With the NBA Playoffs nearing a conclusion, our attention will soon turn to the upcoming NBA Draft. This year’s draft class has an intriguing group of youngsters that could make picking near the top of the draft interesting, to say the least.

Operation Sports has decided to get a head start by preparing our very own mock draft. The draft was conducted using NBA 2K8 and an extremely accurate reproduction of the 2008 NBA Draft Class via College Hoops 2K8.

Before I continue, I would like to give credit to forum user “kingofdasouf14” for his replication of the draft class. He did a tremendous job and it required several hours to perfect. If you have ever tried to create the correct draft class using College Hoops 2K8 then you understand how frustrating it can be. The “king” of the draft classes worked it out and was gracious enough to share. I thank him for his hard work and willingness to post his draft class so it can be used for our mock draft.

Who will the Bulls select to try and get back to their successes of the 90s?

The final draft results were based on reading several scouting reports of players, breaking down each NBA team's needs, and examining game film and highlights. I have personally seen most of the players play and have a pretty good idea of how their skill sets would fit with current NBA teams.

Each team’s first round pick will be listed along with my predicted rating for NBA 2K9 as well as the rating that was determined by NBA 2K8. I will also give a small breakdown of why I chose each player for that particular team. Please remember this is not an exact science and I am choosing players based on what I (emphasis on I) feel the teams need.

Without further ado, I present to you the Operation Sports 2008 NBA Mock Draft, Version 1.


1. Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose PG Memphis
Many draft pundits project Michael Beasley here. I, however, think that the Bulls will draft the hometown kid in Rose. He’s a leader and could fit the role that Chris Paul has filled for the New Orleans Hornets. He will also sell tickets and we know the NBA is a business; taking Derrick Rose with the first pick is good business. With the addition of Rose the Bulls could also trade Kirk Hinrich and get some help upfront from elsewhere else.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 83
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

2. Miami Heat – Michael Beasley PF Kansas State
Word on the street is that the Heat aren’t totally sold on Beasley and could potentially look at drafting O.J. Mayo. Miami could also explore a trade and move down one spot which would allow Minnesota to draft Beasley and help Miami acquire Mayo and at least another player. For the purpose of this draft I will skip the trade scenarios and stick with the pick and it’s B-Easy.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 84
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 84

3. Minnesota Timberwolves – Brook Lopez C Stanford
The T’Wolves need help in the frontcourt in the worst way. Lopez is the best center in this draft, at least on paper. He’s a legit 7-footer and moves surprisingly well for a big man. He also has a nice basketball skill set that could allow him to be successful early on in his career as a nice foil to Al Jefferson.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 78
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 83

4. Seattle Sonics – O.J. Mayo PG USC
Mayo is a tremendous player that has caught a bad rap lately. However, if you have followed his career as I have (hey, us West Virginians stick together) then you will see a player who is very polished and has a NBA-ready body. Mayo is also 21 years old. He has a nice stroke from the floor and his court vision is underestimated. Mayo could give the Sonics an upgrade at the point and also give them another scoring option when the shot clock is winding down.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 81
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

5. Memphis Grizzlies – Kevin Love PF UCLA
Memphis is another team that needs some help in the paint. The big fella from Westwood should give them the help they need. Love has cut down his body fat and is as fundamentally sound as you could expect at his age. He’s also a hard worker. Many scouts believe Love’s lack of athleticism will hurt him though. That may be true to a certain extent but you simply cannot discount a young man with strong work ethic.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 79
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

6. New York Knicks – Jerryd Bayless PG Arizona
New head coach, Mike D’Antoni, needs a point guard similar to Steve Nash if he hopes to make his system work in the Big Apple. Bayless can get up and down the floor with the best of them. He also shoots the ball extremely well. Word is that Bayless is working out with world-renown basketball trainer, Ganon Baker. Baker is a ball handling expert and his training will serve Bayless well. Now if the Knicks can only get rid of Stephon Marbury.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 79
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 78

7. L.A. Clippers – Danilo Gallinari SF Italy
Gallinari could go to the Knicks one pick earlier because of the connection between his father and Mike D’Antoni. I’m not sure the New York fans and media would buy that so Gallinari falls to the Clippers who apparently love his game. Having not seen him play, I can only base this pick on what others are saying.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 78
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 79

8. Milwaukee Bucks – Joe Alexander SF West Virginia
The Bucks have been weak at small forward for a long time and Alexander is climbing up the draft boards. Alexander shoots the ball well and has good quickness. His handle is solid but not great. Strength is his biggest need but I think Alexander’s athleticism will surprise people and he’ll be able to defend some of the best small forwards in the league.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 78
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 74

9. Charlotte Bobcats – DeAndre Jordan C Texas A&M
This could be a scary pick for the Bobcats. Jordan has the size and athletic ability that can make a coach and front office personnel drool. But he is reported to have the work ethic of Kwame Brown, and we all know how that turned out for MJ. Jordan could also allow Emeka Okafor to move over to the power forward slot, his more natural position -- assuming Jordan sees a lot of the floor early in his career (raw and a head coach named Larry Brown makes that questionable).

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 77
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 81

10. New Jersey Nets – Anthony Randolph PF LSU
The Nets get an athletic big man but he’s young and needs to get stronger. He’s a long player and if you’ve seen LSU play then you’ve probably seen Randolph run the floor and get a nasty dunk or two. His offensive skills are raw but his talent, length and athleticism are almost too much to pass up here.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 78
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 82

11. Indiana Pacers – D.J. Augustin PG Texas
Quick…name the Pacers current starting point guard. Yes, it is Jamaal Tinsley…at least until October. Augustin is shifty and understands the game. He’s a solid ball handler and decent shooter. He’ll have to improve his shooting consistency from NBA three-point range but he will be able to knock down enough jumpers to keep the defense honest.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 76
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 77

12. Sacramento Kings – Russell Westbrook PG UCLA
Most NBA scouts and so-called draft experts have Westbrook listed as a point guard, even though he didn’t play the position on his own college team. Westbrook has the skill set to play the point but will probably struggle early on because he didn’t have to make as many decisions with the ball at UCLA as he will at the NBA level. Nevertheless, his length and defensive ability can only help him since the best point guards are in the Western Conference.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 76
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

13. Portland Trailblazers – Donte Greene SF Syracuse
In a draft full of raw athletes, Greene is near the top. He could play multiple positions in the league but his perimeter game is a little rough around the edges. Greene could very well develop into a solid small forward and should fit right in with this team. Adding Greene to Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden would make Portland as young and athletic as any team in the league. It could also potentially make them dangerous for years to come.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 78
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 81

14. Golden State Warriors – Marreese Speights C Florida
I’m not sold on any of the Warriors big players and Speights would be an immediate upgrade in terms of athleticism. Speights could also slide over to the power forward spot if needed. He’s young and continues to improve in workouts. He could be a sleeper pick here for Golden State.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 75
NBA 2K8’s Rating: N/A

15. Phoenix Suns (from Atlanta Hawks) - Robin Lopez C Stanford
This pick is really up in the air since the Suns have yet to hire a head coach. With the rumblings that Steve Kerr wanted Mike D’Antoni to focus more on defense I can see Phoenix taking a gamble on the other Lopez here. He’s a legit 7-footer and he is known for his energy, defense and rebounding. Sounds like someone the Suns could use especially since Shaq is getting older by the second and Amare Stoudamire shows really no interest in playing D.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 74
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 81

16. Philadelphia 76ers – Nathan Jawai PF Australia
There is speculation that the Sixers will make a run at Elton Brand if the Clippers let him walk this summer. There is no guarantee that will happen so Philadelphia will have to address the need at this spot. I haven’t seen Jawai play but the word on him is that he is a banger underneath and that fills a spot that Philadelphia desperately needs.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 74
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

17. Toronto Raptors – Nicolas Batum SF France
The Raptors don’t have a lot of pressing needs. They could get tougher inside and I was going to put Kosta Koufos here but I’m only using players that were found on the draft class file. Batum appears to have some talent but probably needs a few more years to develop. The younger Colangelo would like to make Toronto into Phoenix East and has a knack for picking up on the talented foreign-born players.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 73
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 81

18. Washington Wizards – Eric Gordon SG Indiana
In what would be a huge drop, Eric Gordon falls to the Washington Wizards. I’m not sold on Gordon being as good as everyone claims him to be. However, the Wizards likely would not pass on him if he were to fall this far. He can shoot the ball and would take some of the scoring load off of Agent Zero. It’s unlikely he falls this far but he did for me.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 77
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 80

19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Brandon Rush SG Kansas
LeBron James needs some help…and a point guard. There are no point guards remaining in the draft that are worth taking at this spot so the Cavs go for Rush. Rush is NBA-ready and has the size and skill to fit in nicely. He’s an upgrade defensively over Wally Szczerbiak simply because of his athleticism. He can get to the rim and finish and could open things up more for King James because of his scoring ability.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 76
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 78

