|
Derrick
Rose 6-4 PG Memphis / Freshman |
| The first point guard selected with the top overall pick since 1996. May add the star power the Bulls have been missing all these years. His addition probably means Kirk Hinrich is on his way out. |
| Comparison: Chris Paul / Devin Harris |
Competitors: Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,822,800 |
Ranking: 1st Point Guard / 1st Freshman |
|
Michael
Beasley 6-9 PF Kansas State / Freshman |
| Has more talent than character issues no matter how you put it. Just months after the Shaq trade, Miami gets an inside presence to play with Dwyane Wade. |
| Comparison: A. Stoudemire / D. Coleman |
Competitors: Shawn Marion and U. Haslem |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,314,960 |
Ranking: 1st Power Forward / 2nd Freshman |
|
OJ
Mayo 6-5
PG USC / Freshman |
| Probably not the next LeBron, but a potential star in the league. Will he play point guard or shooting guard? Will off-the-court issues continue in the NBA? |
| Comparison: C. Billups / Joseph Forte |
Competitors: Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,875,040 |
Ranking: 2nd Point Guard / 3rd Freshman |
|
Russell
Westbrook 6-3 PG UCLA / Sophomore |
| One of the big question marks in the draft. Pegged as a great NBA point guard by some experts and as a bench player by others. |
| Comparison: L. Barbosa / Shannon Brown |
Competitors: Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,493,680 |
Ranking: 3rd Point Guard / 1st Sophomore |
|
Kevin
Love 6-9
PF UCLA / Freshman |
| An old-school power forward. Was extremely dominant in high school and college. Will his vast repertoire of skills fly in the NBA too? |
| Comparison: David West / Sean May |
Competitors: Al Jefferson and Craig Smith |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,163,680 |
Ranking: 1st Power Forward / 4th Freshman |
|
Danilo
Gallinari 6-9 SF Virtus Milano (Italy) / 1988 |
| The Knicks don't have a great track record with international players. Will Gallinari change history in that sense? |
| Comparison: H. Turkoglu / Mike Dunleavy |
Competitors: Q. Richardson and R. Balkman |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,873,520 |
Ranking: 1st Small Forward / 1st International |
|
Eric
Gordon 6-3 SG Indiana / Freshman |
| Quite a scorer for the Clippers. More of an undersized shooting guard than a combo. |
| Comparison: Ben Gordon / Shannon Brown |
Competitors: Corey Maggette and C. Mobley |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,623,200 |
Ranking: 1st Shooting Guard / 5th Freshman |
|
Joe
Alexander 6-8
PF West Virginia / Junior |
| The expected pick for the Bucks. Extremely athletic and with the ability to play both forward spots. |
| Comparison: Matt Harpring / Damien Wilkins |
Competitors: C. Villanueva and R. Jefferson |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,403,120 |
Ranking: 2nd Power Forward / 1st Junior |
|
DJ
Augustin 5-11
PG Texas / Sophomore |
| A true floor general. Great playmaking skills. Lack of size may hurt him a little bit in the NBA. |
| Comparison: Jameer Nelson / Dashaun Wood |
Competitors: Raymond Felton |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,208,960 |
Ranking: 4th Point Guard / 2nd Sophomore |
|
Brook
Lopez 6-11 C Stanford / Sophomore |
| Has pretty much all the tools to become a successful center in the NBA. Does he have the desire? |
| Comparison: Chris Kaman / B. Haywood |
Competitors: Nenad Krstic and Josh Boone |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,098,560 |
Ranking: 1st Center / 3rd Sophomore |
|
Jerryd
Bayless 6-3 PG Arizona / Freshman |
| The Blazers still have a logjam at the point guard spot now. Who's leaving town? |
| Comparison: Monta Ellis / Louis Williams |
Competitors: Steve Blake and S. Rodriguez |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,993,560 |
Ranking: 5th Point Guard / 6th Freshman |
|
Jason
Thompson 6-11 PF Rider / Senior |
| Big man with legit size and length. Mobile, versatile player with a nice touch in the post. |
| Comparison: Mark Blount / Malik Allen |
Competitors: Mikki Moore and Spencer Hawes |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,893,840 |
Ranking: 3rd Power Forward / 1st Senior |
|
Brandon
Rush 6-7
SF Kansas / Junior |
| Pretty well-rounded player. Ready to contribute right away in the NBA. |
| Comparison: Eddie Jones / K. Azubuike |
Competitors: M. Dunleavy and Danny Granger |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,799,160 |
Ranking: 2nd Small Forward / 2nd Junior |
|
Anthony
Randolph 6-11
PF Louisiana State / Freshman |
| Very versatile and talented offensive player. Only scratching the surface on his potential. |
| Comparison: Rudy Gay / Tim Thomas |
Competitors: Al Harrington and B. Wright |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,709,280 |
Ranking: 4th Power Forward / 7th Freshman |
|
Robin Lopez 7-0 PF Stanford / Sophomore |
