2009 NBA Draft: Western Conference Grades and Analysis

Western Conference

1. Dallas Mavericks

Round 2 (56)    Ahmad Nivins    6-9    242    PF    St. Joseph's

The Mavericks got Nivins four picks from the end of the draft.

Considering his good size and strength inside, he could prove to be quite a steal.

Nivins potential is looked at as poor because he stayed in school for all four years, but his senior season left quite an impression on scouts. He averaged almost 20 points and over 11 rebounds per game, while shooting over 61 percent, and also blocking 1.8 shots per game.

Nivins could prove to be a serviceable body and capable defender is his first year, as Dallas tries to groom him, as they had been doing with Brandon Bass.

Trade: Dallas shipped off B.J. Mullens, who they drafted with the 24th pick, and received Rodrigue Beaubois in return.

Mullens would have been a good investment for the future, but Beaubois is an interesting prospect, hailing from France.

Considering Dallas only has one point guard, J.J. Barea, under 32, adding some talent and youth to the position was essential.

Grade: C

2. Houston Rockets

Trade: Obtained Chase Budinger's rights through Detroit, and gave up a future second-rounder and some cash.

Budinger could be a future replacement for a possibly departing Ron Artest, or he could be a future replacement for the often injured Tracy McGrady. Either way, the Rockets have a lot of depth at the wings, and grabbing a steal like Budinger only increases the competition.

Budinger is athletic and strong enough to make it in the NBA, but getting even tougher would only help him.

The Rockets did not have any draft picks outside of acquiring Budinger, and they'll wish they had some.

With the on-going issues that Tracy McGrady has, and now the status of Yao Ming up in the air, Houston is suddenly without any star power. Throw in the likely loss of Ron Artest, and Houston's best player is suddenly Aaron Brooks.

Houston needs to make a splash in free agency, or cut ties with Artest, trade McGrady, and hope Ming can be okay with a year off.

If that's the case, Aaron Brooks can gain more experience, while Chase Budinger is thrown into the mix as a starter.

That, or the franchise will cave and stop being competitive.

Grade: D


3. Memphis Grizzlies

Round 1 (2)    Hasheem Thabeet    7-3    267    C    UConn

Thabeet gives the Grizzlies instant defensive help down low, while allowing Thabeet to "come into his own" naturally on offense. With O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay manning the wings, Thabeet won't be demanded to make things happen offensively. If he can just relax and concentrate on defense, he and the Grizzlies could become very dangerous.

Round 1 (27)    DeMarre Carroll        6-8    207    SF/PF    Missouri

The Grizzlies got another guy they throw behind either Rudy Gay or Hakim Warrick.

Carroll has the toughness and tough to fight around the basket, while also showing in his senior year that he has the range to pop outside and shoot three's.

Carroll needs to hit the weights if he wants to stay inside the paint in the NBA, but his good versatility may stop that from being a huge issue.

Round 2 (36)    Sam Young        6-7    223    SF    Pittsburgh

Young fell out of the first round, which was very surprising, considering his great size and excellent scoring ability.

Young's movements aren't always as fluid as GM's would like, but his athleticism is no worse than Arizona State's James Harden. Quite honestly, it's not an issue; it's an asset.

The Grizzlies added some more depth at forward, while also having the option of throwing Young in at guard.

Memphis addressed their wings with two solid picks, while adding a potential elite shot-blocker to their post game.

Grade: B


4. New Orleans Hornets

Round 1 (21)    Darren Collison        6-2    166    PG    UCLA

When it comes to experience, getting to the hole, and leading a team, few are as good as Collison.

Consider him extra insurance for a Chris Paul injury, as well as one of the best back-up point guard prospects in the league.

His skills will allow Paul to rest late in games, and will eventually allow the Hornets to put two-point guard sets on the floor, if needed.

Trade: Sent their second round pick, Marcus Thornton, to Miami for two future second rounders.

New Orleans traded two future second round picks to Miami for the rights to Thornton. Thornton, ironically, actually has a lot of the same abilities as Dwayne Wade, and could easily turn into a solid starter in the league.

