2009 NBA Draft Rundown

Somehow, it is ten minutes before the 2009 NBA Draft commences, and I’m thinking about…Michael Jackson. The King of Pop, apparently dead of a heart attack. Wow. RIP to one of the all-time most exciting and talented entertainers the world has ever seen.

On to the draft. I’ve got the Chick-Fil-A ready to go, but not without incident. I usually go in to pick up my order at the CFA in Christiansburg, and tonight was no different. However, while attempting to text about Michael Jackson and carry my food out at the same time, I managed to drop my bag of food and spill half my frenchy fries. But, this near-disaster turned into a winning situation, as I got to keep my remaining fries and get an entire second container of waffle fries too. I tell ya’ll what, the fine folks at the Christiansburg CFA treat me right. They are always friendly and make sure your experience is good.

Anyway, the Bobcats t-shirt & Carolina shorts are in place. Also, I’m hitting this draft from the new kitchen table for computer/food efficiency. Get a visual in place.

Let the record show that it is 7:22pm and I’m already annoyed with fellow UNC alum Stuart Scott. Boo-no.

Dickie V makes his first appearance for the evening. It is also the first time I’ve seen him on my HD television. He looks like a ghost on speed. He also loves Ty Lawson, which might be the kiss of death for Ty’s NBA career.

Let’s just say this one time and get it out of the way, in efforts to refrain from becoming redundant: ESPN could not have put together a worse announcing team for this draft telecast. Between errors, no substantive points, and a lack of chemistry, it is going to be a long night.

Blake Griffin goes #1 to the LA Clippers. Welcome to hell, Blake. He sounds just like Mark McGwire in his interviews: “I’m not here to talk about the past…” This is followed up by an awkward interview with the Griffin parents by Lisa Salters. Oh boy.

Hasheen Thabeet goes #2 to the Memphis Grizzlies. Here’s hoping he takes some ribs home to Tanzania with him when he goes to do charity work (Thabeet is already known as a philanthropist among his peers and the college basketball world). Good to see that Dikimbe Mutumbo passed along his Cookie Monster impersonation to Thabeet.
Over/under on how many times Thabeet gets throw around by another big man or dunked on by a wing player is 3,419 (assuming he survives six years in the NBA).

#3 pick is James Harden to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yeah, they have a team in Oklahoma. Harden was dressed by Andre 3000, complete with bow tie. Interesting pick because the word was Harden was the guy OKC thought was the best fit for their team, but Rubio is probably a higher-ceiling talent. I think Harden will be pretty solid though.

All three guys selected thus far have been very well-spoken, especially Harden. Some real quality guys this year in the draft.

My main man, Tyreke Evans, goes #4 to Sacramento. Sad times here at Casa de Kyle. He’s going to be really stinkin’ good. I am optimistic for his chances playing off the ball at the shooting guard with Kevin Martin at the 3 for the Kings. Martin is a great shooter and should open up the lane a bit for Tyreke’s driving abiltiy.

Minnesota is doing back flips right now, Rubio is still on the board.

Hey, did you know Ricky Rubio will be the first player selected in a draft to be born in the 1990s? Stuart Scott just told me that…for the 4th time. Seriously.

Rubio goes #5 to the T-Wolves…and the Madison Square Garden crowd chants “U.S.A., U.S.A” Awesome. Now they just need a shooting guard next to him. I’m interested to see what they do here at #6. Jordan Hill would make some sense too, as there is not really a pure shooting guard available that is worth the #6 pick. DeRozan maybe? Curry is more of a point guard, in my opinion, and would be tough to fit next to Rubio.

We are reminded that Minnesota has no coach right now. Why? Because they sucked last year. Why did they suck last year? Because they’ve drafted four straight shooting guards from 2005-2008. McCants (traded), Roy (traded on draft night for Randy Foye…who just got traded too), Corey Brewer (um…struggling is putting it nicely), and OJ Mayo (traded on draft night). Therefore, they still need a shooting guard.

Naturally, Minnesota takes Johnny Flynn at #6. Like Rubio, he is also a point guard. So I’m assuming Minnesota is trying to swing a trade and took Flynn on behalf of another team...? Otherwise this pick makes NO sense. Naturally, no one on ESPN points out this possibility. No one.

Johnny Flynn is seriously one of my all-time favorites to hear interviewed. He is an Avery Johnson in training.
Hey, Ric Bucher is on my TV and speculating that the Wolves will keep Rubio and Flynn. I am befuddled. At least they finally addressed the possibility of a trade.

Golden State is up and takes Stephen Curry at #7. New York fans are pissed. Aren’t they always? I am intrigued as to how the Warriors will play him next to Monta Ellis. Neither guy can defend, but then again, neither can anyone else on Golden State’s roster. I assume Curry will try out the 1-spot with Ellis playing the 2.

Sweet footage of Dell Curry as a Charlotte Hornet. Man, one of my favorites growing up. I also want to mention that watching Stephen Curry in person during the 2008 NCAA Tournament 1st & 2nd rounds is one of the highlights of my sporting events career. Truly special.

There is no way the goatee Stephen Curry has is real. I don’t think he’s seen a razor in his life.

The Knicks are on the clock. They show a man of foreign descent in the crowd with a Dook hat on. No comment.

The Knicks select Jordan Hill at #8 and the fans boo. I doubt anyone would be cheered by th- oh crap, Stuart Scott literally said that as I typed the sentence. I have no real comment on Jordan Hill other than I enjoyed watching him play late-night at Arizona, but he’s really got to improve to be an NBA rotation guy.

Carolina grad Donnie Walsh interviewed by Rachel Nichols. I just wanted to point out that he’s a Tar Heel and we won the national title in 2009.

DeMar DeRozan goes #9 to Toronto (hope he has a passport), Brandon Jennings to Milwaukee at #10, and…Terrence Williams at #11 to New Jersey. The Bobcats will not have a chance to draft Williams and his Barbie backpack. I’m fairly relieved.

Bobcats are on the clock at #12 and Gramps texts in to speculate Gerald Henderson. I am hoping for Earl Clark or a trade, but he’s probably right. During the course of the three previous picks, my Rhode Island buddy calls in to discuss the draft, etc. Derrick is biased towards the Big East, but he loves Earl Clark too.

With the 12th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats select…Gerald Henderson. Not the end of the world, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a great player. It could have been worse, and I’d rather have him than Williams, but it could have been better too (see Clark, Earl or Trade, Draft Day).

Gerald Jr. mentions golf and hard work in his interview with Mark Jones. He apparently battled frequently in workouts with Tyler Hansbrough. I wonder if he threw any forearms in Psycho T’s direction during those workouts? It’s ok if he did, I’m sure Tyler just flexed and showed him his National Title ring. Erich IM’s in to lament the Bobcats not taking a chance on the former national player of the year…

And speaking of, in a surprise move, Tyler Hansbrough goes #13 to Indiana. Wow. I’m quite shocked, actually. NY fans chant “overrated”. That’s alright though, none of them can read. A frat boy-in-training is shown in the crowd with a #50 NC jersey, complete with mop-top hair.

It looks like Tyler is ready to play right now during his interview with Jones. They cut to National Championship winning coach Roy Williams in the seats. ROY!

For the record, I completely forgave Henderson for his stupid forearm assault on Tyler immediately after the 2006-2007 season ended. I loved watching Henderson at Dook and would have loved him as a Tar Heel. I am also realistic that Tyler will be a good, but not great, NBA player. No major bias coming from this house.

I think it’s time for a bowl of ice cream and a beverage.

Ric Bucher is reporting a great trade rumor of Amar’e to Golden State for Brandan Wright (go Heels), Marco Belinelli, and Andris Biedrins. That would actually be a pretty decent get for Phoenix, some cheap-but-talented guys to go with Biedrins. Maybe Golden State would then flip a wing player for another big man?

Earl Clark goes #14 to Phoenix and somehow we end up welcoming Brandon Jennings, who was picked 10th by Milwaukee, to the stage. As previously mentioned, I love Earl Clark and think Phoenix got a great player.

In other news, Cousin Car wishes the Bobcats had made a run at Psycho T as well. She is pissed. “I just do not like Gerald at all,” Car says. Rhino, on the other hand, is already in search of Pacers/Bobcats tickets.

Austin Daye goes #15 to Detroit. Daye is very talented and long and skilled and all of those things. I am afraid he is also a wuss and will not be a good NBA player. At least you can bet that he’ll be better than fellow Gonzaga alum Adam Morrison.

Dickie V is on my television in HD again. Oh my. He loves Hansbrough and Steph Curry, who he claims will be a “big-time star” and the Rookie of the Year next year. Vitale also hates guys being taken on “potential”. Same song, different verse.

Chicago passes on DeJuan Blair at #16 and takes James Johnson from Wake Forest instead. I know Andrew is probably relieved. Not sure how much I like Johnson, but I’m open to seeing how it works.

Steve Kerr is interviewed and mentions multiple times that the Suns are “in transition” right now. Suns fans, I would not be renewing those season tickets unless you want to watch a train wreck of a team next season.

Yup, Andrew texts in to express affection for the Bulls & James Johnson.

Ty Lawson gets passed up at #17 by the 76ers in favor of Jrue Holiday. I forgot he was still available, honestly, even though Holiday has been sitting in the green room for two hours. I’m getting a bit concerned for Lawson, he could tumble a ways now with Teague and Maynor still out there. Word this afternoon was Portland likes him though, so maybe the Blazers can grab him at #22?

Finished with the ice cream, and debating a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. If HNC were an NBA player, they’d have to be Scotty Pippen: consistent, versatile, and overall solid. Not my numero uno cereal, but an All-Star member of the rotation for years.

