BUCKS WIN NBA DRAFT LOTTERY

                                  

So, the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Draft Lottery and will pick first in the upcoming NBA Draft. That’s nice for Milwaukee, who need some good news to come their way. They had a tough season after a surprising playoff run in 2004. But, starting point guard TJ Ford missed all of last season with his injury....and Michael Redd may split via free agency if the Bucks don’t do something with their roster to get better.

This helps.

The last time the Bucks had the #1 pick....they drafted Glen Robinson out of Purdue.

So, what does this mean really?? Well, Milwaukee, picking first, can get the prize of the draft....Utah center Andrew Bogut. Bogut would bring to the Bucks a sorely needed post presence and could be a player that helps keep Redd around. Or, they could deal the pick elsewhere [Charlotte has two lottery picks] for a player or some more picks.

Atlanta, the favorite to get the top pick....slides down to the #2 spot. They really don’t need Marvin Williams as far as position wise....so they may be more apt to take Chris Paul at the point guard spot. They really need one...after having really nothing to speak of in that spot after dealing Jason Terry away. They also could look into dealing away that pick.

Portland also seems to be a big winner....as they move up to the #3 slot. Right now, Marvin Williams seems to be the pick here if the Bucks go with Bogut [Milwaukee could be enticed to select Williams]. Williams will bring an exciting athletic forward who can hit the boards, play defense and brings a winning attitude to a team that really needs it.

New Orleans was staring down the #2 pick...but instead will fall to #4. Still, they can get the point guard they need with Deron Williams. Williams brings toughness and a high basketball IQ...something this franchise needs. Healso has great range and fills a position the team lacks [they traded Baron Davis mid-season]. He, along with JR Smith, could be a lethal backcourt that will develop over the years.

Charlotte fell to #5...and that really hurts. They were hoping to draft local stars Marvin Williams or Chris Paul.. Neither will fall to #5. They also own the #13 pick...so they could package the picks to get up into the top 3 slots. If they don’t, they could go different ways. They could select center Martynas Andriuskevicius if they want to deal with a project. They could draft Gerald Green, an awesome swingman that is the top high school player in the draft. They could go after local hero Raymond Felton if they want to reach a bit.

Utah drops to #6....and are looking for help all over the place. Conceivably, they have their frontcourt set by signing Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer last offseason. They need to look for backcourt help. Maybe Felton goes here. Or Rashad McCants. Maybe Green if he is still around.

Here is the rest of the lottery:

#7-Toronto
#8-New York
#9-Golden State
#10-LA Lakers
#11-Orlando
#12-LA Clippers
#13-Charlotte [from Cleveland]

SPORTZ ASSASSIN'S CURRENT EARLY BIRD MOCK DRAFT:

