The Melo Backpedal

With all the feedback we’ve received over the Top 50 for next year’s NBA Draft, we thought we’d take a minute to release the current position rankings. It’s something that we’ll keep up on the site over the next 51 weeks and update as we receive more information about each prospect.

[Updated June 9th, 2008]

— POINT GUARD —

#1) Derrick Rose, 6-3 195, Memphis, Age 19
[14.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.23 SPG, .347 3-PT%]
Rose has played out of his mind during the NCAA Tournament and now many observers believe he has a serious shot a being the top overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. His 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in the national semifinal game against UCLA is something that was only done by Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Corliss Williamson.
* He’d be an ideal fit in Chicago or Miami

#2) Jerryd Bayless, 6-3 205, Arizona, Age 19
[19.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1 SPG, .407 3-PT%]
Bayless has already declared for the 2008 NBA Draft and is widely considered by most observers to be a top ten pick. If during workouts he’s able to convince scouts that he can handle the point guard duties on a full time basis, he could go anywhere from 5-8. Worst case scenario would probably land him in the late Lottery.
*He’d be an ideal fit for a team like Seattle or New York

#3) D.J. Augustin, 6-0 170, Texas, Age 20
[19.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, .381 3-PT%]
Augustin was widely considered to be the best pure point guard in college basketball this season, and had an All-American caliber season as a result. Despite getting outplayed by Derrick Rose in the NCAA Tournament, most observers believe he’ll be a very good pro in the right system. Right now he’s projected to land somewhere in the Lottery, probably between 8-12.
*He’d be a very nice fit in New York or Indiana

#4) Russell Westbrook, 6-3 190, UCLA, Age 19
[12.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 SPG, .324 3-PT%]
Westbrook is an explosive guard who has received rave reviews by those who’ve watched him closely late in the season, and is now the fifth best point guard prospect in the class — just ahead of teammate Darren Collison. Some believe he may even be ahead of players such as Augustin and Lawson because of his enormous upside potential at the point guard position.
* He’d be a perfect fit in Sacramento or Portland

#5) Mario Chalmers, 6-1 190, Kansas, Age 21
[12.8 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, .523 FG%]
Chalmers, the hero of the national championship game in college basketball this year, had a very good year at Kansas, but will probably need solid workouts to get consideration in the Lottery. Right now he’s somewhere in the 12-18 range. As it turns out, he may actually be a better fit with an experienced playoff team in need of a point guard anyway.
* His style fits in nicely with Phoenix, Denver, and Golden State

— SHOOTING GUARD —

#1) O.J. Mayo, 6-5 205, Southern Cal, Age 20
[20.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG, .409 3-PT%]
Mayo is a big-time talent who should be serious attention at the top of the draft. He’s probably in the 3-8 range at the moment, but can solidify his position with good workouts. He may not have been able to completely show his full array of abilities during his first year in college, but working out against other prospects at his position should help his stock.
*He’d be an especially nice fit with Miami, Minnesota or Seattle.

#2) Eric Gordon, 6-4 220, Indiana, Age 19
[20.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, .337 3-PT%]
Gordon has already declared for the 2008 NBA Draft and should be a top ten pick as long as he doesn’t disappoint during workouts. There are several teams that could use a shooter like Gordon, and despite still needing to work on his game, he should be able to contribute immediately on the offensive end of the floor.
*Gordon would be a nice fit in Seattle or Los Angeles.

#3) Chase Budinger, 6-7 205, Arizona, Age 20
[17.1 PPG, 2.9 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG, .380 3-PT%]
Though he played forward in college, Budinger has excellent the prototypical size, athleticism, and leaping ability for the NBA two-guard position. He’s not a finished product yet, but scouts believe he has the potential to be a very special player at the next level. He’s currently looking like a Lottery to mid-first prospect, but could be more if workouts go well.
*He’d be an ideal fit in Golden State, New Jersey or Cleveland.

