“Who They Should” (Mock) DraftBy: Adi Joseph

At this time of year, it’s easy for a basketball fan to get
caught up in mock drafts and hype about which team likes which player and where
each young man will be headed for the next NBA season. So much of what we do at
sites like NBADraft.net is based on what scouts and front office members are saying
about prospects.

Understandably, then, every year we get caught up in who teams will be drafting.
Players see huge leaps in stock simply because the right team has decided to take
interest, and a lot of time we forget to examine just how ridiculous some of these
leaps are.

Take for instance Shelden Williams, the fifth pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by the
Atlanta Hawks. Any analyst could have told you two months prior to the draft that
Williams probably shouldn’t have been a top-10 pick, but the Hawks made Williams
a promise at the No. 5 slot. As a result, the Duke power forward was plugged into
the fifth spot on everyone’s mock draft about two weeks before the draft even
happened, and few stopped to wonder why the Hawks would make such a stupid pick.

With that said, NBADraft.net presents its first ever "Who They Should"
mock draft, based on team needs and player abilities. This mock attempts to disregard
prior hype in favor of logical, intelligent decisions. It also assumes no trades
will take place, and that teams are actually interested in having their draft
picks play for them next year. While those two assumptions aren’t ever completely
accurate, it’s a necessary step for this project to work.

With that said, the first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft SHOULD be…

	James Harden

1. Los Angeles Clippers: PF Blake
Griffin, Oklahoma
There is no other option. Griffin is simply the best player available in this
draft. The Clippers should take him and look to unload Zach Randolph’s horrible
contract on anyone who might consider taking it.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: SG James Harden, Arizona
State
It’s a tough choice for the Grizzlies, who could really use any number of players
at this spot in the draft. Harden seems to be the best fit in that he, a la Brandon
Roy, can control the pace of the offense from the shooting guard position and
won’t demand the ball, keeping Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo in check. This pick essentially
would force Mike Conley out of the starting lineup, but that’s probably a good
thing for now.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: C Hasheem Thabeet,
Connecticut
Thabeet and Harden would both be perfect fits for the Thunder, so with Harden
off the board the choice should be easy. Thabeet provides the rebounding and interior
presence missing from a team that starts Kevin Durant and Jeff Green at its forward
spots. Ricky Rubio would be an option here, but he clashes a bit with Russell
Westbrook.

4. Sacramento Kings: PG Ricky Rubio, Spain
Rubio works perfectly for the Kings’ needs, though rumors say they have grown
cold on him in recent weeks. This draft doesn’t care about poor management decisions:
the Kings need a playmaker and future stud like Rubio. La Pistola, as he’s known,
would be a great compliment creating shots for wings Francisco Garcia and Kevin
Martin while also working up top with center Spencer Hawes to give the Kings a
very skilled team, even if they lack in athleticism.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: PF Jordan Hill,
Arizona
The Timberwolves are starting over. And any team deciding essentially to start
over should pick the best available player. One thing painfully clear about Minnesota’s
front court last year was its lack of athleticism. The three best bigs – Al Jefferson,
Kevin Love and Craig Smith – are a bit redundant. Hill is the best player still
on the board and provides a new look down low. He and Jefferson could be quite
the tandem.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Brandon Jennings,
Italy
Once again, the team that is starting over should pick the best available player,
this time with a twist. The Timberwolves have a barren back court, and they need
a lead guard for the future. Jennings is that guy. No, he’s not as ready as some
other point guards available. But Jennings, also known as Young Money, has more
natural ability than anyone but Griffin. It’s a bit of a gamble in contrast to
picking Stephen Curry, but it’s worth it.

7. Golden State Warriors: PG Stephen Curry,
Davidson
Curry isn’t the seventh best player in this draft, with all things considered.
But he’s an incredible fit for the Golden State Warriors. With Jennings off the
board, the Warriors can grab Curry and play he and Monta Ellis, both combo guards,
as a rotating point guard situation. Meanwhile, in the fun-and-gun offense that
is Nellyball, Curry’s accuracy from behind the arc will play a key role for one
of the league’s highest scoring teams.

8. New York Knicks: PG Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Mike D’Antoni’s system, which flourished in Phoenix and fumbled last year in New
York, requires a playmaking point guard. Speed is always a nice compliment to
an offense built on scoring in the first six seconds of the shot clock. And, playing
in Madison Square Garden, it never hurts to find a guy with a good head on his
shoulders. Flynn fits that description better than any other player still available,
though Curry, Jennings and Rubio all might be slightly better fits.

