By Kevin Nielsen
Sportsnet.ca
With the selection order all set for the 2009 NBA Draft, Sportsnet.ca takes a look at what teams might do come June 25.
1. L.A. Clippers –- Blake Griffin – PF, 6-10, 252, Okahoma, Sophomore
Analysis — The Clippers have a bad roster and are stuck with some terrible long-term contracts but they added Eric Gordon and Baron Davis to the backcourt last off-season so they are set on the back end. Look for them to go big and try and move one of the big three up front – Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman or the virtually untradeable Zach Randolph.
2. Memphis — Ricky Rubio – PG, 6-3, 180, Spain, International
Analysis — Grizzlies have holes all over their roster and can pretty much just choose the best available player. They have Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo in their backcourt so they should be looking at wing players and across the frontline but Rubio would likely be too big a talent to pass up and they could deal Conley as well. They could address the inside holes with their second pick.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder –- Hasheem Thabeet – C, 7-3, 265, Connecticut, Junior
Analysis — Slowly putting together a nice team in Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and no bad contracts. They could use some muscle on the inside or a shooter on the wing and Thabeet or James Harden would fill either of those holes. They also have another first round pick to look for help filling the holes.
4. Sacramento Kings -– Jordan Hill – PF/C, 6-10, 235, Arizona, Sophomore
Analysis — A bad team as Kevin Martin was the only above-average NBA player on roster and he was hurt for a large portion of last season. Really need some muscle up front or backcourt help for Martin which they could also address with their second first-round pick.
5. Washington Wizards –- Brandon Jennings – PG, 6-1, 170, USA, International
Analysis — Much better than record indicates as injuries ravaged the roster in 2008-09. Need to get and stay healthy but a lottery pick will certainly lift the roster closer to a playoff spot. Jennings would slot into backcourt nicely right next to Gilbert Arenas if Arenas can stay healthy.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves -– James Harden – SG, 6-4, 220, Arizona St., Sophomore
Analysis — With Al Jefferson and Kevin Love inside the T-Wolves have a nice pair of bigs to build around. They also have no terrible long-term contracts so Minnesota is in good shape for the future. Look for the T-Wolves to try and add talent to a woeful backcourt with their two of three first-round picks. Another big body up front to work with Love and Jefferson may also be in the cards.
7. Golden State Warriors -– Ty Lawson – PG, 6-0, 195, North Carolina, Junior
Analysis — The Warriors already have a host of players they could play at the wing positions and really could use a true point guard or some more muscle on the inside.
8. New York Knicks — Earl Clark – SF, 6-10, 230, Louisville, Junior
Analysis — Everything that happens on Broadway at the moment occurs with an eye towards the monster 2010 free agent class. The Knicks may let David Lee leave town so they could be looking to draft a forward to fill his shoes or they could draft a point guard to help run the team next season.
9. Toronto Raptors –- Gerald Henderson – SG, 6-4, 210, Duke, Junior
Analysis — The Raptors draft revolves around whether they believe they will keep Chris Bosh in town after next season or if they are ready to re-sign Shawn Marion. Even if those two remain in Toronto the Raptors clearly need a two-guard that can add scoring and play defence.
10. Milwaukee Bucks -– DeMar DeRozan – SG, 6-6, 210, USC, Freshman
Analysis — If the Bucks are able to re-sign Ramon Sessions they may look at getting a big man to rotate into the frontcourt. However, if they are unable to keep Sessions in Milwaukee they need a solid point guard to pair with Michael Redd in the backcourt.
11. New Jersey Nets — Wayne Ellington –SG, 6-5, 194, North Carolina, Junior
Analysis — The Nets will be looking for depth almost everywhere but at point guard where Devin Harris is the player they should build around.
12. Charlotte Bobcats – Eric Maynor – PG, 6-3, 180, VCU, Senior
Analysis — Once Larry Brown’s message started to be received by his squad, Charlotte started to come around a little. Brown clearly wanted help inside at the start of last season as he said his team was devoid of talent other than Emeka Okafor. But since there are no value bigs around this pick they could go with Maynor who could be the point guard Brown is looking for.
13. Indiana Pacers –- Stephen Curry – PG/SG, 6-1, 180, Davidson, Junior
Analysis — Despite leaving Jamaal Tinsley at home all season, the Pacers have the makings of a decent backcourt with T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack at point guard and Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy and Marquis Daniels manning the wing positions. The Pacers could use a big man to team inside with Troy Murphy and last year’s first-round pick Roy Hibbert or pick up Curry who will earn a paycheque for a long time in the NBA with his sweet shooting stroke.
14. Phoenix Suns –- Tyreke Evans – SG, 6-6, 219, Memphis, Freshmen
Analysis — The Suns need some depth to develop behind their aging starting five. With Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal on board the stars of the Suns are aging quickly and it remains to be seen if both will be in Phoenix when next season begins.
15. Detroit Pistons –- Jonny Flynn – PG, 6-0, 186, Syracuse, Sophomore
Analysis — The Pistons began rebuilding last season when they shipped Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson and his expiring contract. With Rasheed Wallace’s contract also expiring this summer the Pistons have plenty of cap space but a lot of holes to fill. The Pistons could add a big body but really should draft a point guard of the future since doubts exist about Rodney Stuckey’s ability to fill Billups’ mighty large shoes.
