2006 Mock NBA Draft

Now that the selection order has been set for the entire first round of the 2006 NBA draft, it is now time for my annual mock draft column that will, not only predict the players that will be selected in order, but will also provide a quick glimpse into each team’s needs as they begin their respective building processes for the 2006-07 season.

Although the upcoming 2006 NBA draft may not have one singular player who can be described as an immediate franchise-altering difference-maker who can turn around the fortunes of a franchise in their rookie season, this draft does feature several players who could become legitimate stars at some point in their respective careers.

Now before I go any further let me say that the NBA draft, now more than ever, has been altered forevermore with the successful influx of players playing in professional leagues that literally span the globe. From Europe to South America and Africa, foreign players – and their increasingly unpredictable draft selections – have changed the face of the NBA draft from here to eternity.

No longer does the majority of the draft consist of proven American collegiate players – or even the overwhelming injection of young U.S. players who were making the leap to the league directly out of high school over the past decade or so.
The 2006 NBA draft will be the first of its kind – a mixture of several proven collegiate players, along with a strong mix of collegiate underclassmen with potential, as well as a unique blend of both, established foreign players and quite a few more who have potential brimming up to their respective eyebrows.

Having shared that explanation, here is a look at my mock draft for the upcoming 2006 NBA draft.