2009 NBA Draft

2009 NBA Draft

ROUND 1

1 Los Angeles Clippers -- Blake Griffin
A dominant physical presence with outstanding size and strength.

2 Memphis Grizzlies -- Hasheem Thabeet
Imposing physical specimen who protects the basket.

3 Oklahoma Thunder -- James Harden
One of the most complete players in the draft.

4 Sacramento Kings -- Tyreke Evans
Excels at getting into the lane. Terrific ball-handler.

5 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Ricky Rubio
Processes the game a step ahead of everybody else.

6 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Jonny Flynn
Mature confident and quick point guard knows how to run a team

7 Golden State Warriors -- Stephen Curry
Terrific off-balance shooter. Tremendous range.

8 New York Knicks -- Jordan Hill
Productive scorer and rebounder who hasn't maxed out his potential

9 Toronto Raptors -- DeMar DeRozan
Swingman with top-flight athleticism and a high motor.

10 Milwaukee Bucks -- Brandon Jennings
Rare quickness and leaping ability. Good in traffic.

11 New Jersey Nets -- Terrence Williams
Can play point-forward with outstanding court vision.

12 Charlotte Bobcats -- Gerald Henderson
Athletic scoring guard with a versatile offensive game.

13 Indiana Pacers -- Tyler Hansbrough
Effort and intensity separate him from the pack.
14 Phoenix Suns -- Earl Clark
Long and athletic forward with a good overall skill-set.

15 Detroit Pistons -- Austin Daye
Shows great touch from all spots on the floor.

16 Chicago Bulls -- James Johnson
Handles the ball well can shoot from distance.

17 Philadelphia 76ers -- Jrue Holiday
Rebounds and blocks shots. Excellent team player.

18 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Ty Lawson (traded to Denver)
Speedy and gifted ball-handler who excels in the open floor.

19 Atlanta Hawks -- Jeff Teague
Adept at creating his own shot. Excels in transition.

20 Utah Jazz -- Eric Maynor
Gets into the lane easily. Makes excellent decisions.

21 New Orleans Hornets -- Darren Collison
Great change-of-direction speed. Premier defender.

22 Portland Trailblazers -- Victor Claver
Athletic and runs the floor well. Possesses a good basketball IQ.

23 Sacramento Kings -- Omri Casspi
Skilled forward who exhibits toughness on the boards.

24 Dallas Mavericks -- B.J. Mullens (traded to Oklahoma City)
Has tremendous presence. Is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.

25 Oklahoma Thunder -- Rodrigue Beaubois (traded to Dallas)
Long athletic and very quick. Terrific wingspan.

26 Chicago Bulls -- Taj Gibson
Long and athletic with a developing inside-out game.

27 Memphis Grizzlies -- DeMarre Carroll
Tenacious interior player with terrific physical ability.

28 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Wayne Ellington
Polished offensive player with picture-perfect form.

29 Los Angeles Lakers -- Toney Douglas (traded to New York)
Natural scorer with very good athleticism.

30 Cleveland Cavaliers -- Christian Eyenga

TEAMS WITHOUT ROUND 1 PICKS
Boston Celtics
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
San Antonio Spurs
Washington Wizards

ROUND 2

31 Sacramento Kings -- Jeff Pendergraph (traded to Portland)
Active and efficient around the basket.

32 Washington Wizards -- Jermaine Taylor (traded to Houston)
Absorbs contact and is able to finish.

33 Portland Trailblazers -- Dante Cunningham
Solid athlete who showed major improvement

34 Denver Nuggets -- Sergio Llull (traded to Houston)
Averaged 8.6 points with Real Madrid last season.

35 Detroit Pistons -- DaJuan Summers
Shoots with range will rebound and bang from the wing.

36 Memphis Grizzlies -- Sam Young
An aggressive defender and rebounder.

37 San Antonio Spurs -- DeJuan Blair
Freakish wingspan high motor productive on interior.

38 Portland Trailblazers -- Jon Brockman (traded to Sacramento)
Plays the game with reckless abandon

39 Detroit Pistons -- Jonas Jerebko
Solid athlete with great height at the forward spot.

40 Charlotte Bobcats -- Derrick Brown
Long and explosive combo-forward with energetic style.

41 Milwaukee Bucks -- Jodie Meeks
Shoots well standing still and coming off screens.

42 Los Angeles Lakers -- Patrick Beverley (traded to Miami)
Scoring guard who can light it up.

43 Miami Heat -- Marcus Thornton (traded to New Orleans)
Able to catch and shoot with a very quick release.

44 Detroit Pistons -- Chase Budinger (traded to Houston)
Uses vertical leap of over 40 inches to finish strong.

45 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Nick Calathes
Versatile playmaker with an excellent feel for the game.

46 Cleveland Cavaliers -- Daniel Green
Versatile wing performer with a nice feel for the game.

47 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Henk Norel
Terrific outside shooter for his size.

48 Phoenix Suns -- Taylor Griffin

49 Atlanta Hawks -- Sergiy Gladyr

50 Utah Jazz -- Goran Suton
Strong positional rebounder

51 San Antonio -- Jack McClinton
Prolific deep shooter with unlimited range.

52 Indiana Pacers -- A.J. Price
Cerebral point who does a good job balancing the need to score and distribute.

53 San Antonio Spurs -- Nando De Colo
Posted 13.1 points in France last season.

54 Charlotte Bobcats -- Robert Vaden (traded to Oklahoma City)
Volume shooter

55 Portland Trailblazers -- Patrick Mills
Dangerous penetrator with terrific first step.

56 Dallas Mavericks -- Ahmad Nivins
Strong frame with good length and bounce

57 Phoenix Suns -- Emir Preldzic
Loves to face the basket. Finds his teammates.

58 Boston Celtics -- Lester Hudson
Can switch to point guard slot and run an offense.

59 Los Angeles -- Chinemelu Elonu

60 Miami Heat -- Robert Dozier
Extremely long and athletic

TEAMS WITHOUT ROUND 2 PICKS
Chicago Bulls
New Jersey Nets
New York Knicks
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
New Orleans Hornets
Oklahoma City Thunder

A few general impressions...

A lot of teams drafted for need.

I wonder if Minnesota has trades in mind with taking two point guards (one of whom, Rubio, doesn't want to play for them)?

The Spurs have gotten themselves some young blood for the future.

Houston is apparently building up its talent base.

Detroit has done decently for itself.

Cleveland took a gamble with its first round pick to pick a prospect who would've been around in the second, but lucked out with its second round pick in Green. IMHO, Cleveland could've done better.

Boston's picking a point guard with its sole second round pick makes me raise an eyebrow. They were undoubtedly going for the best player left, but why is there constant speculation about the Celts shopping Rondo despite logic and Ainge's denials?