May 25th NBA Mock Draft

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin PF Oklahoma

This is a slam dunk pick; it has to be Griffin and no one else. Griffin is the lowest risk and highest reward player in the draft, which is incredibly rare.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet C UCONN

Griffin has been the number one pick since last June, making the second pick the first real debate in the draft. I think it should be Rubio but there was an early report that he might not want to play there. It has also been widely reported that Memphis loves Thabeet. If I was to guess today, it would be the UCONN center but I think it would be a mistake.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio PG Spain

I think that if Rubio is available, Sam Presti will take him and not look back. He is the best talent available and the best pick even if he plays the same position as Russell Westbrook. OKC could decide to move Westbrook to the two, or trade Rubio for a lower pick and more assets.

4. Sacramento Kings – Brandon Jennings PG Italy

The Kings couldn’t have had a worse draw in the lottery. They desperately wanted Rubio and now it looks like they might have to reach for a point guard, which they need in the worst sort of way. I don’t think they are going to stay at this pick. They’ll try to move up for Rubio or slide down a few picks and let somebody else take Harden. If they reach, they might as well swing for the fences and draft Jennings.

5. Washington Wizards – James Harden SG Arizona State

Many consider Harden to be the most ready-made player in the draft. With Flip Saunders taking over and Gilbert Arenas coming back from yet another injury, the Wizards could make the playoffs and Harden could help immensely.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tyreke Evans SG Memphis

The Timberwolves are likely to pick from a slew of backcourt players that includes Evans. They really need both guard positions but more so a point guard. I think they would probably nab Jennings if he was still available and they will probably take a good long look at Steph Curry.

7. Golden State Warriors – Jonny Flynn PG Syracuse

The Warriors need a backcourt mate for Monta Ellis, who was forced to play point for some of last year. Flynn might be a bit of a reach but he is a purer point guard than Curry and more ready to contribute than Jrue Holiday, both of whom will likely be in consideration for the pick.

8. New York Knicks – Stephen Curry PG Davidson

I think this is a great fit for both parties involved. The Knicks get a highly recognizable player to satisfy their fans but they also get a guy that could probably start from day one. While he only played point guard for a year, Curry showed flashes of great play making ability to go along with his deadly three point shot. He has a lot of naysayers but I think Curry will be a solid pro.

9. Toronto Raptors – Demar Derozan G/F USC

The Raptors are somewhat of a mess right now. Chris Bosh wants out but there hasn’t been any indication that the Raptors would be willing to deal him. I think they’ll probably go for the best player available which could be Derozan. Derozan is very raw but a lot of scouts think that he has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jordan Hill PF Arizona

Jordan Hill will probably get selected higher than this but if he is available here the Bucks will take him in a heartbeat. They will probably lose Charlie Villanueva this offseason, leaving a need for another post player.

11. New Jersey Nets – DeJuan Blair PF Pittsburgh

The Nets have a pretty solid young core with no real glaring positional needs. They could go with Gerald Henderson to be an eventual replacement for Vince Carter but there have been reports that the Nets are looking for a bruising post player which is exactly what DeJuan Blair. Blair should benefit from the lack of quality big men in the draft. He doesn’t have ideal height but his enormous wing span compensates for that on the defensive end.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Gerald Henderson SG Duke

Like the Nets, the Bobcats are pretty deep with young players at every position other than shooting guard. Henderson, the local kid, could be a good fit to learn behind Raja Bell.

13. Indiana Pacers – Jrue Holiday PG UCLA

The Pacers could really use a front court player but there really isn’t one available worth the 13th pick. I’ve seen Holiday all over draft boards but at the end of the day I would be surprised if he wasn’t selected in the lottery. Holiday is a versatile player that should be a tremendous defender from the get go.

14. Phoenix Suns – Ty Lawson PG North Carolina

The Suns need to find an eventual replacement for the aging Steve Nash. I think they would probably prefer Holiday but with him off the board Lawson looks like the next best point available, even if they are going away from the run-n-gun offense.

