MY MOCK - 2nd Update (6/20) COMMENTS!
Posted: Tue Jun 2, 2009 5:06 am
The previous picks are from my first attempt which I posted on June 1st. For this one I included comments for all first round picks and second round picks without comments.
2009 NBA Draft Predictions- Updated Sunday June 21st
1- LA Clippers - Blake Griffin – Power Forward – Oklahoma
Why? Blake Griffin is the best player in this draft. His combination of strength, speed, skill, power, and determination make him bust-proof. His low-post defense will likely need work and that will be the difference between him being the next Amare Stoudamire or the next Kevin Garnett.
(Previously #1)
2- Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet – Center – Uconn
Why? The Grizzlies got rid of both Javaris Crittenton and Kyle Lowry at point guard and finally decided to go with Mike Conley Jr towards the end of last season. Over the last 3 months of the season, in 36 games, Conley averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Considering how big a prospect he was coming out of college, these numbers cannot be quickly dismissed, and Conley still has a very good chance of being a very good point in the NBA. If he played for the Knicks instead of the Grizzlies everybody would still be saying Conley will be a great player and he very well might be. My point is, the Grizzlies have their PG of the future in Conley Jr, and if not in Conley Jr, they can always move OJ Mayo from shooting guard to point guard. There is no point for them to risk Rubio making their franchise look like a joke. Hasheem Thabeet is a legit 7’2” and is an elite shotblocker. Everybody knows he is a project, but the Grizzlies are a very young team and have time to develop him.
(Previously #3)
3- Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio – Point Guard – Spain
Why? Sam Presti knows what he is doing. Supposedly the Kings are the only team that has seen Rubio’s contract and physical examination as per personally meeting with Rubio so far. If the Thunder are able to get a meeting with Rubio, look at his contract, and are convinced Rubio will work well in the same backcourt as Russell Westbrook, the Thunder could be a darkhorse destination for Rubio. A concern is Rubio and Westbrook are turnover prone, but I think Westbrook only turned the ball over so often because he was actually learning the point guard position, as Westbrook (like Jrue Holliday) played mostly shooting guard next to Darren Collision at UCLA. Also, Westbrook is a great defensive player and will be able to defend most NBA shooting guards.
(Previously #2)
4- Sacramento Kings – Stephen Curry – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Davidson
Why? Curry has been rising up everybody’s draft board. Beno Udrih is clearly not the long-term solution at PG for the Kings. Curry originally was not planning on working out for teams drafting before #5, but his workouts have gone so well, that it is very possible he is a top 5 draft pick. Curry and Kevin Martin would give the Kings a great offensive backcourt. Curry is an underrated passer and very well could be taken at #4 overall if the Kings are convinced that he can handle playing the PG position in the NBA.
(Previously #8)
5- Washington Wizards – Jordan Hill – Power Forward – Arizona
Why? If Arizona coach Lute Olsen did not retire before the season, maybe Hill would have developed his game even more. He is the top PF prospect in this draft, and if a team wants Hill they will have to trade up to #5 to get him, because the T-Wolves probably won’t trade their pick at #6 and the Warriors and Knicks at #7 and #8 are viewed as threats to draft him. Although I don’t think Hill is very good, I can see the Wizards taking him as they need some help in the frontcourt more so than their backcourt which is more talented than people like to believe, especially with Gilbert Arenas returning this year.
(Previously #12)
6- Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans – Shooting Guard – Memphis
Why? Although he played mostly PG at Memphis, Evans projects as a shooting guard in the NBA. He is 6’6” and can score in every way possible, but he is also a ball hog. He was slated to work out for the Timberwolves the afternoon after PGs Ty Lawson, Johnny Flynn, Jrue Holliday, Brandon Jennings, and Jeff Teague were supposed to workout during the morning. Evans decided he wanted to work out against the PGs and according to various reports, absolutely dominated the point guards. Even though at another workout Evans pussied out of going head to head with Terrence Williams, the workout against the PG prospects makes him a top candidate to be drafted by the T-Wolves.
(Previously #7)
7- Golden State Warriors – James Harden – Shooting Guard – Arizona State
Why? Harden is projected to go as high as #2 to the Memphis Grizzlies. If he slips to #7 overall, Golden State will feel obligated to draft him. Monta Ellis will become the team’s PG and Harden can compliment Ellis’ game nicely since he is an excellent passer and decision maker as a SG. Harden is also a good 3-point shooter so he will fit in well with the Warriors offensive philosophy.
(Previously #5)
8- New York Knicks – Jrue Holliday – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – UCLA
Why? It is rumored the Knicks draft board is Curry/Evans/Holliday if they do not trade up for Rubio or Thabeet and I don’t doubt that this is true. Even though Curry apparently kicked Holliday’s ass in the workout for New York, the fact that the Knicks are bringing Holliday in to workout for a second time clearly shows they are interested. Last year Donnie Walsh wanted UCLA combo-guard Russell Westbrook, but Westbrook was drafted higher than expected by Sam Presti and the Thunder. This year Donnie Walsh will get the UCLA combo guard as Sam Presti could draft Walsh’s first option (Stephen Curry) again. Holliday was ranked by Rivals.com as the #1 Point Guard prospect out of high-school over Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans for 2009 Freshman showing what scouts thought of his potential, and it is entirely possible UCLA was just a bad fit to showcase Holliday’s talents. UCLA played a very slow-paced offense and the perception on Holliday could completely change in Mike D’Antoni’s Seven Seconds or Less system.
(Previously #15)
9- Toronto Raptors – DeMarr DeRozan – Shooting Guard – USC
Why? Their GM Bryan Colangelo oddly announced that the team was looking at 5 players: Jrue Holliday, Jonny Flynn, Gerald Henderson, DeMarr Derozan, and James Johnson. I can’t see the Raptor’s taking a point guard considering they got rid of TJ Ford last year to make room for Jose Calderon to be the full-time starter, and Calderon had a very good year. DeRozan has the most potential out of the 3 non-point guards in that group of players because of his elite athletisism.
(Previously #6)
10- Milwaukee Bucks – Brandon Jennings – Point Guard – Italy
Why? They will likely lose Charlie Villanueva in the frontcourt, but more importantly, the Bucks have a glaring hole at the PG position with Ramon Sessions likely leaving as a free agent. There is no way the team can rely on Luke Ridnour to be the starting PG whereas Luke Richard Mbah a Mute who played in 82 games last season, can step in and start at PF next to Bogut. Jennnings has star potential and the Bucks are a team that’s willing to accept the risk (Yi Jianlian).
(Previously #4)
11- New Jersey Nets – Terrence Williams – Shooting Guard– Louisville
Why? Terrence Williams is an excellent defensive player with ball handling and passing skills. He can play the 1 2 or 3 on offense and on defense. He makes good decisions and would be a nice fit next to Devin Harris for the long-term future after Vince Carter eventually leaves. Harris and Williams would form an excellent play-making and defensive backcourt. Also, there is a rumor that the Bulls are trying to trade for this pick, and Terrence Williams would be a good fit for that team as well as they will likely lose Ben Gordon.
(Previously #21)
12- Charlotte Bobcats – DeJuan Blair – Power Forward – Pittsburgh
Why? Well Sean May was a complete bust who could never get in shape. It will be good for the team to bring in a tough guy who was fat and decided to dedicate himself to getting into shape as a positive example for the rest of the team. Blair shed 40 pounds in the offseason and is a lean mean offensive rebounding machine. He is a total beast and would take rebounding and defensive pressure off of Emeka Okafor, who is better than people give him credit for being. The Bobcats might take a chance on Iverson, still have Raja Bell, and often play Felton and DJ Augustin on the floor at the same time; they really don’t need to draft a wing player. Blair should be the choice.
(Previously #9)
13- Indiana Pacers – Jonny Flynn – Point Guard – Syracuse
Why? The Pacers have expressed the desire to draft a PG. In my opinion they need a power forward, but there is nobody worth drafting to play power forward at this spot unless they believe Earl Clark is strong enough to play that role. The Pacers likely go with the most talented player available. Flynn has good handle and has apparently impressed people with his man-to-man defense, something we didn’t see at ‘Cuse.
(Previously #10)
14- Phoenix Suns – Earl Clark – Small Forward/Power Forward – Lousiville
Why? The Suns will desperately need help in the frontcourt with Amare and Shaq leaving soon. Clark can play some power forward as he is 6’10” and pretty strong. He can defend multiple positions and is a very versatile player. He is similar to Tayshaun Prince in that he can defend multiple positions, hit the 3 pointer (although Prince at this point is a better shooter) and score some buckets in the post. Clark’s only flaw is that he does not always play with the same energy and intensity every single game, which makes his teammate Terrence Williams a safer pick.
