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Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

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Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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(Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

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  • (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

    Chad Ford's Mock Draft, Version 6.0
    By Chad Ford
    ESPN.com


    With the NBA draft two days away, it's time to take our first full look at how both rounds will play out Thursday. Teams continue to narrow down their lists, but with tons of trade talk and last-minute workouts taking place, there still are plenty of things up in the air.

    Here's our best stab, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, at all 60 picks.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Cleveland
    (via L.A. Clippers)


    Kyrie Irving

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-foot-4
    Weight: 191 pounds
    Age: 19
    School: Duke
    Analysis: Two days before the draft, the Cavs are still claiming they haven't made up their mind. ESPN's Ric Bucher reported the Cavs had settled on Irving on Monday, but while the report was running on the ticker, owner Dan Gilbert was meeting with Derrick Williams in Cleveland.

    While sources continue to point toward Irving's being the No. 1 pick, Williams' camp is holding out hope that it has a chance. Could the Cavs still have concerns about Irving's toe? Or are they worried that at No. 4 they can't get a solid big man?



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Minnesota


    Derrick Williams

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 249
    Age: 20
    School: Arizona
    Analysis: Still hearing the Wolves are hoping to get a great offer for the No. 2 pick. Hearing the best one they have right now is from Phoenix (Marcin Gortat and the No. 13 pick).

    If they can't find a trade they like, they'll swallow hard, take Williams and work out the rest this summer via trades. If they get Williams, Michael Beasley could be gone by the time the season starts.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Utah
    (via New Jersey)


    Brandon Knight

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 177
    Age: 19
    School: Kentucky
    Analysis: The Jazz have had virtually every prospect in the draft come in for a workout. It doesn't sound like they are in love with anyone at No. 3. Knight and Kemba Walker are both possibilities if the Jazz go with a guard. Big men Enes Kanter and Jan Vesely also are getting a look here.

    I'm hearing there's a slight preference for Knight right now, but truthfully it sounds like all four players are still in the mix at No. 3.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Cleveland


    Enes Kanter

    Position: C
    Height: 6-11
    Weight: 260
    Age: 19
    Country: Turkey
    Analysis: We had Jonas Valanciunas in this position last week. But on Monday, we reported Valanciunas' buyout with his team in Lithuania would prohibit him from coming to the NBA next season.

    The Cavs love Valanciunas, but do they love him enough to draft him even if he won't be coming to the NBA next season? I doubt it at No. 4. The Cavs have been exploring a number of trade possibilities to move down a few spots in the draft. If they stay here, I think Kanter is their guy.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Toronto

    Jan Vesely

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-11
    Weight: 240
    Age: 21
    Country: Czech Republic
    Analysis: Bryan Colangelo saw both Vesely and Bismack Biyombo this weekend in New York. Biyombo is a much bigger leap of faith at No. 5 than Vesely is. Kemba Walker and Kawhi Leonard are in the mix as well. But Vesley has been the favorite for a while, and I think he still is.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Washington

    Kawhi Leonard

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-7
    Weight: 228
    Age: 19
    School: San Diego State
    Analysis: The Wizards need rebounding and would love it if Enes Kanter was still on the board. They also have been huge fans of Vesely and would jump at the chance to take him here. But if they're both off the board, this pick comes down to Leonard, Tristan Thompson and Klay Thompson.

    It might be a tough call for the Wizards, but the smart money is on Leonard. The Wizards have been all over him all year. He's tough, he's versatile and if he ever learns to really shoot the basketball ... watch out.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Sacramento

    Kemba Walker

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-1
    Weight: 184
    Age: 21
    School: UConn
    Analysis: This becomes a tough call if Kawhi Leonard is off the board. The Kings need help at both small forward and the point. The only other small forward to really consider here is Chris Singleton. The Kings do like him, but he might be a reach at No. 7.

    Of the point guards left on the board, the Kings can choose between Walker and Jimmer Fredette. Walker might be the safer pick. He's a leader, he can play right now, and he brings toughness and character. But I'm not sure he's the best fit.

