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2009-10 NBA Season Predictions and Preview

October 25, 2009, at 1:37 am

The basketball season is less than a week away and no one is more pumped than this guy. With all the players movement in the off-season we are surely going to have a memorable NBA year. With that being said, here is how I see all the teams being placed come playoff time…

Eastern Conference:

1. Boston Celtics, 63-19: Sheed’s going to have his moments where he makes the Celtics seem like a team in distress and out of sync. However, with a healthy Kevin Garnett the team’s overall play will hide any mini blowups. X-Factor: Rajon Rondo, coming off a huge Bulls and playoff series, he is bound to keep on impressing.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers, 60-22: Does Shaq make this team better? Absolutely. Does he make them title favorites? No. With that being said, Lebron is going to get his and if Mo Williams can find any sort of a shooting stroke their chances of reaching the Finals will be strong. X Factor: Shaquille O’Neal. Bron-Bron got his wish and that is to finally play with a star. However this star is fragile and can break down at anytime.

3. Orlando Magic, 59-23: We are finally going to see if Vince Carter is the bonafide star that many think he is. I think he is a better all around player than Hedo Turkoglu but can he mesh with Dwight and Rashard Lewis the biggest question. X Factor: Jameer Nelson. He seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of the roster. If the Magic have Nelson fully healthy against the Lakers, how different is the series?

4. Atlanta Hawks, 48-34: The Hawks continue to be a team with young talent who are looking to take the next step. Last year, they finally won a playoff series and with the same roster plus Jamal Crawford, they are positioning themselves for another solid season. X Factor: Josh Smith. “Smoove” as Defranco calls him, fills up the box score night in and night out and is the biggest matchup problem on the team.

5. Washington Wizards, 46-36: If this team is healthy, they are very dangerous. Already they are starting without Antwan Jamison who will miss three to five weeks with a shoulder injury. I love the depth on this team and think they are a team that can make some noise. X-Factor: Easy, Gilbert Arenas. He is a top 10 scorer who can take over the game at any time. The Wizards will go as far as he can take them.

6. Miami Heat, 43-39: Top to bottom this team has the weakest roster out all the teams I have making the playoffs. However, they have Dwayne Wade who can single handily bring any squad into late April. This team is a much improved Michael Beasley away from making even more noise. X-Factor: Michael Beasley. Is he a 20-10 type of player? I’ll be cheering hard for Beasley this year after his rehab stint over the off-season as he tries to reach that sort of potential.

7. Philadelphia 76ers, 42-40: Not many teams play the way Philly does with their athletic up-tempo type of offense. Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young are two players who continue to improve and recently received extensions. X-Factor: Elton Brand. Last year, before he got hurt, Brand had no place on this offense as he could not fit into the up-tempo type of play. This year, Jordan will continue to run but will incorporate Brand nicely and I expect a bounce back year.

8. Detroit Pistons, 42-40: Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuava are two of the biggest signings of the off-season. The big question: Can Gordon coincide with Rip Hamilton? He will start as the 6th Man, a role he is used to from Chicago. If the Pistons can maximize the talent out of Jason Maxiell and Rodney Stuckey they could be setting themselves up nicely. X Factor: Charlie Villaneuava. His partner in the starting front line is Kwame Brown. Enough said…

9. Chicago Bulls, 41-41: Talk about a team blowing it big time. I cannot believe the Bulls made little to no effort in trying to resign Ben Gordon in the off-season. I see no one on this team that can match what Gordon did for this team. Derrick Rose will continue to be great but I have major questions about Luol Deng’s health and their front court (Tyrus, I’m looking at you…) X-Factor: Joakim Noah. He showed me something against the Celtics and if Tyrus can’t play consistently on a night to night basis maybe Noah can.

10. Toronto Raptors, 39-43: They’re close, but not close enough. Hedo Turkoglu improves the team but his deficiencies on defense will be exploited as he no longer has Dwight Howard to back him up. After Chris Bosh, does this team have another solid scorer that can consistently score at least 15 points? X-Factor: Andrea Bargnani. He might be the guy who can average 15 points but I fear that Hedo is going to take away some of his shots. Despite being a 7-footer, he spends a lot of his time on the perimeter, a spot similar to another foreign dude on the team.

