2009 NBA Mock Draft 3.0

So the NBA Combine has wrapped up and suddenly GMs and scouts believe that this draft's talent is much more improved than they first thought.  It is time for Mock Draft 3.0 and time to answer the call as Max Caster of WCWP has challenged me to make a two-round mock.  Here we go.

*Picks are still based off of overall record, not where they finished in playoffs*

Round 1:

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin PF, Oklahoma - Mike Dunleavy has already come out and said that Griffin will be the pick here, basically casting away any sort of drama leading up to the draft.  The Clips organization is so sure of the pick that they are using Griffin as a ploy to hope sell season tickets.  Even though they have a ton of power forwards, they could ship one of them (Kaman or Camby) to a team possibly like Chicago for a point guard like Kirk Hinrich.

2. Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet C, UConn - In my second mock draft, I had Thabeet going to Memphis because Rubio reportedly had no interest playing for the Grizzlies and would consider staying in Europe for a year and pull his name out.  Rubio is going to now work out for Memphis but I still believe Thabeet is the pick.  The Grizzlies need size who are going to dedicate themselves to the defensive side of the ball.  Even if Rubio would not object to Memphis, Thabeet fits more of a need.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - James Harden SG, Arizona State - Harden fits a need for the Thunder in which he can play shooting guard between Westbrook and Durant.  Combine Harden's scoring ability with Jeff Green coming off the bench and playing a Ben Gordon/Manu Ginobli type of role, the Thunder have a nice nucleus forming.  Other mocks have Rubio being selected but Rubio will not provide the same scoring that Harden will and I think the Thunder want Westbrook to grow as a true point.

4. Sacramento Kings - Ricky Rubio PG, Spain - The Kings have been rumored that they might be swapping this pick with the Grizzlies for a guy like Spencer Hawes or Jason Thompson in order to guarantee they can select Rubio.  If that happens I think Thabeet will go number 3 to the Grizzlies.  Rubio makes the Kings immediately improved and steadies the backcourt along with Kevin Martin.  If Rubio is off the board, I guarantee Jrue Holiday is the pick.

5. Washington Wizards - Jordan Hill PF, Arizona - With Harden off the board, the Wizards turn their attention to Jordan Hill.  Hill gives the Wizards toughness and athleticism in the front-court.  While Hill is not going to turn a franchise around, he can be the perfect piece to play along with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison.  

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jrue Holiday PG/SG, UCLA - Talk about shooting up a draft board. Holiday's performance at the NBA Combine turned heads and has basically penciled himself into the early lottery.  With his potential as high as it is, I think he can go as high as #2.  Don't tell Jrue that as he said he wants to be the #1 pick overall.  Minnesota needs a point guard and Holiday is someone who is an upgrade over Randy Foye.

7. Golden State Warriors - Johnny Flynn PG, Syracuse - Flynn is another guy who has shot up the draft charts over the past few weeks.  He past the size test by measuring at 6 feet even, the magic number for NBA point guards.  He had the highest vertical of any player at the combine at 40''.  While some mocks have Tyreke Evans being selected here, Flynn is perfect for Don Nelson's offense because he can run, he is quick, and will move Monta Ellis to his natural shooting guard position, something Evans really cannot do.

8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry PG/SG, Davidson -  The Knicks draft board appears to look as such.  Curry, Holiday, and Demar DeRozan.  However, I think the rumors we are hearing about Curry and the Knicks are true.  D'Antoni and Walsh are infatuated with his scoring ability and basketball IQ.  He is going to be able to spread the floor like few people in the draft.  However, will he make his teammates better?  Probably not.  Are the comparisons to Reggie Miller justified? No.  Curry could go as high as number 5 to the Wizards.

9. Toronto Raptors - Tyreke Evans PG/SG, Memphis - Anthony Parker is a free agent at the end of the summer and he isn't even the best baller in his family (so that should tell you something). However, Evans is a guy who can be a combo guard and play alongside of Jose Calderon.  For that to happen, Evans is going to have to work on his shot but for a guy who has top ten talent easily, you cannot pass him up here.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings PG, Italy - Jennings slips a bit from my first two mocks where I had him going number 7 to the Warriors.  However, I think Evans and Flynn have both jumped past Jennings in terms of their stock and there is no way the Knicks are going to pass on Curry if he is there.  The Bucks are not going to be able to sign Ramon Sessions in free agency.  The Bucks could also take a look at DaJuan Blair to fill a need at power forward if the Bucks feel that they will not be able to re-sign Charlie Villaneuva. 

11. New Jersey Nets - Demar DeRozan SG/SF, USC - Here's another guy that slips in my draft from 6 to 11.  It's not that he had a bad combine it is just others have had serious jumps.  The Nets will be jumping in their draft room if DeRozan is still on the board at this pick.  He can play the two or three, which is important because the Nets might sign and trade with the Jazz to rid themselves of Vince Carter and acquire Carlos Boozer.

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?

13. Indiana Pacers - DeJuan Blair PF, Pittsburgh - Pacers could easily go point guard here and the one that would make sense is Eric Maynor.  However, the Pacers need some toughness down low and few in the NBA can offensively rebound the way that Blair does.  He looked impressive in the NBA Combine and featured some nice low-post moves.

14. Phoenix Suns - Earl Clark SF/PF, Louisville - Clark fits nicely with what the Suns want to do.  He can play a multiple of positions and if he is up to it, can guard multiple positions.  He can be the second coming of Lamar Odom because of his ability to run in transition and his ability to shoot the ball despite his size.  The Suns could also go point guard here which would make sense.

15. Detroit Pistons - Austin Daye SF, Gonzaga - Some people actually believe Daye could be a top seven pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.  His versatility is a forte of his as he is 6'10'' with a great post and outside game.  Daye could be an asset on the Detroit bench to start out, but eventually after a year or so, work his way into the starting lineup and turn out to be something special.

16. Chicago Bulls - James Johnson PF, Wake Forest - Johnson will provide some toughness to the front-court of the Bulls.  Tyrus Thomas could be dealt during the off-season so Johnson makes sense.  B.J. Mullens could also be an option here.

17. Philadelphia 76ers - Eric Maynor PG, Virginia Commonwealth - This pick basically falls in the Sixers lap.  Out of the great point guards in the draft,  (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.  The Sixers will look at Ty Lawson but he has slipped the most out of anyone in the draft.  Andre Miller is aging and a free agent and the Sixers need a replacement.  

18. Minnesota Timberwolves - Terrence Williams SG/SF, Louisville - Williams is going to serve as a point-forward type of player in the NBA.  In the past few weeks, Williams has really improved over the past few weeks and could sneak into the lottery to a team like the Bobcats if he continues. 

19. Atlanta Hawks - Jeff Teague PG, Wake Forest - The Hawks have swung and missed on three point guards.  Marvin Williams over Chris Paul.  Shelden Williams over Rajon Rondo.  Acie Law over Rodney Stuckey.  They can't make the same mistake 4 times in a row can they?  Mike Bibby is a free agent and Jeff Teague can provide the exact same scoring that Bibby did.

20. Utah Jazz - B.J. Mullens C, Ohio State - Mullens is a prospect because of his size and you simply cannot teach height.  However, the Jazz do have a clear need at the 4 or the 5 with Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap both hitting the free agent market.  Mullens is definitely going to be a project and will take a few years to develop.

21. New Orleans Hornets - Chase Budinger SG, Arizona - The Hornets need anyone to come off the bench and provide some sort of offense. While Budinger will give you nothing on the defensive side, he is one of the best offensive players remaining on the board.  With the decline of Peja Stojakovic, Budinger seems to be the heir apparent.

22. Dallas Mavericks - Ty Lawson PG, North Carolina - Wow, has Ty Lawson really slipped? I had him at 8, then 13, and now 22.  To me, this is a steal.  The Mavs have an aging Jason Kidd who could be on the move and J.J. Barea is not a long-term answer as a starter.  Teams are really worried about Lawson's durability issues and are turned off.  However, Lawson's improved junior season and tournament run seems to me to be enough to get picked in the lottery.  While I disagree with the knock, it is what it is.

23. Sacramento Kings - Omri Cassipi SF, Israel - Let's see, have not seen any of him besides some Youtube clips but he's a good shooter with some quick feet.  Maybe has some Gallo in him.

