U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Let's play the lotto

By VR Bryant

This ain't Mega Millions, people. The NBA draft lottery for 2009 was more like a $500 Pick 3 game. No bona fide superstars this time - no LeBrons or Dwight Howards to be had. The de facto number one pick in this class has drawn favorable comparisons to Carlos Boozer and Karl Malone. I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure I can count the number of championships those two led their teams two on zero fingers. Let's do this:

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin, F (Oklahoma)
This is perfect for Griffin, actually. He can be the next Elton Brand-a big-time, technically sound banger, doomed to wallow away in mediocrity as an L.A. Clipper. Just breaks your heart.

2. Memphis Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet, C (Connecticut)
It still seems like this team shouldn't be as bad as it has been. With Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, and Rudy Gay the core, seems like they could be one step away. A unique presence like Thabeet could be that step.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ricky Rubio, PG (Spain)
It's really a damn shame that barring a blockbuster trade, the uber-sexy Rubio is going to wind up playing for a bad team with no tradition that gets zero TV exposure. That's right-I said 'uber-sexy'.

4. Sacramento Kings - Jrue Holiday, PG (UCLA)
The Kings' team page lists Bobby Jackson as their starting point guard. To give you some perspective, the last time Jackson was relevant was the last time Sacramento was-2003. Definitely time for a change.

5. Washington Wizards - Jordan Hill, PF (Arizona)
The Wiz really wanted Griffin (way to shoot for the stars, Washington!), and the next best thing could be Hill (sorry, DeJuan Blair). He's not as physically developed as Blake, but he's a natural talent, and Washington is no stranger to projects.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves - Brandon Jennings, PG (Italy)
This is a gamble, and maybe now that Kevin McHale isn't at the switch it won't happen. Still, this team needs talent at the point (Kevin Ollie does not qualify), and Jennings could be great.

7. Golden State Warriors - DeMar DeRozan, SG (USC)
You know things have gotten bad when you're trying to build around a guy like Monta Ellis. DeRozan isn't O.J. Mayo or anything, but he is a phenom and has a ton of upside. Sound like just the ticket for an ailing franchise.

8. New York Knicks - Stephen Curry, PG (Davidson)
There's a rumor going around that this deal is already done. People seem to think that Knicks skipper Mark D'Antoni will turn Curry into a perennial All-Star. I'm thinking more like the next John Starks. Either way, good deal for the Knicks.

9. Toronto Raptors - Tyreke Evans, SG (Memphis)
Not sure what has caused the Raptors' steady decline from their 47-win 2006-07 campaign to last year's 33, but Evans can slash with the best of them, and Shawn Marion isn't getting any younger.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - DeJuan Blair, PF (Pittsburgh)
Should they lose hold on Charlie Villanueva, Blair could be an adequate replacement. He lacks elite size, but he's tough as nails-a quality the Bucks seem to be without on a pretty regular basis.

11. New Jersey Nets - James Johnson, PF (Wake Forest)

12. Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Henderson, SG (Duke)

13. Indiana Pacers - B.J. Mullens, C (Ohio State)

14. Phoenix Suns - Jonny Flynn, PG (Syracuse)

Bye-Bye BJ!

Out of courtesy, I slid B.J. Mullens into the number 13 slot in my mock draft, going to the Indiana Pacers (Rik Smits he is not), mostly because I have a tough time coping with the meteoric plunge Mullens took from this time last year to now. He was a shoo-in for the top pick-then he hit the hardwood and was forced to play Big Ten basketball. It may not be flashy, but it'll damn sure show how tough a player you are. B.J., by all accounts, has a lot to learn about how to use his size and assert himself in the post, and maybe playing with and practicing against Troy Murphy and Roy Hibbert will help that. In reality, I'm not terribly confident he'll remain in the lottery, but it would be nice to see.

Originally Published: June 3, 2009

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