11. Charlotte Bobcats, 37-45: I think this team made a huge mistake not going after Allen Iverson in the off-season. They could have used his offense…big time. The Bobcats have talent but the problem is they won’t be able to score. Larry Brown’s coaching will make up for some of their flaws on offense and he can get the most out of his point guards and especially Gerald Wallace. X-Factor: Tyson Chandler. He is not the same type of player on offense as Emeka Okafor but he can hold his own on defense. Will he be on the court though or will he be hindered by injuries?

12. New York Knicks, 34-48: A slight upgrade from last year in terms of record. It’s not that the Knicks have a roster worth 2 more wins, it is just the entire Eastern Conference really improved. This is the last year before the big 2010 frenzy so we’ll see how impressive these guys can be for upcoming free agents. I’m saying Bosh and Joe Johnson in the big city…X-Factor: Danilo Gallinari. Yes, I know, I’ve hated this dude on the radio constantly but the truth is, he needs to have a big year for the Knicks for them to stay competitive. He had a major up and down pre-season but now he has to put it together.

13. Indiana Pacers, 29-53: Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Ghost of Roy Hibbert. Is there anyone else on this team? X-Factor: Roy Hibbert. I just want to make sure he still has a pulse.

14. New Jersey Nets, 26- 56: The Nets have real solid pieces with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. The problem is, what do they have after that? Hopefully an up and coming Chris Douglas-Roberts and a lottery pick in Terrence Williams who can see an increased role on a bad team. X-Factor: CDR. I’m on the bandwagon. He had a real solid pre-season and could be your starting small forward shortly.

15. Milwaukee Bucks, 20-62: What a tough off-season for the Bucks. Losing Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson, and Chuck Villaneuava and receiving absolutely nothing. That’s gotta put you last in the conference. X-Factor: Brandon Jennings. He is the only guy worth watching. Period.

Western Conference:

1. Los Angeles Lakers, 65-17: I maintain the fact that the Lakers are a better team with Artest and not Ariza. With that being said, there are two things to watch this year. Can Artest fit and can Bynum hold up? If those two things happen, the Lakers are the easy favorites to contend. Kobe is going to be Kobe and this could be his most defining season if he can keep the team together. Odom is a newlywed and we all get to see Kim Kardashian courtside on Tuesday night. (Two thumbs WAYY up) X-Factor: Ron Artest. Close second is Bynum but the Lakers proved they can win a title without literally nothing from their center. Artest can derail this team very quickly and everyone is waiting for it to happen.

2. San Antonio Spurs, 60-22: The team with the best off-season should be in for a very impressive season. With Richard Jefferson, the Spurs are a younger more athletic team and that will help when they face teams like Portland, Denver, and Dallas. DeJuan Blair continues to impress so far. X-Factor: Tim Duncan. I think he has one more year in him where he can put up great numbers. He has the supporting cast to do so but the Spurs are the most fragile team out there.

3. Portland Trail Blazers, 53-29: Andre Miller right now is not happy after losing his starting position to Steve Blake but they paid him starter’s money in the off-season and I think he will regain his spot. Aldridge is paid so does not have to pout any longer and Brandon Roy is a top 10 player in the league. Portland is also one of the deepest teams in the West. X-Factor: Greg Oden. Had a resurgent pre-season and is determined to start over Joel Pryzbilla. If Oden is fully healthy, Portland is one of the teams that can match the Lakers’ height.

4. Denver Nuggets, 51-31: Carmelo Anthony matured into an elite superstar last season and it was not because of the scorer but by the overall talent he possessed. Chauncey Billups is getting older though and they may have to adjust their up and down style. Also, with J.R. Smith moving into the starting lineup, who can provide the scoring off the bench? Depth is their biggest question. X-Factor: Chauncey Billups. I just have a feeling that this could be a down year for Billups where he burns out at the end.

5. Dallas Mavericks, 50-32: I love what Dallas did this off-season. After losing out to Marcin Gortat, the Mavs knew they had to make a splash and they did so by acquiring Shawn Marion to play small forward. At the end of games, few teams can match Kidd, Howard, Marion, Dirk, and Jason Terry. I expect Dallas to make noise this season and win a round or two in the playoffs. Also, don’t count out the boy, “Roddy Buckets” (Rodrigue Beaubois). X-Factor: Josh Howard. Dirk and Marion can coincide on the court but how will Howard respond. He is a guy who can average 20 points but will see less production with Marion involved. Can he sacrifice the stats for wins?