    Fredette, as we've been writing for the past three weeks, is the dark horse here. The Maloof brothers love him, he's probably a better fit in the Kings' backcourt than Walker and the fans in Sacramento would love him. Also don't count out Alec Burks. Sources say he had a terrific workout in Sacramento, and the Kings think he could be a point guard at the next level. He's a long shot but worth mentioning here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Detroit

    Bismack Biyombo

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 243
    Age: 18
    Country: Congo
    Analysis: We've had the Pistons taking Valanciunas the past few weeks, but with Valanciunas now planning on returning to Europe for another year, I don't think the Pistons will take the chance. With Kemba Walker also off the board, the Pistons are down to two prospects -- Biyombo and Tristan Thompson.

    Thompson has upside, but from what I can gather, the team is still very high on Biyombo. The Pistons know how to develop a defensive stopper like this. This pick might come down to what happens at Tuesday's workout between Thompson and Biyombo.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Charlotte

    Marcus Morris

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 230
    Age: 21
    School: Kansas
    Analysis: The Bobcats have a number of needs, but sources say they are prioritizing taking a veteran college player who can contribute right away. It sounds like the team is down to Morris, Chris Singleton, Klay Thompson and Alec Burks here. Morris might be the least sexy player of the group, but he also might be the safest.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Milwaukee

    Klay Thompson

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-7
    Weight: 206
    Age: 21
    School: Washington St.
    Analysis: I think this pick likely comes down to Thompson and Alec Burks. They play the same position, but have different strengths. Thompson is a shooter, Burks is a slasher.

    With the Bucks telling me pretty strongly that they're holding on to Brandon Jennings as their point guard, and with the team making a strong drive to get back in the playoffs, I think Thompson is a better fit.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Golden State

    Alec Burks

    Position: SG
    Height: 6-6
    Weight: 193
    Age: 19
    School: Colorado
    Analysis: Jerry West is a fan of Klay Thompson and likely will select him if he's still on the board. But if he's off the board, Burks is a real possibility here. The Warriors' backcourt is undersized with Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis together.

    Burks brings size and athletic ability to the table as a third guard or, if the Warriors end up trading Ellis, a potential lead guard down the road.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Utah

    Chris Singleton

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 230
    Age: 21
    School: Florida State
    Analysis: We've had Singleton here for weeks, and we're not moving him unless the Jazz draft a forward with the No. 3 pick. With Andrei Kirilenko heading into free agency, the Jazz are going to want a defensive stopper who can guard multiple positions.

    Tristan Thompson, Jimmer Fredette and Alec Burks are all possibilities here, too.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Phoenix

    Tristan Thompson

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 228
    Age: 20
    School: Texas
    Analysis: The Suns are in that awkward spot between pushing for the playoffs and rebuilding. Lon Babby says the team will be emphasizing defense, and Thompson could be a solid direction to go.

    Thompson is one of the best offensive rebounders in the draft and fits a major need for the Suns on their front line. I'm hearing two other defensive-minded players -- Kenneth Faried and Iman Shumpert -- are in the mix at No. 13 as well.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Houston

    Jonas Valanciunas

    Position: C
    Height: 7-0
    Weight: 245
    Age: 19
    Country: Lithuania
    Analysis: Could the Rockets really score Valanciunas this low in the draft? Maybe. If Valanciunas isn't able to come to the NBA, a number of teams will feel pressure to draft players who can help right away. There's a chance the Bobcats, Bucks or Warriors will take him. But it's just a chance.

    However, I doubt Valanciunas will slide any farther than this. The Rockets really need a center, and Valanciunas, in the long run, is worthy of a lottery pick. Nikola Vucevic also is a real possibility here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Indiana


    Jimmer Fredette

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 196
    Age: 22
    School: Brigham Young
    Analysis: The Pacers could go a number of ways here, but for the fourth straight week, I think Fredette will be their man. In the meantime, the odds are growing stronger that the Kings, Jazz or Suns will take him first.

