Someone has to go 1st (Mock Draft #1)
Mar 29, 2016 5:53:51 GMT
Minnesota, Newcastle, and 2 more like this
Post by Aalborg on Mar 29, 2016 5:53:51 GMT
1 Istanbul Anadolu Efes
Istanbul is a team that is low on talent and cannot be happier to see itself land at the top overall selection in this draft. With so many holes this is a team that can easily go the best avail player and not worry about what else is on the roster around him. Good thing I see is that with Cazzie Russel and Bradley Beal the main guys on the roster Lebron James fits right in as a more atheltic pf, or a guy who can move Russell and Beal to different positions. Really a no brainer for the first pick.
Selection: LeBron James SF
2 Barcelona Regal FC
No team in this top part of the draft had a more dissapointing season than Barcelona, ok well maybe the Sea horses. That said this is a team that traded two top 10 selections in the last draft to get George Mikan. It backfired big time as mikan not only was hurt half the season right away but also decided to test FA. There is a light at the end of the tunnel however as with the number 2 selection this team can finally add that big time player they wanted last year. The question becomes do they go big and still try and resign mikan hoping that they can figure things out later. Or do they go a big need, planning to resign mikan and make a top 3 that could be at the top of the league. I vote the latter simply because it is not easy to find that franchise swingman, and the ones avail here are very good. Which one does he take, I vote Ricky Barry a player with huge offensive upside and the ability to play either sg or sf really.
Selection: Rick Barry SF
3 Mexico City Titans
The Titans dealt franchise player Paul Gasol last season and prayed. It looked for awhile that their risk was going to backfire a bit. The lotto gods however gave the team a break and now they sit at the #3 pick. Here they have a choice at a franchise type center, sf or sg. The team is deep at the guard spots so Wade is an unlikely selection here. That leaves both Carmelo Anthony an elite sf type the team has wanted for year, and KAT a franchice center that could be a very nice fit next to Jeff Ruland. Typically the Titans go big when faced with these choices and after the season Terry D. had I'm going to lean on them taking the center again. KAT beccomes the selection.
Selection: Karl-Anthony Towns C
4 Seattle Supersonics
Most drafts having the 4th pick might be a huge let down. This draft however things are much different for what was the worst team in the league last year. Seattle is now left with a great choice of an elite sf or sg, and while I think they could easily select the sg wade here I personally think Melos ability to score not just inside but out puts him in a scoring class unmatched in this draft at least at this pick. Wade lacks a great 3pt shot and i think that becomes the difference here, Seattle finds its franchise piece lets see how long he stays in town.
Selection: Carmelo Anthony SF
5 Bamberg Brose Baskets
Bamburg has made no secret as to his love for D Wade. In this mock things fall into place for him and he is able to select him. Its a great pick for a team that badly needs a star and more overall talent. A wade selection here completes his backcourt and puts Bamburg in a much better situation going forward as it looks to rebuild its front court via trade or FA.
Selection: Dwyane Wade SG
6 Mikawa Aisin Seahorses
As I mentioned earlier the Seahorses were a huge disapointment last season. They have a decent roster especially in the swingman spots. They face an interesting choice here at pick 6 as many think Gail Goodrich could be that unique type of pg a gm like the Sea Horses have loved in the past. PG is also a position this team is horrible at and he's a great fit. Seems like an easy choice here, with one exception.. Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is a little bit of a project, but a guy with such huge upside its hard to pass on him. The sea horses also need help up front badly, and while Kristaps Porzingis could be better suited at the pf postion in the long run, he could bring the type of talent up front this team cannot just walk away from. Is the gm willing to take more of a risk? draft the bigger need? or does he have something else in mind? I think he goes big and hopes the pg he is looking for is avail later.
