How Can I Help You? Boston Celtics

Do these guys have what it takes to win another?

Now here, we have a real puzzle. After losing to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals, is it time to break up the Boston Celtics' core? Or do they have another title run in them? Who do you resign? How do you draft? We'll take a look at all of these scenarios.

Personally, I believe that Boston should keep its team together. Yes, they are old, but also extremely talented. They shocked everyone in the playoffs this year, and I think they have what it takes to do it again. The Celtics just have to be careful with who they resign and how much they resign them for.

There are only five players on the team that won't be free agents: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Avery Bradley, JaJuan Johnson, and E'Twaun Moore. The first three are well know key cogs to this team, while the two rookies from Purdue may be the future of this team. Let's break down every free agent.

Keyon Dooling was a nice spark off the bench during Boston's playoff run, but it's unlikely that he will be resigned. Ray Allen, of course, is a big question mark. Allen's play declined greatly this year due to injuries. If the Celtics keep their Big 4 together, do they oust Allen and make it a Big 3 again? I have to believe that Allen will be resigned for a smaller contract. Mickael Pietrus was one of the main contributors off the bench, and he should be resigned because of his defense and three point shooting. Marquis Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic will both leave town, and I don't think too many Celtic fans will be crying because of that. Jeff Green should get a new contract after making it through his heart conditions. He'll be a big help off the bench playing both forward spots. Kevin Garnett will almost definitely be given more money. He revived his career this season and he may have a few good years left in him. Brandon Bass had a fantastic season at PF for the team, and he will likely exercise his player option to stay in Boston. Chris Wilcox, Ryan Hollins, and Sean Williams are expendable and will not be missed. The Jermaine O'Neal project will end in Boston. And finally, Greg Stiemsma will probably get brought back for his defense.

Phew. This is just too much. Now that that's all projected (obviously it's subject to change, so the accuracy of all of this is questionable), let's take a look at the Celtics' depth chart.

PG: Rajon Rondo, E'Twaun Moore
SG: Avery Bradley, Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus
PF: Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, JaJuan Johnson
C: Kevin Garnett, Greg Stiemsma

Boston has two picks in the first round (#21 and #22) and one pick in the second round (#51). In my opinion, I think the team should draft a wing scorer (specifically one for if Allen is injured or too old and to be his eventual replacement) and a defensive minded center (to back up KG and learn under him and sorry Stiemer, but your run won't last forever). And with the 51st pick, Boston should really take the best player available. Who knows, maybe they'll find a small forward that will eventually wind up succeeding Pierce? Let's see what we've got to work with.

The reason why I think taking an enforcer in the paint this high is important is because of the Celtics' previous title run. Having Kendrick Perkins down low made a huge difference against the Lakers. And when they didn't have him for Game 7 in 2010, they lost their chance at a title.

Melo will be an enforcer in the NBA.

So who to take? There are two options: Fab Melo from Syracuse and Festus Ezeli from Vanderbilt.  Melo is a defensive nightmare. His shot blocking and shot altering ability is out of this world. Plus, he's also been developing his offensive game a bit. Ezeli's size, bulk, and ability to muscle opponents down low are what makes him attractive. I like Melo here because he's a more dynamic defender.

The shooting guard pick is not as clear cut. There are actually of lot of different ways that Boston can go about this. The most intriguing scenario is having Austin Rivers, Doc Rivers' son, fall to pick #21. I doubt the Celtics would take him because the father-son relationship would complicate a lot of things, but it's some food for the thought.

There are three young men who would fit well in this position: Kevin Murphy, Khris Middleton, and Will Barton. All three have a knack for scoring. Middleton is incredibly dynamic, but injury history is a cause for concern. Barton is a wizard at attacking the basket, but needs more bulk. And Murphy is simply a pure scorer. The only problem with these guys is that selecting them this high in the draft is too much of a reach.

Evan Fournier from France could also be the pick. He has a solid scoring ability and is very clutch. His winning mentality will transfer well over to Boston.

Lamb has scoring that would be welcomed in Boston.

