The draft is just a few days away, so it’s a good time to take one final stab at mocking the first round of this draft. I’ll continue to update the consensus draft this week, but this will be my last attempt at predicting what will happen this Thursday.

First, let’s take a look at the most recent consensus. Chad Ford released the most recent version of his mock draft today, NBADraft.net also updated today, while DraftExpress updated their mock yesterday.

Now I’ll go, pick by pick, through the first round, taking the consensus into account while also throwing in my $0.02 here and there.

#1 CLIPPERS
The Clips have shown no signs of trading away their opportunity to draft Blake Griffin. There is much fluidity with the next few picks, but the Oklahoma product is pretty much guaranteed to be the first pick. The Clippers will then (reportedly) try to move Zach Randolph or Chris Kaman, though it might be wise to move forward with Kaman and Griffin in the front court, Baron Davis at the point, and Eric Gordon and Al Thornton on the wing. Randolph is going to be tough to move. (I still can’t believe that Mike Dunleavy traded for him last season.)
Pick: Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma

#2 GRIZZLIES
The consensus says that Hasheem Thabeet will be the pick and I don’t disagree, even though he just pulled out of a workout with Memphis due to a shoulder injury. DraftExpress thinks that Memphis will go with James Harden and move O.J. Mayo to the point, which they say is his natural position. I don’t know that they’ve given up on Mike Conley yet, so I think they will go big with this pick. Their biggest need is at power forward, so trading down and drafting Jordan Hill is a possibility. But if they stand pat, Thabeet could very well be the pick, even though he doesn’t seem to want to play in Memphis.
Pick: Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn

#3 THUNDER
This pick mostly depends on what the Thunder think they have in Russell Westbrook. Is he their point guard of the future? If so, OKC might go with Harden, a savvy off guard who tested much better athletically at the combine than expected. If not, they could go with Ricky Rubio or another point guard and move Westbrook to off guard. If Thabeet is available, he’s a possibility as well.
Pick: James Harden, SG, Arizona State

#4 KINGS
The consensus says that Rubio will be the pick even though his visit to Sacramento didn’t go all that well because he was too sick to work out. He has time to make another visit, but I think Evans’ performance at a recent workout has made him the frontrunner in Sacramento.
Pick: Tyreke Evans, PG, Memphis

#5 WIZARDS
The Wizards think they’re in “win now” mode, so they should probably trade this pick for some veteran help, especially at off guard. If they keep the pick, they could go with one of the combo guards — Holiday, Evans, Curry or Harden, if available — or go for some upside in the front court and draft Jordan Hill. They are reportedly really high on Rubio, even though he isn’t the greatest fit with Gilbert Arenas in the Wizards’ backcourt.
Pick: Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain

#6 TIMBERWOLVES
Minnesota looks to be set on drafting a point guard, which will allow Randy Foye to play off guard (probably his natural position). They should have their pick of Curry, Holiday, Evans, Flynn and Jennings, but it was Evans that reportedly dominated the massive point guard workout in Minnesota. Curry didn’t attend, but with both Rubio and Evans already off the board, he may be their pick.
Pick: Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson

#7 WARRIORS
Golden State really likes Stephen Curry, but now that he’s off the board, this becomes a crapshoot. Larry Riley said recently that he’d like some “beef,” and Jordan Hill fits the bill. Brandon Jennings and Terrance Williams are reportedly quite high on the Warriors’ draft board.
Pick: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona

#8 KNICKS
The Knicks would like to draft Curry or Hill here, but with both players gone, look for them to go with another point guard. Jennings, Holiday, Flynn and even Ty Lawson are possibilities here. They’re reportedly trying to get Holiday in for a second workout, which tells me that he may be their backup plan if Curry and Hill are off the board.
Pick: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA

#9 RAPTORS
DeMar DeRozan has been penciled in for Toronto for the last few weeks, though NBADraft.net has the Raptors taking Gerald Henderson in their most recent mock. John Hollinger’s Draft Rater doesn’t like DeRozan, but there’s no telling if Bryan Colangelo, who has a reputation for having a great eye for talent, will care.
Pick: DeMar DeRozan, GF, USC

#10 BUCKS
From the sound of it, GM John Hammond is looking for a point guard here, and with Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings and Ty Lawson on the board, he has a nice group to choose from. Of that group, I think Flynn is most likely to be the pick. He’s the best defender of the bunch (including Evans and Curry) and has the right attitude to thrive in a small market like Milwaukee. The Bucks already have Ramon Sessions, and probably should be looking at a front court pick like DeJuan Blair (or moving up for Jordan Hill), but it sounds like they have point guard on the brain. Jrue Holiday is another possibility, if available.
Pick: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

#11 NETS
Even though the Nets already have Devin Harris, it’s entirely possible that they’ll decide to go with the best player available, even if it’s a point guard like Flynn, Jennings or Lawson. Gerald Henderson is another possibility with Vince Carter getting on in years, but the rumors all seem to be swirling around a front court pick like DeJuan Blair or Tyler Hansbrough. Both players are hard-nosed rebounding types, but they each have their faults. For Blair, it seems to be his height (6’5″ w/o shoes) and concerns about his knees. For Hansbrough, it’s a perceived lack of upside. Blair’s reach makes up for his height, and I think his game will translate a little better to the NBA given his strong post moves inside. (Hansbrough is more robotic on the block.)
Pick: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh

#12 BOBCATS
Again, Charlotte could very well go with Jennings or Lawson here and maybe look to make a trade with a team searching for point guard help. If not, they’ll probably look to the wing where a guy like Gerald Henderson could really make an impact. He’s a terrific athlete and has an improving offensive game. He should fit in with what Larry Brown is trying to do.
Pick: Henderson, SG, Duke

#13 PACERS
Indiana would probably be thrilled if they have the choice between Brandon Jennings and Ty Lawson here. Lately, the buzz about Lawson has been good, and concerns about slipping out of the lottery has Jennings working out for some of the teams working in the mid-first round. With GM Larry Bird calling the shots, I think he’ll go with the safer pick (Lawson) leaving the upside of Jennings on the table.
Pick: Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

#14 SUNS
While there are a few guys that might be able to help immediately, with Steve Nash’s career on the decline, GM Steve Kerr could look at finding his eventual replacement. I don’t think he would pass on Jennings’ potential here. The Suns seem to want to move forward with Nash running the show, so it would give Jennings a year or three to develop.
Pick: Brandon Jennings, PG, via Italy

