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A couple things off the top before getting to the first round predictions:

This mock is as things currently stand, which I expect won’t last through the draft, as I fully expect Minnesota to make a trade up to #2 to snag Ricky Rubio. The question is just what Memphis will ask for in return and will Minnesota just say “the heck with you and your ridiculous demands” and call Oklahoma City to see if they’re interested in dropping down a couple spots (as Stephen Curry and James Harden would both blend nicely with what the Thunder already have). Also, feel free to drop by the Swamp and check out the “2009 NBA Draft” thread, which recently got bumped and should be getting more action over the next couple days. There will likely be a new thread for the draft itself tomorrow. Onto the picks…

1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma
Griffin is a no-brainer. The Clippers will be peddling other parts of their frontcourt rotation (Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph) to make playing time for Griffin. Ideally, Randolph and his monstrous contract get sent out of town, but Camby’s expiring deal and Kaman’s youth and more reasonable (although longer) contract make them better options. A swap with the Bulls with Kaman and Kirk Hinrich as the centerpieces could be beneficial to both squads, with Hinrich providing backup minutes at both guard spots, as well as injury protection behind Baron Davis.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut
Between Ricky Rubio’s threats of not getting out of his contract in Europe and the Grizzlies’ backcourt of Mike Conley and OJ Mayo, Memphis opts for the big man on the board with the lowest floor. There is not a whole lot of upside with Thabeet, but if he can max out as the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo and clean up for the defensive mistakes on the outside, it could turn into a very good pick.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio, G, Spain
Russell Westbrook is not a true point guard, but Rubio is. Westbrook offers enough size and athleticism to defend shooting guards, so this should work in the long term. Rubio may not be ready to go from the jump, but Westbrook can still play the point in the interim and Thabo Sefolosha showed enough after coming over late in the season to stay in the starting lineup until Rubio is ready for the keys to the car.

4. Sacramento Kings – Jrue Holliday, G, UCLA
Sacramento is in a difficult spot here. Any of the remaining true point guards are a reach, the shooting guards are redundant with the best player on their roster (Kevin Martin), and they already have a couple high picks sunk into their frontcourt. As a result, getting a point guard with a lot of upside to pair with Martin down the line makes the most sense. Holliday also has a very nice size (6’4”), wingspan (6’7”), and combination to build on.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves – James Harden, G, Arizona State
Harden, who is now garnering a comparison to Paul Pierce, would fit in nicely with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love doing the heavy lifting down low. Harden is also only 19 years old and would be a very nice building block for the future Timberwolves’ backcourt along with…

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephen Curry, G, Davidson
Curry will still need to develop his point guard skills, add strength, and overhaul his defensive game to adjust to the NBA. That said, Curry’s marksmanship will open things up for the big boys down low and it seems like a relatively simple call for the second of the Timberwolves’ four first-round picks.

7. Golden State Warriors – Jordan Hill, F, Arizona
Hill is not a polished player, but he is the best remaining big man, once again a primary need for the Warriors. With Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Rony Turiaf, and Brandan Wright already on the roster, Hill could fit in as another energy and hustle guy as his game develops.

8. New York Knicks – Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse
Mike D’Antoni needs a true point guard to run his uptempo system and Flynn is a good match. While undersized, Flynn is still strong and has the quickness and point guard skills to work in that system. While Flynn is not a great outside shooter, he has shown the ability to hit from range and should develop consistency as he matures. His leadership skills should also help the Knicks.

9. Toronto Raptors – Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis
The Raptors need an influx of athleticism and get it with this quick two-guard whose size (6’5”) and wingspan (6’11”) enable him to make in impact in the backcourt. Evans also is an excellent scorer going to the basket, which may help keep some pressure of Chris Bosh and encourage him to stay when his contract expires at the end of next season. Evans does lack shooting range, though, which will limit his minutes on the court.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Brandon Jennings, G, Italy
Milwaukee’s trade of Richard Jefferson was mostly a salary dump to enable themselves to make moves to keep either Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions. With this being a deep draft in point guards, Villanueva gets the first offer and Jennings is taken to be the point guard of the future. He has tremendous potential and can caddy behind Luke Ridnour for a year before taking over the reins. While Jennings will need to bulk up, his speed will allow him to penetrate on offense while his body matures.

11. New Jersey Nets – DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh
It’s a bit of a reach here, but the Nets pick up some low-post scoring and toughness to complement Brook Lopez, last year’s first round pick. Blair will likely not contribute too much as s rookie due to the adjustment to the pro game, but should bring both of those attributes in time.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Demar DeRozan, G, USC
DeRozan gets to go to a situation where he won’t be expected to deliver major help right away. By filling a spot behind Gerald Wallace and Raja Bell, DeRozan will have a chance to develop for a couple years and hopefully expand his game to match his athleticism.

13. Indiana Pacers – Earl Clark, F, Louisville
Clark can do a little bit of everything at the small forward spot. With Danny Granger as their premier player and Troy Murphy each under contract for two more seasons, the Pacers can develop him to play at both spots, then eventually take over alongside Granger at the four.

