NBA First Round Mock Draft

Draft night should be crazy and unpredictable this year. Expect to see a lot of trade talks and movement involving current NBA stars and draft picks. The class has been classified as weak, but I think there is still some great talent within.

However, it seems that this draft is all based on whether players improve some skills and max out their potential. This may not be the best of classes, but it should be an exciting night nonetheless.

Here is the way I see it playing out.

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

The most obvious choice in the draft. Blake Griffin has great athleticism and pretty good size to be an all-star caliber post player in the league.

He is being compared to Amare Stoudemire, which would be huge for an organization that is considered a laughing stock in the NBA.

They do have a logjam at the post position, so expect to see at least Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, or Zach Randolph dealt, if not two.

If the Clippers trade or draft someone else it would be a complete shock. I give that about a zero percent chance of happening.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet, U Conn

There is a lot of buzz that the Grizzlies will take Hasheem with this pick. Hasheem has the much desired size that NBA teams drool over. Hasheem is very good defensively and should keep players out of the lane by getting his team a good amount of block shots.

He also is very smart player making the right decisions offensively and is a solid passer, but he will have to work on his post game when he gets to the NBA.

Now the Grizzlies have recently said that Hasheem is not a guarantee, and that they could go in a different direction like Ricky Rubio. This would make since as well and don’t be surprised if they do take Rubio with the second pick.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden, Arizona St.

James Harden makes the most sense for the Thunder, in my opinion, assuming Hasheem Thabeet goes to the Memphis Grizzlies.

James Harden has very good leadership qualities, is a pretty good defender, and has some solid offensive skills. His size isn’t great, but it should not make much of a difference—6’5” is still pretty solid size.

However, if Memphis decides to go a different route, the Thunder would definitely take Hasheem Thabeet.

Also look for Rubio to be a possibility to go alongside Westbrook. They could also trade down a couple spots and look for more picks or players.

4. Sacramento Kings: Ricky Rubio, Spain

Ricky Rubio may be the best point guards, or guards period, in this draft. He is not the greatest of shooters, but he is the most proven and maybe the most NBA-ready player in this draft.

He has got great passing and pretty good leadership qualities, which should make for a very good point guard prospect. Sacramento will likely take a point guard at this spot, and if Rubio does fall to them, they should take him.

However, if he does not fall, they could take another point guard prospect like Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, or possibly Stephen Curry. Another possibility could be Jordan Hill, since the Kings have a lot of needs.

With all those needs it may be wise, if Rubio is not there, to trade down and gain more picks to build for the future.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (Via Washington Wizards): Jordan Hill, Arizona

The Washington Wizards will likely pick Hill, especially if Harden gets taken ahead of him. Hill has a good jump shot, is a good defender, good athleticism, and has decent size.

He will have to develop some post moves, but he could be a good post player in a couple of years.

This sounds like what was said about Chris Bosh when he entered the draft, which is the type of player Hill can be, albeit the poor man’s version.

Wizards could also look at DeRozan or Stephen Curry if Rubio and Harden are taken, which seems likely for Rubio. I don’t expect the Wizards to make a deal unless it is gaining some good current NBA players.

Note: This pick has just been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Expect the same player though.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyreke Evans, Memphis

It sounds like Minnesota is down to two, especially if Harden is gone. Those two being Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry.

Tyreke Evans seems to make a little bit more sense for the Timberwolves who probably could use a good point guard, which Evans seems like a more natural fit at that position.

Evans possesses good size, ball-handling skills, and passing skill. He will need to work on his jumper and defense, but could potentially be a decent point guard.

However, if Minnesota feels like they can get a good point guard later they could opt to with Stephen Curry instead. It will be a close call, but I will say they go for a true point in Tyreke Evans.

7. Golden St. Warriors: Brandon Jennings, Italy

If Jordan Hill is gone, Brandon Jennings would be a good pick here.

Jennings is an intriguing player. He decided to forgo college and go overseas to play for Italy and could start a trend amongst young talented high schoolers, but hopefully not.

Jennings could give them a legitimate point guard that is currently filled by Monta Ellis. Ellis should be playing the two, so a point guard would be a good pick.

Jennings has good athleticism, ball-handling and passing skills. However, he is not a great shooter and he isn’t the greatest decision maker. Jennings does have good potential and could wind up being a pretty good pick when it is all said and done.

There is a chance Warriors could go with Curry or Hill, but I suspect Jennings will be the pick here.

8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry, Davidson

There seems to be a lot of interest from both the Knicks and Curry.

Curry is a terrific shooter and reminds me a bit of Kevin Martin. He also possesses solid ball-handling skills and good leadership qualities. He also seems to fit D’Antoni system quite well.

The problem could be the three teams ahead of the Knicks: Wizards, Timberwolves, and Warriors. If he does slip past them he will be the pick here.

If not, look for Jordan Hill or Brandon Jennings to be the pick. It is possible for the Knicks to move up to get Rubio, but that doesn’t seem very likely. Maybe David Lee and the eighth pick for the third pick with the Thunder, or the second pick with the Grizzlies, could work.

Expect them to stick with this pick.

9. Toronto Raptors: Demar DeRozan, USC

This could wind up being the best pick in the draft. Demar DeRozan is a freak athlete with a ton of potential. He is also a pretty good shooter and is very quick with really good size at 6’7”. He could be the next Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady that the Raptors have been missing.

He needs to work on his defense and it could take some time, but he is committed to playing defense, and he only needs to work on his awareness and IQ. Demar should be a pretty good player in the league.

Raptors will likely go with a shooting guard and this would make sense, but I suppose they could also take Gerald Henderson.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest

Milwaukee has expressed interest in Jeff Teague and some sources say this is the pick if he's there. However, don’t be surprised to see Jonny Flynn or Jrue Holiday if available.

There is also a possibility of Blair as well, but it sounds like they will go with a point guard.

Teague has decent potential and is a pretty good shooter. He may wind up being a small shooting guard, but he will get the shot a point guard if drafted by the Bucks.

However, he has solid leadership skills and athleticism.

He needs to work on his passing skills and work on his below average defense. This could be a nice pick for the Bucks, because they can afford to slowly work him into the lineup with Luke Ridnour.

Note: Bucks just traded Richard Jefferson to the Spurs, so they could go another route in this draft. I will still stick with Teague, but I believe they could wind up drafting James Johnson, Earl Clark, or Gerald Henderson.

11. New Jersey Nets: James Johnson, Wake Forest

This will be an interesting pick. There is a good chance that New Jersey trades this pick to either the Bulls, Timberwolves, or someone below them.

I expect at this point, that James Johnson will be a hot commodity at this spot, but so could Gerald Henderson, or Demar DeRozan if he falls that far.

James Johnson has good size for a small forward, but he is versatile and can play power forward. Johnson has good athleticism and good potential. He will need to work on his jumper and his defense in order to become a good player in this league.

If New Jersey does stay, which is very possible, still expect James Johnson to be available at this point.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson, Duke

Gerald Henderson is just a solid all-around player. He can shoot, defend, has solid athleticism, and has pretty basketball IQ. Henderson may not wind up being the best shooting guard in this class, but may wind up being the safest choice out of any of the prospects.

Charlotte has also expressed interest in Gerald Henderson, but could also look into Jonny Flynn. Another option is Demar DeRozan if he falls this far, but I don’t think that will happen.

Also don’t expect much movement with this pick either. Charlotte will likely stay put.

13. Indiana Pacers: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

Johnny Flynn may be one of the most athletic prospects in the draft and certainly at the top of the point guard prospects. He has very good quickness and is a good ball-handler, but will need to work on his defense and passing to be a good point guard in this league.

The Pacers have a lot of other options and could decide to go DeJuan Blair, Austin Daye, or Gerald Henderson if he falls. Indiana would be best suited going Flynn with this pick and trading a point guard because Flynn seems to have the best potential of those available.

Expect Indiana to stay put as well.

14. Phoenix Suns: Austin Daye, Gonzaga

Austin Daye is an interesting prospect. He is a great shooter with very good size, but he is probably going to need to hit the weight room a bit to get good minutes in the NBA.

He could be compared to the likes of Hedo Turkoglu, a guy who can shoot, create for himself, and is a solid passer. However, he may be a project and it could take him a couple of years start to reach that potential.

The Suns have several options here; they could go with DeJuan Blair or Earl Clark. And they could also go with Gerald Henderson, James Johnson, or Jonny Flynn if they fall that far. Expect Phoenix to stay put during the draft, but with the Shaq trade rumors, they could be active this day (We might see Amare’s named mentioned in some trades as well).

15. Detroit Pistons: B.J. Mullens, Ohio St.

B.J. Mullens would be an excellent pick for the Pistons at this spot and they seem to think so too. Mullens has the ideal size and frame for a center in the NBA.

He will need work, though, especially on his physicality in the paint. He needs to improve his rebounding and defensive skills, but there is a ton of upside for him, if he stays motivated.

If he lives up to his potential a lot of people feel he could be very similar to a Chris Kaman type player. Pistons could also look to go with DeJuan Blair.

I don’t see them going with a guard at this point, especially if the interest for Ben Gordon is true, but if they do change their minds, Terrence Williams and Earl Clark could still be available.

16. Chicago Bulls: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh

DeJuan Blair is an interesting prospect. He is a great rebounder, with a good frame and good hands. Blair needs to get into better shape and his height is a concern, but he has a good wingspan at 7’2” and it is rumored that he is a gym rat so he should be able to stay in shape.

If he develops a jumper he could become a player reminiscent of Elton Brand, maybe Carlos Boozer, but for now he seems more like a Paul Millsap or Brandon Bass.

Chicago could go with Tyler Hansbrough, Terrence Williams, or Earl Clark with this pick. If B.J. Mullens or James Johnson falls, expect them to take those two.

There have also been rumors of Chicago moving both picks and moving up in the draft, so expect them to be busy draft day.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Ty Lawson, UNC

Philadelphia needs a point guard, especially if Andre Miller leaves. I expect them to go with either Ty Lawson or Jrue Holiday, maybe Eric Maynor.

When it is all said and done I think they will select Ty Lawson. Ty has good ball-handling skills, is extremely quick, and has a pretty solid jumper. His size isn’t exactly ideal, but at that position I don’t think it will affect him too much.

Lawson needs to work on his defense and his basketball IQ in order to be a good point guard in this league.

Don’t expect much movement from the 76ers, they will likely stay put as well.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jrue Holiday, UCLA

With the Timberwolves already going with Tyreke Evans in my edition, I think they need another guard, and since Evans is a combo guard, why not get another in Jrue Holiday?

Jrue Holiday has got good basketball IQ, good size if he plays the point, and plays pretty good defense. He doesn’t have the greatest jumper and it could take some time to develop.

He reminds me a bit of a poor man’s Rajon Rondo, or like most say, Delonte West.

There is a chance that the Timberwolves may not have this pick if they decide to move up, but if they do they could also go with Earl Clark, Tyler Hansbrough, or Eric Maynor.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Earl Clark, Louisville

Earl Clark has got great size, potential, and athleticism. At this spot he could be considered a steal and Atlanta would probably be fortunate to have him fall this far, but it could happen especially if Chicago and Phoenix were to go Blair and Daye respectively.

He needs to work on his jump shot and his IQ, but he could be a very good player in the league. He could wind up being a Boris Diaw if he doesn’t reach full potential. If he does reach his potential, he could be similar player to Josh Smith, who may be moved this off-season.

Don’t expect this pick to move, but the Atlanta Hawks may gain another pick if they do in fact trade Josh Smith.

20. Utah Jazz: Tyler Hansbrough, UNC

Tyler Hansbrough isn’t a flashy pick, but he is a smart pick. Hansbrough is a good rebounder, has a solid post game, and a great basketball IQ.

There are a lot of people saying that he will be no better than a backup post, but I think he could be an effective starting power forward.

Sure he isn’t the quickest of players, but he could be similar to a Luis Scola or Anderson Varejao. It is very unlikely that Utah lets Hansbrough slip past them, unless B.J. Mullens is there.

Utah probably won’t be very active so don’t expect them to move up.

21. New Orleans Hornets: Terrence Williams, Louisville

Here is another underrated and very good prospect in my opinion.

Terrence Williams has great athleticism, is a good teammate, and a very good defender. He needs to work on his shooting from beyond the arc and needs to be more aggressive in terms of attacking the basket. He reminds me a lot of a Shawn Marion, a guy that can do a little bit of everything and is a very good teammate.

New Orleans will likely go with a SG/SF with this pick and could go several routes like: Chase Budinger, Wayne Ellington, Earl Clarke if he falls, etc.

New Orleans will probably stay put and will likely not be making any deals.

22. Dallas Mavericks: Eric Maynor, VCU

Dallas may need a point guard at this spot and if Eric Maynor is there, expect them to take him.

Eric has great basketball IQ, plays solid defense, and is a good leader. He needs to work on his three-point shooting, but he could wind up being a serviceable point guard in this league. Eric has been compared to the likes of Sam Cassell and Mark Jackson, and seems like he could be a very poor man’s version of Brandon Roy in terms of size and his decision making skills.

Dallas could also look at another shooting guard prospect and don’t expect them to make many moves if any during draft day.

23. Sacramento Kings: Chase Budinger, Arizona

If Sacramento gets Rubio, expect them to get some more size or move away from the point guard position.

Chase Budinger could be the pick here. Chase has got good size, a good shooter, good basketball IQ, and good athleticism. However, he is a poor defender and is not very good at handling the ball.

