Pick of the Day - June 30th

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

Overall: 52-35-2
Week: 4-1
Month: 18-10-1

Washington Nationals (AWAY) (Strasburg) (-135) OVER Atlanta Braves (HOME) (Minor)

Minor has one the worst ERA among all major league pitchers. His 6.14 ERA and 3-6 record have not lived up to the expectations of the former seventh overall pick this season. Although Strasburg didn't look particularly sharp in his last start against Colorado, he enters the game 9-2 with a 2.60 ERA. Dan Uggla does hit Strasburg surprisingly well, but Strasburg has owned the Braves so far this season. Take Washington.

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Pacific Division Off-Season Plans

By: Jeff Lingard

The draft and free agent signing period is almost here and we here at the Daily Shootout have decided to prepare a 4 point offseason plan for each team, organized by division. Today we look at the Pacific division:

Anaheim Ducks:

1. Trade or keep Bobby Ryan - I think Anaheim should sit tight and wait until Rick Nash is dealt and then try to trade Ryan to the two or three teams that missed out. The question is what Anaheim should look for in return for Ryan. There are rumors of a Ryan plus others for Ryan Miller from Buffalo which would be a blockbuster trade and would be a good fit for both teams. I also think a trade to Toronto built around Toronto's 5th overall pick would be an option so that the Ducks would have the 5th and 6th picks in the draft.

2. Either re-sign Teemu Selanne or replace him - There are reports out of Finland that Selanne has decided to return but he has not confirmed it yet. If Teemu does not come back then the Ducks have to find a way to replace his 26 goals and 66 points. The Ducks will have some cap space and could be a dark horse candidate to make a run at a forward like Zach Parise.

3. Upgrade defensive depth - The Ducks have a relatively cheap top 4 in Fowler, Visnovsky, Beauchemin and Sbisa. The Ducks need a bounce back season from Visnovsky and for Fowler to continue his development into a good two-way defenseman. I see the Ducks signing a depth defenseman or two on the free agent market. Possible targets would include Dennis Wideman, Jason Garrison, Filip Kuba or Matt Carle.

4. Re-stock the forward lines - If Selanne doesn't come back and Ryan is traded then the Ducks will only have 7 forwards under contract, plus anybody received in the Ryan trade. Saku Koivu can be counted on in a support role but is not a front line player anymore. The Ducks do not have any impact prospects that are ready to step in as a top 6 forward so they likely have to sign a free agent forward or two if they want to make a playoff push this year.

Dallas Stars:

1. Re-sign Jamie Benn - Benn and Loui Eriksson are the foundation on which the Stars attack is built. Benn will command a large raise from his $821,000 salary, but with new ownership and a boatload of cap room, the Stars can meet his demands.

2. Shore up the D in Big D - It seems like Sheldon Souray is going to test the market and Robidas and Daley are closer to 2nd pair and not top pair defensemen. Ryan Suter would be an awesome addition for the Stars, but I don't think the Stars can beat out Detroit, Carolina or Nashville for his services. A defenseman like Matt Carle would be a perfect addition to the Stars top 4.

3. Be patient - Just because Dallas has a large amount of cap room doesn't mean they have to tie up veteran players right away to long term deals. I think the Stars are best suited to keeping their cap space, keep developing their young players and build around their core. In a year or two when they are closer to contending for a Cup they can make a splash.

4. Add one more top 6 forward - The Stars could use one more top 6 forward and can look at players like Olli Jokinen, PA Parenteau or even Alexander Semin to fill that role.

Los Angeles Kings:

1. Figure out what to do with Jonathan Bernier - Bernier is blocked by Jonathan Quick but LA may want to keep him since it is better to have two goalies that can start and neither Quick nor Bernier have high salaries in 2012-13. Bernier will be subject to trade rumors and the Kings probably could trade him if the price is right, i.e., a top 4 defenseman.

2. Re-sign or replace DustinPenner - Penner had a bad regular season but a strong playoff. The Kings have the cap space to make a run at Parise and he would be a good fit with the Kings and their style of play.

3. Add one more top 4 defenseman - Willie Mitchell and Rob Scuderi are getting old and are better as depth players at this stage of their careers. The Kings need another top 4 D to take pressure off Drew Doughty and Viatcheslav Voynov. A player like Dennis Wideman would be a good fit to play with Mitchell or Scuderi.

4. Add one more scoring winger - The Kings only had four 20-goal scorers at forward last year. If they could pry Shane Doan from Phoenix he would be a perfect fit but that is unlikely. Ray Whitney would be a good fit as well.

Phoenix Coyotes:

1. Fix the ownership situation - Duh.

2. Re-sign Shane Doan - Doan is the heart and soul of the Coyotes franchise and is not easily replaceable.

3. Add some offense - The Coyotes can help with this by re-signing Doan and Ray Whitney, their leading scorer last year. Phoenix could use at least one more top 6 forward and an additional top 9 forward. If anybody can redeem Alexander Semin it would be Dave Tippett.

4. Round out the D - Phoenix has a solid top 2 in Yandle and Ekman-Larsson and has good depth with Derek Morris and Rostislav Klesla. The Coyotes could add another 2nd or 3rd pair D to add to their depth and insure against injuries.

