Tribune reporter Brian Hamilton predicts Thursday’s NBA draft
BULLS: 1. Derrick Rose
Memphis, 6 feet 3 inches, 196 pounds
This seems simple. Draft Rose. Hand him ball. Have patience. Hope for the next Jason Kidd, Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Or, heck, all three rolled into one.
MIAMI: 2. Michael Beasley
Kansas State, 6-8, 239
Miami had O.J. Mayo and Jerryd Bayless for last-minute workouts Tuesday. Even if a trade is afoot, Beasley goes here and gets moved later. If at all.
MINNESOTA: 3. O.J. Mayo
Southern California, 6-4, 200
Kevin McHale’s affection for UCLA’s Kevin Love may win out via trading down. Or Minnesota gains a marquee name in Mayo.
SEATTLE: 4. Jerryd Bayless
Arizona, 6-3, 204
Rumors abound that the Sonics love UCLA’s Russell Westbrook, but they go with Bayless’ scoring and versatility.
MEMPHIS: 5. Kevin Love
UCLA, 6-9, 255
Don’t be shocked if the frugal Grizzlies trade this pick in an effort to unload salary. Love does fit a big-man need.
NEW YORK: 6. Russell Westbrook
UCLA, 6-3, 192
GM Donnie Walsh is sending out signals he likes Italy’s Danilo Gallinari, which means Walsh isn’t taking him.
L.A. CLIPPERS: 7. Eric Gordon
Indiana, 6-3, 222
Still-addled Illini fans rejoice as Gordon gets banished to Donald Sterling’s basketball netherworld.
MILWAUKEE: 8. Joe Alexander
West Virginia, 6-8, 220
Uber-athlete, wants to dunk on everyone, can fit at a couple of different spots. But does he know how to play the game?
CHARLOTTE: 9. Brook Lopez
Stanford, 7-0, 256
Bobcats probably want to trade up, but they land a 7-footer to play alongside Emeka Okafor anyway.
NEW JERSEY: 10. Danilo Gallinari
Italy, 6-8, 210
Maintained he would play only for New York or New Jersey. He gets his wish, but upon teaming with Vince Carter, probably not the ball.
INDIANA: 11. Anthony Randolph
LSU, 6-10, 197
After acquiring T.J. Ford from Toronto, point guard is no longer a need. Pacers can rebuild with one of the draft’s rawest talents.
SACRAMENTO: 12. D.J. Augustine
Texas, 5-11, 172
Kings have to be happy Augustin drops this far because he can’t be any less enticing than Beno Udrih at the point.
PORTLAND: 13. Donte Green
Syracuse, 6-9, 221
If the Blazers make this pick, why not stock up on a high-ceiling guy who can spread the floor for Greg Oden?
GOLDEN STATE: 14. DeAndre Jordan
Texas A&M, 6-11, 250
What? Don Nelson and the Warriors opt for an unproven talent with size and upside? Get out.
PHOENIX: 15. Brandon Rush
Kansas, 6-6, 210
Because he’s a tough, NBA-ready guard and Shaq and Steve Nash are creeping toward All-AARP status.
PHILADELPHIA: 16. Darrell Arthur
Kansas, 6-8, 216
Maybe the Sixers go big, or maybe they add some versatility on the wing next to Andre Iguodala.
INDIANA: 17. Robin Lopez
Stanford, 7-0, 255
Rasho Nesterovic, acquired from Toronto in the Jermaine O’Neal deal, is a stopgap. Lopez can be part of a frontcourt for the future.
WASHINGTON: 18. JaVale McGee
Nevada, 7-0, 241
Lanky ex-Hales Franciscan product doesn’t have to be rushed, can do spot duty in the frontcourt for now.
CLEVELAND: 19. Kosta Koufos
Ohio State, 7-0, 265
When Zydrunas Ilgauskas crumbles into pieces, Koufos provides a big body with perimeter touch to complement LeBron James’ penetration.
CHARLOTTE: 20. Courtney Lee
Western Kentucky, 6-5, 200
If Bobcats can’t trade up earlier, and then don’t get Lopez at nine, Roy Hibbert makes sense. If they get Lopez, a versatile guard fits the bill.
NEW JERSEY: 21. Marreese Speights
Florida, 6-10, 245
The Nets’ never-ending search for a rugged power forward continues, though you could see them going shooting guard here.
ORLANDO: 22. Chris Douglas-Roberts
Memphis, 6-7, 200
Stock rumored to be slipping as the draft approaches, but a crafty, Rip Hamilton-like scorer makes sense.
UTAH: 23. Roy Hibbert
Georgetown, 7-2, 278
Not the most gifted 7-footer on the planet, but can work a high-low with Carlos Boozer. That should be enough.
SEATTLE: 24. Alexis Ajinca
France, 7-0, 220
Big man help now, or big man help later? Probably later, what with Oklahoma City being an international metropolis if ever one was.
HOUSTON: 25. Jason Thompson
Rider, 6-11, 250
Big body as good as any as an insurance policy against another debilitating Yao Ming injury.
SAN ANTONIO: 26. Mario Chalmers
Kansas, 6-1, 190
The Spurs could do the usual and stash someone overseas for a bit, or they could get Tony Parker a young backup.
PORTLAND: 27. Ante Tomic
Croatia, 7-1, 225
Blazers buy the slot from New Orleans, just to stockpile another asset elsewhere. Tomic isn’t needed for a while.
MEMPHIS: 28. J.J. Hickson
N.C. State, 6-9, 242
The last thing the Grizzlies need is backcourt help. Or another contract. So either they go young and big, or they go international.
DETROIT: 29. Bill Walker
Kansas State, 6-6, 220
Either the Pistons upgrade their frontline, or they take a low-risk flier on a potential high-flyer in the gifted Walker.
BOSTON: 30. DeVon Hardin
California, 6-11, 235
Sneaking suspicion the NBA champs stash a big man overseas. But if not, they grab a body to rotate in the frontcourt so Kevin Garnett doesn’t guard centers.