    There also are teams such as the Knicks who are trying to move ahead of the Jazz at No. 12 to get him. So there's a good chance Fredette will be off the board when the Pacers draft, but if he's here, he'll be very hard to pass on. Tristan Thompson and Markieff Morris also are serious options here if both are still on the board.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Philadelphia


    Jordan Hamilton

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 229
    Age: 20
    School: Texas
    Analysis: The Sixers need size, but they also need shooting. With Andre Iguodala on the trading block, don't be surprised to see them grab Hamilton.

    His ability to shoot the ball from range, combined with solid rebounding ability, could make him a surprise pick for Philly. Nikola Vucevic, Donatas Motiejunas and Markieff Morris are also possibilities here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    New York


    Iman Shumpert

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-6
    Weight: 221
    Age: 20
    College: Georgia Tech
    Analysis: The Knicks have been focusing on offense for much of the draft process, but the truth is they need some defenders. Count Shumpert as one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft. He can't shoot, but he's a great athlete who can get to the basket.

    Marshon Brooks and Nikola Vucevic are other possibilities here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Washington
    (via Atlanta)


    Markieff Morris

    Position: PF/C
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 241
    Age: 21
    School: Kansas
    Analysis: In this mock, we have the Wizards going with a forward at No. 6. That sets them up to grab yet more rebounding help in the paint from Morris at No. 18. Morris' size, shot-blocking and ability to stretch the defense with his shooting should make him an attractive option here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Charlotte
    (via New Orleans)


    Nikola Vucevic

    Position: C
    Height: 7-0
    Weight: 260
    Age: 20
    School: USC
    Analysis: The Bobcats need size, and Vucevic is the biggest player in the draft. He might not be a superstar, but he has the chance to be a very solid NBA center in the mold of a player such as Marc Gasol. Kenneth Faried and Reggie Jackson are other possibilities here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Minnesota
    (via Memphis)


    Marshon Brooks

    Position: SG
    Height: 6-5
    Weight: 195
    Age: 22
    School: Providence
    Analysis: The Wolves' biggest hole may be at 2-guard. Wesley Johnson played there some last season, but he's a more natural fit at the 3. Brooks is one of the two or three best scorers in the draft. He'd be a nice get here for the Wolves.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Portland


    Kenneth Faried

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-8
    Weight: 225
    Age: 21
    School: Morehead State
    Analysis: The Blazers fell in love with Faried last year before he withdrew from the draft. If they are fortunate enough to get a second chance at him this year, they'll grab him. His relentlessness on the boards is a nice complement to LaMarcus Aldridge's more offensive-minded style.

    Markieff Morris, Tobias Harris, Iman Shumpert and Reggie Jackson are other players to watch.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Denver


    Tobias Harris

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-8
    Weight: 223
    Age: 18
    School: Tennessee
    Analysis: Harris may be one of the more underrated players in the draft. He can play both the 3 and 4, and he has a very high basketball IQ and an NBA body. Harris doesn't do any one thing at an elite level, but he is one of the most well-rounded players in the draft.

    Iman Shumpert, Chandler Parsons and Tyler Honeycutt are other possibilities here.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Houston
    (via Orlando)


    Donatas Motiejunas

    Position: PF
    Height: 7-0
    Weight: 220
    Age: 19
    Country: Lithuania
    Analysis: Would the Rockets really take two Lithuanians? Sure they would. Both players are vastly underrated where the Rockets are getting them, and the Rockets have always been the sort of team that takes advantage of a bargain when it sees one.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Oklahoma City


    Kyle Singler

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 228
    Age: 23
    College: Duke
    Analysis: I don't have Singler rated as a Top 30 prospect. But I might be mistaken. A source said the Thunder are very high on Singler and believe he could be an Andres Nocioni-type player in the NBA.

    He is tough, has a good motor and will be able to knock down open shots. If he plays that role in the NBA, he's well worth the 24th pick. Nikola Mirotic is another possibility here.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Boston


    Jeremy Tyler

    Position: C
    Height: 6-11
    Weight: 263
    Age: 19
    Team: Tokyo Apache
    Analysis: The Celtics are going to start rebuilding soon and they need to hit a home run again the same way they did with Rajon Rondo. Tyler could be that guy. If he had played in college, he might have had a chance to be a top-10 pick with his talent.

