To me, getting Al Jefferson, their new franchise big man, some help is the most important issue to be addressed at this point. This is a sound pick to make, though not very flashy. Lopez is a legitimate seven-footer with a chance to be a very good NBA center.
No. 4 Overall Selection (Seattle Supersonics): Russell Westbrook, Point Guard, UCLA
If the Sonics don’t end up trading to get Kevin Durant’s best friend Michael Beasley, Westbrook is the pick here. He has tremendous upside as a scorer and distributor and is a lock-down defender—a lock-down defender in a league where lock-down defenders are very hard to come by.
The Sonics don’t have any pressure to be good now, and can let Westbrook develop next to last year’s ROTY Kevin Durant. Westbrook is climbing up most draft boards, and for very good reason. He will at the very least be a difference maker on the defensive end; anything you can get from him on offense is gravy.
No. 5 Overall Selection (Memphis Grizzlies): Kevin Love, Power Forward, UCLA
He has size, instincts, and is an extremely good positional rebounder. His passing is outstanding, and his defense may not be stellar, but it will be solid. The Grizzlies should build around Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gay, and drafting Kevin Love is certainly a good start.
He would fit in perfect as a replacement for Pau Gasol, but will be a much tougher player. This pick won’t push the Grizzlies over the hump or anything to that extent, but it will help the Grizzlies push towards respectability at least.
No. 6 Overall Selection (New York Knicks): O.J. Mayo, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, USC
Although it would be a tough maneuver to find enough shots between O.J. Mayo and Jamal Crawford, Mike D’Antoni is maybe the coach to make that work. The Knicks have a need at basically every position, and are in the middle of a complete overhaul.
The best player available to fit the system is the recipe here. Mayo’s explosiveness in the open court can help him fit the up-tempo scheme. He has star potential and is the first step in what will be a tough rebuilding process for New York.
No. 7 Overall Selection (Los Angeles Clippers): Eric Gordon, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Indiana
The Clippers have been looking to get O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, or Jerryd Bayless with this pick. They need help at guard with Shaun Livingston still recovering from a severe knee injury.
Eric Gordon is an explosive, athletic, sharp-shooting guard that will fit well with the likes of Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, and Elton Brand (if he stays that is).
No. 8 Overall Selection (Milwaukee Bucks): Jerryd Bayless, Point Guard, Arizona
The Bucks are pretty mediocre all around, and could go in more than one direction with this pick. Jerry Bayless has been compared to Gilbert Arenas and Monta Ellis and is considered by many to be a future all-star.
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