And nevermind my worry about Ty Lawson slipping, as Minnesota takes him at #18. ESPN talks for three minutes before bringing in Ric Bucher to assuage the fears of fans everywhere that the T-Wolves are trying to field a midget league team by telling us that Lawson is going to Denver for the Bobcats’ protected first-rounder next year.

Funny moment of the night so far though was the flood of texts, IMs, and BBMs that just rolled in after that Lawson pick. Expletives galore, and some good versatility among those chosen by my friends. Even Coach Roy was surprised by the pick, texting me a “WTF…three PG’s???” after the pick was made.

Jeff Teague goes #19 to Atlanta. He’s going to be great for them, as I really like Teague as a quality guard in this league for a long time. Yes, more than Lawson. On a related note, Utah takes Eric Maynor #20 to play behind Deron Williams. Here’s hoping that they don’t regret passing on DeJuan Blair if Millsap & Boozer both leave in free agency.
Larry Brown is on my television and gets the “ass-hole, ass-hole” chant for the NY crowd. I also just realized the Bobcats lead the league in players named “Gerald”, with Henderson & Wallace on board. So we’ve got that going for us!

New Orleans brings us Darren Collison at #21. Kind of a reach there, in my opinion. No better than a backup in this league. They do need a second point guard, but I would have rather had Toney Douglas than Collison.

So, we still have DeJuan Blair & BJ Mullens on the board. Blair’s stock has really fallen tonight, as he was speculated as high as #11 within the last week. Mullens is destined to be a big white stiff, so maybe teams actually realized that. It has also been a quiet night in the trade market thus far, with few new deals to report.

Portland is choosing 22nd here and selects Victor Claver. He’s not coming to the US for a couple years, which would be fine if Portland had not traded up with Dallas to grab him.

Shaq being interviewed by Lisa Salters and he sends out condolences to Michael Jackson’s family first – classy move by O’Neal. Seriously. He sounds optimistic about going to Cleveland and is willing to do what it takes to be a team player. Lisa is butchering this interview, btw, as she has most of the night. Dear ESPN – please don’t bring in four folks (Stu Scott, Mark Jackson, Van Gundy, and Salters) who are not used to unscripted television for the NBA Draft. Last time I’m mentioning this (wanna bet?).

Sacramento takes Omri Casspi from Israel at #23. Jews everywhere rejoice. One time at a New York Mets game, my Dad & I watched a kid use his kippah (yarmulke) as a bowl to eat his potato chips from. I doubt Casspi will do this in Sac-Town, but if he does, Frito Lay better be ready as a sponsor.

Dallas takes BJ Mullens at #24. I guess they are willing to wait on this kid, seeing as he did not start at Ohio State (which Jay Bilas points out as I’m typing this). “Must improve: post game”. Ominous for a POST player. Next, David Stern tells us that Oklahoma City has drafted Rodrigue Beaubois at #25, followed by Ric Bucher telling us that OKC has traded him for BJ Mullens.

I have to say, this draft has not been all that exciting, sans Brandon Jennings’ sudden appearance and the three point guards that Minny has selected. I might should have watched Burn Notice live and left the draft muted on TV #2 instead of DVR-ing it. Does anyone reading this watch Burn Notice? I have watched since its inception and find it entertaining week after week, even though it is basically the same show week after week. Why is that?

Chicago is back up and grab Taj Gibson at #26. I am not sure about that one either. Aren’t he and James Johnson similar players, or at least project to the same position in the league? I would think they would need to think about a shooting guard to at least back up Ben Gordon or whoever ends up playing the 2-spot for them.

Memphis takes DeMarre Carroll with the 27th pick after a spirited discussion among the ESPN guys about how to make the team exciting. Um, I don’t think that did it.

Minnesota returns to take another point guard at #28? Nope, they select Wayne Ellington from the University of National Champions. I wish Minnesota was not trading Lawson; that would have been fun to watch them play together again.

Interview with Roy! Sweet shirt/tie combo there, Coach. I love that man.

The Knicks are now picking at #29 following a trade with the Lakers, and have also traded Q Richardson to Memphis for Darko Milicic. Both of these developments were reported earlier today, so no surprises there. Here’s hoping Darko does well in New York and can salvage a decent career and some dignity under Mike D’Antoni. The Lakers take Toney Douglas here, and we are to assume he is headed to the Big Apple anytime now.

Cleveland closes out the first round by taking Christian Eyenga at #30.

Final thoughts as we close out this way-too-long live rundown: this draft was drama-free. The trade market is heating up, though, and should continue for a few weeks as discussed earlier today on the blog (see below). Congrats to Blake Griffin for going #1, congrats to the Timberwolves for drafting a seven-footer in the form of three point guards, and congrats to the Tar Heels for having a lot of good players. Early-entries like Chase Budinger, DeJuan Blair, & Patty Mills last until the second round, which must be disappointing for those guys. There may be a bit more nuts-and-bolts analysis in the coming days, including some further fallout from the trade and free agent markets, here on The Blue Team – be sure to check in. Thanks for reading ya’ll, be good.