2009 Mock Draft 1 (Lottery Edition)
Below is the initial HoopsFanCentral.com NBA mock draft for 2009. We'll get through the lottery today (the first 14 picks) and come back and complete the first round tomorrow.
Update: click here to view the rest of the mock draft.
1. LA Clippers: Blake Griffin
Even with a log jam in the frontcourt, Griffin is the right pick here. They'll just have to do what they can to get him the minutes he needs.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ricky Rubio
This is a tough one between Rubio and Thabeet, since both would have to replace a young player for the Grizzlies, but Rubio is better than Thabeet so he gets the nod here.
3. OK City Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet
This seems like an easy pick to me, as taking Thabeet would give them the defensive center they were trying to acquire in the Tyson Chandler trade, except at less than half the price.
4. Sacramento Kings: Jrue Holiday
Sacramento doesn't have a need for a PF, so Hill is out. They have Kevin Martin already, so Harden is out. Beno Udrih is awful, so it has to be a point guard. They were horrible on defense last year, so Holiday is the pick.
5. Washington Wizards: James Harden
Harden can come in and contribute right away at a position of need for the Wizards.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: DeMar DeRozan
While PG is a greater need, the Wolves probably feel that they can wait until pick 18 to address it, and thus they will start trying to fix their complete lack of athleticism by taking DeRozan.
7. Golden St. Warriors: Jordan Hill
The Warriors could use a PG, SG or PF ... and will take Hill who has the talent to be a top-5 pick.
8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry
Even if you ignore the rumors that the Knicks will take Curry to try to lure LeBron in 2010, you can't ignore the fact that whatever team drafts Curry will be immediately better on offense. And that works perfectly for Mike D'Antoni.
9. Toronto Raptors: Tyreke Evans
The Raptors need a SG with Anthony Parker hitting free agency and Evans' ability to get into the paint will be a nice complement to all of the jump shooters that the team has assembled.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings
With Sessions most likely leaving in free agency, the Bucks have a need for a PG and luckily for them Jennings is still available. He has the potential to be the best player in the draft but is a bit of a question mark after being mostly unproductive in Europe over the last year.
11. New Jersey Nets: DeJuan Blair
The Nets need a horse of a power forward who isn't afraid to get into the paint and mix it up. Sounds like Blair to me.
12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson
The Bobcats biggest need is SG and Henderson is a defensive minded player that Larry Brown could love.
13. Indiana Pacers: Eric Maynor
The Pacers really need a center, but none that remain are good enough to take here, so they'll try to replace Jarrett Jack with a point guard that can complement TJ Ford well ... and Maynor's size allows him to do that.
14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark
Clark could be the second coming of Shawn Marion in the Suns system with his ability to play the three and the four as well as score from inside and out.
Update: click here to view the rest of the mock draft.
1. LA Clippers: Blake Griffin
Even with a log jam in the frontcourt, Griffin is the right pick here. They'll just have to do what they can to get him the minutes he needs.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ricky Rubio
This is a tough one between Rubio and Thabeet, since both would have to replace a young player for the Grizzlies, but Rubio is better than Thabeet so he gets the nod here.
3. OK City Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet
This seems like an easy pick to me, as taking Thabeet would give them the defensive center they were trying to acquire in the Tyson Chandler trade, except at less than half the price.
4. Sacramento Kings: Jrue Holiday
Sacramento doesn't have a need for a PF, so Hill is out. They have Kevin Martin already, so Harden is out. Beno Udrih is awful, so it has to be a point guard. They were horrible on defense last year, so Holiday is the pick.
5. Washington Wizards: James Harden
Harden can come in and contribute right away at a position of need for the Wizards.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: DeMar DeRozan
While PG is a greater need, the Wolves probably feel that they can wait until pick 18 to address it, and thus they will start trying to fix their complete lack of athleticism by taking DeRozan.
7. Golden St. Warriors: Jordan Hill
The Warriors could use a PG, SG or PF ... and will take Hill who has the talent to be a top-5 pick.
8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry
Even if you ignore the rumors that the Knicks will take Curry to try to lure LeBron in 2010, you can't ignore the fact that whatever team drafts Curry will be immediately better on offense. And that works perfectly for Mike D'Antoni.
9. Toronto Raptors: Tyreke Evans
The Raptors need a SG with Anthony Parker hitting free agency and Evans' ability to get into the paint will be a nice complement to all of the jump shooters that the team has assembled.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings
With Sessions most likely leaving in free agency, the Bucks have a need for a PG and luckily for them Jennings is still available. He has the potential to be the best player in the draft but is a bit of a question mark after being mostly unproductive in Europe over the last year.
11. New Jersey Nets: DeJuan Blair
The Nets need a horse of a power forward who isn't afraid to get into the paint and mix it up. Sounds like Blair to me.
12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson
The Bobcats biggest need is SG and Henderson is a defensive minded player that Larry Brown could love.
13. Indiana Pacers: Eric Maynor
The Pacers really need a center, but none that remain are good enough to take here, so they'll try to replace Jarrett Jack with a point guard that can complement TJ Ford well ... and Maynor's size allows him to do that.
14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark
Clark could be the second coming of Shawn Marion in the Suns system with his ability to play the three and the four as well as score from inside and out.
Labels: Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, DeJuan Blair, DeMar Derozan, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, Jordan Hill, Jrue Holiday, mock, NBA Draft, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans
posted by MJfan02 at
4:00 PM
0 Comments