However, with all of these guys aside, I like Doron Lamb from Kentucky. Lamb is a great scorer and an efficient one at that, but his leadership quality cannot be ignored. He led the Wildcat freshmen to a title last year-as a sophomore. The Celtics will find just what they're looking for.

While I did say that "Best player available" is the mindset at pick #51, there's no shame if the Celtics have a SF in mind. Here are some of their options.

At small forward, while unlikely he will still be around, the most ideal selection would be Lamb's Kentucky teammate, Darius Miller. Miller is a very efficient scorer, and the Celtics picked two teammates in last year's draft, so it's not out of the question for them to do it again.

Kostas Papinkoloau from Greece is a hard working, high motor, lengthy defender who can also shoot the three ball. He would be welcomed on Boston. Jae Crowder from Marquette epitomizes hard work. It just remains to be seen if he can play on the perimeter full time in the NBA. Orlando Johnson from UCSB is a fluid athlete with a nice shooting touch. Finally, Tony Mitchell from North Texas has the tools to be a dominant player in the NBA, and he can reach his potential under Rivers and all of the Celtic vets. Out of all them, I say Papinkoloau has the best chance to make an immediate impact, but also be a part of Boston's future.

So now, let's take a look at that updated Boston depth chart.

PG: Rajon Rondo, E'Twaun Moore
SG: Avery Bradley, Ray Allen, Doron Lamb
SF: Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus, Kostas Papinkoloau
PF: Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, JaJuan Johnson
C: Kevin Garnett, Fab Melo, Greg Stiemsma

The team has not only improved, but now looks a lot younger. If the new guys mesh well with the Celtic's core and know their roles, Boston may have another title run left in them.

After that concoction in the lab, I'll focus next on the Atlanta Hawks, who also have a lot of figuring out to do.

How Can I Help You? Denver Nuggets

Gallinari could morph into a star.

The Nuggets are a very talented team. They received a bunch of pieces in the Carmello Anthony trade which morphed into a single unit playing as one. The transition that Denver made is impressive, but they're not quite at the level of title contender. Their biggest need is a superstar. Maybe Danilo Gallinari will become that. Regardless, with three draft picks, they'll be looking to add more cogs to their well oiled machine.

Denver has three free agents leaving. One is Andre Miller. The backup point guard was very good in spelling Ty Lawson and playing as more of a true PG, but he may want more money or a bigger role. I have a feeling that he won't return to the Nuggets. Rudy Fernandez was decent coming off the bench, but the team is crowded at the wing, so he's doubtful to come back. Finally, Javale McGee is a restricted free agent. Denver traded away Nene for McGee to get younger at center, so there's no reason he won't be back with the team.

Not many teams can say that backup point guard is one of their top needs, but it is for the Nuggets. Lawson and Miller complimented each other so well, and it's important for the team to not miss a beat at that position. That will likely be addressed later in the draft. Denver has a plethora of wing players to occupy both the shooting guard and small forward positions. Aaron Afflalo and Gallinari are the starters. Corey Brewer was a nice spark plug off the bench. Jordon Hamilton was a first rounder last season. Wilson Chandler was welcomed with open arms after his return from overseas. And Al Harrington had one of his best years last season, and can play both forward spots.

Harrington can play PF too, but the consensus is that the team needs more frontcourt help after McGee and Kenneth Faried. Faried is a high energy player and had a solid rookie year, but his offensive ability (like McGee's) is limited. Kosta Koufos, Timofey Mozgov, and Chris Anderson are all expendable.

The team is looking for a backup PG and depth at both the power forward and center positions. They pick 20th, 38th, and 50th. Let's begin, shall we?

I fully expect the team to take a big man at #20. The kind of point guard they're looking for is going to be there later in the draft. Also, it's worth noting that the two centers who will be around at this point of the draft are Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli. Neither have much offensive ability and wouldn't fit well with this team. Unless Tyler Zeller somehow drops here, the Nuggets should go power forward.

There's a bunch of questions about some of the PF's here. Is Terrence Jones big enough to play that spot? Is it possible that someone like Perry Jones or Arnett Moultrie could slip this far? Is it worth reaching on a big like Drew Gordon or Mike Scott?

Sullinger bring offense on the block.