#15 PISTONS
The word is that the Pistons have made a promise to draft B.J. Mullens if he’s on the board at #15, but Mullens himself says there is no promise, and Chad Ford says that the team is more interested in Earl Clark. If Clark beefs up, he can play the 4, so he’d help with the Pistons’ problems on the front line. (And if they draft Clark, what does that mean for Carlos Boozer potentially signing with Detroit?)
Pick: Earl Clark, F, Louisville

#16 BULLS
Chicago reportedly has interest in Hansbrough here, but they may not be able to pass on the upside of B.J. Mullens. They should be aware that there are long odds of a seven-footer drafted outside of the lottery going on to have a great NBA career.
Pick: B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State

#17 SIXERS
Philly fans may be hoping that Ty Lawson or Brandon Jennings slips to them here at #17, but Eric Maynor would be a nice pick as well. He’s being overlooked in a great point guard draft, but he does everything well and should be able to contribute immediately, a la Courtney Lee. Jeff Teague is another possibility. His outside shooting should help Elton Brand down low.
Pick: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU

#18 TIMBERWOLVES
If Minnesota gets their point guard (Evans) at #6, their fans should be happy if they can land someone like Terrance Williams at #18. Corey Brewer’s career is off to a rocky start, and Randy Foye isn’t exactly lighting things up, so Williams gives the T-Wolves another option on the wing.
Pick: Terrance Williams, GF, Louisville

#19 HAWKS
Truth be told, the Hawks should have taken Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the ’05 Draft, but they didn’t and they’re still looking for their point guard of the future after drafting Acie Law two years ago. Enter Jeff Teague, a smooth shooter in the same mold as current Hawk Mike Bibby.
Pick: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest

#20 JAZZ
I may be wrong, but if Hansbrough is available at #20, I don’t see the Jazz passing on him. It’s just too good of a fit (especially with Carlos Boozer likely on his way out of town).
Pick: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina

#21 HORNETS
New Orleans needs wings who can shoot, because Peja Stojakovic and Rasual Butler aren’t going to get the Hornets to the Finals. While Wayne Ellington is a possibility, LSU’s Marcus Thornton might be the better fit. He’s sort of a Rip Hamilton type who scores a lot off of screens. He also does a nice job of knocking down contested jumpers which will help in the NBA.
Pick: Marcus Thornton, G, LSU

#22 MAVERICKS
The Mavs probably need to think point guard first, but they might still be in denial about that Devin Harris-for-Jason Kidd trade. Darren Collison is a possibility, but the Mavs should be able to re-sign Kidd for another season or two, and they may look at trading Josh Howard due to his tendency to be an off-court distraction. This is where James Johnson comes in. He can play either forward position and was considered a borderline lottery talent before questions about his attitude started to weigh down his stock.
Pick: James Johnson, F, Wake Forest

#23 KINGS
If the Kings go with a point guard at #4, they would have a tough time passing on the potential of Austin Daye here. Draft Express has him rated as the #2 small forward in this draft, but he’s going to need some time to develop, and they have nothing but time in Sacramento.
Pick: Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga

#24 TRAIL BLAZERS
I think Darren Collison is a sleeper at point guard in this PG-heavy draft. He’s a floor general who plays great defense and can hit the open jumper. He doesn’t have the three-point range of Steve Blake, but he already does everything else better. He would be a nice fit in Portland, assuming they keep this pick. (They’ll probably trade it.)
Pick: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA

#25 THUNDER
Assuming OKC goes with Harden at #3, they’ll probably look to the front court with this pick. At this point, there are a number of power forwards — Josh Heytvelt, Gani Lawal, Jeff Pendergraph, Taj Gibson, Omri Casspi, Derrick Brown or DeMarre Carroll — who could help the Thunder up front. Two of the mocks say that Chase Budinger is a good pick here, but unless they get Thabeet at #3, I think they’re going to go big. How about Casspi, who has played well in workouts this summer? The Thunder can wait for the 20-year-old to develop.
Pick: Omri Casspi, F, Israel

#26 BULLS
They drafted a center at #16, so they might look to the wing to shore things up in case Ben Gordon leaves via free agency. Wayne Ellington shot the ball great in the tournament and he has the potential to be a pretty good fit alongside Derrick Rose in the backcourt when John Salmons eventually leaves.
Pick: Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina

#27 GRIZZLIES
If they go with Thabeet at #2, they might turn to the backcourt with this pick and draft Florida’s Nick Calathes, who is a good finisher and spot up shooter. There are also a number of power forwards still on the board that could provide some defense and rebounding.
Pick: Nick Calathes, PG, Florida

#28 TIMBERWOLVES
The T-Wolves could use a little more beef up front, and Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt has the outside stroke to complement Al Jefferson’s post up game. Along with Kevin Love, the trio could give Minny a nice rotation up front, though the T-Wolves may elect to draft a player with more athleticism.
Pick: Josh Heytvelt, C, Gonzaga

#29 LAKERS
With Derek Fisher getting older and Shannon Brown entering free agency, the Lakers have a few questions in the backcourt. They might also look to shore up the small forward position if it looks like Trevor Ariza or Lamar Odom isn’t going to return. Sweden’s Jonas Jerebko is a versatile 6’9″ forward who could potentially fill Odom’s role at the 3/4 spot.
Pick: Jonas Jerebko, F, Sweden

#30 CAVALIERS
With Anderson Varejao’s future in Cleveland unknown, the Cavs have their pick of several power forward types who could bring defense and rebounding. How about USC’s Taj Gibson, who is a pretty good shotblocker?
Pick: Taj Gibson, PF, USC

Lawson, who is coming off an electric performance in leading North Carolina to the championship, grades out highly for several reasons: Although he’s short for a point guard, his shooting numbers (47.1 percent on 3-pointers), strong assist rate and microscopic turnover ratio (9.1, first among point guard prospects) all point to him as an NBA keeper.

The Draft Rater puts Lawson slightly ahead of Griffin for first, but this doesn’t mean a team should take Lawson first. The standard error in the projections for point guards is higher than it is for big men, which means random noise could be putting Lawson ahead just as easily as on-the-court performance. If the consensus is that Griffin is the better player, I don’t think Lawson’s statistical record alone is strong enough evidence to refute it. Additionally, we’ve heard questions about Lawson’s work ethic and injuries.