6. Utah Jazz, 48-34: For a while I had the Hornets here, but I decided on the Jazz. Deron Williams is as good as they come at the point guard position and the Jazz keeping Paul Millsap not only gives them insurance to Boozer but a favorite for sixth man of the year. If the Jazz can find some sort of road consistency they will push 50+ wins. X-Factor: Carlos Boozer. If Boozer stays healthy, the Jazz can realistically pull an upset in the first round. The problem is, he probably won’t and the Jazz are looking at another first round exit.

7. New Orleans Hornets, 44-38: Day by day, the Hornets front office is absolutely crushing this team around Chris Paul. I like the Okafor trade but now he does not even want to get on the court and the teammates are getting pissed at him, claiming he is no longer injured. I do not have the same confidence in David West as I once did and their depth is absolutely putrid. X-Factor: Julian Wright/Peja/Mo Pete. Can one of these guys step up for once? Really, anytime now…

8. Oklahoma City Thunder, 41-41: Hey, I can dream, can’t I? The thing is, the “Zombies” as Bill Simmons calls them, do not have that much of an outside chance at making the playoffs. With Kevin Durant winning a scoring title this year (yep, mark it) and Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and James Harden as ROY (yep, mark it) the Thunder need just some sort of production from their front-court. Also, the end of their schedule compares favorably to teams like Phoenix and the Clips. X-Factor: Nenad Kristic. Just give me 12 and 8, man…

9. Phoenix Suns, 40-42: Nash is older and Amare is durability issue every time he runs up and down the court. Also, the Suns bench is absolutely dreadful with only Captain Barbosa to get excited about. The Suns will score but Coach Gentry just won’t get them to defend, and the West can score. X-Factor: Amare Stoudemire. Looking for a big deal in the summer, I expect him to have a big season if he can remain healthy.

10. Los Angeles Clippers, 37-45: The Clips are right there. They have the talent to make the playoffs this year. But like I told WCWP’s Max Caster this past week: As long as Mike Dunleavy is their coach, they won’t make the playoffs. Book it. X-Factor: Baron Davis. Davis is coming into the regular season in reportedly, the best shape of his career. He has always been a big point guard but this year he needs to stay healthy to prove my theory wrong.

11. Houston Rockets, 36-46: If Rick Adelman can get this team to the playoffs he not only deserves to be the unanimous coach of the year, but should be given the key to the city. Here is their projected starting lineup: Aaron Brooks, Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier, Carl Landry, Luis Scola. It’s gonna be tough and I do not think it will happen, but I will not be shocked if they can get it done and play into late April. X-Factor: Luis Scola. Look for him to have a big year with Yao out. I’m thinking 16 points and 10 rebounds…

12. Golden State Warriors, 32-50: On paper, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Stephen Curry, and Andris Biedrins looks like a solid core. However, this team is just absolutely nuts with Don Nelson and Jackson wanting out. Ellis is happy one day and pissed the other. Anthony Randolph, one of my favorites, is going to have a monster season on a terrible team. I always feel bad for those guys. X-Factor: Anthony Randolph. Read above.

13. Memphis Grizzlies, 25- 57: Again, a ton of talent but only one ball. Iverson is coming off the bench but his presence is just going to stunt the progress of Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. Rudy Gay is sure to be gone after this year and could become the most attractive trade piece in February. Not to mention this team has Zach Randolph. WTF, Chris Wallace?? X-Factor: Allen Iverson. How badly will this signing look come December. When they are 7-25, he is going to be crying to get out.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves, 22-60: Kevin Love’s injury really hurts as he won’t be back until December. I love Johnny Flynn but I wonder how well he can do this season with Ramon Sessions. If Al Jefferson can stay healthy, he will be your starting center for the West in the All-Star Game. X-Factor: Al Jefferson. Knee injury cut his season short last year after averaging 23 and 11. He has not even reached his potential yet…

