Chad Ford's Mock Draft: Picks 1 to 30
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

The lottery results are in and the Toronto Raptors are the big winners this year.

At this point very little is set in stone. Expect this mock draft to fluctuate greatly over the course of the next five weeks.

The process of team workouts has just started. Over the next few weeks the Orlando NBA pre-draft camp and the Reebok Eurocamp will dramatically alter the face of the draft.

But for now, here's our best stab, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, at figuring out how the draft might go in June.

CHAD FORD'S MOCK DRAFT

Toronto
Andrea Bargnani
Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 225
Age: 20
Country: Italy
The skinny: Raptors president Bryan Colangelo needs a center and a point guard, but there is not a legitimate candidate to be the No. 1 pick at either position. So Colangelo will go with the player he considers to be the best available. He knows Bargnani better than anyone else does and will find a way to play him with Chris Bosh.


Chicago (via New York)
Tyrus Thomas
Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 229
Age: 19
School: LSU
The skinny: It's a tough call here between Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge would give them the low post scoring they need, but word is that the Bulls think Thomas has more potential and a bigger heart. Don't be surprised if the Bulls shop their two picks for a veteran.


Charlotte
Adam Morrison
Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 205
Age: 21
School: Gonzaga
The skinny: The Bobcats need a scorer and a small forward. Not only is Morrison a great fit on the court, but he'll also get fans in the seats.

But before we chisel Morrison's name in stone, don't count out Rudy Gay here either. GM Bernie Bickerstaff loves long, athletic players with great pedigrees and told me on Tuesday that he felt like Gay was getting a bad rap.


Portland
LaMarcus Aldridge
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 240
Age: 20
School: Texas
The skinny: Andrea Bargnani is near the top of their list and may be the pick if Toronto doesn't take him. Nate McMillan likes Brandon Roy and he might get him.

But Aldridge fits a need in the frontcourt, is one of the top three prospects in the draft, and is the type of kid off the court that the Blazers are trying to attract. Don't be surprised if the Blazers try to acquire another pick to get both Aldridge and Roy.


Atlanta
Brandon Roy
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 195
Age: 21
School: Washington
The skinny: A difficult situation for the Hawks. They'd prefer to get their hands on one of the three bigs taken ahead of them, particularly Bargnani. But if all four are off the board, look for them to go with the best player available. Roy has the ability to swing to the point, especially with another good ball-handler like Joe Johnson in the backcourt. Roy isn't the perfect answer to the Hawks' point guard woes, but he will give Atlanta one of the biggest backcourts in the league.


Minnesota
Rudy Gay
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 222
Age: 19
School: UConn
The skinny: This is a good get for the Wolves. Gay was the consensus No. 1 prospect in the draft at the beginning of the year and still has the potential to be the best player in the draft. Combined with Kevin Garnett, the Wolves would sport one of the biggest frontcourts in the league.


Boston
Rajon Rondo
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 171
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
The skinny: This is on the high end for Rondo, but he has several things going in his favor. First, after a bad season, he's working out well and reminding scouts why they had him ranked in the Top 5 before the season began. On pure talent and upside, he's one of the Top 10 prospects in the draft. Two, he's a perfect fit in Boston. He's a super athletic point guard who can push it and play defense. His shot stinks, but given the number of Celtics who like to let it fly, he's not going to need to take many jumpers.


Houston
J.J. Redick
Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Age: 21
School: Duke
The skinny: The Rockets have a number of needs, but the biggest is two guard. This is awfully high for Redick, but he should be a good fit in Houston. With Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady facing constant double teams, the Rockets need someone who can make them pay from the three point line. The team also needs help at the point and up front and players like UConn's Marcus Williams and Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant are options.


Golden State
Randy Foye
Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205
Age: 22
School: Villanova
The skinny: The Warriors don't have any glaring needs. With Baron Davis' health always in question, having a big time experienced combo guard like Foye could be a gem. Besides, at this point, he's the best player on the board.


Seattle
Shelden Williams
Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 250
Age: 22
School: Duke
The skinny: The Sonics need defense and Williams provides that. He's one of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the draft. With Reggie Evans gone and Chris Wilcox hitting free agency, adding a big, physical player like Williams is a good insurance policy.


Orlando
Ronnie Brewer
Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220
Age: 21
School: Arkansas
The skinny: The Magic have had their eye on Roy and Redick. If both are gone, then the team must move on to Plan B of finding a big guard to pair in the backcourt with point guard Jameer Nelson. Brewer is a good fit. He can swing to the point, plays aggressive defense and knows how to get to the basket.


New Orleans/Oklahoma City
Patrick O'Bryant
Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 250
Age: 19
School: Bradley
The skinny: After giving up Jamaal Magloire and losing Chris Andersen to a drug suspension, the Hornets lack that super athletic defensive presence that can rebound and block shots. O'Bryant is the best center on the board. He's very raw, but has the size and athleticism to be a significant presence in the middle down the road.


Philadelphia
Marcus Williams
Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Age: 20
School: UConn
The skinny: Allen Iverson shocked many with his strong point guard play this season, but the Sixers really need him at the two. Williams is the best pure point guard in the draft and it would be a mild surprise if he was still on the board here. He's the crafty floor leader that the Sixers have wanted for years.


Utah
Hilton Armstrong
Position: C
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235
Age: 21
School: UConn
The skinny: The Jazz's first priority is finding a scoring two guard. Foye and Redick are at the top of the list, but if they're both off the board, the Jazz will look to their other need at the center position. Greg Ostertag is retiring and the team could use an athletic shot blocker to help out Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer in the paint. Armstrong is a late bloomer who is still finding his game, but he does have the size, athleticism and shot blocking to be a legit NBA center.


NO/OC Hornets(via Milwaukee)
Rodney Carney
Position: SF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 205
Age: 22
School: Memphis
The skinny: The Hornets will be psyched if Carney is still on the board here. The team could use an athletic sweet shooting swingman and Carney has the experience to step right in and compete right away. Questions about Carney's toughness and desire are the only reason he's slipping.


Chicago
Mardy Collins
Position: PG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 205
Age: 21
School: Temple
The skinny: Collins is a great fit for the Bulls. The team needs a big guard to put in the backcourt with the smallish Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon. Collins stands at 6-foot-7 and can play both positions on the floor. He's an excellent defender and is a crafty player who uses angles to get to the basket.


Indiana
Cedric Simmons
Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235
Age: 20
School: NC State
The skinny: The Pacers have needs up front and in the backcourt, but will have a hard time passing on Simmons if he falls this far. Simmons is an excellent athlete with excellent rebounding and shot blocking skills. With Jermaine O'Neal constantly nursing injuries, and with Scot Pollard leaving via free agency, finding a legit option to replace O'Neal is essential.


Washington
Tiago Splitter
Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 240
Age: 21
Country: Brazil
The skinny: This is a steal for the Wizards if they can get it. On talent Splitter is a Top 10 pick, but he slips this far because of a big buyout with his Spanish team that will force him to stay in Europe one, maybe two more seasons. The good news is that when he does come to the NBA, he'd have a great chance of beating out Brendan Haywood for the starting center gig.


Sacramento
Guillermo Diaz
Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Age: 20
School: Miami
The skinny: The Kings have been unconventional the past few years and it looks like they're heading that direction again. They missed Bobby Jackson desperately this season and are looking for an athletic two guard who can shoot it. Diaz wasn't a great shooter in college, but he's wowed several scouts in workouts with his shooting stroke.


New York(via Denver)
Shawne Williams
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 225
Age: 20
School: Memphis
The skinny: Jalen Rose will be gone sooner than later and Knicks fans are still mourning the give away of Trevor Ariza at the deadline. Williams is a guy that Isiah Thomas can love. He's long, athletic, plays multiple positions and can shoot. He really needs another year of school, but playing for the Knicks is like playing for the JV at his point anyway.


Phoenix
Mouhamed Saer Sene
Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 232
Age: 20
Country: Senegal
The skinny: Coach Mike D'Antoni loves small ball, but he won't pass on the chance to get a big man if he has a chance. Armstrong is probably the best fit, but Sene has the most upside. He's a legit 7 foot, had a jaw dropping 7-foot-8 wingspan and proved at the Hoop Summit and in Europe that he can rebound and block shots at a jaw dropping rate.


New Jersey(via L.A. Clippers)
Kyle Lowry
Position: PG
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Age: 20
School: Villanova
The skinny: The Nets desperately need to upgrade their bench both in the front and the backcourt. Lowry is a super athletic, scrappy point guard who could help run the frentic pace that the Nets like to play. He's not the best shooter in the world, but he does just about everything else well. If he played another year in college, he'd have a shot at the lottery. That makes grabbing him here a steal.


New Jersey
Alexander Johnson
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230
Age: 23
School: FSU
The skinny: One of my draft sleepers this year. Johnson may be the most athletic big man in the draft. He's got a 40 inch vertical, runs the floor well and has great toughness at the position. While scouts wish he was a little taller (he's 6-foot-9 in shoes) and a little longer, his explosive athleticism and toughness remind some scouts of Kenyon Martin. The Nets need to get more athletic and tougher up front and Johnson, though a gamble, just might deliver.


