Post by dave on Oct 26, 2015 3:23:39 GMT
Who doesn't love Mocks? So here is the very first Ultimate ABCA Mock Draft for everybody to mock. Just the Lotto here folks.
#1 Pick - Boston Celtics - Chris Paul
Word around Boston is that they are 60% likely to make this pick. Paul has been in the top 2 of their last scouts eyes all season, and new scout Tex Harrison has him as the #1 player on their board. Paul does fit what this team has been doing since the creation draft and that is building around youth and Paul (20) would fit right in alongside Exum (18), Green (20), and Thad Young (21). Paul looks ready to step in and be a contributor right away and has the potential to be a top PG in the league in the near future. Outstanding defender, fantastic ball handler and passer and a more then above average jumper make him very appealing. He's not seen as the sure thing as Elgin Baylor, Hondo or Bill Russell, but he could very well surpass them with so many areas that he does great. This pick would guarantee the Celtics are already preparing for next offseason.
#2 Pick - Tel Aviv Maccabi - Elgin Baylor
Tel Aviv much like most of the teams in this seasons lottery held onto their picks and don't offer alot of talent so they'll take the best player in the draft in most peoples eyes, but I could just as easily see Hondo here. Elgin isn't quite as spread with his abilities in the way that Hondo is, but Baylor will score and score alot. This move will either cause Bowen to go to the bench or slide to SG, not really problems Tel Aviv is worried about. Baylors skill set should set him up for a big push for Rookie of the Year and he'll be somebody to put buts in the seats for Tel Aviv. Defenses get ready for this dynamic scorer.
#3 Pick - Los Angeles Lakers - John Havlicek
After surprising many with drafting Michael Adams in the creation draft, the Lakers find themselves in a spot to grab a true cornerstone. Not that Adams didn't have a nice year but he should look better with an option like Hondo to pass to. Hondo comes in viewed as a curse in ABCA lore, but maybe this time around it can be different. Now much like my commentary on Elgin, I could easily see Hondo gone and Elgin here. Hondo has a great first step and is amazing at finishing around the basket. He is talented enough to at least defend in the post if it becomes necessary, but I see him more built for the SG role in his early years. Either way, great fit for the Lakers but not sure if it'll be enough to not see all these teams back in similar spots next season.
#4 Pick - Washington Generals - Bill Russell
It's only fitting the Generals just put in one of the worst seasons in ABCA history. This draft finally gets them some players, and none finer to start a team around then Bill Russell. In a division that already has bigs Greg Oden, Mel Daniels, and Tyson Chandler just to name a few, Bill Russell will put them in a spot to be able to slow down these other teams biggest weapons. We don't expect Bill to run up the scoreboard, but he will keep it from running up. He'll be a top 10 shot blocker as a rookie and he will pull down so many offensive rebounds on his and the many clowns on the Generals roster put up. Another guy that should be at the top of the Rookie of the Year debate.
#5 Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves - Sam Jones
I'm sure secretly, or not so secretly they want Bill Russell to fall here to team with KG and Wiggy but Sam Jones is far from a bad fallback plan. Jones is a sharpshooter and a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He also has athletics to challenge any of the top 5 picks. Jones is a guy that the top 4 picks will all consider heavily before they decide on their guys but I think in the end Jones won't affect as many areas of the game the way the top 4 all can in various ways. Minny will have a trio that will be very feared one day, sooner rather then later.
#6 Pick - Madrid REAL - Jerry Lucas
Now this could and very likely will be Deron Williams since he's a PG but I think the last of the big 6 goes despite Madrids love of the point. This is probably higher then alot of scouts see him going, but I think every pick from here out has a big flaw to their games that could make you wonder. Jerry is not the athletic marvel of many in this draft but he is strong like bull, and he can play big minutes. Jerry will be a glass eater, which every team loves and he is skilled like no other in the low post. His downfalls are that he won't do much to alter shots at the rim, and his defense down low has been brought into question. Some scouts are highly impressed by his improvement with moving the ball and that he should average a few assists a game from out of the post. With a target like Joe Dumars to kick out to, I can easily see that coming to pass.
