Mock Draft Version 2: An Italian goes to New York to play in Canada

With the NBA Draft order all set, here's my first real mock draft of the first round.

1. Toronto-Andrea Bargnani

For any other team, this would be Tyrus Thomas or LaMarcus Aldridge. But Toronto's Bryan Colangelo is rumored to be in love with this Italian youngster. From Chad Ford's blog.

The circumstantial evidence that Colangelo might select Bargnani is strong: He has (a) heavily scouted Bargnani the past two years, (b) been one of his Bargnani's biggest fans for a while, (c) shown when at Phoenix that he is very open to international players and (d) been in the process of wooing Bargnani's boss, Benetton GM Maurizio Gherardini, to the Raptors.

Bargnani would actually make sense. Of all the prospects in the draft, he has the most upside. Scouts compare him favorably to Dirk Nowitzki, and in a draft without any real impact players, Toronto should take the risk. Sure, he could turn into Darko Milicic, but put him in a frontline with Charlie Villanueva and Chris Bosh, and Toronto could suddenly be dynamic.

2. Chicago-Tyrus Thomas

This is the swing pick of the draft. Chicago is going to likely decide between Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge. The one not picked could slide far in this draft. Considering the direction the NBA is heading, Thomas makes the most sense. He's described as a Stromile Swift with a motor, which is actually a compliment, since Swift's biggest weakness is a lack of desire. Thomas would be imposing on defense and, in time, a legitimate Shawn Marion-type on offense.

3. Charlotte-Brandon Roy

I had a discussion with Jason at Critical Fanatic about how good Brandon Roy really is. He thinks Roy could have a Dwayne Wade-like impact. I think Roy will be a very good player, but he's not ever going to be as good as Dwayne Wade. I'm thinking more like Caron Butler or Allan Houston. That still makes him the best guard in the draft, and a perfect fit for Charlotte, who desperately needs some scoring punch in the backcourt. If any of the Top 5 will win Rookie of the Year, it will be R.O.Y.

4. Portland-Adam Morrison

They could go with Aldridge, but the Northwest faithful would really like to see them get Morrison. He and Martell Webster will score a lot in the backcourt (and not play much defense). Morrison's arrival should signal the end of the Darius Miles era in Portland.

5. Atlanta-Randy Foye

This could be Marcus Williams, but I'm really high on Foye's ability to play the point. I've said before that Foye is the best prospect in this draft. With Joe Johnson back there, Foye may not even need to be a pure point.

6. Minnesota-LaMarcus Aldridge

This is definetly a steal for Minnesota. Playing Garnett and Aldridge together will ensure they have two great post threats. Of course, Kevin McHale will screw this pick up, but I can't really account for that.

7. Boston-Marcus Williams

Yes, the Celtics have Delonte West, but he may be better suited to a scoring sniper off the bench. Williams is a great pure point guard who could play a lot right away. He'll make Paul Pierce, West, Wally Sczerbiak, and Gerald Green better.

8. Houston-Rudy Gay

Another feast or famine pick. If this works out, Houston will be extremely athletic on the wing with T-Mac and Gay. One of Houston's biggest problems was a lack of size on the wing with Luther Head and Bob Sura. Gay gives them phenominal size and athletic ability. I personally think his game translates better to the pros, and Houston is a great fit because he won't have to be so assertive right away.

9. Golden State-Rodney Carney

Carney is a guy I'm surprised isn't getting more attention. In the new attacking style of the NBA, a guy like Carney seems like a great fit. Sure, his shot is a bit inconsistent, but he can drive and jump with the best of them. Golden State could use an upgrade over Mike Dunleavy at the 3 spot, and Carney certainly provides that. In addition, with Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, and Ike Diogu, the Warriors have incredible athleticism to work with.

10. Seattle-Tiago Splitter

Seattle is one lottery team that doesn't have too many pressing needs. They could certainly use another guard, but Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen are solid on the perimeter. Splitter is a potential impact player up front. With Splitter, Chris Wilcox, and Johan Petro, the Seattle frontline could be really strong.

11. Orlando-Ronnie Brewer

Size and athleticism on the wing is a must for Orlando. Brewer is among the best all-around guards in the draft. Jameer Nelson could use all of Brewer's all-around skills as his running mate next season.

12. New Orleans-Patrick O'Bryant

New Orleans' current center is the vastly undersized P.J. Brown. They've got to be ecstatic that O'Bryant fell this far. He fills an immediate need for the Hornets in their quest to make the playoffs next season.

13. Philadelphia-Mardy Collins

Phily goes for the local product from Temple. Collins provides good size alongside Allen Iverson for the 76ers. This pick could easily be Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar, or Rajon Rondo, but Collins has better size and scoring ability than all of those players.

