Contraction- Mock Draft anyone?

[Juggernaut]

With a possible lockout coming up next year, and LeBron recently talking about contraction and Stern saying contraction has been spoken about, how would you guys think a possible mock draft look like? In this scenario, I'll have 4 teams being contracted from the league.

New Orleans, Charlotte, Memphis and Minnesota will be the 4 getting the boot. These 4 are some of the youngest in the league.

I'll post my 1 or 2 round mock later tonight when I have more time.

Kings DP1.
Wizards DP2.
Cavaliers DP3.
Nets DP4.
Clippers DP5.
Pistons DP6.
Raptors DP7.
76ers DP8.
Warriors DP9.
Bucks DP10.
Suns DP11.
Pacers DP12.
Rockets DP13.
Blazers DP14.
Nuggets DP15.
Knicks DP16.
Hawks DP17.
Magic DP18.
Bulls DP19.
Thunder DP20.
Jazz DP21.
Lakers DP22.
Heat DP23.
Celtics DP24.
Mavericks DP25.
Spurs DP26.

After the obvious CP3 to Sacramento with the 1st pick, who goes 2nd/3rd/4th/5th? We have Gay, Mayo, Beasley, Love, Flynn, Wallace, Ariza, Johnson, Augustin, Okafor. Many good guys that would increase competition in the league.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

will they have the same contracts?

[Juggernaut]

They inherit the full contract. Looking at this bunch, I don't see many any bad contracts that stick out.

The players who aren't chosen become free agents.

[EmpireWF]

Kevin Love would have to be #2. The Wizards would jizz a thousand times over at the chance to match Wall with Love.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

It's hard to tell how willing teams would be to take on deals, I tried to take need/want into account rather than just best available.

I don't know how many of these guys are expiring, but assuming this is the coming offseason:

Kings DP1. - Chris Paul
Wizards DP2. - Kevin Love
Cavaliers DP3. - Rudy Gay
Nets DP4. - David West
Clippers DP5. - Wesley Johnson
Pistons DP6. - Michael Beasley
Raptors DP7. - Gerald Wallace
76ers DP8. - Jonny Flynn
Warriors DP9. - Marc Gasol
Bucks DP10. - Zach Randolph
Suns DP11. - Trevor Ariza
Pacers DP12. - Stephen Jackson
Rockets DP13. - Marco Belinelli
Blazers DP14. - Boris Diaw
Nuggets DP15. - Tyrus Thomas
Knicks DP16. - Darell Arthur
Hawks DP17. - Mike Conley
Magic DP18. - Xavier Henry
Bulls DP19. - Marcus Thorton
Thunder DP20. - Emeka Okafor
Jazz DP21. - Martell Webster
Lakers DP22. - Darko Milicic
Heat DP23. - DJ Augustin
Celtics DP24. - Corey Brewer
Mavericks DP25. - Quincy Pondexter
Spurs DP26. - Nazr Mohammed

[A Tasty Burgerr]

That was really hard.

[Argath]

Love would easily go to washington and it would be fantastic

[ralaw]

76ers DP8. - Jonny Flynn

That seems kind of high for Flynn and I certainly can't see him going before Conley and certainly not to Philly who has a better options at PG in Jrue Holiday and Louis Williams.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

That seems kind of high for Flynn and I certainly can't see him going before Conley and certainly not to Philly who has a better options at PG in Jrue Holiday and Louis Williams.

That one and Darrell Arthur were the two that I don't like, but I didn't feel like rearranging the whole thing to fix it to be honest.

[ralaw]

That one and Darrell Arthur were the two that I don't like, but I didn't feel like rearranging the whole thing to fix it to be honest.

LOL, same with me. I appreciate the hardwork though.

[NAHSTE]

Nazr Mohammad to the Spurs would be like the 14th time he's played for them, right? Seems like one of those guys who just rotates around the league.

[Juggernaut]

Mine:

Kings DP1. Chris Paul
Wizards DP2. Kevin Love
Cavaliers DP3. Rudy Gay
Nets DP4. Michael Beasley
Clippers DP5. Mike Conley
Pistons DP6. Wesley Johnson
Raptors DP7. Johnny Flynn
76ers DP8. Marc Gasol
Warriors DP9. Trevor Ariza
Bucks DP10. Gerald Wallace
Suns DP11. O.J. Mayo
Pacers DP12. Zach Rabdolph
Rockets DP13. Emeka Okafor
Blazers DP14. David West
Nuggets DP15. Tyrus Thomas
Knicks DP16. Xavier Henry
Hawks DP17. Marcus Thornton
Magic DP18. Boris Diaw
Bulls DP19. Stephen Jackson
Thunder DP20. D.J. Augustin
Jazz DP21. Corey Brewer
Lakers DP22. Luke Ridnour
Heat DP23. Darko Milicic
Celtics DP24. Hasheem Thabeet
Mavericks DP25. Marco Belinellii
Spurs DP26. Nazr Mohammed

How I think rd 1 would look.

[EmpireWF]

Kings DP1. -- PG Chris Paul -- Would give Kings one of the most potent backcourts in the league with Tyreke Evans (who is reportedly considering season ending foot surgery).