(Previously #11)
15- Detroit Pistons – BJ Mullins – Center – Ohio State
Mullins sucked at Ohio State but he is 7 feet tall and really athletic. The Pistons are going to be pretty desperate for size in their frontcourt with Rasheed Wallace leaving. The Pistons at getting good production out of their big men, and if Mullins can learn to play with some intensity he might actually be an OK starting center in the future.
(Previously #20)
16- Chicago Bulls – James Johnson – Small Forward/Power Forward – Wake Forest
James Johnson is a versatile scorer similar to Al Harrington. The Bulls good use an extra scorer in their frontcourt that has two guys, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, that don’t really score much. Luol Deng can’t be counted on to stay healthy, so Johnson would be a good fit on the Bulls. Basically he seems like the type of player who will be a big tease because he will look so good scoring the ball, but won’t help the team in any other ways, a la Fat Albert Harrington.
(Previously #16)
17- Philadelphia 76ers – Ty Lawson – Point Guard – UNC
The 76ers have a pretty strong starting lineup with Andre Miller, Andre Igoudala, Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert. They could use frontcourt depth, but they also need a PG for the future if Andre Miller is not in the teams plans for the long-term. Louis Williams, their current backup point guard, is more of an instant offense combo-guard off the bench. Ty Lawson would be this team’s point guard of the future would be a steal at this point in the draft. He is the most proven PG in this draft and has no weakness other than his size. People doubt his potential, but I have no doubt he will be at the very least better than UNC’s last major PG prospect Raymond Felton.
(Previously #13)
18- Minnesota Timberwolves – Gerald Henderson – Shooting Guard – Duke
Henderson could go as high as #9 to the Raptors, but I don’t believe he is a great pick for any team if he slips passed the Bobcats at #12. Henderson is very talented and improved every single season at Duke. He really turned it on towards the end of last season and became a go-to offensive player. He is strong, athletic, and a solid defensive player. If he slips to #18, a team will likely trade with Minnesota to take him at this point in the draft. He is too talented to slip out of the top 20 considering he might go in the top 10.
(Previously #14)
19- Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Wake Forest
Why? The Hawks need a guard for the future because AC Law has basically shown nothing in his first few years in the NBA. Mike Bibby won’t be around forever and this team will need a PG for the future. Teague is a very good shooter but not a great passer or playmaker. He is actually sort of similar to Mike Bibby in that sense. The Hawks could also use another frontcourt player, but the best option left is Hansbrough and the Hawks have their version of Hansbrough in Zaza Pachulia.
(Previously #19)
20- Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough – Power Forward – UNC
The Jazz will probably lose Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap this offseason and they will need some depth in the frontcourt. Hansbrough is a bigger version of Matt Harpring and will be a coachable player who could get better under Jerry Sloan. Hansbrough figures to go somewhere in the middle of the first round because there aren’t many great big men in this draft. Considering he plays physical, tries harder than anyone on the court, and had more NCAA success than any other player in this draft, he is a good bet to at least be a decent role player in the NBA.
(Previously #22)
21- New Orleans Hornets – Sam Young – Small Forward – Pittsburgh
This team needs another scorer and Sam Young is one of the most talented scorers in the draft. He is 24 years old which is older than just about anyone in the draft, but it also means he might be more ready for the NBA than most of the other players. The Hornets need some offensive help right now, and Sam Young will be able to provide that.
(Previously #25)
22- Dallas Mavericks – Omri Casspi– Small Forward – Israel
Omri Casspi is one tough mofo. He will play tough and look to pick fights. He is the next Andres Nocioni but without the perimeter skills. Casspi could be a pretty solid role-player in the NBA and seems like the type of player Mark Cuban would love to have on his team. He is a good defender, plays with passion, and can hold his own against bigger players in the low-post. Bonus points for being Israel’s best player.
(Previously 2nd Round)
23- Sacramento Kings – Austin Daye – Small Forward – Gonzaga
Daye is 6’10” and a pretty good scorer. He has a very smooth jumper and could become a Rashard Lewis type player on offense. However, I don’t believe he will ever be able to defend power forwards, or even small forwards, because is very skinny and not the greatest athlete. Even so, his height combined with his shooting ability will make him a better pro player than former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison. Although that may not be saying much, he is worth the risk/reward this late in the draft. Daye did not prove much at all in college, but he has a lot of room for improvement. He can get his jumpshot off so easily, and he looks so smooth, that it appears that he does not even try on the court. He is a huge project, but with the Kings not making the playoffs in the foreseeable future, they will have time to develop his game.
