Each week I will be giving my opinion on the upcoming NBA Draft. Keep checking back every week for updates and revisions based on team records and possible trades.

Feel free to ask me a draft question by emailing spooner@923thefan.com. I will respond to all questions.

Although the official date to declare/withdraw from the NBA Draft is still roughly a week away, April 29, 2012, most of the players have made their intentions known. The most notable athletes to enter and withdraw are James McAdoo out of UNC and C.J. Mccollum out of Lehigh. Also this past week, the five members of the University of Kentucky national championship team that most expected to turn pro, did just that. Anthony Davis, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones all took their 3 credit hours and are headed towards the NBA draft.

Anthony Davis / (Photo by Chris Steppig/Pool/Getty Images)

1. Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats have had a lottery pick in every draft since their inception with the exception of 2010 (pick traded to DEN in 2008 for rights to Alexis Ajinca). To say that their draft day success has been marginal at best is an understatement. The 10 lottery selections they made since 2004 have totaled exactly ZERO All-Star selections and only 5 of those picks have become average NBA players (avergage NBA Player = PER, Player Efficiency Rating, of 14.0 or more). In fact, two of their lottery selections, Sean May and Adam Morrison, were out of the league completely within 4 years and are now playing overseas. This pick will fill a huge need, literally.
Team Needs– C, SG, SF
Selection – Anthony Davis, C/PF – University of Kentucky
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)

2. Washington Wizards
Washington has had 12 first round selections since 2001 and only 2 of those picks (Harris and Wall) have become more than role players in the NBA. Their pick in the 2011 draft, Jan Vesely, has tons of athleticisim and a huge upside but his adjustment to the NBA from the Serbian League has been a slow one to say the least. GM Ernie Grunfeld will have to decide here if he wants the best SF in Kidd-Gilchrist, even though he just drafted Vessely and Singleton last year, or if he wants to address the weakest position on the roster and take the 2nd best PF in Thomas Robinson. Let’s hope this trip to the top of the lottery lands another John Wall instead of another Kwame Brown.
Team Needs – PF, SG, SF
Selection – Thomas Robinson, PF – University of Kansas
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)

3. New Orleans Hornets
All-Star PG Chris Paul was shipped to the LA Clippers at the start of the season for SG Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman, F Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 1st round draft choice. Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent in the summer, will be the piece this team is rebuilt around if they keep him. Emeka Okafor should continue to be a solid veteran presence and Carl Landry and Chris Kaman would be nice pieces to retain, but they are both UFA’s in 2012. With Gordon already able to score from the wing and the possible departures of Kaman and Landry the Hornets will have to look hard at Andre Drummond of UConn. Ultimately the potential and size of Drummond won’t be enough to keep GM Dell Demps from adding MKG to compliment Eric Gordon on the wing. MKG does it all, he defends, has good size, has a great work ethic and is a capable scorer who continues to improve. With another lottery pick still to come, the Hornets can wait to add more size and a possible replacement for Kaman.
Team Needs – PF, SF, PG
Selection – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF – University of Kentucky
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)

4. Sacramento Kings
The Kings may set a new world record as they sprint to the podium to select the player they have had their eyes on since the start of this season. There is no mystery that the Kings would love nothing more than to add Harrison Barnes out of UNC to run alongside Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, Isiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins. Sometimes wishes do come true.
Team Needs – SF, PF
Selection – Harrison Barnes, SF – University of North Carolina
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #5)

Bradley Beal / (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

5. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers should feel like the basketball Gods are smiling down on them right now. The only better scenario is if the Cavs win the lottery and can draft “The Brow”. Here they can add the best player at either of the two positions they are weakest. GM Chris Grant could add UConn center Andre Drummond, who is drawing comparisons to Amare Stoudemire, or Florida SG Bradley Beal, who plays like a stronger, more physical Ray Allen minus the 3-point marksmanship. Beal is a very good shooter and can certainly hit the three, but to say anyone can come in and shoot it like Ray Allen out of the gate is a bit absurd. With Varejao and Thompson already anchoring the front court, the Cavs choose to get Kyrie Irving the best guard in the country as his running mate.
Team Needs– SG, SF, C
Selection – Bradley Beal, SG – University of Florida
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #4)

