Tribune reporter Brian Hamilton takes a quick look at Thursday night’s first round of the NBA draft.
1. BULLS: Derrick Rose
Memphis
6-3, 190
Perhaps the greatest challenge will be tamping down expectations. Ex-Illinois star Deron Williams, with whom Rose is compared favorably, took time to develop. Can people be patient with the homegrown product as he blossoms?
2. MIAMI: Michael Beasley
Kansas State
6-8, 239
The trade hubbub was sound and flurry, signifying nothing other than a 15-victory team must be satisfied with the player perhaps best-equipped to make an impact. What a pity.
3. MINNESOTA: O.J. Mayo
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Southern California
6-4, 200
Mayo was redundant as a combo guard in Minnesota, and then he gets dealt to the guard collectors in Memphis. Only he’s immediately the marquee name in the backcourt, with Mike Miller departing.
4. SEATTLE: Russell Westbrook
UCLA
6-3, 192
One rumor that was true: The Sonics fell in love with Westbrook, who made an amazing climb last season. Won?t dominate the ball and offers solid defense up top.
5. MEMPHIS: Kevin Love
UCLA
6-9, 255
Kevin McHale gets hisLove connection. Grizzlies send the burly forward to Minnesota, where Love and Al Jefferson become bookend frontliners to mesh with Miller on the perimeter.
6. NEW YORK: Danilo Gallinari
Italy
6-8, 210
A 19-year-old project heads to that noted repository of patience, New York City. At some point, Mike D’Antoni hopes to have an ideally versatile weapon for his system.
7. CLIPPERS: Eric Gordon
Indiana
6-3, 222
If the Clippers are lucky, Gordon will be the second-best scorer in town. In any case, the backcourt-starved club will ask a lot of him early.
8. MILWAUKEE: Joe Alexander
West Virginia
6-8, 220
Trade for Richard Jefferson didn’t stop the Bucks from adding athleticism at forward. Side benefit: Attitude unlikely to make Scott Skiles’ head explode.
9. CHARLOTTE: D.J. Augustin
Texas
5-11, 172
First shocker of the night. With 7-footer Brook Lopez and Jerryd Bayless available, Bobcats go for — Ray Felton’s backup?
10. NEW JERSEY: Brook Lopez
Stanford
7-0, 256
Rod Thorn needs to send Michael Jordan and Larry Brown a thank-you card. Want interior help? It just fell into the Nets’ laps.
11. INDIANA: Jerryd Bayless
Arizona
6-3, 204
Bayless can score in bunches and slide between both guard spots, and if the trade to Portland goes through, he should take over at point before long.
12. SACRAMENTO: Jason Thompson
Rider
6-11, 250
First-ever draft pick from Rider, a school in Lawrenceville, N.J. Thompson at least will work hard. Of course, he will have to.
13. PORTLAND: Brandon Rush
Kansas
6-6, 210
Reportedly traded to Indiana and should be a good fit there with his ability to space the floor and defend?not to mention joining brother Kareem.
14. GOLDEN STATE: Anthony Randolph
LSU
6-10, 197
Before Randolph becomes a contributor, someone has to introduce him to the idea of “meals.” Should be a defensive presence down the line.
15. PHOENIX: Robin Lopez
Stanford
7-0, 255
Alert TMZ. Shaq’s freestyling about Lopez’s shrub-like hair needs to be disseminated nationwide. Lopez has time to learn.
16. PHILADELPHIA: Marreese Speights
Florida
6-10, 245
The Sixers address one need by adding size and toughness on the interior. Seems like a no-middle-ground pick?either Speights thrives or implodes.
17. TORONTO: Roy Hibbert
Georgetown
7-0, 278
If the Jermaine O’Neal trade goes through, this is a Pacers pick, which means Indiana seems to be looking defense, defense, defense.
18. WASHINGTON: JaVale McGee
Nevada
7-0, 241
First son of a WNBA player to play in the NBA. Has made great leaps since Hales Franciscan career, but clearly needs time to develop in every way.
19. CLEVELAND: J.J. Hickson
N.C. State
6-9, 242
Is this an heir apparent to Ben Wallace–without the hair but with some discernible offensive talent? Infuses youth to aging frontcourt.
20. CHARLOTTE: Alexis Ajinca
7-0, 220
The Larry Brown Era starts off with a bang–a loud crashing sound, specifically. Bobcats need center help now, and Ajinca won’t help for years.
21. NEW JERSEY: Ryan Anderson
California
6-10, 235
Led the Pac-10 in scoring. Great range for a big guy. With Brook Lopez and the trade for Yi Jianlian, the Nets upgrade their frontcourt future.
22. ORLANDO: Courtney Lee
Western Kentucky
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6-5, 200
The Magic couldn’t go wrong with any of two or three shooting guards available here. Lee, like the others, can contribute quickly.
