2009 NBA Mock Draft
The NBA draft is a few days away and I’m excited for a lot of these kids. I’ve had a great time watching a lot of these players in high school and I’m very excited to see how they’ll do in the pros.
I’m not going to give a mock draft myself but more or less give my opinions on the latest ESPN mock draft that has been done by Chad Ford. He has the following top 5 picks:
#1 Blake Griffin: The Clippers have this pick and Griffin is the obvious choice here. He’s listed at 6*10 but plays high above the rim and is very athletic. I’m not sure how polished he is away from the basket but he goes and gets the basketball when a rebound is available and he’ll be a great finished in the NBA on the break. He’ll excel in the open court game and I expect him to do well from day 1.
#2. Hasheen Thabeet: MEMPHIS. Nobody wants to play in Memphis and you can’t really blame them. They are all over the place as to what they need but a solid big man is usually a great place to start. Thabeet is going to be a great defender in a league that values shotblockers and physical play. He’ll be in constant foul trouble his first year and he is a project offensively but running a pick and roll he’ll do fine. Memphis could go wrong here by taking a number of other players but Thabeet is the safest thing for them to take.
#3. Ricky Rubio: OK City. Rubio has been tough to read during the process because he has a lot to lose by putting himself out there. He has been mentioned as high as #2 to dropping as low as #11. He’ll never drop that far but teams are starting to wonder about the kid and you can’t blame them. Rubio is young but has been playing professionally for years now. He’s a solid point guard with good size but has shown limited ability to shoot the ball. OK City took Westbrook last year so i don’t see why they’d take Rubio here. I think they go another direction or try to trade the pick to someone desperate for Rubio.
#4. Tyreke Evans: Sacramento. Tyreke is the player that I’m most interested in as far as where he goes in the draft. He is a big strong player for his age and has the ability to handle the ball out front. He has the ability to be a very good combo guard in the league. I question his outside shot and shot selection but on a good team I expect those things will change a bit. Sacramento will take a point guard with their selection and the question that needs to be asked is whether Evans is the guy they want or not. Do they want Rubio, Johnny Flynn, Evans or darkhorse Stephen Curry? This selection is the key to the rest of the draft.
#5 James Harden: Washington. Don’t take James Harden. I think this is the worst pick of the draft if taken this early. I see Harden as absolutely bombing in the league. He isn’t a great shooter and isn’t ultra athletic. He’s a proven college scorer but guys like him are a dime a dozen if you ask me. I’m not sold on this selection one bit if you can’t tell. If I have a choice between James Harden or 4-5 point guards then I take the point guards. I know you are paying Arenas a ton of money but he’s been hurt for 2 straight seasons now. They aren’t getting younger. If Hardens comes in here he won’t be an immediate success because of how Arenas and Jamison dominate the ball. Harden has always been option 1 and in this situation where he is expected to pass it is not going to be pretty. Don’t ruin the kid Washington by taking him here. Take a post.
