Since everybody has now jumped all over the concept of the mock draft, I am posting a draft discussion. This post will eventually cover the all of the picks by Wednesday. To avoid a super-massive length, I am not doing analysis on my second round picks.
1. Los Angeles Clippers- Well, this is pretty simple. Everybody and their momma knows the Clippers are going to take Blake Griffin. He is in a tier above everybody else, and could be a 20 and 10 guy in the League (just like Michael Beasley, right?) However this creates a logjam, as the Clippers already have 4 competent bigs: Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan, and Zach Randolph. Look for at least one of them to be traded during the offseason, probably Kaman.
Pick: Blake Griffin
2. Memphis Grizzlies- Clearly, this pick will set the tone for the entire draft. A top pick will once again be decided by an unruly agent (see 2009 MLB Draft.) The pick comes down to two players. Rubio seems to be the better fit, as Mike Conley has yet to show he can fully lead a team. However, Dan Fegan may have already thwarted this idea, leaving the Grizzlies with Hasheem Thabeet. Thabeet is solid, but I wonder if he is worthy of a #2 selection. Really, the next few picks will be decided by the mettle of the Grizzlies decision makers. I think they will cave, but the possibility of them dealing the pick is very high
Pick: Hasheem Thabeet
3. Oklahoma City Thunder- If the Grizzlies let Rubio fall into the Thunder's lap, I think they have to take him. Either that, or they trade the pick. He fits a need. He could step in and play the point, letting Russell Westbrook move to the 2. If Rubio is gone, Harden is the pick here, with Thabeet in consideration. This team needs a G and a C.
Pick: Ricky Rubio
4. Sacramento Kings- Well, they got screwed. After having the worst record, they get pick #4. They could use an upgrade at just about every spot, except maybe shooting guard. Sources say, they have narrowed their choices down to Rubio, Tyreke Evans, and Jonny Flynn. Between the two left, I like Flynn better, but I think the Kings take the explosive Evans. To me, he seems more like an undersized 2, but they would let him play the point.
Pick: Tyreke Evans
5. Washington Wizards-This team should not be this bad. With a healthy Gilbert Arenas, they are a top 6 team in the East. With this pick, they either need a big man or a backcourt mate for Gil. Even with Harden still on the board, I think they go with Jordan Hill. He can learn from Antawn Jamison and even play the 5 a little. Their is also a strong possibility that the Wizards trade this pick and move down.
Pick: Jordan Hill
6. Minnesota Timberwolves- Much of this decision is based on something I am not sure of, whether the Wolves consider Randy Foye a 1 or 2. He is a combo guard for sure. With the draft obviously heavy on PG's, I think they will strongly consider Stephen Curry and Jonny Flynn. However, the best decision here is to take the best player available. That means James Harden, an NBA ready 2 guard, hardened by the Pac-10. This was Brandon Roy a few years back, who the Wolves drafted then traded. Now, they can't let Harden slip away.
Pick: James Harden
7. Golden State Warriors- Everything I just said about Randy Foye and the Wolves holds true for Monta Ellis and the Warriors. They need a guard, and this draft obliges. The Warriors have plenty of guys who can hit shots, so I don't see Stephen Curry going here. Jrue Holiday wouldn't have to go far, but he probably won't go this high. This leaves Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan. The Warriors have a glut at SG (Jackson, Crawford, Azubuike, Bellinelli) so the pick is Brandon Jennings. However, I don't know how a Jennings-Ellis backcourt will hold up defensively...but really, when have the Warriors ever played defense?
Pick: Brandon Jennings
8. New York Knicks- Even though Jonny Flynn played at nearby Syracuse, I don't see the Knicks picking him. They already have one midget point guard. Many people believe that they place alot more value in Stephen Curry. He should fit well as a spot up shooter in Mike D'Antoni's system
Pick: Stephen Curry
9. Toronto Raptors- Assuming Shawn Marion is gone after the season, the Raptors obvious need is a slasher. For this reason, the pick has gotta be DeMar DeRozan. He doesn't seem like a future All-Star to me, but I guess it is better than starting Roko Ukic. The Raptors could also consider Gerald Henderson
Pick: DeMar DeRozan
10. Milwaukee Bucks- With Ramon Sessions future still up in the air, the Bucks probably will go with the best player available and pick a PG. The question is: Flynn or Jrue Holiday. Flynn has impressed a lot of people lately in his workouts, so I think he wins out.
Pick: Jonny Flynn
11. New Jersey Nets- To be honest, I really don't know what the Nets plan to do. Almost every mock draft has them taking a PG, but they have Devin Harris. They really need a starting SF, but I think they believe Ryan Anderson is a decent find, so they go with value and pick Jrue Holiday, to back up Harris and Vince Carter. Earl Clark is my second choice
Pick: Jrue Holiday
12. Charlotte Bobcats-The Bobcats need a SG...to either start or backup Raja Bell. This pick comes down to two players then, Gerald Henderson and Terrence Williams. The Bobcats love picking local players, but I think they pick a defensive player and choose Williams, who has really shot up a lot of draft boards
Pick: Terrence Williams
13. Indiana Pacers-Troy Murphy puts up solid numbers all day, but I get the feeling the Pacers front office would replace him in a hot second. Two PF's fit the bill here, James Johnson and DeJuan Blair. Blair is kind of slow, which means him in the frontcourt with Roy Hibbert would end badly.