San Jose Sharks:

1. Decide to go for it or rebuild - The Sharks need to determine if the Thornton/Marleau/Boyle core is still the core to build around or should they cut bait (no pun intended) and build around Couture and Pavelski. If the Sharks go for it then they do not have a lot of holes and need to rely on their current talent to gel and finally put everything together.

2. Trade for Rick Nash - I think that if the price is Pavelski plus a younger player or two then the Sharks should trade for Rick Nash. He would be a great fit for this team and would create a second elite scoring line.

3. Consider trading Marleau or Thornton - Philadelphia traded Richards and Carter and had an excellent regular season and beat Pittsburgh in round 1. San Jose can trade Marleau and/or Thornton and receive the correct package(s) in return and still be Cup contenders.

4. Add one more bottom six forward - The Sharks could use another bottom six forward for depth, especially if they are aiming for a long playoff run. Jay McClement, Jason Arnott or Jamie Langenbrunner would be great fits for this spot.

Thank you to capgeek.com for their help with this preview.

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Pick of the Day - June 29th

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

Overall: 51-35-2
Week: 3-1
Month: 17-10-1

Chicago White Sox (AWAY) (Quintana) (+135) OVER New York Yankees (HOME) (Warren)

Rookie Jose Quintana enters the game tonight with a 16-inning scoreless streak. He has not had a walk in his past 97 batters. The injury plagued Yankees will turn to Warren to make his first ever career start tonight. The White Sox enter the game winners of three straight. In a game where two inexperienced pitchers will be on the mound, go with the one who has been extremely impressive thus far as opposed to the one making his debut. Take the White Sox.

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NBA Mock Draft: Picks 26-30

By: Scott Partington

#30- Golden State Warriors: Evan Fournier, SG France

The Warriors franchise is amidst a rebuild phase, but have decided to go for the “quick success” route, as evidence by their moves at the past trade deadline. This puts the Warriors in the position to just grab the best possible talent available and overseas prospect Evan Fournier would be a great value for the Warriors at 30. Fournier can straight-up score the basketball and would be a nice fit in the backcourt playing besides with Stephen Curry.

#29- Chicago Bulls: Tryshawn Taylor, PG Kansas

With Derrick Rose out for the majority of the 2012-13 season, the Bulls are in need of a PG. At the 29^th pick, the best available point guard is Tryshawn Taylor, who just so happens to be a perfect fit for Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau’s system. Taylor brings speed, toughness, and point guard experience to the table, also making him a solid backup for the post-injury Rose.

#28- Oklahoma City Thunder: Khris Middleton, SF Texas A&M

As Charles Barkley has probably informed you by now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a jump shooting team. The problem is, at times Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook, and Derek Fisher can’t exactly consistently sink long-range jumpers. Enter Khris Middleton. The 6-8 SF has excellent range, plus the length and athleticism to defend the Western Conference’s elite wings.

#27- Miami Heat: Doron Lamb, SG Kentucky

Despite what watching the Finals on TV might’ve shown you, Mike Miller and Shane Battier have not shot the three particularly well while playing in a Heat uniform. With Lebron and Wade (and Bosh, to a lesser extent) on the court, all the Heat really need is a player capable of consistently hitting the open three and playing defense. That makes Doron Lamb, the long-range sniper from Kentucky (48% FG3 for his college career), a perfect match for the reigning champs.

#26- Indiana Pacers:  Will Barton, SG Memphis

Indiana is a solid team all around, but you would say their biggest need is depth at the wing positions. The Pacers will look to address this need on draft night and SG Will Barton would be a good pick for them at 26. Barton’s strong effort, high energy game is exactly what the Pacers lack when Danny Granger and Paul George are taken out of the game.  

This concludes Daily Shootout's NBA Mock Draft! Tune in at 8:00 P.M to see how well did! Enjoy!

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NBA Mock Draft: Picks 21-25

By: Nick Bartlett

#21 (Boston Celtics): Meyers Leonard

I doubt Leonard would slip this far, but if he did, he'd be a wonderful fit with the Celtics. They are a team in desperate need of a true Center (many teams are) with KG having to suffice playing out of position in the playoffs this past year. Although Garnett played quite well, there are speculations that he could be retiring. Regardless, Leonard could provide much needed size in the paint with the Celtics.

By no means will Leonard be a dominating force, but at 7'1" he will provide a team with a solid presence down low and certainly a good protector of the lane on defense. He's more athletic and coordinated than some give him credit for and shoots a decent percentage at the free throw line (73%). I can see him contributing right away as a Tiago Splitter type of player with slightly more finesse but less intangibles. A great plus, however, is that he's just 20 years old. I see him contributing early and establishing himself as a very formidable Center throughout his career.

#22 (Boston Celtics): John Henson

Henson slipping into the 20s could be a long shot just like Leonard. But if he does make it this far, I can see the Celtics snagging him. Again, they need size. They also need a 2 guard with Ray Allen most likely leaving, but I'm not sure they would be able to pass on the raw talent that Henson possesses. His ridiculous wingspan and athleticism alone will be huge assets to whomever gets him. I don't see him providing a ton of offensive help right away, but he clearly is a very capable defender and rebounder at the professional level. Hopefully he can add some muscle to his extremely lanky frame as well. No big man will look forward to having to face him and his shot blocking ability. 

