DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft 1.0

Home » Uncategorized » DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft 1.0

The NBA Draft is coming and so we present to you the DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft 1.0 for 2009. As the number indicates, we’ll have more to come, but this is how we see things now. Feel free to disagree all you like. Wagering is encouraged. You can find this mock draft and many more in the DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft Database. It’s the biggest and best on the Internet.

01. Los Angeles Clippers: PF Blake Griffin [Oklahoma]: Even the Clippers aren’t dumb enough to screw this one up. Getting rid of Zach Randolph in any way possible would be a good idea, not just because they play the same position, but also because the Clippers shouldn’t want Randolph anywhere near Griffin, who is an immense talent and could be a perennial All Star in two years if he’s handled right. Of course, it’s the Clips so that probably won’t happen.

02. Memphis Grizzlies: C Hasheem Thabeet [Connecticut]: Ricky Rubio might make more sense for them, but center is an issue of grave need for the Grizz and I don’t see these guys paying for Rubio’s huge buyout to get him to the U.S. Thabeet has a ways to go offensively, but he’ll be a defensive and rebounding force immediately.

03. Oklahoma City Thunder: PF Jordan Hill [Arizona]: The Thunder will look longingly at Rubio, as well, but they’ve already got Russell Westbrook at the point and I’m not sure he can play off the ball. The presence of Westbrook and Rubio’s buyout push the Thunder toward Jordan Hill, who is hardly a sure thing, but whose physical ability is immense. If Hill pans out, the Thunder are building a team of amazing athletes.

04. Sacramento Kings: PG Ricky Rubio [Spain]: They got screwed on lottery night, but things fall perfectly for the Kings on draft night, as teams are scared away by Rubio’s buyout and their own needs at other positions. The Kings are desperate and the Maloof brothers like to make a splash. They’ll fork over the buyout and bring Rubio to Sacramento, where a terrific young backcourt will be built.

05. Washington Wizards: SG James Harden [Arizona State]: GM Ernie Grunfeld will be trying to move this pick, but he might not be able to, considering the available talent and the cap issues facing many teams [including the Wizards]. Washington would strongly consider Jordan Hill if he were on the board, but he’s not so they go with James Harden, who, despite a terrible NCAA tournament, is an NBA-ready sharpshooter who should pair very nicely with Gilbert Arenas. Washington badly needs an accurate spot-up shooter at the 2 and Harden fits the bill.

06. Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Jrue Holiday [UCLA]: The T-pups need help at the point pretty badly and Holiday is an intriguing talent with a big upside. He had a great pre-draft combine and his nice passing, pretty good shooting and terrific work on defense make him a solid pick for any team needing a point guard. He’s not the greatest athlete in this draft, but Magic Johnson never out-ran anyone on the court.

07. Golden State Warriors: PG/SG Stephen Curry [Davidson]: He was great at the combine, he’s the best shooter in the draft, got decent size, decent quickness and he’s as smart and hard-working as any player coming out this year. He’s consistently been underrated, but the Warriors will get a nice NBA player in Stephen Curry.

08. New York Knicks: PG Jonny Flynn [Syracuse]: They would have gladly taken Curry if he’d been on the board, but Flynn played very well down the stretch last season and has real leadership skills. Turns out he’s not as small as feared and he’s got a big personality that should go over well in the Big Apple.

09. Toronto Raptors: SG DeMar DeRozan [USC]: He fits what De-Raptors de-need in de-backcourt and he’s just an immense physical talent who shouldn’t fall any de-further.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: PG Brandon Jennings [Italy]: They could lose Charlie Villanueva to free agency, but I don’t see a replacement that is a good value here and they also have a pressing need at point guard. Jennings is a bit of an enigma. His physical skills are undeniable, but he wasn’t as productive as he should have been last year. He won’t be ready immediately, but he could be the best point guard in this draft.

11. New Jersey Nets: PF DeJuan Blair [Pittsburgh]: The Nets desperately need help at both forward positions and Blair has the strength, power, and nastiness to help immediately.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: SG Tyreke Evans [Memphis]: A fine replacement for Jason Richardson.

13. Indiana Pacers: SF/PF Earl Clark [Louisville]: The question about Clark is his motor — does he have one? If the Pacers get him to play hard, th
ey’ll have a versatile forward who can move between both positions, score from all over the court, rebound and run the break like a gazelle. If they can’t get him to play hard…

14. Phoenix Suns: PF James Johnson [Wake Forest]: He won’t be the tallest power forward in the league, but he could be one of the strongest in a year or two. He’s a terrific athlete who can run and also knock down the outside shot. He’s a tweener, but he’d help the Suns.

15. Detroit Pistons: SF/PF Austin Daye
[Gonzaga]: They would have taken Blair, Clark or Johnson if they’d been
on the board, but they’ll settle for Daye and hope he can put on some
weight and become a real NBA player in two years.

16. Chicago Bulls: SG Gerald Henderson
[Duke]: He’s ready to play in the pros now, he’s got a good shot and
plays better defense than any other shooting guard in this draft. He’s
also a very good value at 16.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: PG Eric Maynor [VCU]: An older, NBA-ready point who can replace free agent Andre Miller.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: C B.J. Mullens
[Ohio State]: He’s huge, but not ready to play right now. He will fit a
need in a year or two and he could have a very nice upside.

19. Atlanta Hawks: PG Jeff Teague [Wake Forest]: They need a point guard, but have repeatedly missed opportunities to grab stars in the last 5 years.

20. Utah Jazz: PF Tyler Hansbrough
[North Carolina]: He’ll be better than many think, better than his
draft position and the Jazz desperately need someone to step in if they
lose Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap or both.

21. New Orleans Hornets: SG Chase Budinger [Arizona]: He can help them spread the floor and rack up those assists for Chris Paul.

22. Dallas Mavericks: PG Ty Lawson
[North Carolina]: Has the leadership, grit and intellect to excel and
learning from Jason Kidd for a year or two will be a great help.

23. Sacramento Kings: SF/PF DaJuan Summers [Georgetown]: I watched him sort of fall apart last year at Georgetown, but he’s a real talent with low post scoring ability.

24. Portland Trail Blazers: SF Omri Casspi
[Israel]: A gritty, hard worker who can be left abroad to marinate for
a year or two if Portland can’t trade this pick, as they would like.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: PF Gani Lawal [Georgia Tech]: Another terrific athlete and rebounder for a team that will be stocked with them.

26. Chicago Bulls: SF Sam Young
[Pittsburgh]: He’ll be a 24-year-old rookie, but he can score from all
over the court, run the floor well and he’s been a terrific college
player for two years in a row.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: SG Terrence Williams:
Terrence Williams is a player with a high upside and if he falls apart,
as a player with his character issues might, he will have only cost the
team a last first round pick. Williams is an amazing athlete, but he
needs to work on his shot and focus on basketball. Once he has money in
his pocket, though…

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: PF Taj Gibson
[USC]: Minny got a point guard and a center from the draft already.
Now, it’s time for a tough, rebounding forward and Gibson fits the bill.

29. Los Angeles Lakers: PG Darren Collison
[UCLA]: The Lakers get lucky as Collison falls to them and stays in
town. He’s the right replacement for Derek Fisher and he’s a lot better
than many people think.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: SG Toney Douglas
[Florida State]: They would have taken Collison if he’d fallen one more
spot, but he didn’t so they’ll go for Toney Douglas, who can hit the
outside shot. The Cavs badly need players who can be counted on to hit
outside shots. Douglas is also a good defender, which Coach Mike James
always likes.

You can find this mock draft and many more in the DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft Database. It’s the biggest and best on the Internet.