The Official NBA Thread!

daFalco · Jun 17, 2009

Well, I saw that the previous topic mainly consisted of the NBA playoffs, so why not make a thread where we can discuss the NBA in general?

With the NBA Draft coming up, what do you think will happen?

Zer0 · Jun 17, 2009

Players will be drafted
kthxbai

lolcow · Jun 17, 2009

Griffin will be stuck on a bad Clipper's team that won't be able to move Kamen/Randolph
Curry will be picked way too early
Rubio is overrated
Knicks will screw up their pick (again)

daFalco · Jun 17, 2009

1. Blake Griffin
Power Forward. Oklahoma

No real news coming out of Los Angeles is good news for the Clippers at this point. There have been no red flags on Griffin and no second guessing on the part of the Clippers.

2. Ricky Rubio
Point Guard. DKV Joventut

This is more about slot than team, as I still expect Memphis to find some way to capitalize on a team that greatly values Rubio and accurately projects him as the undisputed second best player in this draft.

3. Hasheem Thabeet
Center. Connecticut

Like Memphis, the Thunder would surprise nobody if they ended up trading down to improve their backcourt. There are a few dozen ways Sam Presti can go to add to his core and selecting Thabeet doesn't look like one he has settled on.

4. Jrue Holiday
Combo Guard. UCLA

Evans looks like the other option for the Kings, but I prefer combining Holiday with Kevin Martin.

5. Jordan Hill
Power Forward. Arizona

Like the Grizzlies and Thunder, there is an excellent chance that the Wizards don't draft in the fifth slot. If they do, Jordan Hill would be the most sensible pick.

6. James Harden
Shooting Guard. Arizona State

There is a clear divide in how Harden is perceived. There isn't anyone who doesn't see a very capable shooting guard, but there is a growing belief that he will end up ranked in the second half of players at that position.

7. James Johnson
Power Forward. Wake Forest

There are several guards that make sense for the Warriors, but the sentiment that Monta Ellis doesn't want a playmaking guard to be drafted would clearly pave the way for Johnson as the only remaining big who could fit in Golden State's system.

8. Stephen Curry
Combo Guard. Davidson

Jeff Teague remains the better option for New York to me, but Curry should develop into a nice complementary player if their 2010 plans materialize as they hope.

9. Tyreke Evans
Combo Guard. Memphis

If Evans drops this far, it would represent an ideal scenario for Toronto. He is much closer to contributing immediately than DeRozan, can play either guard position and can score off the dribble, something the Raptors haven't really had since they traded Vince Carter.

10. Jonny Flynn
Point Guard. Syracuse

Flynn would put an end to Milwaukee's point guard merry-go-round and would amplify the games of their three fringe stars.

11. Earl Clark
Combo Forward. Louisville

Clark is high on talent and given his face-up skill set, he would pair nicely in the frontcourt with Brook Lopez.

12. Gerald Henderson
Shooting Guard. Duke

The Bobcats could go for the home run with DeRozan still on the board, but if there ever was a team that absolutely needed to make the playoffs, it is the Larry Brown-led Charlotte Bobcats.

13. Brandon Jennings
Point Guard. Roma

Similar to how Jerryd Bayless fell to Indiana's slot last season, Jennings could experience a similar slide. This time, Indiana looks like they would welcome a young, talented point guard.

14. Jeff Teague
Point Guard. Wake Forest

Teague might not be Rajon Rondo in waiting, but if he falls much further than this, there could be a similar revisionist history to 2006.

15. Demar DeRozan
Guard/Forward. USC

DeRozan can go as high as nine to the Raptors and this represents his basement. Just on the edge of the lottery represents his appropriate value and expectations on his true potential.

16. DeJuan Blair
Power Forward. Pittsburgh

The Nets, Bobcats, Pacers and Pistons could all grab Blair ahead of Chicago, who have been searching for their low post solution for what seems like an eternity. Blair would fit in nicely and his defensive liabilities will be negated by the help defense of Noah and Tyrus Thomas, if the latter remains in Chicago.

17. Ty Lawson
Point Guard. North Carolina

Lawson should be able to run the point immediately for Philadelphia and his improved perimeter shot would be a welcomed addition as well.

18. Austin Daye
Combo Forward. Gonzaga

Daye is probably the purest shooter in the draft and when the purest shooter is nearly a seven-footer, there is a lot to like and plenty of time to wait for that physical development to catch up with everything else. Minnesota can afford to wait on that for a player that should be in the top-5 on the offensive end when this draft is called upon six/seven years from now.

