DJ's predictions - lottery update 23 May
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:43 am
1. Kings - Blake Griffin, PF
Because they have to, but they really want Rubio.
2. Wizards - Ricky Rubio, PG
Grunfeld & Petrie announce the first big trade of the day, Griffin for Rubio and McGee.
3. Clippers - Jordan Hill, PF
Lots of folks like Hill's game, but some wonder where he'll play with a frontcourt already crowded with Randolph, Kaman, Camby and of course, DeAndre Jordan. Dunleavy is strangely tight lipped about his draft pick. Or perhaps his lips are just tighter than usual. If possible.
4. notSonics - James Harden, SG
Absolutely the perfect pick. Durant, Westbrook & Green welcome their new buddy with open arms. Even the folks who consider Presti an overbearing, stuck up, know it all are beginning to admit he's doing a really good job.
5. Wolves - Hasheem Thabeet, C
Would McHale have been the right guy to teach Thabeet the jedi ways of the big? Probably... but can a dog be taught to use a light sabre? Maybe in cartoons. Do the Wolves have a lot of bigs? For sure. But that's not a bad problem & at least Thabeet won't be pressured to step up from day one.
6. Grizzlies - Tyreke Evans, PG
Chris Wallace and Dunleavy announce the day's second big trade... Tyreke Evans & Hakim Warrick for Jordan Hill. Dunleavey is all smiles as he talks about how Warrick will provide much needed depth and Evans will back up both Baron Davis & Eric Gordon. BD is not smiling. Actually, he's grimmacing as if he's got an ulcer. Oh ya, he does. And he's not loving the idea of Dunleavy benching his butt in favor of the new kid the next time they get in an argument. But Griz fans are happy. Their lineup of Conley, Mayo, Gay, Hill & Gasol looks solid going forward. If only Mayo and Gay would get along.
7. Warriors - Brandon Jennings, PG
Nellie praises Jennings' skills to the heavens. During summer ball Nellie says Jennings will be an all-star, but later he buries Jennings on the bench. He says Jennings is too short to pair with Monta Ellis in the backcourt. Just before Nellie quits gets fired.
8. Knicks - DeMar DeRozan, SG
D'Antoni is all smiles, but when Nate the Grate calls him on his cell phone lip readers everywhere clearly see D'Antonio saying to the Grate "too bad", "I don't care" and "good luck with that". Raptor fans are bummed when the Knicks select DeMar DeRozan. Colangelo is overheard asking Evan Turner over the phone just before the pick, "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"
9. Raptors - Earl Clark, SF
Colangelo announces that he's just accepted... umm traded for Jamal Crawford for future 2nd round pick & a cold six pack. Further, he promises all the other GM's that he'll outbid Pritchard for a power forward willing to rebound. Matrix is not smiling.
10. Bucks - DeJuan Blair, PF
In a somewhat surprising pick the Bucks get a whole lot tougher. Skiles is happy.
11. Nets - Gerald Henderson, SG
Is this pick deja vu Chris Douglas-Roberts? Again? Will Yi ever get it going? Will LeBron James leave the Cavs?
12. Cats - Terrence Williams, SG/SF
Larry Brown gets a younger & bigger Raja Bell.
13. Pacers - James Johnson, SF/PF
A front court athlete to go with Granger, Rush and Hibbert.
14. Suns - Ty Lawson, PG
Maybe he's too little, but Goran Dragic is not who will take over for Nash.
15. Pistons - BJ Mullens, C
After the pick Dumars is assailed by Stephan A Smith and Dumars admits that Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess & Allen Iverson won't be returning. When asked if the rumors are true that Dumars is about to offer big contracts to Carlos Boozer & Marcin Gortat, Dumars only smiles. Just like a cat smiles when it's about to get the mouse.
16. Bulls - Austin Daye, SF
Paxson swings for the fences picking on potential. Daye gets time to learn & put on muscle sitting behind Deng.
17. Sixers - Jonny Flynn, PG
This is a good pick.
18. Wolves - Stephen Curry, PG/SG
McHale, after explaining to Stephan A Smith that he's no longer an official member of the Timberwolves' organization and that Corey Brewer hardly sucks, says this Curry kid is the real deal and has the chance to start right away. Which is a bit McHale in a way... their #5 pick will start out on the bench (probably stay there forever in my opinion) while their #18 pick starts right out of the gate. When Stephan A Smith presses McHale on his job status, McHale says he's just helping out. Then why is he still making the picks?
19. Hawks - Patrick Patterson, SF/PF
Sund adds another impressive athlete to the front court.
20. Jazz - Eric Maynor, PG
O'Conner can't believe his good luck. I think it's karma for letting Derek Fisher go.
21. Hornets - Jeff Teague, PG
Jeff Bower is pretty happy with this pick too.
22. Mavericks - Jrue Holiday, PG
He's gets a year to learn from Jason Kidd. That's way better than anything Ben Howland would have taught him.
23. Kings - Tyler Hansbrough, PF
Mark Madsen or David Lee? I'm betting he becomes a solid rotation guy.
24. Blazers - Omri Casspi, SF/PF
Just because Pritchard hasn't signed a foreign guy yet. Omir Asik doesn't count because he got traded to the Bulls. Ya, Pritchard wants this on his resume because he's that vain. Of course there's a major trade involved here somehow. Blake, Outlaw, Webster, Batum & Rodriguiz are all in play.
25. notSonics - Sam Young, SF
Presti takes the best available player adding to his collection of young athletes.
26. Bulls - Tyler Smith, SF
He's a good basketball player who got criticized for not being a great basketball player. The Bulls luck out.
27. Grizzlies - Darren Collison, PG
A backup pg. Perfect pick. Actually, a great draft for the Griz... Hill & Collison.
28. Wolves - Chase Budinger, SG/SF
Somebody (McHale) sells this pick to the Rockets for $83. Why did the Rockets bother?
29. Lakers - Michael Washington, PF
Not a bad pick for Kupchak.
30. Cavaliers - Gani Lawal, PF
You can never have enough athletic big guys.
Because they have to, but they really want Rubio.
2. Wizards - Ricky Rubio, PG
Grunfeld & Petrie announce the first big trade of the day, Griffin for Rubio and McGee.
3. Clippers - Jordan Hill, PF
Lots of folks like Hill's game, but some wonder where he'll play with a frontcourt already crowded with Randolph, Kaman, Camby and of course, DeAndre Jordan. Dunleavy is strangely tight lipped about his draft pick. Or perhaps his lips are just tighter than usual. If possible.
4. notSonics - James Harden, SG
Absolutely the perfect pick. Durant, Westbrook & Green welcome their new buddy with open arms. Even the folks who consider Presti an overbearing, stuck up, know it all are beginning to admit he's doing a really good job.
5. Wolves - Hasheem Thabeet, C
Would McHale have been the right guy to teach Thabeet the jedi ways of the big? Probably... but can a dog be taught to use a light sabre? Maybe in cartoons. Do the Wolves have a lot of bigs? For sure. But that's not a bad problem & at least Thabeet won't be pressured to step up from day one.
6. Grizzlies - Tyreke Evans, PG
Chris Wallace and Dunleavy announce the day's second big trade... Tyreke Evans & Hakim Warrick for Jordan Hill. Dunleavey is all smiles as he talks about how Warrick will provide much needed depth and Evans will back up both Baron Davis & Eric Gordon. BD is not smiling. Actually, he's grimmacing as if he's got an ulcer. Oh ya, he does. And he's not loving the idea of Dunleavy benching his butt in favor of the new kid the next time they get in an argument. But Griz fans are happy. Their lineup of Conley, Mayo, Gay, Hill & Gasol looks solid going forward. If only Mayo and Gay would get along.
7. Warriors - Brandon Jennings, PG
Nellie praises Jennings' skills to the heavens. During summer ball Nellie says Jennings will be an all-star, but later he buries Jennings on the bench. He says Jennings is too short to pair with Monta Ellis in the backcourt. Just before Nellie quits gets fired.
