Ricky Rubio is already living up to the superstar status in the NBA – That is, If you include pulling a LeBron James and skipping out on your press conference. We get the message. It’s loud and clear. You aren’t all that happy about playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. We’ve all heard about how your daddy said that you were going back home because you are afraid of Minnesota.

Luckily for you, the Binary Basketball Strategists and Analysts have come up with 5 reasons for Ricky Rubio to shut up and play for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Full Story

Ricky Rubio might end up playing in the NBA for free. It appears as though there is a very real possibility that Ricky Rubio may be forced to play in the NBA and not even get to spend the paycheck he’ll get from the team.

Rubio’s Spanish team, DKV Joventut, owns his contract and would need to be bought out in order for him to be able to play in the NBA. The problem is that the buyout price is roughly the same price as a rookie contract he would sign.

So here is what’s going down. Per his agreement, Rubio was set to owe DKV Joventut $6.6 Million to get out of his contract and was previously involved in a lawsuit with them. Then earlier today sacbee reported that the number will likely be reduced so that Ricky Rubio will be a much less risky pick.

Perhaps the most impressive of all, is that when asked if he would be willing to play for free, Ricky Rubio is not concerned or worried.  ESPN’s video interview of Ricky Rubio makes him all the more likeable and impressive. Not only did Rubio say he would play for free but he did so with conviction. You could tell in his eyes that he just wanted to play in the highest level of basketball and get the opportunity to prove himself.

Though, it’s probably worth noting that even though his NBA contract is only going to cover the cost of his DKV Joventut buyout, Rubio will still be able to earn money from endorsments. As such, I’m sure there are plenty of companies that would be willing to brand their logo on a player that is willing to play for free for the first few years of his NBA career. He won’t exactly be worried about how he is going to pay for groceries.

Stubbs 2009 NBA Mock Draft

In the latest edition of the Binary Basketball 2009 NBA Mock Draft, Stubbs comes through with an in depth analysis of who will be picked in the first round giving descriptions of each player along with the team that will pick that player and why.

Mock Draft – 1st round

1. Clippers – Blake Griffin – PF – Oklahoma

I think everyone is certain that Commissioner Stern will walk out and read out the 1st overall pick for the night and will call out Blake Griffin’s name. Griffin will help out the Clippers on the boards, he will be able to help on offense and defense. He is a very talented athlete and is definitely the best player in this draft. This is the right choice for the Clippers. Maybe this team will have some luck for once.

2. Grizzlies – Ricky Rubio – PG – DKV Joventut

Some people think Rubio will slip to the Kings, and some people think he is all hype. But I think Rubio is the right pick for the Grizzlies. Rubio has widely been regarded as the best player in the world that’s not in the NBA. He sure has a lot of hype to live up to. Many people also think the Grizzlies will draft Hasheem Thabeet from Uconn, but I don’t really think they need to because they have a solid player in Marc Gasol, and they are struggling for PG’s with Mike Conley the only true PG on the roster. Rubio will bring excellent court vision and spectacular passing, but he does need to work on his jump shot, that might be the only chink in Rubio’s armour at the moment.

3. Thunder – Hasheem Thabeet – C – UConn

The Thunder are in desperate need of a young Center, they have Robert Swift but he is always injured. They also need shot-blocking help and everyone knows Thabeet is a master at that. Thabeet also has tremendous size (7 foot 2, with a 8 foot 1 armspan). He is also a good athlete and is quite fast for his size. But Thabeet needs to improve his post games and offense if he is going to be really dominant in the NBA.

4. Kings – James Harden – SG – Arizona State

The Kings will definitely be hoping Ricky Rubio slips to them because they desperately need some point guard help. But I think they’ll settle for James Harden who’s game suits the NBA very well, Harden can slash and shoot and is a very active defender. The only question is though, if the Kings draft Harden will they move Kevin Martin to the 3 or use the 6’5’, Harden at the 3 or use neither at the 3. Harden is also very unselfish so that will help the young Kings.

