GRIFFIN TOPS DRAFT - RUBIO GOES 5th
06/26/2009

In an NBA draft full of question marks, the Los Angeles Clippers took the guy thought to be the only sure thing.

The Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the number one pick in the NBA draft last night. The 6' 9" forward was the consensus college player of the year after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game and averaging 22.7 points last season for Oklahoma.

It was no suprise - the Clippers said they would take him just hours after they won the draft lottery last month - and never considered changing their minds.

"The fact is we're getting an incredible player, incredible person, an impeccable work ethic, and a guy that we plan on having in LA for many years to come,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

In LA for many years to come? Yeah...good luck with that!

The Clippers are certainly hoping Griffin turns out better than their last number one pick. They opened the 1998 draft by taking London-rased centre Michael Olowokandi - who lasted nine uneventful seasons in the NBA.

Memphis then grabbed Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, a dominant rebounder and shot blocker who doesn't have strong offensive skills.

Oklahoma City took high-scoring Arizona State guard James Harden with the No. 3 pick and Sacramento followed by drafting Memphis freshman Tyreke Evans.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took point guards with the fifth and sixth picks. They snapped up Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio at No. 5, a pick they acquired from Washington this week, before going for Syracuse's Jonny Flynn.

Minnesota took its third point guard, Ty Lawson of national champions North Carolina, at No. 18 - although he was soon traded to Denver for a future first-round draft pick. The Nuggets, who lacked a first-round pick for the fourth straight year, gave away a pick they acquired from Charlotte last year.

Stephen Curry, the NCAA scoring leader from Davidson, went at No. 7 to Golden State. Jordan Hill (New York), Demar DeRozan (Toronto), and Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee) rounded out the top 10.

All in all, this was a rather boring draft compared to years past. It lacked the "who'll go number one" drama of 2007 (Greg Oden v Kevin Durant) or 2008 (Derrick Rose v Michael Beasley). It was also massively overshadowed on the day by the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.