King's 2009 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

        Blake Griffin PF Oklahoma

It's no secret that Blake Griffin is the consensus #1 pick for this year's NBA Draft. There are rumors floating around that the Clippers might trade this pick, but they're saying these rumors are false. Even if they happen to trade it Blake Griffin's postition won't change.

       Hasheem Thabeet C UConn

Here's where things start to get messy. Ricky Rubio was originally thought to go right after Griffin at the 2 spot, but Memphis won't want to deal with his huge buyout, and he has said he doesn't want to play in Memphis. There's still a good possibility that we can see teams wanting to trade up, but if not the Grizzlies may just opt to take Hasheem Thabeet. He has size at 7 foot 3, and can be a great defensive presence.

      James Harden SG Arizona State 

It was expected that Spain PG Ricky Rubio would be going here, but the Thunder have said they really like the idea of taking James Harden at #3. They want to continue to develop Russel Westbrook at PG, rather than Rubio (plus they really don't like his attitude), and build a team around what they already have started with Westbrook, Durant, and Green.  Harden's great ability to score combined with a high basketball IQ can be a nice asset for the Thunder, but he lacks great defense and is maybe not as athletic as you would like a SG to be.

        Ricky Rubio PG Spain

         Jordan Hill PF Arizona

The Washington Wizards have mentioned there interest in trading this pick, simply because they don't see much that they can benefit from at this stage. Unfortunately many other teams feel the same way so they may end up hodling on to this pick. Washington seems to have narrowed it down to James Harden and Jordan Hill, but it's looking like Harden will be of the board at this point so they'll have to go with Hill. Jordan Hill is actually one of the more talented players in the draft. He tends to be weak in the post sometimes, but if he can develop he could potentially be a great player.

         Tyreke Evans PG/SG Memphis

With the depth of the PG position in this year's draft GM's really have their hands full when deciding who to pick. Minnesota has a number of options when picking 6th, and somebody they're looking at is the Memphis Tiger's Tyreke Evans. If Tyreke Evans is still hanging around at this time Minnesota would gladly take him, as the T'Wolves would love to pair him up with Randy Foye for an impressive backcourt in the future. He has size and explosiveness, and while he's listed as a SG coming into the NBA, he can easily play both guard positions like he did in college. He is an excellent ballhandler, though a concern is that he can be selfish at times.

         Jonny Flynn PG Syracuse

Drafting Jonny Flynn could bring some great attributes to Golden State...his leadership and desire. The Warriors really like these things about Flynn and that's why he possibly their top prospect right now. Jonny Flynn is incredibly fast, and had the highest vertical leap at 40 inches. He is a great shooter, though his 3 can be inconsistent, and he's not afraid to get physical, although his lack of size and strength can hurt him.

The Warriors have worked out Brandon Jennings and Steph Curry, but Flynn still seems like the best fit for the organization.

         Stephen Curry PG Davidson

Since Stephen Curry played on Davidson he never faced much of a challenge, and scouts are afraid that he will fall apart when he gets to the NBA. The Knicks may be willing to take the chance though, because he could fit well into D' Antoni's system. He has an amazing jumper, just a great scorer from anywhere, and is a smart player. But he lacks size and strength and isn't a particularly great athlete. 

         DeMar DeRozan SG USC

With their only traditional SG, Anthony Parker, leaving for Free Agency, the Toronto Raptors are going to need some serious help at that position. If DeRozan is still left at the 9 spot it would be surprising for them to not pull the trigger on him. DeRozan has been showing some great stuff at workouts, and is one of the better athletes available this year. While he looks great on paper, some are worried about his inability to dominate games. He has some question marks surrounding his play, but he could become scary good if he reaches his full potiential.

