2009 NBA Draft Grades

I think the bucks should have gotten an A. Jennings looks like a great pick for the 10 spot and Jodie Meeks is very underrated.

and how can you not give the Spurs that A+? I would have guessed that Nando and McClinton would go around the Spurs 1st pick (37), but instead they got both guards AND added Blair.

I think Blair is a top 10 guy who just (along with RJ) made the Spurs contenders again

The rockets spurs and Thunder had the best drafts by far. I'm glad we got Budinger and Taylor... Taylor could start in another year... and Budinger will be a nice role player for many years

Spurs getting Blair is ridiculous.... all he has to do is rebound the ball and he will play a huge role for this team right off.

And OKC, well they got two starters and the rookie of the year in James Harden

Rodriguez is a steal (Rubio-lite) in the right system, Evans was best available, and Casspi/Brockman bring their hardhats and lunchpails to work everyday. Meanwhile, Johnson is a tweener, Taj hasn't improved much since freshman year and is too skinny and weak for the 4. Gordon now must be resigned and has more leverage. I'd reverse your grades.

Poor Heytvelt - Just say no to shrooms!

nelson is such an &$#%#&@!. He took Curry just to screw the knicks over! They needed Jordan Hill and he took curry when they just acquired 2 backup pgs. With no first rounder next year we are destined for a horrible record with no pick in a far deeper draft.

He probably had nothing to do w/ pick. Rumored to be included in Stoudemire deal anyway, If that happens Stoudemire > Hill.

It seems like the writers have a personal vendetta against the guy or something. I have never seen one positive word written about him. you gave the sixers the worst grade in the draft because they selected a guy at about 10 spots after he was thought to go. getting holliday at 17 is incredible value. Almost every other websites gave them one of the highest grades. don't you think there is something wrong with your analysis? Really the sixers had the worst draft in the NBA? I don't like holiday as a top 10 pick, but you guys got to stop hating. Holliday could have went 45th and you guys would have said its a bad pick.

The Clipper's choice was an act of genius, I mean, I knew we'd either get Blake Griffin or Taylor Griffin so I was a happy camper................ Nah shotty but in a real way Derozan is the second coming of t-mac: his fisrt 2 years will be all athletic stuff like dunks and transition blocks but by his 4th year he'll be as good Jefferson at shooting and will prove to be an excellent addition. Jennings is Gary Payton reborn, but with less D.

Everyone saying how great Blair is doesn't have a clear understanding of how many busts have had his skill set and body frame. Just to name some recent ones: Jahidi White, Tractor Traylor, and um..... well u know wat i mean sun!

O.K. don't sleep on Danny Green specifically in PHX cuz they are going to need athleticism and nash needs someone to alley-oop to, so within 3 years he'll get into double digit scoring.

Budinger the steal of the draft???????? He'll be in Europe until they figure out he can't play.

Daye a bust?

I tried to set you straight on how talented Goran Suton was but you didn't listen.

As usual, you were DEAD WRONG all along.

they did what they wanted in acquiring cash to pay for the contracts of ariza and odom. this far outweighs anybody they couldve gotten in this draft.

u named 2 guys comparing them to blair. Jahidi white is not like blair. There are many players with his frame who are succesful. Paul Millsap, Brandon Bass, anthony mason, even boozer. maxiell

A+ for Harden's bow tie. A rather weak draft in terms of suit style. I was expecting Terrence Williams to bring it style-wise and he disappointed.

Jeff Fox
www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com

How was jodie meeks not "even close to the best shooting guard available" at pick 41? He was one of the best shooters and scorers in the country and hes an above average defender. Bucks GM John Hammond said that he had first round talent and was surprised to get him at that spot.
I think OKC San antonio and memphis had the best drafts. The sam young and dejuan blair picks were two of the biggest steals in the draft and all three teams filled their needs with good value picks

BEFORE ANYONE SAYS HE DRAFTED BYNUM, REMEMBER IT WAS JIM BUSS WHO WANTED BYNUM NOT MITCH, MITCH WANTED SEAN MAY.

As a brilliant a trade guy and signing Free Agents guy MITCH IS, HE IS A HORRIBLE DRAFTER.

he had a GREAT CHANCE to draft DeJuan Blair, Sam Young, Jodie Meeks, Patty Mills, Chase Budinger, Nick Calathes, Robert Dozier, Marcus Thornton, and possibly Josh Heyvilt ALL GUYS WHO COULD HAVE HELPED OUT THE LAKERS AND HE DID NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

He got Elonu who might be left overseas but other then that NOTHING.

I know he got money from trade but who cares about that when you got A OWNER LIKE JERRY BUSS, who will do whatever it takes to put a winning product on the court even go up to 150 million dollar roster if needed.

I mean even if he didn't want to draft in 1st rd. move back like a few spots from 29 to like 35-40, OR ATLEAST trade for a FUTURE 1ST RD.

DET wanted another 1st, HOU wanted a 1ST, BOS WANTED A 1ST.

All those teams were ready to FORK UP PICKS FOR FUTURE FOR THIS YEAR.

and he did NOTHING.

I mean we could have used a PG for future, FARMER IS GARBAGE, and who know's if Brown can duplicate a season like he had with LAL again (I like this kid though think he does have a chance to be a starter with LAL) with Fisher aging you needed a PG who can replace him in the future.

