NBA Draft grades: Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks: 1st round: Rodrigue Beaubois-PG, 2nd round: Nick Calathes-PG, 2nd round: Ahmad Nivins-PF

I'm not a big fan of this draft. There is some future potential there, but for a play-off caliber team they should have looked for a more immediate return. Beaubois is an extremely raw player. Players like Douglas, or Blair would have been a better fit in round one. I like Calathes as a good value for a 2nd round pick, but the Mavs won't see him for a year or two. Nivins is another guy with upside. He should offer solid depth for the front court.

Grade: C+

Denver Nuggets: 1st round: Ty Lawson-PG (traded a future first round pick for Lawson)

The Nuggets didn't have any picks of their own, but still managed to have a solid draft. While the Nuggets had to give up a future first rounder, I think they got their money's worth in Lawson. Lawson is a great value pick in the middle of the first round. He should add some youth and energy to the Nuggets back court.

Grade: A-

Golden State Warriors: 1st round: Stephen Curry-PG

The Warriors got a great player with the 7th pick in the draft. Curry should be an elite scorer, from either the 1 or the 2 position. He will team up with Monta Ellis to form an elite offensive back court. There are some rumors that Curry may be part of a trade, but for the Warriors sake I hope they keep him. I think Curry will have a bright future with the Warriors if they keep him.

Grade: A- (if they don't trade him)

Houston Rockets: 2nd round: Jermaine Taylor-PG (traded from the Wizards), 2nd round: Sergio Llull-PG (traded from the Nuggets, 2nd round: Chase Budinger-G/F (traded from the Pistons)

The Rockets literally bought their draft class. Using cash considerations and a future 2nd round pick to get three players. Llull is a solid future player with some upside. Taylor and Budinger both have good chances of making the club in reserve roles. Overall there probably won't be much production from this draft class, but it should benefit the Rockets cap situation for the next couple of years.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Clippers: 1st round: Blake Griffin-PF

The Clippers have had a grade 'A+' since the lottery results were announced back in May. Griffin was easily the consensus number 1 player in this draft class. He should immediately help the Clippers front court. Overall I think Griffin will be a star in this league. Maybe he won't be a savior like Tim Duncan, but I think he will be a solid piece for the Clippers to build around.

Grade: A+

Los Angeles Lakers: 2nd round: Chinemelu Elonu-PF

The Lakers traded away/ sold their top two picks, with the idea that no rookie would get playing time for the Champs. The problem with that idea is, what happens if the Lakers can't resign/replace Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza. What happens if the team has a major injury or two? The Lakers could have had cheap cost controlled depth, but instead took the extra cash from the trades. While the Lakers have some youth already it wouldn't have been a bad idea to add another young guy for the future.

Grade: D

Memphis Grizzlies: 1st round: Hasheem Thabeet-C, 1st round: DeMarre Carroll-PF, 2nd round: Sam Young-F

Thabeet wasn't the 2nd best player in the draft, but he's the best center. He should give the Grizzlies a defensive upgrade and a man in the middle to pair with Gasol. Carroll was a very good late round pick. He's athletic and brings toughness to the floor. Sam Young is one of my favorite players in this draft, and could end up being the best player from this group. He will push Rudy Gay for playing time, and give Memphis a tough, athletic forward off the bench. These three players, give the Grizzlies one of the most talented front court's in the NBA. The Grizzlies put together an impressive draft night. In addition to these three players, they traded Darko Milicic for SG Quentin Richardson.

Grade: A+

Minnesota Timberwolves: 1st round: Ricky Rubio-PG, 1st round: Jonny Flynn-PG, 1st round: Wayne Ellington-SG, 2nd round: Henk Norel-PF

This was a strange draft for the T-wolves. The player they wanted to trade up for fell to their newly acquired 5th pick. Then a problem arose for Minnesota, with Harden, Thabeet and Evans off the board, point guards were the best players available. Leaving the T-wolves to have to take PG's back to back. While that's a problem to begin with, Minnesota compounded it by taking two true point guards. Had they grabbed Stephen Curry or Jrue Holiday, they could have played them at the 2 guard. Instead they took Flynn, who while a great guard, doesn't make much sense to play alongside Rubio. Minnesota didn't seem to have a grand strategy with their 4 first round picks.

Grade: C-

New Orleans Hornets: 1st round: Darren Collison-PG, 2nd round: Marcus Thorton-SG

I'm not sure what the Hornets were thinking in round one. Collison is a nice player and I think he'll be a good NBA player. But he is a horrible pick for the Hornets. New Orleans has the best young point guard in the league in Chris Paul. Collison doesn't seem to have a role on this team. He isn't a good fit to play alongside Paul, and won't likely play more than 10 minutes a game.

Grade: C-

O.K. City Thunder: 1st round: James Harden-SG, 1st round: B.J. Mullens-C, 2nd round: Robert Vaden-SG

The Thunder got a lot of talent and potential with their two first round picks. Harden is the perfect scoring option to go along with Russell Westbrook in the back court. Mullens has a ton of upside, but he is still very raw. If Mullens lives up to his full potential the Thunder will have the last piece to their roster.

Grade: B+

Phoenix Suns: 1st round: Earl Clark-G/F, 2nd round: Taylor Griffin

The Suns added a great player with a lot of upside in Clark. He can do anything on the basketball court, and fits the Sun's style of play perfectly. The Suns got solid value in the 2nd round as well. Griffin isn't the all-star talent of his brother, but he should be a solid bench player for the Suns.

Grade: A-

Portland Trail Blazers: 1st round: Victor Claver-SF, 2nd round: Jeff Pendergraph-F, Dante Cunningham-F, Patty Mills-PG

This was a depth draft for the Trail Blazers and nothing more. Claver has upside, but he probably won't be helping Portland any time soon. None of their 2nd rounders figure to be more than role players in the future. Portland passed up a number of players in the 1st round, who could have helped their play-off run next season.

Grade: C+

Sacramento Kings: 1st round: Tyreke Evans-G, Omri Casspi-SF, 2nd round: Jon Brockman-PF/C

The Kings passed up PG's Rubio, Flynn and Curry, and went with the upside of Evans. He is missed cast as a true PG but will help the Kings back court. Casspi is an intriguing international option, he could be a starter within two years. Brockman is a good depth player and could be a solid back-up for them.

Grade: B

San Antonio Spurs: 2nd round: DeJuan Blair-PF, Jack McClinton-G, Nando De Colo-PG

The Spurs got away with highway robbery when they got Blair in the 2nd round. Blair will give the Spurs a top-15 talent, and one of the best big men in the draft. McClinton has some upside as well and could be a valuable guy off the bench.

Grade: A+

Utah Jazz: 1st round: Eric Maynor-PG, 2nd round: Goran Suton-C

Maynor is an extremely underrated PG. He is fairly refined and should make for a good compliment to Williams. While the Jazz could have used some more help in the front court, Maynor made sense for the Jazz. Suton has a little upside and could play in Europe for a year or two. He may never be much of a player, but I could see him coming back and being a decent back-up.

NBA Draft grades: Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks: 1st round: Jeff Teague-PG, 2nd round: Sergiy Gladyr-SG

The Hawks did a good job upgrading their back court with this draft. I think Teague has some real upside, and can be a starter by his second year. Teague should fit in well with th Hawks athletic big men. Gladyr isn't going to help any time soon, but could be a contributor down the road.

Grade: B

Boston Celtics: 2nd round: Lester Hudson-SG

Hudson isn't a bad pick for the end of the 2nd round. He's an advanced player that can be a solid guy off the bench, if he makes the team. Overall there's some solid potential there for the Celtics, but they didn't really improve their team.

Grade: C+

Charlotte Bobcats: 1st round: Gerald Henderson-SG, 2nd round: Derrick Brown-PF

In my opinion the Bobcats had a really good draft. Henderson is a very good shooting guard and will give the Bobcats a great option on the wing. He will start by backing up Raja Bell, but should be a starter within two years. Brown is a great pick up in the 2nd round. He will help their front court depth, and has the upside to be a 6th man in a couple of years.

Grade: A-

Chicago Bulls: 1st round: James Johnson-PF, 1st round: Taj Gibson-PF

It was a little bit odd that the Bulls took two power forwards with their two picks, but I think they got solid value with them. Johnson has a ton of upside and should develop into a pretty good starter. Gibson doesn't have as much upside as Johnson, but should provide solid depth.

Grade: B

Cleveland Cavaliers: 1st round: Christian Eyenga-SF, 2nd round: Danny Green-SF, 2nd round: Emir Preldzic-F

This was a bit of a surprising draft for the Cavs. While i love the Danny Green pick, does Eyenga make sense with Blair, Young and others still on the board? Taking either Sam Young or DeJuan Blair would have been a coup at the end of the 1st round. Both players could have come in and contributed from day one. Blair especially would have made sense, given Varejeo's free agent status. I think Green was a great value pick and could be a steal. But for a team that is ready to win now, I don't understand drafting a player who won't be even in the country for a couple of years.

Grade: C

Detroit Pistons: 1st round: Austin Daye, 2nd round: DeJuan Summers, 2nd round: Jonas Jerebko

This could be a very good draft for the Pistons. There is a ton of upside with these three picks. Daye has the potential to become a top SF in the NBA. Summers and Jerebko both had first round potential, and are great value in the second round. The one issue with the Pistons draft is consistency. None of these players have been consistent in their careers. Both Daye and Summers would disappear in games in college. Overall though the talent is there so I do like what the Pistons did with this class.

Grade: B+

Indiana Pacers: 1st round: Tyler Hansbrough-PF, 2nd round: A.J. Price-PG

The Pacers added a pair of four year college players, who will need little or no development time. I like the Price pick a lot, I think he has a lot of upside. Price should be a good addition to the Pacers back court. I really question Hansbrough here, drafting him in the lottery is a big mistake. With Earl Clark, Johnson and Blair on the board Hansbrough was a big overdraft. I have a hard time imagining this draft four or five years from now, and considering Hansbrough one of the Top-15 players.

Grade: C

Miami Heat: 2nd round: Patrick Beverley-G, 2nd round: Robert Dozier-F

The Heat were without a 1st round pick but that didn't stop them from drafting some intriguing players. Beverley in particular can help the Heat down the road. He could back up either of the guard spots, and give the Heat a high energy guy off the bench. Dozier has a longer road towards making the Heat, but he does have some NBA tools.

Grade: B-

Milwaukee Bucks: 1st round: Brandon Jennings-PG, 2nd round: Jodie Meeks-SG

The Bucks did a great job filling their needs here and adding offensive upside. Jennings has the talent to be a great NBA point guard. He can do just about everything with a basketball, but he does have one thing standing in his way - himself. Jennings needs to worry less about whether the cameras are rolling, and more about refining his game. I'm higher on Meeks than most draftniks were. I don't think he'll ever be a starter, but he should be a good guy off the bench. I like his toughness and work ethic.

Grade: B+

New Jersey Nets: 1st round: Terrence Williams-SG

The Nets made a big move earlier in the day trading away Vince Carter for Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston. New Jersey followed that up by drafting Carter's replacement in Williams. Williams has a lot of upside, and should develop into a pretty good starter. Williams is one of the most athletic players in this entire class, but still needs to work on his offensive game to become a complete player.

Grade: B

New York Knicks: 1st round: Jordan Hill-PF, 1st round: Toney Douglas-G

The Knicks paid a hefty price for their 2nd first round pick ($3 million), but got a pretty good player in Douglas. Douglas and Hill fill the Knicks two biggest needs. They can both be pretty good complimentary players. Hill still needs to work on his offensive game, but he should be a good rebounder.

Grade: B+

Orlando Magic: No picks

The Magic went the trade route and did pretty well adding Vince Carter. Unfortunately they didn't have any picks to grade.

Grade: N/A

Philadelphia 76ers: 1st round: Jrue Holiday-PG

Holiday was a great pick for the 76ers. He fills a big need for Philly, and has some of the biggest upside in the entire draft. Holiday will probably need a year or two, to become a front line starter. When he does though, the 76ers will be happy with the wait. Holiday has limitless athletic ability and offensive potential.

Grade: B+

Toronto Raptors: 1st round DeMar DeRozen-G

The Raptors went with upside with their selection of DeRozen. DeRozen is a pretty raw player, but has plenty of potential. I think he will need at least two years, and might not even be a solid back-up next season. While the talent is there its definitely a risk to take DeRozen so early, on a team in transition. I would have liked it better if a team with multiple picks, or had playoff talent had grabbed DeRozen.

Grade: C+

Washington Wizards: Traded 1st round pick for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, traded 2nd round pick (Jermaine Taylor) to the Rockets for cash.

I think Wizards really blew this draft. They jumped the gun on the Foye trade, they could have kept the pick and taken Ricky Rubio. Even if they had still wanted to trade the pick, the value would have been higher with Rubio sitting there. I just don't feel they got enough out of the T-wolves in the trade. The 2nd round was an even bigger disaster. The Wizards were in desperate need of front court help and at the top of the 2nd round, DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Derrick Brown were available. Instead of taking one of them, the Wizards drafted a guard and sold him to the Rockets for $2.5 million. Any one of those players would have been a significant upgrade to the Wizards. Blair in particular was a lottery talent that fell due to injury concerns. Adding him to the front line, would have been a major boost to the Wizard's inside game. I think the Wizards will regret their draft decisions for years to come.

Grade: D

Trade Center: NBA

A couple of big NBA trades were made yesterday. Both could have playoff implications for next season, and one shakes up tomorrow's draft. Here's a quick recap on the deals, and the future impact.

The Deal: The Milwaukee Bucks send Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, and Kurt Thomas. The Spurs also sent Fabrico Oberto to the Pistons for Amir Johnson, who was then moved to the Bucks.

Bucks: Milwaukee mainly made this deal for salary cap relief. They now have the money to re-sign restricted free agent Charlie Villanuvea and perhaps another moderate free agent. The Bucks will also have some money to play with in 2010 when Johnson's, and Thomas's deals are up (Bowen may get waived to save additional money now).

Pistons: Detroit's reason for this deal was similar to Milwaukee's - money. The Pistons can save almost $2 million by waiving Oberto, since his contract isn't fully guaranteed. Detroit is looking to build up as much cap space as possible to make a run at a couple of top free agents.

Spurs: The Spurs are the big winner in this deal. They get a top flight SF, who gives them an electric scorer on the perimeter. He gives them a third scoring option behind Parker and Duncan and moves Michael Finley to a better suited reserve role (if he resigns). Making this deal even more impressive is the fact that all the Spurs had to give up was cap relief. Bowen and Thomas were solid role players, but their games were on the downside. The Spurs have reloaded and are now one of the top 3 contenders in the Western Conference.

Winner: Its got to be the Spurs, they gave up nothing and received a real scoring threat. They will make a strong title push next season. The Bucks and Pistons get some cap relief, but they aren't any better teams for making this deal.

The Deal: The Minnesota Timberwolves send G Randy Foye and G/F Mike Miller to the Washington Wizards for the 5th overall pick, C Etan Thomas, PF Darius Songaila, C/F Oleksiy Pecherov.

Timberwolves: The real prize for Minnesota is the 5th pick. Already owning the 6th, 18th and 28 picks in the first round, the T-wolves now hold the keys to the draft. They will likely try to trade up to the 2nd or 3rd spot to select Ricky Rubio (Hasheem Thabeet is an option at 3 if Rubio is off the board), giving up the 5th pick, 18th and maybe another player or draft pick. If Minnesota can't move up they will hope that they can snag, James Harden and Stephen Curry at the 5 and 6. Other players likely in the mix at 5 or 6 are Tyreke Evans and DeMar DeRozan. Things could get tricky for the T-Wolves, as they will likely have to reach for front court help with their latter picks. Though Minnesota will miss the scoring of Foye and Miller in their back court, they should have no trouble replacing them with their lottery picks. Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov are really just roster filler, but could give the Wolves some solid minutes in their weak front court.

Wizards: Washington is going for broke here. They showed that they are not in a rebuilding mode and feel that they feel their 19 win season was a fluke. The Wizards added two perimeter scorers, that can be excellent complimentary players to Washington's big three (Arenas, Butler, and Jamison). Also if Arenas and Butler miss any significant time, like they have in recent years, Foye and Miller can be solid starters. Foye could be the real prize in this deal. He's a restricted free agent in 2010 so he gives Washington some options. Overall I think he's an underrated player and could be a breakout candidate. If he does take his game to the next level then this could be a big win for the Wizards. If not, then I question the move somewhat. The Wizards could have added a prolific scorer in Harden or Curry to help their front court. One that is under team control for longer and with the potential to be a star. Washington also had deals on the table to potentially trade back and add a veteran, which may have made more sense. I think not prying either the 18th or 28th picks away from Minnesota was a mistake. No, you weren't likely to add a star player in that spot, but you could have added someone with upside. I think if the Wizards would have waited until tomorrow's draft they would have been able to get a better deal.

As it stands now The Wizards are 'all in' in 2009. While this deal puts them back in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, Washington will need a lot of luck to be a serious contender. They will need Arenas and Butler to stay healthy, and continue to play at an all-star level. Also, Brendan Haywood, the Wizards only true center, will need to get healthy and step up his game. They will need the rest of their young front court to develop fast (McGuire, Blatche, McGee). The Wizards will need to trade some of their front court depth to add another big man. Until they do though they are very thin in the paint.

Winner: I think the Timberwolves are a small winner here. By keeping all four draft picks Minnesota has practically limitless options in tomorrow's draft. The T-wolves can now add some pieces to a young core that includes Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. The Wizards did get rid of some bad contracts which, should give them some flexibility in the future, but they paid a high price.

NBA Draft: Mock Draft 11-30

11. New Jersey Nets: Jrue Holiday-PG

The Nets could use a big man but probably won't reach for Blair, Johnson, or Mullens. I think they will take the top PG on the board here. Holiday will make a lot of sense here, as Harris can move too the 2 guard position.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Terrence Williams-G/F

Williams would be a good pick for the Bobcats here. He can start at SG and fill in some at SF as well. He has a lot of upside if he reaches his full potential. With the Bobcats though he won't be forced to be an offensive focal point, which should help his development.

13. Indiana Pacers: Ty Lawson-PG

The Pacers need a solid point guard and Lawson is a good fit here. I think he's been underrated all along so this is actually a good spot for him, and not a reach.

14. Phoenix Suns: DeJuan Blair-PF

Johnson or Mullens should be in the mix here as well, but I think Blair is the best Big man available. With Shaq out the door, and Amare likely to follow, the Suns need to add some talent to their front court. Blair could fit in nicely with Phoenix's fast paced offense.

15. Detroit Piston: Austin Daye-SF

Daye has been rumored to Detroit for awhile and he seems like a pretty solid fit for the team. There is some upside in Daye, especially if he can get tougher.

16. Chicago Bulls: Gerald Henderson-SG

With Ben Gordon likely leaving in free agency the Bulls could use another option on the wing. Henderson has a lot of upside, and is athletic enough to get the ball to the basket.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Eric Maynor-PG

The 76ers need a new point guard with Miller being a free agent. They will find a good one in Maynor. He should be able to step in and lead the offense from day one.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Earl Clark-SF

A lot depends on what they do with their top two picks (this pick may also be traded to move up in the draft), but I don't think the T-wolves could pass up on Clark if he's here at 18. They could use a big like Mullens for depth, but Clark is too good to pass up here. He does so many things well that he will be a great fit for Minnesota, a team that is still looking for an identity.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague-PG

Teague has exceptional speed, and would be a great fit in Atlanta. He can be a good solid back-up to Crawford. A back-up power forward like Johnson or Hansbrough are an option here as well. Teague is the last of the top level of point guards, so I don't see Atlanta passing on him if he's here.

20. Utah Jazz: James Johnson-PF

With Boozer on his way out, the Jazz need to add some talent to their front court. Johnson is a bit of a steal here, he's got a lot of upside and should fit well in Utah. Hansbrough and Sam Young are definite options as well.

21. New Orleans Hornets: B. J. Mullens-C

Tyson Chandler hasn't been the answer at the 5, leaving New Orleans desperate for help in the paint. So getting one of the two legitimate centers in this draft would be a coup for the Hornets. Mullens is a project but won't have to be a star player in New Orleans.

22. Portland Trail Blazers: Sam Young-SF

Young might not have been the player they were targeting when the traded up two spots in the draft, but there is no way they let him slide any further. The Blazers will love his maturity, work ethic and toughness. He also is an excellent rebounder and defender. Young is also one of the most NBA ready players in this draft and should contribute from day one.

