Check out my NBA Draft Grades 

7:14 ET: Instead of doing a new redraft 30 minutes before the NBA Draft, I will do this Live Draft Blog, keeping you updated with everything to do with the draft.

7:22 ET: Blake Griffin will go #1 to the Clippers. Barring any massive changes, the Grizzles keep pick the 2nd pick and use that on Hasheem Thabeet. 

7:25 ET: Vince Carter has already been traded to Orlando, Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland, and Richard Jefferson to the Spurs. Now the Suns and the Warriors are close to a deal that could send Amar’e Stoudemire to Golden State for Andris Biedrins, Brandon Wright, Marco Belinelli, and the 7th pick. More to come to this prominent rumor.

7:30 ET: David Stern takes the podium and the draft is underway.

7:34 ET: LA Clippers on the clock

PF/C Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) 

I don’t know exactly where the Clippers will put Griffin, maybe they trade Chris Kaman, or agree to a buyout with Zach Randolph, but Griffin is the best player in the draft and as the Clippers are a team that desperately needs a savior, they need to take him. It’s much a better decision than taking Ricky Rubio, who may never develop, especially since the Clippers already have Baron Davis at point guard.

NBA Comparison: Amar’e Stoudemire

7:39 ET: With the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Blake Griffin, power forward, Oklahoma

Everyone knew this was happening. No surprise here. The Clippers will now have to move either Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, and Zach Randolph to make room for their young phenom.

7:41 ET: Memphis on the clock

C Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)

The Grizzles have tried to move this pick, but attempts have reportedly failed. The Grizzles take the best available player not named Ricky Rubio, who doesn’t want to play for the Grizzles. I would be surprised if they took anyone other than Thabeet.

NBA Comparison: Dikembe Mutumbo 

 

7:47 ET: With the second pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzles select Hasheem Thabeet, center, Connecticut 

I would have taken Jordan Hill because I think he has more upside and fills a bigger need at power forward, but there is no question that a Dikembe Mutumbo esque shot blocker like Thabeet will have a big impact on a team.

7:49 ET: Oklahoma City on the clock

SG/SF James Harden (Arizona State)

The Thunder think Harden is the perfect compliment to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and with Thabeet off the board, the Thunder take Harden year. This could be Rubio, but I don’t think they want to move Russell Westbrook to shooting guard 

NBA Comparison: Brandon Roy 

7:54:  With the third pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select James Harden, shooting guard, Arizona State

This was the right move. Harden fits with Durant and Westbrook perfectly and adds young leadership to this young league. 

7:56: Sacramento on the Clock

PG Ricky Rubio (Spain) 

The Kings really need a point guard and a face of the franchise and Rubio would be both.

NBA Comparison: Steve Nash 

7:58: With the fourth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Tyreke Evans, point guard Memphis  

I don’t like this pick. Rubio has more upside and is more of a true point guard. 

8:00: Minnesota on the Clock 5th and 6th pick

PG Ricky Rubio (Spain) and SG Stephen Curry (Davidson)

Rubio gives the Wolves a passer point guard and Curry gives them a shooter as they add two nice pieces to their team. Their back court is very empty right now. 

8:11 With the 5th pick in the NBA Draft the Wolves select Ricky Rubio, point guard, Spain

8:11 With the 6th pick in the NBA Draft the Wolves select Jonny Flynn, point guard, Syracuse

I like the Rubio pick, but why take another point guard when you need a shooting guard. How will Rubio and Flynn co exist. 

8:13 Golden State on the clock

SG Stephen Curry (Davidson) 

Is this too high for Curry? Yes, but Nellie is picking. The man wants a roster of 12 scorers and is very close to having one. Curry could be that missing ingredient in Nellie’s recipe for disaster. Have fun stopping anyone.

NBA Comparison: Jason Terry 

8:16 With the 7th pick in the NBA Draft the Warriors select Stephen Curry, shooting guard, Davidson 

I knew I would happen, but I don’t think he fits. The Warriors need size and defense and Curry can’t do that for them. He will play shooting guard alongside Monta Ellis as the Warriors just finalized a trade where they send Jamal Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. 

8:19 New York on the clock

SG Demar DeRozan (USC)

Right now the Knicks just have Quentin Richardson and Larry Hughes at shooting guard. Let me rephrase that, right now the Knicks just have Quentin Richardson’s expiring contract and Larry Hughes’ expiring contract. Both will be gone in 2010 as the Knicks go after LeBron. DeRozan is the perfect athletic player to play in D’Antoni’s system and would fill what is soon to be a need at shooting guard.  

