Court Visionaries

We've Moved!!!!

2011-06-20T17:41:00.003-05:00

Court Visionaries has moved to Google sites! The new site can be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/courtvisionaries

Enjoy and thank you so much for your continued support of Court Visionaries!

2011 Top 50

2011-06-17T01:13:00.001-05:00

Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)
Kyrie Williams- PG (Duke)
Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)
Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)
Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
Bismack Biyombo- C (Congo)
Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)
Marshon Brooks- SG (Providence)
Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)
Nikola Vucevic- C (USC)
Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)
Justin Harper- F (Richmond)
Davis Bertans- SF (Latvia)
Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)
Nikola Mirotic- SF (Serbia)
Iman Shumpert- PG (Georgia Tech)
Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)
Charles Jenkins- G (Hofstra)
Norris Cole- PG (Cleveland State)
JaJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)
Jereme Richmond- SF (Illinois)
Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)
Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
Shelvin Mack- PG (Butler)
Jon Leuer- PF (Wisconsin)
Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)
Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)
Jeremy Tyler- C (USA)
Chandler Parsons- SF (Florida)
Malcolm Lee- G (UCLA)
Jordan Williams- C (Maryland)
Jimmy Butler- SF (Marquette)
Keith Benson- C (Oakland)
Demetri McCamey- PG (Illinois)
David Lighty- SG (Ohio State)
DeAndre Liggins- G/F (Kentucky)
Corey Joseph- PG (Texas)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v14

2011-06-15T19:12:00.000-05:00

1) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
Irving has a limited sample size, but appears to have the skills to be an above average point guard in a point guard-heavy league. I'm sure the Cavs like D Will also, but he might be too similar to J.J. Hickson.

2) Minnesota Timberwolves (for now)- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
Regardless of the Ricky Rubio situation, plan A for the T-Wolves is leveraging this pick into a veteran player who can contribute, especially on the defensive end. If they could manage to get Anderson Varejao and the #4 pick for the #2, they would be elated. Plan B is probably drafting Enes Kanter, but it seems more likely that someone picks Williams here.

3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
Popular opinion has swung to the Jazz taking Enes Kanter here, but with a logjam in the frontcourt (Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, Mehmet Okur), point guard is a much more immediate need, even with Devin Harris already on the roster.

4) Cleveland Cavaliers (for now)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Kanter provides much better value, but Vesely is a better fit in Cleveland, and if the Cavs make the trade discussed above sending Varejao to Minnesota, Vesely becomes a better fit in Minnesota too.

5) Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F/C (Turkey)
This is an absolute coup for the Raptors. Kanter is a great fit alongside a finesse big man like Andrea Bargnani, and he'll fit in well with Toronto's international-friendly cast of characters.

6) Washington Wizards- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
The Wizards are reportedly very high on Thompson- a high upside big man who played consistently productive minutes in his only season in Austin. This pick would actually serve two purposes- adding a quality young talent and (hopefully) lighting a fire under Andray Blatche, who has wasted his talent in D.C. for too long.

7) Sacramento Kings- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
I hate the fit of Walker in Sacramento, but the Kings need a point guard, and they've shown that their draft strategy is to swing for the fences. Walker and Bismack Biyombo are the two highest upside picks on the board, and Sacramento has already invested in an ultra-long, athletic center in Hassan Whiteside.

8) Detroit Pistons- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
The writing is on the wall for Richard Hamilton, and the selection of Burks should highlight and underline it. The best shooter and pure scorer in the draft, Burks isn't a great value at this spot, but he's worth a bit of a risk at this point in a below average draft.

9) Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
Leonard is an athletic slasher in the Crash Wallace mold, so his services should fit in nicely in Charlotte. For some reason, I see the B-Cats making a pre-draft move, so this pick could change over the next couple of weeks, but Leonard provides a nice fit with the current group.

10) Milwaukee Bucks- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Motiejunas is a bit of an enigma. He has the talent and physical skills of a top 5 pick, and he had a good season in Europe, but for some reason he's still considered a fringe lottery pick. He fits well in Milwaukee next to Andrew Bogut, a physical back-to-the-basket big man.

11) Golden State Warriors- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
Morris isn't the best fit, but at this point the Warriors might be forced to draft BPA. I'm sure they'll also consider Jordan Hamilton, who is a much better fit but not as good of a value.

12) Utah Jazz- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
Singleton is the premier defensive player in this draft class. He should be able to produce early and eventually constitute a good stylistic replacement for Andrei Kirilenko.

13) Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
Hamilton is at his best in transition, but can also create his own shot and defend multiple positions, making him a great fit in Phoenix. Some question whether he has lottery-level talent, but he's higher on my board than Alec Burks, and in a draft like this you've got to gamble to win big.

14) Houston Rockets- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)
Kyle Lowry had a great year in '10-'11 and seems to have established a hold on the starting job in Houston, but Fredette would be a great addition (in the Jamal Crawford role) for a promising '11-'12 Rockets' team.

15) Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
The Pacers could be a team on the rise if they can find one more piece. Morris arguably supplanted his brother as the better prospect by the end of the season and his work ethic will fit in nicely under Larry Bird and Frank Vogel.

16) Philadelphia 76ers- Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)
Philadelphia has some options at point guard, but they don't really have a true lead guard. Morris is that player. He's not a proficient outside shooter (one of the 76ers primary needs), but his transition skills will fit well with Philly's young core.

17) New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
New York needs a hard worker who can produce right away, and no one fits the bill better than Faried. He's the all-time NCAA leader in rebounding, which is highly regarded as one of the most transferable NBA skills, so this could be a great value for the Knicks.

18) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)
Honeycutt is one of the premier defensive players in this draft, and his versatility is a huge asset for the Wizards. His skills are a bit raw and he'll need some time to develop, but Honeycutt should find his niche at the next level.

19) Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
Thompson is essentially a specialist at the next level. A fantastic scorer who does little else, Thompson may struggle to stay on the court at first. Lucky for him, the object of the game is to score baskets.

20) Minnesota Timberwolves (from UTA)- Bismack Biyombo- C (Congo)
Biyombo is in line for a slide, and it could go farther than this. Minnesota will also consider a more polished prospect like Justin Harper or an electric guard like Norris Cole as well, but David Kahn needs to hit a home run.

21) Portland Trail Blazers- Norris Cole- G (Cleveland State)
Cole is a hybrid guard who can absolutely light it up. He's lightning quick and very dangerous driving to the basket. In other words, he's the polar opposite of Andre Miller. Sounds good to me.

22) Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
Denver has had good success with their other Brazilian center (Nene) and they have one of the deepest rosters in the league, making them an ideal landing spot for Noguiera, a seven-foot project.

23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)
Harper is a very skilled big man who could be able to transition to the three at the next level. He should be able to contend for minutes right away, even on a deep roster like he'll find in Houston.

24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Marshon Brooks- SG (Providence)
One of the most dangerous scorers in the NCAA this past season, Brooks will be a scary addition to a Thunder team that contended for a Western Conference title in '10-'11.

25) Boston Celtics- Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)
A bit of a homer pick, but Jackson has legit first round potential and he's a good value at this spot. He also constitutes a pretty good fit for a Celtics team that has a lot of holes in the second team.

26) Dallas Mavericks- Davis Bertans- SF (Latvia)
Dallas doesn't have a ton of immediate needs and Bertans is the highest upside player on the board, so he seems like a pretty good fit here.

27) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
New Jersey has some pieces in place, but a quality two guard will really put Deron Williams over the top. Selby may be a bit undersized, but he's a good shooter with a lot of potential who could fill that role down the line.

28) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Nikola Vucevic- C (Southern Cal)
The Bulls had good luck drafting another Southern Cal big man in the late 20's when they took Taj Gibson in 2009. Vucevic measured out as one of the biggest prospects in the class, which gives him a legitimate shot at being drafted in the first round.

29) San Antonio Spurs- Nikola Mirotic- F (Serbia)
Mirotic is one of the most talented international prospects in this class, but his contract situation is very much in question. The Spurs showed a willingness to wait on Tiago Splitter and for the potential payoff of Mirotic, they may be willing to do it again.

30) Chicago Bulls- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
Luol Deng has been discussed in the trade market for years now, but the Bulls have held on to him because they had no back up option. Harris may give them the flexibility to pull the trigger on a major trade during the upcoming season.

2011 NBA Mock Draft v13

2011-05-25T12:07:00.002-05:00

1) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)
2) Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)
4) Cleveland Cavaliers- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)
5) Toronto Raptors- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)
6) Washington Wizards- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)
7) Sacramento Kings- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)
8) Detroit Pistons- Bismack Boyombo- F/C (Congo)
9) Charlotte Bobcats- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)
10)Milwaukee Bucks- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)
11)Golden State Warriors- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)
12)Utah Jazz- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)
13)Phoenix Suns- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
14)Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)
15)Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
16)Philadelphia 76ers- Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)
17)New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)
18)Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)
19)Memphis Grizzlies (from NOH)- Nikola Vucevic- C (Southern Cal)
20)Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- G (Washington State)
21)Portland Trail Blazers- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)
22)Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
23)Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Reggie Jackson- G (Boston College)
24)Oklahoma City Thunder- Darius Morris- G (Michigan)
25)Boston Celtics- Davis Bertans- F (Latvia)
26)Dallas Mavericks- Marshon Brooks- G (Providence)
27)New Jersey Nets- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
28)Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
29)San Antonio Spurs- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)
30)Chicago Bulls- Jordan Williams- F/C (Maryland)

Second Round Guys (In no particular order): Nikola Mirotic- F (Montenegro), Malcolm Thomas- F (SDSU), Jeremy Tyler- F (USA), Keith Benson- F/C (Oakland), Chandler Parsons- G/F (Florida), Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia), Travis Leslie- G/F (Georgia), David Lighty- G/F (Ohio State), Kyle Singler- F (Duke), Corey Joseph- G (Texas), Isaiah Thomas- G (Washington), Charles Jenkins- G (Hofstra), Demetri McCamey- G (Illinois), Shelvin Mack- G (Butler), Michael Dunigan- C (Oregon), DeAndre Liggins- G/F (Kentucky), Bojan Bogdanovic- F (Bosnia & Herzegovina), JaJuan Johnson- F (Purdue), Malcolm Lee- G (UCLA), Iman Shumpert- G (Georgia Tech), Jerome Richmond- F (Illinois), John Diebler- G (Ohio State), Jon Leuer- F (Wisconsin), Vernon Macklin- F (Florida), Matthew Bryan-Amaning- F (Washington), Xavi Rabaseda- G/F (Spain), Norris Cole- G (Cleveland State), Greg Smith- F (Fresno State), Jimmy Butler- F (Marquette), LaceDarius Dunn- G (Baylor)

2011 NBA Mock Draft (v12)

2011-05-17T20:25:00.001-05:00

Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)
Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)
Cleveland Cavaliers- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
Toronto Raptors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
Washington Wizards- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Sacramento Kings- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
Charlotte Bobcats- Bismack Boyombo- PF (Congo)
Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
Golden State Warriors- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)
Phoenix Suns- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
Houston Rockets- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)
Philadelphia 76ers- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
New York Knicks- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)
Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Chris Singelton- SF (Florida State)
Portland Trail Blazers- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
Denver Nuggets- Tyler Honeycutt- SG/SF (UCLA)
Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)
Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
Dallas Mavericks- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)
Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)
San Antonio Spurs- Shelvin Mack- PG (Butler)
Chicago Bulls- Nikola Mirotic- PF (Montenegro)

Official NBA Lottery Prediction

2011-05-17T13:22:00.002-05:00

1st Pick: Combination: {4,11,12,14}- Team: 5 (Sacramento)
2nd Pick: Combination: {2,6,9,13}- Team: 2 (Cleveland)
3rd Pick: Combination: {5,12,13,14}- Team: 6 (Utah from NJN)

So the lottery order is:
1) Sacramento Kings
2) Cleveland Cavaliers
3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)
4) Minnesota Timberwolves
5) Toronto Raptors
6) Washington Wizards
7) Detroit Pistons
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)
9) Charlotte Bobcats
10) Milwaukee Bucks
11) Golden State Warriors
12) Utah Jazz
13) Phoenix Suns
14) Houston Rockets

NBA Lottery Explained

2011-05-17T13:11:00.003-05:00

Each season the NBA holds a lottery to determine the order of the first 14 picks of its draft. The lottery is held in mid-May, 5 weeks before the resulting NBA Draft. The lottery process works as follows:
Each of the 14 teams in the lottery receives a ball corresponding to their default position based on their regular season record. For instance, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who achieved the league's worst record (17-65) are represented by ball #1, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the league's second worst team (19-63) are represented by ball #2 and so on.
Four balls are chosen at random with the order disregarded. This process results in 1,001 combinations. For simplicities' sake, one combination (11, 12, 13, 14) is disregarded, leaving 1,000 combinations. (It should be noted that 11, 12, 13, 14 has never been pulled.) For organizational purposes, consider the combinations where the four chosen balls are sorted from smallest to largest. In other words, if the four choices go 4, 9, 2, 12, the result is (2, 4, 9, 12).
Again, depending on their regular season records, teams are given a prescribed chance of winning the lottery. When two teams have the same record, they combine the number of combinations the two teams receive and then share them equally. In this year's lottery, there was only one tie- between Sacramento and New Jersey (who's pick goes to Utah in the Deron Williams trade). Instead of the 5th team getting an 8.8% chance and the 6th place team getting a 6.3% chance, they two teams each get a 7.5% chance, and a coin flip determines which team gets the remaining .1%. This year, Sacramento won the coin toss, so they'll receive 7.6% to Utah's 7.5%. These probabilities are shown below:

Using these probabilities, the league assigns the 1,000 possible combinations to the teams. Minnesota gets the first 250 combinations, then Cleveland gets the next 199, then Toronto gets the next 156, and so on until Houston gets the final 5 combinations. The combinations are shown below:

Four balls are chosen and the resulting combination determines the first pick. Then the balls are replaced and the process is completed to determine the second pick. The balls are replaced again and the process is completed a third time to determine the third pick. The remaining 11 picks are determined by the reverse order of finish (the default order shown above).
To run your own mock lottery, simply go to http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm, then enter 5, 4, 1, 14, Yes, Yes: Least to Greatest, Place Markers Off. This will give you 5 sets of 4 numbers from 1-14, which are sorted from least to greatest. If two of your first three sets correspond to the same team, disregard the repeat and use the fourth set. If it happens again, disregard the repeat and use the fifth set, and so on.
Good luck, have fun, and be sure to watch the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 ET on ESPN.

2011 NBA Mock Draft (Lottery v1)

2011-05-03T17:34:00.001-05:00

This is the first version of the 2011 Court Visionaries' Mock Lottery. This season, the site will complete the lottery as it is conducted by the NBA. Four balls are chosen from the lottery set 1-14, and the resulting combination determines the winner of the lottery. This process is completed two more times to determine the other two lottery winners, and the remaining 11 teams are chosen by the reverse order of their regular season finish.