23. Sacramento Kings: DeMarre Carroll-PF

Kings could go a number of ways with this pick, Casspi is an option on the International front, and Hansbrough would be a big name to bring in. Hansbrough would also make sense since he balance's Evans youth. In the end I think the Kings take Carroll. They need a big man to play next to Hawes, and I feel like Carroll may be the best fit.

24. Dallas Mavericks: Chase Budinger-SG

The Mavericks love their shooters and Budinger fits the bill here at 24. He can step in and help right away. He will need to become more of a defender to be anything more than a role player. Darren Collison is an option here as well.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Danny Green-G/F

Green is the perfect fit for the Thunder here. He can back up both Harden at the 2 and Durant at the 3, and become a great 6th man. He ability on offense and defense makes him the right pick here over some other players with more upside.

26. Chicago Bulls: Omri Casspi-SF

Casspi is a great pick for the Bulls if he falls this far. They could try waiting a year before bringing him to the U.S., or he could be a solid forward for them off the bench. He's tough and by all reports a quality rebounder.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Toney Douglas-G

Douglas is a good fit here as he can back up both of the guard positions. If Memphis takes Thabeet 2nd, then depth in the back court is their biggest weakness. Douglas should fill that need pretty well. He's an underrated player and should be a steal here.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonas Jerebko-F

This might be hard to do with PF's like Hansbrough and Derrick Brown still on the board, but it seems likely that the T-wolves will take an international player with this pick. They likely won't want to have 4 rookies on their roster, and will keep whomever they take abroad.

29. New York Knicks: Darren Collison-PG

This could change if the Knicks get a PG with their top pick as PF will be their biggest need (Hansbrough anyone). Either way the Knicks traded back into the first round to get a player who can come in and play right away. Collison seems like the likely pick here. He can run the point and has always made everyone around him better. The Knicks would get a heck of a player here at 29.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyler Hansbrough-PF

Hansbrough could easily go 10 spots higher, but I think the concerns about his game will lead him to slide. He fits best on a playoff team where he's the 7th to 9th guy off the bench. In Cleveland he can fill a role, and not have to be the top offensive threat on the team. Playing next to Shaq and Big-Z should help him as well. This is a great insurance policy if the Cavs can't resign Varejo. And if they do resign him then the Cavs got that much deeper.

NBA Draft: Mock Draft Top 10

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin-PF

This pick is about the only sure thing in the draft this year. It doesn't look like the Clippers are even listening to offers at this point for the top pick. Griffin will fit in well in L.A. and give the Clippers another piece to a young core that features Al Thorton and Eric Gordon.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Haseem Thabeet-C

This pick could very well end up with another team like Minnesota or New York, but for the purposes of this mock draft we will say they keep the pick. If they keep it Thabeet should be their pick. While Thabeet isn't the second best player in this draft, he is the best center, and can give some solid minutes from day one. Thabeet will be a good compliment to Marc Gasol, and allow the Grizzlies to have two 7 footers on the floor at the same time.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Harden-SG

Rubio or a trade are options here, but in the end I think the Thunder go with Harden. Westbrook can run the point and Durant and Green have the forward spots handled. The Thunder need a true center and a shooting guard. With Thabeet off the board grabbing a guy like Harden makes the most sense. Harden is a good fit, with a refined offensive game and a good work ethic.

4. Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans-G

Rubio is the better fit as the Kings could use a true point guard but I think Sacramento goes with the upside of Evans. Evans is a combo guard at best, and will probably end up being more of a shooting guard. The Kings don't really need another shooting guard but have seemingly fallen in love with Evans.

5. Washington Wizards: Ricky Rubio-PG

The Wizards are probably trading this pick one way or another, but wouldn't mind adding Rubio if he falls to them. Rubio would be a good fit for the Wizards as he'd let Arenas play the 2. The Wizards are a good fit for Rubio as well. They already have established scorers, allowing Rubio to do what he does best; set up the offense.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Stephen Curry-PG

The T-wolves will be looking to move up to get either Thabeet or Rubio, but will be quite happy with Curry if they can't move up. Curry will give Minnesota a very mature player, who can be a top offensive threat. He's not the most athletic point guard in this draft, but he's probably the most advanced.

