Vanderbilt G Derrick Byars had fallen all the way down to the second round of tonight’s draft, but the Hornets decided not to trade up, and instead selected Iowa G Adam Haluska with the 43rd pick overall after Byars had been taken just one pick earlier. Haluska averaged 20.5 ppg last season at Iowa, and shot 40% from the field. In three years at Iowa, Haluska has started 98 games and averaged a total of 16.1 ppg.

’04-05 Season: 33 games, 33 starts, 14.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .47% FG, .389% 3PT
’05-06 Season: 34 games, 34 starts, 13.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, .41% FG, .346% 3PT
’06-07 Season: 31 games, 31 starts, 20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, .40% FG, .363% 3PT

Many thought that the Hornets would take either Nick or Thaddeus Young at #13, but GM Jeff Bower made a great decision by taking Kansas F Julian Wright with the team’s first round selection. Wright is highly regarded as a player that can do it all at his position, and head coach Byron Scott will look forward to developing Wright into an exceptional NBA starter.

’05-06 Season: 33 games, 15 starts, 8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 bpg, .56 FG%
’06-07 Season: 38 games, 37 starts, 12.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg, .54 FG%

1. POR- C Greg Oden- Should be a given; the Blazers don’t have a major need in the post but he obviously has the potential to be better than all of their current players down low. If Kevin Prichard passes up on this pick and go for Kevin Durant, they would be making a huge mistake.

2. SEA- F Kevin Durant- Seattle could really use Greg Oden but I don’t think that the Blazers will drop the ball and take Durant. For Seattle, KD can provide insurance in case Rashard Lewis departs and would essentially be the future at the small forward position for them. He doesn’t fill a need, but he will obviously be the BPA here and they could invest on a big man or a guard in the second round.

3. ATL- PF/C Al Horford- Word on the street is that Acie Law has gotten a promise from Atlanta at 11, so it looks like they won’t bother to take Mike Conley here. The Hawks could certainly use an NBA-ready big man like Al Horford (to stay away from their potential-based draft practices for once) who might as well be their starting center in a lineup next to Shelden Williams next season.

4. MEM- PG Mike Conley- Memphis might be the place where this guy ends up. Although the Grizzlies drafted Kyle Lowry last season to be their point guard, he wasn’t able to play for most of the season due to injury, hindering his maturation process as an NBA player. If they don’t feel confident they can secure Maurice Williams in free agency, they should go with this pick.

5. BOS- F Yi Jianlian- Lets face it- after their late-season failures, Boston needs to win now. But don’t expect that fact to influence Danny Ainge’s decision on draft day. Indications are showing that he likes Yi and Doc Rivers likes Jeff Green, both of whom will probably be available here. If Ainge wins, they go with Yi and the Celtics go by the wayside for another season. If Rivers gets what he wants, they take Green and anticipate making the playoffs next year. Let’s see how this unfolds.

6. MIL- F Jeff Green- Milwaukee can use a Jeff Green-type player to fill out the wing position for them, as Ruben Patterson is inadequate and Bobby Simmons has been a disappointment for them so far. Green’s under-control style will fit right in with their offense next season.

7. MIN- G/F Corey Brewer- The T’Wolves desperately need a solid wing player in their offense and right now they cannot afford to look for potential. Brewer will give them a defensive presence in the backcourt and at the 3 and should develop into a solid offensive player later on.

8. CHA- PF Joakim Noah- Why not? Charlotte could use an athletic big man to help jumpstart their young lineup, and can really do well off the bench as an energizing force. They could go with Brandan Wright here, but his stock is dropping and Charlotte needs somebody that can make an impact now more than later.

9. CHI- C Spencer Hawes- Chicago is looking for a big man to fill P.J. Brown’s shoes and to recreate depth in the post. Hawes is probably the most skilled center offensively next to Greg Oden; he has soft hands, excellent passing skills, and a jumper out to 18 feet. Hawes will give them that low post scorer that can only compliment Ben Wallace and still allow Tyrus Thomas to grow at the 4.

10. SAC- PF Brandan Wright- Wright’s stock has been falling steadily, so don’t be surprised if he ends up in the early teens. If Sacramento has this opportunity, they should take it to fill out the power forward position for the future.

11. ATL- PG Acie Law- If rumors aren’t unfounded, Acie Law will be going to the ATL at 11. Picking two relatively NBA-ready prospects is a must for the Hawks, and it looks like they’ll do it this year. Law will finally give them a solid floor general, one that can also score off the dribble and has made big shots in the past. This 6-3 prospect out of Texas A&M may end up being individually successful earlier than the rest of the point guards in this draft class and might actually be the key to finally tying together all of the Hawks’ young pieces.

12. PHI- F Al Thornton- The Sixers probably need a power forward more than anything right now, but they might be running out of luck here at 12. Thornton is a true 3 with great offensive skills, and has even shown that he can bang at the power forward position at FSU. His inside-outside abilities could be a plus for Philly, a team that will surely be desperate for scoring next season.

13. NO- SG Nick Young- New Orleans has no choice here- they need a 2 guard badly. Devin Brown is their current starter there with little to no depth on the bench behind him. Hopefully he doesn’t turn into another J.R. Smith in terms of work ethic and defense, as both of these aspects are questionable in his game.

14. LAC- PG Javaris Crittenton- The Clippers desperately need a point guard since their current future at the position may never recover from his injuries, and Sam Cassell will be 38 this November. Elgin Baylor may have learned from his mistakes and would probably cringe away from taking another young point guard like Crittenton (who is one year out of high school), but at 14 and with his potential, they almost have no choice. They may as well work on this guy’s skills while Cassell ages and while they pray for Livingston to return at full health. Let’s just hope Elgin keeps his mouth shut about who he is going to take this year.

15. DET- G Rodney Stuckey- Detroit could really use a solid player in the backcourt after Carlos Delfino failed to fulfill this need and was traded to the Raptors. Stuckey is a versatile combo guard that was known for his scoring prowess at E. Washington. His defense may not be fully up to the Pistons’ standards, but there is room to improve within this guy and he has really proven that he belongs in the first round.

16. WAS- SF Julian Wright- This guy shouldn’t fall this far, but with the way things are going he might as well do so. The Wizards desperately need a shooting guard to help out Gilbert Arenas and they could go for somebody like Derrick Byars, but when you have a spectacular athlete like Julian Wright fall to your lap, you have to pick him up.

17. NJ- PF Josh McRoberts- New Jersey could be getting a steal with McRoberts here at 17, whose athleticism and finishing skills is needed in the Nets’ post game. His back to the basket offense needs help, but his potential is great and his energetic nature would fit right in with the rest of New Jersey’s talent.

18. GS- PF Jason Smith- Smith’s solid perimeter game for a 4 would surely thrive in Don Nelson’s offense, and the Warriors have really needed a good big man for a while. He may not be your conventional post player, but why shouldn’t they fill that position and get another good perimeter player at the same time?

19. LAL- SF Thaddeus Young- The Lakers would probably do better by drafting a point guard or big man here, but they could use a solid forward with potential like Thaddeus Young, especially if he falls this far. Anything that can please Kobe, they must do, but at 19 there’s not a lot they can pull together.

20. MIA- SG Daequan Cook- Miami ended the season ranked 27th in the league in three point shooting percentage and could really use some extra shooting, especially if Jason Kapono bolts for a long term deal somewhere else. Cook can give them the deep shooting they need at the 2-guard position, all he needs to do is improve his ballhandling and defense.

21. PHI- SG Morris Almond- After trading Allen Iverson, Philadelphia needs more offense. Almond is one of the best offensive two guards in the draft and may end up being a huge steal.

22. CHA- SG Rudy Fernandez- Charlotte could fill their need at shooting guard by taking Fernandez here and hoping for some solid development.

23. NY- SF Wilson Chandler- There have been quite a few rumors about this pick, including one that the Knicks may actually be picking for someone else. Wilson Chandler won’t even be working out for them, but there have been hints that he will be going here.

24. PHX- SG Marco Belinelli- Belinelli’s jumpshot and offensive skills make for a perfect fit for the Suns’ offense. In their system, Belinelli might even be able to play right away and have the ability to put up big numbers for Phoenix.

25. UTA- SG Arron Afflalo- The Jazz really need a solid two guard in their system in order to be more competitive in the playoffs next season. Ronnie Brewer might end up being good offensively, but they can stand to add more depth there anyway. Afflalo plays solid defense, has a nice jumpshot, and is definitely one of the most NBA-ready 2 guards in this draft. He is a Jerry Sloan-type player and could give them what Jazz fans saw in Raja Bell a few years back.