It'll be interesting to see what the Celtics do with these back to back picks at 21 and 22. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of them were traded. If they keep the picks, I would imagine one would be used on a big man and a one on a 2 guard unless these two prospects are still on the board. Look for the Celtics to be active, though. Danny Ainge knows he has to do something fairly drastic to remain a legitimate contender in the East.

#23 (Atlanta Hawks): Moe Harkless

The Hawks are a very solid team. They have decent depth at every position, but still don't have anyone that can take the game over. With their pick at #23, they can't expect to find a game changer. However, they can add another piece to the puzzle. Moe Harkless is a very talented 19 year old out of St. John's University who stands 6'9" with a great motor. He is still very raw so you can expect him to take a few years to develop. He's a great rebounder and defender and can play the 2-4 positions. I see him a lot like Marvin Williams actually, but at just 19 years old, he has a lot of potential.

Atlanta is looking to move out of the "solid team" description to an elite contender in the East. This could be the year they do it. With Danny Ferry moving in as the new GM, big changes could be under way. Whether they keep this pick or not is still up in the air. Harkless can be a great role player, but he won't lead them to the promise land quite yet. Wherever he lands will certainly receive plenty of potential. Whether he taps into that potential is yet to be determined.

#24 (Cleveland Cavaliers): Royce White 

In my mind, Royce White is the biggest X-Factor in the entire draft. He clearly has the skill to be a lottery pick and his body is possibly the most NBA-ready of anyone (Okay, Thomas Robinson, too). So how could he could slip this far down? Well, Royce has had a difficult past in Minnesota and has had documented psychological issues. It seems like he was able to address these issues pretty dang well last year, though, at Iowa State as he led his team in virtually every statistical category. These questions still remain as well as the question of what position he'll play. In Royce's case, I think the position question is a very good thing. It shows how truly versatile he is. He can play anywhere from a 1-4. He clearly can't be a true point guard, but he's skilled enough to play "point forward."

The Cavs still obviously need some help to get back into serious contention in the East. Kyrie is a wonderful building block and they have a few more pieces as well. Royce White would provide this team with a fantastic skill set and immediate NBA-ready help. As I say this, he still is a big risk; there's no escaping it. But, with that great risk could potentially bring great reward. Keep an eye on Royce White wherever he goes. He's got one of the most NBA-ready bodies of any 21 year olds you'll see.

#25 (Memphis Grizzlies): Tony Wroten Jr.

I like to think of the Grizzlies as the Western Conference Atlanta Hawks. A very solid team, but not quite to the elite level. They have a lot of solid players: Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol. But, as we saw in the 1st round of the playoffs, they don't have enough fire-power to advance. At #25, they are in the same predicament as the Hawks as well. It's unlikely they draft an immediate game-changer but they can add a solid piece to their puzzle. 

Anyways, Tony Wroten Jr. could be a great fit. He's young, raw, athletic, and has the versatility to play either of the guard positions. I realize this is a bit (maybe more) of a stretch, but he reminds me of Tyreke Evans. He's 6'6", can play point guard, is explosive, but doesn't have much of a consistent jumper. By no means do I think he'll end up being a Rookie of the Year or have the impact of Evans, but I think he could definitely increase the depth in the backcourt in Memphis with his athleticism and versatility. The Grizz could be looking to shake things up so we'll see what they do with this pick. I've heard grumblings of them trying to pair the Gasol brothers together by bringing Pau back to Memphis. We'll see if this pick has something to do with that or any other type of trade. 

Side note: I think it's crazy that there haven't been any legitimate international prospects up to this point. Typically there are a few in the lottery and many teams take risks in the 20s by snagging some foreign players. Not entirely sure what's going on this year, but it seems like all the legitimate 1st round prospects went to college in the United States. We'll see how it all plays out on Thursday!

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NBA Mock Draft: Picks 16-20

 By: Chuck Hilston

16.          Houston: Festus Ezeli

I know, I know. This is definitely going out on a limb to take him at this point in time. However, the Rockets at their current position in the draft have the ability to take a little bit of a gamble. This is probably one of the top 3 athletes in this entire draft, and it was amazing to see the strides he made this year as he has only been playing basketball for 2-3 years before this. 

17.          Dallas: Tony Wroten

The Mavericks need is clear: Find a young guard who will be able to play with Dirk and get the franchise back into championship contention. In an ideal world, they would be able to take Jeremy Lamb here. Unfortunately though, the odds are against that. What Tony Wroten has going for him is that he is incredibly quick, can create, and is 6”5, a tremendous plus at that position. However, he definitely leaves something to be desired in regards to his shooting, with an absolutely atrocious 16 percent from behind the arc and 58 percent from the line. Still though, he is only 19, so it wouldn’t be a bad pick.

18.          Minnesota: Terrence Ross

With Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio already in the mold, the Timberwolves look to be one piece away from truly being a good team (barring injuries, of course). Terrence Ross would seem to fit this billing just fine. A 6”7 shooting guard, not only is he  a dead eye shooter from beyond the arc, but would potentially be able to play SF as well, and seeing him and Rubio running the floor could be a scary sight for many teams. 

19.          Orlando: Draymond Green

The Magic, appearing to be somewhat like the “Two and a Half Men” of the NBA, with Dwight Howard playing the role of Charlie Sheen really need some way to turn around their fortunes. I think the biggest thing that needs to be changed around the locker room is the culture. Who better to take as far as improving the team morale than Draymond Green? With his talent and leadership, he was able to lead a Michigan State team to overachieve beyond belief, getting a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Also, any player the Magic could take right now would probably be an improvement to their starting five, and Big Baby/Draymond in the post would be a step in the right direction.

20.          Denver: Fab Melo

Denver has definitely been a team who has been able to adapt to rough circumstances. After losing Carmelo Anthony midseason last year to a trade, the Nuggets have responded by making it to the playoffs these last two years anyways. Now, the Nuggets are facing the question of whether or not Javale McGee will leave to free agency (and whether or not it would be worth it to sign him). Regardless, it wouldn’t hurt to bring Melo back to Denver. Oh, the irony. 

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Pick of the Day - June 28th

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

Overall: 51-34-2
Week: 3-0
Month: 17-9-1

Germany (-125) OVER Italy

Italy comes into the game banged up, less rested, and with a tougher travel schedule. With all that said, the only player that may matter for them is Pirlo. He has been outstanding throughout much of the tournament and I expect Germany will try to deny him the ball. Italy does have a 3-0-4 record against Germany so the Germans will actually be looking for their first every victory against Italy. I think the fact that Italy had to play into penalty kicks and are on two days less rest will catch up to them. Germany is well rested and the deeper team. Take Germany.

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NBA Mock Draft: Picks 11-15

By: Chuck Hilston

11.          Portland Trailblazers: Kendall Marshall

After potentially selecting a big man with their first pick, Portland looks to continue the trend towards taking pass first point guards. Overall, having these two together will do wonders, as Kendall should be able to make Drummond better by setting up potential scoring options. All of this should be able to help put the Blazers back into the playoffs. 

12.          Milwaukee Bucks: Arnett Moultrie

With Arnett, you have an underrated power forward prospect. He’s been skyrocketing up the draft charts in recent months, and averaging a double-double in his first full season of production has something to do with that. He’s athletic, big and is an effective mid-range shooter, something the Bucks crave desperately. 

13.          Phoenix Suns : Jared Sullinger

Sullinger isn’t someone I’d consider to be one of the best athletes at his position. Then again, I wouldn’t say Kevin Love is either. The reasons that they’d draft Jared here are twofold: for one, they want someone who is fully developed and would likely be able to contribute some right away. Also, he has taken a lot of flak for being undersized, but the main reason for this is he hasn’t been playing his natural position (center instead of power forward). Being a pretty decent shooter and a monster on the boards means that he has potential to be effective. 

14.          Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones

While he was criticized for at times looking uninterested or pouting during certain games, this is still clearly one of the best athletes in the draft. He is physical, has a 7”2 wingspan, and is able to attack off the dribble, so teams can rotate him around positions throughout the game. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him be taken with this pick.

15.          Philadelphia Sixers: Austin Rivers

Philly, just off their surprise playoff run, would be well suited to take Austin Rivers at number 15. While there have been many busts that have come through Duke, the intangibles here are undeniable. His never quit attitude was clear when he single handedly led the Blue Devils back to stun Roy Williams and the Heels in the Dean Dome. He’s intelligent, appears grounded, and has a high basketball IQ (how could he not?). 

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NBA Mock Draft: Picks 6-10

@BreakTheHuddle

6th overall: Portland (from New Jersey)

Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

Many reports have Dion Waiters going to Rip City should he fall to the sixth slot. Others believe the Blazers covet a point guard with the pick they acquired from the Nets in the Gerald Wallace deal - but the possibility of adding a center prospect with tremendous upside could be too good for the Blazers to pass up. Drummond is as raw a talent as they come. If he manages to harness his considerable natural ability, the pairing of he and Lamarcus Aldridge would give Portland one of the best front lines in the sport.

7th overall: Golden State

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Questions persist about the level of talent Lillard competed against in the Big Sky Conference, but the experts seem unanimous in declaring him to be the best point guard prospect available in the draft. Kendall Marshall and Marquis Teague aren't quite worthy of such a high pick. Landing a solid point guard prospect would allow the Warriors to shift injury-prone Stephen Curry to his more natural 2-guard position. Ideally, Lillard could facilitate Curry in being the primary scorer for a team that will need the buckets now that Monta Ellis is gone.

8th overall: Toronto
Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse

Orange coach Jim Boeheim is famous for his utilization of the 2-3 zone, which gives NBA scouts fits because they have a hard time determining whether or not his players can play man-to-man at the professional level. Raptors coach DwaneCasey earned this position by his work as a defensive coach with the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks, and the team had better hope he can coax some 'D' out of Waiters, whose offensive playmaking ability will help atone for the loss of Jose Calderon via a trade last season.

9th overall: Detroit
Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

Last year, ancient Ben Wallace and career role player Jason Maxiell saw the majority of the minutes at the power forward spot for the Pistons. Charlie Villanueva, a disappointment even when healthy, missed much of the season. Enter the youthful Perry Jones, a freakish athlete whose inconsistency on the defensive end can be hidden with the effective Greg Monroe occupying the center spot in the Motor City.

10th overall: New Orleans (from the L.A. Clippers via Minnesota)
Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

I know what you're thinking, but let me explain. Anthony Davis will play primarily power forward, and he and Zeller would form a nice young presence inside for the Hornets since Chris Kaman appears set to leave via free agency. Many mock drafters speculate New Orleans will go with a 2 or a 3 in this spot, but with the likelihood of Eric Gordon's re-signing, the greater need is on the interior. Zeller runs the floor as well as any big man in the draft and since his game skews towards the offensive end, he'd be a terrific complimentary piece to the Unibrow.