24. Portland Trail Blazers - Patrick Mills PG, St. Mary's - Jerryd Bayless does not seem to be the type of point guard that Kevin Pritchard was looking for.  He has been dangled in some trade reports.  Mills is quick and has great vision to excel at the point for Portland.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Gani Lawal PF, Georgia Tech - The Thunder want a center but there is no true big worth gambling on here.  Lawal is going to be your lunch-pail type of player who won't be afraid to get his feet wet and make the hustle plays.  Won't be a starter but will provide solid energy off of the bench.

26. Chicago Bulls - Wayne Ellington SG, North Carolina - With Ben Gordon and Luol Deng's future in doubt, the Bulls will look for offense with this pick.  Ellington might have the purest jump shot in the game and could rise up draft boards with solid workouts.  

27. Memphis Grizzlies - Tyler Hansbrough PF, North Carolina - 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.  Chicago seems to like him at #16 and the Jazz also like him at #20.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves - DaJuan Summers SF, Georgetown - Expect Summers to be picked even higher in the first round.  Summers make his debut in my mock because of a great Combine outing.  He's got NBA ready talent but needs to show it on a night in and night out basis, something he did not do for a disappointing Georgetown team last season.

29. Los Angeles Lakers - Darren Collison PG, UCLA - As I watch these NBA playoffs, I cannot help but wonder why Jordan Farmar is not receiving more playing time.  Does Phil just not like him?  I got to think maybe he is not in there long term plans.  With that being said, they select another UCLA point guard in Collison who is absolute steal here and will fit in great in the triangle offense.  

30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Taj Gibson PF, USC - The Cavs could potentially lose Ben Wallace and Anderson Varaejo in the off-season so the Cavs need some bodies down low.  As seen in the Orlando series, Z is not going to cut it down low. Gibson, although thin, needs to add some weight but at 6'10'' has a crazy wingspan and can excel at shot-blocking. 

Round 2 aka The "I Get My Name Announced By Adam Silver So I'm Special" Round

31. Sacramento Kings - Sam Young SF, Pittsburgh

32. Washington Wizards - Toney Douglas PG/SG, Florida State

33. Portland Trail Blazers - DeMarre Carroll PF, Missouri

34. Denver Nuggets - Curtis Jerrells PG, Baylor

35. Detroit Pistons - Marcus Thornton SG, LSU

36. Memphis Grizzlies - Derrick Brown SF, Xavier

37. San Antonio Spurs - Josh Heytvelt PF, Gonzaga

38. Portland Trail Blazers - Jermaine Taylor SG, Central Florida

39. Detroit Pistons - Dionte Christmas SG, Temple

40. Charlotte Bobcats - Dante Cunningham SF/PF, Villanova

41. Milwaukee Bucks - Jeff Pendergraph PF, Arizona State

42. Los Angeles Lakers - Damion James SF, Texas

43. Miami Heat - Danny Green SF, North Carolina

44. Detroit Pistons - Jeremy Pargo PG, Gonzaga

45. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jeff Adrien PF, UConn

46. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jerel McNeal SG, Marquette

47. Minnesota Timberwolves -  Tyler Smith SF, Tennessee

48. Phoenix Suns - Rodrigue Beaubois PG, France

49. Atlanta Hawks - Jon Brockman PF, Washington

50. Utah Jazz - Jodie Meeks SG, Kentucky

51. San Antonio Spurs - A.J. Price PG, UConn

52. Indiana Pacers - Daniel Hackett PG/SG, USC

53. San Antonio Spurs - Alada Aminu SF/PF, Georgia Tech

54. Charlotte Bobcats - Leo Lyons PF, Missouri

55. Portland Trail Blazers - Tyrese Rice PG, Boston College

56. Portland Trail Blazers - Chris Johnson C, LSU

57. Phoenix Suns - Brandon Costner SF, North Carolina State

58. Boston Celtics - Wesley Matthews SG, Marquette

59. Los Angeles Lakers - Jack McClinton SG, Miami

60. Miami Heat - Robert Dozier PF, Memphis

There it is, your full 2009 Mock Draft.  Mock Draft 4.0 will come out on June 16th while the final Mock Draft will come out on June 24th, the night before the draft.

-Matt Soldano