#7 Pick - Washington Generals - KC Jones
Google search may have failed me, but with Bill Russell being their other pick I like pairing him with a PG since I'm not sold on Terry D or Dave D being able to get the job done as a franchise guy at this pick. I really want to consider Deron Williams here but his lack of defense makes me think Jones is the much safer fit especially with Boston grabbing Paul to be their PG for the next 20 years. KC is one of the best athletes in this draft and while he won't be somebody to fill up the stat sheet on offense he is great and more importantly won't win too many games and help Washington add more pieces next season.
#8 Pick - Milano Olympia - Andrew Bogut
Here is the part of the draft where I feel you could roll a D10 to guess the next 10 picks. I'm going to assume Milano grabs a need that looks good more then BPA already. Like I said for 7, Dave D and Terry D don't really offer anything that helps this team in any way. Bogut is 7 feet tall and he is already a defensive threat in the post as well as a fantastic rebounder. He also fills the big whole at center if Milano doesn't deal this pick like they want to. They are looking for a potential trade partner to get a PG or SG so a deal could go down, or they could trade down further and grab Deron Williams. If they stay here I like Bogut
#9 Pick - Toronto Raptors - Dave Debusschere
This seems like finally the time for Dave Ds potential and skillset to find a home. He is a unique player but is more built to be a PF then a SF. I could see him being a super sub on this Toronto squad. I think he has more value here at this pick then anything else they could grab here. Dave offers fantastic post D and a knack for putting up points in bunches. Toronto does have a potential need for an upgrade a SG but with limited options at that position they could reach on Deron Williams but not liking that fit much better then Dave D. Could see them try to deal down or trade up from this spot.
#10 Pick - Belgrade KK Partizen - Deron Williams
I feel like I've been trying to stick Deron somewhere and KK is the perfect fit. We are hitting the point in the draft where the teams aren't completely void of talent but Ramon Sessions is clearly not the answer in KK. He isn't very athletic and already offers less then Deron Williams can as a rookie. Partizen fans may worry about any team that features Joe Johnson and Deron Williams but management will have to sell it if things fall out this way. Williams is a fantastic passer and would fit nicely as a third option feeding Gasol and Johnson all over the court. His low potential defense is a concern, but it's an upgrade for now and his size and athletics may make up the difference there.
#11 Pick - Brazil Franca BC - Terry Dischinger
This isn't your Legends Terry, but he's not all lost. Terry D this time around looks to be an offensive sparkplug. No longer just there for the D, Terry has a fantastic jumpshot and a overall good offensive skillset. He won't be near even considering a starter for some time but if he develops a bit defensively he'll be just fine for a long career again.
#12 Pick - Portland Trailblazers - Andrew Bynum
Personally, I think Bynum would be a great fit in Portland. Mozgov has yet to show the league that he is a capable starter at C for a playoff team and Andrew Bynum offers a very similar skillset while being younger and potentially much better in 2 seasons when he's 20. Bynum is super athletic and that will make him a dangerous rebounder and finisher around the basket. He's potentially going to be able to develop a decent midrange game and can do enough to alter shots on the defensive end.
#13 Pick - Seattle Supersonics - Gerald Green
I think Seattle is the perfect squad to roll the dice on Gerald Green. Granger may be the better player now, Green is one of the craziest athletes I've seen and he could do major point damage on the second unit of a good squad. His skillset doesn't do much outside of fill up the bucket but in the early years here a guy like this gives your second unit a major advantage. We saw players like George Gervin have great careers living off of athletics alone with a portion of Geralds scoring ability.
#14 Pick - Istanbul Anadolu Efes - Danny Granger
Granger does not provide an upgrade over the teams current starting SF but Granger offers a build that will fill many wholes on the second unit. He is big, tall and athletic. He's got a nice jump, solid finishing ability and the potential to be okay from beyond the arc. Like many drafted in this area I see him in the role of super sub, being able to play multiple positions and roles for this team.