(Previously #18)
24- Portland Trailblazers – Eric Maynor– Point Guard – VCU
Maynor would be the best PG prospect on the board at this point. He has the ability to take over games with his scoring ability. Currently the Blazers do not get much scoring out of their PG position, so this would be an excellent pick for them. However, the Blazers are known for making many trades on draft day. If this pick is traded, I still expect Maynor to be drafted in the 20-25 range so I would still predict him to be the pick at #24 overall. Maynor played at a small school against weak competition, but had the ability to rise to the challenge when VCU did play schools from better conferences. I could see him going as high as #13 and as low as #24.
(Previously #17)
25- Oklahoma City Thunder – Wayne Ellington – Shooting Guard – UNC
Wayne Ellington was the best scorer for the team that won the NCAA championship. He has decent size and athleticism but what makes him stand out is his shooting ability. As a backup guard, he could be an instant-offense type of player. For a young team like the Thunder, it is always nice to have someone that has some sort of championship experience. Ellington is underrated going into the draft, because people see him as a product of North Carolina’s fast-paced offense.
(Previously #26)
26- Chicago Bulls – DeMarre Carroll – Small Forward/Power Forward – Missouri
This dude is a beast. He is a hustle player and is similar to Renaldo Balkman except Carroll has a better jumpshot and a more polished game. Carroll is a high energy player and is the main reason Missouri was so good last year. He was the heart and soul of that team. His hustle and effort is just impressive and he can be a lock-down defender in the NBA. He’s the type of player every team wants to draft but could end up falling to the second round because teams would rather draft “skill players” like Chase Buddinger on Arizona who DeMarre Carroll would eat alive.
(Previously #2nd Round)
27- Memphis Grizzlies – Jonas Jerebko – Small Forward – Sweeden
He is a pretty good 3-point shooter. He won’t be fast enough to keep up with small forwards in the NBA. His offensive game is similar to Troy Murphy on the Pacers. It’s his defense that I’d be worried about. There is a cool highlight on YouTube of Gallinari taking him to the hoop and dunking in his face from 2 years ago. Jerebko will be a player that a team will stash in Europe for a season or two before brining him over.
(Previously 2nd Round)
28- Minnesota Timberwolves – Nick Calathes – Point Guard – Florida
Calethes is a 6’5” pass-first point guard. He should probably be a second round pick, but he signed with a team in Greece, making him more attractive to NBA teams. The reason is that they can keep him in Europe for a year or two to continue to develop his game and then bring him over easily because he does not have a large buyout clause. So he is pretty good prospect that a team will not have to use a roster spot on until they feel he is ready to contribute in the NBA as opposed to being cut as a second rounder who isn’t ready.
(Previously #29)
29- LA Lakers – Taj Gibson – Power Forward – USC
He is a 6’10”power forward who can block shots. He is a few years away from contributing but the Lakers have time to wait and can take a chance on a big man with good potential.\
(Previously 2nd Round)
30- Cleveland Cavaliers – DaJuan Summers – Small Forward - Georgetown
He played in a slow-paced Georgetown offense. When he gets out and runs he can do some damage. He could be a sleeper in the draft because he has an NBA ready game and plays with consistent effort. He is explosive, strong, and really just needs some fine-tuning to be an NBA legit NBA player. Not nearly as talented as Jeff Green coming out of college, but has the same type of physical skills.
(Previously 2nd Round)
__________________________
31. Sacramento - Derrick Brown
32. Washington- Tony Douglas
33. Portland- Danny Green
34. Denver- Darren Collison
35. Detroit- Chase Buddinger
36. Memphis- AJ Price
37. San Antonio- Victor Claver
38. Portland- Rodrigue Beaubois
39. Detroit- Marcus Thornton
40. Charlotte- Jeff Pendergraph
41. Milwaukee- Jermaine Taylor
42. LA Lakers- Josh Heyvelt
43. Miami- Dionte Christmas
44. Detroit- Jon Brockman
45. Minnesota- Patty Mils
46. Cleveland- Duante Cunningham
47. Minnesota- Jeff Adrian
48. Phoenix- Jodie Meeks
49. Atlanta- Jack McClinton
50. Utah- Lester Hudson
51. San Antonio- Sergi Gladyr
52. Indiana- Chris Johnson
53. San Antonio- Tyrece Rice
54. Charlotte- Paul Harris
55. Portland- Leo Lyons
56. Portland- Sergio Llul
57. Phoenix- Hank Norel
58. Boston- Nando de Colo
59. LA Lakers- Alade Aminu
60. Miami- Joe Ingles
2009 NBA Draft Predictions- Updated Sunday June 21st
1- LA Clippers - Blake Griffin – Power Forward – Oklahoma
Why? Blake Griffin is the best player in this draft. His combination of strength, speed, skill, power, and determination make him bust-proof. His low-post defense will likely need work and that will be the difference between him being the next Amare Stoudamire or the next Kevin Garnett.
