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26

An In Depth Look At The NBA Draft; The Good, The Bad And What Were They Thinking?

Posted by Jeff Sack under 2009 NBA Draft, Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central

Hope you enjoyed Steve Rhodes “Real-Time” NBA Draft coverage. Now that the selections have been made lets take a look at exactly what your team did Thursday night!

#1 – Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin-PF: Oklahoma

Analysis: For the first time in what seems like forever there was no doubt about who was being taken with the number one pick. From the time the Clippers won the lottery it was known that Griffin would be the choice. Grade: A

#2 – Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet-C: Connecticut

Analysis: Gives the Grizz the size they so desperately need in the pivot. Thabeet will be a good solid NBA center not dominant but he will hold his own. Grade: B+

#3 – Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden-SG: Arizona State

Analysis: In the last three NBA Drafts the Thunder have gotten themselves a pretty good quartet of starters. In 2007 they got Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and last season they got their point in Russell Westbrook. They now have a shooting guard who should break camp as a starter. Grade: A

#4 – Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans-PG/SG: Memphis

Analysis: Good size at 6′5″ and can play both the one and the two in the back-court. The best thing about this young man is his demeanor he plays clean plays fair but he plays to win. The Kings have more holes on their team than a slice of Swiss Cheese so the position did not matter as much as the player. Grade: A

#5 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio-PG: Spain

Analysis: The Kid who looks like he should be on the cover of Tiger-Beat Magazineis going to become a huge star in the NBA. Rubio showed the planet what he could do as part of Team Spain in the 2008 Olympics and now he is getting ready to try to show the Association. Grade: A

#6 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonny Flynn-PG: Syracuse

Analysis: Unless this is part of a deal that has already been arranged this pick makes no sense. No knock on Flynn who should prove to be a better than average NBA point guard. But why would the T-Wolves pick Flynn right after Rubio? First surprise of the night. Grade: C

#7 – Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry-SG: Davidson

Analysis: Excellent selection by the Warriors as this young man is a perfect player for a Don Nelson system. Curry opened a lot of eyes in the NCAA Tournament apparently those eyes included Larry Riley’s and Don Nelson’s! Grade: A

#8 – New York Knickerbockers: Jordan Hill-PF: Arizona

Analysis: Knickerbockers fans had a right to boo last year when their team picked the rooster Danilo Gallinari. This time they were way way off base. Hill is going to show he is for real in the Association. A strong pick by the Knickerbockers! Grade: A

#9 – Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan-SG: USC

Analysis: The kid can light it up which is what the Raptors need desperately at the two spot. Whether in the starting line-up or as a sixth man this young man will be a keeper! Grade: A

#10 – Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings-PG: Italian League

Analysis: My only concern is his size at 6′1″ there is no doubt this young man can play. Add three inches to his height he is a superstar. His size or lack thereof gives this observer pause. Grade: B

#11 – New Jersey Nets: Terrence Williams-SF: Louisville

Analysis: Nice upside on this young man he is a gutty take no prisoners type of player. The kind of player who will look a whole lot better after his second season than he will after his first. Grade: B+

#12 – Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson-SG: Duke

Analysis: Real Larry Brown type of player. Henderson is gutty and not afraid to mix it up. He will thrive under Larry Brown’s tutelage. Grade: A

#13 – Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough-PF: North Carolina

Analysis: This young man is going to be a huge hit in the Hoosier State. The day to day things that may be looked past in other NBA markets will be appreciated in Indiana. Grade: A

#14 – Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark-SF: Louisville

Analysis: I like Earl Clark a lot he is a great athlete and should be a very good player in the NBA. But what could possess Suns G.M. Steve Kerr to go in this direction when you have a dearth of big men on your squad? Grade: C-

#15 – Detroit Pistons: Austin Daye-F: Gonzaga

Analysis: Players can lose it overnight we have seen too many cases over the years to question it. However Joe Dumars may be the first NBA Director of Basketball Operations to go from genius to chump in such a short time! Daye is minimum two years away from making any kind of meaningful contribution. Your team barely made the Playoffs this past season Joe. You do not have the luxury of time on your hands! Grade: C-

#16 – Chicago Bulls: James Johnson-SF: Wake Forest

Analysis: Strange pick thought that the Bulls were going to go with a big to strengthen their inside game. Johnson is not a starter at least not at this point of his career. Grade: C

