2008 Woodie Awards
NBA Draft 2008: Now Mock It Out
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 6/9/08 Section: Sports
The 2008 NBA Draft may not have the star power of 2003 (LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony), but it sure doesn't have the bust factor of 2000 (Kwame Brown, DeSagana "Diop It Like It's Hot"). This is one of the deepest drafts in years, with players who would have been surefire top ten picks in previous drafts falling into the late teens and early 20s. Here's how I see it playing out:
1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
Either Chicago goes with Rose, the hometown legend, or Kansas State superstar Michael Beasley, widely recognized as the draft's most NBA-ready player. Rose's teammate at Memphis, Joey Dorsey, gave some insight when he said "Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago. But they're going to take [Michael] Beasley. I've got the inside. They're going to get Beasley." That's well and good, but I respect Dorsey more as a shot-blocker (and freak of nature) than I do as a GM. The Bulls are leaning towards Rose, and the only way he doesn't end up in a Chicago uniform is if they ship this pick and Joakim Noah to Miami for Wade, a rumor that may have some substance to it.
2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
Regardless of whether Miami trades for the first pick, Beasley seems destined to end in a Heat uniform. He stood only 6-foot-7 at the combine, but his 7-foot wingspan and 19 bench press reps of the standard 185 pounds silenced any doubters. And, oh yeah, he was a First Team All-American and the most dominant freshman in recent memory.
3. Minnesota T'Wolves - O.J. Mayo, SG, USC
Mayo will be a good pro, but for his sake, let's just hope he doesn't become the most famous O.J. to graduate from USC. Minnesota could also look to solidify its frontcourt and draft Brook Lopez here, but with Al Jefferson inside, the perimeter is a more pressing need.
4. Seattle Sonics - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
Every mock draft in the world has Bayless to the Sonics. He's a quick, explosive guard who can do everything offensively. He'll take a lot of the pressure off of Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and should fit in perfectly in Seattle, Oklahoma City, Des Moines, Hartford, Puerto Rico, or any other likely destination for the Sonics.
1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
Either Chicago goes with Rose, the hometown legend, or Kansas State superstar Michael Beasley, widely recognized as the draft's most NBA-ready player. Rose's teammate at Memphis, Joey Dorsey, gave some insight when he said "Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago. But they're going to take [Michael] Beasley. I've got the inside. They're going to get Beasley." That's well and good, but I respect Dorsey more as a shot-blocker (and freak of nature) than I do as a GM. The Bulls are leaning towards Rose, and the only way he doesn't end up in a Chicago uniform is if they ship this pick and Joakim Noah to Miami for Wade, a rumor that may have some substance to it.
2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
Regardless of whether Miami trades for the first pick, Beasley seems destined to end in a Heat uniform. He stood only 6-foot-7 at the combine, but his 7-foot wingspan and 19 bench press reps of the standard 185 pounds silenced any doubters. And, oh yeah, he was a First Team All-American and the most dominant freshman in recent memory.
3. Minnesota T'Wolves - O.J. Mayo, SG, USC
Mayo will be a good pro, but for his sake, let's just hope he doesn't become the most famous O.J. to graduate from USC. Minnesota could also look to solidify its frontcourt and draft Brook Lopez here, but with Al Jefferson inside, the perimeter is a more pressing need.
4. Seattle Sonics - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
Every mock draft in the world has Bayless to the Sonics. He's a quick, explosive guard who can do everything offensively. He'll take a lot of the pressure off of Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and should fit in perfectly in Seattle, Oklahoma City, Des Moines, Hartford, Puerto Rico, or any other likely destination for the Sonics.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
bobbo
posted 6/08/08 @ 10:10 PM EST
2001 Draft, not 2000 Draft. 2000 was Kenyon Martin and Stromile Swift and Darius Miles.
Peter
posted 6/12/08 @ 1:16 AM EST
Name one guy on the current Blazer's roster that has any infraction with the law.
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