#15 Pick - Taipei Fubon Braves - Tom Heinsohn
Best player available, and maybe scratch from here on out. Tom is not bad by any stretch and probably alot better then you'd expect to get here. Tom does everything ok and nothing outstanding, but he is basically a carbon copy of Jeff Green on my Boston team this season so there is the bar of what he is capable of.
#16 Pick - New Orleans Jazz - Rashad McCants
Rashad McCants
#17 Pick - Barcelona Regal FC - Paul Hogue
After a season that did not go the way the GM who landed Michael Jordan wanted, Barcelona adds somebody to help take some load off of Bill Wennington in the post. Hogue is a great defender who should round out into what Bill is but better. He isn't a flashy guy that will help the offensive load from MJ but he may be able to set up another move to help get some help at another position.
#18 Pick - Moscow CSKA - Raymond Felton
I have 0 faith that I'm even close with this guess. Moscow loves shooters but I'm not seeing anything that fits his system. Felton has a decent skillset and at this point in the draft that is more then enough. He's very quick and should be able to distribute the ball and make a decent little jumpshot and long range game.
#19 Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves - Bill McGill
McGill is a unique prospect in that he is a great scorer inside, and the more I dig into him the more I wonder if he even makes it to 19. He isn't going to be the longterm answer and not a guy you want as a main option but with the core MN has including the guy at 4 (Jones or Russell) McGill would be a good fit on that core of guys, you know unless Russell actually falls, and then there is no chance he goes here. Don't fuck this up people!
#20 Pick - Taipei Fubon Braves - Nate Robinson
With the last of the lottery teams, and thank god cause this took WAY longer then I thought it would. Taipei has a nice team going and Nate Rob would fit perfectly on their second unit. While his skillset suits that of a bench guy or 6th man, his freaky athletics make him somebody who could go a long way in the league.
Thanks for taking the time if you did to check this out. I tend to barely be 14% right when I do these and fully expect that to continue
Cheers
#1 Pick - Boston Celtics - Chris Paul
Word around Boston is that they are 60% likely to make this pick. Paul has been in the top 2 of their last scouts eyes all season, and new scout Tex Harrison has him as the #1 player on their board. Paul does fit what this team has been doing since the creation draft and that is building around youth and Paul (20) would fit right in alongside Exum (18), Green (20), and Thad Young (21). Paul looks ready to step in and be a contributor right away and has the potential to be a top PG in the league in the near future. Outstanding defender, fantastic ball handler and passer and a more then above average jumper make him very appealing. He's not seen as the sure thing as Elgin Baylor, Hondo or Bill Russell, but he could very well surpass them with so many areas that he does great. This pick would guarantee the Celtics are already preparing for next offseason.
#2 Pick - Tel Aviv Maccabi - Elgin Baylor
Tel Aviv much like most of the teams in this seasons lottery held onto their picks and don't offer alot of talent so they'll take the best player in the draft in most peoples eyes, but I could just as easily see Hondo here. Elgin isn't quite as spread with his abilities in the way that Hondo is, but Baylor will score and score alot. This move will either cause Bowen to go to the bench or slide to SG, not really problems Tel Aviv is worried about. Baylors skill set should set him up for a big push for Rookie of the Year and he'll be somebody to put buts in the seats for Tel Aviv. Defenses get ready for this dynamic scorer.
#3 Pick - Los Angeles Lakers - John Havlicek
After surprising many with drafting Michael Adams in the creation draft, the Lakers find themselves in a spot to grab a true cornerstone. Not that Adams didn't have a nice year but he should look better with an option like Hondo to pass to. Hondo comes in viewed as a curse in ABCA lore, but maybe this time around it can be different. Now much like my commentary on Elgin, I could easily see Hondo gone and Elgin here. Hondo has a great first step and is amazing at finishing around the basket. He is talented enough to at least defend in the post if it becomes necessary, but I see him more built for the SG role in his early years. Either way, great fit for the Lakers but not sure if it'll be enough to not see all these teams back in similar spots next season.