Those are all questions that likely don't result in positive answer for Denver. That being said, I see two options here: Jared Sullinger and Andrew Nicholson.

Sullinger is a very skilled big down low. His post moves are physical and dominant and he has improved his jump shot as well. There are questions about his physical tools and lack of potential, but if Sully drops to #20, the Nuggets would be glad to scoop him up. Many think he won't, but I haven't come across too many teams yet who really want Sullinger, so he's the pick here if he's available.

Nicholson is a different kind of beast. His face up post game and crafty moves around the basket are how he scores. He can even stretch the floor and shoot threes. He doesn't have as much bulk as Sullinger, but he should be drafted by Denver if the Ohio St. PF is taken.

Denver may wind up reaching on Nicholson, as well as these next two picks, but they're going to get their guys, and there's nothing wrong with that. With pick #38, the team should go out and snatch Iona's Scott Machado. Machado has been mocked all over the second round, so the Nuggets won't want to take their chances and wait for him at #50. Machado may be the best pure point guard in the draft besides Kendall Marshall. He is stellar at running the offense and has amazing court vision. He'll fit well with a scorer like Lawson, both by complimenting him and being a change of pace guard.

Gates is literally a monster down low.

Now, with the 50th pick, the team will want to draft an offensive center to split time with McGee. Robert Sacre, Henry Sims, and Justin Hamilton aren't overly skilled on that side of the ball, and would't really be the best fits here. Instead, let's enter Cincinnati's Yancy Gates.

Gates weighs nearly 300 pounds, so despite his lack of size (6'9" for a center), he'll be a load in the post. He does need to get tougher, but Denver will like his skills with the ball. He has a soft touch around the rim and can also consistently hit mid range jumpers. If he works hard on his game, Gates could become a very dynamic scoring big man in the pros.

Denver gets just what they need by grabbing Sullinger, Machado, and Gates. That gives them a starting five of Lawson, Afflalo, Gallinari, Faried, and McGee, and a bench of Machado, Hamilton, Chandler, Brewer, Harrington, Sullinger, and Gates. Once again, this team has an enormous amount of depth, something that they could use for trade bait if they try to acquire a superstar.

In my next segment, I will discuss not only the draft of the Boston Celtics, but what they should do with their current players and free agents.

How Can I Help You? Orlando Magic

Howard's drama has taken its toll on the team.

A team that made it to the NBA Finals a mere three years ago is on the verge of collapsing under its selfish superstar and entering a very painful rebuilding process. The Orlando Magic need to trade Dwight Howard this season and get young pieces for him so they can start rebuilding. They'll do their best to replace aging players and free agents in this year's draft.

The biggest free agent leaving Orlando is point guard Jameer Nelson, and it's unlikely he'll be resigned. Nelson seems to have lost a step since the Magic glory days, and the team will be looking for his replacement. The other key FA is Ryan Anderson. Anderson had a breakout year last season. His combination of size and three point shooting has turned him into the cornerstone of this team. He's still only 24, so the Magic will do whatever it takes to resign him. Every other free agent will probably go, except for Earl Clark who will likely exercise his player option.

With that being said, the only point guard left on the roster is the ancient Chris Duhon who averaged 3.8 points per game last season. It's time to find a new PG. At shooting guard are Jason Richardson and J. J. Redick. This is a sticky situation. Richardson can still produce but is certainly getting older. Redick has improved over the years, but it's hard to say that he's a starting caliber player. SG is not a major need, but it wouldn't be shocking to see them draft one.

Hedo Turkoglu lies at small forward and he really needs to go. Orlando would love to dump his salary somewhere else. Power forward is the position where the Magic have the most depth. Anderson is the starter, Justin Harper is a second year man out of Richmond who is still developing, and Clark can play some minutes there as well. The team shouldn't draft for that position.

Then there's the question of center. You know Howard is out one way or another. Glen Davis is the current starter, and although he's only 6'9", he dominated filling in for Howard in a small Magic lineup. He's proven he can play and deserves the job. However, drafting a big man is not out of the question. They've been so used to having a dominant C, and at the very least, they'll want depth behind Davis.

