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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 12:31 a.m., Thursday, June 26, 2008

NBA mock draft

By Marcus Thompson II
Contra Costa Times

Not even the teams know what's going to go down in today's NBA draft. Only the Chicago Bulls can possibly know what they're going to do, and they may not even be sure. With that said, here is exactly how the first round is going to play out:

School/ Pick, Team Player Country Pos. HT/WT

1. Chicago Derrick Rose Memphis PG 6-3, 190

Anyone other than Rose (or Dwyane Wade) wouldn't make sense for Bulls

2. Miami Michael Beasley Kansas State PF 6-8, 235

President Pat Riley is reportedly down on Beasley. Another sign he's lost it

3. Minnesota Brook Lopez Stanford C 7-0, 260

T'wolves already have a scoring guard (Randy Foye). They need a big man

4. Seattle O.J. Mayo USC SG 6-5, 200

They covet Beasley, but Mayo provides the help Kevin Durant needs

5. Memphis Kevin Love UCLA PF 6-9, 255

Grizzlies in desperate need of frontcourt help after trading Pau Gasol to L.A.

6. New York Danilo Gallinari Italy SF 6-8, 210

Adding another PG would be like covering musty pits with cologne

7. L.A. Clippers Jerryd Bayless Arizona PG 6-3, 200

Even if the Clippers keep Shawn Livingston, Bayless can also play SG

8. Milwaukee Joe Alexander W. Virginia SF 6-8, 230

He would make Charlie Villanueva exendable

9. Charlotte Russell Westbrook UCLA PG 6-3, 187

Best player available, and Raymond Felton needs the competition

10. New Jersey Eric Gordon Indiana SG 6-4, 215

Gives them immediate bench help, could eventually replace Vince Carter

11. Indiana Anthony Randolph LSU PF 6-10, 197

After acquiring T.J. Ford from Toronto, the Pacers no longer need a PG

12. Sacramento D.J. Augustin Texas PG 6-0, 180

Just who the Kings wanted: Beno Udrih's replacement

13. Portland Robin Lopez Stanford C 7-0, 255

Who da thunk it? Joel Przybilla and Channing Frye are now trade bait

14. Golden State Donte Greene Syracuse SF 6-9, 220

If they can't trade down and scoop up Rider's Jason Thompson

15. Phoenix Brandon Rush Kansas SF 6-6, 210

Because Grant Hill can't possibly have much left in the tank

16. Philadelphia DeAndre Jordan Texas A&M C 7-0, 260

The clock starts ticking on the Samuel Dalembert project

17. Indiana Darrell Arthur Kansas PF 6-9, 255

Now they have two athletic big men for Jim O'Brien's up-tempo offense

18 Washington Roy Hibbert Georgetown C 7-2, 278

He has local ties and is a better defender than Brendan Haywood

19. Cleveland Chris Douglas-Roberts Memphis SG 6-7, 200

A reach, but he's a proven winner who can contribute immediately

20. Charlotte(ASTERISK) Marreese Speights Florida PF 6-10, 245

Bobcats want Hibbert, but Speights is their Sean May do-over

21. New Jersey Javale McGee Nevada C 7-0, 237

A good deal this late, McGee gives Nets a big man project to work on

22. Orlando Courtney Lee W. Kentucky SG 6-5, 200

Bye-bye, J.J. Redick. The Magic needs a scorer, not just a shooter

23. Utah Jason Thompson Rider PF 6-10, 245

Experienced, hard-working, skilled — perfect for Jerry Sloan

24. Seattle Kosta Koufas Ohio St. C 7-1, 265

How long can they wait on Robert Swift?

25. Houston Ryan Anderson Cal PF 6-10, 240

He's no Steve Novak; just the polished, versatile player Rockets need

26. San Antonio Mario Chalmers Kansas PG 6-1, 190

Seriously, Jacque Vaughn has been the Spurs backup PG

27. Portland% Nicolas Batum France SF 6-8, 190

With Travis Outlaw already in tow, the Blazers can bring him along slowly

28. Memphis Alexis Ajinca France C 7-0, 215

Combined with Love, the Grizzlies frontcourt looks much more promising

29. Detroit Bill Walker Kansas St. SF 6-6, 225

They need more perimeter talent and athleticism off the bench

30. Boston Serge Ibaka Congo PF 6-10, 228

Good thing he's not ready for NBA, because Celtics don't need him yet

Acquired from Toronto for Jermaine O'Neal

(ASTERISK) Acquired from Denver for future, protected first-round pick

% Acquired from New Orleans for cash considerations