NBA Draft Blog's 2006 NBA Mock Draft
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by user Rob Ward
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1. TORONTO: LaMarcus Aldridge, 6’11, 245, Texas
There is buzz that the Raptors are enamored with Italian power forward ANDREA BARGNANI, but drafting him wouldn’t make sense. They have two very talented big forwards in CHRIS BOSH and CHARLIE VILLANUEVA. Using the first pick on a risky player at a position they have no need for could set this struggling franchise back. I would take ADAM MORRISON and welcome his scoring ingenuity. The Raptors, however, will take the fundamentally sound ALDRIDGE and play him at center. Sometimes the safest pick is the smartest pick.
2. CHICAGO: Andrea Bargnani, 6’11, 240, Italy
The Bulls received this pick from the Knicks for underachieving center EDDIE CURRY. They missed his bulk but made the play-offs anyway, therefore, they can afford to gamble with this pick. If the DIRK NOWITZKI comparisons are true, BARGNANI will fill a need and make the Bulls a very dangerous team. But even if he is just another soft European jump shooter, they still have another pick in the first round.
3. CHARLOTTE: Adam Morrison, 6’8, 220, Gonzaga
The Bobcats may be afraid to draft MORRISON because of questions about his health (diabetes) and defense (he doesn’t play any), but he fills a huge need for them. Morrison is the most gifted scorer to enter the draft in years. He could be the missing link that makes this team competitive.
4. PORTLAND: Tyrus Thomas, 6’9, 220, LSU
Everything is in disarray in Portland. A change in ownership and management is looming, and the team isn’t winning games with a young and immature roster. It's reasonable to expect to roster to be quite different next season. The Trailblazers will likely take the player with the most potential with this pick. THOMAS is what scouts refer to as a “high ceiling” player. He is a project, but a stunningly athletic project. If he realizes his potential he could become great.
5. ATLANTA: Marcus Williams, 6’2, 200, UConn
The Hawks made a huge mistake last year when they passed on CHRIS PAUL. He went on to win the NBA Rookie-of-the-Year award, while the Hawks never found a competent point guard. WILLIAMS isn’t as good as Paul, but he is an NBA-ready point guard and would likely start for this team immediately.
6. MINNESOTA: Rudy Gay, 6’9, 220, UConn
Whether KEVIN GARNETT is or is not on their roster next season, the Timberwolves are rebuilding and need to take the player with the most long-range potential here. GAY was a bit of an underachiever in college, but he has an impressive skill set and NBA quality athleticism.
7. BOSTON: Patrick O’Bryant, 7’0, 250, Bradley
With his stock rising quickly, O’Bryant could be gone before this pick. He is one of the few centers in this draft with a legitimate chance to play in the NBA. He has a nice feel for the game and will likely contribute on defense before he helps on offense.
8. HOUSTON: Brandon Roy, 6’6, 200, Washington
ROY is perhaps the most mature and versatile player in this draft. He can play a number of positions, has good shooting range, and is a solid defender. This is the type of player the Rockets need. He can play immediately and will provide excellent support for YAO and MCGRADY.
9. GOLDEN ST.: J.J. Redick, 6’4, 190, Duke
This will be seen as a reach to some, but REDICK is an offensive wunderkind and the Warriors have struggled from beyond the 3-point line for years. This pick could finally address their long-range futility. Redick is underrated despite scoring 26.8 PPG last season against top talent. He could be brought off the bench and will force teams to account for his presence when he is on the floor.
10. SEATTLE: Rodney Carney, 6’7, 205, Memphis
CARNEY excels at the type of game that Seattle prefers. He has freakish athletic skills that he uses to get out on the fast break and finish above the rim. He also has a nice jump shot with acceptable range. But the part of his game that would be most helpful to this team is his smothering defensive skills.
11. ORLANDO: Ronnie Brewer, 6’7, 210, Arkansas
The Magic’s collection of talented young players is promising. They need depth in the backcourt and BREWER brings versatility with him. He has enough vision and ball-handling skills to play point guard and enough size and scoring ability to play shooting guard.
12. NEW ORLEANS: Shelden Williams, 6’9, 245, Duke
WILLIAMS would contribute, and possibly start, for the Hornets right away. He is the kind of tough, blue collar, defensive-minded player that they need. Williams is a younger version of P.J. BROWN. He isn’t flashy, but he is a good rebounder and a skilled shot blocker.
13. PHILADELPHIA: Randy Foye, 6’3, 205, Villanova
Already a local hero, FOYE could play alongside ALLEN IVERSON and eventually replace him. He would be given a chance to play point guard, but if he fails at that he would move back to his natural shooting guard position. Either way, he would offer immediate help.
14. UTAH: Rudy Fernandez, 6’6, 185, Spain
The Jazz, more than any other team, will pass up more talented players to select someone that they feel will fit their system and their culture. FERNANDEZ is a sweet-shooting guard with impressive ball-handling skills. Some call him a poor man’s MANU GINOBILI.