NBA Comparison: Vince Carter

8:21 With the 8th pick in the NBA Draft the Knicks select Jordan Hill, power forward, Arizona

I predicted DeRozan here, but I like Hill as a fit more. The Knicks need bigs badly and Hill can run D’Antoni’s system. Think Chris Bosh

8:24 Toronto Raptors on the clock

SG Demar DeRozan (USC)

Jason Kapono is gone via trade so the Raptors now have a huge hole at shooting guard. DeRozan might not be NBA ready get, but they can’t ignore his Vince Carter esque athleticism. Hopefully he’ll work out better than Carter did in Toronto.

NBA Comparison: Vince Carter

8:27 With the 9th pick in the NBA Draft the Raptors select Demar DeRozan, shooting guard, USC

Slam Dunk pick here. The Raptors need a shooting guard and take a huge upside shooting guard.

8:29 Milwaukee Bucks on the Clock

F Earl Clark (Louisville) 

The one good thing about the Bucks’ horrible trade of Richard Jefferson to the Spurs is that they can resign either Ramon Sessions or Charlie Villanueva, whereas both were likely gone before. The Bucks will likely take the best available player at either power forward or point guard and resign Villanueva if they take a point guard and Sessions if they take a power forward. Clark’s the best available at either of those positions. Scott Skiles will love his toughness and versatility.

NBA Comparison: Boris Diaw

8:33 With the 10th pick in the NBA Draft the Bucks select Brandon Jennings, point guard, Italy

Apparently the Bucks are not as sure that they will bring back Ramon Sessions as I thought. Jennings has higher upside than anyone on the board, but won’t do a lot for them next year.  

8:35 New Jersey Nets are on the clock

F Earl Clark (Louisville)

New Jersey hopefully has realized that Bobby Simmons is not a longterm answer at small forward. Clark is NBA ready now and can play small forward as that do everything kind of guy. He also can move to power forward if needed.

NBA Comparison: Boris Diaw

8:38 With the 11th pick in the NBA Draft, the Nets select Terence Williams, shooting guard, Louisville

Nets messed this one up. I was afraid they’d do this. There was a rumor that the Nets gave him a guarantee, which i didn’t believe. Williams will likely replace Vince Carter at shooting guard and could play small forward, but Clark would have been a better fit. 

8:41 Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock

SG Wayne Ellington (North Carolina)

The Bobcats need a set up scorer and a shooting guard as they have lacked both of those since Jason Richardson was traded. Raja Bell only has one more year on his contract and is better suited as a stopped and a shooter. The Bobcats will have their choice between Gerald Henderson and Wayne Ellington. I have Henderson higher rated, but I don’t think that UNC alum Michael Jordan over a Dukie. Now you might be thinking that Jordan wouldn’t just pick someone over a better player just because of college allegiances, but this is also the guy who drafted Kwame Brown #1, Adam Morrison #3, and took DJ Augustin last year when he already had Raymond Felton. Look at Jordan’s drafting record in Charlotte and you’ll see that he has already taken 2 former Tarheels, Sean May and Raymond Felton in his short time.

NBA Comparison: Richard Hamilton

8:47 With the 12th pick in the NBA Draft, the Bobcats select Gerald Henderson, shooting guard, Duke

Hey, Michael Jordan didn’t mess this one up.  

8:49 Indiana Pacers are on the clock

PF DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh)

The Pacers need an athletic big who can help with interior defense. Blair fits.  

NBA Comparison: Craig Smith 

8:51 With the 13th pick in the NBA Draft, the Pacers select Tyler Hansbourgh, power forward, North Carolina

Hansbourgh is a good college player, but he doesn’t fit with the Pacers and their needs. 

8:54 Phoenix Suns are on the clock

PG Ty Lawson (North Carolina)

Steve Nash is sadly not going to be able to play forever. I’ve been saying that they should take a point guard for the past few years, Taureen Green in 2007 and Mario Chalmers last year, but they haven’t yet. However, they get their best opportunity to do so here. Lawson is one of the best players available. He would be one of the fastest players in the league as the Suns move forward with the run and gun offense once again under Alvin Gentry. He also, as did both Green and Chalmers, won a national championship so he is very experienced for a college kid and is a poised leader.

NBA Comparison: Jameer Nelson 

8:56 With the 14th pick in the NBA Draft, the Suns select Earl Clark, small forward, Louisville

Clark fits for the Suns very, very well, but they need a true point guard of the future so I’m not too excited about this for the Suns. 

8:59 Lottery is over I’m out. I’m tired.

If anyone listened to me, send me an email at stevenlourie@yahoo.com and tell me what you thought of the idea, because I kind of did improv the idea. Thanks.