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. *Minnesota- Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 6-4, 1990
-great court vision, incredibly unselfish, very mature for a young point guard
Think: a mix of Steve Nash and Jason Kidd
3. L.A. Clippers- â–² Stephen Curry, G, Davidson, 6-2, Jr. Â
-unbelievable three-point range and scorer, impressive in first year as point guard
Think: a sharp-shooting Tony Parker
4. 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
5. Sacramento- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn, 7-3, Jr.
-athletic for his size, tremendous shot blocker, improving as a post scorer
Think: Ben Wallace, but six inches taller
6. Charlotte- â–² Damion James, SF, Texas, 6-8, Jr.
-very versatile, averaged 10.3 boards and shot 41% from three last season
Think: Danny Granger
7. Golden State- 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
8. Memphis- â–¼ Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy, 6-0, 1989
-tremendous court vision, unselfish, not afraid to take it to the hoop
Think: Kenny Anderson
9. Indiana- â–² Gani Lawal, F, Georgia Tech, 6-8, So.
-low-post threat, solid on the boards, not a great shooter
Think: Brandon Bass
10. Milwaukee- Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, 6-8, Jr.
-a point forward type, excels as a penetrator, good rebounder
Think: Lamar Odom
11. =Philadelphia- 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
12. Toronto- Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, 6-0, Sr.
-great on-the-ball defender, smart decision-maker, can hit three ball
Think: Bobby Jackson
13. ?New York- â–² Ty Lawson, PG, UNC, 5-11, Jr.
-very quick with the ball, suffocating perimeter defender, leader on the floor
Think: Jameer Nelson
14. Dallas- â–¼ Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis, 6-6, Fr.
-slasher, handles the ball well in transition, needs more consistency with jumper
Think: DeShawn Stevenson
15. Chicago- Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky, 6-9, So.
-great skill set in the post, very physical, good ball-handler for a big
Think: Kenyon Martin
16. Detroit- 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. New Jersey- Tyler Smith, SF, Tennessee, 6-7, Jr.
-fearless when attacking the hoop, great in transition, must improve outside shooting
Think: Gerald Wallace
18. Phoenix- â–² 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
19. Atlanta- Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, 6-10, So.
-lives around the rim, great on the glass, must work on outside game
Think: Stromile Swift
20. #Minnesota- Victor Claver, SF, Spain, 6-10, 1988
-smooth, polished offensive game like most Euro players, not very physical
Think: Adam Morrison
21. Utah- Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC, 6-9, Sr.
-high basketball IQ, plays with an incredible intensity, nice touch on jump shot
Think: Eduardo Najera
22. +Oklahoma City- Derrick Brown, F, Xavier, 6-9, Jr.
-amazing athlete, solid on the defensive end, not a big-time scorer
Think: Shawne Williams
23. &Sacramento- Eric Maynor, PG, VCU, 6-3, Sr.
-playmaker on the offensive end, a floor general, must become more consistent shooter
Think: Antonio Daniels
24. Portland- 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
25. New Orleans- Terrence Williams, SF, Louisville, 6-6, Sr.
-very versatile, great passer, solid defender, needs to work on outside shot
Think: Matt Barnes
26. Denver- â–² 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
27. Orlando- â–¼Connor Atchley, F/C, Texas, 6-10, Sr.
-more of a perimeter oriented big with great range on his shot, not very physical inside
Think: Troy Murphy
28. L.A. Lakers- 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
29. Cleveland- â–¼ Jerome Jordan, C, Tulsa, 7-0, Jr.
-big time shot blocker, still raw on the offensive end, average at best athleticism
Think: Theo Ratliff
30. ^Minnesota- .â–² 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
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. Lee Cummard, G/F, BYU, 6-7 Sr
35. Jeremy Pargo, PG, Gonzaga, 6-2, Sr.
36. Nando de Colo, G, 6-5, France 1987
37. â–² A.J. Abrams, G, 5-11, Texas, Sr.
38. â–² Jerel McNeal, G, Marquette, 6-3, Sr.
39. Taj Gibson, PF, USC, 6-9, Jr.
40. Miroslav Raduljica, C, Serbia, 7-0, 1988
41. Jeff Pendergraph, PF, Arizona State, 6-10, Sr.
42. Hank Norel, PF, Netherlands, 6-11, 1987
43. A.J. Price, PG, UConn, 6-2, Sr.
44. Omri Cassipi, SF, Isreal, 6-8, 1988
45. Robert Vaden, SG, UAB, 6-5, Sr.
46. Lester Hudson, PG, UT-Martin, 6-3, Sr.
47. Tyrese Rice, PG, Boston College, 6-1, Sr.
48. Antonio Anderson, SG, Memphis, 6-6, Sr.
49. Chris Johnson, PF, LSU, 6-11, Sr.
50. Slava Kravtsov, C, Ukraine, 7-0, 1987
51. Jack McClinton, PG, Miami (FL), 6-1, Sr.
52. Josh Carter, G/F, Texas A&M, 6-7, Sr.
53. Dionte Christmas, SG, Temple, 6-5, Sr.
54. Leo Lyons, PF, Missouri, 6-9, Sr.
55. Joe Ingles, SF, Australia, 6-8, 1987
56. Robert Dozier, F, Memphis, 6-9, Sr.
57. Dante Cunningham, F, Villanova, 6-8, Sr.
58. Jeff Adrien, PF, UConn, 6-7, Sr.
59. Jon Brockman, PF, Washington, 6-7, Sr.
60. Demarre Carroll, F, Missouri, 6-8, Sr.
Other First Round talent likely to stay in school:
B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State, 7-0, Fr.
DeMar DeRozan, SG, Ohio State, 6-6, Fr.
Jrue Holliday, SG, UCLA, 6-4, Fr.
Cole Aldrich, F/C, Kansas, 6-10, So.
Samardo Samuels, PF, Louisville, 6-10, Fr.
Nick Calathes, G, Florida, 6-5, So.
Kyle Singler, F, Duke, 6-8, So.
Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, 6-5, Jr.
Austin Daye, SF, 6-10, Gonzaga, So.
Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC, 6-4, Jr.
Raymar Morgan, G/F, Michigan State, 6-7, Jr.
Greivis Vazquez, PG, Maryland, 6-5, Jr.
Dwayne Collins, PF, Miami Fl, 6-8, Fr.
#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
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