posted May 20, 2008 at 13:35 in NBA Articles

With the 2007-08 NBA playoffs in full swing in the BetUS Sportsbook and informative NBA wagering -related articles filling up the BetUS Locker Room, this NBA hoops article will give the BetUS NBA betting community an in-depth look at the upcoming 2008 NBA Draft, scheduled to take place on June 26 at Madison Square Garden.

To be more specific about it, this NBA Draft article will take a look at selections 21 through 30, the players at the lower end of the annual draft, but still first round selections nevertheless.

BetUS NBA bettors and plain-old NBA fans, both know there is at least one or two players annually selected in this portion of the draft that causes NBA personnel men across the league to question themselves afterward, asking themselves ‘Why didn’t I see that coming?’

While some of these players will undeniably flame-out altogether, several will likely go on to have productive NBA careers, possibly helping their respective teams to future greatness.

Here is a look at the likely middle ten selections for the upcoming 2008 NBA Draft.

21. New Jersey Nets - Nicolas Batum – SF – France - 6-7/185 lbs

I have the Nets selecting the French star, Batum at No. 21, but the fact of the matter is that Batum, an athletic, long and lean youngster, could possibly be long gone by the time this pick is made. Still, Batum is a smooth young player that can finish around the basket as well as shoot it out to 22-feet consistently and will come to the NBA with much better overall fundamentals than most young American players.

22. Orlando Magic - Brandon Rush - Junior SG/SF – Kansas - 6-6/200 lbs

Rush would fit in nicely playing with the up-tempo system employed by Magic, (52-30 SU, 50-29-3 ATS) head coach Stan Van Gunday. Rush is unselfish sometimes to a fault, though, supremely gifted athletically.

23. Seattle Supersonics - Darrell Arthur - Sophomore PF – Kansas - 6-9/215 lbs

Arthur made a huge contribution to the Kansas Jayhawks’ National Championship this season and is extremely athletic and long. Now, if this kid can improve his desire and very poor consistency, the Seattle Supersonics, (20-62 SU, 39-40-3 ATS) may have found another gem.

24. Utah Jazz - Joe Alexander - Junior SF - West Virgina - 6-8/200 lbs

Alexander’s skill is still a work in progress, but certainly has the mentality to be a big-time contributor in the NBA, if not an outright star. Think Denver Nuggets formidable backup forward Leinas Kleiza when you think of Alexander, who would likely fit in with the Utah Jazz, (54-28 SU, 46-36 SU) perfectly.

25. Houston Rockets - Robin Lopez - Sophomore PF/C – Stanford - 7-0/255 lbs

While Robin Lopez is far less aggressive than his brother Brook at this point of his career, he is clearly a player with a huge upside and could turn out to be one of the biggest sleepers of the entire draft is you ask me. With Yao Ming getting injured every season and backup Dikembe Mutombo set to retire, Lopez would be walking into the perfect situation in Houston, (55-27 SU, 47-33-2 ATS).

26. San Antonio Spurs - Jason Thompson - Senior PF/C – Rider - 6-11/250 lbs

This kid doesn’t have a ‘big name’ and may never develop into a game-changing starter, but Thompson could develop into a serviceable backup for the Spurs behind their talented front line which features the most fundamentally sound big an in the game in Tim Duncan. While Thompson has some apparent strengths, the Spurs, (56-26 SU, 37-43-2 ATS) could draft him and develop him for a couple of seasons before bringing him to the ‘league.’

27. New Orleans Hornets - Courtney Lee - Senior SG - Western Kentucky - 6-5/190

I have absolutely no idea why Lee isn’t a lottery pick since this kid can do it all. Lee can handle the ball, shoot it from distance, create his own shot off the dribble and best of all – is a special, ‘character guy’ who has absolutely no baggage at all, not something many young players in any sport can say today. Lee could one day blossom into the Hornets, (56-26 SU, 50-30-2 ATS) starting shooting guard, playing alongside Chris Paul in the backcourt.

28. Memphis Grizzlies - Alexis Ajinca – France C - 7-1/225 lbs

Ajinca is another talented Frenchman, who has a multitude of skills, including nice passing and the ability to shoot the ball from distance and get off the ground quickly. This lean athletic player must add at least another 15 pounds however before he can withstand the rigors of the NBA. Still, Ajinca would be a nice replacement for Pau Gasol in Memphis, (22-60 SU, 35-46-1 ATS).

29. Detroit Pistons - Richard Hendrix - Junior PF – Alabama - 6-8/260 lbs

The Pistons, (59-23 SU, 45-36-1 ATS) made out phenomenally when drafting another player like Hendrix a few years back in former Cincinnati Bearcat Jason Maxiell, now an integral part of their frontcourt rotation. Hendrix is a bit short for a power forward by NBA standards, but then again, so was Maxiell and we all see how that turned out now don’t we? Leave it up to Joe Dumars to strike it rich again.

30. Boston Celtics - Serge Ibaka - CB L'Hospitalet PF - 6-10/220 lbs

The Celtics, (66-16 SU, 52-28-2 ATS) could be getting a gem if they draft Ibaka who has explosive leaping ability and the ability to shoot it from distance consistently. Scouts say Ibaka runs the floor better than most guards and could be a LaMarcus Aldridge type of player at some point in the near future.

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