**Official 2009 NBA Draft Thread** (ON RIGHT NOW)

Austin Daye will be there in the 20 range.

Jeff Teague, I see him testing the waters and realizing that he can improve his stock to top 10 next year. So he'll go back IMO. Especially with Al Farouq Aminu staying at Wake Forest. They can make another tournament run and hopefully not choke this time.

Then I guess my answer is "it depends on who's there".

I think it's a moot point though, because if the Lakers trade up in this draft, it will likely be for Curry. The most likely scenario is that we sell our pick Phoenix style, IMO.

Mock Draft #6

I generated the lottery this time and I got.

#1 pick: New York: 2.8%


#2 pick: Minnesota: 7.6%


#3 pick: Washington: 17.8%



Draft Trades
-Sacramento trades 4th pick to Memphis for the 7th pick and 27th pick.
-Golden State trades Stephen Jackson and Brandan Wright to Detroit for Tayshaun Prince.
-Golden State trades Corey Maggette to San Antonio for Kurt Thomas and Bruce Bowen.
-Golden State trades Jamal Crawford to New Orleans for Antonio Daniels, Hilton Armstrong, and the 21st pick.
-Detroit trades Rip Hamilton, Jason Maxiell to Minnesota for Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and the 18th pick.
-Detroit trades the 18th pick and the 15th pick to Golden State for the 8th pick.
-Phoenix trades Jason Richardson to Toronto for Jason Kapono, Marcus Banks, 9th pick.
-Phoenix trades Shaquille O'Neal to Dallas for Eric Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse, 22nd pick, and a 2012 2nd rounder


Round 1
1. New York - Blake Griffin, PF/C, Oklahoma, Sophomore
2. Minnesota - Ricky Rubio, PG, DKV Joventut, Spain
3. Washington - Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn, Junior
4. Memphis *TRADE* - Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, Junior
5. LA Clippers - James Harden, SG, Arizona St., Sophomore
6. Oklahoma City - Demar DeRozan, SF, USC, Freshman
7. Sacramento *TRADE* - Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Memphis, Freshman
8. Detroit *TRADE* - Brandon Jennings, PG, Lottomatica Roma, Italy
9. Phoenix *TRADE* - Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, Sophomore
10. Milwaukee - Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, UCLA, Freshman
11. New Jersey - Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, Junior
12. Charlotte - Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Junior, Davidson
13. Indiana - Ty Lawson, PG, UNC, Junior
14. Phoenix - Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, Junior
15. Golden State *TRADE* - Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville, Senior
16. Chicago- James Johnson, SF/PF, Wake Forest, Sophomore
17. Philadelphia - Eric Maynor, PG, VCU, Senior
18. Golden State *TRADE* - Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech, Sophomore
19. Atlanta - DeJuan Blair, PF/C, Pittsburgh, Sophomore
20. Utah - Austin Daye, PF, Gonzaga, Sophomore
21. Golden State *TRADE* - Patrick Mills, PG, St.Mary's, Sophomore
22. Phoenix *TRADE* - BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State, Freshman
23. Sacramento - Chase Budinger, SF, Arizona, Junior
24. Portland - Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh, Senior
25. Oklahoma City - Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC, Senior
26. Chicago - Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC, Junior
27. Sacramento *TRADE* - Jarvis Varnado, PF, Miss. St., Junior
28. Minnesota - Damion James, SF/PF, Texas, Junior
29. LA Lakers - Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, Senior
30. Cleveland - Nick Calathes, PG/SG, Florida, Sophomore

