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2009 NBA mock draft: Version 3.0
by Aran Smith/NBADraft.net, FOXSports.com
| Pick | Team | Player | Pos. | Height | Weight | School/Country | Class | |
| 1. | Clippers | Blake Griffin | PF | 6-10 | 252 | Oklahoma | Sophomore | |
The Clippers have a brand new training facility and Blake Griffin is genuinely excited about leaving Oklahoma and moving to Los Angeles. He's got a youthful exuberance which hopefully can inspire a new attitude from a club with a long-standing losing atmosphere around it.
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| 2. | Grizzlies | Hasheem Thabeet | C | 7-3 | 265 | UConn | Junior | |
The Grizzlies are unofficially on the clock and with Hasheem Thabeet missing his workout with them (shoulder injury), there's now even more intrigue with this pick. A likely scenario appears to be that someone will move up to this pick for Rubio. Sacramento is interested and so are a number of other teams. Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley could influence them to hold onto the pick and take Thabeet, but Memphis could trade down and still land him. Call this a domino pick.
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| 3. | Thunder | James Harden | SG | 6-5 | 220 | Arizona State | Sophomore | |
OKC's brass plays things close to the vest making it tough to know what they're thinking. If available, Rubio makes a lot of sense for them, but then there's the Westbrook factor and whether or not taking Rubio would be disrespecting him in his mind. The small market team needs to keep their biggest stars (Durant and Westbrook) happy any way possible. A nucleus of Westbrook, Harden, Durant and Green would be tough to keep out of the playoffs for long.
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| 4. | Kings | Ricky Rubio | PG | 6-5 | 180 | Spain | ||
Rubio made good after missing his initial scheduled workout with Sacramento. On Tuesday a hearing decided that the buyout issue will not be resolved until October. So there still has to be fear about Rubio's ability to get out of his buyout and play in the NBA next year. If his Spanish team Joventut tells him they will drop his buyout in half or 3/4 if he returns for one more season, that might be his best option. Could the fear of this happening scare some teams off? Could Rubio end up in New York, where he'd like to land all along? Stay tuned.
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| 5. | Timberwolves | Stephen Curry | PG | 6-1 | 180 | Davidson | Junior | |
The trade that sent Foye to the Wizards gives the T-Wolves back-to-back picks. This was a good trade for Washington as Foye is an established pro and a rising star. The player taken at this pick will not be a sure bet, and Washington was able to unload a number of contracts in the process. With a pick at 18, and a number of PGs available later in the draft, it's unlikely the Wolves will take two guards (Curry and Evans) here. If one is gone, they likely take the other and the remaining big man between Hill and Thabeet.
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| 6. | Timberwolves | Jordan Hill | PF | 6-10 | 235 | Arizona | Junior | |
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If Memphis trades the No. 2 pick it will be a team moving up for Rubio, and Thabeet could slide all the way to 5-6. Thabeet would be a perfect match for Minnesota, as he could be platooned along with the big-man combination of Big Al and Kevin Love, giving them legitimate size at the center position and much-needed defense. Hill would give them another athletic big man to team with Big Al and Kevin Love.
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| 7. | Warriors | Brandon Jennings | PG | 6-1 | 170 | Playing in Italy | ||
Golden State could look at Jordan Hill if he falls to them, but as a skinny 4, he sort of duplicates their young tandem of Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph. Jennings has as much raw potential as anyone outside of Blake Griffin and would be an excellent match with Monte Ellis in Nellie's up tempo offense.
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| 8. | Knicks | Tyreke Evans | SG | 6-5 | 221 | Memphis | Freshman | |
The Knicks shopping list includes (1) Stephen Curry, (2) Jordan Hill, and if neither is available (3) Tyreke Evans is next on the list. Rubio might be their real target, but could be out of reach for them. The Knicks are pushing hard to move up to 5 to ensure they get one of these guys. Rubio might still be their No. 1 target.
