2009 NBA Mock Draft (January 2009 Version)
Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio Top Pick Candidates
Jan 23, 2009
At this early stage, the 2009 NBA Draft doesn't appear to feature a lot of high-end prospects. Other than Power Forward Blake Griffin, there isn't a single sure-fire All Star talent to speak of. That being said, there's a whole lot of upside.
2009 NBA Mock Draft (January Version)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder selects PF Blake Griffin, Oklahoma -- He's still the most dominant player in college basketball and would be just what the Thunder needed. With a lineup that already includes young stars, like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green, Griffin would fit right in. NBA Comparison: Carlos Boozer
2. Washington Wizards selects PG Ricky Rubio, International -- The Wizards need some size, but they're not about to pass on a player like Rubio. Gilbert Arenas has been hurt for a while, and they don't have a top notched point guard. Rubio's a fantastic passer and floor general, a tough defender and is still very young. NBA Comparison: Steve Nash
3. LA Clippers selects PF Jordan Hill, Arizona -- The Clippers have a ton of size, but their biggest challenge is dealing with injuries. That being said, when a team doesn't know how their roster will evolve over a summer, it's never a bad thing to have an overabundance of size. Hill's extremely athletic and hard working and has seen his stock rise tremendously. NBA Comparison: Poor man's Chris Bosh
4. Sacramento Kings selects C Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut -- Thabeet is an outstanding defender, reminding some of Dikembe Mutombo with his tenacious shot blocking ability. With centers coming at a premium, don't be surprised to see Thabeet go high in this draft. Yet, he has very little offense to his game, which may cause some teams to shy away from him. NBA Comparison: Dikembe Mutombo
5. Memphis Grizzlies selects PG Brandon Jennings, International -- Memphis has been shopping Mike Conley a lot lately,and has been more than satisfied with the production of rookie, Marc Gasol, in the middle. So, despite needing size, they may consider investing more on Gasol. Kyle Lowry's a viable option at point for them, but they've never seemed willing to give him a long-term shot. For that reason, don't be surprised to see them nab a point guard in the draft. NBA Comparison: Kenny Anderson
6. Golden State Warriors selects SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest -- This pick would have Don Nelson's name written all over it. Aminu's an athletic, long small forward who plays bigger than his frame, and runs the court extremely well. NBA Comparison: Luol Deng
7. Minnesota Timberwolves selects SG James Harden, Arizona -- Harden's had an impressive college career, but questions about his size and athleticism might cause him to slip a bit. With Mike Miller having a disappointing season and with Rashard McCants' injury concerns, Harden could be an ideal pick if he slid this far. NBA Comparison: Joe Dumars
8. Indiana Pacers selects C Cole Aldrich, Kansas -- Aldrich is turning heads as a freshman. He has a vast array of post moves and a great understanding of the game. The Pacers could use his fundamentals and leadership in the post. NBA Comparison: Spencer Hawes
9. Toronto Raptors selects SF Earl Clark, Louisville -- Clark's versatility and ability to play point-forward would be a great fit for the Raptors. With a future core of Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani, Clark would fit right in. NBA Comparison: Danny Granger
10. New York selects PF Greg Monroe, Georgetown -- With David Lee on the trade block, the Knicks may look for a future prospect to fill the void at the power forward spot. Coach Mike D'Antoni is a sucker for versatile forwards. Monroe's got some polishing to do, but he definitely has plenty of upside. NBA Comparison: Chris Bosh (poor man's version)
11. Charlotte Bobcats selects SG Chase Budinger, Arizona -- This would be late for Budinger to fall, but Charlotte would be thrilled if he did. Budinger's an athletic wing, who improved his shooting from last season. The Bobcats would really like a center, so they can move Emeka Okafor to power forward. If they can't get a center here, they'll take the best available player. NBA Comparison: Brent Barry
12. Chicago Bulls selects PF Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech -- Lawal is a gifted athlete and has a 7' wingspan. He's limited at the offensive end, but has tremendous upside. NBA Comparison: Chris Wilcox
13. New Jersey Nets selects SF DaJuan Summers, Georgetown -- Summers' versatility and size make him an intriguing prospect. The Nets have developed a decent young core with Brook Lopez having a solid rookie season at center and Devin Harris shining bright at the point guard spot. Yi Jianlian is a talented small forward, but his defense is suspect. Summers would be a good addition. NBA Comparison: Paul Pierce (poor man's version)
14. Dallas Mavericks selects SF Damion James, Texas -- The Mavericks are shopping Josh Howard. James could be groomed to eventually take his place. He's an extremely athletic wing, who needs to refine his skills a bit. NBA Comparison: Mickael Pietrus
