In this blog, I’ll give my projected selections with anaylsis on the 14 NBA Draft lottery selections. As always, trades could be made in any of these slots but in this mock draft, I’ve played it straight up and made the selection that I feel is the best for each team.  

 1. Chicago Bulls:  Derrick Rose / PG / Memphis – The current configuration of the Bulls roster makes this an amazingly difficult choice between Rose and Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley, but in the end I think Chicago will let unrestricted free agent Chris Duhon go elsewhere and have Rose along with Kirk Hinrich at the point. It’s very possible that Chicago could play both at the same time giving them a pair of playmaking ball handlers in certain situations which would be tough for opponents to defend. Hinrich would have no problem sliding over to the two guard giving Chicago an explosive 94-foot squad. Mike D’Antoni may be wishing he chose this job instead of the Knicks gig right now. Selecting the Chicago native Rose with the #1 pick overall is a lock to sell additional season tickets.

2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley / PF / Kansas State – Miami will be more than happy to take whichever of the top two falls into their lap here. In Beasley, they get an immediate interior force both scoring and rebounding but Beasley’s ability to run the floor and knock down perimeter jumpers makes him special. The diversity in this KSU product’s game will give many opposing power forwards fits as they’ll have to guard him all over the floor. In my estimation, Beasley has the chance to become an offensive cross section of Dirk Nowitzki (perimeter skills) and Kevin Garnett (interior tenacity & athleticism). Should Miami retain unrestricted free agent Shawn Marion, Beasley, Marion and Dwyane Wade will become one of the Eastern Conference’s most dynamic trios.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: O.J. Mayo / SG / USC – There’s a majority opinion amongst NBA draft gurus that the T-Wolves will select Stanford center Brook Lopez but I just can’t see them passing up Mayo in this spot. Mayo brings backcourt versatility and adds a legitimate scoring threat to a team with rising star Al Jefferson which would create an inside-outside tandem. With a pair of go to players, Minnesota could continue their ascension toward becoming competitive enough to contend for a playoff spot.    

4. Seattle Supersonics: Jerryd Bayliss / PG / Arizona – Seattle will cross their fingers and pray that Minnesota which could use a true point guard doesn’t select Bayliss with the #3 selection overall. Seattle desperately needs a starting point guard since Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson are each more of the backup variety. Bayliss would instantly equip the Sonics with a point guard that has “blow by” ability in the mold of Western Conference rim attackers Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Derron Williams and Baron Davis. Bayliss also has great range from the outside which is something Seattle sorely needs an infusion of. Bayliss & Kevin Durant would form a young and exciting backcourt.

5. Memphis Grizzlies: Brook Lopez / C / Stanford –  A skilled and fundamentally sound offensive center inside the painted area with the added ability to deter opponents from waltzing down the lane and to the rim is what Memphis needs and what the 20-year old Lopez is. Lopez can anchor the middle for the Grizzlies and has the smarts to learn even more low post moves and tricks. He’s got a soft enough touch to drag opposing centers away from the rim a bit and could become a solid “pick and roll” force. Teamed with small forward Rudy Gay, shooting guard Mike Miller and last year’s first round choice, point guard Mike Conley Jr., Memphis would have the makings of a nice core group.

6. New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari / SF / – After watching some highlight video of Gallinari I have to admit, I see what the hype is about. He’s a 6’9” small forward who likes to run the floor in an up tempo pace, he has three point range, he excels at putting the ball on the floor and finishing at the rim with either hand, and he’s a European player. If new HC Mike D’Antoni has anything to do with the Knicks selection, then this will be their choice. It’s a perfect marriage for D’Antoni whose system covets this type of small forward diversity and to make it better, the Knicks have a void at this position. Gallinari has drawn comparisons from many to ex-Chicago Bull Toni Kukoc.   

7. Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon / SG / Indiana – Good fit here for the Clipps who could use immediate help at each of the backcourt positions. Gordon brings them a consistent scoring threat which they’ll definitely need should they lose either one of their top point producers Corey Maggette or Elton Brand who both are unrestricted free agents. Should Los Angeles retain the services of those two and combine them with Gordon, they’d have a very nice trio and be only a solid starting point guard away from having a well rounded and competitive starting five.