He's a bit under-sized for the NBA shooting guard position, but is athletic and a good scorer. He could prove to be a fine addition to a Hornets team that could use an offensive boost.


5. San Antonio Spurs

Round 2 (37)    DeJuan Blair        6-7    277    PF    Pittsburgh

Blair doesn't have the height NBA GM's look for, but a ridiculous wingspan and good college production still leaves a lot of intrigue.

At 277 pounds, Blair is also probably a little heavy for his height, so the Spurs will want him to shed some weight. Regardless, San Antonio is all about defense and hard work: two things Blair knows better than almost every college prospect.

Round 2 (51)    Jack McClinton        6-1    185    SG    Miami (U)

The Spurs already have their do-it-all franchise point guard, but try picking out their back-up on their team.

For all intents and purpose, they don't have one. McClinton doesn't have the necessary size for a shooting guard, and doesn't have elite point guard skills, which will make him more of a combo-guard.

He could eventually be used like Boston uses Eddie House.

Round 2 (53)    Nando De Colo        6-5    185    PG    France

De Colo has tremendous height and range for an NBA prospect, and could carve a niche behind Tony Parker as a back-up.

He's exactly the kind of prospect the Spurs love; players who play hard, work on their defense, and have sound, well-balanced offensive games.

He could even be switched to shooting guard and be molded into a starter a few years down the road.

San Antonio grabbed some great defensive help, some offensive sparks, and three guys who can either help a little bit now, or at least will be a part of the franchise in two to three years.

Grade: B-

6. Denver Nuggets

Round 2 (34)    Sergio Llull        6-3    175    PG    Spain

He may not be Ricky Rubio, but Llull can definitely play. He'll probably go back overseas and work to get better. Besides, with Chauncey Billups in Denver, he won't do much good sitting on the bench.

Trade: Denver traded a first round pick for Ty Lawson, who was originally drafted at the 18th spot (round one), by Minnesota.

Ty Lawson is the perfect player to mold behind Chauncey Billups, as he excels on both ends of the floor, and is a proven leader and performer.

Billups should still be around for a few years, but it's realistic to think Lawson would be ready to take over in two years.

Grade: C+

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Trade: T'Wolves send Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Wizards for Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, and the 5th pick in the first round.

Round 1 (5)    Ricky Rubio        6-4    182    Spain

Rubio is an electric passer and experienced leader in both half-court and full-court sets. He's more athletic than advertised, and has good height and length for the position.

He'll undoubtedly need to hit the weights, and extra conditioning can get him up to par with NBA-level point guards. Contrary to popular belief, his transition shouldn't take too long, and I don't see him going back overseas.

Round 1 (6)    Jonny Flynn        6-0    172    Syracuse

Flynn (and the rest) are borderline luxury picks, as the 'Wolves don't have a ton of depth at shooting guard or small forward. A true center was another project they could have tackled, or in a trade.

Still, Flynn is an athletic phenom, who can score at will, by shooting jumpers, or rising above defenders on his way to the rim. It's unlikely Minnesota keeps more than two of the point guards they selected, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade both Flynn and Nick Calathes in the next year.

Round 1 (28)    Wayne Ellington        6-5    200    North Carolina

Ellington is a bit under-sized for shooting guard, but with a stroke as fine as his, NBA team's tend to look past height.

The Timberwolves lost most of their three-point shooting when they traded Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Wizards, so Ellington will undoubtedly be used in his first year.

Round 2 (45)    Nick Calathes        6-6    194    Florida

Calathes is attached to Greece, and it's doubtful he'll come back to the state to sit behind either Ricky Rubio or Jonny Flynn (or both?).

He has a great shooting touch and a sound feel for the game. With his height and great understanding of the game, he could be a good point guard down the road, or even could make the switch to shooting guard.

Round 2 (47)    Henk Norel        6-11    226    Netherlands

Norel has good length and decent strength, but he's definitely a project. Just another guy to stash overseas and see if he develops into something special.

Trade: Sent Ty Lawson to Denver for a first rounder.

They had enough point guards with the two back-to-back picks. Getting rid of Lawson was a good move, despite him being a very solid point guard.

They may have turned some heads with the point guard binge, but adding a shooter in Wayne Ellington, as well as the good, young talent at point guard makes them a better team. Now they just have to pick who they want to keep, and move on from there.

Grade: B-

8. Portland Trail Blazers

Round 1 (22)    Victor Claver        6-10    218    PF    Spain

Round 2 (33)    Dante Cunninghame    6-8    230    SF/PF    Villanova

Round 2 (55)    Patrick Mills        5-10    175    PG    St. Mary's

One of the more surprising plummets of the 2009 draft. Mills is a clutch performer with the ability to change games with his shooting, passing, and overall management of a team's offense.

He has excellent experience from playing with the national Australian team, and he's put in solid performances in big games at the NCAA level. He may only be a second rounder, but he'll be starting for someone within a few years, even if it's not Portland.

Trade: Sent Jon Brockman (38th overall) to Sacramento for the rights to Jeff Pendergraph.

Brockman is a beast down-low, getting after every swatted ball, and out-rebounding most of the players on the court.

He's ultra aggressive and more nimble on his feet than given credit for, as well. He doesn't offer a ton offensively, and he's not a gifted shooter, but he's an energy guy that can definitely carve a niche somewhere in a rotation.

Pendergraph is more of an offensive threat with more versatility and athleticism. He hasn't been able to develop a killer instinct, but has all the talent to be a star in the NBA.

Grade: B-   

9. Oklahoma City Thunder

Round 1 (3)    James Harden        6-5    218    SG/SF    Arizona State

Harden doesn't have ideal size for the 3, and doesn't have the outstanding athleticism desired for the 2. However, what he does have is a sick package of offensive skills, and a great knack for getting to the rim.

Harden is an extremely well-balanced player who can buckle down on defense, play the decoy, or take over games.

If Jeff Green can't handle it, Harden will be fine as Kevin Durant's "Scottie Pippen".

Trade: Vaden traded for cash from Charlotte

Vaden was drafted by the Bobcats, then immediately traded to the Thunder for cash. Vaden has excellent range and is an effective scorer. However, his handle and shot-creating is only average.

Trade: Thunder get B.J. Mullens for the 25th pick in the draft, Rodrigue Beaubois.

The Thunder received B.J. Mullens in a trade with Dallas. This adds more youth and potential to their inside game. Unfortunately, it may be years until we know if it was a good move for Oklahoma City.

Adding Harden allows Durant to slide to his more natural small forward position, while Jeff Green can concentrate on growing as an inside force.

Grade: C+

10. Utah Jazz

Round 1 (20)    Eric Maynor        6-2    165    PG    VCU

Drafting Maynor doesn't make a ton of sense for Utah, who already has an All-Star caliber point guard in Deron Williams.

However, Maynor's handle and clutch ability make him an excellent back-up point guard, while his offensive prowess makes him a candidate for some time at shooting guard.

Round 2 (20)    Goran Suton        6-10    249    PF/C    Michigan State

Suton is a big man with a solid shooting touch, with range that is closing in on the NBA three.

Where he lacks athleticism or defensive prowess, he makes up for passion and timely scoring.

Suton is a project, but any big man with a fine stroke is worth taking a look at.

The Jazz didn't really upgrade too much, but after retaining all of their restricted free agents, their "standing pat" could actually pay off.

Grade: C

11. Golden State Warriors

Round 1 (7)    Stephen Curry        6-3    185    PG/SG    Davidson

In Don Nelson's high-octane offense, it doesn't matter what you call Curry. He can be the point guard, shooting guard, or even the small forward.

The fact is, he's on the court to get open and shoot the ball, as well as manage the offense from time to time.

He's a dynamic offensive threat with endless range and a lightning quick release. He fits their offense perfectly.

