Edit Draft

Easy… easy… easy… okay… I’m in… oh crap, OH CRAP!!!!

Sorry.  Just had to pop the cherry of this new blog with just a couple of words to get myself started.

Wow, is my mom reading this?

So yeah, as you all know, this is launch day at PnP.  I’m so giddy, kind of like Minnesota Timberwolves’ GM David Khan in a point guard store.

Today, every other reputable site is handing out draft grades and such.  Since we’re not reputable (yet), that means we can deviate a little bit from the norm.  Considering that I’m going on one hour of sleep in the past 36 hours, deviate may be selling it short.

There’s a song from rapper Cam’ron that I used to listen to quite often as a young, turnover plagued point guard for Atholton High School.  I’ll save you the degrading lyrics and paraphrase the point: a pre-Ego Beyonce on the chorus asking if you would do it again given the same circumstances.

Close your eyes momentarily and devote your undivided attention to me for approximately 1600 words:

It’s late June, 2015.  By now LeBron James has three championship rings under his belt,  Greg Oden thinks the alphabet goes “D-N-P-C-D…”, and Kevin Durant is fresh off of his second MVP award.  But all eyes rest squarely on Blake Griffin as he and the Clippers get set to play in their first NBA Finals.  How will he and his teammates handle the pressure of Madison Square Garden as James and Co. look to three-peat?  Will the enigmatic Jordan Hill be able to give ‘Bron enough support?

Regardless of the result, the effects of the 2009 NBA Draft loom heavy prior to this terrific NBA Finals.  But, what if teams decided to change the course of history by traveling back into time?  What would happen?

Let’s find out…

1. Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin

He was a no-brainer then, and he remains a no-brainer six years later, maybe even more so especially after improving his defense and shooting range.  Griffin has been a double-double machine since he entered the league, and this year he finally broke through, garnering 1st Team All-NBA honors.  I thought he’d be good, but he turned out much better than even I could have anticipated.  It definitely helps to have such a transcendent point guard getting him the ball, but Griffin deserves most of the credit.

2. Memphis Grizzlies

Ricky Rubio

Picking Hasheem Thabeet seemed like the right thing at the time for the Grizz, and truthfully it was… except they didn’t count on Michael Conley, Jr. never fully living up to his expectations.  Compared to where they were before Thabeet got there, doggy-paddling in .500 water every year doesn’t sound too bad, but could you imagine if they had picked Rubio?  Sure, he might not have stayed (do I have to remind you of the whole Minnesota saga?), but who knows, maybe former Grizz GM Chris Wallace could have convinced him to stay.  In the end, Rubio wanted to be L.A. bound with Griffin.  I still don’t know how GM of the Year Mike Dunleavy pulled off a sign and trade with Ricky Davis to this day, but whatever.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Hasheem Thabeet

While it’s true the Thunder did eventually breakthrough to the playoffs in 2012, Thabeet’s presence alone would have propelled them into the playoffs much earlier.  Yes, James Harden did end up turning into a decent player, but considering Thabeet’s numbers this past season (13-15-7), could you imagine the possibilities?  Makes me cringe…

4. Sacramento Kings

Stephen Curry

I remember during my fifth senior year at college–not my fifth year, my fifth senior year–I was watching the draft and I was using something we used to call Facebook (hard to explain, it’s like Stalker before Stalker for those too young to remember) and I remember repeatedly cutting and pasting the word “bust” in regards to Tyreke Evans.  Okay, well he wasn’t a total bust.  Before the Maloof Brothers actually got some real players in there, Evans did have a couple of solid seasons… that is, before teams pretty much decided to stop guarding him outside of the free throw line.  Sad story, literally shot himself out of the league.