So here are the Magic's needs in order of importance: Point guard, small forward, big man to back up (or replace) Davis, wing defender.

Orlando picks 19th and 49th in the draft. PG and SF are the two biggest needs, and we'll consider center too with the first pick.

Teague would be Orlando's PG of the future.

As I mentioned in one of my last articles, the best and only point guard to take at this position is Kentucky's Marquis Teague. Teague shined in the NCAA tournament last year and showed flashes of a talented and attacking PG like his brother, Jeff. Tony Wroten from Washington is another option, but Teague shows superior passing skills and potential.

If small forward is what they desire at this spot, look at a pair of Jones': Terrence and Perry. These two are very versatile and are oozing with potential, meaning they could still be available at #19 or could be already taken in the lottery. St. John's Moe Harkless is another choice, and although he is still raw, he will provide an immediate scoring punch.

Moving on to the 49th pick, the Magic still have a lot of options. A defensive SF is probably their best best, but don't be surprised if they draft a center. I've gone over quite a few times the big men is this draft because the C position is so thin. Andre Drummond will go in the lottery. Meyers Leonard and Tyler Zeller will go either right in or right out of the lottery. Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli will go late first round. That leaves the usual suspects: Henry Sims and Robert Sacre. While I think Sims is the better prospect, Sacre is a better fit for Orlando. His bulk will help with Davis' lack of size and his impressive post moves will try and help the team forget about Howard. Plus, he's an 80% free throw shooter, something that would make the Magic jump for joy.

At the three spot, two players jump out to me. Kris Joseph of Syracuse has incredible length and could become a very good defender in this league. Alex Young of IUPUI has excellent scoring ability, and he too could be a great defender.

Personally, I think the team should grab Teague and Sacre. That would give them a starting five of Marquis Teague, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, Ryan Anderson, and Glen Davis, and a bench of J. J. Redick, Earl Clark, Justin Harper, and Robert Sacre. This team still looks like it could possibly sneak into the playoffs, and if they have a solid draft and get a good haul for Howard, the Magic should make a smooth transition.

Up next are the young and talented Denver Nuggets, who nearly stole a playoff series from the Lakers this year.

How Can I Help You? Minnesota Timberwolves

Rubio looks to build off of a big rookie year.

For a team that's been historically miserable in the draft, Minnesota may have finally turned it around. By drafting Ricky Rubio and swapping O. J. Mayo for Kevin Love, the signs are there that this team is close to the playoffs. Having their two stars healthy for the whole season is key, but they need to add more talent in the draft.

The Timberwolves are lucky to only be losing three forwards to free agency: Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver, and Michael Beasley. Both Anthony's are mediocre players who never lived up to their potential so they're out. As is Beasley, whose talented yet erratic play had him at the center of trade rumors last season.

So the team is pretty much the same as it was last year. Rubio should take over the starting point guard position and Luke Ridnour will shift to a backup role. J. J. Barea is another guard to eat minutes. Shooting guard is a tough position. Wes Johnson, although ineffective, has now shifted to small forward, so the team is left with Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington, and Malcolm Lee. Lee was drafted last year as a defensive specialist, so he's the only important one here, but he's not a starting caliber player. Johnson will probably slide into a backup role and Derrick Williams will take over the starting duties at SF as he looks to live up to his #2 pick hype.

Love is the cornerstone at power forward, but the team found a hidden gem in Nikola Pekovic at center. He broke out last season and has established himself as the new starter. Darko Milicic will play behind him.

So while this team doesn't have a tremendous amount of depth (except point guard), its main need is a shooting guard, and its secondary need is a big man to get minutes off the bench for Love.

At this point, Dion Waiters will probably be gone. Austin Rivers probably will be too, but it's not impossible to think he could still be available. I first mocked Rivers to Minnesota, but I don't like him as a prospect. I think his game can succeed in the NBA, but individually, not in a team setting. He certainly wouldn't be a bad option here, but I caution the pick.

Lamb is a cool 'Cat under pressure.

