2009 NBA Mock Draft - version 1.0
|
|
Our 2009 NBA Mock Draft was prepared by Kyle Baillargeon, our resident NBA Draft guru, and is as of 5/24/09.
Feel free to e-mail Kyle or discuss his mock draft in our free forums. Furthermore, we welcome and encourage you to post
your own mock draft in our Draft Forum.
Check back for additional updates as this year's NBA draft (June 25th at 7:00 p.m. ET) approaches. Ok, take it away Kyle...
We're a little over a month away from the 2009 NBA Draft. While there are still plenty of workouts to be done and possible
deals to be worked out as well, not to mention the fact that the 2008-2009 season is still alive for four worthy teams, it's not
too early to take a look at how the draft may turn out this year. That being said, let's dive in and do some speculating.
Expect to see at least one more as we get closer to draft day.
|
Pick
|
Team
|
Player, School, Position, Year
|
1
|
Los Angeles Clippers
|
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, PF, So.
|
| |
Coach and GM Mike Dunleavy has already stated that the Clippers were going to be taking Griffin with the first
pick. That pretty much seals it, and Griffin should help the team in the long run. The fact that the Clippers
already have three talented big men in Kaman, Camby and Randolph in their rotation will probably stunt his
early career growth, however. This team is a mess right now, but with Griffin and Eric Gordon, they have two
youngs studs to build a future around. The hard part will be trying to unload the horrific contracts that Dunleavy
has doled out, and try to rebuild in a Portland-like fashion.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Clippers Forum
|
| |
|
|
2
|
Memphis Grizzlies
|
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr.
|
| |
Memphis could have used Griffin moreso than any other team, outside of Oklahoma City, to make the jump from
lottery team to playoff team. Thabeet seems to be the best bet here, though. The team will want to make
headlines, and what better way than to reach for a seven footer? Ricky Rubio would be a good pick, but with
Mike Conley already running the point and Marc Gasol being the only truly serviceable big man on the team,
Thabeet will give them the size they need. However, Thabeet is very raw still. His game has improved greatly in
the past few years, but I don't think he'll ever be good enough to have been worthy of the second pick.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Grizzlies Forum
|
| |
|
|
3
|
Oklahoma City Thunder
|
Jordan Hill, Arizona, PF, Jr.
|
| |
Hill will fit in nicely as the next piece to the team's rebuilding puzzle. He's a little offensively challenged, but he
has Durant, Green and Westbrook to alleviate that concern. Once he adds some more strength, which he will,
he'll be a great fit for this team. This really is a great situation for both sides.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Thunder forum
|
| |
|
|
4
|
Sacramento Kings
|
Ricky Rubio, from Spain, PG
|
| |
If Rubio really did end up falling all the way to the Kings, it's quite possible that the time between the
announcement of the third pick and the announcement of the fourth could be timed in nanosecords. The Kings'
current starting point guard is Beno Udrih, who's only real negative is his inability to play the game of basketball.
Rubio has really shown tremendous skill and has the potential to be an elite point guard in the league. The
one issue to take into consideration is that he still is under contract with DKV Joventut, and he'll need to work on
a buyout.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Kings Forum
|
| |
|
|
5
|
Washington Wizards
|
DeMar DeRozan, USC, SG, Fr.
|
| |
DeRozan could be a good rotation player right away for this team. He should be able to play the wing as either
a 2 or a 3. The Wizards will likely have enough injuries that DeRozan will be able to play alot as a rookie. So
long as he can stand playing on the same team as Gilbert Arenas, he could be a potential rookie of the year
candidate.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Wizards Forum
|
| |
|
|
6
|
Minnesota Timberwolves
|
James Harden, Arizona State, SG, So.
|
| |
Harden has shown a strong scoring ability which will hopefully take some of the pressure off of Al Jefferson. He
was pretty terrible in the tournament, but he'll likely have some strong workouts that will help his stock. The
Timberwolves really need some help on the wing, and Corey Brewer stinks. A young starting lineup of Foye,
Harden, Carney, Jefferson and Love could be explosive.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Timberwolves Forum
|
| |
|
|
7
|
Golden State Warriors
|
Stephen Curry, Davidson, PG, Jr.
