2009 NBA Mock Draft – Version 6.0
The NBA Draft is almost here and the rumors continue to fly. As we mentioned in earlier mock drafts, Washington had received at least 10 offers for their fifth pick. They dealt away their fifth pick to Minnesota, who apparently has every pick in the draft. (5, 6, 18, 28, 45, 47).
San Antonio also added Richard Jefferson in a deal with Milwaukee. The deals should be plentiful on Thursday. Minnesota should end up trading the 6th pick and 18 or 28 to move up to get the 2nd. The NBA Draft takes place this Thursday night in New York at 7pm (June 25th) on ESPN.
This is version 6.0 (final edition) of the ATS NBA Mock Draft. You can check out versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 here…
Team Pos/Player School/Country Size
1. L.A. Clippers: PF Blake Griffin, Oklahoma 6-10, 252
Comment: The best player in the draft. Enough said.
2. Memphis C Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut 7-3, 265
Comment: Thabeet did not work out due to a shoulder injury and several teams would really like to move up here and pick him or Rubio. One of them is Minnesota, who is desperate to find a true center to play alongside Al Jefferson (what do they do with Kevin Love?). The only other shocker here would be Evans.
3. Oklahoma City SG James Harden, Arizona State 6-5, 215
Comment: They could probably get Harden if they drop to five. Is he really worth the third pick in the draft? Rubio makes more sense here, but they have Westbrook. Harden fits in better with Westbrook, but they are also looking at Curry. A strong lefty who doesn’t do anything spectacular. Just gets the job done.
4. Sacramento PG/SG Tyreke Evans, Memphis 6-5, 221
Comment: Evans blew them away in a workout, which shouldn’t determine how high you go in the draft. But a lot of times it does. Rubio didn’t work out as well and unlike Curry, he has the body to play in the NBA right away. Curry has the IQ, but Evans knows how to play the game as well. The big question is whether he can handle the point full-time or is he a slashing-type of two guard with a limited jumper.
5. Minnesota (from Wash) PG Ricky Rubio, Spain 6-4, 180
Comment: Minnesota wants Evans bad, but they’ll have to trade up to get him. They also are interested in Harden. They could get lucky and draft both guys, though Rubio makes the most sense. Is Rubio really that good? He did show he can play in the Olympics for Spain against U.S. players, but is still very thin and lacks great explosion. He’s also just 18 and won’t turn 19 until October.
6. Minnesota PG Stephen Curry, Davidson 6-3, 181
Comment: Minnesota won’t take Curry if they have Rubio, but he’d fit well with Evans. Curry is moving up on the charts after great workouts. He can flat-out shoot, there’s no denying that, but what is he? He played the point in his final year in college.
7. Golden State PF Jordan Hill, Arizona 6-10, 232
Golden State usually needs help up front. If you go by needs, Hill should be a top five pick. But there are more talented players available and he could slip this far depending on earlier deals. He’s athletic with long arms and should fill out more. Measured taller than expected. Hill could also go late lottery based on team needs. Some compare him to Dale Davis, which is a strong comparison, but he doesn’t seem to have a much higher ceiling.
8. New York G/SG Jrue Holiday UCLA 6-4, 199
Comment: The Knicks will definitely try and trade up to get Curry or Rubio. If they can’t, they’ll get a
very talented combo guard who has yet to prove he can run the show. wing at UCLA with Darren Collison running the show. Has to prove he can run it at this level. Here’s another point guard in the Russell Westbrook/Gilbert Arenas mode. In other words, he’s a combo guard with tremendous talent, who could have used another year in school. But he’s moving up on a lot of team’s lists because he has star potential.
9. Toronto PG Jonny Flynn, Syracuse 6-0, 196
Comment: He has the ability to step in and play right away, which is why you draft him top 10. He has
great athletic ability and strength, which can make up for his lack of height. DeRozan has a better upside but Flynn can make an impact right away.
10. Milwaukee PG Jeff Teague, Wake Forest 6-1, 175
Comment: Bucks want a point guard and they feel he’s the best available. Some feel he should have stayed in college. Others feel he’s more of a combo guard. He showed in the first half of last season that he’s an exceptional talent who can score and create. He can definitely score.
11. New Jersey PG/SG Terrence Williams, Louisville 6-6, 213
Comment: One of the more charismatic and eccentric players in the draft. A versatile player who will go out and defend. It’s either Gerald Henderson or Williams at this spot. Nobody doubts the talent and potential, though he never realized it in college.
