***Official Draft Talk Thread***

[monosylab1k]

Oden and Durant are the top 2, there's no doubt about that.

What about after that? Will the Spurs trade up for Acie Law? Will the Mavs try to make a splash?

Here's Chad Ford's top 100 prospects. If anyone wants his scouting report on a specific player let me know.

1 Greg Oden C 7-0 245 19 Ohio State
2 Kevin Durant SF 6-10 190 18 Texas
3 Yi Jianlian PF 7-0 246 19 China
4 Brandan Wright PF 6-10 210 19 North Carolina
5 Al Horford PF 6-9 235 20 Florida
6 Corey Brewer SG 6-8 185 21 Florida
7 Julian Wright SF 6-9 220 20 Kansas
8 Mike Conley PG 6-0 170 19 Ohio State
9 Jeff Green SF 6-8 225 20 Georgetown
10 Joakim Noah PF 6-11 230 22 Florida
11 Spencer Hawes C 7-0 230 19 Washington
12 Roy Hibbert C 7-2 265 20 Georgetown
13 Al Thornton SF 6-7 210 23 Florida State
14 Nick Young SG 6-6 200 21 USC
15 Acie Law PG 6-3 185 22 Texas A&M
16 Thaddeus Young SF 6-8 210 18 Georgia Tech
17 Rodney Stuckey SG 6-4 205 21 Eastern Wash.
18 Tiago Splitter PF 7-0 240 22 Brazil
19 Jason Smith PF 7-0 230 21 Colorado State
20 Javaris Crittenton PG 6-5 180 19 Georgia Tech
21 Ante Tomic C 7-2 237 20 Croatia
22 Brandon Rush SG 6-7 205 21 Kansas
23 Daequan Cook SG 6-5 210 20 Ohio State
24 Gabe Pruitt PG 6-4 170 21 USC
25 Sean Williams C 6-10 230 20 Boston College
26 Josh McRoberts PF 6-10 230 20 Duke
27 Marco Belinelli SG 6-6 200 21 Italy
28 Derrick Byars SF 6-7 220 23 Vanderbilt
29 Rudy Fernandez SG 6-6 172 22 Spain
30 Glen Davis PF 6-9 290 21 LSU
31 DeVon Hardin C 6-11 235 20 California
32 Morris Almond SG 6-6 215 22 Rice
33 Marcus Williams SF 6-7 207 20 Arizona
34 Dominic James PG 5-11 175 20 Marquette
35 Marc Gasol C 7-0 265 22 Spain
36 Alando Tucker SF 6-5 205 23 Wisconsin
37 Dominic McGuire SF 6-8 215 21 Fresno State
38 Aaron Gray C 7-0 270 22 Pittsburgh
39 Kyle Visser C 6-11 244 21 Wake Forest
40 Taurean Green PG 6-0 177 21 Florida
41 Trey Johnson SG 6-5 218 22 Jackson State
42 Wilson Chandler SF 6-8 230 20 DePaul
43 Herbert Hill PF 6-10 240 22 Providence
44 Kyrylo Fesenko PF 7-0 245 20 Ukraine
45 J. R. Reynolds SG 6-3 197 23 Virginia
46 Petteri Koponen PG 6-4 194 19 Finland
47 Jermareo Davidson PF 6-10 230 22 Alabama
48 Nick Fazekas PF 6-11 225 21 Nevada
49 Arron Afflalo SG 6-5 210 21 UCLA
50 Jared Dudley SF 6-7 220 21 Boston College
51 Reyshawn Terry SF 6-8 235 23 North Carolina
52 Renaldas Seibutis SG 6-6 180 21 Lithuania
53 JamesOn Curry SG 6-3 190 21 Oklahoma State
54 Jared Jordan PG 6-2 187 22 Marist
55 Artem Zabelin C 7-1 200 19 Russia
56 D. J. Strawberry SG 6-5 201 21 Maryland
57 Joao Gomes SF 6-7 200 22 Portugal
58 Demetris Nichols SF 6-8 210 22 Syracuse
59 Ali Traore PF 6-10 247 22 France
60 Ron Lewis SG 6-4 200 22 Ohio State
61 Stanko Barac C 7-1 235 20 Bosnia
62 James Mays PF 6-9 225 21 Clemson
63 Aaron Brooks PG 5-11 160 22 Oregon
64 Bobby Brown PG 6-1 170 22 CS Fullerton
65 Marcelus Kemp SG 6-5 210 23 Nevada
66 Marko Tomas SG 6-8 210 22 Croatia
67 Joseph Jones PF 6-9 260 21 Texas A&M
68 Russell Carter SG 6-4 220 22 Notre Dame
69 Ivan Radenovic PF 6-10 224 22 Arizona
70 Carl Landry PF 6-7 252 23 Purdue
71 Zabian Dowdell PG 6-3 200 22 Virginia Tech
72 Brad Newley SG 6-6 190 22 Australia
73 Brandon Heath PG 6-4 200 23 San Diego State
74 Mario Boggan PF 6-7 235 23 Oklahoma State
75 Chris Daniels C 7-0 265 23 TX A&M Corp Chris
76 Sean Singletary PG 6-0 175 21 Virginia
77 Chris Richard C 6-9 255 22 Florida
78 Mustafa Shakur PG 6-3 183 22 Arizona
79 DaShaun Wood PG 5-11 180 21 Wright St
80 Stephane Lasme PF 6-8 220 24 Massachusetts
81 Quinton Hosley SG 6-6 210 23 Fresno State
82 Marcel Jones SF 6-8 215 Oregon State
83 Avis Wyatt SF 6-10 215 22 Virginia State
84 Roy Bright SG 6-6 225 21 Delaware State
85 Curtis Sumpter SF 6-7 223 23 Villanova
86 Ramon Sessions PG 6-3 190 21 Nevada
87 Cartier Martin SF 6-8 220 22 Kansas State
88 Ryvon Corville PF 6-9 243 Detroit
89 Adam Haluska SG 6-5 210 23 Iowa
90 Mohamed Abukar C 6-10 220 22 San Diego State
91 James Hughes C 6-10 217 23 Northern Illinois
92 Darryl Watkins C 6-11 260 22 Syracuse
93 Bo McCalebb PG 6-0 180 22 New Orleans
94 Larry Blair PG 6-0 185 Liberty
95 Marko Lekic PF 6-11 265 22 Serbia
96 Milovan Rakovic PF 6-10 Serbia
97 Coby Karl SG 6-5 209 Boise State
98 Mirza Teletovic PF 6-8 235 21 Bosnia
99 Ekene Ibekwe PF 6-9 220 21 Maryland
100 Luka Bogdanovic SF 6-10 225 22 Serbia