But the rating is emphatic enough for me to say Lawson should be at the top of the college point guard ladder, ahead of Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague & Co. (If you’re wondering about Ricky Rubio, I’ll have more on him next week.)

Hollinger’s Draft Rater isn’t error-proof but it’s not a bad second opinion when trying to pick a player out of a group of two or more.

Or when you’re trying to avoid a bust…

From 2002 to 2007, 15 players were (a) among the first 10 collegians drafted and (b) excluded from the top 12 by the Draft Rater. In other words, these were the college players the Draft Rater thought were drafted too high. Of those 15, not one has played in an All-Star Game. The only two who have started a significant number of games in the long term have been Kirk Hinrich (who was 13th in the Draft Rater in 2003) and Charlie Villanueva.

Who were the other top-10 picks not favored by the Draft Rater? Spencer Hawes, Acie Law, Fred Jones, Melvin Ely, Marcus Haislip, Jarvis Hayes, Rafael Araujo, Ike Diogu, Channing Frye, Randy Foye, J.J. Redick and Patrick O’Bryant.

In other words, when the Draft Rater has suggested avoiding a player, that has turned out to be good advice.

His system also had Carlos Boozer (2nd), Josh Howard (5th), Danny Granger (3rd), Rajon Rondo (2nd) and Rodney Stuckey (5th) much higher than they were actually drafted.

Other than Lawson, Austin Daye was a surprise in the top 5. The Rater also has Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, DeJuan Blair, Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden and Earl Clark in the top 12.

On the flip side, the Rater doesn’t like Jordan Hill (26th), B.J. Mullens (28th), James Johnson (30th), Chase Budinger (31st), Sam Young (52nd), DeMar DeRozan (54th) and Patty Mills (68th).

I think Hill will turn out to be a player. He picked up the game late, which will explain some of the ball handling issues that Hollinger says are an important indicator for the Draft Rater. DeRozan had the biggest disparity between current ranking (in the top 10) and projected performance.

It has been about two weeks since I published my first mock draft, so it’s a good time to check back in with all the news and rumors and take another stab.

Like I said in the intro of my first mock, it’s tough for me to make predictions about what teams will do because I’m constantly thinking about what they should do. These are obviously two very different things.

For this go-around, I’m going to try something a little different. I’ve compiled the picks for four mock drafts from sites that I respect — ESPN (Chad Ford), Dime Magazine, DraftExpress and NBADraft.net — and then I’ll provide my own picks taking their picks into account, to form some sort of consensus.

Let’s get on with it…

#1 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
All signs seem to point to the Cliippers keeping this pick and taking Blake Griffin. They have a need at power forward — sorry, Zach Randolph is not the answer — and Griffin is the closest thing to a “sure bet” as there is in this draft. Ford says that the Clippers will find a way to get rid of Randolph and/or Chris Kaman, but Randolph’s contract (two years, $33 million) will be unmovable for another year. Kaman is an effective center when healthy, so there’s no reason the Clips can’t move forward with Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Griffin and Kaman. Davis may understandably want to move on from this young team to play for a contender.
Pick: Griffin, PF

#2 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The consensus says that Hasheem Thabeet is going to be the pick here, so I see no reason to change my pick. Ricky Rubio’s name keeps coming up, but it sounds like he’s not too excited about buying out his contract in Spain to play in Memphis, where two Spaniards — Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro — have had a bad time. The Grizzlies already have a center in Marc Gasol, who seems to be thriving there, but is he really a starting caliber center on a playoff team? The other issue is Mike Conley. If the Grizzlies go point guard here, they’re effectively giving up on him, and it’s probably too soon to make that call.
Pick: Thabeet, C

#3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The buzz of late is that James Harden may be headed to OKC and the consensus bears that out. This pick is more about what the Thunder think of Russell Westbrook than it is about any player they might take here. Is he a point guard or an off guard? He definitely has a shoot-first mentality (as evidenced by this study that I did a few weeks back), and his A/TO ratio of 1.59 is unimpressive. But the Thunder seem to think he’s a point guard, so Harden may very well be the pick here.
Pick: Harden, SG

#4 SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings could use a point guard, and according to the consensus, Ricky Rubio just fell into their proverbial laps. I’m not sure he’s destined to be a star, but the scouts love his vision and overall feel for the game, and if he’s able to improve his jumper, he could be a very good NBA point guard. It’s interesting to note that Ford believes the Kings will take Jrue Holiday, though the other three mocks have him going (on average) with the #18 pick.
Pick: Rubio, PG

#5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
If Harden is still there, he’s a real possibility, and Dime seems to think that they’ll go with Tyreke Evans to give Gilbert Arenas an upgrade in the backcourt (from DeShawn Stevenson). I think there’s a great chance that the Wizards trade this pick as part of a deal to get some immediate help, as Jordan Hill is probably too much of a project for the Wizards to deal with at this point. They need to win now, and the #5 pick still holds a lot of value, even in this somewhat thin draft.
Pick: Hill, PF

#6 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The T-Wolves face the same dilemma as the Thunder. Randy Foye doesn’t look to have the same upside as Russell Westbrook, but they’re both combo guards. The consensus says that Evans is the pick, but in his draft, Ford contradicts himself a bit by putting Evans ahead of Stephen Curry, who has really helped his draft stock with a great showing at the combine. With the success the Magic are having by surrounding Dwight Howard with a bunch of shooters (the ol’ Hakeem Olajuwon-era model in Houston), I could see the T-Wolves going with the best shooter (Curry). He and Foye are both versatile enough to share the ball-handling duties. A pure point guard like Jonny Flynn is also a possibility.
Pick: Curry, PG

#7 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The consensus says that the Warriors will take Brandon Jennings, but Ford’s GM quiz indicates that the overall feeling on Flynn is much better, since he’s more of a known quantity. But is Monta Ellis a point guard or an off guard? It would have been nice had he stayed off the moped so that the Warriors would have had a year to figure that out. Curry and Evans are also strong possibilities.
Pick: Flynn, PG

#8 NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks have been long linked to Curry, but with his fine showing in the combine, he might be gone by the time the Knicks pick at #8. How about sending Nate Robinson and the #8 pick to Washington for their #5 pick? (Just throwing it out there.) If Curry is gone and the Knicks keep their pick, look for Flynn, Jennings, Evans or Holiday to be their guy. Right now, Holiday’s stock seems to be the highest, assuming Flynn goes #7.
Pick: Holiday, PG