15. Sacramento Kings, 15-67: And we have reached the worst team in the NBA. Tyreke Evans will have his impressive moments but he is a tweener between point guard and shooting guard. Kevin Martin can score but that’s it. Jason Thompson is also a decent piece but is over-looked. X-Factor: Spencer Hawes. He along with Thompson needs to improve after a solid season. His play will not make a ton of difference but can give King fans something to look forward to. Probably not…

Conference Finals: Boston over Cleveland

Los Angeles over Portland

Finals: Los Angeles over Boston

Quick Awards:

MVP = Kobe Bryant

Rookie of the Year = James Harden

Most Improved = Anthony Randolph

Sixth Man = Ben Gordon

Coach = Scott Brooks

NBA

2009 NBA Mock Draft 5.0

By Matt Soldano

June 24, 2009, at 6:13 pm

One comment so far

Alright, the NBA Draft is just a day away so it is time to make the final mock draft. There is a ton of speculation and rumors flying around about picks that could be swapped, teams acquiring picks, so on and so forth. If anything goes down before draft time tomorrow I will be sure to edit the mock appropriately.

Round One:

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin PF, Oklahoma – Blake, enjoy your last few hours of feeling free and liberated because soon, while you may be rich, you will be dawning a Clippers uniform, which is never a good thing for anyone. Especially when you have to compete for starting time with Zach Randolph.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet C, UConn – There is speculation that the Timberwolves could be packaging their 5th and 6th pick for the #2 but for now, with the Grizz owning the pick, I still believe Thabeet is the answer. He has the size and defensive ability to change a game from the gecko. Thabeet going #2 just shows you how crappy this draft is, and this is coming from someone who is a big believer in the Tanzanian.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder- James Harden SG, Arizona State – The Thunder are a bit of a wild-card. They could break Minnesota’s heart and draft Rubio which would cause Harden to slip a little bit. However, I think with people becoming a little sour on Rubio in terms of his physical attributes, his attitude, and his contract situations, the Thunder can rest easy knowing they have a capable point guard already in Russell Westbrook. Harden is in my mind, one of the surest prospects in the draft and will fit in nicely with the Thunder.

4. Sacramento Kings – Johnny Flynn PG, Syracuse – For a while now I have had Rubio in this spot but like I mentioned above, the Kings have began to turn the page on Rubio. Flynn has had some great workouts and is physically ready for the NBA. He will be a voice in the Kings locker-room that seems to be missing. Not to the same extent, but this somewhat reminds me of the NFL Draft when Crabtree seemed to be the sure-fire number one receiver off the board but surely enough the Raiders took Heyward-Bay. If the pick is not Flynn it’s Tyreke Evans.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves – Ricky Rubio PG, Spain – Maybe the Wolves do not need to go up to 2 to pocket Rubio. With the trade of Randy Foye, the Timberwolves certainly need a point guard and it was no secret it was Rubio who they were targeting. Rubio is going to need to work on his mid-range game and his physical stature but his court vision and passing ability are variables that we have not seen come out of the draft for perhaps the last ten years. Think Nash without the offense. Now the real pick comes here…

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans PG, Memphis – In my mind, the Wolves can go one of two ways. Draft Stephen Curry or go with Evans. With Rubio already holding down the point, the Wolves are looking for someone to play off the ball. Harden is gone, and Henderson or DeRozan here is a big stretch. Tyreke Evans broke out last season when John Calipari decided to make him the full time point guard. He has a terrible shot selection and is ability to get inside the paint is overrated in my mind because he struggles at finishing. However, Alan Hahn is reporting that Curry is 5th guard on the Wolves draft board which leads me to believe they are going to make a mistake and draft Evans, something that shakes up the rest of the draft a bit.

7. Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry PG, Davidson – Monta Ellis wants to run the point and Don Nelson could pay the price for it if he allows it to happen. The Warriors are salivating for Curry and they might get the chance to grab him if the Wolves make the mistake of drafting Evans. Curry can share time at the point with Ellis and would be perfect for Don Nelson’s offense.

8. New York Knicks – Jordan Hill PF, Arizona – With Curry and Evans off the board, the Knicks will settle for Jordan Hill who is an athletic big man who could flourish under D’Antoni’s offense, kind of like Amare Stoudemire. Hill is a gifted rebounder who plays with a lot of energy. By drafting Hill, Knick fans will be sending their good-bye gift baskets to the man everyone has fallen in love with, D-Lee.