I mean even someone from this year's draft at pick 29 and 42 is WAAAY BETTER then Morrison, Yue, Farmer, and Vujacic, and heck Mbenga and Powell too.

Just a few things,

You forgot Toney Douglas to the Knicks' list of additions.

I'd say the only things I disagree with you here is on the Thunder's draft, which I didn't think was worth an A. James Harden was an excellent pick at 3, but the move for Mullens was terrible, and at the same time predictable. Remember, this is the same franchise that's taken risks on Robert Swift, Johan Petro, and Mouhammed Sene. Mullens belongs in the same category of project centers that won't have any impact on their team as failed draft picks. Vaden was a decent pick, though. I would've given them a B+, not an A.

I agree with this analysis more then most of the articles written lately. I can't believe how far Chase Bundiger dropped! I was going to stop watching around the 35th pick until it hit me hadn't been chosen, so I stuck around just to see when someone would take him! Made for some excitement in a lame-o draft.

ok fat&$#%#&@! hes just the partime gm along with the coach of the team but he had nothing to do with the pick he also coached the knicks and has every reason to be biter towards them... cmon man know what ur talking about

I'm mystified by the grade that a usually sharp Adi Joseph gave to Sacramento. He gave them a C-, the same rating he gave the Lakers, who essentially picked up nobody in the draft. Are you kidding?

Here are the 3 players selected by Sacramento and my comments.
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(4th) Tyreke Evans - He could evolve into an All Star and should become a big time scorer as a shooting guard.

(23rd) Omri Casspi - He might become an outstanding small forward.

(38th) Jon Brockman - A poor man's version of Paul Milsap who might be an excellent role player coming off the bench for 10-15 minutes per game, providing the kind of rebounding boost Sacramento needs. Brockman wasn't too shabby for the 38th pick.

With the players mentioned above, plus Sergio Rodgriguez, who came in a draft day trade, SAC has 4 new guys who completely change the dynamics of their team.. How could anyone give Sacramento the same grade as the Lakers?

I would give Sacramento an A minus. Whatever grade you personally give them, they certainly did far better than LA.

You're on point about the Pacers' draft. While other teams are making moves & being aggressive, Bird is being CONSERVATIVE. For a franchise facing bankruptcy & struggling w/ attendance, I just don't think Bird is getting the job done. This city needs some excitement & a playoff appearance! Bird was a great player, but that doesn't mean he's a great judge of talent. That doesn't mean he has ALL that it takes to build a championship team. I've lost confidence in his decision making.

I like Hansbrough, but not well enough to pay him lottery pick money. I feel that we could've gotten him lower in the draft. If Bird wanted him THAT bad, he should've traded down, saved money & possibly picked up another asset. I just don't get it. We also already have a player that brings basically the same thing to the table that Hansbrough will... Jeff Foster. Once again, I think Hansbrough will be a good pro, but there were better players & w/ more upside still available. I also think Hansbrough is undersized & not athletic enough for his position... He will be nothing more than a role player in the NBA. The way he overpowered guys in college won't happen in the NBA anymore. The NBA is a completely different, bigger, meaner & more vicious animal compared to college!

Then he drafts AJ Price. I was speechless. 1st, he wouldn't have gotten drafted. 2nd, he wasn't the best point guard available. 3rd, Bird has talked a lot about getting good character guys. Um, did he forget about Price's brush in w/ the law at UConn?

What's funny is I KNEW Bird would be the idot who took Hansbrough in the lottery. The NBA is about speed, size & athleticism... We now have Rasho Nesterovic, Travis Diener, Josh McRoberts, Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy & Tyler Hansbrough... A team full of unathletic & slow white guys. What is Bird trying to build here? The Pacers will be in the lottery next year. We'll get the #1 pick & just watch Bird draft Luke Harangody over John Wall!

Yeah honestly. It was the perfect pick for the Sixers because they have an aging Andre Miller at point guard right now and Holliday can learn from him and get decent minutes as well. Jrue was the hughest rated prospect coming out of high school, it seems like this website has forgotten that. I wonder what theyll say when hes a superstar in a few years...

I agree with 90% of the draft observations Adi, but the Timberwolves received way too generous a grade. Why take 2 point guards back to back in the Top 6 unless you have a beneficial trade in the works at the time. It seems that Kahn is either gonna sit on Rubio's rights while he plays overseas for a year or two and hope some great trade offer comes along. That really sucks for the fans and the players they have for next season that would like to develop and win. Why not take Rubio or Flynn and DeRozan or Henderson since you have no shooting guards there anymore? I think this move will come back to bite them at somepoint, otherwise Kahn is the smartest guy around.

First of all, Nick, I agree. Knowing Rubio may not come over this year would have dropped the Timberwolves' grade to a D.

To all the Holiday fans, keep in mind this website never particularly liked Holiday. So I guess we'll see.

As far as Meeks goes, I would argue undrafted players such as Jerel McNeal and Dionte Christmas are better.

But that's the fun part of the draft. We get to wait and see. Thanks for reading. 

Why is Drafting Jrue Holiday so good or bad every site thinks differently of the pick, espn, and si have it as a great pick.
I will have to agree it was bad, because miller will probably leave, and i do not think Holiday is read to contribute yet.
You take 2 point guards because u need Europe insurance, if Rubio does not play you have Flynn. If Rubio Plays you have trade bait.