PICK TEAM NAME HT WT POS SCHOOL
1 LA Clippers Blake Griffin 6-10 248 PF Oklahoma
Obviously the best player in the draft who can come in and contribute right away but is he a franchise player? It’s a great 1-2 punch with Griff/Davis but they play in the shadows of the World Champions and the Clips have had more first round picks than any team in the NBA with the same tenure so it could be a question of how they’re going to screw this up.
2 Memphis Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 267 C Connecticut
I don't want to say I told you so, but ... Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley really wanted to improve their defense and Thabeet does that. He is the best defender in the draft and can solidify the d, but his offense is a work in progress and that work could take a long time.
3 Oklahoma City James Harden 6-5 222 SG Arizona State
We knew for months it was probably Harden or Rubio, and about 15 minutes before the draft we changed our mock draft to put Harden here. He's a great fit in the backcourt with Russell Westbrook and one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. I think in hindsight they'll look like prophets because this guy could be a 'lifer' who contributes every year, and a potential all-star.
4 Sacramento Tyreke Evans 6-5 220 SG Memphis
I thought the Kings ultimately would do the right thing and take Rubio, but instead they take Evans. He's not a point guard. But he's a physical combo guard who knows how to get to the rim. He can't shoot much and isn't super athletic, but he's big and strong and he'll make an impact right away. This was a short-term pick. It will look good early, but I wonder how it will look in five years.
5 Minnesota (from Washington) Ricky Rubio 6-5 180 PG Spain
The Wolves get their man at No. 5. Great pick for Minnesota. They are rebuilding and now they have the new face of the franchise in Rubio. He's going to get to play right away and he'll make some mistakes. But I think he'll be really good in two to three years -- good enough that the Kings may regret passing on him. UPDATE: OK, something is going on. Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn are both point guards. I don't think they'll play on the floor together. There is a trade, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if someone got to the Wolves to get Rubio or Flynn.
6 Minnesota Jonny Flynn 6-1 196 PG Syracuse
Flynn is a great leader, tough and a good defender. I know the Wolves liked both Flynn and Rubio, but I doubt they keep both of these guys. My gut says that Rubio will be the one who's moved and Flynn will stay. But we'll see.
7 Golden State Stephen Curry 6-3 181 PG Davidson
One note on this pick: The Suns and Warriors were talking about moving Amare Stoudemire for Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and this pick. Could Curry be Steve Nash's replacement? But if Curry is staying with the Warriors, then so much for that alleged promise to Monta Ellis that they wouldn't draft a point guard. Then again, in Don Nelson's system, Curry can be a combo guard and a good fit with Ellis in the backcourt -- at least in theory. Ellis would be the slasher, and Curry would be the shooter. But they are both pretty small.
8 New York Jordan Hill 6-10 232 PF Arizona
The Knicks are relieved. They were praying that Flynn went in the top seven so that they could get either Curry or Hill. They wish that Curry had been there, but they liked Hill a lot, too. Mike D'Antoni compared him to a young Amare Stoudemire. I think that's a little much, but he'll be good in D'Antoni's up-tempo system and he's insurance if David Lee leaves via free agency. If Lee re-signs, Hill can play some center the same way Stoudemire did in Phoenix. Good pick.
9 Toronto DeMar DeRozan 6-6 211 SG USC
DeRozan has as much upside as anyone in the draft. He's long and athletic and he can be a spectacular scorer. He needs to get stronger and build his confidence, but the Raptors made this pick for the future. With Chris Bosh possibly leaving this summer or next, DeRozan can be part of a new core with Andrea Bargnani.
10 Milwaukee Brandon Jennings 6-2 165 PG Italy
The Bucks really started to fall in love with Jennings over the past few days. He has as much upside as any point guard in the draft. He's cat-quick and impossible to stay in front of, and if he fixes his shooting woes, he'll be a big-time scorer. In three or four years, this could be a home run for the Bucks. A risk, but in this draft, a good one.
11 New Jersey Terrence Williams 6-6 213 SG Louisville
With the Nets trading Vince Carter, they are starting over. Williams is one of the best athletes in the draft, has a ton of skills and can really defend. He's an eccentric dude and he doesn't always come to play, but when he does, wow. It will be fun to watch Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Williams, Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez grow up together. They'll lose a lot of games, but there's a lot of potential there.
12 Charlotte Gerald Henderson 6-5 215 SG Duke
Larry Brown loved Gerald Henderson from the first workout. He's a good athlete and excellent defender who could be the next Raja Bell. He's not a great shooter or a take-over offensive player, but I expect him to have a Raja-esque career.
