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 | |
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Even though they already have serviceable point guards on the roster, the Bulls will take Derek Rose and trade Kirk Hinrich.
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| 2. | Miami Heat | Michael Beasley | PF | 6-8 | 239 | Kansas State | Freshman | |
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Pat Reilly can't pass up inside scoring for O.J. Mayo.
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| 3. | Timberwolves | O.J. Mayo | SG | 6-4 | 200 | USC | Freshman | |
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The Wolves take O.J. Mayo after his workout in Chicago.
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| 4. | SuperSonics | Jerryd Bayless | G | 6-3 | 204 | Arizona | Freshman | |
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The Sonics like young scorers so taking Jerryd Bayless makes sense.
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| 5. | Grizzlies | Kevin Love | PF | 6-9 | 255 | UCLA | Freshman | |
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Memphis has a difficult time picking between Brook Lopez and Kevin Love, though they eventually decide on the Lake Oswego and UCLA product.
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| 6. | Knicks | Russell Westbrook | G | 6-3 | 187 | UCLA | Sophomore | |
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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..
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| 7. | Clippers | Eric Gordon | SG | 6-3 | 215 | Indiana | Freshman | |
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The Clips would have liked to get Westbrook, but must settle on the freshman out of Indiana.
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| 8. | Bucks | D.J. Augustin | PG | 5-11 | 175 | Texas | Sophomore | |
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The Bucks wanted Gordon, but can't pass on Augustin at this spot.
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| 9. | Bobcats | Brook Lopez | C | 7-0 | 258 | Stanford | Sophomore | |
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The Bobcats must choose between Brook Lopez and Anthony Randolph of LSU. My guess is Lopez goes here.
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| 10. | Nets | Anthony Randolph | PF | 6-11 | 220 | LSU | ||
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The Nets were looking to take Marreese Speights but can't pass on Anthony Randolph.
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| 11. | Pacers | Mareese Speights | PF | 6-10 | 245 | Florida | Sophomore | |
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The Pacers might have taken DeAndre Jordan or JaVale McGee here, but they end up taking Speights.
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| 12. | Kings | Danilo Gallinari | SF | 6-9 | 209 | Armani Jeans Milano | International | |
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The Kings like Gallinari and Joe Alexander here, and the Blazers hope they take the Italian.
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| 13. | Blazers | Joe Alexander | SF | 6-8 | 230 | West Virginia | Junior | |
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If Sacramento passes on Alexander the the Blazers will take him. But if he's not here, look for the Blazers to trade down.
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| 14. | Warriors | Donte Greene | SF | 6-9 | 221 | Syracuse | Freshman | |
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The Warriors like Darrell Arthur of Kansas but will take Donte Green, a big shooting power forward or small forward.
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| 15. | Suns (from Hawks) | Robin Lopez | C | 7-0 | 255 | Stanford | Sophomore | |
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The Suns much decide if they want to really change the way they play. If so, they will take hard rebounding Robin Lopez.
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| 16. | Sixers | DeAndre Jordan | C | 7-0 | 260 | Texas A&M | Freshman | |
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The 76ers wanted Robin Lopez, but will settle for DeAndre Jordan.
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| 17. | Raptors | JaVale McGee | C | 7-0 | 237 | Nevada | Sophomore | |
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The Raptors will decide between JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos, finally taking McGee and his ability to shoot from outside.
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| 18. | Wizards | Brandon Rush | SG | 6-7 | 211 | Kansas | Junior | |
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The Wiz like Donte Green but he's long gone, so they take Rush.
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| 19. | Cavaliers | Kosta Koufos | C | 7-1 | 245 | Ohio State | Freshman | |
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They liked Chase Budinger but he dropped out and Mareese Speights was taken earlier, so they take local product Kosta Koufos.
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| 20. | Nuggets | Nicolas Batum | SF | 6-8 | 214 | Le Mans Sarthe Basket | International | |
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The Nuggets wanted Ty Lawson because they need a point guard. He went back to UNC so Denver takes Nicolas Batum.
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| 21. | Nets (from Mavs) | Serge Ibaka | PF | 6-10 | 220 | CB L'Hospitalet | International | |
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If they use this pick in the 1st round, look for Serge Ibaka, a real sleeper, to be taken here.
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| 22. | Magic | Chris Douglas-Roberts | SF | 6-7 | 200 | Memphis | Junior | |
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The Magic will give a look to J.J. Hickson, but they can't pass on CDR out of Memphis.
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| 23. | Jazz | Darrell Arthur | PF | 6-9 | 215 | Kansas | Sophomore | |
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I can't believe a can't miss guy like Darrell Arthur is still available.
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| 24. | Sonics (from Suns) | Nathan Jawal | C | 6-10 | 275 | Cairns Taipans | International | |
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The Sonics would have liked to grab Batum, but they'll take another foreigner instead.
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| 25. | Rockets | Alexis Ajinca | C | 7-1 | 225 | Hyeres-Toulon | International | |
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They liked Ibaka, but end up taking his Hoop Summit teammate.
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| 26. | Spurs | Mario Chalmers | PF | 6-1 | 190 | Kansas | Junior | |
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They like Mario Chalmers, a Kansas guard.
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| 27. | Hornets | Courtney lee | SG | 6-5 | 200 | Western Kentucky | Senior | |
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They liked Darrell Arthur bu end up with Courtney Lee, a 6-5 guard.
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| 28. | Grizzlies (from Lakers) | J.J. Hickson | PF | 6-9 | 235 | N.C. State | Freshman | |
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The Grizzlies hoped Hickson would still be available, and he is.
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| 29. | Pistons | Devon Hardin | C | 6-11 | 250 | Cal | Senior | |
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| 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. | ||||||||