8. Knicks - DeMar DeRozan, SG
D'Antoni is all smiles, but when Nate the Grate calls him on his cell phone lip readers everywhere clearly see D'Antonio saying to the Grate "too bad", "I don't care" and "good luck with that". Raptor fans are bummed when the Knicks select DeMar DeRozan. Colangelo is overheard asking Evan Turner over the phone just before the pick, "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"
9. Raptors - Earl Clark, SF
Colangelo announces that he's just accepted... umm traded for Jamal Crawford for future 2nd round pick & a cold six pack. Further, he promises all the other GM's that he'll outbid Pritchard for a power forward willing to rebound. Matrix is not smiling.
10. Bucks - DeJuan Blair, PF
In a somewhat surprising pick the Bucks get a whole lot tougher. Skiles is happy.
11. Nets - Gerald Henderson, SG
Is this pick deja vu Chris Douglas-Roberts? Again? Will Yi ever get it going? Will LeBron James leave the Cavs?
12. Cats - Terrence Williams, SG/SF
Larry Brown gets a younger & bigger Raja Bell.
13. Pacers - James Johnson, SF/PF
A front court athlete to go with Granger, Rush and Hibbert.
14. Suns - Ty Lawson, PG
Maybe he's too little, but Goran Dragic is not who will take over for Nash.
15. Pistons - BJ Mullens, C
After the pick Dumars is assailed by Stephan A Smith and Dumars admits that Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess & Allen Iverson won't be returning. When asked if the rumors are true that Dumars is about to offer big contracts to Carlos Boozer & Marcin Gortat, Dumars only smiles. Just like a cat smiles when it's about to get the mouse.
16. Bulls - Austin Daye, SF
Paxson swings for the fences picking on potential. Daye gets time to learn & put on muscle sitting behind Deng.
17. Sixers - Jonny Flynn, PG
This is a good pick.
18. Wolves - Stephen Curry, PG/SG
McHale, after explaining to Stephan A Smith that he's no longer an official member of the Timberwolves' organization and that Corey Brewer hardly sucks, says this Curry kid is the real deal and has the chance to start right away. Which is a bit McHale in a way... their #5 pick will start out on the bench (probably stay there forever in my opinion) while their #18 pick starts right out of the gate. When Stephan A Smith presses McHale on his job status, McHale says he's just helping out. Then why is he still making the picks?
19. Hawks - Patrick Patterson, SF/PF
Sund adds another impressive athlete to the front court.
20. Jazz - Eric Maynor, PG
O'Conner can't believe his good luck. I think it's karma for letting Derek Fisher go.
21. Hornets - Jeff Teague, PG
Jeff Bower is pretty happy with this pick too.
22. Mavericks - Jrue Holiday, PG
He's gets a year to learn from Jason Kidd. That's way better than anything Ben Howland would have taught him.
23. Kings - Tyler Hansbrough, PF
Mark Madsen or David Lee? I'm betting he becomes a solid rotation guy.
24. Blazers - Omri Casspi, SF/PF
Just because Pritchard hasn't signed a foreign guy yet. Omir Asik doesn't count because he got traded to the Bulls. Ya, Pritchard wants this on his resume because he's that vain. Of course there's a major trade involved here somehow. Blake, Outlaw, Webster, Batum & Rodriguiz are all in play.
25. notSonics - Sam Young, SF
Presti takes the best available player adding to his collection of young athletes.
26. Bulls - Tyler Smith, SF
He's a good basketball player who got criticized for not being a great basketball player. The Bulls luck out.
27. Grizzlies - Darren Collison, PG
A backup pg. Perfect pick. Actually, a great draft for the Griz... Hill & Collison.
28. Wolves - Chase Budinger, SG/SF
Somebody (McHale) sells this pick to the Rockets for $83. Why did the Rockets bother?
29. Lakers - Michael Washington, PF
Not a bad pick for Kupchak.
30. Cavaliers - Gani Lawal, PF
You can never have enough athletic big guys.