subject: Nba Tickets - 2009 Rookie Roles [print this page] Here are the roles that players selected in the top 10 of the 2009 NBA Draft should play in their first seasons as pros.
Blake Griffin, Forward, Los Angeles Clippers: Not only do the Clippers think so highly of Griffin that they made him the number one overall pick in the 2009 draft, but they also traded their starting power forward to make room for him to get time on the floor. Griffin should see plenty of playing time right away and contribute on the boards and in the energy department immediately. He's sure to throw down some ferocious dunks that will sell NBA tickets for Donald Sterling as well.
Hasheem Thabeet, Center, Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies have no need to rush Thabeet into the starting lineup since they've got Marc Gasol. Thabeet still has a lot to learn about the game and he'll probably struggle with foul trouble early on. He'll get some blocked shots and some boards, but 2009-10 will probably be mostly a learning process for the young big man.
James Harden, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder: This was a great pick by the Thunder. Harden should fit right in on this team. He'll be looked to for outside shooting and to fill a role around the team's young studs. He plays with a veteran presence, so I think he'll accept his role and play unselfish basketball.
Jonny Flynn, Point Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves: Flynn will probably be the starting point guard right away and he's got the potential to have a positive impact immediately. He'll need to play under control, though, and realize that the ball needs to be in Al Jefferson's hands a lot, as well as in Kevin Love's. If he doesn't try to do too much, in order to prove that he's better than Ricky Rubio would have been, he can help this team right away.
Stephen Curry, Guard, Golden State Warriors: Curry will probably spend the season getting used to the point in spurts, but spend most of his time playing alongside Monta Ellis. Ellis seems to think that he and Curry will struggle playing alongside one another, but their skill sets seem to complement each other well. Don Nelson said that Curry will be a part-time starter. I'm not sure what that means, but it looks like Nelly will uncharacteristically give this young man some burn.
Jordan Hill, Power Forward, New York Knicks: Hill was picked high, but I don't see him getting a ton of minutes this season. He seems pretty raw and he didn't do too much in Summer League. He's probably more of a project than the team initially thought, and they've got other forwards that will get minutes over him.
DeMar DeRozan, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors: I initially viewed DeRozan as a project, but I think he's actually way more ready than I realized. He looked poised in Summer League and he seems to have a veteran's control on the court. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the starting lineup this season.
Brandon Jennings, Point Guard, Milwaukee Bucks: Jennings didn't have a great season in Europe last season, but his game is much better-suited for the NBA's style of play. He should get major minutes right away and I'd expect him to win the starting job by season's end and get the people in Milwaukee excited about the Bucks' future.