14. Utah-J.J. Redick

Redick makes the lottery, but just barely. Utah is probably the best fit for Redick at this point. They have no shooting guard and are in dire need of perimeter shooting. If J.J. goes to Utah, he could be a solid scorer for them like Jeff Hornacek once was.

15. New Orleans-Shannon Brown

Another fantastic fit for the Hornets. Brown joins Desmond Mason, Kirk Snyder, and J.R. Smith as Chris Paul's wingmates. Brown is a bit undersized, but he's athletic, a solid shooter, and a very good defender. He fits in perfectly with New Orleans' up-tempo style.

16. Chicago-Shelden Williams

More muscle in the paint for the Bulls. What you see is likely what you get with Williams, but Chicago has a big-time need for a physical post presence. Chicago also has a history of picking Duke players in the draft (Luol Deng, Chris Duhon), and Williams fulfills that tradition.

17. Indiana-Maurice Ager

Like his college teammate Shannon Brown, Ager is an athletic, smooth wingman. Indiana may enter next season without Stephen Jackson, so Ager should fill a need immediately. He likely will be a solid NBA player for a number of years.

18. Washington-Cedric Simmons

My brother is longing for Leon Powe, but Simmons is a much better fit. He is a fantastic interior defender and has a developing offensive game. His college numbers may not be anything special, but he has an NBA body that is still rounding into shape. Simmons is a real steal here, as he could have been a lottery pick. If he is gone, look for Washington to take Hilton Armstrong.

19. Sacramento-Jordan Farmar

Sacramento could definetly use another point guard with Mike Bibby, and Farmar is tough-as-nails. He may not be as good as Rajon Rondo or Kyle Lowry, but he fits in well with Sacramento's style of play.

20. New York-Rajon Rondo

Larry Brown finally gets a true point guard! Rondo is jet quick and has all the skills except for a consistent shot. Considering how many shots Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, and Jamal Crawford launch up, that may not be a bad thing.

21. Phoenix-Shawne Williams

Perfect fit for the Suns. With most other teams, Williams is a bit of a tweenter. He's not quite quick enough to be a 3, but he's too skinny to be a 4. But in Phoenix, he could fill the role of James Jones and Tim Thomas, two other tweenters. Again, Williams is definetly a Phoenix Suns-type player.

22. New Jersey-Kyle Lowry

I love the way Lowry plays and I feel like he could be the best point guard in the draft. He actually has a lot of the same skills as Jason Kidd. He's a fantastic rebounder for a PG, a great distributor, and he's tough as nails. Most importantly, he'll sit and learn under Kidd before becoming a starter. Great, great pick for the Nets.

23. New Jersey-Hilton Armstrong

With their second pick in a row, the Nets attempt to get some size with Armstrong. Armstrong isn't going to score much, but he's a solid defender and is going to a team with plenty of offensive firepower. Certainly, Armstrong is just as good, if not better, than Jason Collins.

24. Memphis-Olexisy Pecherov

Memphis could use a big body, and rather than take a flyer on Josh Boone, they'll go for this Ukranian. He may be an unknown, but Pecherov is a talent that could go even higher.

25. Cleveland-Quincy Douby

LeBron James gets another shooter, but Douby also brings the ability to play the point. He may have been the best shooter in the nation last year (with apologies to J.J. Redick), and in Cleveland, all he'll be asked to do is shoot, shoot, shoot.

26. LA Lakers-Guillermo Diaz

Phil Jackson turned Smush Parker into a player this season. Diaz has many of the same skills, but with more explosive offensive ability. If Jackson can get his head screwed on right, Diaz could be just as good as Parker.

27. Phoenix-Saer Sene

With a stacked roster, the Suns can afford to take a project on Sene. If he developes correctly, he could give the Suns much-needed size in the future.

28. Dallas-Richard Roby

Pure and simple, this guy is a scorer. He has Chauncey Billups scoring ability, but without the ability to play the point. Roby also sometimes isn't assertive enough, much like Rudy Gay. But Dallas is the perfect place for Roby's fantastic scoring ability to be developed.

29. New York-Josh Boone

There's really no point to this pick, so the Knicks might as well pick Boone and hopes he taps into his potential. He could certainly join the frontcourt rotation of Channing Frye, Eddy Curry, and David Lee.

30. Portland-Paul Millsap

You may not have heard of him, but there hasn't been a better rebounder out of college since Charles Barkley. Millsap probably won't be nearly as good because he's not as good a scorer as Chuck, but Portland should pick him to give their team some toughness off the bench. Millsap could certainly give Portland a big lift next season.

Rookie of the year should come down to Roy, Foye, Marcus Williams, and possibly Shannon Brown. Only time will tell, however, until we know who can really play.