(Previously #1)
2- Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet – Center – Uconn
Why? The Grizzlies got rid of both Javaris Crittenton and Kyle Lowry at point guard and finally decided to go with Mike Conley Jr towards the end of last season. Over the last 3 months of the season, in 36 games, Conley averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Considering how big a prospect he was coming out of college, these numbers cannot be quickly dismissed, and Conley still has a very good chance of being a very good point in the NBA. If he played for the Knicks instead of the Grizzlies everybody would still be saying Conley will be a great player and he very well might be. My point is, the Grizzlies have their PG of the future in Conley Jr, and if not in Conley Jr, they can always move OJ Mayo from shooting guard to point guard. There is no point for them to risk Rubio making their franchise look like a joke. Hasheem Thabeet is a legit 7’2” and is an elite shotblocker. Everybody knows he is a project, but the Grizzlies are a very young team and have time to develop him.
(Previously #3)
3- Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio – Point Guard – Spain
Why? Sam Presti knows what he is doing. Supposedly the Kings are the only team that has seen Rubio’s contract and physical examination as per personally meeting with Rubio so far. If the Thunder are able to get a meeting with Rubio, look at his contract, and are convinced Rubio will work well in the same backcourt as Russell Westbrook, the Thunder could be a darkhorse destination for Rubio. A concern is Rubio and Westbrook are turnover prone, but I think Westbrook only turned the ball over so often because he was actually learning the point guard position, as Westbrook (like Jrue Holliday) played mostly shooting guard next to Darren Collision at UCLA. Also, Westbrook is a great defensive player and will be able to defend most NBA shooting guards.
(Previously #2)
4- Sacramento Kings – Stephen Curry – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Davidson
Why? Curry has been rising up everybody’s draft board. Beno Udrih is clearly not the long-term solution at PG for the Kings. Curry originally was not planning on working out for teams drafting before #5, but his workouts have gone so well, that it is very possible he is a top 5 draft pick. Curry and Kevin Martin would give the Kings a great offensive backcourt. Curry is an underrated passer and very well could be taken at #4 overall if the Kings are convinced that he can handle playing the PG position in the NBA.
(Previously #8)
5- Washington Wizards – Jordan Hill – Power Forward – Arizona
Why? If Arizona coach Lute Olsen did not retire before the season, maybe Hill would have developed his game even more. He is the top PF prospect in this draft, and if a team wants Hill they will have to trade up to #5 to get him, because the T-Wolves probably won’t trade their pick at #6 and the Warriors and Knicks at #7 and #8 are viewed as threats to draft him. Although I don’t think Hill is very good, I can see the Wizards taking him as they need some help in the frontcourt more so than their backcourt which is more talented than people like to believe, especially with Gilbert Arenas returning this year.
(Previously #12)
6- Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans – Shooting Guard – Memphis
Why? Although he played mostly PG at Memphis, Evans projects as a shooting guard in the NBA. He is 6’6” and can score in every way possible, but he is also a ball hog. He was slated to work out for the Timberwolves the afternoon after PGs Ty Lawson, Johnny Flynn, Jrue Holliday, Brandon Jennings, and Jeff Teague were supposed to workout during the morning. Evans decided he wanted to work out against the PGs and according to various reports, absolutely dominated the point guards. Even though at another workout Evans pussied out of going head to head with Terrence Williams, the workout against the PG prospects makes him a top candidate to be drafted by the T-Wolves.
(Previously #7)
7- Golden State Warriors – James Harden – Shooting Guard – Arizona State
Why? Harden is projected to go as high as #2 to the Memphis Grizzlies. If he slips to #7 overall, Golden State will feel obligated to draft him. Monta Ellis will become the team’s PG and Harden can compliment Ellis’ game nicely since he is an excellent passer and decision maker as a SG. Harden is also a good 3-point shooter so he will fit in well with the Warriors offensive philosophy.
