A Media Mock Draft
With the NBA Finals in the bank, it’s time to turn our full attention to the NBA Draft, which is now just six days away. I recently participated in a media mock draft with a Baltimore radio station that set up interviews with media members throughout the country who cover the respective teams selecting in this year’s first round.
I have absolutely no idea what other media members participated in this station’s mock draft. But it’s always interesting to read other writers’ opinions on who their teams might select — especially when it’s the beat writers, seeing as how he or she should have a pulse on the team’s needs if not its plans. Now, this format has its warts. Players can be overlooked and forgotten about, allowing them to slip far past their projected range. Which is the reason Avery Bradley came within one selection of coming to OKC, and Portland got another potential steal in Luke Babbitt at No. 22.
But here’s the plus side. Unlike a version of my own mock draft, where I can subconsciously slot players to teams based on personal biases and what I think makes sense, I had no control over which two players were there for the Thunder’s taking at No. 21 and No. 26. And yet, I managed to pull my Sam Presti-like magic and come away with a highly successful first round that I’m sure you Thunder heads would be proud of. If I had to grade myself, I’d give me an A+. The Thunder would be hard pressed to end up with a better scenario. Here’s how it unfolded. (Note: Picks 27-30 have yet to be selected)
1. Washington: John Wall;PG;6-4;196;Fr.;Kentucky
2. Philadelphia: Evan Turner;SG/SF;6-7;205;Jr.Ohio State
3. New Jersey: Derrick Favors;PF;6-10;245;Fr.;Georgia Tech
4. Minnesota: Wesley Johnson;SF;6-8;196;Jr.;Syracuse
5. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins;C;6-10;270;Fr.;Kentucky
6.Golden State: Greg Monroe;PF/C;6-11;247;Soph.;Georgetown
7. Detroit: Ed Davis;PF;6-9;215;Soph.;North Carolina
8. L.A. Clippers: Cole Aldrich;C;6-11;245;Jr.;Kansas
9. Utah: Ekpe Udoh;PF/C;6-10;240;Jr.;Baylor
10. Indiana: Xavier Henry;SG;6-6;210;Fr.;Kansas
11. New Orleans: Patrick Patterson;PF;6-8;240;Sr.;Kentucky
12. Memphis: Al-Farouq Aminu;SF/PF;6-8;210;Soph.;Wake Forest
13. Toronto: Daniel Orton;C; 6-10;265;Fr.;Kentucky
14. Houston: Hassan Whiteside;C;7-0;230;Fr.;Marshall
15. Milwaukee: Gordon Haywood;SF;6-8;210;Soph.;Butler
16. Minnesota: Paul George;SF;6-9;215;Soph.;Fresno State
17. Chicago: James Anderson;SG;6-6;200;Jr.;Oklahoma State
18. Miami: Solomon Alabi;C;7-1;240;Soph.;Florida State
19.Boston: Damion James;SF;6-8;225;Sr.;Texas
20. San Antonio: Ryan Thompson;SG;6-6;220;Sr.;Rider
21. Oklahoma City: Larry Sanders;PF;6-11;215;Jr.;Virginia Commonwealth
22. Portland: Luke Babbitt;SF;6-9;215;Soph.;Nevada
23. Minnesota: Dexter Pittman;C;6-10;290;Sr.;Texas
24. Atlanta: Quincy Pondexter;SF;6-7;220;Sr.;Washington
25. Memphis: Avery Bradley;SG;6-3;180;Fr.;Texas
26. Oklahoma City: Kevin Seraphin;PF;6-10;260;France
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Comments
Pleiss would be a great second round pick, but you sure don’t grab him at 21. And I want no part of Pittman.
Pleiss and pittman both might be gone before thunder picks, that is why I think thunder will package picks to move up.
I like both your picks.. Sanders is a shot blocking rebounding player we could use and Seraphin looks like a nice low post up player… Would be thrilled if we could get them both. In the second round would be nice to pick up a shooter like willie warren or jordan crawford. However i would love to see how Robert Vaden looks he has a great outside shot and if his defense is coming along we probably don’t need either one of these but you can always bring in the second round picks to compete in summer league and training camp and just keep the best ones. If everybody comes back not sure these picks help out much this year but that is the nice thing about this year unless we have injuries we don’t need any of these picks to make an impact this year. Next year with collison and kristic’s contracts up maybe they can help us then. However just when we think we won’t need em ya look at golden state and all the injuries last year. Pray for good health for the thunder. Really looking forward to seeing how d.j. white and kyle weaver play this year and if they can stay healthy. I like em both and think if healthy they can really help us out off the bench.
I think thunder will go with tibor pleiss and dexter pittman because they have nobody like them. Also it matches their frontcourt with the lakers piece for piece. Together with serge it gives the thunder frontcourt all aspects of speed length and girth, most importantly both offense and defense.