#4) Brandon Rush, 6-7 210, Kansas, Age 22
[13.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1 SPG, .429 3-PT%]
Rush is another player who has really improved his draft stock since the start of the NCAA Tournament, and has the opportunity to increase his value even more with good individual workouts. Though he’s probably a mid first round prospect at the moment, he’s likely to get a serious looks somewhere in the late lottery because of his ability to contribute to a team right out of the gates.
*Rush would be a great complimentary player for Orlando, New Orleans or Houston.

#5) Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6-7 205, Memphis, Age 21
[17.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, .544 FG%, .456 3-PT%]
Though most scouts believe Douglas-Roberts isn’t quite a finished product, he wasn’t going to improve his stock much returning to school, so he did the right thing to declare. He has the length and instincts to be a good defender at the NBA level and has been really working on his outside game and perimeter skills to solidify his position in the first round.
*He’d be a good fit with Orlando, Detroit or New Orleans.

— SMALL FORWARD —

#1) Michael Beasley, 6-9 240, Kansas State, Age 19
[26.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG, .532 FG%, .379 3-PT%]
Beasley can play either forward position, but he’s believed that he has the most upside as a small forward at the next level. He’s coming off the best statistical freshman season in recent memory and should be the frontrunner for the top overall selection in this summers draft, barring some unforeseen circumstances over the next two months.
*Should get serious looks from Miami, Seattle and Memphis

#2) Danilo Gallinari, 6-10 212, Italy, Age 19
[14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, .789 FT%]
Most observers who’ve seen Gallinari play believe he’s a top ten talent, and he’s probably the top International prospect in the entire draft. Despite that, he’s probably somewhere in the 9-15 range right now because, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford, some scouts have cooled on European prospects over the past few seasons. Despite the reason, he should be gone my the mid first round.
*He’s likely to get the most attention form Milwaukee and Sacramento

#3) Donte Green, 6-10 225, Syracuse, Age 20
[17.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG, .345 3-PT%]
Though Greene would likely increase his stock dramatically by returning to school for one more year, his combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability at the forward position will likely earn him a spot in the mid to late first round if he declares this year. Most scouts still believe that he has a bright NBA future, despite having an up and down year as a freshman.
*He’d be a nice fit with either Phoenix, Portland or Toronto

#4) Nicholas Batum, 6-8 210, France, Age 19
[8.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG]
Batum (pronounced Ba-Toom) is an extremely talented wing forward who was getting serious Lottery buzz before having a lackluster season in Europe. Most scouts still believe has has the skills and potential to eventually be a special player, but he’s probably not as close to reaching that potential as originally thought. Still, he’d have to be seriously considered somewhere in the 20’s.
* Teams such as Phoenix, Philadelphia and Toronto will likely show the most interest

#5) Bill Walker, 6-6 215, Kansas State, Age 20
[16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1 SPG]
Walker has unbelievable upside potential, but is probably a year or two away from reaching it. His raw abilities and elite athleticism will likely find him a spot in the first round, but could run the risk of falling out of the first round if he doesn’t have good workouts and if teams don’t feel that he can stay healthy. The surgically repaired knees may permanently damaged his stock.
*Teams such as New Jersey, Sacramento, and Dallas would be most interested

— POWER FORWARD —

#1) Anthony Randolph, 6-10 210, Louisiana State, Age 18
[15.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 BPG]
Randolph is one of the high-risers in this year’s draft, but will probably only go as far as his individual workouts will take him. The success of players like similar to Randolph, such as Brandon Wright and Chris Bosh, have paved the way for him to be a big time prospect and its widely believed that he has as much upside as any player in the draft.
* He’d be an ideal fit for a young team like Memphis or Charlotte

#2) Darrell Arthur, 6-9 215, Kansas, Age 20
[12.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG, .538 FG%]
Arthur is another player who has helped his cause in the NCAA Tournament, yet has seen his stock take a slight hit over the past year because of the play of other players at his position. Scouts are still very high on Arthur’s potential at the next level and many even believe he has the ability to be a Lottery pick if he has a big game in the national championship.
* He’d fit in nicely with a team like Sacramento, Philadelphia, or Cleveland

