Indazone
06-26-2009, 02:19 AM
2009 NBA Draft grades
By SAM KHAN JR. Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 26, 2009, 1:27AM
Atlanta C
19. Jeff Teague 6-1 G Wake For.
49. Sergiy Gladyr 6-5 G Ukraine
• Comment: Teague can fill a void if unrestricted free agent Mike Bibby leaves.
Boston C
58. Lester Hudson 6-2 G Ten.-Mar.
• Comment: Hudson is an explosive scorer who averaged 26.6 points per game while at Tennessee-Martin.
Charlotte B
12. Gerald Henderson 6-5 G Duke
40. Derrick Brown 6-9 F Xavier
• Comment: The Bobcats needed depth on the perimeter and they got it. Henderson can score from anywhere on the floor.
Chicago B-
16. James Johnson 6-9 F Wake For.
26. Taj Gibson 6-9 F USC
• Comment: Johnson is a tweener and Gibson is a shot-blocking big man; both should fit in well with the Bulls.
Cleveland C-
30. Christian Eneyga 6-5 G Congo
• Comment: Eyenga is a raw talent who likely won’t make an impact immediately.
Dallas C+
25. Rodrigue Beaubois 6-3 G France
56. Ahmad Nivins 6-9 F St. Joe’s
• Comment: Beaubois doesn’t have a great feel for the game, but he should develop that overseas in the next few years.
Denver B-
18. Ty Lawson 5-11 G UNC
• Comment: Lawson could be a viable successor to current point guard Chauncey Billups.
Detroit B+
15. Austin Daye 6-10 F Gonzaga
35. DaJuan Summers 6-8 F G’town
39. Jonas Jerebko 6-9 F Sweden
• Comment: With several of their big men likely departing this summer, the Pistons went for plenty of size.
Golden State B
7. Stephen Curry 6-3 G Davidson
• Comment: Curry is a great scorer and shooter who will see plenty of touches after the Warriors dealt Jamal Crawford.
Houston B
32. Jermaine Taylor 6-5 G Cent. Fla.
34. Sergio Llull 6-3 G Spain
44. Chase Budinger 6-7 F Arizona
• Comment: Taylor can score (16.2 ppg in college) and can shoot from the outside. Llull will add depth to the backcourt down the road. Budinger is a versatile, athletic forward with shooting range.
Indiana C+
13. Tyler Hansbrough 6-9 F UNC
52. A.J. Price 6-2 G UConn
• Comment: Hansbrough adds some needed size.
Los Angeles Clippers A
1. Blake Griffin 6-10 F Oklahoma
• Comment: Griffin comes closest to being a sure thing in this draft.
Los Angeles Lakers C
59. Chinemelu Elonu 6-10 F Tex. A&M
• Comment: After trading their earlie picks, the Lakers snap up the Elsik product. Elonu can rebound and block shots.
Memphis A
2. Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 C UConn
27. DeMarre Carroll 6-8 F Missouri
36. Sam Young 6-6 F Pitt
• Comment: Thabeet should contribute immediately on the defensive end with his size, rebounding and shot-blocking ability.
Miami C-
42. Patrick Beverley 6-1 G Ukraine
60. Robert Dozier 6-9 F Memphis
• Comment: The Heat added depth at the right spots but it’s unlikely either will contribute much immediately.
Milwaukee B
10. Brandon Jennings 6-1 G Italy
41. Jodie Meeks 6-4 G Kentucky
• Comment: The Bucks were in big-time need of a point guard. Jennings, who is a great athlete, could prove to be a good one.
Minnesota A
5. Ricky Rubio 6-4 G Spain
6. Jonny Flynn 6-0 G Syracuse
28. Wayne Ellington 6-4 G UNC
45. Nick Calathes 6-5 G Florida
47. Henk Norel 6-11 F Nether.
• Comment: The T-Wolves made much-needed upgrades to their backcourt with Rubio, Flynn and Ellington.
New Jersey B-
11. Terrence Williams 6-6 F Louisville
• Comment: Williams won’t score like recently traded Vince Carter, but he’s a solid defender and good rebounder who can handle the ball.
New Orleans D+
21. Darren Collison 6-0 G UCLA
43. Marcus Thornton 6-4 G LSU
• Comment: The could have used an athletic wing or big man instead of Collison, but he’ll provide depth behind Chris Paul.
New York B
8. Jordan Hill 6-10 F Arizona
29. Toney Douglas 6-1 G Florida St.
• Comment: Hill may have been booed, but his size, wingspan and versatility should eventually turn Knicks fans in his favor.
