My NBA Mock Draft: First Edition

Since we are about a month away from the NBA Draft, its time I release my first edition of the mock draft. I have the lottery picks up here but will round out the rest of the mock draft as the playoffs continue. Without further ado, he is my first effort at predicting the lottery selections in this years draft.

1. LA Clippers: Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma. The Clippers are in need of a face to their franchise. They have been here before with the top pick and butchered it (ahem, Michael Olowokandi) and really need to get it right this time around. They are pretty well set in the back court since the signing of free agent Baron Davis a year ago and the emergence of last years first round pick, Eric Gordon. The fact is with Griffin there will be question if he big enough to play the 4 in the NBA since he is smaller than Michael Beasley and doesn't have the jump shot Beasley has either. That being said, you can't not take Griffin, so this is some what of a no brainer.
   
2. Memphis: Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain: Rubio is a bit of a wild-card. We have heard of him for sometime now and he has yet to turn 19. Rubio's value has gone up a lot of recent years too, with people viewing the PG position as a bit of a premium. Rubio is very experienced since he has played professionally for sometime now. He has good size for a PG at 6 foot 3 but will need to improve his jump shot when he gets to the league.
3. Oklahoma City: Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut: This is where the 2009 Draft gets interesting. There is a load of players with great upside but many have proven to be anything but raw at times in college. Thabeet is no different. He brings a tremendous 7 foot 3 inch frame with him, but is still working to prove he has to post moves to succeed at the next level. Thabeet's rebounding has been hit and miss at times in college and has sometimes been overmatched by much smaller competition (ahem, DaJaun Blair). Still, you have to take Thabeet because the next few guys have as many question marks and for Oklahoma City, the center spot is a position of need.
4. Sacramento: Brandon Jennings, PG, No College: Well, this may be a be of a surprise pick but Sacramento really lacks depth in their back-court. Some people think they will again draft a big man, but I really think it'd be over drafting at a position. I than think the next best players available are James Harden and DeMar DeRozan but each of those guys play the 2, a spot controlled by Kings' leading scorer Kevin Martin. Last year the Kings surprised some people by taking Jason Thompson 12th overall when he was projected to go later in the draft. Thats why I think they will again surprise some folks and pick Jennings. Jennings struggled much of his year in Italy but still has to tools to be a starting point guard in this league.
5. Washington: James Harden, SG, Arizona State: This pick would provide the Wizards with some scoring depth in the back-court to go along with Gilbert Arenas. Arenas plays more like a SG, but can play the point for the Wiz. This pick also would be a tremendous upgrade for them from Dominic McGuire. Even though Harden struggled down the stretch for the Sun Devils, he can flat out score the basketball.
6. Minnesota: Demar DeRozan, SG, USC: DeRozan may have the biggest upside out of any of the players I have mentioned in this years draft. He is 6 foot 7 and really began to come into his own down the stretch this year for the Trojans. His rebounding and points were up starting with the Pac 10 tournament, which his Trojans won. The T'Wolves have plenty of question marks in that back-court to begin with, so I believe this pick can at least start to answer one. 
7. Golden State: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona: While the Warriors may have some depth at the four, I think they will want to take the best player available at this spot. They do have Brandan Wright who is still young and a kid they don't want to give up on, but they can move one of them and help answer some of the other questions this team has. They do need someone who is more of a threat on the inside than what they currently have that can help out up and coming guard Monta Ellis.
8. New York: Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Davidson: It has been no secret that the Knicks really like the versatility Curry has. They can anoint him their next PG with veteran Chris Duhon's deal expiring in a year. The Knicks also have a lot of cap room that they'll look to start using in 2010 that most certainly would be spent to bring Curry help on the inside. Bottom line is, the Knicks love Curry's shooting ability and they believe he can be a guy they build around in Mike D'Antoni's system.
9. Toronto: Earl Clark, SF, Louisville: A lot can change between now and the draft and that can't be more true than the situation the Raptors are currently in. Since they probably can't re-sign Bosh and Marion may want to be dealt again they are in a spot where they can take the best remaining player. Clark, who is 6 foot 10, played a lot in the front court for Louisville this year and proved he was not only a dominant scorer, but a solid rebounder as well.
10. Milwaukee: Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis: Evans' short stay at Memphis proved he can not only play the 2, but can be a true combo guard. He played point from December on losing just once, and advancing the Tigers to the Sweet 16. Evans would walk into a spot where he could be in the back-court and help fill out the starting five for the Bucks. 
11. New Jersey: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke: Henderson may be the most explosive player in the draft. He still continues to work on driving to the basket more with his left hand  and his outside shot. This pick would help in drafting someone to replace the aging Vince Carter at G/F spot. Add Henderson to the young, up and coming PG Devon Harris and the Nets may have something to build around for years to come.
12. Charlotte: Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina: In Michael Jordan's time as Director of Basketball Operations he has selected Raymond Felton, Sean May, Brandan Wright, and hired Larry Brown as the head coach. All of these folks all went to Carolina. Look, I really don't know if this pick can be justified unless they move Felton or Augistin to open up minutes for Ellington. That being said, I believe Ellington's great March has elevated him into a late lottery or mid-first round pick.
13. Indiana: Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, UCLA: Holiday's production wasn't anything special his freshman year at UCLA but his potential alone will be what gets him picked highly in the first round. Holiday can handle the point and can add back-court depth to go along with Jarrett Jack, and Brandon Rush.
14. Phoenix: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse: The Suns are back to the run and gun offense and where else do you start than with the fastest player available than Flynn. Also, they may look to start replacing Steve Nash, who will be 35 next season.

I'll try to get a full mock draft up soon. Still a lot can change between now and the draft so I'll be revising this initial mock draft probably more than a few times.

Later.