Slam Dunk Central Editor Jeff Sack Takes A Look At The 2008 NBA Draft

Posted by Jeff Sack under Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central

Welcome to my first annual “I Hate Making NBA Draft Predictions Draft Prediction.” If you are a regular reader of mine, you know one thing about me, I don’t blow smoke. If you can’t trust that I’m telling you the truth, why bother to read my articles, right? My credibility to me has always been my calling card in this business, and will continue to be as long as?I remain in it. And that is why I hate doing predictions of any kind, but especially draft predictions.

Any of these mock drafts that you are reading no matter what the source is at best an inexact science. We are all engaging in an educated guess. It’s tough enough when you are trying to predict games, at least there is some criteria you can base it on.?The opponents records, injuries, trends, are all tools that you can utilize to make?your pick. But just to illustrate how?much of an inexact science that is, we will use our sister site?? NFL GridIron Gab?as an example. Last season we did our picks for each regular season game, the NBA Guy (yes yours truly), had the best winning percentage of the bunch! ?

Now when we are analyzing the draft, we are doing that based on team’s needs, but there is another factor as well. The mindset of the person making the pick. And unfortunately, a lot of time you can throw logic out the window. I can speak from first hand experience watching former Cavaliers General Manager?Jim Paxson, make mind-numbingly atrocious picks.

This year the fly in the Vaseline is none other than the man who brought?back the slick backed look in the eighties, Miami Heat Team President Pat Riley. The Heat of course have the second pick in the draft, and apparently Riley is not enamored with the logical?number two pick Michael Beasley. A trade could very well take place, involving Miami. However since as of this writing there are no definitive reports of an impending trade we will assume that the NBA Draft order will be what was determined on the night of the Draft Lottery. So enough introduction, let’s?get on with the picks.???

1) Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose PG Memphis: Bottom line is the Bulls need a point guard a lot more than they need a power forward. They have Drew Gooden, who when he stays focused is a double-double threat, they have Kirk Hinrich at the point, who has fallen out of favor with management.

2) Miami Heat: Michael Beasley PF Kansas State: Again this is the wild card, I personally think Riley wants O.J. Mayo, but he won’t take him second. Watch out for possible trade

3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Brook Lopez C Stanford: I’m definitely bucking the trend here. Most mock drafts have Mayo or Jerryd Bayless going to the T-Wolves. The reason I am going with Lopez is it allows their best player Al Jefferson to play his natural position at power forward. Lopez and Jefferson has the makings of two thirds of a pretty good front court!

4) Seattle Supersonics: Kevin Love PF/C UCLA: Seattle wants size and with Lopez gone, Love is the most polished big man on the board. Looks to be more of a power forward than center in the Association.

5) Memphis Grizzlies: Joe Alexander SF/PF West Virginia: His stock has risen dramatically in the last few weeks. Alexander is a gutty player, and could be a good fit for Memphis.

6) New York Knicks: O.J. Mayo G USC: Knicks need to make a splash in the draft, and Mayo will give them the back pages of the tabloids for the rest of the week. If he is as good as he thinks he is he will own the Big Apple. If he’s not, he will take Zeke’s place as the most hated man in NYC

7) LA Clippers: Jerryd Bayless PG Arizona: A young man with a huge upside, he could very easily become a star in the NBA.

8 Milwaukee Bucks: Danilo Gallinari SF Italy: Gallinari has made quite a name for himself in the Euro-League. Another bit of international flavor for Milwaukee to go along with Yi.

9) Charlotte Bobcats: Russell Westbrook PG UCLA: A Larry Brown type of player if ever there was one!

10) New Jersey Nets: Eric Gordon SG Indiana: Along side Devin Harris, the duo could make up the Nets back court for the foreseeable future.

11) Indiana Pacers: D.J. Augustin PG Texas: He is 5′11″, Larry Bird won his first NBA Championship with Tiny Archibald. Bird knows it’s heart more than size that counts.

12) Sacramento Kings: Anthony Randolph SF/PF LSU: Very tall and very skinny, with an incredible wingspan. Needs to fill out, but shows promise.

13) Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Rush SF Kansas: If Oden can come all the way back from micro-fracture surgery, there could be some very pretty pick and rolls in the Trail Blazers future.

14) Golden State Warriors: Donte Green F Syracuse: If the coach is anybody else but Don Nelson Golden State would probably be picking a center with the pick. Nellie hasn’t relied on a center in his offense since his days coaching Jack Sikma in Milwaukee

15) Phoenix Suns (from Atlanta): Mario Chalmers PG Kansas: Nash gets a protege. Chalmers not truly a pure point, but if anyone can teach him it’s Nash.

16) Philadelphia 76ers: DeAndre Jordan C TX A&M: There is no doubt at all about this young man’s talent. The real question is can he remain focused.

17) Toronto Raptors: Robin Lopez C Stanford: He’s a wide body, who does not have the offensive tools of his brother. But he will hustle as long as he is on the floor.

18) Washington Wizards: Darrell Arthur PF Kansas: Good heady player, should fit in well with the Wizards, if everyone returns. If not he will most likely fill Jamison’s role.