5. Wizards – Jordan Hill – PF -Arizona

The Wizards are very keen on Stephen Curry but in the end I think they might think #5 is a bit too high to pick him and go with a ‘safer’ option and choose Jordan Hill. The Wizards need a ‘classic’ Power Forward. They also need someone that can stay healthy. The Wizards will most likely use Antawn Jamison as trade bait this off-season possibly to bring in a Center or Shooting Guard. Hill will bring shooting, size and athleticism to the Wizards. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and go to the hoop. Hill is a liability of defense though. But I think the Wizards will be all too happy to snap up Hill.

6. Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans – SG – Memphis

I think the Wolves take Evans here, because this will give them a high-scoring and high-skilled wing player and will also allow Randy Foye to play the Point. He’s also a good ball handler and may be able to run some Point. Evans is a very clever passer and has excellent vision which should help him to succeed in the NBA. The only thing Evans will need to work on is his jump shot which can be erratic. He’s also a bit erratic defensively and that will need to improve in the NBA. But with Evans the potential is too good to pass on especially in a weak draft.

7. Warriors – Brandon Jennings – PG – Lottomatica Roma

Jennings has stated that he wants to play in a fast paced offense and the Warriors are the perfect team for that. They are also looking to draft a PG so Monta Ellis can play his more natural Shooting Guard. Jennings is a great athlete like so many other players in this draft. He’s also very quick and is a very good passer. Jennings should also be NBA-ready because he has played professional basketball for Roma. Jennings’ jump shot can be inconsistent. But that shouldn’t turn the Warriors away from Jennings’ tantalizing potential.

8. Knicks – Stephen Curry – SG – Davidson

Months ago the Knicks promised Curry they would choose him with the #8 pick in the draft and despite the Knicks needing a Point Guard, I think they will fulfill that promise. Despite being a NCAA giant killer Curry is a risky pick. Curry will need to rely on his quickness and jump shot if he wants to succeed in the NBA. He is quite small only weighing 181 pounds and will find it hard defending bigger 2 guards like Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady etc. The Knicks might choose to play Curry at Point Guard though. Curry should fit nicely with the Knicks’ run-n-gun offense, and could be a really nice choice at #8.

9. Raptors – Demar DeRozan – G/F – USC

The Raptors are in desperate need of a high scoring wing and Demar DeRozan will be there #1 choice to fill that void. DeRozan is has great athleticism and has a good jump shot, something the Raptors need a shooter especially with the loss of Jason Kapono. DeRozan also has good size (6’6, 220 lb) and willl be able to match up well with bigger shooting guards. If Tyreke Evans is not on the board, DeRozan is the right option for the Raptors.

10. Bucks – Jrue Holiday – G – UCLA

The Bucks are really in a position where they can draft the best player available, they have no real glaring position of need apart from a stronger Power Forward, but they could also afford to get stronger at the Point Guard position and with Jrue Holiday, they get a good combo guard with tones of potential. Holiday is not outstanding at any one thing but he is a good ball handler and has a lot of moves in his arsenal that will keep defenders guessing. He is also a solid on-ball defender which will help the Bucks backcourt.

11. Nets – Earl Clark – SF/PF- Louisville

This draft is very strong for PG’s but the Nets don’t need one they need a small forward or big man, and in Earl Clark they get a Small Forward that has length (6’10’) and can also play PF. They also get a good athlete but a player that needs to improve on his jump shot. Clark will be able to create mismatches for opponents with his size and versatility. Clark is an above average defender though, something every team could do with.

12. Bobcats – Gerald Henderson – SG – Duke

There have been rumors lately that the Bobcats might trade this pick but assuming they don’t I think they’ll select Gerald Henderson at #12. They need a Power Forward and I’m sure they’ll look at DeJuan Blair but ultimately I think they will draft Henderson to help out in the back court. Henderson is best known for his scoring and his explosiveness. He is also a decent defender. Henderson has improved his shot lately but it can still be quite inconsistent at times. Henderson should fit in well with the Bobcats young players and won’t be a chemistry killer because he is unselfish and is a good leader.

13. Pacers – Jonny Flynn –PG – Syracuse

The Pacers will be looking to draft a shooting guard but they might just miss out. I think the Pacers will draft Jonny Flynn from Syracuse because they will look to get the best available player. Flynn can help the Pacers back court out and will join Jarrett Jack in the Pacers back court. I think the Pacers would be very happy at getting Flynn because many people consider him a top 10 prospect. Flynn is another great athlete. He’s also very fast and will be able to draw away defenders for more open shots for Danny Granger. Flynn is not afraid of taking the big shots. The only things that go against Flynn are his size and jump shot. But he is definitely a very attractive prospect for most teams and I am sure some teams would think he’s the second best if not best PG in this draft.

