Programming Note: Be sure to check out and contribute to the official Bullets Forever sleepers and busts list.
Honestly, the rumors and speculation are paralyzing at this point. I can't wait for the draft to actually happen.
I honestly will be happy with the draft as long as the Wizards don't select either of the Georgia Tech guys, Jason Smith, or an international guy. My distain for Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton is well documented here. I just don't like that both are projects, inconsistent, and have to develop a lot of basketball qualities. I'd rather have a guy who's less athletic, but can contribute as a role player right away. I don't want Smith just because he's kind of redundant unless Brendan Haywood is traded, and I don't want to deal with another international player with a bad buyout (like Juan Carlos Navarro).
If the pick is Julian Wright, I'll be ecstatic. If it's Derrick Byars, I'll be happy. If it's anyone else, I'll be satisfied. Just don't take either of the Tech guys, and I'll be happy.
Young did win the 16th spot on the community draft board, so here's how it stands (remember, it's based on team need).
- Greg Oden
- Kevin Durant
- Al Horford
- Corey Brewer
- Mike Conley
- Jeff Green
- Julian Wright
- Joakim Noah
- Brendan Wright
- Al Thornton
- Spencer Hawes
- Acie Law
- Yi Jianlian
- Nick Young
- Derrick Byars
- Thaddeus Young
This is your official draft open thread. Post any thoughts of any kind here in the comments section. I'll be here the whole time, posting thoughts as well. I'll be doing a quick blurb for True Hoop both before and after the Wizards pick, along with a number of other bloggers, so be sure to check that out when it happens.
Thread away!
Below the jump, my random predictions for the first round, in case you're curious. Feel free to post your own.
- Greg Oden
- Kevin Durant
- Yi Jianlian
- Al Horford
- Joakim Noah
- Mike Conley
- Spencer Hawes
- Corey Brewer
- Jeff Green
- Brandan Wright
- Acie Law
- Al Thornton
- Thaddeus Young
- Nick Young
- Rodney Stuckey
- Jason Smith
- Sean Williams
- Javaris Crittenton
- Petteri Koponen
- Tiago Splitter
- Marco Benielli
- Daequan Cook
- Rudy Fernandez
- Derrick Byars
- Nick Fazekas
- Jared Dudley
- Kyrylo Fesenko
- Morris Almond
- Ramon Sessions