#9 TORONTO RAPTORS
Tyreke Evans’ camp seems certain that he’s going in the top 10, but it would seem strange for the Raptors to draft a combo guard to play alongside Jose Calderon, who is one of the most efficient point guards in the league. DeMar DeRozan and DeJuan Blair are possibilities here, but I’ll go with Evans, since three of the four mocks in the consensus have him drafted by this point.
Pick: Evans, G

#10 MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Full disclosure: I’m a longtime Bucks fan (since the days of Sidney Moncrief and Bob Lanier), so it’s hard to distance myself from this pick. Two of the mocks in the consensus have the Bucks selecting Jordan Hill, and I’d be happy with that pick. The other two have the Bucks taking point guards (Flynn and Evans). Since all three players are gone in my mock, I think Milwaukee will take DeJuan Blair to give the team some toughness alongside Andrew Bogut up front. There was some concern about his height, but he has a monster wingspan to give him the 10th highest overall reach in the draft. The Bucks have to decide if they’re keeping Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva, and regular readers know that I am sky high on Sessions. I think a lineup of Sessions, Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson, Blair/Mbah a Moute and Bogut, if healthy, puts the Bucks in the playoffs next season, assuming Blair doesn’t turn into Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Jr. and pack on a bunch of pounds. DeMar DeRozan is a possibility as well.
Pick: Blair, PF

#11 NEW JERSEY NETS
The consensus says Blair, and the Nets could really use his toughness and inside scoring, but my beloved Bucks just took him. New Jersey is set at point guard and center with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, so DeRozan, Gerald Henderson, James Johnson and Chase Budinger are all possibilities. Three of the four mocks have DeRozan gone by now, so let’s go with the USC frosh.
Pick: DeRozan, GF

#12 CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
This is the first pick where the four mocks have the team taking four different players. I still think that Gerald Henderson has a ton of upside and will bring the consistent defense to make Larry Brown happy. If this guy can develop a consistent jumper, he will be a star.
Pick: Henderson, SG

#13 INDIANA PACERS
Again, there is no consensus. The Pacers are set at small forward with Danny Granger, but that’s about it. Austin Daye has a lot of upside, but at 190 lbs, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll ever be able to play power forward, though Indiana could conceivably move Granger to the four. This is what makes Earl Clark interesting for the Pacers. He’s a versatile forward who could could play the four and set Granger up with his fine passing. Plus, Rick Pitino thinks he’s a good kid that needs a solid mentor, and Granger could be that guy. The Pacers could also go point guard here with Jeff Teague, Eric Maynor or Ty Lawson.
Pick: Clark, F

#14 PHOENIX SUNS
I think it’s safe to say that the writing is on the wall that Amare Stoudemire is not long for Phoenix. He’s already talking about his next destination (the Knicks), so the Suns may look to try to replace him with a power forward like James Johnson. The Suns could also go point guard with Maynor, Teague or Lawson, but that wouldn’t send a very good message to Steve Nash, who has said all the right things the last few months. What the Suns do with this pick could tell us a lot about their long term plans.
Pick: J. Johnson, F

#15 DETROIT PISTONS
Again, no consensus here. The Pistons need more help up front than on the perimeter, but they could still go with a guard with this pick. Someone like Tyler Hansbrough could help right away (as a rotation player off the bench) or the Pistons could go with upside like Austin Daye or B.J. Mullens. They could also go point guard (Maynor, Teague or Lawson) to give Rodney Stuckey a backup or maybe eventually play him at the two if Rip Hamilton leaves. What the hell — let’s go with Mullens. The Pistons’ biggest need is center and here’s a seven-footer with a ton of upside, and those don’t grow on trees.
Pick: Mullens, C

#16 CHICAGO BULLS
Two of the mocks have the Bulls going with Mullens here, which makes sense because Chicago needs some low post scoring. Aaron Gray has been disappointing and Joakim Noah isn’t a post scorer. The team is set at point guard with Derrick Rose, has a nice swingman in Luol Deng and Noah can play power forward or center. They might go with a guy like Chase Budinger or Wayne Ellington in case they don’t re-sign Ben Gordon. Hansbrough and James Johnson are possibilities, if available. Budinger’s stock seems to be the highest of the bunch, so we’ll go with him.
Pick: Budinger, GF

#17 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
The Sixers could really use a true point guard. They might keep Andre Miller around for another season or two, but he’s getting pretty long in the tooth and Louis Williams is more of a combo guard than a pure point. This is where the oft-mentioned triumvirate of Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson and Eric Maynor come in. Of the three, I think Lawson is the best fit with the Sixers, because Andre Iguodala doesn’t have a great handle. According to Ford, Maynor and Teague are ranked higher at this point, but I don’t know how the Sixers turn down Lawson’s experience and toughness at this point in the draft.
Pick: Lawson, PG

#18 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The more I think about the T-Wolves, the more I think that they might look at the depth at the point guard position in this draft and elect to go with another position at #6 and then grab whomever is left (Lawson, Maynor or Teague) here. The main problem with that theory is that good point guard play is getting more and more important, so you’d rather use a high pick there than on the wing. Assuming they do go Curry (or another PG) at #6, I think Austin Daye is a real possibility here. That would give the team a core of Curry, Foye, Daye, Love and Jefferson to build around. The mocks say that Mullens, Budinger and Terrance Williams are possibilities here as well. Two of the mocks don’t even have Daye going in the first round, so we’ll go with Williams since his stock seems to be higher, even though I think I’d rather have Sam Young on my team.
Pick: T. Williams, SF

#19 ATLANTA HAWKS
The Acie Law pick hasn’t panned out, so the Hawks are still looking for a point guard to take over whenever Mike Bibby finally leaves. I still like Lawson the most, but Maynor and Teague are both interesting picks. Two of the mocks say Teague, but I think Maynor might be the better pro. He seems to be the better all around player.
Pick: Teague, PG

#20 UTAH JAZZ
Three mocks have the Jazz going with a power forward, with Hansbrough going in two. His measurements (specifically his reach and agility scores) were better than expected, and his non-stop motor and work ethic will keep him in the league for a long time. Besides, he just looks like a Jerry Sloan kind of guy, and with Carlos Boozer likely on the way out, the Jazz will need a power forward to backup Paul Millsap.
Pick: Hansbrough, PF

#21 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Two of the four mocks project the Hornets to take a point guard (Maynor or Patrick Mills), and while the team could use a backup for Chris Paul, finding a good wing or two is a much bigger priority. Julian Wright should be a good player, so a sharpshooting off guard might do the trick. Budinger would be good if he were available, but the Bulls took him at #16. How about Wayne Ellington, Austin Daye or Sam Young? I think Young could potentially be the Josh Howard of this draft, but Ellington had a great tournament and fills a need at off guard.
Pick: Ellington, SG

#22 DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavs could really use a point guard, which is why Maynor might be the pick here. Though it would be tempting to draft Austin Daye for his apparent upside. Maynor is probably too good to pass up here and the four mocks agree that he’s a first round talent — Daye, not so much.
Pick: Maynor, PG

#23 SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings are another team that have both an early and a late pick, and they might pass on point guard at #4 if they think they can get their guy with this pick. Two of the mocks have the Kings taking Israel’s Omri Casspi, but how about two-time Big East first teamer Sam Young? He’s a great defender, a good spot up shooter and can finish at the rim. He needs to work on his ball handling and his off-the-dribble jumper, but he projects to be a James Posey-type player, and the Kings could use a few of those.
Pick: Young, SF

#24 PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Two of the mocks have Portland drafting a point guard here (Lawson and Holiday), but I doubt either guy lasts this long. The position is definitely the biggest need for the Blazers, and while they are one of the teams rumored to be looking to move up in the draft, in this mock they have the option of drafting the speedster/sharpshooter (Patrick Mills) or a defensive stopper/floor general (Darren Collison). Mills stock seems to be higher, so we’ll go with him, but UCLA guards have done pretty well of late; Jordan Farmar and Russell Westbrook both turned out to be better than expected.
Pick: Mills, PG

#25 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Assuming they go with Harden, a shooting guard, at #3, it likely means that they view Westbrook as their point guard of the future. Fine. What the Thunder needs now is shotblocking and rebounding. Center is more of a priority than power forward, but the pickings are slim at this point of the draft. Gani Lawal is a good rebounder, a capable scorer, and at just 20 years old, he has some upside.
Pick: Lawal, PF

#26 CHICAGO BULLS
This is when things get really dicey. Whether or not a player that is still on the board is a “first round talent” depends entirely on the teams drafting at the end of the round. The Bulls need some size and low post scoring and Georgetown’s DaJuan Summers fits the bill.
Pick: Summers, PF

#27 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
If the Grizzlies go with Thabeet at #2 instead of a point guard, they may look to grab Collison here as a backup plan for Mike Conley if he doesn’t pan out. They could also use a power forward, so Summers, Casspi, DeMarre Carroll, Taj Gibson, Derrick Brown, Damion James, Dante Cunningham, etc. are all options. I think they’ll go with the proven Collison and try to add a power forward through free agency.
Pick: Collison, PG

#28 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The T-Wolves went point guard at #6 and guard/forward at #18, so they will probably try to get some size here. Minny can afford to wait, so how about Israel’s Omri Casspi? They can let him play overseas for a few years before bringing him over. All four mocks think he’s a first round talent.
Pick: Casspi, F

#29 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Two of the mocks have the Lakers taking Toney Douglas here. He’s undersized for a shooting guard, but in the Lakers’ system, he could play point because he won’t have to handle the ball that much. He fits the L.A. mold — he can shoot and play good defense. The team is also likely to lose either Lamar Odom unless he’s willing to take a big pay cut to stay, so they could go with a forward here as well.
Pick: Douglas, G

#30 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavs’ front line is in flux, and there are a number of power forward types available at this point in the draft. Cleveland found PF J.J. Hickson late in last year’s first round, so maybe they’ll try their luck with a center and draft Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt who is a polished offensive player, but needs a little work fundamentally on the glass and defensively. He could be a weapon in the pick-and-roll with LeBron. Honestly, it’s a crap shoot at this point.
Pick: Heytvelt, C

- Charlie Villanueva is open to joining the Cavs, and given the current state of the economy, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the best he’ll be able to do is a deal at the mid-level (~$5.8 million). The Bucks first have to decide whether or not to make the qualifying offer (~$4.6 million) and they may elect not to in order to avoid going over the luxury tax threshold (~$71 million, and could drop). Without Villanueva (and Ramon Sessions, who is also slated to become a restricted free agent), the Bucks’ payroll is at about $61 million with only eight players under contract. Villanueva would give the Cavs a good matchup for Rashard Lewis. Both players are slender power forwards who can shoot the ball, though Charlie V isn’t known for his defense.

- UFA Andre Miller doesn’t have a problem with the Sixers’ hire of head coach Eddie Jordan. The Sixers are over the cap but well under the luxury tax, so I’d expect them to sign the 33 year-old to a one- or two-year deal in the $6-7 million range. He is unlikely to get that on the open market, but Portland is a team with cap space that could use his leadership.

- Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo plans to keep Chris Bosh and try to surround him with better players, unless the talented power forward expresses serious doubts about re-signing. By sending Jermaine O’Neal to the Heat for Shawn Marion (and his expiring contract), the Raptors have about $10 million in cap space heading into the summer. While that may not be enough to land someone like Carlos Boozer, it is enough, coupled with the team’s mid-level exception, to add two or three pretty good players to the roster. How about Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva/Chris Andersen? I’d expect the Bosh rumors to heat up next season if Toronto struggles again early on.

- Hoopsworld says that there’s a rumor making the rounds that the Thunder might take DeMar DeRozan #3. This sounds a little fishy to me because everything I’m seeing shows DeRozan slipping a little after poor agility and sprint tests at the combine. James Harden has the better standing vertical and is just 1.5″ off of DeRozan’s max vertical. Harden also beat DeRozan soundly in the agility and sprint tests and is the much more polished offensive player at this point. DeRozan is 1.5″ taller, but Harden has a higher reach because he has a longer wingspan.

- With Jonny Flynn and Jrue Holiday climbing the draft charts, Ricky Rubio is suddenly open to interviews and workouts with teams picking #2 to #4, which includes Memphis, Oklahoma City and Sacramento. Rubio apparently didn’t play very well in his season finale, and his camp may be worried about him slipping out of the top four if those teams in question find a guy they like better.

The NBA draft combine started yesterday and here are some of the rumors and observations coming out of Chicago (from Draft Express and ESPN’s Chad Ford).

James Harden might go #3 to Oklahoma City or #5 to Washington. Sacramento #4 is a no-go because the Kings already have a star shooting guard in Kevin Martin.