Instead, take a look at Doron Lamb from Kentucky. Lamb was the go-to guy for an extremely talented Wildcats' squad last year. He was their most consistent scorer, and when they needed a basket, he would give it to them. His leadership and offense would be extremely valuable to the T-Wolves. Another option is John Jenkins from Vanderbilt, although with Minnesota's luck, he'd likely turn into a one-dimensional shooter and get lost in the shuffle.

The team also has the third to last pick in the draft, which they should use on a power forward. Since it's so late in the draft, they'll have to dig deep here. Greg Mangano from Yale is a big man who has the ability to shoot threes. However, he strays to the perimeter too much, and he's not as valuable as Love who also hits the deep ball. Kyle O'Quinn from Norfolk St. would be a physical rebounder and give Minnesota a frontcourt that can effectively clean the glass for 48 minutes a night. Mitchell Watt is an athletic post player and big time scorer, as evident in his play at Buffalo.

Selecting Lamb and Watt is the way to go here. That would give the T-Wolves a starting squad of Ricky Rubio, Doron Lamb, Derrick Williams, Kevin Love, and Nikola Pecovic, and a bench consisting of J. J. Barea, Luke Ridnour, Malcolm Lee, Wes Johnson, Mitchell Watt, and Darko Milicic. Call me crazy, but I think that that team could possibly make the postseason if it stays healthy.

Tomorrow, I attack another mess in the Orlando Magic.

How Can I Help You? Dallas Mavericks

Dirk wants another ring, but his 2011 teammates are all but gone.

Over the past few months, the Dallas Mavericks have received a wakeup call. They realized that their plan of capturing Deron Williams and Dwight Howard and giving Dirk Nowitzki one last run at an NBA title may not work out as perfectly as they thought. Then they got swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Now they have to deal with a slew of free agents. Dallas may be in trouble.

The main goal for the Mavs is to obtain the pieces to win Dirk another ring, so we'll keep that in mind. We'll also act as if the team won't be getting Williams or Howard, because neither of those are sure things (although Williams is more likely because Dallas would have to trade for Howard). Let's take a look at the guys they're losing first.

Both Jason Kidd and Jason Terry will likely not be back with the team. The duo that won a championship last year is getting old, and neither are truly starting caliber players. Kidd would be a great veteran backup and Terry may be limited even in his bench role. Delonte West is a guy that they could resign. West wouldn't demand a huge contract and he showed similar promise this year with Dallas as he did when LeBron James was on the Cavaliers. He's a talented and versatile guard that is very valuable and will likely remain as the team's shooting guard. As for Ian Mahinmi, the big man should find a bigger contract elsewhere, and not be resigned by the team.

All that being said, Dallas has a lot of holes. With Kidd gone, all that's left at PG is Rodrigue Beaubois. Beaubois is more of a high energy backup, so the Mavs will need a point man. Then, West is at shooting guard and Vince Carter is backing him up. While Carter wasn't outstanding last year, he should be good enough to come off the bench, although he is getting older.

Shawn Marion is still the team's small forward but they will be looking for his eventual replacement. The same goes with Nowitzki at power forward. He's still an All-Star, but the team will want to find a new PF knowing that he doesn't have too much time left in the league. And finally, Brendan Haywood is at center. Haywood is no more than a veteran backup. The team needs a new center.

So here's the theme for the Mavericks' draft: Draft the best player at nearly every position because we have serious needs everywhere with free agents and guys going gray, but look specifically for players who can make an immediate impact and help Dirk win a title.

Yeah, let's do that...

Dallas must understand that they're not going to give Nowitzki a championship team through their draft picks (#17 and #55), but rather give him championship teammates. With that in mind, let's find some players who can help out right away.

If the team is looking at a point guard, they'll likely miss out on the Lillard/Marshall sweepstakes unless they trade up. Therefore, the best (and only option) at this point in the draft is Kentucky's Marquis Teague. Teague is a great passer and a good scorer, but he has room for improvement, especially on his jump shot. He may not be able to make a big enough impact at the point in the next few years, so Dallas may look away.

The Mavs could also try to add a combo guard, in which case, Dion Waiters or Austin Rivers are options. It's questionable that they'll still be on the board at #17, but would add talent and scoring to the guard position. Rivers may be more NBA ready, but his attitude and style of play makes him a bigger risk. Waiters is a safer pick.

