Draft '08: First Look

by Rohan on May 23, 2008 1:45 AM CDT

The draft's still a ways away, and we're still analyzing how our current players did before looking ahead. But it can't hurt to look at who we might pick up. Here are some names that various mocks project to go around the 27th pick:

Note: If my comments in the boxes below don't show up properly, click the post title to go to the post page and all will be well.

Courtney Lee

#32 / G / Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Height: 6-5 Initial Reaction: A guard with the ability to create his own

Weight: 200 shot. Lacks JuJu's raw athleticism but could be next Mo-

Age:22 Pete. Great perimeter shooter, the "perfect" role player.

nathan jawai

#?? / C / Australia (Cairns Taipans)

Height: 6-10 Initial Reaction: Called "Baby Shaq" by many, realistically

Weight: 282 the next coming of Erick Dampier (which isn't a bad

Age: 21 thing). NBA ready body, could be perfect back-up big.

Ty Lawson

#5 / G / North Carolina Tar Heels

Height: 5-11 Initial Reaction: Played for a powerhouse college,

Weight: 193 arguably the 2nd best "pure" 1 in the draft. Could be

Age: 20 the CP3 backup of the future, but can't D up like Pargo.

Richard Hendrix

#35 / F / Alabama Crimson Tide

Height: 6-8 Initial reaction: Chiseled 253 frame, very similar in

Weight: 253 style to Paul Millsap... or Brandon Bass. Big on boards,

Age: 21 strong finisher, awkward shooter, suspect defender.

Brandon Rush

#25 / G / Kansas Jayhawks

Height: 6-6 Initial reaction: A strong, slashing guard that also

Weight: 210 plays the 3. Rush is good, but honestly I will be mad if

Age: 22 he is the pick- he is a poor man's Julian Wright.

Billy Walker

#12 / F / Kansas St. Wildcats

Height: 6-6 Initial reaction: Another slashing type SG/SF, but

Weight: 220 Walker also has tremendous shooting ability. A

Age: 22 teammate of M. Beasley, he's also a great defender.

Serge ibaka

#?? / F/C / Congo (CB L'Hospitalet)

Height: 6-10 Initial reaction: A definite project pick. He is a typical

Weight: 220 "Spurs' pick"- stash him overseas for a few years.

Age: 18 Hits 3's, blocks shots, could be a beast in 2-3 years.

Marreese Speights

#34 / Forward / Florida Gators

Height: 6-10 Initial reaction: New O would be lucky to have him

Weight: 250 drop this far; if available, definite pick. Great body,

Age: 21 jump hook, offensive rebounder... pray for this guy.

Kosta Koufos

#31 / Center / Ohio St. Buckeyes

Height: 7-0 Initial reaction: Ranked 2nd among centers on many

Weight: 265 draft boards, very young, 3-pt range, true defensive

Age: 19 center. Not gifted athletically, struggles to finish.

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Comments

billy walker

i think he would be an excellent fit for the hornets.

by in the 9th on May 23, 2008 1:33 PM CDT reply actions

I like how well he contrasts

with Julian Wright. They play virtually the same position, but Walker has a more refined jump shot.

by Rohan on May 23, 2008 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions

exactly.

i think wright is amazing (his athleticism and quickness are very impressive), but i dont think he will ever really develop into a really great shooter and fill the 2-guard need. i think he’ll be an excellent slashing small forward and transition finisher, maybe as soon as next season. billy walker is pretty awesome, and has kind of flownunder the radar with beasley being his teammate. if he is available, i think chris douglas-roberts would be a great fit as well.

by in the 9th on May 23, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, would've included CDR

but I doubt he falls to us. Having Walker to challenge Wright and make him better would be excellent.

by Rohan on May 23, 2008 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Great Break Down

I hadn’t seen any of these projections yet. (Mostly because I haven’t been looking.) Great stuff. I guess before we can no which way to lean, (read 2 or 4/5) we have to know what kind of free agents are available. Also, I’d be interested to know what the Hornets thought of Bird and Bonzi. Do these guys get brought back? If so, do we feel that they can contribute meaningfully? So are we drafting guys we want to get a few minutes out of here and there or just to sit on the bench and learn? What about bringing back guys like Adam Haluska or Marquinhos?

So many choices!

by m-W on May 23, 2008 9:13 PM CDT reply actions