16. Chicago Bulls –- Chase Budinger – SG/SF, 6-7, 218, Arizona, Junior
Analysis — The Bulls could allow Ben Gordon to walk this summer as a free agent and that would leave a big gap in their backcourt. The team could really also use a big man with a little more scoring touch but the squad proved in the first round that they are slowly coming around.
17. Philadelphia 76ers -– Jeff Teague – PG, 6-2, 175, Wake Forest, Sophomore
Analysis — Look for the Sixers to take advantage of the solid pool of point guards in this draft and grab a young one-guard in case the team does not re-sign Andre Miller. Even if Miller does stick around he is 33-years old regardless.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves -– Patrick Mills, PG, 5-11, 180, St. Mary’s, Sophomore
Analysis — With Al Jefferson and Kevin Love inside the T-Wolves have a nice pair of bigs to build around on the inside. They also have no terrible long-term contracts so the Minnesota is in good shape for the future. Look for the T-Wolves to try and add talent to a woeful backcourt with two of three first-round picks. Another big body up front to work with Love and Jefferson may also be in the cards.
19. Atlanta Hawks — James Johnson – SF, 6-8, 235, Wake Forest, Sophomore
Analysis — The Hawks made a nice run in the playoffs and have a few fantastic young players in the frontcourt but Mike Bibby is a free agent this summer and Acie Law does not appear to be the solution to that problem. The Hawks could also look to add more depth up front.
20. Utah Jazz – B.J. Mullens – C, 7-0, 275, Ohio State, Freshman
Analysis — Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur both hold player options for next year and Paul Millsap is an unrestricted free agent so the Jazz may have holes to fill up front.
21. New Orleans Jazz – Gani Lanwal, PF, 6-9, 233, Georgia Tech, Sophomore
Analysis — With David West and Chris Paul the Hornets have a fantastic inside out duo but with a roster full of big contracts everywhere else and a salary cap expected to fall look for the Hornets to try and deal Tyson Chandler again. That would leave them with a giant hole in the middle of the paint. Even if Chandler is not moved the playoffs proved that the Hornets could still use some depth inside.
22. Dallas Mavericks — Terrence Williams, SF/SG, 6-6, 220, Louisville, Senior
Analysis — Jason Kidd turns 36 this summer and an unrestricted free agent to boot. The Mavericks have Jason Terry but he has not proven capable of handling the point guard duties in Dallas. That being said J.J. Berrea is also too small to handle the shooting guard role so the Mavericks could address either guard spot here.
23. Sacramento Kings — Marcus Thornton – SG, 6-4, 210, LSU Senior
Analysis — A bad team as Kevin Martin was the only above-average NBA player on roster and he was hurt for a large portion of last season. Really need some muscle up front or backcourt help for Martin which they could address with their second first-round pick.
24. Portland Trailblazers – Omri Casspri, SF, 6-8, 225, Israel, International
Analysis — The Blazers may draft a player from across the pond again and let him develop overseas as Portland’s roster is already stacked with talented young players at almost every position.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder — Dionte Christmas, SG, 6-5, 190, Temple, Senior
Analysis — Slowly putting together a nice team in Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and no bad contracts. They could use some muscle on the inside or a shooter on the wing and Thabeet or James Harden would fill either of those holes. They also have another first round pick to look for help filling those holes.
26. Chicago Bulls — DeJuan Blair, PF, 6-6, 287, Pittsburgh, Sophomore
Analysis — The Bulls could allow Ben Gordon to walk this summer as a free agent and that would leave a big gap in their backcourt. The team could really also use a big man with a little more scoring touch but the squad proved in the first round that they are slowly coming around.
27. Memphis Grizzlies – Sam Young, SF, 6-6, 220, Pittsburgh, Senior
Analysis — Grizzlies have holes all over their roster and can pretty much just choose the best available player. They have Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo in their backcourt so they should be looking at wing players and across the frontline but Rubio would likely be too big a talent to pass up and they could move Conley as well. They could address the inside holes with their second pick.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves — Taj Gibson, SF, 6-9, 225, USC, Junior
Analysis — With Al Jefferson and Kevin Love inside the T-Wolves have a nice pair of bigs to build around on the inside. They also have no terrible long-term contracts so the Minnesota is in good shape for the future. Look for the T-Wolves to try and add talent to a woeful backcourt with their two of three first-round picks. Another big body up front to work with Love and Jefferson may also be in the cards.
29. Los Angeles Lakers – Jrue Holliday, PG/SG, 6-3, 205, UCLA, Freshman
Analysis — The one thing the Lakers clearly need is a decent point guard although they could also look to draft a replacement for Lamar Odom who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers — Derrick Brown – SF, 6-8, 227, Xavier, Junior
Analysis — The Cavaliers do not have a lot of holes to fill although both of their big men, Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are well past their prime. Wally Szczerbiak is also a free agent this summer which means they could choose to add a wing player.