James Harden for example has elected not to conduct any interviews with teams drafting outside the top five, canceling a scheduled interview at the Westin Hotel with the Cleveland Cavaliers for example. He also reportedly will not be conducting any competitive workouts with anyone anywhere in the draft process. A source close to him tells us he feels very good about the possibility of being selected by Oklahoma City or Washington, and for right now is not planning on visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Most teams we’ve spoken to in Chicago are indicating that they believe Oklahoma City is indeed leaning towards picking Harden. They also believe the Thunder are not enamored with Rubio at all, as they are committed to developing Russell Westbrook at his natural position—point guard.

This seems high for Harden, who had a great season but completely disappeared in the NCAA tournament. He is a very skilled scorer and he should thrive if open shots are created for him by a playmaking teammate. I don’t know how good he is at getting his own shot.

According to his agent, Aaron Goodwin, DeMar DeRozan won’t be working out against anyone and won’t last until the #9 pick.

“DeRozan is not working out with anyone. He isn’t going up against Gerald Henderson or anyone else at this point. He may not even go to Toronto. He won’t fall to 9.”

Ford said that DeRozan looked great at the combine.

DeRozan showed off his terrific athleticism. But more impressive was the solid shooting display he put on. While he still isn’t a sharpshooter, he showed range out to the NBA 3-point line. For a guy who shot 18 percent from the college arc as a freshman, that has to come as a big relief.

“As far as upside goes, he’s second only to Blake Griffin in this draft,” one NBA GM noted. “He has all the physical tools to be a superstar. The question is — is he Vince Carter or Gerald Green?”

NBA scouts aren’t high on Ty Lawson right now.

“Injury prone” one assistant GM calls him. “A backup point guard…he’s 100% behind Jonny Flynn” another NBA representative says. “He’s a product of North Carolina’s system” a third told us. Lawson seems to be outside of the lottery at the moment, but still has a good chance to be picked by two teams looking for point guards in the late teens, Philadelphia (#17) and Atlanta (#19).

I like Flynn as well, but Lawson is a proven winner who was the ACC Player of the Year. Philly or Atlanta would be lucky to get him.

ESPN’s Chad Form confirms that Lawson is slipping.

Lawson continues to take a little bit of a beating. His small stature and so-so performance in the combine didn’t help dispel a growing chorus of scouts who seem to feel that his game won’t translate to the pros.

UCLA’s Jrue Holliday looked great.

He was the biggest point guard of the top group and seemed to tower over several of the smaller guys on the floor.

During one 3-on-2 full-court drill, Holiday looked like a power forward running on the wing. And while his size was impressive, so was his game. He was hitting his jump shot, finishing with both hands and showing versatility and an excellent handle.

“I was skeptical when I read the report out of IMG about Holiday,” one NBA executive said. “Now I get it. That’s the kid we fell in love with in high school. He was really impressive.”

Stephen Curry is getting a lot of love.

Larry Brown is reportedly extremely high on Stephen Curry, and may be willing to trade up in order to get him. Apparently he views him as being able to play either guard position, even alongside Charlotte’s current group of point guards, Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin.

Curry is getting love from teams as high up as Washington and also has a chance to be drafted 6th (Minnesota) or 7th (Golden State). While the Knicks clearly like him, he isn’t the only player they will consider—the other top candidates on their board currently appear to be Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday.

Ford says that Curry put on a shooting exhibition.

Curry put on a shooting show — no surprise there — but many GMs commented that he really looked like he belonged when he participated in a number of ballhandling and full-court drills. If Curry can prove to teams that he can play point guard, he’ll go somewhere between No. 5 and 13. If he can’t, he could slip out of the lottery. The results of the first day of camp had to be encouraging.

Ford also said that Jonny Flynn, Eric Maynor and Patty Mills impressed.

The combine measurements were released. DeJuan Blair is only 6′ 6.5″ in shoes, but he has a 7′ 2″ wingspan, giving him an overall reach of 8′ 10.5″, which is good enough to tie for 10th-highest at the combine, and 1.5″ higher than Blake Griffin’s. Ford said that Blair was the best big man on the floor. (Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill sat out.)

Blair wowed a lot of people with his new, more toned and chiseled physique. There seems to be a controversy about how much weight Blair has actually lost, but there there’s no question that his body looks much better.

I like Blair as long as he keeps his body in shape. He could be a star power forward or the next Robert “Tractor” Traylor.

Gonzaga’s Austin Daye looked solid.

Gonzaga’s Austin Daye helped himself the most. He was flawless in the drills, launching and hitting shots from everywhere on the floor and showing a very high basketball IQ.

B.J. Mullins really helped himself.

Many NBA scouts had Mullens as a top-five pick at the start of the season, but downgraded his stock after he failed to get significant minutes as a freshman.

Thursday was a bit of a coming-out party for Mullens. He passed the smell test for big men with flying colors.

With the NBA Draft Lottery behind us, we now know the exact order of the first 14 picks. The Los Angeles Clippers hit paydirt when they won the right to draft Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin with the first overall pick. The Grizzlies moved up from #6 to #2, and the Thunder moved up one spot to pick #3. The big losers Tuesday night were Sacramento and Washington, who had the best and second-best shot at the top pick, but instead fell to #4 and #5, respectively.

Mock drafts are tough for me because I’m usually thinking about what teams should do instead of trying to predict what they will do. This mock will be more predictive, but if I disagree with a selection, I’ll say so. Over the next few weeks, I’ll update this mock to jive with the latest news from around the league. It’s still very early in the process so things are very fluid. One mock has a player going #11 while another may have him going #29.

I’m just going to make picks for the first fourteen slots on the first go-round and then provide the picks of a few different mocks that I respect for #15-#30, along with a short writeup for each team.

