Jun 27

  
On June 8 I presented my Mock 1.0 for the NBA draft. Since then, some things have changed. Namely, the Chicago combine and scores of draft workouts have been conducted around the league. Players have been ascended and descended in player rankings and mock drafts around the league.

There also have been a few trades and some solid trade rumors which make it necessary to update my Mock 1.0. So now, the night prior to the draft, here is my Mock 2.0:

1. New Orleans Hornets -- Anthony Davis (6-10, Kentucky). No change here (or on anyone else's blog either). Stick a fork in this pick; it's done. The Unibrow is headed for New Orleans. Nice to know at least one player in this draft is a certainty.

2. Charlotte Bobcats -- Thomas Robinson (6-9, Kansas). The 'Cats are shopping this pick, but I'm going to presume that they end up keeping it. No change from my first mock here. Robinson is still headed for Charlotte.

3. Washington Wizards -- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6-7. Kentucky). The Wizards might be tempted to move down a bit, but at number three, Kidd-Gilchrist is too good to pass up. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers -- Bradley Beal (6-5, Florida). Cleveland could very well move this pick, but as that hasn't happened yet, I've still got Beal going there to team up in the backcourt with Kyrie Irving..

5. Sacramento Kings -- Andre Drummond (6-11, Connecticut). This is where the draft starts to get interesting. Honestly, I don't think the Kings keep this pick. They trade it to Houston or Orlando as part of a three-team deal which, among other things, sends Dwight Howard to the Rockets and Drummond to the Magic.

6. Portland Trailblazers -- Perry Jones (6-11, Baylor). I'm not sure if people think the Blazers will take Damian Lillard or just hope they do. They pull the trigger on the Baylor big man instead. If the Blazers don't take a big here, look for them to nab Meyers Leonard or Tyler Zeller at #11.

7. Golden State Warriors -- Harrison Barnes (6-7, North Carolina). In all likelihood, Barnes would not fall this far, but here he is ripe for the Warriors for the taking. He's available and they tab him to go to the east bay.

8. Toronto Raptors -- Damian Lillard (6-4, Weber St.). The Raptors tab the Weber St. pg right away, and latter this summer they amnesty Jose Calderon. 

9. Detroit Pistons -- Jared Sulinger (6-9, Ohio State). He's a little undersized for a center, but they love his toughness inside and figure his 280-pound frame can make up for his lack of height.

10. New Orleans Hornets -- Dion Waiters (6-5, Syracuse). The Hornets look to add some scoring punch to their arsenal, so they take a stab at Waiters to round out the top 10.

11. Portland Trailblazers -- Kendall Marshall (6-4, North Carolina). After considering several players here, the Blazers decide to select Marshall to fill a need at the point, and are pleased with the selection.

Kendall Marshall

12. Houston Rockets -- Austin Rivers (6-4, Duke). It's unlikely Houston keeps this pick (including it in the Dwight Howard package) but whether they do keep it, it goes to the Kings or the Magic, Rivers could be a good piece for any of the teams. I once thought this was a high position for Rivers, but it appears his stock has increased enough to warrant him at 12.

13. Phoenix Suns -- Terrence Ross (6-6, Washington). The Suns would have loved for Lillard or Marshall to have dropped to their selection, but in the end they go with the sg from Washington.

14. Milwaukee Bucks -- Tyler Zeller (7-0, North Carolina). Though the Bucks have their eyes on Leonard, they tab Zeller as the departed Andrew Bogut's replacement.

15. Philadelphia 76ers -- Arnett Moultrie (6-10, Mississippi State). Moultrie will be expected to one day step in for the aging Elton Brand. I also had him going here in my first mock.

16. Houston Rockets -- John Henson (6-11, North Carolina). I find it also unlikely the Rockets keep this selection (for the same reasons as pick 14), but like the pick two spots ahead, any of the three teams could benefit from Henson in this spot.

17. Dallas Mavericks -- Meyers Leonard (7-1, Illinois). In another selection which hasn't changed from my first mock, I've got Dallas taking Leonard here to help shore up their front line.

18. Houston Rockets -- Jeremy Lamb (6-5, Connecticutt). As with picks 12 and 16, this selection could also be used by the Rockets in an attempt to land Howard. If Houston keeps this pick, look for them the snag Moe Harkless here.

19. Orlando Magic -- Fab Melo (7-0, Syracuse). With the future of Dwight Howard looking bleak, Orlando thinks Melo could anchor their middle if Howard should bolt, or back him up should he stay.

20. Denver Nuggets -- Moe Harkless (6-8, St. John's). The Nuggets can go in any of several directions here, but decide Harkless can compliment Kenneth Faried in their front line.

2011 NBA First Round Draft Board

21. Boston Celtics -- Terrence Jones (6-9, Kentucky). Boston's youth movement begins with Jones, who is capable of playing both forward positions.

22. Boston Celtics -- Tony Wroten (6-5, Washington). The youth movement continues by selecting the combo guard with their second straight pick.

23. Atlanta Hawks -- Marquis Teague (6-2, Kentucky). The Hawks are a bit surprised Teague is still on the board at this spot, so they grab him pretty quickly.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers -- Quincy Miller (6-9, Baylor). The Cavs build on their draft success from last year by selecting the lanky Miller here. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies -- Evan Fournier (6-6, International). The Grizzlies are shopping Rudy Gay and whether they trade him for a pick or a player, they take Fournier as the best prospect and possible replacement.

26. Indiana Pacers -- Royce White (6-8, Iowa State). Indiana goes with White over Andrew Nicholson and Jeff Taylor.

27. Miami Heat -- Tyshawn Taylor (6-3, Kansas). The Heat, who will have lost in the finals for the second time in two years, put aside Taylor's off-court indiscretions to take him.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder -- Jeff Taylor (6-7, Vanderbilt). The Thunder feel they've struck gold with Taylor, who averaged 20.2 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from three and 80 percent from the line last season.

29. Chicago Bulls -- Andrew Nicholson (6-9, St. Bonaventure). The Bulls are looking for help to get over the hump. They consider depth at pg, but decided on the SF Nicholson instead.

30. Golden State Warriors -- Orlando Johnson (6-5, UC Santa Barbara). The first round ends with the Warriors selection of the solid-shooting Johnson, who averaged nearly 20 points per game last year as a senior.

Again, I know there will be agreement and disagreement, as well as players you all hope we select. The question remains: Who do you see the Blazers taking (if they keep the picks)?

To view my official mock draft on this site, and perhaps compare that to this, please click Kassandra's Mock Draft.

~ KMM

Note: The criteria used in this mock draft included, but was not limited to: Draft position, team need, best player available, and five separate draft rankings. Also, There likely will be a number of international players selected which may not be reflected here.

In Kassandra's Words features blogs throughout the year. Comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Seasons begin and end; players come and go; our Blazers are forever. Please follow on twitter: @PDXKass