19. Terrence Williams
Shooting Guard. Louisville

Williams is one of my favorite players in this draft, but he is neither a true point guard or a true shooting guard and his perimeter shot needs a lot of work. Being paired with Joe Johnson could create a similar to situation for Atlanta as when Ron Harper was Michael Jordan's running mate.

20. Tyler Hansbrough
Power Forward. North Carolina

There is too much first round smoke surrounding Tyler Hansbrough for me to keep out of this slot. Utah will almost certainly lose either Boozer or Millsap and will need to replace him via the draft and it is a lean crop at the power forward position.

21. B.J. Mullens
Center. Ohio State

The Hornets need immediate help before Chris Paul eventually lose it on the front office and it will be a long time before he can execute in games the way he can when working out against phantom defenders. But Paul has a way of suddenly making 7-footers with athleticism into dangerous finishers.

22. Eric Maynor
Point Guard. VCU

Given Maynor's versatility at either guard position and what he will be expected to do in Dallas, he will be an excellent fit and is likely to have a similar kind of immediate rookie impact as Courtney Lee had in Orlando.

23. Omri Casspi
Small Forward. Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Kings have a great history of tall European scorers in Peja and Hedo; Casspi will follow in that tradition and given how he is much more athletic, he could even have a more productive all-around career.
24. DaJuan Summers
Small Forward. Georgetown

The Blazers are unlikely to stay put at 24, but in terms of getting some toughness and someone who can mix it up inside, Summers represents that perfectly for the KP. His skill level is underrated and though he is a need based pick, this will be considered a steal for Portland.

25. Nick Calathes
Point Guard. Florida

Calathes is a pure point guard and would complement Russell Westbrook whenever they share floor time in the backcourt.

26. Patrick Mills
Point Guard. St. Mary\'s

The Bulls are eager to find a point guard that can allow Rose to sometimes play off the ball and Mills would be a perfect fit for that role. He is explosive off the dribble and should be one of the game's better spot-up shooter. When Mills and Rose are on the floor together, opposing team's will need highly athletic defenders at both guard positions.

27. Wayne Ellington
Shooting Guard. North Carolina

Ellington isn't going to be an NBA starter at shooting guard, but he is the kind of off the bench player a lot of teams would like to have at their disposal.

28. Darren Collison
Point Guard. UCLA

Minnesota is far from set at point guard and having a steady general who will be elite defensively represents a great addition for a team without a real identity. With that said, it is unlikely Minnesota will still have this pick when the night is over.

29. Chase Budinger
Small Forward. Arizona

Budinger has gone from projected lottery pick as a freshman to being on the cusp of the second round in a less than spectacular draft. He would fare much better if he ended up on an established playoff team where he could slide into a supporting role.

30. Marcus Thornton
Shooting Guard. LSU

The Cavaliers need some help up front, but they also need some dynamic shotmaking from the wing and Thornton would provide that. Similar to the way LeBron maximizes the value of players like Delonte West and Mo Williams, Thornton is good enough to take advantage of that type of situation.
Click to expand...

Taken from http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/1532/ ... ersion_90/

Odd with Jrue Holiday over James Harden... I think Harden will be a good player.
As for Evans going down to 9th, as a Toronto fan I would be pretty happy about that.

Most mocks have us getting DeRozan and I'm not sold on him yet.

gregoden52 · Jun 17, 2009

I am not sold on DeRozan either. I have watched him several times, and while he is a very good leaper, he did not test out well in the combine in terms of speed or strength.

I feel that Ty Lawson has been overlooked countless times because he gets comparisons to a former tar heel (Felton) who never lived up to the hype.

I also think that Daye needed to stay in college to add some strength. But, then again, if he didn't get any better next year he might not even be a first round pick like he's going to be.

Lastly, Rubio is the purest PG in this draft and Blake Griffin is going to be pre-injury Kenyon Martin 2.0.

daFalco · Jun 18, 2009

DeRozen just had his workout in Toronto a few days ago and it looks more and like that Toronto will get him at 9.

Seems to have a good head on his shoulders from the interview, and he's only 19 so yeah, liking him more and more.

Ice Nine · Jun 18, 2009

I'm upset that Gerald Henderson has left Duke early for the draft. Hope he does well in the NBA.

It didn't help that John Wall decided to go to Kenutcky as well -_- Kinda saw that coming, though...even if I didn't want to

gregoden52 · Jun 18, 2009

Toooooooooo bad John Wall didn't go to UNC. Lol was so mad about that!

wvurascal · Jul 3, 2009

Lakers are going to win the championship next year too.

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