Round 2
31. Sacramento - Toney Douglas, PG, Florida St., Senior
32. Washington - AJ Price, PG, UConn, Senior
33. Portland - Omri Casspi, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
34. Denver - Michael Washington, PF, Arkansas, Junior
35. Detroit - Marcus Thornton, SG, LSU, Senior
36. Houston - Sergio Llull, PG/SG, Real Madrid, Spain
37. San Antonio - Dionte Christmas, SG, Temple, Senior
38. Portland - Jodie Meeks, SG, Kentucky, Junior
39. Detroit - DaJuan Summers, SF/PF, Georgetown, Junior
40. Charlotte - Jeff Pendergraph, PF, Arizona St., Senior
41. Milwaukee - Jermaine Taylor, SG, Central Florida, Senior
42. LA Lakers - Tyler Smith, SF, Tennessee, Junior
43. Miami - Derrick Brown, PF, Xavier, Junior
44. Detroit - Goran Suton, C, Michigan St., Senior
45. Minnesota - Danny Green, SF, UNC, Senior
46. Cleveland - Jonas Jerebko, SF, Angelico Biella, Sweeden
47. Minnesota - Nando Del Colo, PG/SG, Cholet, France
48. Phoenix- Dante Cunningham, PF, Villanova, Senior
49. Atlanta- Scottie Reynolds, PG, Villanova, Junior
50. Utah- Emir Preldzic, SF, Fenerbahce Ulker, Slovenia
51. San Antonio - Jeff Adrien, PF, UConn, Senior
52. Indiana - Vladimir Dasic, SF/PF, KK Budoncnost Podgorica, Montenegro
53. San Antonio - Taj Gibson, PF, USC, Junior
54. Chalotte - Jerel McNeal, SG, Marquette, Senior
55. Portland - Josh Heytvelt, PF, Gonzaga, Senior
56. Portland - Rodrique Beaubois, PG, Cholet, France
57. Phoenix - Alade Aminu, PF, Georgia Tech, Senior
58. Boston- Henk Norel, PF, DKV Joventut, Netherlands
59. LA Lakers- Milenko Tepic, PG/SG, KK Partizan Belgrade, Serbia
60. Miami - Chris Johnson, C, LSU, Senior


Trade Justifications

1) Phoenix Suns

The Suns finally rebuild by trading away both Shaq and Jason Richardson for first round draft picks. They draft Flynn and Henderson as their future 1-2 combo when Steve Nash leaves. Then they draft BJ Mullens in the mid 1st round, a young raw big man with potential. They also pick up an outside shooter in Kapono. Stackhouse is just salary filler, he will retire.

PG Steve Nash, Jonny Flynn, Goran Dragic, Marcus Banks
SG Gerald Henderson, Leandro Barbosa
SF Matt Barnes, Jason Kapono, Jared Dudley
PF Amar'e Stoudemire, Dante Cunningham, Alade Aminu, Louis Amundson
C Erik Dampier, Robin Lopez, BJ Mullens

2) Sacramento Kings

The Kings end up with the 4th pick in the lottery and trade down to 7th to get an extra first. They end up with Tyreke Evans, the third best player in the draft. They also get a solid player in Chase Budinger, and the best shotblocker in the country Jarvis Varnado. Great young core. All that's left for the Kings is to actively try to dump Andres Nocioni.

PG Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih, Toney Douglas
SG Kevin Martin, Rashad McCants
SF Francisco Garcia, Andres Nocioni, Donte Greene, Chase Budinger
PF Jason Thompson, Ike Diogu, Jarvis Varnado, Kenny Thomas, Cedric Simmons
C Spencer Hawes

3) Detroit Pistons

The Pistons tear up their flawed core. They trade away Rip Hamilton and dump Jason Maxiell's bloated 4 year, $20 million contract. In return they get Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal, both expiring contracts next year, and they get the 18th pick. Then they turn around and package their 15th pick and 18th pick to Golden State for an elite point guard prospect Brandon Jennings. They downgrade from Tayshaun Prince to Stephen Jackson, but pick up another talented young player in Brandan Wright. Also, they have enough capspace in 2010 to theortically sign both Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

PG Brandon Jennings, Will Bynum
SG Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Marcus Thornton
SF Stephen Jackson, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal
PF Brandan Wright, Amir Johnson, DaJuan Summers
C Kwame Brown, Goran Suton

4) Golden State Warriors

This would be a dream offseason for me . The Warriors dump Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette, and Jamal Crawford. They come out of the first round with Terrence Williams, Gani Lawal, AND Patrick Mills....three players I really really like. Not to mention picking up a very good player in Tayshaun Prince. Bruce Bowen is just salary filler, he'll be released. CJ Watson is lost to free agency. Antonio Daniels is the third string point guard.

PG Monta Ellis, Patrick Mills, Antonio Daniels
SG Anthony Morrow, Terrence Williams, Marco Belinelli
SF Tayshaun Prince, Kelenna Azubuike
PF Anthony Randolph, Gani Lawal, Kurt Thomas
C Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Hilton Armstrong

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Then I guess my answer is "it depends on who's there".

I think it's a moot point though, because if the Lakers trade up in this draft, it will likely be for Curry. The most likely scenario is that we sell our pick Phoenix style, IMO.

No, Phoenix style would be selling off as many picks as possible, even if those picks are Rondo, Eagledollar and Deng.

Wow, with Tayshaun, Adolph and Turiaf, we would lead the league in blocks definitely.

