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  1 PF Blake Griffin Oklahoma Soph. 6-10 251 Griffin is far and away the hands down number 1 prospect in this years draft, but the Clippers might think about trading one of their pricey front-court players for more draft picks. Chris Kaman or Marcus Camby are the two leading candidates to get shipped off because Zach Randolph and his enormous contract is virtually untradable.  

2 PG Ricky Rubio DKV Joventut (Spain) -- 6-4 180 Memphis is in a tough situation here because Rubio has already expressed his dislike for Memphis and Oklahoma City, so if either team tries to draft him they wont be certain if he'll actually sign. And on top of that he has a tricky buyout situation with his Euroleague Team in Spain. My guess is they still take Rubio here because other than him and Griffin the rest of the draft class is unproven. Worst comes to worst they trade his draft rights to a team he wants to play for. 3 SG James Harden Arizona St. Soph. 6-5 218 I like Harden in this situation. Going to a young up and coming team like the Thunder is a great fit for the crafty Harden. I think he's a Brandon Roy/Manu Ginobili type player, crafty, sneaky athletcism, good ball-handler, and his Basketball IQ is tremendous. Just an awesome all-around person, that will make the Thunder a possible Title contender in the future. 4 PG Tyreke Evans Memphis Fr. 6-6 219 Evans has the potential to become a special player. Not a good enough shooter to play shooting guard, but his ball-handling, tremendous athleticism, and ability to get the basket make him worth the risk here. 5 C Hasheem Thabeet UConn Jr. 7-3 265 Unless the Wizards trade this pick to **** coach Flip Saunders some veteran help. I fully expecting them to select Thabeet, because he would be an instant upgrade over the oft injured Brendan Haywood and Saunders ability to develop young players (ex. Kevin Garnett) might help blossom some of Thabeet's offensive potential. 6 PF Jordan Hill Arizona Jr. 6-10 235 They need length upfront so with Thabeet off the board I expect them to take Hill who has good potential and a tough rugged game which any team would love. He could stand to add a few pounds but if Kevin McHale returns as coach he might be able to turn Hill into a stud offensively. He has a Chris Bosh style game and attacks the rim with terror so if he can develop a consistent 15-18ft jumper he could be a very good player. 7 PG Brandon Jennings

Lottomatica Roma(Italy)

-- 6-2 165 This is a toss up between Jennings and Stephen Curry. I think they'll go with Jennings tho because he's more of a true point guard and he thrives in an uptempo offense thats why he did so poorly in Europe. Having him alongside Monta Ellis is a bit of a liability on defense but Jennings is a better defender than Curry ever will be so I think this is the perfect spot for him. 8 PG Stephen Curry Davidson Jr. 6-3 185 I think this was destiny both for Stephen Curry and the New York Knicks. I honestly believe Curry will thrive in Mike D'Antoni's fast paced scoring offense, and under the bright stage of Madison Square Garden. With Curry's 3 point shooting, passing skills, and basketball IQ;D'Antoni's got an instant stud to build around. 9 SG DeMar DeRozan USC Fr. 6-7 220 The Raptors are in desperate need of a shooting guard stick next to the young and talented core they have of Calderon, Bargnani, and Bosh. DeRozan is a freakish athlete, in the mold of a young Vince Carter, if he can ever develop an outside shot he will be considered a steal here. 10 PG Jrue Holiday UCLA Fr. 6-3 180 Holiday is a tough player to analyze, a highly-touted high school player coming into UCLA, he put rather pedestrian numbers in his only season in college, but he never got to play his true point guard position because Darren Collison was there. I think he might turn into the Russell Westbrook of this draft class, both are not very good shooters, but there both athletic, come from the same program, and both have a knack for making plays. And if Ramon Sessions leaves in free-agency, Holiday can step in right away from day 1. 11 PF DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh Soph. 6-7 265

Blair would be an instant upgrade at Power Foward for them, he's a physical presence and you would have a solid frontcourt for years to come when you pair him with last year's first round pick Brook Lopez, who turned in a great first year last year at center. He's a lunch pale type player who Lawrence Frank will adore.

