2009 Mock NBA Draft

By David K.

To justify that I am not some hack throwing out a random mock draft, consider that I got as many right in my final mock of 2008 as ESPN “expert” Chad Ford, and less than a handful of other mocks on the web had more correct than I did.  Considering I don’t have the “connections” that Ford or some other sites have, that is pretty impressive.  Team needs have not been taken into account with this mock.

1. Oklahoma City- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma, 6-10, So.
-physical, can put the ball on the floor, owns the boards
Think: Amare Stoudemire

2. Washington- James Harden, SG, Arizona State, 6-5, So.
-great at attacking the hoop, solid outside shooter, can take over a game
Think: Joe Johnson

3. L.A. Clippers â–² Greg Monroe, C/F, Georgetown, 6-10, Fr.
-does it all on offense, best passing big in college, extremely athletic
Think: Chris Bosh

4. Sacramento- â–² Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, 6-10, So.
-lives around the rim, great on the glass, much improved outside game
Think: LaMarcus Aldridge

5. Golden State- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn, 7-3, Jr.
-athletic for his size, tremendous shot blocker, still raw on offense
Think: Ben Wallace, but six inches taller

6. Memphis- Stephen Curry, G, Davidson, 6-2, Jr.     
-unbelievable three-point range and scorer, great vision as a passer
Think: a sharp-shooting Tony Parker

7. *Minnesota- DaJuan Summers, F, Georgetown, 6-8, Jr.
-good inside/outside offensive game, tremendous athlete, physical player
Think: Bobby Simmons

8. Indiana- â–¼ Damion James, SF, Texas, 6-8, Jr.
-very versatile, strong rebounder, nice mid-range game
Think: Danny Granger

9. Charlotte- Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest, 6-9, Fr.
-all-around skill set from handling the ball to creating his own shot, runs floor well
Think: Travis Outlaw

10. Toronto- Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, 6-8, Jr.
-a point forward type, excels as a penetrator, good rebounder
Think: Lamar Odom

11. ?New York- Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis, 6-6, Fr.
-slasher, handles the ball well in transition, needs more consistency with jumper
Think: DeShawn Stevenson

12. Chicago- Gani Lawal, F, Georgia Tech, 6-8, So.
-low-post threat, solid on the boards, not a great shooter
Think: Brandon Bass

13. Milwaukee- â–¼ Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona, 6-7, Jr.
-ridiculous athleticism, can stroke it from deep but is sometimes too streaky a shooter
Think: Stephen Jackson

14. Dallas- -Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky, 6-9, So.
-great skill set in the post, very physical, good ball-handler for a big
Think: Kenyon Martin

15. =Philadelphia- Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy, 6-0, 1989
-tremendous court vision, unselfish, not afraid to take it to the hoop
Think: Kenny Anderson

16. New Jersey- Patty Mills, PG, St. Mary’s, 5-11, So.
-made a name for himself in Olympics playing for Australia, this year’s Stephen Curry
Think: Ramon Sessions

17. #Minnesota- Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, 6-0, Sr.
-great on-the-ball defender, smart decision-maker, can hit three ball
Think: Bobby Jackson

18. Utah- â–¼ Ty Lawson, PG, UNC, 5-11, Jr.
-very quick with the ball, suffocating perimeter defender, leader on the floor
Think: Jameer Nelson

-fearless when attacking the hoop, great in transition, must improve outside shooting
Think: Gerald Wallace

20. &Sacramento- Johnny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, 6-0, So.
-can take over a game, great range and driver, lock-down perimeter defender
Think: Raymond Felton

21. Portland- Victor Claver, SF, Spain, 6-10, 1988
-smooth, polished offensive game like most Euro players, not very physical
Think: Adam Morrison

22. Atlanta- Manny Harris, SG, Michigan, 6-5, So.
-a pure scorer from the outside or with his dribble-drive game, can play the point
Think: Sasha Vujacic

23. Phoenix-  Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC, 6-9, Sr.
-high basketball IQ, plays with an incredible intensity, nice touch on jump shot
Think: Eduardo Najera

24. New Orleans- â–² Terrence Williams, SF, Louisville, 6-6, Sr.
-very versatile, great passer, solid defender, needs to work on outside shot
Think: Matt Barnes

25. ~Oklahoma City- Sam Young, G/F, Pitt, 6-6, Sr.
-can score from outside or inside, doesn’t take a lot of bad shots, not a great creator
Think: Michael Finley

26. +Oklahoma City- Eric Maynor, PG, VCU, 6-3, Sr.
-playmaker on the offensive end, a floor general, must become more consistent shooter
Think: Antonio Daniels

27. ^Minnesota- James Johnson, F, Wake Forest, 6-9, So.
-can put the ball on the deck and attack the rim, NBA-ready body, inconsistent shooter
Think: Wilson Chandler

28. Orlando- Danny Green, SF, UNC, 6-7, Sr.
-does a little bit of everything, will be a great role player in the NBA
Think: James Posey

29. L.A. Lakers- Greivis Vasquez, G, Maryland, 6-6, Jr.
-combo guard who can score it and dish it, needs to get more physical for next level
Think: Marco Belinelli

30. Cleveland- A.J. Ogilvy, F/C, Vanderbilt, 6-11, So.
-good fundamental low post game on offense, good touch around rim, not very physical
Think: Rasho Nesterovic

Second Round

31. Josh Heytvelt, PF, Gonzaga, 6-11, Sr.
32. Vitor Faverani, F/C, Brazil, 7-0, 1988
33. Curtis Jerrells, PG, Baylor, 6-1, Sr.
34. Jerel McNeal, G, Marquette, 6-3, Sr.
35. Taj Gibson, PF, USC, 6-9, Jr.
36. Omri Cassipi, SF, Isreal, 6-8, 1988
37. Robert Vaden, SG, UAB, 6-5, Sr.
38. Jeremy Pargo, PG, Gonzaga, 6-2, Sr.
39. Dionte Christmas, SG, Temple, 6-5, Sr.
40. A.J. Price, PG, UConn, 6-2, Sr.
41. Lee Cummard, G/F, BYU, 6-7 Sr
42. Nando de Colo, G, 6-5, France 1987
43. A.J. Abrams, G, 5-11, Texas, Sr.
44. Connor Atchley, F/C, Texas, 6-10, Sr.
45. Miroslav Raduljica, C, Serbia, 7-0, 1988
46. Jack McClinton, PG, Miami (FL), 6-1, Sr.
47. Jeff Pendergraph, PF, Arizona State, 6-10, Sr.
48. Hank Norel, PF, Netherlands, 6-11, 1987
49. Lester Hudson, PG, UT-Martin, 6-3, Sr.
50. Tyrese Rice, PG, Boston College, 6-1, Sr.
51. Chris Johnson, PF, LSU, 6-11, Sr.
52. Slava Kravtsov, C, Ukraine, 7-0, 1987
53. Josh Carter, G/F, Texas A&M, 6-7, Sr.
54. Wesley Matthews, SG, Marquette, 6-5, Sr.
55. Leo Lyons, PF, Missouri, 6-9, Sr.
56. Joe Ingles, SF, Australia, 6-8, 1987
57. Stefon Jackson, SG, UTEP, 6-5, Sr.
58. Jeff Adrien, PF, UConn, 6-7, Sr.
59. Jon Brockman, PF, Washington, 6-7, Sr.
60. Luke Nevill, C, Utah, 7-0, Sr.

Other First Round talent likely to stay in school/overseas:

Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 6-4, 1990
B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State, 7-0, Fr.
DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC, 6-6, Fr.
Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest, 6-2, So.
Jrue Holliday, SG, UCLA, 6-4, Fr.
Cole Aldrich, F/C, Kansas, 6-10, So.
Samardo Samuels, PF, Louisville, 6-10, Fr.
Austin Daye, SF, 6-10, Gonzaga, So.
Nick Calathes, G, Florida, 6-5, So.
Kyle Singler, F, Duke, 6-8, So.
Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, 6-5, Jr.
Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC, 6-4, Jr.
Raymar Morgan, G/F, Michigan State, 6-7, Jr.
DeJuan Blair, PF, Pitt, 6-7, So.

#Minnesota gets Miami’s ’09 1st round pick (top ten protected) via Ricky Davis trade

*Clippers get Minnesota’s ’09 1st round pick (top ten protectred) via Marko Jaric trade

+Thunder gets Spurs’ ’09 1st round pick (lottery preotected) via Kurt Thomas trade

^Minnesota gets Boston’s ’09 1st round pick (top 3 protected) via Kevin Garnett trade

&Kings get Houston ’09 1st round pick via Ron Artest trade

?Utah gets New York ’09 1st round pick (top 22 protected) via Phoenix

=Minnesota gets Philadelphia ’09 1st round pick (from Utah –Gordon Giricek trade-top 22 protected) via Rodney Carney trade

~Thunder get Denver ’09 1st round pick (lottery protected) via Johan Petro trade

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