NBA Mock Draft 2004
Version 3.0
Now that the draft order is set, so is our third mock draft. There's been plenty of movement, from the top all the way through the bottom. Underclassmen and international players can still pull out of the draft, which will change the look of the draft board even more. The fourth and final mock will be posted immediately following the Charlotte Bobcats' expansion draft on June 22nd or 23rd.
1. Orlando Magic - Emeka Okafor, PF (6-9, 250) Connecticut
- Something major would have to happen for the Magic not to take Okafor. Power forward isn't their biggest need, but a little bit of heart is and Emeka will bring plenty of that too the table. He's a proven winner that will help change the attitude of the franchise (read: Tracy McGrady).
2. Los Angeles Clippers - Shaun Livingston, PG (6-7, 175) Peoria (HS)
- I have to imagine this pick will be traded to someone (Bobcats, Hawks) who wants to snag Deng or Howard. The Clippers desperately need a point guard, but they can trade down and still grab Livingston or virtually anyone else they want. Who knows with the Clippers though. Even though there's no need for them, they could just sit here and take Howard. Just because they're the Clippers.
3. Chicago Bulls - Luol Deng, SF (6-8, 215) Duke
- This would've been the best spot for them if Howard was a lock to go second. Then there would be no pressure to take him. But in this scenario he's there for the taking and the pressure will be there to take the kid. I really don't see them going prep again and the hot rumors have them hot for Deng anyways. If Deng goes second then they probably trade the pick.
4. Charlotte Bobcats - Dwight Howard PF (6-11, 240) Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (HS)
- They've made it clear they don't have any intention of taking a prep, but if Howard were to somehow fall to them, they'd have to think hard about it. A trade, say with Atlanta, would make the most sense, but they should at least throw around the idea of stealing this kid if he happens to fall.
5. Washington Wizards - Andris Biedrins, PF (7-0, 240) BK Skonto Riga (Latvia)
- This is my shot in the dark pick. The Wizards are another team in desperate need of someone to do the dirty work in the post. Kwame Brown has proven to be Mr. Inconsistent and Brendan Haywood is... well, Brendan Haywood. Biedrins is a beast, who at 18 is already ready to bang with the big boys down low. It could be too early for him, but the payoff might be huge. Also another pick that could be traded.
6. Atlanta Hawks - Devin Harris, PG (6-3, 185) Wisconsin
- The Hawks could take anyone and it wouldn't come as a surprise. The only player of substance coming back next season is Jason Terry and there's a good chance he might even be gone. Harris has the size and skills to be a solid NBA point, even if it'll be in front of less fans than he got at Wisconsin games. In the end it just makes more sense to trade up with the Clips to take Howard.
7. Phoenix Suns - Martynas Andriuskevicius, C (7-3, 240) Zalgris (Lithuania)
- Like most of the world, I know very little about Andriuskevicius. He wasn't expected to come out this year, but his agent says he's in and the hot rumor has the Suns in love with him. The Wiz could take a flier on him a few spots higher, but this seems to be the place that makes most sense.
8. Toronto Raptors - Ben Gordon, PG (6-2, 200) Connecticut
- Front line help wouldn't be a shock here, but Vince and Co. need someone who can dish the rock and score when needed. Gordon isn't a pure point, but he'll be able to become a full time floor leader quicker than most. The people of Toronto will fall in love with his sweet stroke overnight.
9. Philadelphia 76ers - Josh Childress, SF (6-8, 200) Stanford
- He could go as high as four to the Bobcats, but the Sixers would love to give AI such a versatile player to run the floor with. A combination of Childress and Iverson in transition would be a lot of fun to watch.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers - Andre Iguodala, SG (6-6, 200) Arizona
- Iguodala doesn't have a great offensive game, but with LeBron, the last thing the Cavs need is someone to come in with a need to shoot the ball. They already have that in Dajuan Wagner. This would just give Cleveland one more player to put on the floor that can play multiple positions, to go along with LeBron and Jeff McInnis. Paul Silas would have a ball picking his matchups every night.
11. Golden State Warriors - Kosta Perovic, C (7-3, 240) Partizan Belgrade (Serbia-Montenegro)
- Odds are Erick Dampier will opt out of his contract and bring his services to a team swimming in cap room. That means the Warriors are in desperate need for some bulk in the middle, especially in the West. Perovic certainly won't step in and fill Dampier's shoes, but it would be a step in the right direction.
12. Seattle Supersonics - Rafael Araujo, C (6-11, 280) BYU
- The story about Araujo dominating Colorado's David Harrison in a recent workout might have been a bit exaggerated, but I can promise you it probably wasn't that far off. He has the toughness and passion for the game that Harrison will always be lacking. Seattle needs some real muscle and that's just what Araujo will bring to the team.
13. Portland Trailblazers - Sebastian Telfair, PG (5-11, 175) Lincoln (HS)
- The million dollar question (or 12 million if you're Adidas) is where will Bassy end up? The Blazers probably don't need another tiny point or another teenager on the bench, but they could be tempted to take Telfair. He already has star power and would be the perfect fit for the new image they're trying to sell to the fans of Portland.
