Post by heelsguy25 on Jan 9, 2011 17:03:55 GMT -5
The 2006 Draft is quickly approaching. The season is nearing the halfway point and its about time when teams start to do their planning on the whose who of the draft. We will take a look at what we think the draft will look come that night. The picks are based on a few factors: Team needs, upcoming free agents of the team and other roster issues. Our writers come together and make these selections, so they are just opinions. It is still early to say whose in and out of the draft so this mock will include players who are still testing the draft waters. We will look first at the lottery picks.
1. Sacramento Kings
Previous lottery position: 3
Current record: 12-31
Team needs: SG, PF, C
Projected Selection: Andrea Bargnani
Sacramento moves up to the #1 slot in our lottery projections. They need alot of help, primarily at the 4 and 5 spot. Some may feel Brandon Roy is the obvious choice at #1, but we think a big should go here.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous lottery position: 1
Current record: 11-28
Team needs: PF
Projected Selection: PF Al Jefferson
Slipping to #2 doesn't hurt much as they will still land a solid player at this position. Jefferson would be a solid pick as he can come in and play a few spots and adds bulk to their front line.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Previous lottery position: 2
Current record: 13-29
Team needs: SG, PF
Projected Selection: SG Brandon Roy
Falling to #3 could be a good thing for the 76ers. They need a true SG and should have no issue with drafting Roy here. he can do alot of things and should come right in and score for this rebuilding club.
4. Miami Heat (via New York)
Previous lottery position: 4
Current record: 24-13
Team needs: SF,C
Projected Selection: C Joakim Noah
Same spot for the Heat and why change the pick., Noah will add some length to their frontcourt and should help this club right away.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Previous lottery position: 5
Current record: 12-22
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: PG Rajon Rondo
We were contemplating changing the selection here but we really feel Charlotte will go after Rondo hard if he is available when they choose. He is more of a PG and if they draft him but move him they could get alot for him.
6. Utah Jazz
Previous lottery position: 9
Current record: 14-18
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: SG Monta Elis
Who knows where the Jazz will go. They have fell off as of late and could even land the top pick by default if they keep losing. The Jazz need alot of help so any player would compliment their already lackluster roster. Ellis would be a nice pickup here, since he can play both PG and SG.
7. Vancouver Grizzlies
Previous lottery position: 6
Current record: 16-25
Team needs: PG, SG, SF
Projected Selection: Sf Wilson Chandler
The Grizzlies will have quite a few choices at this pick, since they lack alot of positions heading into the off season. The selection here could change the rest of the lottery drastically.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Previous lottery position: 7
Current record: 17-26
Team needs: PF
Projected Selection: PF Andray Blatche
If Blatche is here, look for the Bucks to nab him. he seems to be the best PF prospect at this point in the draft. he Bucks are a pretty young team but have filled out their roster nicely at each position. Their frontcourt is weak, so any size would do them some good.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (via Golden State)
Previous lottery position: 8
Current record: 13-29
Team Needs: SG, PF
Projected Selection: PF Paul Millsap
A tough call for the 76ers here. They go with a SG earlier so a big is in place here, if we had to call it. Millsap is a rebounder by nature and could bolster their totals immediately. Other choices for this team could be Cedric Simmons, Saer Sene or even Josh Boone.
10. Indiana Pacers
Previous lottery position: N/A
Current record: 17-23
Team needs: PG, Depth
Projected Selection: PG Kyle Lowry
The Pacers enter the lottery projections. They aren't a bad team but lack some depth. BPA could be a way they go with this pick. A few choices come to mind here. Lowry may be the best option, so he could fit the need here.
11. San Antonio Spurs
Previous lottery position: 11
Current record: 17-22
Team needs: PG, SG, PF
Projected Selection: SG JJ Redick
With Lowry off the board, the Spurs could land the next best player in Redick. Redick can score anywhere behind the 3pt line and could come in and be a nice scorer for them. But is he starting quality right out of college?
12. Chicago Bulls
Previous lottery position: 12
Current record: 18-23
Team needs: PG, SG, PF
Projected Selection: PG Louis Williams
Chicago could use more than a late lottery pick. They may need to fill alot of spots and should choose wisely come draft time. Williams could help alot since he can play the 1 and 2 spot. he is more a scoring guard and could fit nicely in if Ray Allen bolts for FA.
13. Dallas Mavericks
Previous lottery position: 13
Current record: 19-22
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: SF Adam Morrison
Taking a chance is what the Mavs could do here. They are a fringe playoff team, but still need alot of help. Morrison could give them the scorer they lack. If they go big players like Cedric Simmons, Saer Sene and Josh Boone could come into play.