| Good rebounder and shot-blocker in college. Not likely to play much with Amare and Shaq around. |
| Comparison: Joakim Noah / Marcin Gortat |
Competitors: A. Stoudemire and S. O'Neal |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,623,720 |
Ranking: 5th Power Forward / 4th Sophomore |
|
Marreese
Speights 6-10
C Florida / Sophomore |
| Long, athletic and extremely talented big man who can put the ball in the basket with the best of them. |
| Comparison: Al Jefferson / Jackie Butler |
Competitors: Reggie Evans and Jason Smith |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,542,600 |
Ranking: 2nd Center / 5th Sophomore |
|
Roy
Hibbert 7-2
C Georgetown / Senior |
| Extremely big. Would have been a lottery pick one year ago. |
| Comparison: Z. Ilgauskas / Boniface Ndong |
Competitors: Jeff Foster and David Harrison |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,465,440 |
Ranking: 3rd Center / 2nd Senior |
|
JaVale
McGee 7-0
PF Nevada / Sophomore |
| A project. A pick made based on potential. Not likely to get any playing time next season. |
| Comparison: Channing Frye / P. O'Bryant |
Competitors: A. Blatche and Darius Songaila |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,392,240 |
Ranking: 6th Power Forward / 6th Sophomore |
|
JJ
Hickson 6-9 PF North Carolina State / Freshman |
| Long, strong, athletic big man with a nose for the rim. A work in progress. |
| Comparison: Brandon Bass / Sharrod Ford |
Competitors: Ben Wallace and A. Varejao |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,329,480 |
Ranking: 7th Power Forward / 8th Freshman |
|
Alexis
Ajinca 7-1
C Hyeres-Toulon (France) / 1988 |
| Great wingspan. Will block some shots. Still very raw. |
| Comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge / F. Elson |
Competitors: E. Okafor and Nazr Mohammed |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,276,320 |
Ranking: 4th Center / 2nd International |
|
Ryan
Anderson 6-10
PF California / Sophomore |
| Skilled offensive player. Can hit the three. Lacks athleticism and defensive skills. |
| Comparison: Troy Murphy / Brian Cook |
Competitors: Josh Boone and Sean Williams |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,225,200 |
Ranking: 8th Power Forward / 7th Sophomore |
|
Courtney Lee 6-5 SG Western Kentucky / Senior |
| Excellent defender with good shooting skills. A real team player. |
| Comparison: Anthony Parker / T. Sefolosha |
Competitors: Keith Bogans and JJ Redick |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,176,240 |
Ranking: 2nd Shooting Guard / 3rd Senior |
|
Kosta Koufos 7-0
C Ohio State / Freshman |
| Very skilled big man. Didn't live up to the expectations in college. |
| Comparison: Mehmet Okur / E. Batista |
Competitors: Mehmet Okur and Jarron Collins |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,129,320 |
Ranking: 5th Center / 9th Freshman |
|
Serge Ibaka 6-10 PF L'Hospitalet (Spain) / 1989 |
| An intriguing prospect. The Sonics will probably stash him overseas. |
| Comparison: Tyrus Thomas / Maceo Baston |
Competitors: Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,084,080 |
Ranking: 9th Power Forward / 4th International |
|
Nicolas Batum 6-8 SF Le Mans (France) / 1988 |
| Batum's rumored health issues didn't scare the Trail Blazers. |
| Comparison: Rudy Gay / Thabo Sefolosha |
Competitors: Travis Outlaw and M. Webster |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,040,640 |
Ranking: 3rd Small Forward / 5th International |
|
George Hill 6-2 PG IUPUI / Junior |
| Heavily improved his draft stock during the workout process and ended up in the first round. |
| Comparison: - |
Competitors: Tony Parker and Jacque Vaughn |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,006,200 |
Ranking: 6th Point Guard / 3rd Junior |
|
Darrell
Arthur 6-9 PF Kansas / Sophomore |
| Smooth big man with a scoring mentality and very nice potential both facing and with his back to the basket. |
| Comparison: Antonio McDyess / Josh Powell |
Competitors: Darko Milicic and Kevin Love |
| Rookie
season salary*: $977,160 |
Ranking: 10th Power Forward / 8th Sophomore |
|
Donte
Greene 6-11
SF Syracuse / Freshman |
| Big, smooth and athletic combo forward with a very high skill level, particularly facing the basket. |
| Comparison: R. Lewis / DerMarr Johnson |
Competitors: Carl Landry and Luis Scola |
| Rookie
season salary*: $971,160 |
Ranking: 4th Small Forward / 10th Freshman |
|
DJ White 6-9
PF Indiana / Senior |
| The Sonics are stuck at the power forward spot. A clear candidate to ride the pine in Seattle, |
| Comparison: Leon Powe / Jackson Vroman |
Competitors: Chris Wilcox and N. Collison |
| Rookie
season salary*: $964,080 |
Ranking: 11th Power Forward / 4th Senior |
|
JR Giddens 6-5
SG New Mexico / Senior |
| Lots of talent and a very troubled past. Lucky to sneak into the first round. |
| Comparison: - |
Competitors: Ray Allen and Tony Allen |
| Rookie
season salary*: $957,120 |
Ranking: 3rd Shooting Guard / 5th Senior |
