2008 NBA Draft Recap

Round 1

1. Chicago - Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis - Rose walks into a crowded backcourt in Chicago, but his athleticism will shine on the next level regardless of the competition. Kirk Hinrich and/or Ben Gordon might not be there to tutor him by the time training camp rolls around. Rose will be able to score, pass, rebound and defend effectively right away, and it is only a matter of time before he becomes one of the best five point guards in the NBA.

2. Miami - Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State - Beasley's scoring and rebounding will be a welcome addition to the Heat lineup under new coach Erik Spoelstra. Teamed with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion, Beasley will be the assertive offensive force the Heat have lacked since Shaquille O'Neal suffered from injury and a decline in productivity and was ultimately dealt away. Expect 20 points and 10 rebounds per night.

3. Minnesota (traded to Memphis) - O.J. Mayo, SG, USC - Mayo provides offensive versatility and solid defense to a Grizzlies squad that has undergone a number of changes in the last year. The 6-5, 200-pound Mayo joins last year's No. 4 overall pick Mike Conley on a Memphis squad that also features up-and-coming star Rudy Gay. Mayo is likely to see time at both guard positions.

4. Seattle - Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA - A hard worker and terrific defender who can run the point and finish with authority, Westbrook is a welcome addition to the Sonics' youth movement. Westbrook will be called upon to distribute to last year's first round selections, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, from the point guard position. The Pac-10 defensive player of the year, Westbrook was selected in large part because of his perimeter defense.

5. Memphis (traded to Minnesota) - Kevin Love, PF, UCLA - Kevin McHale described him as "the most multi-versatile big man" in the draft because of his rebounding and passing skills as well as the ability to knock down the outside shot. Love is a solid complement to Minnesota's front line which already possesses Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes. Minnesota also helped itself by adding Mike Miller from Memphis.

6. New York - Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy - The 6-8, 210-pound Italian small forward was booed on draft night by the hometown fans, but Gallinari is a versatile scorer that should be a solid fit in Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. At 19-years-old, Gallinari possesses a rare combination of size, ball-handling ability and limitless range. He has a lot to learn defensively, so it's no surprise that D'Antoni was drawn to him.

7. L.A. Clippers - Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana - A combo guard, Gordon is a solid fit for a Clippers team that needs help at both guard positions. The 6-4, 215-pound Gordon is a great shooter who can also make his way to the basket and finish around the rim or draw contact. Gordon will compete with Cuttino Mobley for the starting shooting guard position, but the Clippers still need help at the point as Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau are the only options at this stage.

8. Milwaukee - Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia - The 6-foot-8 Alexander proved he could score in a number of ways at West Virginia by posting up, taking the ball to the basket and knocking down the outside shot. He could be inserted into the starting lineup right away if he can handle playing the power forward position and bump Charlie Villanueva from the assignment. The Bucks' new front line suddenly features Richard Jefferson, Desmond Mason, Alexander, Villanueva and Andrew Bogut.

9. Charlotte - D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas - Larry Brown apparently isn't sold on Raymond Felton, and Augustin gives the Bobcats another option at the point. Augustin is just 6-0 and 180 pounds, but he is lightning-quick and has terrific range. Charlotte passed on Arizona's Jerryd Bayless and Stanford's Brook Lopez in order to select Augustin, who should be able to give Charlotte's new coaching staff some flexibility in the backcourt.

10. New Jersey - Brook Lopez, C, Stanford - In Lopez, the Nets gained a true center with the ability to score from the post and match up well defensively in the NBA. The 7-0, 260-pound Lopez averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season with Stanford, and the Nets have to be giddy to have gotten him this late.

11. Indiana (traded to Portland) - Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona - The Blazers continue to upgrade an already solid roster and this choice fills a big hole. Bayless, an athletic scorer at Arizona, should be able to step right in and play point guard for a Blazers lineup that nearly made the playoffs with a young core of players featuring Brandon Roy, Martell Webster, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, who is scheduled to return from injury next season.

12. Sacramento - Jason Thompson, PF, Rider - Thompson's numbers improved every season at Rider, and he finished his senior campaign with an average of 20.4 points and 12.1 rebounds on 56.0 percent from the field. For his efforts, he was named MAAC Player of the Year. Thompson gives Sacramento a much-needed power forward and adds size to a Kings team that needs help with interior scoring and rebounding.

13. Portland (traded to Indiana) - Brandon Rush, SG, Kansas - Rush is an excellent defender and forms a nice young nucleus with T.J. Ford, Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy and Roy Hibbert in Indiana. Rush's ability to score and knock down shots beyond the arc should allow him to thrive in Jim O'Brien's system.

14. Golden State - Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU - Randolph needs to add some muscle to his frame, but he has the athleticism and versatility that should thrive in Golden State's up-tempo offense. Randolph put up 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds in his freshman season with LSU.