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Pick of the Day - June 27th

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

Overall: 50-34-2
Week: 2-0
Month: 16-9-1

Spain (-115) OVER Portugal

For those who follow Pick of the Day on a regular basis, you remember when we were riding the Kings on their amazing run I said keep playing the Kings until they give us a reason not to. That is the same thing to do with Spain. They haven't lost in a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup. Portugal has been impressive, but Spain is the elite team. I expect Ronaldo to suck on his pacifier and cry during the game today after Spain shuts him down. Take Spain.

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Top 5 Picks: NBA Mock Draft

#5- Sacramento Kings: Harrison Barnes, SF North Carolina

After a high school career filled with success, Harrison Barnes’ failed to fulfill expectations during his two seasons at the University of North Carolina. A pre-season All-American his freshmen year, Barnes never achieved the lofty standards expected of him by the press and himself (he would go on to only average 15 points his first year at UNC).  During his sophomore season as a Tar Heel, Barnes faired better, gaining much needed confidence and displayed flashes of the jaw-dropping ability that had recruiters drooling when he was coming out of high school.  However, Barnes never lived up to the high expectations during his college career, at times seemingly more concerned with building his “brand” than winning basketball games. 

By this point in time, it is pretty obvious what attributes Harrison Barnes brings to the table as a basketball player. He has a terrific basketball IQ, plays lockdown defense, and possesses a smooth scoring touch. But by NBA standards, he is not particularly quick or strong, and struggles to create offense for himself. 

The bottom line with Harrison Barnes is that you get what you get. He won’t be the next Lebron James, but there is a high chance he’ll succeed as a professional basketball player. His strong character and great midrange game would be welcome additions to the Kings roster.

#4- Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF Kentucky

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist simply loves to play the game of basketball; his greatest strength on the court is his limitless supply of energy.  He gives 100% night in and night out, a rare trait for such a young and talented player.  An elite athlete, Kidd-Gilchrist shines brightest on the defensive end of the court as a physical defender and a superb rebounder.  Don’t sleep on his offensive game, either. While not flashy or as consistent as his defense, Kidd-Gilchrist knows how to attack the rim and score.

At first, spending the year at Kentucky in fellow freshmen Anthony Davis’ shadow did not do any favors for Kidd-Gilchrist’s basketball celebrity, but once the Wildcats got more national exposure during their championship March Madness run, it became apparent that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was a special basketball player. Now analysts are saying he will be the steal of the draft if he is selected at #4 by the Cavaliers.

Cleveland should be ecstatic to get Kidd-Gilchrist at fourth overall; he would fit right into their post-Lebron rebuilding plan (after all, they need to win a championship before Lebron does- oh wait… forget about that). MKG would be a great complement to Kyrie Irving and would instantly form one of the best 1-2 “crazy hustle tandems” in the league when paired up with fellow energizer bunny Anderson Varejao.

#3- Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, SG Florida

SG Bradley Beal is often compared to Ray Allen, and that comparison alone should make the Wizards (and any other team, for that matter) ecstatic to add Beal to their roster. His skill set is incredibly desirable for any team trying to contend for championship. NBA teams are always looking for a smart, clutch player with deep range; it’s why players like Caron Butler or Rashard Lewis get grossly overpaid and it’s why Ray Allen will have a spot on an NBA roster until he has to play in a wheelchair. Simply put, Bradley Beal is the type of player a winning team has on its roster. Now, the recent trades the Wizards have made are not moves winning teams make (could some one please explain to me how the Wizards, after the Nene/Okafor and Ariza trades, will have enough cap space to buy new shoes, let alone make improvements to their roster?), but drafting Beal would certainly be a step in the right direction. (Another step in the right direction? Changing your franchise’s name to something other than  “Wizards”. Harry Potter never intimidated anybody on the basketball court. But if you ask Jay Bilas, Potter did have “great wingspan, just superb length”).

#2- Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson, PF Kansas

In his first season as a starter at Kansas, Thomas Robinson preformed much better anybody had anticipated.  Sure, the public knew that the 6’9” PF was a good player, but he had only averaged 14 minutes a game the previous season (stuck behind the Morris twins on the Jayhawk depth chart) and had never played a prominent role at Kansas. Last season, Robinson took full advantage of his first real chance to prove himself. Showing the nation what kind of player he really is, Robinson averaged 17.7 PPG and 11.9 REB.

Robinson’s great season proved to scouts that he is one of the most consistent players in this year’s draft class. Long, athletic, strong, tough and physical, Robinson has nearly every desirable aspect of an NBA player. An explosive jumper with elite rebounding skills, Robinson is simply a solid basketball player, something the Bobcats severely lack (losing the draft lottery could be a fatal blow to professional basketball in Charlotte). Right now, the Bobcats are not in a position to select a high risk, high reward player. They need somebody to come in from day one and make them a better basketball team.  That player is Thomas Robinson.  

#1- New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF/C Kentucky

Anthony Davis is the lone “can’t miss” prospect in this year’s draft. In his first and only season as a college basketball player, Davis established himself as an incredible defensive force by registering an astonishing 4.7 blocks per game and grabbing 10.4 REB as well. He was no offensive slouch, either, scoring 14.2 PPG and posting a .623 FG%.  Not only did Davis’ brilliant play earn him a National Championship at Kentucky and the status of consensus #1 NBA prospect, but it also earned him a spot on Team USA’s preliminary roster for the London Olympics (despite having played a grand total of zero NBA games).

Do I think Anthony Davis should make America’s Olympic team?  Absolutely.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Davis managed to take away minutes from starting center Tyson Chandler (Dwight Howard will be injured for the Olympics). Davis is truly that good. As soon as he is in the NBA, he’ll be a top 3 power forward, and is already a much more complete player than all-star Blake Griffin. One of the most exciting subplots of the NBA season in the next decade will be the battle for the blocks title between Davis and Serge Ibaka. A double-double machine, Davis will be an all-star for years to come, undoubtedly winning multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career.

And I haven’t even mentioned his unibrow yet.

Scott Partington is a contributor at DailyShootout.com. For more articles by Scott, check out his sports and pop culture blog at http://lifeandtimesofscott.wordpress.com. Follow him on twitter @LATOS14.

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VINDICATED: Lebron James Edition

After two years of scrutiny, it looks like LeBron James was right

By: Aaron Katzker

“This fall, I’m gonna take my talents to South Beach, and join the Miami Heat.” With that, the nation turned on LeBron James, turning the two-time MVP into a villain and the most scrutinized player in the history of professional sports. By joining his friends, and fellow all-stars, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron was admitting what all of us know yet for some reason do not want our superstars to believe. In order to win a championship, he was going to need help. Keep in mind that for the previous 3 years, the Boston Celtics were the dominant force in the Eastern Conference. After putting together their “Big Three” (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen), the Celtics went on to two of three NBA Finals; the lone year that they didn’t get out of the East, KG did not play in the playoffs. In addition to the Big Three, the emergence of Rajon Rondo as an all-star caliber point guard gave the Celtics the look of a team that would continue to dominate the East unless the landscape changed dramatically. LeBron James knew that. Dwyane Wade knew that. Chris Bosh knew that. You have to give these guys credit for accepting that fact, and rather than being driven by their egos to each be “the man”, they came together, each taking less money in annual salary than they would have had they gone elsewhere,  for the purpose of building a championship team. 

Still, things were not as easy, as LeBron, and most of the media expected. Having thrown together almost an entirely new team whose role players were almost all veterans past their prime hanging on for a championship, the Heat struggled to get consistent production from anyone outside of the Big Three. Even the Big Three had their issues. James, Wade, and Bosh all had to adjust to having less touches and putting up less shots, all while learning how to play together and with their other new teammates. Heck, even in last year’s playoff run to the NBA Finals where the Heat were praised for beating their rival and influential Celtics and the top-seeded Bulls each in 5 games, the Heat did it on the back of “hero ball”. For those not familiar with the term, this refers to a team not running traditional offense, but rather letting a star-player hold onto the ball in an isolation situation and hoping that they can score. In last year’s Eastern Conference Semis and Finals, hero ball worked for Lebron, as he consistently made big shots in crunch time of close games against Boston and Chicago. Against Dallas in the Finals, though, his jump shot abandoned him, and faced with the task of having to play together  in order to beat a formidable Mavs team, the Heat failed. What was most troubling was that, with his jumper failing and Dallas playing a compact zone geared towards stopping James from getting into the paint, LeBron relegated himself to a corner, and far too often merely watched his teammates fall apart.

Following his Finals failure, in which James had the largest drop in scoring average from regular season to NBA Finals of any player in NBA history, LeBron decided he had to get better. He worked with Hall of Fame center, Hakeem Olajuwon, to develop more of a post-game. Meanwhile, the Heat were determined to get better as well. Miami signed Shane Battier in the off-season as a free agent, and coach, Erik Spoelstra went to work on designing a new offense for Miami to run in year two of The Big Three. The result was LeBron having arguably his best season as a professional, winning his 3^rd MVP award, and leading Miami to their second straight NBA Finals appearance, and eventually the franchise’s second NBA title. 

Now, while the overwhelming majority of the media has turned this into “The King’s Coronation”, and it was obvious both to those who watched and those who read box scores that LeBron played infinitely better than he played against Dallas a year earlier, this series wasn’t won just on the back of LeBron James. The Heat beat the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder, for the most part because they did it as a team. Miami got huge contributions from role players like Battier, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, and Norris Cole. Never was this more on display than in Game 4. After falling to the floor hard midway in the 4^th quarter, LeBron was noticeably limping, and eventually had to be carried to the Heat’s bench. He would return, still limping, to hit a huge three to put Miami ahead by that same margin, but again had to sit with 2 minutes left because the pain was two great. Then Miami did what Cleveland never could, and what they themselves couldn’t a year before – they picked up LeBron. No, I’m not talking about Juwan Howard and Udonis Haslem carrying LeBron to the Heat sideline. I’m talking about each and every Heat player on the floor stepping up and making a play to help Miami win. Dwyane Wade took control of the offense, but instead of resorting to hero ball, he made plays for Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers. He also added a timely block and steal on the defensive end. Chalmers took over with a 13 point 4^th quarter. Udonis Haslem held onto a loose ball that resulted in a jump ball between him and James Harden. Haslem won the tip, but then it was Shane Battier out leaping Kevin Durant to tap the ball to an open Chalmers, who subsequently got fouled. The resulting free-throws made it a two possession game, and the Heat took a stranglehold in the series. Then, in the series-clinching game, LeBron got even more help from his teammates, as Battier, Chalmers, and Miller combined for 44 points, including 23 from Miller, who made 7 three-pointers, the most ever by a bench player in a Finals game.

At the end of the day, LeBron James got better. He deserved his Finals MVP award, but he didn’t earn it on his own, and had he stayed in Cleveland we might be talking about a Boston Celtics dynasty instead of a possible repeat in Miami. Just as the Heat needed LeBron to help them capture their second title, LeBron needed the help of a great team around him. This year, he finally got that help, and now he is a champion. I guess he made the right decision after all.

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Pick of the Day - June 26th

BY: NEIL BRASLOW

Overall: 49-34-2
Week: 1-0
Month: 15-9-1

St. Louis Cardinal (-120) (Lohse) (AWAY) OVER Miami Marlins (Zambrano) (HOME)

After a bizarre and back breaking loss to St. Louis last night, leading 6-1 after the 7th, I have to believe that the Marlins are going to come out a bit deflated tonight. Over his past three starts, Lohse is 1-1 with a 1.66 ERA. In addition, he is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA during nine road starts this season. The Marlins have now lost 16 of 19 games. Zambrano is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA over his past three starts. Take the Cardinals.

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Fantasy Baseball: ‘Lucky’ Week #13 Waiver Wire Pickups

Written by Fantasy Furnace

We’re nearing the halfway point of the season so by now managers should have a pretty good idea of what they will need coming down the home stretch and into the playoffs. In Fantasy leagues we’re more than half-way through the regular season’s as there are usually 22 weeks on the schedule. You should start choosing a bit more wisely now and so we’re here to help with this week’s pickups…

1. Brandon Belt-1B/OF-S.F. Giants- This late season call up last September proved one thing was clear; he has power. He hit 9 home runs in just 187 AB which equates to around 27 in a full season. On June 7th Belt began to play everyday and he has not disappointed. He had a modest 11 game hitting streak snapped on Sunday, and he still has the team’s highest on-base percentage- even though surprisingly he continues to bat seventh in the lineup. Over his last 37 AB he is hitting .405 with 4 HR and 12 RBI. He clearly is worth a flier and should be picked up in 12+ leagues. He is owned in just 32% of leagues.

#9 Giants Brandon Belt seen here ‘belting’ a home run, will hit a whole lot more and, if moved out of the 7th hole, could bring more RBI to team managers. Photo: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

2. Pedro Alvarez- 3B-Pirates- The former second over-all pick in the 2008 draft of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is playing on a team where the bulk of the offense comes from two players; Andrew McClutchen and Pedro Alvarez. As of Sunday they were both tied for the most HR on the team with 13. Over Alvarez’s last 10 games he has scored 10 runs, hit 5 HR, knocked in 11, and has batted .317. Although he’s on pace to hit 28 HR, his only liability is his low batting average. In just under 800 career AB, his average is 5 points higher than his weight; .228. Maybe the surge he’s on now will continue- but just be mindful. For now we recommend Alavarez in...

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MLB Power Rankings : Week 13

