Slam's 2009 Mock Draft V.1

[Slam]

Let me know what you think:

http://www.draftexpress.com/mymock.php?mid=1410&detail=3

I tried posting the draft rather than linking it but the board wouldn't let me. Said there are too many words.

[spectre]

You know I can't really critique your choices because I didn't watch any college...but since when has something like that stopped me? :p

In outcomes you have 2 super stars, 5 stars and 4 starters (you didn't put anything for Jennings) in the top 12. In what's reported to be a very weak draft how strong are your feelings on that?

You seem very high on Henderson (have him going 7th to GSW) and that looks to be outside conventional thinking. Flash is his upside? Really? If that's the case then you know who I'm switching my vote for! :cool:

I don't think the Wiz go with Harden...but then again I don't think the Wiz will pick 5th.

Overall some good stuff. I like the idea of Williams (from what I've read) and will probably be very content if that's where we go. It'll be interesting to see if LB falls in love with someone and goes totally off the reservation...he's known to do things like that.

[Slam]

You know I can't really critique your choices because I didn't watch any college...but since when has something like that stopped me? :p.
All feed back is welcome! Thanks for taking the time to read through it. I didn't think it would end up being as long as it was!


In outcomes you have 2 super stars, 5 stars and 4 starters (you didn't put anything for Jennings) in the top 12. In what's reported to be a very weak draft how strong are your feelings on that?

I still think the lottery is as strong as any other draft. The problem now with this draft is the 14-30 spots and then the 30-60 spots IMO. When there were the Turners and Aldrich's and Davis' and Walls and Aminus and Monroes and Warrens and Pattersons and Brackins etc in the draft the 1st round would have filled out more, but since they pulled out, guys like Gibson, Christmas and Ellington are in the 1st round instead of the 2nd round and guys taken in the 2nd round that should go undrafted. Plus, not unlike 2005, there are a LOT of PG's and very, very few bigs. A lack of big will always weaken the perception of a drats strength.

Put it this way: The 2006 was talking about being the weakest draft since 2000 - but that was before Roy was Roy, Gay was Gay, LMA was LMA, Bargs was Bargs (who took longer than the others but REALLY came on last season). People now say it was a good draft class (not great, but good) but really, the draft class was only good in the lottery. Outside of that it was pretty crappy.

I thnk this will class will be the same. A handful of guys taken in the lottery who can really make a difference but a lot of guys in the whole draft who wont be in the NBA within 5 years.


You seem very high on Henderson (have him going 7th to GSW) and that looks to be outside conventional thinking. Flash is his upside? Really? If that's the case then you know who I'm switching my vote for! :cool:
I do like him - but I didn't watch him last year so I might be biased. The way he attacked the rim and the way he was smooth getting there really remind me of Flash. He has that "it looks like I'm going in slow motion but I'm actually very fast" look to him IMO. He has that nice mid range game too. I think he is going to really surprise people within 2 years of being in the NBA. I would be very ok drafting him.


I don't think the Wiz go with Harden...but then again I don't think the Wiz will pick 5th.
I 100% agree (about them trading the pick).


Overall some good stuff. I like the idea of Williams (from what I've read) and will probably be very content if that's where we go. It'll be interesting to see if LB falls in love with someone and goes totally off the reservation...he's known to do things like that
Like Henderson, I would be very ok with T.Will. I think both would do very well under LB and would be "his" type of guys.

[ziggy]

That's a nice Mock Slam.

I didn't watch a lot of college ball this season, but a player that fascinates me is Blair which you have going at #13. I have a weakness for physical power players, and I hope that Blair can fill that role for the team that he winds up with. My question is this, Do you think his history of ACL problems ( 2 ACL surgeries in high school ) will scare some NBA teams away from him, and cause him to drop?

[ohara831]

Very nice and well thought out! My only disagreement is that I think Holiday goes earlier than you expect. I think someone takes him even before we pick at #12. I've seen several mocks that have him going Top 10 and mid teens is about as late as he'll go. I dont think he gets to the Bulls.

[Slam]

That's a nice Mock Slam.

I didn't watch a lot of college ball this season, but a player that fascinates me is Blair which you have going at #13. I have a weakness for physical power players, and I hope that Blair can fill that role for the team that he winds up with. My question is this, Do you think his history of ACL problems ( 2 ACL surgeries in high school ) will scare some NBA teams away from him, and cause him to drop?
Thanks Ziggy.

I like Blair a lot. He's one of those guys that just gets it done. I was watching some footage of him last week and already he's dropped 15lbs and looks hella lean and just as strong. He really could end up this drafts Haslem or Boozer. A big dude who works hard on his body and really puts it together in the NBA.

I don't think his knees will scare anyone off. He's had two seasons of 35 and 27 games in college while carrying a lot of weight showing his knees can handle it. It's not like he's an explosive type who will be slowed down. He's a ground based grunt guy that uses his smarts and his power.

He'll be fine. I actually wonder if the Nets might go for him if Hill is taken higher.

[Slam]

Very nice and well thought out! My only disagreement is that I think Holiday goes earlier than you expect. I think someone takes him even before we pick at #12. I've seen several mocks that have him going Top 10 and mid teens is about as late as he'll go. I dont think he gets to the Bulls.
Thanks ohara.

I actually had Holiday going to the GSW's for the longest time but I think that he and Monta are a little too alike. Holiday was such a MASSIVE dissapointment this year and I just think there are better players above him.

[teej]

I like it, although Rubio said he won't go to Memphis, unless he changed that.

I saw Jennings play in High School, albeit against somewhat weak competition for him. (My highschool, they got to the state semifinals, and our best player is going to be at best a mid-D1 baller - Wake, State, Florida, something like that. But they weren't matched up against each other and our guy was a freshman last year vs. Jennings as a senior). The three knocks on Jennings I have are these, and theyr'e very common among NBA guys. One, he mails it in like no other if he can. Two, he has major attitude, although Italy might have helped that. And three, well, he can't shoot it.

As for the rest of your draft, I think Jonny Flynn has the potentila to go a lot higher and I honestly don't see Gerald Henderson going before DeRozen and T-Will, deserving as he may be. And your starter/superstars might be a little off, but I'm not debating those because nobody can predict those. But overall, a darn good job.