Not much is known about the Thursday’s NBA draft, except that it’s not considered one of the great ones. Blake Griffin is going No. 1 to the Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves may wind up making four of the 30 selections. With several deals reportedly in the works, and no consensus on who the second-best player in the draft is, it’s even more fluid than usual. But here’s how it looks:
1. Blake Griffin, San Diego Clippers
6-8 1/2, 248, So., Oklahoma
Lone player in this draft you would reconfigure a team around goes to team in need of reconfiguring.
2. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies
7-1 1/4, 267, Jr., UConn.
Owner Michael Heisley’s choice could turn out to be Saer Sene or Dikembe Mutombo. If it’s the latter, they can be somebody.
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
6-4, 222, So., Arizona St.
Savvy shooting guard whose playmaking ability makes him a good fit with converted point guard Russell Westbrook.
4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
6-4, 221, Fr., Memphis
Passing up Ricky Rubio, they go for this slasher, who they think can play the point in a running game. Not much of a shooter, but nobody can stay in front of him.
5. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
5-11 1/4, 196, So., Syracuse
Great athlete with 40-inch vertical, warrior mentality and personality coming out of his ears. Admirers see a little Chris Paul in him, if they squint.
6. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
6-3, 195, Joventut Barcelona (Spain)
Flynn is their guy. They’re taking Rubio because they know they can trade him.
7. Jordan Hill, Golden State Warriors
6-9 1/4, 232, Jr., Arizona
Coach Don Nelson, who’s zany but no fool, loves his athleticism.
8. Stephen Curry, New York Knicks
6-2, 181, Jr., Davidson
Their lucky day. Mike D’Antoni’s system runs on point guards who can shoot and Curry is one of the great shooters to come out of college in years.
9. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
6-5 1/2, 211, Fr., USC
Great athlete but not highly skilled yet. Good fit in their open-court offense, giving him a chance to utilize his athleticism.
10. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
6-3 1/4, 199, Fr., UCLA
Didn’t get to play point in Westwood but lived up to his prep reputation on pre-draft circuit.
11. Terrence Williams, New Jersey Nets
6-5, 213, Sr., Louisville
Soared up charts late. Canceled visit with Nets after getting a commitment from Bobcats, but Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe take him anyway.
12. Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats
6-4, 215, Jr., Duke
Consolation prize for Bobcats. Henderson doesn’t have as much game as Williams, but improving shooter and tough defender is big, strong, attacks hoop.
13. Ty Lawson, Indiana Pacers
5-11 1/4, 197, Jr., North Carolina
Players and brass are down on T.J. Ford. Lawson is bigger, shoots better and is lower maintenance.
14. Brandon Jennings, Phoenix Suns
6-1, 170, Virtus Roma (Italy)
No one knows what they’re doing, including their people, as owner Bob Sarver tries to slash payroll.
15. B.J. Mullens, Detroit Pistons
6-11 3/4 258, Fr., Ohio St.
Major talent with question-mark head, who did little as a Buckeye. But with only Kwame Brown if Rasheed Wallace leaves, he may be an upgrade.
16. James Johnson, Chicago Bulls
6-7, 257, So., Wake Forest
Want Henderson with murky future of Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, settle for this impressive young forward, a prep point guard in the mold of Larry Johnson.
17. Eric Maynor, Philadelphia 76ers
6-2 1/4, 164, Sr.
Virginia Commonwealth
Insurance in case Andre Miller leaves.
18. Earl Clark, Minnesota Timberwolves
6-8 1/2, 228, Jr., Louisville
Best package of athleticism, size and skills in draft, so what’s he doing down here? Lamar Odom type, for better and worse.
19. Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
6-0 1/4, 175, So., Wake Forest
Mike Bibby’s contract is up, Hawks won’t go big to sign him, and Acie Law was dealt Wednesday to the Warriors.
20. Tyler Hansbrough, Utah Jazz
6-8 1/4, 234, Sr., N. Carolina
Perfect fit, Psycho-T and Jerry Sloan. Pros dissed Hansbrough for years, but he almost wound up in lottery after measuring taller and testing better athletically than expected.
21. Austin Daye, New Orleans Hornets
6-9 3/4, 192, So., Gonzaga
Fine shooter, skilled player but aside from frail body and “soft” rep, looked like a pain on predraft circuit.
22. Darren Collison, Portland Trail Blazers
6-0 1/4, 166, Sr., UCLA
Trail Blazers just moved up two spots to get Dallas’ No. 22 pick. They want a veteran point but might want a young one to groom behind him.
23. DeJuan Blair, Sacramento Kings
6-5 1/2,277, So., Pitt.
Beast inside, if a sawed-off one. Great young man. A steal here if problem knees hold up.
24. Omri Casspi, Dallas Mavericks
6-7 3/4, 211, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
First Israeli projected as first-rounder. Admirers see a taller Andres Nocioni. Can be stashed in Europe, depending on how ready they think he is.
25. Patrick Mills, Oklahoma City Thunder
5-11 1/4, 175, So., St. Mary’s, Calif.
Nice bonus pick for Thunder, a lightning-fast, fearless, little guy. Could be game- changer off bench.
26. Jonas Jerebko, Chicago Bulls
6-8, 210, Angelico Biella (Italy)
Swedish small forward, whom they’re just taking to stash in Europe for a year.
27. Chase Budinger, Memphis Grizzlies
6-6 3/4, 206, Jr., Arizona
Never lived up to promise, or hype, but definitely good enough to take down here. Question remains how much he wants it.
28. Sam Young, Minnesota Timberwolves
6-5 1/2, 223, Sr., Pitt
Big, tough shooting guard.
29. Nick Calathes, Los Angeles Lakers
6-3 1/2, 185, So., Florida
Has signed with Olympiakos, which is perfect. They’d rather have him there and use the money for Odom and Trevor Ariza.
30. Taj Gibson, Cleveland Caveliers
6-8 1/2, 214, Jr., USC
Have to rebuild front line with Ben Wallace retiring, Anderson Varejao a free agent. Gibson is a great shot blocker and measured bigger than pros thought.
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