ESPN Chad Fords latest Mock

CHAD FORD'S MOCK DRAFT
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Portland
Greg Oden Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 245
Age: 19
School: Ohio State
The skinny: Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard told me in Orlando he hasn't made up his mind yet. Both Oden and Kevin Durant will visit to meet the staff and go through a battery of interviews. But unless Oden raises a red flag somehow, I believe he's the man.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Seattle
Kevin Durant Position: SF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 190
Age: 18
School: Texas

The skinny: Sonics president Lenny Wilkens says he isn't trading the pick. But the same can't be said for the rest of the roster if Durant's the pick. Expect the team to rebuild around Durant.

By the way, after talking to Durant on Thursday, I think it's safe to say that if Portland passes on him, he'll try to drop 50 on the Blazers in their first meeting.


PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Atlanta
Brandan Wright Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 210
Age: 19
School: North Carolina
The skinny: In our last mock draft we posited that the Hawks essentially had to take point guard Mike Conley.

Well, the intel out of Orlando is that they are leaning toward the athletic Wright and will sort out the point guard situation with the No. 11 pick.

Wright has one of the biggest risk/reward factors of anyone in the draft. And I'm just not sure how well he fits on a team filled with such similar players as Josh Smith and Marvin Williams.

Memphis

Al Horford Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235
Age: 20
School: Florida

The skinny: With Horford measuring out in Orlando at an impressive 6-foot-9¾ with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, any concerns that he might be too small to play the 4 are gone.

This move gives the Grizz some toughness up front and allows them to either move Pau Gasol back to the 5 or trade him this summer.

Corey Brewer and Mike Conley are also possibilities here.

Boston
Yi Jianlian Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 246
Age: 19
Country: China

The skinny: This is a tough call since the future of the Celtics is so murky. Yi has the most upside at this point but also carries a significant risk that Celts boss Danny Ainge might not want to bear. And with Paul Pierce stumping for immediate help, it might be an unpopular pick.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics traded the pick -- the Warriors and Bulls would like to move up here and grab Yi.

If the Celtics go with Corey Brewer instead, it might mean the end of the Paul Pierce era in Boston.

Milwaukee

Mike Conley Position: PG
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Age: 19
School: Ohio State






The skinny: The Bucks likely will decide between Conley and Julian Wright here. With Mo Williams hitting free agency, Conley's a good pick and a better pure point guard prospect in the long run.

Wright would fill a void at small forward and give the Bucks an athletic facilitator in their frontcourt.


Minnesota

Corey Brewer Position: SG
Height: 6-8
Weight: 185
Age: 21
School: Florida


The skinny: The Timberwolves' biggest need is in the frontcourt. However, Brewer's too good to let fall any further. The Wolves could play him at the 2 and 3 and get an immediate defensive boost.

Joakim Noah, Julian Wright and Spencer Hawes are also possibilities here.



Charlotte

Joakim Noah Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 230
Age: 22
School

 

I'm going to kill someone if we take Joakim Noah. He is such a D-bag and i don't think he will even be that good in the NBA.

 

I didn't copy enough of the thread. They were saying that Noah would be one of the new players that the NBA was going to push down folks throats promoting the hell out of him. This would bode well for a team like Charlotte (Their words) that is struggling for a face for it's franchise

 

God I don't want Noah. Grats, you're tall and you hustle. So does Mark Madsen.

 

Some face that would be... :asshole: