My first mock draft

Baddy Chuck · Post #1 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 3:36 am

Deciding to only do first round as second round has too many variables for me to consider! All of my picks are assuming the team keeps the player they draft.

#1 (Sacramento) Blake Griffin - The consensus number one pick. He may not fill a huge need but you can't pass up on a talent like this.

#2 (Washington) Jordan Hill - They are pretty close to a top team in the East so they a player who can step in, play big minutes and produce at a position of need.

#3 (Oklahoma City) Hasheem Thabeet - It was a tough choice between Harden and Thabeet here but I think Thabeet is the way to go. With a quick team around him a fast break ignited by his defense looks pretty good.

#4 (Los Angeles) Brandon Jennings - The Baron Davis experiment isn't working in Los Angeles. I'd look for him to be traded and they start over fresh with a young fast break point guard.

#5 (Memphis) Greg Monroe - They have a strong young nucleus at every position but the four spot. They get a good high post forward to compliment Gasol's low post play.

#6 (Minnesota) James Harden – Harden is just too good of a talent to pass up at this position. There is no true fit pick at this position as they need a big true point guard next to Foye or a defensive center so they take the best player available.

#7 (Golden State) Jeff Teague – Teague is a player who could excel in an up-tempo system. With great quickness and solid shooting he and Ellis make a deadly backcourt combination in their system.

#8 (Toronto) Gerald Henderson – With the addition of Marion and the departure of O’Neal Toronto will be looking to go up-tempo. They take a fast athletic wing player to compliment Calderon in the backcourt.

#9 (New York) Al-Farouq Aminu – A 6’9 small forward that can run the floor, defend and rebound. Does that sound like something New York could afford to pass up here?

#10 (Charlotte) Willie Warren – They get a great backcourt compliment to Augustin.

#11 (Indiana) Cole Aldrich – A hard working, long power forward to help shore up the frontcourt with Hibbert makes for a nice future.

#12 (New Jersey) Chase Buddinger – Great fit next to Harris in the backcourt. Can run in the up-tempo offense and keep defenders true with his great jump shot in a half court set.

#13 (Chicago) BJ Mullens – A big young, athletic low post threat is exactly what the Bulls have been looking for. Learning from a vet like Brad Miller will be great for him.

#14 (Phoenix) Tyreke Evans – Steve Nash is getting up there in age and with no true shooting guard on the roster they take a young player who can fill in at both positions with ease.

#15 (Milwaukee) Craig Brackins – With the uncertainty of Villanueva’s future in Milwaukee they have to fill in that position. Brackins could come in and fill in the role of CV perfectly.

#16 (Detroit) Patrick Patterson – Their frontcourt troubles are well known. They get an athletic scorer at the four to try to fill in that hole.

#17 (Philadelphia) Stephen Curry – He gives them the three point shooting they desperately need without slowing them down.

#18 (Minnesota) Earl Clark – The Danny Granger slide. Minnesota gets a player they could have targeted at #6 with #18? No brainer.

#19 (Atlanta) Eric Maynor – With the uncertainty of Mike Bibby they take a solid point guard who can run an offense. If Bibby comes back they have a nice change of pace from a scorer to a set up man off the bench.

#20 (Dallas) Evan Turner – They get a solid all around prospect that can fill in at the 2/3. Reminds me of Josh Howard, who could very well be traded this offseason.

#21 (Minnesota) Jerome Jordan – A pure fit pick here. It may not be the sexiest pick but an athletic, defensive minded center to play alongside Jefferson is what they need.

#22 (New Orleans) DeJuan Blair – They get a scrappy rebounding power forward to help fill in some of the holes in their frontcourt.

#23 (Portland) Omri Casspi – They get a small forward to fit a hole in their roster. He is a solid all around player that should fit well on their team.

#24 (Sacramento) Darren Collison – A defensive true point guard that isn’t a liability on offense is a great pickup for them here.

#25 (Chicago) James Johnson – They use another pick to fill in holes in their frontcourt. An athletic ¾ tweener with solid offense and good rebounding.

#26 (Oklahoma City) Terrence Williams – A solid overall shooting guard is a good fit for their team.

#27 (Memphis) Ty Lawson – He will provide a true point guard on a team of scorers. Good fit off the bench behind Conley.

#28 (Minnesota) Patrick Mills – True fit pick here. They get a true point guard to have on the bench when needed with Foye/Harden starting.

#29 (Cleveland) Tyler Hansbrough – They get a scrappy power forward with a solid mid range jumper.

#30 (Los Angeles) AJ Price – They get a solid all around point guard who should fit well in the triangle offense.