Pick: James Johnson
14. Phoenix Suns-Well, if things play out like this, the pick seems pretty obvious. The Suns will need a SF when Grant Hill leaves in free agency. Enter the new Boris Diaw
Pick: Earl Clark
15. Detroit Pistons- If I were Joe Dumars, I would have a hard time passing up Jeff Teague. However, in his mind they already have two point guards in Stuckey and Bynum. For this reason, I think the Pistons go with Austin Daye, a skinny shooter who can backup Tayshaun and play the PF a little. Hopefully, they don't screw up and pick B.J. Mullens
Pick: Austin Daye
16. Chicago Bulls- I think Ben Gordon has his mind set on leaving, so the Bulls will need a new SG. Gerald Henderson is still there, but I think they might go big with this pick. The pick comes down to three players, DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansbrough, and B.J. Mullens. Blair brings hard-nosed rebounding to the table, which is what they really need.
Pick: DeJuan Blair
17. Philadelphia 76er's- Around this pick last year the Sixers found solid value in Marreese Speights. They should find another good value when they draft a replacement for Andre Miller. The best PG on the board is Jeff Teague, with Eric Maynor and Ty Lawson close behind.
Pick: Jeff Teague
18. Minnesotat Timberwolves- If they Timberwolves move their sixth pick, this pick is probably moving too. But I can't say it will for sure. Anyways, the Wolves already got a guard in James Harden. They could use another, but I think they choose a big guy. B.J. Mullens is that guy. The Timberwolves can let him develop and play Al Jefferson at C. If he really turns out to be a star ( I seriously doubt it), the Wolves could move Jefferson to the PF, and trade Kevin Love, or make him play the SF (probably not though)
Pick: B.J. Mullens
19. Atlanta Hawks- Mike Bibby will probably be back, so the Hawks probably won't go PG (even though Lawson and Maynor are excellent values here). Instead, the Hawks will go big...cause they might, but probably won't, but might trade Josh Smith. Hello, Psycho T
Pick: Tyler Hansbrough
20. Utah Jazz- Usually, this team makes pretty sound decisions. I think they go value here and pick a PG, because D-Will could use a backup, and so could Ronnie Brewer. The best fit of the remaining PG's is Eric Maynor. If a good PF is here (Blair, Johnson, Hansbrough), I think they pick one to potentially replace Carlos Boozer
Pick: Eric Maynor
21. New Orleans Hornets-Since it is too early to start picking from the next tier of PF's, the Hornets choose the second best player available, SG Gerald Henderson. Even though his status has been falling, I seriously doubt Henderson falls this far
Pick: Gerald Henderson
22. Dallas Mavericks- The Mavericks certainly need to go big with this pick. I guess the guy they could go with is DeMarre Carroll. I know very little about this guy, but this is where most experts have him, late first round. The Mavericks would be better off with a C, but the next best C is Jeff Pendergraph, who will likely go in the second round. Taj Gibson and Omri Casspi are also options
Pick: DeMarre Carroll
23. Sacramento Kings- At this point, the Kings would be best off taking the best player available. They already will probably get a guard early on (I have them taking Tyreke Evans) but that won't stop them from taking another. They could go with Ty Lawson, who probably won't fall this far either. He would could play in the backcourt with Evans, and Kevin Martin could play the 3. This pick might end up in someone else's hands
Pick: Ty Lawson
24. Portland Trail Blazers- The Blazers are solid at every position, however they are looking for upgrades at the 1 and 3 spots. The elite PG's are now gone, so their best option is Sam Young, one of my favorite players in the draft. In my mind, he could definitely start over Nicholas Batum. I wouldn't be surprised if they give a long look at Omri Casspi
Pick: Sam Young
25. Oklahoma City Thunder- Sam Presti knows how to get value out of every move he makes. A good decision right here would be Omri Casspi, a tough and versatile player who can backup the 3 and 4 spots. Chase Budinger might fit too.
Pick: Omri Casspi
26. Chicago Bulls- Now that the Bulls got their big guy, they need that replacement for Ben Gordon, or somebody who can at least back up John Salmons. The Bulls may go with Chase Budinger, who could knock down open looks provided by Derrick Rose
Pick: Chase Budinger
27. Memphis Grizzlies- Since the Grizzlies didn't get one of the elite point guards with the second pick, they go after a guy who might turn out to surprise a lot of people, Darren Collison. Collison could give Conley a run for his money.
Pick: Darren Collison
28. Minnesota Timberwolves- When in doubt, go big. You can never have too many bigs, so that is probably what the Wolves will look at here. Lots of guys are coming into consideration, Taj Gibson, Josh Heytvelt, Jeff Pendergraph. However, I would not be surprised if they choose an international player
Pick: Victor Claver
29. Los Angeles Lakers- The Lakers need a guy who can relieve Gasol or Bynum. Why not go with a local guy. They could easily choose USC bruiser Taj Gibson
Pick: Taj Gibson
30. Cleveland Cavaliers- Although the Cavaliers need a backup C because of Ben Wallace's cloudy future, the value for the position doesn't exist at this spot. Instead they go with a guy who could potentially start at the SG spot, Toney Douglas, who is also a decent PG. Wayne Ellington and Jack McClinton could also be considered
Pick: Toney Douglas
