who would really make the Sonics a dangerous offensive team.
25. Javale McGee
Center. NevadaThe Rockets need a Yao Ming backup plan and McGee could fit the bill with an offensive skill set that loosely resembles his.
26. Nicolas Batum
Small Forward. FranceBatum should really be selected ahead of this slot, but I would be shocked if he's not plucked here. There is San Antonio's dire need for youth on the wing, he has a high impact potential, is French and has a kind of game that fits with Pop's system.
27. Jason Thompson
Power Forward. RiderWho knows who KP is drafting for with this slot, but I expect it to be for someone else, so this is just a placeholder?
Why isn't Mark Cuban buying picks the way Sir (deserves that title) Paul Allen does?
28. J.R. Giddens
Shooting Guard. New MexicoI still like Memphis taking Giddens here. They love him and could grab him here late in the first round depending on who is off the board.
Giddens is one of the best athletes in this draft and uses that athleticism not just on dunks, but to make very pure basketball moves.
29. Bill Walker
Small Forward. Kansas StateNobody knows who will be left in Detroit when the dust settles, but Walker is an incredibly hard nosed player who can get into the lane and play beside anybody.
30. Courtney Lee
Shooting Guard. Western KentuckyLee is ready to contribute immediately as a scorer off the dribble and Boston was decidedly thin on the wings behind Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Lee is a mid-range specialist with great body control as a jump shooter and has enough athleticism to allow the Celtics’ defensive greatness rub off on him.
Second Round
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