Memphis
Aaron Gray
Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 270
Age: 21
School: Pittsburgh
The skinny: The Grizzlies have been searching for a legit center ever since Bryant Reeve retired. With Lorenzen Wright hitting free agency this summer, the need has never been greater. Who better to fill that role than the guy who plays and kids of looks like Big Country. While Jerry West would prefer an athletic big man, Gray proved at Pittsburgh that he can be a formidable force in the paint.


Cleveland
Jordan Farmar
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: UCLA
The skinny: Danny Ferry will be doing back flips if Farmar is still on the board when they pick. Eric Snow peaked years ago and it looks like Damon Jones is on the down slide. There's nothing flashy about Farmar's game, but next to Marcus Williams, he's the best pure point guard in the draft.


L.A. Lakers
Shannon Brown
Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Age: 20
School: Mich St
The skinny: The Lakers don't need pure point guards in the triangle and Brown should be a good fit. He's tough, super athletic and has improved his stroke dramatically. Brown gives Phil Jackson another backcourt scoring option besides Kobe.


Phoenix
Quincy Douby
Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 175
Age: 22
School: Rutgers
The skinny: Douby should thrive in the Suns small ball system. He plays multiple positions, is great from long range and knows how to light up the scoreboard. With Leandro Barbosa just one year from free agency (and with the Suns looking pretty capped out) he could be a worthy replacement. Texas' Daniel Gibson is also a good option here.


Dallas
Marcus Vinicius
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235
Age: 21
Country: Brazil
The skinny: The Brazilian big man can play both the three and the four. He's a little bit of a project, but scouts that have seen him workout think he could be a sleeper. Given the way the Mavs are playing now, tough, versatile, athletic wing players seem to be in vougue.


New York(via San Antonio)
Maurice Ager
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 180
Age: 22
School: Mich St
The skinny: The Knicks have a ton of guards in the backcourt, but what they miss is an excellent perimeter shooter. Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford are all better putting the ball on the floor. Besides, does anyone think most of these guys will be here next season?


Portland(via Detroit)
Olexsiy Pecherov
Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 222
Age: 21
School: Ukraine
The skinny: The Blazers second pick will probably stay overseas for another year or two. Pecherov looks like Keith Van Horn and has some of his versatility at both the three and the four. He's solid season at Paris Racing has given scouts hope that he might really blossom.

Other potential first rounders: Leon Powe, Josh Boone, Paul Davis, Richard Roby, Daniel Gibson, Nick Fazekas, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, James Augustine, Vladimir Veremeenko, Damir Markota, Thabo Sefolosha, James White, Darius Washington, Curtis Stinson, Paul Millsap, Yotam Halperin

why does chad fraud keep takinh shots when we;re down?

Knicks fans are still mourning the give away of Trevor Ariza at the deadline.

Yeah another Thomas blunder, he hated that kid. You right Bip, we have to listen to Coach Brown.

I see a few projections w/ JJ Redick falling all the way to the late teens. I cannot wait to see the debate about him on this site. I'll say this, it certainly would be nice to have a guy that gives a sh_t. I'd be thrilled if we lucked out & got him (longshot, I realize).

Posted by Pharzeone:

Knicks fans are still mourning the give away of Trevor Ariza at the deadline.

Yeah another Thomas blunder, he hated that kid. You right Bip, we have to listen to Coach Brown.

If he's here, yes we do. Just like any other coach we would bring here. If you don't want to, then move on to the next coach......Again.

Mourning? Certainly waaaay too strong. But, Qyntel Woods was so much of a better player. His offensive abilities, while a streaky shooter, are undeniable. I thought he made strides defensively & on the boards.

Sucks that there's a strong possiblity that we'll lose him

Posted by Bippity10:

On a side note: Are people really mourning his loss?

I cry myself to sleep about it every night.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by Bippity10:

On a side note: Are people really mourning his loss?

Nope. It was just another shot at the Knicks. I don't remember Chad praising Isiah for drafting Ariza but he does knock Isiah for trading him!

then you weren't paying attention cause Ford loved the Ariza pick. He went on and on about how Trev would be a high first if he stayed another year or two at UCLA

huh

Ariza was nabbed at 43 not 4

He praised Isiah.

"Isiah has the steal of the draft"

Id be suprised if Shawne Williams is there at 20. Once teams get this kid in for individual workouts I think his stock will rise. He is in the molds of Marvin Williams and Al Harrington. He's a big, strong, atheletic Small Forward who does a little bit of everything.

Knicks would have to be estatic if he falls to 20.