Chad Ford's latest Mock Draft 5.0 1-23

[JasonThompsonFan]

Updated: June 16, 2009, 11:50 AM ET
Mock Draft: Version 5.0
Ford By Chad Ford
ESPN.com

Now that we know who is in the 2009 NBA Draft, we can start to take a serious look at how things might shake out...

Sacramento - Jrue Holiday
Position: PG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 199
Age: 18
School: UCLA

Analysis: At this point I think it's safe to say the Kings have narrowed it down to Holiday, Flynn and Rubio. In Sacramento this past weekend, Flynn, Holiday (his second visit) and Brandon Jennings went head-to-head in front of the entire Kings brass.

Sources say Flynn was probably the best of the three in the workout, but that Holiday still holds a slight edge on their board. Flynn would provide immediate help and is a real floor leader. But Holiday's size, upside and defensive ability give him a razor-thin edge.

If the Grizzlies and Thunder both pass on Rubio, the Kings could be in an interesting situation. Sources in Sacramento say the Kings have reservations about Rubio and that it's far from a done deal that they will take him if he is on the board. Is it possible Rubio could slip past No. 4? Ultimately, I don't think so. The Kings would be nuts to pass on him. But who would've thought a month ago it was even a possibility?...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-090616

 

[kingsnation]

I'd rather have Flynn than Holliday. And I'm also surprised to see Hansbrough so high.

 

[Oskor]

I'd rather have Flynn than Holliday. And I'm also surprised to see Hansbrough so high.

I'm with you, I'm very high on Flynn too. But the organization has seen much more of these guys than I have. Even with the 4th pick I'm getting very excited to see what unfolds on draft night.

 

[Dime Dropper]

I will be extremely annoyed if we take Holiday at 4. That's way, way too high for him. He really has done nothing in college and he's living on his HS reputation. I don't even know how he's being talked about as a lottery pick.

Flynn is the guy if Rubio is gone.

 

[nbrans]

There is no way Jrue Holiday is going #4.

 

[sidney]

Is it just me or does Chad Ford seem to be really far away from consensus on draft intel? Seems like he's written several other head-scratchers lately. Maybe he's the one who's right but seems odd

 

[dbfish]

Pick whoever you want Petrie.

I'd rather have Flynn than Holliday. And I'm also surprised to see Hansbrough so high.

It's your *** on the line.

 

[sactownfan]

It's your *** on the line.

Petrie has more than proven that he can draft talent... whoever he picks everyone here needs to just go wit it...

In holidays defense.... UCLA wasn't as good as when Westbrook was there. That along with Holiday being a more traditional PG that was playing out of position. It wasn't as easy as it was for Westbrook who is more of a combo guard at heart.

Holiday should have been the starting PG for UCLA but with Collison still there the coach went with the vet. Holiday was planning on Collison being in last years draft.

with Holidays tools I think he can come in and compete right away. and with his potential he could be great in a few years.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I am cool with either Jrue Of Johnny. I wish Ricky.....but the franchise always has the worst luck.

 

[bajaden]

There is no way Jrue Holiday is going #4.

Mi amigo, never say never. Were talking Petrie here. Remember, the guy that drafted Peja and Hedo. Two guys we never heard of at the time. Honestly, I think they might trade down if for some reason Rubio isn't there, or they decide to pass on him.

Who knows how complicated his buy out has become. Petrie stated that he wouldn't draft anyone that he wasn't sure could play for the Kings next year.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Why the hell dont we bring in Curry and why hasnt he been linked to the kings yet. On every site he is "shooting up the draft boards" ( I called it =] ) and he has proven more than almost any other PG in the draft. How someone can like Evans ( he even has called himself a 2) or Jrue more shocks me.

 

[GeraldWallace#3]

He has us taking Lawson 23rd? lol we didn't even work the guy out. Do you think Petrie would pick him if he was there.

 

[fnordius]

Is it just me or does Chad Ford seem to be really far away from consensus on draft intel? Seems like he's written several other head-scratchers lately. Maybe he's the one who's right but seems odd

His accuracy is generally not too good. Since the standard around here seems to be draftexpress, I'll show last year's last-second lottery mocks by both him and DE and we'll see how it came out.

1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Westbrook
4. Mayo

Both got the first 4 correct.

5. Love - here Chad fails, picking Eric Gordon. DE gets it right.
6. Gallinari
7. Gordon - here Ford fails again, picking Bayless. DE gets it right again.
8. Alexander
9. Augustin - both get it wrong, DE picks B. Lopez and Ford picks K. Love
10. B. Lopez - DE wrongly picks Bayless, Ford gets it right.
11. Bayless - both get it wrong. DE: K. Koufos. Ford: Augustin
12. JT - both pick wrong. DE: Augustin. Ford: Chalmers.
13. Rush - both pick wrong. DE: Randolph. Ford: Ajinca
14. Randolph - both pick wrong. DE picks JT, Ford picks Koufos.

So, while DE got the first 8 correct, Ford goofed up twice by #7. By pick #9, they both stunk, with DE getting none of 9-14 correct, and Ford getting only one of them (#10) correct.

If you're going to believe either one about a very early pick, DE seems like the way to go. For later picks, you might as well use a dartboard.

 

[NME]

Why the hell dont we bring in Curry and why hasnt he been linked to the kings yet. On every site he is "shooting up the draft boards" ( I called it =] ) and he has proven more than almost any other PG in the draft.

Just in: Curry will be here for a workout this weekend.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2009/06/rubio-arrives-i.html

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Just in: Curry will be here for a workout this weekend.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2009/06/rubio-arrives-i.html

Thank you for making me happy.

I would love to check out a Curry vs. Rubio workout, doubt it will happen though.

 

[sacgirl88]

Thank you for making me happy.

I would love to check out a Curry vs. Rubio workout, doubt it will happen though.

^^^
i think that would be a good workout

 

[Kingster]

Mi amigo, never say never. Were talking Petrie here. Remember, the guy that drafted Peja and Hedo. Two guys we never heard of at the time. Honestly, I think they might trade down if for some reason Rubio isn't there, or they decide to pass on him.

Who knows how complicated his buy out has become. Petrie stated that he wouldn't draft anyone that he wasn't sure could play for the Kings next year.

I'm with Nbrans. No way will Holiday go at #4. He's shown nothing, proven nothing, done nothing, and amounted to nothing.

 

[fnordius]

Thank you for making me happy.

I would love to check out a Curry vs. Rubio workout, doubt it will happen though.

I'm thinking that Rubio might work out for us, but secretly. Otherwise, his agent is going to be getting nagged by a bunch of teams who want their turn, but who they have no interest in Rubio playing for.

 

[Smills91]

I'm thinking that Rubio might work out for us, but secretly. Otherwise, his agent is going to be getting nagged by a bunch of teams who want their turn, but who they have no interest in Rubio playing for.

I doubt it. I think they're just conjuring up ways to get Ricky to Sacto as this point.