         Jrue Holiday PG UCLA

The Bucks were hoping for a big man to compensate for the loss of Charlie Vilanueva, and they were hoping for Jordan Hill to drop to them, but now it's looking like they won't be that fortunate with either of the two scenarios. The Bucks don't feel like there's any other PF worth taking this high, so they might go for another postion here. They'll also be losing PG Ramon Sessions, leaving them with only Luke Ridnour. While Holiday didn't put up mind blowing stats at thecollegiate level, scout's have been fond of his performances at the combine. He  has excellent basketball IQ, and just a great all-around player. Dave Babcock seems really high on him, and said he was the best defensive player he's seen in the draft. Two areas of his game that could use improvement are his jump shooting and ball handling, but he has been training a lot in these areas lately. The Bucks may also look at DeJuan Blair, Earl Clark, and maybe Tyler Hansbrough, as well as the numerous other PGs available.

          Earl Clark SF Louisville

The New Jersey Nets are looking to find a big man who can bang inside the paint in this year's draft. Earl Clark can provide a great spark for the Hoosier's post game, but they will have to be patient with him because he has some developing to do before he is ready to be able to truly battle with the Pros. He could be a good fit in Indiana if Granger is playing more PF. At 6-10, with some work on his post game he could even play the 4 along with the 3.

         Terrence Williams SG Louisville

Bobcat GM Rod Higgins has said the teams needs in the 2009 draft are a backup SG and a reserve Forward. A week ago he almost seemed set on Duke Guard Geral Henderson, but since then he has been blown away by the performance of Williams.

         Brandon Jennings PG Italy

A big need for the Pacers at this point is finding a future PG. They would be happy to take Jennigns, Holiday, or Flynn at the 13th spot. In this scenario Brandon Jennings happens to be the one left on the board.  Brandon Jennings this late could really turn into a steal. It's amazing that scouts aren't higher on him, but I guess they haven't gotten a chance to see him as much as they'd like, especially with him skipping the Euro Camp. He is hands down one of the best talents in the draft. His only big downsides are sometimes poor decision making and his size (he's only 165 lbs.). I think he might move up if teams see more of him, but if he does drop to 13, the Pacers will be very lucky.

         Gerald Henderson SG Duke

It's almost unpredictable what Steve Kerrr will do with this pick. First it seemed like they were looking for a PG for when Steve Nash's time is up, then they were looking at forwards, and now they seem interested in SGs. If handled well Henderson could provide a nice lift for Phoenix at SG. T-Will would be able to give them a good showing off of the bench. His style of play is pretty comparable to Andre Iguodala's (though on a lower level). One aspect teams are worried about is off-court drama. Williams has a lot of upside though and if he can overcome some of his cons he could become a solid player in the league.

         DeJaun Blair PF Pittsburgh 

The Pistons are looking for someone who can play PF here. They'd like to get Earl Clark, but if he's not here they'll need to look elsewhere. Though at 6-7 Blair is on the small side, he makes up with it with his incredible build and strength. If the Pistons can decide that he is worth the risk of long-term knee issues, expect them to grab him here. They will also take a good look at Earl Clark, James Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough.

      Tyler Hansbrough PF North Carolina 

The Bulls are in a tough position at the 16th spot. The things they need just aren't going to be found. They already have solid role players all-around, but what they need to become a championship contender is an all-star caliber player/s to support Derrick Rose. While guys like Gilbert Arenas have proven you can find superstar talent late, the chances still aren't high that a team will have that luck. There have been tons of rumors surrounding Chicago so it's hard to predict what could possibly happen. Do they want an SG since it's looking like Ben Gordon may not stay? Do they want another PF to add some depth? Or do they want a Center? They've talked to the Nets, Bobcats and Pacers about swapping the 16th and 26th picks to move up a few spots, but who are they wanting? It seems like Hansbrough, Johnson, and Mullens are the top candidates. Scouts have started to become higher on Hansbrough, but still don't see him as a top pick. He seems like a good fit for the Bulls, and could be a real sleeper at 16.

