#1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

It just doesn't make sense for the Clippers to deal this. Unless they can dump Baron Davis and Zach Randolph's contract while only dropping to the #2 (which could happen but is highly unlikely), the Clippers should bring in the best prospect of the draft and the power forward of the future (and probably the present as well).

#2. Los Angeles Lakers (via Memphis Grizzlies): Ricky Rubio

• #2 for Andrew Bynum
  

The Grizzlies acquire LA's young big man in return for the Spanish prodigy. I'm still not completely sold on this deal but the Lakers need cap space so they can afford to re-sign Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom and they'd probably be better off bringing in a veteran big man like Antonio McDyess. Honestly, Rasheed Wallace would probably have an easier time with the Laker faithful than Andrew. The Grizzlies add a top center prospect who is better than Hasheem Thabeet, the guy they'd have taken here.

#3. Oklahoma City Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet

Fourth times the charm! One of the reasons the Seattle Supersonics fell from grace was that they draft scrub centers in the first round for three straight years. Robert Swift, Johan Petro, and Saer Sene all bottomed out, for one reason or another. It's only fitting that they end the decade by taking one more shot at a big man.

I'm not a fan of Thabeet but he's what the Thunder need. A defensive anchor who won't demand shots. The presence of Nenad Krstic also means that OKC can afford to bring the big man along slowly and not throw him into the deep end from day 1.

#4. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans

Evans is a ball dominant, scoring point guard but that actually could work with this team. Kevin Martin is there for kickouts while the shooting ability of Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson helps on the pick and pop.

#5.  New Jersey Nets (via Washington Wizards): James Harden

• #5, Javaris Crittenton, Etan Thomas, Mike James, and a protected 2010 pick for Vince Carter and Yi Jianlian

If you’re going to be in the luxury tax, you might as well try to compete. The Wizards have too many highly paid veteran to pull up stakes and head to Rebuildington so they add Vince, who could draw in some fans, as well as Yi, who’ll bring in the Chinese market for the Wizards. If healthy, Arenas, Vince, Butler, and Jamison is a great team. Then again, this is the same thinking that has endeared Daniel Snyder to the D.C. faithful.

#6. Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Stephen Curry

• #6, #28, Kevin Love, and Mike Miller for #7, Andris Biedrins, and Marco Belinelli
  

The Warriors add Kevin Love to be their center. He could be a perfect fit in coach Don Nelson's system and is a solid complement to Anthony Randolph. They also add a late pick, a veteran shooter with an expiring deal in Miller, and move up to make sure that they get their top choice, Stephen Curry.

Thanks to the folks and fans over at Canis Hoopus for helping out with this idea (and the idea in the next pick as well).

#7. Charlotte Bobcats (via Minnesota Timberwolves via Golden State Warriors): Jordan Hill

• #7 and Brian Cardinal (expiring deal) for Gerald Wallace
  

I originally had the Wolves going after Richard Jefferson but Wallace might be a better fit. He's signed for longer and is more injury prone but he works more on defense and he and Biedrins should more than make up for Big Al Jefferson's shortcomings on that end of the floor. Maybe they could even inspire him to give a damn on defense. The Bobcats add a legit power forward to team with Emeka Okafor and cut salary, which should help Bob Johnson sell the team. And in the long run, anything that helps this team get out of control of Bob Johnson is the right move.

#8. New York Knicks: Brandon Jennings

If anyone in this draft was built for NYC, it's Jennings. He has his issues and is a little too reminiscint of Sebastian Telfair for my liking but this kid is potentially the best point guard in the draft. He seriously needs to work on his jumper but I think the Knicks roll the dice with him rather than adding upstate New York's Jonny Flynn.

#9. Toronto Raptors: Dermar DeRozan

Life really does work in cycles. When Vince Carter was pushing his way out of Toronto, the Raptors draft Chris Bosh. Now that Bosh looks like he's on the outs, the Raptors add a kid who many people compare to Vince Carter. The downside (and in this draft, everyone has a severe downside) is that he also seems a bit like Gerald Green.

