2009 NBA Mock Draft v.2: Blake Griffin #2?
Into week six of men’s basketball in the NCAA, nothing much has changed at the top of the standings, but we have gotten a better look at some of the nation’s best prospects, and how they’ll hopefully mould into NBA superstars. If the draft were today, Oklahoma City would have the number one pick. And the Thunder is the one team that may not pick Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin number one.
Here’s version two of my 2009 mock draft.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ricky Rubio, Spain
Blake Griffin is more dominant, more experienced, and better scorer than Ricky Rubio is. I’ll get that out of the way. But the problem is, OKC doesn’t need another scorer. When Scott Brooks took the job nobody wanted, and made his first major move by putting Kevin Durant back tot he three spot where he belongs, Durant took off and is putting up some pretty good numbers. What the Thunder needs is a pure point guard that can get Durant the ball in tough spots. And in Oklahoma, Griffin would most likely be playing that three spot with the emergence of Robert Swift, and three other forwards above 6′10 on the team. With Swift, Durant, Westbrook at the two spot and Rubio (aka Spanish Steve Nash that is a better scorer) at the point, it’s actually looking like a respectable ball club. Although, it’s going to be very hard not to draft Griffin, born and raised in Oklahoma City.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves, Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
The T-wolves are another team that needs a point guard. But let’s be honest, what don’t they need. Kevin Love is showing that he probably could have used another season at UCLA, and isn’t the answer in Minnesota right now. They need people who can pull the ball in the basket, and Griffin is the guy that will do that form them. Alongside Love, who will be more used to the league next season, Minnesota will actually have a very good rebounding tandem down low. Griffin’s the most NBA ready player in this draft class and has a body like LeBron James. With the Gus Frerotte/Tavaris Jackson problem going on in Minnesota, along with Jacques Lemaire’s “I hate these fans so I’m going to try to bore them until they leave” coaching style, Minnesota fans deserve Griffin. Although, I’m not sure Griffin deserves Minnesota.
3. Washington Wizards, Hasheem Thabeet, UConn
This is a no-brainer for the Wizards, who are in desperate need of a solidified big man (my apologies to Brendan Haywood and Oleksiy Pecherov) who can actually score. I’ve always said that the best thing that can happen to a solid team, which the Wizards have been for the past three years, is to have a terrible season. And Thabeet, 7′3 265, is a great example of a big kid that took a couple more years in college to develop not only his game, but his body. That’s why I took BJ Mullens out of the tip five. He’s shown to be too lanky and uncoordinated in his freshman year and could use another year to bulk up and get more confidence with the ball in his hands. Thabeet has been compared to Dikembe Mutombo, and although that sounds like a little much, it can’t be a bad thing when you’re thinking about drafting him.
4. Sacramento Kings, Stephen Curry, Davidson
A better version of Papa Curry? It could be. He’s putting up forty point games in his sleep, even with his recent move to point guard. It’s funny how Sacramento continues to be bad year after year, but also continues to flop at the draft. Jason Thompson over Brandon Rush? Spencer Hawes over Rodney Stuckey and Rudy Fernandez? Well, they have a chance to make it right with Curry, who is turning into the best scorer in the country. His new found glory at point guard will only help him, as the Kings are struggling for one. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Arco Arena get back to being the loudest joint in the league, back when Webber, Stojakavic ad Bibby were together?
5. Golden State Warriors, Brandon Jennings, Lottamatica Roma
A lot of mock drafts I’ve seen don’t have the human controversy this high. Look at his numbers in Europe. Eight points and two and a half assists a game? I thought this kid was supposed to be the number one recruit last year. But the problem with that is that numbers aren’t generally the best way to judge a players talent in European basketball, with different coaching techniques and shorter games. Then you have to realize that he is playing against professional basketball players right now. Who else on this list is? Only Rubio, and I’ve got him number one. And he could be a perfect fit for Golden State, especially with Baron Davis gone to the Clippers. When I think about it, he plays a lot like Davis. He can shoot a three, drive when he wants to, and throw down some pretty lookin’ dunks too. I still think he made the right choice.
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I hope Stephen Curry is a better player than his father, because seriously, you would never have picked Del Curry at #4 or even in the top ten. He was a great role player for a long time, his numbers were a little inflated during the Charlotte expansion years where he was the starter without any major competition (unless you considered David Windgate major competition). Still his son is almost playing like a modern day Pistol Pete with his ability to shoot anywhere insider the front court without thinking.
It boggles my mind that Virginia Tech didn’t offer Steph Curry a scholarship. Didn’t Dell do enough there? Fuck’s sakes, he was the best player in Va. Tech history when he left.
It’ll be interesting for Rubio, he’s hitting the draft at the right time, bottom dwelling teams in need of a starting PG and here comes a kid who still has massive potential but is also experienced at playing professional ball against men. Like I’ve said before, I think he’s got to work on his strength and defence because I can see a lot of guys roughing him up in the NBA. But in terms of ballhandling, passing and hitting the open shot, which is all a lot of teams want out of their PG, he’s got all those elements plus potential to keep getting better.
He would make sense for the Thunder, but I don’t know, the hometown boy and hometown fans might make it hard for them to overlook Griffin for a Spaniard. The T’Wolves would be another good fit for Rubio, though their supporting cast isn’t as good as what it would be with the Thunder where he can feed two scorers in Durant and Westbrook.
The only chance the Wolves have of taking Blake Griffin is if Kevin Love shows he’s a complete bust, which he hasn’t done yet. The team is built around Al Jefferson down low, they traded OJ Mayo to get Kevin Love (stupidly) and to be honest, I don’t care how good Blake Griffin is, another 6′9” power forward who can’t play defense against a center is not what the Wolves need. It’s only a possibility if they trade/give up on Love. I see them reaching for a PG, and knowing McHale it’ll probably be a PG/SG combo guard who is too short to be a shooting guard, but not a good enough ball handler/passer to be a point guard. As a matter of fact, for comedy’s sake you might as well just write in Stephen Curry to the Wolves.
Surely, if the Thunder can’t help themselves and lob for Griffin, no way could McHale pass over Rubio. Surely …..
Then again they are the Timberwolves ……
ya this is just stupid, like gezzzz blake griffs should ahh go to them Raptorino’s. As for Ricky Rubio he should stay playing in da Swedish league iight
We’re sitting here, and I’m supposed to be the draft expert, and we’re talking about mock drafts. I mean listen, we’re sitting here talking about the mock draft, not the actual draft, not the actual draft, not the actual draft, but we’re talking about mock drafts. Not the actual draft that I go out there and die for and predict every pick like it’s my last but we’re talking about mock drafts man. How silly is that? … Now I know that I’m supposed to lead by example and all that but I’m not shoving that aside like it don’t mean anything. I know it’s important, I honestly do but we’re talking about mock drafts. We’re talking about mock drafts man. We’re talking about mock drafts. We’re talking about mock drafts. We’re not talking about the actual draft. We’re talking about mock drafts.
Rubio #1 you must be kidding, he probably won’t come out till next year and even then he’ll probably not be the first pg taken (see John Wall). This fascination with euro players is so overblown. I think a team should wait till they mature in the euro league and then bring them over otherwise you better be willing to wait 3-5 years to get any return on your investment stop hoping for the best and pick NBA ready proven possible rookies of the year at #1 not the best 6th man or most improved player 5 years from now, give me Griffen thank you.