Now that the 2009 NBA Draft order is set, it's time for the second FanHouse Mock Draft of the season.The Clippers have won the first pick, with Memphis and Oklahoma City rounding out the top three spots. Several teams, including Minnesota, Sacramento and Chicago, have multiple picks in the first round.
After the jump, find the full first round mocked out. Then, feel free to mock it. That's how this works.
- 1. Clippers: Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
The Clippers don't necessarily need a big man, with possession-sponge Zach Randolph and defenders Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby in tow. But they can't pass on Griffin, considering the injury issues with the others and the youth deficiency in the frontcourt. Ricky Rubio could also be a possibility, if the murmurs of Baron Davis' persona non grata status are accurate. Mike Dunleavy was in Spain this weekend scouting Rubio. - 2. Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn
Kings fans will hope a trade gets worked out between Memphis and Sacramento -- Thabeet could still be around at No. 4. But otherwise, Thabeet is the single non-Griffin top prospect that makes real sense for Memphis. - 3. Thunder: Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
No one knows whether Sam Presti believes Russell Westbrook is a point guard or two-guard in the NBA. If Rubio is on the board, we'll find out in rather quick order. This would also be a tradable pick, depending on how the top two picks shake out. - 4. Kings: Tyreke Evans, PG, Memphis
I don't want to talk about it. I will note that Brandon Jennings is openly campaigning for the selection, though: "All imma say is, that #4 spot! Is a good spot for people in the draft! WESTBROOK #4? CONLEY #4???" - 5. Wizards: James Harden, G, Arizona State
Harden is actually a really, really good fit for Washington: he doesn't need the ball to be effective (good thing), and he should (in time) have the defensive chops to help out Gilbert Arenas. - 6. Timberwolves: Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy
The wolves could be in play to move up for Thabeet, but replacing Sebastian Telfair at the point won't make anyone mad. - 7. Warriors: Ty Lawson, PG, Carolina
The Monta Ellis as point guard experiment failed (according to everyone but ... Monta Ellis), but Lawson should fit right in. Let's hope Don Nelson doesn't ruin him! - 8. Knicks: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona
The one requirement of the Mike D'Antoni is ... a great point guard. Number two? Forwards who can fly and finish. - 9. Raptors: DeJuan Blair, PF, Pitt
Bryan Colangelo knows he needs a brawny ball-buster to fit into his frontcourt between lithe Chris Bosh and fluffy Andrea Bargnani. Blair is one heckuva brawny ball-buster. - 10. Bucks: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
Milwaukee's in an odd spot, and you wonder if John Hammond and Scott Skiles will have a clue of how the Ramon Sessions/Charlie Villanueva situations will work out. But the team always needs frontcourt help, and Johnson should light up the workout scene. - 11. Nets: Earl Clark, F, Louisville
New Jersey has a nice base at point guard (Devin Harris) and center (Brook Lopez), which leaves some neat options in between. Clark defines "in between," and provides the sort of scoring prowess a post-Carter (Vince, not Sean) NJ needs. - 12. Bobcats: Stephen Curry, G, Davidson
I believe Michael Jordan has already called "dibs." But Curry could actually go as high as No. 4 by my watch. - 13. Pacers: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
Henderson, the un-Dukie, could be a phenomenal flyer alongside fellows like T.J. Ford, Danny Granger and Jeff Foster. Indiana doesn't draft to its system, though, so this is pretty wide open. - 14. Suns: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
Shockingly, Goran Dragic is not the heir apparent, looking more in his rookie year like countryman Beno Udrih than Tony Parker. Teague is creative and fearless, a fine combination when Amare Stoudemire is hanging near the rim waiting for your delivery. - 15. Pistons: Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville
- 16. Bulls: Demar DeRozan, G/F, Southern Cal
- 17. 76ers: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
- 18. Timberwolves: Sam Young, F, Pitt
- 19. Hawks: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
- 20. Jazz: Austin Daye, F, Gonzaga
- 21. Hornets: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
- 22. Mavericks: Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona
- 23. Kings: Nick Calathes, PG, Florida
- 24. Blazers: Omri Casspi, G/F, Israel
- 25. Thunder: Tyler Hansbrough, F, Carolina
- 26. Bulls: Patrick Mills, PG, St. Mary's
- 27. Grizzlies: Victor Claver, PF, Spain
- 28. Timberwolves: Jeff Pendergraph, F, Arizona State
- 29. Lakers: B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State
- 30. Cavaliers: Wayne Ellington, G, Carolina
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I completely disagree about Thabeet #2 to Memphis. If Memphis does this, then they are doing it to trade him to a team that wants them to pick him. Memphis does not need a center. Gasol showed that he can get the job done and Darko as a backup off the bench. They have 3 other centers on the roster besides those 2 guys. If Thabeet was dominant game after game like Griffin was, then yes, pick him by all means, but he is not and may never be. What Memphis needed was Griffin (a true NBA power forward) but since bad luck struck again, like it does every year for them, they are stuck with decisions. What I would do is see if the Timberwolves would be willing to trade No 6 and No 18 for the No 2 pick. If not, Sacramento has No 4 and No 23. Memphis needs a PF and a PG in that order. They also need a shooting guard and a small forward that can relieve OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay without being totally outclassed like they are right now. The have no bench besides Hakim Warrick and Darko. Basically, those are their 4 needs. With 4 picks after the trade (3 in the first round), they can address all their needs in 1 draft.