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Anthony Randolph / SF / LSU – With the emergence of Ramon Sessions at the point guard position, Milwaukee’s glaring need becomes small forward. The organization has desires of having an inside-outside scoring threat at that position but with the dearth of small forwards available in free agency and the non-likelihood of a team trading a quality one for this pick, the Bucks will have to draft and develop one. The best choice in that scenario is LSU’s Randolph who at 6’11” has unique physical assets and ball handling skills that make him a fit for the “3” position in the NBA. Milwaukee will look to add a couple pounds to him without affecting his quickness and work on extending his shooting range. Randolph’s shot blocking ability at this position should suit the defensive nature of new head coach Scott Skiles and assistant Kelvin Sampson.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: DeAndre Jordan / C / Texas A&M – Charlotte is the definition of a “doughnut” team so they all but have to select a big man to try and fill that void. When you take into consideration that their best interior player Emeka Okafor remains a restricted free agent who has turned down an offer for over $12 million a year, you see the need to draft a low post player. Jordan is a seven footer who is athletic and far more defensively inclined at this stage than offensively which may suit new head coach Larry Brown just fine. It also suits the make up of this team just fine because they have plenty of scoring fire power but truly need some type of defensive presence. The words used to describe Jordan the most right now are “tremendous upside” and with that in mind, expect this pick to be made so that Brown can do what he loves most and teach this 260 pound pivot man how to achieve his potential. Does he have the mental toughness to handle Brown’s non endearing ways of communicating with young players? The Bobcats can’t afford to miss here if they want to climb the Eastern Conference ladder so they need to be on the same page right away.   

10. New Jersey Nets: Kevin Love / PF / UCLA – The Nets are in a “best available” position which to me, strongly suggests that they should grab the hard working, non stop motor of Love. He possesses incredible fundamentals and instincts for the position and is a very disciplined player who would be a tremendous asset to this team which sorely lacks all of those traits. Love’s rebounding tenacity would provide an immediate boost, his ability to score down low and from the perimeter would strongly enhance New Jersey already talented offensive weaponry, and his remarkable outlet passing skills would make this one of the most dangerous fast break teams in the conference. Love would be a terrific fit here.

11. Indiana Pacers: DJ Augustin / PG / Texas – With the constant injuries to current point guard Jamaal Tinsley, this position becomes the most important need on the Pacers list and Augustin would be perfect for them. In head coach Jim O’Brien's up tempo offensive system, Augustin could flourish. The ex-Longhorn is a pure point as far as floor leadership, ball handling and creating for teammates are concerned but his exceptional shooting range makes him an all around gem for O’Brien's three-point shooting philosophy. Sure he’ll get posted up by bigger guards but his quickness will keep him from getting abused while he works on his overall defensive game. He’s got the makings of a great one in this system.

12. Sacramento: Russell Westbrook / PG / UCLA – In watching the style of basketball HC Reggie Theus has preached on the college and pro level, Westbrook seems to be exactly what Sacramento wants. First off, they have an extreme need for a starting caliber point guard so they’ll be looking that way in the draft. Westbrook has the blend of size, quickness, man to man defensive skill and open floor offensive skill that Theus craves. In a conference that now basically requires a team to have an explosive point guard who can get to the rim at will, Sacramento would have one in Westbrook. Have to believe that as long as he’s available, this would be a “no brainer” for the Kings.

13. Portland Trailblazers: Donte Green / SF / Syracuse – There’s enough of a need in Portland for a small forward with long range shooting ability to figure Green as their choice here at 13. With current small forward and three point specialist James Jones a free agent who can opt out, it makes sense for the Blazers to choose the 19-year old Syracuse product who at 6’11” hit 34.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc as a freshman on a very young team last year. There’s some obvious development that needs to take place before Green is ready for starters minutes but with a “Big Three” of swingman Brandon Roy, power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and center Greg Oden, Portland is in a position where they don’t need Green to start immediately. A rookie year where he can learn under head coach Nate McMillan and provide 15-20 minutes where he stretches the defense and gives the Blazers instant offense would be a real benefit and likely scenario.

14. Golden State Warriors: Chris Douglas-Roberts / SF / Memphis – This one is right in “Nellie’s” wheelhouse. A long, athletic slashing type scorer with three point range who can run the floor and defend at an above average level. Douglas-Roberts' Memphis pedigree is a hand and glove fit for this team which can use a player pre-molded for the 94-foot frantic style since free agent small forward Mikael Pietrus could be on the way out. “CDR” could slide into a significant role right away with this team. His character and passion for winning are assets that this somewhat temperamental squad could use.