6-23 NBA MOCK DRAFT 5th Revision

2005 Mock Draft

Lot of uncertainty at this point so another revision may be needed even though the draft is less than a week away.

1. Milwaukee Andrew Bogut C Utah- Supposedly Redd is coming back, a cornerstone center or point guard is needed. Bogut is the choice. Has to start right away will be one of the best passing big men in the NBA, Gadzuric is where he should be, a servicable backup.

2. Atlanta Marvin Williams SF North Carolina- Atlanta could use a PG among other things but the pontential of Williams is too much to pass on. Marvin Williams is the best player available here regardless of the fact that they have Josh Childress and Josh Smith already. Al Harrington will be traded before the start of the season.

3. Portland Chris Paul PG Wake Forest- This pick will either go to Lakers who plan to give up Caron Butler and their pick, or to Charlotte who will give up picks #5 &13. Charlotte really wants this pick and will make a move to get the PG of the future. Portland also seems to be high on Gerald Green and/or Martell Webster. That said, both of those players will be around at #5, Webster will go later than Green. I think the Charlotte deal gets done. The Celtics are reportedly real high on Felton but have no realistic chance to get him unless Pierce is moved.

4. New Orleans Deron Williams PG Illinois- For a team with so many holes, Williams is the impact player with the most upside that they need. Great leader can score and distribute effectively. Already an upgrade over Claxton/Dickau. Promise is in place here.

5. Charlotte Gerald Green SG High School- I'm Assuming that this is Portland’s pick here, they need an impact player right away. Green isn’t that, but the potential is too much to pass on. Superstar potential. It is no secret Portland is still high on Green even though the GM has said things otherwise.

6. Utah Raymond Felton PG North Carolina- PG is their number one concern. Felton falls nicely to Utah and is starting from Day One. Felton would be great in a fast paced offense like Phoenix but Utah would work just fine.

7. Toronto Danny Granger F New Mexico- Assuming Donyell is back, Granger is still the choice. He can step in right away at the SF position. Last years number one pick Rafael Arujo may start at center, the talented Bosh at PF and Granger who has been improving his stock starting at SF or backing up Donyell. PG remains a need but with another first rounder they can address that later. Granger has been unconscious in workouts, reportedly hit twelve NBA threes in a row.

8. New York Fran VasquezC Spain -We all know how much Isiah loves drafting bigs, he simply cannot resist Vasquez here especially after trading Kurt Thomas and with Sweeney waiting. Vasquez can also play center. Experienced player here, this isnt's Skita or Darko here. Alleged promise to Frye is already in place at this pick.

9. Golden State Channing Frye PF Arizona -Team is ready for breakout year. Stacked with players everywhere. Can afford to take a chance on Frye who has really improved his stock since the end of the college season. Andriuskevicius is a strong possibility as he is in the draft.

10. LA Lakers Andrew Bynum C High School - Big upside player who is rising fast on draft boards after very impressive workouts. LA needs a big with Mihm,Slava and Divac thinking of retiring they could use help here also at PG. Personally, I think Chucky Atkins fits well in the triangle.

11. Orlando Antoine Wright SG Texas A&M -After a strong draft last year, SG is priority now. Wright is big, athletic and should make an impact right away backing up Mobley. Nice combo with Howard and Francis. Joey Graham could easily go here as well. Wright may not be here at this point due to strong workouts. A steal at #11 for Orlando if he is.

12. LA Clippers Yaroslav Koralev SG/SF- Another draft another lottery pick for the Clippers and they decide to go foreign with the pick to beef up the frontcourt. Ton of talent here with Koralev, thought to go much higher. Is the best player on his current team in Moskow. Definite promise to this guy somewhere. This is where it is.

13. Charlotte Martell Webster SG High School - Nice acquisition by whoever picks here. Could be Charlotte, could be Portland. Hopefully not another Deshawn Stevenson, concerns have already been raised after he reportedly skipped workouts. Hubie Brown would say "Webster has tremendous upside potential".

14. Minnesota Charlie Villanueva F Connecticut- Villanueva is one of the most versatile players in this draft, he likely will be a backup but he will get his minutes. The T’Wolves will have their hands full with this kid as Villanueva drove UCONN coach Jim Calhoun crazy during the two years he was there. Hakim Warrick is my sleeper pick here. Villanieva's work ethic still remains a concern.

15. New Jersey Johan Petro C France- Need a big desperately to go with Kristic, may look to trade this pick. If they keep it its Petro. Chris Taft is a strong possibility here also. Either one is not a polished player, I'd actually prefer Petro at this point but Taft was once projected by scouts to go #1 overall in the draft.