[Findog]

I'm guessing Tauren Green and Big Baby are targets for the Mavs at 34, 50 and 60. Would love to see Dallas move up to take Acie Law.

Kind of a quandary: We need to win now and even sure things like Conley and Law might struggle their rookie years.

[JamStone]

Atlanta in a power position in this draft. But, do they take Conley with the #3 to ensure he isn't taken before #11? That would leave them with fewer quality centers to choose from at #11. If they take a big like Horford or even Hibbert with #3, they risk not getting Conley at #11.

[JamStone]

Seattle will probably let Rashard Lewis walk and try to give Ray Allen away for a young quality prospect and expiring contracts. Ray Allen to the Knicks or the Pacers?

[Extra Stout]

This is a mighty good offseason, if your team is an aging title contender looking to reload a bit in the offseason, to have a bunch of expiring contracts.

[monosylab1k]

Atlanta in a power position in this draft. But, do they take Conley with the #3 to ensure he isn't taken before #11? That would leave them with fewer quality centers to choose from at #11. If they take a big like Horford or even Hibbert with #3, they risk not getting Conley at #11.

I say they should take Corey Brewer at #3 and roll the dice on Conley falling to 11. Even if someone takes Conley, they still have Acie Law to fall back on.

Or, if they really wanted Conley, they have a ton of talented young forwards/swingmen to package with their 11 pick to move up a few spots to take him. I'd bet Josh Childress + the 11 pick to the T-Wolves or Bucks would work.

[monosylab1k]

Various Mock Drafts -

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6840160?MSNHPHMA

http://www.draftexpress.com/mymock.php?page=official&year=2007

http://www.mynbadraft.com/2007-NBA-Mock-Draft

http://www.insidehoops.com/nba-mock-draft.shtml

http://fantapedia.net/2007nbamock

http://www.nbadraft.net/

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Roy Hibbert's going back to Georgetown.

[T Park]

Theyve got the Spurs getting Afflalo and the kid from rice and some 5 11 kid.


I wish the Spurs could trade up though and get a Thaddeus young.

THAT, is your Bruce Bowen replacement.

[dallaskd]

does anyone have any info or video on Yi Jianlian??

