2009 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

So it's the very beginning of May and we still have 18 days till the NBA Draft Lottery but I figured I would debut my NBA Mock Draft.  From now up until draft night, June 25th, I will put up updated NBA Mock's...

So, here it goes... (all picks are projected by season record)

* NBA comparisons credited to nbadraft.net

1. Sacramento Kings - Blake Griffin PF, Oklahoma - No matter who gets the first pick in the NBA Draft, it seems to me that there is a 99.9% chance Blake Griffin is going to be the pick. With his athleticism and explosiveness, Griffin has the chance to make an immediate impact. The one thing about Griffin's game is he needs to develop more of a jumper however, I think he will be a 20-10 type of guy for years to come.

NBA Comparison: Karl Malone/Antonio McDyess

2. Washington Wizards - Ricky Rubio PG, Spain - First off, that video package is awesome just cause of the song.  Kells!  But Rubio showed off his skills to the American fans in the Summer Olympics in which he led a very talented Spain team with the likes of Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez.  With no true point guard on the team, Rubio could push Gilbert to the two and create a nice nucleus for the Wiz.  Rubio has extreme ball handling skills, anticipation, and high bball IQ.  Most of all he's a Mike T favorite.

NBA Comparison: Walt Frazier/Steve Nash

3. Los Angeles Clippers - Jordan Hill PF, Arizona - This might be considered a little bit of a reach here but Hill is a guy that really improved as the season went on.  Averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds, Hill witnessed his stock soar.  Some mocks have Hasheem Thabeet going here but I think the Clips take perhaps the safer pick with Hill's offense not being so raw.  

NBA Comparison: Chris Bosh

4. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet C, UConn - Maybe Thabeet will never be an All-Star but he will give you All-Star type performances on defense throughout his NBA career. With Russell Westbrook averaging nearly 16 points in his rookie season and Kevin Durant finishing near the top of the league lead in points, the Thunder should be well equipped offensively.  When your current big men are Nenad Kristic and Nick Collison, this pick screams "WE GOT THE BEAT!"

NBA Comparison: Dikembe Mutombo

5. Minnesota Timberwolves - James Harden SG, Arizona State - Harden really struggled in the NCAA tournament which might have put a damper on his stock.  However, it's hard to argue with someone who averaged 21 points and nearly 6 rebounds in college.  To me, he is the best pure scorer in the Draft and the T-Wolves really need someone who can fill it up in the backcourt.  Harden lacks great D however because of a slow first step or lateral movement.

NBA Comparison: Manu Ginobili

6. Memphis Grizzlies - Tyreke Evans PG, Memphis - This pick is tough to project because Memphis really needs a big but picking one here would be a big reach.  With the addition of Evans, a guy who has great ball handling skills and is a long combo guard, Mike Conley suddenly becomes expendable.  Evans needs to work on his shooting consistency.

NBA Comparison: Jamal Crawford/Deshawn Stevenson

7. Golden State Warriors - Brandon Jennings PG, Italy - Jennings is one of my favorites in the Draft.  Very quick and has great instinctive point guard skills.  He will have one of the fastest crossovers in the NBA once he steps on the court.  However, at 170 pounds, the dude needs to add some serious weight.  Was not consistent across the pond in Rome.

NBA Comparison: Kenny Anderson

8. New York Knicks - Ty Lawson PG, North Carolina - While Harden hurt himself in the Tournament with his perfomance, Lawson did the exact opposite after leading UNC to a championship.  He averaged 16 points and 7 assists this past season and improved in every part of his game.  By pulling out of the draft last year, Lawson worked on his shot to where he is no longer a liability.  The Knicks NEED to go point guard here and Lawson seems to be perfect for D'Antoni's offense.

NBA Comparison: Terrell Brandon

9. Toronto Raptors - Demar Derozan SG/SF, USC - The most athletically gifted player in the Draft.  Derozan went through his ups and downs during his freshman year at USC but seemed to catch heat near the end of the season.  However he can't just rely on his athletic skill in the NBA and needs to become more consistent offensively.

NBA Comparison: Vince Carter/Gerald Green

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Jrue Holliday PG/SG, UCLA - Holliday is a guy I think should have stayed in school for another year.  With Darren Collison and Josh Shipp leaving, Holliday would have been the man.  However, scouts will probably see Russell Westbrook in Holliday which will give him a lottery bid.  

NBA Comparison: Delonte West

11. New Jersey Nets - Earl Clark SF, Louisville - His 6-10 frame is deceiving because Clark is no means a power forward.  With his unselfish passing ability, vision, and IQ, Clark projects to be more of a point forward.  Insert Clark into a lineup with Harris, Carter, and Brook "Lawrence Frank?!?!" Lopez, the Nets future suddenly looks bright.

NBA Comparison: Boris Diaw/Danny Granger

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson SG, Duke - Henderson averaged 17 points in his final season with Duke but had an abysmal tournament.  He is an effective slasher who will get his points that way and has above average on the ball defensive skills.  Would MJ seriously draft a Dukie?

NBA Comparison: Latrell Sprewell 

13. Indiana Pacers - Stephen Curry PG/SG, Davidson - Curry's decision to enter the draft is an interesting one because of the struggles Davidson went through this year.  However, Curry's shooting stroke should be enough to get him into the late first round and perhaps as high as #8 to the Knicks.  Scouts are going to look to see if Curry has what it takes to run the point guard position at the next level.

