2008 NBA Draft: First-round analysis

CBSSports.com Senior Writer Gary Parrish provides pick-by-pick live analysis in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Pick-by-pick comments from CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish
Team	Parrish's analysis
	1. Chicago Bulls select: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
	Parrish's quick take: This was the simplest -- and perhaps the only simple -- pick of the draft. Rose is a franchise point guard, the type of player many believe will be in the class of Chris Paul and Deron Williams in less than three years. If you can get that, you take it. And that's what the Bulls have done.
	2. Miami Heat select: Michael Beasley, SF, Kansas State
	Parrish's quick take: Now the question is whether he'll actually stay with the Heat? If Pat Riley is reading, my advice is to keep him and be happy you just landed a 20-10 future NBA All-Star, because though Beasley is famously immature he's never been described as “evil” and his basketball skills put him in an elite class.
	3. Minnesota Timberwolves select: O.J. Mayo, SG, Southern California
	Parrish's quick take: Yes, he's been mired in controversy, seemingly forever. But the reality with Mayo is that he's an intelligent basketball player who has been among the best at his age since he started playing. Guys like that don't typically miss, which is why I believe Minnesota just got the best available player, at this point. Note: Mayo was later traded to Memphis with Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner for the No. 5 pick, Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.
	4. Seattle SuperSonics select: Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA
	Parrish's quick take: OK, there's the first surprise of the draft. The idea that Westbrook could've ever gone this high in the draft a year ago would've been crazy. I mean, he wasn't even supposed to be a starter for UCLA. But he's developed nicely, and he can be a lockdown defender in the league.
	5. Memphis Grizzlies select: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA
	Parrish's quick take: Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace has been intrigued by Love for a while, and his fabulous workout in Memphis only enhanced the feeling. Don't make the mistake of thinking he's the next Brian Cardinal or some other “white” stiff. Love is way too skilled to not be successful, and he'll contribute immediately. Note: Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins were later traded to Memphis for Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner and the draft rights to Mayo.
	6. New York Knicks select: Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy
	Parrish's quick take: It doesn't seem that the Knicks fans in attendance like this pick, but Gallinari is a serious prospect, and this is not a bad pick. He's not just a prospect, remember. He's done it at the highest level overseas already, and my guess is this will look smart in four years.
	7. L.A. Clippers select: Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana
	Parrish's quick take: Gordon would've been a top four pick if this draft would've happened six months ago. I love him as a prospect, think this is a great pick. But he's gotta do something about that white-coat-with-the-black-pants thing. That's irresponsible.
	8. Milwaukee Bucks select: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia
	Parrish's quick take: This pick was decided a while ago, and Alexander is going to be fabulous for the Milwaukee media. He's funny and charming and insightful … and he dunks pretty well, too. That combination will make him a fan favorite from the start.
	9. Charlotte Bobcats select: D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas
	Parrish's quick take: Wow! I love Augustin, and it makes sense that Larry Brown would go for this position considering he's a former point guard who loves point guards. But I'm not sure how you can pass on Jerryd Bayless for Augustin, although Augustin is admittedly more of a pure point than Bayless. (PS: It looks like Brook Lopez is crying. That's awesome!)
	10. New Jersey Nets select: Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
	Parrish's quick take: A week ago Lopez was slotted to go third. But he went 10th, and that's why he looked a little depressed sitting there while one player after another was selected before him. Either way, at this point the pick makes sense. And the biggest slipper of the draft seems to be Jerryd Bayless, who is still available going into pick No. 11.
	11. Indiana Pacers select: Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
	Parrish's quick take: Bayless is a talented combo guard who can score in the lane and shoot it from deep. He's slipped considerably, more than he could've imagined. And though I'm not sure Indiana ever genuinely expected to have him, I'm sure they're happy they do. Good for Indy, bad for Bayless. Note: Bayless and Ike Diogu were traded to Portland in exchange for the rights to Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts.
	12. Sacramento Kings select: Jason Thompson, PF, Rider
	Parrish's quick take: From Rider to the lottery? Seriously? I like Thompson, saw him go one-on-one with LeBron James at a camp last summer, and he held his own (relatively speaking). Still, this seems awfully high, though I'm willing to be proved wrong because I like seeing guys from small schools do well.
	13. Portland Trail Blazers (to Indiana) select: Brandon Rush, SF, Kansas
	Parrish's quick take: So that torn ACL turned out to be a blessing in every way. For starters, it forced Rush back to school, where he won a national title. And now he's a lottery pick, which he would not have been last year. Note: Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and the rights to Brandon Rush were traded to Indiana in exchange for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu)
	14. Golden State select: Anthony Randolph, SF, LSU
	Parrish's quick take: I've long been a believer that at least two players drafted besides Rose and Beasley will develop into a future all-star, and this could be one of them. Randolph has a long way to go physically, but he's got top five talent, and he's a good pick for Golden State.
	15. Phoenix Suns (from Atlanta Hawks) select: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford
	Parrish's quick take: So both Lopez brothers are off the board, and though Robin is not as skilled as Brook he's probably a little more tenacious. He'll be a nice back-up for Shaq, and that Lopez mother sure does look happy on television, doesn't she?
