As you can see below, the "mocking" of the drafts fro 2009 has already began. With the NBA being the only professional "major" league using the lottery rules, its pretty much impossible to calculate, guess, or project what team will pick where and who will pick who, especially at this point. In my mind, the Pacers are likely to be a team picking in the top five. My personal crush, Ricky Rubio, but everyone will argue since we added T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack it would be dumb to add the phenom becoming known as "La Pistola", a nickname deriving from people claiming Rubio is the next Pistol Pete Maravich, some have even described him as a bigger Steve Nash and a European Magic Johnson.
With that, we already have Danny Granger, and just drafted Brandon Rush, so DeRozan might not be the best pick up (fitting the Pacers needs). The last two, "top tier" picks, at this point at least, Blake Griffin of Oklahoma and B.J. Mullens, a freshman who will make his name known at The Ohio State University. In my mind, I dont see Griffin being the next Carlos Boozer like many are claiming right now, in my mind, im seeing him more as, I dont know, boring, Boozer with less productivity, and not worth a top 4 pick. If he fell to the Pacers at 5, I would pull the trigger, but with Rubio, Mullens, or DeRozan on the board, I wouldn't in a million years. Drafting for need, makes you just kick yourself in the *** later. Basketball rosters are the elitest of all professional sports, you can't make mistakes, you only have one (I guess two, if you're counting the second round, but striking gold in those picks is rare, I know of Arenas, I know Boozer was a 2nd rounder, Ginobli, Redd, etc. but thats a small, very small %) chance to strike gold. Especially when youre picking in the lottery. Just think of all the teams that drafted for need, and screwed their team over for years to come.
In my mind, you have to take the best player available, I dont care if you already have an all-star player at that position, if theres another all-star available, and you dont think the others can live up to the type of potential that he can, you have to take him. The Spurs took Duncan when they had Robinson, look what that did? All-Star players, with chances at the hall of fame, find time to play on teams. BJ Mullens right now is being described as the next Bill Walton, a bigger and faster version to be precise, not because of his injuries (doesnt have any), but because of his talents. If the Pacers have a chance at Rubio though, we got to take him, I was reading on the Espana National Basketball team website that there is a chance Rubio might get a lot more playing time than originally projected in the Olympics, so tune in when Spain plays, oh and don't forget, their starter is the Toronto Raptors Jose Calderon (the reason the Raptors found Ford expendable) so every minute Rubio gets is more minutes away from Calderon, and Rubio is 10 years younger at age 17 (Calderon 27, almost 28).
I want Rubio, I think Mullens would be an amazing fit, projected as a Center, if he was paired with Hibbert, playing PF, it would be an amazing "Twin Towers", shock and awe, thunder and lightning, ying and yang, kowabunga!
Oh and, DeRozan would be pretty sick too, some people think hes the next Kobe...
DraftExpress: 2009 Mock Draft
First Round
1 Ricky Rubio PG
17 years old; 6'4"; 180 lbs.
DKV Joventut, International
2 Blake Griffin PF/C
19 years old; 6'10"; 239 lbs.
Oklahoma, Sophomore
3 Demar DeRozan SG
years old; 6'6"; 207 lbs.
USC, Freshman
4 B.J. Mullens C
years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs.
Ohio State, Freshman
5 Brandon Jennings PG
18 years old; 6'1"; 170 lbs.
Lottomatica Roma, Freshman
6 Hasheem Thabeet C
21 years old; 7'3"; 260 lbs.
Connecticut, Junior
7 Earl Clark SF/PF
20 years old; 6'9"; 200 lbs.
Louisville, Junior
8 Tyreke Evans PG/SG
18 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs.