Cammo101 · Post #2 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 4:01 am

Not bad, though you seem to be in love with undersized backcourts. Ellis and Teague may work, but both are small and play little defense. Augustin and Warren would be a disaster. Auggy is 6'0'' and Warren is 6'3'', no way they can play together and not get torched.

Also, I would be very very surprised if Harden fell to #6. He is too good for that.

Aside from those small issues, it looks pretty good. I like Hill at #2 and Monrie at #5.

Baddy Chuck · Post #3 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 4:55 am

In Golden States case I think that backourt would work perfectly. Teague's ability to shoot would work well off of Ellis. Also, it's Don Nelson were talking about, he'd play 5 guards if he could.

In Charlottes case, I was thinking of more of the Philly mold. Brown got the backcourt of Snow and Iverson to work perfectly together, could this be a similar case?

Harden did fall but I wasn't sure where he'd go if it wasn't Washington or Oklahoma. Los Angeles has Eric Gordon who is pretty much doing everything Harden would be brought in to do and Memphis could use him, as Mayo could move to the point at some times, but with Conley breaking out under Hollins and the four spot with a huge hole there, I think Monroe is a better choice.

Putting Hill at #2, even though he might not be the best prospect available, makes things harder to figure out at 3-10.

RutgersBJJ · Post #4 » by **RutgersBJJ** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 6:19 am

A 6’9 small forward that can run the floor, defend and rebound. Does that sound like something New York could afford to pass up here?

sounds like wilson chandler, also seems like you don't watch knicks games. Why on earth would they take another SF after taking Chandler and Gallinari.

Post #5 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 2:18 pm

RingtheBell wrote:In Charlottes case, I was thinking of more of the Philly mold. Brown got the backcourt of Snow and Iverson to work perfectly together, could this be a similar case?

Gutsy draft, I like it. From our POV, I agree with Cammo.

It might have worked in Philly, but NBA rules have changed a lot since then and DJ and Warren would get lit up on D. I think that Evans (because he has the chance to be a VERY good defender) might be a better fit with DJ?

Cammo101 · Post #6 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 4:10 pm

When Philly did it, Snow was a much better defender than Auggy or Warren. And AI a much better offensive talent. Less risk, more reward.

Downtown · Post #7 » by **Downtown** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 5:09 pm

My hat's off to anyone who can put together a detailed mock draft. Taking so much into consideration is difficult and there's always second guessing on a few selections.

Since I've been following Memphis this season(I'm a longtime Seattle fan who won't make the leap to OKC but enjoys trying to figure out how to make the lower teams better) I'll focus on them. Greg Monroe is a natural pick for them if they can't get Griffin or Hill since as everyone knows power forward is the position of need.

But I really have a tough time seeing them passing on James Harden. The Grizzlies are very weak on the bench with no real depth. If a player like Harden was there I think they grab him and find room for him to play. Sure Conley has been improving lately but I wouldn't hesitate to go with a Mayo/Harden backcourt. I'm actually surprised Memphis hasn't tried Mayo at the point this season since he played alot of it at USC.

But if Harden is off the board like I think he'll be at #2 then either a Jordan Hill or Greg Monroe makes sense. Depending on how the lotto balls end up I could see another scenario like last year where Memphis moves up to get the player they covet. Washington is a team that comes to mind. Once Arenas and Haywood return they are covered at all positions well except pointguard. If the Grizzlies were willing to take on a contract to help Washington get under the luxury tax I could see the Wizards being willing to trade down a few positions and still be able to have a choice of pointguards. Songalia or Stevenson comes to mind, nothing really big.

I've said on a few occasions since the trade deadline that I can see the likes of Lawson, Flynn, Mills, Collison, or Maynor being taken with the Magic pick so your having them pick Lawson is fine.

Baddy Chuck · Post #8 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 8:33 pm

Heres my second one with what you guys have said into consideration and with a few more players added (Rubio, Holiday, Ogilvy)

