2009 NBA Mock Draft - Version 1.0

by Rizzo23 on May 22, 2009 12:35 PM PDT

With the lottery completed and the order decided, it’s time to try my hand at an early mock for this year’s draft. There have already been some risers and fallers early on and I’m sure there will be more in the coming days. Some teams are looking to shop their picks, mostly in the late first round, but for now, I’ll just assume that there won’t be any trades. Of course, that means the Celtics won’t be drafting in the first round, but my rules are meant to be broken on draft day, so I’m sure Ainge will do just that. Let’s see how the first round of the draft could shake out.

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma

This is a no-brainer pick. He has been the #1 pick in this draft since last November and has won every Player of the Year award you can think of. I’ve already posted my thoughts on this pick for the Clippers, so I won’t go over it again. He’s got the potential to be a top power forward in the league in a few years, but also if he doesn’t develop much of an offensive game, could have already plateud. I don’t expect that to happen, so he will develop into a very good, borderline great, power forward in the league.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Ricky Rubio, G, Spain

Rubio’s agent has already said they will do what they can to avoid him going to either Memphis or Oklahoma City, but the same agent tried to do this with Yi last year and failed. Ultimately, I think Rubio decides to play for whoever takes him and Memphis, with the #2 pick, should take the 2nd best talent on the board. People widely consider Rubio and Thabeet to round out the top-3 with Griffin, but I could see Memphis consider Jordan Hill at this pick if they do not want to stunt the growth of Mike Conley, Jr. In the end, Rubio is the pick and should embrace the chance to play with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

The Thunder have many holes and are not in a position to draft by, well, position. Other than Westbrook, Durant and Jeff Green have solidified their spots on this team. Nenad Krstic was a nice pickup last year, but he’s not a center you would want to build around. Thabeet would give them an instant upgrade in the defense department and if his offense ever comes around, he could become a really nice player. He must bulk up, but who in the draft doesn’t? Also considered James Harden and DeMar DeRozan at this spot.

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Ricky Rubio says he doesn’t want to play for Oklahoma or Memphis….

by intuitive on May 22, 2009 6:56 PM PDT reply actions

I know that’s what he said, but Yi said the same thing last year with the same agent and he ended up playing in Milwaukee anyways. I’ve been reading around and many GMs around the league say if you don’t take Rubio just because his agent says he doesn’t want to play there, you won’t be a GM much longer.

by Rizzo23 on May 22, 2009 7:48 PM PDT reply actions

So people don’t think there’s a real risk that Rubio will simply stay in Europe if picked by a team he doesn’t like?

by DexterFishmore on May 22, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

The thing is if he stayed in Europe doesn’t the team that drafts him still have his rights? So then when he gets out of his contract he has to come and play for the team. Thats how I thought it worked.

by intuitive on May 22, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I think that’s right. But it seems like the threat of holding out is more credible for a player like Rubio, who’s from Europe originally, than it would be for an American. In principle, he could say to Memphis and OKC, “Feel free to draft me, but I’m going to stay in Europe until you trade me to someplace I want to play.” You’re right that it’s an imperfect form of leverage, but it’s a card he could play if he really, really didn’t like who drafted him.

I have no idea whether he’d really consider doing this. I’m just speculating about his options.

by DexterFishmore on May 22, 2009 11:51 PM PDT reply actions

Definitely it’s all speculation, but if a GM was dumb enough to pass on him because he’s making threats about wanting to get into the bigger market teams like Sacramento and LA instead of Memphis or Oklahoma I dont think a GM would pass him up. There’s just no way a GM would pass him up even if he would state over and over again he didn’t want to go to the team because by passing him up they’d get nothing. Memphis will probably draft him, regardless of whether he likes it or not.

by intuitive on May 23, 2009 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Besides, wouldn’t his rights be a great trade asset?

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by LatinD on May 26, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

This makes me feel better about my Rubio to Memphis decision…

by Rizzo23 on May 23, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Pau's influence on Rubio

I would think that Pau, as a senior member of the Spanish Olympic team, and the God of Spanish basketball, would have some influence over Ricky Rubio. Pau didn’t seem too terribly miserable in Memphis, and in fact led them to a small degree of success by getting that team to the playoffs a few years ago. Of course, Pau could also give the case that you can pay your dues with the lower tier teams and if you are a good player get dealt to an elite team like the Lakers.

Nick Adenhart - 1986 - 2009 R.I.P.

by swiss mcgee on May 24, 2009 1:44 PM PDT reply actions

Dionte Christmas

i think he’d be a solid pick for us. we need another long range shooter off the bench since sasha’s been MIA for the past 12 months. i do disagree in the footnote though about taking a point guard for us being a good pick, since i really think that brown and farmar can both be long term solutions at PG for us.

something to think about is if lamar doesn’t come back next year. we’d definitely need some depth at forward, which is a position i really like in this draft class. i definitely wouldn’t rule that position out for us.

by tdp992 on May 25, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions