What Does the Future Hold?

Now that The Lake Show has been crowned 2009 Champs, we can move on to The Blake Show and the rest of the NBA's newest youngsters. Unless you spent every Saturday afternoon this past winter with Dickie V screaming from your TV set, you may not be familiar with some of these names, but I expect a handful of them to make immediate impacts. Let's take a look at a few of The Association's next crop...

Blake Griffin: The Clippers can't possibly mess this one up right. Unless the Lakers' Staples Center roommates select Peter Grffin, expect the Oklahoman to be a Carlos Boozer in waiting for LA's Other Team. God, you'd just feel a lot more comfortable about this kid's career if he was going to a more stable franchise. Cue nightmarish visions of Michael Olowokandi!!!

Ricky Rubio: The 18-year Spanish sensation will certainly bring a lot of flare to the NBA, but will he have the substance? My guess is yes! Why? Because he was born on the 21st day of October that's why! Como esta bitches!

Hasheem Thabeet: I hope he watched the NBA Finals closely because he is the second coming of Dwight Howard, but with an even lesser array of offensive skills (is that humanly possible by the way?). The man will block half a dozen shots a night, but if he wants to be an All-Star talent, he and Dwight better forget Pat Ewing and phone Hakeem the Dream instead!

James Harden: You've probably heard the name, but the only time you saw him play was when you were half in the bag on the way home from the bar because most of his games started at 10:00PM Eastern. My suggestion...get to know the name and the player because he'll be one to watch...he'd be a perfect player on a West Coast team. Expect the Kings to swallow him up with the fourth pick, if not expect Obama to call a State of Wizards Address to announce that he is personally drafting him. Move over Gilbert...you got back court company!

Stephen Curry: Think Reggie Miller with more mobility or Rip Hamilton with an even deadlier arsenal. He certainly won't solve all the Knicks problems, but he will be a saving grace for a team that seemingly hasn't hit a jump shot since Allan Houston hung 'em up. In D'Antoni's 8 Seconds and Up System, he may average 20 in year one!

Johnny Flynn: Energy, excitement, enthusiasm....the kid brings it all. Small frame may have him getting knocked around a bit his first few years, but if he looks to be a distributor early on, he'll be a top 10 point guard before you know it.

Brandon Jennings: You'll remember BJ couldn't make the grades to get in at Arizona and opted instead to go to Europe and play in the Italian League. His play was sub par at best, but the talent is still there. Don't forget this guy was the number one rated freshman by ESPN.com two years ago. Be humble young man, lose the attitude and run the point the way you should have for the Wildcats.

Gerald Henderson Jr.: Let's be honest, with the exception of a select few Dukies...Boozer, Elton Brand, Grant Hill...Coach K's Boys just never seem to turn out the way we plan. I think he would have been better served going back to school for one more year. Corey Maggette here we come! Will have respectable career stats, but won't be a difference maker.

DeJuan Blair: NBA-ready body at the time of conception. Will be a rebounding machine as well as that inside the paint enforcer that every team craves come playoff time.

Chase Budinger: Nice career at Arizona, but too one dimensional. Might be a nice pick for a team that needs instant shooting prowess off the bench.

Tyler Hansbrough: Gotta have some Carolina love in this post! Chris "The Birdman" Andersen without the tats and crazy hair...this guy is going to give his NBA squad the same effort that he gave the Powder Blue for four years. He will not be an All-Star and may not even crack the starting lineup, but you'll be happy if your team drafts him. I predict a bloody nose his first week in the league!

Ty Lawson: Fellow Heeler...maybe the fastest man on the planet taking the ball from endline to endline. Will find it far more difficult to get that running float shot off amongst the trees in The League, but will immediately make his team dangerous in transition and has always been smart with the ball in his hands.

Like all drafts though, we won't know who won and lost until three or four years down the road, but alas, let the prognostication begin!