New York, NY: With the NBA Draft at the cusp of beginning, mock drafts are beginning to pour in from everywhere in the nation. 

Sports writers and "experts" are leading the charge and taking all rumors into account, as the likely positioning players will be drafted at is taking shape.  With no assured selections after the consensus No. 1 selection, Blake Griffin, this draft is sure to have a flurry of trades along with a bevy of surprises that will leave fans questioning their teams selections. 

Potential is the key to this year's draft, as many players are not ready to offer significant contributions to their respective teams.  Not only will there likely be no seniors selected in the top 10, but only two seem to be assured a selection in the top 20.  

For teams looking to win now, rather than later, more proven veterans should be on the move to new locations, with today's trade of Richard Jefferson acting as the starting point for teams looking to move contracts like those of Shaquille O'Neal and Ray Allen. 

As a result, this draft is not likely to offer plenty of star quality, but rather depth that will leave teams looking to free up salary cap space for the free agent bonanza that many teams are preparing for in 2010. 

With those trades not likely to take place until draft night, this is how each team can be expected to draft to prepare for the 2009-2010 season.

No. 1) L.A Clippers: Blake Griffin: Everyone who has seen the Oklahoma Sooners play can attest to Griffin's domination of college basketball.  A rare combination of athleticism and back-to-the-basket skills, the young power forward will give the Los Angeles Clippers a face for their franchise. 

Whether or not they find a way to rid themselves of Zach Randolph, Griffin will play some role in the rotation with Chris Kaman or Marcus Camby being in every Clippers' rumor available to the public. 

If he can improve his defense and develop a 10-12 foot jumper, he could be a dangerous player sooner rather than later. 

Comparison: Carlos Boozer/Amare Stoudemire hybrid

No. 2) Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet: With OJ Mayo being the only established player on the team (with Rudy Gay regressing this past year), the Grizzlies have a big decision to make with their first selection. 

Mike Conley hasn't developed as quickly as they would have liked.  They have no legitimate threat at power forward, and Marc Gasol came on strong last year at center as a rookie. 

Drafting Thabeet will likely leave them with the decision as to what to do with Gasol, and they would probably be more than happy if a team came to them with an offer that would allow them to receive a player that fit more of a position of need (Kevin Love?), but that is not likely. 

Thus, Thabeet is the choice and gives them a defensive presence that they hope can develop some remnant of an offensive threat. 

Blocks and rebounds should come easily to Thabeet, but, if he can put on more weight and develop a more hard-nosed attitude, he will be a good block for Memphis' rebuilding project.

Comparison: Samuel Dalembert/Saer Saene

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