In the first version of the Mock Lottery, the three chosen teams were #2, #6, and #1, respectively, which resulted in the following draft order:

1) Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
2) Sacramento Kings- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)
3) Minnesota Timberwolves- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)
4) Toronto Raptors- Terrence Jones- SF (Kentucky)
5) Washington Wizards- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
6) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
7) Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Bismack Boyombo- F (Congo)
9) Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
10) Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
11) Golden State Warriors- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
12) Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)
13) Phoenix Suns- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
14) Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
15) Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kentucky)
16) Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
17) New York Knicks- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
18) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
19) Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- SG (UCLA)
20) Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
21) Portland Trail Blazers- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
22) Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)
24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)
25) Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
26) Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)
27) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)
28) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)
29) San Antonio Spurs- JuJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)
30) Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

2011 YtheFnot? NFL Mock Draft

2011-04-28T14:41:00.000-05:00

1) Carolina Panthers- Cameron Newton- QB (Auburn) B-
2) Denver Broncos- Von Miller- OLB (Texas A&M) A
3) Buffalo Bills- Marcell Dareus- DT (Alabama) A
4) Cincinnati Bengals- A.J. Green- WR (Georgia) A-
5) Arizona Cardinals- Aldon Smith- OLB (Missouri) C
6) Cleveland Browns- Julio Jones- WR (Alabama) A
7) San Francisco 49ers- Patrick Peterson- CB (Lousiana State) A+
8) Tennessee Titans- Nick Fairley- DT (Auburn) A
9) Dallas Cowboys- Tyson Smith- OT (USC) B+
10) Washington Redskins- Blaine Gabbert- QB (Missouri) A-
11) Houston Texans- Robert Quinn- DE (North Carolina) B+
12) Minnesota Vikings- Anthony Castonzo- OT (Boston College) B
13) Detroit Lions- Prince Amukamara- CB (Nebraska) A
14) St. Louis Rams- Corey Liuget- DT (Illinois) B-
15) Miami Dolphins- Mike Pouncey- OG (Florida) A-
16) Jacksonville Jaguars- Da’Quan Bowers- DE (Clemson) A-
17) New England Patriots- Cameron Jordan- DE (California) A
18) San Diego Chargers- J.J. Watt- DE (Wisconsin) B+
19) New York Giants- Nate Solder- OT (Colorado) B-
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ryan Kerrigan- DE (Purdue) B
21) Kansas City Chiefs- Muhammad Wilkerson- DE (Temple) A-
22) Indianapolis Colts- Gabe Carimi- OT (Wisconsin) A
23) Philadelphia Eagles- Jimmy Smith- CB (Colorado) B+
24) New Orleans Saints- Adrian Clayborn- DE (Iowa) B-
25) Seattle Seahawks- Jake Locker- QB (Washington) C
26) Baltimore Ravens- Danny Watkins- G (Baylor) B
27) Atlanta Falcons- Akeem Ayers- OLB (UCLA) B+
28) New England Patriots- Mark Ingram- RB (Alabama) A
29) Chicago Bears- Cameron Heyward- DE (Ohio State) B+
30) New York Jets- Phil Taylor- DT (Baylor) B-
31) Pittsburgh Steelers- Aaron Williams- CB (Texas) B+
32) Green Bay Packers- Brooks Reed- DE (Arizona) B-

2011 NBA Mock Draft v9

2011-04-25T17:47:00.001-05:00

1) Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)

2) Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)

3) Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)

4) Washington Wizards- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

5) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Terrence Jones- SF (Kentucky)

6) Sacramento Kings- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

7) Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Bismack Boyombo- PF (Congo)

9) Charlotte Bobcats- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

10) Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

11) Golden State Warriors- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)

12) Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

13) Phoenix Suns- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

14) Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- SG (Texas)

15) Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kentucky)

16) Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

17) New York Knicks- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

18) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)

19) Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- SG (UCLA)

20) Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)

21) Portland Trail Blazers- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

22) Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)

23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)

24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)

25) Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

26) Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

27) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)

28) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

29) San Antonio Spurs- JuJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)

30) Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

Playoff projections

2011-04-16T11:46:00.001-05:00

Eastern Conference

Chicago over Indiana in 5
Miami over Philly in 5
Boston over New York in 6
Orlando over Atlanta in 5

Orlando over Chicago in 6
Miami over Boston in 7

Miami over Orlando in 6

Western Conference

San Antonio over Memphis in 5
LA Lakers over New Orleans in 6
Portland over Dallas in 7
Oklahoma City over Denver in 6

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 7
LA Lakers over Portland in 6

LA Lakers over Oklahoma City in 6

FINALS

LA Lakers over Miami in 6
MVP: Kobe Bryant

2011 NBA Mock Draft v8

2011-03-27T16:21:00.001-05:00

1) Cleveland Cavaliers- Derrick Willimas- F (Arizona)

2) Minnesota Timberwolves- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

3) Washington Wizards- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

4) Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

5) Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

6) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

7) Detroit Pistons- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

9) Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

10) Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

11) Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

12) Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)

13) Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

14) Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

15) Indiana Pacers- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

16) New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried-F (Morehead State)

17) Philadelphia 76ers- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

18) Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)

19) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

20) Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)

21) Charlotte Bobcats (from POR)- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)

22) Denver Nuggets- Thomas Robinson- F (Kansas)

23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

25) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)

26) Boston Celtics- Klay Thompson- G (Washington State)

27) Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

28) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)

29) Chicago Bulls- Nikola Mirotic- F (Serbia)

30) San Antonio Spurs- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)

2011 NBA Mock v7

2011-03-10T17:08:00.001-06:00

Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

Cleveland has reportedly taken a liking to Irving, but Irving's injury and Perry Jones' superstar potential would lead me to question this pick a bit.

Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

In the NBA it's all about upside, and no one has more in this class than Perry Jones. Imagine a core of Jones, Tyreke Evans, and DeMarcus Cousins. A little crazy, but a lot talented.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)

Sullinger has had a great freshman year at Ohio State, and he has the type of physical low-post game that translates well at the next level. He's a bit redundant on this roster, but he's the BPA by a fair margin.

Washington Wizards- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

Jones has been relatively quiet lately, but he remains one of the most versatile players in this draft. He seems like exactly the type of player who could benefit from John Wall's elite athleticism off a pop or a roll.

Toronto Raptors- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

Barnes' stock has really taken a hit throughout the season, but he has above average athleticism and a great feel for the game. I would love to see a core of Barnes, Bargnani, and DeRozan in Toronto.

Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)

Williams has finally taken a step away from his relative anonymity over the last couple of weeks, and if he can put his hand injury behind him, I expect him to be one of the stars of March Madness. Utah is in a great position to get two solid players in this draft, and Williams' brand of versatility is a great start.

Detroit Pistons- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

Greg Monroe looks like one of the steals of the 2010 Draft, but the Pistons still have work to do up front. Kanter is a relative unknown, but he has good size and physical skills. He's widely regarded as one of the "Elite 7" in this draft, so Detroit would be happy to land him here.

Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

Considering the players who project to be available here, maybe Irving was the right choice at the top. Leonard projects as kind of a glue guy at the next level, and that's something every rebuilding team could use.

Milwaukee Bucks- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

Milwaukee made mass roster moves last summer, but they find themselves looking up at the eight seed in a weak Eastern Conference because of a lack of consistent perimeter scoring. As the best pure scorer in the draft, Hamilton fills that need nicely.

Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

This is a perfect fit. Charlotte somehow finds themselves in the midst of the playoff race despite the lack of a true lead guard. I love Knight's intangibles and he seems like the type of player who would benefit from Michael Jordan's "tutelage".

Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

I've watched enough Warriors' games this season to say without a doubt that Andris Biedrins' best days are officially behind him. Considering that those "best days" were never that good to start with, Golden State could afford to take a shot on a promising young big man.

Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

If you're a stat geek like me, you have to love Darryl Morey. Although the Rockets are vastly underperforming this season, Houston fans have reason to be optimistic. Luis Scola is on one of the better contracts in the league, Patrick Patterson has been a revelation over the past few weeks (Called it!), and Morey was able to obtain two first round picks for a small downgrade at backup point guard and an aging veteran. Vesely has the intensity and athleticism to be a suitable replacement for Shane Battier and could end up being a steal at #12.

Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)

Before Deron Williams even heard about his trade to New Jersey on ESPN, Jazz fans were clamoring for the in-state product. Fredette's value to Utah far outweighs his ability on the court because he'll be a fan favorite from the tap on opening night.

Phoenix Suns- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

Phoenix spent a lot of money on a crop of mediocre big men last summer, and now find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture. Morris is one of the more complete players in this class, and may be able to extend Steve Nash's career all by himself.

Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

As it turns out, the Pacers pick him not because he's white, but because Tyler Hansbrough sucks.

Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

After the 76ers selected Evan Turner in the 2010 Draft, I gave birth to this nugget: "Philly has no one who can shoot the 3. Watching them will be like watching Big 10 basketball." They may be a playoff team, but that doesn't make me wrong. Burks might be the best pure shooter in this class, making him a good value at #16.

New York Knicks- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

Has anybody out there been watching the Big East Tournament? This guy loves the big stage, and has the speed to be perfect in Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun system.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

Selby is a bit of a wild card at this point, but Minnesota has a huge need at shooting guard and an ongoing inability to lure free agent talent, making a bit of a reach here understandable.

Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)

I've seen Henson in the top 10 in some mocks, but I think he could be in for a slide on draft night. The physical skills are phenomenal, but it takes more than that to succeed at the next level. With that said, as the draft progresses and his value continues to grow, someone is bound to take a flier on him.

Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

Thompson is a really promising young player who would provide a great value at this spot. Denver is a team with a lot of depth, so a bit of a boom-or-bust risk here makes a lot of sense.

Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)

Like John Henson, Honeycutt is a guy who looks more like a player than he actually is. To me, that means that most mock projections will be a little optimistic.

Charlotte Bobcats (from POR)- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)

This is a great value for a guy who has really turned it on as of late. I love the Jayhawks as we move into the tournament, and Markieff may find himself in the top 20 when all is said and done.

Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

Houston has had luck with international big men, and considering their depth and multiple first round selections, a young international player makes a lot of sense.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

Backup point guard isn't a huge need for OKC, but if I know Sam Presti like I think I do, he'll grab the BPA here, and that's Smith.

Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Travis Leslie- G (Georgia)

Chicago's principle need is an outside shooter. Leslie isn't a great one, but he's got good size and basketball IQ, and should have a long career as an NBA rotation player.

New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)

Word around the league is that the Nets have been looking for a bruising big man for several years now, and Faried fits the bill. He's a great value, as rebounding is the most transferable NBA skill, and Faried is the best ever at the college level.

Chicago Bulls- Kyle Singler- F (Duke)

It's unlikely that the Bulls will keep both of their late first rounders, but if so, Singler would be a pretty nice fit due to his versatility and scoring ability.

Dallas Mavericks- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

Thompkins has been a very consistent player this year, and has likely vaulted himself into the first round. Some believe he's a lottery pick, but I'm not quite sold. He is, however, a wonderful value at #28.

Boston Celtics- JaJuan Johnson- F (Purdue)

Boston could potentially lose half of its roster to retirement this summer, specifically in the frontcourt, so an NBA ready big man like Johnson would be a great fit.

San Antonio Spurs- Corey Joseph- G (Texas)

Joseph needs to refine his shot selection, but he has good physical skills and solid intangibles, which makes him a good fit for a San Antonio franchise that regularly molds raw players into solid NBA contributers.

2011 NBA Mock Draft v6

2011-02-25T12:03:00.001-06:00

Cleveland Cavaliers- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)
Sacramento Kings- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
Washington Wizards- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)
Toronto Raptors- Kyrie Irving- (Duke)
Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)
Detroit Pistons- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)
Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)
Milwaukee Bucks- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)
Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)
Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- F/C (Lithuania)
Houston Rockets- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
Phoenix Suns- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)
Utah Jazz- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)
Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)
Philadelphia 76ers- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)
Denver Nuggets (from NYK)- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
Portland Trail Blazers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)
Charlotte Bobcats (from POR via NOH)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)
Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)
Houston Rockets (from PHO via ORL)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)
New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
Chicago Bulls- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)
Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)
Chicago Bulls (from TOR via MIA)- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)
Boston Celtics- JaJuan Johnson- F/C (Purdue)
San Antonio Spurs- Demetri McCamey- G (Illinois)

Carmelo-Knicks Reaction

2011-02-22T13:39:00.000-06:00

New York Knicks:

The price was steep, maybe too steep considering Carmelo Anthony's well-documented intentions. It appeared to everyone outside of "the know" that upon opting out this summer Anthony would sign with the Knicks, and only the Knicks, making such a trade superfluous. However, as we've seen before (I'm looking at you, Carlos Boozer!), appearances aren't everything, and crazy things can (and do) happen. Donnie Walsh, James Dolan and (depending on who you believe) Isaiah Thomas did what they had to do in order to ensure Melo's long-term services, and no one can blame them for that.

The 2010-2011 Knicks may not be a "super team" according to the contemporary definition, but if the pending CBA cooperates, the 2011-2012 Knicks very well could be. For better or worse, this whole soap opera was nothing if not an illumination of the inherent gravity of the New York media market. That fact, along with the current landscape of the NBA, almost guarantees that a third "star" will inevitably and eventually land in The Big Apple. Whether it be Chris Paul, Deron Williams, or some other dark horse (my current favorite is Timberwolves' property Ricky Rubio), Walsh et. al won't be placated until they have their own "Big 3".

All four players headed to Denver had started for the Knicks during the '10-'11 season, but only two players heading back to Manhattan are first-team quality players, so depth (specifically in the frontcourt) really does become the issue. Chauncey Billups and Landry Fields will start in the backcourt, with Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and presumably Ronny Turiaf logging heavy minutes up front. New York will bring Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and Corey Brewer (among others) off the bench, but Shelden Williams and Shawne Williams will have to hold down the frontcourt for the Knicks' second team.

The Knicks are currently 5 ½ games behind Atlanta for the 5^th seed in the East, slated to play the Chicago Bulls in the first round if the season ended today. While a meteoric rise is certainly possible over the season's last 27 or 28 games, it seems unlikely, especially with the Knicks' rotation changing so drastically. With that said, the current seedings are about the best the Knicks could imagine. As noted, the Knicks' biggest weakness is frontcourt depth, which would be the most vulnerable against Boston's deep frontcourt group and Orlando's Dwight Howard, two teams the Knickerbockers would avoid until at least the Conference Finals under the current standings.

Even if everything works out perfectly for New York's not-so-super team, their lack of depth would be exposed by the physicality of the elite teams in the West. The best-case scenario for the '10-'11 Knicks is a Conference Finals loss, while their worst-case scenario is a First Round loss.

Denver Nuggets:

The Nuggets aren't necessarily done wheeling and dealing, but they're already well on their way to rebuilding in the post-Carmelo era. Moving forward, it appears that Ty Lawson, Aaron Afflalo, Nene Hilario, and Chris Anderson are the only players Denver is truly committed to keeping. Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington are essentially untradeable because of their contract situations, but any and all of the incoming former Knicks are moveable. Sources say the Nuggets have moved their focus to working out an extension with Nene, the Nuggets de facto franchise player, who has an Early Termination Option this summer. There has also been speculation that Denver is fielding offers for newly-acquired forward Danilo Gallinari, with teams such as the Nets, Clippers, Cavaliers, and Raptors all interested. The compensation would likely be draft considerations rather than physical assets because of salary and luxury tax implications.

The remaining pieces in Denver may not be enough to secure a playoff spot in the very competitive Western Conference this season, but the Nuggets will save roughly $25 million in salary and luxury tax this year alone, along with the young pieces and draft picks acquired in the deal. After seeing Cleveland and Toronto lose their superstars last summer for pennies on the dollar, the Nuggets have to be ecstatic about their haul for Anthony.

Minnesota Timberwolves:

The Wolves' role in this deal is largely an afterthought, but in actuality, it may have been the most important domino to fall. Previous reports had the Timberwolves sending Corey Brewer and a first round draft pick in exchange for Anthony Randolph's services and Eddy Curry's fat gut. As it turned out, Minnesota was enamored with Randolph, but unwilling to part with an immensely valuable future draft selection. GM David Kahn realized that no Timberwolves' involvement meant no Carmelo for the Knicks, and was able to leverage that fact into a very favorable deal for the Wolves.

Brewer and Curry are eligible to become free agents after the season, and with New York picking up $3 million of Curry's cap number, the salary difference for the rest of the season is minimal (between $1 and $1.5 million). Randolph, on the other hand, has two years remaining on his deal, and is eligible for a qualifying offer in the summer of 2012.

In the end, the Timberwolves got the player they truly coveted for a below-average asset and under $2 million in cash, without sacrificing any future draft considerations, which has to be considered a success for a rebuilding, young franchise.

2011 NBA Mock Draft: All Star Edition

2011-02-20T19:08:00.001-06:00

Cleveland Cavaliers (10-46): Perry Jones- F (Baylor)
Minnesota Timberwolves (13-43): Jared Sullinger- F/C (Ohio State)
Sacramento Kings (13-40): Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)
Toronto Raptors (15-41): Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)
Washington Wizards (15-39): Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
New Jersey Nets (17-40): Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)
Detroit Pistons (21-36): Enes Kanter- F/C (Turkey)
Los Angeles Clippers (21-35): Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)
Milwaukee Bucks (21-34): Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
Charlotte Bobcats (24-32): Jonas Valanciunas- F/C (Lithuania)
Houston Rockets (26-31): Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)
Golden State Warriors (26-29): Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)
Phoenix Suns (27-27): Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)
Memphis Grizzlies (31-26): Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)
Indiana Pacers (24-30): Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)
Philadelphia 76ers (27-29): Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
New York Knicks (28-26): Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)
Utah Jazz (31-26): Alec Burks- G (Colorado)
Denver Nuggets (32-25): Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)
Portland Trail Blazers (via NOH- 33-25): Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
Portland Trail Blazers (32-24): Corey Joseph- G (Texas)
Atlanta Hawks (34-21): John Henson- F (North Carolina)
Phoenix Suns (via ORL- 36-21): Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)
Oklahoma City Thunder (35-19): Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)
Los Angeles Lakers (38-19): Nolan Smith- G (Duke)
Chicago Bulls (38-16): Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
Dallas Mavericks (40-16): Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)
Toronto Raptors (via MIA- 41-15): Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)
Boston Celtics (40-14): Kris Joseph- F (Syracuse)
San Antonio Spurs (46-10): Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v4

2011-02-15T22:37:00.001-06:00

Cleveland Cavaliers- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)
Sacramento Kings- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)
Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)
Washington Wizards- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)
New Jersey Nets- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)
Detroit Pistons- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)
Los Angeles Clippers- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)
Milwaukee Bucks- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)
Charlotte Bobcats- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)
Indiana Pacers- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
Golden State- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
Houston Rockets- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)
Philadelphia 76ers- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
New York Knicks- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)
Denver Nuggets- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
Portland Trail Blazers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
Utah Jazz- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)
Phoenix Suns (from ORL)- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)
Atlanta Hawks- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)
Los Angeles Lakers- LaceDarius Dunn- G (Baylor)
Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)
Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)
Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Kris Joseph- F (Syracuse)
Boston Celtics- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)
San Antonio Spurs- Corey Joseph- G (Texas)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v3 (2 Rounds)

2011-01-31T13:36:00.000-06:00

All trade information was gathered from Hoops World's NBA Draft Pick Debt: (http://www.hoopsworld.com/DraftPickDebt.asp)

Cleveland Cavaliers- Perry Jones- SF/PF (Baylor)

I'm not as high on Jones as most, but he has huge buzz and the highest ceiling in this class. He is very raw, but let's be honest, Cleveland is still several years away.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)

Irving is a bit of an injury risk, but he was the best player in the country before he got hurt. Jonny Flynn hasn't proven to be an NBA starter, so the Wolves need a contingency plan if the rumors about Ricky Rubio's small market aversions are true.

Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)

The Kings could use a true point guard, but they also need to close the revolving door at the three. They have a promising young core, and Barnes could really tie it together nicely.

Toronto Raptors- Jared Sullinger- PF (Ohio State)

To steal a phrase from Dennis Green, the Raptors are who we thought they were. Their long losing streak included a convincing loss to Minnesota, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Raps in the top 3 come draft night. Sullinger has been very productive and is the perfect inside compliment to Andrea Bargnani's outside game.

Washington Wizards- Terrence Jones- PF (Kentucky)

Jones is extremely versatile, and if Rashard Lewis sticks around, the pair would be impossible to defend for opposing front courts.

New Jersey Nets- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

There's no one on the board who provides a great fit for the Nets here, so they tab Valanciunas, an 18-year old 7-footer with huge upside.

Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

I'm as confused as the next guy when it comes to Detroit's recent decision making, but one thing is for sure- starting Tracy McGrady at point guard is not a sustainable plan. Rodney Stuckey has been good, but he still hasn't proven that he has what it takes to run a team.

Indiana Pacers- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)

This is shaping up to be another power forward draft, and with Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts at the top of the depth chart, that appears to be a benefit to the Pacers. Kanter and Derrick Williams are the options here, but since the Pacers seem to like their power forwards white, they'll pick Kanter.

Los Angeles Clippers- Derrick Williams- PF (Arizona)

The Clippers could still use a point guard, but after going small in the 2010 draft, it's time to tab a big man. Williams is a great value at this spot, and his versatility may allow the Clips to play Williams and Blake Griffin at the three and four or the four and five.

Milwaukee Bucks- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

Motiejunas has been a heralded prospect for a while now, so it's hard to see him dropping out of the top 10. The Bucks biggest need is at power forward, and Brandon Jennings' penetration ability makes a stretch four a nice fit.

Golden State Warriors- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)

It really is too bad that Valanciunas is off the board, because he would look great in Golden State. As it is, Hamilton will be a nice fit due to his length and ability to score the basketball.

Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

Vesely is having a down year, but he's still young and could turn into a bargain at #12. The Rockets have a ton of depth at every position but small forward, so drafting a three to stash in Europe for a year or two makes a lot of sense.

Phoenix Suns- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

I love Knight's intangibles, and I'm much higher on him than most. Steve Nash is getting up there in age, and he's been reported to be on the trade block. In any event, the Suns will need a point guard sooner or later.

Memphis Grizzlies- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

O.J. Mayo appears to be on his way out of Memphis, leaving a whole at the two guard spot. Selby is a proficient scorer with great upside.

Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- PF (San Diego State)

Tyrus Thomas is quickly establishing himself as a bust, so the Bobcats could use some extra beef up front. Leonard is athletic and physical and has shown the ability to take on a leadership role on a winning team.

Philadelphia 76ers- John Henson- PF (North Carolina)

I like to think I know a thing or two about basketball, but for the life of me I can't figure out how the 76ers keep winning. Elton Brand has improved drastically, but the team still lacks depth and outside shooting, and 2010 first-rounder Evan Turner has done very little. Henson has great length, athleticism and versatility, which makes him a good fit on a team I don't understand.

New York Knicks- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

Who knows what the Knicks will look like in 2011-2012? All I know for sure is that they're looking for shooters, so if they're still picking at this spot, Burks will the the guy.

Portland Trail Blazers- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

Fredette doesn't look like the prototypical NBA player, but the guy can get the job done. He might not be a lottery guy as far as NBA scouts are concerned, but he's worth the risk at #18.

Utah Jazz- Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)

Andrei Kirilenko won't play forever, and adding a scorer like Harris will make Deron Williams' life much easier.

Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

Thompson has been moving up draft boards, and could easily land in the lottery, but this draft is very deep in the middle of the first round, so falling a few spots isn't outside of the question either.

Atlanta Hawks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

I'm very high on Morris, a very well-rounded power forward with a winning pedigree. Atlanta is very thin, especially in the frontcourt, so Morris would have plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

If there are two things the Blazers love, they are centers and international prospects. Nogueira has both covered.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

Faried is one of the best rebounders in college basketball history, and rebounding is perhaps the most transferrable skill from college to the pros. Sam Presti knows exactly what he's doing, so grabbing a productive player like Faried seems right up his alley.

Phoenix Suns (from ORL)- Tyler Honeycutt- SF (UCLA)

Honeycutt is a versatile player who could benefit from a couple of years learning behind a proven veteran leader like Grant Hill.

Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

Singler has been a consistent performer over an extended period. He may be the next Adam Morrison, but rolling the dice at #25 wouldn't be a terrible idea for the Fighting Cubans.

Los Angeles Lakers- LaceDarius Dunn- PG/SG (Baylor)

Dunn is a shot creator who could take some of the scoring load off of Kobe Bryant. He's less than a great guy, but maybe he can get hooked up with Ron Artest's psychiatrist.

Chicago Bulls- Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)

The other Morris twin has really stepped into the spotlight over the last couple of weeks. He's moved into first round consideration, where the Bulls could use the services of a consistent, level-headed big man.

Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)

Taylor won't ever be a superstar in the NBA, but he's got good athleticism and intangibles. He appears to be an NBA "glue guy" in the making.

Boston Celtics- CJ Leslie- SF (North Carolina State)

Leslie was a big time recruit for the Wolfpack, but his season has been underwhelming to this point. Still, he has one-and-done written all over him, and the aging Celtics will be looking to hit a home run late in the first round.

San Antonio Spurs- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)

With Kyrie Irving on the floor, Plumlee looked like a lottery pick. Without him, he looks like a Euro Pro. However, his size and athleticism have to intrigue scouts. The Spurs front line is aging rapidly, and Plumlee would be a good fit alongside DeJuan Blair down the road.

Cleveland Cavaliers- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)
Miami Heat (from MIN)- Corey Joseph- PG (Texas)
Sacramento Kings- Kalin Lucas- PG (Michigan State)
Detroit Pistons (from TOR)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
New Jersey Nets- Rodney Williams- SF (Minnesota)
Washington Wizards- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)
Los Angeles Clippers (from DET)- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)
Los Angeles Clippers- Elias Harris- SF (Gonzaga)
Indiana Pacers- Scotty Hopson- SG (Tennessee)
Los Angeles Lakers (from GSW via NJN)- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
Milwaukee Bucks- Chris Wright- SF (Dayton)
Atlanta Hawks (from HOU)- Patric Young- PF (Florida)
Chicago Bulls (from PHO)- JuJuan Johnson- PF/C (Purdue)
Houston Rockets (from MEM)- Aaric Murray- C (La Salle)
Charlotte Bobcats- Kris Joseph- SF (Syracuse)
Philadelphia 76ers- Tyshawn Taylor- PG/SG (Kansas)
Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Pullen- PG/SG (Kansas State)
Los Angeles Lakers (from NYK)- Bojan Bogdanovic- SF (B & H)
Golden State Warriors (from UTA via CHI)- Mouphtaou Yarou- PF (Villanova)
Denver Nuggets- Malcolm Lee- PG (UCLA)
Atlanta Hawks- Demetri McCamey- PG (Illinois)
Miami Heat (from OKC)- Renardo Sidney- PF/C (Mississippi State)
New Orleans Hornets- JaMychal Green- PF (Alabama)
Orlando Magic- Doron Lamb- SG (Kentucky)
Dallas Mavericks- Arnett Moultrie- PF (UTEP)
Los Angeles Lakers- Pablo Aguilar- PF (Spain)
Los Angeles Lakers (from MIA)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
Sacramento Kings (from CHI via MIL)- Alex Oriakhi- PF (Connecticut)
Boston Celtics- Andrew Nicholson- PF (St. Bonaventure)
San Antonio Spurs- Nikola Mirotic- PF (Montenegro)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v2

2011-01-13T12:01:00.001-06:00

Cleveland Cavaliers- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)
Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- PF (Baylor)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- PF (Ohio State)
New Jersey Nets- Terrence Jones- PF (Kentucky)
Washington Wizards- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)
Detroit Pistons- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Toronto Raptors- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
Los Angeles Clippers- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
Milwaukee Bucks- Derrick Williams- PF (Arizona)
Philadelphia 76ers- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Golden State Warriors- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)
Phoenix Suns- John Henson- PF (North Carolina)
Houston Rockets- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
Memphis Grizzlies- Kawhi Leonard- PF (San Diego State)
Charlotte Bobcats- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
Indiana Pacers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
Portland Trail Blazers- Jimmer Fredette- PG (Brigham Young)
Denver Nuggets- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)
New York Knicks- Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)
Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)
Atlanta Hawks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
Chicago Bulls- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)
Orlando Magic- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)
Utah Jazz- Tyler Honeycutt- SF (UCLA)
Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)
New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- LaceDarius Dunn- SG (Baylor)
Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
Boston Celtics- JuJuan Johnson- C (Purdue)
San Antonio Spurs- Patric Young- PF (Florida)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v1

2010-12-16T19:06:00.001-06:00

Los Angeles Clippers- Perry Jones- PF/C (Baylor)

There isn't a clear cut number one pick right now, although Kyrie Irving's injury appears to have solved a bit of the puzzle. Harrison Barnes would be a great fit for the Clippers, but Jones's potential is off the charts. If he measures out as an NBA center, he could be a great fit with Blake Griffin for a long time.

Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)

Barnes has had some less than stellar performances, but he'll still be a top three pick regardless of his performance the rest of the season. The Kings have a young stud guard and a potential franchise big man, so Barnes would be a great fit on the wing.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Terrence Jones- PF (Kentucky)

Sooner or later the Timberwolves have to fall into a quality pick, right? Jones may have been the most impressive player in the country so far this season, so it's an easy pick for the Wolves. He isn't the best fit, but he's the best on the board by a considerable margin, and he'll be a really good NBA player.

New Jersey Nets- Jared Sullinger- PF (Ohio State)

It will be fun to see Sullinger and the Joneses (Perry and Terrence) face off in group workouts. Sullinger is very physical and would be a great fit between Brook Lopez and Carmelo Anthony. (?)

Washington Wizards- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)

Javale McGee and Andray Blatche have been good, but is either one a starter on a title contender? The Wizards need a youth infusion up front, and although Kanter is raw, he could develop into a big time NBA player. It's tough to say without having seen him in the NCAA, but Kanter could go down as the steal of this draft.

Cleveland Cavaliers- Brandon Knight- PG/SG (Kentucky)

The Cavaliers have one need and one need only- star power, and Knight provides it. He has as much upside as anyone in this draft, and I expect big strides from him between now and March Madness.