    He's long, athletic and raw, but if he succeeds, he could be a major pickup for the Celtics. JaJuan Johnson, Tyler Honeycutt, Justin Harper and Jon Leuer are also possibilities.


    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Dallas


    Nikola Mirotic

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 226
    Age: 21
    Country: Serbia
    Analysis: The Mavs likely will stay primarily a veteran team. So they'll work to add value wherever they can. Mirotic is a talented player who would go 10 spots higher if he wasn't stuck in Europe the next two or three years with a difficult contract to get out of.

    But the Mavs can afford to be patient with a talent like this, and hope that in a few years, he'll be ready to step in and play right away.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    New Jersey
    (via L.A. Lakers)


    Reggie Jackson

    Position: PG
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 208
    Age: 21
    School: Boston College
    Analysis: Jackson hasn't done any workouts, has a knee injury and isn't sharing his medical records. Why would the Nets take a player like that? Well, they, along with a lot of NBA teams, believe another team has shut down Jackson's workouts with a promise to draft him.

    That shouldn't stop the Nets from grabbing Jackson anyway. Yes, they have Deron Williams. But he's not a sure thing to stay in New Jersey after next season. Even if he does, Jackson would be a terrific backup and a player who could play off the ball in certain situations.

    Had he not had a knee injury just as the draft prep began, he could have gone much higher. Norris Cole, Justin Harper, Josh Selby and Chandler Parsons also are possibilities.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Chicago
    (via Miami)


    Justin Harper

    Position: PF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 228
    Age: 21
    School: Richmond
    Analysis: Harper was one of the best stretch 4s in college basketball last season. He also has size and is a pretty good athlete. The Bulls need perimeter shooting and Harper should be able to give them some.

    Charles Jenkins, Tyler Honeycutt and Jeremy Tyler are also possibilities.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    San Antonio


    Davis Bertans

    Position: SF
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 210
    Age: 18
    Country: Latvia
    Analysis: The Spurs have done a good job over the years of finding young international players and stashing them overseas for a few years until they're ready.

    Bertans showed he can be a big-time shooter at the Nike Hoop Summit and adidas Eurocamp. At 18, he's worth taking a flier on and seeing what he can accomplish after another year or two in Europe.



    PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS


    Chicago


    Tyler Honeycutt

    Position: G/F
    Height: 6-8
    Weight: 188
    Age: 20
    School: UCLA
    Analysis: The Bulls need scorers in their backcourt and ultimately need to find a backup for Derrick Rose at point guard. Honeycutt wasn't a dominating scorer in college, but his versatility should make him a nice fit in Chicago.
    42. Indiana Pacers

    Malcolm Lee | PG | UCLA

    Would the Pacers draft yet another point guard? I think so because Lee can play both backcourt positions and gives them a real defensive presence. Jimmer can let if fly on offense, but Lee can be a lockdown defender on the other end.

    http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...ckDraft-110621

    It's interesting that he mentions the exact same three names (Thompson, Morris, Fredette) that ken Berger did in yesterday's column. Could these be three of the four guys Bird is supposedly interested in?

  • #2
    Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

    i would rather have klay thompson than fredette... i would be excited to get either though
    Last edited by PacerPenguins; 06-21-2011, 12:24 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

      I'm hoping either Tristan Thompson or Singleton are there.

      I have a feeling we won't be sticking with the 15, unless a deal backfires at the last second.
      First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

        Holy crap IF Jonas Valanciunas is still there at pick 12/13 I would love us to try and make a deal to move up to snatch him.
        2012 PD ABA Fantasy Keeper League Champion, sports.ws

        2011 PD ABA Fantasy Keeper League Champion, sports.ws

        2006 PD ABA Fantasy League runner up, sports.ws

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

          I like the Malcolm Lee prediction.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

            Can anyone post Ford's 2nd round? I've been waiting to see it, since he mentioned it yesterday. Thanks Justin.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

              So are we thinking that the fierce four Bird has in mind is

              Jimmer
              Jonas
              Tristan Thompson
              Markieff Morris

              In that order?