NBA Comparison: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf/Steve Kerr

14. Phoenix Suns - Johnny Flynn PG, Syracuse - Flynn becomes the heir apparent to Steve Nash with the final pick in the lottery.  Although some people love Flynn, I have a few questions about his shot selection and his shot making ability.  When it comes to ball handling and quickness, few are better than Flynn.  

NBA Comparison: Damon Stoudamire

15. Detroit Pistons - Terrence Williams SG/SF, Louisville - With Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince slowly aging, the Pistons need a shakeup and a versatile player like Williams could be their guy.  Williams is very good at the rim and his length helps with his defense.

NBA Comparison: JR Rider

16. Chicago Bulls - Chase Budinger SF, Arizona - With Ben Gordon and Luol Deng's future in doubt, the Bulls need to get another scorer who can provide help for Derrick Rose.  Budinger has great range on his shot and offensively improved this season averaging 18 points and 6 boards.  Could be one of the worst defenders in the draft...

NBA Comparison: Brent Barry

17. Philadelphia 76ers - Eric Maynor PG, VCU - This pick basically falls in the Sixers lap.  Out of the great point guards in the draft, (Lawson, Flynn, Evans, Jennings) Maynor might not be on par with them, but he is not too far away.  Maynor is a veteran when it comes to big situations from his VCU days.  Andre Miller is aging and the Sixers need a replacement.  

NBA Comparison: Sergio Rodriguez

18. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jeff Teague PG, Wake Forest - Teague is a true scoring point guard.  He is not the distributor that Flynn or Lawson is but is capable of running a team. Randy Foye and Teague could make for an effective one two punch at the point guard position.

NBA Comparison: Kevin Johnson

19. Atlanta Hawks - Patrick Patterson PF, Kentucky - Along with Jodie Meeks, Patterson was a bright spot for the disappointing Wildcats.  Averagng 18 points and 9 rebounds, Patterson is a prototypical power forward.  He has a NBA-ready build but needs to become a bit more versatile on offense to be effective.  The Hawks lack great depth in the front court.  

NBA Comparison: Buck Williams

20. Utah Jazz - Omri Cassipi SF, Israel - This just seems to be a prototypical Utah pick.  The Jazz have decent depth at the guard position and in the front court.  Cassipi can be a guy to replace Kirilenko, whenever he decides to go.

NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu

21. New Orleans Hornets - B.J. Mullens C, Ohio State - New Orleans, you have just drafted the bust of the first round.  Mullens is a guy who should not deserve to go in the first round but will because of his height.  With Tyson Chandler's health and future always a question mark, the Hornets need to try to find a big.

NBA Comparison: Chris Kaman

22. Dallas Mavericks - James Johnson PF, Wake Forest - Versatile player who can really play the 3 or the 4.  Teams love his toughness, size, and skill.  I think when it comes down to his playing time he will need to prove to be good enough around the rim as he does not have the make-up of a wing player.

NBA Comparison: Andres Nocioni

23. Sacramento Kings - Patrick Mills PG, St. Mary's - Kings do not have much going at the point guard position with Beno Udrih.  Mills is a scorer who can fill it up.  In the NBA he will be relied more for his shooting touch from the outside rather than driving into the paint such as Tony Parker.  

24. Denver Nuggets - Darren Collison PG, UCLA - Collison at once was considered a top ten pick but decided to return to school for all four years.  Although his stock has taken a slump, Collison can still play the point guard position effectively because he does not turn the ball over.  Despite Chauncey Billups' great play he is 32 and his backup Anthony Carter is 33.

25. Portland Trail Blazers - Sam Young SF, Pittsburgh - The Blazers are pretty much set at all positions except at small forward.  Athough he might not be a starter, Young can fill in nicely because of his athleticism and improving offensive game.  

NBA Comparison: Joey Graham

26. Chicago Bulls - Dejuan Blair PF, Pittsburgh - Blar is an absolute beast when it comes to rebounding both offensively and defensively.  If he develops a bit more of a mid-range game, his stock could rise to the high teens.  However, adding Blair to a front court with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah really makes the Bulls a tough team.

NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap/Anthony Mason

27. Memphis - Tyler Hansbrough PF, UNC - Hansbrough is going to survive in this league because of his work ethic, toughness, and hustle.  I am not saying he will be a star because he is not as skilled as the other people he will be competing against but he will be a serviceable role player.  

NBA Comparison: Eduardo Najera/Mark Madsen

28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Damion James SF, Texas - Another Mike T. favorite...James is a guy who was a double double machine in college.  At only 6-7 James is very effective at finishing around the basket.  Him and Ryan Gomes should mesh well together.

NBA Comparison: Michael Pietrus

29. Los Angeles Lakers - Wayne Ellington SG, North Carolina - Ellington slips in the draft for some odd reason.  Teams believe he is undersized for the two standing at only 6-4.  However, Ellington is a pure scorer who has really improved his rebounding.  With the Lakers bench suffering a decrease in productivity, Ellington could be a perfect fit.

NBA Comparison: Cuttino Mobley

30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jeff Pendergraph PF, Arizona State - Pendergraph is very consistent and efficient down low and he is not afraid to bump and bruise with his opponents.  The Cavs still need some help down low in the front court depth and Pendergraph could be a good fit with J.J. Hickson

NBA Comparison: Udonis Haslem/Mikki Moore

Well there's version 1.0.  I will put up a 2.0 after the Lottery is all settled and we are situated with picks.  

Here's a quick shout out for a WCWP friend.  Mike Tramontozzi is putting together a New York Knicks blog which will be allthingsknicks.com.  Once he gets it going, Mike is going to keep it up to date with all the latest off-season talks and of course some draft coverage.

-Matt Soldano