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| 9. | Raptors | DeMar DeRozan | SG | 6-6 | 210 | USC | Freshman | |
The Raptors are said to be deciding between a number of players here with DeRozan and Holiday high on their list. If DeRozan is here, look for him to be the choice.
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| 10. | Bucks | Jonny Flynn | PG | 6-0 | 186 | Syracuse | Sophomore | |
Trading Richard Jefferson allows the Bucks to resign both Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions this offseason. If Flynn goes seventh, the Bucks will likely decide between Jennings and Flynn. DeRozan is also a possibility here if Toronto goes in another direction.
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| 11. | Nets | Gerald Henderson | SG | 6-4 | 210 | Duke | Junior | |
The Nets appear to be in great position to grab a player that falls, similar to last year when nobody wanted Brook Lopez and he fell into their laps at 10. The Nets are very high on Henderson and will consider him at 11 if he's available.
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| 12. | Bobcats | Tyler Hansbrough | PF | 6-9 | 234 | UNC | Senior | |
MJ and Larry Brown appear to have a different philosophy on the draft. MJ wanted Lopez last year, but Brown convinced him to take Augustin. Neither has much patience for players that aren't ready to contribute. Hansbrough has the UNC connection plus the ability to come in and contribute immediately. If Henderson is available he also makes a lot of sense, despite being a Duke player.
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| 13. | Pacers | Earl Clark | PF | 6-10 | 230 | Louisville | Junior | |
DeJuan Blair is still a possibility, but with concerns about Blair's knees, they may decide to go in another direction. A versatile, athletic forward that can play both positions like Clark would offer a lot of value at their pick.
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| 14. | Suns | James Johnson | SF | 6-8 | 257 | Wake Forest | Sophomore | |
There's a chance that either Flynn or Jennings slips to the Suns at 14. James Johnson is a player high on their list. If Indiana takes a PG, J.J. probably goes here. Johnson would be an excellent pick. Johnson may have scared off some teams with his combine weight (257 lbs), however not many players are as polished and ready to contribute as he is.
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| 15. | Pistons | B.J. Mullens | C | 7-0 | 258 | Ohio State | Freshman | |
Trading away Billups was essentially giving up trying to win for a few years, but the team is in tremendous cap shape now and can start to reload for the future. Joe Dumars can afford to look for a long-term player here. Rumors swirled around Daye and this pick, however Dumars is too smart for that. Mullens is the type of guy whose career may be affected by the team that he lands with. Detroit would be a great situation for him.
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| 16. | Bulls | Terrence Williams | SF | 6-6 | 213 | Louisville | Senior | |
Blair remains a real possibility here as he's one of the Bulls' few targets. If gone, WIlliams offers them an athletic defender and insurance with Ben Gordon's future with the team up in the air.
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| 17. | Sixers | Ty Lawson | PG | 6-0 | 197 | UNC | Junior | |
Philly played its best basketball after Brand went down, as the racehorses were able to get out on the break and run. Lawson fits in very well with their speed and athleticism. Unfortunately, Brand doesn't. Philly will likely have a number of PGs to select from, but Lawson is said to be a guy they like.
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| 18. | Timberwolves | Jrue Holiday | SG | 6-4 | 199 | UCLA | Freshman | |
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Holiday makes sense to a team that isn't as close to contending as he's not seen as an NBA-ready guy but a player with potential down the road. After trading Randy Foye and Mike Miller, the Wolves need to replenish their backcourt.
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| 19. | Hawks | Jeff Teague | PG | 6-2 | 175 | Wake Forest | Sophomore | |
Atlanta's first order of business this offseason will likely be re-signing Mike Bibby. Without him they fall back into lotto land. Teague will be an excellent backup to groom behind Bibby, allowing him to take his time learning the position at the NBA level before being expected to take over the club.