(Previously #5)
8- New York Knicks – Jrue Holliday – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – UCLA
Why? It is rumored the Knicks draft board is Curry/Evans/Holliday if they do not trade up for Rubio or Thabeet and I don’t doubt that this is true. Even though Curry apparently kicked Holliday’s ass in the workout for New York, the fact that the Knicks are bringing Holliday in to workout for a second time clearly shows they are interested. Last year Donnie Walsh wanted UCLA combo-guard Russell Westbrook, but Westbrook was drafted higher than expected by Sam Presti and the Thunder. This year Donnie Walsh will get the UCLA combo guard as Sam Presti could draft Walsh’s first option (Stephen Curry) again. Holliday was ranked by Rivals.com as the #1 Point Guard prospect out of high-school over Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans for 2009 Freshman showing what scouts thought of his potential, and it is entirely possible UCLA was just a bad fit to showcase Holliday’s talents. UCLA played a very slow-paced offense and the perception on Holliday could completely change in Mike D’Antoni’s Seven Seconds or Less system.
(Previously #15)
9- Toronto Raptors – DeMarr DeRozan – Shooting Guard – USC
Why? Their GM Bryan Colangelo oddly announced that the team was looking at 5 players: Jrue Holliday, Jonny Flynn, Gerald Henderson, DeMarr Derozan, and James Johnson. I can’t see the Raptor’s taking a point guard considering they got rid of TJ Ford last year to make room for Jose Calderon to be the full-time starter, and Calderon had a very good year. DeRozan has the most potential out of the 3 non-point guards in that group of players because of his elite athletisism.
(Previously #6)
10- Milwaukee Bucks – Brandon Jennings – Point Guard – Italy
Why? They will likely lose Charlie Villanueva in the frontcourt, but more importantly, the Bucks have a glaring hole at the PG position with Ramon Sessions likely leaving as a free agent. There is no way the team can rely on Luke Ridnour to be the starting PG whereas Luke Richard Mbah a Mute who played in 82 games last season, can step in and start at PF next to Bogut. Jennnings has star potential and the Bucks are a team that’s willing to accept the risk (Yi Jianlian).
(Previously #4)
11- New Jersey Nets – Terrence Williams – Shooting Guard– Louisville
Why? Terrence Williams is an excellent defensive player with ball handling and passing skills. He can play the 1 2 or 3 on offense and on defense. He makes good decisions and would be a nice fit next to Devin Harris for the long-term future after Vince Carter eventually leaves. Harris and Williams would form an excellent play-making and defensive backcourt. Also, there is a rumor that the Bulls are trying to trade for this pick, and Terrence Williams would be a good fit for that team as well as they will likely lose Ben Gordon.
(Previously #21)
12- Charlotte Bobcats – DeJuan Blair – Power Forward – Pittsburgh
Why? Well Sean May was a complete bust who could never get in shape. It will be good for the team to bring in a tough guy who was fat and decided to dedicate himself to getting into shape as a positive example for the rest of the team. Blair shed 40 pounds in the offseason and is a lean mean offensive rebounding machine. He is a total beast and would take rebounding and defensive pressure off of Emeka Okafor, who is better than people give him credit for being. The Bobcats might take a chance on Iverson, still have Raja Bell, and often play Felton and DJ Augustin on the floor at the same time; they really don’t need to draft a wing player. Blair should be the choice.
(Previously #9)
13- Indiana Pacers – Jonny Flynn – Point Guard – Syracuse
Why? The Pacers have expressed the desire to draft a PG. In my opinion they need a power forward, but there is nobody worth drafting to play power forward at this spot unless they believe Earl Clark is strong enough to play that role. The Pacers likely go with the most talented player available. Flynn has good handle and has apparently impressed people with his man-to-man defense, something we didn’t see at ‘Cuse.
(Previously #10)
14- Phoenix Suns – Earl Clark – Small Forward/Power Forward – Lousiville
Why? The Suns will desperately need help in the frontcourt with Amare and Shaq leaving soon. Clark can play some power forward as he is 6’10” and pretty strong. He can defend multiple positions and is a very versatile player. He is similar to Tayshaun Prince in that he can defend multiple positions, hit the 3 pointer (although Prince at this point is a better shooter) and score some buckets in the post. Clark’s only flaw is that he does not always play with the same energy and intensity every single game, which makes his teammate Terrence Williams a safer pick.