#1 (Sacramento) Ricky Rubio – A point guard with true NBA skills and size who is younger than most college freshman is too good to pass up.
#2 (Washington) Blake Griffin – They say thank you Sacramento and pick up the best college player in the nation.
#3 (Oklahoma City) Hasheem Thabeet – A 7’3 center with top notch defence and an improving offensive game is a hard pass for them.
#4 (Los Angeles) Jordan Hill – Take an athletic freak to build with Jordan for their frontcourt of the future.
#5 (Memphis) James Harden – Not a real need but they get superstar potential at pick 5, pretty well in my opinion.
#6 (Minnesota) Earl Clark – They get a big, ball handling small forward to add to their young core
#7 (Golden State) Brandon Jennings – An explosive true point guard, could Nelson ask for more?
#8 (Toronto) Gerald Henderson – A super athletic wing player that will fit in well with their new run-n-gun offense.
#9 (New York) Jeff Teague – A quick, talented combo guard would work well under D’Antoni.
#10 (Charlotte) Greg Monroe – In my opinion the steal of the draft. A high post player alongside Okafor makes a great frontcourt for years to come.
#11 (Indiana) Cole Aldrich – They get a long, athletic power forward to add to their ageing frontcourt.
#12 (New Jersey) Al-Farouq Aminu– Take a long, athletic small forward to fill in a hole in their line-up.
#13 (Chicago) BJ Mullens – They take an athletic low post threat to bolster their frontcourt.
#14 (Phoenix) Willie Warren – With Nash getting up there in age they take a combo guard who can give good minutes at two positions.
#15 (Milwaukee) Craig Brackins – With Villanueva’s future in Milwaukee uncertain they draft a very similar player who can slip into his role.
#16 (Detroit) Patrick Patterson – With a weak frontcourt they take an athletic offensive minded four.
#17 (Philadelphia) Stephen Curry – Adds great shooting to a team desperate for it without slowing their offense down.
#18 (Minnesota) Tyreke Evans – They get a big athletic point guard to play alongside Foye.
#19 (Atlanta) Jrue Holiday – Insurance in case Bibby leaves or a great backup combo guard if he stays.
#20 (Dallas) Demar DeRozan – They go with a low risk-high reward at pick 20.
#21 (Utah) Jerome Jordan – They take a long, athletic center to shore up a soft frontcourt.
#22 (New Orleans) Dejuan Blair – Add a rebounding big to their bench.
#23 (Portland) Omri Casspi – A solid all-around four that could fill in at their weakest position.
#24 (Sacramento) Chase Buddinger – An athletic swingman with a great three point shot would round out their line-up well.
#25 (Chicago) James Johnson – Use another pick to shore up their frontcourt with a forward tweener.
#26 (Oklahoma City) Evan Turner – They take an athletic swingman with all-around game.
#27 (Memphis) Tyler Hansbrough – A scrappy power forward with a solid midrange game is a good compliment for Gasol.
#28 (Minnesota) Andrew Ogilvy – They take a solid big to try to mold into an NBA player.
#29 (Cleveland) Eric Maynor – A true point guard similar to Conley to play off the bench.
#30 (Los Angeles) Darren Collison – A quick, defensive point guard who should work well in the triangle offense.

john2jer · Post #9 » by **john2jer** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 9:19 pm

Loved your first one as a Wolves fan. Don't mind your second one as I love Tyreke Evans, but Earl Clark at #6 seems to be a waste. I don't understand how you add in three players, yet Earl Clark jumps from 18th to 6th?

Cole Aldrich is a PF now? Figure he'll be a center in the NBA.

Post #10 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 9:31 pm

RingtheBell wrote:#10 (Charlotte) Greg Monroe – In my opinion the steal of the draft. A high post player alongside Okafor makes a great frontcourt for years to come.

Cammo101 · Post #11 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Mar 5, 2009 11:35 pm

^^^^^
Who is that? And would you seriously pass on Monroe at #10 (he won't be there regardless) like I think this post is implying?

MYoung23 · Post #12 » by **MYoung23** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 1:41 am

The Cavaliers wouldnt take Hansborough or Maynor.

i<3basketball · Post #13 » by **i<3basketball** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 3:13 am

Cammo101 wrote:^^^^^
Who is that? And would you seriously pass on Monroe at #10 (he won't be there regardless) like I think this post is implying?

That's Boris Diaw. He's trying to say they have a high post PF I guess.

Cammo101 · Post #14 » by **Cammo101** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 4:30 am

i<3basketball wrote:
Cammo101 wrote:^^^^^
Who is that? And would you seriously pass on Monroe at #10 (he won't be there regardless) like I think this post is implying?

That's Boris Diaw. He's trying to say they have a high post PF I guess.

He looks different with hair. Charlotte needs to be on TV more, since I used to be able to pick Diaw out of a crowd.

Be careful falling in love with Diaw. Phoenix did, and it cause them to radically overpay him. He is a nice player, but if Monroe falls to you at #10 and you pass on him because you have Boris Diaw, then I see a firing in your future.

Post #15 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 2:45 pm

Cammo101 wrote:He looks different with hair. Charlotte needs to be on TV more, since I used to be able to pick Diaw out of a crowd.

Don't be hard on yourself - for some reason yahoo has this pic of him. He's still short on top without the goatee. I'm sure you'd still pick him out.

