Knicks say no to Iverson.

After speculation ever since his release that Allen Iverson could possibly join the 2-9 New York Knicks, the team has reportedly told the 34-year old star that they won’t be bringing him on board.

Despite the “go-ahead” from GM Donnie Walsh, differences with coaching and tea ownership lead to the decision of not signing Iverson, and the future hall of famer will be forced to look elsewhere for his new NBA home.

The Knicks cited team chemistry as a main concern, though many experts suspect the organization of purposely not trying to improve their team so they can get a high draft pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, in addition to aiming for the 2010 free agency class, namely Cleveland’s LeBron James.

Fantasy Perspective: We still think Iverson can help an NBA team out there somewhere (as well as your fantasy team), but it’s looking more and more like he will have to suck it up and accept a diminished role, and that’s if another team is even willing to take the risk.

Hey, if the Knicks think you’re too big of a distraction for their 2-9 squad, things are looking pretty bleak. Stay tuned for more information regarding the star shooting guard.

Mayo was ready.

Both Eric Gordan and O.J. Mayo had only one year of college in them, yet that’s all they needed.

The difficult questions is-are there two more players in this draft that could come close to their potential?

Maybe, maybe not.

But there are definitely some guys in this draft that, one way or another, should be able to make an immediate impact, as well as some others that could surprise some people.

1. Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma

Griffin is an absolute beast inside offensively, and regardless of nagging scout’s concerns, he is a much better defender than advertised.

Griffin has a solid handle for a big man, can score in a variety of ways around the basket, and is easily the best “finishing” big in this draft.

It’d be a shock if Griffin didn’t go to the Clippers with the first pick, and even if they did trade the pick, he’d still go number one, overall.

Upon his arrival, L.A. will have to figure out who they can live without-Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, or Zach Randolph-my money in on the latter.

One of those player’s departures will open up a spot for the former Sooner, and a mild double-double is not out of the question for his rookie year.

2. Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn

Thabeet’s offensive game is nowhere near NBA-ready, but the media is hyping that down far too much.

He’s still a tower in the paint, and even against NBA bigs, should be able to muster up enough offense to keep his defensive play-making skills on the floor.

Thabeet can change games by altering player’s shots or forcing teams to shoot long jumpers, while also helping out on the boards.

He may begin his career as an offensive liability, but then again, that’s now why he’s being drafted.

Thabeet is a strong candidate for over 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game in his first year, provided he gets good minutes.

3. James Harden, SG, Arizona State

Harden has one of the draft’s more complete offensive packages, as he is a solid shooter with good range, and is athletic enough to create for himself and get to the hole.

While Harden is mainly regarded as a potentially elite offensive threat, he is actually a very capable defender, as well.

Harden’s movements aren’t always as fluid as scouts would like, but they said the same thing about Michael Redd.

In his first year, double-digit scoring and a filled-out stat sheet is very likely.

4. Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona

Scouts have mixed views on Hill.

Some feels he lacks a strong work ethic and doesn’t have a real go-to move that can be dominant in the NBA.

The again, several others say the exact opposite.

Regardless, the one thing we do know about Hill is that he’s, at worst, a solid player at both ends of the floor.

Two teams that are starving for inside help, Washington and Oklahoma City, are rumored to be targeting him.

Hill needs to get stronger inside, as well as develop more effective moves, but he has enough touch on his shot and is good enough on defense to be effective in his first year.

5. Ty Lawson, PG, UNC

Lawson may lack ideal height, but if that’s all scouts can really come up with as for a knock for this kid, they should just give up.

Lawson is a terrific shooter when he’s on, and is a tremendous leader with the experience needed to guide an NBA team.

He’s unselfish, can clearly play with injury, and excels on both ends of the floor.

The rumor is that Milwaukee is pondering taking him with the 10th pick, and rightfully so, as he would fit Scott Skiles’ defense and offense perfectly.

6. Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke

Henderson is one of the most underrated athletes/players in this year’s draft.

He was the glue that held one of the stronger ACC squads together, as he was incredibly clutch several times throughout the season, and also put up solid numbers across the board.

Henderson has a solid handle, is adept at creating for himself, and is a capable defender.

He should surprise some people by going earlier than he “should”, and could easily start in his first year.

He’s undersized for the shooting guard position, but with his skill level and versatility, he could even run as a combo guard for some teams.

7. Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

Like Lawson, Flynn lacks the ideal height and size for the point guard position. However, unlike Lawson, Flynn is a freak athlete with a ridiculous wing span, combined with out-of-this-world athleticism.

He can rise above defenders, while his long arms help him get after rebounds, as well.

Flynn has a ways to go as far as managing an NBA team on the floor, but he has a solid stroke, can penetrate with the best of them, and is good at getting to the line.

These are all qualities of an elite point guard in the making.

8. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Davidson

Curry isn’t going to rise up and dunk on your seven footer. He may not even be able to take it to the hole as well as he did in college.

And if you’re asking him to guard the opposing team’s best player, my money is on him allowing at least 20.

However, no one in this draft shoots the ball like Curry does, with such great range and consistency.

Curry is an underrated athlete, too. He can get around defenders with deceptive quickness, and can pull his shot off at any time, regardless of where he is.

That ability to shoot all over the floor will get him on the court, if as nothing more than a decoy.

But he’s more than that. Curry could have a big rookie year like O.J. Mayo did. The only question is-is he J.J. Redick, or Mayo?

9. Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC

Hansbrough is the “definition” of NBA-ready.

He has slightly less than ideal size for the NBA power forward position, and his athleticism, albeit solid, isn’t quite up to par with NBA standards.

However, nobody outworks “Psycho T”.

Hansbrough has an engine that needs to fuel, as he’s constantly putting forth more energy and strength than the opposition.

Hanbsrough plays much better defense than he’s credited for, is a beast on the boards, and has an offensive game that continues to grow.

Nobody scores 20 points per game in the ACC for almost an entire college career and flops in the NBA.

At least not this time.

10. DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh

Blair is physically completely ready to take on the rigors of the NBA. He’s made for life inside the paint.

The only problem is, he’s barely 6’6”.

So, he won’t be any good, right?

Tell that to Charles Barkley.

Much like Hansbrough, few work as hard as Blair does, and despite his height, he put up a double-double average on the season in the Big East conference.

He even had a game with 22 points against Hasheem Thabeet of UConn.

The guy can play, and once we get past the height and weight excuses, we’ll see that a little guy can wreak havoc in the paint. Yes, even in the NBA.

He made the right choice.

Villanova point guard Scottie Reynolds has withdrawn his name from this month’s NBA Draft, and will return to finish his college career as a senior.

After leading Villanova on a courageous run through the NCAA tournament, all the way to the Final Four, Reynolds’ stock was apparently as high as it was going to get.

However, it wasn’t high enough.

Instead of risking a free fall, or worse-not getting drafted at all-Reynolds finally caved and realized he still had some doubters to impress.

After exhibiting his ability to both take games over as a scorer, as well as set teammates up and run the offense, Reynolds was still not a lock to make it in the first round, and was left off of many mock boards, due to his lack of ideal size, as well as lack of experience at the point.

Reynolds has good athleticism and quickness, and one of the finest strokes in the country. However, despite being extremely talented, he was easily ranked below 10 other players at his position.

Needless to say, he made the right call.

Often compared to former Illinois point guard Deron Williams for his clutch ability and knack for taking the big shot, Reynolds has all the fundamentals and intangibles that coaches look for.

After defeating Pittsburgh with a running lay-up with under a second left in the Elite Eight, Reynolds decided to ride the wave that his sudden popularity has brought upon him.

Unfortunately, his stock died down considerably due to other higher profile point guards, and was forgotten amongst the rest of the elite talent.

Other knocks on Reynolds were his average assist-to-turnover ratio, which was almost 1:1 for all three years in college.

Scouts and NBA GM’s look for point guards who are either already polished decision-makers, or athletic freaks with the ability to learn from their mistakes.

Considering Reynolds has a cozy spot somewhere in between the two, a 2009 draft stuffed with point guard talent no longer seemed like the place for him.

Reynolds will have the opportunity to improve his court awareness, and with another deep tournament run, could prove to scouts that he has the skills and intelligence needed to direct an NBA team.

With so many players being one-and-done, or cutting their losses and heading overseas, it’s both refreshing and exciting to get an NBA talent like Reynolds back in the NCAA scene.

Something tells me a bunch of people in the Big East don’t agree.

We all know Griffin will go first. But then what?

As I said in my previous Top Ten mock, after Blake Griffin, this is a fairly unpredictable draft. Ricky Rubio is probably too talented to fall past both Memphis and Oklahoma City, but necessity might win out.

Both teams could upgrade with the addition of Rubio, but both could also opt for Jordan Hill, or maybe even Hasheem Thabeet.

All debate aside (until you’re finished reading, of course), here’s a look at the first round. Keep in mind, this mock was done with the thought that GM’s will start thinking more logically.

1. L.A. Clippers – Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma

It’s as good as done. The Clippers’ coach, Mike Dunleavy, already said “we’re taking Griffin,” so the writing is on the wall.

Add the fact that the Clippers have a ton of money invested in Baron Davis, and have a young scorer in Eric Gordon, their necessity moves to the paint.

They get the best player in the draft and address their main weakness: inside depth.

Injuries killed this team last year. With the addition of Griffin, they could push for the playoffs next season.

2. Memphis Grizzlies  – Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn

The more I think about it, I don’t think Memphis will take Rubio. They’ve seen enough out of Mike Conley as a starter that they can feel comfortable with him as the franchise point guard.

