SportsbyFletch's NBA Mock Draft Mockery

We here at SportsbyFletch have mocked the last two NFL drafts, but I don't believe we've done the NBA draft, mainly because of the Atlanta Hawks incompetence. However now that Billy "Oh he's 6'8, let's take him!" Knight is gone and seemingly an intelligent replacement is in charge (Mo Evans and Flip Murray over JChill...good move; willingness to speak with media...good move; Claxton and Law for Crawford...good move), I think this team MIGHT actually give the Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Cleveland group a run for the race for the Conference finals. (well maybe not Cleveland now that Shaq is on board, and not Boston with a healthy KG, and not Chicago with Rose and Gordon plus Deng, but MAYBE Orlando because Dwight Howard is a p*ssy?) The Hawks draft at No.19 and they have options. That is a good thing.
Think about the crunch time lineup next season...Crawford, Johnson, JSmith, Murray, Horford. (I am assuming Bibby isn't resigned)

But let's dive into the first round of the NBA draft. (PS, call me a filthy American if you will, but VERY FEW ferners are in my draft. No disrespect to the kids from overseas, but this is a down year for imports AND there are TOO many talented American talents to take a Belgiumese baller.)

1. LA Clippers. Blake Griffin, F Boomer Sooner. A no brainer since the Clipjoints ALREADY SAID they were taking him. While I think he might not be the dominant player that the Clippers hope he will be but he is the best of the bunch. I think he is a bit goofy, but you can see he has talent. He will grow into his body and turn out to be likely an above-average player. Maybe he'll make an all-star team or two, but right now he's a lab puppy whose feet are too big for him.

2. Memphis. Tyreke Evans, G Memphis. I am going to have to agree with ESPN's Jay Bilas here and say that the Grizz take Evans and tell Mike Conley Jr to kick rocks (or send him to Portland). He is a hometown prospect and that will put some fannies into the seats. This would allow OJ Mayo to play the 2 and Rudy Gay can go nuts. Plus they have Marc Gasol, so why take Thabeet?

3. Oklahoma State. James Harden, G ASU. They will probably think about Ricky Rubio, but they just took Westbrook last year, so why take ANOTHER PG? Who is he, Billy Knight? Harden will let Durant play the 3 and Green can play 4.

4. Sacramento. Ricky Rubio, G Spain. The Kings won't believe their luck when Rubio falls to #4. Rubio can do what Bibby did when he came over to the Kings. Team him with Martin and Jason Thompson and you have the makings of a team.

5. Minnesota. Hasheem Thabeet, C UConn. This move allows Al Jefferson to slide down to the four and Love can come off the bench or can play a huge 3 in crunch time.

6. Minny. Stephen Curry, G Davidson. Because the TWolves trade Randy Foye, they need a point guard. Because they traded Miller, they need shooting. Curry can do both.

7. Golden State. Johnny Flynn, G Da Cuse. I was hoping (and still am) that JFlynn fell to the Hawks at #19, but that isn't going to happen. Monta Ellis would be forced to play the point, but with Flynn, while Ellis might still handle some, Flynn CAN bring it up and that lets Ellis flat out score, along side the Captain, Stephen Jackson.

8. New York Knicks. Brandon Jennings, G Italy. Duhon isn't the guy to run the Knicks offense. Is Jennings? Probably not, but he is better than anything they have. They wanted Steph Curry, but he just didn't fall. Jennings is pretty good though, at least he was in high school.

9. Toronto. Jordan Hill, F Arizona. Bracing for life after Chris Bosh...

10. Milwaukee. DeMar DeRozan, G/F, USC. Richard Jefferson out, DeRozan in. His athleticism will make everyone think of a young Richard Jefferson.

11. NJ Nets. Jrue Holiday, G, UCLA. I know the Nets already have Devin Harris, but Holiday is still moldable so you could have him split time at the point with Harris, but also use him off the ball and same with Harris. Think Russell Westbrook2.0

12. Charlotte. Gerald Henderson, F Duke. He is tough and extremely athletic. Oh, yeah and he went to Duke and we know how much the Bobcats like to take UNC and Duke players....plus Larry Brown might actually play this rookie. He is a tough defender that learned under Coach K. Brown has to respect that, right?

13. Indiana. DeJuan Blair, F Pitt. When Roy Hibbert and Jeff Foster are your inside presence, you need a tough guy and that is what Blair is. Tough and gritty. Blair could be the toughest Pacer ever. (Other than Ron Artest, but that guy was more crazy than tough...)

14. Phoneix. Terrence Williams, G/F Louisville. The most NBA-ready player out there on the second level. The Suns should plug this guy in and let him work with Nash and Amare.

15. Detroit. Earl Clark, F Louisville. Two Cards in a row! Wallace is gone so Rip will need a running mate. Enter Clark.

16. Chicago. James Johnson, F Wake. This team really has everything it needs right now for a big-time run over the next few season. I would think that maybe they think about BJ Mullens for when Brad Miller eventually breaks down, but with Salmons, Gordon, and Rose in the back court and Ty Thomas and Noah in the front, maybe taking Johnson allows you to part ways with TyThomas eventually?

17. Philly. Ty Lawson, PG, UNC. Andre Miller will be allowed to leave (or even brought back at a lower cost) thanks to this pick. Lawson can push it which is what worked last year for Philly. They need a shooter ala Kyle Korver, but Steph Curry is already gone.

18. Minny. Jeff Teague, PG Wake. The TWolves break Hawks fans hearts by taking him one spot before Atlanta drafts. Minny can play around with 4 picks and they take Teague and hope that he and Curry can form a backcourt of the future!

19. Atlanta. Eric Maynor, PG, VCU. Jay Bilas thinks that while not the best athlete, he is a player and has a fine skill set. He can run a point and then back off to allow Crawford to take over down the stretch. In two years when Crawford is gone, HOPEFULLY Maynor can take over. Now will Woody develop him? Or is he another Acie Law?

20. Utah. Austin Daye. F Gonzaga Just like Stockton, the Jazz get another Zag. Doesn't Daye just have Utah written all over him? Seems like he is a JAZZ guy...especially if Boozer leaves.

21. New Orleans. Tyler Hansbrough. He's a hustler that could put the Hornets over the top. Be the final piece, if you will. They don't need Budinger because they already have Posey. Psycho T would be fine here.

22. Portland. Chase Budinger, G/F Zona. They don't need a PG after Bayless last year. Maybe a shooter, which is what Budinger is. Though they already have Rudy Fernandez. Must be nice to be a Blazer or Bull fan right now...

23. Sactown. Sam Young, F Pitt. Adds some toughness to the Kings, or Queens as Shaq used to call them

24. Dallas. Toney Douglas, G FSU. JKidd is just old. Will they resign him? Why with Big Shot Toney Douglas sitting in your lap? THIS GUY will be getting the last shot over Dirk, at least he should.

25. OKC. BJ Mullens, C Ohio State. Some size down low to go with Green and Durant. With Harden and Westbrook, it must be fun being a Thunder fan too...

26. Chicago. John Brockman, F Washington. How tall is this guy? Can he take over for Miller? Not that they'll need it with Noah playing 6'11.

27. Memphis. Wayne Ellington, G UNC. Can you ever have too many good shooters?

28. Minnesota. Nick Calathis, Florida. He is playing in Greece next year. Fine with Minnesota. Let him mature over there then you can possibly insert him next season after you see how Thabeet and Curry and Teague are fitting in your rotation.

29. LA Lakers. DaJuan Summers, F Georgetown. He won't start, but he could offer some ability off the bench. If they lose Ariza and/or Odom, he could play a bigger role. Remember too that LA could trade this pick....maybe to Minnesota!

30. Cleveland. Derrick Brown, F Xavier. At 6'7 he isn't supplanting LeBron, but he could give a little depth at the 4, playing alongside Shaq and James. Ellington would be nice if he was still here.

There you have it. Mock my mock if you must!