              Or is it Biyombo instead of Jonas?

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                31. Miami Heat (via Minnesota)

                JaJuan Johnson | F | Purdue

                The Heat are hoping that Reggie Jackson falls this far. But if a team snatches him up, Johnson would be a nice fit. He is long, shoots the ball well and has four years of experience.


                32. Cleveland Cavaliers

                Chandler Parsons | SF | Florida

                If the Cavs get a point guard and a big man early in the draft, don't be surprised to see them reach a bit for Parsons here. He has great size, is very skilled and has been one of the best workout players in the draft.


                33. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto)

                Jimmy Butler | SF | Marquette

                Once upon a time the Pistons were all about toughness, defense and heart. Butler epitomizes that approach with his game and should be a great fit with the Pistons as a player who can play multiple positions off the bench.


                34. Washington Wizards

                Travis Leslie | SG | Georgia

                In this mock draft, the Wizards get two bigs in the first round. With this pick they grab, perhaps, the most athletic 2-guard in the draft. If he was a better shooter, he would be a lottery pick.


                35. Sacramento Kings

                Norris Cole | PG | Cleveland State

                We have the Kings taking a point guard at No. 7 (Kemba Walker). Would they take another one at No. 35? I'm hearing the team is high on Cole and would roll the dice on both players if they were available.


                36. New Jersey Nets

                Bojan Bogdanovic | SF | Serbia

                Bogdanovic was the second-leading scorer in the Euroleague this year. If he could come to the U.S. this year or next, he'd likely be a first-round pick. In the second round, he's a steal.


                37. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit)

                Josh Selby | PG | Kansas

                The Clippers have always been a team willing to take chances on young college players that didn't always live up to expectations. If Selby falls this far in the draft, he's a steal here. There's nothing to lose and terrific upside.


                38. Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Clippers)

                Darius Morris | PG | Michigan

                The Rockets would like to add some size in the backcourt and have been fans of Morris for a while. At No. 38, he's worth the risk. He has a lot of Andre Miller to his game.


                39. Charlotte Bobcats

                Charles Jenkins | PG | Hofstra

                Jenkins was one of the best scorers in college basketball. Add him to the mix with Marcus Morris and Jordan Hamilton and the Bobcats would seriously increase their scoring punch. Jenkins' versatility should allow him to play both the 1 and the 2.


                40. Milwaukee Bucks

                Jon Leuer | PF | Wisconsin

                The Bucks could continue to use shooters, and Leuer is one of the two or three best shooting bigs in the draft.


                41. Los Angeles Lakers (from Golden State via New Jersey)

                Nolan Smith | SG | Duke

                The Lakers need to replace Derek Fisher at some point and Smith would be a great candidate. They are both combo guards who have toughness and can shoot the ball. Smith would be a great fit in L.A.


                42. Indiana Pacers

                Malcolm Lee | PG | UCLA

                Would the Pacers draft yet another point guard? I think so because Lee can play both backcourt positions and gives them a real defensive presence. Jimmer can let if fly on offense, but Lee can be a lockdown defender on the other end.


                43. Chicago Bulls (via Utah)

                E'Twaun Moore | SG | Purdue

                The Bulls need both toughness and shooting in the backcourt, and Moore could deliver. He can play both backcourt positions and this season showed that when he gets hot, he can be a lights-out shooter.


                44. Golden State Warriors (From Phoenix via Chicago)

                Trey Thompkins | PF | Georgia

                The Warriors could always use some low-post scoring and Thompkins actually has a lot of talent scoring in the low block. He's got to get in better shape, but at this point in the draft, he's worth the risk.


                45. New Orleans (via Philadelphia)

                Greg Smith | C | Fresno State

                Smith is raw. But he has an NBA body, good athleticism and huge hands. He's a project, but a very solid one.