9. Toronto Raptors – Demar DeRozan SF, USC – The Raptors need help at the wing because they could potentially be losing Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion to free agency. DeRozan, because is so athletically gifted and could play the 2, could be drafted even higher by either the Wizards or Timberwolves. If DeRozan is gone, the Raptors can look at point guard or someone else to fill their void at the three or two.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jrue Holiday PG, UCLA – By trading away Richard Jefferson, the Bucks can now make an effort to resign Charlie Villaneuava which I think can get done. Now they need a point guard. While I think Brandon Jennings and Ty Lawson are better picks than Holiday, tems love Holiday’s ceiling and defensive potential.

11. New Jersey Nets – Terrance Williams SF, Louisville – ESPN has Tyler Hansbrough going here and even me being a die-hard Tar Heel fan have to question that idea. Hansbrough just does not have lottery level talent to me, but he definitely is mid-late first round worthy. With that being said, Williams continues to be impressive at the right time and is showing people why he is truly one of the most versatile players in the draft. At Louisville last year, T-Will averaged 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5 assists, very impressive numbers.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson SG, Duke – Will this pick ever change?!?! Henderson averaged 17 points in his final season with Duke but had an abysmal tournament. He is an effective slasher who will get his points that way and has above average on the ball defensive skills. He is one of the few shooting guards in the draft and would fill the void left when Jason Richardson was shipped to the Suns.

13. Indiana Pacers – Brandon Jennings PG, Italy – Recently, Jennings has slipped on some people’s mocks and I have seen him as low as 17 to Philly or even 19 to the Hawks. To me the chances of that happening are close to impossible. The wild-card teams for me with Jennings are the Warriors, Knicks, and Bucks. Because all three passed on him, he is left for Indiana. The Pacers need a big body and DeJuan Blair is a possibility but there are large concerns over his knees. Jennings fills a need at the point guard position and gives the team a certain amount of swagger they have been missing.

14. Phoenix Suns – Ty Lawson PG, North Carolina – Lawson continues to improve his stock and I believe he is still being undervalued. The Suns seem to definitely be targeting a point guard and they will narrow their choices between Lawson and Jeff Teague out of Wake Forest. Lawson is a guy who can get to the basket and is a proven winner.

15. Detroit Pistons – Earl Clark PF, Louisville – Clark slips out of the lottery for the first time in my mock draft but is selected here. Detroit will have to make the decision between Clark and Austin Daye of Gonzaga. Daye also took his decision down to the final hours and stayed in the draft, a move questioned by some. Clark can be the second coming of Lamar Odom because of his versatility and ability to shoot from the outside considering his frame.

16. Chicago Bulls – DeJuan Blair PF, Pittsburgh – Blair could slip somewhere in the late lottery to a team like Indiana but questions about the health of his knees have steered some teams away. The Bulls are looking to bulk up their front-court and no player in the draft can bulk like Blair can.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor PG, Virginia Commonwealth – Ah, back to the original pick that was in the first three mock drafts. Whoever picks Maynor is going to feel very fortunate as he is one of the most NBA ready prospects having played four seasons at VCU.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves – B.J. Mullens C, Ohio State – The Timberwolves are looking for a true center and Mullens has the potential to be one. However, his game is going to need some serious maturing and he is 2-3 years away from seeing any sort of productivity. However, by having the 5th and 6th pick the Wolves can afford to draft someone who has as much upside as Mullens does and wait.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague PG, Wake Forest – The Hawks have swung and missed on three point guards. Marvin Williams over Chris Paul. Shelden Williams over Rajon Rondo. Acie Law over Rodney Stuckey. They can’t make the same mistake 4 times in a row can they? Mike Bibby is a free agent and Jeff Teague can provide scoring the same way as Bibby.

20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough PF, North Carolina – Hansbrough can go in the lottery to the Nets or Pacers or could go to the Bulls at 16. Hansbrough’s workouts have been impressive as he has measured in taller than what was expected, showed decent athleticism, and demonstrated good strength. Hansbrough’s work ethic and underrated offensive game should make him good enough to go in the top 20.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Austin Daye SF, Gonzaga – Daye has the potential to go in the top half of the draft and staying in Gonzaga would have been the right choice but because of what he may become it makes sense for the Hornets to roll the dice. Daye can provide scoring in a numerous amount of ways and could be a nice piece off the bench for the Hornets down the road.