Detroit Pistons- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

Motiejunas has had a lot of hype for a long time, and I'd be surprised if he dropped out of the draft again this year. He's still young, and very raw, but he has great size and physical tools, and the Pistons are nowhere near playoff contention, so they can afford to draft a project.

Toronto Raptors- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

Jose Calderon has been better, but the Raptors are still a long way away, and could use an upgrade at essentially every position. Walker is a fierce competitor and should be effective at the next level.

Golden State Warriors- John Henson- PF (North Carolina)

Henson definitely has some holes in his game, but his length and athleticism have a lot of scouts intrigued.

Charlotte Bobcats- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

Vesely made a head-scratching move by dropping out of the 2010 draft, but he should still land in the lottery, barring a huge drop in production. He has good size and is tougher than past elite European prospects.

Philadelphia 76ers- Derrick Williams- PF (Arizona)

Williams is another guy off to a great start this season, and I expect him to help bring Arizona back into the national spotlight by the time the NCAA tournament rolls around.

Houston Rockets- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)

Taylor seems like the type of under-the-radar player Darryl Morey always seems to find. He's had a solid career at Vanderbilt and has the toughness to have a long career in the NBA.

Memphis Grizzlies- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

Morris has been a steady performer and is off to a great start this season. I expect him to be in lottery contention by March Madness.

Portland Trail Blazers- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

Portland loves two things- international players and centers. Valanciunas covers both for a team which is stocked on the wings, and without a quality PG option at this draft slot.

Milwaukee Bucks- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

I, for one, am really excited to see Josh Selby join an already stacked Kansas squad. If he's integrated properly, Kansas may be 1b to Duke's 1a.

Indiana Pacers- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

The Pacers are trotting out Josh McRoberts and Tyler Hansbrough as their starting power forward, and that has to change. Thompkins is a big body with good hands, and I expect Georgia to make waves come tournament time.

Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)

Hamilton is a spectacular value at this spot, so the Suns will probably trade this pick for pennies on the dollar. Hamilton has good length and can fill it up in a hurry.

Portland Trail Blazers (From NOH)- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

Fredette reminds me of Stephen Curry in a way. They both put up huge numbers in college, but were never really taken seriously because they (1) played at mid-majors and (2) didn't look like NBA players.

Atlanta Hawks- Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)

Harris is raw, but very talented. He could probably use another year in college, but is still a top 20 pick based on potential.

New York Knicks- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)

The Knicks made some sneaky picks last year and now appear to be set on the wings as well as the center position. Plumlee has good size and is athletic enough to play in Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system.

Denver Nuggets- Tyler Honeycutt- SF (UCLA)

This just in: Carmelo Anthony will not be a Nugget in 2011. Denver has some depth, but very little at the small forward spot, and Honeycutt would be a nice addition. He can rebound and score in bunches and he'll have plenty of opportunities to fill Melo's shoes.

Orlando Magic- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

Vince Carter won't be able to play forever, and Burks is just what the Magic are looking for- a go-to scorer with a reliable outside jump shot.

Chicago Bulls- Scotty Hopson- SG (Tennessee)

Hopson has really vaulted his stock so far this season, and should be a first round lock because of his ability to score and create his own shot. The Bulls would love to land Burks, but they'll settle for Hopson.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

This would be a huge find for the Thunder. Thompson is one of the most gifted big men in college basketball and could develop into a Chris Bosh-type player.

Utah Jazz- Kalin Lucas- PG (Michigan State)

Lucas has been a consistent performer for Tom Izzo for a long time, and appears to be the prototypical NBA backup point guard. He's quick, he's smart, and he's capable of making a big play if called upon.

Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

Singler almost has to be a first round pick based on reputation alone. The Raptors need a lot of help, and with a point guard already picked, a wing makes a lot of sense.

New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- LaceDarius Dunn- SG (Baylor)

Dunn has made it clear that he is less than a great guy, but he's a gifted scorer who can get his own shot and maybe run the point from time-to-time. If the Melo trade goes through and the draft goes as I'm projecting, imagine a lineup of Devin Harris, Dunn, Melo, Sullinger, and Brook Lopez. Not too bad.

Dallas Mavericks- CJ Leslie- SF (North Carolina State)

Leslie has been inconsistent so far, but that is to be expected from a young player. He has good size and upside, but may not have a set position at the next level.

Boston Celtics- JuJuan Johnson- C (Purdue)

Boston could potentially lose half of its roster to retirement in the off-season, so an NBA-ready big man like Johnson makes a lot of sense.

San Antonio Spurs- Elias Harris- SF (Gonzaga)

Harris exploded onto the season as a freshmen last year. He has slumped as a sophomore, but I doubt that the Spurs have forgotten. Harris is a hard worker and has good upside, which are usually traits of Spurs' draft picks.

2010-2011 NBA Predictions

2010-10-26T13:10:00.001-05:00

ATLANTIC

Boston
New York
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Toronto

CENTRAL

Chicago
Milwaukee
Indiana
Cleveland
Detroit

SOUTHEAST

Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Washington
Charlotte

NORTHWEST

Utah
Oklahoma City
Portland
Denver
Minnesota

PACIFIC

LA Lakers
Phoenix
LA Clippers
Golden State
Sacramento

SOUTHWEST

Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
New Orleans
Memphis

EAST

Miami
Boston
Orlando
Chicago
Atlanta
Milwaukee
New York
Washington
New Jersey
Charlotte
Philadelphia
Indiana
Cleveland
Detroit
Toronto

Playoffs: Miami over Washington; Boston over New York; Orlando over Milwaukee; Atlanta over Chicago; Miami over Chicago; Boston over Orlando; Miami over Boston.

WEST

LA Lakers
Dallas
Utah
Oklahoma City
Portland
Houston
San Antonio
Phoenix
New Orleans
Denver
LA Clippers
Memphis
Golden State
Sacramento
Minnesota

Playoffs: Lakers over Phoenix; San Antonio over Dallas; Utah over Houston; Oklahoma City over Portland; Lakers over Oklahoma City; Utah over San Antonio; Utah over Lakers.

NBA Finals: Miami over Utah (6 games)

MVP: Kevin Durant (OKC)

Dark Horse: Deron Williams (UTA)

ROY: John Wall (WAS)

Dark Horse: Tiago Splitter (SAS)

COY: Jerry Sloan (UTA)

Dark Horse: Lawrence Frank (NJN)

Defensive POY: Dwight Howard (ORL)

Dark Horse: Serge Ibaka (OKC)

6^th Man: Jason Terry (DAL)

Dark Horse: Corey Maggette (MIL)

MIP: Kevin Love (MIN)

Dark Horse: JaVale McGee (WAS)

Executive of the Year: Pat Riley (MIA)

Dark Horse: David Kahn (MIN) (Didn't you ever see Angels in the Outfield? It could happen...)

Reacting to LeBron's Decision

2010-07-16T14:43:00.001-05:00

We've had about a week to contemplate the world-rocking "decision" LeBron James made in front of the entire world. It seems that everyone has an opinion, ranging from outrage over his choice to outrage over others' outrage. All-in-all it seems like no one with a clue can just leave well enough alone. The man made his choice, a choice which was well founded and thought out. In the days following LeBron's admittedly nauseating television special, the Heat have managed to add several middle-of-the-road role players to a roster centering on three high profile superstars.

I had several conversations last week about the favorites to win the 2011 NBA Championship. Clearly, Wade, James, and Bosh is a great start, but before adding Mike Miller and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and re-signing Udonis Haslem, the LA Lakers remained the clear-cut favorites. Now, with several quality rotation pieces to surround their superstars, the Heat are beginning to look like legit title contenders.

Aside from the team's championship aspirations, playing for the Heat offers LeBron two assets that the Cavaliers could never hope to match. First, he moves to Miami and plays in South Beach. Perfect weather, gorgeous women, and an unequaled party atmosphere have to be considered when discussing the life choices of a 25-year old young man. Second, signing with the Heat affords LeBron the right to play with two of his best friends. I know for a fact that I'm not the only one who has discussed the possibility of recruiting a group of close friends to live together (or at least in close quarters) to prolong the lifestyle which became so comfortable during our college years.

It's easy for fans and the media to forget that before this was a basketball decision, it was a life decision. LeBron James is not simply a basketball player going to play a game in Miami, he is a man going to live there. Above all else, he is a human being just like the rest of us, and although his job pays better than most and is more visible to the general public, his desire to be happy must not be discounted. People spoke to no end about chasing money or chasing championships, but what about chasing happiness?

Sure, leaving the Cavaliers to join up with Wade and Bosh will assure that LeBron's legacy will never be the same, but does LeBron really care? After all, a legacy is the way we remember LeBron's career, not the way he remembers his life. And that is a vital distinction.

2011 "Way Too Early" Mock Draft

2010-06-27T15:41:00.001-05:00

The draft order is based on my off-season power rankings and projections of off-season player movement.

Toronto Raptors- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Brandon Knight- PG/SG (Kentucky)
Philadelphia 76ers- Enes Kanter- PF (Kentucky)
Golden State Warriors- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Detroit Pistons- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
Indiana Pacers- Perry Jones- PF (Baylor)
Charlotte Bobcats- Josh Selby- PG/SG (Kansas)
Sacramento Kings- CJ Leslie- SF (North Carolina State)
New Orleans Hornets- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
Washington Wizards- Elias Harris- SF (Gonzaga)
Memphis Grizzlies- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
Milwaukee Bucks- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Phoenix Suns- John Henson- SF/PF (North Carolina)
Los Angeles Clippers- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
Houston Rockets (from New York)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)
Cleveland Cavaliers- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)
Utah Jazz- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)
San Antonio Spurs- Jimmer Fredette- PG (Brigham Young)
New Jersey Nets- LaceDarius Dunn- SG (Baylor)
New York Knicks (from Houston)- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)
Portland Trail Blazers- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
Atlanta Hawks- JaMychal Green- PF (Alabama)
Denver Nuggets- Aaric Murray- C (LaSalle)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Robin Benzing- SF (Germany)
Miami Heat- Chris Wright- SF (Dayton)
Boston Celtics- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
Dallas Mavericks- Mario Delas- SF (Croatia)
Orlando Magic- Kalin Lucas- PG (Michigan State)
Chicago Bulls- Arnett Moultrie- PF (UTEP)
Los Angeles Lakers- Malcolm Lee- PG/SG (UCLA)

Draft Grade Curve

2010-06-26T23:06:00.001-05:00

I always loved when teachers graded on a curve. Too bad for Donnie Walsh and David Kahn that the Thunder and the Kings sucked up and got A's...

Oklahoma City Thunder

Sacramento Kings

A-

New Jersey Nets

Los Angeles Clippers

Milwaukee Bucks

Detroit Pistons

B+

New Orleans Hornets

Washington Wizards

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

Denver Nuggets

Portland Trail Blazers

Indiana Pacers

Dallas Mavericks

Philadelphia 76ers

Boston Celtics

Toronto Raptors

B-

San Antonio Spurs

Atlanta Hawks

Los Angeles Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers

Utah Jazz

C-

Orlando Magic

Miami Heat

Phoenix Suns

Golden State Warriors

Minnesota Timberwolves

D-

Charlotte Bobcats

New York Knicks

Paul Allen

INC

Chicago Bulls

2010 NBA Draft Grades

2010-06-26T23:05:00.001-05:00

Atlanta Hawks- Jordan Crawford (27), Pape Sy (53)

Atlanta turned their pick (#24) into two picks (#27, #31) and then traded #31 for cash, getting the player they really wanted (Crawford) in the process. They also got a guy they really liked (Sy) in the late second round. He's relatively unknown and needs a lot of work, but picking him in the mid 50's is very low risk.

Crawford could help ease the loss of Joe Johnson, but Atlanta will still need to upgrade their frontcourt rotation if they hope to return to their form from 2009-2010.

Grade: B-

Boston Celtics- Avery Bradley (19), Luke Harangody (52)

The Celtics got great value from Bradley at #19, and he could turn out to be quite a steal. However, he doesn't seem to be the kind of player who will be able to help in the short term. Harangody is the exact opposite story. What he is today is about all he'll ever be. He was extremely productive in college, but his role at the next level will be very limited. I would be surprised to see him log more than eight minutes a game if he even makes the roster.

Boston's "Big 3" are all on their downside, but Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins have done a great job of bridging the gap. Bradley could take over the shooting guard role down the line, but re-signing Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will be of paramount importance in the short-term.

Grade: B

Charlotte Bobcats- No Picks

Charlotte traded their first round pick to Denver for the rights to Alexis Ajinca, which turned out really great. Their pick (Luke Babbit) ended up in Portland via Minnesota via Denver, and the team still finds themselves without a playoff win or a point guard. But, hey, at least they have MJ.

Grade: D-

Chicago Bulls- No Picks

The Bulls took a page out of the Miami Heat playbook and traded a proven commodity (Kirk Hinrich) and a mid teens pick (#17) for nothing more than cap space. As July approaches, it could prove to be genius, but the jury's still out. If the Bulls come up short in free agency, their grade will be an F. If they can get two big name players to team with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, they'll get a A+.

Grade: INC

Cleveland Cavaliers- No Picks

The Cavs first round pick went to Washington as part of Antawn Jamison deal, and ended up in Minnesota in a draft night deal. Jamison fit in well in Cleveland, but the Cavs still couldn't manage to win a ring for The King.

Grade: C

Dallas Mavericks- Dominique Jones (25)

Dallas traded their original pick (#27) to New Jersey as a part of the Jason Kidd- Devin Harris trade. They bought back into the first round on draft night and picked a guy that had targeted around #20 (Jones) at #25. Jones is a nice fit in Dallas, because of his ability to create and defend.

Like many teams around the league, the Mavericks have a lot to win or lose this summer, but all signs indicate that Dirk Nowitzki will return next season. Dallas also has some assets to offer, including Erick Dampier's non-guaranteed contract, so they could be movers and shakers in the trade market.

Grade: B

Denver Nuggets- No Picks

Denver's original pick went to Memphis in the Stephen Hunter trade (August 2009), and the pick they acquired from Charlotte went to Minnesota for the rights to Ty Lawson. Lawson had a good year last year, and was reportedly dangled to Indiana for the #10 pick this time around. I'm no mathematician (well, actually I am), but I would rather have #10 than #16. Even though that trade didn't work out, Lawson's value makes that trade more than worthwhile for the Nuggets.

Grade: B+

Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe (7), Terrico White (36)

The Pistons got fantastic value from both of their picks. Monroe was by all accounts a top five pick, and the Pistons were thrilled to get him at #7. I'm a little wary about his fit in Detroit, but there's no question that Joe Dumars and company made the right choice. Terrico White is another guy with a wealth of upside, who probably deserved first round consideration. Again, I'm a little wary of his fit in Detroit because I'm not sold on him as a point guard. However, the NBA draft is about stockpiling valuable assets, and that's exactly what Detroit did.

Grade: A-

Golden State Warriors- Ekpe Udoh (6)

Udoh really impressed at his workout with the Warriors. Reports are that he won the team over by showing up in suit and dazzling with his personality as much as his basketball skill. Udoh will be a nice fit in Golden State, but his value at #6 is non-existent. The team could have moved back three, four, or maybe five slots and still gotten him along with another asset. They also could have selected Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu, who is a very similar player with much higher upside.

