NBA draft Thursday, June 23

[Da Coach]

The NBA draft is Thursday (6/23). It starts at 6:30 pm (CDT) and is televised on ESPN.

Here are a couple updated mock drafts-
http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft (Shelvin Mack projected to the Bulls at #2

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=751

Here is a list of 15 players invited to attend the draft-

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/fifteen-nba-draft-green-room-invitations-issued/

[BuBraves55]

I'm looking forward to seeing where the Jimmer ends up. Supposedly his stock is on the rise, I've read that all of his workouts have gone very well and that Kemba Walker even had trouble with him.

Also looking forward to the possibility of A Dubs getting a shot.

[SFP]

I'd take Jimmer over Kimba of what I've seen. When you are on the short end of the NBA spectrum a killer shot goes a long way.

[Da Coach]

The dilemma for Utah Jazz General Manager Kevin O'Conner. Utah has the #3 and #12 picks in Thursday's draft. Do they use the lofty #3 pick on home state star Jimmer Fredette, or take a risk and hope he is still available at #12?
The Jazz fans are expecting the Jazz to land the BYU star, but most experts project Fredette to go somewhere from #10 to #20, and nobody rates Fredette in the top 5 players available.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1187330/index.htm

[Future Walk-On]

I think Adam Morrison is greatly effecting Jimmer's future...

[tornado]

and Bobby Hurley and Steve Alford and Damon Bailley and JJ Redick and a few others

[VeveJones007]

Are there any rumors out there that AW might get a look in the 2nd round?

[tornado]

no -- Andrew will have chances to make someone's summer roster as a free agent but I haven't seen anyone commenting he'd make it into the draft

[Da Coach]

no -- Andrew will have chances to make someone's summer roster as a free agent but I haven't seen anyone commenting he'd make it into the draft

Unfortunately, probably not this summer-
NBA cancels summer league

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6674721

[sousaman2089]

Jazz should take Knight at #3 and wait on Jimmer. If they draft him as a shooting guard, then that will be a great two picks. Jimmer is great at catch-and-shoot scoring and wiling to pass the ball would make him a great partner with Brandon Knight. That is if Jimmer's game can translate to the NBA

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

From Chi Trib:

"I've always been a huge believer that you draft the best player available," Forman said Tuesday at the Berto Center. "Every team has certain needs. When you look at needs, there are three ways to fill them: free agency, trades, draft. When you're higher up in the draft, if you have two guys who are tiered closer together, then you go for need. When you're drafting as late as we're drafting, we're not necessarily going to go for need. We'll go for two guys who fit the culture we've created and hopefully make the rotation."

It's pretty hard to guess what the Bulls do at 28. You don't expect much from that late of a pick especially in a weak draft class.

[Da Coach]

Here is a review of the NBA draft first round and lottery picks since 2000-
First-round picks by school since 2000
11: North Carolina
9: Connecticut, Kansas
8: Duke, Kentucky
7: Florida, Stanford, Texas, UCLA
6: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Syracuse
5: Arizona, Wake Forest
4: Fresno State, Georgetown, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oregon, USC, Washington
3: Boston College, Cincinnati, DePaul, Gonzaga, Iowa State, LSU, Maryland, North Carolina State, Nevada, Seton Hall, Villanova
2: Arizona State, Arkansas, Marquette, Minnesota, New Mexico, Notre Dame, St. Joseph's, Texas A&M, VCU, Wisconsin, Xavier
1: Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Bradley, Butler, BYU, California, Central Michigan, Charlotte, Clemson, Colorado, Colorado State, Davidson, Eastern Washington, Florida State, Georgia, Hofstra, IUPUI, Kansas State, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pepperdine, Rice, Rider, Rutgers, SMU, South Carolina, St. John's, Temple, Tennessee, UNLV, USF, Utah, West Virginia, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky

First-round picks by league since 2000
(Reflects conference affiliation for the school when draftee played final college season)
41: ACC
36: Big East
34: Pac-10
33: Big 12
25: Big Ten, SEC
16: Conference USA
8: WAC
6: Mountain West
5: Atlantic 10
4: West Coast
3: Colonial
2: Southern
1: Big Sky, Horizon, Metro Atlantic Athletic, MAC, Missouri Valley, Summit, Sun Belt.

(In addition, there have been 54 international players, 22 high school players and two junior college players)

Lottery picks by school since 2000
7: Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina
5: Arizona, Texas
4: Florida, Syracuse
3: Fresno State, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Memphis, Ohio State, UCLA
2: Arizona State, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Stanford, USC, Wake Forest, Washington
1: Baylor, Bradley, Butler, BYU, Central Michigan, Charlotte, Davidson, Florida State, Georgia, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, Marquette, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rider, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UNLV, Utah, Villanova, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Lottery picks by league since 2000
(Reflects conference affiliation for the school when draftee played final college season)
21: ACC
19: Big East
18: Big 12
17: Pac-10
14: SEC
11: Big Ten
7: Conference USA
3: Mountain West, WAC
1: Horizon, MAAC, MAC, Missouri Valley, Southern, WCC

(In addition, there have been 16 international players, 13 high school players and one junior college player)

[sousaman2089]

This is easily the most unpredictable Draft I've seen in a long while.

Jan Vesley is the most interesting guy in the draft to me. Every thing I've seen or heard about him reminds me of what people were saying about Darko, but Darko never had time to develop on a team that was going to play in the NBA Finals the next two years. If the Wizards get Vesley, watch out. He and John Wall could be the new Steve Nash/Amare Stoudimire.

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

This is easily the most unpredictable Draft I've seen in a long while.

Jan Vesley is the most interesting guy in the draft to me. Every thing I've seen or heard about him reminds me of what people were saying about Darko, but Darko never had time to develop on a team that was going to play in the NBA Finals the next two years. If the Wizards get Vesley, watch out. He and John Wall could be the new Steve Nash/Amare Stoudimire.

I definitely agree with the unpredictability of this draft. I don't think there is an Amare anywhere in this draft. The Wizards are such a mess that I wonder if Wall will be able to develop properly there. Losing that much has killed some players.

[Da Coach]

Several writers for Hoopsworld post their last minute NBA mock draft-

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=20210