1-Milwaukee:  Andrew Bogut [C]-Utah.  They need a front line guy that can dish to those perimeter guys.  Redd should like that. 
2-Atlanta:  Marvin Williams [SF]-UNC.  Apparantly, they feel that Williams is the best player in the draft and will select him regardless of need. 
3-Portland:  Gerald Green [SF]-HS.  With Marvin gone...the Blazers will draft the blazing promise of Green.  He can come in an be a factor now. 
4-New Orleans:  Chris Paul [PG]-Wake Forest.  The Hornets drafted JR Smith last year as their wing guy, so they may look to get a guy to run their team after dealing Baron.
5-Charlotte:  Deron Williams [PG]-Illinois.  They value Williams and Paul...and may trade up to get one of them.  If they stick and stay, however, Williams may fall in their lap.
6-Utah:  Fran Vazquez [PF]-Spain.  The Jazz are disappointed in their investments of Boozer and Okur.  The Jazz may trade down from this spot since taking a guard here may be reaching.
7-Toronto:  Raymond Felton [PG]-UNC.  The Raptors need to get a good PG in to run this team.  And he can make this team into a running style attractive to fans and teammates.
8-New York:  Martell Webster [SG/SF]-HS.  With Houston ailing, Penny's contract in it's final year and a ton of smallish PF, the Knicks may look to this HS phenom who can shoot the lights out. 
9-Golden State:  Martynas Andriuskevicius [c]-Lithuania.  It may take a year or two, but this guy could pay off big time for the Warriors.
10-LA Lakers:  Channing Frye [C]-Arizona.  The Lakers have Mihm, Grant, Divac and Medvedenko at their power spots.  If Phil comes back, Frye's nice touch will be a nice addition.
11-Orlando:  Tiago Splitter [PF]-Brazil.  If the Magic feel that Howard can be a center...they Splitter may be picked up to be a shooting PF (think Gasol) to play alongside him
12-LA Clippers:  Chris Taft [PF]-Pittsburgh.  Not so much a need, but Taft adds an athletic power player if the team really decides on dealing Brand for shooting.
13-Charlotte:  Sean May [PF]-UNC.  It will be interesting to see where they go here, but May gives them a local love who can mix in minutes at C/PF alongside Okafor.
14-Minnesota:  Antoine Wright [SG/SF]-Texas A&M.  With Wally's future uncertain and Spree on the way out..Wright adds to a definite need.
15-New Jersey:  Charlie Villenueva [PF]-UConn.  A nice Big East low post guy who has a jumper and an excellent ball handler.  Good pick for the Nets.
16-Toronto:  Danny Granger [SF/PF]-New Mexico.  A hard working guy who could really develop with Bosh and could be a steal in this draft.
17-Indiana:  Rashad McCants [SG]-UNC.  Small for a 2-guard, but has excellent range and playmaking ability.  Reggie Miller's replacement. 
18-Boston:  Hakim Warrick [SF]-Syracuse.  That is under the assumption that Walker leaves.  Warrick is a defensive stopper with athleticsm. 
19-Memphis:  Joey Graham [SF]-Oklahoma State.  With Wells gone and issues with their shooting, Graham is a nice addition who will bring intensity to a team that needs it badly.  A Fratello guy.
20-Denver:  CJ Miles [SG]-HS.  They have two picks in here, and they need shooting guards badly.  Miles plays and looks like Ray Allen. 
21-Phoenix:  Andrew Bynum [C]-HS.  The Suns need big men badly.  Doing that could move Amare to the PF and Marion to SF and make a really tough front line for stretches.
22-Denver:  Johan Petro [C]-France.  A project that could pan out like Nene did.  And he could replace Nene down the line.
23-Sacramento:  Wayne Simien [PF]-Kansas.  With the trade of Webber to Philly, they could use Simien's power and finesse.  Sound kinda like C-Webb, huh?  Well, he does get injured a lot as well.
24-Houston:  Monta Ellis [PG]-HS.  A perfect pick for the Rockets.  He's a "tweener" where he's short for SG but not the handle of a PG.  But, with T-Mac there, the ballhanding shouldn't be as much of an issue.  Dude can score!!
25-Seattle:  Ike Diogu [PF]-Arizona State.  This depends on Ray Allen's intentions, but if he stays then Seattle will work on getting some athletes inside. 
26-Detroit:  Jarrett Jack [PG]-Georgia Tech.  The Pistons need some guard depth and Jack provides that.  He is the kind of guy the Pistons love.  Hard worker and not flashy.
27-Utah:  Rudy Fernandez [SG]-Spain.  The Jazz are already the All-World team.  This Spaniard has range, touch and knowledge of the game that Sloan will love to have out there.
28-San Antonio:  Kennedy Winston [SG/SF]-Alabama.  Winston can score a variety of ways.  Good athlete that runs the break extremely well. 
29-Miami:  Randolph Morris [C]-Kentucky.  Morris may be in over his head right now, but as Shaq's understudy, he could learn and develop his game around his big body.
30-New York:  Ronny Turiaf [PF]-Gonzaga.  Turiaf is a hard nosed big man who works around the basket, has a decent jumper and gives the Knicks a legit PF.

JUNE 7-10:  NBA Pre-Draft Camp
JUNE 21:  Early Entree Withdrawl Deadline
JUNE 28:  NBA Draft