Grade: D

Houston Rockets- Patrick Patterson (14)

I expected more action from the Rockets on draft night, but they were lucky to get a player like Patterson with the last pick in the lottery. He's one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft, and the Rockets' frontcourt situation moving forward (Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes, and Patterson) is arguably the best in the NBA.

The Rockets just missed out on a playoff appearance in a very tough Western Conference last year, but I would be shocked to see them miss out in 2010-2011, regardless of Yao Ming's injury status. Darryl Morey is one of the best GMs in the game, and he has assembled a talented and deep roster, which should make waves sooner rather than later. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Houston involved in a sign-and-trade for someone this summer.

Grade: B+

Indiana Pacers- Paul George (10), Lance Stephenson (40), Magnum Rolle (51)

The Pacers got two players (George and Stephenson) who develop into starters down the line. George is somewhat risky because of the low level of competition against which he played at Fresno State, but he's arguably the most confident player in the draft. I love the fit of Stephenson for two reasons- first, he dropped out of the first and will have to fight to keep his career alive, and two, he'll be playing in Indianapolis, half a continent away from that city that declared him "The Chosen One". Rolle is a wild card. He has good athleticism, but lacks polish. I would be surprised to see him make the roster any time soon.

I still wonder whether the George pick is part of a larger trade plan that will take place sometime in July. Indiana was widely reported to be after a point guard, but was unable to find a suitable option. They had been in discussions with Minnesota for Jonny Flynn, and the Wolves are reportedly very high on George. Stay tuned for further developments.

Grade: B

Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu (8), Eric Bledsoe (18), Willie Warren (54)

It pains me to say this, but the Clippers actually did a very competent job. I still believe that Aminu is more of a power forward at the next level, but if he can develop an outside jumper, he could certainly prove me wrong. Bledsoe will need some time to learn how to run a team, but Baron Davis should hold down the fort in the meantime. Warren was considered by some to be a top 5 pick before the season, so his value at #54 is astronomical. I like the idea of him re-uniting with former Sooner teammate Blake Griffin.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Warren as the Clippers' backup point guard on opening night with Bledsoe just outside of the active roster. In time, their roles will flip-flop, but for now, Warren is more ready to produce. The Clips may find themselves in the lottery again next year in a stacked Western Conference, but they're certainly stockpiling some nice pieces. The level of protection on the first rounder sent to Oklahoma City could be the defining factor in the Clippers' draft, but in any event, they added some pieces they really liked.

Grade: A-

Los Angeles Lakers- Devin Ebanks (43), Derrick Caracter (58)

Ebanks sank like a rock on draft night because he doesn't have any translatable NBA skills. He has great length and adequate athleticism, but he's far from being able to produce at the next level. With that said, his value at #43 is undeniable. Caracter was a highly touted high school recruit who finally started putting the pieces together after his transfer from Louisville to UTEP. He's very strong and has an NBA body, and I think he could be an upgrade over Josh Powell.

Grade: B-

Memphis Grizzlies- Xavier Henry (12), Greivis Vasquez (28)

Memphis wanted Paul George at #12, but settled for Henry, who I think will be a top 5 player from this class. His fit at small forward (likely in place of Rudy Gay) is questionable, but he has good size and he's very strong. Vasquez is very versatile and is a much better backup point option than Jamaal Tinsley.

Memphis has a very solid starting five, and they drafted size and more size in 2009 (Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll), so a couple of guards this time around makes sense. Up next for Memphis is re-signing Rudy Gay at (almost) any cost.

Grade: B+

Miami Heat- Dexter Pittman (32), Jarvis Varnado (41), Da'Sean Butler (42)

Miami took an interesting stance in the lead up to the draft. They traded Daequan Cook and #18 (Eric Bledsoe) to Oklahoma City for #32, and then wasted that pick on a guy they could've gotten at #42 (Pittman). Conversely, Oklahoma City turned around and traded Miami's pick to the Clippers for a future first. Wouldn't Miami love to have a 2011 Clippers' first rounder in their back pocket? I understand that they need to clear cap room, but will an extra $2 M really make that big of a difference? Finding a new home for Michael Beasley would have made much more sense.

There other two picks were better. Varnado is a proven shot blocker and a very mature kid with a great attitude. Da'Sean Butler is a pure scorer with good size, who could make a nice impact at a very palatable cap number. Miami also traded the rights to their 48^th pick (Latavious Williams) to Oklahoma City for a protected 2011 second rounder.

Miami did what they had to do to get Dwyane Wade a sidekick, but they may have showed their hand too early. Chicago turned around and one-upped them a day later, and it's beginning to look like the Heat will have to settle for a second tier free agent like Joe Johnson or Carlos Boozer.

Grade: C-

Milwaukee Bucks- Larry Sanders (15), Darington Hobson (37), Jerome Jordan (44), Tiny Gallon (47)

It's hard not to take the entire draft week into consideration when grading Milwaukee. Trades earlier in the week netted the Bucks scorers Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts, which essentially stamps John Salmons' ticket out of town. Then the Bucks landed what amounts to an entire big man rotation (PF- Gallon, C- Jordan, PF/C- Sanders) on the night of the draft, along with another promising, versatile swing man (Hobson).

None of these players are overwhelmingly NBA-ready, but they all show some promise, with all but Jordan displaying significant upside. Best of all, Milwaukee only has to guarantee one rookie contract next season, providing them with some valuable roster and cap flexibility.

Grade: A-

Minnesota Timberwolves- Wesley Johnson (4), Lazar Hayward (30), Nemanja Bjelica (35), Paulao Prestes (45), Martell Webster (Trade)

David Kahn has officially done it again. After drafting four point guards last year (2 were traded away), the Wolves managed to outdo themselves, selecting 4 small forwards this time around, while trading one away for yet another three man. Johnson is a great athlete and shooter, but his ability to create his own shot is still somewhat suspect. Several experts have chosen him as the early ROY favorite, but only time will tell. Hayward was a huge reach at #30, and probably would have been available 15 picks later. Bjelica and Prestes are low-risk picks, but Bjelica recently signed a three year contract to stay in Europe, which reportedly includes $1 M buyouts after each season.

With cap space, draft picks, and expendable young assets, Minnesota was in position to make some huge improvements on draft night, but instead made one minor move and took several calculated risks. There is still a lot of summer left, and a sign-and-trade is a possibility, but Minnesota have really got their work cut out for them. They will almost certainly be a lottery team again next year, with a top 5 selection very likely.

Grade: D

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors (3), Damion James (24)

Favors may be raw, but he has as much potential as anyone in this class, including John Wall. He measured out splendidly at the Combine, and I have no doubt that he and Brook Lopez will be the best frontcourt tandem in the league within three years. The trio of Devin Harris, Terrence Williams, and Damion James gives the Nets a huge amount of flexibility. Assuming that Lopez would join those three on the floor, the group could be joined by a point, a two, a three, or a four without skipping a beat. James also adds a dimension of toughness that the hapless 2009-2010 Nets badly needed.

With a huge amount of available cap space, the Nets could still make a huge splash this summer, but the turnaround is already well underway. Assuming the team can stay healthy and add even a mid-level talent in free agency, they should challenge for an Eastern Conference playoff spot next season.

Grade: A-

New Orleans Hornets- Craig Brackins (21), Quincy Pondexter (26)

New Orleans' selection of Cole Aldrich made almost no sense, as Aldrich is a very similar player to Emeka Okafor. However, the Hornets were able to package his rights along with Morris Peterson's toxic contract to move down for two later first rounders. The Hornets made both picks count, acquiring arguably the best stretch four man (Brackins) and the most NBA-ready scorer (Pondexter) in the draft.

The Hornets added some quality talent to their roster, but more importantly they found a way to sneak in under the luxury tax threshold without conceding Chris Paul or David West.

Grade: B+

New York Knicks- Andy Rautins (38), Landry Fields (39)

The Knicks were at it again, taking two players that they clearly valued, but who may have been available as undrafted free agents. Rautins would have probably gotten snatched up somewhere in the 50's, but Fields wasn't on my or Chad Ford's top 100 list. His inclusion in the 30's was the single biggest surprise of the draft (aside from Wes Johnson's pants).

This summer is clearly a make-or-break period for one of the NBA's most storied franchises, and this was not a good start. Can you really travel to Ohio on July 1^st and say, "Hey LeBron James, look at the two young prospects we brought in for you"? Absolutely not. There's no way that Rautins and Fields are names that will appeal to the NBA's elite. Players such as Lance Stephenson, Willie Warren, Devin Ebanks, Jerome Jordan, Tiny Gallon, Gani Lawal, and Solomon Alabi were all available, and the Knicks decided on Rautins and Fields instead!?! Please. Good luck throwing max money in Rudy Gay's direction and letting him bring you back to the promised land.

Grade: Is there anything lower than an F?

Oklahoma City Thunder- Cole Aldrich (11), Tibor Pleiss (31), Latavious Williams (48), Ryan Reid (57), Morris Peterson (Trade), Daequan Cook (Trade)

Someone call 911 because Sam Presti just murdered the draft AGAIN. Presti took back one bad contract (Peterson) and one bi-annual level contract (Cook) in order to move up from #21 and #26 to #11 and #18. Hey then traded the 18^th pick to the Clippers for a future first, which depending on the protection level could easily be a lottery pick sooner rather than later. But he wasn't done. Presti traded cash for arguably the most valuable non-lottery pick in the draft (#31), drafting a promising young 7-footer (Pleiss) to stash in Europe for a year or two. He also traded a future second rounder for the rights to high school-to-D League forward Latavious Williams, and moved down 7 spots from #51 to #58, recouped a little cash, and drafted Ryan Reid, an absolute unknown who averaged only 6.8 points per game as a senior at Florida State.

Grade: A

Orlando Magic- Daniel Orton (29), Stanley Robinson (59)

Boy was I wrong about the Magic's draft plans. Orlando has surrounded two highly paid centers (Dwight Howard and Marcin Gortat) by myriad shooters. With their two picks, however, they picked the draft's biggest project (Orton), and one of its poorest shooters (Robinson).

Grade: C-

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner (2)

Philadelphia did the right thing at #2, even though I'm still concerned with their roster's ability to shoot from the outside and stretch the floor. Andre Iguodala could still be on his way out of Philly, but I would be surprised to see a move unless the 76ers could fetch proper value.

As talented as Turner is, I still believe the 2010-2011 76ers will be a high lottery team, with a top 5 pick very likely.

Grade: B

Phoenix Suns- Gani Lawal (46), Dwayne Collins (60)

Lawal and Collins are two of the three best rebounders in the class, along with Trevor Booker, who was picked at #23 and traded to the Washington Wizards. Each player constitutes significant value, and with Amare Stoudemire potentially on his way out, the Suns did have a need up front. However, the similarities between the two players are remarkable, and the need for both is inexplicable.

Grade: C-

Portland Trail Blazers- Luke Babbit (16), Elliot Williams (22), Armon Johnson (34), Ryan Gomes (Trade)

Portland got a little bit of everything in the draft. Babbit is a good rebounder and shooter, while Williams is a slasher, and Johnson is a play-maker. They dealt soon-to-be sixth year small forward Martell Webster for the rights to Babbit and Ryan Gomes, who's non-guaranteed contract was dumped needlessly by the Timberwolves.

The Blazers have a huge amount of depth on their perimeter with Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, Babbit, and Williams guaranteed deals for next year, and Johnson likely to join the roster as well. Power forward is still a need, as the drop off between LaMarcus Aldridge and backup Juwan Howard is enormous. Perhaps Fernandez will be moved for a veteran big man, but we'll have to stay tuned.

~~Grade: B~~

Almost forgot, owner Paul Allen fired well-respected GM Kevin Pritchard just hours before the draft, then expected Pritchard to finish out the draft. What a guy!

Grade: F

Sacramento Kings- DeMarcus Cousins (5), Hassan Whiteside (33)

Cousins and Whiteside each have huge upside, and if both can keep their personalities in check, Sacramento will be well on their way to title contention. With that said, my first reaction to the Whiteside choice was "I wonder if the Kings can hire Ron Artest's (now infamous) psychiatrist".

Grade: A

San Antonio Spurs- James Anderson (20), Ryan Richards (49)

San Antonio was very pleased to have two players they coveted fall right into their laps. Anderson struggles to create his own shot, but he is a great scorer, and he's widely regarded as the best outside shooter in the class. Richards is a 7-footer from England, who has a limited resume, but showed good athleticism at the Combine.

Grade: B-

Toronto Raptors- Ed Davis (13), Solomon Alabi (50)

I was surprised to see the Raptors end the night without a point guard, but I must say, they may have gotten as much value out of their picks as anyone in the league. Davis was considered a possibility as high as #7, and Alabi was thought to be a first round prospect before tumbling on draft night.

Chris Bosh is almost certainly headed for a United States address this summer, and a sign-and-trade makes the most sense, but Davis and Alabi should mitigate the need to receive a big man in return. With that said, I think the Cleveland Cavaliers actually gained the most from the Raptors' draft. A package of Mo Williams, Delonte West, JJ Hickson, and picks would be pretty tempting to Toronto as they're currently constructed.

Grade: B

Utah Jazz- Gordon Hayward (9), Jeremy Evans (55)

Gordon Hayward is considered a sexy pick after Butler's NCAA tournament run, but his value at #9 is less than ideal. A big man or a combo forward like Luke Babbit would have made more sense at that spot. Utah hoped to address their frontcourt needs by drafting Evans at #55, but his was another surprising selection. Evans was steady at Western Kentucky, shooting 62% or better in each of his four seasons, but he never averaged more than 10 points or 7 rebounds, which doesn't bode well for his transition from the Ohio Valley Conference to the NBA.

Grade: C

Washington Wizards- John Wall (1), Kevin Seraphin (17), Trevor Booker (23), Hamady N'Diaye (56), Kirk Hinrich (Trade)

Washington is in the midst of a huge transition, and it's clear that their focus was at the point and the post. They managed to acquire John Wall (and his dance) and a veteran backup (Hinrich), which pushes Gilbert Arenas even farther out of the picture. They also selected one NBA-ready big man (Booker) and two projects (Seraphin and N'Diaye), which exemplifies their re-building status.

Arenas needs to be moved, no matter what the cost. His burden at this point likely outweighs his undeniable talent, but there is likely someone out there who will be willing to accept both his contract and his personality, although another asset would likely have to be attached.

Grade: B+

Final 2010 NBA Mock Draft

2010-06-24T12:02:00.001-05:00

Here's what I've got. Keep in mind I don't know anything about anything. With that said, the following is Court Visionaries' Final 2010 Mock Draft:

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

With all the rumors circulating as the draft approaches, there's one thing you can take to the bank: John Wall will be sporting a Wizards' jersey on opening night.

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

There is still an outside chance that Favors or Cousins moves into this spot or that Philly finds a taker for Elton Brand, but staying put and drafting Turner makes much more sense.

