1. Bulls- Derrick Rose  PG 19 years old; 6′4″; 180 lbs. Memphis, Freshman

Beasley would give the team the kind of frontcourt scorer the team has lacked the past few years, but Rose can run the show and elevate those around him. I have to believe when it is all said and done that the guy who can not only be a star himself but maximize the abilities of Deng, Gordon, and Nocioni will be the direction Paxson goes with the #1.

2. Heat- Michael Beasley  PF 19 years old; 6′9″; 220 lbs. Kansas State, Freshman

If Riley is serious about shopping the pick, then I do not imagine him having a hard time finding a suitor. Memphis has three young point guards and the fifth pick that they can package. Seattle, New Jersey, and Sacramento have strong desires to add a frontcourt scorer along with pieces to put together an impressive package. Regardless as to who ends up with the pick, Beasley will go no lower than second.
3. Timberwolves- Brook Lopez  C 19 years old; 7′0″; 260 lbs. Stanford, Sophomore

O.J. Mayo or Jerryd Bayless are possibilities should they go with a guard, but Foye and McCants are capable guards. As pleased as they must be with Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith, they force Al Jefferson to play the center spot. One can stand to reason that Kevin McHale will try to get help for Al Jefferson up front so he can play more at his natural position.

4. Sonics- O.J. Mayo  PG/SG 20 years old; 6′5″; 195 lbs. USC, Freshman
Much of the drama that surrounds him overshadows the fact that he is a tremendous basketball talent. A Durant-Mayo combination on the wing could give them a formidable duo for the next decade. The rest of the roster, however, will still be a work-in-progress.

5. Grizzlies- DeAndre Jordan  C 19 years old; 7′0″; 260 lbs. Texas A&M, Freshman

Even before the rumors started circulating that he has received a top five promise, Jordan-to-Memphis made sense to me. They are sitting in what really is point guard/combo guard row with Bayless, Gordon, Westbrook, and Augustin probably being the most impactful players on the board. With Conley, Lowry, and Crittenton on their roster (as well as Juan Carlos Navarro being a restricted free agent meaning they can match all offers), the last thing they would need is another smallish guard. Jordan, while not ready to play right away, could develop into a big time center. They could work him into their rotation slowly like the Warriors did Andris Biedrins. Given that they are in the loaded Southwest, they are going to need to be patient anyway. If they don’t go Jordan, I can see them take Randolph.

6. Knicks- D.J. Augustin  PG 20 years old; 5′11″; 175 lbs. Texas, Sophomore

I am going to throw caution into the wind and bank on the Knicks making the right decision. If they are going to commit to Mike D’Antoni and his system, then how can they pass on the best pure point guard on the board who is tailoring his game after Steve Nash? They could go with Eric Gordon or Bayless, but I do not believe that either would fit as well as Augustin.

7. Clippers- Jerryd Bayless  PG/SG 19 years old; 6′3″; 199 lbs. Arizona, Freshman

With Shaun Livingston’s knees in question and Corey Maggette able to opt out, the Clippers need to upgrade their backcourt. If Bayless is still available, the explosing scoring guard should make their decision easy. If not, then they will probably either go Gordon or Russell Westbrook

8. Bucks-  Eric Gordon  PG/SG 19 years old; 6′3″; 215 lbs. Indiana, Freshman

With John Hammond and Scott Skiles taking over the Bucks, I expect the team to try and change the culture. The team does not lack for talent or scorers, but they have been an extremely poor team defensively. This will likely result in a number of players being dealt this summer or in the next year. A talented and versatile player who will get after it defensively like Gordon will help the transition.

9. Bobcats- Anthony Randolph  SF/PF 18 years old; 6′11″; 220 lbs. LSU, Freshman
With the Bobcats sitting in the middle of the lottery once again, I would not be surprised if Michael Jordan and Larry Brown decide to deal the pick for a veteran like the team did last year. Charlotte fans are not as patient with the Bobcats building as they were with the Hornets the first time around, and getting to the playoff next year is the goal. If, however, they get stuck with the pick, I expect them to go with a versatile wing who can defend bigger players on the perimeter meaning they can either go with Randolph of Darrell Arthur. Randolph’s length and athleticism often draws comparison to Chris Bosh, but is not expected to be a major impact player right away. Arthur is more NBA-ready, but not his ceiling is not as high. For the moment, I’ll go with Randolph.

10. Nets- Kevin Love  PF 19 years old; 6′9″; 255 lbs. UCLA, Freshman

Another pick that could be on the move if the rumored deal that would send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey goes through. Given that I have a difficult time believing the 50-win Nuggets would deal their 23-year-old superstar, I am going to assume the Nets still have the pick come draft night. New Jersey has not had a big man who could score on the block since Derrick Coleman was playing so Kevin Love figures to fill a need.

