The 2008 NBA Draft will be held on June 26 and will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States. The NBA draft is how the NBA disperses new players into the league. Teams in the NBA pick in a specified order for two rounds. With 30 teams currently in the NBA, that means there will be 60 picks in the 2008 NBA Draft.
The order of the teams in the draft is decided by an interesting process. All 14 teams who didn’t make the NBA playoffs use a weighted lottery system to figure out the order of the first 14 picks of the draft. From pick 15 to pick 30, the picks are in order of the worst regular season record to the best regular season record. In the second round, the entire round is in order from the worst regular season record to the best regular season record.
There are a number of ways players become eligible for the NBA draft. College players who have completed their senior years automatically become eligible for the NBA draft. College players can also opt to declare for the draft early. For example, if a player is on the basketball team for one year in college, he can opt to declare for the NBA draft after his freshman season. International players automatically become eligible for the NBA draft at age 22. Like college players, international players can opt to enter the draft early as well.
Who are the best players in the 2008 NBA Draft? Let’s take a look:
Derrick Rose
After attending the University of Memphis for one season, Derrick Rose has opted to enter the 2008 NBA Draft. Rose is a point guard who excels at passing the ball and making his teammates better. He’s also a very athletic player who can finish at the rim with authority. In his one year in college, Rose led Memphis all the way to the championship game, where they lost against the University of Kansas. Rose is expected to be picked either first or second in this year’s draft.
Michael Beasley
A combo forward, Michael Beasley can play either small forward or power forward. He has an amazing amount of skill. In his one season at Kansas State, Beasley was a scoring and rebounding machine. Most draft experts agree that Beasley has the most potential of any player in the draft. A 6-foot-8, there is little Beasley can’t do. In the 2008 NBA Draft, expect Beasley to be drafted either first, second or third.
OJ Mayo
Coming into this year’s college basketball season, many experts regarded OJ Mayo as the best player in the country. While his season didn’t go as planned, Mayo still remains a very good NBA prospect. He’s a player who can play both point guard and shooting guard. Mayo’s main specialty is scoring, however he shows potential to be a good playmaker in the future. Athletically, few players can match what Mayo can bring to the table.
Jerryd Bayless
Like Mayo, Jerryd Bayless projects to be able to play both point guard and shooting guard. At the University of Arizona, Bayless showed a great ability to put the ball in the hole. He also was a capable dribbler and passer. Bayless is a good athlete who uses his speed to blow by his opponents. His stock seems to be on the rise and he could very well end up being a top five pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Kevin Love
Perhaps the most talked about player in college basketball this season was Kevin Love. Love is a post player who went to UCLA. While he isn’t a great athlete, he is a very skilled player. Love can shoot the ball, rebound the ball and he’s a great passer for a player his size. At 6-foot-9, Love will likely play power forward in the NBA. A number of teams really like Love and it wouldn’t surprise many if Love ended up being a top five pick.
Danilo Gallinari
The unquestioned top international player in the 2008 NBA Draft is Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari, who is from the country of Italy, is a versatile player who has a lot of skills. He plays with a lot of aggressiveness and he can also shoot the ball. Some question whether his defense will transfer to the NBA but he definitely has a lot of tools. Gallinari is expected to be a top ten pick.
Anthony Randolph
Perhaps the most athletic bigman in the draft, Anthony Randolph can really get off the ground. Although he has a skinny frame, he’s deceptively powerful and isn’t afraid to dunk the ball around the rim. Since he only spent one year in college, Randolph has a lot of untapped potential and could conceivably become the best player in this draft. Randolph in all likelihood will be drafted within the first ten picks.
Eric Gordon
While at the University of Indiana, Eric Gordon was one of the country’s most exciting scorers. Even though he’s only approximately 6-foot-3, Gordon is very strong and can handle players who are taller than him. On the NBA level, Gordon should be able to score at ease. His lack of height for the shooting guard position is a bit worrisome but he should be able to make up for it with strength and skill.
Brook Lopez
The draft’s most highly rated seven-footer, Brook Lopez starred at the University at Stanford while playing alongside his twin brother Robin Lopez. Robin Lopez is also expected to be drafted in the first round, however Brook Lopez will undoubtedly be selected first. Brook is a gifted offensively player who has very good size, strength and he plays with a lot of emotion.
DJ Augustin
Although DJ Augustin doesn’t have much size, he’s one of the most exciting players in the draft. At 5-foot-11, a lot of people might doubt his ability to play in the NBA, however don’t let his size fool you. Augustin is a very good point guard who can run an NBA team successfully. He can shoot, pass, dribble and setup his teammates beautifully. He’s not going to wow you with his size, however he surely can wow you with his game.
Joe Alexander
From the University of West Virginia, Joe Alexander has come out of nowhere to become one of the hottest names in the draft. Alexander is an amazing athlete who can run and jump with the best of them. The 6-foot-8 small forward spent is projected to be picked anywhere from pick number five to pick number fifteen. As the draft approaches, his stock seems to continue to rise due to his athleticism and potential for greatness.
Here is the 2008 NBA Draft team order in the first round:
1. Chicago Bulls
2. Miami Heat
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Seattle Supersonics
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. New York Knicks
7. LA Clippers
8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Charlotte Bobcats
10. New Jersey Nets
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Portland Trail Blazers
14. Golden State Warriors
15. Phoenix Suns
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Toronto Raptors
18. Washington Wizards
19. Cleveland Cavaliers
20. Denver Nuggets
21. New Jersey Nets
22. Orlando Magic
23. Utah Jazz
24. Seattle Supersonics
25. Houston Rockets
26. San Antonio Spurs
27. New Orleans Hornets
28. Memphis Grizzlies
29. Detroit Pistons
30. Boston Celtics
