Spencer Hawes, How High Will He Go?

The draft is only 2 1/2 hours away, and I am getting excited to see how the Blazers and the Sonics negotiate their ways through this year's draft. They are my favorite two teams. I really hope the Sonics get one more pick in the draft, perhaps by trading Luke Ridnour to Atlanta for the #11 pick. A new rumor has emerged over the past 24 hours, the Sonics are offering the Celtics Ray Allen for Theo Ratcliff and the #5 pick. If I was the Sonics, there is NO way I make that trade. Who is going to be drafted in that spot to be worth Ray Allen? The only way I could see that making sense, was that freed up tons of cap room to make a run at a free agent in 2008, or to re-sign Rashard Lewis (again, not worth getting rid of Ray Allen). Are the Sonics really THAT concerned about Ray's injuries last season?

Another question that is going to be answered tonight, how high will Spencer Hawes go in the draft? My guess is that Hawes will be drafted by the Chicago Bulls ONLY if Joakim Noah is off the board by the time Chicago picks at #9. I really don't see him going any higher, it is also a very good possibility that Spencer falls out of the first round. Sacramento may be there to catch Hawes at #10 though.

There are a lot of questions surrounding Hawes and his toughness underneath the boards and around the rim. I think a lot of those problems last year stemmed from his bout with that nasty flu that caused him to lose 20 lbs. during the season. It made it hard for Spencer to bang bodies with fellow Pac-10 big men because of how weak he felt for the entire season. With his weight back up around 250 lbs., I think the Spencer Hawes you will see next season in the NBA will be a bit more dominate then the one we had to painfully watch this season as a Husky.

My Draft Picks
#1 - Greg Oden - THE Ohio State University
#2 - Kevin Durant - Texas
#3 - Al Hortford - Florida
#4 - Mike Conley Jr. - THE Ohio State University
#5 - Boston trades this pick to either Philly or the Sonics, and they draft Jeff Green - Georgetown, if Boston keeps this pick they take Yi Jianlian. Bill Simmons' head explodes.
#6 - Interesting pick because seems like no one wants to play in Milwaukee...they pick - Corey Brewer - Florida, if Boston keeps the pick they take Jeff Green - Georgetown
#7 - Joakim Noah - Florida
#8 - Brenden Wright - UNC - Jordan loves those high potential, EXTREMELY RAW athletes. Expect the Bobcats to trade this pick to the Blazers possibly for Jarret Jack or Zach Randolph.
#9 - Spencer Hawes - Washington
#10 - Al Thornton - FSU
#11 - Atlanta trades the #11 for Luke Ridnour, and the Sonics draft some BIG guy who won't be ready to play until he gets 5 years of NBDL ball in. I WOULD LOVE, that if they trade Ray Allen to the Celtics at #5, then they draft Rodney Stuckey out of Eastern Washington with this pick. Or if Corey Brewer falls this far, draft him.
#12 - Philly is going to try to move up and to try to grab Jeff Green or another high lottery pick. I bet this pick gets dealt. Julian Wright is a good pick at this spot.
#13 - Interesting pick here for the Hornets, wouldn't be surprised to see Stuckey go here, or Nick Young out of USC or Thaddeus Young out of GT.
#14 - Who ever doesn't get drafted at #13, copy and paste here.
#15 - Detriot has all but promised Rodney Stuckey that if he gets this far, they will draft him.

Yes, I see Acie Law falling out of the lottery if Atlanta trades the #11 which I believe they will do.

We Out!