2009 NBA Mock Draft #4

Here’s my fourth 2009 NBA Mock Draft. 1.  Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin No doubt. Previous pick:  Blake Griffin, Griffin, Griffin 2.  Mempis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet He’s slipping a little, but with such a short supply of big men, he’ll go #2 (maybe tot he Wolves) and learn to play Offense on the fly while he provides a defensive presence. Previous Pick:  Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet, Thabeet 3.  Oklahoma City – James Harden Though he doesn’t fill an immediate need, Harden is a polished scorer who should take some pressure off of Durant. Previous Pick:  Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Hill 4.  Sacramento Kings – Ricky Rubio The Wolves may trade up to get Rubio, but if he’s there at four, he’ll be a King. Previous Pick:  Ricky Rubio, Rubio, Rubio 5. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans If the Wolves hang onto this pick, I believe Evans will be the choice. After trading Foye and Miller, the Wolves have an opening at the 2. Previous Pick:  James Harden, Harden, Harden 6.  Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry New Wolves GM saw firsthand what a shooter like Reggie Miller brought to the table.  Curry can run the point for the Wolves and open things up inside with his outside touch.  Previous Pick: Brandon Jennings, Brandon Jennings  7.  Golden State Warriors – Ty Lawson I am going back to Lawson here.  He’s looked good in workouts and his blazing speed will translate well in Nellie’s uptempo offense. Previous Pick:  Ty Lawson, Jrue Holliday, Curry 8.  New York Knicks – Jordan Hill I have gone PG with my earlier picks, but an athletic big man would be a nice fit in D’Antoni’s offense. Previous Pick:  Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings 9.  Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan With Evans gone I go back to DeMar DeRozan.  He’ll throw down plenty of Jose Calderon’s lobs. Previous Pick:  DeMar DeRozan, DeRozan, Tyreke Evans 10.  Milwaulkee Bucks – Brandon Jennings Another team I’ve changed my mind on a few times.  Jennings has the most upside of the PGs. Previous Pick:  Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holliday 11.  New Jersey Nets – Earl Clark With Jefferson gone, the Nets could go for a wing player, but Clark’s size and athleticism make more sense here. Previous Pick: DeJuan Blair, Blair, Earl Clark 12.  Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson His Offense is great, but Larry Brown will love his Defense. Previous Pick:  Wayne Ellington, Gerald Henderson, Henderson 13.  Indiana Pacers – Jrue Holliday Holliday slides a bit, which makes the Pacers day.  Holliday will need to develop a bit, but his ceiling is high. Previous Pick:  Eric Maynor, Maynor, Jonny Flynn 14.  Phoenix Suns – James Johnson Poor man’s Shawn Marion. Previous Pick:  Earl Clark,Clark, James Johnson 15.  Detroit Pistons –  Tyler Hansbrough His energy and toughness should translate in the NBA.  Won’t be a star, but will do the little things. Previous Pick:  Tyler Hansbrough, Hansbrough, Hansbrough 16. Chicago Bulls – DeJuan Blair Blair gives the Bulls a big man that should be able to contribute right away. Previous Pick:  Tyreke Evans, Evans, Blair 17.  Philadelphia 76ers – Johnny Flynn Flynn gets to stay on the East Coast and gives the Sixers a PG that can run the offense and take the shot when needed to. Previous Pick:  Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Lawson 18.  Minnesota Timberwolves – B.J. Mullens Who knows what’s going to happen with this pick, but if the Wolves keep it they’ll take the big man here. Previous Pick:  B.J. Mullens, Mullens, Mullens 19.  Atlanta Hawks – Eric Maynor I still like Maynor in this spot.  A PG that should be able to play right away.  Ceiling isn’t high on him though. Previous Pick: Patrick Mills, Jeff Teague, Eric Maynor 20.  Utah Jazz – Terence Williams Jerry Sloan will love T-Will’s toughness on D. Previous Pick:  Gerald Henderson, Terrence Williams, Chase Budinger 21.  New Orleans Hornets – Jeff Teague Teague gives the Hornets a combo guard who could backup CP3 or play alongside him. Previous Pick:  Chase Budinger, Budinger, Jeff Teague 22.  Dallas Mavericks – Darren Collison The Mavs need to prepare for life after Kidd.  Collison is a good option. Previous Pick: Jrue Holliday, Darren Collison, Collison 23.  Sacramento Kings – Austin Daye Daye won’t start out of the gate, but is a nice backup to Jason Thompson. Previous Pick:  James Johnson, Johnson, Austin Daye 24.  Portland Trail Blazers – Chase Budinger Budinger gives the Blazers an athletic Wing player with the ability to stretch defenses with his outside touch. Previous Pick:  Darren Collison, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers 25.  Oklahoma City – Sam Young Young can defend and score.  Not a lot of upside, but should contribute right away Previous Pick:  Gani Lawal, Lawal, Sam Young 26.  Chicago Bulls – Omri Casspri Still makes sense for the Bulls.  Could develop into a solid NBA player. Previous Pick: Derrick Brown, Omri Casspri, Casspri 27.  Memphis – Taj Gibson The bottom of the draft is a crapshoot, but Gibson would give Memphis depth in the frontcourt. Previous Selection:  Sam Young, Young, Taj Gibson 28.  Minnesota Timberwolves – Derrick Brown The Wolves added Guards and a Center, so adding an athletic Wing is all that’s left. Previous Pick:  Terrence Williams, DaJuan Summers, Patrick Mills 29.  Los Angeles Lakers – DaJuan Summers Summers gives the Lakers yet another athlete to help defend their title. Previous Pick:  Omri Casspri, Patrick Mills, Derrick Brown 30.  Cleveland Cavaliers – Wayne Ellington Ellington can score, which should help take some pressure off LBJ. Previous Pick:  DaJuan Summers, Nick Calathes, Wayne Ellington Previous Mock Drafts Mock Draft #1:  5/21/09 Mock Draft #2:   6/11/09 Mock Draft#3:  6/17/09

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2009 NBA Mock Draft #4
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