Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Year: FR
College: Duke
CHU Analysis: For months, several mock drafts have fluctuated on this pick, but after seeing Irving once early last November, he's been my #1 guy and no change now. Irving is not the athlete former #1s John Wall and Derrick Rose are, but is leader without peer, has a great feel running a team and can score with efficiency.
Position: F
Height: 6-8
Weight: 240
Year: SO
College: Arizona
CHU Analysis: Minnesota will have to either move this pick or trade Michael Beasley. WIth Ricky Rubio set to arrive he needs backcourt help and no one believes Jonny Flynn, Martell Webster or Wesley Johnson is the answer as a partner. Derrick Williams will go #2, but to where? If David Kahn can get an off guard and/or center, this pick will be dealt methinks.
CHU Analysis: Utah needs wings in the worst way, but point guard and big forward are what's available. Since the Jazz will look to compete for the playoffs again this year, a deal is very likely. If Utah stay on this pick, I've had them taking Kanter since the draft lottery. He is not a need, but the best prospect available. Brandon Knight appears the pick if the Jazz go point guard.
CHU Analysis: The Cavs will pounce on Kanter if he's available and Valanciunas is the choice if not for the contract issue. Word is he is still trying to play in the NBA next season, so I will keep him at #4.
CHU Analysis: Hats off to Toronto for choosing defensive wiz Dwayne Casey. Oddly, though, this is a offensive-oriented roster. So, taking a frontcourt stopper is a possibility and Jonas Valanciunas is the top player on the board, but his overseas contract is an issue. In Brandon Knight, Toronto gets a future point guard and a stopper. A sleeper here might by Bismack Biyombo, especially if the Raptors decide to move Bargnani.
Position: F
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Year: SO
College: San Diego St.
CHU Analysis: WIth wing forward the glaring hole right now in DC, Leonard has been slotted here for some time. I see no reason to change, but the Wizards could also go bigger. An offensive tweener, Leonard is versatile defensively and will improve as he develops rapport with John Wall. The Wizards could move this choice to move up if they are willing to deal JaVale McGee.
CHU Analysis: Charlotte acquires this pick to go with #9 and despite depth up front, Tristan Thompson has tremendous upside and is a rebounding machine.
Position: PG
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Year: JR
College: Connecticut
CHU Analysis: Detroit has to take a big, right? But if Kemba Walker is available, can Joe Dumars pass him up? He's a great match for Rodney Stuckey and gives the Pistons a leader and face of the franchise.
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 205
Year: JR
College: Washington St.
CHU Analysis: If Charlotte goes big at #7, they can take fast rising Klay Thompson at nine. A pure scorer and shooter who understands how to play, Thompson gives the Bobcats a nice foundation for the future.
CHU Analysis: Whether Vesely or not remains to be seen, but someone will drop out of the Top 10. Vesely is an active, athletic big that would fit well in the Warrior system.
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 185
Year: SO
College: Colorado
CHU Analysis: Regardless of what Utah does at #3, there is no off guard on the roster, so the talented Alec Burks gets the call and is a jumper from being an all star.
Position: G/F
Height: 6-8
Weight: 230
Year: SO
College: Texas
CHU Analysis: Rumors have Phoenix trying hard to move up, possibly to #2, to take Derrick Williams. Marcin Gortan would be the player moved and Minnesota would take the 13th selection. They need a two guard with Vince Carter set to be bought out, so talented scorer Jordan Hamilton is a nice fit.
CHU Analysis: I don't expect Houston to own this pick when all is said and done. If Biyombo falls this far, he is a great post defender and rebounder who at least gives them something close to a center if Yao Ming is done.
Position: F
Height: 6-8
Weight: 230
Year: JR
College: Kansas
CHU Analysis: Indiana needs frontcourt depth for Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough. Off guard is a question mark, although Brandon Rush and Paul George are on hand, so the versatile Marcus Morris gets the nod.
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 230
Year: JR
College: Florida St.
CHU Analysis: The 76ers are on the rise and will look to add depth. Iif Andre Iguodala is moved as expected, Doug Collins might also grab a wing who can defend.
