Bee Staff Writer Joe Davidson predicts today's first round
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14272566p-15082859c.html
1. Toronto: Andrea Bargnani, Italy, PF, 7-1 • The skinny: Tall and talented, is he the next Dirk Nowitzki or is he more like Pervis Ellison? Could give Raptors excellent front line.
2. Chicago: Tyrus Thomas, LSU, PF, 6-8 • The skinny: Thanks to the Knicks, the Bulls land a player who could go No. 1. Will boost an already solid team.
3. Charlotte: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, SF, 6-8
• The skinny: Some scoring and some flair (and a weak mustache) for a team that needs both in a town that loves hoops.
4. Portland: Brandon Roy, Washington, SG, 6-6
• The skinny: The Trail Blazers crave Morrison or Bargnani if they slip, but coach Nate McMillan is high on Roy, who appears NBA-ready now.
5. Atlanta: LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas, PF, 6-11
• The skinny: Some muscle inside for the NBA's youngest team, though the Hawks are still a year or five away.
6. Minnesota: Rudy Gay, SF, UConn, 6-8
• The skinny: The Timberwolves also love Thomas, and there's talk that Gay could go No. 1 after impressive workouts. A steal here, though.
7. Boston: Marcus Williams, UConn, PG, 6-3
• The skinny: Celtics still searching for point guard -- and Huskies star could steer green back into the postseason.
8. Houston: J.J. Redick, Duke, SG, 6-4
• The skinny: The Rockets covet Roy and may get him with a trade. If not, Redick's scoring punch surely will help.
9. Golden State: Randy Foye, Villanova, SG, 6-4
• The skinny: Yes, the Warriors have Jason Richardson, but there could be a trade here, or Golden State could go big with a big man.
10. Seattle: Shelden Williams, Duke, PF, 6-8
• The skinny: An Antonio Davis clone with a 7-4 wingspan. He doesn't have to play center, just collect rebounds, defend and score inside.
11. Orlando: Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas, SG, 6-7
• The skinny: Athletic with a nice shooting touch. Hello, new era; goodbye, injured and fractured Grant Hill era.
12. New Orleans: Patrick O'Bryant, Bradley, C, 7-0
• The skinny: The Hornets need size to complement a team on the upswing, and though this is a project, he could start right away.
13. Philadelphia: Shawne Williams, Memphis, SF, 6-9
• The skinny: The 76ers may deal down or land a skilled player who could gobble up some minutes from the sore-kneed Chris Webber.
14. Utah: Mouhamed Saer Sene, Senegal, C, 7-0
• The skinny: Jazz would prefer a shooter, but a shot blocker to beef up the front line might even make coach Jerry Sloan crack half a smile.
15. New Orleans: Cedric Simmons, N.C. State, PF, 6-9 1/2
• The skinny: Could be the heir apparent to the ageless, still effective P.J. Brown. Beware the Hornets, who have two first-round picks.
16. Chicago: Rodney Carney, Memphis, SG, 6-7
• The skinny: Could be the best shooter in the draft not named Redick. Bulls score boon with two first-round picks.
17. Indiana: Jordan Farmar, UCLA, PG, 6-2
• The skinny: Some wonder if he should have remained in Westwood, but he impressed in the workouts he didn't blow off.
18. Washington: Hilton Armstrong, UConn, C, 6-10
• The skinny: The Wizards expect to finally forge ahead after the Kwame Brown debacle.
19. Kings: Alexander Johnson, Florida State, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: Big, athletic bruiser, and if he does come in, does it mean Kenny Thomas is on his way out? Quincy Douby also is a possibility.
20. New York : Will Blalock, Iowa State, PG, 6-0
• The skinny: The Knicks hope they can catch a break with Blalock if Stephon Marbury were to be traded.
21. Phoenix: Sergio Rodriguez, Spain, PG, 6-3
• The skinny: Yes, Steve Nash is the two-time league MVP, and yes, even the tireless one gets run down. Superb depth here.
22. New Jersey: Rajon Rondo, Kentucky, PG, 6-2
• The skinny: Jason Kidd eventually will start to slow down and feel his age. Rondo is a nice instant backup here.
23. New Jersey: Oleksiy Pecherov, Ukraine, PF, 6-11
• The skinny: The Nets always need some size and shot-blocking, especially when banging with the Heat and Pistons.
24. Memphis: Thabo Sefolosha, Switzerland, SF, 6-7
• The skinny: Could also go for a PG here, but this feels like a steal should he slip this far.
25. Cleveland: Kyle Lowry, Villanova, PG, 6-0
• The skinny: The Cavs would celebrate in the streets if they land a man who can really push the tempo, though he's only 20.
26. L.A. Lakers: Maurice Ager, Michigan State, SG, 6-5
• The skinny: Athletic, can defend and is a bigger guard, which always fits the Phil Jackson mold. Will Kobe like him?
27. Phoenix: Marcus Vinicius, Brazil, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: The Suns may deal this pick, but they do need some size to go with a returning Amare Stoudemire.
28. Dallas: Paul Davis, Michigan State, C, 6-11
• The skinny: Coach Avery Johnson preaches rebounds even in his sleep, and this guy can board, making for some superb "Big D" depth.
29. New York: Josh Boone, UConn, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: New coach Isiah Thomas has one year to turn the mess around and will continue to go young if necessary.
