With the NBA draft looming tonight, I thought I’d pump out a quick mock draft (originally published today in BYU’s Daily Universe). It’s sometimes hard to do these, since you can’t account for trades or other decisions, but this is my best shot. Comment below as the draft continues tonight!

1. Portland — Greg Oden, Ohio St.

Kevin Durant might have more potential, but Oden is going to be an all-around force for the next decade. His defense will bring strength to a young team that’s already got tons of talent, and he has a nice touch around the basket.

2. Seattle — Kevin Durant, Texas

The Sonics will happily snap up whomever the Blazers don’t take. Durant has the ability to be a once-a-generation talent. His height and shooting touch mean he can score from anywhere on the floor, at any time. He may need to toughen up a little, but he’s young and will improve. He could save the franchise in Seattle.

3. Atlanta — Al Horford, Florida

The Hawks already have a stable of talented, athletic forwards. They really should take a point guard here, but won’t be able to resist Horford, the most talented player from the back-to-back national champion Florida Gators. He’s got size and toughness and can really score in the low post.

4. Memphis — Mike Conley, Jr., Ohio St.

The Grizzlies will be happy to take Conley, a true floor leader who passes well and creates offense for himself and his teammates. He’s a little on the short side, but his speed and shooting make up for it. He fills a huge need for Memphis.

5. Boston — Corey Brewer, Florida

This pick may be packaged as part of a trade later in the draft, but for the time being we’ll slot Brewer here. Another former Gator, he’s got more raw athleticism than almost anyone in the draft. He can create matchup problems and score a lot of different ways.

6. Milwaukee — Joakim Noah, Florida

Three Gators in the top six? That’s how good Florida was these past two years. Noah’s stock has been rising through pre-draft workouts after a somewhat lackluster NCAA Tournament. He does all the little things — rebounding, weak-side shot blocking — that a team needs, and will add much-needed defense to a soft Milwaukee team.

7. Minnesota — Brandan Wright, North Carolina

With so many Kevin Garnett trade rumors flying, the T’Wolves will be looking to hedge their bets by picking a similarly built power forward. Wright doesn’t have as much of an outside game, but he’s athletic, talented and a proven scorer. This pick is possible trade bait, though.

8. Charlotte — Jeff Green, Georgetown

The Bobcats will be delighted to get a player like Green. He’s strong defensively on the perimeter and will help Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace inside, too. He can play two or three different positions.

9. Chicago — Yi Jianlian, China

The Bulls are desperate for low-post scoring, and Yi has a great deal of offensive potential. He’s a couple of years away from really contributing, but he can give the Bulls a much-needed offensive boost if they’re willing to be patient.

10. Sacramento — Al Thornton, Florida State

The Kings have a new coach, and needs to fill at almost every position. So they’ll take Thornton, the best player available here. He’s got range, athletic ability and an exciting quality to his game, which is something the Kings need to energize their tired franchise.

11. Atlanta — Acie Law, Texas A&M

After taking Horford at #3, the Hawks must address their need at the point guard position. Law was a superstar for a surprising Aggies team last season. He’s a scoring point guard who creates his own offense, but knows how to set up his teammates, too.

12. Philadelphia — Julian Wright, Kansas

The Sixers surprised a lot of people by playing better after trading away Allen Iverson last season. They will improve even more by taking Wright, a multi-talented athlete who will fit right in with Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala.

13. New Orleans — Nick Young, USC

With Desmond Mason on the free-agent market and Peja Stojakovic’s status still uncertain, the Hornets would love to get their hands on Young, a tremendous athlete who could make an instant connection with point guard Chris Paul.

14. LA Clippers — Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech

The Clippers were a big disappointment last season, and could really stand to improve in the backcourt. With the top two point guards gone, the Clippers will take Thaddeus Young, a swingman who sparkled in the ACC last season.

15. Detroit — Spencer Hawes, Washington

The Pistons really missed Ben Wallace last season, despite their continued dominance of a weak Eastern Conference. They’ll be happy to see a talented big man drop this far. Hawes is a true center with a variety of skills.

16. Washington — Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington

Stuckey is less well-known than some draftees, but he wowed teams in his pre-draft workouts. He’s a pure scorer who will be a great asset when combined with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison.

17. New Jersey — Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt

It’s anyone’s guess where Vince Carter might end up next season. So the Nets will look to get a replacement player in Byars, a solid shooter and scorer who will thrive with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson as mentors.

18. Golden State — Nick Fazekas, Nevada

The Warriors’ weaknesses in the low post were laid bare in their playoff series against the Jazz this year. They will address this by taking Fazekas, a sweet-shooting big man who will fit right into Don Nelson’s offense.

19. LA Lakers — Jason Smith, Colorado State

Hollywood is awash in Kobe Bryant trade talk, but the Lakers still have to proceed with the draft as if Kobe will stay with the team. They’ll pounce on Smith, who can provide low-post scoring and a high basketball IQ. He should pick up Phil Jackson’s triangle offense quickly.

20. Miami — Gabe Pruitt, USC

The Heat will have a healthy Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal back next season, but they’re very thin at the point guard position. So they’ll grab Pruitt, a penetration point guard who will feast on open looks created by Wade and Shaq.

21. Philadelphia — Josh McRoberts, Duke

McRoberts is a skilled passer for a big man and shoots the ball well. His intelligence will improve the Sixers’ team ball movement and offensive capacity.

22. Charlotte — Sean Williams, Boston College

Williams has had some off-court issues, but that won’t deter the Bobcats from grabbing him. He can team with Emeka Okafor to bully opposing post players.

23. New York — Glen Davis, LSU

You can always count on Isiah Thomas to do something unexpected in the draft. This is a little high for “Big Baby” Davis, but he’s a very physical player who will fit right in with the Knicks’ other young talent.

24. Phoenix — Marco Belinelli, Italy

Belinelli lit up the U.S. national team last year, and has impressed scouts in recent workouts. He’s the purest shooter in the draft, which means the Suns will be happy to plug him into their speed offense and let him spot up and fire away.

25. Utah — Morris Almond, Rice

The Jazz’s most glaring need is for outside shooting, and Almond has that in spades, hitting 3-pointers at a 44% clip last year. He needs to improve defensively, but his shooting will be a big upgrade for the Jazz.

26. Houston — Alando Tucker, Wisconsin

Tucker was an All-American last season and Big Ten Player of the Year (ahead of Greg Oden). He can get his own shot a variety of different ways, and will enjoy the open looks created by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

27. Detroit — Taurean Green, Florida

Scouts are down on Green, but he was a valued part of the Gators’ back-to-back title teams, and the Pistons really need backcourt help. This is a bit of a reach, but it fills a need.

28. San Antonio — Rudy Fernandez, Spain

The reigning champion Spurs don’t have any big needs to fill, so they’ll be happy to take a flyer on another foreign player. Fernandez has tons of talent and can shoot, handle the ball and create off the dribble.

29. Phoenix — Jared Dudley, Boston College

Shawn Marion’s name has come up a lot in recent trade talks, so the Suns would be wise to draft another small forward. Dudley has shown well in pre-draft camps and workouts and is a good athlete.

30. Philadelphia — Kyrylo Fesenko, Ukraine

This is the Sixers’ third first-round draft pick this year, so they may want to stash a player overseas for a year or two and let him develop. Fesenko has a lot of potential but is a long way from contributing, so he’d be a good candidate for this.