With the draft now only mere hours away, it’s time to unveil my mock, chock full o’analysis, in-depth research, and expert picks. Ok… none of that is true, but at the very least this will provide you with five minutes of distraction from your real job. In this mock I am only including one foreign player because my day job doesn’t allow me the free time to follow the Rio De Janeiro junior B leagues nearly as close as I did in college. And since just guessing what NBA GMs will do is a fairly dull premise, I’ve also included the picks I would were I running the team myself. This way, I can reveal my affinity for a certain psycho, roof jumping white boy from Chapel Hill to the world. Without any further ado…..
1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin – F – Oklahoma
If I were GM – Blake Griffin
Griffin was great in college and he should be your number 1 pick in this weak draft. He is super athletic and at times looks to be able to dominate. But he was doing that against guys like Luke Harangody. With all that said he is still the best player in this draft.
2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet – C – Uconn
If I were GM – Tyler Hansbrough
Ok… hear me out on this one. Thabeet (not pictured) is an outstanding shot blocker. And… well, that’s it. He is useless anywhere else. Darko can block shots too. DeJuan Blair (who is about a foot shorter) made him his bitch in every matchup this year. I know the Hansbrough pick from me seems nuts to most, but Tyler is exactly what this team needs. He can either start or come off the bench and will give you endless hustle. And grit! People love grit. Not to mention he was a pretty damn good college player. Say what you want but I would feel a lot more comfortable with Hansbrough then anyone else not named Stephen Curry here. The Grizzlies need help in the front court badly and I just feel Hansbrough is the type of player that teams would love to have on their roster. This pick would also throw the Utah Jazz’s draft plans into a complete tizzy.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – G James Harden – Arizona State
If I were GM – James Harden
Harden is a throwback type of player. Not very flashy but super efficient. He can flat out score and will help take some pressure off Durant most nights.
4. Sacramento Kings – Ricky Rubio – PG – Spain
If I were GM – Stephen Curry
Rubio’s been dubbed the next Pistol Pete, and I’m not saying he’s not talented, but I think we should make sure he’s nothing more than Spanish Chocolate before we decide to close schools and post offices on his birthday.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans –SG- Memphis
If I were GM – Tyreke Evans
Projected as a two, Evans also possesses enough skills that have coaches and GMs thinking he that maybe he can run the point in the NBA. Evans is an unselfish player who in the past has demonstrated unique skills in making sure those around him got their shots off.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry – G – Davidson
IF I were GM – Ty Lawson
The Timberwolves land what many believe to be the most exciting player in the draft. Curry has endless range and showed the ability to play the point. I am a sucker for great shooters and I believe you can find always find a place on the floor for one. Come on, even my boy JJ was getting minutes in the finals.
7. Golden State Warriors – Jrue Holiday – PG – UCLA
If I were GM – Jeff Teague
With the seventh pick in the jraft, the Warriors are hoping Holiday jrops to them here, since their point guard play last year was jreadful.
8. New York Knicks – Jordan Hill – F – Arizona
If I were GM – Ricky Rubio
The Knicks are two years away from being one of the most exciting teams in the league. Great. Other then that I refuse to write anything on this team until their owners put the NFL network on Cablevision.
9. Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan – SG – USC
If I were GM – Terrence Williams – SG – Louisville
If the Raptors take DeRozan here I may just turn off the TV. DeMar has a ton of talent and can literally jump out of the gym. However, his jump shot is awful, he can’t go left, and not too sure he is the smartest player on the court. I’m turning the tv back on.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jonny Flynn –PG –Syracuse
If I were GM – Hasheem Thabeet
11. New Jersey Nets – Tyler Hansbrough – PF – UNC
If I were GM – Sam Young
The Nets like to say they are going to bulk up, and we can’t help but believe what we are told. Therefore, I have them selecting this years most underrated player in Hansbrough. (faints) Tyler is the type of player that won’t care if he plays 48 minutes or 12 minutes, he is going to give you everything he has for whatever time he is on the court. Tyler may never be an All Star but he will be a solid pro for 12 years. Can you say the same thing about five others guys in this draft? Isn’t he just the bees’ knees?
12. Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson – SF – Duke
If I Were GM – Gerald Henderson
You’re dead to me, Henderson.
13. Indiana Pacers – Brandon Jennings – PG – Italy or wherever.
If I were GM – Eric Maynor
The Pacers need a better option then Jarrett Jack and I strongly believe that Jennings will be their guy if available. Jennings has a ton of potential and may turn out to be a good pro, but I just think he has way to much Telfair, Marbury, and Kenny Anderson in him. All talented players that you like to watch as long as they aren’t on your team.
14. Phoenix Suns – Ty Lawson – PG – UNC
If I Were GM – Jordan Hill
The Suns need to start thinking about life after Steve Nash. I love Lawson and can’t understand why he is rated so low amongst point guards. He dominated everyone he was matched up against.
