There are two certainties about today’s 2009 NBA Draft: 1) Blake Griffin will be the first pick; 2) Dick Vitale will freak out after a few teams pass on Tyler Hansbrough. Other than that, it’s a complete unknown. They’ve been
There are two certainties about today’s 2009 NBA Draft: 1) Blake Griffin will be the first pick; 2) Dick Vitale will freak out after a few teams pass on Tyler Hansbrough.
Other than that, it’s a complete unknown. They’ve been calling this a weak draft for quite a while, but it could certainly end up being one of the most entertaining in years.
Most years, analysts have a pretty good idea of how the lottery (first 14 picks) will likely play out, or at least the two or three players each team is deciding between. This year, everyone is reporting different information and each team seems to be clueless as to who will even be available when their turn comes.
I don’t happen to think that this draft is as weak as most do. There may not be the sure-thing superstars at the top, but I think the quality depth is there.
After the Clippers select Griffin with the first pick, a number of interesting scenarios could play out. The Grizzlies hold the second pick and many believe the next best player to be Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio. However, he has shown little interest in playing for Memphis and has been not so subtle to Grizzlies executives to make that point known.
So the Grizzlies may elect to go with UConn big man Hasheem Thabeet, the 7’3” shot blocker whose game has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few seasons. Or they may trade the pick to one of the many teams enamored with the 18-year-old Rubio’s abilities.
Then there are guys like Stephen Curry (Davidson), DeMar DeRozan (USC), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse), Jordan Hill (Arizona) and Brandon Jennings (Italy) who could all fall anywhere from the third pick to the bottom of the lottery.
Additionally, the dynamic duo from the defending-champion UNC Tar Heels, Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson, are expected to go anywhere from the 10th pick to the bottom of the first round.
All this unpredictability makes for high drama, as well as a great justification if 95% of my picks turn out to be wrong. So with that built-in excuse in mind, I will do my best to determine who will land where in today’s draft.
• Sports writer David Simon is a former NBA news editor and can be reached at 245-3681 ext. 237 or at dsimon@kauaipubco.com.
