NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Boom or Bust
Growing up in Salt Lake City, most of us had to make the decision of whether to follow the only pro team in the state or skip sports altogether.
I chose to become a lifer for the NBA’s Utah Jazz.
As a result most of us Salt Lake City-ites follow the league religiously, and that includes the annual NBA Draft, set to begin today at 4 p.m.
In fact, when I found out Salt Lake City googles the NBA Draft more than any city in the world, I wasn’t surprised at all.
Remember the scene in “Fever Pitch” when Jimmy Fallon’s character and his buddies throw parties to fight over season tickets?
We do the same for the draft, except we meticulously pore over which prospects best fit our beloved Jazz.
Over time, I began to obsess on behalf of every other team as well. When I got the chance to cover all of the Jazz home games last season, I reached nirvana. Not because I got to watch my team from the press box, but because I could speculate with other reporters about each team’s needs.
I know, nerdy right?
All I’m sayin’ is, you don’t have to worry that I’m another schmo throwing out random predictions. But I would be astounded if half of these came true.
It’s a no-brainer that Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin goes first in a point guard-heavy, but weak overall Draft. After that, it’s the biggest crapshoot in years.
No. 1 Los Angeles Clippers — Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma, 6-10, 248
I wonder if anyone has Griffin NOT going No. 1 on their mock drafts?
No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies — Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn, 7-3, 267
Though Thabeet didn’t work out for the Grizzlies (shoulder injury), I don’t see the Grizz passing up on a 7-3 guy — even if he turns out to be a stiff. Remember, these guys traded Pau Gasol for nothing.
No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder -— James Harden, SG, ASU, 6-5, 222
The feeling here is that if the Thunder draft Ricky Rubio, they undermine their confidence in current point guard Russell Westbrook’s floor general abilities. Drafting a wing with playmaking abilities like Harden covers up Westbrook’s faults.
No. 4 Sacramento Kings — Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 6-4, 190
Just because he has a floppy ‘do and a boyish ’70s look, I don’t get Rubio’s nickname (“El Pistola” after former NBA great “Pistol” Pete Maravich). He’s got great vision — just what the Kings need — but Europe is a different breed of basketball.
No. 5 Minnesota Wolves — Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, 6-10, 232
Minnesota is a mess. Their best player plays out of position and they lack depth everywhere else. Hill gives them a more sleek look than the Al Jefferson/Craig Smith/Kevin Love trio — the frontcourt with the most fat potential in the NBA.
No. 6 Minnesota Wolves — Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, 6-0, 196
After snagging the fifth pick from Washington in a recent trade, there’s speculation the Wolves will package picks to move up. I think they stay put and get their point guard of the future with the spark plug point guard from Syracuse — Flynn.
No. 7 Golden State Warriors — Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Memphis, 6-5, 221
This is another case of appeasing their current star combo guard — Monta Ellis. The Warriors reportedly promised him they wouldn’t select a point guard to take his spot. By drafting Evans, the Warriors create a solid, interchangeable backcourt.
No. 8 New York Knicks — Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Davidson, 6-3, 181
New York gets their dream pick with the sweet-shooting guard who’s already used to the spotlight. The son of former NBA journeyman Dell Curry should flourish in Mike D’Antoni’s run ‘n’ gun system.
No. 9 Toronto Raptors — Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, 6-5, 215
After a disappointing season last year, the Raps need an injection of athleticism, especially if (likely “when”) Shawn Marion leaves and restricted free agent Anthony Parker is wooed to some other club, probably Miami.
No. 10 Milwaukee Bucks — Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, 6-10, 226
The Bucks just lost leading-scorer Richard Jefferson in a trade to the Spurs for essentially cap space. I’m not convinced backup Joe Alexander can step in yet, so the Bucks make the move for the freakishly long, versatile Clark.
No. 11 New Jersey Nets — DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC, 6-7, 211
Everything about this guy reminds scouts of a young Vince Carter. Who better for DeRozan to learn the ropes from where he could replace the aging Carter?
No. 12 Charlotte Bobcats — Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy, 6-1, 170
A cocky, score-first point guard with unbelievable athleticism. Sounds like another Iverson-project for Charlotte coach Larry Brown. Jennings is also insurance in case Raymond Felton leaves.