15. Detroit Pistons – Earl Clark – SF – Louisville
If I were GM – DeJuan Blair
Its been a long run for the vets on the Pistons. But it is time to shuffle up the roster a little and bring in some new blood. Clark has the ability to be very special. He is a little soft but an amazing athlete. He could do great things for Detroit and gives my generation a shot at being able to call someone The Pearl.
16. Chicago Bulls – DeJuan Blair – PF – Pittsburgh
If I were GM – Earl Clark
This is around the time Blair should start to get a lot of interested. He is very undersized for the position, but that isn’t what concerns me at all. It’s the lack of knee ligaments he has been rumored to not have. If he didn’t have knees like my grandpa he is a top 10 pick. He is a dominant, I repeat dominant rebounder.
17. Philadelphia 76ers – Jeff Teague – PG – Wake Forest
If I were GM – Jrue Holiday
I am all over Jeff Teague right now. I think he is an amazing player and more importantly the kind of point guard you would want on your team. Teague could be the steal of the draft up to this point.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves – Terrence Williams – SG – Louisville
If I were GM – Derrick Brown
Via the NY Times:
In his official team biography, Williams said that Al Pacino should play him in a movie
19. Atlanta Hawks – James Johnson – PF – Wake Forest
If I were GM – DeMar DeRozan
I don’t care enough about James Johnson to look him up to write something relevant about him. One thing I am sure of, there’s no way he’s as cool as the James Johnson in the above picture.
20. Utah Jazz – Sam Young – SF – Pittsburgh
If I were GM – DaJuan Summers
Growing up I couldn’t stand this team. A douche-bag power forward and what I thought was a pompous coach at the time. Turns out Karl Malone is still a douche-bag but Jerry Sloan is a Hall of Fame coach. The Jazz have a certain type of player they look for and whenever they make a selection you know that not only is that player going to contribute, but they are also going to be productive. Okay, we all know they’re going to draft a big white stiff, but I just wanted to play make believe for a second.
21. New Orleans Hornets – Chase Budinger – SF – Arizona
If I were GM – Chase Budinger
I like Budinger a lot, but I am afraid he may be a little soft for the pro game. If not he could be the second coming of Brent Barry… for the 3 year span that he was good. He should have come out two years ago when people actually cared about him.
22. Dallas Mavericks – BJ Mullens – C – Ohio State
If I were GM – Jonny Flynn
Not very high on Mullens. I would have a hard time drafting someone who many consider to be raw. How is it that any NBA prospect is 19 or older and still considered raw? And why didn’t anyone prevent him from getting those stupid ass tattoos?
23. Sacramento Kings – Derrick Brown – PF – Xavier
If I were GM – BJ Mullens
Brown (not pictured) is getting a lot of Buzz (Editor’s Note: That’s Buzz with a capital B.) as of late. I do think he is a solid player, but anywhere from picks 15 to 30 is about right.
24. Portland Trailblazers – Eric Maynor – PG – VCU
If I Were GM – Austin Daye
The Trailblazers have more young talent then just about any team in the league. However they need to find a true point guard and I am not sure Bayless is that guy yet. Disregard this completely if Kirk Heinrich is actually on his way to Portland. Actually, disregard most of what I say all together anyway, if you already haven’t.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder –Jeff Pendergraph – PF – Arizona State
IF I were GM – James Johnson
OKC is gearing up for what they believe will be a playoff run this coming year. They need to get bigger down low and I really think Pendergraph is the right fit for this team. Pendergraph is another Velvet sleeper.
26. Chicago Bulls – Wayne Ellington – SG – UNC
IF I were GM – Danny Green
The Bulls need to get ready for life without Ben Gordon soon. Ellington is a taller and more athletic two guard. Plus if you pass him the ball you may have a chance of getting it back.
27. Memphis Grizzlies – Austin Daye – SF – Gonazaga
If I were GM – Toney Douglas
Suggested rule: no player should be allowed to get drafted if they are taller then 6 foot 7 and weigh less then 200 lbs.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves – DaJuan Summers – SF – Georgetown
If I Were GM – Wayne Ellington
The final pick (3 total) in the first round goes to Summers. I like Summers a lot, but he never really was the player I thought he could be while in college. He will make a better pro then college player.
29. Los Angeles Lakers – Nick Calathes – G – Florida
IF I were GM – Patrick Mills
The champs need a PG badly, but Calathes is the kind of player that fits the triangle offense well. He has great floor vision and can knock down shots. Like what everyone thought Adam Morrison was going to be, except this guy looks exactly like the Shermanator.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toney Douglas – SG – Florida State
If I were GM – Jeff Pendergraph
With any luck, Toney Douglas hopes to make the kind of impact on the NBA that his brother Harry made on the NFL.