Selection: Kristaps Porzingis PF
7 San Francisco Warriors
Going into this draft a lot of gms felt this draft was clearly 7 star types deep with the afor mentioned first six guys taken and then Chris Bosh as the 7th. Bosh is an interesting big man that can shoot, rebound, defend etc. He is not a bad player or fit at this spot for the Warriors. The question becomes.. is Bosh an elite type player or just a good player? Is there other players on the boards with more upside? Its hard to say for me, personally Bosh on the Warriors moves Tommy H over to the sf spot and gives the team an interesting middle core. I also see players like Gail goodrich who has huge scoring upside at an important pg position or a guy like Billy Cunningham, a player who can score as well but also provides elite sf rebounding skill. Harder choice than it appears. Still I feel like the Warriors go more with a player they know more, the safer selection.
Selection: Chris Bosh PF
8 Newcastle Eagles
A long season finaly ends for the Eagles who find themselves picking 8 in this draft. A good spot for them as the talent here is definatly nice. The team really needs an upgrade at the center spot, but I do not see one here thats worth the selection. So it comes down to Goodrich and Cunningham, the team could use either guy really so its just up to the gm to choose which one. Gail could pair up exum and make the teams backcourt one of the most flexibile different ones in the league. Cunningham provides and fills a big sf hole and could move a player like Hank Gathers to the pf spot where he could be better. We shall see for now I think he goes the guard.
Selection: Gail Goodrich PG
9 Minnesota Timberwolves
The defending champs find themselves in a great position to add onto a team thats already amazing. Center is probably the only spot with Ostertag a fa that this team could use help. Again though this is not the spot to make such a selection. To me its pretty easy to take the best player left and figure out where he fits in later. I would not be shocked if the team trades the pick either to move up or for other stuff. He certainly has the pieces to be able to do it no trouble.
Selection: Billy Cunningham SF
10 Piraeus Olympiacos BC
Pick 10 is probably the one spot in the lotto that teams did not want. To me in this draft there is a clear top 9 guys and then a little bigger drop. The one good thing about picking at this spot, to me is that you can go a lot of directions. Last year they drafted themselves a big time defensive center, this year I think they draft a big time defensive player at the sg spot. A player thats overlooked to this point but has nice upside and frankly could be the best overall defender in the draft. I'll say one thing here, this team is going to defend after this selection.
Selection: Dick Van Arsdale SG
11 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are a solid little young team thats got a good core of players in Horford, JBC and Griffith. The gm almost appears desperate to move up in this draft or use these picks to add other talent. Of course we do not take trades into account at this point so the gm here has to select. Theres a couple good players to choose from but pg is probably the biggest need. Many scouts like Kirk Hinrich, me included. I see Chicago going with a pg but one with a little different upside.
Selection: Tal Brody PG
12 Auckland Breakers
The Breakers are a team that not long ago was a major contender. Cap issues, and age changed that the past season or so and now the Breakers find themselves in the lotto. This spot of the lotto has a lot of solid big man types a position I'm not sure they want to fill here. They could also use a lot of help at the sf and sg spots. Do they like anyone here? The guy I like as a fit for them is Kyle Korver, Korver gives this team a 3pt threat they have not had at a position they really need to fill badly. His defensive upside is not off the charts, but it is good enough to make him effective, and really they're is no better shooter in this draft.
Selection: Kyle Korver SG
13 Chicago Bulls
The bulls are up again after going pg and Tal Brody with the last selection. I think they would have loved a guy like Korver at this point, but he too is gone. That leaves another sf type here that up to this point imo is underrated. Josh Howard provides flexibilty, some offensively ability and great defense. Many might be dissapointed with this pick, to me Howard is a bigtime steal at this point in the draft.
Selection: Josh Howard SF
14 Washington Generals
Washington made the playoffs last season for the first time in its history here in Ultimate. They are a team that has a bunch of nice younger pieces and the ability to add to them could be huge. There position of need? Definatly its the center spot, and its a spot at this point that has many choices. Some provide more defense, others are more projecty. To me this team needs a guy that could step in and give them good min, and I love the fit of Jahill Okafor. Jahill to many gms is a guy they would stay away from. For my money the guy is going to come into the league and score, and his defense and athletic ability is good enough to surprise many. Its a solid fit for a team on the rise.
