2007 NBA Mock Draft

The NBA Draft

Association's (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Canada) can select young players who wish to join the league. These players usually come from college level, but in recent drafts a greater number of international and high school players have been drafted. As of the 2006 NBA Draft high school players gain eligibility for draft selection one year after their graduating class has finished high school, but only if they also are at least 19 years of age as of the end of the calendar year of the draft.

The NBA draft is currently divided into two rounds, with thirty picks per round. The order of selections is based on several rules. The first picks of the draft belong to the fourteen teams that did not enter the playoffs in that year's season. These teams participate in a lottery to determine the order of the first three picks. Each team is assigned a number of chances based upon season standings to 'win' the lottery. After these three teams have been determined, the remaining picks are given out based on regular season record with the worst teams getting the highest remaining picks. This lottery assures each team can drop no more than 3 positions from its projected draft position. The lottery also prevents teams from throwing the season to ensure a top draft pick.

The next sixteen spots in the draft are reserved for the teams that made it into that season's playoffs. The order of these sixteen teams' selection is determined by their regular-season win-loss record, going from worst to best. Therefore, the team with the best record selects last. The team with the best record is not necessarily the champion; for example, in the 2004 NBA Draft, the last pick did not go to the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons, but rather to the Indiana Pacers (this is unlike the NFL Draft, in which the Super Bowl champion always draws the final selection of the first round).

The order of selections in the second round are also based upon season standings, with the worst team picking first and the best picking last. There is no lottery for the second round. Teams are allowed to trade future draft picks (first and second round) as they would current players.

League rules prohibit a team from trading away their own future first-round picks in consecutive years. This rule was created partially as a reaction to the practices of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s. Ted Stepien, who owned the team from 1980 to 1983, made a series of trades for players of questionable value that cost the team several years of first-round picks. The trades nearly destroyed the franchise; the NBA pressured Stepien into selling out, and in order to get a solid local owner (Gordon Gund), the league had to sweeten the deal by giving the Cavaliers several future bonus draft picks.

All U.S. players are automatically eligible upon the end of their college eligibility. Through 2005, U.S. players were also allowed to declare eligibility for the draft at any time between high school graduation and the completion of college eligibility. International players could declare eligibility in the calendar year of their 18th birthday, or later.

Starting with the 2006 NBA Draft, the eligibility rules have changed:

? All players, regardless of nationality, must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft.

? A U.S. player must also be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class. This age limit for draftees is part of the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players union.

The NBA has established two draft declaration dates. All players who wish to be drafted, and are not automatically eligible, must declare their eligibility on or before the first declaration date.

After this date, prospective draftees may attend NBA pre-draft camps and individual team workouts to show off their skills and obtain feedback regarding their draft positions. A player may withdraw his name from consideration from the draft at any time before the final declaration date, which is one week before the draft. A player who declares for the draft will lose his college eligibility, even if he is not drafted, if any of the following is true:

? The player signs with an agent.

? The player has declared for and withdrawn from the draft in any previous year.

When a player is selected in the first round of the draft, the team that selected him is required to sign him to at least a one-year contract. Players selected in the second round are "owned" by the team for three years, but the teams are not required to sign them.

Players chosen earlier in the draft are generally regarded as better prospects than those selected later, but there is always a level of uncertainty around the selections. Past drafts are filled with examples of late-pick superstars and early-pick busts. Perhaps the most famous example of the uncertainty of the draft came in 1986, when Karl Malone was selected by the Utah Jazz with the thirteenth pick, but went on to become the second-leading scorer in NBA history and win multiple MVP awards. His teammate, John Stockton, was selected sixteenth the year before, but went on to become the all-time NBA leader in assists and steals.

Visit http://www.basketballxpress.com for all the latest basketball news and rumours

NBA Team Gear and More!
Great Gear at Great Prices!!

MORE ARTICLES:

Big Names In Basketball
There are many things that people must do, despite what is currently going on in their personal life. The person may be dealing with divorce, illness, or even the death of a family member, yet they still have to go to work or take care of children. There is a former NBA player that most fans consider to be the best player ever in professional basketball. The former player?s name is Michael Jordan, and he was excellent on offense and defense. Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls, and he helped the Bulls to win six titles.

Two Tales Of NBA Betting
The 2006/07 National Basketball Association tips off Oct. 31, stirring memories of NBA betting warriors from previous hardwood campaigns.

Cutting Edge Basketball With Cleveland Cavaliers Tickets
If you have got your hands on some Cleveland Cavaliers tickets you know you're in for some really exciting basketball action. The Cavs have had a rich career so far, making waves both on the court and off it. They have fielded some famous basketball icons and some infamous owners. They have also been party to some spectacular NBA legendary games and moments.

College Basketball Analysis
College basketball is fun, but betting on college basketball is even better. However, you need to be good at analyzing games to win on a consistent basis. It?s easy to simply pick a side?flip a coin. It?s much more difficult, thanks to the abundant amount of information out there, to accurately forecast the game.

University Of Maryland Basketball Tickets - Is Another Title Run At Hand?
University of Maryland basketball tickets were ?the? tickets to have at the beginning of the 21st Century, as the Terrapins were truly a part of the elite of college basketball. They hit their apex in 2002 when they won the national championship, and it appeared that Coach Gary Williams had the program prepared to dominate into the foreseeable future. However, something happened on the Terrapins? way to a dynasty, and they have not even qualified for the last two NCAA Tournaments.

foneGEAR Announces NBA Phone Cases
foneGEAR® LLC (Rochester Hills, MI), a leader in mobile communications accessories, announces today the launch of cellular phone accessories featuring National Basketball Association team imagery.

Historical Pro Basketball Players
Ever since the first players sunk the first hoops back over a century ago, basketball has been one of America's number one sports, and pro basketball players have been making sports history.

4 Steps To A Perfect Basketball Shot
One of the first skills taught to budding basketball players is how to shoot the basketball Every kid goes into their first practice wanting to learn how to sink a shot and good coaches realize this

James Taylor Plays Line 6 Variax® Acoustic Live on NBA Finals Game
National Anthem performed by legendary artist playing Line 6 guitar.

NBA Stars Team Up With United Nations Foundation?s Nothing But Nets Campaign to Send Lifesaving Anti-Malaria Bed Nets to Africa
Chicago Bulls? Luol Deng and New Jersey Nets? DeSagana Diop to Donate Funds Based on Regular Season Play

Zensah® Develops One Sleeve Basketball Compression Shirt
Innovative T-shirt ideal for dislocated shoulder rehabilitation getting basketball players back on the court faster and stronger

How Basketball Came To Be...
In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith, a minister on the faculty of a college for YMCA professionals (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto an 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, so balls scored into the basket had to be poked out with a long dowel each time. A soccer ball was used to shoot goals.

How Basketball Makes You A Better Guy
Picture this: Two guys stand side by side. They?re both about 5?11?, clear complexion, with good hair. One has scrawny arms and looks a bit bleary eyed from too much time in front of the computer. The other is muscular, tanned, and alert. Which do you think the girls will go for?

Florida Gators Basketball Tickets - We Could Be Seeing An All-time Great Class
Anyone who loves college basketball should act now to get their hands on Florida Gators basketball tickets, as this team that?s being led by a core of talented players may be setting itself up for one of the greatest single-class runs in the history of the sport.