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15. Phoenix (from Atlanta) - Robin Lopez, C, Stanford - The 7-0, 255-pound Lopez will learn from Shaquille O'Neal in Phoenix and provide the Suns with a solid defender and shot blocker.

16. Philadelphia - Marreese Speights, C, Florida - Provides Philadelphia with much-needed height and athleticism at the power forward position.

17. Toronto (traded to Indiana) - Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown - Helps to replace the departed Jermaine O'Neal down low for Indiana.

18. Washington - JaVale McGee, PF, Nevada - McGee gives the Wizards some size along the front line. He averaged 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks last season with the Wolfpack.

19. Cleveland - J.J. Hickson, PF, N.C. State - At 6-9, 240 pounds, Hickson gives the Cavs an athletic big man with a lot of toughness.

20. Charlotte (from Denver) - Alexis Ajinca, PF, France - GM Rod Higgins maintains the 7-0, 220-pound Ajinca will play in Charlotte next year and not in France.

21. New Jersey (from Dallas) - Ryan Anderson, PF, California - Former Pac-10 rivals Lopez and Anderson now teammates in New Jersey.

22. Orlando - Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky - Prolific scorer as a Hilltopper (20.4 points per game last season), and he can shoot from deep, so he fits the mold in Orlando.

23. Utah - Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State - Koufos, who averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds for Ohio State, gives the Jazz an inside and outside presence.

24. Seattle (from Phoenix) - Serge Ibaka, PF, Congo - A physical player and solid rebounder, Ibaka will be allowed to develop overseas for the foreseeable future.

25. Houston (traded to Portland) - Nicolas Batum, SF, France - At 6-8, 210 pounds, Batum has long arms which make him a solid defender. It's uncertain whether or not he'll suit up for Portland next season.

26. San Antonio - George Hill, PG, Purdue - Hill will have an opportunity to learn under three-time NBA champion Tony Parker. Not a bad gig.

27. New Orleans (traded to Portland, traded to Houston, traded to Memphis) - Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas - Arthur might have had the most eventful evening in NBA Draft history. First his stock slips dramatically, then he gets traded not once, not twice, but three times.

28. Memphis (from L.A. Lakers, traded to Houston) - Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse - Greene is a solid shooter who must improve his shot selection on the next level.

29. Detroit (traded to Seattle) - D.J. White, PF, Indiana - White averaged 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds on 60.5 percent shooting at IU, and he provides Seattle with a strong post presence.

30. Boston - J. R. Giddens, SG, New Mexico - The world champs took a gamble on Giddens, an excellent athlete who had his share of troubles in college.

Round 2

31. Minnesota (from Miami through Boston) - Nikola Pekovic, C, Serbia

32. Seattle (Traded to Detroit) - Walter Sharpe, PF, UAB

33. Portland (from Memphis) - Joey Dorsey, PF, Memphis

34. Minnesota (Traded to Miami) - Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas

35. L.A. Clippers - DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M

36. Portland (from New York, Traded to Chicago) - Omer Asik, C, Turkey

37. Milwaukee - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, UCLA

38. Charlotte - Kyle Weaver, PG, Washington State

39. Chicago - Sonny Weems, SG, Arkansas

40. New Jersey - Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, Memphis

41. Indiana - Nathan Jawai, PF, Australia

42. Sacramento (from Atlanta) - Sean Singletary, PG, Virginia

43. Sacramento - Patrick Ewing Jr., SF, Georgetown

44. Utah (from Philadelphia) - Ante Tomic, C, Croatia

45. San Antonio (from Toronto, traded to Phoenix) - Goran Dragic, PG, Slovenia

46. Seattle (from Portland through Boston, Traded to Detroit) - Trent Plaisted, C, BYU

47. Washington (Traded to Boston) - Bill Walker, SF, Kansas State

48. Phoenix (from Cleveland, traded to San Antonio) - Malik Hairston, SG, Oregon

49. Golden State - Richard Hendrix, PF, Alabama

50. Seattle (from Denver) - DeVon Hardin, C, California

51. Dallas - Shan Foster, SG, Vanderbilt

52. Miami (from Orlando) - Darnell Jackson, PF, Kansas

53. Utah - Tadija Dragicevic, SF, Serbia

54. Houston - Maarty Leunen, SF, Oregon

55. Portland (from Phoenix through Indiana, Traded to L.A. Clippers) - Mike Taylor, PG, Iowa State

56. Seattle (from New Orleans through Houston) - Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas

57. San Antonio - James Gist, PF, Maryland

58. L.A. Lakers - Joe Crawford, SG, Kentucky

59. Detroit - Deron Washington, SF, Virginia Tech

60. Boston - Semih Erden, C, Turkey

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