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2009 NBA Draft Picks: The 2009 NBA Draft will take place this Thursday night at the Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 7:00pm ET. The Los Angeles Clippers, who have the first pick in the Draft, will take Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin number one overall. Connecticut center Hasheen Thabeet is projected to be the second pick by Draft experts at BetUS.com in their 2009 NBA Draft Picks.

Blake Griffin, the 6'10" power forward from Oklahoma, has been coveted by NBA teams since he stepped on campus in Norman, OK two years ago. Griffin has only added fuel to the fire since then by dominating opponents and displaying the kind of skill that will, no doubt, translate to the next level with relative ease.

In his two seasons with the Sooners, the 20 year old Griffin averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field. The Edmond native was unstoppable last season, posting 22.7 points per game and 14.4 rebounds per outing. Griffin led his team the Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual champion North Carolina 60-72.

Griffin should provide a much needed offensive presence down low for the Clippers, and Baron Davis will now get to work with a player who has bigger upside than Elton Brand. The combination of Griffin, Camby, Gordon, and Davis should assure the hapless Clippers more than the 19 wins they mustered last year.

UConn center Hasheem Thabeet does not have the offensive skill set that Blake Griffin does, but he should be a monstrous defensive presence in the league for years to come. The 7'3" Tanzania native led his team to the Final Four this season while averaging 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game.

Thabeet, who if selected by the Grizzilies will likely split time with Spaniard Marc Gasol, perhaps showcased his talents best in a February win at conference rival Seton Hall. The 22 year old scored 25 points, grabbed 20 boards (seven offensive), and had nine blocks in the 62-54 victory.

The third most highly touted prospect in the 2009 NBA Draft is Spanish wonderkid Ricky Rubio. Rubio, who helped lead Spain to the Silver Medal in last year's Olympics, has been playing professional basketball since the age of 14. The 18 year old Rubio signed with the Spanish ACB League in 2005, and led the league in both steals and assists last year. 

The 6'5" Barcelona native would most likely step in at the point guard position immediately if he is selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the third overall pick.

BetUS.com 2009 NBA Draft Picks

Who will the Grizzilies take at number 2:

Hasheem Thabeet -160
Ricky Rubio +110
James Harden +400
Brandon Jennings +1000
Jordan Hill +1400
Any Other +500

Who will the Thunder pick at number 3:

Ricky Rubio +100
Hasheem Thabeet +125
James Harden +250
Brandon Jennings +1000
DeMar DeRozan +1000
Any Other +300

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