(Previously #11)
15- Detroit Pistons – BJ Mullins – Center – Ohio State
Mullins sucked at Ohio State but he is 7 feet tall and really athletic. The Pistons are going to be pretty desperate for size in their frontcourt with Rasheed Wallace leaving. The Pistons at getting good production out of their big men, and if Mullins can learn to play with some intensity he might actually be an OK starting center in the future.
(Previously #20)
16- Chicago Bulls – James Johnson – Small Forward/Power Forward – Wake Forest
James Johnson is a versatile scorer similar to Al Harrington. The Bulls good use an extra scorer in their frontcourt that has two guys, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, that don’t really score much. Luol Deng can’t be counted on to stay healthy, so Johnson would be a good fit on the Bulls. Basically he seems like the type of player who will be a big tease because he will look so good scoring the ball, but won’t help the team in any other ways, a la Fat Albert Harrington.
(Previously #16)
17- Philadelphia 76ers – Ty Lawson – Point Guard – UNC
The 76ers have a pretty strong starting lineup with Andre Miller, Andre Igoudala, Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert. They could use frontcourt depth, but they also need a PG for the future if Andre Miller is not in the teams plans for the long-term. Louis Williams, their current backup point guard, is more of an instant offense combo-guard off the bench. Ty Lawson would be this team’s point guard of the future would be a steal at this point in the draft. He is the most proven PG in this draft and has no weakness other than his size. People doubt his potential, but I have no doubt he will be at the very least better than UNC’s last major PG prospect Raymond Felton.
(Previously #13)
18- Minnesota Timberwolves – Gerald Henderson – Shooting Guard – Duke
Henderson could go as high as #9 to the Raptors, but I don’t believe he is a great pick for any team if he slips passed the Bobcats at #12. Henderson is very talented and improved every single season at Duke. He really turned it on towards the end of last season and became a go-to offensive player. He is strong, athletic, and a solid defensive player. If he slips to #18, a team will likely trade with Minnesota to take him at this point in the draft. He is too talented to slip out of the top 20 considering he might go in the top 10.
(Previously #14)
19- Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Wake Forest
Why? The Hawks need a guard for the future because AC Law has basically shown nothing in his first few years in the NBA. Mike Bibby won’t be around forever and this team will need a PG for the future. Teague is a very good shooter but not a great passer or playmaker. He is actually sort of similar to Mike Bibby in that sense. The Hawks could also use another frontcourt player, but the best option left is Hansbrough and the Hawks have their version of Hansbrough in Zaza Pachulia.
(Previously #19)
20- Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough – Power Forward – UNC
The Jazz will probably lose Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap this offseason and they will need some depth in the frontcourt. Hansbrough is a bigger version of Matt Harpring and will be a coachable player who could get better under Jerry Sloan. Hansbrough figures to go somewhere in the middle of the first round because there aren’t many great big men in this draft. Considering he plays physical, tries harder than anyone on the court, and had more NCAA success than any other player in this draft, he is a good bet to at least be a decent role player in the NBA.
(Previously #22)
21- New Orleans Hornets – Sam Young – Small Forward – Pittsburgh
This team needs another scorer and Sam Young is one of the most talented scorers in the draft. He is 24 years old which is older than just about anyone in the draft, but it also means he might be more ready for the NBA than most of the other players. The Hornets need some offensive help right now, and Sam Young will be able to provide that.
(Previously #25)
22- Dallas Mavericks – Omri Casspi– Small Forward – Israel
Omri Casspi is one tough mofo. He will play tough and look to pick fights. He is the next Andres Nocioni but without the perimeter skills. Casspi could be a pretty solid role-player in the NBA and seems like the type of player Mark Cuban would love to have on his team. He is a good defender, plays with passion, and can hold his own against bigger players in the low-post. Bonus points for being Israel’s best player.
(Previously 2nd Round)
23- Sacramento Kings – Austin Daye – Small Forward – Gonzaga
Daye is 6’10” and a pretty good scorer. He has a very smooth jumper and could become a Rashard Lewis type player on offense. However, I don’t believe he will ever be able to defend power forwards, or even small forwards, because is very skinny and not the greatest athlete. Even so, his height combined with his shooting ability will make him a better pro player than former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison. Although that may not be saying much, he is worth the risk/reward this late in the draft. Daye did not prove much at all in college, but he has a lot of room for improvement. He can get his jumpshot off so easily, and he looks so smooth, that it appears that he does not even try on the court. He is a huge project, but with the Kings not making the playoffs in the foreseeable future, they will have time to develop his game.