14. Suns – James Johnson – SF/PF- Wake Forest

The Suns have no real glaring position of need but they just need to get younger so with that in mind they will probably take the best player available. I think they’ll take James Johnson from Wake Forest. If so Johnson will join NBA vets Grant Hill, Matt Barnes at the small forward spot and will need to work hard for his minutes. Johnson has very good size for a SF (6’8’, 257) and will use that his advantage in the NBA. He is also very strong and has a 7’1 wingspan. He also excels in the point forward role similar to the Orlando Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu or the Detroit Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince. This will give Phoenix another capable ball-handler when Steve Nash is out of the game. Johnson sometimes goes missing in games though and sometimes has an errant jump shot.

15. Pistons – B.J. Mullens – C – Ohio State

The Pistons are in need of a big man and they will probably get the second best Center prospect in the draft. This draft is very weak for Centers. Mullens didn’t have a great freshman season at Ohio State, he played backup a lot of the time. But despite that Mullens is a very athletic big man for his size (7’0, 258 lbs). He is quite fundamentally sound. He scores a lot of pick & rolls and put-backs, and handy tool for most NBA teams. Mullens should fit in very well for the Pistons at Center and could even start if they get rid of Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess.

16. Bulls – DeJuan Blair – PF – Pittsburgh

DeJuan Blair is an under-sized Power Forward (6’6). But he is very strong and he’s a very good rebounder. He averaged a staggering 5.offensive rebounds a game for Pitt. He lives off physical contact and should be like a Paul Millsap. The Bulls will presumably be looking for upgrades at Power Forward and Shooting Guard and Blair fills one of those voids. The only concern about Blair is his ability to stay in shape, he currently weighs 277 pounds. Even though he’s undersized at 6’6, he has a 7’1 wingspan which should help him in the NBA.

17. 76ers – Ty Lawson – PG -North Carolina

The 76ers will be looking at drafting a point guard, which is good because this draft is very strong for PG’s. I think the 76ers will be very happy getting Lawson at 17 because I believe he’s a top 15 type talent. With Andre Miller most likely leaving the 76ers, Lawson is a good choice. They get a super-quick PG and one that can shoot unlike Miller. The only minor concern may be the health of Lawson, he was a bit injury prone with the Tarheels but I think Lawson will be the best PG available.

18. Timberwolves – Chase Budinger – G/F -Arizona

The Wolves had 5 total picks and 3 in the first round, so I think he will choose either the best player available or the player that best suits their system. Budinger is a superb athlete and will need to rely on that to be a good NBA player. The Wolves don’t need big men because they already have Kevin Love and Al Jefferson patrolling the paint, so presumably they’ll go for PG’s, SG’s or SF’s in the first round. By getting Budinger the Wolves get a guy that can play both SG and SF so the Wolves will like his versatility. Budinger also has a nice jump shot and is a good passer. One thing Budinger will need to improve to be a good NBA player is his one-on-one play. He’s also not a good ball-handler, but I think he is what the Wolves want/need so I think they will chose Budinger.

19. Hawks – Eric Maynor –PG – Virginia Commonwealth

The Hawks need help at Point Guard and Center and since there aren’t many top Center prospects in this draft I think they will draft a point guard. I think they will take Maynor because he’s a very crafty PG and he has a winning pedigree, he single-handedly made VCU relevant. He’s a good clutch player and is a fairly good ballhandler. The only knocks on Maynor are that he’s very skinny (167 lbs) and will need to bulk up, he’s also not the quickest PG and he doesn’t have a quick first step, but I still think the Hawks see him as their next replacement for Mike Bibby.

20. Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough – PF -North Carolina

Hansbrough was a dominant college player at North Carolina, but the big question is will he be able to translate his college basketball talents to the pros. He has a lot of doubters but most people think the 2007-08 National Player of the Year will be able to be a solid contributor for a team. Hansbrough is a good athlete but perhaps the best facet of his game is his hustle, and desire to win and get the basketball. He also makes good decisions with the ball in the post. Hansbrough is 6 foot 8 and may have a tough time defending the bigger Power Forwards such as Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett etc. Hansbrough should fit perfectly with the Jazz’s hard-nosed approach to basketball.

21. Hornets – Terrence Williams – SG – Louisville

The Hornets really need help for CP3 and David West mainly in the scoring department, and Terrence Williams should help them all-round, he averaged 12 ppg along with 8 rebounds a game and 5 assists a game. He’s a very skillful defender and athlete but he needs to improve his jump shot. Williams has excellent court vision and passing skills for a Shooting Guard, which will help get more open shots for David West and Peja Stojakovic. Williams improved his 3 pt shooting in his senior year from 31% to 38% but he will need to continue his improvement if he wants to succeed in the NBA.

22. Mavericks – Jeff Teague – PG – Wake Forest

The Mavs will be looking for a PG and a tough player and they should get one of them at #22. I think they will take Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague because they need another PG because Jason Kidd might leave this off-season and he’s not getting any younger. I think Teague would be a very good pick at #22. He’s very quick and explosive, he’s a natural scorer and plays hard all game which would suit any team. At times Teague can be a bit reckless. His weight might also be a disadvantage in the pro’s, he only, 175 lbs. But overall I think the Mavs will be delighted to draft Teague.

23. Kings – Omri Casspi – SF – Maccabi Tel Aviv

I think the Kings will take Omri Casspi with the 23rd pick. Any team that takes Casspi will need to try and convince him to come to America instead of playing another year in Europe. Many people don’t know anything about Casspi but he is a 6’9, 211 Small Forward from Israel. Casspi has improved his offense and defense in the last year and attacks the basket more now. Casspi is very athletic and has good size. Casspi lacks body strength though and will have a tough time guarding stronger players.

24. Blazers – Sam Young – SF – Pittsburgh

The Blazers are in search of a point guard, small forward and a strong power forward, and my drafting Sam Young they’ll fill one of those needs. Surely Portland will hope that a point guard will fall to them but they’d be very lucky to get a good one at 24. Sam Young is a good combo for the Blazers, they get an athletic and strong Small Forward, who can actually shoot. He’s also a very good defender, all things Portland are looking for.

25. Thunder – Wayne Ellington – SG – North Carolina

The Thunder will likely take the best player available with their second pick, they would probably like a power forward but I think they’ll settle with Wayne Ellington to help out Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Ellington is a great shooter so that should really help Durant and Green more open looks. The good thing is Ellington is willing to be a role player so he could be a very valuable member to the Thunder who are young and should be contenders in the West in 5-8 seasons assuming they keep their core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and their 3rd draft pick in tact.

26. Bulls – Jermaine Taylor – SG – Central Florida

The Bulls are looking at getting a backup for Ben Gordon, and I think Taylor will go higher than people expect, he’s predicted to be a early to mid second rounder but he is probably the next best SG available. Taylor is a very good jump shooter, he’s also quite athletic. Taylor needs to improve his defense and ball handling though. Taylor can also play at Small Forward but is undersized at 6’4. Taylor is a bit of a risk but in a weaker draft he’s a risk worth taking for Chicago.

27. Grizzlies – Taj Gibson – PF – USC

The Grizzlies will probably look to draft a big man with their 27th pick and I think they’ll go with USC’s Taj Gibson. Gibson is a consistent player, he has a soft touch around the basket He has a nice jump shot and a really good faceup game. He’s a very active player especially on the boards. Gibson has good size (height) but is a bit frail (only 214 lbs) and sometimes becomes unsure of what he wants to do with the ball.

28. Timberwolves – Darren Collison – PG – UCLA

The Wolves will probably be looking for a PG somewhere in this draft and I think they will take a bit of a reach and pick Darren Collison. Collison is a super-quick guard, he is one of the best shooters in college ball and he can run a team, all attractive things for the Wolves. He also has a high basketball IQ and rarely turns the ball over. Collison does need to bulk up his 166 pound frame if he wants to be successful though, especially if he wants to defend stronger PG’s.