26. HOU- PF Tiago Splitter- Since trading veteran Juwan Howard to the Timberwolves, the Rockets have created a huge hole at the power forward position. Down here at 26 they may have a hard time filling this need as Splitter is no guarantee to be here. If he is, expect them to snatch him up and hope he can play as soon as next season.

27. DET- G/F Derrick Byars- Detroit could just use this pick on a big man with potential, but they could also continue to build up their backcourt depth and take a guard/wing combo player like Derrick Byars. The guy has good size, plays defense, and his scoring is underrated. Byars is extremely polished and should have little to no trouble learning the Pistons’ system on both sides of the ball.

28. SAN- C Kyrylo Fesenko- Fesenko has been a quick riser this offseason, going from a potentially undrafted prospect to a first-round possibility. Look for the Spurs to continue their practices of drafting international players here, all the while filling their need at center for the future.

29. PHX- PG Gabe Pruitt- The Suns need a point guard to spell Steve Nash and Pruitt can run the floor with the best of them, making this a solid fit.

30. PHI- PG Ramon Sessions- Philly could use another point on their roster and Sessions has shown that he is one of the purest in the draft. He would have ample time to learn from Andre Miller before being worked more into the offense.

By noballer07 & 808Hornetsfan

The Hornets literally hit the jackpot in the ’05 Draft when PG Chris Paul was passed up by three teams before landing in the Hornets nest. It was an obvious choice for GM Allen Bristow then, and Paul has been worth the pick thus far in his career. The problem the Hornets now face is finding the next rookie who can work side-by-side with Paul in leading the team to the postseason. Of course, that will be difficult to accomplish seeing is how the Hornets are not picking fourth overall, but 13th overall. There are plenty of options, but it is still uncertain on what the team will do with their first round selection, so we’re going to do our best in determining what will happen on Thursday night.

We do know that there are at least five players on the Hornets draft board that will likely be selected at #13, but it’s always hard to predict which one of those players is the favorite among the best. These are the five that will be looked at constantly throughout the next 24 hours or so:

SG Nick Young, USC

SF Julian Wright, Kansas

PG Acie Law, Texas A&M

SF Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech

G/F Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt

It’s safe to say the Hornets will be looking for a guard/wing in the first round. All five of these players would make a big contribution next season, but the hardest question is which one fits the best? We’ve answered that, along with who the team should take with both of their picks…

First Round (13th overall)

noballer07:

SG Nick Young- If this guy is there, take him. There have been reports that Byron Scott was not entirely pleased with Young’s defense at the workout on the 25th, but at this point the team has no choice. The best 2-guard on the board in Corey Brewer will probably be long gone, and so will Julian Wright, a wing player who could develop into an all-around talent. Nick Young is probably the best player they’ll be able to get in this draft in order to fill the shooting guard position for the team. Let’s just hope that he isn’t the next J.R. Smith.

Alternative:
G/F Derrick Byars- If in any event Nick Young isn’t available or Scott ends up not wanting to develop another shooting guard prospect, they can trade down and take Derrick Byars, who is probably the second most NBA-ready 2-guard in this draft. Scott has also commented that he would like a player that can play shooting guard and small forward and Byars has the versatility and NBA-body to do both.

808Hornetsfan:

SF Thaddeus Young- His numbers may not be that impressive, but he has the versatility to be a starting SF in the NBA. He has a nice shooting touch, he can rebound, he can defend in the paint against opposing forwards, and he’s one of, if not the most athletic player in the draft. Coach Scott will not pass him up if he’s there at #13, Young’s workouts made sure of that. The only question that Thaddeus must answer in the future is can he be more of a threat offensively if he does start?

Alternative:
G Nick Young- Either way, the Hornets will draft a Young with the 13th pick, unless somehow both of these guys are taken before the Hornets are up. Young can step in immediately for the team and score some points, but his defense will have to improve if he’s going to play the 2. With Peja Stojakovic returning this season, Coach Scott will want a more balanced attack on both sides, but the team will struggle if both Young and Peja are beat defensively every night.