No. 13 Indiana Pacers — Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, UCLA, 6-4, 199
The TJ Ford-Jarrett Jack experiment won’t last forever. Both are true point guards and Holiday is able to play at off-guard, which helps shore up the 2 spot where the Pacers are thin.
No. 14 Phoenix Suns — BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State, 7-0, 258
Only two centers will be drafted in the first round and the Suns, who stand to lose Shaq and possibly Amare if they don’t pony up the cash, could use the offensive skills of Mullens to offset their defensive youngster — Robin Lopez.
No. 15 Detroit Pistons — Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina, 6-0, 197
Lawson brings his winning pedigree back to the city where he won it all — Motown. The Pistons’ only PG (Rodney Stuckey) is more of a combo guard.
No. 16 Chicago Bulls — Omri Casspi, SF/PF, Israel, 6-9, 211
The Bulls go foreign again and snag a replacement for former fan-favorite Andres Nocioni. Casspi will become the first Israelite to jump to the NBA and could be the inside scoring threat the Bulls have so desperately looked for.
No. 17 Philadelphia 76ers — Eric Maynor, PG, VCU, 6-3, 164
The stud from VCU will endear himself to Philly fans for his heady play. Savvy veteran Andre Miller could groom Maynor to replace him until he retires.
No. 18 Minnesota Wolves — Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona, 6-7, 206
Not sure what new GM David Kahn was thinking by trading away his entire stock of 2-guards, shipping Mike Miller and Randy Foye to Washington on Tuesday. But Budinger’s athleticism and long-range shooting can ease Miller’s departure.
No. 19 Atlanta Hawks — Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest, 6-2, 175
The Hawks just traded Acie Law and Speedy Claxton — their backup PGs — and may lose Mike Bibby to free agency. They need a PG. Fast.
No. 20 Utah Jazz — James Johnson, SF, Wake Forest, 6-8, 257
This is more wishful thinking since the uber-athletic Johnson will likely be taken higher than this. The guy has the size of LeBron James when he first came into the league — something Utah needs after dealing with spaghetti-armed Andrei Kirilenko for nine years.
No. 21 New Orleans Hornets — Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina, 6-5, 202
A lights-out shooter next to Chris Paul would simply be unfair.
No. 22 Portland Blazers — Victor Claver, SF, Spain, 6-9, 236
The Blazers are stacked at every spot. For kicks, I think they take another Spaniard so current SG Rudy Fernandez (a former Spain teammate) has a buddy to talk with at the back of the bus.
No. 23 Sacramento Kings — DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh, 6-6, 277
The Kings are loaded with finesse players up front. Getting the gritty, ball-hawking Blair this late would be a steal.
No. 24 Dallas Mavericks — Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, 6-1, 166
Mark Cuban forces the Mavs to cover up the Devin Harris fiasco and drafts his clone from UCLA — the speedy Collison.
No. 25 Oklahoma City Thunder — Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh, 6-6, 223
OKC has nice prospects at every spot except center so far. Since centers are in short supply, the Thunder go with Young, who brings something else they lack — toughness.
No. 26 Chicago Bulls — Dionte Christmas, SG, Temple, 6-5, 211
The guy can shoot. And if (likely “when”) Ben Gordon leaves, the Bulls get an early Christmas present. (Sorry, had to do it.)
No. 27 Memphis Grizzlies — Taj Gibson, PF, USC, 6-10, 214
Thabeet and Marc Gasol aren’t exactly the most athletic duo at 4 and 5. So bringing a pair of lengthy athletes like Hakim Warrick and Taj Gibson off the bench gives them a change-of-pace look.
No. 28 Minnesota Wolves — DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown, 6-8, 243
With four picks in the first round, the Wolves will likely be drafting for “best pick available” at the 28th spot. Summers is an athletic project they can afford to develop.
No. 29 Los Angeles Lakers — Patrick Mills, PG, St. Mary’s, 6-0, 175
The Lakers stay close to home and grab the likeable Australian powder keg from upstate. Fisher is getting old and Mills becomes the 11th PG taken in the first round.
No. 30 Cleveland Cavs — Derrick Brown, SF, Xavier, 6-8, 225
Saddest story in the NBA: LeBron leaves for New York next summer, leaving Brown to fill his immense shoes and the Cavs go back in the gutter for 15 more years.