9. Toronto Raptors: SG Gerald Henderson,
Duke
The Raptors are in a position to win now. With Andrea Bargani’s performance drastically
improving after the Jermaine O’Neal trade, it would seem the pieces are falling
into place for Toronto to reemerge next year as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
But first they need a real shooting guard. Henderson provides the team with a
ready-to-play staunch defender who has the ability to be a very solid wing scorer.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: PG Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
The recent Richard Jefferson trade has left the Bucks in an odd position. They
are now sitting on a decent amount of financial flexibility, and may be interested
in resigning promising young point guard Ramon Sessions. All prior reports suggested
otherwise, so we can stick with those for now. Teague would be a great fit in
the system, with his athleticism and penetrating ability complimenting star shooter
Michael Redd. If they do plan on resigning Sessions, Teague could be brought along
slowly, or Earl Clark would be a great fit with this pick

11. New Jersey Nets: SF Earl Clark, Louisville
Bobby Simmons and Trenton Hassell were the Nets’ primary small forwards last season.
The team has the talent to make the playoffs next year, but first they need to
remedy that awful situation. Clark is a perfect do-everything type who can take
pressure off Devin Harris in playmaking and Brook Lopez in rebounding. The Nets
really can’t afford to NOT take Clark here, barring another personnel move we
don’t know about yet.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: SG DeMar DeRozan,
USC
The Bobcats have a history of drafting players who have established themselves
as long-time college stars. That should take a quick end here, with DeRozan still
on the board and pretty clearly the most talented available player. He fits a
need at shooting guard and is a perfect example of a player falling to the right
team at the right pick. Sure, DeRozan may take a couple years to hit his stride.
But his long term potential is through the roof.

13. Indiana Pacers: C B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
Mullens has come under a lot of criticism after being cited by some as the top
recruit in the nation. He didn’t even start for the Buckeyes last year. But that
wasn’t for poor in-game play. While rumors have circled around Mullens having
a poor work ethic and not listening to coaches, he has tremendous upside. Seven
footers with this kind of athleticism and natural ability around the basket aren’t
all that common these days, and Indiana, a team of shooters could really use an
interior presence.

14. Phoenix Suns: SF James Johnson, Wake
Forest
In trading Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw last year, the Suns have basically left
themselves barren of a true small forward. Johnson can be that player, a bigger
combo forward with the athleticism to play the three full time. The Suns should
also be looking at point guards to replace Steve Nash in the long run, but this
team has the ability to win big next year. Johnson can step right into the starting
lineup.

15. Detroit Pistons: PF DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Blair is a tough-as-nails big man who, despite his lack of size, can definitely
bang down low with anyone. His rebounding should be a real value to any team that
drafts him, and I don’t think there is any question the Pistons could use another
gritty player down low. Mullens would be a better fit here, but he’s already off
the board. Besides, there’s something about Blair that inspires images of the
Bad Boys days in Detroit, when Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer were
ripping rebounds straight out of opponents’ hands.

16. Chicago Bulls: SG Chase Budinger, Arizona
No, this isn’t the sexy pick. Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose, Memphis’ two one-and-done
point guards, playing together might make some fans drool. But the Bulls really
don’t need another combo guard, with Rose and Kirk Hinrich already on the roster
and demanding ball control. Budinger provides balance for a team losing its best
shooter, Ben Gordon. The former Wildcat has the explosion to run the court with
Rose while also being the shooter to balance out half-court sets. The Bulls would
love a tough big man, but there simply isn’t one available unless they reached
for Tyler Hansbrough.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: PG Eric Maynor, VCU
Maynor is the savviest of the plethora of point guards in this draft. Once again,
Evans might be a fan-pleaser here. But Maynor would provide the stability and
intelligent play on offense and defense the young Sixers need. Additionally, Maynor
has proven capable of lock-down defense even on some bigger opponents, something
that could prove valuable if Louis Williams is Philly’s shooting guard of the
future.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: SG Tyreke Evans,
Memphis
Evans is going to get selected 10 spots above this. But that is a product of hype,
and a late teens pick seems much more appropriate for the poor shooting oversized
combo guard. Evans and Jennings would make for a great back court of the future,
complimenting each other well. The former Tiger has an outstanding first step
and a reputation for abusing smaller guards, something he can’t rely on in the
NBA as much. But the Minnesota rebirth would be a great place for him to get his
NBA start.

19. Atlanta Hawks: PG Ty Lawson, North Carolina
The Hawks have passed by point guards seemingly every year. But if they do in
fact plan on letting Mike Bibby go, they can’t afford to do that again. Lawson
provides a player capable of running with a very athletic group in Atlanta, and
he’s ready to step in right away as a play-maker. The idea of Lawson and Josh
Smith or Al Horford running pick-and-rolls all day is something the Hawks simply
shouldn’t pass up.

