Chris Monter's Mock NBA Draft Pick Team Pos. Player College/Country Ht. Wt. Class 1 PF/C Emeka Okafor Connecticut 6'10" 257 Jr. The Magic blocked an-NBA low 3.8 shots per game and allowed opposing teams to shoot a league-best 46.6 percent last season, so the addition of Emeka Okafor would be just what the doctor ordered. He blocked 4.1 shots per game and would give the Magic a needed defensive presence. Questions about Okafor's back could cause them some concern. They also have to worry about star Tracy McGrady, who will be a free agent at the end of the 2004-05 season. Dwight Howard is a possibility, if a trade happens or there are too many questions about Okafor's back. The Bobcats might be willing to move up one spot for a shot at Okafor. 2 PF Dwight Howard Atlanta (Ga.) Southwest Christian 6'10" 240 H.S. The Bobcats acquired the second overall pick along with center Peja Drobjnak from the Clippers for the No. 4 and No. 33 picks in the draft. Charlotte has not been shy about professing its love for Okafor, whom they think could be a young Alonzo Mourning for the new franchise. The Bobcats might be willing to take a contract off the Magic's hands to move up one spot. If they can't pull that off, Howard is a skilled big man. 3 SG Andre Iguodala Arizona 6'7" 217 So. Andre Igoudala is an athletic swingman whose stock is rising after strong individual workouts, but Shaun Livingston and Luol Deng are possibilities if the Bulls keep the pick, which they are considering dealing for a veteran. The limited success the team has experienced with Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler (both drafted three years ago) might discourage them from taking Howard. The Bulls might be able to swing a deal with Atlanta, who could take local standout Howard and trade its two first-round picks, assuming the Hawks don't make a deal with the Clippers. 4 PG Shaun Livingston Peoria (Ill.) Central 6'7-1/2" 186 H.S. The Clippers moved down two spots and cleared some salary cap room. They did not want to have to reach for point-guard help with the second overall pick, but they can pull that off at No. 4. Ben Gordon and Shaun Livingston figure to duke it out for the right to play in LA-LA land. Gordon is a better athlete and shooter, but Livingston is the better passer and is taller. Livingston gets the slight edge, based on his upside. 5 SF Luol Deng Duke 6'8" 220 Fr. Washington's traditional bad luck in the lottery left it with the fifth pick. Starting guards Larry Hughes and Gilbert Arenas combine for 38.4 points per game, so Ben Gordon or Devin Harris are not immediate needs. Andris Biedrins, who is similar to Andrei Kirilenko, could be in the mix for Washington, but his stock is reportedly sliding a bit. Deng could go as high as No. 3 and is not working out for any of the teams picking later than No. 5, so expect him to go the Wizards if he is still on the board. Iguodala, Josh Childress or Livingston are other options. 6 PG Ben Gordon Connecticut 6'2" 192 Jr. Atlanta has needs at nearly every position, would love a chance at Howard and considered packaging its two first-round picks to move up. Josh Smith is another Atlanta-area player who is on the Hawks' radar, in addition to any of the athletic wing players on the board. The Clippers liked the strong shooting Devin Harris showed at workouts and is a likely pick if they don't trade down. Atlanta also has an eye for Livingston and Gordon. The former Huskies point has had several strong workouts of late and could go fourth, but we see him slipping this far. 7 PG Devin Harris Wisconsin 6'3" 170 Jr. Phoenix had the youngest team in the league last year with six players who had three or less years of experience. It needs a center to build around talented forwards Shawn Marion (who might be on the trading block) and Amare Stoudemire. Center Martynas Andriuskevicius was thought to be a possibility, but he pulled out of the draft. The Suns are also in the hunt for an athletic wing player. Harris has seen his stock rise with several outstanding workouts and figures to be the likely selection. Iguodala and Livingston could be the picks if either is still on the board. 8 SF Josh Childress Stanford 6'7" 196 Jr. Toronto finished third from the bottom in assists last season and point guard is a big need for the Raptors, who have yet to hire a coach but will have former T'wolves VP Rob Bacock running the show on draft night. However, point guards such as Harris, Livingston or Gordon all may be off the board at this point. That would leave the Raptors with either Childress or Kirk Snyder. Childress might see his stock drop a bit with the Bobcats, his expected landing place, moving up. At No. 9 he would be a bargain. 9 PF Andris Biedrins Latvia 6'11" 240 -- Philadelphia finished 24th in the league in shooting percentage and needs another scoring option to take the pressure off of Allen Iverson, if he is not traded. Glenn Robinson has just one season left on his contract and Childress could be someone the Sixers groom as a replacement, although he may be gone by this point in the draft. The 76ers want to get more athletic, and if all the guards are gone before their pick, look for them to take one of the Smiths or Biedrins, all of whom would provide some needed size in the frontcourt 10 SF Luke Jackson Oregon 6'7" 212 Sr. The Cavs would also love a top-flight guard, with Jeff McInnis' status up-in-the-air. If they are all gone, an athletic player or shooter makes sense. Cleveland finished last in the league in 3-point shooting (31.4 percent). Sergei Monya, an athletic swingman from Russia who has shown an improved outside shot, and Oregon's Luke Jackson are possibilities. 11 C Pavel Podkolzine Russia 7'5" 300 -- Golden State used Speedy Claxton and Nick Van Exel with limited success at point guard last year, making one of the top playmakers a strong possibility, if one is available, which is unlikely. If they are gone, they will probably go the foreign route, with Biedrins the primary target. However, if Biedrins is gone, Podkolzine is likely since the Warriors are expected to lose Erick Dampier during the offseason. 