Memphis, Freshman
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InsideHoops: EARLY 2009 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1) Oklahoma City: Ricky Rubio (PG, 6-4, 180, Spain)
2) Memphis Grizzlies: B.J. Mullens (C, 7-1, 260, Ohio State)
3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Blake Griffin (PF, 6-10, 245, Oklahoma)
4) Charlotte Bobcats: Brandon Jennings (PG, 6-2, 165, Arizona)
5) New Jersey Nets: Tyreke Evans (SG, 6-5, 195, Memphis)
6) Miami Heat: Jrue Holiday (PG, 6-4, 180, UCLA)
7) New York Knicks: Demar DeRozan (SG, 6-6, 210, USC)
8) Indiana Pacers: Hasheem Thabeet (C, 7-3, 265, Connecticut)
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MyNBADraft.com: 2009 Mock Draft
1. Memphis
Ricky Rubio
Ht/Wt: 6-3 / 180 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: DKV Joventut
Class: International
2. Charlotte
BJ Mullens
Ht/Wt: 7-0 / 260 lbs
Position: C
Drafted From: Ohio State
Class: Freshman
3. Indiana
Blake Griffin
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Drafted From: Oklahoma
Class: Sophomore
4. Milwaukee
Demar DeRozan
Ht/Wt: 6-6 / 210 lbs
Position: SG
Drafted From: USC
Class: Freshman
5. Minnesota
Hasheem Thabeet
Ht/Wt: 7-2 / 260 lbs
Position: C
Drafted From: Connecticut
Class: Junior
6. New Jersey
Brandon Jennings
Ht/Wt: 6-1 / 170 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: Arizona
Class: Freshman
7. New York
Austin Daye
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 190 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: Gonzaga
Class: Sophomore
8. Sacramento
Earl Clark
Ht/Wt: 6-9 / 200 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: Louisville
Class: Junior
---
OwnMyTeam: 2009 Mock Draft
1. Blake Griffin PF 6-10, 243lbs, Oklahoma, Sophomore
2. Ricky Rubio PG 6-4, 180lbs, International
3. Demar DeRozan SG 6-6, 210lbs, USC or International
4. Brandon Jenning PG 6-1, 170lbs, International
5. BJ Mullins C 7-0, 260lbs, Ohio State, Freshman
6. Al-Faroug Aminu SF 6-9, 210lbs, Wake Forest, Freshman
7. Jrue Holiday SG 6-3. 205lbs, UCLA, Freshman
8. Hasheem Thabeet, C 7-3. 265lbs, Conn, Junior
---
(Other 2009 Mock Drafts)
NBADraft.net
11. Indiana Brandon Jennings
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With that, we already have Danny Granger, and just drafted Brandon Rush, so DeRozan might not be the best pick up (fitting the Pacers needs). The last two, "top tier" picks, at this point at least, Blake Griffin of Oklahoma and B.J. Mullens, a freshman who will make his name known at The Ohio State University. In my mind, I dont see Griffin being the next Carlos Boozer like many are claiming right now, in my mind, im seeing him more as, I dont know, boring, Boozer with less productivity, and not worth a top 4 pick. If he fell to the Pacers at 5, I would pull the trigger, but with Rubio, Mullens, or DeRozan on the board, I wouldn't in a million years. Drafting for need, makes you just kick yourself in the *** later. Basketball rosters are the elitest of all professional sports, you can't make mistakes, you only have one (I guess two, if you're counting the second round, but striking gold in those picks is rare, I know of Arenas, I know Boozer was a 2nd rounder, Ginobli, Redd, etc. but thats a small, very small %) chance to strike gold. Especially when youre picking in the lottery. Just think of all the teams that drafted for need, and screwed their team over for years to come.
In my mind, you have to take the best player available, I dont care if you already have an all-star player at that position, if theres another all-star available, and you dont think the others can live up to the type of potential that he can, you have to take him. The Spurs took Duncan when they had Robinson, look what that did? All-Star players, with chances at the hall of fame, find time to play on teams. BJ Mullens right now is being described as the next Bill Walton, a bigger and faster version to be precise, not because of his injuries (doesnt have any), but because of his talents. If the Pacers have a chance at Rubio though, we got to take him, I was reading on the Espana National Basketball team website that there is a chance Rubio might get a lot more playing time than originally projected in the Olympics, so tune in when Spain plays, oh and don't forget, their starter is the Toronto Raptors Jose Calderon (the reason the Raptors found Ford expendable) so every minute Rubio gets is more minutes away from Calderon, and Rubio is 10 years younger at age 17 (Calderon 27, almost 28).
