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View Full Version : 2007 NBA Draft: If there were no age limit


Saulbadguy
06-26-2007, 06:06 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6959704

What lottery would have looked like
Jeff Goodman
FOXSports.com, Updated 8 hours ago


When NBA commish David Stern decided to end the preps-to-pros option prior to last year, it turned Thursday's NBA Draft into one of the most scintillating in recent history.

However, we're going to give you a "What If" look at the lottery if guys like Greg Oden and Kevin Durant were allowed to go to the NBA directly from high school and Stern never implemented the 19-year-old age limit and one year of college rule.

Oden and Durant wouldn't have been the only freshmen to make the jump. Brandan Wright wouldn't have ever landed in Chapel Hill and Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young and Darrell Arthur wouldn't have spent last year in college, either.

Hasheem Thabeet might have rolled the dice. Ditto for Derrick Caracter. Other mistakes might have been made as well (Vernon Macklin, Ty Lawson, Paul Harris).

O.J. Mayo would be working out for the Clippers instead of getting ready for summer classes at USC. Memphis wouldn't be the consensus No. 1 preseason team in the land (FOXSports.com has UCLA at No. 1) because Derrick Rose would have gone straight to the pros. Kansas State would be without its top two players — Bill Walker and Michael Beasley.

And how about this one: Mike Conley Jr. wouldn't be leaving Columbus after just one season, but another Buckeye would have taken his place.

1. Portland: Al Horford, 6-10, 244, PF, Jr., Florida — Kevin Pritchard's smile wouldn't be quite as wide knowing he was getting a rugged power forward instead of Greg Oden. Thad Matta and others can say what they want, but Oden would have gone to the league straight out of Lawrence North High and that would have vaulted Horford to numero uno.

2. Seattle: Corey Brewer, 6-8, 185, SF, Jr., Florida — New GM Sam Presti would go from Kevin Durant to Corey Brewer. He'd look at guys like Michael Beasley, but Presti is a "character" guy after working with the Spurs and would go with the low-risk Brewer.

3. Atlanta: Derrick Rose, 6-2, 180, PG, Simeon HS (Ill.) — The Hawks' need for a point guard is clear. Rose is a future star.

4. Memphis: Michael Beasley, 6-8, 225, PF, Notre Dame Prep (Mass.) — Beasley's talent is undeniable. That's why outgoing GM Jerry West and new general manager Chris Wallace would go with the versatile forward.

5. Boston: Jeff Green, 6-9 1/2, 228, F, Jr., Georgetown — This is one that wouldn't have changed at all. We think the Celtics — if they keep the pick — would have gotten Green regardless.

6. Milwaukee: O.J. Mayo, 6-4, 190, G, Huntington HS (West Va.) — The Bucks desperately need someone to run the team. Mayo would also help sell tickets.

7. Minnesota: Joakim Noah, 7-0, 223, PF/C, Jr., Florida — The T-Wolves need just about anything and everything.

8. Charlotte: Eric Gordon, 6-3, 190, SG, North Central HS (Ind.) — Michael Jordan would love this kid. He is a big-time scorer who can fill it up in just about every way possible.

9. Chicago (from New York): Yi Jianlian, 7-0, 240, PF, China — Not much would change for Yi. We've got him going to Chi-Town, anyway.

10. Sacramento: Sean Williams, 6-9 1/2, 230, PF/C, Jr., Boston College — The Kings, with new coach Reggie Theus, need to become more athletic. Williams is the poster child for raw athleticism.

11. Atlanta (from Indiana): Derrick Caracter, 6-9, 270, PF, Fr., Louisville — It was a toss-up whether or not Caracter would have gone to college. He and the Hawks would be a perfect match. Nothing more needs to be said.


12. Philadelphia: Daequan Cook, 6-6, 203, SG, Fr., Ohio State — If Oden hadn't shown up in Columbus, it would have been the Daequan Cook Show. His stock would have soared.

13. New Orleans: Bill Walker, 6-6, 215, SF, North College Hill HS (Ohio) — If the rule hadn't changed, Walker would have stuck it out in high school instead of graduating early and going to Kansas State. Imagine Chris Paul having Walker on the wing.

14. Los Angeles Clippers: Javaris Crittenton, 6-5, 195, G, Fr., Georgia Tech — Nothing changes here except that Crittenton comes in with more impressive numbers because Young never would have arrived in Atlanta.

Ebolapox
06-26-2007, 07:35 PM
makes me glad they went with the age-limit rule

BWillie
06-26-2007, 08:15 PM
The only reason you posted this is because there are two guys from K-State on there, admit it meow.

Saulbadguy
06-26-2007, 08:25 PM
The only reason you posted this is because there are two guys from K-State on there, admit it meow.
:ksu: