NBA Draft: Bruin Impact

From ESPN.  Chad Ford's current mock draft has Jrue Holliday at number 4 to the Sac Kings

Analysis: Holiday's performance at the NBA pre-draft combine suddenly doesn't make this pick such a stretch. Yes, this is very high for Holiday, but at the end of the day, there just isn't a big difference between the fourth pick and the 10th pick in this draft.

The Kings need a point guard, and if they can't get their hands on Rubio, Holiday's combination of size and defensive ability should get him the nod in Sacramento. The other possibilities here -- including Brandon Jennings, Jonny Flynn and Curry -- don't really fit the team's need. But it looks as if another player, Memphis guard Tyreke Evans, will get a look, too.

Other places like NBAdraft.net has Holliday going 24th to the Failblazers.  There is no concensus here, but if he looks at places like ESPN then he's most likely gone (as was thought before).  Personally, I'd love to get him back so we have a go-to guy next year since we don't really as Andy Katz has pointed out:

Cal and Washington are the clear favorites, while Oregon State and Oregon have enough back to mount a challenge for No. 3. UCLA doesn't have a star but has underclassmen whom most teams in the league would covet.

The above linke article also explains how pU$C is f'd next year (as in might be last in Pac10).

But back to the draft...The other top picks have an imapct on another Bruin.  The draft order is 1)Clippers 2)Grizzlies 3)Thunder 4)Kings.  Blake Griffin is the obvious #1, but many believe the next best player is point guard Rick Rubio.  The Grizzlies are unlikely to take him with 2 because they have a couple point guards already: Mike Conley and Mayo.  Untill a few days ago, several drafts had him at 2 anyway.  Now several sites predict UConn's Hasheem Thabeet.  And trading down seems unlikely

The best option for the Grizzlies is to find a team hot for Rubio and get a couple of great assets for the pick. The problem with that plan is that teams don't seem willing to give up the farm for Rubio. Lots of teams like him, but not enough to make a blockbuster deal.

That moves Rubio down to pick number 3...the Thunder (and I'm not talking about the LA weather).  This is a problem because our beloved Russle Westbrook has become their starting point guard, and a great one at that.  If drafted Rubio might not overtake him, but the franchise is struggling and might try something crazy like start Rubio to attract attention.

Many on the team see Russell Westbrook as their point guard of the future and aren't sure how he'd fare without the ball in his hands.

All I want is Westbrook to thrive and be the star that we all know he is.  Hopefully the Thunder will pass on him too, like NBADraft.net has projected.  They have fellow Pac 10er James Harden going to the Thunder.

This same draft also has Darren Collison going to washington with the second pick in the second round (32 overall).

Go Bruins!