14. Phoenix Suns – Jeff Teague, G, Wake Forest
Teague is a bit of a combo guard who can play the point, but the Suns have some experience with that kind of player with Leandro Barbosa on the roster. Teague will be tutored by Steve Nash as a rookie (and possibly a couple more years if the Suns extend the former two-time MVP), which will help him transition into the point guard of the future in the desert.

15. Detroit Pistons – James Johnson, F, Wake Forest
Johnson has a nice variety of skills and can play both forward spots, but will likely see the bulk of his minutes at the power forward spot in Detroit. He’ll need to work on his body, but it seems like a good match for the Pistons, who still have quality players on the perimeter.

16. Chicago Bulls – B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State
It’s another year, another big man for the Bulls. Mullens is raw and a project, but can be broken in slowly by the Bulls, who have Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas in front of him.

17. Philadelphia 76ers – Eric Maynor, G, Virginia Commonwealth
The 76ers get a young point guard to come in and replace Andre Miller, should they end up not re-signing him. Maynor is a very good defender and likes to have the ball in his hands in important situations, so he is a nice fit with a team that has a couple established offensive options in Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand (should Brand return to health).

18. Minnesota Timberwolves – Austin Daye, F, Gonzaga
With their third choice in the first round, the Wolves elect to stop the slide of Daye, a multi-talented small forward. Daye is skilled and has great height and length, but a lack of bulk and questionable motor make him a major question mark. With Ryan Gomes and a rehabbing Corey Brewer on the roster, Minnesota can take a chance on him and let him develop.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Ty Lawson, G, North Carolina
Mike Bibby is a free agent and the Hawks are trying to bring him back in the fold, but the Hawks will need a point guard of the future, as Acie Law IV has not shown much in his first two years in the league. Lawson is quick and has shown the ability to set up his teammates in college, which should translate nicely to a team with Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams already in the fold.

20. Utah Jazz – Gerald Henderson, G, Duke
Henderson is an excellent defender and already has an NBA-ready body, so he should fit nicely into Jerry Sloan’s plans. Henderson needs work on his shooting, but should be able to make enough of a contribution on the defensive end to threaten Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles for minutes in the Utah rotation (or perhaps make one of them expendable in a trade down the line).

21. New Orleans Hornets – Terrence Williams, G, Louisville
Williams is a multi-talented player who will help fill in at the swingman spots for the Hornets. He also provides athleticism, which is something the Hornets need in that spot, as Peja Stojakovic, James Posey, Rasual Butler and Morris Peterson are all getting up there in age.

22. Dallas Mavericks – Darren Collison, G, UCLA
The Mavericks need to do something to soften the blow of the departure of Jason Kidd, who his now a free agent. While the Mavericks are talking about bringing the future Hall of Famer back, they need a replacement to keep Jason Terry in his role as instant offense off the bench. Collison is very quick and is an excellent on the ball defender who also shot the ball very well in college, so he could be a steal this late in the first round.

23. Sacramento Kings – Omri Casspi, F, Israel
Casspi is a tough player who also has good athleticism and a solid mid-range game. He can continue playing abroad and stay off the Kings’ payroll while developing his stregth and game.

24. Portland Trailblazers – Tyler Hansborough, F, North Carolina
Hansborough can come in and add an element of toughness to the Blazers. With a still-developing developing Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge as a more perimeter-oriented power forward, Hansborough would add a scrapper underneath who can go all-out for 15 minutes a night and provide a different style of player to the Blazers’ mix.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nick Calathes, G, Florida
With Calathes having already signed a contract to play in Greece, drafting him gives Oklahoma City his rights and they can let him develop his body and game in Europe or buy him out. Calathes is a very versatile player with great point guard skills for a 6’5” player. He would eventually slot as a third guard who can back up both Rubio and Westbrook.

26. Chicago Bulls – Sam Young, F, Pittsburgh
One of the older players in this draft class, Young is ready to go and should be able to contribute for the Bulls right away. He can back up Luol Deng at the small forward position from the get-go.

27. Memphis Grizzlies – Jeff Pendergraph, F, Arizona State
Pendergraph is not a showy player, but has one of the best college resumes in this draft class. While not an exceptional athlete, at 6’10” and 240, this four-year star is an excellent low-post scorer and rebounder, mostly due to a strong work ethic.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonas Jerebko, F, Sweden
Jerebko is an interesting prospect who can remain in Europe and develop his game while remaining the Timberwolves’ property. Besides, the Timberwolves have added enough youth to their roster for one night.

29. Los Angeles Lakers – Derrick Brown, F, Xavier
A 6’9” forward, Brown has the skills to play at either forward spot and can do a lot on offense. His ability to shoot from range from the power forward position makes him a nice fit for the triangle offense.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Wayne Ellington, G, North Carolina
Ellington is an excellent athlete and can shoot well from outside. Unfortunately, with his defensive deficiencies and the Cavs’ depth, he’ll have to develop from the bench.