(Previously #18)
24- Portland Trailblazers – Eric Maynor– Point Guard – VCU
Maynor would be the best PG prospect on the board at this point. He has the ability to take over games with his scoring ability. Currently the Blazers do not get much scoring out of their PG position, so this would be an excellent pick for them. However, the Blazers are known for making many trades on draft day. If this pick is traded, I still expect Maynor to be drafted in the 20-25 range so I would still predict him to be the pick at #24 overall. Maynor played at a small school against weak competition, but had the ability to rise to the challenge when VCU did play schools from better conferences. I could see him going as high as #13 and as low as #24.
(Previously #17)
25- Oklahoma City Thunder – Wayne Ellington – Shooting Guard – UNC
Wayne Ellington was the best scorer for the team that won the NCAA championship. He has decent size and athleticism but what makes him stand out is his shooting ability. As a backup guard, he could be an instant-offense type of player. For a young team like the Thunder, it is always nice to have someone that has some sort of championship experience. Ellington is underrated going into the draft, because people see him as a product of North Carolina’s fast-paced offense.
(Previously #26)
26- Chicago Bulls – DeMarre Carroll – Small Forward/Power Forward – Missouri
This dude is a beast. He is a hustle player and is similar to Renaldo Balkman except Carroll has a better jumpshot and a more polished game. Carroll is a high energy player and is the main reason Missouri was so good last year. He was the heart and soul of that team. His hustle and effort is just impressive and he can be a lock-down defender in the NBA. He’s the type of player every team wants to draft but could end up falling to the second round because teams would rather draft “skill players” like Chase Buddinger on Arizona who DeMarre Carroll would eat alive.
(Previously #2nd Round)
27- Memphis Grizzlies – Jonas Jerebko – Small Forward – Sweeden
He is a pretty good 3-point shooter. He won’t be fast enough to keep up with small forwards in the NBA. His offensive game is similar to Troy Murphy on the Pacers. It’s his defense that I’d be worried about. There is a cool highlight on YouTube of Gallinari taking him to the hoop and dunking in his face from 2 years ago. Jerebko will be a player that a team will stash in Europe for a season or two before brining him over.
(Previously 2nd Round)
28- Minnesota Timberwolves – Nick Calathes – Point Guard – Florida
Calethes is a 6’5” pass-first point guard. He should probably be a second round pick, but he signed with a team in Greece, making him more attractive to NBA teams. The reason is that they can keep him in Europe for a year or two to continue to develop his game and then bring him over easily because he does not have a large buyout clause. So he is pretty good prospect that a team will not have to use a roster spot on until they feel he is ready to contribute in the NBA as opposed to being cut as a second rounder who isn’t ready.
(Previously #29)
29- LA Lakers – Taj Gibson – Power Forward – USC
He is a 6’10”power forward who can block shots. He is a few years away from contributing but the Lakers have time to wait and can take a chance on a big man with good potential.\
(Previously 2nd Round)
30- Cleveland Cavaliers – DaJuan Summers – Small Forward - Georgetown
He played in a slow-paced Georgetown offense. When he gets out and runs he can do some damage. He could be a sleeper in the draft because he has an NBA ready game and plays with consistent effort. He is explosive, strong, and really just needs some fine-tuning to be an NBA legit NBA player. Not nearly as talented as Jeff Green coming out of college, but has the same type of physical skills.
(Previously 2nd Round)
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31. Sacramento - Derrick Brown
32. Washington- Tony Douglas
33. Portland- Danny Green
34. Denver- Darren Collison
35. Detroit- Chase Buddinger
36. Memphis- AJ Price
37. San Antonio- Victor Claver
38. Portland- Rodrigue Beaubois
39. Detroit- Marcus Thornton
40. Charlotte- Jeff Pendergraph
41. Milwaukee- Jermaine Taylor
42. LA Lakers- Josh Heyvelt
43. Miami- Dionte Christmas
44. Detroit- Jon Brockman
45. Minnesota- Patty Mils
46. Cleveland- Duante Cunningham
47. Minnesota- Jeff Adrian
48. Phoenix- Jodie Meeks
49. Atlanta- Jack McClinton
50. Utah- Lester Hudson
51. San Antonio- Sergi Gladyr
52. Indiana- Chris Johnson
53. San Antonio- Tyrece Rice
54. Charlotte- Paul Harris
55. Portland- Leo Lyons
56. Portland- Sergio Llul
57. Phoenix- Hank Norel
58. Boston- Nando de Colo
59. LA Lakers- Alade Aminu
60. Miami- Joe Ingles