Credit Steph-Cur for not being a diva and for being willing to accept a one year apprenticeship under Steve Nash.   Once Nash left, Curry exploded. We all know how that 2011 season went where he shot a ridiculous 62% from beyond the three-point line.  Maybe it was better that Curry had to suffer a little early on, because had he gone to the Kings he may have peaked early.  Probably for the best that the Suns put him at the two after drafting Greivis Vasquez the following year.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Brandon Jennings

He was too immature to go this high at such a young age.  I mean, who shows up late to the draft?  But, Milwaukee went about things the right way and didn’t force him along a la Sebastian Telfair (who sadly checked into a mental hospital about three days after the ‘09 draft).  Now look at him: in terms of the NBA’s upper-echelon of point guards, he only has to look up to  Chris Paul, Ricky Rubio, and Deron Williams.  Pundits argue that he and the gentleman that should have been picked 7th  are pretty much neck and neck, but I’d still take Jennings.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Earl Clark

The knock on him was that either he was going to get it or he wasn’t, which is why as a top-five talent he fell so low in the draft.  But, after spending his first summer as a rookie training with Grant Hill and learning not to take anything for granted, he unexpectedly blossomed into one of the most versatile swingmen to ever grace the desert.  Who would have expected him to make one, let alone four all-NBA Defensive teams in six years?

7. Golden State Warriors

Rodrigue Beaubois

Knowing what we know now, his style would have been perfect for the Warriors.  And to think, 2014 was his first year in Dallas  under new head coach Dirk Nowitzki’s new run-and-gun regime!  He’s still getting used to the NBA game.  That being said, his dominant debut may have been the best ever by a foreigner breaking into the NBA after being stashed away for so many years.  Definitely worth the wait for Mavs’ fans.

8. New York Knicks

Jordan Hill

I remember really feeling for Jordan following draft night.  Even though he said the boos didn’t get to him, it looked like he was using his dreads to mask his tears.  Nobody’s booing now, though, not when you and ‘Bron are looking for your third straight ‘chip.  And to think… Shaq couldn’t win a title with LBJ, but Hill is about to get No.3.

9. Toronto Raptors

Austin Daye

It’s funny how a small mis-diagnosis can turn out to make such a difference.  Leading up to the ‘09 draft, GMs were working Daye out as a three or a four.  But it wasn’t until Ben Gordon got hurt did the Pistons realize that they had one of the most revolutionary two guards in NBA history.  A 6′11″ two guard?  Who knew?  Even though he still gets burnt on defense and still likes to take tough shots, there’s no one in the NBA like him.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Jonny Flynn

With Jennings and Beaubois off the board, Flynn would have been the most logical pick.  As the guy the T’Wolves wanted all along, he, Corey Brewer and Al Jefferson are the key cogs on a Minnesota team that pushed the Clippers to the brink in this year’s conference finals.  However, although he falls in this version of the draft, the Bucks are probably glad things worked out the way they did.

11. New Jersey Nets

Chase Budinger

Courtney Lee has been serviceable for them since the fabled Vince Carter trade that brought the Orlando Magic a title, but Budinger would definitely have been an upgrade here.  Taller, more athletic, better shooter… of the picks that would have fit a need that year, Budinger ended up being one of the better players at his position.  Funny considering how far he fell for no apparent reason that year.

12. Charlotte Bobcats

Toney Douglas

This would have seemed like a HUGE reach at the time… but not considering how instrumental he’s been for the Knicks.  He’s still the same classic tweener he was coming out of school, but around James, the main criteria is to be a solid basketball player, and Douglas has been bonkers during the Knicks’ playoff run this season.  Just ask Jrue Holiday, who simply couldn’t stay in front of him during the Philadelphia series.

13. Indiana Pacers

Jeff Teague

Tyler Hansborough actually wasn’t a bad pick at this spot in 2009, especially when he’s still in the league contributing off the bench for the Bobcats.  But, in a draft full of good point guards, the Pacers made the mistake of passing on Teague.  While it’s true that the Hawks aren’t setting the world on fire, he and Al Horford have done everything they could to keep the Hawks above ground since Joe Johnson retired.

14.  Phoenix Suns

Josh Heytfelt

Had Steve Kerr known he was just going to give his best two big men away before he drank some brandy, he probably would have taken Josh Heytfelt here.  Clark falling here turned out to be a blessing in disguise anyway, but with Earl the Pearl II off the board, the undrafted Heytfelt makes the most sense.  He’s blossomed into a very good rotation player for the Dallas Mavericks.

Wow, that was a strange, crazy trip.

Get used to it everybody, PnP is here to stay.