Sportsfrog.com

My first–and possibly only–2009 NBA Mock Draft, Lottery Edition.

(As I type this, the top non-centerpiece headline on SI.com is “Shaq applauds Kobe on Twitter.” *sigh*)

1. Los Angeles Clippers — Blake Griffin: Next!

2. Memphis Grizzlies — Hasheem Thabeet: Because Bengal can’t read this because he doesn’t have power, and I really think that Rubio is going to boycott Memphis. However, I do think that there’s a very good chance that someone will trade up with Memphis and use this pick to draft Rubio. But there are no trades in my mock draft.

3. Oklahoma City — Ricky Rubio: Too bad the Thunder didn’t get the top pick, because a Durant-Green-Griffin-Westbrook foursome would be the best team in the NBA in two years. But Rubio isn’t a bad pick either, especially if they can trade the rights to him or Westbrook for someone who can play down low. I could see a package of Rubio for DeRozan and someone else on draft day.

4. Sacramento Kings — Tyreke Evans: The Kings get a point guard to complement Kevin Martin even though Evans is a pass-third point guard. But the Kings aren’t going to win any time soon and there are plenty of shots to go around, so Evans and Martin wil be able to get tons of opportunities.

5. Washington Wizards — Jordan Hill: I think the best opportunity for the Wizards is to trade for Josh Howard and get out of this spot, but at the same time, that would end up clogging the perimeter and force Antawn Jamison to be a full time 4. But if the Wizards truly are hellbent on winning 120-115 every game, that may be the best idea.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves — Brandon Jennings: I’m going to go out on a limb with this one and assume that the Wolves believe that Sebastian Telfair is nothing more than a PG. This would allow Randy Foye to move to the 2, with Ryan Gomes at the 3 and Kevin Love and Al Jefferson in the frontcourt.

7. Golden State Warriors — James Harden: Apparently one GM said that Harden was just like Paul Pierce. If that’s true, this is a steal at #7 for the Warriors. Harden will fit nicely in Don Nelson’s scheme, especially if he can fine tune his outside jumper.

8. New York Knicks — Stephen Curry: No, I didn’t rig the mock draft so that Curry went here. I seriously considered Curry to the Warriors, but decided to give them Harden because he was still on the board. I’m not completely convinced that Curry will be here at #8 for the Knicks to take.

9. Toronto Raptors — Jonny Flynn: If Curry goes before #8, Flynn will be the Knicks’ pick, but if he falls past them, the Raptors will be glad to have him. He’ll start backing up Jose Calderon and could have the starting position by the All-Star break.

10. Milwaukee Bucks — Jrue Holliday: The Bucks will need a PG too if Ramon Sessions leaves, so they’ll take the best remaining PG. If Holliday, Flynn and Curry are all gone, who knows who they will choose.

11. New Jersey Nets — DeMar DeRozan: I wonder what the Nets could get if they flipped Vince Carter to a contender? A DeRozan/Harris/Lopez nucleus isn’t shabby at all.

12. Charlotte Bobcats — Gerald Henderson: This is as predictable as Curry to the Knicks.

13. Indiana Pacers — Austin Daye: This is way to high for Daye, who’s a poor man’s Kevin Durant in the exact same frame. This will scare the crap out of Pacer fans who are going to think of Jonathan Bender.

14. Phoenix Suns — Eric Maynor: Maynor will be a great replacement for Steve Nash in a couple of years and allow Leandro Barbosa to move full time to the 2. Of course, this assumes that the Suns won’t trade Maynor for a second round draft pick or cash considerations.