Panayotovich NBA Mock Draft: v. 1.0

After earning national recognition in 2007 for having the most accurate mock draft, I've got my work cut out for me yet again this summer. No worries though, I'm ready to hand it to Chad Ford for the third consecutive year row come June 25. Remember, there is absolutely nothing set in stone at this point in time. Many changes will come about as team workouts get underway in the upcoming weeks. I'm trying to ignore all the ridiculous speculation and stay focused on penning in players where I believe they will best fit. Things are going to get interesting after David Stern announces the reigning College Basketball Player of the Year as the top overall pick. With two players vying for the No. 2 selection, there's bound to be a domino effect for each impending scenario. Without further ado ... 1. Los Angeles -- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma, So. Headlining the 2009 draft class is the explosive Griffin, the most dominant player on the board. Blake's combination of size, speed and athleticism is second to none, and he's hands down the best player in the draft. If he can master the mid-range jumper, he'll be unstoppable. Taking Griffin is a no-brainer regardless of the plethora of big men on the Clips roster. Talk about winning the lottery. 2. Memphis -- Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 1990 This is where things get interesting. While the Spanish prodigy is more than ready to migrate overseas, there are several question marks surrounding his draft status. First, will he leave his comfortable situation in Spain and risk playing in a Memphis market that hasn't been kind to former nationals Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro? If yes, will the Grizzlies front office select Ricky over Thabeet, who owner Michael Heisley prefers. For now, I'll pen in Rubio because of his amazing playmaking abilities. His basketball knowledge is off the charts and some scouts say he is eerily similar to Pistol Pete. You'd have to be out of your mind to pass this kid up. 3. Oklahoma City -- James Harden, SG, Arizona State, So. Harden exploded onto the draft scene this season as he torched the nets all year long in Tempe. Don't let the dismal tournament performance fool you, this kid can flat out score. He's got great size to go along with his sweet jumper, although I'd love to see him be more aggressive taking the ball to the cup. Harden could slide nicely into the rotation in Oklahoma City and form a very solid backcourt with Russell Westbrook. And who better to show him the ropes than Kevin Durant. 4. Sacramento -- Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA, Fr. Call it a reach if you must, but Holiday is the real deal. Jrue wasn't able to showcase his abilities to the fullest playing in Ben Howland's system, not to mention Darren Collison returning wasn't exactly expected. Nonetheless, Holiday fits the mold in Sacramento, where the Kings are in dire need of a point guard. His defensive tenacity is incredible and he's got one of the best motors in the draft. Combine that with his strength, exceptional floor general skills and long 6-foot-8 wingspan, and you've got all the makings of a very special player. 5. Washington -- Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut, Jr. Rumor has it the Wiz are exploring options to trade up for Thabeet after Javale McGee didn't pan out this past season. However, there's a slight possiblity that the 7-foot-3 Tanzanian could fall right into their laps. Trust me, I'm well aware of his height, shot-altering capability and ability to block shots into next week, but after watching him get pushed around by Michigan State in the Final Four, I saw nothing but red flags. I'm still skeptical of his strength and defensive positioning in the paint. He's a sure-fire top five pick, but I've got him at the back end because he's very, very raw -- and his offensive artillery is a joke. 6. Minnesota -- Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Memphis, Fr. Simply put, Evans is a proven winner and he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line. That's saying a lot for a 19-year-old that played in such a high-tempo offense at Memphis. He cemented himself throughout March Madness as the best freshman in all of college basketball with an amazing 33-point performance against Missouri. His ability to drive the lane and attack the basket is hard to overlook, and he's a great ball handler with an explosive first step. The sky is the limit for the Aston, Pa., native. 7. Golden State -- Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy, 1989 Unfortunately, college basketball fans didn't get to witness how talented the American exile was this past season as he opted to skip college and bring his game overseas. And while he had a slight falling out with Lottomatica Roma, it doesn't change his freakish speed and athleticism, not to mention his ability to create off the dribble and envision reads before they happen. Pair him with Monta Ellis and you have a dangerous backcourt for years to come. 8. New York -- Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson, Jr. Not sure whether Knick fans are going to ring out cheers or boos, but it seems almost certain that Curry will be playing his home games at the Garden next season. He fits perfectly into Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense and he's got the sweetest stroke in the draft. DeMar DeRozan would be a tremendous fit as well, but something tells me the star of the 2008 tourney is headed for the Big Apple. 