|
| |
The Warriors are always a crapshoot in the draft. They will continue to be as long as Nellie is the coach. Curry
would not fit any glaring need for this team, but a backcourt combo of Curry and Monta Ellis could be electric,
once we've determined who the de facto point guard will be. The key to everything is also what exactly Jamal
Crawford plans to do. He could exercise an opt-out clause and become an unrestricted free agent, which would
make the Curry pick even better, since he's a far cheaper version of Crawford.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Warriors Forum
|
| |
|
|
8
|
New York Knicks
|
James Johnson, Wake Forest, PF, So.
|
| |
Always the most fun pick of the year, just to see Spike's reaction. Johnson would fit D'Antoni's system nicely.
He's very athletic, can drain threes, and can't play defense very well. Sounds like a perfect fit to me. All kidding
aside, he does have the potential to flourish under D'Antoni. More importantly is that he'll be given every chance
to shine as a power forward in this system, because David Lee will be a free agent after this year. If Johnson
plays well enough, the Knicks may be willing to let David Lee go get paid big money elsewhere, saving them a
boatload of cash that they can use to try and lure Dwyane Wade or (less likely) Lebron James to New York.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Knicks Forum
|
| |
|
|
9
|
Toronto Raptors
|
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, PF, So.
|
| |
The Raptors are very soft and could use a banger down low. Blair would be a very physical presence for this
team. Bargnani and Bosh don't really play close to the basket, so adding Blair would be a nice wrinkle to add to
such a permiter-oriented team.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Raptors Forum
|
| |
|
|
10
|
Milwaukee Bucks
|
Brandon Jennings, from Italy, PG
|
| |
This team will not be making the leap in 2009-2010. They just aren't good enough, not yet at least. Drafting
Jennings could go a long way into helping the Bucks get out of the first round regularly starting after this
season. He needs time to grow, but has tremendous potential. His less than stellar season in Italy could have
been a confidence-killer, though, so we'll just have to see.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Bucks Forum
|
| |
|
|
11
|
New Jersey Nets
|
Tyreke Evans, Memphis, SG, Fr.
|
| |
This is the worst-case scenario for the Nets, because all the good big men are gone. So instead they should
just add Evans to their backcourt rotation. If he plays well enough, it could give the team enough reason to
dump Vince Carter onto someone else, and try to find a big man in some other fashion.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Nets Forum
|
| |
|
|
12
|
Charlotte Bobcats
|
Gerald Henderson, Duke, SG, Jr.
|
| |
This is one of the safer guesses of the draft. Henderson plays good defense and can light it up, as he showed
last year during the second half of the season. Jordan still runs the show, though, in Charlotte, so the potential
for a bad draft pick still looms. I don't think he'll mess this one up, however.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Bobcats Forum
|
| |
|
|
13
|
Indiana Pacers
|
Jrue Holiday, UCLA, PG, Fr.
|
| |
Very aggressive on defense, but with the right coaching Holiday could be taught to reign it in and be a defensive
beast. The Pacers need a young point guard, and Holiday fits perfectly. He's everything that Jamaal Tinsley is
not, and TJ Ford is aging quickly. The Pacers have enough offensive firepower to offset Holiday's offensive
shortcomings. Holiday could be Rajon Rondo-lite.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Pacers Forum
|
| |
|
|
14
|
Phoenix Suns
|
Ty Lawson, North Carolina, PG, Jr.
|
| |
It's time to start thinking about the post-Steve Nash era. I like Eric Maynor more, but Lawson is more of a
"name" and Steve Kerr seems like the type of GM who takes that into consideration. Thankfully, Lawson is also
a very good player. He's fast, has great court vision, and he'll be able to learn from one of the best in Nash.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Suns Forum
|
| |
|
|
15
|
Detroit Pistons
|
Earl Clark, Louisville, SF, Jr.
|
| |
Clark has a lot of potential as a strong point forward and the Pistons need to continue to get younger upfront.