Oklahoma City B
3. James Harden 6-5 G Ariz. St.
24. B.J. Mullens 7-0 C Ohio St.
54. Robert Vaden 6-5 G UAB
• Comment: Harden being selected as the draft’s first guard ahead of Ricky Rubio was a surprise.
Orlando Inc.
No selections
• Comment: After picking up Vince Carter in a trade earlier in the day, the Magic had a quiet evening.
Philadelphia B
17. Jrue Holiday 6-3 G UCLA
• Comment: With Andre Miller’s impending free agency, Holiday will fill a need at the point.
Phoenix C+
14. Earl Clark 6-9 F Louisville
46. Danny Green 6-7 F UNC
48. Taylor Griffin 6-6 F Oklahoma
57. Emir Preldzic 6-9 F Slovenia
• Comment: Clark’s a long, athletic forward who has range on his jumper.
Portland B-
22. Victor Claver 6-10 F Spain
31. Jeff Pendergraph 6-9 F Ariz. St.
33. Dante Cunningham 6-7 F Villanova
55. Patrick Mills 5-11 G St. Mary’s
• Comment: Claver can run the floor well for his size. Pendergraph and Cunningham should add some needed toughness to the Blazers’ frontcourt.
Sacramento B+
4. Tyreke Evans 6-5 G Memphis
23. Omri Casspi 6-8 F Israel
38. Jon Brockman 6-7 F Wash.
• Comment: Evans has the look of a future star at point guard, a big area of need for the Kings.
San Antonio B+
37. DeJuan Blair 6-6 F Pitt
51. Jack McClinton 6-1 G Miami
53. Nando De Colon 6-5 G France
• Comment: Blair could prove to be a steal at 37 and adds needed youth and rebounding to the Spurs front line..
Toronto B-
9. DeMar DeRozan 6-6 G USC
• Comment: DeRozan is an athletic swingman who can run the floor well, finish in the lane and should contribute quickly.
Utah C+
20. Eric Maynor 6-3 G VCU
50. Goran Suton 6-10 C Mich. St.
• Comment: Maynor will add depth and insurance behind Deron Williams.
Washington Inc.
No selections
• Comment: The Wizards traded their only selection to the Rockets.
By SAM KHAN JR. Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 26, 2009, 1:27AM
Atlanta C
19. Jeff Teague 6-1 G Wake For.
49. Sergiy Gladyr 6-5 G Ukraine
• Comment: Teague can fill a void if unrestricted free agent Mike Bibby leaves.
Boston C
58. Lester Hudson 6-2 G Ten.-Mar.
• Comment: Hudson is an explosive scorer who averaged 26.6 points per game while at Tennessee-Martin.
Charlotte B
12. Gerald Henderson 6-5 G Duke
40. Derrick Brown 6-9 F Xavier
• Comment: The Bobcats needed depth on the perimeter and they got it. Henderson can score from anywhere on the floor.
Chicago B-
16. James Johnson 6-9 F Wake For.
26. Taj Gibson 6-9 F USC
• Comment: Johnson is a tweener and Gibson is a shot-blocking big man; both should fit in well with the Bulls.
Cleveland C-
30. Christian Eneyga 6-5 G Congo
• Comment: Eyenga is a raw talent who likely won’t make an impact immediately.
Dallas C+
25. Rodrigue Beaubois 6-3 G France
56. Ahmad Nivins 6-9 F St. Joe’s
• Comment: Beaubois doesn’t have a great feel for the game, but he should develop that overseas in the next few years.
Denver B-
18. Ty Lawson 5-11 G UNC
• Comment: Lawson could be a viable successor to current point guard Chauncey Billups.
Detroit B+
15. Austin Daye 6-10 F Gonzaga
35. DaJuan Summers 6-8 F G’town
39. Jonas Jerebko 6-9 F Sweden
• Comment: With several of their big men likely departing this summer, the Pistons went for plenty of size.
Golden State B
7. Stephen Curry 6-3 G Davidson
• Comment: Curry is a great scorer and shooter who will see plenty of touches after the Warriors dealt Jamal Crawford.
Houston B
32. Jermaine Taylor 6-5 G Cent. Fla.
34. Sergio Llull 6-3 G Spain
44. Chase Budinger 6-7 F Arizona
• Comment: Taylor can score (16.2 ppg in college) and can shoot from the outside. Llull will add depth to the backcourt down the road. Budinger is a versatile, athletic forward with shooting range.
