NBA Mock Draft 7.0

Mock Draft 7.0 5/13/2008
NBA Draft Lottery May 20 (Kevin Durant will represent the Sonics)

1. Miami Derrick Rose 6-3 195 PG Memphis Fr.

2. Super Sonics Michael Beasley 6-9 235 SF Kansas St. Fr.

3. Minnesota OJ Mayo 6-4 210 SG USC Fr.

4. Memphis Brook Lopez 7-0 260 C Stanford So.

5. New York Danilo Gallinari 6-9 210 SF Italy 1988

6. LA Clippers Jerryd Bayless 6-3 182 PG Arizona Fr.

7. Milwaukee DeAndre Jordan 7-0 250 C TX A&M Fr.

8. Charlotte Anthony Randolph 6-10 200 SF LSU Fr.

9. Chicago Eric Gordon 6-4 220 SG Indiana Fr.

10. New Jersey DJ Augustin 5-11 180 PG Texas So.

11. Indiana Russell Westbrook 6-4 187 SG UCLA So.

12. Sacramento Kevin Love 6-9 260 PF UCLA Fr.

13. Portland Chase Budinger 6-7 215 SG Arizona So.

14. Golden St JaVale McGee 7-0 237 C Nevada So.

End of 14 Team Lottery: Start of Playoff Teams

15. Phoenix (via Atlanta) Darrell Arthur 6-9 230 PF Kansas So.

16. Philadelphia Donte Greene 6-10 226 SF Syr. Fr.

17. Toronto C.Douglas-Roberts 6-7 200 SG Mem. Jr.

18. Washington Bullets Roy Hibbert 7-2 278 C Georgetown Sr.

19. Cleveland Robin Lopez 7-0 255 C Stanford So.

20. Denver Kosta Koufos 7-0 252 C Ohio St. Fr.

21. New Jersey (via Dallas) Marreese Speights 6-10 250 PF Fla.

22. Orlando Nicolas Batum 6-8 210 SG France 1988

23. Utah Joe Alexander 6-8 230 SF W.Virginia Jr.

24. Super Sonics (via Phoenix) Serge Ibaka 6-10 220 PF Congo 1989

25. Houston Brandon Rush 6-6 210 SF Kansas Jr.

26. San Antonio Jason Thompson 6-10 245 PF Rider Sr.

27. New Orleans Alexis Ajinca 7-0 238 France 1998

28. Memphis (via LA Lakers) Joey Dorsey 6-9 260 PF/C Memphis Sr.

29. Detroit Mario Chalmers 6-2 181 PG Kansas Jr.

30. Boston Davon Jefferson 6-8 210 SF USC Fr.

I'M OUT YO!

Players who have officially announced they will return to college next year

Earl Clark, F, Louisville
Clark announced he was declaring for the draft a few weeks ago and then reversed course and said he was returning to Louisville for his junior season. It's a good call. Clark is still a little raw, especially on the offensive end and he could add some strength to his wiry frame. He has the potential to be a lottery pick in 2009.

Darren Collison, PG, UCLA (Projected to go at #21 in Mock Draft 6.0)
Collison is one of the quickest guards in college basketball, but his lack of size and struggles in the NCAA tournament hurt his draft stock. So did the fact that he really got overshadowed by Russell Westbrook in the second half of the season. Next year is a weaker draft and that should help his stock, though he'll be pushed by a couple of McDonald's All-Americans for playing time.

Stephen Curry, SG, Davidson
Curry dominated the 2008 NCAA tournament and his stock has never been higher. Another great year at Davidson, this time playing point guard, could make him a lock for the first round in 2009.

Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma
Scouts compare him to Carlos Boozer. He's projected as a Top 5 pick in the 2009 draft.

Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
On the one hand, it's tough to see how he improves his stock with another year at UNC. He is what he is -- a super-energetic, tough power forward who lacks the height and athleticism NBA scouts desire at the position. On the other hand, next year's draft looks considerably weaker and he'll have a shot at going in the mid-first round. If he had stayed in this year's draft, he'd have been a late first-round pick.

James Harden, SG, Arizona State
He's a versatile scorer, but he isn't an elite prospect because of just so-so athleticism. Still, he projects as a mid-to-late first-rounder in 2009.

Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth
Maynor got significant buzz in the NCAA tournament two years ago but was unable to capitalize on it as a junior. Right now, he's considered a second-round pick by most scouts. He needs to return to the NCAA tournament to get back into the first-round discussion.

Jeff Pendergraph, F, Arizona State
Pendergraph is a talented low-post scorer with good size and a great motor, but he's still a ways away from the NBA. He's making a smart decision; he'd be a second-round pick this year, but with an excellent senior season he could crack the first round.

Tyrese Rice, PG, Boston College
Rice continues to show he's one of the best scoring point guards in the country. But his lack of size and questions about whether he's really a point guard continue to haunt him. He would've been a second round to undrafted pick had he declared, so he's making the right choice to return.

Tyler Smith, SF, Tennessee (Projected to go at #22 in Mock Draft 6.0)
A potential late first-round pick this year, Smith has great length, athleticism and an all-around game. However, although he had an excellent season, he hasn't dominated at Tennessee. Another strong season would make him a potential mid-first-round pick.

Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn (Projected to go at #22 in Mock Draft 6.0)
Thabeet has the size, strength and defensive presence that usually translates into a lottery pick. But Thabeet still has a ways to go before he's ready to play in the NBA. Despite significant improvement this year, he's still very raw on the offensive end. He's making a smart call. Next year he projects as a potential Top 10 pick if he continues to develop.

Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville
Williams is an amazing athlete and excellent rebounder for a swingman. He's very versatile on both ends of the floor. He'll do a little of everything. However, his inconsistent jump shot hurts his stock. So does the fact that he doesn't really ever take over games the way his talent suggests. He was probably not a first-round pick this year so it is a smart move to return to Louisville for his senior season.

Sam Young, F, Pittsburgh
Young had a breakout year at a Pittsburgh. He has the size and NBA athleticism NBA scouts like and would've had a good shot at getting into the late first round. If he improves next year, he could be a mid-first round pick.