Grade: B

12. Los Angeles Clippers

Round 1 (1)    Blake Griffin        6-10    243    PF    Oklahoma

Everyone knew Griffin was going number one, but most of us just didn't want to believe it. For Griffin's sake, of course.

Regardless of the Clippers' history, as Griffin said himself, the slate must be wiped clean. With Zach Randolph now in Memphis, a huge space has been cleared open for Griffin to begin his legend in L.A.

If their team can actually stay healthy, the Clippers could provide quite the formidable line-up.

Grade: B+

13. Los Angeles Lakers

Trade: Drafted Toney Douglas with the 29th pick fo the first round, traded to New York for future 2nd rounder and cash

Douglas is a good offensive shooting guard with a ton of upside, but is under-sized, and was purely a pick for New York.

Trade: Drafted Patrick Beverly in the second round, then traded to Miami for future second rounder and cash

Beverly has good fundamentals and solid all-around skills, but is under-sized, and doesn't have ideal athleticism.

Round 2 (59)    Chinemelu Elonu     6-10    225    PF    Texas A&M

Elonu has a ton of potential, but doesn't have great experience, and isn't overly gifted, offensively.

He might be able to help on the boards as a rookie, but there are probably too many big bodies in the way of playing time for him.

The Lakers really didn't do anything in this draft, except for get some money. Adding Ron Artest to their team was their big splash.

Grade: D

14. Phoenix Suns

Round 1 (14)    Earl Clark        6-9    220    SF/PF    Louisville

Clark has excellent size, length, and versatility. He truly has all the tools to be a star.

Unfortunately, he hasn't found that killer instinct, and was never a consistent threat at the college level. He goes "off" in spurts, but had a bit of the "Rudy Gay" effect in the Big East, as he shied away from taking over the games or attracting too much attention.

That will have to change (much like it did for Gay) in the NBA.

Round 2 (48)    Taylor Griffin        6-7    230    SF/PF    Oklahoma

He may not have the size and offensive ability as his brother, Blake, but Taylor can throw elbows in the paint with the best of them.

He's an extremely aggressive defenders, relentless on the boards, and an exciting and effective shot-blocker.

Griffin has good athleticism, but will have to get over his lack of size, and must improve his erratic shot.

Round 2 (57)    Emir Preldzic          6-9    222    SG/SF    Slovenia

Preldzi is a fluid offensive player with great versatility, and excellent size and length.

He needs to get stronger and more consistent, but his solid numbers against decent competition suggest he's ready to compete in the NBA.

With all the turmoil in Phoenix's front office, at least they're drafting fundamentally sound players that could help keep this franchise competitive. With Shaq gone, Clark and Griffin could be in for a lot of playing time.

Grade: B-

15. Sacramento Kings

Round 1 (4)    Tyreke Evans        6-5    205    PG/SG    Memphis

Many wondered why the Kings passed on Ricky Rubio and went with Evans. While it wasn't an easy decision, Sacramento chose wisely, and ultimately because of Evan's superior athleticism, size, and versatility.

Evans can push the ball with ease, is extremely fluid, and has the makings of a lock-down defender. Whether he begins his career at the point or opposite Kevin Martin, he should be an effective player.

Round 1 (23)    Omri Casspi        6-8    227    SF    Israel

Very similar to Hedo Turkoglu, Casspi is a good shooter with a solid handle. He's able to take over games, both with his passing, as well as his shooting.

However, Casspi is still a growing and emerging player, and he has not yet developed the consistency an NBA player needs to be a star.

Trade: Sacramento received the 31st pick in the draft, Jeff Pendergraph, for Sergio Rodriguez, the 38th selection, Jon Brockman, and cash.

Pendergraph is an exciting talent that simply hasn't tapped into his potential yet. The same can be said for Rodriguez, while Brockman is a pure energy guy.

The Kings drafted for pure value, and they definitely got it. Passing on Rubio may come back to bite them, though.

Still, they got some needed wing depth, and possibly a point guard for the future in Evans. Potentially, the Kings got three talented players that were considered threats for the lottery at one time or another.

Grade: B

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