15. Detroit Pistons – Earl Clark SF Louisville

Clark is one of the many enigmas of this draft. Some days he looks like a Danny Granger clone and others you forget he’s even out on the court. He’s probably the best talent available and his versatility could earn him some early playing time.

16. Chicago Bulls – James Johnson F Wake Forest

Johnson is another versatile forward but I think his future lies at the four. The Bulls are unsure whether they can risk giving Tyrus Thomas a long term deal and Johnson would be a good backup plan if they decide to let him go.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor PG VCU

Maynor is a guy that could rise up the board after some good workouts. He has great size and was clutch more than once in his career in the NCAA tournament. He is a good fit for Philadelphia, who will be looking to draft an eventual replacement for Andre Miller.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Miami) – Jeff Teague PG Wake Forest

Earlier in the year, Teague looked like a top ten pick but he struggled mightily down the stretch which had people questioning if he really was a point guard. As discussed earlier, the Wolves have plenty of backcourt problems and will likely draft a point guard or two.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Austin Daye SF Gonzaga

Marvin Williams is a restricted free agent this offseason and there are no guarantees that he will be back. Daye looks the part of a high draft pick but his production was uneven over his two years at Gonzaga. Daye could see his stock skyrocket with impressive workouts.

20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough PF North Carolina

Hansbrough is a tough post player and while he will not be an all-star, he could definitely be a scrapper off the bench and a good fit in Utah.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Wayne Ellington SG North Carolina

Ellington would be a fantastic fit for the Hornets, who will likely look to draft a backcourt mate for Chris Paul. Ellington is a knockdown shooter that would benefit from playing with Paul and David West.

22. Dallas Mavericks – Terrence Williams SG Louisville

Ideally, a point guard would slip to Dallas but that isn’t the case in this scenario. Antoine Wright started a lot of games for the Mavs last season which says a lot about their backcourt situation. Williams had a fantastic senior season after having an inconsistent start to his career at Louisville. If he continues to build off that success, he could be a steal.

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

The Kings will probably take the best player available and Budinger, a California kid, would be a good selection for them. I personally believe that he should go higher and I wouldn’t be surprised if his stock rises after some workouts.

24. Portland Trailblazers – Nick Calathes G Florida

Calathes is a tall point guard which allows him to guard both backcourt positions. The main knock on him is his athleticism and quickness but some believe that his court savvy can compensate for that.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from San Antonio) – B.J. Mullens C Ohio State

There was once talk that Mullens could one day be a first overall pick. The only real reason he will get picked in the first round is that he is a seven footer and this draft lacks quality big men. He didn’t even start the whole season at Ohio State and he is beyond raw as a post player. We saw DeAndre Jordan slip to the second round last year and the same could happen to Mullens this year.

26. Chicago Bulls (from Denver) – Gani Lawal PF Georgia Tech

The Bulls would like to come out of this draft with a few post players and at this point Lawal could be a good gamble. He had an inconsistent season but showed signs of being a good player earlier in the year.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando) – Darren Collison PG UCLA

If Memphis passes on Rubio they could afford to take a point guard with this pick. Mike Conley looked solid toward the end of the year but they don’t have much behind him. Collison had a solid career at UCLA and projects as a good backup in the NBA.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Boston) – Sam Young SF Pittsburgh

The Wolves will probably try to trade this pick or draft an international player to stash overseas. As of now there really isn’t an international player that sticks out so they will probably look to draft best player available, which could be Young.

29. Los Angeles Lakers – DeJuan Summers SF Georgetown

Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom are both free agents after this season so the Lakers will look to take a three. Summers is yet another one of those players that flashed brilliance throughout the year but couldn’t put it all together.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Danny Green G/F North Carolina

Green was a fantastic role player during his four years at UNC and could fit right in with the Cavs. I don’t expect Green to be around this late on draft day but in this scenario he falls to the last pick of the first round.