NBA Draft 2009 Open Thread

                                                                 [Last updated: Thursday, June 25 -- 10:54 a.m. PT]

                                                                           
                                              I take it that EA Sports is the main sponsor. [via upload.wikimedia.org]

As I type this, we're just over a week away from the 2009 NBA draft taking place in New York, New York at Madison Square Garden. I love these events and I think they're very fun. So, first, there is my big board, mock draft and the "who I think they SHOULD draft" thing. I'll continue to update my list up until minutes before the draft if necessary.

                                                               
      Brandon Jennings is definitely higher on my big board than everyone else's. [via www.brandonjennings.net]

NBA Draft Big Board 2009
Update: Seventeenth
Last updated: Thursday; June 25, 2009
1.) Blake Griffin — PF/Oklahoma, Sophomore
2.) Ricky Rubio — PG/Spain, International
3.) James Harden — SG/Arizona State, Sophomore
4.) Brandon Jennings — PG/United States of America, International
5.) Jordan Hill — PF/Arizona, Junior
6.) Hasheem Thabeet — C/Connecticut, Junior
7.) DeMar DeRozan — SG/USC, Freshman
8.) Stephen Curry — PG/Davidson, Junior
9.) Tyreke Evans — PG/Memphis, Freshman
10.) Jrue Holiday — PG/UCLA, Freshman
11.) Ty Lawson — PG/North Carolina, Junior
12.) Jonny Flynn — PG/Syracuse, Sophomore
13.) Earl Clark — SF/Louisville, Junior
14.) Eric Maynor — PG/VCU, Senior
15.) DeJuan Blair — PF/Pittsburgh, Sophomore
16.) Austin Daye — SF/Gonzaga, Sophomore
17.) Terrence Williams — SF/Louisville, Senior
18.) Jeff Teague — PG/Wake Forest, Sophomore
19.) James Johnson — PF/Georgia Tech, Sophomore
20.) Chase Budinger — SG/Arizona, Junior
21.) Gerald Henderson — SG/Duke, Junior
22.) B.J. Mullens — C/Ohio State, Freshman
23.) Tyler Hansbrough — PF/North Carolina, Senior
24.) DaJuan Summers — SF/Georgetown, Junior
25.) Sam Young — SF/Pittsburgh, Senior
26.) Omri Casspi — SF/Israel, International
27.) Taj Gibson — PF/USC, Junior
28.) Darren Collison — PG/UCLA, Senior
29.) Derrick Brown — PF/Xavier, Junior
30.) Wayne Ellington — SG/North Carolina, Junior

                                                       
    Will sharp-shooting point guard Stephen Curry be coming to the Bay? [via doublethepost.files.wordpress.com]

NBA Mock Draft 2009
Update: Thirtieth
Last updated: Thursday; June 24, 2009
1.) Los Angeles Clippers — Blake Griffin, PF/Oklahoma; Sophomore
2.) Memphis Grizzlies — Hasheem Thabeet, C/Connecticut; Junior
3.) Oklahoma City Thunder — Ricky Rubio, PG/Spain; International
4.) Sacramento Kings — Jonny Flynn, PG/Syracuse; Sophomore
5.) Minnesota Timberwolves — James Harden, SG/Arizona State; Sophomore
6.) Minnesota Timberwolves — Tyreke Evans, PG/Memphis; Freshman
7.) Golden State Warriors — Stephen Curry, PG/Davidson; Junior
8.) New York Knicks — Jordan Hill, PF/Arizona; Junior
9.) Toronto Raptors — DeMar DeRozan, SG/USC; Freshman
10.) Milwaukee Bucks — Jrue Holiday, PG/UCLA; Freshman
11.) New Jersey Nets — Terrence Williams, SF/Louisville; Senior
12.) Charlotte Bobcats — Gerald Henderson, SG/Duke; Junior
13.) Indiana Pacers — Brandon Jennings, PG/United States of America; International
14.) Phoenix Suns — Ty Lawson, PG/North Carolina; Junior
15.) Detroit Pistons — Earl Clark, SF/Louisville; Junior
16.) Chicago Bulls — DeJuan Blair, PF/Pittsburgh; Junior
17.) Philadelphia 76ers — Jeff Teague, PG/Wake Forest; Sophomore
18.) Minnesota Timberwolves — James Johnson, PF/Georgia Tech; Sophomore
19.) Atlanta Hawks — Eric Maynor, PG/VCU; Senior
20.) Utah Jazz — B.J. Mullens, C/Ohio State; Freshman
21.) New Orleans Hornets — Austin Daye, SF/Gonzaga; Sophomore
22.) Portland Trail Blazers — Omri Casspi, SF/Israel; International
23.) Sacramento Kings — Sam Young, SF/Pittsburgh; Junior
24.) Dallas Mavericks — Chase Budinger, SG/Arizona; Junior
25.) Oklahoma City Thunder — Tyler Hansbrough, PF/North Carolina; Senior
26.) Chicago Bulls — DaJuan Summers, SF/Georgetown; Junior
27.) Memphis Grizzlies — Derrick Brown, PF/Xavier; Junior
28.) Minnesota Timberwolves — Wayne Ellington, SG/North Carolina; Junior
29.) New York Knicks — Darren Collison, PG/UCLA; Senior
30.) Cleveland Cavaliers — Taj Gibson, PF/USC; Junior

                                                                     
                  Many people want to kick me for taking Ricky Rubio over Blake Griffin. [via www.ilovebasket.com]

NBA "Who I Would Draft If I Were Them" Draft 2009
1.) Los Angeles Clippers — Ricky Rubio, PG/Spain; International
2.) Memphis Grizzlies — Blake Griffin, PF/Oklahoma; Sophomore
3.) Oklahoma City Thunder — Jordan Hill, PF/Arizona; Junior
4.) Sacramento Kings — Brandon Jennings, PG/United States of America; International
5.) Minnesota Timberwolves — James Harden, SG/Arizona State; Sophomore
6.) Minnesota Timberwolves — Stephen Curry, PG/Davidson; Junior
7.) Golden State Warriors — Tyreke Evans, PG/Memphis; Freshman
8.) New York Knicks — Hasheem Thabeet, C/Connecticut; Junior
9.) Toronto Raptors — DeMar DeRozan, SG/USC; Freshman
10.) Milwaukee Bucks — Jrue Holiday, PG/UCLA; Freshman
11.) New Jersey Nets — Earl Clark, SF/Louisville; Junior
12.) Charlotte Bobcats — Austin Daye, SF/Gonzaga; Sophomore
13.) Indiana Pacers — DeJuan Blair, PF/Pittsburgh; Junior
14.) Phoenix Suns — Ty Lawson, PG/North Carolina; Junior
15.) Detroit Pistons — Terrence Williams, SF/Louisville; Senior
16.) Chicago Bulls — James Johnson, PF/Georgia Tech; Sophomore
17.) Philadelphia 76ers — Jonny Flynn, PG/Syracuse; Sophomore
18.) Minnesota Timberwolves — B.J. Mullens, C/Ohio State; Freshman
19.) Atlanta Hawks — Tyler Hansbrough, PF/North Carolina; Senior
20.) Utah Jazz — Eric Maynor, PG/VCU; Senior
21.) New Orleans Hornets — Chase Budinger, SG/Arizona; Junior
22.) Portland Trail Blazers — Derrick Brown, PF/Xavier; Junior
23.) Sacramento Kings — Gerald Henderson, SG/Duke; Junior
24.) Dallas Mavericks — Jeff Teague, PG/Wake Forest; Sophomore
25.) Oklahoma City Thunder — DaJuan Summers, SF/Georgetown; Junior
26.) Chicago Bulls — Sam Young, SF/Pittsburgh; Junior
27.) Memphis Grizzlies — Omri Casspi, SF/Israel; International
28.) Minnesota Timberwolves — Wayne Ellington, SG/North Carolina; Junior
29.) New York Knicks — Darren Collison, PG/UCLA; Senior
30.) Cleveland Cavaliers — Taj Gibson, PF/USC; Junior

Other mock drafts:
DraftExpress
NBADraft.net
ESPN's Chad Ford
Walter Football
The Hoops Report

Now that I'm done throwing my lists at you, let's focus on the actual draft.

                                                   
                              Blake Griffin won't have to wait long for his name to be called. [via weblogs.amny.com]

Talent: Overall, this draft is, I think, a cross between average and below average. I would learn more towards average, though. Blake Griffin stands out as the consensus top player with Ricky Rubio behind him. After that, though, many feel as if the talent level from about 3-12 is pretty even and maybe even all the way throughout the lottery. It's all about need and how the player fits into your system at that point. Point guard is the strongest position in the draft by far and the weakest, in my opinion, is the center spot. Only two true centers will be taken in round one. There appears to be a surplus of small forwards available towards the end of the first round as well. If my mock draft is relatively accurate in terms of the amount of point guards taken, one-third of the first round will consist of point guards being taken.

                                                            
                               Sorry, Kings fans. You guys were the biggest losers in the lottery. [via www.nbatorrent.com]

Top 10 Selections: Blake Griffin is going first overall. The Clippers made that clear in 2008, really, by saying that if he was available, they'd take him. After that, it's really a big question mark. With the second pick, I think Memphis is almost certainly going with Hasheem Thabeet. The Thunder will either go with James Harden or Ricky Rubio. I think they're leaning towards Rubio. It seems pretty apparent that it's point guard or bust with the Kings and the fourth pick. It's either Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday or Tyreke Evans here. If Rubio's off the board, I think they're going with Flynn, but watch out for Evans. It's interesting here with Minnesota picking fifth and sixth. I think if James Harden is on the board, he goes fifth. Going sixth overall, it's either Stephen Curry or Tyreke Evans assuming Evans gets by Sacramento. I think they'll go with Evans as their preferred choice over Curry. The Warriors -- where do I begin? Appeasing Monta Ellis? Will they really not take a point guard? If the rumors are true, Jordan Hill is the pick here; however, they're saying they'd take Stephen Curry regardless if Jordan Hill is on the board or not. Other possibilities are Tyreke Evans, James Johnson or even Terrence Williams, but those last two are reaches. The Knicks won't be able to grab Stephen Curry and if Jordan Hill's gone, they're basically down to Brandon Jennings or Jrue Holiday. Still, I think Hill is available and they'll grab if he is. Otherwise, it could be Jennings, Holiday or even Gerald Henderson. Sitting at number nine are the Raptors. If DeMar DeRozan does end up landing right in their laps, it's a huge win for them. They need a player at the wing with DeRozan's capabilities. If not, they may look at Earl Clark or Gerald Henderson and they should take Clark if DeRozan's gone. The Bucks, round out the top ten, will likely either take a point guard or DeJuan Blair with this pick. Jordan Hill is out of their reach at this point. A multitude of different point guards could be available based upon what happens before them. It's really a bigger guess here than anywhere else, but I think Jrue Holiday is the pick.

                                                     
                                                    Will we see an All-Star get dealt on draft night? [via c2.api.ning.com]

Trade Possibilities: There are many trade candidates. The Bobcats could be looking to trade down, the Thunder may end up with the Suns' 14th overall pick and the Bulls want Gerald Henderson. It's crazy come draft time! Also, the Lakers are looking to deal the 29th overall pick. Stars have been rumored to being dealt as well. Shaquille O'Neal is joining forces with LeBron James. Rajon Rondo appears to be headed somewhere new every day. I can see the Pistons looking to make a huge splash for someone as well. More than a few deals, stars or no stars, will go down on draft night and that's for sure. It should be really, really fun.

Catch all the NBA draft happenings on Thursday, June 25th. It airs on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. Pacific from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with coverage beginning a half-hour prior.