2009 NBA Mock Draft: Top 10 Lottery Picks

2009 NBA Mock Draft - Lottery Picks. The NBA draft will be here before you know it. After the 2009 NCAA tournament, Blake Griffin stands out as the clear number 1 pick for the 2009 NBA draft. He has all the skills needed to excel in the NBA and has an excellent ability to handle the basketball as well as play in the paint. The draft order presented here is based on team records where in the lottery the first three picks will be chosen at random with leverage given to the teams that performed worst during the regular season. The remainder of the lottery picks will proceed from worst team to best of the ones which do not make the playoffs.

2009 NBA Mock Draft - Top Ten Lottery Picks

1 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Sacramento Kings - Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin is 6-10/ 240 lbs and is being listed as a Power Forward and Center for the draft. He played for the Oklahoma Sooners and is going pro after his Sophomore year. Its likely that most teams would take Griffin with the first pick even if they are stacked inside if just to use him for trade bait. If Sacramento gets the first pick, expect them to hold on to Griffin as a potential franchise player!

2 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Washington Wizards - Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio comes in at 6-3, 180 lbs and is one of the best foreign prospects for the 2009 NBA draft. He has great foot speed and a very high basketball IQ. He'll need to improve his outside shooting a bit to remain competitive in the NBA as well as get stronger, but still rated as a high lottery pick for the NBA draft.

3 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Los Angeles Clippers - Hasheem Thabeet

Hasheem Thabeet is one of the best prospects in this year's draft physically. At 7-2, 260 lbs, he has good size for a 7 footer and is very athletic. His overall game is assessed as still being a bit raw, but he will go high in the draft for teams that need a defensive presence inside quick. Offenisvley he will need a few years to start really contributing offensively.

4 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Oklahoma Thunder - Jordan Hill

Hill is another big man in this draft that brings a great defensive game along with rebounding to the draft. He'll need a year or two to increase his strength to compete at the highest level in the NBA for a full season, but will be a high lottery pick in this year's 1009 NBA draft.

5 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Memphis Grizzlies - Earl Clark

Earl Clark has size at 6-9 and range to boot. He's able to bank inside as a Power Forward or run the floor in the small forward position. He can go anywhere from 5th to lower in the first round depending on what team needs are for the final draft order for the lottery.

6 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Minnesota Timberwolves - Demar DeRozan

Demar DeRozan had an ok Fresman year at USC. He's assessed as having NBA sills at the shooting guard position, but he could have used another year or two of seasoning before going into the NBA draft. At 6-6, 210lbs he has the body to go with his shooting skills. If he develops a greater intesnity about his play, then DeRozan has the potential to be a franchise NBA player.
7 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Golden State Warriors - Willie Warren

Willie Warren's outstanding play at point and shooting guard in his freshman season were the main reason that Blake Griffin's Sooners got as far as they did in the NCAA tournament. If he's not able to make the transition to point guard in the NBA he's assessed as being able to start at the shooting guard position as well in the NBA.
8 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - New York Knicks AlFarouq Aminu

AlFarouq Aminu is one of the most athletic small forwards in the 2009 NBA draft. He's assessed as having great overall basketball skills and brings a 6'8" / 210lb frame to boot! His biggest weakness right now is his outside game which he will need to focus on to be a big-time contributor to the team which drafts him.
9 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Toronto Raptors - Tyreke Evans

At 6-6, 205 lbs, Tyreke Evans is a prototypical NBA 1 and 2 guard. It will be surprising if he lasts past the tenth pick in the draft. He also demonstrated to NBA teams a glimpse of what they'll be drafting with his performance in the final game of Memphis's season in the 2009 NCAA tournament.

10 - 2009 NBA Mock Draft - Milwaukee Bucks - Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is 6-3, 185lbs and brings a great basketball IQ to compliment his outside shooting. Look for Curry to go to a team in need of another big-time scorer.

Refs:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/lottery2009/mockdraft
http://www.mynbadraft.com/2009-nba-draft-lottery-date-and-odds/
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/