19) Cleveland Cavaliers: Kosta Koufos C Ohio State: We are going to assume that Danny Ferry solves the team’s ongoing problem in the back court, by trading for Michael Redd. With Z not getting younger, Wallace a huge question mark, and Anderson Varejao possibly on his way out of town, this team needs a big man. Koufos has Cavaliers written all over him.

20) Charlotte Bobcats (from Denver): Roy Hibbert C Georgetown: Hibbert had a great NCAA Tournament in 2007. Not the case in 2008. Could be a nice compliment to Emeka Okafor, and move him to the power forward position permanently.

21) New Jersey Nets (from Dallas): Marreese Speights PF/C Florida: He has the offense down, now he needs to concentrate on playing defense.

22) Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee SG W.Kentucky: Great outside shooter, a prototypical wing man, which will complement Howard’s game and augment Turkoglu’s.

23) Utah Jazz: Alexis Ajinca PF/C France: Best available big man on the board.

24) Seattle SuperSonics (from Phoenix): JaVale McGee C Nevada: Sonics go big again in their second pick of the night.

25) Houston Rockets: Chris Douglas-Roberts SG/SF Memphis: Will give Houston an better than average bench player.

26) San Antonio Spurs: Ryan Anderson PF California: Can score with his back to the basket as well as sink the trey.

27) Portland Trail Blazers: Serge Ibaka PF Congo: Another guy that needs to fill out but has amazing speed for a man of his size.

28) Memphis Grizzlies (from L.A. Lakers): Jason Thompson PF Rider: Can help Grizzlies in the post as well as hit the outside shot.

29) Detroit Pistons: Bill Walker SG/SF Kansas State : If Tayshaun is on the block this young man can help to fill the void.

30) Boston Celtics: J.J. Hickson PF North Carolina State: This young man loves the glass, and who better to help hone his skills than the Big Ticket?

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3 Responses to “Slam Dunk Central Editor Jeff Sack Takes A Look At The 2008 NBA Draft”

Space on June 26th, 2008 1:20 am

Jeff why are people so high on Robin Lopez and Eric Gordon. When I look at Lopez I see career back written all over him and with Gordon I see career underachiever. Never one of those players just blow me away. I think Kevin Love will be a “steal” once he rounds into shape. Love just knows how to play the game and is a excellent rebounder and he is the most fundamentally ready for the NBA when it comes down to overall basketball skill and talent.
Russ Loede on June 26th, 2008 3:35 pm

In Webster’s New 2008 NBA Dictionary – Robin Lopez can be defined as a “stiff” or a “bum”. One who’s picture is directly next to the word, that’s where you can find this joke of a player from Stanford.

One who’s role in the NBA is a career benchwarmer, along the lines of Scot Pollard (pre-Sacramento Kings – the player now – Cleveland Cavs/Celtics Era) or former Cardinal alum – Mark Madsen – maybe Robin has better dance moves or can get fortunate enough to jump on to a winning team. This kid should not even be mentioned or discussed in the same sentence or even in the same breath as his brother Brook!

In terms of defining his NBA status and how people will remember him they will say, “Oh that was the guy who fooled that GM/Team into selecting him in the 1st round!”

Word play: 1 word to describe Eric Gordon’s game: Improvement

I loved Gordon coming into College straight outta H.S. and in the 1st half of the year at Indiana. He was even getting touted by many as a Top 3 or 5 pick easily. But minute by minute, shot by shot, decision by decision, game by game, I realized and found out he lacked something very important: Mid-Range Game. Especially guards his size (6-foot 3), he just needs to be able develop a mid-range game to complement his 3-ball because he has a knack in getting to the line. He does it so well and is so strong with his body control.

What troubles me about him is he’s not quick enough to create his own shot at this point in his career – and his biggest strength may be overmatched by his biggest weakness (in the early stages of his career). He’s very aggressive, but he needs to stop settling for long 3’s, even though it’s part of his game and what makes him who he is – and it’s also why he’s a very good prospect. As I watched him more & more – I saw him as a more talented offensive version of Devin Brown. They resemble the same size, yet Brown’s taller. The offensive skill set of Gordon is too good for him to be just a role/bench player in this league – but he will have to start out like that because he’s not there yet. Bayless, Rose, Mayo, Rush, Douglas-Roberts, and Augustin are more polished.

Gordon seems to me to be 3-4 years away from becoming the player he needs to be and will be. In order to become successful, he has to develop his game big-time, more so than others, thus making his draft status a sticky situation – because some team will need to coach, groom, and be extra patient with him. Needtheless to say, he does have the chance to be a special player at the next level. Maybe it’s his “2nd team” which realizes his potential and provides for him the destination to reach his destiny/full talent – as a finished product. He has unusual strength for a guard, unlimited range, and the shear determination and focus to get better and takeover a game down the stretch with his offensive capabilities. While he isn’t NBA-ready yet, he is still merits and is worth a Top 8 look.

The Clippers would be a great fit if Jerry Bayless doesn’t fall. He can replace Cuttino Mobley off the bench. Ultimately, Gordon should’ve stayed in school, but the right fit for him could be the difference in him being the next Devin Brown or the next Guard Version of Al Thornton.

Kevin Love: Coach’s Dream

Love: David Lee meets Elton Brand.