29. Lakers – Derrick Brown – SF – Xavier

The Lakers will probably look at drafting either a small forward or point guard with their 29th pick, and with most of the top PG prospects I think they’ll settle for Derrick Brown, they will look at a SF because Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are FA’s this off-season. Derrick Brown has very good size 6’8, 225 lb. He’s a very good athlete and has a good enough jump shot to succeed in the pros. He has a very affective jab and pump fake to go with his unorthodox style of game. The one area Brown lacks in is having a go-to move. But should be a good pick at 29 for L.A.

30. Cavaliers – Jeff Pendergraph – PF -Arizona State

This Cavs are lacking a bit in the power forward area. I think they will take the next best Power Forward available and that is Jeff Pendergraph. Pendergraph is a very good shooter and he’s a fierce competitor and isn’t afraid of contact. He’s a good athlete, a good rebounder and he possessed good upper body strength, all things the Cavs could use. Pendergraph doesn’t have a very good post game, he’s too predictable and always goes to his left shoulder, he also struggles to get his shot off against bigger defenders but the Cavs can’t really lose much with this pick so why not?

Mock Draft – 2nd Round

31. Kings – DeJuan Summers – SF – Georgetown

32. Wizards – Marcus Thornton – SG – LSU

33. Blazers – Austin Daye – SF – Gonzaga

34. Nuggets – Jeff Adrien – PF – UConn

35. Pistons – Victor Claver – SF – Pamesa Valenica

36. Grizzlies – Josh Heytvelt – PF – Gonzaga

37. Spurs – Jonas Jerebko – SF – Angelico Biella

38. Blazers – Toney Douglas – PG – Florida State

39. Pistons – Dionte Christmas – SG – Temple

40. Bobcats – Patrick Mills – PG – St. Mary’s

41. Bucks – Leo Lyons – PF – Missouri

42. Lakers – Nick Calathes – PG – Panathinaikos

43. Heat – Danny Green – SF – North Carolina

44. Pistons – Jon Brockman – PF – Washington

45. Timberwolves – Chris Johnson – PF/C – LSU

46. Cavaliers – Dante Cunningham – SF/PF – Villanova

47. Timberwolves – Curtis Jerrells – PG – Baylor

48. Suns – Tyrese Rice – PG– Boston College

49. Hawks – DeMarre Carroll – SF/PF – Missouri

50. Jazz – Vyacheslav Kravtsov – C -BC Kyiv

51. Spurs – Henk Norel – PF/C – DKV Joventut

52. Pacers – Wesley Matthews – SG – Marquette

53. Spurs – Milenko Tepic – PG/SG – Partizan Belgrade

54. Bobcats – Robert Dozier – SF/PF – Memphis

55. Blazers – A.J. Price – PG – UConn

56. Blazers – Garret Siler – C – Augusta State

57. Suns – Jerel McNeal – SG – Marquette

58. Celtics – Nando De Colo – PG/SG – Cholet Basket

59. Lakers – Alade Aminu – PF/C – Georgia Tech

60. Heat – Vladimir Dasic – SF – Buducnost Podgorica

2009 NBA Mock Draft

After a long wait, Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio has declared for the 2009 NBA Draft. This has bottom feeders rejoicing. Especially the Kings as they look to improve on their point guard situation. Sorry, but Bobby Jackson and Beno Udrih aren’t gonna take them to the next level. As Rubio enters, other big names have made the big decision. Along with Rubio, guys like Austin Daye and Patrick Patterson have declared, while former freshmen Al-Farouq Aminu, Willie Warren, and Ed Davis decided to return to school. There’s a big shake up at the top now.

Back to Rubio now. Most people still have Blake Griffin as the top prospect. That’s really not debatable at the moment. The thing with Rubio is that some teams would be willing to take him at #1. In particular the Kings and T-Wolves.  Those teams would probably rather have the #2 pick than # 1. It gives them less pressure, and they don’t have to reach. Rubio would fill those team’s PG needs well. He is the best PG in the draft. That may hurt Jennings slightly as he went in as the best PG prior to Rubio’s decision. Don’t think He can dance into a top 3 spot though. The camps have yet to occurred and there’s always at least 1 guy who bolsters their draft stock heavily. Jennings May be that guy as teams haven’t seen as much of him this season. Think Joe Alexander from last year.

