2008 NBA Draft: Preview and Projections

As the Final Four approaches, the college game has been able to showcase all of it's talents. So what's better then to see how these big names will fit in the NBA and the teams that will have a chance to draft them in late June.

Based on current win percentages the lottery would like end up looking like this.

1. Minnesota

2. Oklahoma City (Seattle)

3. Memphis

4. Miami

5. Charlotte

Minnesota

So the top pick falls in the hands of the man who made the biggest move a year ago by sending Kevin Garnett to Boston and helping restore Celtic Pride. What does he do with this pick?

Draft: Michael Beasley, Kansas State

Potential Starting Five: G. Randy Foye, G. Rashad McCants, F. Corey Brewer, F. Michael Beasley, C. Al Jefferson

Comment: This team sounds interesting, but realistically, this team would be extremely young and still in the rebuilding process.

Oklahoma City (Seattle) 

Draft: Derrick Rose, Memphis

Potential Starting Five: G. Derrick Rose, G. Kevin Durant, F. Jeff Green, F. Nick Collison, C. Anyone who can fill this with the appropriate height credentials.

Comment: See you next June at the Draft looking for a big guy.

Memphis

This could be their final visit to the Lottery. Seriously. OK maybe not, but I really think so.

Draft: Brook Lopez, Stanford

Potential Starting Five: G. Mike Conley, Jr, G. Mike Miller, F. Rudy Gay, F. Hakim Warrick, C. Brook Lopez

Comment: Brook Lopez could be that third chip to a three-man nucleus of Conley-Gay-Lopez. If these players develop well, and have good players around them, then the Griz may be out of the Draft Lottery for years to come.

Miami

Draft: Dwayne Wade, (sorry Mr. Riley that was 5 years ago.) OH...umm OK give me the other guy. The kid I went and saw instead of coaching the group of players you call my team. Eric Gordon

Potential Starting Five: G. Jason Williams, G. Dwayne Wade, G. Eric Gordon, G. Ricky Davis, G. Dorrell Wright

Comment: That's right, a disaster. See you next year.

Charlotte

Draft: DeAndre Jordan.

Potential Starting Five: G. Raymond Felton, G. Jason Richardson, F. Gerald Wallace, F. DeAndre Jordan, C. Emeka Okafor.

Bench that consists of: Adam Morrison, Jared Dudley, Sean May, Matt Carrol and Nazr Mohammed.

Comment: If they can draft Jordan and turn him into a solid PF or C that rebounds, blocks shots and scores when able, then this front court will make noise. Drafting Jordan could potentially propel them into the playoffs for the first time in team history, but that is not saying much being in the Eastern Conference.

I know we hear this every year.