2008 NBA Mock Draft: Mike Rice

Trail Blazers television analyst Mike Rice makes his picks for the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Pick Team Player Pos. Height Weight School/Country Class
1. Chicago Bulls Derek Rose PG 6-3 196 Memphis Freshman
Even though they already have serviceable point guards on the roster, the Bulls will take Derek Rose and trade Kirk Hinrich.

2. Miami Heat Michael Beasley PF 6-8 239 Kansas State Freshman
Pat Reilly can't pass up inside scoring for O.J. Mayo.

3. Timberwolves O.J. Mayo SG 6-4 200 USC Freshman
The Wolves take O.J. Mayo after his workout in Chicago.

4. SuperSonics Jerryd Bayless G 6-3 204 Arizona Freshman
The Sonics like young scorers so taking Jerryd Bayless makes sense.

5. Grizzlies Kevin Love PF 6-9 255 UCLA Freshman
Memphis has a difficult time picking between Brook Lopez and Kevin Love, though they eventually decide on the Lake Oswego and UCLA product.

6. Knicks Russell Westbrook G 6-3 187 UCLA Sophomore
Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks want to change the way they play, so they must choose between D.J. Augustin and Russell Westbrook. They decide on Westbrook..

7. Clippers Eric Gordon SG 6-3 215 Indiana Freshman
The Clips would have liked to get Westbrook, but must settle on the freshman out of Indiana.

8. Bucks D.J. Augustin PG 5-11 175 Texas Sophomore
The Bucks wanted Gordon, but can't pass on Augustin at this spot.

9. Bobcats Brook Lopez C 7-0 258 Stanford Sophomore
The Bobcats must choose between Brook Lopez and Anthony Randolph of LSU. My guess is Lopez goes here.

10. Nets Anthony Randolph PF 6-11 220 LSU
The Nets were looking to take Marreese Speights but can't pass on Anthony Randolph.

11. Pacers Mareese Speights PF 6-10 245 Florida Sophomore
The Pacers might have taken DeAndre Jordan or JaVale McGee here, but they end up taking Speights.

12. Kings Danilo Gallinari SF 6-9 209 Armani Jeans Milano International
The Kings like Gallinari and Joe Alexander here, and the Blazers hope they take the Italian.

13. Blazers Joe Alexander SF 6-8 230 West Virginia Junior
If Sacramento passes on Alexander the the Blazers will take him. But if he's not here, look for the Blazers to trade down.

14. Warriors Donte Greene SF 6-9 221 Syracuse Freshman
The Warriors like Darrell Arthur of Kansas but will take Donte Green, a big shooting power forward or small forward.

15. Suns (from Hawks) Robin Lopez C 7-0 255 Stanford Sophomore
The Suns much decide if they want to really change the way they play. If so, they will take hard rebounding Robin Lopez.

16. Sixers DeAndre Jordan C 7-0 260 Texas A&M Freshman
The 76ers wanted Robin Lopez, but will settle for DeAndre Jordan.

17. Raptors JaVale McGee C 7-0 237 Nevada Sophomore
The Raptors will decide between JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos, finally taking McGee and his ability to shoot from outside.

18. Wizards Brandon Rush SG 6-7 211 Kansas Junior
The Wiz like Donte Green but he's long gone, so they take Rush.

19. Cavaliers Kosta Koufos C 7-1 245 Ohio State Freshman
They liked Chase Budinger but he dropped out and Mareese Speights was taken earlier, so they take local product Kosta Koufos.

20. Nuggets Nicolas Batum SF 6-8 214 Le Mans Sarthe Basket International
The Nuggets wanted Ty Lawson because they need a point guard. He went back to UNC so Denver takes Nicolas Batum.

21. Nets (from Mavs) Serge Ibaka PF 6-10 220 CB L'Hospitalet International
If they use this pick in the 1st round, look for Serge Ibaka, a real sleeper, to be taken here.

22. Magic Chris Douglas-Roberts SF 6-7 200 Memphis Junior
The Magic will give a look to J.J. Hickson, but they can't pass on CDR out of Memphis.

23. Jazz Darrell Arthur PF 6-9 215 Kansas Sophomore
I can't believe a can't miss guy like Darrell Arthur is still available.

24. Sonics (from Suns) Nathan Jawal C 6-10 275 Cairns Taipans International
The Sonics would have liked to grab Batum, but they'll take another foreigner instead.

25. Rockets Alexis Ajinca C 7-1 225 Hyeres-Toulon International
They liked Ibaka, but end up taking his Hoop Summit teammate.

26. Spurs Mario Chalmers PF 6-1 190 Kansas Junior
They like Mario Chalmers, a Kansas guard.

27. Hornets Courtney lee SG 6-5 200 Western Kentucky Senior
They liked Darrell Arthur bu end up with Courtney Lee, a 6-5 guard.

28. Grizzlies (from Lakers) J.J. Hickson PF 6-9 235 N.C. State Freshman
The Grizzlies hoped Hickson would still be available, and he is.

29. Pistons Devon Hardin C 6-11 250 Cal Senior


30. Celtics Roy Hibbert C 7-2 272 Georgetown Senior
With the last pick in the first round, the World Champs take a chance on Roy Hibbert of Georgetown.