#1 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Even Mike Dunleavy can’t screw this one up. Barring something obscenely out of the blue, Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin will be the first overall pick. The Clippers could use a power forward to replace Elton Brand, and Griffin is the only “sure thing” in this draft. He’s strong, skilled and athletic, and he has an improving offensive game. He has star written all over him.
Pick: Griffin, PF

#2 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies were reportedly one of the few teams more interested in UConn’s 7’3” center Hasheem Thabeet than they were in Blake Griffin. The Grizzlies already have 7’1” Marc Gasol, so Thabeet wouldn’t fill a need like Jordan Hill, Ricky Rubio or Brandon Jennings would (assuming the team isn’t sold on Hakim Warrick or Mike Conley), but Thabeet has the potential to become a dominant defensive center along the lines of Dikembe Mutombo. But will he be willing to put the work in to become an effective post player?
Pick: Thabeet, C

#3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
If the Grizzlies pass on Thabeet, the Thunder might very well snatch him up. They need a center and he fits the bill. But if he’s off the board (or even if he’s available), the Thunder might look for a point guard. Russell Westbbrook is better off the ball and OKC is set at small forward with Kevin Durant and in pretty good shape at power forward with Jeff Green. Here’s where I have trouble taking the general manager cap off – I’m not sold on Ricky Rubio as a star in the NBA. He’s a terrific passer and has a great feel for the game, but his jumper needs a lot of work. He’s drawing comparisons to Steve Nash and Pete Maravich, but he can’t put the ball in the hole like those guys could. Still, at just 17, he went toe to toe with Chris Paul and Deron Williams at the 2008 Olympics, and CP3 gave him a thumbs up, so the Thunder might very well pick him here.
Pick: Rubio, PG

#4 SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings have a lot of holes to fill. They really could use an upgrade at every position other than shooting guard, where Kevin Martin holds down the proverbial fort. Beno Udrih turned out to be a mistake, so the Kings could very well go with a point guard like Brandon Jennings (or Rubio, if available). Thabeet is also an option if he slips. Arizona’s Jordan Hill is a nice prospect, but the Kings already have Jason Thompson at PF and he played pretty well in his rookie season. More and more, it’s becoming a guard’s league, so if Jennings or Rubio (or even UCLA’s Jrue Holliday, who they are reportedly high on) are available, the Kings will probably pull the trigger.
Pick: Jennings, PG

#5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Ah, the Wizards. If management is set on moving forward with the trio of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, they could use an upgrade at off guard and center. It’s hard to tell if Nick Young is going to be a starter or is better suited to come off the bench, so Arizona State’s James Harden is a possibility. He’s polished and NBA-ready, but he disappeared at times in the NCAA tournament and that’s worrisome. Still, defenses won’t be able to focus on him with Arenas, Butler and Jamison spreading the court, and he has shown great ability to score in space and finish at the rim. Jordan Hill is another option, but I think the Wizards can get by with Brendan Haywood, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee up front.
Pick: Harden, SG

#6 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The T-Wolves are set up front with Kevin Love at power forward and Al Jefferson at center, and have serious needs elsewhere, so Jordan Hill may continue to slip. All of the point guards – Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holliday, Ty Lawson, Jonny Flynn – are possibilities, as are James Harden, DeMar DeRozan and Tyreke Evans. The key is what the T-Wolves think they have in Randy Foye. He’s a tweener but seems better suited to be an off guard. Even so, he’s been a little disappointing in his young career. I think Lawson is the most polished point guard in the draft, but the T-Wolves might go with the versatility of DeRozan, who has great athleticism and upside (and can play both off guard and small forward).
Pick: DeRozan, GF

#7 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors don’t really know if Monta Ellis can run the point, so one of the point guards is a possibility here. The Warriors seem to be in pretty good shape up front with Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph, so Jordan Hill doesn’t seem like a great fit. The Warriors are going to have to replace Stephen Jackson eventually, so how about Memphis’ Tyreke Evans?
Pick: Evans, SG

#8 NEW YORK KNICKS
The word is that the Knicks love Curry, either for what he brings to the table in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system, or because he increases (however slightly) the chances that LeBron James signs with the Knicks next summer. (LeBron and Curry are good friends.) Some scouts say he’s not even a first round talent, but he can shoot the lights out and is a decent playmaker. He’s especially effective in the pick and roll, but his roles in college and the NBA will be very different, so it will take him some time to adjust. Let’s go with Curry until we hear otherwise.
Pick: Curry, G

#9 TORONTO RAPTORS
Right now, I’m projecting Jordan Hill to be available at #9 and if so, there’s a good chance that Toronto will draft him. He’s raw, but he’s a good rebounder and defender, and has a lot of upside. The Raptors might see the departure of Chris Bosh on the horizon and draft Hill as his replacement. They also need a shooting guard, but it would be tough to pass on Hill here.
Pick: Hill, PF

#10 MILWAUKEE BUCKS
I grew up watching Sidney Moncrief and Bob Lanier, so I’m a Bucks fan through and through. I really hope they plan on keeping Ramon Sessions this offseason, because I think he has all the tools to become a top 10 point guard in the NBA. That said, the Bucks should be looking at the wing or frontcourt with this pick, because Charlie Villanueva may not be back. DeJuan Blair is reportedly looking slimmer and more explosive, but the Bucks had a very bad experience with Robert Traylor, who lost a ton of weight before the draft then proceeded to pack it back on. Traylor averaged 16.2 points and 10.1 rebounds in his sophomore year at Michigan, while Blair averaged 15.7 points and 12.3 rebounds in five fewer minutes per game. The Bucks could use his toughness, but I’m really worried about Blair turning into Traylor, Jr. Ty Lawson would be a great pick if the Bucks plan to let Sessions walk.
Pick: Blair, PF

#11 NEW JERSEY NETS
The Nets are set at point guard (Devin Harris) and center (Brook Lopez). Everything else is fair game. Earl Clark is a versatile forward, Gerald Henderson is a super athletic off guard with an improving jumper and James Johnson is a good all-around forward. Johnson seems like the best fit for New Jersey, who has needs at both forward positions. DeJuan Blair is a possibility as well.
Pick: Johnson, F

#12 CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Charlotte’s biggest need is at off guard and the super-athletic Gerald Henderson seems like a nice fit. He’s a streaky scorer, but when he’s on, he’s on. Larry Brown will like his on-the-ball defense and he should be able to play right away.
Pick: Henderson, SG

#13 INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers need athleticism up front, but there aren’t too many guys that fit the bill. Indiana is building around Danny Granger (and Danny Granger only), so any other position is fair game. The Pacers have two solid point guards in Jarrett Jack and T.J. Ford, but they should grab Ty Lawson here. He’s a proven winner, lightning quick, and should make a very good pro. I just think he’s the best player available.
Pick: Lawson, PG

#14 PHOENIX SUNS
With Steve Nash’s career winding down, the Suns should start thinking about his replacement. There are a ton of point guards that could be available here: Ty Lawson, Jonny Flynn, Eric Maynor, Jrue Holliday and Jeff Teague. The Suns could also go with a sharpshooting wing to help space the court for Nash, Shaq and Amare Stoudemire in the short term, so Wayne Ellington and Chase Budinger are possibilities. I find it doubtful that the Suns will find someone here who can start right away, so Flynn seems like the best available choice. He showed great toughness and vision in the Big East Championship.
Pick: Flynn, PG

#15 DETROIT PISTONS
This pick has more to do with the Pistons’ plans for free agency than with trying to find a star to build around. They seem set at guard and small forward with Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, but none of those players are untouchable.
NBADraft.net: Tyreke Evans, G
DraftExpress: Terrence Williams, GF
ESPN: Austin Daye, F

#16 CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls are in pretty good shape personnel-wise, so they can afford to take the best available player and not draft for need. They could use a low-post scorer or potentially an off guard to replace Ben Gordon, who is likely to sign elsewhere.
NBADraft.net: James Johnson, F
DraftExpress: James Johnson, F
ESPN: DeJuan Blair, PF

#17 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
With free agent Andre Miller getting long in the tooth, the Sixers are very likely to take the best point guard available here. I think Lawson would be a coup. Given the uncertainty around Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings, Lawson could very well turn out to be the best point guard to come out of this draft. Eric Maynor, Jrue Holliday, Patty Mills and Jeff Teague are other possibilities.
NBADraft.net: Ty Lawson, PG
DraftExpress: Eric Maynor, PG
ESPN: Eric Maynor, PG

#18 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (FROM HEAT)
Again, even though Al Jefferson isn’t really a center, I think the T-Wolves are set up front with Jefferson and Kevin Love, so they’ll probably be looking for more help in the backcourt and on the wing.
NBADraft.net: Patrick Mills, PG
DraftExpress: Jrue Holliday, G
ESPN: B.J. Mullins, C

#19 ATLANTA HAWKS
With free agent Mike Bibby getting older and Acie Law not panning out, the Hawks biggest need is at point guard. Even if they re-sign Bibby for another year or two, it would be wise to find his eventual replacement, assuming the franchise doesn’t think Law is the heir apparent.
NBADraft.net: B.J. Mullins, C
DraftExpress: Jeff Teague, PG
ESPN: Jeff Teague, PG

#20 UTAH JAZZ
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Jazz these days. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Kyle Korver could all leave via free agency this summer, but one thing’s for sure – the Jazz seem determined to retain Paul Millsap. They could use a center if Okur bolts or maybe a small forward to eventually replace Andrei Kirilenko. They figure to lose either Boozer or Millsap, so a backup PF is also an option.
NBADraft.net: DeJuan Blair, PF
DraftExpress: Austin Daye, F
ESPN: Tyler Hansbrough, PF

#21 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
The Hornets need wings and a replacement for Tyson Chandler if they trade him in a salary dump this summer. Shooting guard seems to be the top priority, so Wayne Ellington, Chase Budinger or Sam Young (who may be the Josh Howard of this draft) are possibilities.
NBADraft.net: Gani Lawal, PF
DraftExpress: B.J. Mullins C
ESPN: Terrence Williams, GF

#22 DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavs probably need to think point guard to (eventually?) replace Jason Kidd. Jeff Teague is a lot like Jason Terry in that he’s more of a scorer and not a natural playmaker. If the Mavs are still building around Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, then they could use help in the backcourt and at center.
NBADraft.net: Jeff Teague, PG
DraftExpress: Chase Budinger, GF
ESPN: Ty Lawson, PG

#23 SACRAMENTO KINGS (FROM ROCKETS)
Again, the Kings have all sorts of holes, so the direction they go here will likely depend on who they draft at #4.
NBADraft.net: Omri Casspi, SF
DraftExpress: Nick Calathes, PG
ESPN: Nick Calathes, PG

#24 PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Jerryd Bayless doesn’t seem like a true point guard, so Kevin Pritchard might elect to go with the pass-first Collison to set up the Blazers’ shooters. He can also play good on-the-ball defense.
NBADraft.net: Jrue Holliday, G
DraftExpress: Gani Lawal, PF
ESPN: Darren Collison, PG

#25 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (FROM SPURS)
If the Thunder end up with a point guard at #3, then they will likely look to the front court with this pick. Jeff Green is improving, but he’s not a sure-thing to be a starter-caliber PF on a playoff team, so the Thunder may look for some insurance. There isn’t much in the way of talent at the center position this late in the draft.
NBADraft.net: Tyler Hansbrough, PF
DraftExpress: Sam Young, SF
ESPN: Gani Lawal, PF

#26 CHICAGO BULLS (FROM NUGGETS)
Don’t be surprised if the Bulls package this pick with #16 to try to move up into the lottery and grab more of an impact player. The Bulls need quality players, not bodies.
NBADraft.net: Taj Gibson, PF
DraftExpress: Marcus Thornton, SG
ESPN: Toney Douglass, SG

#27 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (FROM MAGIC)
If the Grizzlies do take Thabeet at #2, don’t be surprised if they go power forward or point guard here. Do they feel better about Mike Conley or Hakim Warrick? That question might be answered by the position they draft here.
NBADraft.net: Derrick Brown, SF
DraftExpress: Tyler Hansbrough, PF
ESPN: Chase Budinger, GF

#28 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (FROM CELTICS)
With three first round picks, don’t be surprised if the T-Wolves do some wheeling and dealing on draft day. If Minnesota goes with a good wing like DeRozan at #6, they could package this pick with #18 to move up and try to land Ty Lawson or Jonny Flynn in the early teens. Patty Mills seems like a good fit here if he’s available and the T-Wolves haven’t already drafted a point guard. He’s a great shooter who could space the court for Al Jefferson down low.
NBADraft.net: Terrence Williams, GF
DraftExpress: Darren Collison, PG
ESPN: Patty Mills, PG

#29 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are both going to be free agents this summer, so the Lakers biggest need is probably at SF, unless Jordan Farmar isn’t the future at the point. If the Lakers can get Sam Young here, it would be a coup. He’s NBA ready.
NBADraft.net: Sam Young, SF
DraftExpress: Wayne Ellington, GF
ESPN: DaJuan Summers, SF

#30 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavs’ frontcourt is a little more unsettled than the backcourt. Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas could all be in the final year of their contracts next season. That said, there isn’t much in the way of size this late in the draft. The Cavs could go international and let the player develop overseas for a year or two before bringing him over.
NBADraft.net: DaJuan Summers, SF
DraftExpress: Patrick Mills, PG
ESPN: Sam Young, SF