Selection: Jahlil Okafor C
15 Piraeus Olympiacos BC
A team that has been building itself behind some great defensive players continues down that road with this selection. They could go another big man defender like Cauley- Stein, or Darko. They could go a guy like another Van Arsdale, or Jerry Sloan to. For my money they take the best pg.
Selection: Kirk Hinrich PG
16 Minnesota Timberwolves
This has to be the time right? Its a great choice, and the perfect team for him to go to. I'm taking about Darko Milicic, a player with huge upside and a team that has a huge need at the center spot. The time is now! Right?! Right?!
Selection: Darko Milicic C
17 Perth Wildcats
You have to feel at least a little bad for Perth, a team and gm that over achieves year in and year out. This time the team could have really used a much poorer season, and now they are left with a draft pick in a spot thats hard to figure where they go. A lot of good players are avail here, im not sure any though move the meter in terms of big upside this team might want as they might finally be looking to really rebuild. It is because of that, that i think they try to find that diamond in the rough, that player over looked but could be legit. They've never really had a great pg either so I think they take a little risk and draft one.
Selection: Emmanuel Mudiay PG
18 Mexico City Titans
If for some reason Mexico does not go big man at pick number 3 they will easily love the ones avail at this selection. Still its Mexico and they could always pick one anyway. With sf being there biggest need its not a position that has a lot to offer at this spot. One guy here though might be flexible enough to help them there, and while he might not be a superstar down the road, his ability to be flexibile could be exactly what this team needs.
Selection: Boris Diaw PF
19 Buenos Aires Boca Juniors
Boca is another team on the rebound, he's dealt most of his vets at this point to drop in the standings. A huge team need? Center, and again I like a few of them here. The one he settles on? Big Willie, a player with limited offensive potential but a guy who should be able to defend right out the box.
Selection: Willie Cauley-Stein C
20 Moscow CSKA
Another team thats building a team around defense. Positionally he really doesnt have to be desperate to fill a slot so to me he's gonna take a look at the board and select the best potential avail. BTW do not be surprised if this team just goes best defender avail.
Selection: D'Angelo Russell SG
Istanbul is a team that is low on talent and cannot be happier to see itself land at the top overall selection in this draft. With so many holes this is a team that can easily go the best avail player and not worry about what else is on the roster around him. Good thing I see is that with Cazzie Russel and Bradley Beal the main guys on the roster Lebron James fits right in as a more atheltic pf, or a guy who can move Russell and Beal to different positions. Really a no brainer for the first pick.
Selection: LeBron James SF
2 Barcelona Regal FC
No team in this top part of the draft had a more dissapointing season than Barcelona, ok well maybe the Sea horses. That said this is a team that traded two top 10 selections in the last draft to get George Mikan. It backfired big time as mikan not only was hurt half the season right away but also decided to test FA. There is a light at the end of the tunnel however as with the number 2 selection this team can finally add that big time player they wanted last year. The question becomes do they go big and still try and resign mikan hoping that they can figure things out later. Or do they go a big need, planning to resign mikan and make a top 3 that could be at the top of the league. I vote the latter simply because it is not easy to find that franchise swingman, and the ones avail here are very good. Which one does he take, I vote Ricky Barry a player with huge offensive upside and the ability to play either sg or sf really.
Selection: Rick Barry SF
3 Mexico City Titans
The Titans dealt franchise player Paul Gasol last season and prayed. It looked for awhile that their risk was going to backfire a bit. The lotto gods however gave the team a break and now they sit at the #3 pick. Here they have a choice at a franchise type center, sf or sg. The team is deep at the guard spots so Wade is an unlikely selection here. That leaves both Carmelo Anthony an elite sf type the team has wanted for year, and KAT a franchice center that could be a very nice fit next to Jeff Ruland. Typically the Titans go big when faced with these choices and after the season Terry D. had I'm going to lean on them taking the center again. KAT beccomes the selection.
