The Dream Shake 2012 Mock Draft: Pick Nine

So, the draft order has been established. Your devoted writers here at the Dream Shake have set up a mock draft, pick by pick, to be delivered to you daily. We will be going through the first round of the draft with our selections and our reasons why we think we will correctly predict the whole damn thing.

If you've been living under a rock this whole time, this is how the mock draft has gone so far.

1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

3. Washington Wizards: Andre Drummond

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes

5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Bradley Beal

7. Golden State Warriors: Terrence Jones

8. Toronto Raptors: Perry Jones III

Let's go jumping to find out where the Detroit Pistons go with their pick!

Before I make the pick, it's important to take a look at Detroit's roster and what they have left on their contracts.

Ben Gordon: 1 year, $12.4 million

Rodney Stuckey: 2 years, $17 million

Charlie Villanueva: 1 year, $8 million; player option for 2013-2014 for over $8.5 million

Tayshaun Prince: 3 years, ~$21 million

Jason Maxiell: Player option for next season at $5 million

Jonas Jerebko: 2 years, $9 million; player option in '14-'15

Will Bynum: 1 year, $3.5 million

Greg Monroe: team option for next two years worth over $7 million

Brandon Knight: 1 year, $2.7+ million, then hits the two-year team option period like Monroe.

So the Pistons have a ton of money tied up in some of these guys. Greg Monroe came into his own throughout the season, and Knight is still young enough to become a really good player in the league.

So without further ado, with the ninth pick in the NBA draft, the Pistons select John Henson, PF, North Carolina.

For me, the pick came down to Jeremy Lamb and Henson. The Pistons haven't shied away from length in the past, and both of these guys are long. But I chose the latter because I think the Pistons already have a logjam at the guard positions. I think Knight and Lamb could be a great backcourt tandem (or a terrible crime-fighting/lawyer duo a la Franklin and Bash-on TNT this summer!). I also want to point out that Jared Sullinger was a close third here.

At 6-10, Henson can be played with Greg Monroe and would have some time to develop too. Right now Jerebko and Villanueva are not interior forwards, and Henson would give the Pistons that dynamic.

Thoughts?