NBA Mock Draft 4.0

1st Round

1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose (Memphis) [PG, 6-3, 205 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Bulls will take a long look at Beasley, who would be a better fit here, but the general consensus in the league seems to be that Rose is the better prospect.

2. Miami Heat: O.J. Mayo (USC) [SG, 6-4, 195 lbs, 20 yrs] - After all the hype it's hard to imagine the Heat passing up on Beasley, especially when they could use a low-post scorer, but Pat Riley is not a fan, from all accounts, and his interest in Rose, plus Mayo's upcoming workout in Miami, makes acquiring backcourt help for Wade all the more likely. A trade is also a strong possibility if Rose is unavailable at #2.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley (Kansas State) [PF, 6-10, 235 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Beasley-Al Jefferson combination could give opponents fits, even if it leaves much to be desired on defense. Minnesota has it pretty easy, as they'll take whoever is available between Beasley and Mayo.

4. Seattle Supersonics: Jerryd Bayless (Arizona) [PG, 6-3, 190 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Sonics have been set on Bayless for a while. He's the consensus 4th best prospect and it's hard to see that changing now. The Knicks sure wish it would change as they'd love to grab Bayless.

5. Memphis Grizzlies: Anthony Randolph (LSU) [PF, 6-11, 220 lbs, 18 yrs] - The Grizzlies have plenty of needs to fill and they have a lot of work to do before they are ready to compete, so taking the raw, but talented Randolph makes a lot of sense here. He's got tremendous upside and Memphis can afford to give him some time to develop.

6. New York Knicks: Russell Westbrook (UCLA) [PG, 6-3, 189 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Knicks need a point guard above all and even though #6 is a bit high for Westbrook or Augustin, they could well reach and grab Westbrook here. He worked out with them recently (though so did a ton of prospects) and impressed team officials. Augustin has a workout scheduled as well, but for now it's looking like Westbrook.

7. Los Angeles Clippers: Danilo Gallinari (Italy) [SF, 6-9, 212 lbs, 19 yrs] - Eric Gordon is a strong possibility as well, but Gallinari would make a lot of sense here. Supposedly Gallinari would not have stayed in the draft unless he had a top 10 guarantee (from a team he'd want to go to) and this seems like the most likely team to offer that guarantee.

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Gordon (Indiana) [SG, 6-4, 215 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Bucks could opt for a forward such as Joe Alexander, but Gordon is one of the most talented prospects in the draft. In fact, he was considered a top 3 or 4 pick for a long time. That said, it's hard to see the Bucks passing up that talent at this point.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kevin Love (UCLA) [PF, 6-10, 275 lbs, 19 yrs] - Love seems like a natural fit for Larry Brown, and he would look good alongside Emeka Okafor. Brook Lopez is an option, the main appeal being his size, but Love's stock has risen quite a bit since the end of the college season.

10. New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez (Stanford) [C, 7-0, 260 lbs, 20 yrs] - The Nets need a good big man and would have to be pleased if Lopez were to become available this late. They could instead go after a player with more upside, but Lopez is at least a safe pick to be a contributor and at #10, that's a good deal.

11. Indiana Pacers: D.J. Augustin (Texas) [PG, 6-0, 180 lbs, 20 yrs] - Point guard is the biggest area of need for the Pacers and odds are they take whichever of Augustin or Westbrook is available. If both are there, they'll have a tough decision on their hands, but that would be a good problem to have.

12. Sacramento Kings: Roy Hibbert (Georgetown) [C, 7-2, 275 lbs, 21 yrs] - A point guard would be more helpful, but the best ones will likely be off the board at this point. Instead, the Kings could make a somewhat surprising move and draft Hibbert here. According to Chad Ford, they had Hibbert ranked very highly last year before he withdrew from the draft and he's a possibility here, despite their drafting of Spencer Hawes last year.

13. Portland Trailblazers: Joe Alexander (West Virginia) [SF, 6-8, 220 lbs, 21 yrs] - Portland has plenty of young players already, so there's a good chance they trade the pick. Alexander is the most likely to go in this spot, as his stock has really risen lately. Donte Greene and Brandon Rush are also possibilities.

14. Golden State Warriors: Donte Greene (Syracuse) [SF, 6-10, 225 lbs, 20 yrs] - Greene's combination of shooting, athleticism, and versatility make him a natural fit for Golden State. He is similar to a number of players they already have, but he should be able to find some playing time.

15. Phoenix Suns: Brandon Rush (Kansas) [SG, 6-7, 205 lbs, 22 yrs] - Rush is the logical pick here. He's one of the more experienced players in the draft and could step in and contribute immediately. His three-point shooting and athleticism makes him a good fit for the Suns offense and his NBA-readiness means that he could help the Suns make a title run this year. If Rush or another similarly NBA-ready player is not available, the Suns could trade the pick.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights (Florida) [C, 6-10, 245 lbs, 19 yrs] - Rush is an option here if he's still available. If not, the Sixers probably opt for a big man. Speights is a capable low-post scorer with some upside, who could help them. They could also go for DeAndre Jordan or Darrell Arthur.

17. Toronto Raptors: Kosta Koufos (Ohio State) [C, 7-0, 265 lbs, 19 yrs] - The Raptors need help at center and Koufos would seem an excellent fit, with his size, skill, and shooting ability. Not to mention, the Raptors add another European player to their already-diverse roster.

18. Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee (Nevada) [C, 7-0, 237 lbs, 20 yrs] - McGee should make a nice backup for Brendan Haywood, as he is more of a scoring big man who was an effective three-point shooter in college. He is also an excellent shot-blocker and could help the Wizards' interior defense.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darrell Arthur (Kansas) [PF, 6-10, 225 lbs, 20 yrs] - The Cavs need help in a lot of areas, notably shooting guard, but Arthur could be a nice pick here. He'd give them a power forward with some scoring ability. He's got a nice mid-range shooting game and that could make him a nice fit alongside LeBron James.

20. Denver Nuggets: Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis) [SG, 6-6, 195 lbs, 21 yrs] - Douglas-Roberts would be a good fit here. He could provide scoring and strong perimeter defense and he has the speed and athleticism to run with the fast-paced Nuggets.

21. New Jersey Nets: Nicholas Batum (France) [SF, 6-8, 210 lbs, 19 yrs] - There are a number of good big men still on the board, but the Nets go after the upside of Batum, after drafting a center with their earlier first round pick. The Nets already have swingmen, but Batum could be brought along slowly, as the team is rebuilding anyway.

22. Orlando Magic: DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M) [C, 7-0, 255 lbs, 20 yrs] - The Magic could go for a shooting guard, such as Courtney Lee, but it's hard to pass up on Jordan's talent at this point. Considering they had to give Marcin Gortat minutes in the playoffs, they could use another body in the middle.

23. Utah Jazz: Robin Lopez (Stanford) [C, 7-0, 245 lbs, 20 yrs] - The Jazz need to work on their interior defense and shot-blocking and those happen to be Robin Lopez's specialties. The Jazz will probably opt for the best big man available here, though it's hard to imagine anyone else being as good a fit as the other Lopez.

24. Seattle Supersonics: Alexis Ajinca (France) [PF, 7-1, 240 lbs, 20 yrs] - The Sonics have taken plenty of big men with "upside" in recent years, but with a roster loaded with young talent, taking a player like Ajinca who could stay overseas for a year or two if necessary would be sensible decision. Ajinca has gained a lot of momentum recently and this could even be too low for him. The Sonics would have to bite if he's available.

25. Houston Rockets: Jason Thompson (Rider) [PF, 6-11, 250 lbs, 21 yrs] - The Rockets could use another big man to back up Yao Ming. Sure, Mutombo is signed on for another year, but he can't back up Yao forever.

26. San Antonio Spurs: Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky) [SG, 6-5, 200 lbs, 22 yrs] - The Spurs need scoring above all and Lee should be able to step in and at least be an upgrade over the aging Brent Barry. They could also opt for a foreign player and stash him abroad, in typical Spurs fashion, but the team needs help now if they want to compete for another title with their aging roster.