Selection: Karl-Anthony Towns C
4 Seattle Supersonics
Most drafts having the 4th pick might be a huge let down. This draft however things are much different for what was the worst team in the league last year. Seattle is now left with a great choice of an elite sf or sg, and while I think they could easily select the sg wade here I personally think Melos ability to score not just inside but out puts him in a scoring class unmatched in this draft at least at this pick. Wade lacks a great 3pt shot and i think that becomes the difference here, Seattle finds its franchise piece lets see how long he stays in town.
Selection: Carmelo Anthony SF
5 Bamberg Brose Baskets
Bamburg has made no secret as to his love for D Wade. In this mock things fall into place for him and he is able to select him. Its a great pick for a team that badly needs a star and more overall talent. A wade selection here completes his backcourt and puts Bamburg in a much better situation going forward as it looks to rebuild its front court via trade or FA.
Selection: Dwyane Wade SG
6 Mikawa Aisin Seahorses
As I mentioned earlier the Seahorses were a huge disapointment last season. They have a decent roster especially in the swingman spots. They face an interesting choice here at pick 6 as many think Gail Goodrich could be that unique type of pg a gm like the Sea Horses have loved in the past. PG is also a position this team is horrible at and he's a great fit. Seems like an easy choice here, with one exception.. Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is a little bit of a project, but a guy with such huge upside its hard to pass on him. The sea horses also need help up front badly, and while Kristaps Porzingis could be better suited at the pf postion in the long run, he could bring the type of talent up front this team cannot just walk away from. Is the gm willing to take more of a risk? draft the bigger need? or does he have something else in mind? I think he goes big and hopes the pg he is looking for is avail later.
Selection: Kristaps Porzingis PF
7 San Francisco Warriors
Going into this draft a lot of gms felt this draft was clearly 7 star types deep with the afor mentioned first six guys taken and then Chris Bosh as the 7th. Bosh is an interesting big man that can shoot, rebound, defend etc. He is not a bad player or fit at this spot for the Warriors. The question becomes.. is Bosh an elite type player or just a good player? Is there other players on the boards with more upside? Its hard to say for me, personally Bosh on the Warriors moves Tommy H over to the sf spot and gives the team an interesting middle core. I also see players like Gail goodrich who has huge scoring upside at an important pg position or a guy like Billy Cunningham, a player who can score as well but also provides elite sf rebounding skill. Harder choice than it appears. Still I feel like the Warriors go more with a player they know more, the safer selection.
Selection: Chris Bosh PF
8 Newcastle Eagles
A long season finaly ends for the Eagles who find themselves picking 8 in this draft. A good spot for them as the talent here is definatly nice. The team really needs an upgrade at the center spot, but I do not see one here thats worth the selection. So it comes down to Goodrich and Cunningham, the team could use either guy really so its just up to the gm to choose which one. Gail could pair up exum and make the teams backcourt one of the most flexibile different ones in the league. Cunningham provides and fills a big sf hole and could move a player like Hank Gathers to the pf spot where he could be better. We shall see for now I think he goes the guard.
Selection: Gail Goodrich PG
9 Minnesota Timberwolves
The defending champs find themselves in a great position to add onto a team thats already amazing. Center is probably the only spot with Ostertag a fa that this team could use help. Again though this is not the spot to make such a selection. To me its pretty easy to take the best player left and figure out where he fits in later. I would not be shocked if the team trades the pick either to move up or for other stuff. He certainly has the pieces to be able to do it no trouble.
Selection: Billy Cunningham SF
10 Piraeus Olympiacos BC
Pick 10 is probably the one spot in the lotto that teams did not want. To me in this draft there is a clear top 9 guys and then a little bigger drop. The one good thing about picking at this spot, to me is that you can go a lot of directions. Last year they drafted themselves a big time defensive center, this year I think they draft a big time defensive player at the sg spot. A player thats overlooked to this point but has nice upside and frankly could be the best overall defender in the draft. I'll say one thing here, this team is going to defend after this selection.