22. Portland Trail Blazers – James Johnson PF, Wake Forest – Even though it is a different team I still believe Johnson gets drafted here. Johnson is someone who has borderline lottery talent but really disappointed people in workouts and showed up out of shape. The Blazers can use a power forward who can also play from the perimeter.

23. Sacramento Kings – Omri Casspi SF, Israel – Sac-town loves tall European swingman who can shoot effectively from downtown. Examples, Peja and Hedo Turkoglu. The biggest difference is that Casspi is more athletic and is a much better defender than the two.

24. Dallas Mavericks – Darren Collison PG, UCLA – Again, new team but this pick just makes sense. Jason Kidd is aging and his days in a Dallas uniform could be numbered. J.J. Barea showed some positive signs last year but I never see him as a starter in this league. Collison can learn from Kidd for a year or so and take over the reigns. This would be a very smart pick that fits a need.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Sam Young SF, Pittsburgh – Young is one of the more NBA ready players in the draft because of his size and his ability to do many things on the court. Young can come off the bench and provide solid minutes and be an asset for any team in the NBA.

26. Chicago Bulls – Chase Budinger SF, Arizona – Budinger will provide scoring for a team that might end up losing Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. He is athletic enough where he can create his own shot. However, the Bulls will be playing 4 on 5 when the other team has the ball as Budinger is just awful on defense.

27. Memphis Grizzlies – DaJuan Summers SF, Georgetown – Summers ability to play both forward positions should be welcomed by the folks in Memphis. The Grizz need to add size to their front court and Summers NBA-ready body along with his scoring ability to be a nice pick late in the first round.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonas Jerebko SF, Sweden -Jerebko can stay overseas and wait to come over to the NBA which would allow the T-Wolves to not carry three rookies on their 12 man roster. There has been talk that the New York Knicks could be buying this pick.

29. New York Knicks - Jack McClinton PG, Miami – The Knicks number one need coming into the draft is at the point guard position. As the draft stands now, I have them selecting Jordan Hill at number 8, a power forward. McClinton recently had a workout for the Knicks and he apparently did very well. If the Knicks select a guard with their first pick, the selection here could be Danny Green or a power forward such as Taj Gibson

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toney Douglas PG, Florida State - The Cavs just made a splash by acquiring Shaquille O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns. Douglas can turn out to be a nice backcourt piece for the Cavs because he can play solid defense and make big shots.

Round Two:

31. Sacramento Kings – Victor Claver PF, Spain

32. Washington Wizards – Taj Gibson PF, USC

33. Portland Trail Blazers – Derrick Brown SF, Xavier

34. Denver Nuggets – Patty Mills PG, St. Mary’s

35. Detroit Pistons – DeMarre Carroll SF, Missouri

36. Memphis Grizzlies – Jeff Pendergraph PF, Arizona State

37. San Antonio Spurs – Nick Calathes SG, Florida

38. Portland Trail Blazers – Wayne Ellington SG, North Carolina

39. Detroit Pistons – Josh Heytveldt PF, Gonzaga

40. Charlotte Bobcats – Danny Green SF, North Carolina

41. Milwaukee Bucks – Jeff Adrien PF, UConn

42. Los Angeles Lakers – Jermaine Taylor SG, Central Florida

43. Miami Heat – Jon Brockman PF, Washington

44. Detroit Pistons – Rodrigue Beaubois PG, France

45. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jodie Meeks SG, Kentucky

46. Cleveland Cavaliers – Marcus Thornton SG, LSU

47. Minnesota Timberwolves – Dante Cunningham PF, Villanova

48. Phoenix Suns – Dionte Christmas SG, Temple

49. Atlanta Hawks – Ahmad Nivins PF, St. Joe’s

50. Utah Jazz – Curtis Jerrells PG, Baylor

51. San Antonio Spurs – A.J. Price PG, UConn

52. Indiana Pacers – Jerel McNeal SG, Marquette

53. San Antonio Spurs – Goran Suton C, Michigan State

54. Charlotte Bobcats – Alade Aminu PF, Georgia Tech

55. Portland Trail Blazers – A.J. Abrams SG, Texas

56. Dallas Mavericks – Robert Dozier PF, Memphis

57. Phoenix Suns – Leo Lyons PF, Missouri

58. Boston Celtics – Sergio Lull PG, Spain

59. Los Angeles Lakers – Chris Johnson PF, LSU

60. Miami Heat – Tyrese Rice PG, Boston College

————————

There’s the final mock, if any moves happen I will edit the mock as soon as I can get to a computer. Leave a comment, tell me who you think your team should target.

