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Shanoff’s Wake-Up Call: My NBA Mock Draft

Jun 25, 2008, 12:12 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: Michael Beasley vs. OJ Mayo, Brian O’Nora vs. MLB, Zack Greinke vs. JP Howell, Adam Dunn vs. JP Ricciardi, Fresno State vs. Georgia, Turkey vs. Germany, Shaq vs. the Sheriff and More!â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: Why does Pat Riley hate Michael Beasley? Beasley is one of the most offensively skilled draft picks of the last decade -- statistically, even more than Kevin Durant.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd, yet, the Heat seem to have no interest in him at No. 2 in tomorrow’s NBA Draft. The latest is that they want to trade the pick to Memphis for the No. 5 pick, Mike Miller and -- rumored -- Mike Conley.â†µ

â†µâ†µEven if Riley doesn’t want Beasley, someone wants him badly enough to trade up to No. 2 to get him, behind Derrick Rose.â†µ

â†µâ†µAt No. 3, expect some jockeying, specifically to draft OJ Mayo -- perhaps even by the new-look(-ish) Knicks.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(The Knicks rumor is particularly fascinating. Yes, they desperately need a PG, but in the absence of one beyond Derrick Rose, they need a new face of the franchise even more; that would be Mayo. And if the T’Wolves could exchange their No. 3 pick for David Lee and, say, draft Joe Alexander with the Knicks’ No. 6 pick, they should do it.)â†µ

â†µâ†µAfter No. 3, things are unclear, with a load of players who are talented but just don’t quite seem to project cleanly as potential superstars. (Of course, some will be, proving all “experts” wrong.)â†µ

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â†µâ†µLet's dive in:â†µ

â†µâ†µShanoff’s 2008 NBA Mock Draft Top 10:â†µ
â†µ 1. Bulls: Derrick Rose PG is the new franchise-maker.
â†µ2. Heat*: Michael Beasley Better than Durant. (Yes.) â†µ
â†µ3. T’wolves: OJ Mayo Minny needs the star wattage. â†µ
â†µ4. Sonics*: Russell Westbrook Next Rondo? But Durant no KG. â†µ
â†µ5. Grizzlies*: Kevin Love My CBB P.O.Y. is Unseld-Lite. â†µ
â†µ6. Knicks*: Joe Alexander Athletic enough for D’Antoni. â†µ
â†µ7. Clippers: Eric Gordon Not a 1. Not a 2. Hmm ... â†µ
â†µ8. Bucks: Jerryd Bayless Makes Michael Redd expendable? â†µ
â†µ9. Bobcats: Brook Lopez But Larry Brown hates rookies. â†µ
â†µ10. Nets: Danilo Gallinari As expected.â†µ
â†µ(* -- Potentially trading the pick. I put the player who I think is most likely to be in that draft slot.)â†µ

â†µâ†µPlayers outside the Top 10 I predict we will look back and say, “Wow, how were they not Top 10?”: (1) Brandon Rush, (2) Chris Douglas-Roberts, (3) Courtney Lee ... Hmm: Think I have a thing for 2-guards this year? Obviously, “fit” is the crucial factor, as it is with any draft pick.â†µ

â†µâ†µPut your own mock draft predictions in the comments below.â†µ

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â†µNBA Draft Trade: Blazers buy Hornets' No. 27 pick. I thought the Blazers were too loaded to need/want their draft picks? Presumably, they will use this to stock up on foreign talent they can stash.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Instant History: Are maple bats a scourge? Earlier this week, MLB said it would start testing maple bats for safety, but the picture of plate umpire Brian O’Nora’s bleeding head is worth 1,000 test results. Next, it could be a player -- or a fan. I presume that the O’Nora story will push the issue.â†µ

â†µâ†µMore: KC continues to own interleague play, with its 11th win in 14 games this season (Fantasy Stud: Zack Greinke, with 10 Ks in his 7th W). ... More History: The Orioles beat the Cubs in Baltimore’s first-ever trip to Wrigley (snapping the Cubs’ 14-game home W streak, too). ... Rally of the Night: 4 R in the 8th and 9th pulled the Rays past the Marlins (JP Howell: 6-0, as a middle reliever). ... Arizona pitchers couldn’t handcuff the Red Sox a second straight game (BOS: 4-run 8th inn. rally). ... Injury Watch: Josh Hamilton (left knee). ... New York Mess: Jerry Manuel was ejected from last night’s 11-0 humiliation at Shea (Scandal: Did the ump bump Manuel?)â†µ

â†µâ†µMilestone Watch: Pirates’ first win EVER over the Yankees in the regular season. Here’s a freakish detail: The Pirates were the only team to have never beaten the Yankees in the regular season. Theâ†µ12-5 Bucs win, in the Yankees’ first trip to Pittsburgh since 1960, surely made Bill Mazeroski proud. (He threw out the first pitch.)â†µ

â†µâ†µAdam Dunn vs. JP Ricciardi, Cont’d: Did the Jays GM get pranked? He says he took a call from Dunn, smoothing out their feud; Dunn denies he made the call -- and sounds even more ticked off than ever. (Let’s just stop for a second and consider that someone would be clever enough to prank an MLB GM on something as relatively obscure as this feud.)â†µ

â†µâ†µCollege World Series: One game for the championship, tonight. That’s because Fresno State walloped Georgia, 19-10, a score more fitting for a duel between Pat Hill’s and Mark Richt’s football teams.â†µComing back from 5 runs down (its largest margin of the tournament), Fresno State has won 5 games in the 2008 CWS when staring at elimination. After all this “double-elimination” stuff, it is amazing to get to a point where a single, final game decides the title.â†µ

â†µâ†µTiger has his knee surgery: The doctor said “no surprises,” but then again, didn’t they say that after his LAST surgery?â†µ

â†µâ†µEuro 08: Surprising Turkey vs. favorite Germany in one half of the semifinal round today. Turkey will have only 14 relatively punchless players available, due to injuries and carding. Both teams play defensively, anyway. Expect a nil-nil snoozefest before PKs decide who advances.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB: Hayes on Weis. I suggest this only because “hating Notre Dame” is just behind “rooting for your own favorite team” among CFB fans. Here’s to another season of massive underachievement.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: “Tell me how my [blank] tastes” is the new “Where [blank] happens.” Thanks, Shaq.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Meanwhile, Shaq has lost his “special deputy” status with Arizona’s Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department. If they were giving out honorary badges to celebrities, I’m not sure they’re one to judge.)â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com.â†µ

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