NBA Mock Draft 7.0

With only 2 days until the draft its time to get serious people. In this mock draft a few of the mainstays have finally moved from their long time posts, namely Hasheem Thabeet who is plummeting down draft boards with concerns for his offensive production after poor personal workouts with teams. Just now a huge trade between the Timberwolves and Wizards for the 5th pick in the draft that should change alot in the draft. It is the start of what should be a very trade happy draft. I will likely release one last mock draft Thursday right before the draft, but for now here is version 7 of my mock draft:

1) LA Clippers: Blake Griffin (Highlights) – Blake Griffin has been the one constant in this draft. Griffin is clearly the best player in this draft and the Clippers would be stupid not to pick him. Imagine this team in 3-4 years with Gordon, Thornton, and now Griffin and veterans Camby and Davis there to provide steady leadership and experience.

2) Memphis: Ricky Rubio (Highlights) – Ricky Rubio has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play in Memphis but it won’t stop the team from drafting him. Memphis will trade Rubio to the Kings, who are desperate for Rubio, in return for the player of their choice at the 4th position and a current Kings player (Jason Thompson). Rubio will take over at the point from day one for the Kings. Rubio will dish the ball to Martin, Hawes, and Greene which in time could be a good young team.

3) OK City: James Harden (Highlights) – Harden is the best shooting guard in this draft. He can create his own shot or shoot from distance when set up by Westbrook. With Westbrook at 1, Harden at 2, Durant the at 3, and Green at 4 the Thunder have the best young 1-4 players in the league and should be an elite team in 3-4 years. Now all the Thunder need is a center and some depth.

4) Sacramento: Tyreke Evans (Highlights) – The Grizzlies will get Sacramento to draft Evans who can play the point and will challenge Conley for his starting spot. Evans is quickly becoming one of the most prized prospects in the draft after an impressive round of workouts at the draft combine. Teams are falling in love with his versatility since he can play the point or off guard position. Tyreke Evans showed why he was considered by some to be the best prep player last year and with a great season at Memphis he filled the HUGE shoes left behind by #1 overall selection Derrick Rose.

5) Minnesota: Hasheem Thabeet (Highlights) – Hasheem Thabeet is plummeting. It was always known that Thabeet was great on defense but lacked polish on the offensive end but as we near the draft teams begin to see every negative as a big issue. Thabeet won’t have to worry about offense right away in Minnesota with Al Jefferson beside him down low. Thabeet will be able to focus on the defensive end and will score when he gets the ball close to the hoop. Thabeet will work great will Al Jefferson and in time could be on of the best young front courts in the league.

6) Minnesota: Stephen Curry (Highlights) – Curry has been rising up draft boards and now after the blockbuster trade with the Wizards he rises up my mock draft. Curry will take over for the recently traded Randy Foye in Minnesota and can also play the point when Sebastian Telfair is on the bench. Curry is a scoring guard and can score from almost anywhere on the court as you can see in his highlights. Also great news for Minnesota fans, his mom is an absolute fox!

7) Golden State: Brandon Jennings (Highlights) – Jennings is Monta Ellis 2.0 but with better ball handling skills and will work well with the Mississippi Bullet. He struggled in Europe playing under 20 mpg but showed enough promise to warrant a top 10 pick. With Ellis, Jackson, and Crawford already crowding the backcourt Jennings will once again come off the bench but in time should earn a starting spot. In other unrelated news Jennings beats out Will Smith for best high top fad ever.

8 ) NY Knicks: Johnny Flynn (Highlights) – Flynn stays at home in New York. After playing both high school and college in the state of New York, Flynn continues that trend with the Knicks.Flynn has moved more than anyone else since my first mock draft. Flynn is was one of my favorite players in college last season and showed NBA scouts the full package: speed, strength, 3-pt range, and all important leadership at the 1. Flynn will be a beast in D’antoni’s system, in 3-4 years he could be putting up Nash like numbers.

9) Toronto: Demar DeRozan (Highlights) – DeRozan had a slow start in college but was one of the best players in the country in the last 1/4 of the season. DeRozan has the physical tools to transition quickly to the NBA but at 19 he still needs to develop some of the finer points of the game. With Bosh likely staying for the ‘09/’10 season for now shooting guard is the Raptors most pressing need and DeRozan has the potential to be a star in the NBA. However DeRozan is only 19 and will need time to develop and will likely be the 6th man with Carlos Delfino the starter for next year.