This would be a great pick up, and if Clark continues to work hard on his ball handling he could be a Lamar
Odom type player.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Pistons Forum
|
| |
|
|
16
|
Chicago Bulls
|
Austin Daye, Gonzaga, SF, So.
|
| |
Tough break for the Bulls. There just isn't anyone left who can help them right away, since the draft is loaded
with point guards and they already have Derrick Rose. Daye has a lot of talent and size. He has the potential to
be very good or he could simply be a bust. I'm leaning towards bust, but the Bulls don't have a choice here.
They have to take him at this juncture, based on talent alone.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Bulls Forum
|
| |
|
|
17
|
Philadelphia 76ers
|
Eric Maynor, Virginia Commonwealth, PG, Sr.
|
| |
This is a great pick, as Maynor has tremendous potential and Andre Miller will be on his way out before too long.
Maynor is a strong defender and has shown his ability to play in big games. Just look at his performance
against Duke last year. Philly would be very happy with this pick.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our 76ers Forum
|
| |
|
|
18
|
Minnesota Timberwolves
|
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, PF, Sr.
|
| |
The world needs to see Hansbrough and Kevin Love on the court at the same time. Really, though, this could
make sense because the Wolves will have already drafted a backcourt guy earlier in the draft, and whatever
potential Hansbrough may have as a power forward could be tapped by Kevin McHale, should he decide to stick
around with the team. He is undersized, however, and a bit more spastic on the court then one might like. But
he could work as a change of pace guy.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Timberwolves Forum
|
| |
|
|
19
|
Atlanta Hawks
|
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, PG, So.
|
| |
The Hawks need a successor to Mike Bibby and Acie Law is terrible. Flynn has the attitude to fit on this Hawks
team, and all he needs to do is push the ball, don't turn it over and play strong defense and let the rest of the
team do the scoring.
|
| |
Discuss in our Hawks Forum
|
| |
|
|
20
|
Utah Jazz
|
Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech, PF, So.
|
| |
The team will likely have a power forward need, unless both Boozer and Millsap stay, which has no chance of
happening. So they're going to need to reach a little bit. Lawal can rebound and hustle, not unlike Millsap.
Coach Jerry Sloan will have to work hard to get a whole lot out of him beyond that, but at this stage in the draft
he's their best bet.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Jazz Forum
|
| |
|
|
21
|
New Orleans Hornets
|
B.J. Mullens, Ohio State, C, Fr.
|
| |
The Hornets already have a center in Tyson Chandler, but they traded him to Oklahoma City before the deadline
before having the trade rescinded. Obviously, they'll look into their options for trading him away again. That will
leave a hole in the middle and Mullens has enough potential to be worth drafting at this stage. The team could
be a little nervous to draft another big man, however, considering they recently drafted Hilton Armstrong, who
hasn't really done much with his career, along with Cedric Simmons, who was traded away in 2007. That
shouldn't prevent them from trying again until they get it right.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Hornets Forum
|
| |
|
|
22
|
Dallas Mavericks
|
Darren Collison, UCLA, PG, Sr.
|
| |
The Mavericks point guard of the future was traded to New Jersey a year ago. Their current point guard, Jason
Kidd, will be a free agent and it isn't a lock that he'll be back. Regardless of whether or not Kidd will be back,
Dallas needs to draft a point guard to groom. Collison has enough experience on the college level that he
could have more of an immediate impact as a rookie, which would be necessary because Dirk is not getting
any younger and the team needs to win now.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Mavs Forum
|
| |
|
|
23
|
Sacramento Kings
|
DaJuan Summers, Georgetown, SF, Jr.