13 Indiana Tyler Hansbrough 6-10 234 PF North Carolina
Don't you think Hansbrough's going to be popular in Indiana? As we've seen during his college years, he's a tough, physical, blue-collar guy who Larry Bird compared to Dave Cowens. The Pacers needed some toughness in the paint and Hansbrough brings it. He won't be great, but the Pacers are trying to build a team and Hansbrough is a good fit.
14 Phoenix Earl Clark 6-10 226 SF Louisville
The Suns have clearly decided to rebuild, and with Clark, they get one of the five top talents of the draft. Clark can do everything -- he's long and athletic and he can play multiple positions, including point forward. His effort was inconsistent at Louisville, but he's got as much upside as anyone in the draft. If they trade away Amare Stoudemire to Golden State, they'll have a nice young core with Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Clark, Robin Lopez and (if they got the 7th pick) Stephen Curry. If that happens, the Suns won't be all that great from the get-go, but they'll be fun. The question is, will Steve Nash stay around to lead them?
15 Detroit Austin Daye 6-11 192 SF Gonzaga
Austin Daye is a kid with a ton of upside. He's super skilled and he can shoot the lights out, like a 6-11 Stephen Curry. But he's really skinny and he doesn't have a killer instinct. Ultimately he could be a 4 if he gets stronger, but for now he'll back up Tayshaun Prince at the 3. Great upside pick for the Pistons.
16 Chicago James Johnson 6-8 257 PF Wake Forest
The Bulls have wanted Johnson for a while. He's a good athlete who can play the 3 and the 4 on both ends of the floor. His game needs to develop, but when he gets going, he's something. He reminds me a little of Chicago's Tyrus Thomas in one way -- he'll play great one minute and have his coach pulling his hair out the next. With Thomas on the trade block, Johnson may ultimately be his replacement.
17 Philadelphia Jrue Holiday 6-4 199 PG UCLA
Holiday can take a huge sigh of relief. He slipped a bit, not because of his talent, but because of some concerns about a shoulder injury that were just enough to scare some teams away, a la what happened to Danny Granger with mild concerns about his knee a few years ago. This is a great pick for Philly, which gets a lottery talent at 17 and has its point guard of the future.
18 Minnesota (from Miami) Ty Lawson 6-1 199 PG North Carolina
No, the Timberwolves aren't running a three-PG offense. They're moving Lawson to Denver for a future first-round pick. He'll be a really good backup for Chauncey Billups. He flies up and down the floor and is as steady as they come.
19 Atlanta Jeff Teague 6-2 175 PG Wake Forest
The Hawks have acquired Jamal Crawford but weren't done remaking their backcourt. Teague had the quickest first step in college basketball and is difficult to stop from getting in the paint. He's a great upside pick for Atlanta. Don't expect Mike Bibby back in Atlanta.
20 Utah Eric Maynor 6-3 164 PG VA Commonwealth
I thought they might go with Sam Young here, but I have to admit that I love this pick for the Jazz. They needed a backup for Deron Williams, and Maynor is perfect for Utah as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. He has a high basketball IQ and great leadership qualities. The Jazz fill a need and get a guy who I think is the most underrated player in the draft.
21 New Orleans Darren Collison 6-2 166 PG UCLA
Collison is a bit of a surprise here. The Hornets had one tiny point guard in Chris Paul and now they have two. They had bigger needs than backup point guard, but I do believe he's going to be terrific in that role ... if Chris Paul ever leaves the floor, that is.
22 Portland (from Dallas) Victor Claver 6-11 217 SF Spain
We had the Blazers pegged to take Claver with the 31st pick. I knew they really liked DeJuan Blair but they must have been scared off by his bad knees. Claver will stay overseas for maybe three years, but he's got great potential. He's athletic, skilled and one of the best up-and-coming talents in Spain. But I wonder if Portland will regret passing on Blair.
23 Sacramento (from Houston) Omri Casspi 6-9 211 SF Israel
I travel to Israel and have seen him a number of times. He's a very tough, scrappy, slashing player. He's not a shooter yet and he'll need to put on some pounds, but clearly the Kings are trying to add some toughness. Congratulations to all the basketball fans in Israel. They love the NBA and have been waiting for a first-round pick for years. The Kings are a great fit and Andres Nocioni should be the perfect mentor for him.
24 Dallas (from Portland, traded to Oklahoma City for rights to R. Beaubois) B.J. Mullens 7-1 258 C Ohio State
The Mavs are trading this pick to the Thunder for No. 25 and a future second-round pick. The Thunder have been looking to get Mullens for weeks and tried to get up as high as No. 14 to get him. Clearly, Sam Presti sees something he likes. Mullens reminds me a lot of a young Darko Milicic, for both good and bad -- he's skilled and athletic, but he doesn't really know how to play.
25 Oklahoma City (from San Antonio, traded to Dallas for rights to B.J. Mullens) Rodrigue Beaubois 6-2 182 PG France
The Thunder are making this pick for the Mavs. Dallas wanted a point guard and fell in love with Beaubois' upside. He's very long, quick and explosive athletically. He doesn't have a great feel for the game, but he should develop that overseas in the next few years.
26 Chicago (from Denver through Oklahoma City) Taj Gibson 6-10 214 PF USC
Gibson is a good pick for the Bulls in that he's long and athletic and has some upside. But with so many young, skinny frontcourt players, I'm not sure how he fits exactly.
27 Memphis (from Orlando) DeMarre Carroll 6-8 207 PF Missouri
I love this pick for the Grizzlies. He's a great energy player who flies up and down the floor, can handle the ball and creates havoc on the defensive end. He's a more skilled version of Renaldo Balkman.
28 Minnesota (from Boston) Wayne Ellington 6-5 202 SG North Carolina
OK, the Wolves finally decided to draft something other than a point guard. Ellington is a terrific shooter, which the Wolves will need with Rubio and/or Flynn on the team. He diversified his game this year and might be a bit underrated. This is a nice pick this far down in the draft.
29 LA Lakers Toney Douglas 6-2 183 SG Florida State
The Knicks fell in love with Douglas after a workout and bought this pick to get him. Douglas is a bit of a poor man's Ben Gordon, a combo guard who can really light it up. He lets the 3s fly, and unlike Gordon, he's a terrific defender. This is a really good pick for New York this late.
30 Cleveland Christian Eyenga 6-5 210 G/F Congo
The second player to be selected from the Congo (BJ Enbenga LA Lakers) good athlete, small for a 4 but with Shaq, "side show Bob", and Z should fit fine for the Cavs. Is that a front line that can take them to the next level?
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
2009 NBA First Round Draft Picks
Labels: 2009 Draft Picks, 2009 nba draft, boston celtics, la lakers
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22 comments:
I love your Laker passion brother but Sasha cannot start on any team. Unless the T-Wolves decide to play 5 guards and he starts at the 5 for them.
The Lakers will win in 2010 and annoy the likes of Simmons, Ford, Jeff Van Gundy and other Laker haters.
Go Lakers!!
The Lakers need the money to keep Ariza and Odom but "evetually" they need a replacement for Fisher. Fisher wasn't considered a good gaurd until he was in Utah now apparently he's this great veteran that will be difficult to replace. I think SHannon Brown with another year or two under his belt will be a suitable replacement for Fisher and Farmar isn't exactly Chopped Liver if he gets his confidence back he's a starter if not he's a good back up. Lakers already got Yue and Morrison on the Bench not sure what Ford thinks they are going to do with a 29th pick. I think a C+ or C would have been fair depending on how much money you think they could have got and maybe a B if that money is actually needed to keep Trever and LO.
I still hate the Wolves draft I have no idea why we didn't come out with Rubio, Derozan, Mullins & Ellington instead Rubio, Flynn, 1st rd pick 2010 & Ellington. It's just amazing how they screwed this up it's like Kevin McHale never left.
No, sorry, Jrue Holiday, at 6' 3" and fast, decent leaping ability (same has Hansbrough's) and no jump shot has NO WHERE near the potential that Odam, McGrady, or Coleman had.
Ok, I can take 10-15. I saw 16, but hey.
I never saw top 5 for Hansbrough.
i think that jonny flynn will be a great player in the nba, but i saw him do somethong at the draft that i couldent bielve. i went to get a soda and in the roped off area that the players walk in there was a little handicapped boy in a wheel chair who was allowed to be behind the rope and was waiting to get an autograph from jonny flynn.� when flynn came to the boy he just walked by and smiled after he passed him. really u just got millions of dollars and you couldent sign an autograph for that poor little kid, that aint right. on a liter note when tyler hansbough was walking through the tunnel to leave the arena we were all chanting over rated and he got mad and wouldnt slap our hands as he walked by so this kid like 20 or 21 reached out and slapped the hat off his head. he was quickly taken away by security but it was pretty funny.
Since the Pacers are looking to move Tinsley, I'd have taken Jrue Holiday. A nice sized guard with good ball handling skills that will develop and can score.
"Let's be honest. T Hansborough didn't stay in college four years because he had to. He was a projected top five pick after his freshman season. They didn't realize that he had about hit his ceiling. He messed up, but you keep acting like he had to stay four years."
Hansbrough hasn't been projected to go higher than the late teens to mid 20 over his career.
