2009 NBA Mock Draft - Version 1.0

by Rizzo23 on May 22, 2009 2:24 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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Totally wrong

Clippers Rubio
Memphis Trades Pick to Chicago They take Hasheem Thabeet
Oklahoma Trades Pick to Charlotte They take Blake Griffen

Maybe do some research first.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 23, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

Care to explain why this is wrong instead of making a nasty, off-handed comment?

Or is this one of those things you just “know?”

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on May 23, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Clippers don't want low post players

they like the ones they have. They want someone to be a real point guard on their team to feed Gordon, Davis and the low post players. Therefore Memphis losing out on Rubio trades down figuring the value and additional first round pick next year is their ticket. Chicago has plenty of shooters and does not need another mouth to feed and feels they can afford to give up next years 1st round pick to acquire a better Ben Wallace. Oklahoma like wise feels they can get good value later while picking up another second round pick for depth trades to a Charlotte team with Larry Brown who feels they are one good low post player away from being very competitive pulls the trigger since there isn’t many low post players in this draft.

People predict a draft on pure talent but team needs almost always trump talent on teams like those at the top of this years draft. Rubio is much better then most people realize. Blake Griffen was thought to be the number one pick by amateurs but people in the know, know better. Griffen is slightly better then Kevin Love.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 23, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

just to clarify

Chicago would trade this and next years first round picks to Memphis.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 23, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

This is reasonable, but I think you could have posted this first rather than a snide comment. You have a lot of valid stuff to say, but the way you say it, man, just chill sometimes.

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on May 23, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

The Chicago first round this year will be the 16th pick because Memphis wouldn’t want any lower. Chicago having two first round picks gives this option because they still can fill its bench need with the latter pick.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 23, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe do some research first.

Research in to what . . . your own brain? You’re stating this like it’s fact, not something you came up with yourself. I’d like to see proof of this if you’re going to make a comment like that.

by Buckeye Brad on May 23, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

totally wrong? a little research of your own, perhaps, would have done you some good.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 24, 2009 3:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Smoke screen

Maybe you didn’t notice but in the past teams with the first pick say things like that to see if a team will draft up. Truth is they don’t want him and people with a real knowledge of the Clippers front office knows that.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 24, 2009 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions

people with a real knowledge of the Clippers front office

we’re supposed to assume you’re one of these people?

by DontCallMeJoey on May 24, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Rizzo, I applaud you on doing your mock draft so early. But a few things first. If you are going to post the exact same thing on each and every SBN blog, that could be considered spam.

Secondly, if you truly wanted our input on your mock draft, you might have tailored your post to the Cavs needs etc (you know post our pick on our page, so we don’t have to jump to your site). Otherwise, this looks like a blatant attempt at site pimping.

Thirdly, here is what you wrote for the Cavs:

The Cavaliers could be a big player in free agency this season with Wally’s $13 million coming off the books. Cleveland prides itself on the defensive side of the ball and Sam Young is a great defender as well as an excellent athlete. He may be a bit on the short side, but he’s got enough bulk and foot speed to still be an effective defender at the professional level.

If you are going to claim somehting of this nature, you should really look at the Cavs cap situation first. Although we do have $20M coming off the books, that still will not get us under the cap. If you look at hoopshype you will see the Cavs are already committed to almost $65.4M (Andy will opt out and I expect Z to take his option. If we sign Andy to an offer, we will be back over $72M easy. That leaves no room for any significant free agents except our MLE (which I expect to go to Joe Smith).

Hope that helps.

by talonk on May 23, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions

Joe Smith will not be back

That said you are correct the Cavs really don’t have Cap room. Sam Young seems like a reasonable pick there but I don’t know if the Cavs really want him. My guess would be Darren Collison because he is the type of player the Cavs like. Good on the ball defender with some room to grow but fits the system well and played at an elite school.

Baseball is God's sport! All Truth Goes Through Three Stages 1.It is ridiculed 2.It is violently opposed 3.Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. kinesiologist

by E5 on May 23, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions