2009 Mock - Update June 24th on Page 6

[vincecarter4pres]

I am going on the assumption that Rubio, Monroe and Jrue do not declare, along with Derozan, Mullens, Singler, Willie Warren and Mills.
I also doing this mainly based on talent and not as much on team needs or fit.
This is my 1st mock, so don't be to hard on me.
I am also trying to walk the fine line between my opinion and being unbiased, hence the reason I have guys like Thabeet and Hill going early. I do not like them nearly as much as a lot of experts and even fans, but to be realistic I have to have them going somewhat high.

1 Sacto - Blake Griffin
2 Wizards - James Harden
3 Clips - Hasheem Thabeet
4 Blunder - Jordan Hill
5 Griz - Earl Clark
6 Timberwolves - Tyreke Evans
7 Warriors - Jeff Teague
8 Raptors - Gerald Henderson
9 Knix - Brandon Jennings
10 Pacers - Craig Brackins
11 Bobcats - Terrence Williams
12 New Jersey Nets - James Johnson
13 Bulls - Dejuan Blair
14 Suns - Eric Maynor
15 Bucks - Al Farouq Aminu
16 Sixers - Stephen Curry
17 Pistons - Patrick Patterson
18 Timberwolves - Jerome Jordan
19 Hawks - Ty Lawson
20 Mavs - Evan Turner
21 Blazers - Chase Budinger
22 Jazz - Danny Green
23 Kings - Johnny Flynn
24 Hornets - Tyler Hansborough
25 Blunder - Sam Young
26 Blunder - AJ Price
27 Magic - Jeff Pendergraph
28 Timberwolves - Darren Collison
29 Cavs - Dionte Christmas
30 Lakers - Jerel Mcneal

[Cammo101]

Not bad. Unless the Clips are starting a center collection, I do not see them taking Thabeet over Hill. They already have Camby, Kamen, and DeAndre Jordan at center. DeJuan Blair is too undersized to go this early and especially not to Chicago with Tyrus Thomas now playing well. No freaking way Aminu falls this far. Way too much talent to end up behind limited ceiling guys like Blair and especially Williams.

I noticed a lot of the coin flip to declare guys are not in here, so obviously that changes some things, but I think the bottom of your first round has some guys who are sketchy. Jerel McNeal is a 6'3'' shooting guard with limited athleticism. I see little chance he sniffs the first round.

All in all a solid mock, I hope this didn't come off negative, just my two cents.

PS: Memphis now has the Magic's pick.

[BigSlam]

#11 is super high for Terrence Williams.

Personally I am a pretty big Evan Turner fan and would probably take him over Williams, but I do like Williams and could see him as a great study under LB and Bell and long term option at the SG spot for the Bobcats so I wouldn't be that upset with the pick.

[vincecarter4pres]

Nah, I appreciate any constructive crticism.
I didn't know that Memphis now has the Magic pick, although Pendergraph still seems pretty solid, although a young rebuilding team like them would probably like a guy with more upside.
I thought about Amuni falling a little late and I think a lot of that is my obsession with sneaking Terrence Williams inot the lotto, lol.
The guys I assume are not declaring are because either I feel they will need a year more, not necessarily to improve their game as much as it will improve their draft stock and possibly boost them from late 1st round to lotto or late lotto/bubble to a high lotto lock.
I'll change it accordingly as we find out more definitively who is declaring.
I don't think Blair is really too high, but there is no doubt in my head he could go anywhere from maybe 10th to 20 something.
On the Clippers thing, I definitely thought of that as well, but I think it is likely Kaman gets traded in the offseason, and they can surely get solid value for him. Camby might get traded as well and is an expiring. Jordan seemed like the only thing standing in the way and if they think as highly of Thabeet as some others do, I doubt they let having DeAndre get in the way.
I personally think Thabeet will be a soild player, in the Dalembert mold, but I don't see him being worth higher then maybe the 7th pick, even in this semi-weak draft, but I tried being realistic and even though a stud like Brook slipped to 10 last year, in this years class I don't see that happening again.
On Mcneal, I just see him as too skilled an all around player to fall completely out of the 1st round. I know its a little odd my last 5 picks of the round are seniors with limited upside, but I didn't even really see that till after I was finished.

[john2jer]

As a Wolves fan I'm in love with this mock draft.

Tyreke Evans, Jerome Jordan, and Darren Collison is pretty close to ideal for me under the conditions you proposed.

If we have the belief that Evans is a PG for us, Collison might be switched up for an athletic defensive 3 or another big man, as we'd have Evans, Foye, Telfair, and Brown as possible point guards, but I wouldn't have a problem with Collison.