14. Utah Jazz - Peja Samardziski, C (7-0, 245) Partizan Belgrade (Serbia-Montenegro)
- He could go a bit higher, but it isn't unreasonable at all to see him fall to the Jazz here. Utah needs size and Peja's a great start. He's got a ways to go, but he's only 18.
15. Boston Celtics - Dorell Wright, SG (6-8, 210) South Kent (HS)
- Another hot rumor is that Danny Ainge has already promised Wright he'll pick him with one their three first round picks. He isn't very well known yet, but once he starts working out for more teams, the Celtics might need to use their first pick to make sure they get their man.
16. Utah (from Phoenix via New York) - Pavel Podkolzine, C (7-5, 300) Varese (Italy)
- We don't know how long Jerry Sloan will keep coaching or if he'll want to take on a project. But Podkolzine is a 7-5 project and that height could go a long way in the West. Picking up two seven-footers in the span of three picks would be a quite an accomplishment.
17. Atlanta Hawks (from Detroit via Denver and Milwaukee) - Josh Smith, SF (6-9, 210) Oak Hill Academy (HS)
- Here's another guy that could go much, much higher. But with the way the lottery fell, it isn't out of the question he lasts into the teens. The Hawks would do back flips, yes back flips, if they could pick Smith up here, because they'll think about taking him at #6.
18. New Orleans Hornets - J.R. Smith, SG (6-6, 210) St. Benedict (HS)
- He has the prettiest jump shot I've seen in a long, long while, but there are plenty of questions about his attitude that could push him this far out of the lottery. The combination of Baron Davis and Smith would drive teams to drink.
19. Miami Heat - David Harrison, C (7-0, 260) Colorado
- The Heat need a big man that can step in and give them minutes right away. I don't like Harrison one bit, but he's the only guy left on the board that has size and the ability to contribute now.
20. Denver Nuggets - Luke Jackson, SG (6-7, 215) Oregon
- Melo and the gang would love to add a big two guard ready to play now. Jackson doesn't blow you away with any one thing, but his game is solid top to bottom. His unselfish play will only help Anthony get better. Yes, better.
21. Utah Jazz (via Houston) - Sergei Monya, SG (6-8, 220) CSKA (Russia)
- Every part of Monya's game that scouts rave about -- his aggressiveness on defense, versatility on offense -- are the things Jerry Sloan is always looking to add. So much so he could go off the board with one of the Jazz' first two picks.
22. New Jersey Nets - Kirk Snyder, SG (6-6, 225) Nevada
- The Pistons exploited how badly the Nets need help scoring in the half court game. Snyder will be able to find playing time right away and finally give Jersey a consistent force off the bench. He'll also help them salary cap wise when they won't have to worry about letting Kerry Kittles go next season.
23. Portland Trailblazers (via Memphis) - Peter John Ramos, C (7-3, 275) Criollos (Puerto Rico)
- The Blazers are one of the few teams in the West that can draft a center and allow him to come along slowly. But not
too slowly. If Ramos needs more than a season to get ready, then they need to look elsewhere.
24. Boston Celtics (via Dallas) - Robert Swift, C (7-1, 250) Bakersfield (HS)
- When you have three first round picks, and are looking to rebuild your franchise, you can afford to take two high school kids in the first round. The Celtics have a dire need for a legitimate center and Swift could be a force in the East a few years down the road.
25. Boston Celtics (via Detroit) - Kris Humphries, PF (6-9, 240) Minnesota
- With the rebuilding plan in mind, Ainge still needs to come away with at least one player that can play now. Humphries is another kid that could go in the late lottery and would be a steal for Boston here. He can single handedly show the team what it means to rebound.
26. Sacramento Kings - Tiago Splitter, PF (6-10, 230) Tau Ceramica (Spain)
- The Kings have to decide if they're going to make another run at a title or break the team up. Odds are, if Splitter lasts this long -- and stays in the draft -- they'll take him either way because he's that good. But I don't know why he'd want to keep his name in if he isn't promised a spot in the teens. If he pulls his name out, then you can pick just about any other name left on the board and you might be on to something.
27. Los Angeles Lakers - Sasha Vujacic, PG (6-7, 200) Udine (Italy)
- There's a good change Gary Payton and Derek Fisher will both be gone next year, so help at the point is a big need. Obviously if Kobe leaves via free agency then they'll need a shooter, but you don't replace the best guard on the planet with the 26th pick in the draft.
28. San Antonio Spurs - Al Jefferson, PF (6-9, 260) Prentiss (HS)
- Jefferson is an absolute monster. You have to take all high school stats with a grain of salt, but when a player averages over 40 points a game, you need to take notice. If he were a few inches taller, he'd be a lottery pick. This far down on the board, Jefferson could turn out to be the steal of the draft a few years down the road.
29. Indiana Pacers - Jameer Nelson, PG (5-11, 190) St. Joseph's
- I can't imagine he'll actually fall this low, but I had a problem finding another team that he fit with. Miami could be looking for depth at the point, but they need a starting center more than they need a backup guard. Indiana desperately needs to get more from their floor leader and taking Nelson would allow them to officially end the Jamaal Tinsley era.
:: Ryan 9:10 PM
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