The Milwaukee Bucks are pretty sure there will be a good point guard prospect available when they make the No. 10 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.They just aren't sure which one it will be.
From a list that includes Ty Lawson, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague and Jrue Holiday, someone is going to be available, providing the Bucks with a solid option at the most important position on the floor.
The Bucks are the first of four Central Division teams that will be picking in the range from No. 10 to No. 16, giving the rivals a chance to match wits through the middle of the draft board.
Milwaukee Bucks
Picks: No. 10 (first round), No. 41 (second round).
Needs: A lot will depend on if they think they can re-sign their own free agents. If free agent and part-time starter
Ramon Sessions is not coming back, they need another point guard, and a better one than Luke Ridnour. This is a good draft to find one.
Possibilities: Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday.
Put it into the equation: The Bucks would have been a playoff team last season if not for serious injuries to Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut. A good pick in this draft could help with their depth and give them a shot at the No. 2 spot in the division behind Cleveland. Coach Scott Skiles better hope that last year's pick, Joe Alexander, is ready to play. They can draw names out of the hat in the second round.
Indiana Pacers
Picks: No. 13 (first round) and No. 52 (second round).
Needs: They need a better shooting guard, someone who can score and defend the position, which they don't have on the roster now. If one of the better point guards slip this far, they might grab him for an upgrade there.
Possibilities: DeMar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans, Wayne Ellington.
Put it into the equation: Whatever happens here, this is a team that looks mired in mediocrity for several years. Danny Granger has become a star and should keep them competitive for a playoff spot, but they don't have the horses to go beyond the first round. Troy Murphy is pretty good, too, but there still are too many slugs clogging up the payroll to keep them from getting a high-profile free agent next month.
Detroit Pistons
Picks: No. 15 (first round), No. 35, No. 39, No 44 (second round).Needs: The Pistons are unlikely to bring back Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, leaving a huge hole in the front line. Much will depend on their free agent plans because they have serious salary cap space available. The problems with the draft is that there aren't many quality big guys from which to choose.
Possibilities: DeJuan Blair, B.J. Mullens, Eric Maynor.
Put it into the equation: The Pistons have so many second-round picks, they might use one to draft Tiger Woods and see if he wants to play switch sports. Allen Iverson isn't coming back, which explains the cap room they will have. Rodney Stuckey really isn't a true point guard, so they may look to shore up that position in the draft, giving Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince a different look on the perimeter. The Pistons are itching to make their big splash in free agency.
Chicago Bulls
Picks: No. 16 (first round), No. 26 (first round).
Needs: A surprising playoff performance against Boston showed that the Bulls aren't too far off. They could use a
forward to provide some low-post scoring, but so could most teams in the league. At this point in the draft, start grabbing the best available player, regardless of position.
Possibilities: B.J. Mullens, Earl Clark, Gerald Henderson
Put it into the equation: Kirk Hinrich is too good to be sitting behind Derrick Rose. Although the two give the Bulls great depth at the position, it might be worth trading Hinrich for that forward who can score consistently so they don't have to keep wondering if Tyrus Thomas really wants to play power forward. Rose is becoming a real star, so Hinrich is available. Waiting for Thomas and Noah -- with all their potential -- to mature is going make the next few years both interesting and frustrating in Chicago.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Picks: No. 30 (first round) and 46 (second round).
Needs: They need more help for LeBron, but they aren't going to find it this late in the draft. They probably would
be better dumping the first pick to avoid having to guarantee money that will further clog their salary cap. This is a team on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals, and they need a proven veteran in free agency.
Possibilities: Nick Calathes, Jeff Pendergraph, Marcus Thornton.
Put it into the equation: Calathes, the guard from Florida, would give them a stash for the future because he already has signed to play in Europe. Next year is a big, big season coming up for Cleveland because if LeBron isn't happy with the team's direction, he could be headed out of town next summer. The Cavs are coming off a great regular season, but they were exposed in the conference final against Orlando, who then got drilled by the Lakers.
