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GlenTaylorSucksMock Draft, Version 8.2
Updated: June 22, 2012, 4:02 PM ETBy Chad Ford | ESPN.com
It’s crunch time. With the NBA draft less than 10 days away, the finishing touches of the process are playing out with individual workouts, team interviews and doctors combing over physicals combined with heated arguments in war rooms across the NBA.
While teams are getting closer to finalizing their draft boards, there’s still time for things to change. Here’s our best stab, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, about how the draft might play out June 28:
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
New Orleans
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 222 pounds
Age: 19
School: KentuckyAnalysis: Davis is the clear No. 1 pick. The Hornets are turning down all trade offers for Davis and trying to figure out the best way to build around him. Look for them to seriously consider dealing the No. 10 pick if they can get a young veteran to play alongside Davis in return. This team has no intention of being bad for the next five seasons now that Davis is in place.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Charlotte
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 244 pounds
Age: 21
School: KansasAnalysis: The Bobcats continue to talk with teams about trading the No. 2 pick. But if they keep it, most of the signals coming out of the organization point to Robinson being the man. He is a super athletic, physical 4 who should be an instant upgrade over Tyrus Thomas and D.J. White.
I’m hearing Harrison Barnes may be in second place on their wish list. Apparently, MJ is a fan. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal are in the mix, too, though I’m told MKG didn’t blow anyone away in his workout for the Bobcats on Monday and also hurt his back a little.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Washington
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 202 pounds
Age: 18
School: FloridaAnalysis: The Wizards made the first big trade of the offseason, sending Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. With the deal, the Wizards essentially upgraded their front court — Okafor will likely be their starting 5, Nene their starting 4 and Ariza their starting 3.
With John Wall running the point, that leaves them with one big hole at the 2. I think this makes Bradley Beal a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are lacking a lights-out perimeter shooter. He’s a perfect fit for this new roster.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Cleveland
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 233 pounds
Age: 18
School: KentuckyAnalysis: If Beal goes No. 3, the Cavs have a choice between Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes. The team is high on both players and could go either direction. Kidd-Gilchrist brings toughness, defense and leadership and would be great running the floor with Kyrie Irving. Barnes is a much better shooter and scorer who could add more punch to the Cavs’ attack.
At this point I’d give Kidd-Gilchrist the slight edge over Barnes. But if the Cavs go Barnes at No. 4, MKG won’t slide past the Kings at No. 5 — he’s exactly the sort of player Sacramento needs.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Sacramento
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 228 pounds
Age: 20
School: North CarolinaAnalysis: Sacramento is another team that is seriously considering moving its pick if it can. GM Geoff Petrie is on the hot seat and the Kings are once again looking for a player who can come in and contribute immediately. If they can entice a team to give up a young veteran for the No. 5 pick, I think they do it. If they keep the pick, it’s looking like they’ll play it safe and grab Barnes. Drummond is in the mix too, but he’s a much riskier proposition.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Portland (via Nets)
Position: C
Height: 7-foot-0
Weight: 279 pounds
Age: 18
School: UConnAnalysis: Blazers GM Neil Olshey is a risk-taker. He also knows he has some time to rebuild this team. So, unlike Petrie, Olshey has the capital right now to take a risk or two in the draft.
It may come down to a three-way choice (assuming the top five are off the board) between Drummond, Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters. I hear the Blazers like all three, but Drummond clearly has the biggest upside of the group. He also comes with the biggest question marks.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Golden State
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 221 pounds
Age: 20
School: SyracuseAnalysis: We’ve tried a number of players in this spot and none of them have stuck. Perry Jones really struggled during a workout with the Warriors. Terrence Jones didn’t wow them in workouts. And news of Jared Sullinger’s back issues have GMs in the lottery running scared.
Could the Warriors turn to Waiters? He would bring a lot of what Monta Ellis brought to the table at a much cheaper price. If the team believes Klay Thompson can slide over to the 3, or if it just wants to fill out a three-guard rotation, Waiters could be the guy.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Toronto
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 189 pounds
Age: 21
School: Weber StateAnalysis: The Raptors were high on Waiters early, but his stock has risen so rapidly that he could very well be off the board when they pick. If that’s the case, Lillard may be the next best thing to Waiters as a dynamic backcourt scorer, something the team has lacked.
The Raptors are also open to trading their pick for a veteran wing who could add stability to their roster. If they keep the pick, Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers are also in the mix here.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Detroit
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 216 pounds
Age: 21
School: North CarolinaAnalysis: Greg Monroe has been a revelation in the middle for the Pistons, but they really need to pair him alongside an athletic shot-blocker. Although Henson is painfully thin, he rebounds, blocks shots and defends multiple positions.
