2009 NBA Mock Draft (updated Jun 25, 2009 4:45 PM EST)
1. Los Angeles Clippers
BLAKE GRIFFIN, Oklahoma
The Clippers made this decision on the day of the lottery.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis Grizzlies)
RICKY RUBIO, DKV Joventut (Spain)
The T-Wolves traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller for the No. 5 pick and could package the No. 5 & No. 18 picks to move up and get the Spanish sensation.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
HASHEEM THABEET, Connecticut
The Thunder would love to add the 7-foot-3 difference-maker to their young core, especially considering they tried trading for shotblocker Tyson Chandler last season.
4. Sacramento Kings
TYREKE EVANS, Memphis
The Kings want a point guard and Evans had the best workout for them.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (from Minnesota Timberwolves)
JORDAN HILL, Arizona
The Grizzlies need help everywhere and nabbing Hill adds some athleticism to their frontcourt.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
JAMES HARDEN, Arizona State
Should the T-Wolves select Harden with their second lottery pick, they’ll have a sensational young backcourt to build upon.
7. Phoenix Suns (from Golden State Warriors)
STEPHEN CURRY, Davidson
The suddenly re-building Suns are reportedly trading into the top 10 (also getting Andris Biedrins in exchange for Amar’e Stoudemire) and Steve Kerr uses Curry to start the new regime.
8. New York Knicks
BRANDON JENNINGS, Lottomatica Roma (Italy)
Jennings has undeniable talent and New York seems very interested, but if the Knicks don’t select him here, he could be on a freefall.
9. Toronto Raptors
DEMAR DEROZAN, USC
With size, athleticism, and first-year numbers eerily similar to Gerald Wallace’s, DeRozan is overflowing with potential.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
JONNY FLYNN, Syracuse
After dealing for bigs Kurt Thomas (via the Spurs) and Amir Johnson (via the Pistons), the Bucks go with the best point guard available.
11. New Jersey Nets
TYLER HANSBROUGH, North Carolina
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and everyone is talking about the Nets overreaching for the former Wooden Award winner.
12. Charlotte Bobcats
TERRENCE WILLIAMS, Louisville
Williams, is a great athlete and a gifted passer and Larry Brown and company have noticed his special talent.
13. Indiana Pacers
DEJUAN BLAIR, Pittsburgh
All the pro scouts who saw Blair put up 22 points and 23 rebounds against Thabeet realized that Blair will be a tough cover in the NBA.
14. Phoenix Suns
EARL CLARK, Louisville
Since the Suns will now get a point guard early, they can target a big man and Clark has a ton of potential.
15. Detroit Pistons
JRUE HOLIDAY, UCLA
The Pistons don’t have a need for Holiday because Rodney Stuckey is on the roster, but his talent and value are too great to pass up in the middle of the first round.
16. Chicago Bulls
GERALD HENDERSON, Duke
The Bulls considered trading up to get Henderson and they wouldn't mind taking a perimeter player, especially if they do trade Kirk Hinrich, as is being reported.
17. Philadelphia 76ers
TY LAWSON, North Carolina
Lawson gives the Sixers a fast floor general to replace Andre Miller and an extra spot-up shooter in half court sets.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (from Minnesota Timberwolves)
B.J. MULLENS, Ohio State
Mullens was disappointing as a freshman, but Memphis can risk taking a chance the second best center prospect in the draft.
19. Atlanta Hawks
JEFF TEAGUE, Wake Forest
Teague, an explosive combo guard, can ultimately replace Mike Bibby and even help out at the 2.
20. Utah Jazz
SAM YOUNG, Pittsburgh
Jerry Sloan is apparently a Sam Young fan and he’ll have a chance to nab the NBA-ready wing.
21. New Orleans Hornets
ERIC MAYNOR, Virginia Commonwealth
The Hornets don’t have a back-up point guard signed after the 2010 and Maynor is a good one.
22. Dallas Mavericks
AUSTIN DAYE, Davidson
Daye’s camp insists he was given a “top 20” promise, but he would learn a ton about being a skilled big man from Dirk Nowitzki.
23. Sacramento Kings
CHASE BUDINGER, Arizona
Budinger’s versatility and ability to shoot the basketball will fit nicely for this West coast team that saw him play frequently on television.
24. Portland Trail Blazers
JAMES JOHNSON, Wake Forest
A black belt in karate, Johnson is a unique athlete for his size and Memphis gets even deeper in the frontcourt.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder
OMRI CASSPI, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
An athletic forward who plays with some cockiness, Casspi could be a steal this late in the first round as Oklahoma City adds even more talent to the roster.
26. Chicago Bulls
TAJ GIBSON, USC
The Bulls have talked about taking a player from Europe with their second pick, but after getting a perimeter player they could go for Gibson, an underappreciated power forward.
27. Memphis Grizzlies
WAYNE ELLINGTON, North Carolina
Adding one of the best shooters in the draft gives the Grizzlies depth and could take some offensive pressure off of O.J. Mayo.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
DERRICK BROWN, Xavier
Brown compares himself to Tayshaun Prince and the T-Wolves could use another versatile weapon.
29. New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Lakers)
JODIE MEEKS, Kentucky
There's been a lot of talk of Jack McClinton going to the Knicks, but Meeks be an even better fit for New York.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers
TONEY DOUGLAS, Florida State
Now that they have a low post anchor in Shaq, the Cavs can look for a perimeter scorer with toughness with this pick.
