Trueblood
Bench
1. LAC-Blake Griffin, PF
Perfect pick for the Clips. Zach Randolph is a ball hog, bad for team chemistry and will be shopped.
2. MEM -Ricky Rubio, PG
Good break for Memphis, who finally moves up the lottery ladder after falling back in previous years. Rubio joins his countryman, Marc Gasol, along with Mayo, Gay and Arthur. Good future in Memphis.
3. OKC -Hasheem Thabeet, C
Good pick at 3. Thabeet gives OKC a defensive presence on the frontline to go with scorers Durant and Green. With a ballhawk at point and a swatter down low, the Thunder will be tough to score on.
4. Sacramento -Brandon Jennings, PG
Bad luck for Sacramento who was hoping for Griffin or Rubio. Jennings is arguably the best PG after Rubio and plays a position of need for the Kings.
5. Washington -James Harden, 2G
Crafty, team oriented 2G gives the Wiz a cerebral look to go with it's collection of ballhogs and shooters.
6. Minnesota - Demar Derozan, 2G/SF
Tons of upside here. Won't contribute right away but down the road, he could prove to be the steal of the draft.
7. Golden State - Tyreke Evans, 1/2G
A reach here but his versatility and ability to play multiple spots will appeal to Nelson.
8. New York - Stephen Curry, PG
That's the rumor. Not sure how he fits in D'Antoni's system but we'll see.
9. Toronto -Jordan Hill, PF
Steal here. If Bosh is really on the block, they have a PF waiting in the wings. If not, he's a good backup for a team with little frontline depth.
10. Milwaukee -Jrue Holiday, 1/2G
Lousy freshman season but scouts know what he can do. Has time to develop behind Ridnour.
11. New Jersey -Earl Clark, S/PF
Local kid can play the 3 spot even though he was a 4 in college. Still, versatile enough to play the 4 if need be in small lineups.
12. Charlotte -Gerald Henderson, 2G
MJ and Larry Brown aren't wild about taking a Dukie but they need depth on the wings plus Raja Bell is getting up there in age. Good athlete who can be groomed for the 2G spot down the line.
13. Indiana - Chase Budinger, G/F
Larry Bird can't pass this one up. Gives them depth on the wings, which is necessary when you consider that Dunleavy will miss most of next season.
14. Phoenix -Jonny Flynn, PG
Up tempo PG will learn the ropes from Nash.
15. Detroit -James Johnson, S/PF
Joe Dumars type of hard nosed player who will fit the Motor City image.
16. Chicago -Dejuan Blair, PF
Bulls need frontline depth and have been high on him. Will challenge Noah and Thomas for minutes and could light a fire under the underachieving Thomas.
17. Philadelphia - Sam Young, SF
Strong NCAA tournament boosted his stock and he may even land in the lottery. Good pick here to provide depth behind Igoudola.
18. Minnesota - BJ Mullens, C
Wolves are thinking long term here. Will play behind Jefferson initially. If he progresses, Minny can finally play Jefferson at his natural PF spot. If not, they still have Kevin Love and Craig Smith. Low risk, high reward pick.
19. Atlanta - Jeff Pendergraph, PF
Wildcard pick this early. Looked good every time I saw him and is a hard worker. This team had no true backup PF all year.
20. Utah - Eric Maynor, PG
Great pick for the Jazz. Heady playmaker is Jerry Sloan's type of guy.
21. New Orleans -Tyler Hansbrough, PF
George Shinn gets his guy. Hansbrough's inspired play gives them depth at the 4 and adds life to a team that appeared sluggish in the playoffs.
22. Dallas - Ty Lawson, PG
Jason Kidd is aging so the Mavs look to retool here. Huge steal this late as represents a need and by far the best player available.
23. Sacramento -Omri Casspi, SF
Geoff Petrie has been succesful with European picks in the past. Casspi's game reminds some of former King picks, Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu.
24. Portland -Josh Heytvelt, PF
Big time sleeper plays hard and will challenge guys in practice.
25. Oklahoma City -Jonas Jerebko, SF
Another sleeper who has been opening eyes among Euro scouts. Good backup for Kevin Durant. Thunder will cover front line depth by bringing over Serge Ibaka, last year's late first rounder.
26. Chicago -Terrance Williams, G/F
Big time steal this late. Bulls went with size with last pick so they'll go with a smaller guy capable of playing all 3 perimeter spots.
27. Memphis -Wayne Ellington, 2G
Another steal this late. Grizz still need perimeter depth even after getting Rubio earlier.
28. Minnesota -Patrick Mills, PG
Good pick this late. Mills will challenge Telfair for the starting PG spot. Not often you can get a starting caliber player this late.
29. LA Lakers -Nick Calathes, PG
Phil Jackson wasn't high on Farmar late in the year and with free agent priorities in Odom and Ariza, Brown may not be resigned. Calathes looks like the best PG available this late and Jackson likes big point guards.
30. Cleveland -Marcus Thornton, 2G
Good pick this late as Thornton came on strong late in the season
__________________
Perfect pick for the Clips. Zach Randolph is a ball hog, bad for team chemistry and will be shopped.
2. MEM -Ricky Rubio, PG
Good break for Memphis, who finally moves up the lottery ladder after falling back in previous years. Rubio joins his countryman, Marc Gasol, along with Mayo, Gay and Arthur. Good future in Memphis.
3. OKC -Hasheem Thabeet, C
Good pick at 3. Thabeet gives OKC a defensive presence on the frontline to go with scorers Durant and Green. With a ballhawk at point and a swatter down low, the Thunder will be tough to score on.
4. Sacramento -Brandon Jennings, PG
Bad luck for Sacramento who was hoping for Griffin or Rubio. Jennings is arguably the best PG after Rubio and plays a position of need for the Kings.
5. Washington -James Harden, 2G
Crafty, team oriented 2G gives the Wiz a cerebral look to go with it's collection of ballhogs and shooters.
6. Minnesota - Demar Derozan, 2G/SF
Tons of upside here. Won't contribute right away but down the road, he could prove to be the steal of the draft.
7. Golden State - Tyreke Evans, 1/2G
A reach here but his versatility and ability to play multiple spots will appeal to Nelson.
8. New York - Stephen Curry, PG
That's the rumor. Not sure how he fits in D'Antoni's system but we'll see.
9. Toronto -Jordan Hill, PF
Steal here. If Bosh is really on the block, they have a PF waiting in the wings. If not, he's a good backup for a team with little frontline depth.
10. Milwaukee -Jrue Holiday, 1/2G
Lousy freshman season but scouts know what he can do. Has time to develop behind Ridnour.
11. New Jersey -Earl Clark, S/PF
Local kid can play the 3 spot even though he was a 4 in college. Still, versatile enough to play the 4 if need be in small lineups.
12. Charlotte -Gerald Henderson, 2G
MJ and Larry Brown aren't wild about taking a Dukie but they need depth on the wings plus Raja Bell is getting up there in age. Good athlete who can be groomed for the 2G spot down the line.
13. Indiana - Chase Budinger, G/F
Larry Bird can't pass this one up. Gives them depth on the wings, which is necessary when you consider that Dunleavy will miss most of next season.
14. Phoenix -Jonny Flynn, PG
Up tempo PG will learn the ropes from Nash.
15. Detroit -James Johnson, S/PF
Joe Dumars type of hard nosed player who will fit the Motor City image.
16. Chicago -Dejuan Blair, PF
Bulls need frontline depth and have been high on him. Will challenge Noah and Thomas for minutes and could light a fire under the underachieving Thomas.
17. Philadelphia - Sam Young, SF
Strong NCAA tournament boosted his stock and he may even land in the lottery. Good pick here to provide depth behind Igoudola.
18. Minnesota - BJ Mullens, C
Wolves are thinking long term here. Will play behind Jefferson initially. If he progresses, Minny can finally play Jefferson at his natural PF spot. If not, they still have Kevin Love and Craig Smith. Low risk, high reward pick.
19. Atlanta - Jeff Pendergraph, PF
Wildcard pick this early. Looked good every time I saw him and is a hard worker. This team had no true backup PF all year.
20. Utah - Eric Maynor, PG
Great pick for the Jazz. Heady playmaker is Jerry Sloan's type of guy.
21. New Orleans -Tyler Hansbrough, PF
George Shinn gets his guy. Hansbrough's inspired play gives them depth at the 4 and adds life to a team that appeared sluggish in the playoffs.
22. Dallas - Ty Lawson, PG
Jason Kidd is aging so the Mavs look to retool here. Huge steal this late as represents a need and by far the best player available.
23. Sacramento -Omri Casspi, SF
Geoff Petrie has been succesful with European picks in the past. Casspi's game reminds some of former King picks, Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu.
24. Portland -Josh Heytvelt, PF
Big time sleeper plays hard and will challenge guys in practice.
25. Oklahoma City -Jonas Jerebko, SF
Another sleeper who has been opening eyes among Euro scouts. Good backup for Kevin Durant. Thunder will cover front line depth by bringing over Serge Ibaka, last year's late first rounder.
26. Chicago -Terrance Williams, G/F
Big time steal this late. Bulls went with size with last pick so they'll go with a smaller guy capable of playing all 3 perimeter spots.
27. Memphis -Wayne Ellington, 2G
Another steal this late. Grizz still need perimeter depth even after getting Rubio earlier.
28. Minnesota -Patrick Mills, PG
Good pick this late. Mills will challenge Telfair for the starting PG spot. Not often you can get a starting caliber player this late.
29. LA Lakers -Nick Calathes, PG
Phil Jackson wasn't high on Farmar late in the year and with free agent priorities in Odom and Ariza, Brown may not be resigned. Calathes looks like the best PG available this late and Jackson likes big point guards.
30. Cleveland -Marcus Thornton, 2G
Good pick this late as Thornton came on strong late in the season
__________________
