Final Mock Draft

Here it is, the end of the first round of the draft is less than 24 hours away while moves are being made like mad. This is already looking like it will be a very interesting draft with all of the moves being made, so here is one final mock draft with several trades being made. The trades will be mentioned at the first draft spot they show up at. Without any further introduction, here is the final mock draft here:

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin

This is the obvious pick, no one comes close to the impact that Griffin is expected to have. When you throw in that the Clippers said that they were going with Griffin shortly after they won the lottery, and again, this is obvious.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves - Ricky Rubio

Minnesota has been trying hard to trade up for that #2 pick with the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies have been playing hardball. With the Grizzlies rumored to be trading away Darko Milicic, it would make sense for them to accept the #5 pick and Craig Smith for the #2 pick. The Timberwolves have realized at this point that Sebastian Telfair just isn't an NBA quality starting point guard. He's a guy who would be excellent in backup, but not a starter. With Randy Foye gone, that means that their other option is gone as well. The Wolves need to make sure to move ahead of the Kings in order to secure Rubio, and this could very well do it.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - James Harden

This is a tough choice between Harden and Thabeet. In the end, Thabeet really seems like more of the Olowokandi type of player. Olowokandi was not drafted as the best player in the 1998 draft. He was simply seen as the best big man, and seeing as how the Clippers wanted a big man, they went with Olowokandi. Thabeet will likely be better than Olowokandi, especially since he is such a good defender, but he's really not as good as some of the other players available at this point, and one of those players is James Harden. Harden is a shooting guard, which is a position that the Thunder are thin at, who has great all-around skills. He will compliment the Thunder very well due to this. He's the best player available for the Thunder at this point.

4. Sacramento Kings - Tyreke Evans

While he's really more of a combo guard, Evans is at least someone with solid point guard skills that the Kings can put at point guard over Roko Ukic. Stephen Curry is another option at this point, but he would not compliment Kevin Martin very well at all. Evans brings great size for a point guard and a very well rounded game. He will be able to fill that void that the Kings have at point guard very well and is not a bad pick at this point in the draft.

5. Memphis Grizzlies - Jordan Hill

Wow, Thabeet has fallen this far? Despite teams seeming high on him, due to need he could really fall. The Grizzlies, like mentioned seem to be trading Darko Milicic. They're getting Craig Smith in the trade already, but since they were already thing at the 4 spot anyway, getting another 4 with high potential is a good move. Hill has the ability to be a Chris Bosh Lite type of guy. However, his defense is superior to Bosh's, even if his offense isn't quite as good as Bosh's.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Hasheem Thabeet

After an unexpected wait, Thabeet finally gets drafted to play in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are desperate for more size in their front court, and with Love and Jefferson already having good offensive games, they can afford to bring a defensive minded player with a very raw offensive game into their rotation up front.

7. Golden State Warriors - Stephen Curry

Monta Ellis has supposedly been vocal about not wanting the Warriors to draft a point guard, but Curry is more of a combo guard. Despite his size mixed in with Ellis' size, he could actually compliment Ellis very well in the back court. The Warriors are almost entirely offensive minded, and while Ellis is more of a slasher who likes to score by the basket, Curry is more of a shooter. They both could also benefit from their scoring skills and be able to find the other for easy scoring opportunities as well.

8. New York Knicks - Jonny Flynn

While it will be tempting for them to take Brandon Jennings here, especially because of his street ball style that is so popular in the city of New York, Jonny Flynn is the type of point guard who will thrive much more in Mike D'Antoni's style of offense. Having him with Chris Duhon at the point guard spot will really give the Knicks a more complete offense.

9. Toronto Raptors - DeMar DeRozan

The Raptors could use two things above all else. A physical big man and a good wing player. With DeRozan they get that wing. He is without a doubt a project, but his upside is way too much to ignore at this point in the draft, especially when he fills a need for your team.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Brandon Jennings

The Bucks are in desperate need for a good point guard and this may be the one for them. While Jennings does have a bit of a street style, he still has the skills to be a good NBA point guard. At this point he is without a doubt a good player for the Bucks to take a chance on.

11. New Jersey Nets - James Johnson

The Nets could use a good small forward. With Johnson they get that and more. He's a small forward who is big enough to play the 4 as well. His tough and physical style of play will compliment both the front court and Vince Carter very well.

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson

While Terrence Williams is the flavor of the week right now, in the end the Bobcats will go with the player who seems to be more of a safe pick. Henderson is a good slasher with a solid jump shot. He's got good size to play the 2 in the NBA, and he is a fundamentally strong player. The only thing that should really stop them from making this pick would be if Jordan just can't stand watching a Duke player get drafted onto his team.

13. Chicago Bulls - BJ Mullens

The Bulls have been showing interest in Mullens throughout the draft process, and after seeing that he is still available at this point they will pull the trade, giving up both their 16th and 26th picks for the 13th pick of the Pacers. Supposedly it's been a debate in the front offices of the Bulls rather they should go with Blair or Mullens. The bottom line is that Blair has knee problems at the age of 21, he's a very heavy person, he is very limited athletically, and his weight likely won't get much lower playing in a city that has the food that Chicago has. Mullens has his questions, but he's a skilled and athletic big man, which isn't common at all. With both the Pistons and Suns showing interest in Mullens, the Bulls will have to make this deal in order to get their man.

14. Phoenix Suns - Ty Lawson

Steve Nash is getting old and it's not sure thing that Goran Dragic will ever be what the Suns were hoping he would be when they traded for him on draft night last season. Lawson has a very good chance at being a very good point guard for many years in the league. The biggest questions that arrive with him are about his health. However, those questions tend to be highly exaggerated, and he can get over them. Nash is still the guy in Phoenix for at least another year, and in that time Lawson will be able to back Nash up along with Dragic during that time. When Nash is gone, Lawson will be a good option to take over for him.

