2009 NBA Draft

What better a place to start than where half the league does each offseason? That's right, the 2009 NBA Draft!

This draft was an especially hard one to predict because of the overwhelming amount of mediocre talent. From top-to-bottom, there were only marginal differences in potential and among players in NBA readiness compared to other recent drafts. Sure, Blake Griffin was by far the surest bet, but what I'm really getting at here is that there were a lot of players in this draft who are decent, but not very many with the ability to truly stand out. The best player at every position in this draft will not be a top 5 player at any position in the NBA in the next 5 years. That is why so many NBA GMs were calling this a weak draft.

The thing that stands out to me about this draft class is that there are a lot of players who could be average NBA players, which is actually quite rare for a draft. Take the last 5 draft classes, how many players do you see contributing? About half, at best. I truly think about half the players in this draft have that ability, about many will get the opportunity to show it, first rounder or not. The NBA is going to need to go the way of cheap young players whose contract does not overshadow their production, which is where these rookies will be able to come in. The NBA minimum is not a bad offer to a 2nd round pick, and many of the 2nd rounders this year are worth it... i.e. Donte Cunningham, Dejaun Summers, Jeff Pendegraph, Sam Young, Dejuan Blair has already signed for more than that, so has Jodie Meeks, Derrick Brown should find a spot somewhere, Chase Budinger will sure get picked up by the Rockets, as will Marcus Thornton by the Hornets and Danny Green by the Cavs... and there are those players who will get a 10-day contract at least once this upcoming season, like Dozier, Nivins, AJ Price and Goran Suton.

So now that I've made my point about the depth of mediocrity in this Draft, let's get to the business of pointing out the odd picks that went down this year.

Picks:

4. Tyreke Evans

Thing is, I like this pick. Tyreke really knows how to get in scoring position and can instantly create offense, something Sacremento really, really lacks. I don't know if he will be the point guard of the future for them, but I do think he fits in well into their core and will help get some easy buckets.

The weirdness of this pick is obviously that Ricky Rubio was still on the board. The Kings had been trying to move up for weeks before the draft in hopes of securing Rubio, but by the time the draft actually comes around, they are sick of him because of his contractual issues ($6.6 MILLION BUYOUT!!!)

I see why the would hesitate on picking him up, but let's be honest. This is the worst team in the league and they can afford to wait two years to get Rubio if they can't work out a buyout. Rubio already is an international stud with Star-power written all over him. That is enough for the Kings to risk picking him in itself, and I can't really see why the didn't. Petrie has a history of questionable picks (see '08 pick Thompson, '07 Hawes, '06 Douby), but we'll see in a couple of years whether this one works out for him.

6. Johnny Flynn

I think Flynn is a superb athlete and a true point guard. But the TimberLOLves had just picked up Rubio. When it happened, everyone in the draft green room paused for a collective, WTF? moment. I can see building up trade assetts and getting some insurance in case Rubio has to stay in Spain, but they had three other first round picks to do that. They missed up a chance to shore up their off-guard spot with Derozan or Curry, either should have fit in well with Rubio, especially a couple years down the road. I feel like David Kahn is a smart man and will continue to change his roster as the season goes, so here's hoping he pulls something crafty out of drafting PGs back to back.

7. Stephen Curry

The Dubs already have a starting combo guard in Ellis and actually 90% of their lineup is pretty much an off-guard anyways. I guess this pick allows Nellie to put a lineup of just shooters on the court that don't play defense. Either way, the Warriors have talented pieces and should be able to swing some pieces in the near future to put together a competitive lineup, just as soon as Nellie retires...

13. Tyler Hansborough

LOL. Larry Bird loves white boys. Expected Blair to go here, but glad he slipped (Bulls bias).

15. Austin Daye

Detroit must think Tayshaun is more valuable to them than he really is, because Daye looks like a spitting image (his game isn't). Daye can shoot, and rebound if his effort and confidence is there, but was the definition of inconsistency in college. Might have been a reach here, but the potential is there, so can't blame the Pistons too much. I guessed they would have taken BJ Mullens, but the project there is even bigger.

16. James Johnson

Not too strange of a pick, in that Johnson is meaty and should be able to play the power foward... too bad he is convinced he is a small forward. I think the Bulls could have really used Blair and would have been a great value here. Once again, though, can't blame the Bulls too much because Johnson does have more potential and the Bulls are one of the NBA's youngest teams.

18. Ty Lawson

This made more sense once it was announced that the Wolves traded the pick to Denver, but at the time, WTF!?!??!? Kahn why do you love PGs sooo much?!??!?

22. Victor Klaver

The player that most predicted Portland to take with 33rd pick. I guess they really, really liked him or felt some other team did enough that he wouldn't be around then. Either way, it is a guaranteed contract to a player unlikely to play this year, and that is usually not wise. On the other hand, if the there is anyone who can afford it is Paul Allen (owns a $200 million yacht, 'nough said).

26. Taj Gibson

A player not projected to go in the first round in any mock draft I read (RealGM, NBAdraft, DraftXpress, ESPN, some others I can't think of right now...). Also, the bulls picked a PF with their early pick, unless they too think Johnson is really a SF. Once again, I think Blair would have been the perfect pick for the Bulls here, seeing who they have in the post that can provide offense... NO ONE!!! And with the 26th pick at that, incredible value for a man-child who dominated in college and is along the mold of Millsap and Maxiell.

27. Demarre Carol

Ok... I guess this was Memphis's last pick and they wouldn't be able to take him later, but I don't think he deserves guaranteed money and there were better players still available. Still, not a completely horrible pick in my mind.

30. Christian Eyenga

I get that the guy is super athletic, but once again, at the cost of guaranteed money? As of today he signed a contract in Spain and will not play in the NBA the next 3 years... great pick Cavs.

37. Dejaun Blair

Just because everyone passed on him. Definitely a first round talent (though probably not lottery level due to injury concerns and height).

38. Jon Brockman

A white version of Blair, only much worse at offense. 6th in NCAA in rebounds last year (11.2 per game) is worth a look, but I don't think most expected him to get drafted, especially not this high. I like Brockman, though, so I can't hate and I'm glad he made it and will now get a chance for minutes on the Kings (traded on draft night by Blazers).

44. Chase Buddinger

Listed at #25 on NBAdraft.net's mock and was considered a lottery pick by many up until the tournament. After seeing his play in the Vegas summer league, he was worthy of a first round pick and I think many of those teams who skipped him in the late 1st will regret it... ehem... Cavs... ehem...

48. Taylor Griffin

No, he will not somehow get better because his brother was the number one pick.

55. Patty Mills

Expected him to go higher, but honestly I think this was a more appropriate place for him. His recent injury will hurt his ability to make it in the NBA since teams will forget he exists as he plays overseas for the next few years, though I guess he still has a possibility of making it.

Undrafted:

Dionte Christmas - Should have been taken over more than half the 2nd round. Guy can really shoot (only 35%, but on 9 attempts per game as the premier player on his team, also 57% of his shots are 3's), back-to-back-to-back A-10 scoring titles, guarded Harden when they played ASU, scored 35 points to help Temple upset #8 ranked Tennessee on 12/13/08 (admitted that Tenn was ranked too highly, still...). I think it is going to be very hard for Christmas to find a spot in the NBA now that every team passed on him. I'm saddened that he is once again being overlooked, but I guess his NBA role is 3pt specialist off the bench and all any GM probably looked at was his overall 3pt percentage.

Josh Heytvelt - Skilled big man on a very good college team. I think he would have been worth a 2nd round pick, though his ability to really play in the NBA is about as good as Aaron Gray's (in case you don't know, Aaron Gray sucks, a lot). Don't take that to mean they play the same game because they don't. Heytvelt is way more athletic, way more of a badass and a good shooter. Just saying that neither can really defend an NBA center or even hold down the paint for even a few minutes a game. Also, props for being a real college student and not just an athlete (http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=8848).

Jeff Adrien - A beast on a great college team. Not saying he is good, but if you have seen him, you know he is strong enough to play in the NBA and has the heart to do so, though certainly not skilled enough yet.

Jerel McNeal - Not really surrised he didn't get picked, but he is a very good shooter and defender off the bench, much in the way of Jennero Pargo, only smarter and better at defense. Also, got to give props to another Chi-town product (Hillcrest, the first team I ever made a 3 pointer against).