well, it was either that title or Tiers for Fears (everybody wants to rule the world version)  This pertains to my having recently read two very similar posts; this one from LoudCity’s dishingoutdimes  and the next day's Chad Ford version over on ESPN.com They are recommended reading.

Here is a chance to share some webspace with you all about this subject.  Here on SactownRoyalty.com there are many posts about this upcoming prayer we hope is answered – the 2009 NBA Draft. In particular, I want to applaud nbrans for his  Why I fear the draft posts I and II. Wonderful stuff, if a bit Teague-happy.

Here on the site, we have argued Thabeet, Evans, Jennings, Flynn, Holiday and it all started with Griffin v. Rubio. This year has the usual unpredictable twists and turns. As draft day nears, individual stock goes up and down – NCAA appearance, championships, the Combine, individual work outs. Refusal to join the combine, refusing to do team work outs  It is all there, the knowing nods, the unsure shrugs, the frown of distaste. For just one post, I would like for us all to don TZ’s wizard cap – if he will loan it to each of us for this purpose and try the Tier method = the most logical and apparently the most widely used strategy for the NBA Draft.

Of course, I don’t have the Daryl Morey type grasp on numbers and statistics to present a formulaic discourse as to how each of these players are tiered but based on the two above posts and my own bias, here goes:

Tier One: Blake Griffin

Tier Two: Ricky Rubio, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden

Tier Three:   Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, DeMar DeRozan,  Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings

Tier Four: DeJuan Blair, Earl Clark, , Jeff Teague, Sam Young, Austin Daye, Gerald Henderson,, James Johnson, Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, BJ Mullens, DaJuan Summers, Terence Williams, Tyler Hansbrough

Tier Four: Derrick Brown, Chase Budinger, Omri Casspi, Patrick Mills, DeMarre Carroll, Toney Douglas, Darren Collison, Viktor Claver, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Jeff Pendergraph, Rodrique Beaubois,

Tier Five: Jon Brockman, Danny Green, Marcus Thornton, Jodie Meeks, Nando De Colo, Jonas Jerebko, Jermaine Taylor

Now place the Kings needs in order of preference: this should be two-fold: if one of your criteria is met than you may wish to change your list preferences for the later picks. This system also allows you to better evaluate trades as it retains the value of the pick (the tier) and the relevance (in order of team need).

I urge you all to type or write down your tiers so that when you watch the NBA draft you can evaluate who is picking and why they are picking (or should be picking).