Smills' mock draft

[Smills91]

Update 9.1 6-23-09

1) Clippers - Blake Griffin
2) Grizzlies - Ricky Rubio* trade to Minnesota
3) Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet
4) Kings - Tyreke Evans
5) T-Wolves - Jordan Hill* trade to Memphis
6) T-Wolves - James Harden* Trade to Memphis
7) Warriors - Stephen Curry
8) Knicks - Jrue Holiday
9) Raptors - DeMar DeRozan
10) Bucks - Jonny Flynn
11) Nets - Gerald Henderson**(trade to Chicago for #16/#26)
12) Bobcats - Terrence Williams
13) Pacers - DeJuan Blair
14) Suns - Brandon Jennings[/b]
15) Pistons - Earl Clark
16) Bulls - Omri Casspi** (traded to NJN)
17) Sixers - BJ Mullens
18) T-Wolves - Ty Lawson
19) Hawks - Eric Maynor
20) Jazz - Tyler Hansbrough
21) Hornets - Marcus Thornton
22) Mavericks - Jeff Teague
23) Kings - James Johnson
24) Blazers - Sam Young
25) Thunder - Taj Gibson
26) Bulls - Patrick Mills**(traded to the NJN)
27) Grizzlies - Darren Collison
28) T-Wolves - Chase Budinger
29) Lakers - Nick Calathes
30) Cavs - Austin Daye
31) Kings - Toney Douglas

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to adjust between now and next week.

[Relentless88]

I'd think the Thunder would take Rubio if he's available at 3. Rubio/Westbrook/Durrant/Green/Who Cares....dangerous team.

[Smills91]

I'd think the Thunder would take Rubio if he's available at 3. Rubio/Westbrook/Durrant/Green/Who Cares....dangerous team.

I think you'd think wrong. Why? Cuz Westbrook is wants to be a 1, is more effective as a 1 and Harden FITS with that group MUCH better than Rubio. Rubio may be a better prospect than Harden alone, but when you factor in roster dynamics I think Harden with Westbrook+Durant > Rubio with Westbrook+Durant. His game is so complementary to those players.

[Relentless88]

I'd think the Thunder would take Rubio if he's available at 3. Rubio/Westbrook/Durrant/Green/Who Cares....dangerous team.

I think you'd think wrong. Why? Cuz Westbrook is wants to be a 1, is more effective as a 1 and Harden FITS with that group MUCH better than Rubio. Rubio may be a better prospect than Harden alone, but when you factor in roster dynamics I think Harden with Westbrook+Durant > Rubio with Westbrook+Durant. His game is so complementary to those players.

I guess you're right, the Thunder are lucky, they can't go wrong in this draft.

[Smills91]

I'd think the Thunder would take Rubio if he's available at 3. Rubio/Westbrook/Durrant/Green/Who Cares....dangerous team.

I think you'd think wrong. Why? Cuz Westbrook is wants to be a 1, is more effective as a 1 and Harden FITS with that group MUCH better than Rubio. Rubio may be a better prospect than Harden alone, but when you factor in roster dynamics I think Harden with Westbrook+Durant > Rubio with Westbrook+Durant. His game is so complementary to those players.

I guess you're right, the Thunder are lucky, they can't go wrong in this draft.

That's very true.

[Smills91]

Updated to reflect today's trades.

Update 9.1 6-23-09

1) Clippers - Blake Griffin
2) Grizzlies - Ricky Rubio* trade to Minnesota
3) Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet
4) Kings - Tyreke Evans
5) T-Wolves - Jordan Hill* trade to Memphis
6) T-Wolves - James Harden* Trade to Memphis
7) Warriors - Stephen Curry
8) Knicks - Jrue Holiday
9) Raptors - DeMar DeRozan
10) Bucks - Jonny Flynn
11) Nets - Gerald Henderson**(trade to Chicago for #16/#26)
12) Bobcats - Terrence Williams
13) Pacers - DeJuan Blair
14) Suns - Brandon Jennings[/b]
15) Pistons - Earl Clark
16) Bulls - Omri Casspi** (traded to NJN)
17) Sixers - BJ Mullens
18) T-Wolves - Ty Lawson
19) Hawks - Eric Maynor
20) Jazz - Tyler Hansbrough
21) Hornets - Marcus Thornton
22) Mavericks - Jeff Teague
23) Kings - James Johnson
24) Blazers - Sam Young
25) Thunder - Taj Gibson
26) Bulls - Patrick Mills**(traded to the NJN)
27) Grizzlies - Darren Collison
28) T-Wolves - Chase Budinger
29) Lakers - Nick Calathes
30) Cavs - Austin Daye
31) Kings - Toney Douglas

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to adjust between now and next week.