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF/C (Georgia Tech)

I'm convinced that the "Nets want Wes Johnson" rumors were nothing but a smokescreen, and I really hope David Khan doesn't do something stupid. After a strong workout for New Jersey, DeMarcus Cousins has a shot here too.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Wesley Johnson- SG/SF (Syracuse)

Minnesota badly needs a wing, and they're reportedly very high on Johnson. I still believe he would be available at #7 if he makes it this far, but the Wolves will stay put and get their guy at #4.

Sacramento Kings- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

Sacramento strikes gold again. Down the line, Cousins will be regarded as the second best player in this draft class, and he and Tyreke Evans can work on persuading Coach Cal to join them in Cali.

Golden State Warriors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

Weeks ago, Udoh was considered a risky pick because of his age (23). However, showing up to his Warriors' workout in a suit was apparently enough to win over the Golden State brass. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe- PF/C (Georgetown)

I like Monroe and he provides good value at #7, but I really don't like his fit in Detroit. He likes to pop out to the elbow and play the pivot, when what Detroit really needs is a low-post banger.

Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF/PF (Wake Forest)

This is nearly the perfect scenario for the Clippers, so I'm sure they'll find some way to screw it up. I still wouldn't be surprised to see Hassan Whiteside or Daniel Orton picked here.

Utah Jazz- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

Word is that Utah is high on Monroe, Davis, and a trio of white players (Babbit, Aldrich, and Hayward). Guess which route I'm expecting? Babbit can score from the three spot and play some emergency four if needed, providing some much needed versatility to Utah's frontcourt.

Indiana Pacers- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

It still wouldn't surprise me to see the Pacers throw a Hail Mary and pick Gordon Hayward here, but their second straight UNC power forward is a better value, and frankly, given Tyler Hansbrough's career prospects, a bigger need.

New Orleans Hornets- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

I'll probably be kicking myself for not picking Paul George at this spot, but I would love to see Patterson play alongside Chris Paul.

Memphis Grizzlies- Paul George- SG/SF (Fresno State)

George has great size and nice range, but his confidence seems to be his greatest asset. He would give Memphis a nice safety net if Rudy Gay leaves this summer.

Toronto Raptors- Avery Bradley- PG/SG (Texas)

Toronto seems to be in the market for a guard and a big man, but with everyone and their brother trying to acquire a late first-rounder, they may have to settle for one pick. They'll expect a big man in any Chris Bosh S&T, so drafting a guard is a safe play here.

Houston Rockets- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

I think I started saying Houston needed a backup center around, um, my FIRST mock of the year. I softened on that stance a while back, but Aldrich is great value here. Word is that Oklahoma City will try to move up for him, but if not, he's a great fit with the Rockets.

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Larry Sanders- PF/C (Virginia Commonwealth)

After trading for Chris Douglas-Roberts and Corey Maggette, it's fairly clear what the Bucks need to do with this pick. If none of the lottery-level power forwards drop, Milwaukee would be happy to settle for Sanders.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

Hi, my name is A.J and I'm a Timberwolves' fan. There, I said it. Now please, David Kahn, I'm begging you, DON'T TRADE THIS PICK. This draft is about 18 players deep and this pick is well within the range that will fetch a good player. Henry and Johnson, or Henry and Favors for that matter, would be a great addition to a Ricky Rubio- Kevin Love core.

Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)

Anderson to the Bulls- all is right with the world. I don't even care if this doesn't happen, I've been picking it for too long to give up now.

Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami)- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)

There's a 0% chance that the Thunder pick Bledsoe, but I think someone will, and they'll go through Sam Presti to get it done.

Boston Celtics- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)

Solomon Alabi might be in play at this spot, but I still doubt that Ray Allen will be back, and Crawford is the best replacement available.

San Antonio Spurs- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)

San Antonio needs some youth up front, and Alabi has great size at 7'1". Gordon Hayward could also be in play at this spot if he's still on the board.

Oklahoma City- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)

Word is that Oklahoma City is looking to move into the lottery for Hayward, so they would be thrilled to get him at #21. What role he plays in OKC is another issue entirely.

Portland Trail Blazers- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)

In the past 24 hours, I've heard that the Blazers are after no less than five players with this pick. However, I Jones is Portland because he and Nicolas Batum would be the league's best perimeter defensive duo. (Sorry Kobe and Ron-Ron.)

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)

Minnesota's draft plans are such a mystery to me that I think I can feel an ulcer coming on. With that said, if they stay here, Whiteside would be a great choice, and if they don't, he could be the target for a trade partner like Cleveland, Toronto, or New York.

Atlanta Hawks- Damion James- SF (Texas)

James is NBA-ready and very versatile. He should give Atlanta quality minutes at the three and the four from day one.

Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)

Like Minnesota, Memphis has multiple picks and myriad choices, especially at this spot. If they stay, an international player like Seraphin or Tibor Pleiss will be the pick. If not, a team like Portland or Washington could move in for Seraphin's rights.

New York Knicks (from Oklahoma City from Phoenix)- Greivis Vasquez- SG (Maryland)

Man, I can't wait for draft night! The early-to-mid 20's will be absolutely nuts. Several teams want in, and several teams are willing to move out for the right price. Reports are circling that the Knicks covet Vasquez, who has reportedly received a promise from Miami at #32, meaning Donnie Walsh and company will have to ante up to get him.

New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)

The Nets could use a replacement for Chris Douglas-Roberts if they hold onto this pick. I would love to see Stephenson succeed, but I think playing in the greater New York area could be the death blow to his NBA prospects.

Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Willie Warren- PG/SG (Oklahoma)

Memphis is one of the teams that may be interested in moving up to draft Eric Bledsoe, but if they can't, they settle for Warren, who was once considered a surefire lottery pick.

Orlando Magic- Mikhail Torrance- PG/SG (Alabama)

Torrance is flying under the radar, but he has good size (6'5"), displayed a consistent jump shot at the Combine, and has the ability to play both guard spots. Think of him as a more athletic J.J. Redick. (Sorry that was redundant. Bazinga!)

Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Tiny Gallon- PF (Oklahoma)

Gallon is a good outside shooter and incredibly strong. He is definitely a project, but his upside is worth the risk at this point in the draft.

New Jersey Nets- Tibor Pleiss- C (Germany)
Miami Heat- Daniel Orton- PF/C (Kentucky)
Sacramento Kings- Ryan Richards- C (England)
Portland Trail Blazers- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)
Washington Wizards- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
Detroit Pistons- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)
Milwaukee Bucks- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)
New York Knicks- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)
New York Knicks- Darington Hobson- SF (New Mexico)
Indiana Pacers- Sherron Collins- PG (Kansas)
Miami Heat- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
Miami Heat- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
LA Lakers- Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)
Milwaukee Bucks- Matt Bouldin- PG (Gonzaga)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)
Phoenix Suns- Trevor Booker- PF (Clemson)
Milwaukee Bucks- Artsiom Parakhouski- C (Radford)
Miami Heat- Jeremy Wise- PG (Bakersfield Jam- D League)
San Antonio Spurs- Jarvis Varnado- PF (Mississippi State)
Dallas Mavericks- Nemanja Bjelica- SF (Serbia)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Brian Zoubek- C (Duke)
Boston Celtics- Derrick Caracter- PF (UTEP)
Atlanta Hawks- Charles Garcia- PF (Seattle)
Los Angeles Clippers- Thomas Heurtel- PG (France)
Utah Jazz- Paulao Prestes- PF (Brazil)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Da'Sean Butler- SG (West Virginia)
Indiana Pacers- Sylven Landesberg- SG (Virginia)
Los Angeles Lakers- Latavious Williams- SF (Tulsa 66ers- D League)
Orlando Magic- Alexey Shved- PG (Russia)
Phoenix Suns- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)

Final 2010 Player Rankings

2010-06-24T11:56:00.001-05:00

Below is my final player ranking for the 2010 NBA Draft. Each player is listed with his (likely) NBA position, college or professional affiliation, current NBA comparison (if applicable), and relevant final season statistics.

LOTTERY

John Wall- PG (Kentucky) [Russell Westbrook]- (16.6 pts, 4.3 rebs, 6.5 asts, 1.8 stls, 46% FG, 75% FT, 33% 3P)
DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky) [Al Jefferson]- (15.1 pts, 9.8 rebs, 1.8 blks, 1stls, 56% FG, 60% FT)
Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech) [Amare Stoudemire]- (12.4 pts, 8.4 rebs, 2.1 blks, .9 stls, 61% FG, 63% FT)
Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)[Brandon Roy]- (20.4 pts, 9.2 rebs, 6 asts, 1.7 stls, .9 blks, 52% FG, 76% FT, 26% 3P)
Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas) [Corey Maggette/Michael Finley]- (13.4 pts, 4.4 rebs, 1.5 asts, 1.5 stls, 46% FG, 78% FT, 42% 3P)
Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky) [Udonis Haslem]- (14.3 pts, 7.4 rebs, 1.3 blks, 58% FG, 69% FT, 35% 3P)
Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest) [Luol Deng]- (15.8 pts, 10.7 rebs, 1.4 stls, 1.4 blks, 45% FG, 70% FT)
Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown) [Pau Gasol]- (16.1 pts, 9.6 rebs, 3.8 asts, 1.2 stls, 1.8 blks, 53% FG, 66% FT)
Wesley Johnson- SG (Syracuse) [Corey Brewer]- (16.5 pts, 8.5 rebs, 2.2 asts, 1.7 stls, 1.8 blks, 50% FG, 77% FT, 42% 3P)
Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas) [Emeka Okafor]- (11.3 pts, 9.8 rebs, 3.5 blks, .8 stls, 56% FG, 68% FT)
Paul George- SF (Fresno State) [Danny Granger/Chris Douglas-Roberts]- (16.8 pts, 7.2 rebs, 3 asts, 2.2 stls, .8 blks, 42% FG, 91% FT, 35% 3P)
Ekpe Udoh-PF (Baylor) [Hakim Warrick]- (13.9 pts, 9.8 rebs, 2.7 asts, 3.7 blks, .8 stls, 49% FG, 69% FT)
Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina) [Zach Randolph]- (12.9 pts, 9.2 rebs, 2.7 blks, 58% FG, 66% FT)
Avery Bradley- SG (Texas) [Eric Gordon/Randy Foye]- (11.6 pts, 2.9 rebs, 2.1 asts, 1.3 stls, 43% FG, 55% FT, 38% 3P)
Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada) [Mike Miller]- (21.9 pts, 8.9 rebs, .8 blks, 1 stls, 50% FG, 92% FT, 42% 3P)
Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)- (15.5 pts, 8.2 rebs, 1.1 stls, .8 blks, 46% FG, 83% FT, 29% 3P)

LIKELY FIRST ROUNDERS

Hassan Whiteside- PF (Marshall) [Andray Blatche]- (13.1 pts, 8.9 rebs, 5.4 blks, 52% FG, 59% FT)
James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State) [Michael Redd]- (22.3 pts, 5.8 rebs, 2.4 asts, 1.4 stls, 46% FG, 81% FT, 34% 3P)
Damion James- SF (Texas) [Luol Deng/Jonas Jerebko]- (18 pts, 10.3 rebs, 1.7 stls, 1.2 blks, 50% FG, 67% FT, 38% 3P)
Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth) [Serge Ibaka]- (14.4 pts, 9.1 rebs, 2.6 blks, 53% FG, 64% FT)
Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)- (11.7 pts, 6.2 rebs, 2.3 blks, 53% FG, 79% FT)
Eric Bledsoe-PG (Kentucky) [Kyle Lowry]- (11.3 pts, 3.1 rebs, 2.9 asts, 1.4 stls, 46% FG, 67% FT, 38% 3P)

1^ST ROUND BUBBLE

Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)- (20.5 pts, 4.7 rebs, 2.9 asts, 1.3 stls, 46% FG, 77% FT, 39% 3P)
Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech) [Reggie Evans]- (13.1 pts, 8.5 rebs, 1.4 blks, 53% FG, 57% FT)
Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)- (19.3 pts, 7.4 rebs, 1.3 stls, 53% FG, 83% FT, 35% 3P)
Mikhail Torrance- SG (Alabama) – (15.6 pts, 3.7 rebs, 5.1 asts, .8 stls, 47% FG, 87% FT, 36% 3P)
Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)-(3.4 pts, 3.3 rebs, 1.4 blks, 53% FG, 52% FT)
Willie Warren- PG (Oklahoma) - (16.3 pts, 3.3 rebs, 4.1 asts, 1 stls, 44% FG, 80% FT, 31% 3P)
Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)- (21.4 pts, 6.1 rebs, 3.6 asts, 1.7 stls, 45% FG, 74% FT, 31% 3P)
Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia) [Rudy Gay]- (12 pts, 8.1 rebs, 2.4 asts, 1.1 stls, .7 blks, 46% FG, 77% FT, 10% 3P)
Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut) [Gerald Green]- (14.5 pts, 7.6 rebs, 1.2 blks, .9 stls, 53% FG, 63% FT, 34% 3P)
Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State) [Charlie Villanueva]- (16.5 pts, 8.5 rebs, 2.2 asts, 1.2 blks, .8 stls, 42% FG, 76% FT, 31% 3P)
Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)- (15.1 pts, 4.6 rebs, 1.5 asts, .9 stls, 43% FG, 71% FT, 34% 3P)
Darington Hobson- SF (New Mexico)- (15.9 pts, 9.3 rebs, 4.6 asts, 1.3 stls, 44% FG, 65% FT, 36% 3P)
Greivis Vasquez- SG (Maryland)- (19.6 pts, 4.6 rebs, 6.3 asts, 1.7 stls, 43% FG, 86% FT, 36% 3P)
Armon Johnson-PG (Nevada)- (15.7 pts, 3.4 rebs, 5.6 asts, .8 stls, 50% FG, 68% FT, 24% 3P)
Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati) [Larry Hughes]- (12.3 pts, 5.4 rebs, 2.5 asts, .9 stls, 44% FG, 66% FT, 22% 3P)
Tiny Gallon- PF (Oklahoma)- (10.3 pts, 7.9 rebs, .7 stls, .8 blks, 55% FG, 70% FT)
Elliot Williams-SG (Memphis)- (17.9 pts, 4 rebs, 3.8 asts, 1.3 stls, 46% FG, 76% FT, 37% 3P)

1^ST ROUND INETERNATIONAL BUBBLE

Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)- (6 pts, 4.5 rebs, 1 blks, 51% FG, 59% FT, 16 mins)
Tibor Pleiss- C (Germany) – (8.3 pts, 5.7 rebs, .8 blks, 52% FG, 76% FT, 18 mins)
Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia) [Marc Gasol]- (13.7 pts, 6.4 rebs, 58% FG, 78% FT, 27 mins)
Nemanja Bjelica- SF (Serbia)- (9.2 pts, 4.9 rebs, 2.3 asts, 43% FG, 76% FT, 24 mins)

LIKELY SECOND ROUNDERS

Jarvis Varnado- PF (Mississippi State) [Ben Wallace]- (13.8 pts, 10.3 rebs, 4.7 blks, 58% FG, 61% FT)
Sheron Collins- PG (Kansas) [Jameer Nelson]- (15.5 pts, 4.5 asts, 1.1 stls, 43% FG, 86% FT, 37% 3P)
Da'Sean Butler- SG (West Virginia)- (17.2 pts, 6.2 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1 stls, 41% FG, 79% FT, 35% 3P)
Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)- (15.4 pts, 9.1 rebs, 2.3 blks, 55% FG, 69% FT)
Artsiom Parakhouski- C (Radford) [Marcin Gortat]- (21.4 pts, 13.4 rebs, 2.1 blks, 58% FG, 56% FT)
Sylven Landesberg- SG (Virginia)- (17.3 pts, 4.9 rebs, 2.9 asts, .8 stls, 44% FG, 81% FT, 38% 3P)
Trevor Booker- PF (Clemson) [Jason Maxiell]- (15.2 pts, 8.4 rebs, 2.5 asts, 1.3 stls, 1.4 blks, 52% FG, 59% FT)
Luke Harangody- PF (Notre Dame) [Jon Brockman]- (21.8 pts, 9.1 rebs, 48% FG, 79% FT, 31% 3P)
Charles Garcia- PF (Seattle)- (18.7 pts, 8.3 rebs, .8 blks, 47% FG, 62% FT)
Derrick Caracter- PF (UTEP)- (14.1 pts, 8.1 rebs, 1 stls, .9 blks, 57% FG, 67% FT)
Samardo Samuels- PF (Louisville)- (15.3 pts, 7 rebs, 1.1 blks, 52% FG, 71% FT)
A.J. Ogilvy- C (Vanderbilt)- (13.4 pts, 6.2 rebs, 1.5 blks, 1 stls, 51% FG, 73% FT)
Omar Samhan-C (Saint Mary's)- (21.3 pts, 10.9 rebs, 2.9 blks, 55% FG, 73% FT)
Jeremy Wise- PG (Bakersfield Jam- D League) – (16.6 pts, 3.2 rebs, 5.1 asts, 1.3 stls, 52% FG, 85% FT, 38% 3P)
Manny Harris- SG (Michigan)- (18.1 pts, 6 rebs, 4.1 asts, 1.8 stls, 42% FG, 80% FT, 31% 3P)
JP Prince- SF (Tennessee)- (9.9 pts, 3.7 rebs, 3.1 asts. 1.5 stls, 53% FG, 63% FT, 32% 3P)
Aubrey Coleman-SG (Houston)- (25.6 pts, 7.4 rebs, 2.6 asts, 2.7 stls, 43% FG, 74% FT, 32% 3P)
Brian Zoubek- C (Duke) – (5.6 pts, 7.7 rebs, .7 stls, .8 blks, 64% FG, 55% FT)
Dexter Pittman- C (Texas)- (10.4 pts, 5.9 rebs, 1.9 blks, 65% FG, 56% FT)
Wayne Chism- PF (Tennessee)- (12.6 pts, 7.2 rebs, 1.3 blks, 1.1 stls, 47% FG, 76% FT, 32% 3P)
Dwayne Collins- PF (Miami)- (12 pts, 7.8 rebs, 1.1 blks, 60% FG, 57% FT)
Lazar Hayward-PF (Marquette)- (18.1 pts, 7.5 rebs, 1.9 stls, 43% FG, 84% FT, 35% 3P)
Jerome Randle- PG (California) – (18.6 pts, 2.1 rebs, 4.3 asts, .7 stls, 46% FG, 93% FT, 40% 3P)
Matt Bouldin- PG (Gonzaga)- (15.6 pts, 4.7 rebs, 4 asts, 1.4 stls, 45% FG, 86% FT, 37% 3P)
Latavious Williams- PF (Tulsa 66ers- D League)- (7.7 pts, 7.7 rebs, .8 blks, .7 stls, 53% FG, 61% FT, 21 mins)
Ryan Thompson- SG (Rider)- (17.2 pts, 5 rebs, 2.8 asts, 1.2 stls, 42% FG, 82% FT, 32% 3P)

2^ND ROUND INTERNATIONAL BUBBLE

Alexey Shved- PG (Russia) [Marko Jaric]- (2 games)
Thomas Heurtel- PG (France) – (9.4 pts, 2 rebs, 4.8 asts, 1.1 stls, 46% FG, 73% FT)
Paulao Prestes- PF (Brazil) – (9.2 pts, 7.3 rebs, .8 stls, .7 blks, 57% FG, 66% FT)

COULD BE SELECTED

Hamady N'Diaye- C (Rutgers) – (9.4 pts, 7.1 rebs, 4.5 blks, 58% FG, 62% FT)
Mac Koshwal- PF (DePaul) – (16.1 pts, 10.1 rebs, 1.8 stls, .9 blks, 54% FG, 55% FT)
Michael Washington- PF (Arkansas)- (12.5 pts, 6.1 rebs, 1.3 blks, 50% FG, 65% FT)
Scottie Reynolds- PG (Villanova)- (18.2 pts, 2.7 rebs, 3.3 asts, 1.5 stls, 46% FG, 84% FT, 39% 3P)
John Scheyer- SG (Duke)- (18.2 pts, 3.6 rebs, 4.9 asts, 1.6 stls, 40% FG, 98% FT, 38% 3P)
Ben Uzoh- PG (Tulsa)- (15.3 pts, 4.7 rebs, 4.7 asts, 1 stls, 46% FG, 77% FT, 34% 3P)
Deon Thompson- PF (North Carolina)- (13.7 pts, 6.7 rebs, 1 blks, 1.1 stls, 48% FG, 69% FT)
Ryan Wittman- SF (Cornell)- (17.5 pts, 4 rebs, 1.1 stls, 47% FG, 83% FT, 43% 3P)
A.J. Slaughter- SG (Western Kentucky)- (17.5 pts, 3.2 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1.6 stls, 42% FG, 83% FT, 36% 3P)
Tyler Smith- SF (Tennessee)- (11.7 pts, 4.7 rebs, 3.7 asts, 1.4 stls, 57% FG, 70% FT, 12 games)
Raymar Morgan- SF (Michigan State)- (11.3 pts, 6.2 rebs, 1.1 stls, 53% FG, 67% FT, 29% 3P)
Andy Rautins- SG (Syracuse)- (12.1 pts, 3.4 rebs, 4.9 asts, 2 stls, 44% FG, 82% FT, 41% 3P)
Jerome Dyson- SG (Connecticut)- (17.3 pts, 4.3 rebs, 4.2 asts, 1.3 stls, 39% FG, 72% FT, 29% 3P)
Arinze Onuaku- C (Syracuse)- (10.5 pts, 5.1 rebs, .9 stls, 1.1 blks, 67% FG, 43% FT)
DeShawn Sims-SF (Michigan)- (16.8 pts, 7.6 rebs, 1.1 stls, 49% FG, 67% FT, 28% 3P)
Landon Milbourne- SF (Maryland) – (12.7 pts, 4.9 rebs, 1.1 stls, 1.2 blks, 50% FG, 73% FT, 34% 3P)
Malcolm Delaney- PG (Virginia Tech)- (20.2 pts, 3.7 rebs, 4.5 asts, 1.2 stls, 39% FG, 84% FT, 31% 3P)
Marquis Gilstrap- SF (Iowa State)- (14.9 pts, 9.3 rebs, .9 stls, .9 blks, 44% FG, 67% FT, 38% 3P)

TOP 10 RETURNING TO SCHOOL/EUROPE

Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic) [Jonas Jerebko]- (8.2 pts, 4 rebs, .9 stls, 55% FG, 63% FT, 37% 3P, 3.7 fouls, 22 mins)
Elias Harris- SF (Gonzaga)- (14.9 pts, 7.1 rebs, .9 stls, 55% FG, 68% FT, 45% 3P)
Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania) [Mehmet Okur/Andrea Bargnani]- (10.5 pts, 5.1 rebs, 1.6 stls, 56% FG, 72% FT, 31% 3P, 21 mins)
Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)- (10 pts, 3.7 rebs, .8 stls, 41% FG, 58% FT, 37% 3P)
John Henson- PF (North Carolina)- (5.7 pts, 4.4 rebs, 1.6 blks, 49% FG, 44% FT)
Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)- (3.7 pts, 3.1 rebs, .9 blks, 46% FG, 54% FT)
Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)- (22.1 pts, 3.1 rebs, 4.7 asts, 1.2 stls, 46% FG, 89% FT, 44% 3P)
Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)- (14.6 pts, 4.3 rebs, 5.1 asts, 2.1 stls, 40% FG, 77% FT, 34% 3P)
Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas) [Joe Smith]- (12.8 pts, 6.1 rebs, .9 stls, 57% FG, 66% FT)
Malcolm Lee- PG/SG (UCLA)- (12.1 pts, 4.4 rebs, 3.1 asts, 1.1 stls, 43% FG, 71% FT, 25% 3P)

Top 10 Riskiest Picks

2010-06-21T13:14:00.001-05:00

DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins is the mother of all risky picks. He has character and maturity red flags, as well as questions about his weight and work ethic. On top of all of that, it will require a top 6 pick to acquire his services.

Hassan Whiteside

Like Cousins, Whiteside is a huge wild card. He played one year of college ball in a less than competitive conference, and he also has character and maturity concerns. He is slightly less risky than Cousins because the asking price is lower (he'll probably land in the late lottery or the teens), but the return on investment will likely be farther down the line.

Lance Stephenson

Stephenson looks like he'll fall into the second round, and he could be a steal in that range, but he's still extremely risky, especially if the New York Knicks pin their hopes on him. Stephenson built quite a reputation in NYC, but that cred has only hurt him from a psychological standpoint. He'll have to work very hard to make it at the next level, and I'm just not sure he has it in him.

Daniel Orton

Orton is the ugly stepchild of a Cousins- Whiteside marriage. He combines Whiteside's lack of experience with Cousins' weight issues, but interestingly doesn't seem to encompass any of the character red flags which torment the players higher on the list.

Devin Ebanks

Ebanks is somewhat of a conditional risk. He was a heralded high school recruit and a relatively successful college player, but questions linger about his role at the next level. He could work well in the right system, but he also has very serious bust potential.

Miroslav Raduljica

Raduljica didn't endear himself to scouts when he skipped out on his individual workout at the Adidas EuroCamp. Serious questions linger as to whether or not he has any intention of ever playing in America.

Greg Monroe
Ed Davis

Monroe and Davis are both very talented players with high ceilings, but each provides sizable risk due to questions about their motors. As sophomores, they were supposed to carry their teams deep into the NCAA tournament. Instead, Davis' Tar Heels missed March Madness altogether, while Monroe's Hoyas were a first round upset at the hands of a #14 seed. Each player will be a lottery pick (Monroe in the top 6 and Davis likely in the top 10), but teams should proceed with caution.

Greivis Vasquez

Vasquez has garnered some first round buzz after several strong individual workouts, and I personally love his heart and attitude, but the jury is still out on his physical skills and natural position. He is tall and very thin, with great basketball IQ, but may not be strong enough to play off the ball or quick enough to play on it.

10a) Paul George

10b) Avery Bradley

George and Bradley each have a good chance of going in the lottery, or at least in the first 17 picks. However, each man has a problem with the translation of his skills. George was an adept scorer in a mid-major collegiate conference, while Bradley garnered the reputation of a defensive stopper. As the quality of their competition increases, it will be interesting to see how their roles and skills develop.

Logic Behind a MIN-DET Trade

2010-06-17T22:02:00.001-05:00

Minnesota

The Timberwolves love Wes Johnson. It has been widely reported that DeMarcus Cousins declined to workout in Minnesota, making Johnson the likely choice at #4 unless they can move up to get Evan Turner. Whether or not the Wolves think Johnson is the best player available at #4, he doesn't provide sufficient value at that spot. Cousins is the consensus #4 prospect in the draft, and there are many teams who would love his services in spite of his well-documented red flags. The Sacramento Kings are believed to be interested in either Cousins or Georgetown's Greg Monroe at #5, while the Golden State Warriors at #6 are believed to be after Cousins, Monroe, and Wake Forest forward Al-Farouq Aminu. In any event, it seems perfectly reasonable that Johnson would be available as far down as #7, which is currently held by the Detroit Pistons, who are also believed to be interested in a center, which brings me to my next point.

Detroit

Does anyone really believe that the Pistons are happy with their position at #7? In other words, do we really believe that the guy they want will be available at that spot? This is a relatively deep draft, but unless the guy they really covet is Ed Davis, it doesn't seem to be a logical sentiment. Davis is a nice player, but how many people really believe he'll be a better pro than Cousins or Monroe? If the Pistons had the ability to move up and draft a truly elite big man, they would be crazy not to do it. Minnesota has multiple needs on the perimeter, and no single player in this draft will solve all of their problems. However, Detroit could offer them a proven commodity on both ends (Tayshaun Prince) and the player they really want (Wes Johnson) for a chance to move up three spots. It would save the Pistons a little over $11 M next year, and give them a lot of roster flexibility. They could go small (Stuckey, Gordon, Hamilton with two bigs), medium (Stuckey, Gordon/Hamilton, Daye/Summers with two bigs), or large (Stuckey, Gordon/Hamilton, Jerebko with two bigs) and still be effective. They would also move up and get the big man they really covet (after Derrick Favors), while maintaining enough cap room ($13 M) to go after a big name power forward.

SAC-PHI Trade Reaction

2010-06-17T17:53:00.001-05:00

Sacramento

I love this trade for the Kings. Instead of paying Andres Nocioni for the next two years, Sacramento gets Samuel Dalembert, who has an expiring contract. They also get a sizable upgrade over Spencer Hawes, who has grown out of favor in Sacramento, and is quite frankly soft. Dalembert will provide a much needed defensive presence, and will be a great compliment to the stretch games of Carl Landry and Jason Thompson. The Kings are expected to draft a big man with the #5 pick in the draft (either Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins or Georgetown's Greg Monroe), which also makes an established big man a nice fit. Rookies are generally inconsistent and have habitual foul trouble, which makes a veteran big like Dalembert a real asset. Then, by the time their rookie gets his feet wet, Dalembert's contract will come off the books, leaving extra minutes for their developing young player.

Philadelphia

This trade really doesn't make sense for Philadelphia unless they value Spencer Hawes more than most teams around the league. He does provide a reasonable fit next to the more athletic Marresse Speights, but his play thus far has been less than stellar. Nocioni had some good years in Chicago, but his motivation to play in the NBA seems to be waning. Paying him $13.5 M over the next two years is clearly a liability, especially for a team in the midst of a re-building effort. However, the real question regarding Nocioni's acquisition is his role with the team moving forward. The most likely scenario seems to be a buyout, which wouldn't help the team financially, but would make their rotation much more manageable. Consider the 76ers roster as it stands: if Jrue Holiday averages 30 minutes a game, Lou Williams gets 25, Andre Iguodala gets 40, Thaddeus Young and Nocioni split 35 between them, and Speights, Hawes, and Elton Brand get 30 minutes apiece. That only leaves 20 minutes per game for the incoming #2 pick. Of those 20, one minute would be available for a guard spot, 13 would be available at small forward, and six would be available up front. Even with a player as versatile as Evan Turner, playing a role like that seems far fetched. Buying out Nocioni would free up another 10-15 minutes per game, but I think the move is more indicative of an intent to draft Derrick Favors than one to draft Turner.

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 13th)

2010-06-14T19:06:00.001-05:00

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

No question at the top of this draft.

