2007 NBA Draft Preview

This is not a prediction. The following is who I would draft in each position if I were the General Manager. I expect some picks to flip-flop and trades or potential trades may have a huge influence on the draft order. However, this is what I would do with these picks right now, if I was in charge.

2007 NBA Draft Preview

1. Portland Trail Blazers: Kevin Durant, F University of Texas

Any chance Portland is worried about passing on the next Michael Jordan to draft a big guy? I draft Durant here for one reason: desire. Durant is on a single-minded mission to be the best player in the game. There are few players like that in the game, and you see them every year in the play-offs and MVP voting. While LeBron James chases after his first billion and Dwyane Wade tries to create a complete brand, like Jordan, Durant just wants to ball. Durant and Roy on the wings with Randolph and Pyrzbilla inside and Jack and Rodriguez playing the point is a fun, potentially explosive team.

2. Seattle Supersonics: Greg Oden, C Ohio State

The last thing Seattle needs is a young center to join its last three first round draft picks, young centers named Swift, Petro and Sene. However, if Portland drafts Durant, Seattle has to take Oden and use one or two of its other bigs to acquire more firepower, and maybe Oden's buddy Mike Conley, Jr. In tapes of Oden's workouts, he has shown the potential everyone expects and if he puts everything together, he will be a scary player.

3. Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford, PF University of Florida

The Hawks still lack a PG and a C, but Horford is too good to pass up and is an improvement over Sheldon or Marvin Williams. With the plethora of wings, maybe the Hawks can make a move to acquire a PG.

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley, Jr., PG Ohio State University

The new coach may determine the pick. If Ivaroni is the choice, and he wants to play a Phoenix-like style of play, Conley, Jr. would make sense, as the Grizz need a PG. Another coach or style of play may find value in another athletic big like Yi or Wright. The pick also depends largely on the decision with Pau Gasol; if Gasol is traded, Yi may be a decent replacement. However, Conley is a value pick here and he fills the Grizzlies' biggest need.

5. Boston Celtics: Corey Brewer, SF University of Florida

Like the Grizzlies, the Celtics' pick depends largely on Paul Pierce's future. Brewer teaming with Pierce on the wing would be a great combination or Brewer could serve as an ideal replacement for Pierce if he is traded. If the Celtics keep Pierce, neither Yi nor Wright answers the Celtics need for a center or a PG. Yi may be a nice option and complement to Jefferson, but I like Brewer too much. A trade here makes sense as well.

6. Milwaukee Bucks: Julian Wright, F Kansas

A perfect fit for the Bucks. They need to re-sign Mo Williams as their PG, but with Redd at the 2 and Villanueva and Bogut inside, Wright fills a need on the wing and complements the other multi-skilled players.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Yi Jianlian, PF China

Yi may not fill the biggest need for the TWolves, but he is the best player available and adds another front court player to play alongside KG, or to replace KG if KG is dealt.

8. Charlotte Bobcats: Brandan Wright, F University of North Carolina

Wright offers another athletic big man and another homegrown player to put aside Sean May and Raymond Felton. He does not address the Bobcats' biggest weakness on the wing, but they probably are not ready to replace last year's #1 Adam Morrison.

9. Chicago Bulls: Jeff Green, F Georgetown University

Originally I had Green's teammate Roy Hibbert going to the Bulls, as he filled the Bulls' needs a little better. However, while Noah makes sense because Paxson drafts veteran players from winning programs, Noah does not address the Bulls' weakness, interior scoring, and instead provides a lot of the same qualities as last year's #1 pick Tyrus Thomas. While Green is closer in size to Thomas, and Noah offers a little more size, Green has a complete offensive package and a forward rotation with Thomas, Green and Deng is versatile, young and athletic. This pick also may be traded which would alter the rest of the first round.

10. Sacramento Kings: Joakim Noah, PF University of Florida

Noah adds defense and intensity to the Kings' roster. The Kings are in transition, but have not had such an athletic big since Keon Clark. PF is the Kings' biggest need, and if Bibby and Miller return to form along with Artest and Martin, the Kings don't need a lot of scoring. They need athleticism and defense and intensity. Noah provides that.

11. Atlanta Hawks: Acie Law, PG Texas A&M

Law is a winner. He hits big shots and he leads. And, he is a PG. He solves most of the Hawks' problems. So, the Hawks will likely pick Jeff Green so they have another forward.

