Similar to ESPN's Chad Ford, I've designed a "Lottery Machine" that selects the 2010 NBA Lottery at random, based on the prescribed lottery odds of each team. Using a program called Mathematica (Courtesy: Wolfram Research), I've compiled 22 random lotteries, which I will use to complete a different mock draft each weekday from now through May 18th when the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery is held.
1) Sacramento Kings (3)- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)
If Sacramento is convinced that Tyreke Evans belongs at point guard, they may turn to Evan Turner or DeMarcus Cousins, but having back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners wouldn't be too bad either.
2) New Jersey Nets (1)- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
Turner would be a much better fit next to Devin Harris than Wall, but Derrick Favors could get a look here, as well.
3) Minnesota Timberwolves (2)- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
Minnesota needs all kinds of help on the perimeter, but the better value is Cousins. The promising, yet troubled big man would make Al Jefferson expendable, perhaps for a player like Rudy Gay.
4) Golden State Warriors- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)
Johnson is long, versatile, and very efficient offensively. Playing in Syracuse's zone scheme makes him a bit of a wild card defensively, but Golden State won't even notice.
5) Washington Wizards- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
Washington gets a great player at a great value with Favors at number five. He should become a great player and a stabilizing personality for a team that badly needs one.
6) Philadelphia 76ers- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)
I think Monroe will put up better numbers as a pro than he did at Georgetown (similar to former Hoya Jeff Green), and be a great fit next to the physical style of Marresse Speights.
7) Detroit Pistons- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
Anybody who tries to convince you that Detroit's main objective this season is to do anything besides acquiring a back-to-the-basket big man is just plain wrong. Their perimeter rotation is solid, but they're abysmal up front, where Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell simply won't do.
8) Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)
For the second straight year, the draft falls right into the Clippers lap. I'm sure I'll be wrong and they'll do something crazy here.
9) Utah Jazz (from New York)- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
I still like Hassan Whiteside here, but the Jazz may be trying to challenge for a title sooner rather than later, so Davis would be a better fit.
10) Indiana Pacers- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
The Pacers really need a scorer to take the pressure off of Danny Granger, and Henry might be the best pure scorer in this class.
11) New Orleans Hornets- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)
Whiteside would benefit from learning the tricks of the trade from a crafty veteran center like Emeka Okafor.
12) Memphis Grizzlies- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
The Grizzlies don't have any pressing needs, so I expect them to draft the best talent available. At number twelve, that's clearly Motiejunas.
13) Toronto Raptors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
There are several power forward types available to replace Chris Bosh, but for some reason, I can see Udoh playing for the Raptors.
14) Houston Rockets- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)
Orton is probably more of a power forward, but his wide body and physical style of play make him more likely to handle the center spot than former teammate Patrick Patterson.
15) Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
Last year the Bucks got lucky with a player who dropped because of character concerns. This time around they'll grab a good value in Patterson because of his perceived lack of upside.
16) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
I love this pick for the Wolves because Vesely will mature into the lockdown perimeter defender the team desperately needs. Also, they'll save a roster space for a year or two until they're ready to make a legitimate run at a playoff berth.
17) Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
If the Bulls pass on Anderson I'm going to look like the biggest idiot alive.
18) Miami Heat- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)
Miami needs to make a splash with this pick because they'll be looking to impress Dwyane Wade and his fellow free agents this summer. Bledsoe has a good ceiling and is an immediate upgrade over Mario Chalmers.
19) Boston Celtics- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
The Celtics need to find eventual replacements for Ray Allen (short-term) and Paul Pierce (longer-term), and George could fit the bill. He has lottery potential, making him a good value and a good fit at #19.
20) San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)
Richard Jefferson clearly isn't the right fit in San Antonio, and I've been saying since Hayward declared that he's a Greg Popovich type of player.
21) Oklahoma City Thunder- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
Sanders would be nice insurance for Serge Ibaka, who plays very prominently in the Thunder's long-term plans. The two have similar frames and athletic skills.
22) Portland Trail Blazers- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
Portland's roster is very set for next year, so an international prospect wouldn't surprise me here, but if Rudy Fernandez were on his way out of P-town, Bradley would be a capable replacement.
23) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)
Minnesota still hasn't filled their perimeter holes, especially at shooting guard, and Williams can score in bunches. He'll need some seasoning, but he has the skills to be a very productive player at the next level.
24) Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
Just like James Anderson at #17, if the Hawks pass on Lawal here I sure will look like an idiot.
25) Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
After grabbing a great value in Donatas Motiejunas at #12, the Grizzlies do the same with Ebanks at #25. He still isn't a complete player, but a good coach will be able to get a lot out of his skill set.
26) Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
Babbit will create matchup problems at the next level, and that's exactly what Sam Presti aims to do. He will be a nice safety blanket behind both Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, and provide a nice hybrid of their skills (shooting and rebounding).
27) New Jersey Nets- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)
The Nets could use another productive big body to take some heat off of Brook Lopez, and I see Raduljica landing in the first round somewhere.
28) Memphis Grizzlies- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)
After two value picks, the Grizzlies draft Johnson for need. Mike Conley took a big step forward over the last few weeks of the season, but their backup situation is still a work in progress.
29) Orlando Magic- Greivis Vazquez- PG/SG (Maryland)
Orlando is one of the most unconventional teams in the NBA, so Vazquez makes sense as their backup point guard.
30) Washington Wizards- Damion James- SF (Texas)
With the influx of declaring underclassmen, James could be in danger of slipping out of round one. The Wizards, though, could use some help at the small forward spot, as well as another (this time more vocal) stabilizing personality.
nice post man.. how frequently are you going to do it until the draft?
ReplyDeleteI'll be doing 5 a week until the lottery. After that it depends- I did 10 between the lottery and the draft last year.
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