Be careful falling in love with Diaw. Phoenix did, and it cause them to radically overpay him. He is a nice player, but if Monroe falls to you at #10 and you pass on him because you have Boris Diaw, then I see a firing in your future

He's already been paid, so that wont fall on us.

Boris is super important to our team. He facilitates a LOT of our offense and with his length and agility gives us a chance against the more mobile PF's in the L (like your Magic boys!!).

Since coming to Charlotte, Boris has averaged 15ppg, 6rpg, 5apg, 1spg, 1bpg and 1.5 3's per game. He's shooting 48%, 44% and 67% from the floor with exceptional court vision and post moves over 38 games - plus LB LOVES him.

I don't see that Monroe would bring anything more than what Boris already does.

I'd be fine drafting Monroe at #10...........so long as we then made a drat night trade for a SG. Adding Monroe as a depth player at the 4 would be a greaat luxury to have, but with a hole that needs filling at the 2, is a luxury we can't afford just yet.

Downtown · Post #16 » by **Downtown** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 3:47 pm

I noticed you have Terrence Williams falling out of the first round on your second mock. He's a player I've said on more than one occasion would look good on Memphis as their sixth man behind both Mayo and Gay. If they could land him in the second round, then with Harden, Hansbrough, and Williams I'd consider it a very good draft considering where they'll be selecting.

Mind you when you think that they have younger players already in Mayo, Conley, Gay, Gasol, and Arthur, adding three more young guys into the mix might be a little too much. I've also said if the Grizzlies truly want to improve they need at least a couple of tough, battlehardened, playoff proven veterans.

But with the way their franchise is going with huge losses I can see their owner Michael Heisley liking the idea of having all these guys on their cheap rookie contracts for a few years and just making it above the team minimum salary of $39mil every year.

TheNewEra · Post #17 » by **TheNewEra** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 3:49 pm

^^^Hows Bell been doing?

i<3basketball · Post #18 » by **i<3basketball** » Fri Mar 6, 2009 5:27 pm

BigSlam wrote:Don't be hard on yourself - for some reason yahoo has this pic of him. He's still short on top without the goatee. I'm sure you'd still pick him out.

That's his picture on the Bobcats website too btw so I guess that's where Yahoo got it from.

Baddy Chuck · Post #19 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Mon Mar 9, 2009 6:48 pm

Third shot at it, made a few suprise picks in here IMO but I think they fit the teams needs.

1. Sacramento - Blake Griffin
2. Washington - James Harden
3. Oklahoma City - Hasheem Thabeet
4. LA Clippers - Jordan Hill
5. Memphis - Greg Monroe
6. Minnesota - Tyreke Evans
7. Golden State - Brandon Jennings
8. Toronto - Gerald Henderson
9. New York - Jeff Teague
10. Charlotte - Demar DeRozan
11. Indiana - Patrick Patterson
12. New Jersey - Earl Clark
13. Milwaukee - Al-Farouq Aminu
14. Phoenix - Willie Warren
15. Chicago - BJ Mullens
16. Detroit - Craig Brackins
17. Philadelphia - Stephen Curry
18. Minnesota - Jerome Jordan
19. Atlanta - Eric Maynor
20. Dallas - Evan Turner
21. Utah - Terrence Williams
22. New Orleans - DeJuan Blair
23. Portland - Omri Casspi
24. Sacramento - Darren Collison
25. Chicago - James Johnson
26. Oklahoma City - Patrick Mills
27. Memphis - Tyler Hansbrough
28. Minnesota - Ty Lawson
29. Cleveland - Jeff Pendergraph
30. LA Lakers - Taj Gibson

john2jer · Post #20 » by **john2jer** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:23 pm

I love it. Tyreke Evans and Jerome Jordan are two of my favorite players in this draft based on where they're expected to go. In your mock they're probably going higher than they actually should, but since they fit the Wolves needs perfectly and the other options in those slots are ugly for the Wolves. I love Ty Lawson at #28 for the Wolves, but if Tyreke Evans is projected to be a PG, that leaves the Wolves with 4 PGs on the roster and a combo guard in Randy Foye makes a 5th guy who can play there.

Telfair's a decent back-up expiring, so he could be moved, and Bobby Brown's on a minimum contract, so moving or cutting him shouldn't be a big deal.

But being the selfish jerk I am, I'll comment on only the Wolves and say I love it.

I think the Clippers have a worse record than the Thunder, don't they? I just know the Wolves aren't far from passing the Grizz and Thunder for the 4th worst record.

As of right now it goes Kings, Wizards, Clippers, Grizzlies, Thunder, Wolves...

So assuming that the Clippers still want Jordan Hill, who do the Grizzlies take Thabeet or Monroe? I'm sure the Thunder would prefer to be left with Thabeet.