6. Portland Trailblazers (From New Jersey)
The Trailblazers landed this pick from NJ in the Gerald Wallace deal mid-season. The Blazers, who will also have another lottery pick in the bottom half, should look to address their need for a big man and a perimeter scorer with the two selections. Andre Drummond out UConn seems to be the perfect fit here. The team has cut ties with Greg Oden and the selection of Drummond would allow LaMarcus Aldridge to focus more on playing his natural power forward position. No doubt that the team will still be able to address adding a point guard or perimeter scorer with their second pick.
Team Needs – C, PG, SG
Selection – Andre Drummond, C – University of Connecticut
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)

7. Golden State Warriors (From San Antonio)
The Warriors have tanked just enough down the stretch to keep this pick. If they fall past the 7th spot here the pick becomes property of the Utah Jazz. Funny that David Lee would come down with an injury that isn’t even a injury at all. Golden State may some strides under rookie head coach mark Jackson but the team needs more talent and here is a change to get it.
Team Needs – SF, SG, PF
Selection – Terrence Jones, SF/PF – University of Kentucky
(Previous Pick – None; Pick was Utah’s Property Via Trade)

8. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors picked up a few wins this past week and were rewarded by losing out on the player they coveted most in this draft, Harrison Barnes. If that wasn’t bad enough, Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal are also both off the board. The Raptors now need to weigh their options at the 2 and 3 spots. Jeremy Lamb (UConn) and Austin Rivers (Duke) are the best available 2-guards but Perry Jones III is an intriguing prospect at SF/PF. The team here takes a chance here on Jeremy Lamb hoping he reaches his ceiling north of the border.
Team Needs – SG, SF, C
Selection – Jeremy Lamb, SG – University of Connecticut
(Previous Pick – Terrence Jones, UK at #7)

9. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons rebuilding process continued this season and although their record may not reflect it, the emergence of Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight provide light at the end of the tunnel. Jared Sullinger and John Henson seem to be good fits here along with a dark horse, Arnett Moultrie. While all those players would help Monroe, I think the versatility of Perry Jones III is going to be too much to pass up. Tayshaun Prince is clearly not the player he once was and Jones III is a bigger, more athletic version of Prince who, at 6’11’’, can also play the PF spot.
Team Needs – PF, SF, SG
Selection – Perry Jones III, SF/PF – Baylor University
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)

Jared Sullinger / (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

10. New Orleans Hornets (From LA Clippers via Minn)
The Hornets get another chance to further their rebuild and add a young, talented player to their roster thanks to the Chris Paul trade. With the addition of MKG at #3, the Hornets can look for a big man here. The debate should center around Tyler Zeller (UNC) and Jared Sullinger (OSU). Zeller would replace Kaman at the center spot while Sullinger could start at power forward and slide Emeka Okafor back to center. Zeller is bigger but I think Sullinger has the higher ceiling.
Team Needs – PF, C, PG
Selection – Jared Sullinger, PF – The Ohio State University
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #11)

11. Portland Trailblazers
Having addressed the center position earlier in the draft with the selection of Andre Drummond out of UConn, the Blazers can now look to bolster their backcourt and select either a PG or a SG. Jeremy Lamb (UConn) and Damien Lilliard (Weber State) will get a lot of consideration here. With Felton and Flynn being unrestricted FA’s look for Portland to find an insurance policy at the lead guard.
Team Needs – PG, SF
Selection – Damien Lillard, PG – Weber State
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #12)

12. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks mid-season acquisition of Monta Ellis gave them one of the quickest and most dynamic backcourt duos in the NBA. However, the cost was steep as the team sent the oft-injured Andrew Bogut out west. While the team certainly needs to add a small forward to the roster, the opportunity to add a polished big man who can run the floor is too good to pass up.
Team Needs – SF, C, PF
Selection – Tyler Zeller, C – University of North Carolina
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #13)

13. Houston Rockets
Let the debated begin for Houston’s front office group, PG or C? The Rockets have been on the hunt for a center ever since Yao Ming’s feet began giving him trouble a few years ago. While they just barely missed out on the chance to take Tyler Zeller, there is still another 7-footer on the board. Myers Leonard is quick off his feet and will be able to contribute immediately on both ends of the floor. With that said, Leonard should be available a few spots later when they Rockets pick again. For that reason, the team won’t be able to leave Kendall Marshall on the board, arguably the best pure PG in the draft.
Team Needs – C, PF, PG
Selection – Kendall Marshall, PG – University of North Carolina
(Previous Pick – N/A)