Selection: Dick Van Arsdale SG
11 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are a solid little young team thats got a good core of players in Horford, JBC and Griffith. The gm almost appears desperate to move up in this draft or use these picks to add other talent. Of course we do not take trades into account at this point so the gm here has to select. Theres a couple good players to choose from but pg is probably the biggest need. Many scouts like Kirk Hinrich, me included. I see Chicago going with a pg but one with a little different upside.
Selection: Tal Brody PG
12 Auckland Breakers
The Breakers are a team that not long ago was a major contender. Cap issues, and age changed that the past season or so and now the Breakers find themselves in the lotto. This spot of the lotto has a lot of solid big man types a position I'm not sure they want to fill here. They could also use a lot of help at the sf and sg spots. Do they like anyone here? The guy I like as a fit for them is Kyle Korver, Korver gives this team a 3pt threat they have not had at a position they really need to fill badly. His defensive upside is not off the charts, but it is good enough to make him effective, and really they're is no better shooter in this draft.
Selection: Kyle Korver SG
13 Chicago Bulls
The bulls are up again after going pg and Tal Brody with the last selection. I think they would have loved a guy like Korver at this point, but he too is gone. That leaves another sf type here that up to this point imo is underrated. Josh Howard provides flexibilty, some offensively ability and great defense. Many might be dissapointed with this pick, to me Howard is a bigtime steal at this point in the draft.
Selection: Josh Howard SF
14 Washington Generals
Washington made the playoffs last season for the first time in its history here in Ultimate. They are a team that has a bunch of nice younger pieces and the ability to add to them could be huge. There position of need? Definatly its the center spot, and its a spot at this point that has many choices. Some provide more defense, others are more projecty. To me this team needs a guy that could step in and give them good min, and I love the fit of Jahill Okafor. Jahill to many gms is a guy they would stay away from. For my money the guy is going to come into the league and score, and his defense and athletic ability is good enough to surprise many. Its a solid fit for a team on the rise.
Selection: Jahlil Okafor C
15 Piraeus Olympiacos BC
A team that has been building itself behind some great defensive players continues down that road with this selection. They could go another big man defender like Cauley- Stein, or Darko. They could go a guy like another Van Arsdale, or Jerry Sloan to. For my money they take the best pg.
Selection: Kirk Hinrich PG
16 Minnesota Timberwolves
This has to be the time right? Its a great choice, and the perfect team for him to go to. I'm taking about Darko Milicic, a player with huge upside and a team that has a huge need at the center spot. The time is now! Right?! Right?!
Selection: Darko Milicic C
17 Perth Wildcats
You have to feel at least a little bad for Perth, a team and gm that over achieves year in and year out. This time the team could have really used a much poorer season, and now they are left with a draft pick in a spot thats hard to figure where they go. A lot of good players are avail here, im not sure any though move the meter in terms of big upside this team might want as they might finally be looking to really rebuild. It is because of that, that i think they try to find that diamond in the rough, that player over looked but could be legit. They've never really had a great pg either so I think they take a little risk and draft one.
Selection: Emmanuel Mudiay PG
18 Mexico City Titans
If for some reason Mexico does not go big man at pick number 3 they will easily love the ones avail at this selection. Still its Mexico and they could always pick one anyway. With sf being there biggest need its not a position that has a lot to offer at this spot. One guy here though might be flexible enough to help them there, and while he might not be a superstar down the road, his ability to be flexibile could be exactly what this team needs.
Selection: Boris Diaw PF
19 Buenos Aires Boca Juniors
Boca is another team on the rebound, he's dealt most of his vets at this point to drop in the standings. A huge team need? Center, and again I like a few of them here. The one he settles on? Big Willie, a player with limited offensive potential but a guy who should be able to defend right out the box.
Selection: Willie Cauley-Stein C
20 Moscow CSKA
Another team thats building a team around defense. Positionally he really doesnt have to be desperate to fill a slot so to me he's gonna take a look at the board and select the best potential avail. BTW do not be surprised if this team just goes best defender avail.
Selection: D'Angelo Russell SG
