Separated at Birth?

Nakia from The Voice and the owner of the greatest voice of all time, Luciano Pavarotti

First Round NBA Draft Thoughts

-The recurring pattern in this draft was to replicate known commodities.

Wolves: Derrick Williams (already have Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster, and possibly Wesley Johnson)
Wizards: Jan Vesely (Andray Blatche, Javale McGee)
Warriors: Klay Thompson (Monta Ellis)
Rockets: Marcus Morris (Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola)

-The Spurs - again - made a great move acquiring a player (Kawhi Leonard) that slipped down the draft board just like they did with DeJuan Blair a few years back.

-My mock draft was pretty great. Not a ton of direct hits, but a ton of near misses.

-I love Utah's draft. Enes Kanter will be the best player from this class and Alec Burks fits a gaping hole at the 2. They have the pieces to compete next season with these two Devin Harris, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Derrick Favors.

-Mark Jones was flat out awful during this round.

-The Rockets will miss the playoffs again.

Separated at Birth?

NBA players Serge Ibaka (Thunder) and Elton Brand (76ers)

NBA Mock Draft

Who am I kidding? I can't pass up an opportunity to mock a first round.

Here is the way I think the first round will play out:

1. Cavs: G Kyrie Irving, Duke
2. Wolves: F Enes Kanter, Kentucky/Turkey
3. Jazz: F Derrick Williams, Arizona
4. Cavs: F Tristan Thompson, Texas
5. Raptors: F Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
6. Wizards: F Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
7. Kings: G Brandon Knight, Kentucky
8. Pistons: F Bismack Byomobo, Congo
9. Bobcats: G Kemba Walker, UConn
10. Bucks: G Klay Thompson, Washington State
11. Warriors: G Alec Burks, Colorado
12. Jazz: G Jimmer Fredette, BYU
13. Suns: F Chris Singleton, Florida State
14. Rockets: F Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
15. Pacers: F Marcus Morris, Kansas
16. 76ers: F Markieff Morris, Kansas
17. Knicks: F Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
18. Wizards: F Jordan Hamilton, Texas
19. Bobcats: Nikola Vucevic, USC
20. Wolves: F Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
21. Blazers: F Tobias Harris, Tennessee
22. Nuggets: G Darius Morris, Michigan
23. Rockets: G Marshon Brooks, Providence
24. Thunder: C Donatas Motiejuneas, Lithuania
25. Celtics: G Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech
26. Mavs: G Norris Cole, Cleveland State
27. Nets: G Reggie Jackson, Boston College
28. Bulls: G Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
29. Spurs: G Nolan Smith, Duke
30. Bulls: F Bojan Bogdanovich, Serbia

NBA Draft Thoughts

With the new job and a recent vacation, I'm not sure if I will have time to do a full (my partial first round mock can be found here) NBA Mock Draft. In the interim, here are some things that I want to see happen in relation to Thursday's festivities:

1. I would like to see one team draft the Morris twins... and Darius Morris. The most likely candidate: Charlotte. The Bobcats pick 9th, 19th, and 39th and this scenario isn't completely out of the question.


Maybe with these three, Bobcats fans (if they exist) would show up.

2. I would like to see Cleveland select Kyrie Irving... and Derrick Williams. Some crazy things would have to transpire, but again, this too could happen.

3. I would like to see Chad Ford get some sleep. He's already six mock drafts deep with a seventh due out on Thursday.

4. I would like see the Knicks draft either Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, or Klay Thompson. It will likely take a trade by Donnie Walsh (what does he care about the future, this is his last draft anyway) but the New York faithful will be thrilled... at least until they see their 50% increase in season ticket prices.

5. I would like to see the Rockets get "the best value available" with each of their picks and still miss the playoffs. Of all scenarios on this list, I have the most confidence in this one.

6. I would like to see the OKC Thunder make a move for a proven veteran. They don't need to plan for the future anymore. They have enough young talent with KD, Westbrook, Serge, and Harden. I'm not sure who exactly the target should be, but GM Sam Presti is creative.

7. I would like to see the Wizards draft Enes Kanter. I think he and John Wall can build something special in DC. Kanter is the top rated player on my board.

8. I would like to see local superstar Charles Jenkins get picked in the first round (Celtics, Bulls?).


Other thoughts:

-Irving is the top ranked player on almost everyone's board, but what would Minnesota do if he slipped past the Cavs at number one?

-Jan Vesely shot 44% from the free throw line last year. Good luck with that team wasting a top-10 pick on him.

-Over/under on seniors taken in the first round: 4.5 (I'm taking the under).

-I'm a JaJuan Johnson believer. He's a poor man's Marcus Camby.

-Wisconsin F/C Jon Leuer would be a perfect second round pick for the hometown Bucks.

General Update

I started a new job last week and have not been able to post for a while. For that, I apologize.

I will have an NBA draft post in the morning, and the postings will pick up in the next few weeks again.