12 PG Ty Lawson North Carolina Jr. 5-11 195 One UNC point guard replaces another UNC point guard, assuming the Bobcats let Felton go. I think they'll take a chance on Lawson because he's got the potential to be a good point guard and team leader. But if things don't work out you always have last year's first round pick D.J Augustin as insurance. 13 SG Gerald Henderson Duke Jr. 6-4 215 A superb athlete at the shooting guard position, Henderson would serve as insurance just in case Mike Dunleavy doesn't sucessfully return from his injury. Henderson is an athletic scorer who could work on his outside shot, but he comes from a basketball family and he played for Coach K so he should turn out to be a solid player. 14 PG Jonny Flynn Syracuse Soph. 6-0 185 Picking Flynn here would give him atleast 1 year to learn from one of the best in the business Steve Nash. Playing behind Nash would teach him how to run a team and distribute ball better. Flynn is already a good shooter so learning some passing skills and what it takes to become an MVP type player will only make him better. 15 C B.J. Mullens Ohio St. Fr. 7-0 275 The Pistons would be estatic if Mullens was still her at number 15. The former number 1 prospect coming out of high school has the potential to an all-star center. If he stayed in school another year he would have been almost guaranteed a 2010 Top 5 pick. Has athleticism, offensive potential, and defensive potential. The Pistons really need big guys with Rasheed Wallace likely leaving in free agency. I would rather have Mullens than trade for another big man like Chris Kaman. 16 SF Earl Clark Louisville Jr. 6-9 225 The Bulls have depth at almost every position except for the small foward position. Clark is a superb athlete who has been compared to a cross between Josh Smith and Lamar Odom. I think he'll fit in perfectly with young and athletic Bulls team. If he can get consistency on his outside shot and increase his work ethic and coachability he'll be a good player. 17 SG Chase Budinger Arizona Jr. 6-7 218 Budinger gives the Sixers what they desperately need a good 3 point shooter who can spread the floor. The Sixers are trying to transform to an up-tempo team even though they just signed Elton Brand last season. But Budinger is very athletic and he should back up Iguodala as a sixth man off the bench. 18 SF Austin Daye Gonzaga Soph. 6-11 200 If he stays in the draft I think Daye would be worth the risk here at number 18. He has good length and a ood outside shot, but he definitely needs to add muscle to his wiry frame. I think the Timberwolves might package this pick and their 28th pick overall for a higher draft pick or a player. 19 PG Eric Maynor VCU Sr. 6-3 175 He lacks deep shooting range, but Maynor's leadership and point guard skills are excellent. He has good size and if add him to mix with the rest of the young Hawk's you'll have a great team in the East for years to come. Mike Bibby is also expected to leave via free agency because he'll probably want big money that the Hawks arent willing to give to an aging veteran. 20 SF James Johnson Wake Forest Soph. 6-9 245 Johnson is a potential lottery pick so if he's still available at number 20 I think its a no-brainer for the Jazz. He has an NBA ready body with the skill of a small foward and the stature of a power foward. He could provide instant depth at the small foward position and play in the front if Carlos Boozer and/or Paul Milsap leave via free agency. 21 SF Sam Young Pittsburgh Sr. 6-6 220 Young is a tough, athletic worker who would give Byron Scott solid depth off the bench. He could also learn behind James Posey who is a championship winning grinder. 22 PG Darren Collison UCLA Sr. 6-0 170 The Mavericks might be in need of a point guard because Jason Kidd is a free agent and JJ Barea can't run the show by himself if Kidd isn't re-signed. I think Collison would be a good pick here because Collison is quick, solid shooter, and he knows how to run a team. He's also an excellent on ball defender who can get steals and create fast-break oppurtunities for the up-tempo Mavericks. 23 SF Derrick Brown Xavier Sr. 6-8 227 Brown is a solid pick here, an explosive athlete that is capable from 3 and can attack the rim and get out and run. An unselfish player who with mesh with the Kings new style of play and young players right away.  24 PF Gani Lawal  Georgia Tech Soph. 6-9 235 Lawal is a tough, athletic player; who scores mostly on putbacks and around the rim. He is a great defender who will bring energy of the bench backing up Lamarcus Aldridge. They'll need to be patient with him but he's a good pick for a young up and coming team. 25 PF Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina Sr. 6-9 245 Hansbrough would be a steal for Oklahoma City here. He would instantly help this team because he would preach work ethic and become an instant leader for such a young team. He's not going to be a starter but he'll be a solid role player off the bench. 26 SG Wayne Ellington North Carolina Jr. 6-4 200 A shooter who will provide backcourt insurance should the Bulls lose Ben Gordon to free agency. If Gordon stays, Ellington will become a solid scoring option off the bench. I wouldn't be surprised if they trade this pick along with their other first round selection for a higher selection. 27 PG Patrick Mills St. Mary's Soph. 5-11 180 I still dont believe the Grizzlies are sold on Mike Conley Jr. so I see them going with Mill's here. He has scoring ability to go along with Mayo in the backcourt. His Olympic experience should serve him well in the NBA. 28 PG Rodrigue Beaubois Chalet (France) -- 6-2 170 If the Timberwolves don't move this pick, they could invest in this quick French point guard, 21, and let him remain in Europe to develop. 29 PG AJ Price UConn Sr. 6-2 190 Price is a solid point guard prospect who could take over the reigns of an experienced team like the Lakers with a little seasoning under current point guard Derek Fisher. Matured into a confident, vocal leader who has oustanding shooting range to extend the defense. 30 SG Jerel McNeal Marquette Sr. 6-3 195 McNeal would be a 3 point shooting threat off the bench for the Cavaliers. He is also a great defender, who would create oppurtunities for Lebron and company in transition. Many might think this a reach at number 30 but I believe McNeal could help the Cavs significantly.

 

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