	16. Philadelphia 76ers select: Marreese Speights, PF, Florida
	Parrish's quick take: Speights has an NBA body, but skeptics wonder whether he's motivated enough to be great. That's the question? Does he have the mind and heart to be fabulous? Who knows? But if that part ever comes around, the rest of the stuff is already in place.
	17. Toronto Raptors select: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown
	Parrish's quick take: I'm not the biggest Hibbert fan and I have my doubts about his pro potential. But he's really tall and really skilled. And that's not a bad combination (though the word “soft” seems to always surround Hibbert).
	18. Washington Wizards select: JaVale McGee, C, Nevada
	Parrish's quick take: This is a pick rooted in potential and upside and all the other buzz words you usually hear on this night. McGee won't help at all next season, I don't believe. But he's got the size and athleticism to be very good down the road, and that's why this pick is worth the gamble.
	19. Cleveland Cavaliers select: J.J. Hickson, PF, North Carolina State
	Parrish's quick take: That's ridiculously high for Hickson considering he wasn't even guaranteed to go in the first round. But this just shows that talent and potential trumps all, and Hickson is talented, if nothing else.
	20. Charlotte Bobcats (from Denver Nuggets) select: Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
	Parrish's quick take: I'd be lying if I told you I knew a single thing about this guy (other than what I've read on the internet). He looks skinny on television, and that's probably not a great sign for a big guy. But I like anybody with the initials 'AA' because you can call him "pocket aces" or something cool like that.
	21. New Jersey Nets (from Dallas Mavericks) select: Ryan Anderson, SF, California
	Parrish's quick take: It appears Anderson made a good decision to stay in the draft. To most, he was a borderline first-round pick. But now he's gone 21st to the Nets and he won't have to pay for leaving college early (like DeAndre Jordan seems to be doing).
	22. Orlando Magic select: Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky
	Parrish's quick take: Lee elevated himself in workouts, so much that teams picking late in the first round were considering moving up to get him. He's a shooting guard who can play immediately, and J.J. Redick might never get on the court again.
	23. Utah Jazz select: Kosta Koufos, C, Ohio State
	Parrish's quick take: Koufos is a big man who can shoot it, and this is a good pick to make this low. I mean, my buddies at DraftExpress had Koufos going 11th. So Utah getting him at No. 23 is a nice pick up.
	24. Seattle SuperSonics (from Phoenix Suns) select: Serge Ibaka, PF, L'Hospitalet (Spain)
	Parrish's quick take: Ibaka held workouts late for a variety of teams, and the interest in him was apparent. Obviously, I've never seen him play in person, so I won't try to pretend I know about his upside and stuff. But people do like his upside, and it's no surprise to hear his name called in the first round.
	25. Houston Rockets select: Nicolas Batum, SG, Le Mans (France)
	Parrish's quick take: Finally, a foreign player I've actually seen in person! Batum was at the Hoop Summit in Memphis two years ago, and he was fabulous. Honestly, you would've called him a future top five pick if you saw him that day. So I like Batum, based on the ability he showed that day. Note: Batum was traded to Portland for the draft rights to Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey.
	26. San Antonio Spurs select: George Hill, PG, IUPUI
	Parrish's quick take: I thought Hill was stupid to enter, but he's turned out to be pretty smart, it seems. Meanwhile, Darrell Arthur is on suicide watch. Seriously. He might kill himself if he sits there much longer.
	27. New Orleans Hornets select: Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
	Parrish's quick take: Thank God! I was really starting to feel badly for Arthur. I even got a text from a friend who volunteered to adopt him. But he's out of that room now. So good for him. Note: It was a busy night for Arthur, who was traded to Portland, which traded him to Houston, which then traded him to Memphis.
	28. Memphis Grizzlies (from L.A. Lakers) select: Donte Greene, SF, Syracuse
	Parrish's quick take: If you don't live in Memphis you can't imagine how angry Memphis Tiger fans are right now. I mean, the Memphis Grizzlies just passed on a Memphis Tiger named Chris Douglas-Roberts, and that doesn't make sense to the locals. That said, I think this was a great pick for the Grizz. Donte Greene is a lottery talent whose upside is tremendous. So though this won't go over well in Memphis, it's probably the right call. Note: Greene was traded to Houston for the draft rights to Darrell Arthur.
	29. Detroit Pistons select: D.J. White, PF, Indiana
	Parrish's quick take: With White picked here, this is probably a good place to look at the players who are starting to second-guess their decisions. One is DeAndre Jordan. Another is Chris Douglas-Roberts. Another is Mario Chalmers. Those last two played in the national title game. So the idea that you can improve your stock with a deep tournament run might not be exactly true. Note: White was traded to Seattle in exchange for the draft rights to Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted.
	30. Boston Celtics select: J.R. Giddens, SG, New Mexico
	Parrish's quick take: The selection of Giddens means nine players went in the first round … none of whom were named DeAndre Jordan. So what's the lesson kids? The lesson is that no matter how long or talented you are, if you aren't a hardworker who listens to your coaches you might not be as valuable as you think, and perhaps some future prospects will listen and avoid the same mistake.
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