Many experts are saying this year’s NBA Draft class is ho-hum, with only one can’t-miss prospect. Barring a monumental Clippers debacle (not unheard of) the team from LA not celebrating a championship will be taking Blake Griffin. Other than the first pick, the draft is really anyone’s guess. Will this year’s draft end up being like the 2000 draft, which didn’t have a perennial All-Star in the bunch or the 1996 draft where future Hall of Famers (Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash) were picked in the middle of the first round? It will probably be somewhere in between. One thing NBA GMs seem to overdraft every year is size (see Michael Olowokandi) and unproven skilled Euros (See Darko Milicic). Both should be represented early in this year’s draft. Let’s get to it.
1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin 6’10”, 250, PF, Oklahoma: This is a no brainer and even the Clippers won’t screw this up. The last few years have had some drama over the number one pick, but not this year. The Clippers have a storied history of high draft picks but only two, #1 overall picks, Danny Manning and Michael Olowokandi. Let’s hope for the Clippers’ sake he’s more Manning and less Kandi-man.
2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet 7’3’, 265, C, Connecticut: This is where it gets interesting. The Grizzlies go big because they desperately need size, rebounding, and shot blocking, and the former Husky provides that. Ricky Rubio cancelled his workout for Memphis indicating that he doesn’t want to go there, but the Grizzlies are known to thumb their nose at that—Steve Francis comes to mind. Also, don’t be surprised if Minnesota packages #5 and #18 or #6 and #18 to move up and take the big man or Rubio.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – James Harden 6’5”, 220, SG, Arizona State: Oklahoma City has had two nice picks in a row with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. With Durant at the 3 and Westbrook at the 1, Harden makes the most sense. Don’t be surprised if the Thunder try to trade this pick or even go after Rubio in a bit of an upset.
4. Sacramento Kings – Tyreke Evans 6’5”, 220, G, Memphis: Evans has flown up the draft charts recently and the Kings decide to go with Evans over Rubio. Although the big need for the Kings is PG, they go with Evans, a two with PG skills.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves – Ricky Rubio 6’5”, 180, PG, DKV Joventut, Spain: The T-Wolves would be thrilled with this scenario, getting possibly the player with the most upside in the draft. Rubio is a playmaker playing high level pro ball. A great passer, Rubio is the #1 Euro prospect and the player that sparks the most debate. Just ask Brandon Jennings.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry 6’3”, 180, G, Davidson: I know I have the T-Wolves taking a point the pick before but the guy they want, Tyreke Evans, is off the board and the Wolves desperately need outside shooting. Derozan makes sense here as he is an athletic two but Curry’s shooting is too much for the Wolves to pass up.
7. Golden State Warriors – Jordan Hill 6’10”, 235, PF, Arizona: We have seen this before…Brandon Wright and Anthony Randolph anyone? The Warriors have a glut in the backcourt and Hill would fill a nice need at power forward, but will Don Nelson know how to use him?
8. New York Knicks – Brandon Jennings 6’2”, 165, PG, Lottomatica Roma, Italy: The Euro that is not really a Euro. The Knicks will be disappointed that Stephen Curry is off the board but they need a playmaker. Jennings has a ton of upside, and was a star at the 2008 McDonalds’ All-American game.
9. Toronto Raptors – DeMar Derozan 6’7”, 210, SG, USC: The Raptors could go a number of ways here: Holiday, Flynn, or Henderson. Toronto needs some excitement to convince Chris Bosh to stay. (Some say his leaving is a forgone conclusion.) So they opt for the athletic swingman that is still working on his shot, but has an NBA body and his athleticism is too much to pass up.
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Jrue Holiday 6’4”, 200, PG, UCLA: The Bucks just sent their second leading scorer, Richard Jefferson, to the Spurs for some expiring contracts, freeing up some desperately needed cap space. For this year’s draft, the Bucks are looking for the best player available and Jrue Holiday fits the bill. The UCLA PG played out of position last year and was projected as high as #4 a few weeks ago. He’ll be a solid pick here at #10.
11. New Jersey Nets – Terence Williams 6’6”, 215, SG, Louisville: Vince Carter isn’t getting any younger and Williams is shooting up draft boards. He is impressing teams with his shooting ability and athleticism. Power Forward also makes some sense here but it’s too early for Hansbrough or Blair.
12. Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson 6’5”, 215, SG, Duke: The Bobcats wanted either Williams or Henderson and this makes their choice easier. Henderson is a nice scorer, who plays an all-around team game and plays solid defense. But will Michael Jordan really draft a Dukie?
