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| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 1. |  |  Blake Griffin | Pos: PF School: Oklahoma Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-10 | The only pick in the first round that holds no suspense. The Clippers let it be known on May 19, when they won the lottery, that Blake Griffin would be their pick, and they’ve done nothing – entertained no legitimate trade proposals or flirted with other prospects – to come off of that. If they can give him enough minutes in a frontcourt with Zach Randolph, Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby, he’ll immediately give them 16 points and 10 boards. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 2. |  |  Hasheem Thabeet | Pos: C School: UConn Yr.: Junior Ht.: 7-3 | Owner Michael Heisley is pulling for James Harden, coach Lionel Hollins apparently likes Stephen Curry and the entire scouting staff is in Hasheem Thabeet’s corner. So flip a coin. Ricky Rubio is probably the consensus No. 2 player in the draft, but he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with the franchise. So let’s (hesitantly) pencil in UConn’s 7-foot-3 shot-blocker, Thabeet. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 3. |  |  James Harden | Pos: SG School: Arizona St. Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-5 | If Memphis goes for Harden, OKC would grab Thabeet. The Thunder could live with his limited production when they’ve got Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook to score. There’s some chance they’ll grab Rubio – or parlay interest in him into other assets. But if Thabeet is gone, the safest bet here is that they’ll take Arizona State’s James Harden. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 4. |  |  Ricky Rubio | Pos: PG School: Spain Yr.: International Ht.: 6-5 | The Kings had the best chance to land the No. 1 pick and were hoping for Griffin. Worst case, they figured they’d slide to No. 2 and end up with Ricky Rubio, who fills a position of need and also gives them a much-needed gate attraction. That looked impossible when the Kings slipped to 4. But it now appears there’s a real chance Rubio will fall to Sacramento. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 5. |  |  Jordan Hill | Pos: PF School: Arizona Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-10 | One of the relative certainties of this draft was the Washington was destined to trade out of the No. 5 pick, which became a reality Tuesday night when it picked up Randy Foye and Mike Miller from the Timberwolves. There’s strong suspicion the T-wolves are looking to move up further with some combination of 5 or 6 plus one of their two later firsts, but if they sit tight here, athletic Arizona big man Jordan Hill would be a nice fit with Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, both guys who play below the rim. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 6. | |  Tyreke Evans | Pos: PG School: Memphis Yr.: Freshman Ht.: 6-6 | The Timberwolves and recently hired GM David Khan have been linked to many trade rumors, most centering on a desire to pry the No. 2 pick away from Memphis – presumably to grab Rubio. If Minnesota winds up sitting here, the likely choice is Memphis freshman hybrid guard Tyreke Evans. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 7. |  |  Stephen Curry | Pos: PG School: Davidson Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-3 | After Griffin, maybe the surest thing in the draft is Davidson’s Stephen Curry, a shooter who’ll arrive in the NBA as that rarity – someone already comfortable with the longer 3-point arc. In Don Nelson’s free-wheeling system, Curry could challenge Griffin for Rookie of the Year. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 8. |  |  Brandon Jennings | Pos: PG School: Roma Yr.: International Ht.: 6-2 | American teen Brandon Jennings was projected as a top-five pick a year ago when he made the startling decision to play professionally in Italy for a year over enrolling at Arizona. It didn’t work out the way he planned, but Jennings – who draws comparisons to Allen Iverson for his mercurial quickness – landing with Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks isn’t a bad ending for him. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 9. |  |  DeMar DeRozan | Pos: SG School: USC Yr.: Freshman Ht.: 6-7 | If the Raptors are serious about convincing Chris Bosh to sign on for the long haul, they’ll need to start surrounding him with productive young players. USC freshman DeMar DeRozan could be a boom-or-bust type, but on the high end, he’s drawn comparisons to a player they remember well in Toronto: Vince Carter. Gerald Henderson is a more conservative option. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 10. |  |  Jonny Flynn | Pos: PG School: Syracuse Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-0 | The Richard Jefferson trade saves money for the Bucks and makes it possible for them to retain one of their two restricted free agents. Taking Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn – one of the few obvious picks of the draft – would fill a need at point guard and might convince them to let Ramon Sessions go. On the other hand, adding Amir Johnson from the Pistons might tip the scales to letting Charlie Villanueva walk. Either way, Flynn is the best player on the board here. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 11. |  |  Jrue Holiday | Pos: PG School: UCLA Yr.: Freshman Ht.: 6-3 | The Nets could use a frontcourt upgrade, where a crowd at power forward hasn’t yielded results. But they have depth issues in the backcourt – especially if they wind up moving Vince Carter. And many feel that UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday, despite underwhelming college production, has All-Star potential. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 12. |  |  Terrence Williams | Pos: SG School: Louisville Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-6 | Duke’s Gerald Henderson has been linked to the Bobcats for weeks, but after a head-to-head Monday workout with Louisville’s Terrence Williams, it appears Williams got promised by Larry Brown that he’d be the pick. Williams, maybe the most versatile perimeter player in the draft, subsequently begged out of a planned workout for the Nets. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 13. |  |  DeJuan Blair | Pos: PF School: Pitt Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-7 | There appears to be a pitched debate within the organization between Pitt’s DeJuan Blair and Virginia Commonwealth’s Eric Maynor. Blair, who has had two ACL tears and reportedly doesn’t have the ligament left in either knee, would represent the bigger gamble. But his toughness, rebounding and promise of immediate production makes him the pick here. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 14. |  |  Gerald Henderson | Pos: SG School: Wake Forest Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-4 | The Suns could go in a number of directions because they have age everywhere and need to start infusing young talent in both the frontcourt and backcourt. So either James Johnson and Earl Clark, who worked out against each other for Phoenix last weekend, could get the call. But if Gerald Henderson slides past Charlotte, he could be too good to pass up. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 15. |  |  Earl Clark | Pos: SF School: Louisville Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-9 | If the draft falls this way through 14, the Pistons probably will focus on a group of big men that includes Johnson, Clark, Austin Daye and perhaps B.J. Mullens. Johnson would be most ready to play from day one next season, but he could be a tweener. Daye, at 6-foot-11 and 193, has enormous upside – but might be too frail to help anytime soon. That’s why we’ll lean to Louisville’s Earl Clark, who has All-Star tools if he answers questions about his fire. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 16. |  |  James Johnson | Pos: PF School: Wake Forest Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-8 | Johnson and B.J. Mullens make the most sense for the Bulls here – assuming Blair and Clark are out of play. Mullens didn’t produce much in his only college season and probably couldn’t be counted on next season, either. That’s why Wake Forest’s James Johnson makes the most sense. He could embolden the Bulls to dangle Tyrus Thomas as trade bait. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 17. |  |  Eric Maynor | Pos: PG School: VCU Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-3 | The 76ers have Andre Miller coming up on free agency. They’d like to re-sign him and are the favorites to do so. But Miller isn’t getting any younger. That’s why it makes sense – and fits with the strength of this draft – to take his eventual replacement at this spot. Virginia Commonwealth’s Eric Maynor – like Miller, an Andy Miller client – could be the most complete and NBA-ready point guard. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 18. | |  B.J. Mullens | Pos: C School: Ohio State Yr.: Freshman Ht.: 7-1 | Al Jefferson and Kevin Love give the Timberwolves points and rebounds, but not much in the way of length and shot disruption on the defensive end. B.J. Mullens didn’t do enough as an Ohio State frosh to make anyone believe he’ll have an effect at either end as a rookie, but if he harnesses his potential the T-wolves could have a top-five talent when this draft is reassessed down the road. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 19. |  |  Tyler Hansbrough | Pos: PF School: North Carolina Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-10 | The Hawks hope to re-sign Mike Bibby, but even if they do they’ll need to address their future at point guard. Acie Law, their 2007 lottery pick, has done little in two seasons. And at least two good ones – Jeff Teague and Ty Lawson – are still on the board in our scenario. But North Carolina All-American Tyler Hansbrough wowed the Hawks in his individual workout and this could be his landing spot. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 20. |  |  Ty Lawson | Pos: PG School: North Carolina Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-1 | Hansbrough would be a logical grab if he’s still there on the chance that the Jazz are going to lose Carlos Boozer in free agency (or trade, if he doesn’t opt out) in order to retain Paul Millsap. But if Hansbrough goes, then expect the Jazz to look for a similarly safe pick – his UNC teammate, point guard Ty Lawson, who upgrades point guard depth behind Deron Williams. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 21. |  |  Sam Young | Pos: SF School: Pitt Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-7 | Of the many teams who could be looking to trade out of the first round for the cost savings, the Hornets are the likeliest. If they keep it, then one possibility is a Wake Forest point guard, Jeff Teague, to back up another Wake Forest point guard, Chris Paul. But we’ll take New Orleans in another direction: Ready-to-contribute Pitt small forward Sam Young. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 22. |  |  Jeff Teague | Pos: PG School: Wake Forest Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-1 | In the middle of the 2007-08 season, the Mavericks – concerned their championship window was closing – swapped Devin Harris to New Jersey for Jason Kidd, a pending free agent. Even if the Mavs retain him, they need to bolster this position and, best case, find Kidd’s successor. So about that Wake Forest point guard? Jeff Teague, in fact, is the rare player who could keep up in a foot race with Harris. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 23. | |  Austin Daye | Pos: SF School: Gonzaga Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-11 | It’s this kind of draft: Some players who have a chance to go in the lottery could slide all the way to the late first round. Such is the case with Gonzaga’s Austin Daye. Most scouts agree he would have benefited by another year in college, but if he falls this far the Kings will be tempted by his high ceiling and impressive mix of offensive skills. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 24. |  |  DaJuan Summers | Pos: PF School: Georgetown Yr.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-10 | The Trail Blazers are believed to be, as usual, aggressively looking to deal, with the assumption that they’d like to move up to grab one of the premier point guards. If they stand pat, their guy here might be Georgetown’s athletic small forward DaJuan Summers. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 25. | |  Derrick Brown | Pos: SF School: Xavier Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-8 | As unpredictable as this draft is through various stages – anything after No. 1 through about 12, and then another group of players from that point to here – it’s a complete grab bag at this point. If the Thunder bolster their backcourt with Harden at No. 3, let’s take a shot that they’ll go for frontcourt help here with Xavier’s solid Derrick Brown. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 26. | |  Toney Douglas | Pos: PG School: Florida State Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-1 | If the Bulls are resigned to losing Ben Gordon in free agency, finding someone who could be a poor man’s Gordon, Florida State’s Toney Douglas, makes sense. If, on the other hand, the Bulls can find a taker for Kirk Hinrich’s contract on draft night – Portland, perhaps? – then retaining Gordon and going in a different direction here would be more likely. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 27. | |  Wayne Ellington | Pos: SG School: North Carolina Yr.: Junior Ht.: 6-4 | If there’s uncertainty about what the Grizzlies are doing at No. 2, imagine how hard the rest of the league is scratching its collective head over where they’re headed at No. 27. A safe pick here would be North Carolina’s Wayne Ellington, who’d give support at the perimeter spots behind Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 28. | |  Jonas Jerebko | Pos: SF School: Sweden Yr.: International Ht.: 6-8 | How many first-round draft choices can one team integrate in a single season? After picking at 5, 6 and 18, the Timberwolves might be happy here to take a foreign-born player and let him marinate overseas for another year or two. Jonas Jerebko, who’d no doubt be a big hit with the Twin Cities’ considerable Swedish population, would be a nice fit as a skilled 6-foot-9 small forward. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 29. |  |  Darren Collison | Pos: PG School: UCLA Yr.: Senior Ht.: 6-0 | The Lakers took a UCLA point guard three years ago in Jordan Farmar. With no glaring needs, but an aging Derek Fisher at point guard, they could stay home again and find good value in another UCLA point, Darren Collison. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Stats | What Keith Says: |
| 30. |  |  Omri Casspi | Pos: SF School: Israel Yr.: International Ht.: 6-9 | The Cavs are looking to unload Sasha Pavlovic’s contract and Wally Sczcerbiak is a free agent, so finding wing talent to take some pressure off of LeBron James makes sense, as would finding some young legs for an aging frontcourt. Israel’s 6-foot-8 Omri Casspi is known for his hard-nosed play, a must in Mike Brown’s defense-first system. |