12. Philadelphia 76ers: Spencer Hawes, C University of Washington

Hawes is an inside presence with potential to be a scoring and passing threat with other talented athletes (Igoudala) and shooters (Korver) surrounding him.

13. New Orleans: Nick Young, SG USC

The Hornets need a SG and Young is an athletic talent who fits with the young Hornet nucleus. With everyone healthy, the Hornets will be a play-off contender.

14. Los Angeles Clippers: Rodney Stuckey, G Eastern Washington University

With Young already selected, the Clippers go to plan B and draft Stuckey, a relatively unknown player with tremendous credentials and ability. Stuckey has the ability to play the 1 and the 2, which the Clippers need with the uncertainty of Sam Cassell and Shaun Livingston and decline of Cuttino Mobley. If Young is on the board, they will not allow their hometown boy to slide. Otherwise, Stuckey is the choice because of his versatility and tantalizing potential and skill set.

15. Detroit Pistons: Al Thornton, F Florida State University

Thornton adds athleticism and a scoring punch off the bench.

16. Washington: Josh McRoberts, PF Duke University

McRoberts is a good fit as a high post PF in the Wizards Princeton-esque offense. If he plays hard every game, he is a steal, from a skill standpoint, this late in the first round.

17. New Jersey Nets: Tiago Splitter, C Brazil

The Nets need more of a post presence and Splitter has excelled in Spain for several years.

18. Golden State: Jared Dudley, F Boston College

The Warriors are a style team. However, they need another player like Matt Barnes, especially if they lose Barnes, who goes after every ball, rebounds, can shoot, can play 1v1. Nobody has Dudley ranked this high; however, his former teammate Craig Smith exceeded expectations as did Utah's Paul Milsap. Dudley has more offensive firepower than either and is the type of PF who fits with the Warriors's style of play. Thaddeus Young makes sense here, for the same reasons, but Young is a rawer, more athletic, less polished version of Dudley. I'll take the better player and allow someone else to develop Young's talents.

19. Los Angeles Lakers: Rudy Fernandez, SG Spain

An athletic scorer from Spain, he can move between the 1 and the 2 in the triangle.

20. Miami Heat: Marcus Williams, SF University of Arizona

Williams adds athleticism and scoring on the wing to complement Wade and Shaq.

21. Philadelphia 76ers: Thaddeus Young, F Georgia Tech

Young is another athletic weapon to add to the mix in Philly.

22. Charlotte Bobcats: Brandon Rush, SG Kansas

Rush fills the potential void if Gerald Wallace leaves and adds athleticism, defense and shooting.

23. New York Knicks: Derrick Byars, SG Vanderbilt University

Thomas is unafraid of unorthodox picks, and some people do not even know Byars. But, he can shoot and is an active defender. Another athletic player to add to the mix.

24. Phoenix Suns: Gabe Pruitt, PG USC

After the failed Marcus Banks experiment, Phoenix still needs a back-up PG to take some pressure off Steve Nash and save his body for the play-offs. Pruitt is athletic and a good shooter, two things which will help the Suns as a role player off the bench.

25. Utah Jazz: Arron Afflalo, SG UCLA

Nobody thinks he will go this high, but Afflalo is a Jazz-type of player. He shoots well off the curl and defends well. The Jazz need a little more size at the 2, and Afflalo can provide a lot of what Fisher gives them with a little more size.

26. Houston Rockets: Jason Smith, C Colorado State University

Smith is a high post-type seven-footer who could fit with the Rockets as a complement to Yao eventually, but as a back-up in the meantime, receiving minutes at the PF and C position. Adelman likes offensive-minded big men, and Smith is a skilled big.

27. Detroit Pistons: Javaris Crittendon, PG Georgia Tech

Crittendon is a big PG the Pistons can develop in spurts behind Chauncey Billups.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Marco Belinelli, SG Italy

Belinelli is another international player who fits well with the Spurs style of play.

29. Phoenix Suns: Herbert Hill PF, Providence

Hill is an athletic back to the basket player who can block shots and serve as a back-up for Stoudemire at the hybrid C/PF position. However, a more likely scenario is drafting a European player to stash in Europe for a couple years, as Phoenix likely has no room for two first round picks on the roster.

30. Philadelphia 76ers: Bobby Brown, PG Cal State Fullerton

Almost entered the draft a year ago, but had a poor showing in Orlando. Brown possesses all the tools and athleticism to play the point in the NBA. Brown provides insurance if Miller is dealt, or a complementary player and gives the 76ers a solid draft with a PG, an athletic forward and a low post presence.