Skip to main content

A Glimpse at Who's Next

Ian Thomsen predicts that a handful of high schoolers (five) and a flock of foreigners (eight) will be taken in the first round on June 28

1) BUCKS Andrew Bogut

7 feet, 251, Utah

Imagine a young Vlade Divac: This Aussie's a superb passer who can also deliver points in the paint

 

2) HAWKS Marvin Williams

6'8", 228, North Carolina

Has size, skills and savvy to help transform Atlanta into an exciting, up-tempo team

 

3) BOBCATS Deron Williams

6'3", 202, Illinois

Charlotte moves up by trading fifth and 13th picks to Portland, then snags best pure point guard

 

4) HORNETS Gerald Green (right, top)

6'7", 192, Gulf Shores (Texas) Acad.

New Orleans would rather have either Williams, but settles for draft's top athlete

 

5) BLAZERS Martell Webster (right, bottom)

6'7", 230, Seattle Prep

With pick acquired from Charlotte, Portland lands much-needed long-range shooter

 

6) JAZZ Raymond Felton

6 feet, 199, North Carolina

Can national champ's playmaker and fastest point guard in draft hustle Utah back into playoffs?

 

7) RAPTORS Chris Pau

6'1", 178, Wake Forest

Surprisingly drops out of top three, but Toronto happily embraces its point guard of the future

 

8) KNICKS Channing Frye

6'11", 244, Arizona

True center and skilled scorer should fit well alongside rugged Kurt Thomas

 

9) WARRIORS Fran Vazquez

6'10", 238, Unicaja Malaga (Spain)

Versatile, high-energy big man can contribute immediately

 

10) LAKERS Charlie Villanueva

6'10", 237, UConn

L.A. would like to move up and get Green, but Villanueva provides needed length

 

11) MAGIC Antoine Wright

6'6", 203, Texas A&M

Aggressive at both ends, he'll take over at two for Doug Christie

 

12) CLIPPERS Yaroslav Korolev

6'9", 203, CSKA Moscow

Long 22-year-old must bulk up but has skills of a point forward

 

13) BLAZERS Andrew Bynum

7 feet, 285, St. Joseph (N.J.) High

Could this towering 17-year-old be next Jermaine O'Neal?

 

14)TIMBERWOLVES Sean May

6'9", 259, North Carolina

With rare first-round selection, Kevin McHale lands low-post threat

 

15) NETS Joey Graham

6'7", 217, Oklahoma State

Experienced scorer and rugged defender backs up Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter

 

16) RAPTORS Danny Granger

6'9", 225, New Mexico

Versatile, no-nonsense senior could become Chris Bosh's long-term sidekick in frontcourt

 

17) PACERS Monta Ellis

6'3", 177, Lanier (Miss.) High

In keeping to form, Donnie Walsh uses his pick on a point guard; this teen's the second coming of Sam Cassell

 

18) CELTICS Hakim Warrick

6'9", 215, Syracuse

Post-up game and transition skills of senior and 2003 Final Four star could make Ricky Davis expendable

 

19) GRIZZLIES Jarrett Jack

6'4", 198, Georgia Tech

Experienced junior playmaker will make it easier for Jerry West to unload Jason Williams

 

20) NUGGETS Rashad McCants

6'4", 201, North Carolina

Volatile and undersized for a two guard, but he fills desperate need for long-range shooting

 

21) SUNS Roko Ukic

6'5", 183, KK Split (Croatia)

Long, skinny 21-year-old point guard will be groomed as Steve Nash's successor

 

22) NUGGETS Ersan Ilyasova

6'9", 235, Ulker Istanbul

If it keeps this choice, Denver gets scorer who can develop overseas

 

23) KINGS Andray Blatche

6'11", 235, South Kent (Conn.)

Prep Jump-shooting big man can learn on job as Brad Miller's backup

 

24) ROCKETS Francisco Garcia

6'7", 190, Louisville

Houston likes his three-point range but would prefer to trade the pick

 

25) SONICS Kennedy Winston

6'6", 230, Alabama

Slashing scorer is perfect complement to Seattle's perimeter marksmen

 

26) PISTONS Chris Taft

6'10", 261, Pitt

His stock has plummeted, but maybe a couple of years of practice against Ben Wallace will help

 

27) JAZZ Johan Petro

7 feet, 247, Pau Orthez (France)

Has rep for being too soft, but his size and skills make him worth gamble

 

28) SPURS Wayne Simien

6'9", 256, Kansas

Gifted with an NBA body, senior could help right away in the low post

 

29) HEAT Mickael Gelabale

6'7", 215, Real Madrid

This rangy 22-year-old Frenchman could fill needed role as wing defender

 

30) KNICKS Rudy Fernandez

6'6", 172, DVK Joventut Badalona (Spain)

If contract issues can be resolved, he can succeed Allan Houston

For updated draft predictions from Ian Thomsen, go to SI.com/basketball.

COLOR PHOTO

JOE ROBBINS/US PRESSWIRE (GREEN)

COLOR PHOTO

ANDY ALTENBURGER/ICON SMI (WEBSTER)