Weekly Musings waited a little longer than others to roll out our Mock Draft, and we?re only hitting the lotto, basically because the rest is a crap shoot. Remember, Ryan Gomes went in the 2nd round last year and Rafael Araujo went top 8 in 2004. Here goes.

1. Toronto: I still think they take Andrea Bargnani, but not at 1. Look for the Raps to trade down (possibly with Atlanta?) and take the Euro Star. Could they be in on a Jermaine O?Neal or Al Harrington deal?

2. Chicago: The Bulls, and I, were high on LaMarcus Aldridge but things change and Tyrus Thomas is too good.  Ask any coach and if two guys are of even talent he?ll always take the one who hasn?t been coached up yet.  That said, these two are not of even heart. Don?t believe the Brandon Roy stuff, this is just to get teams to think of moving up.  

3. Charlotte: Rudy Gay, plain and simple.  Bickerstaff is on record as saying he?s not sure how Adam Morrison will translate to the pros, and B2 doesn?t mince words or throw smoke screens.

4. Portland: I?m hearing more and more things about them going another way, but I think in the end Nate McMillan gets his way and the Blazers will get Washington star Brandon Roy.  Seattle would LOVE to move here and snag him though.  That?d be just the thing to get Sonics fans to show up again.

5. Atlanta: Ok, so now we?re at 5 and Marcus Williams, Adam Morrison nor LaMarcus Aldridge are all on the board.  Billy Knight has been quoted as saying that he?ll take the best player available and let the coach figure it out, but everyone seems to think the Hawks need a true PG.  He?s such an idiot he has yet to work out any of the Top 6 players.  I say he takes Aldridge and shows Jason Terry the money. That?s if he doesn?t shock everyone and take Patrick O?Bryant #1 overall.  

6. Minnesota: Hmm. Need a PG. Must...take?point?guard.  Psyche. Adam Morrison goes to the shooter-happy Kevin McHale and the Wolves make a draft-day trade involving Ricky Davis.

7. Boston: Finally, the ?Moment I?ve Been Waiting For? since that triple OT loss to the 36 and 46ers. The Magic really REALLY want to move up and this just might be the highest they can get. If someone they want is available (Roy, Morrison, Gay) they?ll do it for sure, and the Celtics can grab a 2nd round pick or Carlos Arroyo.  If not, the Celtics stick here and pick Rajon Rondo, a guy they could probably get at 11 anyway. Conventional wisdom says take Marcus Williams at 7, a proven commodity and a New England PG sure to make the annual pre-season tilt at Mohegan Sun a sellout.  UConn coach Jim Calhoun has strong Boston ties and anyone in the C?s front office could call Jimmy for help on this kid.  But I?m like that chick from Grease, wishin? and hopin? and prayin? and beggin? that Danny and Co. trade down to 11, pick up one more player or pick and take Rondo. I saw both Williams and Rondo play in the opening weekend of the NCAA?s and at 6?4? Rondo has the size, length and speed to play and contribute at both ends.  And I?m afraid Marcus Williams might rob the new Apple store. BTW, my feelings on this will change before I?m done writing this column.

8. Houston: Gosh, they need a lot, don?t they?  They can?t keep playing with dudes like Stro Swift and Juwan Howard banging next to Yao, but they can?t have gunners like David Wesley and Skip trying to run the point.  They might like to take Redick here, but that doesn?t really solve their problems, and Redick can?t defend anyone, something JVG won?t stand for (Just ask Steve Franchise).  O?Bryant would be interesting, but I think the fact that Marcus Williams is available is too much for JVG and Co. to pass up.

9. Golden State: now the Warriors are jumping with joy at the chance to get O?Bryant, and probably will make the selection rather quickly. Another oops for Mullin and Montgomery. That screeching sound? That?s B-Dizzle peeling out of his driveway on his way to Minnesota.

10. Seattle: A lot here depends on what the Sonics plan to do with free-agent to be Chris Wilcox, who showed great rebounding ability to match his athleticism after coming over in a trade from the Clips.  If they want to keep Wilcox, they can go small, if not, they can get Shelden Williams.

11. Orlando: Assuming the wing players the Magic wanted were not available, Orlando is content to sit back at 11 and let the rest of the lotto come to them.  Ronnie Brewer and Rodney Carney are interesting choices as they do need someone in the backcourt to pair with Jameer and someone (anyone) besides Dwight Howard to play some D.  I?m saying they like Carney for his freakish length and potential to shut down opposing wings.

12. New Orleans: The Hornets come in at 12 knowing they have another pick at 15 and have the potential to steal two players that can make big contributions next year.  Two guys I love for them are Uconn?s Hilton Armstrong and FSU?s Alexander Johnson.  Johnson may be a reach here but Hilton is not.  Or, they can always move into the Top 10 and do a 2-for-1 swap with a team like Golden State to get the 7? O?Bryant.

13. Philly: I defer to Special Ed on 76ers talk and he says they?re going big. If Armstrong is there, he may go.  Ditto O?Bryant or NC State?s Cedric Simmons, an absolute Theo Ratliff clone (but much cheaper.)  Here?s a vote for them moving down and nabbing another pick and Alexander Johnson, that guy keeps getting better.

14. Utah: They?d like nothing more than J.J. Redick to sell tickets to a fan base that has historically supported white players more than any other town this side of Boston.  But his recent DUI arrest has to have them thinking twice about upsetting the moral majority that loves this team.  Rumors of a failed physical can?t help either.  They?d also love a shot at a Hilton Armstrong but signs are pointing to them REALLY loving  7? Senegalese Center Mouhamed Saer Sene and his 7?8? wing span. And those are wings, dude. This could also go to gutsiest ball player in this draft, Randy Foye if the 76ers don?t nab him.

? NBA Draft, Part II: Movers and Shakers.  As I?ve said before this is one of the more unpredictable, and more entertaining, drafts in recent history.  We?ll put forth some of the things we think may go down.

- Guaranteed locks: Someone in my Top 5 will fall. May even be Brandon Roy. God I hope so.  Marcus Vinicius has the coolest name since Scientific Mapp.  A player who has been rumored to be shorter than listed, fatter than listed or of questionable work-ethic will get picked high.  Most likely b/c the team that picks him floated negative rumors to scare the others off.  That sucks.

- Solid possibilities: A team in the Top 10 will trade out of the 1st round altogether. A team with 2 #1?s will resist the urge to move up and will try to get two solid contributors.  Jermaine O?Neal and/or Ricky Davis will be traded. Josh Boone will get taken, probably by New York.  

-  Fat chance: J.J. Redick will be a lotto pick. Not after a recent DUI in Durham and a possible back injury keeping him out a few months.  A proven player like Shelden Williams will go before a 7? project like Patrick O?Bryant. That?s a shame.

- Mark my words: Some 7? Euro dude will come out of the stands in a 9-button suit and shake hands with the Commissioner at the end of the 1st Round.  And Mr. Stern won?t be quite sure if it?s actually the guy that was just drafted.

Think you know better than me? Ha. HA!  If so, send mock drafts to Kevincasini@hotmail.com, Subject line mock draft.  You?ve got 2 weeks.