(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The 2009 NBA Draft is around the corner and after watching players like David West, Danny Granger and Brandon Roy get passed over in recent drafts, I've felt obligated to help the GM's around the NBA.
I watch tons of NCAA basketball games and it wasn't hard to tell that these three players had what it takes to thrive in the NBA.
Here's the first official NPPR for the NBA draft.
NPPR stands for Neil Powell's Power Rankings, something I've used for years in ranking fantasy players for the NFL and MLB.
Designed more as an inside joke between friends, as I schooled them annually, I felt I needed some originality if I was going to take these lists to the streets.
2009 NBA DRAFT - NPPR
1. Blake Griffin - F/C - Oklahoma Sooners (21) PF/C - 6-10/251
Griffin is a beast and his game will translate very well to the next level. Not since Shaq O'Neal has 30/15 looked so easy. Only needs to improve on his free throw shooting to become one of the top players in the world. Look for many All-Star games to come.
NBA Comparison - Dwight Howard
To me, it is not a stretch to expect Griffin to be as good as Howard. Similar in size, strength and quickness, Griffin was the best player on every floor he stepped on last year.
2. Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis Tigers (19) PG/SG - 6-5/195
Evans was the top freshman in the nation and the best player on a pretty good Memphis squad from the day he got there. A tall and explosive Tiger point guard, sound familiar?
NBA Comparison - Derrick Rose
It's doubtful that Evans will land on a team as good as the Bulls, so it will be hard to back this prediction up, but he could easily be that dynamic down the road.
3. Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut (International) (18) PG - 6-4/180
This 18-year-old European phenom started playing against top competition when he was 14! Last year in the Summer Olympics Rubio made some of the prettiest plays against the juggernaut Americans, busted up wrist and all.
NBA Comparison - Steve Nash
His age and experience make him one of the top Euro-guard prospects in quite some time. He can distribute and score, but he may never be as crafty as Nash is around the basket.
4. Ty Lawson - North Carolina Tar Heels (21) PG - 6-0/195
No player was more impressive in the 2009 run to the championship for UNC. Lawson proved to be the nation's best point guard, a position that has the most depth coming into the draft. His shooting percentages and assist to turnover ratio was outstanding.
NBA Comparison - Tony Parker
Lawson is thicker than "Mr. Longoria", but his quickness and ability to score in the paint reminds me of Parker. Not likely to have a player like Tim Duncan to take the pressure off of him though.
5. Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut Huskies (22) C - 7-3/265
At 7-3, Thabeet is a physical specimen that will be hard for NBA teams to pass on. Staying in school was a beneficial decision for him, but there are still fatigue issues. I'm not the biggest fan of his ability, but a less than stellar draft class will help validate taking him so high.
NBA Comparison - Greg Oden
Oden should turn out to be a level above Thabeet, at least, but after watching how much trouble "Big Greg" had staying out of foul trouble this season, maybe not.
6. James Harden - Arizona State Sun Devils (19) SG - 6-5/218
As mentioned above, this is where is gets "Harden" to justify taking any player this high in the draft. Harden looks the part and has a NBA body and skill set. Even at No. 6 he's far from a lock in my eyes.
NBA Comparison - Paul Pierce
Harden is a couple inches shorter than "The Truth", but his body and smooth play are reminiscent of a young Pierce.
7. Jordan Hill - Arizona Wildcats (21) PF - 6-10/235
Hill parlayed his vast physical talent into a monster season for the Cats. He has the height and size to compete at the highest level. Despite not possessing an outside game, his upside makes him the best pick at this position.
NBA Comparison - Chris Bosh
All right, this one is certainly a stretch, but Bosh wasn't known for his touch away from the basket until a few years into the Association. The Denver Nuggets Chris "Birdman" Anderson might be a more reachable ceiling to set.
8. Johnny Flynn -
We're going to send you the most entertaining Los Angeles Lakers articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
12 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete