NBA Mock Draft Series: Seattle Supersonics

Previous Picks:

1.) Chicago Bulls, Michael Beasley, Kansas State

2.) Miami Heat, Derrick Rose, Memphis

3.) Minnesota Timberwolves, D.J. Augustin, Texas

The NBA Mock Draft Series continues...

There was good news and bad news for the Seattle Supersonics after their season ended in despair.

The good news is that they have two solid building blocks in Kevin Durant and Jeff Green going into next season. The bad news? The Sonics lost 62 games and are uncertain of their future in Seattle.

Seattle lacks any kind of outside shooting after losing Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen and Wally Szczerbiak, so you would think Seattle would go after a shooting guard or small forward.

"We feel good about the opportunity to add another talented player to our core. We feel like we have the opportunity to add someone that is going to help our team, so from that standpoint we're excited."--Sam Presti, Sonics GM

But after losing Delonte West via trade, Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour are the only two point guards on the roster.

Ridnour hasn't lived up to his potential and Watson isn't a guy that will be long term as the Sonics' starting point guard.

If available, Brook Lopez as well as O.J. Mayo and Jerryd Bayless will be the guys on Seattle's radar.

The Sonics could also use a low-post scorer, but that has to be the least of their concerns because Durant, Green, Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison and even Johan Petro can fill that void.

With the fourth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Seattle Supersonics select Jerryd Bayless out of Univerity of Arizona.

Jerryd Bayless was sort of under-the-radar because of all the Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon and Kevin Love talk. But Bayless had a solid freshman season at Arizona, despite not having his head man Lute Olsen by his side.

Like every prospect, Bayless has his strengths and weaknesses. But his strengths will make him a vital asset to the Sonics.

Bayless has a great first step and to top it off, he is extremely quick. He shot 45% from the field at Arizona and has shown that he has the NBA range, too.

But the question is, is will he be a point guard or shooting guard? He's a good ball-handler and is an unselfish player, but he has a better feel as a scorer instead of a playmaker. The ability to create his own shot will also make him a good scorer at the PG position.

His size (6'3) is a little undersized for a regular two guard, so Bayless will most likely be a point guard. Bayless is going to be a good player, but some draft experts say he will need time to develop.

Michael Whittenberg, a senior writer for bleacherreport.com, is also one of two NBA Community Leaders.