On June 25, the 2009 NBA draft picks will be made, invigorating the teams and fans throughout the league with the potential talent acquired. The draft is an annual rite where the lowliest teams attempt to get better by tapping into the best talent from college or Europe. The worst teams go first and get the best NBA draft pick since the draft is held in an order reverse to the success of the team during the previous season (with the top 10 lottery picks ordered by a ball lottery weighted more heavily for the worst teams). Predicting the drafting order is an important business and entertainment for the fans.
We all look forward to draft day. What we really look forward to is watching these guys light up the basketball scoreboards that season. Here are a few that we’re expecting some great things from.
Draft selection will have a huge impact on the fate of the franchise and make or lose the owners hundreds of millions of dollars. The best example is that Michael Jordan was skipped over by a team who went with relatively unknown Sam Bowie, making the Bulls a legitimate and hugely successful franchise. The 2009 NBA draft picks will be no exception as there are plenty of teams with great needs and some impressive talent ready to join the league. These are the top prospects for the upcoming draft:
Sacramento Kings are expected to take the top prospect, Blake Griffin, a power forward who finished his sophomore year in Oklahoma. He’s a big, wide body that can muscle it up to the basket. He will also beat out all the other best fantasy draft picks, he’s that good.
Washington Wizards will take Ricky Rubio, the most talented point guard in the draft. He’s in the Euro league now but he’s young, fast and has a ton of talent. With Gilbert Arenas always injured, this may be good insurance.
The woeful Los Angeles Clippers are expected to take Hasheem Thabeet, a center from the University of Connecticut. Why would they draft him when they just paid Chris Kaman big bucks in the summer after the 2008 NBA Draft? Simple: He’s 7’3” and weighs 265 and centers are always worth a lot as trade bait. Their 2008 pick, Eric Gordon, was gold.
Oklahoma City will make its first choice ever with its 2009 NBA draft pick because last year they were still in Seattle. Joining Kevin Durant and the young Thunder crew will be a Pac-10 shooting guard but consensus is split between DeMar DeRozan from USC or James Harden from Arizona, both very efficient scorers and what is needed for a team that has a hard time keeping up with opponents. Harden is shaping up to be one of the best fantasy draft picks.
Minnesota Timberwolves. You know they really aren’t that young anymore (Al Jefferson and Randy Foye will both be 25 next season) so they will need to make some gold with their 2009 NBA draft pick. They will probably take Jordan Hill a junior from Arizona who is a power forward. With total dud Brian Cardinal there now and Kevin Love, one of the best draft picks 2008, developing, he’ll probably be a backup for now.