11-60 accelerated…

11. Pacers- Russell Westbrook PG/SG 19 years old, 6′ 3″ 187lbs. UCLA, Sophomore
12. Kings- Darrell Arthur  SF/PF 20 years old; 6′9″; 215 lbs. Kansas, Sophomore
13. Trail Blazers- Danilo Gallinari  SF 19 years old; 6′9″; 209 lbs. Armani Jeans Milano
14. Warriors- Donte Greene SF 20 years old, 6′ 10″ 220 lbs. Syracuse, Freshman
15. Suns- Chase Budinger  SG/SF 20 years old; 6′7″; 190 lbs. Arizona, Sophomore
16. 76ers-  Marreese Speights PF/C 20 years old, 6′ 10″ 245 lbs. Florida, Sophomore
17. Raptors- Kosta Koufos C 19 years old, 7′ 1″ 245lbs. Ohio State, Freshman
18. Wizards- Joe Alexander SF 21 years old, 6′ 8″ 200 lbs. West Virginia, Junior
19. Cavaliers- Brandon Rush  SG/SF 22 years old; 6′7″; 211 lbs. Kansas, Junior
20. Nuggets- Nicolas Batum  SG/SF 19 years old; 6′8″; 214 lbs. Le Mans
21. Nets- Roy Hibbert  C 21 years old; 7′2″; 272 lbs. Georgetown, Senior
22. Magic- JaVale McGee PF/C 20 years old, 7′ 0″ 237 lbs. Nevada, Sophomore
23. Sonics- Ty Lawson  PG 20 years old; 5′11″; 175 lbs. North Carolina, Sophomore
24. Jazz- J.J. Hickson  PF 19 years old; 6′9″; 242 lbs. N.C. State, Freshman
25. Rockets- Ante Tomic C 21 years old, 7′ 2″ 220 lbs. KK Zagreb
26. Spurs- Bill Walker  SG/SF 20 years old; 6′6″; 225 lbs. Kansas State, Freshman
27. Hornets- Chris Douglas-Roberts  SG/SF 21 years old; 6′7″; 200 lbs. Memphis, Junior
28. Pistons- Robin Lopez PF/C 19 years old, 7′ 0″ 250lbs. Stanford, Sophomore
29. Grizzlies- Victor Claver SF/PF 19 years old; 6′11″ 217 lbs. Parmesa Velencia
30. Celtics- Luc Richard Mbah A Moute SF/PF 21 years old, 6′ 7″ 224lbs. UCLA, Junior
31. Timberwolves- Serge Ibaka PF 18 years old, 6′ 10″ 220 lbs. L’Hospitalet
32. Sonics- Alexis Ajinca PF 19 years old, 7′ 1″ 210lbs. Hyeres-Toulon
33. Trail Blazers- Nathan Jawai  C 21 years old; 6′10″; 282 lbs. Cairns Taipans
34. Timberwolves- Nikola Pekovic  PF/C 22 years old; 6′11″; 243 lbs. KK Partizan Belgrade
35. Trail Blazers- Jason Thompson  PF/C 21 years old; 6′10″; 235 lbs. Rider, Senior
36. Clippers- Keith Brumbaugh SF/PF 22 years old, 6′10″ 215lbs. Hillsborough CC, Sophomore
37. Bucks- Joey Dorsey  PF 24 years old; 6′9″; 260 lbs. Memphis, Senior 
38. Bobcats- Mario Chalmers PG 21 years old, 6′ 2″ 170lbs. Kansas, Junior
39. Bulls- DeVon Hardin  C 21 years old; 6′11″; 250 lbs. California, Senior

40. Nets- Courtney Lee  SG/SF 22 years old; 6′5″; 200 lbs. Western Kentucky, Senior
41. Pacers- D.J. White  PF 21 years old; 6′9″; 230 lbs. Indiana, Senior
42. Kings- Lester Hudson  PG/SG 23 years old; 6′3″; 190 lbs. Tenn. Martin, Junior
43. Sonics- Davon Jefferson  SF/PF 21 years old; 6′8″; 195 lbs. USC, Freshman
44. Warriors- J.R. Giddens SG 23 years old, 6′ 5″ 200lbs. New Mexico, Senior
45. Kings- Trent Plaisted PF/C 21 years old; 6′11″ 240 lbs. BYU, junior
46. Jazz- Jamont Gordon  PG/SG 21 years old; 6′3″; 225 lbs. Mississippi St., Junior
47. Spurs- Omri Casspi SF 19 years old, 6′ 8″ 220 lbs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
48. Wizards- DeMarcus Nelson  SG 22 years old; 6′4″; 200 lbs. Duke, Senior                                                                                                                                                                 

49. Suns- Pat Calathes SF/PF 6′10″ 210lbs. Saint Joseph’s, Senior
50. Sonics- Omer Asik  C 21 years old; 6′11″; 230 lbs. Fenerbahce Ulker
51. Mavericks- Derrick Caracter  PF/C 19 years old; 6′9″; 265 lbs. Louisville, Sophomore
52. Heat- Kyle Weaver  PG/SG 22 years old; 6′6″; 201 lbs. Washington State, Senior
53. Trail Blazers- Rudy Mbemba PG 20 years old, 5′ 11″ 176lbs. Deutsche Bank Skyliners
54. Jazz- Giorgi Shermadini PF/C 7′1″ 220lbs. Makkabi Tbilisi
55. Rockets- Shan Foster  SG 21 years old; 6′6″; 205 lbs. Vanderbilt, Senior

56. Spurs- Rodrigue Beaubois PG 20 years old; 6′3″ 180 lbs. Cholet
57. Sonics- Deron Washington SG/SF 22 years old, 6′ 7″ 205lbs. Virginia Tech, Senior
58. Pistons- Gary Forbes SF 23 years old, 6′7″ 220lbs. Massachusetts, Senior
59. Lakers- Sonny Weems SG/SF 21 years old, 6′ 6″ 201lbs. Arkansas, Senior
60. Celtics- Malik Hairston SG 21 years old, 6′ 6″ 200lbs. Oregon, Senior

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