- Look, we know about Oden's “Health Issues” but a bad wrist never stopped Shaq and big men usually have problems with their backs. People can try to find flaws in Oden to rationalize not taking him with the #1 pick but he will be in a Portland uniform next year.

- Here’s some good News for Seattle fans. T-Mac recently said in the papers when he was Durant’s age, he couldn’t lift 185 once either which proves two things I said in my last mock draft. One- Durant will be a special player in this league even though he can’t lift 185 once. However, he could endure some injuries like T-Mac has in his career.
 

- Many scouts believe Conley isn’t that much better than the rest of the PG’s in this draft. Our bet is Atlanta thinks they can get a good enough PG at 11 and use this pick on a guy that gives this team a low post presence, defense and toughness. Plus we have him rated as the third best player in this draft. so it makes sense he goes third overall.

- Brandan Wright just doesn’t fit with Gasol and Gay so we believe they will pass on Wright here. This pick is based off Atlanta taking Horford at three because Memphis would draft him in a second at four if he was there. If Horford is gone, rumors are Memphis is deciding between Noah and Conley here at four. Drafting Noah here at four would set their franchise back years because Noah is not a good Western Conference player and picking him fourth is way too high for any team. The Grizzles will come to their senses and draft their PG of the future

- This pick will be a mystery up until the draft. No one can get a beat on what the Boston Celtics are thinking. They’d love to draft Yi Jianlian here and probably end up doing so. However, Boston's name is coming up in every trade rumor out there so they can easily be picking for someone else. If it’s a deal with Seattle to get Lewis, than Brewer can be gone. If it’s a deal with Minnesota, than Brandan Wright will be picked as a guy to replace KG. The possibilities are endless but if there no deal when it comes time for them to pick, they will take Yi Jianlian and hope for the best.

- I still Can’t see the Bucks going with any other pick than Brewer here. They would love for Horford to fall, but that’s very doubtful. The Bucks have come out several times to say how much they are impressed with Brewer which gives me the impression they like him here with this pick.

- The Wolves are a lost team these days. There are rumors going around that they are going to try to trade for Ron Artest in hopes he can help KG get back to the playoffs. We can’t be the only ones that think that Ricky Davis and Ron Artest together is a horrible idea. Still, if they make that deal, it’s likely they will use this pick as the main trade bait. If they stay with the pick, they will take Jeff Green who can instantly help the Wolves.

- We find it hard to believe Brandan Wright would fall all the way to this spot , so we understand if your confused by this too. Every draft has at least one player that gets picked way before anyone else thinks and every draft also has a player that falls more than what everyone thinks. The Bobcats would be thrilled to have Wright here. If they resign Wallace than Okafor-Wright-Wallace could be a deadly frontcourt for years to come.

- Reports say the Bulls will not pass on Noah here at nine if he is here. However if Wright falls to eight, look for them to do anything they can to try to switch picks with the Bobcats. If Noah is gone and he very well can be, than Hawes, than Jason Smith are the picks. Either way, the Bulls have to and will draft a big.

- The kings are hoping to trade Ron Artest and no one would help that process move along more than Julian Wright. Julian would be a great fit at PF next to Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby. He won’t be pressured to become a scorer with those two around and can become a very solid defender for the kings who desperately need a defender, especially if they trade Artest.

- The Hawks passed on Conley at three to take Horford so they HAVE to take a PG here at 11. This pick is essential a coin flip between Law and Crittenton. Most will say Hawks take Crittenton because he is a hometown product but we feel the hawks have enough “projects” on this team and go with the surer pick with Acie Law

- It remains questionable if Hawes and Dalembert can play together. The Sixers brass seem to feel they can as they are high on Hawes with this pick. Sixers, however, are working hard to move up the Bobcats spot at eight to draft Noah so don’t be surprised to see the two teams swapping picks in some type of deal. If Hawes isn’t here, than Thornton will be the Sixers pick.

- We had Nick Young here from the beginning and we don’t see ourselves changing our minds anytime before the draft. Nick Young should be here at thirteen and he is too good of a fit for the Hornets to pass up on.

