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Originally Posted by mary
SI.com's Mock NBA Draft -- Round 1
Pick Team Pos. Player School/
Country Class Ht. Wt.
1 F Andrea Bargnani Benetton Treviso (Italy) -- 6-10 240
GM Bryan Colangelo has always had an eye for offensive talent, and Bargnani has more scoring potential than almost anyone else in this draft. Colangelo also has demonstrated a deft touch in incorporating international players into his teams. Adding Bargnani with Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva would give Toronto an enviable stable of talented young forwards.
2 F LaMarcus Aldridge Texas Soph. 6-11 225
The Bulls badly need an offensive post presence. While Aldridge needs to gain weight and strength to maximize his fundamentally sound post game, he would immediately become Chicago's best low-post scoring option.
3 F Tyrus Thomas LSU Fr. 6-9 215
Don't tell Bernie Bickerstaff that he already has Emeka Okafor and Sean May at power forward. This past season, when those two bigs were only part of an epidemic of injuries, proved you can never have enough talented big people. Thomas is the type of player who can run the lanes for Raymond Felton & Co.
4 G Brandon Roy Washington Sr. 6-5 210
The Blazers team that takes the floor in November will likely bear little resemblance to the one that finished this season. With that in mind, it's hard to say what Portland's biggest need is. Roy is a solid all-around talent who can play right away, adding stability to a franchise that sorely needs it.
5 F Rudy Gay Connecticut Soph. 6-8 230
Billy Knight may trade down to get a point guard, but if he picks the most talented player regardless of position, as he is wont to do, the gifted Gay may be the choice. Blessed with an explosive first step and quick jumping ability, Gay will fit right in with Knight's burgeoning collection of multifaceted swingmen.
6 F Rodney Carney Memphis Sr. 6-7 205
An electrifying athlete who thrives in the open-court game, Carney would help the 'Wolves take another step in their efforts to fashion a more athletic running team. He'll need some time to figure out how his individualistic game works within a team framework, but Kevin McHale drafts on talent and lets the chips fall where they may.
7 G Marcus Williams Connecticut Jr. 6-3 180
The college game's most gifted playmaker, Williams has that innate feel for the game, knowing how to distribute the ball to teammates through heavy congestion in the lane. His presence would allow Delonte West to back up both guard spots, which West is well suited to do.
8 F Adam Morrison Gonzaga Jr. 6-8 210
Too often last season Houston struggled to score, allowing defenses to tighten their surveillance of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Morrison is a throwback player in that he can score from anywhere on the floor. He moves without the ball, uses screens as well as fakes to get open, and has a lightning-quick release.
9 C Patrick O'Bryant Bradley Soph. 7-0 260
When O'Bryant went for 28 points against Aaron Gray and Pittsburgh in the NCAA tournament, you knew he would be staying in the draft. He's got some athleticism and has the makings of a solid postup game. The Warriors need some low-post offense to complement their superior perimeter game.
10 G J.J. Redick Duke Sr. 6-4 200
Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are outside-in players who don't want someone clogging the lane, so why not get another three-point threat and force defenses to spread out even further? Redick's unerring shooting touch, terrific work ethic and intelligence in setting up defenders would fit right in on this team.
11 G Randy Foye Villanova Sr. 6-4 205
Mental toughness is a quality that is highly coveted by NBA teams, and Foye has plenty, to go along with a lot of shooting-guards skills. Foye is an excellent one-on-one player and a better perimeter player than incumbent DeShawn Stevenson.
12 F Shelden Williams Duke Sr. 6-9 255
With P.J. Brown contemplating retirement or a trade to a contender, the Hornets need a dirty-work defender and rebounder to take his place. Over his final two college seasons, Williams averaged 11 boards a game. He also provides a dependable shot-blocking presence.
13 G Mardy Collins Temple Sr. 6-5 206
A combo guard with good size, Collins has the makings of a defensive stopper, and the 76ers have all but given up on John Salmons. Collins knows his limitations on the offensive end and works to get within his range (about 18 feet) to maximize his results. The Sixers would love to find the reincarnation of Aaron McKie.
14 G Quincy Douby Rutgers Jr. 6-3 175
He didn't get a lot of exposure playing for a middling Big East Conference team, but Douby is one of the best perimeter shooters you have never heard of. He has "in the gym" range and is starting to put together an off-the-dribble game as well. The Jazz could certainly use a three-point threat to complement the front line of Kirilenko, Boozer and Okur.
15 F/C Hilton Armstrong Connecticut Sr. 6-11 230
The quintessential late bloomer, Armstrong earned some attention this season on one of the nation's most talented teams. His shot-blocking and his defensive prowess are his NBA-level skills, while rounding out his offensive game is on his to-do list. The Hornets, who lost Chris Andersen to drugs, desperately need to fortify a thin frontcourt.
16 F Cedric Simmons North Carolina State Soph. 6-10 228
His 28-point explosion against Shelden Williams and Duke on Jan. 18 underlined his offensive potential. Simmons is raw but potentially a future answer to Chicago's yearning for low-post scoring.
17 G Jordan Farmar UCLA Soph. 6-2 175
He's got some quickness, and the physical strength will come, but it is Farmar's ability to deliver the ball to teammates that has NBA teams intrigued. The Pacers may finally be ready to bail on Jamaal Tinsley, and Sarunas Jasikevicius is not the long-term answer at the point.
18 F Shawne Williams Memphis Fr. 6-9 225
Although somewhat raw, Williams is an upper-tier NBA-level athlete who has given indications that he can eventually be a go-to scorer and a dependable rebounder. In Washington, the Wizards' fans would be happy just to see someone come off the bench (other than Antonio Daniels) who might score a point.
19 F/C Tiago Splitter Tau Ceramica (Spain) -- 6-10 240
The Kings waited on Peja Stojakovic when the teenager needed some more seasoning in Greece years ago, and they would wait a year or two for the 6-foot-10 Splitter, who has no buyout in his contract and might not be able to come to the NBA until 2008. Splitter can rebound and block shots, and his offensive game has made strides this season.
20 G Kyle Lowry Villanova Soph. 6-0 175
A mentally and physically tough player despite being only about 6 feet, Lowry has leadership qualities you can't teach. He'll have to continue to develop his jump shot to keep defenders honest, but he is a fearless penetrator and a physical, relentless on-ball defender. Unlike fan favorite Nate Robinson, Lowry is a true point guard.
21 G Maurice Ager Michigan State Sr. 6-4 200
An exceptional leaper, Ager has a frustrating habit of falling in love with the perimeter shot despite being nearly unstoppable off the dribble. Give Steve Nash an athlete like this, and he'll have him scoring in double figures before Christmas.
22 G Ronnie Brewer Arkansas Jr. 6-6 190
The son of a former NBA standout (Ron Brewer), this Brewer is an all-around player who can help a team without scoring a point. You hear a lot about his ugly shot, but he is a smart player who picks his spots to shoot the ball and is a two-way player. If the Nets intend to keep the Carter-Jefferson-Kidd troika, they'll need players who can be effective without the ball.
23 C Saer Sene Pepinster (Belgium) -- 7-0 235
A fantastic athletic package, the inexperienced Sene is at least two or three years away from competing at the NBA level. His quickness at his size makes him a gamble worth taking. The Nets scored with a patient approach with Nenad Krstic and are now developing Mile Ilic overseas. They could nurture Sene in the same fashion.
24 G Shannon Brown Michigan State Jr. 6-3 200
The Grizzlies need someone who can learn from and eventually replace Eddie Jones. Once he gets his legs under him at the NBA level, Brown will become a scoring machine. Much stronger than most players his height, Brown uses that strength plus terrific leaping ability to finish at the rim.
25 F Josh Boone Connecticut Jr. 6-10 220
He has lacked consistency, but Boone can be the same type of energetic frontcourt player that Anderson Varejao has become for Cleveland. Boone is long and with some time in the weight room should be a good post defender.
26 F Paul Millsap Lousiana Tech Jr. 6-8 220
The Lakers would rather not rely on Lamar Odom to be the team's leading rebounder. Millsap led the nation in rebounding for three consecutive seasons, and Phil Jackson could use someone to fill that role while not expecting to do much more than set picks for Kobe on offense.
27 F Brad Newley Townsville (Australia) -- 6-6 190
Newley is a scorer with good size for the small-forward position. A fine athlete, Newley would thrive in the perpetual motion machine that is the Suns' offense.
28 PG Sergio Rodriguez Adecco Estudiantes (Spain) -- 6-3 175
Rodriguez is a high-risk, high-reward point guard who likes to try the spectacular pass. As he matures, he'll be able to use his excellent floor vision and feel for the game to set up teammates. The Mavericks' international scouting department is well respected in NBA circles.
29 F Alexander Johnson Florida State Jr. 6-9 240
A low-post scorer who broke through with a solid junior season, Johnson started posting double doubles with regularity late in the season, showing the aggressiveness scouts had hoped for during his first two college seasons. Conditioning is a factor.
30 G Hassan Adams Arizona Sr. 6-4 205
He's a terrific athlete, but Adams needs some work on his perimeter-shooting mechanics. The thing that excites coaches is that he should be able to defend a couple of positions.
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