12. Charlotte SG DeMar DeRozan, USC 6-6, 220
Comment: Could DeRozan fall this far? Raja Bell is on the downside so it’s time to draft another wing guard. Teams have needs for point guards and guys that can contribute right away. DeRozan is a talent with some Vince Carter-like abilities. MJ could see a little of himself in DeRozan and would scoop him up over Henderson. They could also trade away the pick.
13. Indiana PG Brandon Jennings Lottamatica Roma 6-1, 170
Comment: They have two point guards in T.J. Ford and Jarret Jack, but they can deal them later. He’s too good a talent to pass up this late. Jennings is still a bit of an enigma, but the talent is there. He has the talent to be a big-time point guard down the road.
14. Phoenix SG Gerald Henderson, Duke 6-5, 215
Comment: A couple of players look ok here, but they have red flags. Henderson has asthma, which apparently limited his minutes at Duke to less than 30 minutes per game. He’ll come in as one of the best perimeter defenders and athletes even though he didn’t quite jump as high as expected in combine. He measured at 6-5 in shoes and has a 35 inch vertical with long arms. He’s lacks a consistent jumper, but at times, took over games for Duke. He’s not Grant Hill in his prime, but is very underrated.
15. Detroit C B.J. Mullens, Ohio State 7-0, 260
Comment: Does B.J. Mullens have a guarantee? He might, but this is a good situation for him to learn as Detroit has veterans who can hang around until he’s ready. He won’t help right away as he didn’t even start at Ohio State. He’s very raw and a gamble, but could eventually pay off. You can’t teach his size, athleticism and pontential.
16. Chicago SF Earl Clark Louisville 6-9, 220
Comment: Clark is one of the mysteries of the draft who plays like Lamar Odom. Which means he doesn’t always seem interested in the game, but he has a really nice set of skills and can play small or power forward. Clark was very impressive in the agility workouts, though he needs to get stronger to play the post.
17. Philadelphia PG Eric Maynor, VCU 6-3, 164
Comment: Eddie Jordan takes over as head coach and now needs a point guard to help run the Princeton offense. Now he doesn’t have all the measurables you are looking for. Needs to get bigger. Good, but not great athlete. He can play. Will take the big shot when needed, but can also be a pure point guard and with Andre Miller expected to leave, he can step in right away and at least play some minutes behind Lou Williams.
18. Minnesota SF Austin Daye, Gonzaga 6-10, 192
Comment: Minnesota (if they keep the pick) could go for the skilled guy in Daye, who is a less-athletic Tayshaun Prince. Daye obviously needs to get stronger and is just an average athlete. But you can’t teach his skills and his basketball IQ. Father Darren was a standout at UCLA and was a solid role player in the NBA. He has a chance to be a quality starter.
19. Atlanta PG Ty Lawson, North Carolina, 6-0, 197
Comment: Here’s a guy that could go from 11-25. Teams are worried about the toe injury he suffered during the season and think he might just be a backup. The Hawks could use a point guard if Lawson falls here because Mike Bibby might not be back and Acie Law looks like a bust. Lawson has great speed and can really push the ball as well as anybody in the draft. Also improved his jumper to be more than adequate.
20. Utah PF Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina 6-10, 234
Comment: This should be a good fit. Hansbrough is more athletic than people think, but is he the next David Lee? More like Paul Milsap. An energy guy off the bench or a role player as a starter. He won’t be able to score as easily on the low block like he did in college. He is a very hard worker and can step in and be a rotation player right away. Carlos Boozer looks like he’s on his way out.
21. New Orleans DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh 6-6, 277
Comment: One of the high-risers on the board by some and but a low-riser by others due to his questionable knees and his lack of height. He has a 7-2 wing span, which makes up for his lack of height. Blair adds rebounds and size inside to a team that needs to get more physical. Similar to Elton Brand in terms of wingspan, but not in terms of offensive moves. Big-time rebounder on the offensive glass.
22. Dallas PF/SF James Johnson, Wake Forest 6-8, 255
Comment: One of the most talented big men in the draft, Johnson tended to disappear at times last year. Also a red flag guy. Why did Wake Forest drop so precipitously last year? Was it Johnson or Jeff Teague?
Is he too heavy? Should not have much of a problem scoring. He’ll need to improve his defense and effort once he gets in the NBA. Better athlete than expected and already has the NBA body.
23. Sacramento SG Sam Young, Pittsburgh 6-7, 223
Comment: Does Sac use this pick to grab the #2 spot? The Kings should package this pick to move up or trade their higher pick. Young, who can rebound and defend from the wing spot to get a look here. He’s a great athlete who has made himself into a decent shooter.