15. NEW ORLEANS: Hilton Armstrong, 6’11, 240, UConn
A late bloomer, ARMSTRONG has made vast improvements the past year. Long and athletic, he runs the floor well and has decent low-post skills. He needs to bulk up, but he could eventually blossom into a starting center.
16. CHICAGO: Cedric Simmons, 6’10, 235, N.C. St.
With their second pick in the first round the Bulls select another big man. SIMMONS is more of a low-post presence than BARGNANI. He is a talented shot-blocker with potential to become a superb rebounder, but his offense still needs a lot of work.
17. INDIANA: Mardy Collins, 6’6, 205, Temple
The Pacers hope that COLLINS could become the long-term answer at point guard. He is huge for the position and he is an excellent defender. Collins is conservative and smart with the ball in his hands, traits that will keep him employed in the NBA.
18. WASHINGTON: Shawne Williams, 6’9, 225, Memphis
WILLIAMS has enormous talent, although he should have stayed in school for at least another year. He projects as an athletic small forward in the future, but he needs time to mature physically, and develop a reliable jump shot.
19. SACRAMENTO: Tiago Splitter, 6’11, 240, Brazil
SPLITTER has been a hot NBA prospect for a few years. His restrictive club contract has kept him away, and even if he keeps his name in this draft the team that selects him may have to wait a year or two for him to arrive. The Kings would gladly wait for a big, young prospect like this.
20. NEW YORK: Rajon Rondo, 6’1, 175, Kentucky
The worst GM in the NBA - ISIAH THOMAS – needs to find a hidden gem with this pick. It is unlikely that he will. RONDO is a lightning-quick point guard with above average defensive skills. He has shooting problems, but is a decent player with room to improve.
21. PHOENIX: Marcus Vinicius, 6’9, 235, Brazil
The Suns love athletic players that can run with STEVE NASH and hit open 3-point shots. Meet MARCUS VINICIUS, another in the impressive crop of recent Brazilian imports. He runs like a deer, has nice shooting skills, and can post-up. His defense is awful, but he is improving.
22. NEW JERSEY: Jordan Farmar, 6’2, 185, UCLA
This would be a great pick for the NETS. FARMAR would be afforded an opportunity to learn behind JASON KIDD, one of the best point guards to ever play, and the Nets would get a very talented player for the future. FARMAR would have been a lottery pick next year if he had stayed in school for another season.
23. NEW JERSEY: Aaron Gray, 7’0, 270, Pitt
Even though GRAY doesn’t have star potential, he is huge, tough, and ambitious. To get a player this big so late in the first round would be satisfying for the Nets. Gray could contribute to the interior defense and have a long career as a back-up center in the NBA.
24. MEMPHIS: Richard Roby, 6’6, 190, Colorado
The Grizzlies are in desperate need of players with special qualities. They have reached a plateau with the current roster and are seeking offensive firepower. ROBY has special skills on offense. He is KENYON MARTIN’S half brother and he can score in a myriad of ways. If he can bulk up and play better defense, he could blossom in the NBA.
25. CLEVELAND: Maurice Ager, 6’4, 205, Michigan St.
AGER has the talent to go higher than this pick, but there are some concerns. He is a competent scorer with a nice inside/outside game, and his athletic skills are good. But, despite respectable individual stats in college, he is widely regarded as an underachiever.
26. LA LAKERS: Quincy Douby, 6’3, 175, Rutgers
He’s not really a point guard and he’s too small too play much as a shooting guard, but DOUBY has a beautiful jump shot with unbelievable range. He led the Big East in scoring last season (25.4 PPG) and was virtually unstoppable for most of the year. He’s a great fit for the triangle offense, a gunner off the bench.
27. PHOENIX: Kevin Pittsnogle, 6’11, 255, West Virginia
The Suns know they must add size despite their obsession with perimeter players. So in an act of supreme denial, they select a big man. But PITTSNOGLE plays like a shooting guard in a center’s body. He runs the floor well and drills 3-pointers with a sweet stroke. He won’t solve their low-post problems, but he is appropriate for their system.
28. DALLAS: Saer Sene , 7’0, 235, Senegal
The Mavericks scout the globe as hard as anyone. They don’t expect to add an immediate contributor this late in the draft so they will select SENE, an athletic big man still learning the game. The hope is that he can eventually become a good shot blocker and rebounder.
29. NEW YORK: Josh Boone, 6’10, 235, UConn
The Knicks will attempt to add another rebounder with this pick, as their stable of expensive big men aren’t getting the job done. BOONE has limited upside, but he is fundamentally sound and plays hard.
30. PORTLAND: Thabo Sefolosha, 6’6, 215, Italy
This Swiss-born Italian league player has become an intriguing prospect of late. He is an athletic slasher with the potential to become a suffocating defender. The Blazers have nothing to lose in drafting a player like this at #30.
Date
Mon 05/29/06, 10:57 pm EST