White's game is similar to Shawn Marion's.

There are a handful of small forwards if the team wants to look for a backup and eventual replacement for Marion. Moe Harkless from St. John's is a talented and athletic scorer who will add instant offense to this team. He'll also get the chance to learn under Marion. Royce White from Iowa St. is a very similar player to Marion in the sense that they both have a variety of tools (scoring, rebounding, defense, blocking shots). This may be the perfect place for White to refine his game and reach his full potential. Then there's Terrence Jones from Kentucky. While he took a step back from his freshman season, he can still score at the pro level and play both forward positions. Jefferey Taylor is another versatile option that has strengths in nearly every asset of the game.

A lot of talented PF's will be taken at this time, so Dirk's future replacement may not be taken in this draft. However, it's interesting to see if Dallas takes a look at St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson. Nicholson is similar to Nowitzki in the sense that he scores in so many ways, is crafty, and has a high basketball IQ. It's definitely a reach, but keep an eye out for that.

Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli are two defensive minded centers that should still be around for the Mavs' pick, I just can't seem them being selected. They're not going to contribute too much more than Haywood for at least a few seasons, and Dallas should draft a big man later instead.

That was a mouthful. See? This team is difficult because it put itself in a difficult position. With all of that being said, I think the team should take Harkless or White. Both players seem like perfect fits here, especially White. They'll be able to make an immediate impact while not being thrown into the fire right away.

Now, onto the 55th pick. The Mavericks should take the best player available, but keep point guard and center specifically in mind. Here's a few guys for those spots.

Satoransky is the tallest PG since Magic Johnson.

Tomas Satoransky of the Czech Republic is a combo guard who will be ready to play right away. He has great size (6'8") and solid offensive ability. Xavier's Tu Holloway is a physical scorer for a point guard and is developing his passing skills. A reach here would be Long Beach St.'s Casper Ware. He has all the tools to be a big time point guard, but his height (5'10") is an issue. He would be more of the next J. J. Barea than the next Kidd.

Because center is a thin position in this draft, I believe the Mavs look in free agency for a big to spell Haywood. If they do go this route, I suggest Justin Hamilton from LSU. Hamilton is a very mobile C with good hands and a high motor. He may be able to contribute in certain spots for Dallas.

In conclusion, I would go with Royce White and Tomas Satoransky. Those two would give them a starting lineup of Rodrigue Beaubois, Delonte West, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, and Brendan Haywood, and a bench that includes White, Satoransky, and Vince Carter.

Age and depth is a huge issue for this team in limbo, so the best they can do is to try to fix both to the best of their abilities. I think I did a pretty good job of helping them out with that. This team could be title contenders with Williams, Howard, or both, so they'll keep their fingers crossed.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are now on the clock, and we'll see if they truly have lost the title of "Worst Drafters Ever."

How Can I Help You? Philadelphia 76ers

Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala want these moments to happen more often.

The Sixers nearly made a Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals after upsetting the Derrick Rose-less Bulls and pushing the Celtics to seven games. However, with a ton of free agents and a still very young team, Philly has a lot of decisions to make. Let's break them down.

Philadelphia has a very talented team with no real superstar, so it remains to be seen how they spend their money in the offseason. The biggest question regarding the return of free agents is Elton Brand. Brand is still a very effective player down low, but is getting older. The 76ers must decide if he can help them not only win a title before his career is over, but help the young big men on the team. Because the team would have to pay him a ton of money if he were to return, I'll go out on a limb and wave farewell to Brand's days in Philly. Then there's Lou Williams, the energetic sixth man who provided a serious scoring spark off the bench. However, he doesn't really do much else, so he'll likely be gone too. Lavoy Allen, the rookie from Temple, really impressed this team last season, and he will be brought back. Spencer Hawes put up solid numbers, but it would be wise for him to be let go and let someone else pay the big bucks for him. Jodie Meeks isn't more than a role player, and his expendability will lead to him winding up on a different squad.

Now let's take a look at this slightly altered group of Sixers.