12 SG Kirk Snyder Nevada 6'6" 228 Jr. Three of Seattle's top four scorers play in the backcourt, so adding frontcourt scoring is a priority. With last year's first-rounder, Nick Collison, expected back after a season-ending shoulder injury, power forward is not a big priority. The Sonics could use a center to beef up last year's three-headed monster of Vitaly Potapenko, Calvin Booth and Jerome James, who combined for a mere 17.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. An athletic forward like Josh Smith is another possibility. The Sonics took Oregon teammate Luke Ridnour last year and might also grab Jackson, who is perhaps the top shooter in the draft. However, his strong workouts might move him up in the draft. Snyder tested as the second-best athlete in Chicago and many believe he has a first-round guarantee. This might be the spot for him. 13 SG J.R. Smith St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) Prep 6'7" 227 H.S. Portland fans want their team back in playoff contention after missing the postseason for the first time since 1989, and are hoping that two first-round picks can be the ticket. The Trail Blazers need help at point guard and center. Damon Stoudamire has bounced back a bit, but he shot just 40.1 percent from the field and Dan Dickau has shown little in his two years in the NBA. Jameer Nelson is a possibility, but he is just 5-foot-11, like Stoudamire. Another possibility is the 7-5 Podkolzine, who wowed NBA scouts at his workout during last year's Chicago pre-draft camp. He is skilled but still raw. Snyder and Jackson are also possibilities, but most observers believe Snyder has a lottery promise and could go as high as No. 8, and Jackson's workouts have him moving up the chart. If they are both gone, an athletic player such as J.R. Smith makes a lot of sense 14 SF Sergei Monya Russia 6'8" 220 -- Utah has three first-round selections and could package the picks to move up in the draft. BYU native Rafael Araujo would be a local favorite to fill in at center. His stock is moving up following several strong pre-draft workouts. Podkolzine could be another Mark Eaton for the Jazz. They got a gem from Russia in Andrei Kirilenko and might also consider grabbing the athletic Sergei Monya. 15 C Robert Swift Bakersfield High 7'0" 245 H.S. Many believe that the shot-blocking Swift has gotten a promise to be selected at this spot from the Celtics. 16 PF Kris Humphries Minnesota 6'9-1/2" 238 Fr. The Jazz were impressed by the recent workout of Humphries, whose stock is on the rise. The top scorer and rebounder in the Big Ten finished fourth in the athletic testing done at Chicago. Utah could also grab nearby center Araujo, if it hasn't already. 17 SF Josh Smith Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) Academy 6'8" 221 H.S. This pick might be involved in a trade, but the Hawks would grab Josh Smith, if he is still available. A top center or power forward makes sense as well. 18 PG Jameer Nelson St. Joseph's 6'0" 199 Sr. The Hornets could use a backup for Baron Davis, who played 40.1 minutes per game last season. Jameer Nelson is a strong, undersized guard who could give Davis a breather and allow him to play some minutes at shooting guard. 19 C Peter John Ramos Puerto Rico 7'3" 266 -- The Heat needs some frontcourt size and will take the top big man on the board. Ramos would be a fan favorite with Puerto Rican hoops lovers. 20 C Rafael Araujo BYU 6'11" 280 Sr. The Nuggets have shown that they are not afraid of dabbling in the foreign market, and their needs for size will make them look anywhere. Araujo is likely to be gone by now, but if not, he is a strong possibility. Ramos and high-schooler Al Jefferson are also on the radar. 21 PF Al Jefferson Prentiss (Miss.) High 6'10" 273 H.S. Jefferson would be too hard to pass up, if all the centers are off the board. 22 SF Dorell Wright South Kent (Conn.) Prep 6'7" 210 H.S. The Nets are expected to deal this pick to Portland. The Blazers need athletic help at the wings, so Wright is their likely choice. Portland could also package their picks to move up. 23 PG Sebastian Telfair Lincoln (N.Y.) High 6'0" 165 H.S. The front office reportedly loves Telfair, a talented playmaker who could replace free agent to-be Damon Stoudamire. 24 SG Sasha Vujacic Slovenia 6'7" 193 -- The Celtics reportedly have promised DePaul signee Dorell Wright, who pulled out of the Chicago pre-draft camp, but he might be gone. They could go the foreign route and perhaps allow this pick to gain additional seasoning in Europe. 25 SG Kevin Martin Western Carolina 6'7" 185 Jr. If the Celtics have not already tabbed a foreign player to spend a year overseas getting some seasoning, they could roll with a wing such as Kevin Martin, whose stock is rising, or Tony Allen. Both make sense. 26 C Donta Smith Southeastern Illinois C.C. 6'7" 215 So. The Kings exposed Gerald Wallace to the expansion draft and might look for an athletic small forward to take his place. 27 PF Anderson Varejao Brazil 6'10" 230 -- The Lakers nearly promised the talented outside threat Sasha Vujacic last year before he pulled out of the draft. Anderson Varejao is a possibility, even with two young forwards like Brian Cook and Luke Walton on the roster. 28 SF Victor Khryapa Russia 6'9" 210 -- The Spurs like to go the foreign route, and Viktor Khryapa would give San Antonio some needed frontcourt depth. 29 PG Beno Udrih Slovenia 6'4" 199 -- Beno Udrih was the top point guard at the recent Chicago camp and the Pacers could use the playmaking help.

Chris Monter is the editor/publisher of Monter Draft News and College Basketball News and collegebasketballnews.com. He has been covering college and pro basketball with an emphasis on the NBA Draft for the last 14 years. To subscribe or get more information, call 1-800-NBA-DRAFT or e-mail him at Cmonter@aol.com.