It wouldn’t be a perfect solution for Detroit, but the Pistons don’t have a lot of other options here unless they want to reach a bit for Meyers Leonard, who might be worth it after his stellar showing at the draft combine.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
New Orleans
(via Wolves)
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 203 pounds
Age: 19
School: DukeAnalysis: We’ve had Sullinger here the past few weeks. But just as he was working out in New Orleans, NBA team doctors were reviewing the physicals from the draft combine. As we reported on Monday, Sullinger’s physical left a number of team docs skittish.
If Sullinger isn’t the guy, there is no obvious direction for the Hornets to go next. You could make the case for a dozen players. So why Rivers? He checks off a lot of boxes (perimeter scorer, shooter, star quality) that the Hornets are looking for and gives them some insurance should Eric Gordon get too expensive as a restricted free agent this summer.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Portland
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 179 pounds
Age: 20
School: UConnAnalysis: If the Blazers get Drummond at No. 6, they can turn their attention to their needs in the backcourt. While a point guard might be ideal, with Lillard off the board, I think they go after a 2-guard. Lamb has great length for his position, is a smooth athlete and would give Portland some scoring in the backcourt.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Milwaukee
Position: C
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 250 pounds
Age: 20
School: IllinoisAnalysis: The Bucks gambled a few years ago on Brandon Jennings and it paid off big time. At this point in the draft, Leonard is risky but could have huge upside. The Bucks really need a center after sending Andrew Bogut to the Warriors at the trade deadline. Leonard is a work in progress but has the size and athletic ability to become a dominant big man down the road.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Phoenix
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 197 pounds
Age: 21
School: WashingtonAnalysis: We’ve had both Waiters and Rivers associated with this pick in the past. However, if both players are off the board, Ross could be the guy.
He’s big, he’s super athletic and he can really shoot. The Suns desperately need help in their backcourt, and Ross could be a very solid addition.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Houston
Position: C
Height: 7-foot-0
Weight: 247 pounds
Age: 22
School: North CarolinaAnalysis: The Rockets’ biggest need is in the middle, and Zeller should be a solid option. Scouts don’t think Zeller is going to be an All-Star someday, but he’s big, runs the floor very well and has a great touch around the basket. Leonard has passed him on our board, but Zeller should ultimately land somewhere in Picks 8-14.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Philadelphia
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 252 pounds
Age: 20
School: KentuckyAnalysis: The Sixers might have a tough choice here between Jones, Sullinger and Arnett Moultrie. They need size, but also shooting. Jones may be the compromise. He measured out very well for a power forward at the combine, has an NBA body and proved to be a solid rebounder and shot-blocker in college. He has tremendous upside if he puts his heart into it.
Sullinger, meanwhile, would give the Sixers the starting-caliber replacement for Elton Brand if he can stay healthy, while Moultrie is a long, bouncy, athletic big man who could stretch the floor.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Houston (via Knicks)
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 223 pounds
Age: 21
School: Mississippi StateAnalysis: Moultrie can stretch the floor and really rebound. With the Rockets in desperate need of size, pairing Moultrie with Zeller could give them a good mix of bigs.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Dallas
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 20
School: North CarolinaAnalysis: With Jason Kidd 39 years old and a free agent, and Rodrigue Beaubois more of a combo guard, Marshall would offer much of what Kidd brings to the table — incredible court vision and size — right away. Marshall is not a great athlete or a great shooter, but he could keep Dirk & Co. happy.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Wolves (via Jazz)
Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 255 pounds
Age: 22
School: SyracuseAnalysis: The Wolves are praying that one of the wings, such as Ross or Rivers, slides to them here. But if they don’t, the Wolves may choose to go big with Melo. Nikola Pekovic was a revelation this season, but after that the cupboard is pretty bare. Darko Milicic has one more year on his deal, but he’s not a long-term answer in Minnesota.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Orlando
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 234 pounds
Age: 20
School: BaylorAnalysis: This is a long way for Jones to slip in the draft. Many believe he’s a top-5 talent, but no one knows what position he’ll play in the pros; his situation reminds me a lot of the one Josh Smith was in a few years ago. Jones may find a home in the lottery, but if he doesn’t he could slide this far. Given Jones’ raw talent, he’s definitely worth the risk at this point.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Denver
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 268 pounds
Age: 20
School: Ohio StateAnalysis: A number of GMs are legitimately concerned with what their doctors found concerning Sullinger’s back. They claim it’s much more serious than what Sullinger’s camp is saying. We will continue to try to get a handle on this situation in the next few days.
Still, there will be a certain spot in the draft where Sullinger’s reward outweighs the risk. I’m not totally sure this is it, but the Nuggets need a 4 who can bang down low, so this might be a win-win for Sullinger and Denver.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Boston
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 261 pounds
Age: 21
School: Iowa StateAnalysis: According to sources, White pulled out of all his remaining workouts Thursday and has gone silent. He’s not injured, and sources claim he’s received a coveted first-round promise from a team. Promises are notoriously hard to pin down, but two sources are pointing in the direction of the Celtics. As long as coach Doc Rivers can buy into what White is (a ballhandling power forward) and figure out how to play him, he could be a steal at this point in the draft.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Boston (via Clippers)
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 234 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. BonaventureAnalysis: Nicholson is another draft sleeper who might really rise with workouts. He’s a big stretch 4 who has drawn some comparisons to David West. He would be another welcome addition to the Celtics’ summer makeover.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Atlanta
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 207 pounds
Age: 19
School: St. John’sAnalysis: Long and athletic, Harkless can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. Atlanta is getting a value pick here. This is likely Harkless’ floor; he could go as high as the late lottery.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Cavs (via Lakers)
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 174 pounds
Age: 21
School: MemphisAnalysis: One of the risers on draft boards the past few weeks, Barton is long and athletic and has a great midrange game. At this point, the Cavs can take a little risk.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Memphis
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 203 pounds
Age: 18
School: WashingtonAnalysis: The Grizzlies don’t have a ton of talent behind Mike Conley, and Wroten is definitely worth the risk at this point in the draft. He is the most spectacular passer in the draft and has great size and athleticism. He just needs to fix that broken shot of his.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Indiana
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 180 pounds
Age: 19
School: KentuckyAnalysis: Teague would’ve been a top-10 pick in 2013 had he decided to stay in school. Instead, he followed the rest of Kentucky’s stars into the draft. He could go as high as the mid-first round and I doubt he slips past the Pacers here. Adding Teague would allow Indiana to use Darren Collison as trade bait this summer.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Miami
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 236 pounds
Age: 22
School: Michigan StateAnalysis: The Heat need players with experience who excel in bringing out the best in their teammates. Green can be a point-forward type who does a little of everything. Think of him as a better-passing Udonis Haslem.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Oklahoma City
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 206 pounds
Age: 19
Country: FranceAnalysis: Fournier is the type of player that the Thunder can easily stash for a year or two in Europe. Or, given the high level he has played at in France, he might be able to come in and get minutes for them right away — especially if the Thunder decide they can’t afford to re-sign James Harden this summer.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Chicago
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 212 pounds
Age: 21
School: VanderbiltAnalysis: The Bulls need a shooter, and Jenkins has one of the best strokes in the draft. His super-quick release and ability to finish at the basket make him an interesting prospect here.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS 
Golden State
(via Spurs)
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 219 pounds
Age: 19
School: BaylorAnalysis: There are a lot of concerns about his knee and what position he’ll play in the NBA. But his upside is so high that it might be worth taking a gamble this low in the first round. There’s very little risk and a lot of potential reward here.
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My thoughts:
~Not sure if it’s smart for the Warriors to take Waiters when some of the better wings are available (Lamb, Ross, etc.).
~I think Lamb or Rivers would make more sense for Toronto- they have Jerryd Bayless, who IMO is comparable to Lillard.
~I’d switch Zeller and Leonard- Milwaukee really needs an offensive low post threat (Gooden is garbage), they have Ekpe Udoh and Larry Sanders to play D in the low post. And Houston is rebuilding, they just need BPA
~If Dallas end up getting D-Will (a realistic possibility), do they still take Marshall? Because I thought I heard Kidd say that he’d be willing to back up Williams were he to come to Dallas. I would figure if Marshall were picked, he would be traded if they end up with Deron.
~I will eat my socks if the Wolves take Melo at 18. If none of the wing targets they want (Ross, Lamb, Rivers) are available, they really should trade out. It also makes me really nervous that PJIII will go to the Wolves if he’s available- they don’t need Anthony Randolph 2.0
~Sullinger is an absolute steal at 20. The Nuggets are acquiring a scary amount of young talent, I think they’ll be in the playoffs for years.
~Harkless to the Hawks is intriguing. I wonder what they think about Teague or Wroten? It seems kind of redundant for them to take another wing tweener, but then again, this is the team that took Marvin Williams over Paul and D-Will.
~Really like the Barton to the Cavs idea- he, MKG, and Irving as a backcourt would be terrifying should they all reach their potential.
~I feel like I’m higher on Quincy Miller than a lot of people, I think getting him at 30 would be another steal and make a GM look really good. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind the Wolves taking a shot at him at 18.
What do y’all think?
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