    Ty Lawson PG North Carolina 

There's no doubt that Philadelphia will be looking to draft a PG with this pick with Andre Miller leaving for Free Agency. Lawson looks like he has some excellent potiential. He proved he knows how to lead a team as he did with the Champion Tar Heels, so we'll look to see how much of that he can bring with him to the NBA. VCU's Eric Maynor and Wake Forest's Jeff Teague will also be considered here.

      B.J. Mullens C Ohio State

Like five other OSU Freshman in the past 3 years, Mullens will be leaving after just one year of college. Unfortunately he was too anxious to make it to the pros, because if he develped in school a bit longer he could've been a top pick in a future draft. The T' Wolves could use a true Center so they won't mind taking a chance with the 7-1 Mullens with this pick.

         Eric Maynor PG VCU

It looks like with this pick they'll be wanting to acquire a PG in case they lose Mike Bibby. Known for his performance to lead Virginia Commonwealth to upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament a few years back, Eric Maynor is looking like one of the most NBA ready players in the draft. He's a great all-around Point Guard with a few nags about his consistency, strength, and experience against great teams. Maynor appears to be one of the sleepers this year. They may also look to go big here, but right now it seems like Atlanta is high on getting a Point Guard. I guess it depends on how comfortable they are with Acie Law.

        James Johnson PF Wake Forest

        Jeff Teague PG Wake Forest

        Chase Budinger SG Arizona

We're kind of getting to the point of the draft where you just look at it as if you have nothing to lose, so you take a chance on a guy you like and hope he turns out good. Budinger is an explosive leaper, great shooter who is always looking to score, exceptional rebounder, and can play the 3 if needed. The rest of his game could use some refining though.

         Austin Daye SF Gonzaga

With a lot of luck, the Kings just may be able to land Daye slipping this far. He was once a top 15 pick, but he hasn't really impressed anyone lately, plus there's not a lot of teams looking for this type of player. His traditional position is SF, so he's not meant for post play, and he is very slim. But he is 6 foot 11 inches, and can get it done inside if needed. Daye has an awesome jumper so he could be a deadly threat for any team in the draft.

         Sam Young SF Pittsburgh

Portland would like to trade the #24 pick away, but if they can't get a deal they wouldn't mind grabbing Panther SF Sam Young. He could end up going higher then this because Young is very promising prospect. His biggest issue is lack of toughness on the defensive end, but other than that he is great in all areas.

      Wayne Ellington SG North Carolina

It looks like the Thunder are wanting to go for a SG with this pick. Ellington could be a great choice. He knows how to score, and has great range on his jumpshot. He has some downsides, but at this late in the draft what do you expect?

         Toney Douglas SG Florida State

If they don't go for a SG with their first pick in the draft, it makes sense to draft one here for insurance in case they don't get Gordon back. I've actually been hearing a lot of great things about Douglas and he seems like someone who could go a lot higher than this, but scouts are sleeping on him. He is a scoring machine, inside and out, with one of the better shots in this draft. He has great ballhandling and plays nice defense. His only real negatives are that he's not a great passer, and he has a smaller build.

        Taj Gibson PF USC

         Omri Casspi SF Israel

It seems unlikely that Minnesota would want to have 3 rookies on their roster, so what better sense than to get a player who can be sent overseas and develop for a few years. Casspi is a guy with a tough mentality which could be a nice asset to the Timberwolves.

         Darren Collison PG UCLA

Derek Fisher is leaning towards his final years, so it would make sense for LA to look into a PG here. He has been questioned for his height, ballhandling, and sometimes choking in big games. However Collison is one of the few Seniors in this class which means he has experience, plus he has a lot of speed and great shooting ability.

          Derrick Brown PF Xavier

The team with the best record in the regular season could be losing both Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao this offseason, and in the playoffs it showed that they could use some help at PF. For the last pick in the first round, Brown is actually a very talented player. He's a good scorer both inside and out. Cleveland would like to have the chance to select Brown, and hey, I'm sure he would like staying in Ohio.