At the moment he reminds me of Matt Harpring or Brent Barry, but if he improves his defense (Barry was no slouch on defense) he could become a better player than those two.

Sacramento could go in another direction like Omri Casspi or Taj Gibson. They could also move this pick to try to move up or gain more picks.

24. Portland Trailblazers: Darren Collison, UCLA

Portland seems to be looking desperately for a new point guard and Darren Collison could be their guy.

Collison is a smart player, is a pure point, and plays good defense. He doesn’t have much upside and he probably won’t be a great point guard, but he is a good player to have on a roster. He reminds me a bit of Avery Johnson and has been compared to Darrell Armstrong or Chris Duhon, which are great guys to have on any team.

However, it sounds like Nate McMillan isn’t interested in another rookie and there is a good chance that they wind up dealing this pick or just picking up a role player. Expect them to go after guys like Kirk Hinrich and Andre Miller.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Omri Casspi, Israel

With Oklahoma City projected to take James Harden, I expect the Thunder to go with a little bit more size. Since there aren’t any great post prospects they could opt to draft Omri Casspi.

Casspi has good size for a small forward, has good athleticism, and as some solid potential. He could eventually project into a player like Andres Nocioni, but he needs to work on his outside shot and defense to reach that potential.

If the Thunder somehow get Hasheem Thabeet, then this pick could be a guard prospect like Chase Budinger or Wayne Ellington. Thunder could also decide to package this pick, but I think it is more likely that they stay put.

26. Chicago Bulls: Wayne Ellington, UNC

If Chicago decides to go DeJuan Blair with their first pick in the first round, they will need to find a backup plan in case Ben Gordon leaves.

If Wayne Ellington slips past a couple teams, starting at pick nineteen with Atlanta, Chicago would likely take him.

He is a great shooter, who has a pretty good understanding of what to do offensively. The thing he will have to work on is his defense and attacking the basket more often. He does have solid potential, while being an NBA ready player. He seems to be similar to that of Anthony Parker and if he reaches his max potential he could be a poor man’s Ray Allen.

There is a good chance that Chicago could deal this pick, but if they don’t expect them to get Ellington or maybe a Sam Young or Marcus Thornton.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Patrick Mills, St. Mary’s

If Memphis does happen to stay put at two and does take Hasheem Thabeet, I think they may go guard, especially with a point guard.

Patrick Mills could be the choice and would give them a solid back up to Mike Conley. Mills is a very good scorer with great speed. He needs to work on his decision making skills and to be more of a true point guard to be effective. Mills could wind up being pretty similar to an Aaron Brooks or Raefer Alston.

However, Memphis could go other routes if they take someone different at two.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Taj Gibson, USC

The Minnesota Timberwolves may opt to go with more size, especially if they draft two guards like projected.

One answer could be Taj Gibson, who would give them more depth and a solid player to put along side of Al Jefferson. Taj Gibson has slim frame that may not be suited for a great post game offensively, but he has a good wingspan, is a good defender, rebounder and shot blocker, which could be a big help to the Timberwolves.

They could also look at guys like DaJuan Summers, Derrick Brown, or Jonas Jerebko. However, I don’t expect the Timberwolves to keep this pick and there is a great chance they make a move on draft day, as explained above.

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Calathes, Florida

It would be a good idea for the Lakers to use this pick on a point guard prospect.

Nick Calathes would be a good choice at this spot. The one downside is the Lakers may not seem him in a while since he plans on playing overseas. They do have Fisher and Farmar, so by the time Fisher is done in Los Angeles, Calathes may be willing to come back to the states.

He has very good size, a good jumper, and has a solid basketball IQ. He will need to work on his defense and his strength, but he could be a solid point guard. He is getting comparisons to Jose Calderon and Kirk Hinrich, but I would lean more towards Calderon.

Lakers could also use this on Patrick Mills or Marcus Thornton as well. I expect them to stay put.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Marcus Thornton, LSU

Cleveland could look for size at this spot, but with the limited number of good posts in this draft I think they may go for a solid shooting guard.

Marcus Thornton fits that bill.

He is a good shooter, is quick, and is a solid defender. He would definitely be a better option of the bench than Wally Szczerbiak who struggled mightily during the year. Thornton is being compared to Jason Terry, which seems to be a fair comparison, which is if he lives up to his full potential.

The Cavs could elect to go a little bigger by drafting either Derrick Brown or DaJuan Summers. Don’t expect any deals, but they could still trade this pick and grab a couple picks in the second round or look for better role players or Shaq?