24. Portland G Chase Buddinger, Arizona 6-7, 206
Comment: Buddinger is another one of those guys that could fall from the lottery to the 20s. Doesn’t really do a lot well except shoot. He’s basically Wayne Ellington except two inches taller with slightly better hops. He can play shooting guard or small forward. Not much of a defender and has short arms. Needs to shed the “soft” label.
25. Oklahoma City SF Omri Casspi, Isreal 6-9, 211
Comment: Solid blue collar-type who has moved up on some draft boards. Ok City could stash him away and let him grow some in Europe. Similar to a Andre Noccioni, but lacks strength. Good enough athlete to play small forward and will likely play overseas for another year or two. Just 20 years old.
26. Chicago SG Toney Douglas, Florida State 6-2, 184
Comment: Solid player and decent but not great athlete. Can really stroke the ball and looks like a good fit as a third guard if Ben Gordon is gone. He’s more of a dynamic scorer off the bench on most teams than a true starter. But here he could be a nice fit.
27. Memphis SF/PF DaJuan Summers Georgetown 6-9, 243
Comment: Summers was a zone-buster at Georgetown. He’s has a big body, but plays like a wing player. He was held back by the Hoyas’ Princeton offense. Decent enough athlete for his size. Very talented and could be a sleeper if he learns to play more physical and crash the boards.
28. Minnesota SG/PG Nick Calathes, Florida 6-4, 190
Comment: Has a contract to play overseas in Greece. Can play either guard spot. Not super-quick. Just knows how to play the game and Minnesota has several picks. They can afford to wait for him assuming they keep the pick.
29. L.A. Lakers PG Darren Collison, UCLA, 6-1, 165
Comment: Collison is another good point guard, though thin, will play some defense and run a team off the bench (kind of like Brevin Knight). It would be tough for the Lakers to pass up a local guy.
30. Cleveland SG Wayne Ellington, North Carolina 6-5, 202
Comment: Could go anywhere from 15-30. Just depends on team needs. Very good shooter who hasn’t proven he can create his own shot. Decent athlete who needs a screen or a strong point guard like Rubio to get him the ball. Good fit for Cleveland, who needs another perimeter shooter.
Get free expert predictions on tonight’s big games. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter.
Second Round
31. Sacramento SF/PF Jonas Jerebko, Angelico Biella 6-9, 210
Comment: Look great at the Eurocamp. Swedish forward who has bulked up from 192 pounds. Has very long arms and plays a bit like Andrei Kirilenko and “Bird Man” Andersen. Could be a very good role player.
32. Washington C Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga 6-11, 245
Comment: Wiz now need to go big after trading their #5 pick for two guards. Big man who has been through off-the-court and injury issues. Has first round skills. They took a chance on “Birdman”.
33. Portland PG Patrick Mills St. Mary’s (CA) 5-11, 175
Comment: He’s a steal here if they can unload one of their other point guards. Speedy point guard who should have stayed in the draft and would have been a potential lottery pick next season. He missed most of last season with a broken hand, but was considered a lottery player before the injury.
34. Denver SF Derrick Brown, Xavier 6-8, 225
Comment: Very athletic small forward with long arms, who needs to work on his range on his jumper. Is most likely a tweener who will play both positions in the NBA.
35. Memphis PF Jeff Adrien, UConn 6-7, 245
Comment: Undersized power forward who can play some small forward. Has very long arms. Denver could use more toughness up front. He can also shoot it well for a big guy.
36. Detroit SG/PG Patrick Beverley, Ukraine 6-0, 180
Comment: Beverley started his career in Arkansas and ended up playing overseas in Ukraine. Averaged nearly 17ppg and 4apg overseas. Probably more of a two guard than a one, but really impressed in workouts. Could even go late first round.
37. San Antonio PF Victor Klaver, Spain 6-11, 217
Comment: San Antonio needs another foreign player after dumping Olberto. They can also keep him overseas for a year or two. He’s a tough and physical player who has great potential if he keeps getting stronger.
38. Portland PF Taj Gibson, USC 6-9, 225
Comment: An athletic shot blocker who will do the dirty work inside. Needs to get bigger and not much of an offensive force. Could also move up to first round
39. Detroit SF/PG DeMarre Carroll, Missouri 6-8, 208
Comment: Former power forward who made transition to the wing. Runs the floor very well and can finish. Not an elite athlete for a wing but is agile enough to run the floor and board. Bubble first rounder.