#3) Marreese Speights, 6-10 250, Florida, Age 20
[14.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1 APG, .624 FG%]
There are several experts who believe Spieghts will play the five spot at the next level, and while that’s true, his size and skill set would suggest he has the most potential at the four. He played well in somewhat limited minutes, and given his strong production, most observers believe he has the potential to grow into a very solid player at the next level.
* He’s likely to get serious looks from Charlotte, Philadelphia and Orlando

#4) JaVale McGee, 7-0 245, Nevada, Age 20
[14.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG, .529 FG%]
McGee is getting buzz as a potential sleeper in the draft because of his size, length, explosiveness, and natural abilities. His has the ability to play both the four and the five at the NBA level and is developing good range on his jump shot. Once he really learns the game, he could be a special player, but scouts also thought the same thing about other players, such as Golden State’s Patrick O’Bryant, so the warning signs are out there.
* Charlotte, Toronto and Washington will likely show interest

#5) J.J. Hickson, 6-9 240, North Carolina State, Age 19
[15.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, .603 FG%]
Most observers believe Hickson has the skills and upside to be a special player at the NBA level. Though he may end up returning to school to increase his stock for 2009, he has a very good chance of cracking the first round if he stays in the draft this summer. If he can perform well in individual workouts, he could skyrocket up the charts. He’ll take a couple of years to develop, but the potential is there if a team is willing to wait.
* He’d fit in well with a team such as Boston, San Antonio or Houston

— CENTER —

#1) Brook Lopez, 7-0 260, Stanford, Age 20
[19.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 2.1 BPG, .789 FT%]
Its widely believed that Lopez was the best scoring seven-footer in college basketball this season and should be a top five pick in the draft. We were among the first to put him in the top three (back in February) and others have followed suit. His academic issues and early season suspension could cause some teams to investigate, but its likely that his size and skill set will win teams over.
* He’d be a great fit with Minnesota or Memphis.

#2) Kevin Love, 6-10 255, UCLA, Age 19
[17.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 BPG, .559 FG%, .354 3-PT%]
Despite the fact that Love was the Pac-10 Player of the Year this season as a freshman, some experts believe he’s not a homerun of a prospect because of his lack of superior size and athleticism. Though its possible that he may not be a star at the next level, he’s a great player with personality, and has a very bright future in the NBA.
* Would be an ideal fit with Memphis, Charlotte and Milwaukee

#3) DeAndre Jordan, 6-11 250, Texas A&M, Age 19
[7.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG, .617 FG%]
We’ve all heard that, talent-wise, most observers believe Jordan is a top five pick in this draft. However, his lack of production as a freshman and his supposedly questionable work ethic may cause teams to pass on draft day. Should he decide to declare for the draft anyway, he’d be a lock for the first round, though the Lottery may be starting to slip away.
* Phoenix and New Jersey, among others, would be interested in developing him

#4) Kosta Koufos, 7-1 260, Ohio State, Age 19
[14.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG, .349 3-PT%]
Koufos really helped himself in the NIT, which was nationally televised by ESPN. He has a very nice face-up game and anytime you have size, play for a power program and can hit the perimeter jumper, you’re going to be a first round prospect. He’s certainly not a lock to declare for the draft, but Koufos has the talent and size to get serious attention in the second half of the first round.
*Might be an ideal fit in Dallas, Houston or Toronto.

#5) Roy Hibbert, 7-2 275, Georgetown, Age 21
[13.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.2 BPG, .609 FG%]
Hibbert may have weakened his draft stock this year, but he’s still one of the most skilled 7-foot prospects around and will get attention for his ability to be a defensive presence in the middle — which many teams need. His experience playing at a successful program will also help his cause as a mid to late first round prospect.
* Teams such as Toronto, Dallas, Boston and Utah could benefit from his services

* Send questions or comments about this post to ajohn135@gmail.com