It's that time of year again.  Now that Lebron has been officially coronated the King of the NBA with his first title, the NBA draft comes around, giving all the other teams a chance to add the best college players in an effort to knock Lebron off his throne.

I have a tradtion of doing a mock draft for the NBA draft.  I don't do one for the NFL draft, but for some reason, I really enjoy the NBA draft.  For one thing, it's shorter, and there are fewer players.  It is also very tough to predict it very well. 

With the infusion of so many underclassmen and foreigners, doing a successful mock draft can be a challenging endeavor.  The best I have ever done is when I got 13 picks correct in the 2002 draft, but most years I am happy if I get six or seven picks correct.  I am by no means an expert, but I think I am as good a prognosticator as most of the real "experts".

What always makes it tough is that once you miss a pick, the cards begin to tumble because for each pick you miss, you end up missing TWO, because the player you thought would go at a certain pick will get picked eventually, meaning you miss that pick as well.  Keeping all that in mind, here are my predicted selections in Thursday nights draft:

1.   New Orleans:  Anthony Davis.  The unquestioned stud of this draft.  Should be a solid NBA power forward for years to come.

2.  Charlotte:  Thomas Robinson.  The Bobcats need everything, and Robinson is the next best big man on the board who should improve his game in the NBA and be an immediate starter.

3.   Washington:  Bradley Beal.  The Florida shooting guard is very athletic and can shoot.  Has perhaps the best upside of anyone in the draft.  Could be the biggest star of this draft eventually.

4.  Cleveland:  Harrison Barnes.  The North Carolina swingman has a smooth game and can do it all.  Should be a very good player to pair with Kyrie Irving for a long time to come as the Cavs continue life after Lebron.

5.   Sacramento:  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  Similar to Barnes, but maybe not quite as talented.  He has a great motor and intangibles NBA personnel guys love.

6,   Portland:  Andre Drummond.  You'd think the Trail Blazers would have issues drafting a young unproven big man after the Greg Oden debacle, but they need height, and the UConn center has the most upside of any big in the draft.

7.   Golden State:  Dion Waiters.  The Syracuse product has been rocketing up draft boards.  The Warriors could pair him with Steph Curry for a pretty dynamic backcourt, or possibly trade the pick to the Bulls for Luol Deng.  If that heppens, the Bulls take Waiters here too.

8.   Toronto:  Damian Lillard.  The Raptors need a dynamic point guard more than anything and Lillard is the best on the board.

9.   Detroit:  John Henson.  The Pistons struck gold with Greg Monroe last year, and now add another big man who can rebound and pass to play alongside him in the frontcourt.

10.  New Orleans:  Tyler Zellar.  If the Hornets keep this pick, I think they go with another big man to team up with Davis, and their frontcourt will be set for years to come.

11,  Portland:  Austin Rivers.  Blazers addressed their need for a center with Drummond, now get a chance to add a piece in the backcourt by taking Doc's kid, who could be the next Brandon Roy in Portland.

12.  Milwaukee:  Meyers Leonard.  Bucks need a big man more than anything and Leanard is the next best out there at this point.

13.  Phoenix:  Kendall Marshall.  Suns realize Steve Nash isn't going to play forever, and reportedly really like Marshall, who Nash could tutor for a year or two to eventually take his job.

14.  Houston:  Jeremy Lamb.  Lamb falling this far to the Rockets would be a steal but it could happen.  I think it will, and the Rockets will take him as the "best player available".

15.  Philadelphia:  Arnett Moultrie.  Elton Brand is getting up there in age and the Sixers showed against Boston that they really could use more physicality down low.

16.  Houston:  Terrance Jones.  Rockets can use more athletic and talented big men, and Jones can play both SF and PF and fill that bill.

17.  Dallas:  Terrence Ross.  Mavs need to get younger on the wings and skill positions, as Jason Terry is aging and also is a free agent and might not be back.  Ross could step right in.

18,  Houston:  Marquis Teague.  Rochets continue to bolster their backcourt, adding the best available point guard to the mix of Jones and Lamb.

19.  Orlando:  Moe Harkless.  Harkless is a fast riser on draft boards, and Orlando needs a small forward to replace Hedo Turkoglu, who will probably not be back.

20.  Denver:  Perry Jones.  Nugs could go with St Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson here as well, but I think they will go with the more athletic and versatile Jones instead.

21.  Boston:  Jared Sullinger.  Concerns over a reported bad back has pushed Sullinger down draft boards and out of the lottery.  Boston is a team that can afford to take a chance and assume the risk. 

22,  Boston:  Fab Melo.  This may be a bit high for the Syracuse big man, but Boston is a team that needs size.  Their bigs are all old, and they need to replace them.  Melo has the most upside of any big on the board and again, the Celtics can afford to take the risk.

23.  At;anto:  Evan Fournier.  Hawks need a guard who can pair with Joe Johnson and fill it up from the outside.  Fournier is a foreigner with a lot of potential and seems like a good fit.

24.  Cleveland:  Andew Nicholson.  The Bonnie product has a lot of talent, and the Cavs have a lot of holes to fill.  They added Barnes at the three earlier, now adding Nicholson at the four would be a perfect fit.

25.  Memphis:  Jared Cunningham.  I don't feel good about this pick, as it seems Cunningham is falling down draft oards. Grizzlies need a shooting guard more than anything though, and I am sticking with Cunningham here.  They could go a number of ways though.

26.  Indiana:  Will Barton.  Pacers are getting closer.  They could use a guy like Barton to back up Danny Granger at the 3 or Paul George at the 2.  Barton is very versatile and has a solid game.

27.  Miami:  Doron Lamb.  Heat could go big with Festus Ezeli here, but I think they will go with Lamb as a Mike Miller type replacement.  They love their athletes down in South Beach for that isolation offense they play down there and Lamb fits very well.

28.  Oklahoma City:  Festus Ezeli.  Thunder showed against Miami that they were perhaps one big man away.  Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison don't scare anyone.  Put a shot blocker like Ezeli in there along with Serge Ibaka and this will be a much tougher defense next year.

29.  Chicago:  John Jenkins.  My Bulls biggest need is a shooting guard who can hit from anywhere on the floor to loosen things up for Carlos Boozer and Joaguim Noah, as well as another guy for Derrick Rose to dish off to for spot up threes.  Jenkins is the best pure shooter in the draft and would fit nicely.

30.  Golden State:  Quincy Miller.  Miller is an athletic 6-10 small forward with a lot of game.  It would be a steal for the Warriors if he falls this far, which I'm guessing he will.

Well there you go.  Wish me luck and enjoy the draft!

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