Position: PF/C
Height: 6-11
Weight: 260
Year: JR
College: Southern California
CHU Analysis: New York is built upon superstars Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony and have little flexibility to add talent, so they need to select someone who can help immediately. Point guard is a need with Chauncey Billups a year from leaving. But getting a solid low post scorer like Nikola Vucevic would bolster the frontline quickly.
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 195
Year: SR
College: Providence
CHU Analysis: If Washington takes Leonard with the sixth pick, they can select a post player or off guard. With the Nick Young's status a queston mark and Jordan Crawford smallish and more a combo guard, Marshon Brooks offers a potential plus player to pair with Wall.
19
Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans via Portland via Charlotte)
Position: F
Height: 6-8
Weight: 230
Year: JR
College: Kansas
CHU Analysis: Now loaded in the backcourt following the pre-draft swap with Charlotte and Sacramento, Milwaukee will try get a talented frontcourt player. Markieff Morris has been on their radar for a while.
CHU Analysis: There is a good chance this pick has changed hands by draft night, but if Minnesota hasn't addressed their off guard need, rapid rising Iman Shumpert is a good pick. The Georgia Tech guard does everything well on the floor sans shoot. Big and athletic, Shumpert is a plus defender, gets to the rim and can play some point.
CHU Analysis: Portland is trying to unload Andre Miller and at most, he will play one more season for the Blazers. So landing a high upside lead guard like Josh Selby makes sense.
Position: PF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 225
Year: SR
College: Morehead St.
CHU Analysis: With Nene, Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith possibly on the outs and a wealth of talent at the point and the wing, expect Denver to make a deal or two. They are rumored to be looking for a move into the lottery. JaJuan Johnson quietly had a strong four-year career at Purdue and is a premium shotblocker and nice shooter to mid-range.
CHU Analysis: Again, debatable whether Houston is choosing here, but center is a need and Jeremy Tyler grades out as one of the top picks in the draft. His upside - and potential for failure - are immense and could be the steal of the draft someday.
Position: PF
Height: 7-0
Weight: 225
Year: SR
College: Morehead St.
CHU Analysis: Oklahoma City has no glaring needs. The roster is actually overflowing, so Sam Presti may look to deal this pick or take someone who can be stashed in Europe for a while. It's also a good place to be for someone who slides.
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 225
Year: SR
College: Purdue
CHU Analysis: Danny Ainge is notorious for drafting well late in the first round and into the second. But, is he looking to rebuild the roster or make yet one more title run? The frontcourt could use some youth and JaJuan Johnson is a plus shotblocker who can score to mid-range.
Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Year: JR
College: Boston College
CHU Analysis: Coming off an NBA championship, Dallas has questions with an aging roster and the free agency of Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler. At this point,a team like the Mavs can look to find someone who will fit into their system or take a flyer on a player with some upside. Jason Kidd won't be around forever, and J.J. Barrea might be too costly in the future. Reggie Jackson has the tools to succeed in the NBA and time will tell if he can adjust to running a team full time.
Position: G
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Year: SR
College: Hofstra
CHU Analysis: New Jersey's 2010 and 2011 Drafts were essentially spent on the acquisition of Deron Williams.Despite this being a late pick, the Nets need to find someone who can step in and give quality minutes. Combo guard Charles Jenkins has some Joe Dumars to his game and might be a steal this late.
Position: SF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 225
Year: Int'l
Country: Montenegro
CHU Analysis: Behind Derrick Rose, Chicago has returned to prominence and are one perimeter player away from winning a title. The frontcourt is set with Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson, plus Luol Deng at the three. Charles Jenkins is undersized at the two, but can slide to point when Rose needs a break and the Hofstra grad is more than capable of putting up points and will be an upgrade over the platooning trio employed last year.
Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 185
Year: SO
College: UCLA
CHU Analysis: Word is San Antonio would like to add some youth and are dangling Tony Parker as trade bait to get into the lottery. Parkers name has come up increasingly the past couple years and this might be the year he moves on. Several teams would love to add him. As it stands, the Spurs can address their need on the wing with UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt - a jack-of-all-trades who may develop into one the NBA's most versatile performers.
