NBA Lottery Mock Draft 3.0

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma

The Clippers were the fortunate winners of the 25th NBA Lottery and are now coasting through the draft process as they wait to officially draft Griffin.  The consensus number one pick, Griffin will step in nicely with a core of young Clippers that could make some noise in a few years.

NBA Comparison: Amare Stoudemire

Other Options: Ricky Rubio

Previous Pick: Jordan Hill at #3

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

The Grizzlies jumped a lucky four spots in the Lottery and have to be pleased.  I still have a lot of faith in Mike Conley and I think the Grizzlies do as well.  Marc Gasol had problems on defense last year and should form a very good duo with the defensive star Thabeet.

NBA Comparison: Sam Dalembert

Other Options: Ricky Rubio, Jordan Hill

Previous Pick: James Harden at #6

Ricky Rubio will be one of two foreign point guards slotted to be taken in the top 5.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ricky Rubio, PG, DKV Joventut

A no-brainer here for the Thunder who take the next best player on the board and address a need.  Russell Westbrook can be moved to the shooting guard position and form a great core of young players.  The Thunder showed signs of greatness last year and may be just a few years away from turning the corner.

NBA Comparison: Rafer Alston

Other Options: James Harden

Previous Pick: Hasheem Thabeet at #4

4. Sacramento Kings: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA

I am not too high on Holiday as of right now, but he has the biggest ceiling of any point guard in the draft and fits the biggest need for the Kings.  After losing out on the top spot in the draft, Holiday is a boom-or-bust pick with loads of potential and will get the chance to start right away.

NBA Comparison: Rodney Stuckey

Other Options: Jordan Hill, Johnny Flynn

Previous Pick: Blake Griffin at #1

5. Washington Wizards: James Harden, SG, Arizona State

No one has helped their draft stock more than Harden, and he will fit in nicely with the Wizards.  In my last mock, I had Washington drafting a point guard and shifting Gilbert Arenas to shooting guard, but now a healthy Arenas can stay at the point and have the hot shooting Harden on the wing.

NBA Comparison: Ben Gordon

Other Options: Jordan Hill

Previous Pick: Ricky Rubio at #2

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy

The Timberwolves fell back a place in the NBA Lottery but still get the chance to land their point guard of the future in Jennings.  Despite a poor season overseas, Jennings still has all the talent in the world.  He will form a great backcourt with Randy Foye as the Timberwolves continue to rebuild.

NBA Comparison: Allen Iverson

Other Options: Demar DeRozan, Jordan Hill

Previous Pick: Brandon Jennings at #5

Jordan Hill's ability to block shots has been needed in Golden State for quite some time.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona

A pure value pick here for the Warriors who get a steal with Hill here.  While he is rising up many draft boards, his potential is not as high as others drafted before him which may cause him to slide.  Golden State gets a very good defensive player with a developing offensive game. What better place to go to develop your offense than Golden State?

NBA Comparison: Al Jefferson

Other Options: Tyreke Evans, Johnny Flynn

Previous Pick: Tyreke Evans at #7

8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson

The one place where Curry’s defensive struggles will not be exposed as much is in New York so the Knicks take a chance on him.  His offensive game needs no introduction and in Mike D’Antoni’s system, his numbers could be off the chart on offense.

NBA Comparison: Mike Bibby

Other Options: Tyreke Evans, Gerald Henderson, Johnny Flynn

Previous Pick: Jeff Teague at #8

9. Toronto Raptors:Tyreke Evans, PG, Memphis

Tough pick here for the Raptors as I have them going with value.  Anthony Parker is more than likely leaving the Raptors next year via free agency and Evans is a good replacement.  He can play both guard positions and has outstanding size.  He is also great value right here.

NBA Comparison: Dwyane Wade

Other Options: Earl Clark, Demark DeRozan

Previous Pick: Gerald Henderson at #9

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Johnny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

I kept this pick the same for the Bucks because I really believe he should be the pick here.  The outside shot of nabbing the overall first pick is gone, so the Bucks should look to addressing the point guard position.  With Rubio and Jennings gone, Flynn is the next best option.

NBA Comparison: Tony Parker

Other Options: Earl Clark, James Johnson

Previous Pick: Johnny Flynn at #10

11. New Jersey Nets: Demar DeRozan, SF, USC

Another value pick here as the Nets grab the best all-around athlete in the draft.  DeRozan will win many dunk contests in the future, but a championship may be another story.  He is very raw and will take a few years to develop, but could be a defensive star.

NBA Comparison: Josh Howard

Other Options: James Johnson, Earl Clark

Previous Pick: Earl Clark at #11

Gerald Henderson really turned his game up the last few months of the year.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke

Henderson is the best shooting guard left and is the biggest need for the Bobcats.  A good draft could push the Bobcats into the playoffs next year, and they hope Henderson is the answer.  He really came on in the second half of the year and warrants a spot in the top 15.

NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson

Other Options: Wayne Ellington, James Johnson

Previous Pick: Wayne Ellington at #12

13. Indiana Pacers: Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

The Pacers were hoping for a pure big man, but at this spot no one jumps out at me as warranting a pick.  Lawson will come in and share time with Indiana who loves to rotate their point guards.  He lacks ideal size but should do a nice job in the NBA as he plays solid defense and runs the break very well.

NBA Comparison: Deron Williams

Other Options: James Johnson, DeJuan Blair

Previous Pick: Stephen Curry at #13

14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark, SF, Louisville

Clark is big enough to play the power forward position but athletic enough to be a small forward.  Sounds a lot like Shawn Marion, doesn’t it?  Clark’s size didn’t fit in well with the college game all the time, but if he can improve his jumper and get a little quicker, he could be the steal of the draft.

NBA Comparison: Josh Smith

Other Options: James Johnson, Austin Daye

Previous Pick: Ty Lawson at #14

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