                46. Los Angeles Lakers (From New York)

                Malcolm Thomas | PF | San Diego State

                Thomas is an elite athlete who can run the floor, rebound and block shots. He's still raw offensively, but he has lots of upside for the 46th pick.


                47. Los Angeles Clippers (From Houston)

                Giorgi Shermadini | C | Georgia

                Shermadini is a talented big man who can really score. He may not come over for a few years, but down the road he could be a very good pickup for the Clippers.


                48. Atlanta Hawks

                Jordan Williams | C | Maryland

                The Hawks need more size and toughness on their front line. Williams was one of the best rebounders in college basketball last season.


                49. Memphis Grizzlies

                Cory Joseph | PG | Texas

                Mike Conley has cemented himself as the Grizzlies' point guard of the future, but Joseph could be an interesting backup down the road. He should've stayed in school, but there's raw talent there.


                50. Philadelphia 76ers (From New Orleans)

                Keith Benson | C | Oakland

                The Sixers continue to need bigs and Benson is one of the biggest players in the draft. He's skilled and a very good athlete for his size, he just needs to get stronger and improve his motor.


                51. Portland Trail Blazers

                Rick Jackson | PF | Syracuse

                Jackson is a tough player with a good motor who can rebound the basketball. The Blazers need more size up front and some extra toughness can't hurt either.


                52. Detroit Pistons

                Shelvin Mack | PG | Butler

                Mack reminds me a lot of a poor man's Joe Dumars. A tough, all-around player who really defies a particular position. He should be able to find a spot in the Pistons' backcourt.


                53. Orlando Magic

                Scotty Hopson | SG | Tennessee

                Hopson is not only one of the best athletes in the draft, but he also can shoot the ball. He was inconsistent at Tennessee, but the talent is still there.


                54. Cleveland Cavaliers (From Oklahoma City via Miami)

                Jereme Richmond | SF | Illinois

                Richmond is an athlete and little else right now. But as a long-term project, he still has major upside.


                55. Boston Celtics

                Jamine Peterson | SF | NBDL

                Peterson is one of the best scorers in the draft. He's a great athlete as well. He may have some question marks about his background, but the Celtics have never shied away from players like him.


                56. Los Angeles Lakers

                DeAndre Liggins | SG | Kentucky

                It's doubtful the Lakers keep all of these second-round picks. If they do, Liggins is one of the best defenders in the draft. With Ron Artest aging, Liggins could be a solid pick here.


                57. Dallas Mavericks

                Mindaugas Kuzminskas | SF | Lithuania

                He's a classic Lithuanian small forward -- he can shoot it, he can handle the ball and he has a great basketball IQ. He's a player you stash overseas and hope develops.


                58. Los Angeles Lakers (From Miami)

                Julyan Stone | SG | UTEP The Lakers like big point guards and they like defenders, and Stone fits the bill. Just don't ask him to score.


                59. San Antonio Spurs

                Lavoy Allen | PF | Temple

                He's a big man with a soft touch and he's a good rebounder. At this point in the draft we're reaching, but there's some talent there.


                60. Sacramento Kings (From Chicago via Milwaukee)
                Andrew Goudelock | SG | College of Charleston

                The Kings like shooters and Goudelock is one of the best in the draft.

                http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...-Round2-110621

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                  Removing my post - pasted the 2nd round only to find out someone had beaten me to the punch. No need to clutter the thread more.
                  Last edited by Professor S; 06-21-2011, 01:02 PM. Reason: See above

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                    Markieff Morris' name keeps on popping up here and there in some of the Mocks that I've seen ( CBS Ken Berger's is another that mentioned the Pacers possible picking him up ).
                    Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                      Originally posted by Speed View Post
                      So are we thinking that the fierce four Bird has in mind is

                      Jimmer
                      Jonas
                      Tristan Thompson
                      Markieff Morris

                      In that order?

