Here's the first part of my mock 2009 NBA Draft which I am labeling the PG Draft since there's a boatload of Magic Johnson's here. But you know, it looks kind of lean.
Here's how I see the first five picks.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
What this team needs: Lots of help. Everywhere particularly a better owner and front office management.
Likely pick: Blake Griffin, PF/C Oklahoma Sooners.
Prognosis: Hey, Blake. Get ready for life in purgatory and ballhog Baron Davis.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
What this team needs: A bench. Although they have size upfront (the damn coach is hesitant to use them), they could benefit from another post scorer and defensive presence if they get UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet, who got better every year with the Huskies.
The Grizzlies scored 93.87 ppg while surrendered 99.34 second to the last to Charlotte. As bad as they were offensively, they were even worse defensively ranking last in team rebounds with 38.82. And in other categories, suffice to say they were all negative.
The Grizzlies have Darko Mlicic, Hamed Haddadi, Chris Mihm, and Marc Gasol; all seven-footers but what’s the point if you’re not playing them? This team under Head Coach Lionel Hollins (who played for the Philadelphia 76ers with Julius Erving), needs another scorer from the front court and the backcourt. They’ll probably keep Mlicic and Haddadi and let Mihm go.
On the other hand, they can tab Gasol’s teammate on the Spanish National Team Ricky Rubio and either hand him the starter’s role or make him come off the bench. Rubio could energize this team which isn’t a knock on starting PG Mike Conley but that’s just the way it is. This team was dead last in playmaking with 17.35 assists per game.
Adding Rubio will give this team a long range threat who can drive and be creative. The Spaniard will open up the floor for OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay and give Hakim Warrick some open looks.
Likely pick: Ricky Rubio PG, DKV Juventut. They’ll get Rubio first even if he doesn’t want to go to Memphis. But in the event that he’s another Danny Ferry, they’ll draft Thabeet or angle for a trade.
3. Oklahoma Thunder
What this team needs: Everything. Including the Sauer kraut
The Thunder can score and though ranked 24 (96.97) in the league, they are mere percentage points from climbing up the ladder. But they gave up 103.52. And in this league, size and defense does matter.
Ironically, they were in the Top 10 in team rebounding (#6) with 42.63 with the undersized Nick Collison, Nenad Kristic, and Jeff Green upfront.
Likely pick: Depends on who the Grizzlies get. If they tab Rubio where does that leave Russell Westbrook who was solid in his rookie year out of UCLA posting 15.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 5.3 apg. numbers. Do they go the route of the Toronto Raptors who played both TJ Ford and Jose Calderon? If left with Thabeet, it’s not a bad choice because the 7’2” UConn center will shore up their defense and allow them to run some more. or Thabeet to come off the bench for Kristic.
The Thunder is better off with Thabeet.
4. Sacramento Kings
What they need: A frontcourt player since Calvin Booth and Ike Digou are free agents. The addition of Andres Nocioni helps this team as he can shoot and mix it up inside. Spencer Hawes had a good season at PF/C but along with Nocioni, the two are not enough. Bobby Jackson is slowing down but this team has Kevin Martin, Rashad McCants, and Francisco Garcia to provide scoring.
Likely pick: Arizona’s PF Jordan Hill or Arizona State’s James Harden at SG. They could trade this pick because they have young players. What they need is veteran experience and a leader. As good as Kevin Martin is for the Kings, they need a bonafide leader.
5. Washington Wizards
What they need: Is to take insurance in the event that Agent Zero is done for. They have Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison but without Gilbert Arenas to open up the floor for them to operate inside, the Wizards went poof!
Likely pick: Arizona State’s James Harden.
Next: #6-10
Here's how I see the first five picks.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
What this team needs: Lots of help. Everywhere particularly a better owner and front office management.
Likely pick: Blake Griffin, PF/C Oklahoma Sooners.
Prognosis: Hey, Blake. Get ready for life in purgatory and ballhog Baron Davis.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
What this team needs: A bench. Although they have size upfront (the damn coach is hesitant to use them), they could benefit from another post scorer and defensive presence if they get UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet, who got better every year with the Huskies.
The Grizzlies scored 93.87 ppg while surrendered 99.34 second to the last to Charlotte. As bad as they were offensively, they were even worse defensively ranking last in team rebounds with 38.82. And in other categories, suffice to say they were all negative.
The Grizzlies have Darko Mlicic, Hamed Haddadi, Chris Mihm, and Marc Gasol; all seven-footers but what’s the point if you’re not playing them? This team under Head Coach Lionel Hollins (who played for the Philadelphia 76ers with Julius Erving), needs another scorer from the front court and the backcourt. They’ll probably keep Mlicic and Haddadi and let Mihm go.
On the other hand, they can tab Gasol’s teammate on the Spanish National Team Ricky Rubio and either hand him the starter’s role or make him come off the bench. Rubio could energize this team which isn’t a knock on starting PG Mike Conley but that’s just the way it is. This team was dead last in playmaking with 17.35 assists per game.
Adding Rubio will give this team a long range threat who can drive and be creative. The Spaniard will open up the floor for OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay and give Hakim Warrick some open looks.
Likely pick: Ricky Rubio PG, DKV Juventut. They’ll get Rubio first even if he doesn’t want to go to Memphis. But in the event that he’s another Danny Ferry, they’ll draft Thabeet or angle for a trade.
3. Oklahoma Thunder
What this team needs: Everything. Including the Sauer kraut
The Thunder can score and though ranked 24 (96.97) in the league, they are mere percentage points from climbing up the ladder. But they gave up 103.52. And in this league, size and defense does matter.
Ironically, they were in the Top 10 in team rebounding (#6) with 42.63 with the undersized Nick Collison, Nenad Kristic, and Jeff Green upfront.
Likely pick: Depends on who the Grizzlies get. If they tab Rubio where does that leave Russell Westbrook who was solid in his rookie year out of UCLA posting 15.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 5.3 apg. numbers. Do they go the route of the Toronto Raptors who played both TJ Ford and Jose Calderon? If left with Thabeet, it’s not a bad choice because the 7’2” UConn center will shore up their defense and allow them to run some more. or Thabeet to come off the bench for Kristic.
The Thunder is better off with Thabeet.
4. Sacramento Kings
What they need: A frontcourt player since Calvin Booth and Ike Digou are free agents. The addition of Andres Nocioni helps this team as he can shoot and mix it up inside. Spencer Hawes had a good season at PF/C but along with Nocioni, the two are not enough. Bobby Jackson is slowing down but this team has Kevin Martin, Rashad McCants, and Francisco Garcia to provide scoring.
Likely pick: Arizona’s PF Jordan Hill or Arizona State’s James Harden at SG. They could trade this pick because they have young players. What they need is veteran experience and a leader. As good as Kevin Martin is for the Kings, they need a bonafide leader.
5. Washington Wizards
What they need: Is to take insurance in the event that Agent Zero is done for. They have Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison but without Gilbert Arenas to open up the floor for them to operate inside, the Wizards went poof!
Likely pick: Arizona State’s James Harden.
Next: #6-10
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