The season is just past the halfway point, so lottery projections will change as the season goes on. Look for some teams to start to prepare for the draft in terms of team needs and such.The decisions from the wild cards should come shortly. Stay tuned...
1. Sacramento Kings
Previous lottery position: 3
Current record: 12-31
Team needs: SG, PF, C
Projected Selection: Andrea Bargnani
Sacramento moves up to the #1 slot in our lottery projections. They need alot of help, primarily at the 4 and 5 spot. Some may feel Brandon Roy is the obvious choice at #1, but we think a big should go here.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous lottery position: 1
Current record: 11-28
Team needs: PF
Projected Selection: PF Al Jefferson
Slipping to #2 doesn't hurt much as they will still land a solid player at this position. Jefferson would be a solid pick as he can come in and play a few spots and adds bulk to their front line.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Previous lottery position: 2
Current record: 13-29
Team needs: SG, PF
Projected Selection: SG Brandon Roy
Falling to #3 could be a good thing for the 76ers. They need a true SG and should have no issue with drafting Roy here. he can do alot of things and should come right in and score for this rebuilding club.
4. Miami Heat (via New York)
Previous lottery position: 4
Current record: 24-13
Team needs: SF,C
Projected Selection: C Joakim Noah
Same spot for the Heat and why change the pick., Noah will add some length to their frontcourt and should help this club right away.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Previous lottery position: 5
Current record: 12-22
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: PG Rajon Rondo
We were contemplating changing the selection here but we really feel Charlotte will go after Rondo hard if he is available when they choose. He is more of a PG and if they draft him but move him they could get alot for him.
6. Utah Jazz
Previous lottery position: 9
Current record: 14-18
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: SG Monta Elis
Who knows where the Jazz will go. They have fell off as of late and could even land the top pick by default if they keep losing. The Jazz need alot of help so any player would compliment their already lackluster roster. Ellis would be a nice pickup here, since he can play both PG and SG.
7. Vancouver Grizzlies
Previous lottery position: 6
Current record: 16-25
Team needs: PG, SG, SF
Projected Selection: Sf Wilson Chandler
The Grizzlies will have quite a few choices at this pick, since they lack alot of positions heading into the off season. The selection here could change the rest of the lottery drastically.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Previous lottery position: 7
Current record: 17-26
Team needs: PF
Projected Selection: PF Andray Blatche
If Blatche is here, look for the Bucks to nab him. he seems to be the best PF prospect at this point in the draft. he Bucks are a pretty young team but have filled out their roster nicely at each position. Their frontcourt is weak, so any size would do them some good.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (via Golden State)
Previous lottery position: 8
Current record: 13-29
Team Needs: SG, PF
Projected Selection: PF Paul Millsap
A tough call for the 76ers here. They go with a SG earlier so a big is in place here, if we had to call it. Millsap is a rebounder by nature and could bolster their totals immediately. Other choices for this team could be Cedric Simmons, Saer Sene or even Josh Boone.
10. Indiana Pacers
Previous lottery position: N/A
Current record: 17-23
Team needs: PG, Depth
Projected Selection: PG Kyle Lowry
The Pacers enter the lottery projections. They aren't a bad team but lack some depth. BPA could be a way they go with this pick. A few choices come to mind here. Lowry may be the best option, so he could fit the need here.
11. San Antonio Spurs
Previous lottery position: 11
Current record: 17-22
Team needs: PG, SG, PF
Projected Selection: SG JJ Redick
With Lowry off the board, the Spurs could land the next best player in Redick. Redick can score anywhere behind the 3pt line and could come in and be a nice scorer for them. But is he starting quality right out of college?
12. Chicago Bulls
Previous lottery position: 12
Current record: 18-23
Team needs: PG, SG, PF
Projected Selection: PG Louis Williams
Chicago could use more than a late lottery pick. They may need to fill alot of spots and should choose wisely come draft time. Williams could help alot since he can play the 1 and 2 spot. he is more a scoring guard and could fit nicely in if Ray Allen bolts for FA.
13. Dallas Mavericks
Previous lottery position: 13
Current record: 19-22
Team needs: SG, SF, C
Projected Selection: SF Adam Morrison
Taking a chance is what the Mavs could do here. They are a fringe playoff team, but still need alot of help. Morrison could give them the scorer they lack. If they go big players like Cedric Simmons, Saer Sene and Josh Boone could come into play.
The season is just past the halfway point, so lottery projections will change as the season goes on. Look for some teams to start to prepare for the draft in terms of team needs and such.The decisions from the wild cards should come shortly. Stay tuned...