Second Round (43rd overall)

noballer07:

PG Taurean Green- Who knows if Scott was impressed by this guy, but he may as well be available at 43. We need a 3rd option at the point guard right now seeing that Bobby Jackson is almost a guarantee to miss 20 or more games a season at this stage of his career and Chris Paul needs the load taken off of him in order to tone down on some of his own injuries. Green needs work running an offense but being the third point guard on a team with a very young talent leading the show at the 1 takes all of the pressure off.

Alternatives:
SF Reyshawn Terry- The 6-7 forward has experience, plays good defense, and has an NBA-ready frame. Although being a 4-year player, he still has a good bit of potential in him.

SF Dominic McGuire- This guy is not a bad player; he’s quite an athlete and plays solid defense. Could be a nice replacement for Desmond Mason.

PF Glen Davis- A no-brainer for a lot of people since he plays just up the river from New Orleans. He wouldn’t fill a need, but if he falls to our hands it would be quite interesting to see how he would fit in.

808Hornetsfan:

F Demetris Nichols- One of the most improved players the last two seasons, Nichols has stepped up his game and can really create a spark off the bench for the Hornets. His FG% have increased in each of his four seasons at Syracuse, and he averaged 18 and 5 a game this past season. He has great post moves in the paint, and his defense is among the best at his position. With a few seasons of experience, Nichols could a perfect weapon off the bench, and can certainly fill in for someone when the injury bug comes around.

Alternative:
F Glen Davis- Not many forwards that are Big Baby’s size can average 17, 10 and 2 a game. Not to mention, Davis has been known to hit some three-pointers. It is a development project to take him, but like noballer said, he’s a hometown boy who fit in perfectly. And who knows, maybe he becomes the steal of the draft and is a future starter in New Orleans?

There is no telling of what can happen on draft night, but we hope we’re pretty close in predicting what’s going to unfold. After a month of workouts and scouting, we hope Coach Scott and the gang can make the right decisions with their two picks, the city of New Orleans will be watching very move they make.

Hornets Workout Seven
by noballer07

PF Jason Smith 7-0 240
Attributes- Smith is a perimeter-oriented seven footer with a smooth jumpshot out to 18 feet and solid ballhanding for his size. His post moves aren’t varied or refined, and his strength needs to improve in order to be successful down low in the NBA.
Hornets?- I’m almost certain they aren’t looking to draft this guy as he wouldn’t fit into this system and doesn’t fill a need. The team already has 2 solid power forwards in David West and Cedric Simmons.

PF Carl Landry 6-8 245
Attributes- A nice prospect at the four, Landry was a solid low post scorer and rebounder at Purdue. However, he is undersized for a power forward and probably won’t be effective defensively.
Hornets?- It’s a possibility that they’d take him at #43; he should be available around that pick and it would be nice to give some competition to Brandon Bass.

G Nate Funk 6-3 195
Attributes- Nate Funk is a tweener with good ability to score off the dribble and a solid jumpshot. May not be drafted. His court vision is not the best and he does better at the 2.
Hornets?- I doubt it; he won’t be drafted but probably will be picked up by a team for the summer league.

F Levon Kendall 6-10 230
Attributes- Not much is known about this guy, but apparently he has the ability to both put the ball on the floor and post up down low. Hasn’t done much at Pittsburgh in his college career.
Hornets?- Low probability; he may be taken a look at for the summer league.

G/F Derrick Byars 6-7 225
Attributes- Very solid prospect; NBA-ready and plays defense. Has a variety of moves offensively and has displayed a consistent jumper. Upside might be limited.
Hornets?- If the team decides to trade down, it’s a possibility. I know Byron Scott likes players who play defense and this guy will be able to step in early on and help out the team.

PF Chris Richard 6-9 255
Attributes- Low post scorer and hustle man for Florida. Never got the opportunity to do much (mostly a bench player) and played under the shadows of Horford and Noah down low. Very grounded.
Hornets?- I like this guy; he’s tough and has a wide body. He probably won’t get drafted but we might see him get picked up by the team in free agency.

G Loren Stokes 6-3 180
Attributes- Hofstra guard that averaged 20 ppg this past season. Rebounding is solid for his size. Very likely to go undrafted as his point guard skills are unrefined. Has played a lot of small forward.
Hornets?- We need a third option at point guard and I’m not impressed with who they’re bringing in, but who knows, they may swing him an offer in free agency to play in the summer league.