Interesting.
Interesting Mock draft. My main worry about Thabeet going #2 is whether that means Marc Gasol is playing the 4. It seems like it would have to. I feel like the best pick for OKC would be a role-playing SG in terms of what they need, Rubio might upgrade the PG and move Westbrook to SG, but if neither of them can guard 2's, then the net gain might not be worth it.
Do the Knicks not have to trade the #8 to move up to #5? If they pull that off, that'd be a real good situation. How would that make Gilbert feel?
The Hawks getting Teague at #19 would be perfect for them. The Hornets getting Ellington at #21 would also be an excellent fit.
Enjoyable read.
Some thoughts on your mock...
1) Lawson over Maynor at 17 in Philly? I like Lawson's explosiveness, but I know you feel he's not a penetrate and dish kind of player. Sure, the 76ers are better when they run, but Eddie Jordan runs a Princeton offense. Maynor is ready now too, don't you think?
2) How do the Knicks, not exactly known for their Wizardry (yep I went there) in trade execution, manage to move up to 5 without getting rid of the 8? Those expiring contracts better expire something serious
3) James Johnson before Jeff Teague?
That's all I got, real good stuff, when do we get your NHL draft mock?
D
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PhillyPhaithful.com
Some interesting questions...
1. Obviously this is assuming Andre Miller returns, but I think Eddie Jordan is going to want as many shooters on the floor as possible. Lawson is an excellent spot-up shooter and his collegiate numbers were off the charts. Maynor was one of the best perimeter defenders in all of college basketball and I love his savvy, yet I just think the Sixers will go with Lawson. I almost expect Maynor to have a better career though.
2. You knew someone was going to trade for the Wizards' pick. Turns out it wasn't the Knicks, but the T-Wolves. Minny could end up doing something with the No. 5 & 6 picks so we'll just have to wait and see if new GM David Kahn makes another move.
3. I really like Teague and Johnson. The order in which they're selected could certainly flip-flop in some capacity. Teague really struggled during the second half of the year (after an incredibly hot start) and Johnson does a lot of things well, but both have a lot of potential at the next level.
And, no, you won't be finding any NHL mocks here... I don't even know what NHL stands for. Ha ha.
Hey PhillyPhaithful
Good stuff, some thoughts of my own based on your post. If Andre Miller is resigned by the Sixers (i know everyone says he won't, but he hasn't signed anywhere else and I hear he is talking to Stefanski on a weekly basis), then I think Jeff Teague is the better pick over Lawson. However, if he is not, then I think LAwson is more ready for the NBA then MAynor and Teague. I'm a die hard Wake Forest fan (from Winston Salem)...Teague has the ability to be the best PG in the draft, but has to have his head straight, and take a year to develop under a guy like Miller.
James Johnson is an athletic FREAK of nature, but overall, his game is still raw. He will be a GREAT 3 for a team that needs that position, but he still needs time to develop. He is 23 years old, and as you know, age is sooooo important to people drafting. He would have probably stayed at Wake if he was the age of a normal sophmore.
Lawson, has the aggressivness and ability to be a legit playmaker. He proved that playing for the best team in the country. Can he do it when NOT playing for the best team in the country? not sure. One more reason I like Teague more then Lawson? They played each other twice in their collegiate career. Teague out performed him both times and it wasn't even close. There is my 2 cents....
ACC
JMersch,
Interesting stuff. Despite being a 6'1 Jewish swing guard on my middle school hoops team (17.4 PPG on C-team, holler!), ironically my grandfather played center--at 6'3, NUTS--on some Wake teams in the 1940's, so I have a soft spot for the Deacs.
Personally, while I didn't watch either of the UNC-Wake games close enough to remember the details, I do know that every time I watch Lawson I see a gamer with ridiculous speed and a solid jumper. He is also a competitor, something the 76ers seemed to lack often times this year. Reggie Evans was by far our hardest working player, which says a lot about a) why we drew 10,000 fans a game and b) why we were mediocre again.
I do like Teague, however, I also really like Maynor. Either way, the Miller situation needs to play out before we jump to any conclusions. Then again, who they draft might tell us a lot. My money is on a 7'2 Ukrainian pivot we've never heard of.
Dan
PhillyPhaithful.com
AGreed, my bet is for the
AGreed, my bet is for the ever popular 'European who can shoot'
If we take LAwson, which I thinki the sixers do if he is still there, I'm happy with that pick.
I'll just have to swallow my pride and cheer for a *gulp* tarheel... excuse me, I need to wipe the throw up off my computer
No Love for the Dirty Dirty??
Hawks taking Teague with Maynor still on the board??? We need some stability at the point in Atlanta (for the future of course). We have a project now his name is Acie Law (whom I was excited about at first) and he's not event a capable backup...Any chance any of the higher rated PG's fall (Flynn, Curry or Jennings)???...
www.myspaceiscrowded.blogspot.com
I will always have love for Atlanta
I'm a big Maynor fan, but I think Teague will be their guy (assuming both are on the board). Teague can be a back-up point guard and get some minutes at the 2. Maynor is strictly a point guard and actually weighed 164 pounds at the combine, which was 17 pounds lighter than Steph Curry.
I can't imagine any scenario in which one of the highly rated point guards slides to No. 19, but anything can happen in this draft because there are so many of them to choose from.