Everybody has an opinion on the NBA draft. My friends, it is always interesting to make projections, knowing that wacky things can happen. Trades can change the first round dramatically. Then one team pulls a shock city on everybody and all bets are off.

It is still fun to take a shot at it. So here we go, my projections for the first round. Watch on ESPN Thursday night and see what happens, baby!

Vitale's projected First Round
1. Portland – Greg Oden
2. Seattle – Kevin Durant
3. Atlanta – Al Horford
4. Memphis – Joakim Noah
5. Boston – Corey Brewer
6. Milwaukee – Mike Conley Jr.
7. Minnesota – Brandan Wright
8. Charlotte – Jeff Green
9. Chicago (from New York) – Spencer Hawes
10. Sacramento – Yi Jianlian
11. Atlanta (from Indiana) – Acie Law IV
12. Philadelphia – Julian Wright
13. New Orleans – Al Thornton
14. L.A. Clippers – Nick Young
15. Detroit (from Orlando) – Javaris Crittenton
16. Washington – Thaddeus Young
17. New Jersey – Josh McRoberts
18. Golden State – Gabe Pruitt
19. L.A. Lakers – Rodney Stuckey
20. Miami – Glen Davis
21. Philadelphia (from Denver) – Jason Smith
22. Charlotte (from Toronto via Cleveland) – Daequan Cook
23. New York (from Chicago) - (2) – Wilson Chandler
24. Phoenix (from Cleveland via Boston) – Marco Belinelli
25. Utah – Morris Almond
26. Houston – Rudy Fernandez
27. Detroit – Derrick Byars
28. San Antonio – Arron Afflalo
29. Phoenix – Tiago Splitter
30. Philadelphia (from Dallas via Golden State and Denver) – Sean Williams

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.