It seems to be the case more often than not - two guys fighting for the top spot in the draft. Who fits better? Who has the bigger upside? Which player has a longer wingspan? The list of questions goes on. This year, however, one contender has stepped into the forefront and it seems like we might have a foregone conclusion on our hands - Derrick Rose will be the top pick in the draft. No two ways about it. Right? Pick | Team | Needs | Selection | Position | | 1 | Chicago Bulls | PG, SG | Derrick Rose, Memphis | PG | He's the perfect piece to the puzzle. They could also use a lowpost scorer, but Rose is a Franchise PG and they don't come around too often.. | 2 | Miami Heat | PG, C | O.J. Mayo, USC | SG | Wade and Mayo will make a dynamic duo. Beasley is also a need, but Reily really seems to want Mayo. | 3 | Minnesota Timberwolves | PG, PF | Michael Beasley, K-State | PF | He would be perfect matched with Al Jefferson. The two make a great lowpost combo. They'll probably go Mayo, if not Beasley. | 4 | Seattle Supersonics | PG, SG, C | Jerryd Bayless, Arizona | PG | He's a great combo guard who would look good running up and down the court with Durant. | 5 | Memphis Grizzlies | PF, C | Kevin Love, UCLA | PF | He's fundamentally sound. He also seems to be in great shape and climbing up draft boards. | 6 | New York Knicks | PG, SF, PF | Eric Gordon, Indiana | SG | They should draft scoring machine Gordon and trade Crawford for T.J. Ford. The backcourt of the future in NY. | 7 | Los Angeles Clippers | PG, SG | Danillo Gallinoaro, International | SF | The Clippers should move Maggette and build around Thornton, Kaman, and Gallinaro. They may also lose Brand, which would force them to draft "bigger." | 8 | Milwaukee Bucks | SF, PG | D.J. Augustine, Texas | PG | Great pick to back-up Williams and then eventually to take over as the PG of the future. | 9 | Charlotte Bobcats | C | Brook Lopez, Stanford | C | This Stanford Sophomore is a fantastic low-post scorer. Great compliment to defensive stud Okafor. | 10 | New Jersey Nets | PF, C | Anthony Randolph, LSU | PF | He's another athletic big to build around. No more lumbering bigs for this post Jason Collins team. | 11 | Indiana Pacers | PG, SG, C | Russell Westbrook, UCLA | PG | Perfect fit. This is the PG they've been looking for. Time to start the post-Tinsley era. | 12 | Sacramento Kings | PG, PF | Joe Alexander, WVA | SF/PF | The Kings would love a PG, but they should take the upside/athletic Alexander and rid themselves of Artest. | 13 | Portland Trailblazers | SF | Donte Greene, Syracuse | SF | He's a face to the basket scorer. Excellent compliment to Aldridge and Oden. | 14 | Golden State Warriors | PG, SF, C | DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M | C | They might be swayed away after rolling the dice on high upside pick Patrick O'Bryant two years ago, which, as we know, did not work out. | 15 | Phoenix Suns | SG, SF, C | Darrell Arthur, Kansas | SF | He's quick and young, and he can run the floor alongside Amare and Barbosa for years to come. | 16 | Philadelphia 76ers | PF, C | JaVale McGee, Nevada | C | He can run up and down the court extremely well for a Big. They can draft McGee and trade Dalembert for Zach Randolph who they like, for some reason. | 17 | Toronto Raptors | SG, SF | Nicolas Batum, International | SG/SF | Colangelo loves Internationals, as we all know. He's a very good scoring wing who can step in and play now for the Raptors. | 18 | Washington Wizards | PG, PF | Marresse Speights, Florida | PF/C | Back to the basket scorer. Wizards need another interior Big. | 19 | Cleveland Cavaliers | PG, SG | Chase Budinger, Arizona | SG/SF | He is fast! Budinger can really score and would look awfully good running alongside LeBron. | 20 | Denver Nuggets | PG, C | Kostas Kofus, International | C | They could go with Ty Lawson here, but since he was a "no show" at a workout in Denver (not to mention his recent "off-court" issue), Denver will go for a Big with upside. | 21 | New Jersey Nets (from DAL) | PF, C | Bill Walker, K-State | SF/SG | Walker was a huge prospect before his ACL injury two years ago. He's often compared to Vince Carter in terms of explosiveness. He would back Vince up nicely. | 22 | Orlando Magic | SG, PF | Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis | SG/SF | CD-R is a good shooter, and he fills a need at the SG position. | 23 | Utah Jazz | SG, C | Roy Hibbert, Georgetown | C | Hibbert seems like the best fit here. This is a halfcourt team and he is a halfcourt player - only! | 24 | Seattle Supersonics (from PHO) | PG, SG, C | Robin Lopez, Stanford | C | Here we have the "defensive" Lopez brother. He gives the Sonics a good interior presence. | 25 | Houston Rockets | PG, C | Ty Lawson, UNC | PG | Lawson makes a nice backup to Alston. They might also go for a backup Center, but I think Lawson's upside wins out. | 26 | San Antonio Spurs | SF, C | Brandon Rush, Kansas | SG/SF | This team needs some youth. Rush can provide depth at SG or slot into the SF position and score. A good pick if he drops this far. | 27 | New Orleans Hornets | SG, SF | Serge Ibaka, International | PF | The Hornets are best suited to draft an International and wait on him. Ibaka has raw talent and can be a big player in the near future. | 28 | Memphis Grizzlies (from LAL) | PF, C | JJ Hickson, NC State | PF | This Grizzlies are desperate for bigs. Hickson is a perfect fit: a skilled Big. | 29 | Detroit Pistons | PF, C | DJ White, Indiana | PF | It was once rumored that White had a "promise" here. They need a young big man down low, so we'll go with the rumor. | 30 | Boston Celtics | SG, C | Mario Chalmers, Kansas | PG | Chalmers would make a great backup for Rondo. He could possibly slot in and play some SG as well. |
Of course the Draft is still a few weeks away, and with team workouts in full swing, there is always room for "improvement" or, in some players' cases, room to fall right out of the first round. We'll see what happens, but until June 26, feel free to add your two cents into the comments section. Tom would consider throwing his name into the hat to get drafted in this year’s NBA Draft, but someone once told him he has a no heart, no hops, and sweats too much for anyone’s liking. So, essentially, he was called Zach Randolph. Give him your thoughts at
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