20. Utah Jazz: SF Derrick Brown, Xavier
The Jazz would really be happiest if Budinger fell to them, as they could really
use a natural wing shooter better than Matt Harpring and Kyle Korver at small
forward. Brown isn’t as renowned a shooter, but he did knock down 43 percent from
beyond the arc last season and his midrange game is solid. Additionally, he fits
one aspect the Jazz have always regarded highly: he’s a safe but under-the-radar
pick.

21. New Orleans Hornets: SG Wayne Ellington,
North Carolina
If Ellington is on the board here, the Hornets owe it to Chris Paul to grab him
immediately. He’s a perfect compliment to Paul, a smooth wing with a gorgeous
jumper who can score in a wide variety of ways without necessitating ball control.
It’s surprising how little his performance in the NCAA Tournament has done for
his stock, but Ellington could end up being one of the best guards in this draft,
especially if paired with a dynamic point guard like Paul.

22. Dallas Mavericks: SF Omri Casspi, Israel
The Mavericks can go a lot of different directions with this pick. As is the case
for most teams in such a position, the best available player seems to be the best
move. Casspi may not be ready for a couple years, but if they want, Dallas can
leave him in Israel for at least next year. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that
they are lacking solid wing players beyond Josh Howard and Jason Terry.

23. Sacramento Kings: PF Tyler Hansbrough,
North Carolina
Sacramento is a weird team with so many needs to fill it can afford to take the
best available player. And Hansbrough is that guy. The best college player in
years enters the draft proving that he’s tall and long enough to play power forward
in the NBA, and his strength and passion should make a nice compliment to Jason
Thompson, the Kings’ first rounder in 2008, at the position.

24. Portland Trailblazers: SF DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
Because of the rule installed that says we must assume teams actually want to
have their draftees on their 2009-10 roster, I am going with Summers ahead of
Spain’s Victor Claver here. The truth is, the Blazers have absurd depth and youth.
But Summers provides them with a powerful small forward, one of the few player-types
they lack.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: SG Terrence Williams,
Louisville
Entering this draft the only positions where the Thunder didn’t know their future
starters already were center and shooting guard. Williams may not be better than
Thabo Sefolosha, but he at least provides some solid competition from a veteran
who has proven capable of nearly every duty you can ask of a basketball player.
He’s one of the best defenders and most versatile players available.

26. Chicago Bulls: PF Taj Gibson, USC
The Bulls seem to understand how to build a winner. But they’re lacking a key
component – and not for lack of trying. They’ve drafted a number of big men in
recent years in hopes of getting some post scoring, only to wind up with Joakim
Noah and Tyrus Thomas, two super-athletic players with bright futures and zero
go-to low post moves. Gibson won’t supplant either as a starter, but he has the
best post moves of any player in this draft and could provide a nice compliment
without slowing his teammates down.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: SF Victor Claver,
Spain
There is a very good chance Claver, regardless of what team takes him, opts to
stay in Spain for another year or two. But with Hakim Warrick walking away as
a free agent, the Grizzlies could definitely take on his services right away.
The Spaniard was once regarded as a potential lottery pick, and even if he is
entering the draft a year early, he has high end potential for a team that can
probably wait a little for him to develop.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: SG Marcus Thornton,
LSU
With their fourth pick of the first round, there are a ton of directions the new-look
Timberwolves could go. I suggest getting a proven player to provide depth for
the very young and inexperienced back court of the future. Thornton is the kind
of competitor and scorer who finds away to maximize his talent. And his shooting
will be a welcome addition behind poor-shooting Evans.

29. Los Angeles Lakers: PG Toney Douglas,
Florida State
Like Portland, the Lakers’ best bet is probably to take a foreign player they
won’t have to pay for a few years and let him develop in Europe. But Douglas is
a perfect fit for their needs. He’s a slightly oversized combo guard with a great
natural scoring touch who plays absolute lock down defense. In other words, with
Douglas, Derrick Fisher’s role could finally be reduced permanently, though I’m
sure he’d still play in crunch time.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: PF Josh Heytvelt,
Gonzaga
Anyone watching Cleveland in the playoffs can safely say a big man would be a
nice add, even if he’s a slight reach at the end of the first round. Heytvelt
is a bonus in that he is a face-up player at heart, making him a natural replacement
for an aging Zydrunas Ilgauskas. As a spot-up shooting big man, he could be a
great compliment to the LeBrons, who still could use another wing player and ought
to consider Dionte Christmas as well.