Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 8:00 am  |  42 responses

SLAMonline Mock Draft: Tyler Hansbrough, No. 25

Can college greatness translate? Believe it.

by Emry DowningHall

With the 25th pick in the 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select…

Tyler Hansbrough. If today’s December 25, why is the air conditioner cranking at a level where I can’t keep our player evaluation reports from flying off my desk? And why does my BlackBerry keep telling me it’s 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 25?

If this isn’t Christmas, how did Sam Presti and I manage to score the top point guard in the draft (and I’m not talking about Brendan Jennings) as well as the ACC’s all-time scoring leader, who’s widely regarded as one of the hardest working college athletes of all time?

In any event, today better not be Christmas, unless Tyler and Ricky are cool with me gift wrapping them after the draft, or Gold Standard Collectibles offers same hour shipping on this, the kids are going to be pretty disappointed with Santa’s offerings this year.

Hansbrough’s resume is thorough, and since we’ve all been listening to Dick Vitale orally hypnotize us about his accomplishments over the past four years, I’ll let you review it on your own time.

While we’re fully aware that success under the watchful eye of the NCAA guarantees a whole lot of nothing on the next level, many aspects of Hansbrough’s game will absolutely translate to NBA success.

He measures nearly 6-10 with sneakers on, shows a remarkable ability to get to the free-throw line, and displays excellent touch around the basket. He’s physical, will box out and work hard on the offensive glass. We’re going to put him in a lot of pick and roll situTyler Hansbroughations, which will require an extended shooting range, but we’re confident that element of his game will improve with time.

Of course we do have some questions about his ability to defend at the 4 and 5 positions, but those concerns are eased by his work ethic and drive to improve and prove he belongs at the next level.

That may sound like some cliché press release bullshit, but anyone that has played basketball at a high level will testify that effort and the desire to improve, mixed with the discipline required to work hard are essential ingredients for success. This is especially true when it comes to frontcourt positions, and rebounding the basketball.

We’re also eager to place Hansbrough among the ranks of outstanding college studs that slid in the draft because they weren’t thought to be tall, fast, quick, or strong enough for the next level—since 2005 Carl Landry, Glen Davis, Aaron Brooks, Paul Millsap, Leon Powe, David Lee and Ryan Gomes all illustrate that point.

Yes ladies and gentleman, believe it or not, players who put up great numbers on excellent teams, work hard, are well coached and understand how to win actually do translate into solid players at the next level. I hope you were sitting down for that and remember, you heard it here first.

Finally, I’d like to announce that going forward we’ll be immediately cleansing him of the nickname “Psycho T.” Robert Swift is currently holding down the title of “psycho” and we don’t want to take him out of his comfort zone. We’re going to run with “Freaky Ty” until further notice.

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
7 Golden State Warriors James Harden
8 New York Knicks Stephen Curry
9 Toronto Raptors Tyreke Evans
10 Milwaukee Bucks Jonny Flynn
11 New Jersey Nets DeJuan Blair
12 Charlotte Bobcats Terrence Williams
13 Indiana Pacers Earl Clark
14 Phoenix Suns Jrue Holiday
15 Detroit Pistons B.J. Mullens
16 Chicago Bulls Sam Young
17 Philadelphia 76ers Ty Lawson
18 Minnesota Timberwolves Eric Maynor
19 Atlanta Hawks Patty Mills
20 Utah Jazz Gerald Henderson
21 New Orleans Hornets Wayne Ellington
22 Dallas Mavericks Austin Daye
23 Sacramento Kings Omri Casspi
24 Portland Trail Blazers Victor Claver
25 Oklahoma City Thunder Tyler Hansbrough
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  • Czar Ruke

    Safe pick this late in the 1st round. “Freaky Ty” could be in the L for 10-15 with his work ethic.

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    At this point its a no lose, you can’t be a bust at number 25 really and if he plays well its a bonus nice solid pick.

  • Wuesso

    “Freaky Ty”! Come on! That sound like an oriental appetizer. I’m sure someone will post a better nickname for him. Anyway, I think Tyler is an underrated victim of the so-called experts. He’ll be a solid player. That’s why I have him @20 to Utah. The Jazz will lose either Boozer or Milsap (or both) so T will fit just fine. Let’s hope he can stand playing under Mr. Sloan. That’s the real test.

