June 7th Mock Draft

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin PF Oklahoma

The only thing that could change from now until draft night is the team that selects Griffin. I don’t expect anyone to match what the Clippers would be asking for, so I thoroughly expect Griffin to go to L.A. (much to his excitement, I’m sure).

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet C UCONN

I’m still not sold on this pick and I still think it would be a mistake but all signs point to Thabeet going to Memphis if the Grizzlies can’t work something out with Rubio. GM Chris Wallace and company met with Rubio in Spain recently, beginning their sales pitch to the prodigious point guard. The Grizzlies could also pick Rubio and attempt to trade down in the draft.  I don’t personally think Thabeet is a great fit but Memphis is said to be in love with the big man.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – James Harden SG Arizona State

Surely, Sam Presti wouldn’t pass on Ricky Rubio. Not unless he thought there was a better player available and Harden might be that guy. I keep reading that the Thunder really like Harden and believe he is a better fit for the team next to Russell Westbrook. Harden silenced critics who claimed he was too small and not athletic enough by measuring out over 6′5″ and performing admirably in athletic testing at the combine.

4. Sacramento Kings – Ricky Rubio PG Spain

The Kings will be jumping for joy if Rubio is still available at four. He has been the guy they have wanted for months and he would be able to fill their void at point guard immediately. Rubio has everything that scouts and executives want in a point guard prospect. He possesses great size and unbelievable court awareness and basketball IQ.

5. Washington Wizards – Jordan Hill PF Arizona

The Wizards will look to move out of this spot if possible. They believe they are a playoff team and they want to use this pick to grab a veteran. A lot of teams want to steal Stephen Curry, so it’s definitely a possibility they find a taker. If they stand pat, I expect them to take James Harden or Jordan Hill. At the least, Hill should be a spark plug off the bench as a rookie.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry PG Davidson

It has been hard to get a read on what the Timberwolves are going to do with the sixth pick. They will be selecting from a large group of guards and I believe that Curry would be the best fit, by far. Curry is the best shooter in the draft and would get a lot of open looks thanks to the attention Al Jefferson demands in the post. Additionally, Curry could form a deadly pick and roll combo with Kevin Love.

7. Golden State Warriors – Jonny Flynn PG Syracuse

Golden State would like to find a point guard to pair with Monta Ellis. I think they would favor Curry at this point but Flynn wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. His experience and leadership should give him the advantage over Holiday and Jennings.

8. New York Knicks – Jrue Holiday PG UCLA

It’s no secret that the Knicks are looking hard at Stephen Curry but I don’t think they would be totally crushed if he wasn’t available. Holiday was very impressive at the combine and is the biggest lead guard in the draft. Additionally, Holiday projects as a lock down defender.

9. Toronto Raptors – Demar Derozan G/F USC

The Raptors are in a pretty nice position to grab whatever player falls to them at nine. It’s been reported that Derozan will not slip past the Raptors. However, for a player whose lottery status is based largely on athletic ability, Derozan put on an underwhelming performance at the scouting combine.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Tyreke Evans SG Memphis

The Bucks are in cap cutting mode and expect to lose both Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva to free agency. They like Jonny Flynn a lot and they hope that Jordan Hill falls but if Evans is available, I have a hard time believing they would pass on him.

11. New Jersey Nets – Earl Clark F Louisville

Clark has been a bit of a headache for scouts over the years. Depending on when you watch him, you either love him or hate him. Nobody can hate Clark’s measurements, however. He came in at over 6′10″ with shoes and a 7′2″ wingspan. He has elite small forward size and should be able to get minutes at power forward.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – DeJuan Blair PF Pittsburgh

Blair has been impressing teams at workouts with a new slimmed down frame and his huge wingspan. While the Bobcats don’t have a dire need for a power forward, they could use some toughness up front.

13. Indiana Pacers – Brandon Jennings PG Italy

There is a strong possibility that Jennings could slip all the way to the Pacers or even to the Suns at the end of the lottery. Jennings has elite playmaking ability and is a natural point guard but there isn’t much of a body of work for him. He has decided not to participate in the Eurocamp and will have to rely on strong workouts to solidify his spot in the top of the draft.

14. Phoenix Suns – James Johnson F Wake Forest

Johnson is a guy who has slowly started to gain buzz amongst late lottery teams for his size and versatility as a frontcourt player. The Suns would love to grab a young point guard to be Steve Nash’s heir but they really need young players at all positions.

15. Detroit Pistons – Austin Daye SF Gonzaga

Daye had an interesting couple of days at the scouting combine. First he measured as one of the longest small forward prospects in NBA history but weighed in at a frail 192 lbs (20 lbs less than Kevin Durant!). Then, he rated among the worst athletes in the draft and wasn’t able to bench 185 lbs once, which wasn’t a surprise. This really just confirms what we already knew. Daye is a raw, raw prospect but he has the length and the skill set to be an intriguing player down the road.

16. Chicago Bulls – Gerald Henderson SG Duke

Henderson is a guy that could be a late lottery pick but could also slide down to the late teens and early twenties. The Bulls would like to add size but B.J. Mullens couldn’t help immediately so they can afford to pick up a wing as insurance if Ben Gordon leaves in free agency.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor PG VCU

The Sixers are targeting a point guard with this pick and should have the choice between Maynor, Teague and Lawson. Maynor gets the slight edge right now as he has fewer questions surrounding him than the other two do.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Miami) – B.J. Mullens C Ohio State

Teams are always enamored with size and potential and Mullens has both in bunches. The Wolves will probably take a point guard with their first pick, which gives them the opportunity to take a risk on a player like Mullens with this pick.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague PG Wake Forest

The Hawks have passed on point guard prospects for years but really shouldn’t have a choice this year. Teague is simply the best player available at this point. Some believe he can still move up before draft day with some impressive workouts.

20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough PF North Carolina

There were few players that helped themselves at the combine as much as Hansbrough did. He is a legit 6′10″ power forward and has teams reevaluating him. Hansbrough would be a good fit for the Jazz, who will need to add another post once either Boozer or Millsap leave for free agency.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Terrence Williams SG Louisville

This is about the floor for the athletic Louisville guard. Williams is a guy that will definitely benefit from the workout process, where he will be able to show off his highly athletic and developed game.

22. Dallas Mavericks – Ty Lawson PG North Carolina

Lawson has been receiving a lot of bad buzz as of late and it’s hard to see why. They are saying that he’s too small, can’t play in the half court and a product of the North Carolina system. With that said, he is still a tremendous value for a late first round pick and the Mavericks would be thrilled to get their hands on him.

23. Sacramento Kings (from Houston) – Chase Budinger G/F Arizona

The Kings have a lot of holes and will be drafting who they believe is the best player available with this pick. That could be Budinger, a local kid that has impressed teams with his jumper and leaping ability. At one point, Budinger was considered a future high draft pick but he looked indifferent at times and was an inconsistent defender. In the right system and with the right coaches, he could flourish.

24. Portland Trailblazers – Nick Calathes G Florida

Calathes is playing in Greece next year, so he’ll fall out of the first round, right? Well, not necessarily. A team like the Trailblazers, who have a full roster, might see that as an advantage. They can let Calathes develop in Europe for a season or so and bring him over when they need another guard.

25.  Oklahoma City Thunder (from San Antonio) – Gani Lawal PF Georgia Tech

The Thunder could use some depth in the frontcourt, so they could take a chance on Lawal and hope he develops. The Thunder also could roll the dice on a foreign player and leave him overseas.

26. Chicago Bulls (from Denver) – Darren Collison PG UCLA

The Bulls are going to need a long term backup for Derrick Rose and Collison projects to be a solid pro. Collison has been compared to Lindsay Hunter and I would imagine the Bulls would love to pick up such a player this late in the draft.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando) – Jeff Pendergraph PF USC

Pendergraph is a guy who has seen his stock rise in recent week. He measured out well at the combine and has strung together some nice workouts. In a draft void of solid bigs, Pendergraph will likely be a late first rounder.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Boston) – Wayne Ellington SG North Carolina

Ellington showed off his athleticism at the combine posting numbers consistent with the top athletes in the draft. If Ellington played as athletically as he measured, he would be a much higher pick. Regardless, Ellington is a steal this low in the draft and should contribute at least as a spot shooter in his career.

29. Los Angeles Lakers – DeJuan Summers SF Georgetown

As discussed in the last mock, the Lakers are probably going to lose either Ariza or Odom which leaves a void at small forward. Summers is pretty skilled and could thrive in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Marcus Thornton SG LSU

Thornton is one of those instant offense type guards that generally are undervalued on draft day. The Cavs are desperate to get an impact player with this spot and Thornton is one of the safest picks here, if there is such a thing this late in the draft.