Rubio’s game is no joke. He’s so fluid in his decision making, it’s almost as if he knows exactly how every aspect of the defense is going to work. He’s on the tall end of point guards at 6′3. That helps him a lot as he’s looking to make the right play. He knows how to score well  and uses both hands well. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s no clumsy European player either. His main weakness is his jump shot. It’s respectable, but it’s not something a team would want to depend on in a live or die situation. He’s proved he can play against NBA talent already and is a top 5 lock.

As far as prospects go, there are distinct talent levels that I see. Blake Griffin stands alone at the top. At the moment, he’s just that extra level ahead of the field. Then’s there’s Thabeet and Rubio. They could challenge for the #1 spot if a team is picking specifically for position. They will probably go 2 and 3. Behind them are Jordan Hill and James Harden. They won’t be a #1 pick but are top 10 picks. After that, there are two other groups. There’s the more experienced college players. They include guys like Henderson, Clark, Lawson, Blair, and others. One of them will shoot up to a team that really likes what they have to offer. The other group is the “one and done” group.  This includes Derozan, Evans, and Jennings. They could fall anywhere in the lottery. These are the big potential guys.

2009 NBA Mock Draft – First Round

1 Sacramento Kings- Ricky Rubio PG Spain 6′3

The Kings have a very good big man duo in Hawes and Thompson. That doesn’t rule Griffin though. The Kings will have a tough time not picking him, but they really need a point guard. Rubio could be their starting point guard from day 1 and for the next decade. They don’t have any other big positional needs as they have young talent. Rubio gives them one of the league’s best young back courts.

2 Washington Wizards- Blake Griffin PF Oklahoma 6′10

The Wizards take Griffin with the #2 pick. This probably  marks the end of Antwan Jamison as a member of their squad. Griffin quickly gives them a scorer down low and another shot blocker. He puts them back into the playoff race and becomes the immediate favorite for the ROY trophy.

3 LA Clippers- Hasheem Thabeet C UConn 7′3

The Clippers are in a tough situation. They are stacked with talent, but they have no chemistry and are in a dangerous cap situation. Their wing situation is pretty good with Thortan and Gordan. They need to unload the contracts and start over. Thabeet will take time to become a factor on offense, but gives them a great defensive big man.

4 OKC Thunder- James Harden SG Arizona 6′5

The Thunder can go with Hill or Harden. The real decision is if they want Durant at the 2 and Green at the 3, or slide them up to the 3 and 4, respectively. The Thunder have depth at the guard positions and I think they’ll move their stars to their weak spots. Harden an upgrade over Sefolosha.

5 Minnesota T-Wolves- Brandon Jennings PG Lottomatica Roma 6′2

The Wolves need a better point guard then Telfair to take the next step. Jennings is already an upgrade over him. They already have a very good big man duo in Love and Jefferson so Hill would just be a 6th man. With this pick, the Wolves have a solid 5 with Jennings, Foye , Gomes, Love, and big Al.

6 Memphis Grizzlies- Jordan Hill PF Arizona 6′10

The Grizzlies have two big needs, point guard and shooting guard. I like Conley a lot and they’re are many good point guards available later on. Hill is the best player available and fits one of their big needs. This would be a no brainer for them.

7 GS Warriors- Tyreke Evans G Memphis 6′5

He’s the best combo guard in the draft. The Warriors have young talent upfront and then get a little thinner in the back court. They will most likely get rid of Crawford and Evans is the perfect replacement. He’s seems to be a good point guard for their system. Average effort on defense, and shot happy.

8 NY Knicks- Earl Clark F Louisville 6′9

Clark is the ideal PF for D’Antoni’s system. He long, quick, and a great athlete. He would be an immediate impact guy for them off the bench and possible starter if they let Lee go. Definitely an upgrade over Jared Jeffries.

9 Toronto Raptors- Demar DeRozan G/F USC 6′7

The Raptors will be picking from one of the numerous choices of wings. It could be any of them. Last week I had Budinger, this week I have the freak from Compton. They get the best leaper in the draft, and one of the best players potential wise.

10 Milwuakee Bucks- Gerald Henderson SG Duke 6′5

Michael Redd is one of the league’s best scorers but he can’t stay on the floor. They will look to find the most NBA ready backup. Henderson doesn’t have good handles or a great jumper, but is the best defender out of the group. He’s very athletic and is ready to make an impact right away.