20. Denver Nuggets – JaVale McGee C Nevada
McGee can get up and down the court with the best of them. He’ll have to in order to play for George Karl. He’s not a banger and needs to put on a little more weight but his skill and athletic ability make him a natural fit for a team like Denver.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 73
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 83

21. New Jersey Nets (from Dallas Mavericks) – Chase Budinger SG Arizona
Budinger is as skilled as any player in the draft and he’s too good to pass up at this spot. His skill set allows him to fill the shooting guard spot, even with some so-so ball handling skills. With the Nets rumored to be shopping Jefferson, drafting Budinger would allow Vince Carter to play small forward and give New Jersey a shooter on the wing for kick outs.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 75
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 77

22. Orlando Magic – Chris Douglas-Roberts SG Memphis
Orlando could use an athletic guard to go along with players like Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Douglas-Roberts is a slasher who can get to the line (no comments please) and provides some scoring from a spot that has been lacking for the Magic.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 75
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 78

23. Utah Jazz – Jason Thompson PF Rider
Thompson has good upside but some question his ability because he played in a smaller conference. He has the makings and size of a nice NBA power forward though. The Jazz don’t have any pressing needs but Thompson fits their MO and can provide some depth in the paint. Now can he handle Jerry Sloan?

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 73
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 76

24. Seattle Sonics (from Phoenix Suns) – Darrell Arthur PF Kansas
In another unexpected slip, Darrell Arthur falls into Seattle’s lap with their second pick of the first round. Arthur has a tremendous upside but is not exactly a glass cleaner. He can provide some scoring from the post which is needed in Seattle but I’m not sure how much toughness and rebounding he will provide.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 74
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 83

25. Houston Rockets – Roy Hibbert C Georgetown
Could one Georgetown center take the place of another? You bet. Hibbert can fill the role of Dikembe Mutombo. With a healthy Yao Ming on the floor, Hibbert can provide some necessary rest and still be a presence inside. Hibbert’s offensive footwork has gotten much better over the last four years and he is more of an offensive threat than Mutombo. Rick Adelman will need some scoring out of the center position if Yao goes down again.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 73
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 77

26. San Antonio Spurs – Mario Chalmers PG Kansas
There aren’t many pressing needs for the Spurs. They can always stand to get a little younger but there aren’t many Spurs-type players at this spot in the draft. Typically, they will draft a foreign-born player but Chalmers provides some shooting ability and is an upgrade at the back-up point guard slot.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 71
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 76

27. New Orleans Hornets – Richard Hendrix PF Alabama
Hendrix has first round ability but could just as easily drop out of the first round. His size and strength could provide some quality depth up front for the Hornets. The Hornets need some toughness in the paint and a 6’9” 260-pound power forward could be a plus.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 72
NBA 2K8’s Rating: N/A

28. Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers) – Bill Walker SF Kansas State
Walker is another player that has the potential to be a lottery pick but will probably slip in the draft. His athleticism is outstanding and reports are showing that the spring in his step is back after fully recovering from knee surgery a year ago. Memphis has a lot of guards/small forwards but none quite as explosive as Walker.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 73
NBA 2K8’s Rating: N/A

29. Detroit Pistons – Kyle Weaver SG/PG Washington State
Detroit is another team that doesn’t have a lot of needs but Weaver fits the bill for them. He can play either point guard or shooting guard which allows for more rest for Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups. He could be a bit of reach here at this spot but he has some ability. And for those that might question his creativity with the ball I would advise you to do a YouTube search of his highlights against USC this year. One Mr. O.J. Mayo was on skates at one point trying to guard Weaver.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 71
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 74

30. Boston Celtics – Nikola Pekovic PF Serbia
There aren’t many glaring holes in the Celtics line-up so they can afford to take a chance on Pekovic at this spot. He is young and raw but the Celtics don’t need him for the 2008-2009 season so he has time to develop.

Coach Hartman’s Predicted Rating: 70
NBA 2K8’s Rating: 82

Well, there you have it…the first round calculated by me with the ratings along with NBA 2K8’s version of the ratings. There were three players that did not appear on the draft class that I have posted in the first round.

As you can see, there were several first round picks that are rated in the 80's. I was a bit surprised by this and by some of the players that happened to earn a rating in the 80’s. I highly doubt that this many rookies will be rated that high when NBA 2K9 is released. Nevertheless, it is fun to look ahead and attempt to predict what is going to happen.

Sound off…I want to know what the OS community thinks about the mock draft and some of the ratings.