1. Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin (F, Oklahoma)

He’s a freak, plain and simple. Jumps out of the building, plays hard, and can run the floor. Once he develops a jumper, you’re looking at a potential all time NBA great.

But, unfortunately his career is over because he’s going to the Clippers.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet (C, UCONN)

Rumors are amok that Memphis will trade this selection. However, for the sake of this draft, Grizzly GM Chris Wallace can’t get the deal done and the clock is running out. In a heap of frustration, Hasheem Thabeet’s name is called and will immediately provide a defensive force to be reckoned with that probably hasn’t been seen since Dikembe Mutombo’s prime.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – James Harden (G, Arizona State)

Russell Westbrook will play point and Harden is best 2-guard in the draft.  Many are unaware of Harden’s talents because he played at ASU but the kid can flat out score the basketball.  He can score it many ways, too.  He can get to the rim and shoot it from deep.  Will be a nice compliment to Durant and Westbrook.

4. Sacramento Kings - Ricky Rubio (G, Spain)

Leaping to turn in the envelope the Kings select Ricky Rubio. All you need to know about Sacramento is that Beno Udrih is the only player listed with PG next to his name.

Rubio may not be great instantly, but neither will Sacramento.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Wash) - Tyreke Evans (G, Memphis)

Like we mentioned before, Minnesota will trade one of the next two picks. Look for Memphis to be here at fifth and take the hometown hero, Tyreke Evans.

If, by chance, the Wolves keep this pick, they could easily take Evans as well.  They need guard help after trading Miller and Foye and are pretty deep in the front court with Al Jeff, Kevin Love and Ryan Gomes.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Stephan Curry (G, Davidson)

At six I have to go with Stephen Curry, simply because he is the best player on the board. I know its two guards back-to-back, if they just selected Evans, but Jordan Hill’s laziness scares me away from putting him underneath with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

Curry is deadly from deep, experienced, a leader and will learn the point. Plus they just traded Miller and need some shooting from deep. Still, the fact that Curry couldn’t beat College of Charleston and Bobby Crimmons by himself does scare me a bit.

I really don’t believe that they get Evans and Curry though.  Put a lot of money on the Wolves trading one of these picks to move up.

7. Golden State Warriors – Brandon Jennings (G, USA)

The Warriors either need another big body to pair with Biedrins or a true PG to shift Ellis to his true natural position. I think the pick comes down to the size of Jordan Hill or the athleticism and flash of Brandon Jennings. Because of Randolph and Wright, I think the Warriors go with Brandon Jennings.

8. New York Knicks – Jonny Flynn (G, Syracuse)

They want Harden or Curry bad. With neither on the board you hear chants of Renaldo Balkman from the Madison Square Garden crowd. With Harden and Curry off of the board, it comes down to Jonny Flynn and Gerald Henderson. They take Flynn because he is a penetrating point guard presence to a team running a :07 seconds or less offense.

He also has the experience to play extended minutes at The Garden, hence the six-overtime thriller against UCONN.  Remember he played every minute of that marathon.

9. Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan (G, Southern Cal)

The Raptors starting 2-guard is Anthony Parker, and DeRozen has great athleticism. At 6′6 he can provide some good size at the position. He will be a good complement to Calderon.

If they are looking to move Bosh in the offseason they could also go with Jordan Hill.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jordan Hill (F, Arizona)

The Bucks wanted a PG but couldn’t get who they wanted (Flynn) so they take Hill. Despite their need for a point the Bucks do not reach for Jrue Holiday or Ty Lawson.

11. New Jersey Nets – Gerald Henderson (F, Duke)

The Nets are looking at either Terrence Williams or Gerald Henderson here. They take Henderson because of his ability to shoot, better than T-Will, and finish around the rim, again better than T-Will.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Tyler Hansbrough (F, North Carolina)

It is MJ’s turn to pick so he puts down his driver and sits down in the golf cart after teeing off on 16. After being told that Gerald Henderson just got drafted he freaks out and just tells them to take the best Tar Heel available. Because they already have Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustine, and given they recently declined to make Sean May a qualifying offer, the Bobcat brass goes with Pyscho T.

Again, with rumors swirling about that Larry Brown and Charlotte are looking to trade the 12th pick away, it made it somewhat difficult to decide where exactly the Bobcats would go if they did make a selection. GM Rod Higgins has said they are “all over the place.” They really liked Henderson, but with the Dookie goin‘ to the Nets at 11, they are left with a tougher decision. They replace one hometown hero with another and select Tyler “Psycho T” Hansbrough.

13. Indiana Pacers – Earl Clark (F, Louisville)

E-5 gives them another tall presence that can drive, shoot and be interchangeable at the 3 and the 4. Plus, they have big Roy Hibbert who can split time at the 5 and let Murphy prance around the three-point line, where he enjoys spending his time.

14. Phoenix Suns – Ty Lawson (G, North Carolina)

Phoenix could well lose Steve Nash after this season and Barbosa is not the future. They need to pick their guy for the post Nash/Shaq era and they need to do it now to allow him to play a year behind Nash. It comes down to Holiday or Lawson and I go with the proven guy, Ty Lawson.

15. Detroit Pistons – B.J. Mullens (C, Ohio State)

Plain and simple, Detroit’s starting center is between Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown, since Amir Johnson was moved in the recent three-team deal. Mullens showed signs at Ohio State but also showed that he is very weak underneath. He definitely could have used another year in school but the Pistons take him here solely on potential.

Mullens becomes the icing on the cake to the Chauncey Billups deal.

