2008 NBA Draft: The Smart Selections

Gary Lloyd by Columnist Written on June 01, 2008
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I've been locked on this pick for a while, as I believe Thompson would complement Dwight Howard well. The Magic could, however, certainly go with a shooting guard here.

23. Utah Jazz select Roy Hibbert, Georgetown center: If he's available at No. 23, this pick should be obvious. The Jazz are a halfcourt set-type team, and Hibbert needs that, as there is no way he'll get up and down the floor without tiring quickly.

24. Seattle Sonics (via PHX) select Nicolas Batum, France forward: Seattle has shown it likes to go international with late picks, and Batum would be perfect. He's not one to stay overseas for a few seasons and mature, either. He's an immediate impact player.

25. Houston Rockets select Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis guard: Houston needs guard help badly, and CDR's ability to slash and score, as well as fill it up from beyond the arc makes him an intriguing prospect.

26. San Antonio Spurs select Serge Ibaka, Congo forward: Ibaka is a very young power forward, so he may be kept overseas to develop for a couple seasons. Typical San Antonio.

27. New Orleans Hornets select Wayne Ellington, North Carolina guard: Peja Stojakovic isn't getting any younger or healthier, and an assassin from distance is needed. Ellington has shown flashes of brilliance in Chapel Hill, and he could be the guy for New Orleans.

28. Memphis Grizzlies (via LAL) select JJ Hickson, NC State forward: The Grizzlies continue to add low-post depth in round one. Love and Hickson could be a nice rotation in a few seasons.

29. Detroit Pistons select Richard Hendrix, Alabama forward: Hendrix showed he's a hustle player at the pre-draft camp, and that he can bang in the post. Running the floor and staying out of foul trouble are hindrances that Hendrix will have to deal with as a pro.

30. Boston Celtics select Ty Lawson, North Carolina point guard: Rajon Rondo needs a backup, and Lawson would be that great energy guy off the bench for Boston.

Best Remaining Players

Mario Chalmers (Kansas point guard), Nathan Jawai (Australia forward), Davon Jefferson (USC forward), Kyle Weaver (Washington State guard), Lester Hudson (UT-Martin guard), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky guard), Bill Walker (Kansas State guard), Gary Forbes (Massachusetts guard), Omer Asik (Turkey center), DJ White (Indiana forward), Joey Dorsey (Memphis forward), Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State guard), DeVon Hardin (California forward), Shan Foster (Vanderbilt guard), Nikola Pekovic (Serbia forward), Trent Plaisted (BYU forward).

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written on June 01, 2008 Preview/Prediction

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