11 NJ Nets- Terrance Williams G/F Louisville 6′6

The nets don’t really have much depth at the wing positions, or at point guard. WIlliams could start right away for them and let Dooling be the backup point guard. He’s this year’s Brandon Rush. However, him or Chase Budinger will be seen as the weak link of the group and may not be drafted in the lottery.

12 Charlotte Bobcats- James Johnson PF Wake Forrest 6′9

The Bobcats have Juan Howard and DeSagana Diop as there backup big guys. They need to fix that in order to make the playoffs next season. They will be picking for position at this point. It will either be Johnson to help fix that situation, or Budinger to fix the situation that has Radman as their backup wing. Keep an eye on them moving up to Minnesota’s pick to snatch Thabeet if they have luck in the lottery. The deal would most likely involve Raymond Felton.

13 Indiana Pacers- Dajaun Blair F/C Pitt 6′6

The pacer could buy insurance on Dunleavy with Budinger, or Ford with Lawson but they could also use a backup for Troy Murphy. The Pacers love Jeff Foster and get a similar player with Blair. They’d have the best rebounding bench in the league.

14 Pheonix Suns- Chase Budinger G/F Arizona 6′7

Steve Nash can’t play forever. Neither can Grant Hill. They could take Lawson, to help the backup PG situation, but they shouldn’t get to confident in Hill’s health.  He’s still injury prone and Budinger would give them another 3 point shooter.

15 Detroit Pistons- Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky 6′9

Sheed, AI, and Dysse may all be playing in different uniforms next season. they are content with Stuckey and Bynum and will try to add a big man. They will hope that someone doesn’t reach for Blair or Johnson before them but, they will have to end up reaching for Patterson.

16 Chicago Bulls- Stephen Curry G Davidson 6′2

This wont be the pick if Ben Gordan stays, so don’t complain about their loaded backcourt. I personally think Ben Gordan will leave. He passed on 58 mil.  Most people say he wants more money, but I don’t thinks he really likes being the second or third guy. He wants to be the main man on his team. Some other team will offer him that money. Curry would work perfectly beside both Hinrich and Rose. Those two guys can guard opposing 2’s while Curry guards the 1. I think we all know that offense really isn’t a big problem for him.

17 Philadelphia 76ers- Ty Lawson PG North Carolina 6′

The Sixers get there long term, possibly new, starting point guard. There’s many things that you can knock on this guy for, his size, shooting, ect. There’s one big reason why he’s a lottery level prospect though, he’s productive. He had one of the best, if no the best productivity levels in the nation.

18 Minnesota T-Wolves- Austin Daye F Gonzaga 6′10

After drafting Jennings, they have the luxury to pick a high potential guy. If Daye gets stronger, he could be a top ten scorer. High teens at least. They need to give him a work ethic and some serious weight training.

19 Atlanta Hawks- Jonny Flynn PG Syracuse 6′

The Haws are looking to move up the ranks and become a contender. Acie Law is not the player everyone expected him to be and they could use another backup 1. Flynn gives them a high energy guy that never quits. Their bench would be bolstered buy another impact player.

20 Utah Jazz- Eric Maynor PG VCU 6′3

The Jazz lose so much momentum and productivity when Deron WIlliams steps off the court. Brevin Knight just doesn’t get the job done. The Jazz could snag combo guard Jrue Holiday, but they can’t afford to have another guy who can’t hit a jumper consistently. Teague is another option but just not a Sloan type of player.

21 New Orleans Hornets- BJ Mullens C Ohio St. 7′

The Hornets look for some help down low and take Kwa… sorry BJ Mullens. Mullens has one of the best potentials in the draft. The likelihood of reaching that is 1:100. I’m not sating it won’t happen but, don’t bet on it. The lucky thing for him is that he had one full year of disappointment before entering the draft. Unlike Kwame who had huge expectations.

22 Dallas Mavericks- Jrue Holiday G UCLA 6′3

The Mavs could very easily lose Kidd this off-season. Holiday has the ability to run an offense. It’s a safe move because if Kidd stays, he could develop into his successor and be a possible upgrade over Antoine Wright.

23 Sacramento Kings- Gani Lawal F/C Georgia Tech 6′10

The Kings make their first pick look smarter as they get a serviceable backup big man. Lawal won’t be anything too special, but will be an immediate role player for the Kings. He’ll be their energy guy off the bench.

24 Portland Trailblaers- Jeff Teague G Wake Forrest 6′2

Teague is a guy that most people think should stay. I am one of them. If he does stay where he is, I have Portland snagging him at 24. All in the hopes of that he doesn’t end up like Jerryd Bayless.

25 OKC Thunder- Sam Young SF Pitt 6′6

The Thunder would like to take Lawal here but will settle on Sam Young. He’s not going to be a star, but a good role player. The second coming of James Posey.

26 Chicago Bulls- Tyler Hansbrough PF North Carolina 6′8

The Bulls will go with a guard and a big guy with their two first rounders. Adding Hansbrough gives them an undersized hustle guy. He is one of the more interesting prospects as people try to predict his jump to the NBA.

27 Memphis Grizzlies- Wayne Ellington SG North Carolina 6′5

A lot of people expect a point guard here but I have them taking Ellington. He’s definitely an upgrade over Greg Buckner. They have an early second rounder and there are 3 point guards left that could fall to the. Calathes, Collison, and Mills with Toney Douglas right behind them.

28 Minnesota T-Wolves- Omri Casspi SF Macabbi Tel Aviv 6′8

The T-wolves have 3 first rounders and the luxury of taking a bang or bust European player. Casspi is a highly skilled forward, similar to Hedo Turkgolu.

29 LA Lakers- Jeff Pendergraph PF Arizona St. 6′9

The Lakers are obviously a very good team. Very few weaknesses on their team. The Lakers just get some Bynum insurance by taking Pendergraph.

30 Cleveland Cavaliers- Damion James F Texas 6′7

The Cavs are also a very good team with not many weak spots. They could look to find a successor to Z, but there no big guys available at this point. Damion James is a very hard working player who will hit the boards. This pick is very hard to predict because they might just pick whoever will be the best buddy to LeBron.

2009 NBA Mock Draft – 2nd Round

31 Sacramento Kings- Dajaun Summers SF Georgetown 6′8

32 Portland Trailblazers- Jeff Adrien PF UConn 6′7

33 Washington Wizards- Patrick Mills PG St. Mary’s 5′11

34 Denver Nuggets- Taj Gibson PF USC 6′9

35 Memphis Grizzlies- Nick Calathes G Florida 6′5

36 Detroit Pistons- Dante Cunningham F Villanova

37 San Antonio Spurs- Tyler Smith F Tennessee 6′7

38 Portland Trailblazers- Danny Green G/F North Carolina 6′5

39 Detroit Pistons- Dionte Christmas SG Temple 6′5

40 Charlotte Bobcats- Darren Collison PG UCLA 6′

41 Milwaukee Bucks- Robert Dozier SF Memphis 6′10

42 LA Lakers- Toney Douglas PG Flortidda St. 6′1

43 Miami Heat- Marcus Thorntan SG LSU 6′4

44 Detroit Pistons- Derrick Brown SF Xavier 6′7

45 Minnesota T-Wolves- Jodie Meeks SG Kentucky 6′4

46 Cleveland Cavaliers- Victor Claver F Pamesa Valencia 6′10

47 Minnesota T-Wolves- Michael Washington PF Arkansas 6′10

48 Phoenix Suns- AJ Price PG UConn 6′2

49 Atlanta Hawks- Josh Heytvelt F/C Gonzaga 6′10

50 Utah Jazz- Jermaine Taylor SG Central Florida 6′4

51 San Antonio Spurs- Lee Cummard G/F BYU 6′7

52 Indiana Pacers- Jerel McNeal G Marquette 6′3

53 San Antonio Spurs-Leo Lyons PF Missouri 6′9

54 Charlotte Bobcats- Alade Aminu PF Georgia Tech 6′10

55 Portland Trailblazers- Greivis Vasquez G Maryland 6′5

56 Portland Trailblazers- Jonas Jerebko SF Angelico Biella 6′9

57 Phoenix Suns- Micah Downs SG Gonzaga 6′7

58 Boston Celtics- Luke Harangody PF Motre Dame 6′7

59 LA Lakers- Sergio Llull PG Real Madrid 6′3

60 Miami Heat- Nando De Colo G Cholet 6′5