2009 NBA DRAFT

And with the 1st overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select.....

I know what you're thinking. They will screw it up. They always do. In their 25 years in existence, they have been in the draft lottery 20 times!! Wow. Amazing. Check it out. It's true.

Can the Clippers really get this one wrong though? The name to call is Blake Griffin. I've only seen him play a couple of times, but the kid is a beast. There are all sorts of comparisons going around. Karl Malone with the jumper (yet). Anthony Mason, but better. A Buck Williams workhorse. An AC Green with an offensive game. All are very good for a kid whose never played a game in the NBA yet.

Make no bones about it - not even the Clippers can screw this one up. Can they? There is no choice between Rose or Beasley. There is no Oden or Durant debate. The pick is Griffin.

If they pick Griffin - then the trades will have to begin. You can't have Zach, Camby, Kaman, and Griffin. I don't care how Captain Dork Dunleavy can spin that one. It won't work. What would he say? "We wanted to go really big to slow the pace down so we're going to play Zach at the 2 tonight."

Already today I saw a Camby or Kaman to the Bulls for Hinrich. So, once they take Griffin, one of the 3 bigs will have to go.

BUT.....what if Oklahoma City comes-a-callin'? "Hi, it's Sam Presti here. We have the #3 pick this year and four #1's in the next two seasons. Can we make a deal?"

Oklahoma would obviously want their #1 son. (Griffin is from Oklahoma and played college ball there!). The Clippers would have to at least listen.

Now, that being said, I actually think the #3 pick for Oklahoma should be Thabeet from Connecticut. They say he could be a Mutombo like player - which is exactly what Hijack City needs - a big shot-blocking presence. That's what they have missed having to play Collison and Krstic in the middle.

So, look at the Clippers roster right now.

G - Baron Davis, Eric Gordon
F - Al Thornton, Zach Randolph
C - Camby/Kaman/Jordan

So, let's say the Clippers draft Griffin and trade Kaman for Hinrich

G - Baron, Gordon
F - Thornton, Zach
C - Camby
Bench - Hinrich. Griffin, Jordan

can that work? it looks good on paper doesn't it? (well, in my books, Baron de beuf isn't running my team but...)

that doesn't even count your specialists like Novak or Mardy Collins or those types...

I'm not saying the Clippers are making the playoffs or anything but drafting Griffin and then making a smart trade of one of their big guys would do them worlds of good.

Personally, I'd move Randolph and his punk attitude so I could start Griffin right away...

So, it all makes sense, with the 1st pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the LA Clippers select.....

Ricky Rubio.