I want Rubio, I think Mullens would be an amazing fit, projected as a Center, if he was paired with Hibbert, playing PF, it would be an amazing "Twin Towers", shock and awe, thunder and lightning, ying and yang, kowabunga!
Oh and, DeRozan would be pretty sick too, some people think hes the next Kobe...
DraftExpress: 2009 Mock Draft
First Round
1 Ricky Rubio PG
17 years old; 6'4"; 180 lbs.
DKV Joventut, International
2 Blake Griffin PF/C
19 years old; 6'10"; 239 lbs.
Oklahoma, Sophomore
3 Demar DeRozan SG
years old; 6'6"; 207 lbs.
USC, Freshman
4 B.J. Mullens C
years old; 7'0"; 260 lbs.
Ohio State, Freshman
5 Brandon Jennings PG
18 years old; 6'1"; 170 lbs.
Lottomatica Roma, Freshman
6 Hasheem Thabeet C
21 years old; 7'3"; 260 lbs.
Connecticut, Junior
7 Earl Clark SF/PF
20 years old; 6'9"; 200 lbs.
Louisville, Junior
8 Tyreke Evans PG/SG
18 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs.
Memphis, Freshman
---
InsideHoops: EARLY 2009 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1) Oklahoma City: Ricky Rubio (PG, 6-4, 180, Spain)
2) Memphis Grizzlies: B.J. Mullens (C, 7-1, 260, Ohio State)
3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Blake Griffin (PF, 6-10, 245, Oklahoma)
4) Charlotte Bobcats: Brandon Jennings (PG, 6-2, 165, Arizona)
5) New Jersey Nets: Tyreke Evans (SG, 6-5, 195, Memphis)
6) Miami Heat: Jrue Holiday (PG, 6-4, 180, UCLA)
7) New York Knicks: Demar DeRozan (SG, 6-6, 210, USC)
8) Indiana Pacers: Hasheem Thabeet (C, 7-3, 265, Connecticut)
---
MyNBADraft.com: 2009 Mock Draft
1. Memphis
Ricky Rubio
Ht/Wt: 6-3 / 180 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: DKV Joventut
Class: International
2. Charlotte
BJ Mullens
Ht/Wt: 7-0 / 260 lbs
Position: C
Drafted From: Ohio State
Class: Freshman
3. Indiana
Blake Griffin
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Drafted From: Oklahoma
Class: Sophomore
4. Milwaukee
Demar DeRozan
Ht/Wt: 6-6 / 210 lbs
Position: SG
Drafted From: USC
Class: Freshman
5. Minnesota
Hasheem Thabeet
Ht/Wt: 7-2 / 260 lbs
Position: C
Drafted From: Connecticut
Class: Junior
6. New Jersey
Brandon Jennings
Ht/Wt: 6-1 / 170 lbs
Position: PG
Drafted From: Arizona
Class: Freshman
7. New York
Austin Daye
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 190 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: Gonzaga
Class: Sophomore
8. Sacramento
Earl Clark
Ht/Wt: 6-9 / 200 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Drafted From: Louisville
Class: Junior
---
OwnMyTeam: 2009 Mock Draft
1. Blake Griffin PF 6-10, 243lbs, Oklahoma, Sophomore
2. Ricky Rubio PG 6-4, 180lbs, International
3. Demar DeRozan SG 6-6, 210lbs, USC or International
4. Brandon Jenning PG 6-1, 170lbs, International
5. BJ Mullins C 7-0, 260lbs, Ohio State, Freshman
6. Al-Faroug Aminu SF 6-9, 210lbs, Wake Forest, Freshman
7. Jrue Holiday SG 6-3. 205lbs, UCLA, Freshman
8. Hasheem Thabeet, C 7-3. 265lbs, Conn, Junior
---
(Other 2009 Mock Drafts)
NBADraft.net
11. Indiana Brandon Jennings
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BJ Mullens
Ricky Rubio
Demar DeRozan
Blake Griffin
Ricky Rubio
Demar DeRozan
Blake Griffin
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