Rotoworld organized one of the first NBA mock drafts of the year recently and a bunch of us got together on July 27 at MockDraftCentral.com for the festivities. The participants and draft order are listed below.

Check me out on Twitter at docktora. In addition, you should also be following Rotoworld_BK as well, in order to get your hoops news as quickly as possible.

1. Tom Carpenter – SportsIllustrated.com
2. Brian Flood – CBS Sportsline
3. Jamey Eisenberg – CBS Sportsline
4. Dennis Velasco – BarkleysMouth.com
5. David Klyce – HoopsKlyce.com
6. Sergio Gonzalez – CBS Sportsline
7. Patrick Madden – CBS Sportsline
8. Matt Buser – BuserSports.com
9. Ryan Knaus – Rotoworld.com
10. Brian McKitish – ESPN.com
11. Geoff Stein – MockDraftCentral.com
12. Steve Alexander – Rotoworld.com

While it's doubtful we actually play this league out, assume that it is a Roto league with nine categories: scoring, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, threes, turnovers, free throw percentage, field goal percentage.

This is the draft included in our magazine that just went to press, but I will share the first three rounds and some thoughts about the entire draft today.

Round 1

1. LeBron James, F, Cavaliers
2. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat
4. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers
5. Danny Granger, SF, Pacers
6. Kevin Durant, SF, Thunder
7. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
8. Amare Stoudemire, PF/C, Suns
9. Brandon Roy, SG, Blazers
10. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
11. Pau Gasol, PF, Lakers
12. Chris Bosh, F/C, Raptors

I feel like I've said or written it 100 times already, but I am pretty sure I would have taken Chris Paul with the No. 1 pick. There certainly isn't anything wrong with LeBron and he may even be a safer pick, given that he's built like a truck, but I simply prefer CP3 at this point.

I don't think there were any surprises in the first round, but I can tell you I did not enjoy having the 12th pick. Chris Bosh is a nice player, but I'm not the biggest fan and would have much rather had Brandon Roy. The Dwight Howard pick is interesting, as McKitish will have to deal with possibly finishing last in free throw percentage and turnovers. Howard's a fun player to own, but in a Roto league that dings you in both categories, he's going to hurt as much as help his owners. Let's just say I'm glad Howard was gone by the time I picked, as he's still pretty tempting despite the obvious problems he causes.

The hype machine is in full effect on Kevin Durant and he's going to go anywhere from No. 3 to No. 10 in this year's drafts, and I am in full support of taking him wherever you deem necessary. Amare's eye and knee are a bit of a concern, but he was ready to blow up once Alvin Gentry took over from Terry Porter last year, and should be a fantasy force again this season – if he's fully healthy.

Dwyane Wade seems to be the consensus No. 3 pick this year, but the injury risk is still there. I think I would think seriously about taking Durant at No. 3 instead. We'll see what happens in the next mock draft.

Round 2

13. Deron Williams, PG, Jazz
14. Jose Calderon, PG, Raptors
15. Al Jefferson, PF/C, Timberwolves
16. Caron Butler, G/F, Wizards
17. Chauncey Billups, PG, Nuggets
18. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
19. Steve Nash, PG, Suns
20. Kevin Martin, SG, Kings
21. Antawn Jamison, F, Wizards
22. Andre Iguodala, G/F, Sixers
23. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets
24. Joe Johnson, SG, Hawks

I backed up Bosh with Deron Williams, although I was strongly considering Calderon due to the much lower turnovers. Calderon's numbers were down last year due to injuries, but I am expecting big things from him this season. And it's possible that Williams could push Paul this year if he avoids injury.

Al Jefferson's knee surgery doesn't seem to be too big a concern, as most folks I've talked to don't see him slipping past the second round this fall. He could even end up being a better pick than Bosh, but his surgery was no joke. Chauncey Billups is about as stable as you can get in Round 2, while there are plenty of injury concerns, including Caron Butler, Kevin Garnett and Kevin Martin.

I think Round 2 could be a little early for Joe Johnson with the addition of Jamal Crawford, but at least it was at the end of the round. Martin should score a ton of points again, and owners will be hoping last year's ankle injury was a fluke. I'm not sure you could pay me to draft Garnett again this year, but he's going to go in the second round in most drafts – which might be where he belongs, but I'm going to stay away since my scars from owning him and Marion last year still haven't healed.
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