By: Justin Millar

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Texas Rangers	N/A
	The best team in baseball has won 8 of its last 10 games, and has just 1 starting position player with an OPS+ below 100.
	2	New York Yankees	N/A
	Andy Pettite continues to impress this season. He has a 3.29 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 54.2 innings so far this season.
	3	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	N/A
	Since starting off 6-14, the Angels have gone 34-19. The addition of Ernesto Frieri has helped greatly as he has struck out 26 in just 20.2 innings without allowing a run. Despite spending the first 20 games of the season in the minors, Mike Trout now leads the American League in WAR. He is on pace to post the highest single season WAR total by a rookie position player since Dick Allen in 1964
	4	Washington Nationals	N/A
	Bryce Harper leads all Nationals position players in wins above replacement so far this season.
	5	Cincinatti Reds	N/A
	Joey Votto, who leads baseball in OPS+ and WAR among other categories, is possibly the best player on the planet right now. While Votto has taken over the offense, Johnny Cueto has been leading the rotation. His 187 ERA+ ranks 4th in the National League.
	6	Los Angeles Dodgers	N/A
	The Dodgers who once held a commanding lead in the NL West, have lost 7 of their last 10 games and are just 3 games ahead of the Giants in second place. The loss of Matt Kemp and an offense that ranks 20th in baseball in runs scored have been their downfall. The offense will have to pick it up if they want to win games, but I think LA may have finally come back to reality.
	7	Tampa Bay Rays	N/A
	The delayed return of Evan Longoria has definitely hurt the Rays, but they're still just 3.5 games back in the AL East. Matt Joyce has replaced Longoria as the team's catalyst for now, as he is hitting .279/.387/.512.
	8	San Francisco Giants	N/A
	Bruce Bochy spent most of the first part of the season playing Brandon Belt sporadically, when he probably should have been the starting 1st baseman. In his past 14 games since earning the starting job, Belt has hit .348 with 4 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 8 walks.
	9	St. Louis Cardinals	N/A
	Despite having the 2nd best run differential in baseball, the Cardinals are just 3 games over .500. Adam Wainwright has finally started to return to form. In his past 3 starts, he has pitched 21 innings, striking out 21, while allowing just 5 runs.
	10	Boston Red Sox	N/A
	The Red Sox, winners of 8 of their last 10, seem to have found a nice little groove. The Red Sox don't have a single starting pitcher with an ERA below 4.00, so pitching will be the key if they want to reach the postseason.
	11	Chicago White Sox	N/A
	This weekend, the White Sox acquired Kevin Youkilis in a trade with the Red Sox. The trade is a huge upgrade for the White Sox who have had their 3rd basemen combine to hit .167/.244/.221 with just 1 home run this season
	12	Baltimore Orioles	N/A
	In Jason Hammel's last 2 starts, he has combined to pitch 17 innings, striking out 18, allowing just 6 hits and no earned runs.
	13	New York Mets	N/A
	While RA Dickey has been dominating the majors with his knuckleball, Johan Santana has quietly been having an all star caliber season of his own. He is striking out a batter per inning and his ERA sits at exactly 3.00. He has won 4 of his last 5 starts and has allowed more than 4 runs just once this season.
	14	Pittsburgh Pirates	N/A
	The Pirates offense has been pretty much dormant all season, but since June 16th, they have scored 45 runs in just 8 games. The offense has been sparked by Pedro Alvarez who has hit .444 with 5 home runs and 10 RBIs during the streak.
	15	Atlanta Braves	N/A
	After missing part of last season, Tommy Hanson leads the majors with 15 starts this season and he appears to be back to his pre-injury form.
	16	Toronto Blue Jays	N/A
	The Blue Jays are the only team in the majors with 2 players that have hit 20 or more home runs so far this season in Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.
	17	Cleveland Indians	N/A
	The Indians are only a half game back from the White Sox for first place in the AL Central, despite having a negative run differential. While the offense has been strong, it is important to note that the Indians rank 28th in the majors in ERA and don't have a single player in their starting rotation with an ERA+ above 96.
	18	Arizona Diamondbacks	N/A
	The D-backs are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have finally gotten above .500 for the first time since May 4th. They have outscored their opponents by 28 runs since June 14th and are slowly creeping up on the 1st place Dodgers.
	19	Detroit Tigers	N/A
	The Tigers have suffered through injuries and rotation problems that have really set them back so far this season. Their offense is extremely potent, but they may have the worst defensive team in all of baseball. According to Baseball Reference WAR, the Tigers defense has cost them over 3 wins so far this season.
	20	Philadelphia Phillies	N/A
	The Defending NL East champs currently sit 8.5 games out of first place in the NL East. The veteran laden team has really struggled this season. One exception being Carlos Ruiz, who is enjoying a nice breakout season as he leads all catchers in wins above replacement.
	21	Oakland Athletics	N/A
	Oakland has been on a bit of a run lately, going 7-3 in their last 10 games. Brandon McCarthy and rookie Jarrod Parker have been leading the rotation, while Josh Reddick is enjoying a career year offensively.
	22	Milwaukee Brewers	N/A
	Ryan Braun is on pace to match his monstrous 2011 campaign. He is projected to hit .319/.399/.612 with 45 home runs and 29 steals. Zack Grienke is also on pace for a CY Young caliber season as he has been worth nearly 3 wins already this season.
	23	Kansas City Royals	N/A
	Disappointing seasons from both Eric Hosmer and Jeff Francoeur, as well as injuries to the pitching staff, have really hampered this team. Despite their poor play this season, they are just 6 games back in an underwhelming AL Central, so a 2nd half surge could potentially push them into October.
	24	Seattle Mariners	N/A
	The Mariners have just 2 position players with an OPS+ of 100 or better in Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager. Felix Hernandez is the only starting pitcher with an ERA+ above 100. The Mariners have a bright future on the horizon, but time will tell if some of their current young big leaguers can make the necessary adjustments to be a part of the Mariners long term plan.
	25	Miami Marlins	N/A
	Heath Bell started the year by allowing 15 runs in his first 14 appearances, blowing 4 saves. Since then, he has allowed just 3 runs in 14.2 innings, converting all 10 of his save opportunities. The Marlins are 20-3 in games he has pitched in since the start of May.
	26	Houston Astros	N/A
	According to Elias, Dallas Keuchel is the first player to throw a complete game in his 1st or 2nd career start since Clay Buchholz threw a complete game no-hitter in his 2nd career start on 9/1/2007.
	27	Colorado Rockies	N/A
	The Rockies have the worst ERA in the majors this season, and a 4 man rotation of fly ball pitchers in Coors field is probably the worst idea since the invention of saves.
	28	Minnesota Twins	N/A
	Since starting off 18-32, the Twins have essentially been playing .500 baseball since the start of June. They were fueled by Trevor Plouffe who hit 9 home runs in the first 12 games of June, but since then, Plouffe has hit just 1 in his last 8 games.
	29	Chicago Cubs	N/A
	In their last 3 games alone, the Cubs have been outscored 23-6. The good news is that Alfonso Soriano is quietly enjoying somewhat of a comeback year. He is on pace to post his highest WAR since 2008.
	30	San Diego Padres	N/A
	Chase Headley is playing great, but that's pretty much the only positive for this struggling team. They rank last in the majors in runs scored and have been outscored by their opponents 40-24 in their last 8 games. The Padres have won just 4 series all year, and two of those were against the Rockies and Mariners.

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