Good thing about this potential series against SEA.

Don't have to face either Felix or Bedard.

f**k, did it again.

Eric Devendorf signed with an agent. Any chance this guy even gets drafted?

Originally posted by SacRock14:
Eric Devendorf signed with an agent. Any chance this guy even gets drafted?

Yeah I would think he might. He reminds me of Delonte West.

Originally posted by SacRock14:
Eric Devendorf signed with an agent. Any chance this guy even gets drafted?

I'd be very surprised if Dumbledore gets drafted.

First of all, he's a tweener. He's too short to play shooting guard in the NBA and he's too unathletic to play point guard.

Second, he has serious character concerns. He punched a woman in the face. This hurts his draft stock even more.

Third, this draft happens to be deep at point guard and combo guard. Here is a list of over 20 players who will definitely be drafted before Devendorf.

Ricky Rubio
Tyreke Evans
Jonny Flynn
Brandon Jennings
Jeff Teague
Ty Lawson
Stephen Curry
Patrick Mills
Eric Maynor
Darren Collison
Toney Douglas
Nick Calathes
AJ Price
Sergio Llull
Nando Del Colo
Greivis Vasquez
Scottie Reynolds
Rodrique Beaubois
AJ Abrams
Milenko Tepic
Lester Hudson


I think Devendorf is going undrafted and will have to prove himself in the NBA D-League.

Random thought....I don't think that the 7th best prospect in this draft is too much better than the 25th best prospect.

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Random thought....I don't think that the 7th best prospect in this draft is too much better than the 25th best prospect.

Pete who do you want us taking in the first round... who do you think will be there?

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Random thought....I don't think that the 7th best prospect in this draft is too much better than the 25th best prospect.

I wouldn't say that, but I agree that this is a weak draft.

Originally posted by socalfan21:

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Random thought....I don't think that the 7th best prospect in this draft is too much better than the 25th best prospect.

Pete who do you want us taking in the first round... who do you think will be there?

LOL, that's a way more complicated question than I think you're intending, but here's the short version.

I want us to re-sign Odom, Ariza, & Shannon Brown. Buss reportedly doesn't want to pay over $100M in payroll....contracts + luxury tax. If we keep everybody for around what I think they'll be worth as well as a draft pick, we'd be around $108M. Hopefully Buss is willing to go that much over. If not, I want us to sell Farmar (we could probably get about $2M for him, which would mean about an extra $5.5M for Buss in savings. If he needs more, that means that we'd need to either sell our pick OR pick someone that is willing to stay overseas for at least a year and not on our payroll.

Clear as mud?

So if we're picking someone who is willing to stay overseas, it's likely a Euro player. If that's the case...

1) Victor Claver, SF from Spain




The only reason Claver isn't rated higher than he is is because he hurt his knee. He's an excellent shooter and has a smooth, versatile offensive game. Has solid athleticism as well, participating in a couple of slam dunk contests over there. Can also put the ball on the floor pretty well. Not a great defender or creator for others. Okay rebounder. He's only 20 and already has some nice offensive polish. You don't find that often at the end of the 1st Round, and the only reason he'd be there is because of the injury. Being that we'd probably stash him overseas for a year...that's fine. Closest NBA comparison I could make is Tim Thomas.

2) Nando de Colo, Combo Guard Spain




Spain's cranking out PGs these days, and I think that de Colo continues that tradition. He has some swagger to him and can make some sick passes, but he's mainly a scorer. He's a lot like Juan Carlos Navarro, but bigger, and not quite the 3 point shooter that Navarro is. Maybe JJ Barea is a good comparison, but de Colo's a lot bigger.

He doesn't have a lot of athleticism, but he "gets it done", and there have been enough players to come out of Spain and have decent success that fit that description where I feel comfortable that he could contribute in the league.

3) Rodrigue Beaubois, Combo guard, France




Interesting prospect from France that has a lot of physical tools. Huge wingspan (6'10"), and they say that he has a 38" vertical, although he doesn't play like he does. Can get his shot off from just about anywhere, has good quickness, and has the potential to be a lock down defender. But he's very raw, and what I've seen of him, very undisciplined w/bad shot selection. But has a ton of physical ability. He'd be a good "potential" pick.

Originally posted by crzy:

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Random thought....I don't think that the 7th best prospect in this draft is too much better than the 25th best prospect.

I wouldn't say that, but I agree that this is a weak draft.

Maybe that spectrum's too wide, but I see one huge chunk of the draft that's pretty much a toss-up.