  • http://none DEBBIE

    THE NEW ESPN MOCK DRAFT NOW HAS PSYCHO T AT #11 AND I DON’T THINK YOUR MOCK DRAFT IS CORRECT. TYLER IS THE BEST AT REBOUNDING AND IT DEFINITELY WILL TRANSLATE TO THE NBA. NO PERSON HAS EVER WORKED HARDER THAN HIM INCLUDING THE SUPPOSED #1 PICK BLAKE GRIFFIN DUMMY. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT ABOUT TYLER’S DRAFT STATUS.

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

    Worse case scenario he’ll be a solid role player, which is all you can ask from pick #25.

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  • sixersforlife_85

    For some reason I read the whole of Debbie’s post in the voice of Joy from ‘My Name Is Earl’.

  • http://twitter.com/NotebookNick thesubwayconnection

    All caps totally makes Hansbrough better.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    Great value at this spot. The Thunder need another active bigman to hit the glass, and Psycho T will work at it, we all know that much. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a longterm starter but if he lasts until the late first he’s a terrific value.

  • sixersforlife_85

    He’s already better than collison in my book. (I don’t actually have a book, but if i did that would written in it).

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  • http://www.alllooksame.com Tarzan Cooper

    emry, where were you the last couple months of the season? you got so little, i couldnt even see you with a microscope

  • Young C

    Debbie is hansbrough’s aunt

  • http://www.slamonline.com Emry DowningHall

    @Tarzan: Man, sorry about that… def. didn’t mean to leave you all hanging but I had to take care of some business with the f/t gig.

  • emphasis

    I really like this pick. Hansbrough is a very hard worker and is talented as well. As some before have mentioned, he has a real shot to have a very successful and long pro career.

  • Quail

    he’s gonna be injured every other game with as hard as he plays. so it really doesnt matter where he goes.

  • http://www.twitter.com/showmeyourwits showmeyourwits

    I absolutely HATE Sucko T with such unrivaled passion that I finally understand what non-Duke fans feel like. As far as ability to get to the line? I feel like the ref’s aid him with that particular skill set (this season he scored 24 pts in a game, going 20/20 at the line…WTF?), but hard work? I have to give him credit b/c he probably does work his butt off.

    As opposed to Shelden Williams, who I saw buying a bag of potatoes that strangely resembled him between the 1st and 2nd quarter Sunday. Get in the gym man!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Emry DowningHall

    @Debbie: Take it ez on the 32 ounce coffees, ma. Also, I’m not sure you realize, I am just representing one team here… so I’m picking the best player available. The fact that Ty slide is something that I’m taking advantage of with my pick. Each SLAM GM has given their rationale for their picks in the write up they did. You should go check them out, and please b ez with the caps.

  • Bird PANTS

    Love the pick, Hansbrough is a perfect fit for a young, talented team like the Thunder because of his work ethic and unselfish play. I like the young nucleus they would have with Durant, Green, Westbrook, Hansbrough, and Rubio if this draft is accurate come draft night.

  • http://www.fanballers.com so fresh n so clean

    b ez with the caps…hahaha

    Solid Pick Emry…

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    ‘players who put up great numbers on excellent teams, work hard, are well coached and understand how to win’… that can also describe mark madsen. just saying.

  • Enigmatic

    I wouldn’t mind if my Bulls snatched him up with EITHER ONE of their picks. Dude’s gonna be solid. He was a beast in college, and I expect him to be the type of player in the L that’ll come in off the bench and pump up the team and the crowd and do all the little hustle plays. I don’t agree with the Mad Dog comparisons. Hansbrough > Madsen.

  • http://www.anwilson.blogspot.com rainman10

    I like this pick. The only other teams that could safely get away with pickin him before this is Utah and Portland in my opinion.

  • http://none.com Bryan

    As both a Sooner fan and Thunder fan, I can say that we were less than impressed with Hansborough when he forgot to show up against OU in the tourney. The Griffin brothers made him look silly and useless – too bad OU’s guard play was so poor that night. I just don’t think he would be very well received in OKC, although Oklahomans do love a strong work ethic.

    That said, if he is still there at 25 (which he won’t be) the Thunder should take him because he would make a strong bench guy.

  • MattM

    I think whoever gets Hansbrough in this range will be happy with his performance. He really does work hard and get to the line. For the pick and roll situation Tyler has some pretty decent range on his jumper. He was draining threes against Duke.

  • http://dillanleuyahoo.com Holy Baller

    As someone who lives in Oklahoma and watches the Thunder’s every game, I sure hope this doesn’t happen. First of all, most everyone in Oklahoma hates Tyler. His team beat out ours in the tourny, and he won Player of the Year award 2 years ago, beating out our own Blake Griffin. Second, he’s another unathletic white guy. He’s like a clone of Nick Collison. And Robert Swift hasn’t proved to be anything either. Maybe a little better, but not much. And third, I hope Memphis goes stupid and picks Rubio over Hasheem and we end up with the tall shot blocker.

  • Quail

    actually Holy Baller, psycho T is pretty athletic. he’s not the most athletic guy in the draft this year, but he still, in no way is he “unathletic”.

  • jay

    all I wanna know is: why hasn’t slam picked up on the diss brandon jennings threw at ricky rubio? Since this draft more or less sucks i like to hear more about that juicy sidenote. TO me, personally I hope Rubio tears Brandon a new one for talking out of turn. Who you trying to get crazy with essey? Don’t you know I’m loco?????

  • http://slamonline.com grovell jackson

    im going to be real im a duke fan first of all but come on now tyler is one the best players in the country better than hasheem his numbers are the same as blake griffin plus 4 years of college at nc remember im a duke fan tyler should be higher than 25 lets just say 24 teams are going to kick themselves by the way SHOUT OUT TO GERALD HENDERSON!!!!!!!

  • Enigmatic

    @ Holly – Why you so surprised Griffin didn’t win National Player of the Year 2 years ago? He wasn’t even the best player in his conference then (that was Beasely). No one is saying Hansbrough’s gonna be an all-star, but come on now, any team would love him at 25.

  • Enigmatic

    @ Jay- what the hell is an “essey”? It’s ese.

  • http://www.anwilson.blogspot.com rainman10

    #25 picks the last few years…Batum, Morris Almond, Shannon Brown, Johan Petro, Tony Allen, Delfino, Frank Williams the list goes on. With the exception of (maybe) Batum, Hansbrough looks like a better 25 pick than any of these guys. Although Brown has looked nice. I did look a little deeper, and Gerald Wallace and Al Harrington were #25′s. It’s interesting to look back at drafts.

  • Guam

    @ debbie…there’s like 10 mock drafts pretty much only griffin is a lock…and also..who cares. Freaky t or whatever should do just fine as a role player he has the size and drive. He couldn’t do any worse than morrison or reddick right? ha

  • jay

    I think he’s going to be a solid rotation player. He’s a skilled big with just enough size, strong hands and he plays with tenacity. Not a lot of teams can bring a player with those qualities off the bench. I don’t think he’s a championship starting power forward but on a team like the Atlanta Hawks for instance, he could get 25 minutes per. I think he might be at the level of a Carl Landry, who any team would like coming off the bench.

    The reason I like him is that he showed his senior year that he can shoot from about 18 feet. If he was strictly an in-the-paint player, I would be more iffy on him but having that range to go with the ability to board and get to the line makes a huge difference.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Emry DowningHall

    Thanks for the feedback – I do agree that Ty wont be around @ this stage in the draft but to call him unathletic is really an inaccurate label.

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    Very safe #25 pick.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    He already adjusted his game 100%. Look at how he played his Freshman/Sophmore year (dunker in the paint) to his Junior/Senior year (more post moves/jump shooting, less dunking). Tyle will be AT LEAST a 6th man in the height of his career, if not a starter. This guy has all the tools to be a good player. But i’d say anywhere between 15-25 is a good place, but 25 still feels like stretch even though it is in the range i just said. My 2 picks for taking him will either be Indiana at 13 or Utah at 20. Both need a big.

  • http://dillanleuyahoo.com Holy Baller

    You’re right, unathletic isn’t quite right, but it’s the fact that he doesn’t really USE the athletecism. I mean with Blake Griffin, it’s very very obvious that he’s athletic. But you can go a whole game watching Tyler and not even realize that he has some ups. And offensively, he just doesn’t impress me at all. Against OU, he couldn’t do jack. And Blake and Tayler weren’t even guarding him that hard. I don’t know, I just think he’s going to end up like Reddick.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Holy Baller: Did you see Tyler play AT ALL his Freshman/Sophomore years? All he did was use his athletecism offensively. He was never much of a defender though, but was Blake? Blake and Tayler werent guarding him hard? No, they were trying their best, but neither of them are outstanding defenders.

  • Charlotte H

    he can be “Psycho T” if he wants to!
    he WILL succeed at the next level!

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  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Hi. Dacre here…I was making a case for this guy since the 7th pick. Seriously. How this guy was not going on most mock drafts inside the top 15-20 I have no idea… I look at this guy and see a David Lee, Nick Collison type with great IQ. He wont need 35 mins a game to contribute and he’ll be one of these ‘old head on young shoulders’ types…. He WILL get selected ALOT SOONER than this on the day.
    PHX, I’m looking in your direction.

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