#4 Pick - Washington Generals - Bill Russell
It's only fitting the Generals just put in one of the worst seasons in ABCA history. This draft finally gets them some players, and none finer to start a team around then Bill Russell. In a division that already has bigs Greg Oden, Mel Daniels, and Tyson Chandler just to name a few, Bill Russell will put them in a spot to be able to slow down these other teams biggest weapons. We don't expect Bill to run up the scoreboard, but he will keep it from running up. He'll be a top 10 shot blocker as a rookie and he will pull down so many offensive rebounds on his and the many clowns on the Generals roster put up. Another guy that should be at the top of the Rookie of the Year debate.
#5 Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves - Sam Jones
I'm sure secretly, or not so secretly they want Bill Russell to fall here to team with KG and Wiggy but Sam Jones is far from a bad fallback plan. Jones is a sharpshooter and a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He also has athletics to challenge any of the top 5 picks. Jones is a guy that the top 4 picks will all consider heavily before they decide on their guys but I think in the end Jones won't affect as many areas of the game the way the top 4 all can in various ways. Minny will have a trio that will be very feared one day, sooner rather then later.
#6 Pick - Madrid REAL - Jerry Lucas
Now this could and very likely will be Deron Williams since he's a PG but I think the last of the big 6 goes despite Madrids love of the point. This is probably higher then alot of scouts see him going, but I think every pick from here out has a big flaw to their games that could make you wonder. Jerry is not the athletic marvel of many in this draft but he is strong like bull, and he can play big minutes. Jerry will be a glass eater, which every team loves and he is skilled like no other in the low post. His downfalls are that he won't do much to alter shots at the rim, and his defense down low has been brought into question. Some scouts are highly impressed by his improvement with moving the ball and that he should average a few assists a game from out of the post. With a target like Joe Dumars to kick out to, I can easily see that coming to pass.
#7 Pick - Washington Generals - KC Jones
Google search may have failed me, but with Bill Russell being their other pick I like pairing him with a PG since I'm not sold on Terry D or Dave D being able to get the job done as a franchise guy at this pick. I really want to consider Deron Williams here but his lack of defense makes me think Jones is the much safer fit especially with Boston grabbing Paul to be their PG for the next 20 years. KC is one of the best athletes in this draft and while he won't be somebody to fill up the stat sheet on offense he is great and more importantly won't win too many games and help Washington add more pieces next season.
#8 Pick - Milano Olympia - Andrew Bogut
Here is the part of the draft where I feel you could roll a D10 to guess the next 10 picks. I'm going to assume Milano grabs a need that looks good more then BPA already. Like I said for 7, Dave D and Terry D don't really offer anything that helps this team in any way. Bogut is 7 feet tall and he is already a defensive threat in the post as well as a fantastic rebounder. He also fills the big whole at center if Milano doesn't deal this pick like they want to. They are looking for a potential trade partner to get a PG or SG so a deal could go down, or they could trade down further and grab Deron Williams. If they stay here I like Bogut
#9 Pick - Toronto Raptors - Dave Debusschere
This seems like finally the time for Dave Ds potential and skillset to find a home. He is a unique player but is more built to be a PF then a SF. I could see him being a super sub on this Toronto squad. I think he has more value here at this pick then anything else they could grab here. Dave offers fantastic post D and a knack for putting up points in bunches. Toronto does have a potential need for an upgrade a SG but with limited options at that position they could reach on Deron Williams but not liking that fit much better then Dave D. Could see them try to deal down or trade up from this spot.