40. Charlotte SF Danny Green, North Carolina 6-6, 210
Comment: Jordan gets his Carolina guy and an energizer off the bench. Green is a very athletic wing who can shoot the ball. But mostly, he’ll provide energy and spark off the bench.
41. Milwaukee G Marcus Thornton, LSU 6-4, 205
Comment: A big-time scorer at LSU, he’s a little undersized for the two-guard spot. Very questionable ball handling. Needs screens and a set offense to score.
42. LA Lakers PF Jeff Pendergrph, Arizona State 6-10, 235
Comment: A lunch-pail type of guy who is also extremely agile and athletic. Decent size for a power forward, but could get stronger. Very good rebounder.
43. Miami SG Dionte Christmas, Temple 6-5, 211
Comment: An underrated player who can get his shot off against most people. Physical guard. Not very athletic, which is why he’ll go second round. Needs to improve his handle.
44. Detroit SG Jermaine Taylor, Central Florida 6-4, 203
Comment: Taylor can really stroke it from deep. Isn’t a pure two but is powerfully-built. Problem is he can’t create off the dribble, but that’s why he’s a second-rounder.
45. Minnesota SF/PF Robert Dozier, Memphis 6-10, 215
Comment: Lanky forward who needs to bulk up to play power forward. Has some potential as a rebounder and defender.
46. Cleveland PG A.J. Price, UConn 6-2, 190
Comment: Strong point guard from Connecticut who had an outstanding senior season. Some red flags on a knee injury two years ago and character issues.
47. Minnesota SF Dante Cunningham, Villanova 6-8, 230
Comment: Another hard working, undersized power forward. He’ll have to play small forward in the pro’s, though he did improve his accuracy from beyond 15 feet this year at Villanova.
48. Phoenix PG Rodrigue Beaubois, France 6-2, 180
Comment: Looking for the next Leandro Barbosa? More like Steve Nash, but is a few years away. Thin point guard with very long arms, making up for his lack of size. Very good shooter.
49. Minnesota C John Bryant, Santa Clara 6-11, 275
Comment: Big man who averaged 18ppg the last two seasons in college and really improved his rebounding.
50. Utah SG Nando De Colo, Cholet Basket 6-5, 208
Comment: A great slasher who can create his own shot and is improving his perimeter shot. One of the top performers at Eurocamp.
51. San Antonio PF Henk Norel, DKV Joventut 6-11, 226
Comment: Needs to bulk up but loves to crash the boards and score on the block. Play with Ricky Rubio.
52. Indiana PG Curtis Jerrells, Baylor 6-1, 199
Comment: Powerful southpaw with great speed and the ability to get to the basket off the dribble.
53. San Antonio SG Jodie Meeks, Kentucky 6-4, 205
Comment: What year for Meeks at Kentucky. He went from 8.8 points per game to 24.2 ppg. Lack of height hurts his stock.
54. Charlotte F Ahmad Nivins, St. Joe’s 6-9, 245
Comment: A quality big man who has impressed scouts lately. Not very athletic but a strong body and old school type of back-to-the-basket post player.
55. Portland PG Sergio Llull, Spain 6-3, 176
Comment: Very solid combo guard who can shoot it, but will have to play the point in the NBA. Uses pick-and-roll very well.
56. Portland PF Alade Aminu, Georgia Tech 6-10, 235
Comment: Has a 7-3 wingspan and tremendous potential. Should have stayed another year in college. He came off the bench in the team’s final 12 games, which says a lot about how far he is from being a productive player.
57. Phoenix PF Jon Brockman, Washington 6-7, 255
Comment: A semi-local banger, who will rebound like gangbusters when given a chance. Lacks a dependable offensive move and lack of height will make him a role player at best.
58. Boston PG Jack McClinton, Miami (FL) 6-0, 185
Comment: Another small shooting guard, who will have to adjust to the point in the NBA. Can really shoot it and loves taking the clutch shot.
59. LA Lakers SG Paul Harris, Syracuse 6-3, 235
Comment: Physical player and a genetic freak. Body of a fullback who can jump out of the gym. If you need a defender who will rebound and get loose balls-he’s the guy.
60. Miami PG Tyrese Rice, Boston College 6-0, 192
Comment: Has great speed and the ability to score off the dribble. Is a lead guard who can score, but his 5.2 apg last year at B.C. shows he can also pass.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=aa99604f-cb14-47ec-9f62-1ba52e169109 "2009 NBA Mock Draft – Version 6.0")
Popularity: unranked [?]