7. Golden State Warriors: Jonny Flynn-PG

Jordan Hill is an option here, but Flynn makes plenty of sense for the Warriors. He fits their fast paced, high powered offense. Flynn's quickness will be a major asset for the Warriors, and give a perfect back court compliment to Ellis. A true point guard will allow Ellis to become a bigger scoring threat.

8. New York Knicks: Jordan Hill-PF

The Knicks will look to trade up to get either Curry or Rubio, if they can't make a deal Hill will be their pick. Hill can fill a size deficit in New York. Hill is a bit unrefined but he has plenty of upside. He should help the Knicks on the boards from day one, though he will need to work on his offensive game.

9. Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan-SG

DeRozan is a bit of a project, but he has NBA size and athleticism. He has plenty of upside and that is what the Raptors will be banking on here. Toronto has a need at guard so DeRozan does fill a need as well.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings-PG

Jennings or Holiday seem like the most likely picks here. Both are young with plenty of upside. I think Jennings might be the better fit here. His speed and quickness give him the edge on Holiday right now for a number of teams. I'm not super high on Jennings but I don't think he falls any further than 10.

Check back tomorrow for the rest of the first round.

NBA Draft: Top 5 Available At Each Position

Point Guard:

1. Ricky Rubio-Spain

2. Jonny Flynn-Syracuse

3. Stephen Curry-Davidson

4. Ty Lawson-UNC

5. Jrue Holiday-UCLA

2nd rounder to watch: A.J. Price-Connecticut

The PG position is extremely deep in this year's class. While there may not be an immediate star such as a Chris Paul or Deron Williams, there is a ton of potential in this crop. Though not much is known about Rubio as maybe some of the other prospects, you have to put him at No.1. His age, skill set, and Olympic experience all work in his favor. While Flynn's height and outside shot do hold him back, he is still a great player. His quickness, athleticism and heart are unmatched in this class. Curry is really the opposite of Flynn, he's an excellent shooter and player, but he doesn't have the quickness and athleticism of most point guards. If he was a little bigger he'd be the top shooting guard in the class. I like Lawson more than most draft analysts do. I think he is very similar to Flynn in his skill set, though he doesn't have as much upside as his Syracuse counterpart. The other thing I really like about Lawson is, that he's a winner. He carried that UNC team down the stretch and was key for them cutting down the nets in Detroit. Holiday may have the most potential of this entire class, but he also has some of the biggest question marks. He has incredible measurables and is a good defender. On the other hand, he was extremely inconsistent and could have used maybe another year to separate himself from the pack. I think no less than 10 point guards will be taken in the first round. All of them should be able to contribute early on.

Shooting Guard:

1. James Harden-Arizona State

2. Gerald Henderson-Duke

3. Tyreke Evans-Memphis

4. DeMar DeRozen-USC

5. Terrence Williams-Louisville

2nd rounder to watch: Jodie Meeks-Kentucky

The SG class is solid but really only runs about 10 deep in terms of NBA talent. There is plenty of potential there with Evans and DeRozen. In fact, I think both will go ahead of Henderson, and there is a chance Evans could even jump Harden. Evans is a player that worries me. He has a tremendous skill set and great size, but he never showed great instincts or basketball IQ. Too often he would force shots instead of finding his open teammates. DeRozen has some of the same issues, but his bigger problem is his lack of a good jump shot. He really doesn't have a consistent offensive mid-range or outside game. Given those question marks, I think Harden and Henderson are the better options for teams in need of a point guard. Harden is one of my favorite players in this draft. He lacks some explosiveness and athleticism, but is still a fantastic all-around player. He has a killer jump shot and great basketball instincts. Henderson is another good player. Though I don't think he'll be a star at the next level, but I think he has the upside of being a third option on a good team. Henderson doesn't do anything great, but he does everything well, which should help him fit into any team. Williams is a real enigma. He has the talent to be the 1st or 2nd SG taken, but he would just disappear in games last year. He also lacks a great outside shot, and works much better near the basket.