"I'd have taken Young over him in a heartbeat"
This draft was one of the worst talent wise, who knows maybe the first rounder you get for Lawson will be better next year. Just think the no. 5 pick 4 years ago was D-Wade
very good point. hansboroughs freshmen year was his worst year by far, but on the draft board he was consistently in the top 10. As u said, experts thought he would get a lot better i guess? idk what more he could have done tho with his genetics...
"Noah fits the Bulls perfectly. In any other draft I wouldn't pick him at 9, but look at everyone who went after him, who would you possibly want over him? Thaddeus Young? Rodney Stuckey?"
hansbrough will be a decent hustle player of the bench but probably nothing more. they already have troy murphy who is coming off a career year so i dont see him starting anytime soon. i do think he could be a 7th-8th man on a decent team though in the future.
I'm a little confused. There were some good players not drafted that could help out teams a lot more than Taylor Griffin! Was he picked to make Blake feel better? I mean Stephon Jackson, Jermy Pargo and Josh Heytvelt just to name a few would have been better picks. I know they'll eventually find their way onto an NBA roster either next year or after a year in Europe or the D league.
I have no idea why Blair so low, but as the Spurs are one of those teams I am not a fan of, but I like to watch win, I am excited he landed there. His energy and rebounding is exactly what that team needed after their recent trade.
wait a minute did someone say Thabeet could guard the middle and Memphis would put weight on Thabeet? First off, Thabeet is all flash no substance. Blair dominated...no, no.... DOMINATED Thabeet and what made it worse is the expressions Thabeet showed seemed careless and lethargic. The crazy thing is DeJuan Blair's wingspan is longer than Thabeet's. Seriously. Also, Thabeet isn't known as a rebound monster only as a shot blocker. However, in The League players will expose his lack of lateral quickness and lean body. Hell, Matt Bonner is shorter but physically stronger. Secondly, Thabeet has no offense. None. No turnaround hook, no bank shot, no go-to post move and not enough power/bulk to muscle around current NBA big's. However, most worrisome is his attitude. I digress to the earlier part of this post where I stated I didn't like his expressions when Blair was bullying him up and down the court. The man just doesn't seem like he want's to put in the work to become a somewhat decent NBA player.
Do you remember watching Madsen in college? A funny thing happens in the NBA and that is that defenders are much bigger, stronger and faster. TH could hit 10-15 footers on rotations when he was wide open. He never created his own shot, and forgive me if I'm not impressed by his post moves. In the NBA, Dwight Howard has major problems scoring with his back to the basket due to the quality of low post defenders... TH will be a good 6th or 7th man at best--- and to be honest, there's no shame in that.
how is Hansborough offensively limited? did you not watch him in college? He makes 10-15 footers all day, and always had a fairly dominant post game. Not to mention we watched him make some 3 pointers, the fact that you want to compare him to Madsen is crazy, I don't think he could shoot outside of 3-5 ft without completely bricking it or airballing.
Hansbrough is another example of public backlash against a person the media shoved down their throats. Look at his work out stats and compare him to the undisputed best player in the draft Blake Griffin. Hansbrough is .5 inches shorter, has an inch taller standing reach, .25 inches wider wing span, jumps 1.5 inches shorter in max vertical, a TINY bit faster in the sprint, a bit slower in the agility. The guy is a darn good athlete, and is pretty good NBA size. There was a lot of of talk before the combine that he would measure short, and be slow, and be unable to jump and have short arms. The quietest thing about this draft is that every single one of those were proven wrong. Some just failed to get the memo.
thabeet has the POTENTIAL to be better than hansborough. Its not worth it for a team like memphis to draft hansborough whos ceiling is so low. They are willing to wait for thabeet to develop because they have young talent and arnt winning any time soon so why not build for the future? sure thabeet may be a bust, but so might hansborough. the difference is thabeet could be a dikembe mutumbo type player where hansboroughs ceiling is the 5th or 6th best player on a title team and even that is a stretch
All I know is the T-Wolves better trade one of them (Rubio or Flynn) because playing them together should never ever be an option. Phuggin Kahn totally screwed up a potentially steal of draft for the T-wolves. The players we should have drafted. Rubio, Derozan or even Curry, BJ Mullins & Ellington which sounds a light years better than Rubio, Flynn, 1st rd pick 2010, Ellington. We would have had our starting backcourt, center & a backup SG who actually shoots not like that bum Mike Miller. How they managed to screw this up is beyond me.
The difference is Hansborough can score and get you rebounds, Madsen only took 2 shots a game, Varajeo isn't a shooter either. Hansborough can go inside, post moves and 15 foot jumpers.
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