(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Here is a breakdown of each pick, including the picks of my first round mock. I started out well and was one or two picks away on many.
Visit my draft blog for some more candid reactions.
First Round
1. Clippers selected Blake Griffin - PF (Mock: Griffin): The Clips need to move a big so Griffin can play, but he should get plenty of opportunities in L.A.
2. Grizzlies selected Hasheem Thabeet - C (Mock: Thabeet): The team needed a center who could stop the bleeding, and Thabeet will do that. It's not a sexy pick, but it will help them win games.
3. Thunder selected James Harden - SG (Mock: Harden): With Westbrook at PG, Harden was the obvious pick. The Thunder now have a lineup with good size, good scoring ability, and some guys who could develop into very good defenders. 2011 playoffs are in sight.
4. Kings selected Tyreke Evans - G (Mock: Rubio): The Kings really wanted a PG who can penetrate. For a while, I thought they would go with Jennings, and once Rubio came to town, I thought they were eyeing him. Looks like Evans was their man all along.
5. Timberwolves selected Ricky Rubio - PG (Mock: Evans): It didn't take the second, third, or fourth pick to get Rubio. In the rebuilding T-Wolves organization, he will have plenty of opportunities to grow.
6. Timberwolves selected Jonny Flynn - PG (Mock: Curry): Back to back, PGs seems like an odd strategy, but at least it hedges Minnesota’s bet. One might be trade bait for a lottery pick in 2010.
7. Warriors selected Stephen Curry - G (Mock: Hill): I had Curry to Golden State in my mock until Minnesota acquired the fifth pick. He will be very successful on an individual level in Oakland and might be the Rookie of the Year.
8. Knicks select Jordan Hill - PF (Mock: Jennings): The Knicks get a quality big who will do the dirty work for D'Antoni's shooters.
9. Raptors selected DeMar DeRozan - SG (Mock: DeRozan): The potential superstar will be able to blossom in the low-pressure city that helped cousins McGrady and Carter.
10. Bucks select Brandon Jennings - PG (Mock: Holiday): I love the pick. I think Jennings will be able to really get out and run as long as Scott Skiles doesn't smother him.
11. Nets selected Terrence Williams - G/F (Mock: Clark): With Carter out, Williams will come in and start, doing a bit of everything like Carter did.
12. Bobcats selected Gerald Henderson - SG (Mock: Williams): They wanted Williams, but will take Henderson; he works on both ends of the court and is very athletic.
13. Pacers selected Tyler Hansbrough - PF (Mock: Flynn): Possibly the biggest surprise pick of the first round, Hansbrough will spend his first few years in the NBA proving doubters wrong.
14. Suns selected Earl Clark - F (Mock: Johnson): As the Suns thin out their roster this summer, Clark will earn an increased role in the offense. He has All-Star potential.
15. Pistons select Austin Daye - G/F (Mock: Daye): I am far from sold on Daye. He can shoot the lights out but struggles when playing against athletes.
16. Bulls selected James Johnson - F (Mock: Blair): Johnson is pretty similar to Tyrus Thomas, but that's not a bad thing.
17. 76ers selected Jrue Holiday - PG (Mock: Lawson): Holiday slips a big, but he could step in and start for the Sixers as they head back to the playoffs.
18. Timberwolves selected Ty Lawson - PG (Mock: Mullens): No, Minnesota didn't take a third PG. Lawson is going to Denver where he will thrive in a backup role before trying his hand at as a starter.
19. Hawks selected Jeff Teague - G (Mock: Teague): I think Teague is a better version of Flip Murray, best used as a sixth man combo-guard. He may develop into a truer PG with time though.
20. Jazz selected Eric Maynor - PG (Mock: Hansbrough): Maynor is a Jazz-type player and will take the stress off their back court. But will he ever be better than a backup?
21. Hornets selected Darren Collison - PG (Mock: Henderson): Collison can spell Chris Paul and could even play with him when the team needs threes.
22. Blazers selected Victor Claver - SF (Mock: Casspi): I though the Blazers made the move to 22 to get Casspi, but it looks like they were targeting Claver, who I thought they would take at 33.
23. Kings selected Omri Casspi - SF (Mock: Young): The Kings had him targeted for a little while and were relieved they could stay at 23 and get the gamer.
24. Mavericks selected B.J. Mullens - C (Mock: Collison): Mullens is going to OKC, where he will do his best to not be the next Robert Swift and the fourth busting center drafted by the franchise in a decade.
25. Thunder selected Rodrique Beaubois - PG (Mock: Carroll): Beaubois is going to Dallas, but may stay in Europe to refine his game. He has serious potential.
26. Bulls selected Taj Gibson - PF (Mock: Budinger): Gibson flew up the draft board in the last week with his long arms and athleticism. With two forwards in the first round, will the Bulls make a serious play to bring Gordon back?
27. Grizzlies selected DeMarre Carroll - F (Mock: Maynor): Memphis made a point of getting tougher in the draft and the "Junkyard Dog" helps them do just that.
28. Timberwolves selected Wayne Ellington - SG (Mock: Jerebko): Despite drafting two high-profile PGs at five and six, Ellington could be the T-Wolves' best pick of the draft.
29. Lakers selected Toney Douglas - G (Mock: Douglas): Douglas was drafted by L.A., but traded to the Knicks where he will bring his quick strike ability to a team of quick strikers.
30. Cavaliers selected Christian Eyenga - G/F (Mock: Summers): Long and super athletic, Eyenga is a ceiling pick with a small chance of ever really panning out.
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