All of the talk will be on Bosh and where he might end up, something I'll address later this week.

#10. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Milwaukee Bucks): Jrue Holiday

• Luke Ridnour and #10 for Mark Madsen and #18
  

I'm not 100% sure about the logistics but I believe the Wolves are a bit under the salary cap so they'll be able to eat Luke Ridnour's expiring deal. The Bucks agree to do this so that they can re-sign their young PG Ramon Sessions. The team is right at the luxury tax right now so without a move like this, the Bucks wouldn't be able to keep their young prospect. And as the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth more than Jrue in the bush.

The Wolves move up and grab Holiday. The 6'4 PG struggled in his frst year at UCLA but he has size and makes a great complement to Randy Foye. Holiday is a strong defender who struggles against quicker guards so Foye could help him out there. The kid could be a complete bust but his height, defense, and potential makes him hard to pass up, especially since he does fit so well into the current Wolves lineup.

#11. New Jersey Nets: Earl Clark

No matter how things shape up for the Nets, all that matters is where things shape up. If the move to Brooklyn doesn't look likely (and right now it doesn't), the Nets are going to struggle to add a top talent in 2010. They may be the one team that's willing to offer Amar'e Stoudemire a full 2nd max contract.

But, as it stands, the Nets are putting together a very impressive young squad. Adding Harden with the 5 shores up the backcourt and now they look for either a SF or PF to team with Brook Lopez. Austin Daye is an interesting prospect but for now I'll go with the enigmatic Earl Clark, a kid who potentially could be the best young player the Nets have but will probably be best suited settling into the third wheel role behind Devin harris and Brook Lopez. (I think Harden is a role player, which is perfect for the Nets).

#12. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Henderson

The perfect fit. Henderson is a smart player and coachable so Larry Brown will like him, he fills a need a SG for the Bobcats, and he went to college in Carolina like almost half of Charlotte's past draft picks.

#13. Indiana Pacers: Jonny Flynn

I like TJ Ford but this will now be the third team he's bitched himself off of. Granted, he handled the demotion here a little better than he did in Toronto but it's still a shame. He's a great talent who can help teams win when he's happy. Unfortunately, he's not so good that you'd be willing to put up with whatever it takes to keep him happy. 

Jonny Flynn seems to have the tough streak that should endear him to new coach Jim O'Brien. The Pacers might opt for someone like Eric Maynor or even a scoring combo guard like Jeff Teague but, for now, I'll pencil in Flynn.

#14. Toronto Raptors (via Phoenix Suns): BJ Mullens

• Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani for Steve Nash, Robin Lopez, #14 pick 
  

The Raptors get a local hero who'll bring people out to games while the Suns get a poor man's version of Nash (who's much younger) and a promising big man who could be a great complement to Shaq (if they decide to keep the original Superman). The 14th pick might be a little too much for Phoenix to give up but I think the team is going to be making some major moves this offseason, possibly adding some payroll and they (as usual) will be more than happy to just dump the draft pick and save 3 million bucks. It's a perfect move for the Raptors; if Nash's presence doesn't change Bosh's mind, the Canadien is an expiring contract so they'll still have dumped some fifteen million dollars of salary.

As for the pick, the Raptors trade one project for another. Mullens was the biggest disappointment of a disappointing freshman class but he's tall, athletic, and needs the money. He and DeRozan could be complete busts but they could pan out to be as good as they advertised. Pre-season, they projected to be two of the top five players in the draft. That being said, if the Raptors think that they are keeping Bosh, they likely switch their picks to Gerald Henderson and someone like DeJuan Blair or James Johnson.

#15. Detroit Pistons: Terrence Williams

The Pistons could take a look at James Johnson or DeJuan Blair but I'm not really familiar with Johnson and Blair doesn't make sense as they already have the undersized Jason Maxiell. If they are going with Rodney Stuckey as their point guard, Williams makes sense at the 2. He can handle the ball and has all-around skills that will fit the Pistons lineup nicely. Also, if Detroit moves the unhappy Rip Hamilton, Williams might be able to step in and start from Day 1. 

