Bleacher Report - Articles by Charlie McGraw

2009 NBA Lottery Picks Mock Draft

Charlie McGraw — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:44:57 -0400

The 2009 NBA draft is one of the weakest draft classes in recent years. Even though this years draft isn't loaded with talent as drafts in previous years, the 2009 draft may be the hardest one to predict, with nothing guaranteed after Blake Griffin at No. 1 overall.

So here's the order, in which I think Commissioner David Stern will call up the lottery picks in this Thursday's NBA draft.

1. LA Clippers—Blake Griffin, 6'10" PF, So., Oklahoma. On May 19 after the Clippers officially won the lottery, the Blake Griffin sweepstakes was offficially over, as the athletic bulldog Griffin, who has been compared to Karl Malone, was unofficially named an L.A. Clipper.

2. Memphis Grizzlies—Hasheem Thabeet, 7'2" C, Jr., Conneticut. The Grizzlies need to add size and what better way to do this then by drafting the biggest center available in the entire draft?

3. Oklahoma City Thunder—Ricky Rubio. 6'4" PG, DKV Joventut. The Thunder must draft Rubio because the lightning-quick point guard would help create more shots for Kevin Durant. The 18-year-old Spaniard would make a great guard combination with Russell Westbrook, giving the Thunder two playmakers on the court for the first time since they have been in the NBA.

4. Sacramento Kings—Tyreke Evans 6'5" PG, Fr., Memphis. The Kings are in desperate need of a point guard, and with Rubio most likely gone Evans would be the next best point guard available for Sacramento to take with their pick.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Washington Wizards)- Jordan Hill 6'10" PF, Jr., Arizona. By trading up, the Timberwolves are able to secure a good athletic power forward in Hill, who would definitely be a huge upgrade from their current starting power forward, Brian Cardinal.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves—James Harden, 6'5" SG, So., Arizona State. After trading their two shooting guards in Mike Miller and Randy Foye it would make sense for Minnesota to draft the explosive Harden after he slips out of the top five.

7. Golden State Warriors—Stephen Curry, 6'3" PG, Jr., Davidson. By trading Jamal Crawford to the Hawks, it makes sense for the Warriors to take a point guard, with the All-American Curry as the next best available floor leader.

8. New York Knicks—Gerald Henderson, 6'5" SG, Jr., Duke. Since Rubio and Curry likely will be gone Mike D'Antoni will look to add a versatile wing player in the former Blue Devil.

9. Toronto Raptors—DeMar DeRozan, 6'6" SG, Fr., USC. The Raptors could use an explosive shooting guard like DeRozan to help Chris Bosh & Co. make a playoff run this season.

10. Milwaukee Bucks—Jrue Holiday, 6'4" PG, Fr., UCLA. By drafting Holiday the Bucks are able to pick up a good floor general who has tremendous upside.

11. New Jersey Nets—Jonny Flynn 6'1" PG, Soph., Syracuse. Flynn will fit in great with Nets, and be a good combo with Devin Harris as the Nets get an excellent pick after Flynn drops out of the top 10.

12. Charlotte Bobcats—Earl Clark, 6'10" PF, Jr., Louisville. Clark was really able to develop under Rick Pitino, and is an athletic forward who could be an impact player in Charlotte right away.

13. Indiana Pacers—Brandon Jennings, 6'2" PG, Virtus Roma. Larry Bird is looking to trade his starting PG T.J. Ford, and if he deals Ford it would make perfect sense for the Pacers to draft the very talented Jennings,who skipped college to play one season professionally in Italy.

14. Phoenix Suns—James Johnson, 6'8" PF, Wake Forest. Johnson is a superior athlete with a black belt and a 20-0 record as a kickboxer who will be a good wing in Phoenix, as Grant Hill is nearing retirement.

University of Tennessee To Name Lane Kiffin New Head Coach

Charlie McGraw — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:10:05 -0500

After having one of their worst years in Volunteer football history, the University of Tennessee has named Lane Kiffin as their new head coach.

According to ESPN.com, multiple sources have released that Kiffin will replace the recently fired Phillip Fulmer at the helm of Volunteer nation. An official announcement is expected to be made on Monday.

The Volunteers are 4-7 entering tomorrows game vs. SEC rival, the University of Kentucky. They had one of their worst seasons in school history and are looking for Kiffin to turn things around starting with the 2009 season.

Kiffin was the youngest coach in the modern era of the NFL when he took over the Oakland Raiders in 2007. After one year at the helm of the Raiders after posting a 4-12 record, his contract was bought out by owner Al Davis and Kiffin was forced to resign.

Knicks Go Backwards By Dealing Crawford

Charlie McGraw — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:22:46 -0500

When it looked as if the New York Knick organization was finally moving in the right direction they make a blockbuster trade that could ruin their whole season.

By trading Jamal Crawford, a star guard that could have been their franchise player, they have slowed down their progress greatly. As an organization that has been despicable this century, this trade has set back any evolution they have made.

With the addition of Al Harrington, who the Knicks got in exchange for Crawford, they now are stacked at the forward position and very weak at the guard position. Even with Chris Duhon the guard position is still ultra thin.

Harrington had also been very controversial with Golden State, wanting out since the beginning of the season. With Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry, the last thing the Knicks need is another player that makes more negative headlines than positive ones.

After starting the season 6-5 and, after this blockbuster trade, tuesday's game vs. Cleveland with Lebron and Co. starts the Al Harrington era in New York that will see the Knicks play with their limited amount of guards.

Derrick Rose Tops 2008 First Round NBA Mock Draft

Charlie McGraw — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:17:18 -0400

1. Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose, Memphis

2. Miami Heat- Michael Beasley, Kansas State

3. Minnesota Timberwolves- O.J. Mayo, USC

4. Seattle Supersonics- Brook Lopez, Stanford

5. Memphis Grizzlies- Kevin Love, UCLA

6. New York Knicks- Eric Gordon, Indiana

7. LA. Clippers- Russell Westbrook, UCLA

8. Milwaukee Bucks- Jerryd Bayless, Arizona

9. Charlotte Bobcats- Joe Alexander, West Virginia

10. New Jersey Nets- Danilo Gallinari, Italy

11. Indiana Pacers- D.J. Augustine, Texas

12. Sacramento Kings- Anthony Randolph, LSU

13. Portland Trail Blazers- Kosta Koufos, Ohio State

14. Golden State Warriors- DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M

15. Phoenix Suns- Brandon Rush, Kansas

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Donte Green, Syracuse

17. Indiana Pacers- Alexis Ajinca, France

18. Washington Wizards- Marreese Speights, Florida

19. Cleveland Cavaliers- Mario Chalmers, Kansas

20. Charlotte Bobcats- Robin Lopez, Stanford

21. New Jersey Nets- JaVale McGee, Nevada

22. Orlando Magic- Jason Thompson, Rider

23. Utah Jazz- Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis

24. Seattle Supersonics- Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky

25. Houston Rockets- Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

26. San Antonio Spurs- Nicolas Batum, France

27. Portland Trail Blazers- Serge Ibaka, Spain

28. Memphis Grizzlies- Bill Walker, Kansas State

29. Detroit Pistons- J.J. Hickson, NC State

30. Boston Celtics- Ryan Anderson, California