10) Milwaukee: Jordan Hill (Highlights) – Hill is starting to fall because: 1) other players like Evans and Flynn are moving up 2) Hill is young and athletic but showed inpre draft work outs he doesn’t have many low post moves and needs to add some weight. Still Hill is a top 10 draft pick and will take over for Villaneuva if he leaves and can sub for either Villaneuva or Bogut if Carlie V stays. If Sessions and Villanueva return the starting lineup of Sessions, Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, and Bogut with Hill off the bench the Bucks could be good next year.

11) New Jersey:  James Johnson (Highlights) – the best player available and can play either the 3 or 4, the Nets need a big man to compliment Lopez and a 3 to help Carter and Harris in the backcourt. Johnson’s skill set allows him to give the the Nets both a low post player and a wing scorer.  Johnson is not a solid fundamental player, in the mold of fellow Demon Decon Tim Duncan, but is extremely athletic and should succeed in the NBA if he can become consistent.

12) Charlotte: Gerald Henderson (Highlights) – the Bobcats need a 2 guard. The Bobcats have no one behind Raja Bell on the depth chart and Bell is now 32. Henderson is a great fit for the Bobcats, he is a defensive 2 guard who can learn the ins and outs of NBA defense from Bell and is a local talent (Duke is a short drive from Charlotte).Lets just hope he can learn to keep keep himself from doing this again, eerily similar to Bruce Bowen’s cheap shot on Nash, and god knows we don’t need another Bowen in the NBA.

13) Indiana: DeJuan Blair (Highlights) -  Blair was a dominating presence on the offensive boards in college but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that success in the pros going against players that are 6-9+ every game. Blair could be the next “Round mound of rebound” or the next hilariously awful Tractor Traylor. Either way Blair adds depth to the front court of the Pacers along side Murphy and Hibbert to form a solid front court for the Pacers that will compliment Granger and the scoring backcourt.

14) Pheonix: Ty Lawson (Highlights) – how much longer are the Suns going to ignore the fact that Nash is getting old? Lawson is a perfect fit for Gentry’s offense and can put up Nash like numbers. Not only will Lawson love the run and gun offensive system the Gentry runs but he will love that he doesn’t have to play any defense.

15) Detroit: BJ Mullens (Highlights) – With Rasheed Wallace likely testing the free agent waters the Pistons need to add some talent up front. This might be a bit of a reach as Mullens was disappointing in his freshman season, not dominating the way a 7 footer should in college and seeming unable to rebound despite his size. However Mullens has tremendous potential and could challenge for a starting position in his rookie season. Mullens will push for significant time in his rookie season along side Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell.  The youth movement starts now in Detroit.

16) Chicago: Earl Clark (Highlights) – matchup nightmare playing the 3 at 6-10 and can create for himself, should be a complimentary wing player with Salmons. In time should develop into the eventual replacement for Salmons on the depth chart. Clark will be able to shoot over most small forward defenders with his height and has the quickness to drive by slower power forward defenders. Clark has the talent to be a top 10 pick but teams point to his desire and intensity as reasons he won’t go that high.

17) Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday (Highlights) – the starting 5 for the Sixers is set with the return of Brand, but Holiday can bring some scoring off the bench and eventually take over for the aging Miller. Holiday is extremely talented but was underwhelming at UCLA last season. This is the perfect position for Holiday because he can develop on the bench but will get a significant amount of time as the Sixers 6th man.

18) Minnesota: Jeff Teague (Highlights) – the Wolves add another scoring guard for their struggling backcourt. Teague who played PG in college is more of a scorer than a creator and might need to move to the 2. With Flynn selected with the 6th pick Teague will move to the off guard position behind Foye on the depth chart. Teague is the perfect 6th man because he can be subbed in for Flynn at the 1 and run the offense or for Foye at the 2 and provide scoring off the bench.

19) Atlanta: Terrence Williams (Highlights) – what does one of the best young team in the NBA need from the draft? Terrence Williams adds even more athleticism to one of the most athletic teams in the league. Johnson and Josh Smith are one of the best wing duos in the NBA but there is not much depth behind them so Williams adds another scorer to the team and some depth at the wing position.

20) Utah: Tyler Hansbrough (Highlights) – The Jazz may lose Boozer and Okur in the offseason but as we saw last season Millsap will step in and play the PF position when Boozer leaves. So the Jazz need another big man to help fill the hole down low. Hansbrough is shooting up draft boards after showing significantly more athleticism than scout thought he possessed. Terrible Ty is a Jerry Sloan type player and Sloan will make Hansbrough a solid starter in the NBA.

21) New Orleans: Wayne Ellington (Highlights) – there are mixed reviews on Ellington, some say mid first round like me and others have him dropping all the way to the second round. I think Ellington has a deadly shot that is reminiscent of Rip Hamilton, but others point to his lack of elite athleticism as the reason why he won’t make it in the pros. With a legit scoring threat Chris Paul won’t be leaned on as heavily to score on offense and can focus on creating which made him the player who finished #2 in MVP voting in ‘07/’08.

22) Dallas: Eric Maynor (Highlights) – Both Terry and Kidd and 4 of the 5 Mavs starter over 3o so it is time to add some youth at the point. Maynor is a fiesty 1 who can create off the dribble and is a lockdown defender (good for their many games against Chris Paul) and leaves it all on the court everytime he plays. Maynor is start on the bench where he can learn from one of the best PGs ever, Jason Kidd, and eventually take over for the future HOF when he retires (at 37 that should be soon). Only issue, there are 6th graders stronger than Maynor.

23) Sacramento: Sam Young (Highlights) – Young is a dynamic scorer who can take pressure off Martin, Young will be a solid scoring 6th man for the Kings and could puch Garcia for the starting spot. The only issue with Young is that he is a senior and has pretty much reached his potential, he will come in and be a great rookie but does not have much room for improvement. Young is very similar to the Kings old 3 Salamons and if he earns the starting role will work well in their offense.

24) Portland: Omri Casspi (Highlights) – It is hard to figure out what the Blazers need from this draft because they are two deep at every position. So with this pick I have them going with Casspi, an international player from Israel. This way Casspi can go back to Israel for a few years to develop and come back to the Blazers when they need him. Outlaw and Batum are the current Portland small forward players but in time one may be gone and Casspi will be needed.

25) OK City: Chase Budinger (Highlights) –should provide another scoring threat in the backcourt and will allow the Thunder to rest Harden or Durant and maintain a scoring line on the court. With Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Budinger the Thunder have a great young backcourt and may be the best in the NBA in the next few seasons. Budinger still needs to improve his consistency but he brings needed scoring and is very versatile being able to play the 2 or the 3.

26) Chicago: Derrick Brown (Highlights) – Brown is an athletic freak and will add depth behind Salmons. Brown should has the potential and physical skills to be a lottery pick but was inconsistent in college and will likely fall to the second half of round one. Brown is another lengthy forward with immense potential, but players like him are hit or miss in the NBA. I compare Derrick Brown to Julian Wright who I thought would be a solid NBA player, problem is Wright has been stuck on the bench his whole career and is already looking like a bust.

27) Memphis: DaJuan Summers (Highlights) – can play the 2 or the 3 and can contribute as a 6th or 7th man off the bench for the Grizzlies behind Rudy Gay. Summers was one of my favorite players in college too bad his team, Georgetown, managed to be god awful this season despite having one of the most talented rosters in college. Now Summers joins another pretty awful team despite being a late selections. Hopefully with the addition of Evans and Summers the Grizz can take the next step and become competitive in the West.

28) Minnesota: Jonas Jerebko (Highlights) – Jonas Jerebko will give the Timberwolves a power forward that can score from the perimeter. The Wolves current players at the position, Gomes and Love, are great with their backs to the basket but Jonas will give defenses something different to worry about. Jonas will likely return to Europe for a few years to develop further but is worth a late selection.

29) LA Lakers: Austin Daye (Highlights) – I originally thought that Daye would make the decision to return to school to 1) improve his technique and 2) improve physically. If he had gone back Daye would probably been a lottery pick based on his unlimited potential and his size/skill combo. If he stays in this draft he will likely be a first round pick based on his potential and should be allowed to develop. The Lakers will likely need to replace Ariza or Odom and at 6′10 Daye has the height and length to replace either but will need to develop. Daye could be a Tayshaun Prince like player in the NBA.

30) Cleveland: Darren Collison (Highlights) – With Collison the Cavs finally have a true point guard. Darren Collison is one of the best defensive point guards in this draft and has shown at UCLA that he can lead a team from the point. LeBron James plays a point forward role in the Cavs offense but the addition of a pass first point guard would relieve some pressure from James. Collison will rotate with West and Williams in the Cavs backcourt coming off the bench.

Early second round picks who could jump to the first round:

Jeff Adrien: UConn PF, Dante Cunningham: Villinova SF, Taj Gibson: USC PF, Dionte Christmas: Temple SG, Patrick Mills: PG St. Mary’s, Jodie Meeks: Kentucky SG, Toney Douglas: Florida State PG, Marcus Thornton: LSU SG

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-KC Roberts