Ladies and Gentleman, your #1 pick in the NBA Draft... or is it?

A couple of colleagues of mine put it best: “God lives in the West.”  Though the Grizzlies, Celtics and Bucks were primed for the top three slots in this season’s draft, the top two selections look like they’ll be heading to the Portland Trailblazers and Seattle Supersonics.

I say “two,” because this draft has been about the two big names coming out this year: Ohio State’s big man, Greg Oden and University of Texas’ all-world wing man Kevin Durant.  The two main issues that will affect where these two players go will be the make of the respective rosters come draft day.  Portland has frontcourt options in Zach Randolph and last year’s early draft pick LaMarcus Aldridge.  Seattle has two of the better wing players in the league in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.  Would Portland’s current make-up force them to pass the “no-brainer” pick of Oden?  Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan?   Not so fast.

Oden has gone on record saying that he would like to play in the NBA with Ohio State guard Mike Conley Jr., who is represented by the same agent as Oden – ironically, Mike Conley Sr. Conley is considered to be the best point guard in the draft, one position that the Hawks would love to address this off-season, whether by free agency, a trade or the draft.  The Hawks possess the third pick overall and would likely consider moving it for the right price.

That price would have to include a point guard as well as a front court presence, two things that the slew of wing players that don Hawks jerseys desperately need.  One rumored move would see Zach Randolph and Jarrett Jack (of Georgia Tech fame) going to Atlanta for said third selection.  This would give the Hawks a proven guard in Jack and a potential All-Star in Randolph.  The Blazers have the room to make this move given Aldridge, the selection of Oden (which would make for one very, very raw frontcourt in the short term), last year’s Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, third-year gunner in Martell Webster and one of last season’s best point guards (on a per-minute basis) in Sergio Rodriguez.

Seattle’s case is a bit different.  Yes, Ray Allen is one of the best shooting guards in the league but his wing mate Lewis may not be in town for much longer.  Reports have circulated that Lewis will opt out of his current contract and test the free agent waters.  He’s coming off of a very strong season that saw him average over 20 points and six rebounds, coupled with solid range and defensive numbers as well.  If he does in fact leave Seattle, the Sonics will be without a huge contributor amidst a back court conundrum that saw the likes of Mike Wilks finish the season along with an inconsistent frontcourt in Chris Wilcox and former Kansas Jayhawk Nick Collison. 

Speaking of Jayhawks, the latest draft news has potential lottery selection Brandon Rush returning to Kansas next season.  Rush was the team’s leading scorer over the last two seasons and announced that he’ll be back for his junior year…after missing what may be the next six months after surgery on his knee.  Never good to hear regarding a player that could be atop some draft boards come next season.

Finally, another college standout that will return to school is Georgetown’s big man in Roy Hibbert.  Hibbert brings his seven-foot build to the post for the Hoyas yet again, and will likely become a top three selection in next season’s draft barring anything cataclysmic. 

Until next week…