#10 Pick - Belgrade KK Partizen - Deron Williams
I feel like I've been trying to stick Deron somewhere and KK is the perfect fit. We are hitting the point in the draft where the teams aren't completely void of talent but Ramon Sessions is clearly not the answer in KK. He isn't very athletic and already offers less then Deron Williams can as a rookie. Partizen fans may worry about any team that features Joe Johnson and Deron Williams but management will have to sell it if things fall out this way. Williams is a fantastic passer and would fit nicely as a third option feeding Gasol and Johnson all over the court. His low potential defense is a concern, but it's an upgrade for now and his size and athletics may make up the difference there.
#11 Pick - Brazil Franca BC - Terry Dischinger
This isn't your Legends Terry, but he's not all lost. Terry D this time around looks to be an offensive sparkplug. No longer just there for the D, Terry has a fantastic jumpshot and a overall good offensive skillset. He won't be near even considering a starter for some time but if he develops a bit defensively he'll be just fine for a long career again.
#12 Pick - Portland Trailblazers - Andrew Bynum
Personally, I think Bynum would be a great fit in Portland. Mozgov has yet to show the league that he is a capable starter at C for a playoff team and Andrew Bynum offers a very similar skillset while being younger and potentially much better in 2 seasons when he's 20. Bynum is super athletic and that will make him a dangerous rebounder and finisher around the basket. He's potentially going to be able to develop a decent midrange game and can do enough to alter shots on the defensive end.
#13 Pick - Seattle Supersonics - Gerald Green
I think Seattle is the perfect squad to roll the dice on Gerald Green. Granger may be the better player now, Green is one of the craziest athletes I've seen and he could do major point damage on the second unit of a good squad. His skillset doesn't do much outside of fill up the bucket but in the early years here a guy like this gives your second unit a major advantage. We saw players like George Gervin have great careers living off of athletics alone with a portion of Geralds scoring ability.
#14 Pick - Istanbul Anadolu Efes - Danny Granger
Granger does not provide an upgrade over the teams current starting SF but Granger offers a build that will fill many wholes on the second unit. He is big, tall and athletic. He's got a nice jump, solid finishing ability and the potential to be okay from beyond the arc. Like many drafted in this area I see him in the role of super sub, being able to play multiple positions and roles for this team.
#15 Pick - Taipei Fubon Braves - Tom Heinsohn
Best player available, and maybe scratch from here on out. Tom is not bad by any stretch and probably alot better then you'd expect to get here. Tom does everything ok and nothing outstanding, but he is basically a carbon copy of Jeff Green on my Boston team this season so there is the bar of what he is capable of.
#16 Pick - New Orleans Jazz - Rashad McCants
Rashad McCants
#17 Pick - Barcelona Regal FC - Paul Hogue
After a season that did not go the way the GM who landed Michael Jordan wanted, Barcelona adds somebody to help take some load off of Bill Wennington in the post. Hogue is a great defender who should round out into what Bill is but better. He isn't a flashy guy that will help the offensive load from MJ but he may be able to set up another move to help get some help at another position.
#18 Pick - Moscow CSKA - Raymond Felton
I have 0 faith that I'm even close with this guess. Moscow loves shooters but I'm not seeing anything that fits his system. Felton has a decent skillset and at this point in the draft that is more then enough. He's very quick and should be able to distribute the ball and make a decent little jumpshot and long range game.
#19 Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves - Bill McGill
McGill is a unique prospect in that he is a great scorer inside, and the more I dig into him the more I wonder if he even makes it to 19. He isn't going to be the longterm answer and not a guy you want as a main option but with the core MN has including the guy at 4 (Jones or Russell) McGill would be a good fit on that core of guys, you know unless Russell actually falls, and then there is no chance he goes here. Don't fuck this up people!
#20 Pick - Taipei Fubon Braves - Nate Robinson
With the last of the lottery teams, and thank god cause this took WAY longer then I thought it would. Taipei has a nice team going and Nate Rob would fit perfectly on their second unit. While his skillset suits that of a bench guy or 6th man, his freaky athletics make him somebody who could go a long way in the league.
Thanks for taking the time if you did to check this out. I tend to barely be 14% right when I do these and fully expect that to continue
Cheers
