Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 at 3:10 am  |  50 responses

SLAMonline Mock Draft: Demar DeRozan, No.6

Take two…

by Myles Brown

With the sixth pick in the 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select…

Demar DeRozan. Last June the Timberwolves drafted a dynamic guard out of USC who was primed to fill their need for a point guard and a slasher. They traded him three hours later.

Though there is still debate about whether Minnesota got the better player in the Mayo/Love swap, the deal enabled them to unload troublesome contracts, gain maneuverability under the salary cap and add another valuable component to a promising roster. Time has shown it to be a prudent move.

However for those who think it wasn’t, the Wolves can offer a mea culpa this June by drafting a dynamic guard out of USC who is primed to fill their need for a slasher.

The teams focus should be on acquiring a point guard or center, but as far as this Mock Draft is concerned, DeRozan is the best available talent that complements their core players. Al Jefferson is clearly the centerpiece and Kevin Love has proven himself to be a commodity. Though they’re both relatively undersized at power forward and completely unsuitable to play at center, the offensive and rebounding they provide leaves need for little more than a seven footer to provide even the slightest deterrence in the paint. Such a player should be available on the free agent market.

Mike Miller and Ryan Gomes shared minutes at small forward last season and while both players will presumably remain in the rotation next year, their deficiencies leave something to be desired. Despite his reputation as a marksman and the thought of  him making defenses pay for doubling Jefferson, Miller all but refused to shoot the ball, leaving the responsibility to far less capable players. Gomes, for all of his intelligence and intensity, simply isn’t enough of an offensive threat to carry a consistent load or force any strategic changes from a defense.

Now entering his fourth year as a pro, Randy Foye is still telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s a point guard. He’s not. But for significant stretches over his career he has shown himself to be an effective shooting guard. He’s confident from the outside, can finish at the rim and when he isn’t burdened with the task of running the offense, he can be an effective playmaker. But he’s too small. Bigger and stronger guards can handle him too easily in the post or just choose to rise above him from the perimeter.

DeRozan doesn’t solve all of these problems for Minnesota, but he does give them more options. He’s a 6’6, 200 lb swingman who appears to be comfortable at either the 2 or the 3, which would provide flexibility and versatility in lineups. He’s quick, he’s strong and he’ll dunk on you faster than you can blink. With an expanding jumper and a visible maturity in his decision making, DeMar could be the slasher that opens up the floor and scores in bunches for a team ripe with boardsmen, post players and shooters. He could thrive in an uptempo system and flourish in the half court with several other offensive threats to draw attention. It’s not difficult to see him finishing a break initiated by one of Love’s outlet passes or finishing a crisp ball reversal initiated by a double of Al or a premature closeout on Miller. DeMar DeRozan could be one of the finishing touches on a roster that is close to playoff contention.

But they should probably find a coach first.

2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft Results
Pick Team Player
1 L.A. Clippers Blake Griffin
2 Memphis Grizzlies Hasheem Thabeet
3 Oklahoma City Thunder Ricky Rubio
4 Sacramento Kings Brandon Jennings
5 Washington Wizards Jordan Hill
6 Minnesota Timberwolves Demar DeRozan
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  • J-O

    noooooooo why isnt this up at 8am now i dont have anything to read later on during class =(

  • http://twitter.com/looktotheleft MyKal

    Dude’s got ups.

  • sixersforlife_85

    Close to playoff contention? In the West!? Good pick though.

  • French Toast

    What about James Harden? He seems a better choice and he is a more “instant ready” player. It would have been great to compare the two players.

  • http://nba.com Reflex

    There is no debate about whether Minnesota got the better player in the Mayo/Love swap. The Grizzlies won that one.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ Moose

    @ Reflex: The debate is about who got the better DEAL for THEIR team. I still think the Griz did, but…

  • http://sfdjilf.com Jukai

    I co-sign French Toast.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com Jeff Fox

    James Harden is really dropping in the SLAM mock draft. I’ll gladly grab him when I pick for Portland later on if everyone wants to pass on him!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Justin Walsh

    excellent pick. I totally agree with this pick. And on people asking about comparisons between Harden and DeRozan? The 2 times that USC and ASU have played- Harden: 4 points, 10 points. DeRozan: 22 points, 25 points. Also, Harden has limited upside. DeRozan has the most risk/reward of anyone on the boards.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    I understand the pick. There are just so many questions to answer that you can’t really draft for need, you have to draft for talent. Are Corey Brewer and Rodney Carney already busts? Myles, you follow this team daily, can you explain to me why Miller won’t shoot? Is he trying to prove that he’s more than a shooter? Love is nice but he’s kinda Jefferson-lite. They’ll always get killed by the Yaos and Paus. Is Telfair the pg of the future? Do you commit to Foye at the 1? What do you do with Gomes, the tweener? What Minny needs is a freaking plan.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    I’m not sold on Harden at all. If you can’t bring it every game during a 30-game season, how can we be sure that you’ll bring it for 82? Kinda like Rudy Gay, the talent was always there but he was kinda floating around the perimeter a lot at UConn and he’s doing the same in the L. You can’t teach hustle.

  • Jarrod

    I think they should get Patrick Mills with the 18th pick to solve the point guard issue.
    Whoever they pick they are gonna be a deep team in the not too distant future.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Cub Buenning

    I knew Justin had those stats ready!

    Nice. By the time the lottery got to us, I had DD up in my top 3. Believe that, Walsh!

    Myles, beautiful selection. I’ll coach the T-Pups!

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  • http://nicekicks.com MeloMan13

    NOOOO. the Raptors need him. VC 2

  • http://www.mybleedingfingertips.blogspot.com/ Myles Brown

    Carney and Brewer arent necessarily busts, theyre great defenders and strong open court finishers, but they’re severely limited offensively. Particularly Brewer. And I dont know what the f*ck Millers problem is, no one does. I cant count how many times the ball was swung to him for a three and he just pump faked and drove or swung it right back to a horrible shooter like Bassy. I love Al & Kev, theyre solid post players and rebounders and that position is now filled for the next decade. But again, theyre weak defenders and we need a center. I dont like Foye at the 1, but for the sake of this Mock Draft thats what I had to do. Hopefully with more offensive talent on the floor it would make things easier for him and he wouldnt have to freelance as much, which was one of his main problems. Gomes is a great player and the type of glue guy who could play for a championship team. But he shouldnt be starting, hes better utilized off the becnh against second teams. Honestly, in the real draft, Id like it better if we packaged that sixth pick and Mike Miller to see what we could get. There apparently arent any quality centers available, so spend the loot on a quality point guard or swingman like say, Igoudala. And in the real draft, I doubt Jennings would be gone before six and Id also be willinng to take a chance on him. So no, I dont think this team is in playoff contention right now, but you cant tell me that either Jennings or DeRozan with Foye, Miller, Love & Al with Bassy and Gomes and Brewer on the bench along with a ridiculous amount of cap space to entice a free agent wont be a competitive team in two years or less.

  • http://sfdjilf.com Jukai

    I actually figured Jennings would be picked here to replace Bassy, maybe try to send Telfair and Miller away for someone else.
    If Jennings was available, would you have picked him, Brown?

  • niQ

    if the raptors are lucky to pick him up, then yea.. VC pt 2. lol

  • http://www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    Don’t know too much about and have heard mixed reviews, but I’d take a chance on Jennings. Wouldn’t get rid of Bassy though. Great backup.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Demar would definitely fit with the Wolves, and Justin’s right that he has the most upside of any player still on the board. that said, I’d bet Harden wouldn’t fall past the Wolves. He’s much more of a “sure thing,” and I wouldn’t just rely on head-to-head comparisons to say who’s the better pick.

  • chris

    James Harden will go #5 to the Wizards. Ive watched him a lot over the two years at ASU and the thing about him is he’d rather score 15 points and win than score 40 and lose…but you can bet he can light it up when he has to. Hes a great team player and is also a great passer. The thing about his handles is that he is awkward with the ball but it somehow works and he gets to the rim. I see a much stronger version of Manu Ginobli here.

  • http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

    He could be physically stronger than Ginobili, but that comparison is a bit of a stretch. I like Harden, I’m just not sure about him bringing that kind of intensity every night.

  • http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=393423928 BENATES

    omg brandon jennings i gave him 20 in my aau game 2 summers ago lol damn i sound like a hater but i still didnt see what all the fuss was about

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Benates, you’re right, that’s a hater comment right there. Everybody and their moms ‘gave 20′ at some point to a guy that made it. He probably doesn’t remember who you are or that particular game. I was outplaying Joel Anthony in HS. He made it to the league and I wear a suit to work. There’s a reason why guys like Anthony and Jennings are in the L and we’re both commenting on SLAM Online.

  • Seven Duece

    Who’s going to run the offense though? Neither Foye nor Bassy have teams burning up the line to pry them away, and Derozan isn’t able to create his own shot yet other than a 1 dribble pull up thanks to those shaky handles. I can see him getting to a Travis Outlaw level with some specialized coaching, but as far as difference maker, nothing he’s shown yet has made me believe he has that in his game. Yet.

  • james

    they don’t have to worry about who will run the offense with this pick. there are about 10 first round PG’s this year. they can get one at 18 or even their late pick. 27 i think?

  • mj23

    This has got to be one of the weakest drafts. Thabeet at #2, gimme a break!!

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  • Richard

    Ricky rubio
    s agent ssaid he AINT GONNA PLAY IN OKCA OR SACRAMENTO OR MEMPHIS EITHER. he would look great in a toronto raptors uniform.

  • Seven Duece

    They need to worry about getting a pg pronto and trading some of the nondescript ‘combo’ guards they have. It’s like the Warriors only smaller.

  • mockdoc

    honestly how is he better or different than rodney carney or corey brewer. all 3 have all the physical tools, hops, good frames and excel on defense. however their offense is still underdeveloped and raw. not only are u failing to fill a need, but your sending a message to your young players, that we don’t have faith in you and have given up on their development. james harden would be a perfect compliment to foye in the backcourt. the team would come together very nicley and each player would compliment one another, laying a bright foundation for the franchise.

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  • http://wordonthestreetsmag.com Mehka

    SUPER-BUM!!!

    I thought over-rated in high-school, he was over-college and he’ll be out the league in 5 seasons. How could justfy drafting him at any spot higher than 18? What exactly is his game? The last time I checked, the L has a ton of 6’6”-6’7” small forward with not jumpers, no handle, and no defense, but they can jump through the roof!

    Come on! Really! What did he do at USC that made you say, “he’s going to be a legimate starter in the NBA?”

    Slam, stop hyping these “I can jump 80 ft in the air and dribble through my legs all day” types and start promoting some real players. I could be wrong, but he has “D-League, Tokyo Flyers” written all over him

  • jstaff

    yeah man im wit Mehka he’s got DRAFT BUST written all over him

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