27. New Orleans Hornets: J.J. Hickson (NC State) [PF, 6-9, 240 lbs, 19 yrs] - Hickson gives the Hornets some much-needed size. His athleticism and speed should make him a good fit running the floor with Chris Paul.

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Bill Walker (Kansas State) [SF, 6-6, 235 lbs, 20 yrs] - Walker suffered a minor knee injury and, because of his history, some teams have been scared off. However, this late in the draft, Memphis would do well to gamble on Walker's potential.

29. Detroit Pistons: D.J. White (Indiana) [PF, 6-9, 240 lbs, 21 yrs] - The Pistons add a big man who should provide solid rebounding and some mid-range shooting. There is no particular area of need for Detroit but after taking three guards in last year's draft, it's hard to imagine they'd take another one here.

30. Boston Celtics: Ante Tomic (Croatia) [C, 7-2, 237 lbs, 21 yrs] - The Celtics don't really have room for a young prospect. If anything, they'll be looking to add more veterans to help defend their title. Tomic could be left in Europe for the time being and might be able to help Boston down the road, though they could bring him over now if they need the help.

2nd Round

31. Minnesota Timberwolves: Mario Chalmers (Kansas) [PG, 5-11, 195 lbs, 20 yrs] - This does seem a little late for Chalmers, but he has not made a major splash since his heroics for Kansas in the title game. If he doesn't go in the late first round, there's a good chance Minnesota takes him here.

32. Seattle Supersonics: Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State) [SG, 6-4, 225 lbs, 21 yrs] - Gordon gives the Sonics a little more scoring, as an athletic combo guard. The Sonics have three more picks coming, so odds are at least one of these will be traded.

33. Portland Trailblazers: Serge Ibaka (Congo) [PF, 6-10, 220 lbs, 18 yrs] - Ibaka is probably not ready for the NBA yet, but he could stay overseas for a few years. The Blazers don't have room for prospects right now anyway.

34. Minnesota Timberwolves: Omer Asik (Turkey) [C, 6-11, 230 lbs, 21 yrs] - He's very raw, but his size and athleticism make him an appealing prospect.

35. Los Angeles Clippers: Nathan Jawai (Australia) [PF, 6-10, 270 lbs, 21 yrs] - Jawai provides some depth at power forward, which could prove essential should Elton Brand leave via free agency.

36. Portland Trailblazers: Ryan Anderson (California) [PF, 6-10, 225 lbs, 20 yrs] - Anderson has a great jump shot that extends to NBA three-point range, and could be a good fit alongside Greg Oden.

37. Milwaukee Bucks: Joey Dorsey (Memphis) [PF, 6-9, 260 lbs, 22 yrs] - Dorsey's pro future is questionable, but many scouts see him as a future Ben Wallace-type player. Milwaukee could use his defensive presence in the middle.

38. Charlotte Bobcats: Davon Jefferson (USC) [SF, 6-8, 215 lbs, 21 yrs] - He needs to work on his fundamentals, but he has great overall potential and could help Charlotte down the road.

39. Chicago Bulls: Trent Plaisted (BYU) [C, 6-11, 245 lbs, 21 yrs] - The Bulls could use some size, especially after Aaron Gray has yet to prove he can be a useful NBA player. Plaisted has a lot more upside than Gray, even if his college career was fairly erratic.

40. New Jersey Nets: Nikola Pekovic (Serbia) [C, 6-11, 245 lbs, 22 yrs] - The Nets may not have room for three rookies and they'd have the option of leaving Pekovic in Europe for a year or two.

41. Indiana Pacers: Richard Hendrix (Alabama) [PF, 6-9, 260 lbs, 21 yrs] - He's looked good in Orlando so far. While he's a bit undersized, he's worth a look at this point.

42. Sacramento Kings: Gary Forbes (Massachusetts) [SF, 6-7, 220 lbs, 23 yrs] - He had an excellent pre-draft camp in Orlando and has established himself as a second round pick.