23. UTAH: Kosta Koufos
Ohio State
7-0, 265
Jazz fans do a double-take at the younger, skinnier clone of Mehmet Okur. Still, not a bad fit, a big man with an outside touch to play off Carlos Boozer.
24. SEATTLE: Serge Ibaka
Congo
6-10, 228
Youngest player in the draft, but you figured the Sonics would go this direction: Take a big man and stash him overseas, then welcome him to Oklahoma City.
25. HOUSTON: Nicholas Batum
France
6-7, 210
Sort of a Tracy McGrady Light, but he’s years away. Rockets don’t go for immediate depth on the wing, though it was available.
26. SAN ANTONIO: George Hill
IUPUI
6-2, 181
Leading scorer in the Summit League a year ago, but clearly a role player at best with Spurs. On board to spell Tony Parker at point guard, one guesses.
27. NEW ORLEANS: Darrell Arthur
Kansas
6-8, 216
This pick will be bought by Portland, so it’s the Blazers getting the steal of the draft this late, adding to their already deep talent pool.
28. MEMPHIS: Donte Green
Syracuse
6-9, 221
Grizzlies needed help inside. For Green, the height is there, but the post mentality isn’t. He?ll sit behind Mike Miller and Rudy Gay.
29. DETROIT: D.J. White
Indiana
6-9, 251
Reportedly White is headed to Seattle, where he joins a cavalcade of bangers at the four-spot, alongside Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox. Could mean one is on his way out.
30. BOSTON: J.R. Giddens
New Mexico
6-4, 208
Champs had luxury of deciding where they want to build depth, so they put an energy guy behind Ray Allen. And the Celts’ vets will keep Giddens in line.
– – –
Second round %% NO. TEAM PLAYER P HT, WT SCHOOL
31. Minnesota-a Nikola Pekovic C 6-11, 245 Serbia
32. Detroit-n Walter Sharpe PF 6-9, 245 UAB
33. Portland-b Joey Dorsey PF 6-7, 265 Memphis
34. Miami-c Mario Chalmers PG 6-2, 170 Kansas
35. LA Clippers DaAndre Jordan C 6-11, 250 Texas A&M
36. BULLS-d Omer Asik C 6-11, 230 Turkey
37. Milwaukee L.R. Mbah a Moute SF 6-8, 221 UCLA
38. Charlotte Kyle Weaver PG 6-6, 185 Washington State
39. Denver-p Sonny Weems SG 6-6, 193 Arkansas
40. New Jersey C. Douglas-Roberts SG 6-6, 195 Memphis
41. Indiana Nathan Jawai PF 6-10, 270 Australia
42. Sacramento-e Sean Singletary PG 6-0, 184 Virginia
43. Sacramento Patrick Ewing Jr. SF 6-7, 224 Georgetown
44. Utah-f Ante Tomic C 7-2, 237 Croatia
45. San Antonio-g Goran Dragic PG 6-4, 200 Slovenia
46. Detroit-n Trent Plaisted C 6-10, 240 BYU
47. Boston-o Bill Walker F 6-6, 220 Kansas State
48. Phoenix-i Malik Hairston SG 6-5, 204 Oregon
49. Golden State Richard Hendrix PF 6-9, 250 Alabama
50. Seattle-j DeVon Hardin C 6-11, 235 California
51. Dallas Shan Foster G 6-5, 195 Vanderbilt
52. Miami-k Darnell Jackson PF 6-8, 241 Kansas
53. Utah Tadija Dragicevic SF N/A, N/A Serbia
54. Houston Maarty Leunen F 6-9, 220 Oregon
55. L.A. Clippers-l Mike Taylor G 6-2, 166 Iowa State
56. Seattle-m Sasha Kaun C 6-11, 247 Kansas
57. San Antonio James Gist PF 6-9, 220 Maryland
58. L.A. Lakers Joe Crawford G 6-4, 213 Kentucky
59. Detroit Deron Washington SF 6-6, 199 Virginia Tech
60. Boston Semih Erden C 6-11, 240 Turkey
%% a-from Miami through Boston; b-from Memphis; c-from Minnesota; d-from Portland; e-from Atlanta; f-from Philadelphia; g-from Toronto; h-from Portland through Boston; i-from Cleveland; j-from Denver; k-from Orlando; l-from Portland; m-from New Orleans through Houston; from Seattle; o-from Washington; p — from Bulls
TOP PICKS BY SCHOOL
5: Kansas
3: Memphis
3: UCLA
2: Kansas State
2: Indiana
2: Stanford
2: Georgetown
2: France
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2: California
2: Oregon
1: Ohio State
BY CONFERENCE
12: Pacific-10
9: International
9: Big 12
4: Southeastern
4: Big East
4: Conference USA
4: Atlantic Coast
3: Big Ten
2: Mountain West
1: Summit
3 others with 1
BY POSITION
26: Forwards
20: Guards
13: Centers
BY CLASS
23: Senior
12: Freshman
11: International
7: Sophomore
7: Junior
1: NBDL