9. Toronto -- Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, Jr. A lot of experts are penning Hill in the top five, although I've got him falling at the moment because the majority of teams before Toronto are looking to draft guards. He'd have the luxury of going up against Chris Bosh on a regular basis and could help shoulder the load shoud CB4 leave in the summer of 2010. Depending upon how well Hill works out (and where Thabeet is picked), he could definitely rise up the board when all is said and done. 10. Milwaukee -- Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, So. Flynn's stock has skyrocketed as of late as several GMs are impressed with his athleticism and explosiveness. As he displayed throughout the Big East and NCAA tournaments, Flynn is a great leader and an extremely strong player that pushes the ball relentlessly. And his vertical leap more than makes up for his lack of height. Should Ramon Sessions bolt for free agency, the Syracuse alum could easily pick up the slack and keep the Milwaukee train on track. 11. New Jersey -- DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh, So. I can understand why GM Rod Thorn wants toughness at the 4. Watching a platoon of Ryan Anderson and Yi Jianlin at power forward would have me drooling at the mouth for a player of Blair's caliber. He's built like a tight end and possesses great hands to accompany his insane 7-foot-3 wingspan. While he might not have the height of the typical PF, there's nothing small about his play down in the paint. 12. Charlotte -- DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC, Fr. Getting a player with DeRozan's skill set and potential at this point in the draft would be a no-brainer for the Bobcats. He might be the best athlete in the entire draft and his size has scouts and GMs shaking their heads. There are still a couple question marks with his game, but with the way he progressed throughout his freshman year at USC, I wouldn't be shocked if he was an All-Star in five years with how much talent he brings to the table. 13. Indiana -- Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest, So. With the way his sophomore campaign ended against Cleveland State, I'd love to see Teague return to Winston-Salem for his junior season. If not, he's got the talent and potential to warrant a lottery selection, and as he showed in huge wins over North Carolina and Duke, he's a playmaking leader that can score at will. With Jarrett Jack's Pacers future in question, Teague would be a great replacement. When his ball handling abilities and decision making come full circle, he's going to be an absolute stud. 14. Phoenix -- Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, Jr. The Suns would love to get their hands on Clark, as he was a tremendous asset all year long for Louisville. His natural versatility would work wonders in the Suns' fast-paced offensive attack. The athletic Clark plays long, he's a great distributor and he makes scoring look easy from 15 feet and in. God help defenders if he bulks up and develops a low-post arsenal. 15. Detroit -- Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga, So. While his best dayes are down the road, Detroit is re-stocking for the future and should have the patience to wait for a star like Daye to develop. He's still visibily frail, but that was the knock on Tayshaun Prince as well. The Irvine, Ca., product will never bang in the post with the power forwards, but if he packs on the pounds and hits the weight room, he'll be a dangerous weapon at the 3. Daye has all the tools to be a star; whether or not he's motivated to become one is the key. 16. Chicago -- Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, Jr. It was hard dropping Henderson this low because he's such a tough, talented player. Or maybe I'm just biased and would love to see him playing for the Bulls. Either way, he's extremely versatile and does everything very well. His biggest knock is that he's undersized, but hell, I'll take my chances on someone that has the testicular fortitude to hammer Psycho T in the nose. 17. Philadelphia -- Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina, Jr. Assuming the Sixers don't bring back Andre Miller, they'll be faced with the decision of taking Lawson or Eric Maynor. Many consider it a coin flip, although I point to this past NCAA Tournament as Lawson's breakout party. He was by far the biggest reason the Tar Heels won the national title as his quickness worked wonders on both ends of the floor. He's a great athlete with good court vision and his size concerns will go to the wayside if he learns how to change speeds. 18. Minnesota -- James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest, So. Many feel Johnson has what it takes to crack the lottery seeing as how he's a unbelievable athlete with great size and build for the pros. However, as someone who's seen him play at least 10 times, his basketball IQ suffers compared to his competition. So many times this season Johnson thought he was a point guard in transition and either lost the handle or threw the ball away. That won't cut it in the league. He's still got the tools though, and a team like Minnesota should have no problem taking a flier on him. 19. Atlanta -- Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth, Sr. With Acie Law not cutting it in Hotlanta, the Hawks are primed to select Maynor, who is one of the most NBA ready players in the draft. He's a seasoned veteran that excelled in the national spotlight against the likes of Duke and UCLA. He might not be as quick as Lawson, but he's better at attacking the basket. Combine that with his defensive repertoire, and you've got a well-rounded player that will get results. 20. Utah -- Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina, Sr. Like most college seniors that enter the draft, Hansbrough has a limited upside as far as growth is concerned, but you can't discount his tenacious play in the paint on both sides of the floor. He's the type of gritty, hard-nosed player that could flourish under Jerry Sloan in Utah. T-Hans is an extremely hard worker that outhustles and outworks his competition. He's not the most talented player, but with a sweet mid-range jumper and the ability to get to the charity stripe and convert, he'd be a bargain at No. 20. 21. New Orleans -- Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina, Jr. The Philadelphia native's hot hand from three-point land would undoubtedly give the Hornets another perimeter option off the dribble-drive for Chris Paul. Ellington was a shooting star throughout the NCAA Tournament and by working on his pull-up last offseason, he's more than just a catch-and-shoot player. His range mirrors that of Curry's and when he gets hot there's no cooling him off. 22. Dallas -- B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State, Fr. With Erick Dampier posting some of the lowest averages of his career this season, it might be time to invest in a center for the future. Mullens was a projected Top 5 pick at the beginning of the college season on potential alone, although he struggled often in Columbus. Still, that doesn't change the fact that he possess an unfair amount of size and athleticism. He's explosive above the rim and when he gets it all together, he'll definitely be a productive player. 23. Sacramento -- Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech, So. While there's still a strong possibility he withdraws from the draft and returns for his junior season, the Kings would love to scoop him up and let him develop along an already young frontcourt featuring Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes. Lawal is long and athletic, and he's a very tough, physical player. He's still raw, but at this point, it's all about potential. 24. Portland -- Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona, Jr. Trade rumors for Rudy Fernandez are heating up again and should Kevin Pritchard pull the trigger, Budinger has enough athleticism and explosiveness to fill the void. A former volleyball player, Chase is blessed with an insane vertical that allows him to crash the boards better than most of his matchup players. His jumpshot keeps getting better and better and he's not afraid to create his own looks. 25. Oklahoma City -- DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown, Jr. Summers is a great athlete with loads of talent and potential. While he was the prototypical small forward in college, many believe he has the size and the know-how to develop a low post game. He's an above average shooter, but he needs to be more aggressive and attack the paint. At this point in the draft though, he's definitely worth the selection. 26. Chicago -- Terrence Williams, SF, Louisville, Sr. One of the most flamboyant players in the draft, Williams is the definition of versatility. An extremely athletic point forward that explodes to the basket, T-Will has all the tools of a lottery pick although his decision making and tendency to disappear has scared teams away. However, in a less heralded role where he isn't expected to make all the big plays, Williams could flourish. 27. Memphis -- Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh, Sr. If Young had not just turned 24-years-old, we'd be locking him into the lottery. Scouts are questioning his upside (or lack thereof) despite his ability to score from inside and outside, and finish with the best of them above the rim. Young has come a long way on the defensive side of the ball as well and he could really find his niche playing with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo in Memphis. 28. Minnesota -- DeMarre Carroll, PF, Missouri, Sr. A scrappy, hard-nosed player, Carroll made a name for himself this season leading Mizzou to the Elite Eight. He's a very strong player that loves to crash the boards. His stock is rising after a few great workouts, where I've heard his jumpshot has improved by leaps and bounds. Carroll is a little undersized for the 4, but his athleticism and energy could be vital off the bench for the Wolves. 29. Los Angeles -- Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, Sr. Collison is a very interesting player as he was pegged as a potential lottery pick during his sophomore season in Westwood. Things didn't quite go as planned, but the senior guard is a fantastic all-around prospect at the point guard position. Derek Fisher is waning out the end of his career, and picking a incredibly quick court general like Collison with NBA range and great defensive length would be well worth the risk if Jordan Farmar isn't ready to handle the everyday duties. 30. Cleveland -- Derrick Brown, PF, Xavier, Jr. Brown would bring explosiveness and athleticism to a frontcourt that definitely lacks a punch. Ilgauskas has never been known for his toughness and Varejao is nowhere to be found on the offensive end of the ball. Brown is a strong finisher around the circle and is adept at shooting the long ball (43 percent). He's a little bit of a tweener, but should he remain in the draft, it's worth the risk to give him a shot. -- As always, discussion and comments are welcomed. Also, feel free to e-mail me with any further questions or follow my Twitter updates as the draft draws closer. Let the debating begin!