13. Indiana Pacers – Jonny Flynn 6’0”, 190, PG, Syracuse: The Pacers are ecstatic that Flynn falls into their lap. A super-quick and athletic point guard who could have gone as high as #4 is a real steal here. This is the year of the point guard so far, with possibly as many as six point guards (counting Evans and Curry) going in the first thirteen picks.
14. Phoenix Suns – Earl Clark 6’10”, 225, SF, Louisville: Clark is a versatile tweener who likes to run the floor and face the basket, which works well in a Phoenix-type offense. If the Suns are able to move Shaq this could be a big like Hansbrough or Mullens.
15. Detroit Pistons – James Johnson 6’8”, 255, PF, Wake Forest: Johnson is also a tweener that has some three point range. He has the bulk and rebounding ability to settle into the 4 and the touch to play the 3. He would be a nice addition if the Pistons try to move some of their older players.
16. Chicago Bulls - DeJuan Blair 6’7”, 275, PF, Pittsburgh: The Bulls could use some bulk inside and this would definitely fit the bill. Blair has a nice post game and played a high level of competition in college. There are some concerns about his knees, but Blair assured teams that won’t be a problem.
17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor 6’3”, 165, PG, Virginia Commonwealth: Maynor was one of the leading scorers in the NCAA last year; he has a good floor game and knows how to get to the line, which is something you just can’t teach. However, he is a four-year college player and you know how GMs feel about them.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves – B.J. Mullens 7’1”, 260, C, Ohio State: An athletic big man that is only the second true center taken off the board so far. The Wolves need a big and if they still have this pick would probably take the raw Mullens. My guess is they don’t have this pick, but Mullens still goes in this slot.
19. Atlanta Hawks – Ty Lawson 6’0”, 185, PG, North Carolina: A small but sturdy guard who was the floor general on a National Championship squad. He likes to play up-tempo which would seem to be a good fit next to Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. At the very least Lawson would be a nice change of pace behind Mike Bibby.
20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough 6’9”, 230, PF, North Carolina: We’ve got a run on Tar heels. Doesn’t it just make a lot of sense for Hansbrough to play for Utah….think about it? But, seriously it is some insurance for Carlos Boozer, who is most likely gone soon.
21. New Orleans Hornets – Austin Daye 6’11”, 195, PF, Gonzaga: 6’11” 195, are you serious? Daye has a lot of potential and I think taking picks at this point of the draft should be based on potential. Daye has a nice jumper and athleticism but needs to add about 50lbs.
22. Dallas Mavericks – Jeff Teague 6’2”, 180, PG, Wake Forest: Teague is a natural scorer who kind of reminds you of Devin Harris. Does he have the quickness and PG skills to play the position? If he does, the Mavs could atone for trading Harris to New Jersey.
23. Sacramento Kings – Sam Young 6’7”, 225. SF. Pittsburgh: Solid player that excelled against tough competition and does everything well, just not great. NBA ready player right now with not a lot of upside.
24. Portland Trailblazers – Darren Collison 6’0”, 170, PG, UCLA: There is talk that Sergio Rodriguez is on the move and the Blazers could use another PG to fill their roster. Collison has the high basketball IQ to stay in the NBA for a long time.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Chase Budinger 6’7”, 210, SF, Arizona: Some experts projected Budinger as high as a top 10 pick after his freshman season, but he has slowly fallen since then. The athletic wing still has a chance to develop into a solid contributor in the NBA.
26. Chicago Bulls – Wayne Ellington 6’5”, 190, SG, North Carolina: The Bulls could use a scorer if Ben Gordon bolts, and Ellington—fresh off his NCAA tournament MOP—fills that need. Don’t be surprised if the Bulls pull the trigger on Casspi instead.
27. Memphis Grizzlies – Jon Brockman 6’7” 255, PF Washington: A bit of a surprise here, but the tough, physical Brockman can score down low and rebound. He plays bigger than his size. Can anyone really argue with the Pac-10 after all these kids get picked. Where is the Pac-10 love?
28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Omri Casspi 6’9” 210, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel: A tough player that a lot of teams are trying to move into the first round to get. This makes sense for Minnesota who won’t have four first round rookies on their squad, so they trade the pick here or tell Casspi to stay in Israel for a couple years.
29. Los Angeles Lakers – Toney Douglas 6’2” 185, SG, Florida State: Does this guy remind anyone of Derek Fisher? An undersized 2 that can shoot and score and handle a little point when necessary.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Patrick “Patty” Mills 6’0”, 175, PG, St Mary’s: Lightning quick point guard with experience against international competition. Can really penetrate and dish, with a nice shooting touch. Lebron could use someone to take on a little of the ball handling load.