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| 20. | Jazz | Chase Budinger | SF | 6-7 | 218 | Arizona | Junior | |
The Jazz appear to be losing C.J. Miles, so adding some depth with a wing like Budinger makes sense. Budinger offers experience and shooting ability, plus he's a player who should be able to come in and contribute something right away, which for a playoff team works well.
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| 21. | Hornets | Eric Maynor | PG | 6-3 | 180 | VCU | Senior | |
The Hornets could use a backup for Paul, and while the 21st pick isn't generally where you want to take a reserve, Maynor has starter potential and could develop into a valuable asset learning under Paul.
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| 22. | Mavericks | DeJuan Blair | PF | 6-6 | 227 | Pitt | Sophomore | |
Rick Carlisle likes players with a defined skill, and Blair has a NBA skill with his excellent rebounding ability. Blair appears to be falling lately with teams concerned about his physicals. He could still go as high as 13 to Indiana or 16 to Chicago, but it is beginning to look more likely that he will slip into the 20s.
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| 23. | Kings | Omri Casspi | SF | 6-9 | 211 | Israel | ||
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Casspi is set to become the first Israeli player to play in the NBA. His toughness and experience should give him a chance to contribute immediately.
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| 24. | Blazers | Victor Claver | SF | 6-9 | 236 | Spain | ||
The Blazers are very high on Victor Claver and may not take the risk that he will fall to them at 33. They are rumored to be shopping this pick and would also like to trade up for a pick in the lottery if possible, with Curry being the likely target. Claver works with their salary situation as they could keep this pick off the books for a season until they're able to resign Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge in 2010.
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| 25. | Thunder | Wayne Ellington | SG | 6-5 | 194 | UNC | Junior | |
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Oklahoma City may end up moving this pick. Ellington is a bit of a poor man's Russell Westbrook. He lacks the speed and athleticism, but is a better shooter. He would give this team yet another offensive weapon.
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| 26. | Bulls | Toney Douglas | G | 6-2 | 183 | Florida St. | Senior | |
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The Bulls don't exactly need a point guard with Derrick Rose in the fold, so there's a good chance they trade out of this pick. Joe Dumars is desperately trying to pick up a late first-rounder to take Douglas and this figures to be one of the picks in play, if not No. 25 or No. 29.
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| 27. | Grizzlies | Taj Gibson | SF | 6-10 | 214 | USC | Junior | |
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Gibson is a long, athletic forward, but teams have to question his ability to add strength at his age (he turns 24 on Wednesday). Regardless, his excellent post skills and 7-4 wingspan make him an intriguing option in a draft devoid of quality bigs. Josh Heytvelt is another post player who could benefit from the lack of size in this draft and find a spot in the late first.
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| 28. | Timberwolves | Jonas Jerebko | SF | 6-9 | 220 | Sweden | ||
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The Timberwolves are one of a few teams that are high on Jerebko and will consider taking him late in the first round. Unlike some other Europeans (Claver), Jerebko is ready to play in the NBA next year and would actually prefer to go in the first round. Jerebko could go anywhere from 23 to late 30s.
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| 29. | Lakers | Derrick Brown | SF | 6-8 | 225 | Xavier | Junior | |
There's a good chance the Lakers will get rid of this pick. If they hold onto it, look for them to take a player such as Claver that they can leave over in Europe. They will be trying to resign Ariza and Odom this offseason, so every penny will count. Brown will give some team a steal in the late first round as he could go as high as late teens.
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| 30. | Cavaliers | DaJuan Summers | SF | 6-8 | 243 | Georgetown | Junior | |
Picking at 30, it will be tough for the Cavs to add much help. Luckily this is actually a draft with some solid depth. Summers is a guy who could have developed into a lottery pick with one more year at Georgetown. He's a specimen who shows potential as a scorer with nice shooting ability, which would be a helpful addition for LeBron and Co.
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For mock drafts and in-depth player scouting reports, go to nbadraft.net.
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