[DNS Error]

^^^ I'd really appreciate this as well. This kid's a mystery to me.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

Theyve got the Spurs getting Afflalo and the kid from rice and some 5 11 kid.


I wish the Spurs could trade up though and get a Thaddeus young.

THAT, is your Bruce Bowen replacement.

Affalo is a stud I want the Pistons to grab win with their late first. He is tall can shoot very well and can get his own shot.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

does anyone have any info or video on Yi Jianlian??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6plJTvMW04

[monosylab1k]

Here's some more info on Yi. This is Chad Ford's ESPN Scouting Report -

Yi Jianlian
Power Forward | 7-0, 246 | Age: 19
Hometown: Shenzhen, China

Draft Projection: Top 10

Similarities: Toni Kukoc

Notes: Yi's team, the Guangdong Tigers, announced in November 2006 that Yi will be released to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. While he's listed as being born in 1987, many scouts believe that he's actually born in 1984 making him 23 ... not 19. That's a big difference in NBA development terms. Is averaging 24.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg while shooting 57 percent from the field for the Guangdong Tigers this season.

Positives: A long, athletic forward who is very skilled. Explosive leaper with good lateral quickness. He has long arms (7-foot-4 wing) and big hands, which allows him to play even bigger than he actually is. Excellent shooter and ball handler. Fundamentally very sound. Excellent basketball IQ. Has really improved his rebounding. Hard worker.

Negatives: Needs to add strength, especially to his upper body. Needs to play more physically. Needs to work on his post-up game. Not a great shot blocker. More of a face-the-basket type of four.

Summary: Yi is the best international prospect in the draft this year. He has a ton of experience playing in international competitions and at the highest level in China. Given his upside and size he's a lock for the Top 10 pick who could go as high as No. 3 according to several NBA executives.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

Here's some more info on Yi. This is Chad Ford's ESPN Scouting Report -

Yi Jianlian
Power Forward | 7-0, 246 | Age: 19
Hometown: Shenzhen, China

Draft Projection: Top 10

Similarities: Toni Kukoc

Notes: Yi's team, the Guangdong Tigers, announced in November 2006 that Yi will be released to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. While he's listed as being born in 1987, many scouts believe that he's actually born in 1984 making him 23 ... not 19. That's a big difference in NBA development terms. Is averaging 24.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg while shooting 57 percent from the field for the Guangdong Tigers this season.

Positives: A long, athletic forward who is very skilled. Explosive leaper with good lateral quickness. He has long arms (7-foot-4 wing) and big hands, which allows him to play even bigger than he actually is. Excellent shooter and ball handler. Fundamentally very sound. Excellent basketball IQ. Has really improved his rebounding. Hard worker.

Negatives: Needs to add strength, especially to his upper body. Needs to play more physically. Needs to work on his post-up game. Not a great shot blocker. More of a face-the-basket type of four.

Summary: Yi is the best international prospect in the draft this year. He has a ton of experience playing in international competitions and at the highest level in China. Given his upside and size he's a lock for the Top 10 pick who could go as high as No. 3 according to several NBA executives.

He looks a little like Darko did.

[SpursIndonesia]

At the moment, Yi Jian Lian is closer to Darko Milicic than Tony Kukoc. :lol

I've seen quite some of his CBA league & Asian BBall Club championship games through local TV cable, so i have some knowledge about him.

IMHO, he doesn't have the level of dedication of Yao Ming, but indeed he's a very athletic 7 footer, with good fundamental & some attitude -unlike Darko who's rather too soft to succeed as NBA Bigman. I remember him getting into confrontation with Lebanese club player 2 yrs ago, and the man he confronted was atleast 10 yrs older back then.

He's a decent pick from 5-10 spot, but not higher IMHO.

[monosylab1k]

whether he's actually 19 or 23 will probably play a big part in how high he goes.

[Findog]

What's the scoop on Big Baby? He should be available when the Mavs draft. He lost quite a bit of weight between his junior and senior year. What kind of upside is he supposed to have?

[SpursIndonesia]

whether he's actually 19 or 23 will probably play a big part in how high he goes.

From my observation -take it with a grain of salt- he's not 19 nor 23 yrs of age, perhaps around 21 yrs old -he has been heard in Asian basketball community for about 5 yrs, and i don't believe a 14 yrs old is good enough to be inserted into a professional team bench, tough it's only a rather low CBA league level. OTOH, he's not supposed to be 23, because of the inside info from a poster in China BBall forum that the notion would make him a child outside marriage. :lol