                      Or is it Biyombo instead of Jonas?
                      I think the fourth is either Biyombo or Brooks, with Jonas being the fifth guy that they previously thought was extremely unlikely to fall that far but is now looking like he might because of buyout issues.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                        Originally posted by Mourning View Post
                        Holy crap IF Jonas Valanciunas is still there at pick 12/13 I would love us to try and make a deal to move up to snatch him.
                        I've read that there are buyout concerns and that he may not be able to come over for another season.
                        Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                          Originally posted by CableKC View Post
                          Markieff Morris' name keeps on popping up here and there in some of the Mocks that I've seen ( CBS Ken Berger's is another that mentioned the Pacers possible picking him up ).
                          Berger also mentioned Thompson- it was unclear whether he meant Klay or Tristan but i'm now thinking it might have been the latter.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                            Originally posted by JB24 View Post
                            31. Miami Heat (via Minnesota)

                            JaJuan Johnson | F | Purdue

                            The Heat are hoping that Reggie Jackson falls this far. But if a team snatches him up, Johnson would be a nice fit. He is long, shoots the ball well and has four years of experience.


                            32. Cleveland Cavaliers

                            Chandler Parsons | SF | Florida

                            If the Cavs get a point guard and a big man early in the draft, don't be surprised to see them reach a bit for Parsons here. He has great size, is very skilled and has been one of the best workout players in the draft.


                            33. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto)

                            Jimmy Butler | SF | Marquette

                            Once upon a time the Pistons were all about toughness, defense and heart. Butler epitomizes that approach with his game and should be a great fit with the Pistons as a player who can play multiple positions off the bench.


                            34. Washington Wizards

                            Travis Leslie | SG | Georgia

                            In this mock draft, the Wizards get two bigs in the first round. With this pick they grab, perhaps, the most athletic 2-guard in the draft. If he was a better shooter, he would be a lottery pick.


                            35. Sacramento Kings

                            Norris Cole | PG | Cleveland State

                            We have the Kings taking a point guard at No. 7 (Kemba Walker). Would they take another one at No. 35? I'm hearing the team is high on Cole and would roll the dice on both players if they were available.


                            36. New Jersey Nets

                            Bojan Bogdanovic | SF | Serbia

                            Bogdanovic was the second-leading scorer in the Euroleague this year. If he could come to the U.S. this year or next, he'd likely be a first-round pick. In the second round, he's a steal.


                            37. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit)

                            Josh Selby | PG | Kansas

                            The Clippers have always been a team willing to take chances on young college players that didn't always live up to expectations. If Selby falls this far in the draft, he's a steal here. There's nothing to lose and terrific upside.


                            38. Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Clippers)

                            Darius Morris | PG | Michigan

                            The Rockets would like to add some size in the backcourt and have been fans of Morris for a while. At No. 38, he's worth the risk. He has a lot of Andre Miller to his game.


                            39. Charlotte Bobcats

                            Charles Jenkins | PG | Hofstra

                            Jenkins was one of the best scorers in college basketball. Add him to the mix with Marcus Morris and Jordan Hamilton and the Bobcats would seriously increase their scoring punch. Jenkins' versatility should allow him to play both the 1 and the 2.


                            40. Milwaukee Bucks

                            Jon Leuer | PF | Wisconsin

                            The Bucks could continue to use shooters, and Leuer is one of the two or three best shooting bigs in the draft.


                            41. Los Angeles Lakers (from Golden State via New Jersey)

                            Nolan Smith | SG | Duke

                            The Lakers need to replace Derek Fisher at some point and Smith would be a great candidate. They are both combo guards who have toughness and can shoot the ball. Smith would be a great fit in L.A.


                            42. Indiana Pacers

                            Malcolm Lee | PG | UCLA

                            Would the Pacers draft yet another point guard? I think so because Lee can play both backcourt positions and gives them a real defensive presence. Jimmer can let if fly on offense, but Lee can be a lockdown defender on the other end.


                            43. Chicago Bulls (via Utah)

                            E'Twaun Moore | SG | Purdue

                            The Bulls need both toughness and shooting in the backcourt, and Moore could deliver. He can play both backcourt positions and this season showed that when he gets hot, he can be a lights-out shooter.


