Boy, I never thought this day would get here! The day I get to stop talking about the NBA draft, if I never choose to utter it again this year!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not entirely grumpy about hearing the names “Greg Oden” and/or “Kevin Durant” at least three times a day. (Was this some kind of federal decree?) I’m just a little disappointed that there won’t be much “wow” factor for the Bulls on Thursday night.
Allow me to demonstrate: Kevin Garnett? Oooooooo! Marcus Camby? Ah.
As you can ascertain from my highly technical presentation just now, we’re more likely to get a Camby on Thursday than a Garnett. And that’s assuming we trade the pick, which is not a given.
The Bulls are as likely to use the pick; their choices being the likes of Spencer Hawes, Yi Jianlian or other players not named Oden, Al Horford or Roy Hibbert (Why, Roy, why?!)
No use crying over lost draft picks — but we can mock them. Since the Bulls have the ninth pick, and I’m the city’s most popular canine (don’t worry, I checked), I offer my predictions for the first nine picks, along with some other mock drafts.
1. Portland
Whizzer:Greg Oden
NBA.com: Greg Oden
ESPN.com: Greg Oden
SI.com: Greg Oden
Tribune’s Sam Smith: Greg Oden
2. Seattle
Whizzer:Kevin Durant
NBA.com: Kevin Durant
ESPN.com: Kevin Durant
SI.com: Kevin Durant
Sam Smith: Kevin Durant
3. Atlanta
Whizzer:Al Horford
NBA.com: Al Horford
ESPN.com: Al Horford
SI.com: Al Horford
Sam Smith: Al Horford
4. Memphis
Whizzer:Joakim Noah
NBA.com: Mike Conley Jr.
ESPN.com: Mike Conley Jr.
SI.com: Joakim Noah
Sam Smith: Mike Conley Jr.
5. Boston
Whizzer:Brandan Wright
NBA.com: Brandan Wright
ESPN.com: Yi Jianlian
SI.com: Corey Brewer
Sam Smith: Jeff Green
6. Milwaukee
Whizzer:Mike Conley Jr.
NBA.com: Corey Brewer
ESPN.com: Jeff Green
SI.com: Mike Conley Jr.
Sam Smith: Yi Jianlian
7. Minnesota
Whizzer:Yi Jianlian
NBA.com: Yi Jianlian
ESPN.com: Joakim Noah
SI.com: Spencer Hawes
Sam Smith: Joakim Noah
8. Charlotte
Whizzer:Corey Brewer
NBA.com: Jeff Green
ESPN.com: Corey Brewer
SI.com: Brandan Wright
Sam Smith: Corey Brewer
9. BULLS
Whizzer:Jason Smith*
NBA.com: Joakim Noah
ESPN.com: Spencer Hawes
SI.com: Yi Jianlian
Sam Smith: Spencer Hawes
*As part of a trade with a lower-slotted team. I don’t think Noah fits the Bulls’ needs (if he’s even available) but Smith, a Colorado State 7-footer, does. A trade down would allow the Bulls to get value for the pick and take a flier on Smith. Remember, Bulls GM John Paxson has the option of making a trade later or adding another big man through free agency.