Small Forward:

1. Sam Young-Pittsburgh

2. Earl Clark-Louisville

3. Austin Daye-Gonzaga

4. Omri Cassapi-Israel

5. Danny Green-UNC

2nd rounder to watch: Dar Tucker-DePaul

This is a weak year for small forward's overall, as there are no sure things in this group. While that's the general consensus, I personally feel that's wrong. I think Sam Young is a special player and 5 years from now will be considered one of the Top-10 players from this draft class. Most mock drafts and teams seem to give Young negative marks for being older (24) and a college senior. But he went from being just an athlete, to being one of the best inside-outside scorers in the nation. He may not be as tall as some of the other SF's but he's the best rebounder in the group. His toughness, heart and instinct's will all translate very well at the next level. Clark is a guy, who if he reaches his potential could be just as good as Young. He's got great size but is a very good ball handler for a big man. Daye probably needs to add some bulk to be a force on the glass, but he solid contributor no matter what. Casspi is an intriguing player from Israel. He's got a lot of tools but he didn't get starter's minutes in the Euroleague. Green is solid player, and a good shooter. His defense and basketball IQ should at least make him a valuable guy off the bench. The question is will he ever develop into a solid starter.

Power Forward:

1. Blake Griffin-Oklahoma

2. Jordan Hill-Arizona

3. DeJuan Blair-Pittsburgh

4. James Johnson-Wake Forrest

5. Tyler Hansbrough-UNC

2nd rounder to watch: Jon Brockman-Washington

Blake Griffin is obviously the prize of this entire draft. He has the potential to become an immediate star in the NBA. His size and strength are impressive enough, but his basketball IQ and instincts really set him apart. Beyond Griffin there is a drop off of power forwards, but there is still some talent to be found. Jordan Hill should be able to help on the boards and defensively from day one. His offensive game is still a work in progress. He won't be able to go strong to the basket in the NBA like he did at Arizona. He will need to develop a jump shot to balance his strength to the hoop. Blair is another player I like. I know there are concerns about his height and injuries, but I think he has what it takes for the next level. Yes he is changing positions, but reports have him slimming down and adding quickness. His height shouldn't be a factor, because in the Big East he routinely went up against some of the best big men in the nation. Outside of Griffin, no player dominated the college game as much as Blair. Johnson has a lot of athleticism and upside. He is probably going to need a year or two to develop into a starter, but I still think he has a bright future. Hansbrough is a tough player to peg. He dominated the college ranks for four years. Given the talent around him and the ACC style, he didn't face the constant double teams or quality big men that Blair and Griffin faced. In my opinion, I think Hansbrough is soft and is a boom or bust player. I give him credit for being worthy a lottery pick, because the measureables are there. I just don't see it overall with him. Too often it seemed like Hansbrough's game was based on positioning and basketball IQ. He was great at drawing fouls and reducing his own, due to those sound fundamentals. Hansbrough also used his size to his advantage, but struggled in match-ups with other quality big men. The problem is he won't have a size advantage or the benefit of positioning at the next level. My gut tells me he won't be better than a solid back-up, but Hansbrough deserves some consideration.

Center:

1. Hasheem Thabeet-Connecticut

2. B.J. Mullens-Ohio State

2nd rounder to watch: Goran Suton-Michigan State

Its impossible to do a Top-5 Center's list because its a stretch for 5 center's to be drafted. There are only two first rounders and both of them have question marks. Thabeet is a lock to go in the top five picks in the draft, given his height and potential. He is still a developing player overall, but their are some big time holes in his game. He really lacks any offensive game other than dunking the ball. Though a good defender, he lacks the quickness and strength that he'll face consistently at the next level. Thabeet also was dominated by Pittsburgh's Blair in their two regular season match-ups, despite having an 7 inch height advantage. Mullens is another center prospect with a ton of potential. In many ways he is the opposite of Thabeet, his offensive game is more advanced and balanced, but he is still developing as a consistent defender and rebounder. Mullens has a lot of upside, but his work ethic and instincts leave a lot to be desired. He will probably need a good two years until he can be an effective starter. Outside of Thabeet and Mullens, its hard to imagine that any other centers can really make it in the NBA. Suton had a nice NCAA tournament, but he's really not much more than a third center in the NBA.