                            44. Golden State Warriors (From Phoenix via Chicago)

                            Trey Thompkins | PF | Georgia

                            The Warriors could always use some low-post scoring and Thompkins actually has a lot of talent scoring in the low block. He's got to get in better shape, but at this point in the draft, he's worth the risk.


                            45. New Orleans (via Philadelphia)

                            Greg Smith | C | Fresno State

                            Smith is raw. But he has an NBA body, good athleticism and huge hands. He's a project, but a very solid one.


                            46. Los Angeles Lakers (From New York)

                            Malcolm Thomas | PF | San Diego State

                            Thomas is an elite athlete who can run the floor, rebound and block shots. He's still raw offensively, but he has lots of upside for the 46th pick.


                            47. Los Angeles Clippers (From Houston)

                            Giorgi Shermadini | C | Georgia

                            Shermadini is a talented big man who can really score. He may not come over for a few years, but down the road he could be a very good pickup for the Clippers.


                            48. Atlanta Hawks

                            Jordan Williams | C | Maryland

                            The Hawks need more size and toughness on their front line. Williams was one of the best rebounders in college basketball last season.


                            49. Memphis Grizzlies

                            Cory Joseph | PG | Texas

                            Mike Conley has cemented himself as the Grizzlies' point guard of the future, but Joseph could be an interesting backup down the road. He should've stayed in school, but there's raw talent there.


                            50. Philadelphia 76ers (From New Orleans)

                            Keith Benson | C | Oakland

                            The Sixers continue to need bigs and Benson is one of the biggest players in the draft. He's skilled and a very good athlete for his size, he just needs to get stronger and improve his motor.


                            51. Portland Trail Blazers

                            Rick Jackson | PF | Syracuse

                            Jackson is a tough player with a good motor who can rebound the basketball. The Blazers need more size up front and some extra toughness can't hurt either.


                            52. Detroit Pistons

                            Shelvin Mack | PG | Butler

                            Mack reminds me a lot of a poor man's Joe Dumars. A tough, all-around player who really defies a particular position. He should be able to find a spot in the Pistons' backcourt.


                            53. Orlando Magic

                            Scotty Hopson | SG | Tennessee

                            Hopson is not only one of the best athletes in the draft, but he also can shoot the ball. He was inconsistent at Tennessee, but the talent is still there.


                            54. Cleveland Cavaliers (From Oklahoma City via Miami)

                            Jereme Richmond | SF | Illinois

                            Richmond is an athlete and little else right now. But as a long-term project, he still has major upside.


                            55. Boston Celtics

                            Jamine Peterson | SF | NBDL

                            Peterson is one of the best scorers in the draft. He's a great athlete as well. He may have some question marks about his background, but the Celtics have never shied away from players like him.


                            56. Los Angeles Lakers

                            DeAndre Liggins | SG | Kentucky

                            It's doubtful the Lakers keep all of these second-round picks. If they do, Liggins is one of the best defenders in the draft. With Ron Artest aging, Liggins could be a solid pick here.


                            57. Dallas Mavericks

                            Mindaugas Kuzminskas | SF | Lithuania

                            He's a classic Lithuanian small forward -- he can shoot it, he can handle the ball and he has a great basketball IQ. He's a player you stash overseas and hope develops.


                            58. Los Angeles Lakers (From Miami)

                            Julyan Stone | SG | UTEP The Lakers like big point guards and they like defenders, and Stone fits the bill. Just don't ask him to score.


                            59. San Antonio Spurs

                            Lavoy Allen | PF | Temple

                            He's a big man with a soft touch and he's a good rebounder. At this point in the draft we're reaching, but there's some talent there.


                            60. Sacramento Kings (From Chicago via Milwaukee)
                            Andrew Goudelock | SG | College of Charleston

                            The Kings like shooters and Goudelock is one of the best in the draft.

                            http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...-Round2-110621


                            THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: (Ford's) Mock Draft 6.0

                              Wow Shelvin is at 52? Earlier on he was going to the Bulls at the end of the 1st...what happened to him? I'd love for the Pacers to take him.


                              @Pacers24Colts12

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