Rubio will undoubtedly be tempting, but grabbing an inside defensive force like Thabeet is a luxury they can’t afford to pass up.

Thabeet may be limited offensively, but could step in and affect games immediately.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jordan Hill, PF/C, Arizona

If they really want to compete, they can’t keep relying on Nate Collison to do their dirty work. The Thunder have been able to run with anyone offensively, but don’t have the toughness or defensive mindset they need to take the next step.

Hill can also help their offense, but will be good depth to their frontcourt, as he can block, rebound, and score at a high level.

4. Sacramento Kings – Ricky Rubio, PG,  Spain

I can’t say Rubio will be starting right away, but I do know there is no way the Kings pass this kid up.

Beno Udrih is a stop-gap who somehow talked the Kings into keeping him. He’s a solid player, but nowhere near the talent Rubio already is, much less could become.

It’s still unlikely he drops this far, but if he does, the Udrih trade demands will begin to surface.

5. Washington Wizards – James Harden, SG, Arizona State

Harden isn’t the best available talent, but he does possess the best skill level, as well as unlimited versatility.

Harden could step in as an upgrade over DeShawn Stevenson (pretty much anyone could), or at least be a part of the rotation.

The Wizards are starting over with a new coach and philosophy, so could that mean they begin starting over at different positions?

Gilbert Arenas’s knee injuries are piling up, and snagging a point guard like Brandon Jennings wouldn’t be very surprising, either.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Brandon Jennings, PG, USA

DeMar DeRozan or Tyreke Evans are two guys I like at this spot, but Jennings will be too good to pass up.

If Jennings can pick everything up quickly and take over at the point, Randy Foye could slide over to his more natural position, shooting guard.

If Jennings is what he’s hyped up to be, we could see a nice turn-around in Minnesota.

7. Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Davidson

Curry could be gone at this point, but if he’s here, Don Nelson will snatch him up.

The Warriors could probably use an athletic big man, or they could even reach for Ohio State’s B.J. Mullens.

However, Nelson loves speed, quickness, and scoring. Curry fits the bill.

8. New York Knicks – Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

There’s always the possibility the Knicks trade for Steve Nash (he wants to go to NY), but even if they don’t, a young, talented point guard would be good to start grooming.

They have four solid guys they could talk about: Flynn, Ty Lawson, Patrick Mills, and Eric Maynor.

Out of those four, Flynn is probably the worst shooter, but actually is the better ball-handler, leader, and creator. If they’re looking for a Steve Nash clone, St. Mary’s Patrick Mills comes close.

9. Toronto Raptors- DeMar DeRozan – SG, USC

The Raptors have been searching for an elite shooting guard ever since Vince Carter left, and in DeRozan, they may finally find him.

DeRozan is extremely athletic, but is still very raw.

His lack of inexperience and low skill-set could keep him out of the top ten, but his natural ability and fluidity could see him here, at the nine spot.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

I like Chase Budinger or Earl Clark here, too, but if Lawson falls into their lap, they need to grab him.

They aren’t even sure they can get Ramon Sessions to stick around, and Luke Ridnour isn’t a long-term answer.

It’s time to start over at point guard, forgive themselves for drafting T.J. Ford, and snatch up an elite point guard.

Lawson is a gritty leader who can take over games on either side of the ball. He’s quite arguable the most polished and NBA-ready point guard in the draft.

11. New Jersey Nets – Chase Budinger, SG/SF, Arizona

Budinger could go to Milwaukee if they don’t like Lawson, but New Jersey seems a bit more likely.

The Nets need someone consistent and athletic on the opposite side of Vince Carter, and Budinger’s athleticism should get him on the court right away.

It’s like the Nets could get a white Richard Jefferson. And that’s all kinds of awesome.

12. Charlotte Bobcats- Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina

Ellington is a fantastic shooter, and contributes effectively on defense.

Above that, he’s a classy guy, and a hard worker; two things Larry Brown loves.

Brown has been looking for an energy guy who can knock down shots since he arrived in Charlotte, and now he’ll have one.

13. Indiana Pacers – Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke

With Mike Dunleavy’s injury, the Pacers are forced to think about “what if’s,” and probably will end up going for a dependable shooting guard with their selection.

Henderson is athletic, can shoot the ball, and is a good defender.

He’s exactly the jolt the Pacers need to get back to their winning ways.

If they feel comfortable about Dunleavy, though, they could opt for a point guard, as T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack have received mixed reviews.

14. Phoenix Suns -Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis

Are they a defensive team, or are they committed to running? No one knows.

Regardless, they need add youth everywhere, and why not where the scoring matters-at the guard spot.

Evans has elite athleticism and can shoot the ball fairly well. Grant Hill won’t be around forever.

