NBA Rookie Predictions: The Booms and The Busts

1. LA Clippers - PF Blake Griffin

The obvious pick here will make an impact on the league as a great scorer and will only improve the rest of his game, but he can only really fail because everyone thinks he is so good. and he is on the clippers; too bad for him! He will make an impact like K-Mart did when he was healthy and on the nets championship teams.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: C Hasheem Thabeet

BUST! After Brook Lopez dropped down to the Nets at 10 last year and had an amazing rookie year, teams this year were not willing to let a fairly athletic big man drop. However, his offensive game is anemic, and he will not make an impact on this team. I see him as a Dikembe Mutombo that is just not as good at anything.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder G James Harden

He is a great backcourt man to fit with Westbrook and his offensive firepower is enough to complement Durant. Many had them taking a PG, but Harden is the good pick because they took yet another project center with Mullens and Harden can really be a great player on a team like this one. I see him playing the same role as a Michael Redd.

4. Sacramento Kings G Tyreke Evans

Who is he tricking claiming that he is a point guard? he will not be a good point in the league, but his physical style of play and unreal cutting ability will make him a decent NBA player with his poor shooting hurting a lot. It is a bummer that he has to play for the Kings, who are just horrendous - sorry kings fans. He reminds me of a Daequan Cook type of player. 

5. Minnesota T-wolves PG Ricky Rubio

The Wolves did not have to trade up and got the guy that they really wanted here. He is a franchise faced type of player but he is young and will make some mistakes on the court. In 3-4 years he may turn out to be a great passer and above average point guard like Andre Miller, or he could end up like Zoran Plananic (especially if he can not play in the NBA this year)

6. Minnesota T-wolves PG Jonny Flynn

I believe that Flynn was the best point guard in this draft because he is a leading type of player with a good clubhouse presence (important esp. on the wolves), he is a great defender and can really score the ball when he needs to. Although we all know now that the wolves loved both Flynn and Rubio, nobody knows why they took both of these guys. I still think that they may try to make a move or just play Flynn right away and wait on Rubio (if he cant play than Flynn will be a great player like Mike Bibby.)

7. Golden State Warriors G Stephen Curry

As a Nets fan, I could not but help laugh at Knicks fans. Curry is a pure scorer, who is small and not too physical. Him and Monta Ellis will really form a good scoring duo in the backcourt, especially in Don Nelsons system. He seems to me like a Derek Fisher type player, but he will play a bigger role than D-fish did on his teams.

8. New York Knicks PF Jordan Hill

I think another bust here. Hill had some problems in college that will NOT bode will with being in the big city. He had one good  season and his abilities are nothing special - his workouts were said not to be good also. He may be like a Ronny Turiaf.

9. Toronto Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan

He is very young and raw, but has a ceiling as high as OJ Mayo's. It is too early to really know what he can do, but if he can put his athleticism to use, and slightly improve his outside shooting, this guy could be a real scorer in this league.

10. Milwaukee Bucks PG Brandon Jennings

BUST! This guy has the raw talent to be a skilled NBA player, but the Iverson comparisons are just way too much. His ego is way too big, and his basketball IQ is not too high. The bucks went out on a limb and took the biggest question mark in the draft.