Wizards DP2. -- PF Kevin Love -- Underrated b/c he played in Minnesota, he is a walking double double. Plus, playing beside him, you'd imagine Blatche & McGee would get a fire lit under their asses. John Wall's BFF.

Cavaliers DP3. -- SF Rudy Gay -- Obvious pick if for no other reason, he is the best player with the longest contract (4 years remaining). Gay has averaged about 20 points in recent seasons and would be the instant #1 guy in Cleveland to match with Boobie, Varejao and Mo.

Nets DP4. -- PF Zach Randolph -- Tough pick here but the Nets need a monster on the glass to take some of the heat off Brook Lopez. They could go with a two-guard/scorer here but Randolph has an expiring contract that they could also use. Plus, if they end up dealing Favors for Melo, a Randolph/Lopez front court would do damage with Melo getting buckets.

Clippers DP5. -- F/G Stephen Jackson -- Perhaps a reach at #5, but Jackson offers versatility as he can play either guard position or as a forward. He brings another scorer to the table behind Gordon and Griffin. Jackson is a good passer despite his high scoring, too, so Griffin gets another disher to his array of teammates.

Pistons DP6. -- PF David West -- The Pistons need ferocious size up front and West gives them a shorter power forward. But West has averaged close to a double double every year since 2005-06.

Raptors DP7. -- PF Michael Beasley -- A consistent big scorer, he has also averaged a block a game this season. He opens up the floor a bit more for Toronto who are counting on young players to help out team leader Bargnani.

76ers DP8. -- G/F Gerald Wallace -- The 76ers lack consistent scorers and while they may be a bit guard heavy, Wallace has averaged over 15 PPG since 2005-06. They already have AI, Turner, Lou Williams plus Young at the 3-spot, but they desperately need scoring.

Warriors DP9. -- C Emeka Okafor -- I'm not sure if he would fit into their style of play, especially since they have Lee & Biedrins as starters. However, they need to get tougher inside to take that next step. Okafor is that man who averages close to 2 blocks per game and has averaged nearly a double double every year he's played in the league.

Bucks DP10. -- SF Wesley Johnson -- The Bucks have size and guards. Johnson gives them more youth and a forward who does a bit of everything. He can knock down 3s, grab a handful of boards, and he's averaging nearly a block and a steal per game so far in his rookie campaign.

Suns DP11. -- SG O.J. Mayo -- The Suns are a youthful team and they have the potential to put up points but they lack defense. Of course, Mayo doesn't fit that bill but he is a natural 2-guard which is something they would prefer to have.

Pacers DP12. -- PF Tyrus Thomas -- The Pacers are gettting hammered on the glass and they need someone to step up and take Foster's spot in the rotation. Thomas may not be a ballhawk rebounder, but he can get the job done if given enough minutes.

Rockets DP13. -- C Marc Gasol -- With Ming's career likely over in Houston, they need a big man who can dominate. Gasol is young but he's coming off a near double-double season last year. His FT percentage is at a career high this year and he's averaging a steal and nearly 1.5 blocks a game.

Blazers DP14. -- PF Boris Diaw -- There are better players available but they need more forwards on the roster. They could have brought in a point in case they move Andre Miller or as insurance against Roy, but Diaw gives them more depth at the 4.

Nuggets DP15. -- G/F Trevor Ariza -- Contract aside, he's a younger player who can help create pressure on defenses with his playmaking ability. They would probably rather go bigger here but not many options are available.

Knicks DP16. -- PG Luke Ridnour -- With no desirable big man, they finally get the point they've wanted all along. No, not Ricky Rubio, but Ridnour. He'll relieve some of the hell on the walking wounded All-Star that is Ray Felton and ideally would not create a letdown when Felton is not on the floor.

Hawks DP17. -- PG Mike Conley -- Speaking of back-up point guards, the Hawks get their man. Bibby is the only legit point in their rotation but Conley can be groomed into their starter, if not take over the spot immediately.

Magic DP18. -- C Darko Milicic -- It's no secret the Magic lack center depth. With the slim pickings available here, they get a guy who has some potential. Working with Dwight Howard could light a fire under him and give them at least one bigger body than Superman.

Bulls DP19. -- C Hasheem Thabeet -- The Bulls have plenty of guards and forwards but with the tricky health of Noah, they need to bring in bodies besides Kurt Thomas (I still love you!). Thabeet is raw but he's 7'3 and can be molded to fit their team.

Thunder DP20. -- SG Marco Belinelli -- More scorers for everyone!

Jazz DP21. -- SG Xavier Henry -- Move over Raja, here coms the X-Man.

Lakers DP22. -- PG Jonny Flynn -- Somehow, Flynn drops all the way to the Lakers and they get their point man of the future.

Heat DP23. -- PG D.J. Augustin -- With no big man help available (unless you count Nazr, I don't), they improve their ball handlers with Augustin. Not sure if his contract fits but there's a lockout on the horizon anyway.

Celtics DP24. -- SG Tony Allen - Reunion of sorts as Allen resumes his bench role.

Mavericks DP25. -- SF Martell Webster -- A better 3-pt shooter than some of the other available forwards, he is a useful six-man.

Spurs DP26. -- C Nazr Mohammed -- Why not?