43. Seattle Supersonics: Josh Duncan (Xavier) [SF, 6-8, 225 lbs, 22 yrs] - He'll fight for a spot during Summer League and training camp. No guarantees, but he's a solid all-around player who deserves a look.

44. Golden State Warriors: Shan Foster (Vanderbilt) [SG, 6-6, 205 lbs, 21 yrs] - Foster is one of the top three-point shooters in the draft and he should be able to find a niche in Don Nelson's offense.

45. Sacramento Kings: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (UCLA) [SF, 6-7, 215 lbs, 21 yrs] - Some NBA scouts see Mbah a Moute as a Bruce Bowen-type defender. He doesn't have much of an offensive game, but the Kings could use his defensive prowess.

46. Utah Jazz: Malik Hairston (Oregon) [SG, 6-6, 200 lbs, 21 yrs] - Hairston is a good all-around shooting guard who could get a look off the bench.

47. San Antonio Spurs: Kyle Weaver (Washington State) [SG, 6-6, 185 lbs, 22 yrs] - A great defender with a high basketball IQ. He should fit right in with the Spurs.

48. Washington Wizards: Mike Taylor (Iowa State) [PG, 6-2, 165 lbs, 22 yrs] - With Gilbert Arenas a free agent, the Wizards pick up an insurance policy at point guard.

49. Phoenix Suns: C.J. Giles (Oregon State) [C, 6-11, 235 lbs, 22 yrs] - The Suns add a shot-blocking center to improve their defense.

50. Seattle Supersonics: Keith Brumbaugh (Hillsborough CC) [SF, 6-10, 215 lbs, 22 yrs] - An outstanding talent who has been hurt by poor off-court decisions. The Sonics can gamble on him and let him develop int he D-League.

51. Dallas Mavericks: J.R. Giddens (New Mexico) [SG, 6-5, 200 lbs, 23 yrs] - Dallas takes a shooting guard who should excel in Jason Kidd's fast-paced offense.

52. Miami Heat: David Padgett (Louisville) [C, 6-11, 240 lbs, 23 yrs] - Miami adds a big man with an excellent basketball IQ. There are questions as to whether or not he can stay healthy, but he could develop into a useful player.

53. Utah Jazz: Semih Erden (Turkey) [C, 7-1, 240 lbs, 21 yrs] - Erden brings another Turkish player to Utah's roster. He's still a bit of a project and would probably stay in Turkey for the time being.

54. Houston Rockets: Bryce Taylor (Oregon) [SG, 6-5, 205 lbs, 21 yrs] - Taylor hasn't been as dominant in college as his talent suggests he should have been, but he's a worthy gamble in the second round.

55. Portland Trailblazers: Sasha Kaun (Kansas) [C, 6-11, 250 lbs, 23 yrs] - Kaun doesn't have the potential to be much more than a backup center, but he already has an NBA body and good experience at the college level.

56. Seattle Supersonics: George Hill (Indianapolis) [PG, 6-2, 180 lbs, 22 yrs] - Hill is more of a shooting guard in a point guard's body, but his scoring ability could get him drafted in the late second round.

57. San Antonio Spurs: Pat Calathes (St. Joseph's) [SF, 6-10, 210 lbs, 22 yrs] - This point-forward with a high basketball IQ should be a good fit in San Antonio.

58. Los Angeles Lakers: Othello Hunter (Ohio State) [PF, 6-8, 220 lbs, 22 yrs] - The Lakers add a shot-blocking forward to improve their interior defense.

59. Detroit Pistons: Richard Roby (Colorado) [SG, 6-5, 210 lbs, 22 yrs] - Roby was at one time seen as a future first round pick, but hasn't improved much over his college career. He had a good senior year and his stock could be suffering due to unfair expectations.

60. Boston Celtics: Patrick Ewing Jr. (Georgetown) [SF, 6-7, 224 lbs, 24 yrs] - He was a disappointment at Georgetown, but has performed very well at pre-draft camps and the combine. It's possible Georgetown was just a bad fit for him.