A LayupDrill.com Exclusive
With the excitement of the NBA Playoffs captivating the entire sports world, it’s hard to forget that in a matter of a few short weeks, the NBA Draft will be taking center stage for the league, as the next great pro stars will learn where they will call home for at least the next three years. I am working very hard to get the latest LayupDrill.com NBA Mock Draft complete by the end of this week, but in the meanwhile, check out this breakdown of the Top 20 Prospects that still have their name in the draft as of today.
Note – The players are ranked in regards to best available, not by team need picking at that spot.
1. Blake Griffin – Oklahoma – He is number one on everyone’s draft board, it seems almost a lock. How could Blake not go first overall? If a team rich with front court talent, and in desperate need of a point guard lands the first pick. In that event, you could still see that team do a sign-and-trade, or draft Blake and move a veteran.
2. Ricky Rubio – Ricky’s agent made it known earlier this week Rubio was putting his name in the hat for this years draft, and I have said all along that the Washington Wizards need to get Rubio asap. Flip Saunders might lose sleep this summer thinking of all the potential plays he could draw up with Gilbert Arenas and Rubio running the show in the Verizon Center.
3. Hasheem Thabeet – Thabeet is not only in the draft, but will be a top 5 pick. You can’t teach size, and many teams that are lacking big men are watching the playoffs this year, and seeing how the young front court of Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas are giving Boston all sorts of issues. Thabeet can be that type of player for a team like Washington, Memphis, etc.
4. James Harden – Harden of USC is in the draft, and expected to go early. Teams needing a flat out scorer will fall in love with Harden’s playmaking ability.
5. Jordan Hill – The Arizona big man has the ability to step right in and help a team immediately, and a team looking for more athletic play in the post will be very happy with him.
6. Demar DeRozan – For a team that misses out on Harden, grabbing DeRozan in the 6-10 picks will be a very nice consolation. DeRozan’s speed will fit in very nice in an uptempo offense.
7. Brandon Jennings – While many feel this draft is light on superstars, it is very heavy on speedy floor generals. Among the best prospects is Jennings, who played in Rome this past season. Jennings in MSG would be very interesting….
8. Tyreke Evans – The Memphis point guard will go in the lottery, whether to a team on the cusp of the playoffs again(Phoenix), or a team that needs help at many positions.
9. James Johnson – The Wake Forest power forward is an impressive specimen at 6′9 and 250, and is a double-double waiting to a happen every night. Johnson will need to improve his shooting in the league, but if he gets in the right system, watch out.
10. Earl Clark – Louisville swingman Earl Clark is a talent that could go as high as 7 or as low as 18. There is still a chance Clark could return to school, but if he does stay in the draft, he could land on a team that isnt horrible, and where he would not feel the pressure to play and perform immediately.
11. Craig Brackens – The Iowa State power forward is tall and lanky, has an incredible work ethic, and quickly rising up many teams draft boards. Though he could go in the middle of the first round, Brackens could be the sleeper of the draft.
12. Gerald Henderson – The Duke swingman may be headed back to school as well, however if he stays in the draft, he is a sure-fire lottery pick. He reminds you of a poor mans Corey Maggette, before the drama.
13. Eric Maynor – Maynor reminds me a little of Chauncey Billups, both in his demeanor on the court, and his style of play. He should land somwhere in the middle of the first round, with an outside shot to hit the lottery.
14. Stephen Curry – If Curry had come out last year, he would have been a lottery pick, though he wasn’t ready for the league. A year later, he is still a potential lottery pick, although he has publicly said he is not certain if he will stay in or head back to school.
15. Jonny Flynn – Flynn is probably making a mistake coming out this year, though he may be able to learn behind a veteran point guard, if he is taken in the mid to late first round.
16. Chase Budinger – A streaky shooter who will have a long career as long as he knows his role in the league.
17. DeJuan Blair – Undersized, yet if he gets in the right system, he can be a better version of Glen Davis in Boston.
18. Ty Lawson – A flat out winner. Scouts say Lawson is a faster version of Raymond Felton, and we have seen his success in Charlotte this season.
19. Sam Young – Young is a mature, level-headed shooter who, along with Brackens, are my two early sleepers to make some serious noise next year.
20. Patrick Mills – Mills is undersized, yet plays bigger than his height, and that has made him a winner everywhere he has gone.
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