15. Detroit Pistons - Earl Clark

With Mullens and Johnson gone, Clark is another guy that the Pistons have had their eye on. At 6'10" he is a small forward as far as style goes, but he's tall enough to play power forward, a position that the Pistons are going to have to address since they're losing a key big man in Rasheed Wallace, most likely, this offseason.

16. Indiana Pacers - Tyler Hansbrough

Hansbrough brings a level of toughness, hustle, and energy to the frontline of the Indiana Pacers that they desperately need. After the combine measurements were taken it was found that he's actually got plenty of size and strength to play the power forward position in the NBA. He likely won't bring huge stats, but as a backup power forward he will be more than adequate.

17. Philadelphia 76ers - Eric Maynor

The Sixers could lose Andre Miller this offseason, and if they do they could use someone to take his place. While he might not be a good starting point guard right away, Maynor has the skills and potential to eventually be a very good point guard. He's a complete package and can very well be very similar to Andre Miller withing a couple of years.

18. Chicago Bulls - Terrence Williams

With Minnesota having four first round picks, the Timberwolves may very well be willing to sell picks. The Bulls, after having traded away one of their two first round picks could be looking to buy this pick here, especially since bringing back Ben Gordon is clearly no sure thing. Williams is a shooting guard with great size for the 2 spot. He can also spend some time at the small forward spot as well, which would be nice if Deng is either traded or injured again. He's a very good defender and very athletic. He's a good slasher who should be able to put up adequate scoring numbers as well. His only question marks are his shooting ability and his mental maturity. Both of those can come around.

19. Atlanta Hawks - Jeff Teague

Bibby is possibly on his way out soon and it looks like Acie Law could be traded soon as well. This would leave the Hawks very thin at the 1, so picking a guard with Teague's potential would be a great move here, especially since he'll have a year to settle in. Teague is very athletic and quick, has a good jump shot and is a solid passer. His game will likely continue to develop, and if it does he can be a strong point guard for years to come.

20. Utah Jazz - DeJuan Blair

The free-fall for Blair ends here. After being favored to be a top 10 pick only a couple of weeks ago bad news about his standing vertical, him being shorter than expected, and the news about his knees have really killed his draft stock. However, with either Boozer or Millsap leaving soon they're going to need another down low presence, and is where Blair comes in. Also, it's hard to see Blair falling any further than this. If nothing else they draft him and trade him.

21. New Orleans Hornets - Chase Budinger

Stojakovic is still there with the Hornets for a bit, but when you have someone who can penetrate like Chris Paul can you really cannot have too many shooters. Having Budinger and Stojakovic at the wings gives Paul two very good options to pass the ball out to once he's able to get down low. Either guy can shoot the lights out from the outside. Budinger also brings very good athleticism and has been said to be a lot quicker than initially thought.

22. Portland Trailblazers - Austin Daye

This is more of a best player available type of pick for the Blazers here. Daye is a bit of a project, but he's almost 6'11" and can play the 3. He'll likely split time between the 3 and 4 due to his height, but the Blazers could use some depth at the 4 and having a player with as much potential as Daye is always nice to have.

23. Sacramento Kings - DaJuan Summers

A do it all, well rounded small forward. Not amazing at any one thing, but he'll be an excellent backup almost right away and a possible starter down the road.

24. Dallas Mavericks - Wayne Ellington

A great shooter, but Ellington doesn't bring a whole lot more. However, having another shooter out there on the floor is not a bad idea at all for the Mavericks who already have plenty of guys who play the more penetration style between the 1 and 3.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder - Darren Collison

Westbrook is an excellent point guard, make no mistake about it, but he isn't a true point guard. He still can more than hold his own as a starter in the NBA, but having a solid true point guard, especially one that plays very good defense is always a good idea for your rotation.

26. Indiana Pacers - Omri Casspi

A sub for Danny Granger. Casspi is ready to come in right away and will fill the role of backup small forward and possibly occasionally as power forward (though sparingly).

27. Memphis Grizzlies - Jrue Holiday

With Mike Conley and OJ Mayo already running the backcourt in Memphis, Holiday is a bit of a project, but a player who'll be able to really give the Grizzlies a strong rotation in their backcourt. Holiday is more of a combo guard, Mayo is more of a shooting guard, and Conley is purely a point guard. To be totally honest, having Holiday fall this far seems crazy, but GMs are beginning to realize that they're not sure what they really like with Holiday, so the doubt which have seen so many players tumble in the past may pick Holiday as their main victim this year.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jonas Jerebko

Jerebko will feel right at home going from Sweden to Minnesota, despite the lack of fjords in Minnesota. He's a small forward with a world of potential. His all around game is strong with no glaring weaknesses.

29. Los Angeles Lakers - Taj Gibson

The Lakers like to go after the occasional local guy, and that's what they'll do with Gibson, giving some added depth at the power forward position.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers - Josh Heytvelt

The Cavs are going to need some added strength to their front line, and Heytvelt is a big body that can do just that. He's got solid skills for a big man as well as a good jumper that goes out further than most would expect to see.


Okay, there it is. The second round this season doesn't really seem to have any real rhyme or reason to it, so doing a mock for that is just something that really doesn't make much sense. Early second round picks will likely be Derrick Brown, Toney Douglas, Sam Young, Rodrigue Beaubois, Victor Claver, and Patrick Mills.