With the NBA draft set to begin tonight, Tennessee Journalist staff members Cliff Chartrand and Chris Mitchell combined to produce a mock draft. Unlike most mock drafts this one focuses on what the teams should do as opposed to what the teams will do.

That explains why some picks might seem unrealistic. It's not about what the teams think. iIt's about what the writers think. Mitchell and Chartrand made selections for the entire first round and included comments for the lottery picks. Mitchell selected first and the two alternated picks throughout the rest of the round.

Editor's Note: The draft was conducted late Wednesday night. Trades that had been accepted at the time were factored in. Any trades that occurred Thursday are not included.

1. Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

Mitchell: The draft's biggest question has finally been answered here with the Bulls going with the hometown player. Although Michael Beasley looked to immediately fill the lack of post play for Chicago, Rose's leadership and unselfishness win the organization over.

Rose was the difference in the Memphis Tigers making their first NCAA title game under John Calipari. There is also probably too much pressure from fans and local media outlets to not take the kid.

Chartrand: Yeah, Rose has to be the pick here. He's the hometown kid, and Chris Paul and Deron Williams have shown what kind of impact a point guard can immediately make.

They Bulls lacked leadership last year, and that's something Rose can step in and help with as a rookie. He proved that by being the leader on a team full of college veterans that was unable to get over the hump until he set foot on campus.

2. Miami Heat: Michael Beasley

Chartrand: Whether this pick ends up with Miami or someone else, Beasley has to be taken if available. He put up better numbers than Kevin Durant did in the same conference the year before, and I don't hide how I feel about Durant.

There are two potential players in this draft who could be perennial All-stars. Only two. It would make no sense if they do not go with the top two picks.

Mitchell: Yeah I know how you feel about Durant, but there is a possiblity that Beasley and Durant will be playing together next season. As you said there could be a trade here and Seattle is rumored to want to pair the two best friends together.

Miami apparently is looking at O.J. Mayo in this spot but they know that Beasley has more trade value than Mayo. This presents a situation where another team selects Mayo and a trade is made.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: O.J. Mayo

Mitchell: Mayo is the best player on the board at this point. The Wolves will give Kevin Love a strong look at this pick but there is no sense for them to take Love and add to an already small frontline of Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes.

If the Wolves can't swing a deal with Miami to grab Beasley, look for them to trade down with possibly Milwaukee and select Stanford's Brook Lopez, a 7-footer who can run surprisingly well for his size. Big men are making a comeback in the league.

Chartrand: Big men are making a comeback? Other than Beasley, who stands 6-foot-8, and Lopez who else is there? And don't mention Roy Hibbert. He's big and goofy. Love would be a mistake here, too. It's too early to take a guy who's biggest skill is the outlet pass.

Mayo is the best player left and will probably go in this spot. There's another chance for trade here, but it's not like Minnesota can't use Mayo. He's an upgrade over Marko Jaric and Rashad McCants.

4. Seattle SuperSonics: Eric Gordon

Chartrand: In my opinion, Mayo would be the perfect player for the Sonics, but I don't expect him to be there at four. Gordon is a great fall back option. I don't fault him for struggling the second half of the college season. That entire Indiana program was, and still is, a mess.

Putting him at shooting guard alongside Durant and Jeff Green would provide a solid nucleus for Seattle. Or Oklahoma City. Wherever the hell they'll be. Of course, P.J. Carlesimo seems to think shooting guard is Durant's best position, so this pick probably isn't going to happen.

Mitchell: I didn't mean big guys are coming back in this draft. I meant the ones that are already in the league (Howard, Bosh, Boozer, Garnett, Bynum) are making a big impact. I would never go with Hibbert. Anybody that has the chance to dominate his senior year and does absolutely nothing should never be mentioned this early.

I agree with your pick of Gordon because Durant is not a 2-guard, no matter what Carlesimo thinks. He damn sure can't defend the other players at that position in the league so why would you put him there.

5. Memphis Grizzlies: Kevin Love

Mitchell: This is the guy the Grizzlies absolutely love. He had an impressive workout for them against Joey Dorsey of the Memphis Tigers and DeAndre Jordan out of Texas A&M. I know he won Pac-10 rookie of the year but he still doesn't strike me as a great player, despite some people saying he is probably the most NBA-ready prospect. 

Memphis also is impressed with Lopez although the pending signing of center Marc Gasol will play a factor in their draft day decision. The Grizzlies also like Danilo Gallinari but I don't see him going this high. And there could always be a trade here.

Chartrand: In all fairness, any lottery-caliber prospect should be able to impress against Dorsey and Jordan. Dorsey is about as overrated as they come, and Jordan is all potential. Like I said when you mentioned Love possibly going third, I'm not big on using a pick this early on someone whose best known skill is the outlet pass.

The Grizz can't take another point guard here since they have three first rounders at the position on the roster, so that rules out my next two players in Westbrook and Jerryd Bayless. That takes me to Brook Lopez, and I think he'd be the best fit in Memphis. However, I go to Chris Mitchell for my Grizzlies news. If he says Kevin Love, Kevin Love it is. 

6. New York Knicks: Russell Westbrook

Chartrand: As mentioned, Westbrook is my next highest rated player. He can play both backcourt positions, plays strong defense, and can absolutely jump out of the gym. If he goes to New York he will immediately be a fan-favorite.

The Knicks could look to address the frontcourt, though. Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry don't exactly fit D'Antoni's style. The only place they've run like they'll have to for their new coach is to the buffet. An athletic big guy like Lopez, Gallinari or Dan Alexander would be a solid choice as well. 

Mitchell: You know how I feel about Dorsey but that's an issue we'll address later if he somehow gets drafted in our first round. The only guard Memphis would have taken would have been Rose.

Gallinari would be a good choice for New York but quality point guards are becoming the theme of the league now. The Knicks already knows it will take a few years for them to reach that elite level and they might as well start it here with the selection of Westbrook.

7. L.A. Clippers: Jerryd Bayless

Mitchell: The Clippers would love to take Eric Gordon here but since he and Westbrook are gone, Bayless is the next best guard available. The Clippers backcourt needs some reviving and Bayless is the man for the job. He has drawn comparisons to former Arizona Wildcat Gilbert Arenas.

There are also rumors of a trade here as the Clippers may look to move Elton Brand to Miami. Another rumor has them sending Corey Maggette to Phoenix for guard Leandro Barbosa with the teams exchanging picks as well. 

Chartrand: We're on the same wavelength once again. Bayless is an explosive player, and the Clippers can't afford to be picky. They have to go with the best available left and that's the guard out of Arizona.

Shaun Livingston's injury a couple years ago was unfortunate, but I see no way he's ever going to be the same. That means the Clips need to start looking for a point guard of the future. 

8. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Rush

Chartrand: All the experts are saying this will be Joe Alexander if he's available, and that would be a solid pick. However I'm going out on a bit of a limb here. I think Brandon Rush is one of the most underrated players in this draft and would be a good fit in Milwaukee.

He's a good athlete with good size. He can shoot from long range and he's a solid defender. Plus he knows how to win. While Alexander would be a solid choice, I think it would be wise to take Rush.

Mitchell: You weren't lying when you said you were going to go out on a limb. I thought you would maybe take Rush's Kansas teammate Mario Chalmers here. Rush could be a good compliment to Michael Redd and his shooting abilities.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Brook Lopez

Mitchell: Since Kevin Love is gone, Lopez is the best available big man. Playing under Larry Brown may be good or bad for him. Brown does not like to play rookies but you can't ignore this guy's skills. 

You can't teach 7-feet is an expression I always hear. Since Lopez is a natural center, Emeka Okafor will finally be able to play his natural power forward position.

Chartrand: Reports link the Bobcats to one of the UCLA players, but they're both gone here and probably will be in the actual draft. Lopez would be a great fallback option and could immediately make Charlotte a playoff contender in the East, provided Brown lets him play. 

10. New Jersey Nets: Joe Alexander

Chartrand: This is the worst possible scenario for the Nets. They need a big man, but without Lopez and Love on the board they lose out on the guys who fit best. They also have zero need at point guard, the position of the next two best players in my eyes. 

Alexander wouldn't be a bad fallback option if they lose out on the elite bigs. He can play the four and can also play some at the three if Richard Jefferson is traded as has been rumored.

Mitchell: If New Jersey was picking later in the round, I could see them taking the other Lopez brother, Robin. However it is too early to take a gamble at No. 10 with him.

11. Indiana Pacers: Danilo Gallinari

Mitchell: The Pacers addressed their point guard need Wednesday by acquiring T.J. Ford from Toronto. They sent Jermaine O'Neal packing and I think it was a great move. This team is trying to rebuild and shedding O'Neal's high salary helps them do that. 

Gallinari is a shooter and can also take it to the basket. He's a small forward who only weighs 212 pounds, but despite that lack of weight he loves contact. He played in a competitive league last year overseas so he may not need that long of an adjustment period.

Chartrand: Gallinari probably still won't be here for this pick, but we obviously don't know much about him since we haven't been able to see him play. He might be a little small to replace O'Neal, but he's a value pick at this point. 

12. Sacramento Kings: Mario Chalmers

Chartrand: The only debate here is which point guard will be the pick, Chalmers or D.J. Augustin. I prefer Chalmers. He's better defensively and that makes a big difference in the West where there are a ton of talented offensive point guards. 

Augustin is two years younger and probably better on the offensive end, so either pick would fit well in Sacramento. They're both better than Beno Udrih, who might not still be there when training camp rolls around anyway.

Mitchell: I knew you would go point guard with this pick, except I thought you would take Augustin. I only saw one bad defensive game out of Augustin and he was going up against the fastest guard in the game in Derrick Rose. That's one you put in the exception bag.

13. Portland Trail Blazers: D.J. Augustin

Mitchell: The Blazers are young and talented at every position. They have a good core of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and some guy named Greg Oden.

The only problem is they don't have a true point guard. Roy has been handling the duties, and although he isn't bad at point, having Augustin would benefit the team by allowing Roy to move back to the 2. 

Chartrand: The Blazers would add to an already stacked core of young players if either Chalmers or Augustin is left here. No matter what they do, they're a playoff contender in the loaded West next year.

14. Golden State Warriors: Mareesse Speights

Chartrand: The Warriors are probably hoping a point guard falls here with the future of Baron Davis in limbo, but there's not one worth taking at this pick in our draft. The team doesn't really have any other pressing needs, so they'd have to just go best available.

On my board, that honor goes to Florida's Mareesse Speights. He had a tendency to take some nights off in college, but that can be expected from a 19-year old. This one is the most talented big man left from what I've seen. 

Mitchell: Damn you really reached on this one. I was thinking another foreign player here or even Anthony Randolph. Although workouts should not play a big factor like the NFL Combine shouldn't, Randolph has not helped himself at all. He might have left a year early.

15. Phoenix Suns: Kosta Koufos

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Robin Lopez

17. Indiana Pacers: Darrell Arthur

18. Washington Wizards: Anthony Randolph

19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jason Thompson

20. Charlotte Bobcats: Chris Douglas-Roberts

21. New Jersey Nets: Roy Hibbert

22. Orlando Magic: Donte' Green

23. Utah Jazz: Alexis Ajinca

24. Seattle Supersonics: DeAndre Jordan

25. Houston Rockets: J.J. Hickson

26. San Antonio Spurs: Javale McGee

27. Portland Trailblazers: D.J. White

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Courtney Lee

29. Detroit Pistons: Jamont Gordon

30. Boston Celtics: Shan Foster