#16. Chicago Bulls: DeJuan Blair

The Bulls could use some bulk in the frontcourt and that's one thing that Blair can most certainly provide. I'm not completely sold on him as a pro prospect but the Bulls are better off with players who can help sooner than later so I don't see them going after projects like Austin Daye or Jeff Teague.

#17. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeff Teague

The Sixers are probably going to go after a veteran PG this offseason so I don't think a guy like Ty Lawson or Eric Maynor makes as much sense as Teague, who can play both guard positions. Also, Teague is the best of the three at playing without the rock, which will likely be in Andre Iguodala's hands more than their own. one concern is that he might duplicate Lou Williams a bit.

#18. Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Maynor

The Bucks hedge their bets a bit and grab Eric Maynor, just in case something happens with Sessions. Also, it can't hurt to bring in a solid backup point guard. I think working with Scott Skiles could be the best thing for Maynor, who needs some work on his defense.

#19. Atlanta Hawks: Ty Lawson

I think this is a great fit for Lawson and the Hawks. He's ready to step in and play for the playoff team and shold be able to feed off the play of others and get his points within the offense. His defense could also make the Hawks a tougher unit. Unfortunately, he'll have to live with constant comparisons to The One That Got Away (aka Chris Paul) but this is a perfect squad for Lawson.

#20. Utah Jazz: Tyler Hansbrough

It just feels right. 

#21. New Orleans Hornets: Austin Daye

The Hornets grab the best player available in Daye. He needs time to mature as a player but I really doubt that the Hornets are expecting their draft pick to step in and play immediately. Daye is the heir apparent to Peja Stojakovic's small forward spot (a spot he probably should have relinquished two years ago).

#22. Los Angeles Clippers (via Dallas Mavericks): Darren Collison

• Baron Davis and Chris Kaman for Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, #22
  

Picture it this way: Chris Kaman for Josh Howard; Baron Davis for an expiring deal and #22. The Clippers were trying to dump Baron last year but this time I think Mark Cuban makes the move since he doesn’t have Jason Kidd anymore.Clippers fans who think they are going to compete next year won’t like it but I believe this is a better option for the long term.

Collison is most likely a backup point guard but he's a guy who lives to defend, which is a mindset the Clippers could use.

#23. Sacramento Kings: Nick Calathes

Calathes could eventually be a nice complement to Tyreke Evans (or maybe take over the spot if Evans doesn't pan out) but the most important thing is that he signed to play overseas so the Maloofs won't have to pay him this year. It was around this time last year that teams started going for the overseas picks. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the norm since so many teams are looking to save money.

#24. Portland Trailblazers: Victor Claver

Claver has potential and also is recuperating from a broken leg so he probably won't be expecting to play in the US next season anyway. I can't imagine that the Blazers really want to add another youngster to their roster so they invest in a foreign kid who they can stash overseas for a while.

#25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chase Buddinger

The Thunder are thrilled to have Buddinger fall to them. He's a potential starting SG but will most likely backup Thabo Sefalosha this season.

#26. Chicago Bulls: James Johnson

The Bulls had to choose between Blair and Johnson at #16. They just grab up Johnson to cover their bet.

#27. Memphis Grizzlies:  Gani Lawai

The Grizz add a physical PF to team with newly acquired Andrew Bynum.

#28. Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota Timberwolves):  Sam Young

The Warriors could pick from a number of small forwards here but I like Young toughness.

#29. Los Angeles Lakers: Dajuan Summers

They could reach for Jeff Pendergraph or take a backup SG like Wayne Ellington. I wouldn't be stunned if they  just sold the pick straight up for cash.

#30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Marcus Thornton

There aren't really any big men that are going to make a difference (or are better prospects than JJ Hickson) and the Cavs could use another SG.