|
| |
The Kings will already be very happy if they do end up with Rubio, so this pick can be based more on who is the
most talented player available. Summers has a lot of talent and played very well in the tough Big East for most
of the season. The Kings are in a youth movement, so Summers could also get a lot of playing time.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Kings Forum
|
| |
|
|
24
|
Portland Trail Blazers
|
Jeff Teague, Wake Forest, PG, So.
|
| |
Teague is a Jerryd Bayless-type, more of a scorer than a pure point guard. The Blazers will be looking for more
of a pure point, but Teague's talent is too good to pass up at this stage. This probably won't be the year the
Blazers get their true point guard, at least not in the draft.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Blazers Forum
|
| |
|
|
25
|
Oklahoma City Thunder
|
Chase Budinger, Arizona, SG, Jr.
|
| |
Budinger is a great athlete and could be a great addition to the Thunder rotation. He won't be asked to be a
starter on this young team, which means he can come in and just play his game, which is mainly scoring and
hopefully he'll use his athleticism to be a better rebounder. Budinger could be a great spark plug off the bench
for the Thunder.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Thunder Forum
|
| |
|
|
26
|
Chicago Bulls
|
A.J. Price, Connecticut, PG, Sr.
|
| |
Obviously, I mentioned before that the Bulls don't need a point guard, but they will want a young (read:cheap)
combo guard to likely replace Ben Gordon. Who better to replace him than fellow Husky A.J. Price? Price has a
beautiful shot and can spread the floor. His college career was marred by injuries and well documented
off-the-court issues. However, when he did play he showed great talent and leadership, outside of the Michigan
State game.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Bulls Forum
|
| |
|
|
27
|
Memphis Grizzlies
|
Nick Calathes, Florida, PG, So.
|
| |
Calathes was very good for Florida last year. He is a great 3-point shooter, and could be a steal at this point for
the Grizzlies. This is another situation where if Calathes plays up to his potential, he could allow for the
Grizzlies to dangle Conley around to someone who needs him, such as the Blazers or Bucks, and try to get help
in the front court.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Grizzlies Forum
|
| |
|
|
28
|
Minnesota Timberwolves
|
Patrick Mills, St. Mary's (CA), PG, So.
|
| |
I don't particularly see the 'Wolves making this pick, instead maybe trading it away, but for now I'll go with Mills
as the pick here. He's a decent point guard who played well in the Olympics. He's not a great shooter, but
some of the best point guards in the league are either bad shooters or started that way and got better with time.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Timberwolves Forum
|
| |
|
|
29
|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, SF, Sr.
|
| |
Young is older than his draft class, but with his age also came tremendous experience both in the Tournament
and in the Big East. The Lakers are another team in "win now" mode, considering the number of miles on Kobe
Bryant's legs. Young can come in and contribute right away in the rotation.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Lakers Forum
|
| |
|
|
30
|
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina, SG, Jr.
|
| |
What better way for the likely NBA champs to boost their roster than by adding another champion. Ellington
could eventually replace Delonte West as the starting shooting guard and would be able to contribute off the
bench right away.
|
| |
Discuss pick in our Cavs Forum
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Honorable Mention (players who could go in the first round or early second that could make some solid contributions):
|
| |
Terrence Williams, Louisville, SG, Sr.: Sometimes Williams looks like he could be a special player, with a lot of
talent. But he's never really put it together, and may never do so. Considering some of the performances he's
had this past year, he very well could get drafted in the first round. All he needs is one GM to be intrigued. But
more and more, general managers in the NBA have gotten smarter about not drafting guys who have a great
upside but no drive.
Marcus Thornton, LSU, SG, Sr.: Thornton had a great tournament and is a very good scorer. He's smaller, but
so is Courtney Lee, and I think the two are comparable. Thornton could be a steal if he were to go in the early
second, and on the right team he could help out right away.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, PF, Sr.: Adrien has a great motor, is very aggressive and works very hard. He's
improved every year and although he is undersized as a power forward, he has a great wingspan and is a
terrific rebounder. On the right team he could come in and play fifteen minutes and be a great energy guy.
|