15. Detroit Pistons- Earl Clark, SF Louisville

Clark is a silky smooth shooter when hot, and has a great mixture of solid all-around skills. His game is so fluid, it’d be a huge surprise if there wasn’t an easy transition.

While the Pistons calling card continues to be their defense, adding lengthy talent like Clark could at least aid their at times suspect offense.

16. Chicago Bulls- B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State

Mullens could go way earlier based on potential alone, but if he slips this far, Chicago will be waiting, tongue out, and all.

Yes, Chicago, let the salivation begin.

Mullens has the potential to be one of the next great centers, and could be an immediate upgrade over Aaron Gray, as well as be able to battle for minutes with Brad Miller and Joakim Noah.

If there is a weakness as far as elite talent goes Chicago, it’d be in their front-court.

17. Philadelphia 76ers- Eric Maynor, PG, VCU

The Sixers love their veteran, Andre Miller, but now is the time to get a guy who can grow behind him. Philly already is a solid team, but adding young talent behind and already proven starter can keep them competitive, while building toward the future.

Ideally, anyways.

The 76ers could definitely get some help inside, but may not be able to look past the talented Maynor.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves – James Johnson, SF, Wake Forest

Very big and long, Johnson is a fluid player who can score, and also has the ability to match up defensively with elite players.

The T’Wolves nabbed their point guard earlier in this round, so adding some depth on the wing is now key.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, UCLA

Holiday is an interesting prospect, considering he has the versatility to be a star at two positions.

Atlanta may not want another point guard, but they could definitely use depth at shooting guard.

It’s possible Holiday is gone before this pick, though, leaving the Hawks with either a full-fledged point guard, or beefing up their front-court.

20. Utah Jazz – Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina

Believe it or not, Hansbrough is a lot like Carlos Boozer, and could actually be a solid replacement if Boozer jumps ship.

Even if Boozer sticks around, Hansbrough would be a great energy addition, as well as a reliable scorer inside. He may never be an elite player (and maybe he will), but Hansbrough is definitely worthy of a first round pick.

21. New Orleans Hornets- Taj Gibson, PF, USC

After attempting to trade Tyson Chandler last season, it’s become obvious the Hornets aren’t satisfied with their play of their bigs.

Gibson is a very underrated player who is efficient on both ends of the floor, and has great fundamentals.

He could be an immediate back-up to David West, and could filter into the rotation very early in the season.

22. Dallas Mavericks- Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest

I think Teague gets too much flakk for his team’s regression toward the end of the season, and people forget about how money he was to start the season.

Regardless, the Mavericks need a point guard to help Jason Kidd (if he sticks around), and getting more athletic and smarter with the ball is a good idea, too.

23. Sacramento Kings- Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech

The Kings have Spencer Hawes, and that’s about it.

Lawal is a tough, physical inside presence that Sacramento sorely lacks. He’s a fantastic finished on the offensive end, and wreaks havoc in the middle as a shot blocker.

He’s a very underrated big in this draft, and the Kings will be able to get a luxury/necessity pick, all in one.

24. Portland Trail Blazers- Omri Casspi, SG/SF, Israel

Casspi has a great feel for the game, and has the ability to take the ball to the rim, as well as shoot all over the floor.

Portland has shown in the past their love for taking chances on foreigners, and could easily bit on Casspi if he’s available, here.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder- DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh

Blair is vastly under-sized, but after playing good basketball against the tower that is Hasheem Thabeet, he proved he can score on and defend taller defenders.

It’s really as simple as that. If you can score on a guy who owns you be seven or more inches, height won’t be an issue.

Other than that, he’ll fit perfectly into their plans.

26. Chicago Bulls- Derrick Brown, SF, Xavier

Brown is a good athlete with solid range, and could help the Bulls offensively.

His long arms and lanky frame suggest he could be an elite defender, as well.

The Bulls will be primarily addressing their inside game, but getting anyone who can both score and defend at elite level will be on their mind.

27. Memphis Grizzlies- Darren Collison, PG, UCLA

I’m actually not sold that Collison lands in the first round, but I think the Grizzlies will simply take the best available point guard.

They like Conley, but Collison could be a good “spell” guy for the future.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves- DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown

Summers is a lengthy, rangy defender, and is also a very efficient offensive player.

Minnesota should likely be focusing on their back-court in this draft, as well as adding offensive talent that also has the potential to defend elite foes.

29. L.A. Lakers- Terrence Williams, SG/SF, Louisville

Williams is a freak athlete with good scoring ability, as well as the elite lateral quickness needed to defend well in the NBA.

The Lakers need to start adding elite athletic talent to their roster, and it wouldn’t hurt to invest in some behind Kobe Bryant.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers- Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh

The Cavaliers are all about playing defense, moving the ball, and LeBron James.

Young can come in and help out offensively, but only if he plays with-in himself.

The Cav’s could also grab some more inside help.