Tag Archives: 2009 NBA Draft

NBA Mock Draft 3.0

The NBA Draft is tomorrow and there are still many questions at the top as to what the teams will do.  Here is my latest take on what will go down tomorrow night.

1. Los Angeles Clippers- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
A no brainer for the Clippers.  Griffin is the consensus number one player in the draft and even the Clippers can’t screw this up.

Thabeet will be blocking shots in Memphis now.

2. Memphis Grizzlies- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UCONN
The Grizzlies need some interior defense and Thabeet will bring that.  His offensive game is still developing but he can contribute immediately on defense.  The Timberwolves are interested in moving up to this pick to take Thabeet too.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder- Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
The rumor lately has been the Thunder will pick Rubio if available.  If they pick Rubio it will shift Russell Westbrook to the 2 guard.  Rubio is only 18 and has been playing professionally in Spain since he was 14.

4. Sacramento Kings- Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
No one really knows what the Kings will do.  If Rubio is available he will likely be the pick but if he’s not it be a number of guys including Flynn, Evans, Holiday, or Curry.  Flynn is a leader at the point guard position and has been playing great in workouts recently.

NBA Draft Decisions: Should I stay or Should I go?

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft was yesterday and some prospects including Jodie Meeks, Luke Harangody, and Greivis Vasquez didn’t make their decisions until the final moments.  In this article I’m going to discuss and analyze the decisions made by some prospects.

Scotty Reynolds, G, Villanova- Return to Villanova
Reynolds decided to return to Villanova for his senior season.  The Wildcats made the Final Four last year and will try to repeat this season with a stacked recruiting class.  Reynolds though, hasn’t improved much since his freshman year and his stock was high as it was ever going to be after his clutch shot against Pittsburgh.  With incoming freshman Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns set to steal playing time from Renyolds this doesn’t like the right decision.

Harangody will return to Notre Dame as the Irish try to rebound from last years dissapointing season

Luke Harangody, PF, Notre Dame- Return to Notre Dame
Harangody waited until the final day to decide to come back to Notre Dame for his senior season.  Harangody was a likely second round pick in this years draft if he stayed in.   Harangody will return to Notre Dame and try to make up for a poor seaosn which saw the Irish miss the tournament.  Also by coming back Harangody will break many Notre Dame school records making him go down as one for the best to ever play at Notre Dame.  His draft status probably won’t change much but the allure of the records and fame make it worth going back for Harangody.

Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest- Stay
Teague waited until the last minute to decide whether or not to stay in but it seemed like a forgone conclusion he would stay in from the start.  Teague had a great start to the season but tailed off a little at the end including a dreadful performance in the NCAA Tournament against Cleveland State but his stock is still solid.  Teague should go somewhere from the mid first round to the early 20’s in the draft.  A shooting guard in a point guard’s body Teague will need to work on his decision making skills in the NBA to be an effective point guard.

NBA Mock Draft Part 2

In case you missed the first part of my mock draft you can check it out here.

15. Detroit Pistons- B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State
The Pistons could lose Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and Kwame Brown in the off season so a froncourt player is needed.  With the Piston looking toward the future they can take a chance on Mullens who will take time to develop.

Blair would give the Bulls some much needed toughness

16. Chicago Bulls- DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
There is talk the Bulls have promised to take Mullens here but if he is off the board the next best big available is DeJuan Blair.  Blair would add some much needed toughness and despite his size (6’6) his 7’2 wingspan makes up for it.

17. Philadelphia 76ers- Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
Andre Miller is set to become a free agent this summer so addressing the point guard position is a necessity.  Maynor despite playing at VCU got plenty of media attention thanks to his NCAA tournament performances and can step in and play right away.

NBA Mock Draft

Now that the deadline for underclassman has come and gone we officially know who is in and who is out of the draft.  Some last minute withdrawals were Greivis Vasquez and Luke Harangody.  With the NBA Finals over the focus in the NBA world switches to the draft.  The draft will be held on June 25th.  With that said here is my latest NBA Mock Draft.

Good News: Blake Griffin is going to Los Angeles. Bad News: It's the Clippers

1. Los Angeles Clippers- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
This pick has been a lock since the start and apparently since last year.  Even the Clippers can’t screw this one up.  Griffin is the consensus top player in what is considered a weak draft.  The drafting of Griffin will probably force the Clippers to trade either Zach Randolph or Chris Kamen.
Previous Pick: Same

2. Memphis Grizzlies- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UCONN
This is where the drafts starts to get interesting.  The Grizzlies could take Thabeet, Ricky Rubio, or trade the pick perhaps to Sacramento.  The Grizzlies don’t have a big need at center or point guard with Marc Gasol and Mike Conely Jr. at both positions but while Gasol is a solid player you don’t pass up a player like Thabeet for him.  Thabeet will be a defensive force early and if his offensive catches up he could have a career similar to Dikembe Mutombo.
Previous Pick: Ricky Rubio