#17 – Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday-PG: UCLA

Analysis: Holiday was expected to go much higher and Philadelphia got themselves a steal! Does this mean the end of the road between the Sixers and Andre Miller? Grade: A

#18 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Ty Lawson-PG: North Carolina

Analysis: Attention Minnesota Team Owner Glen Taylor. Get on the phone get on your knees do what ever you have to do to get Kevin McHale back in your front office. Hansborough for a conditional first round pick in 2010? Just a waste of a pick! Grade: D

#19 – Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague-PG: Wake Forest

Analysis: Solid pick Teague can play either spot in the back-court . Gives the Hawks options on whether to retain Mike Bibby or not. Grade: A-

#20 – Utah Jazz: Eric Maynor-PG: Virginia Commonwealth

Analysis: Truly surprised at this pick. Maynor can be a credible back-up to D-Williams but I thought they would go bigger. Grade: B-

#21 – New Orleans Hornets: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA

Analysis: A gutty young man that plays very strong defense. He will be a strong back-up to CP-3. Grade: B

#22 – Portland Trail Blazers: Nick Claver-SF: Spain.

Analysis: Claver is expected to play in Europe for the next two seasons. If this was OKC that could be a prudent move. Portland however is on the precipice of being an elite team. There were players on the board who could have helped a lot sooner. Grade: C

#23 – Sacramento Kings: Omri Casspi-Israel: PF

Analysis: Showed his toughness witth Maccabi, Tel Aviv. The native of Israel will bring the Kings back a measure of toughness they lost when they traded Tru-Warrior to the Houston Rockets last Summer. Casspi despite being just 6′9″ may match up well against a lot of power forwards in the Western conference.

#24 – Dallas Mavericks: B.J. Mullens-C: Ohio State

Analysis: The Mavericks search for that elusive center continues. Mullens has shown flashes but it is going to be a while before he is ready for big minutes. Grade: B-

#25 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Rodrigue Beaubois-PG: Guadaloupe

Analysis: Did not have a long career with the Thunder as he was traded to Dallas for B.J. Mullens. Beaubois most likely will not come to the NBA for at least another two years. Grade: C-

#26 – Chicago Bulls: Taj Gibson-PF: USC

Analysis: Very tough young man a kind of guy who does not seem to possess fear. A nice pick-up for the Bulls. Grade: B

#27 – Memphis Grizzlies: DeMarre Carroll-SF: Missouri

Analysis: Another young man who just will not back down and plays tough heady basketball. He will be another good element for a Grizzlies team that is starting to gel. Grade: B

#28 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina

Analysis: The Duke was a key factor in UNC winning the National Title this year. If the T-Wolves had just 2 picks and had walked away with Rubio and the Duke they would have had a fantastic draft. Problem though was they had four picks and wasted two. Grade: B+

#29 – Los Angeles Lakers: Toney Douglas-PG: Florida State

Analysis: Lakers had traded the pick to New York and Douglas belongs to them. A back-up at best. Grade: C

#30 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Christian Eyenga-G/F: Congo

Analysis: Will most likely play in Europe for the next couple of seasons. See Portland above for further explanation. Grade: C-

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Comments

5 Responses to “An In Depth Look At The NBA Draft; The Good, The Bad And What Were They Thinking?”

Morning Coffee – June 26 - Raptors Republic on June 26th, 2009 7:51 am

[...] Slam Dunk Central #9 – Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan-SG: USC [...]
Linkage for Jun 25 9am to Jun 26 11am - Raptors Republic on June 26th, 2009 12:00 pm

[...] An In Depth Look At The NBA Draft; The Good, The Bad And What Were They Thinking? » Slam Dunk … #9 – Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan-SG: USC [...]
Rad on June 26th, 2009 4:06 pm

I totally agree with you on Flynn going to the T ‘Wolves. I thought Curry would have fit their needs a whole lot better. Flynn and Curry actually, then Rubio could have played for Don Nelson and went nuts out in Golden State.

I was hoping the Knicks would go with Lawson to help up the tempo and move Duhon to the bench but Hill is still a good pick for that offense.

What do you think of Blair going to San Antonio in the 2nd round??
Stephen Rhodes on June 26th, 2009 4:28 pm

Jeff the rights to Ty Lawson were traded by the Timberpups to Denver for a protected first-round pick in 2010. But your point made sense, nonetheless.
Jeff Sack on June 27th, 2009 3:34 am

Steve,
I addressed that in the piece “Hansborough for a conditional first round pick in 2010? Just a waste of a pick!”