- There are reports that saying Clippers along with the Pistons are high on Marco Belinelli and have showed the most interest. This could be a ploy by Belinelli agent to get his stock to rise a little bit since it took a major hit during the workouts or its possible a team like the Clippers could trade back to take him. If the Clippers stay at fourteen and we think they do, Al Thornton is a solid pick.

- We feel confident that our sources that tell us Stuckey got promised to get picked here at fifteen are correct. It doesn’t hurt that Stuckey is planning on being in the Green room at the draft which tells you he knows something.

- Jason Smith's name hasn’t been talked about much lately which tells you the initial hype he drew has died down. The Wizards need help at the PF and C spots where Jason Smith is capable of playing both.

- One day Zach Randolph for Richard Jefferson is on, the next day it’s off. If the deal is in the making, the Nets will draft a SF and most likely Thad Young to replace Jefferson. If the trade is dead, than the Nets will draft McRoberts to give them help at the PF spot. We have to assume no deal until we hear otherwise, so we put McRoberts here.

- Pietrus is likely done in G.S so the Warriors will use this pick to replace him. Thad Young will  need a few years to develop which is fine with the Warriors who will have Stephan Jackson and Richardson around to hold down the fort till Young is ready.

- Kobe is not going to get traded before the draft so the Lakers will go into this draft assuming Kobe is playing for them this year. A deal that appears close is KG to the Lakers for Bynum and Odom. If this deal goes through, and the Lakers don’t trade this pick in that deal, then Byars could still be the pick. Then again, they could go big and draft Sean Williams to give them depth at the PF and C spots.

- This pick depends on what Atlanta does at eleven. If they take Law, Crittenton will slide to this spot but won’t go past it. The same goes for Acie Law if Crittenton is picked by Atlanta at 11.

- It would be a shame if Rudy didn’t slide to Utah because we have made it known how much we’d like Mr. Fernandez in a Jazz uniform. I don’t think this will stop the Sixers from taking advantage of Rudy being here at twenty-one. With the Sixers going big at 12, and no PG’s worth picking, they will draft Rudy in hopes he can play alongside Andre I. for years to come.

- Cook and Almond's names will be called 22 and 23, we just aren’t sure who will go first. Almond is the better shooter of the two, but Cook is no slouch himself and has better potential so the Bobcats will take a gamble on him.

- The Knicks need a shooter and will be pleased to find Almond here at twenty-three. For some reason, there are rumors the Knicks have zeroed in on Wilson Chandler who in more ways than one will become a Balkman type pick because he plays like him and is expected to go in the second round. We don’t think the Knicks are that stupid but it is interesting that Chandler canceled workouts with the Sixers and Pistons a day after working out for the Knicks and we aren’t sure what he knows yet.

- The Suns seem to be working hard to move into the top ten where they are looking to pick up either Noah, Yi or Brewer. A Marion to Boston deal is possible and the Suns could be picking fifth come draft day. Assuming though, there is no trade, they will take Sean Williams here to give them someone who can replace Kurt Thomas and also give the suns toughness and defense this upcoming year.

- Utah has to be drafting to address their SG problems and while there are probably other guys they hope are here at twenty-five, they will still be pleased to end up with Afflalo who will instantly become a Jerry Sloan type guy and contribute right away. Don’t be surprised to know Utah is probably working the phones though to move up.

- Jared Dudley's play recent weeks has shot him into the late first round. He would be an excellent pick for Houston who can use him to play behind Battier and T-Mac where the Rockets are a little thin.

- The Pistons are getting old quick at the C and PF spots and will gamble here pick on Splitter. He hasn’t improved much the last few years and his buyout can be costly but at twenty-seven and with your 2nd first rounder, you can afford to take this chance.

- Yes, we know current Finals MVP resides here in San Antonio and he isn’t going anywhere soon. However, we feel that Jacque Vaughn isn’t someone the Spurs feel they can trust even though he played well for them last year.

- The Suns need a backup PG and Koponen would be an excellent pick here. The guy is a classic pass first pg (remind you of anyone?) and could thrive on a team filled with scorers.

- The Sixers use this pick to address their need at PF where currently Shavlik Randolph is the current starter. At thirty, Davis potential is worth taking him.