[gswhoops]

I can't see us picking Teague with Jennings still on the board.

[vincecarter4pres]

Update - March 17th

1 Sacto - Blake Griffin
2 Wahington - Jordan Hill
3 LAC - Hasheem Thabeet
4 Memphis - Earl Clark
5 TFKAS - James Harden
6 Minny - Tyreke Evans
7 Toronto - Evan Turner
8 GSW - Brandon Jennings
9 Indianna - BJ Mullens
10 NJ - Gerald Henderson
11 NY - Johnny Flynn
12 Charlotte - Demar Derozan
13 Chicago - James Johnson
14 Phoenix - Eric Maynor
15 Milwaukee - Terrence Williams
16 Detroit - Dejuan Blair
17 Philly - Stephen Curry
18 Minny - Jeff Teague
19 Atlanta - Craig Brackins
20 Dallas - Chase Budinger
21 Utah - Ty Lawson
22 NOH - Kyle Singler
23 PDX - Jerome Jordan
24 Chicago - Tyler Smith
25 Sacto - Darren Collison
26 TFKAS - AJ Ogilvy
27 Memphis - Sam Young
28 Minny - Jeff Pendergraph
29 Cleveland - Dionte Christmas
30 LAL - Taj Gibson

[Flix360]

Just curious, but at what position do you see Michael Washington going at?

[hijacktheparade]

Where's Aminu at in your second mock?

[gswhoops]

No way Evans goes #7 or Turner goes #8.

[BigSlam]

I'd really hope the Bobcats would go with Terrence Williams at #12 over DeRozan.

[princeofpalace]

Update - March 17th

1 Sacto - Blake Griffin
2 Wahington - Jordan Hill
3 LAC - Hasheem Thabeet
4 Memphis - Earl Clark
5 TFKAS - James Harden
6 Minny - Tyreke Evans
7 Toronto - Evan Turner
8 GSW - Brandon Jennings
9 Indianna - BJ Mullens
10 NJ - Gerald Henderson
11 NY - Johnny Flynn
12 Charlotte - Demar Derozan
13 Chicago - James Johnson
14 Phoenix - Eric Maynor
15 Milwaukee - Terrence Williams
16 Detroit - Dejuan Blair
17 Philly - Stephen Curry
18 Minny - Jeff Teague
19 Atlanta - Craig Brackins
20 Dallas - Chase Budinger
21 Utah - Ty Lawson
22 NOH - Kyle Singler
23 PDX - Jerome Jordan
24 Chicago - Tyler Smith
25 Sacto - Darren Collison
26 TFKAS - AJ Ogilvy
27 Memphis - Sam Young
28 Minny - Jeff Pendergraph
29 Cleveland - Dionte Christmas
30 LAL - Taj Gibson

Don't see Detroit drafing Blair when they already have Maxiel, its redundant.

[vincecarter4pres]

Where's Aminu at in your second mock?

Ohh...... I was changing his draft position and forgot to put him back on the board.

I'd really hope the Bobcats would go with Terrence Williams at #12 over DeRozan.

You know I agree with you on Williams and I was tetering back on forth between directly swapping his and Derozan's draft position. It could go either way and I prefer Williams, just thought with how deep Charlotte is, maybe they would go with a guy that makes nore sense to bring along slowly.

No way Evans goes #7 or Turner goes #8.

I absolutely disagree about Turner. I think by the time the draft rolls around in June he is a top 10 pick, especially if he has a strong tourney and measures out well.
Evans, I don't even like much as a prospect, but his impact at the college level cannot be denied and he fits in with what Minny needs, a playmaking, ball dominate SG to share the point guard duties with Foye, who is a playmaking ball dominating SG himself, or even a scoring point. I think it may have been overzealous on my part to put him at 6xth, but maybe not.

Just curious, but at what position do you see Michael Washington going at?

I have never even really watched him and don't know much about him.

Don't see Detroit drafing Blair when they already have Maxiel, its redundant.

Detroit has the point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions locked up, so I figured PF and C are their most obvious to upgrade or at least take BPA and Blair may have been BPA regardless of position anyway, with upside to boot.

[ManualRam]

I'd really hope the Bobcats would go with Terrence Williams at #12 over DeRozan.

why would they need another non-shooter on their team? i know LB's preference is a defensive-minded player, but the bcats need more offense. i think budinger would be a great pick for CHA. just stick wallace on whoever the better offensive wing is.

[BigSlam]

I'd really hope the Bobcats would go with Terrence Williams at #12 over DeRozan.

You know I agree with you on Williams and I was tetering back on forth between directly swapping his and Derozan's draft position. It could go either way and I prefer Williams, just thought with how deep Charlotte is, maybe they would go with a guy that makes nore sense to bring along slowly.

Here's what I think.

DeRozan + Larry Brown = very, very bad combination.
He's too raw, seems to be lacking too much in the BBIQ stakes and isn't very good on D.

T.Will + Larry Brown = a continuation of what Pitino has been doing and a very, very good combination.
Larry LOVES high BBIQ guys who are willing to share the ball. We are pretty close to really going some where with our team so having an NBA ready guy like T.Will would be perfect because he could step in from day 1 and contribute. Who knows how long Raja has left?

It doesn't help that I am a fan of T.Will's and not so much of DeRozan's so I am biased.

[BigSlam]

I'd really hope the Bobcats would go with Terrence Williams at #12 over DeRozan.

why would they need another non-shooter on their team? i know LB's preference is a defensive-minded player, but the bcats need more offense. i think budinger would be a great pick for CHA. just stick wallace on whoever the better offensive wing is.

Larry Brown would have a fit watching Chase "guard" people. We have shooters on the team (DJ, Diaw, Raja, Vlad) and it's not like Williams is totally inept at shooting - in fact he is getting better and better. Not only that, but Larry said we had too MANY shooters on the roster at the start of the season - hence him trading Jrich, Carroll and Morrison so I can't see him wanting to add another 1 dimensional shooter like Chase to the roster.

Besides, Wallace isn't a great on ball defender. His strength is help D and the "amazing". Williams would be able to contribute from day one at both ends of the floor and his swagger would be a welcome addition.

[ManualRam]

Larry Brown would have a fit watching Chase "guard" people. We have shooters on the team (DJ, Diaw, Raja, Vlad) and it's not like Williams is totally inept at shooting - in fact he is getting better and better. Not only that, but Larry said we had too MANY shooters on the roster at the start of the season - hence him trading Jrich, Carroll and Morrison so I can't see him wanting to add another 1 dimensional shooter like Chase to the roster.

Besides, Wallace isn't a great on ball defender. His strength is help D and the "amazing". Williams would be able to contribute from day one at both ends of the floor and his swagger would be a welcome addition.

lb got rid of j-rich to get his usual veteran pieces with intelligence (as well as getting rid of j-rich's ugly contract). besides, budinger isnt as 1 dimensional as people think. he's got more athleticism than the hammer and morrison combined. he's good in the open court and he's a heady player who'll make the right pass, move the ball and make a few plays for others. his court awareness is very underrated. he and diaw in the lineup would be great complements to the athleticism and lack of skill and intelligence that felton (if they keep him), wallace and okafor have.
...and williams IS totally inept at shooting. he's had 4 yrs to improve his shooting and he's still a 57% shooter from the line. you can tell a lot about a player's shooting prospects by their stroke at the line. he's like a better passing ruben patterson.

[BigSlam]

budinger isnt as 1 dimensional as people think. he's got more athleticism than the hammer and morrison combined. he's good in the open court and he's a heady player who'll make the right pass, move the ball and make a few plays for others. his court awareness is very underrated.

Just like Williams...........except Williams plays D.

...and williams IS totally inept at shooting. he's had 4 yrs to improve his shooting and he's still a 57% shooter from the line. you can tell a lot about a player's shooting prospects by their stroke at the line. he's like a better passing ruben patterson

Gerald Wallace from the line last season = 73%
Gerald Wallace from the line this season = 82% (85.1% if you take the 1st month of the season out)

Jason Richardson from the line the season before he joined the Bobcats = 66%%
Jason Richardson from the line his last season with the Bobcats = 75%

Emeka Okafor............oh, hang on!!

Point is, people can improve from the line. Heck, Redd was a HORRIBLE shooter at Ohio State. Now he is one of the best.

Pitino said after the game on Saturday night:

"Terrence WAS a poor to average shooter, NOW he is an average to good shooter and once he gets to the next level he'll BECOME a good to excellent shooter - and at that stage everyone better watch out for Terrence Williams."

I'm buying into it.

[vincecarter4pres]

Williams will be a star in the NBA within 3 years, book it.

He is one of the most criminally underrated players in college and in this draft right now.

[princeofpalace]

Don't see Detroit drafing Blair when they already have Maxiel, its redundant.

Detroit has the point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions locked up, so I figured PF and C are their most obvious to upgrade or at least take BPA and Blair may have been BPA regardless of position anyway, with upside to boot.

Detroit needs SF or C. Detroit goes for Craig Brackins, Jerome Jordan over Blair and as far as BPA well Teague & Curry are also better than Blair.