[djthesonicsfan]

Update 9.1 6-23-09

3) Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet
25) Thunder - Taj Gibson

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to adjust between now and next week.

[Winter Wonder]

Can't see both the #5 and #6 going for the #2. Vastly overpaying in and of itself. MN may draft Hill to trade to Memphis, but then would include the #18 plus, but not 5 and 6. Just giving up too much value and Kahn seems quite shrewd in his deal making.

[Smills91]

Update 9.1 6-23-09

3) Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet
25) Thunder - Taj Gibson

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to adjust between now and next week.

You better hope Memphis DOESN'T trade their pick.

[Smills91]

Update 9.2 6-24-09

1) Clippers - Blake Griffin
2) Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet
3) Thunder - James Harden
4) Kings - Ricky Rubio
5) T-Wolves - Tyreke Evans
6) T-Wolves - Stephen Curry
7) Warriors - Jordan Hill
8) Knicks - Jrue Holiday
9) Raptors - James Johnson
10) Bucks - Jonny Flynn
11) Nets - DeMar DeRozan
12) Bobcats - Terrence Williams
13) Pacers - Ty Lawson
14) Suns - Earl Clark
15) Pistons - BJ Mullens
16) Bulls - Gerald Henderson
17) Sixers - Brandon Jennings
18) T-Wolves - Sam Young
19) Hawks - Jeff Teague
20) Jazz - DeJuan Blair
21) Hornets - Marcus Thornton
22) Mavericks - Austin Daye
23) Kings - Tyler Hansbrough
24) Blazers - Eric Maynor
25) Thunder - DeMarre Carroll
26) Bulls - Omri Casspi
27) Grizzlies - Patrick Mills
28) T-Wolves - Jonas Jerebko
29) Lakers - Nick Calathes
30) Cavs - Wayne Ellington
31) Kings - Toney Douglas

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to change by tomorrow!

[Curtis Lemansky]

What kinda player do you think Jrue will be? His ceilling (as far as I heard) is 4 to Sacramento but what is his floor?

[Smills91]

What kinda player do you think Jrue will be? His ceilling (as far as I heard) is 4 to Sacramento but what is his floor?

Floor in this draft? Probably 17 Sixers. I don't see him falling past there. Likely to go in the 8-13 range IMO.

[Smills91]

10.0 6-25-09

1) Clippers - Blake Griffin
2) Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet
3) Thunder - James Harden
4) Kings - Ricky Rubio
5) T-Wolves - Tyreke Evans
6) T-Wolves - Stephen Curry
7) Warriors - Jordan Hill
8) Knicks - Jrue Holiday
9) Raptors - James Johnson
10) Bucks - Jonny Flynn
11) Nets - Terrence Williams
12) Bobcats - DeMar DeRozan
13) Pacers - DeJuan Blair
14) Suns - Brandon Jennings
15) Pistons - Earl Clark
16) Bulls - Gerald Henderson
17) Sixers - Ty Lawson
18) T-Wolves - Austin Daye
19) Hawks - BJ Mullens
20) Jazz - Sam Young
21) Hornets - Marcus Thornton
22) Blazers - Tyler Hansbrough
23) Kings - Jeff Teague
24) Mavericks - Eric Maynor
25) Thunder - DeMarre Carroll
26) Bulls - Omri Casspi
27) Grizzlies - DaJuan Summers
28) Knicks - Taj Gibson
29) Lakers - Nick Calathes
30) Cavs - Wayne Ellington
31) Kings - Toney Douglas

Bolded players that I feel confident that these players will go in THIS position.

Others are more fluid, and likely to change by tomorrow![/quote]

[killbuckner]

So Smills- you are confident those players will go in those positions? WHat do you think the over/under is for getting the right player in the right spot?

[RIPskaterdude]

I don't think that Portland moved up 2 spots just to pick Hansbrough...could be wrong, though.

[rpa]

I hate to be the negative Nancy here but I just don't see anyway we come away with Rubio. Way too many things have to happen or be true for us to get him.

The Grizz have to believe in Thabeet, the Grizz have to believe that they can't pick up their guy at 5 or 6, the Wolves can't be THAT interested in Rubio, the Thunder need to pass on [what was, as of 2-4 weeks ago] the consensus 2nd best player in the draft, AND (the part that needs to be true) the Kings would have had to be blowing the biggest smokescreen in years.

Think Ockham's Razor here. When confronted with a lot of answers, it's usually the simplest one that's correct. The above is far from simple.