Don’t forget, on the night of the draft, Thursday June 25th, I will be hosting a live chat on 3rdstringsafety.com discussing everything about the draft. Make sure you check that out.

NBA

2009 NBA Draft Position Rankings

By Matt Soldano

June 16, 2009, at 8:30 pm

4 people had their say - chime in!

Here is a quick run-down on my individual rankings by position for the upcoming draft. This is not the order I have them going in my mocks as I select players to teams based on need and fit.

* = 1st rd projection

Point Guards:

1. Ricky Rubio 6′4” 180 lbs – Spain*
2. Stephen Curry 6′3” 185 lbs – Davidson*
3. Johnny Flynn 6′0” 172 1bs – Syracuse*
4. Brandon Jennings 6′1” 170 1bs – Italy*
5. Jrue Holliday 6′ 3” 185 lbs – UCLA*
6. Ty Lawson 6′0” 195 lbs – North Carolina*
7. Eric Maynor 6′2” 175 lbs – Virginia Commonwealth*
8. Jeff Teague 6′2” 180 1bs – Wake Forest*
9. Darren Collison 6′1” 165 lbs – UCLA
10. Toney Douglas 6′1” 196 lbs – Florida State*

Shooting Guards:
1. James Harden 6′ 5” 218 lbs – Arizona State*
2. Tyreke Evans 6′5” 195 lbs – Memphis*
2. Gerald Henderson 6′5” 215 lbs- Duke*
3. Terrence Williams 6′6” 220 – Louisville*
4. Wayne Ellington 6′5” 190 lbs – North Carolina*
5. Marcus Thornton 6′4” 198 lbs – LSU
6. Jermaine Taylor 6′4” 210 lbs – Central Florida
7. Jodie Meeks 6′4” 208 lbs – Kentucky
8. Jack McClinton 6′1” 185 lbs – Miami
9. Dionte Christmas 6′5” 190 lbs – Temple
10. Jerel McNeal 6′3” 195 lbs – Marquette

Small Forwards:

1. Demar DeRozan 6′7” 207 lbs – USC*
2. Austin Daye 6′10” 210 lbs – Gonzaga*
3. Sam Young 6′6” 210 lbs – Pittsburgh*
4. Omri Casspi 6′8” 220 lbs – Israel*
5. DaJuan Summers 6′8” 241 lbs – Georgetown*
6. Chase Budinger 6′7” 218 lbs – Arizona*
7. Jonas Jerebko 6′9” 210 lbs – Sweden*
8. Derrick Brown 6′7” 225 lbs – Xavier
9. DeMarre Carroll 6′8” 225 lbs – Missouri
10. Danny Green 6′6” 210 lbs – North Carolina

Power Forwards:

1. Blake Griffin 6′10” 251 lbs – Oklahoma*
2. Jordan Hill 6′10” 235 lbs – Arizona*
3. DeJuan Blair 6′7” 265 lbs – Pittsburgh*
4. Earl Clark 6′9” 220 lbs – Louisville*
5. Tyler Hansbrough 6′9” 230 lbs – North Carolina*
6. James Johnson 6′8” 235 lbs – Wake Forest*
7. Taj Gibson 6′9” 210 lbs – USC*
8. Victor Claver 6′10” 218 lbs – Spain
9. Jeff Pendergraph 6′9” 230 lbs – Arizona State
10. Jeff Adrien 6′6” 225 lbs – UConn

Centers:

1. Hasheem Thabeet 7′3” 265 lbs – UConn*
2. B.J. Mullens 7′0” 260 lbs – Ohio State*
3. Josh Heytvelt 6′11 260 lbs -Gonzaga
4. Goran Suton 6′10” 245 lbs – Michigan State
5. Luke Nevill 7′1” 250 lbs – Utah

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