Only big thing i can really argue with is i believe Memphis will definetly take Ricky #2 and then probably Thabeet going to the Thunder at 3. It makes a lot more sense for both teams. Memphis thought Conley would be their PG but they havent shown much confidence at all in him. Ricky with Gay, Mayo, and Warrick makes SO much sense. And then the Thunder keep getting young players with potentional at every position (Green (SF), Durant(SG), Westbrook (PG)) by getting Thabeet (C) with the 3 pick.
dummy....Bosh and Bargnani are both power forwards (although the Craptors play B at center) so they're going to get ANOTHER power forward?? They need an effing shooting guard who can actually create his own goddamn shot or a small forward if Marion doesn't come back...and Bosh needs to grow a pair so they don't need to keep bringing in fake tough guys to protect him...Bosh is the most overrated player...unless you're talking WNBA....
Oh and one more thing you can take to the bank - New Orleans definetly arent taking a PG with their only 1st round pick when they have Chris Paul playing 40+ minutes and are very thin at every other position , esp the frontcourt. And also they will be trading someone so this pick could possibly play in with that...
Terrence Williams will go to the Raptors...
That is an AWFULLY, AWFULLY, AWFULLY small mock draft. Mostly point guards! Did I mention it was an awfully SMALL mock draft? Maybe I did. First pick sounds like it may be right, whether the Clippers Trade Randolph or the pick. The Clips were scouting Rubio because they didn`t deserve the first pick, but they got it. I agree, if Thabeet goes second, either Gasol, who just got there, or Thabeet will be traded, they don`t need yet another big stiff to get lost in the shuffle. Bosh and Bargnani are actually both tweeners, between small forward and power forward, which is why the need a wing guard or, if they can get a good one, a legit center or a power forward to blend with them up front, or make one of them tradeable. Marion can play guard. Parker is a reasonably good guard, but not really starting quality good. He would do better as a combo guard off the bench. GMs can be idiots, so New Orleans could waste their pick on a point guard to back their young, best pure (Wade got the spot first team all pro, but doesn`t play that position for his own team, he could have, the Heat could start Cook, they don`t)point guard in the league, or good trade Paul, since they need help at other positions, but I doubt it. Phoenix will make its decision in part based on who they think they`ll lose first, Hill or O`Neal. They have Barbosa to back Nash, ahead of Dragic, and he is small for wing guard. They`ll probably go for a replacement at forward, to potentially pair with Amundsen, who is also a tweener, a bit light at power forward, or at center, Shaq isn`t young, and Robin "Weak Sister" Lopez needs to radically improve this summer, so if B. J. Mullens is still available, he may not drop all the way to the Lakers.
Tom - Bummer dude.
Ricky Rubio = Ernie DiGregorio
In college, DiGregorio was the greatest ball handler I've ever seen to this day. He was selected third overall in the 1973 NBA Draft and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1973-74 after averaging 15.2 points and leading the league in both free throw percentage and assists per game. Beyond that, he was pretty much a bust.
Have you heard of Jodie Meeks? He is the best player in the country!
Rubio makes more sense for the Grizzlies at number 2 than Thabeet but what they ought to consider is (as I mentioned before) is trading down since they didnt get Griffin. Take Tyreke Evans with the number 6 pick they acquire from Minnesota (provided they make this trade), and let him play behind Conley at PG for 1 season before transitioning him to starter duties. A 6 foot 6 point guard who can score and pass and play defense in the NBA is an asset and he proved at Memphis he could play PG. Then they need to focus on PF with the 18th pick they acquire from Minnesota.
Jodie Meeks is a whole lot better than most of these so called 1st rounders..let's be honest.