Jrue Holiday is still the point guard, and he is becoming quite the player in the NBA. His poise and shooting ability are extra facets to his game. Evan Turner is at shooting guard. Turner still needs to work on his shot selection, but he's starting to show why Philadelphia drafted him #2 overall.

Small forward is certainly taken care of with Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young. Allen and Nikola Vucevic showed enough in their first year to make the team believe that they can be the starting big men of the future.

Wow. That is an incredibly young team. And not very deep. Of course, adding veteran free agents can solve some of those problems, but that's not what the draft is about. It's about adding young talent. Philly will look to add depth in both the frontcourt and the backcourt. Let's take a look at their options.

The 76ers' mindset here will be to take the best player available, so they'll have a lot of options. They pick 15th, 45th, and 54th. Onward!

Waiters always flexes his.....scoring ability.

If Philadelphia wants to take a guard, Dion Waiters would be a great choice. He's a combo guard with an uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket. Austin Rivers is another talented option, and it would be cool to see him and his father squaring off in the same division.

Going the big man route, Meyers Leonard wouldn't make too much sense because it would essentially be drafting Vucevic again. Terrence Jones and Jared Sullinger would make sense, however. Sullinger could bring some scoring to the post and Jones' versatility will give him the chance to play both forward positions.

The team will have to decide which player is the best available, and I believe that is Waiters. Like I've mentioned in previous articles, he could develop into a superstar in this league. His talented scoring will make up for the losses of Williams and Meeks.

Moving on to pick #45, more big man depth is on the mind of this team. Actually, they may wind up taking one with the 54th pick too (probably a good idea because Allen and Vucevic are not yet sure things).

Pope wants to silence the naysayers.

At power forward, you've got a guy like Herb Pope from Seton Hall. Despite being a bit undersized, Pope is a good rebounder and has a crafty arsenal of post moves. He's a poor man's Sullinger, someone who the Sixers may target with their earlier pick. Quincy Acy, the big man from Baylor, is a force down low. However, his only real way to score is by dunking. JaMychal Green from Alabama and Mitchell Watt from Buffalo are both explosive in the paint, but they are shooting up draft boards and may be out of reach.

At center are the usual suspects: Henry Sims and Robert Sacre. I've talked a lot about this guys as late second rounders, and it's likely that one of them will be targeted by Philadelphia. Sims is a defensive presence, blocking shots around the rim. Sacre has a soft touch and is good with his back to the basket. The thing that stands out the most between the two is Sims' passing ability, making him the superior prospect.

In conclusion, I think it would be in Philly's best interests to take Dion Waiters, Henry Sims, and Herb Pope with their picks, all Big East players last year. That will give the team a staring unit of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala, Lavoy Allen, and Nikola Vucevic, and a bench of Waiters, Pope, Sims, and Thaddeus Young. The key after the draft will be adding veterans who can contribute, but if the Sixers can make out like this, I'd say they'll be pretty happy.

Next up is the defending champs (not for long, however), the Dallas Mavericks, who will look to add in the draft to their lofty free agent expectations.

How Can I Help You? Houston Rockets

Lowry give the Rockets a versatile PG after his breakout year.

This will be the third year in a row that the Houston Rockets pick 14th in the NBA draft. That means that this will be the third year in a row that the Rockets had the best record of teams that did not make the playoffs. Desperate to get over the hump, let's see what we can do for Houston.

The Rockets are one of the most puzzling teams to figure out in this draft. They have a handful of free agents. Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, and Chase Budinger will most likely all be resigned due to contract flexibility (restricted free agents, bird rights, etc.). Marcus Camby will likely be let go as he will probably retire soon. But the question remains: does Houston try again to go after Pau Gasol?

It's clear that the Lakers need a shakeup and wanted to send Gasol to the Rockets last season. I can see the same exact thing happening this season. Maybe even a draft day trade could be in the works. The swap last year would have sent Dragic, Kevin Martin, and Luis Scola to Los Angeles for Gasol. So we'll go on the note that Houston will be pushing hard for this trade to happen, but also know it's no guarantee, thanks to the iron fist of David Stern.

The team is fine at point guard, having Dragic and Kyle Lowry after his breakout year. That also gives them insurance in case Dragic is traded. Shooting guard is interesting. It became evident last season that Kevin Martin clearly has trouble fitting in with this team, so they'll look to move him for Gasol. Lee is a solid player, especially on defense, but it's hard to consider him a starting caliber player.

The position of small forward bears a plethora of young players. Chandler Parsons is the starter and really exceeded expectations in his first year in the league. Budinger should be resigned as a capable backup. And Marcus Morris, a lottery pick a year ago, should not be forgotten, even after a horrible rookie season. Plus, there's Donatas Motiejunas, the Lithuanian big man who can play both forward spots. It would probably be a good idea not to worry about a SF and let the young guns figure things out. At power forward is Scola, Patrick Patterson and possibly Motiejunas. And at center is Samuel Dalembert and second year man Greg Smith. The big man positions are crowded and leave uncertainty, especially with the possibility of Gasol coming in.

With all that being said, the Rockets have two big needs and two picks to fill them: A shooting guard to replace the incumbent Martin, specifically one with an NBA ready offensive game, and to add a big man who would mesh well with the bigs they already have and the potential acquiring of Gasol.

Picking 14th and 16th, Houston is on the clock.

Lamb would add explosive scoring to the team.

It wont really matter too match who the Rockets take with which pick. They'll just have to gauge Philadelphia's (15th pick) interest in certain players. There are four wing players that come into mind who can play the 2-guard and have a dynamic scoring ability. Terrence Ross from Washington is a pure scorer. He can shoot the ball anywhere and is explosive when attacking the basket. Lowry would have no trouble finding him for alley oops. Then there's Jeremy Lamb from Connecticut. Lamb is also a spot on shooter who has a wide variety of ways to score. Lamb's length and defense are very desirable for a SG. Austin Rivers from Duke is another target. Rivers is a natural born scorer who can push the ball in transition and even play some point guard. His versatility will be attractive to Houston, but his selfishness may steer them away. Finally, Dion Waiters of Syracuse is another fine option. Waiters has the ability to do a lot of things with the ball and he's one of the few players that scouts see having the true potential to be a superstar in this draft.

I like Lamb as the pick here. Ross will probably already be taken, but I see Lamb slipping a bit because of how he did as a leader for the Huskies last year. Lamb is an NBA ready talent, but he has to add some bulk and work on the mental aspect of the game. Because the Rockets have a good team, he'll be given the chance to learn. If Lamb is taken, Waiters is the pick.

Leonard could possibly compliment Pau Gasol.

Now there's the argument of the big man. At PF, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, and Arnett Moultrie will probably already be taken. Jared Sullinger is an option, as is Terrence Jones. But the guy I like is Meyers Leonard.

In fact, I really like Leonard. He's an athletic center who is also very aggressive. There aren't many big man who are as explosive as he is. His ability to score down low is only outshined by his shot blocking and defending the rim.

And even with the buildup in the frontcourt, here's why Leonard makes sense for Houston. If they do trade for Gasol, he could play power forward and Leonard could play center. The Lakers had great success from their two-seven footer system and Gasol's shooting ability makes him comfortable playing power forward as opposed to his normal position. Leonard would also learn a lot from Gasol, as well as Dalembert. If the Rockets don't get Gasol, Leonard can still play center and Scola will stay at PF. Basically, Gasol's versatility gives Houston the flexibility of making Leonard the pick, and not Sullinger or Jones, who are lesser options.

Mind games with the 76ers shall occur, but because Lamb is the better talent, the Rockets should pick him 14th overall and than take Leonard 16th overall. That gives the team a starting lineup of Lowry, Lee, Parsons, Gasol/Scola, and Leonard, and a bench with Lamb, Budinger, Morris, Patterson, and Dalmbert (and possibly Dragic and Martin). Working out this draft day trade would be perfect for Houston because as you see, they have a ton of pieces, but no real stars. Having Gasol while sacrificing a little bit of their depth could possibly attract another big name player there and make the Rockets a playoff team once again.

The next squad I look to help is the ever improving 76ers.