Indiana C+
13. Tyler Hansbrough 6-9 F UNC
52. A.J. Price 6-2 G UConn
• Comment: Hansbrough adds some needed size.
Los Angeles Clippers A
1. Blake Griffin 6-10 F Oklahoma
• Comment: Griffin comes closest to being a sure thing in this draft.
Los Angeles Lakers C
59. Chinemelu Elonu 6-10 F Tex. A&M
• Comment: After trading their earlie picks, the Lakers snap up the Elsik product. Elonu can rebound and block shots.
Memphis A
2. Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 C UConn
27. DeMarre Carroll 6-8 F Missouri
36. Sam Young 6-6 F Pitt
• Comment: Thabeet should contribute immediately on the defensive end with his size, rebounding and shot-blocking ability.
Miami C-
42. Patrick Beverley 6-1 G Ukraine
60. Robert Dozier 6-9 F Memphis
• Comment: The Heat added depth at the right spots but it’s unlikely either will contribute much immediately.
Milwaukee B
10. Brandon Jennings 6-1 G Italy
41. Jodie Meeks 6-4 G Kentucky
• Comment: The Bucks were in big-time need of a point guard. Jennings, who is a great athlete, could prove to be a good one.
Minnesota A
5. Ricky Rubio 6-4 G Spain
6. Jonny Flynn 6-0 G Syracuse
28. Wayne Ellington 6-4 G UNC
45. Nick Calathes 6-5 G Florida
47. Henk Norel 6-11 F Nether.
• Comment: The T-Wolves made much-needed upgrades to their backcourt with Rubio, Flynn and Ellington.
New Jersey B-
11. Terrence Williams 6-6 F Louisville
• Comment: Williams won’t score like recently traded Vince Carter, but he’s a solid defender and good rebounder who can handle the ball.
New Orleans D+
21. Darren Collison 6-0 G UCLA
43. Marcus Thornton 6-4 G LSU
• Comment: The could have used an athletic wing or big man instead of Collison, but he’ll provide depth behind Chris Paul.
New York B
8. Jordan Hill 6-10 F Arizona
29. Toney Douglas 6-1 G Florida St.
• Comment: Hill may have been booed, but his size, wingspan and versatility should eventually turn Knicks fans in his favor.
Oklahoma City B
3. James Harden 6-5 G Ariz. St.
24. B.J. Mullens 7-0 C Ohio St.
54. Robert Vaden 6-5 G UAB
• Comment: Harden being selected as the draft’s first guard ahead of Ricky Rubio was a surprise.
Orlando Inc.
No selections
• Comment: After picking up Vince Carter in a trade earlier in the day, the Magic had a quiet evening.
Philadelphia B
17. Jrue Holiday 6-3 G UCLA
• Comment: With Andre Miller’s impending free agency, Holiday will fill a need at the point.
Phoenix C+
14. Earl Clark 6-9 F Louisville
46. Danny Green 6-7 F UNC
48. Taylor Griffin 6-6 F Oklahoma
57. Emir Preldzic 6-9 F Slovenia
• Comment: Clark’s a long, athletic forward who has range on his jumper.
Portland B-
22. Victor Claver 6-10 F Spain
31. Jeff Pendergraph 6-9 F Ariz. St.
33. Dante Cunningham 6-7 F Villanova
55. Patrick Mills 5-11 G St. Mary’s
• Comment: Claver can run the floor well for his size. Pendergraph and Cunningham should add some needed toughness to the Blazers’ frontcourt.
Sacramento B+
4. Tyreke Evans 6-5 G Memphis
23. Omri Casspi 6-8 F Israel
38. Jon Brockman 6-7 F Wash.
• Comment: Evans has the look of a future star at point guard, a big area of need for the Kings.
San Antonio B+
37. DeJuan Blair 6-6 F Pitt
51. Jack McClinton 6-1 G Miami
53. Nando De Colon 6-5 G France
• Comment: Blair could prove to be a steal at 37 and adds needed youth and rebounding to the Spurs front line..
Toronto B-
9. DeMar DeRozan 6-6 G USC
• Comment: DeRozan is an athletic swingman who can run the floor well, finish in the lane and should contribute quickly.
Utah C+
20. Eric Maynor 6-3 G VCU
50. Goran Suton 6-10 C Mich. St.
• Comment: Maynor will add depth and insurance behind Deron Williams.
Washington Inc.
No selections
• Comment: The Wizards traded their only selection to the Rockets.