30. Portland: Quincy Douby, Rutgers, SG, 6-3
• The skinny: The Blazers need size, but there's not a lot of it left in terms of top quality this low. Could trade the pick, too.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14272566p-15082859c.html
1. Toronto: Andrea Bargnani, Italy, PF, 7-1 • The skinny: Tall and talented, is he the next Dirk Nowitzki or is he more like Pervis Ellison? Could give Raptors excellent front line.
2. Chicago: Tyrus Thomas, LSU, PF, 6-8 • The skinny: Thanks to the Knicks, the Bulls land a player who could go No. 1. Will boost an already solid team.
3. Charlotte: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, SF, 6-8
• The skinny: Some scoring and some flair (and a weak mustache) for a team that needs both in a town that loves hoops.
4. Portland: Brandon Roy, Washington, SG, 6-6
• The skinny: The Trail Blazers crave Morrison or Bargnani if they slip, but coach Nate McMillan is high on Roy, who appears NBA-ready now.
5. Atlanta: LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas, PF, 6-11
• The skinny: Some muscle inside for the NBA's youngest team, though the Hawks are still a year or five away.
6. Minnesota: Rudy Gay, SF, UConn, 6-8
• The skinny: The Timberwolves also love Thomas, and there's talk that Gay could go No. 1 after impressive workouts. A steal here, though.
7. Boston: Marcus Williams, UConn, PG, 6-3
• The skinny: Celtics still searching for point guard -- and Huskies star could steer green back into the postseason.
8. Houston: J.J. Redick, Duke, SG, 6-4
• The skinny: The Rockets covet Roy and may get him with a trade. If not, Redick's scoring punch surely will help.
9. Golden State: Randy Foye, Villanova, SG, 6-4
• The skinny: Yes, the Warriors have Jason Richardson, but there could be a trade here, or Golden State could go big with a big man.
10. Seattle: Shelden Williams, Duke, PF, 6-8
• The skinny: An Antonio Davis clone with a 7-4 wingspan. He doesn't have to play center, just collect rebounds, defend and score inside.
11. Orlando: Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas, SG, 6-7
• The skinny: Athletic with a nice shooting touch. Hello, new era; goodbye, injured and fractured Grant Hill era.
12. New Orleans: Patrick O'Bryant, Bradley, C, 7-0
• The skinny: The Hornets need size to complement a team on the upswing, and though this is a project, he could start right away.
13. Philadelphia: Shawne Williams, Memphis, SF, 6-9
• The skinny: The 76ers may deal down or land a skilled player who could gobble up some minutes from the sore-kneed Chris Webber.
14. Utah: Mouhamed Saer Sene, Senegal, C, 7-0
• The skinny: Jazz would prefer a shooter, but a shot blocker to beef up the front line might even make coach Jerry Sloan crack half a smile.
15. New Orleans: Cedric Simmons, N.C. State, PF, 6-9 1/2
• The skinny: Could be the heir apparent to the ageless, still effective P.J. Brown. Beware the Hornets, who have two first-round picks.
16. Chicago: Rodney Carney, Memphis, SG, 6-7
• The skinny: Could be the best shooter in the draft not named Redick. Bulls score boon with two first-round picks.
17. Indiana: Jordan Farmar, UCLA, PG, 6-2
• The skinny: Some wonder if he should have remained in Westwood, but he impressed in the workouts he didn't blow off.
18. Washington: Hilton Armstrong, UConn, C, 6-10
• The skinny: The Wizards expect to finally forge ahead after the Kwame Brown debacle.
19. Kings: Alexander Johnson, Florida State, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: Big, athletic bruiser, and if he does come in, does it mean Kenny Thomas is on his way out? Quincy Douby also is a possibility.
20. New York : Will Blalock, Iowa State, PG, 6-0
• The skinny: The Knicks hope they can catch a break with Blalock if Stephon Marbury were to be traded.
21. Phoenix: Sergio Rodriguez, Spain, PG, 6-3
• The skinny: Yes, Steve Nash is the two-time league MVP, and yes, even the tireless one gets run down. Superb depth here.
22. New Jersey: Rajon Rondo, Kentucky, PG, 6-2
• The skinny: Jason Kidd eventually will start to slow down and feel his age. Rondo is a nice instant backup here.
23. New Jersey: Oleksiy Pecherov, Ukraine, PF, 6-11
• The skinny: The Nets always need some size and shot-blocking, especially when banging with the Heat and Pistons.
24. Memphis: Thabo Sefolosha, Switzerland, SF, 6-7
• The skinny: Could also go for a PG here, but this feels like a steal should he slip this far.
25. Cleveland: Kyle Lowry, Villanova, PG, 6-0
• The skinny: The Cavs would celebrate in the streets if they land a man who can really push the tempo, though he's only 20.
26. L.A. Lakers: Maurice Ager, Michigan State, SG, 6-5
• The skinny: Athletic, can defend and is a bigger guard, which always fits the Phil Jackson mold. Will Kobe like him?
27. Phoenix: Marcus Vinicius, Brazil, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: The Suns may deal this pick, but they do need some size to go with a returning Amare Stoudemire.
28. Dallas: Paul Davis, Michigan State, C, 6-11
• The skinny: Coach Avery Johnson preaches rebounds even in his sleep, and this guy can board, making for some superb "Big D" depth.
29. New York: Josh Boone, UConn, PF, 6-10
• The skinny: New coach Isiah Thomas has one year to turn the mess around and will continue to go young if necessary.
30. Portland: Quincy Douby, Rutgers, SG, 6-3
• The skinny: The Blazers need size, but there's not a lot of it left in terms of top quality this low. Could trade the pick, too.