16. Toronto Roko Leni Ukic PG KK Split- Already taken Granger with their first pick now would like a PG. If he stays in, Roko is the pick here. Another player with potential buyout issues. Strong draft for Toronto if it plays out like this. Rumored promise by the Celtics won't be able to happen here.

17. Indiana Hakim Warrick- SF Syracuse Bird and his staff are not afraid of taking a HS stud, instead take Hakim Warrick to add some athleticism to the Pacers. Right now Warrick is all over the place on scout's boards. Recently held workouts with Danny Granger, they both showed their strengths and did not hurt their stock. Indiana may be looking to trade this pick.

18. Boston Joey Graham SF Oklahoma St. -Rumored promise to Monta Ellis seems to be false. Ellis is still eligible for the draft so maybe the promise was given elsewhere. Jarrett Jack may go here if LA doesn’t select him, with Delonte West moving to the off guard where he fits in better. Lot of scenarios here but I'm going with Graham as he is THE best athlete in this draft , solid defensively, and can play up tempo but it is a strong possibility has is not around at this pick. The Celtic like Ukic but with him gone they will look to address their PG concerns in the second round. Sleeper pick: Hakim Warrick if still on the board and Graham having been taken. (I know the C's have a ton of swingmen but you know Ainge likes the defensive type plus Graham/Warrick are the best athletes in the entire draft.)

19. Memphis Ike Diogu PF Arizona State- Jerry West need's a PG but with Swift potentially gone Diogu is the choice here. Memphis would love if he turns out to be the player he is compared to, Elton Brand. Had solid measurements which were a big concern initially. Is staying in the draft.

20. Denver Ersan Ilyasova SF Turkey -Ersan has received some type of assurance that he will be picked here. It doesn’t look like he is even on any other teams draft boards at this point so something must be going on. The book on him is typical for a foreign player. He can shoot, more of a finesse player than a banger. He has had injury problems in the past.

21. Phoenix Rashad McCants SG North Carolina- Need bench help, gamble here on HS player a possibility. With Q being traded to NY, McCants is the choice, even with Joe Johnson coming back.. McCants has been slipping as of late but someone will roll the dice on him. Could be a perfect fit with the highest scoring team in the league.

22. Denver Martynas Andriuskevicius C Lithuania- Stayed in the draft for a reason, although I don’t think he thought he would be around this long. Teams are scared because he is so far away from being ready to play in the NBA that he's not worth the risk, even though he is 7'3. Two internationals picked for Denver to stash or trade away.

23. Sacramento Julius Hodge SF North Carolina State- Need help right away. Petrie will make the best of this spot and grab flamingo legs Julius Hodge to help spread the floor. Hodges has been rising after impressive workouts. Abused McCants so bad he had to fake illness. Hodge can also play a little PG if needed.

24. Houston Chris Taft C Pittsburgh- PG remains a need but nothing at this spot jump out. Take a chance on Taft for help at C/PF. Taft was once a lottery pick but poor workouts sunk his stock. At this point he's worth the risk.

25. Seattle CJ Miles SG High School- The Ray Allen situation is the key here. If he goes the Sonics can forget about the season anyway. Went with HS stiff Swift last year, now the pick is Miles. Seattle is clearly in rebuilding mode with this pick here. If not, Francisco Garcia, Matt Walsh or Kennedy Winston may get in here.

26. Detroit Ryan Gomes-F Providence Can afford to gamble, take “tweener” Gomes. Already have a lot of bigs but that can never be a bad thing. Ryan Gomes sneaks in the first round here as he can play SF or PF off the bench. Backup G still remains a need. This is the best case scenario for John Gilchrist or Luther Head.

27. Utah Sean May PF North Carolina- The nightmare ends for May here. After seeing 3 of his teammates selected he goes to a team that could use him. Last years number one pick, Humphries destined to be trade fodder. Felton and May playing together again in Utah. May slipped due to uninspiring workouts and measuring slightly smaller than projected.

28. San Antonio Wayne Simien PF Kansas- Love to go international, not this time. Simien replaces the clutch Dirty Horry at PF. Measured a solid 6-9 with shoes on. Angelo Gigli is the rumor here. Also wouldnt be surprised if Randolph Morris went here to provide frontcourt depth.

29.Miami Jarrett Jack PG Georgia Tech- Turns out to just slide into the first round. With Jack the Heat could potentially move Wade to off guard in certain situations.

30. New York John Gilchrist G - New York Solid pick at number thirty. His draft workouts have been impressive so far, really showing off his scoring ability. They already have a SG combo in Crawford/Q and you could even make the case that Marbury plays more like a SG as well. Strange pick here but I can definitely see it happening with nut job Isiah running the show.