What teams need from the 2009 NBA Draft
Good choices, because these guys certainly don’t want to end up with the next Kwame Brown or Darko Milicic.
The 2009 NBA Draft festivities will take place on June 25th and as far as who’s picking first, the Los Angeles Clippers won that right. Hopefully, they won’t make an ass of themselves in a few months when they realize that the guy they drafted turns out to be a joke.
Everybody already expect the Los Angeles Clippers to take Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin. Griffin dominated the college ranks last season like no other sophomore in recent memory. Griffin averaged 22.7 points per game for the season, leading the Big 12. What’s even more impressive is the way he dominated the glass, averaging 14.4 rebounds per game.
Picking second are the Memphis Grizzlies, the team that desperately needs a guard to handle the basketball. Ricky Rubio will likely be the guy to fill that role. Rubio is a gifted young 17-year-old who has a ton of upside. The point guard out of El Masnou, Spain has great ball handling, strong defense, and can shoot the ball fairly well. The Grizzlies will likely bypass the opportunity to grab Hasheem Thabeet and grab Rubio to control the ball. However, not exactly sure how big of a scoring threat Rubio will develop into. He has all the makings of a solid guard, but perhaps not a great one.
The Oklahoma Thunder would love to add a huge scorer to the lineup. It is because of this fact that they can’t afford to let Hasheem Thabeet slip by with the third pick overall. As good he is offensively, the 7′3” center out of Connecticut is a beast on the defensive side of the ball too, averaging 4.5 blocks this season. Thabeet averaged stout double-double type numbers with 13.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
The Sacramento Kings, who finished with the league’s worst record, were bumped all the way down to the No.4 pick. Many people think the Kings may go after a guard in this position, but it’s in the paint where they need to get help, fast. Jordan Hill was a player who really came on strong for the Arizona Wildcats through the end of the season and could provide the Kings that presence inside. The junior forward averaged 18 points on the season along with a strong 11 boards. Hill could give the Kings some depth on the inside and become an eventual playmaker.
The Washington Wizards owned the worst record in the Eastern Conference this season and will get the chance to add some strength to their lineup with the 5th overall pick. The Wizards will likely seek a guard, preferably someone that can knock down shots in this position. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were very effective at the forward positions this year, but they really lacked the outside scoring threat especially with Gilbert Arenas out.
James Harden could fill that void at the shooting guard position. Harden averaged 20 points per game this season while shooting just under 50 percent. Harden can also shoot the ball from behind the arc rather well which should make him a perfect fit for the Wizards with the number five selection.
That’s how we think the first five picks of the NBA Draft should go. But what do we know?
Which team will win the 2010 NBA Finals? SPORTSBETTING.COM has the early odds.
Orlando Magic 7-1
Boston Celtics 5-1
Denver Nuggets 12-1
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