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2009 NBA Mock Draft - Version 1.0

by Rizzo23 on May 22, 2009 2:40 PM CDT

With the lottery completed and the order decided, it’s time to try my hand at an early mock for this year’s draft. There have already been some risers and fallers early on and I’m sure there will be more in the coming days. Some teams are looking to shop their picks, mostly in the late first round, but for now, I’ll just assume that there won’t be any trades. Of course, that means the Celtics won’t be drafting in the first round, but my rules are meant to be broken on draft day, so I’m sure Ainge will do just that. Let’s see how the first round of the draft could shake out.

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma

This is a no-brainer pick. He has been the #1 pick in this draft since last November and has won every Player of the Year award you can think of. I’ve already posted my thoughts on this pick for the Clippers, so I won’t go over it again. He’s got the potential to be a top power forward in the league in a few years, but also if he doesn’t develop much of an offensive game, could have already plateud. I don’t expect that to happen, so he will develop into a very good, borderline great, power forward in the league.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Ricky Rubio, G, Spain

Rubio’s agent has already said they will do what they can to avoid him going to either Memphis or Oklahoma City, but the same agent tried to do this with Yi last year and failed. Ultimately, I think Rubio decides to play for whoever takes him and Memphis, with the #2 pick, should take the 2nd best talent on the board. People widely consider Rubio and Thabeet to round out the top-3 with Griffin, but I could see Memphis consider Jordan Hill at this pick if they do not want to stunt the growth of Mike Conley, Jr. In the end, Rubio is the pick and should embrace the chance to play with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

The Thunder have many holes and are not in a position to draft by, well, position. Other than Westbrook, Durant and Jeff Green have solidified their spots on this team. Nenad Krstic was a nice pickup last year, but he’s not a center you would want to build around. Thabeet would give them an instant upgrade in the defense department and if his offense ever comes around, he could become a really nice player. He must bulk up, but who in the draft doesn’t? Also considered James Harden and DeMar DeRozan at this spot.

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Id take Rubio over anyone in this draft

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on May 23, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions

some random thoughts about some random prospects that could find their way to the spurs:

curtis jerrels – baylor. possibly another one of those point/shooting guard types. great handles, great run and gun shooter – but a shamless gunner without much regard for defense in his college career. good athlete who can score. this is what we need, but would have to start playing some D.

taj gibson – USC/jeff pendergraph – ariz state. both are wiry big guys that could provide the additional inside presence needed. i like gibson better because he is a supreme defender and defensive rebounder. i think that he would be an ideal fit for the spurs. pendergraph is a better scorer, but not as physical. could still be useful in our system.

danny green – north carolina. saw a projection sending him to SA somewhere. a double digit scorer on a team of stars in college. athletic wing type player who has developed his shooting ability every year in school. this could be yet another wing type guy who we want to mold into the bruce bowen spot on our roster. he is more known, but reminds me a little of george hill.

i am sure that i will have more random thoughts on miscellaneous college players as the draft gets closer. and let’s face it, where the spurs are drafting, they are either getting a miscellaneous college player or a foreign reach player barring some kind of trade up.

how about portland trying to move batum? anything to that? what about chicago trying to move tyrus thomas and/or kirk hinrich? thomas has athleticism coming out of every pore and batum is very active – both could fit and hinrich could be a stabilizer behind tony. again, just random thoughts.

by bones on May 27, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions