2009 NBA Mock Draft Analysis: Blake Griffin Will Be No. 1 Pick by LA Clippers

1.                  Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin 6-10 PF Oklahoma

This is a no-brainer. Griffin will be the starting power forward as the Clippers figure out what to do with Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph.

2.                  Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 C Connecticut

It is uncertain if the Grizzlies will keep this pick. The consensus selections for the No. 2 pick are Thabeet and Ricky Rubio. The Grizzlies have their big man of the future in Marc Gasol and have a young backcourt with Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. It has been rumored that Rubio will not visit Memphis when he visits the U.S., so it may be unlikely for Memphis to look at him. Thabeet would be great at center, moving Gasol to the power forward, if the Grizzlies keep the pick.

3.                  Oklahoma City Thunder – James Harden 6-5 SG Arizona State

The Thunder, like the Grizzlies, would love Thabeet or Rubio, but they would much rather have Thabeet because they are in dire need of a center. However, it looks like Thabeet will be taken No. 2, so Harden is the best pick. Westbrook is seen as the point guard in the future, so I doubt they will select Rubio. Harden gives OKC a great backcourt with Westbrook and Durant in a three-guard offense.

4.                  Sacramento Kings – Ricky Rubio 6-4 PG DKV Joventut (Spain)

The Kings will more than likely select a guard with this pick and have been looking at Rubio, Harden, Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday. They are leaning towards a point guard after the success of Kevin Martin last season, but at the No. 4 pick, they would be ecstatic for Rubio if he is still on the board. They may settle for Harden if he falls, but I think they will pick Rubio.

5.                  Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans 6-5 G Memphis

The Timberwolves are looking to bundle one of these two picks and the No. 18 to move up to No. 2 for Thabeet or Rubio. If they keep this pick, it will come down to Harden, Evans, Hill, Stephen Curry and Jonny Flynn. Harden, if available, would give them insurance at the 2 with the trades of Randy Foye and Mike Miller on Tuesday. They need backcourt help, along with a small forward and center. Evans can play the point and the two, plus he can slide to the 3 if the team wants to go small.

6.                  Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry 6-3 G Davidson

Minnesota needs a point guard and a center. Since there are no centers worthy of being picked this high, they will look for a point guard, leaving them with Curry, Flynn, Jennings and Holiday. Flynn would be the best selection as he is a true point guard with avid toughness. However, his size will be a factor. Jennings played with Kevin Love in AAU ball in high school, but his brashness reminds many of Stephon Marbury. Holiday adds height to their small point guard roster, but Curry is the best at this pick for Minnesota as they look to replace shooting with the trades of Randy Foye and Mike Miller on Tuesday.

7.                  Golden State Warriors – Brandon Jennings 6-1 PG Lottomatica Roma (Italy)

With Golden State’s fast paced offense, Jennings would be perfect as their true point guard, the only glaring hole Golden State needs to fill. He is flashy, quick and can start their high-powered offense. The issue comes from Monta Ellis, who has been told he is the point guard of the future, despite being better suited at the two-guard. If Ellis makes his voice known loudly, Stephen Curry may be the pick, adding yet another undersized shooting guard to claim the point guard position for the Warriors.

8.                  New York Knicks – Jrue Holiday 6-4 G UCLA

The Knicks have holes at every position, so with this pick, they could go many directions. However, Holiday is the versatile guard that can flourish under Mike D’Antoni. The question is can he be an NBA point guard? Jordan Hill could also be selected with this pick as the Knicks figure what to do with David Lee.

9.                  Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan 6-6 G/F USC

The Raptors need insurance as Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion enter free agency as unrestricted. DeRozan reminds many of a young Vince Carter, something Toronto had missed since Carter left for New Jersey. Hopefully DeRozan can make a big enough impact to keep Chris Bosh in Toronto next year.

10.              Milwaukee Bucks – Jonny Flynn 6-0 PG Syracuse

Milwaukee just made a blockbuster trade to dish off their best player Richard Jefferson, but they gain Bruce Bowen, one of the league’s best defenders. They are still looking for insurance in case either Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions leaves, so they will select between Holiday, Flynn or Hill with this pick. Flynn would be the best pick here, but Hill might be the pick if he is available.

11.              New Jersey Nets – Earl Clark 6-10 F Louisville

After last year’s bevy of post players, the Nets should look for a nice wing player. However, reports say that they are looking for a bull down low, so their best pick would be a player who can play both forward positions. They will look at Hill, Tyler Hansbrough, Earl Clark, DeJuan Blair and James Johnson. Blair would be a great pick, but his knee is the issue. Clark may be the best pick, but Hill may be the pick if he is available, just because he was expected to go higher.

12.              Charlotte Bobcats – Terrence Williams 6-6 G/F Louisville

The Bobcats need to address their wing position with no depth at the two-guard position. Reports say that Williams has wowed head coach Larry Brown and can aid the aging Raja Bell at the two, as well as Gerald Wallace at the three. Gerald Henderson could also be a great pick here, but Williams’ athleticism puts him over the edge.

13.              Indiana Pacers – Jordan Hill 6-10 PF Arizona

The Pacers would be in heaven if Hill falls this far. Based on the needs of teams, no one truly needed Hill prior to this pick and the Pacers could reap the rewards of this. If Hill is not available (or is selected by NJ), Clark, James Johnson and Austin Daye could be options. They may address their shaky point guard position as Jarrett Jack enters free agency and T.J. Ford handles his consistency issues.

14.              Phoenix Suns – Gerald Henderson 6-6 G/F Duke

The Suns could go many directions with this pick, but they may look to shore up their wing players, something they were known for this decade. Henderson would be perfect for their team if they look for a wing. If they look for a big man, they will look at Johnson and Daye.

15.              Detroit Pistons – Austin Daye 6-11 F Gonzaga

Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson are free agents, so the Pistons are in an influx as to where they want to head. They need some insurance in the paint, just in case Wallace does not return. Daye would be a good pick with his versatility, especially if Wallace leaves.

16.              Chicago Bulls – B.J. Mullens 7-1 C Ohio State

The Bulls need a low-post presence. DeJuan Blair would be a good pick for them here, but his knees, despite being cleared, are an issue. The Bulls will likely go after Mullens, a raw center with a nice upside.

17.              Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor 6-3 G VCU

Maynor is one of the most ready-to-play players in this draft and can step in with the free agency of Andre Miller

18.              Minnesota Timberwolves – Sam Young 6-7 F Pittsburgh

The Timberwolves need an athletic forward. While Terrence Williams, Gerald Henderson and Earl Clark taken, Young is the sleeper pick. Young is one of the most offensively savvy players in the draft and can add scoring and rebounding to Minnesota.

19.              Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague 6-2 PG Wake Forest

The Hawks will finally address the biggest hole in their roster for years by drafting a quality point guard. After picking Marvin Williams over Chris Paul and Deron Williams in 2005 and Shelden Williams over Rajon Rondo in 2006, they will now address their lack of point guard play. In 2007, they selected Acie Law over Rodney Stuckey, but Law has not been consistent, so they will draft the best point guard available with this pick this year. That player is Jeff Teague.

20.              Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough 6-10 PF North Carolina

The Jazz loves scrappy forwards and Hansbrough is the scrappiest in this draft. He can be a perfect compliment or replacement for Carlos Boozer, bringing intensity, defense and rebounding to the Jazz. He is a great value at this pick with this team.

21.              New Orleans Hornets - DeJuan Blair 6-7 PF Pittsburgh

New Orleans is just one year away from being the second best team in the NBA. They are looking to keep their nucleus and add ready-to-play players, especially in the paint. Blair is a great pick for them as he can back up David West and give effort, post play and rebounds for N.O.

22.              Dallas Mavericks – James Johnson 6-8 PF Wake Forest

The Mavs are getting older, but they are stacked in many areas. Johnson can bring versatility and rebounding to a team whose star player is a perimeter-minded seven-footer (Dirk Nowitzki). They could also go for a point guard and Ty Lawson would be a good pick in that direction.

23.              Sacramento Kings – Omri Casspi 6-9 SF Spain

After drafting a point guard, the Kings could look to fill some depth in their wing positions. Casspi is a very tough small forward to add to a mix of players who could use his grit.

24.              Portland Trail Blazers - Ty Lawson 6-1 PG North Carolina

Outside of Steve Blake, the Blazers do not have a pure point guard. Lawson could be the pick as Blake enters free agency. He could also allow for Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez to focus on scoring. The Blazers have a wealth of talent but need someone to harness it and Lawson could do that.

25.              Oklahoma City Thunder – Chase Budinger 6-7 SG Arizona

The Thunder needs other shooters besides Kevin Durant and Budinger is a great pick. He can complement Russell Westbrook in the backcourt and has the size to guard small forwards.

26.              Chicago Bulls – Toney Douglas 6-2 G Florida State

The Bulls need some insurance in case Ben Gordon leaves the team in free agency. Douglas is one of the best scorers in the draft and can play both backcourt positions.

27.              Memphis Grizzlies – Dajuan Summers 6-8 F Georgetown

The Grizzlies need some depth in their forwards and Summers can provide that. He can shoot from the three but has the size to play the 4 at times in the league. He already has an NBA body and comes from a very team-oriented system at Georgetown.

28.              Minnesota Timberwolves - Jonas Jerebko 6-9 SF Angelico Biella (Italy)

The Timberwolves already have three rookies so they most likely will select an international player with potential, so he can go back to Europe and develop for a couple of years and return. Jerebko best fits this notion.

29.              Los Angeles Lakers – Darren Collison 6-2 PG UCLA

The Lakers need to find a replacement for the aging Derek Fisher. They won’t be able to replace his big shots, but they may find some point guard depth in this draft. Collison is a proven winner and great pure point guard. Not to mention he is from southern California and spent four years at UCLA, so he will be at home.

30.              Cleveland Cavaliers – Taj Gibson 6-8 F USC

The Cavaliers are focused on re-signing LeBron James next summer, in addition to alleviating his pressure next year. They could lose Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao this year to free agency, so they need a power forward that is solid on defense. Gibson would be a very good pick, but the Cavs may go with Xavier’s Derrick Brown.