16. Chicago Bulls – James Johnson (F, Wake Forest)

Chicago needs a big underneath who can actually score. They are pumped to see Blair, Daye and Johnson still on the board but I think they go with Johnson. I am not sure why his stock has been falling, but the Bulls take him because he can score underneath and get to the rim from the wing.

He has similarities to Luol Deng but is bigger and has upside. The Bulls could also go with DeJuan Blair here or may even try move this pick to move up in the draft.

17. Philadephia 76′ers – Jrue Holiday (G, UCLA)

Everything I have read points to a point guard for the Sixers, since Miller is unrestricted and can’t hit a three to hit his life. They seem to love Lawson but he’s already gone. They were looking at Maynor and Teague if Lawson was gone but I can’t imagine they expected Holliday to still be available. Anytime a player fits a need and has tremendous upside, you take him. The Sixers take Holiday.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Mia) – DuJuan Blair (C, Pittsburgh)

They need a big, especially if they go back-to-back with Evans and Curry. Blair gives them some post presence, even if he does have knee issues which never seemed to show when he played in college, especially against the Cards. He will be a physical player for a gutless team.

Some may be concerned about him lining up with Kevin Love and Al Jefferson but they are big pansies in my opinion. Neither guy should be starting over a guy like Blair.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Jeff Teague (G, Wake Forest)

Bibby is getting old and they just acquired Jamal Crawford. Even with the addition of Jamal Crawford, Teague is still the pick. Many saw him going much higher than this just a few weeks ago so the Hawks have to take him. He is a combo guard who can jump out of the gym, shoot it pretty well and found ways to get to the line for the Deacons.

20. Utah Jazz – Austin Daye (F, Gonzaga)

Although Daye should have stayed another year at Gonzaga he has a ton of upside. He has length and a ton of talent. Not too often do you see a player of his size who excels at shooting it from deep and contesting shots underneath. If he lives up to the hype, he could be special.

Plus, he just seems like a Jerry Sloan/Jazz type of guy.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Chase Budinger (F, Arizona)

The Hornets’ 1-2 punch of David West and Chris Paul is special. But, they need someone who can play the wing and expoit double teams. Budinger is a freakish athlete who never really lived up to the hype at Arizona but he gets a new start in New Orleans.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (from Dal) – Omri Casspi (F, Israel)

Portland has traded the 24th pick and two second round picks. Apparently they are all over this bum named Omri Casspi from Israel. So in a d*ckmove they leapfrog the Kings (who were also locked in on Casspi at 23) and slurp him up at 22.

23. Sacramento Kings (from Hou) – Sam Young (F, Pittsburgh)

The Maloofs are still jumping for joy because they got Ricky Rubio with the fourth overall pick so they aren’t that pissed about Portland’s move to steal away Omri. They take Sam Young because they need another scorer to help take the pressure off of Martin and to give Rubio a kick option.

24. Dallas Mavericks (from Por) – Eric Maynor (G, VCU)

With Kidd aging by the second, the Mavs need to pick up a PG that’s not named Jose Juan Barea. I think Eric Maynor is the choice. His stock may have been higher post Duke buzzer beater, but he’s used to being the guy and I think it will translate.

Plus I heard Maynor is a good babysitter for when Dirk wins custody.

Or Cuban may just decide to trade his whole squad for Kareem Abdul Jabaar. I hear he’s in good shape and looking to make a return.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from SA) – Taj Gibson (F, Southern Cal)

The Thunder need a guard who can shoot it or some size underneath. Because the Kings just took Sam Young, the Thunder look to size. I think its either between Gibson from USC or Demarre Carrol from Mizzou. They’ll lean Gibson. He averaged about nine boards a game at USC and OKC needs rebounding help.

26. Chicago Bulls (from Den through OKC) – Derrick Brown (F, Xavier)

It is rumored that both Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas are on the block. The pick here will be determined by who they are leaning towards trading.

If they trade Thomas, it is Brown. If they trade Hinrich, it is probably either Terrence Williams, Toney Douglas, Darren Collison or even Jodie Meeks. I think they trade Thomas because of his intent to be a pure 12-foot jump shooter, despite his athleticism. Plus they need Hinrich to be a threat from deep if Gordon goes.

Brown already has the NBA body, is a strong finisher and has decent range from deep.

27. Memphis Grizzlies – Marcus Thornton (G, Louisiana State)

The Grizz added much needed size with Thabeet earlier tonight but how about somebody that can give Mayo a break? I think they go with one of the best pure shooters in the draft and take the reigning SEC Player of the Year . . . Marcus Thornton.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Josh Heytvelt (F, Gonzaga)

Hey kids, get your ’shrooms ready! The T-wolves are up again and take the one, the only, JOSH HEYTVELT!

On a sidenote, how is Mike Patrick allowed to call the National Championship Game? Were JP Dellacamera and Rob Stone not available? Seriously, Patrick is almost worse than Ari Wolfe!

29. Los Angeles Lakers – Terrence Williams (G, Louisville)

Well I think the Lakers are going to trade this pick, but if they dont, and if they dont resign all three of Ariza, Odom, and Brown, they’re going to need an athletic swingman, so Terrence Williams is the easy pick here.

It will definitely be a surprise to see everybody’s boy TWill fall this far.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jon Brockman (F, Washington)

Somehow, someway the Cavs take Jon Brockman over the Pinkie’s boy..FA FA FA FLOYYYYD CHRISTMAS!!! in the final pick of the first round.