14. Phoenix Suns
GM Lance Blanks would certainly like to find his PG of the future in this spot with Nash expected to test the free agent market and Aaron Brooks hitting the offseason as a restricted free agent. The top 2 point guards are off the board here and that means the Suns have a tough decision on their hands. Do they reach here for the next best PG in the draft, possibly Tony Wroten Jr. (Washington) or Marquis Teague (Kentucky), or do they add a combo-guard who can score and comes with a pretty nice NBA pedigree?
Team Needs – PG, SG, SF
Selection – Austin Rivers, SG – Duke University
(Previous Pick – Jeremy Lamb, UConn)

John Henson / (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

15. Philadelphia 76ers
If they are going to take that next step they have to unload the combined $31 million dollars of Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand and add more cost effective and productive pieces. The fact that Evan Turner still struggled this year means that the SG’s may have to at least be considered. Ultimately Evan Turner is still too young and talented to be given up on and the Sixers will find Brand’s replacement here even if they cannot unload him in the offseason.
Team Needs – SG, PF, C
Selection – John Henson, PF – University of North Carolina
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #16)

16. Houston Rockets (From NY Knicks)
The Rockets rolled the dice that the next best true center in the draft behind Tyler Zeller would still be on the board at this spot… BOXCARS!!! Someone pay that man.
Team Needs – C, PF, PG
Selection – Myers Leonard, C – University of Illinois
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #13)

17. Minnesota Timberwolves
With the Jazz sitting at the 8th spot in the Western Conference by ½ game, this pick now becomes property of Minnesota. The T’Wolves may just have the best PF in the game in Kevin Love along with a pair of dynamic players ready to enter their sophomore seasons in Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams. Any depth chart that lists Martell Webster as the starting shooting guard needs to be upgraded. Minnesota has landed in the perfect spot to find a player who can come in and start immediately at shooting guard. This pick may just propel this team into the playoffs in 2012 – 2013.
Team Needs – SG, SF, C
Selection – Terrence Ross, SG – University of Washington
(Previous Pick – Austin Rivers, Duke at #15)

18. Dallas Mavericks
By the time the season ends, this pick will most likely end up in the hands of the Houston Rockets due to a previous trade agreement. As long as they are within the top 20, the pick remains Dallas’. Expect Cuban to make a big splash in FA this summer, with PG Deron Williams the main target. This pick is made assuming Mark Cuban will stop at nothing to bring Deron Williams back home to Texas where he went to high school.
Team Needs – Youth, PG, SG, C
Selection – Dion Waiters, SG – Syracuse University
(Previous Pick – Terrence Ross, Washington at #19)

19. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets continue to rebuild ahead of schedule in the wake of Carmelo Anthony’s trade to the New York Knicks just over a year ago. There isn’t much immediate need with a starting lineup that looks like this: PG Lawson, SG Afflalo, SF Gallinari, PF Fareid and C McGee. Denver here would love to see a player like Austin Rivers fall in their lap. However, with him off the board and a lot of talent already in Nuggets lineup, they can take a shot on a player who is a lottery-type talent…
Team Needs – SG, Scoring, Depth
Selection – Arnett Moultrie, PF – Mississippi State University
(Previous Pick – Dion Waiters, Syracuse at #17)

Fab Melo / (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

20. Orlando Magic
The Dwight Howard vs Stan Van Gundy feud continued to escalate over the past couple of days and is now a full blown three-ring circus. Not only will Stan Van Gundy not survive this latest fiasco, I don’t think that Otis Smith can afford to bring back Howard either. If Howard does start the season in Orlando it would almost certainly be the beginning of another season full of controversy and discontent. The team has to cut its losses and begin looking toward the future.
Team Needs – C, PF, PG
Selection – Fab Melo, C – Syracuse University
(Previous Pick – Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas at #23)

21. Boston Celtics
This season looks like the last for the original “Big 3”. Calm down Celtics fans, Paul Pierce isn’t going anywhere, but Ray Allen almost certainly won’t return. The wild card for Danny Ainge is Kevin Garnett. I am not sure Garnett will return at the low price Ainge will want him to agree to. The C’s can draft a player here at 20 to plays the 4-spot and has improved each year at St. Bonaventure and spend their FA dollars at SG and/or C.
Team Needs – SG, PF, C, Depth
Selection – Andrew Nicholson, PF – St. Bonaventure
(Previous Pick – Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi St. at #20)

22. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have tons of talent but could lose as many as 8 players to free agency in the summer. Teague, Smith, Johnson and Horford will all be back for next year but GM Rick Sund will be awfully busy filling this roster back in. The Hawks need players at just about every position in order to complete the roster and the best talent on the board comes with some question marks. Royce White from Iowa State is a premier talent, but off the court issues, a fear of flying and some anxiety issues make this pick tougher than it needs to be.
Team Needs – PG, SG, C, Depth
Selection – Royce White, SF – Iowa State University
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #23)

23. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizz have a solid foundation with Conley, Gay, Randolph and Gasol along with some good talent off the bench in Speights, Arthur and Allen. The issue is that O.J. Mayo’s antics may have finally earned him a one-way ticket out of town. The team tried to ship him out at the trade deadline but were unsuccessful in that attempt. Mayo is a restricted free agent this summer and the Grizz will likely let him walk. GM Chris Wallace can take a chance here and may just end up with the steal of the draft. Tony Wroten Jr. is a top half of the lottery talent who some have compared to Gary Payton. Others note his poor decision making and the inability to elevate the play of his teammates. Either way, his talent as a scoring combo guard is unquestioned.
Team Needs – PG, SG, C
Selection – Tony Wroten Jr., PG/SG – University of Washington
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #21)

24. Boston Celtics (From LA Clippers)
Just three picks earlier the Celtics were able to land a possible replacement for Kevin Garnett. The team now must look for a SG to help with the projected loss of Ray Allen or a C to add more size. He may not come from a college basketball powerhouse but CJ McCollum was one of the most prolific scorers in the entire NCAA this season.
Team Needs – C, SG, Depth
Selection – Doron Lamb – SG, University of Kentucky
(Previous Pick – CJ McCollum, Lehigh (Returned to School) at #24)

Moe Harkless / (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (From LA Lakers)
The Cavs added a player earlier in the draft in Bradley Beal who should compliment Kyrie Irving in the backcourt as a player who can shoot the 3, get to the basket and defend his position. With Varejao and Thompson locked into the C and PF spots respectively, the Cavs can look here to add depth behind them or select a small forward that can challenge Alonzo Gee for minutes and maybe even a starting spot in 2013.
Team Needs – SF, PF, C, SG
Selection– Moe Harkless, SF – St. John’s University
(Previous Pick – Unchanged at #26)

26. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers will match any offer sheet given to All-Star center Roy Hibbert, unless GM David Morway has lost his mind in the past few weeks. With four quality starters rounding out the lineup the team can focus on adding depth at either the PG or PF spot. Now that he has officially declared for the draft, and because he is Indiana born and raised, the pacers add a key member of the 2012 NCAA Championship team.
Team Needs– PF, C, PG
Selection – Marquis Teague– PG, University of Kentucky
(Previous Pick – Andrew Nicholsonr, St. Bonaventure at #25)

27. Miami Heat
Rumors continue to swirl around the Miami Heat, even as they have played themselves to 2nd place in the Eastern Conference and the 3rd best record in the league. Will Erik Spoelstra return as coach next season? Will the “Big 3” be disbanded if the team comes up short of the NBA championship again? Will the heat ever add a big man that will be able to contribute in some fashion and let Chris Bosh play to his natural position? Pat Riley is the only one who knows those answers. If The Cavs should pass on Moe Harkless two slots earlier he would be the steal of the draft here. Since he is not available, look for Riley to go with the best available talent.
Team Needs– C, PG, Depth
Selection – Jeffrey Taylor, SF – Vanderbilt University
(Previous Pick – Fab Melo, Syracuse University)

28. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are the most complete team in the NBA in my opinion. They have perennial all-stars in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Kendrick Perkins is the perfect fit at center for this young team and Serge Ibaka will challenge for the defensive player of the year award every season from his power forward spot. I like the Thunder to go overseas here and grab the best international player in this draft. Evan Fournier, a 19-year old SG from France, lacks lateral quickness but is very smooth, has good size, can knock down the open jumper but also work his way to the rim. As a 19-year old this season, Fournier averaged 30 minutes a game, nearly 14 ppg and shot better than 50% from the floor for Poiters.
Team Needs – SG, SF, Post Depth
Selection – Evan Fournier – SG, France
(Previous Pick – Jeffrey Taylor, Vanderbilt)

29. Golden State Warriors (From San Antonio Spurs)
The Warriors added a combo-forward earlier in the draft in Terrence Jones out of Kentucky. At the bottom of the draft they can add another combo-forward who has drawn comparisons to Kenyon Martin. If Mitchell turns out to be half the player Martin was in his prime, this is a steal at the end of the first round.
Team Needs – SF, SG, PF
Selection – Tony Mitchell – SF/PF, University of North Texas
(Previous Pick – Unchanged)