This isn’t what WE would do. This is what we THINK will happen. We wouldn’t draft Yi Jianlian in the lottery. But somebody will, so you’ll see him on this list. We are enamored with USC guard Nick Young … but Charlotte probably won’t take him. We seriously would take Kevin Durant first, and the reason is because he’s a better natural fit in Portland (without having to blow the team up trading the club’s No. 1 scorer and rebounder). So here they are – our predictions for the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. We’re gunning for 33% accuracy. If any of the rumored deals happen, all bets are off.

1. Portland – Greg Oden.
2. Seattle – Kevin Durant. Not sure where Rashard Lewis ends up. Philly? Houston? Won’t be Charlotte.
3. Atlanta – Mike Conley. Hey, it’s a need.
4. Memphis – Al Horford. If the Grizz get Mo Williams via free agency, they’re playoff contenders, even in the West.
5. Boston – Corey Brewer. If Boston takes Yi, that noise you hear will be Red turning over in his grave.
6. Milwaukee – Brandan Wright. Nice frontline there.
7. Minnesota – Joakim Noah. Don’t love him, but he works here.
8. Charlotte – Jeff Green. Should be Nick Young, but Green’s smart and ready and plays defense.
9. Chicago – Yi Jianlian. Reeks of Darko. Should be Spencer Hawes.
10. Sacramento – Julian Wright. Because he’s left, and nobody likes Artest.
11. Atlanta – Spencer Hawes. Didn’t work out so bad, did it? Unless he turns into Jon Koncak.
12. Philadelphia – Nick Young. Steal of the draft. Miller, Young and Iggy? Scary.
13. New Orleans – Al Thornton. Desmond Mason becomes an afterthought.
14. Clippers – Acie Law. Second biggest steal after Young.

15. Detroit – Rodney Stuckey. Because everyone else is saying so.
16. Washington – Sean Williams. 2nd best defensive big in the draft (Oden).
17. New Jersey – Josh McRoberts. Assuming they keep VC … McRoberts, in a few years, could be a 15-10-5 guy.
18. Golden State – Jason Smith. Makes sense … an inside-outside big.
19. Lakers – Javaris Crittenton. Could morph into a stud when Kobe walks in two years.
20. Miami – Thaddeus Young. Exciting.
21. Philadelphia – Tiago Splitter. With three first round picks, they can wait a year on him.
22. Charlotte – Aaron Gray. Surprise.
23. New York – Wilson Chandler. Because a bunch of folks think a promise has been made.
24. Phoenix – Marco Belinelli. They learned well from Colangelo.
25. Utah – Derrick Byars. Because AK-47 is on his way out.
26. Houston – Glen Davis. Bunch of folks think he won’t look terrible next to Yao.
27. Detroit – Kyrylo Fesenko. Go read about him.
28. San Antonio – Jared Dudley. Bruce Bowen with a reliable jumper.
29. Phoenix – DeVon Hardin First and only mulligan, since he’s out of the draft (duh!). We’ll go with Stanco Barac. After Amare, that frontline is thin.
30. Philadelphia – Gabe Pruitt. Heir apparent to Andre Miller?

There you have it folks. Rip away!