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

Turner has to be the pick here, whether Philly makes the call or not.

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF/C (Georgia Tech)

If I were in charge of the Nets, I would have taken Favors at #1. Picking him at #3 should be a no brainer.

Minnesota Timberwolves- Wesley Johnson- SG/SF (Syracuse)

I still don't think the Timberwolves will make the pick here, but if they do, it'll almost certainly be Johnson.

Sacramento Kings- Greg Monroe- PF/C (Georgetown)

Word out of Sacramento is that the Kings prefer Monroe to Cousins. However, they're scheduling workouts with Gordon Hayward and Luke Babbit, which means it may be Toronto picking in this spot.

Golden State Warriors- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF/PF (Wake Forest)

Cousins would be a great value, but Aminu fits nicely into the Warriors' system.

Detroit Pistons- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

Detroit's dream comes true on draft night. Cousins may be a basket case, but he's a great talent. I think he'll be the second best player from this draft class.

Los Angeles Clippers- Paul George- SG/SF (Fresno State)

This may be a bit too high for George, but he fits well with the Clippers, he's a California product, and his stock is definitely on the rise.

Utah Jazz (from New York)- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

Word from the Jazz is that Babbit may actually be at the very top of Utah's board. Plus, once again, he's white!

Indiana Pacers- Avery Bradley- PG/SG (Texas)

Bradley has cancelled some workouts recently, but he still has the potential to be a lottery pick. Especially in a thin point guard draft, he should have a chance to land with the Pacers at #10.

New Orleans Hornets- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

Patterson is one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft and is very low risk. His work ethic and maturity should fit perfectly with Chris Paul's fiery demeanor.

Memphis Grizzlies- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

Henry has huge upside and certainly fits the bill of the best player available at #12. That should be the Grizzlies' target, as they don't have any glaring weaknesses aside from their lack of depth.

Toronto Raptors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

I still like the idea of Udoh in Toronto, but this pick could actually end up being made by Sacramento. In that case, Cole Aldrich makes more sense here.

Houston Rockets- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

I expect Daryl Morey to think outside of the box with this pick, but Aldrich is the perfect fit in Houston, and he provides great value.

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

Milwaukee would love to land Henry here, but he'll go higher on draft night, so Davis is a nice consolation prize.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)

Whiteside has great upside, but the thing about potential is that sometimes that's all it is. He has major character and maturity red flags, which may knock him out of the lottery, but not past the Timberwolves at #16.

Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)

Hayward is a hot name in basketball circles right now, and though I love James Anderson here, I don't think the Bulls could pass on Hayward.

Miami Heat- Mikhail Torrance- PG/SG (Alabama)

This may be a surprise, but Torrance might be the hottest name around the league right now. He is a legit combo guard, and a natural scorer with great size.

Boston Celtics- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)

This also may seem like a bit of a reach, but Crawford is the closest thing in this class to Ray Allen, who I'm almost certain will have a new address come October.

San Antonio Spurs- Damion James- SF/PF (Texas)

James is a hard worker and a local product, who provides San Antonio with some much needed versatility in the frontcourt.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- PF/C (Kentucky)

Orton is another player with great upside who has proved very little. He won't provide much early, but he could develop into the last piece of the Thunder's puzzle.

Portland Trail Blazers- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)

Portland gave significant minutes to Juwan Howard last season. Enough said?

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)

Anderson struggles to create his own shot, but he's a proven scorer and one of the best shooters in the class, which makes him too good to pass up at #23.

Atlanta Hawks- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)

Atlanta needs depth almost everywhere, and Pondexter is the most NBA-ready player on the board at this spot.

Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)

I'm starting to wonder if someone (Cleveland, Charlotte, or Toronto) will move into Minnesota's spot (#23) to take Bledsoe. If not, Memphis would love to land him at #25.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)

Oklahoma City is reported to be very high on Ebanks, but they may wait to take him at #32. With that said, they have very few pressing needs aside from some added depth.

New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)

Jones would be a nice addition to New Jersey's existing perimeter rotation. He could provide the defensive presence that the Nets lack on the outside.

Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)

Memphis has a nice core and several picks in this draft, but they still don't have a true stretch four, a void Brackins would fill nicely.

Orlando Magic- Elliot Williams- PG/SG (Memphis)

Word out of Williams' camp is that he has a first round promise, which has led to his canceling of several workouts. The Magic have a need at point guard, and a very appealing roster. This makes the most sense of any destination for Williams.

Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)

Washington could go small forward or center here, but Alabi provides the best value.

On the Clock: New Jersey Nets

2010-06-13T09:37:00.001-05:00

NEW JERSEY NETS

Assuming New Jersey does the smart thing this summer and drafts Derrick Favors, their frontcourt rotation will be Brook Lopez, Favors, Kris Humphries, and Josh Boone. While Boone and Humphries aren't quality NBA starters, they are serviceable rotation players who compliment one another nicely. In other words, if this scenario plays out and the Nets can stay healthy next year, they'll be above average up front.

Devin Harris was an All-Star in 2009 and many believe he still has the potential to be a franchise point guard. The Nets also have a nice rotation of young perimeter players including 2009 first rounder Terrence Williams, off-guards Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts, and wild card Yi Jianlian. Williams' transition to the NBA got off to a slow start, but he played very well down the stretch, showing the scoring and play-making ability that made him so successful at Louisville. Lee, Douglas-Roberts, and Yi all struggled with injuries throughout the season, which is a big reason why the Nets found themselves looking up at the rest of the league. (Remember that Harris missed 18 games, too.)

When healthy the 2010-2011 Nets could have a rotation of nine productive players (counting Favors) including four big men and five perimeter players. They also have a significant amount of money left under the cap (about $23 M assuming Humphries picks up his player option and the team decides to pick up their options on Keyon Dooling, Douglas-Roberts, and Boone, which total about $7.7 M).

Avery Johnson is well-respected by players throughout the league, and his hiring should be a selling point to prospective free agent targets, as should the deep pockets of new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, and the team's looming move to Brooklyn.

While LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would look great surrounded by Lopez, Favors, and Harris, I still think New Jersey has only an outside chance at one of those two. After James and Wade, the free agent crop is a little thin on the perimeter, with Joe Johnson the best remaining option. Although Johnson made it clear during the season that the Nets were far from his top option, they certainly offer an intriguing situation, both from an on-court and off-court standpoint. Of the three, Johnson is the most consistent outside shooter, and considering the current makeup of the Nets' roster, that is probably their biggest need.

Best Case Roster for 2010:

PG-Devin Harris, Willie Warren (#27), Keyon Dooling

SG-Joe Johnson (FA), Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts

SF-Terrence Williams, Yi Jianlian

PF-Derrick Favors (#3), Kris Humphries

C-Brook Lopez, Josh Boone

2010-2011 Projection:

34-48 (10^th in the Eastern Conference)

On the Clock: Philadelphia 76ers

2010-06-13T09:36:00.001-05:00

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

It's hard to put your finger on exactly where the 76ers are in the rebuilding process. After two playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009, Philadelphia limped to a 27-55 record in 2009-2010, their worst showing in 13 years. This summer, instead of adding pieces to a playoff puzzle, it appears that it's time to start making the tough decisions.

Philadelphia is already on the hook for 11 contracts next season, to the tune of nearly $66 M. Of that, about $16 M will go to Elton Brand, who despite his impressive career exploits averaged only 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds this past season, appearing to be a shadow of his old self. Brand's contract is considered to be one of the most toxic in the NBA, with the 76ers reportedly requiring that any suitor for their #2 overall pick also be willing to take back Brand.

While Brand's deal may be as bad as it gets, it's not the only bad news for Philadelphia. The 76ers are also on the hook for $12.2 M to Samuel Dalembert and $6.6 M to Jason Kapono next season. Thankfully, however, those are both expiring deals, which should be much easier to unload if the team decides to go that route.

It's not all bad news, though. Rookie Jrue Holiday was a real revelation down the stretch, averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals in March and April. Second-year center Marresse Speights started the year strongly, averaging 15 points, 7.1 rebounds, and a block per game over the season's first eight contests before sustaining a partial torn MCL. He never quite regained that form, but after a summer to heal, the 22-year old promises to be better than ever.

The most pivotal decision for the 76ers this summer may be determining the role of 23-year old combo guard Lou Williams. Williams was given an increased role in his fifth season, making the first 38 starts of his career. He played in 64 games, averaging 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 29.9 minutes per contest, while increasing his shooting percentages across the board.

The teams has hired a veteran coach (Doug Collins) and holds the rights to the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, but there are many decisions yet to be made. As mentioned, finding a way to move Brand's contract is priority number one, but that will prove to be easier said than done. The services of Ohio State's Evan Turner, the projected #2 pick, may be enough, but the price will have to be right.

The most discussed move centers around Minnesota trading Al Jefferson and the fourth pick to the 76ers for the second pick. Minnesota would look to receive another asset back, and I doubt that Brand fits the bill. He wouldn't be a bad fit behind Kevin Love if a third team could get into the mix and send back a proven perimeter player. As shown below, Philadelphia could offer Dalembert to the third team for Michael Beasley or Delonte West and then pass that player along to Minnesota.

Best Case Roster for 2010-2011

PG- Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams

SG- Andre Iguodala, Jodie Meeks, Willie Green

SF- Thaddeus Young, Jason Kapono, Rodney Carney (FA)

PF- Al Jefferson (Trade), Marresse Speights

C- DeMarcus Cousins (#4), Jason Smith

2010-2011 Projection:

28-44 (13^th in Eastern Conference)

On the Clock: Washington Wizards

2010-06-10T10:31:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

The Wizards were arguably the NBA's most disappointing team in 2009-2010. The return of an All-NBA caliber player (Gilbert Arenas) and the signing of a new coach (Flip Saunders) was supposed to vault Washington back into Eastern Conference playoff contention. Instead, Arenas' inconsistent play and lack of subordination lead the two to bump heads, especially after Arenas' 12 turnover performance on November 11^th.

Six weeks later, Arenas brought four unloaded handguns into the Wizards' locker room in what he called a "misguided prank". Arenas was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season and sentenced to 2 years probation and 30 days in a halfway house.

Finding themselves without their marquee superstar for a large portion of the third straight season, Washington decided it was time to blow up their core and start over. On February 13^th, they traded Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson to the Dallas Mavericks. Three days later, they traded Antawn Jamison to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Over the past 12 months, the Wizards acquired Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, James Livingston, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Al Thornton, and Cleveland's #30 overall pick for Butler, Haywood, Stevenson, Jamison, and their #5 pick in 2009 (Ricky Rubio). Now, assuming they decline Josh Howard's $11.8 M team option, they'll have only Foye ($4.8 M qualifying offer), Ross ($1.1 M player option), and Thornton ($2.8 M team option) to show for it all next season.

Things certainly look bleak, but all is not lost in Washington. Andray Blatche showed real promise as the Wizards go-to guy down the stretch last season, and while inconsistent, Javale McGee showed signs as well. Washington will definitely have some choices to make this summer, as they have only 7 players under contract for next season (not including Howard), but the easiest call should come on June 24^th, when the Wizards hold the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

John Wall will almost assuredly be the pick at that spot, and he and Arenas should prove to be a formidable pair in the backcourt, if Arenas can stay on the court. Washington will likely be looking at a small forward or a center with the Cavs' pick, as Darington Hobson, Stanley Robinson, and Devin Ebanks project to be available at that spot.

Washington is on the hook for about $34 M in salary for next season, plus their two guaranteed draft picks, which leaves the with around $19 M to offer in free agency. Depth is their biggest need, especially in the frontcourt. Whether or not the Wizards pursue a big name like Amare or Carlos Boozer will likely be an indication of their plans with Blatche moving forward, but I think filling the roster with role players is more likely.

Best Case Roster for 2010-2011:

PG- John Wall (#1), Randy Foye, Earl Boykins (FA)

SG- Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, Quinton Ross

SF- Al Thornton, Quincy Pondexter (#30)

PF- Andray Blatche, Hakim Warrick (FA)

C- Jermaine O'Neal (FA), Javale McGee

2010-2011 Projection:

29-53 (12^th in the Eastern Conference)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 8th)

2010-06-08T18:19:00.001-05:00

I thought I would try something a little different today, let me know what you think.

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

Considering: Wall, Evan Turner

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG/SF (Ohio State)

Considering: Turner, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF/C (Georgia Tech)

Considering: Favors, DeMarcus Cousins

Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

Considering: Cousins, Wesley Johnson

Sacramento Kings- Greg Monroe- PF/C (Georgetown)

Considering: Monroe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Wesley Johnson, Hassan Whiteside

Golden State Warriors- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF/PF (Wake Forest)

Considering: Aminu, Wesley Johnson, Hassan Whiteside

Detroit Pistons- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

Considering: Davis, Wesley Johnson, Cole Aldrich, Hassan Whiteside

Los Angeles Clippers- Wesley Johnson- SG/SF (Syracuse)

Considering: Johnson, Luke Babbit, Gordon Hayward

Utah Jazz (from New York)- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

Considering: Babbit, Gordon Hayward, Xavier Henry

Indiana Pacers- Avery Bradley- PG/SG (Texas)

Considering: Bradley, Eric Bledsoe, Ekpe Udoh, Hassan Whiteside, Daniel Orton

New Orleans Hornets- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

Considering: Patterson, Ekpe Udoh, Gordon Hayward, Cole Aldrich, Hassan Whiteside

Memphis Grizzlies- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)

Considering: Bledsoe, Gordon Hayward, Ekpe Udoh, Xavier Henry

Toronto Raptors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

Considering: Udoh, Cole Aldrich, Gordon Hayward

Houston Rockets- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

Considering: Aldrich, Hassan Whiteside, Gordon Hayward, Paul George

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

Considering: Henry, Paul George, Gordon Hayward

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)

Considering: Hayward, Paul George, James Anderson

Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- Paul George- SG/SF (Fresno State)

Considering: George, James Anderson

Miami Heat- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)

Considering: Whiteside, James Anderson, Damion James, Larry Sanders

Boston Celtics- James Anderson- SG/SF (Oklahoma State)

Considering: Anderson, Damion James, Jordan Crawford

San Antonio Spurs- Elliot Williams- PG/SG (Memphis)

Considering: Williams, Larry Sanders, Damion James

Oklahoma City Thunder- Larry Sanders- PF/C (Virginia Commonwealth)

Considering: Sanders, Daniel Orton, Willie Warren

Portland Trail Blazers- Damion James- SF/PF (Texas)

Considering: James, Daniel Orton, Devin Ebanks, Jordan Crawford

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)

Considering: Crawford, Willie Warren, Miroslav Raduljica

Atlanta Hawks- Daniel Orton- PF/C (Kentucky)

Considering: Orton, Gani Lawal, Willie Warren

Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)

Considering: Robinson, Devin Ebanks, Trevor Booker

Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Willie Warren- PG/SG (Oklahoma)

Considering: Warren, Solomon Alabi, Miroslav Raduljica

New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)

Considering: White, Dominique Jones, Quincy Pondexter

Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)

Considering: Raduljica, Tibor Pleiss, Dominique Jones, Trevor Booker

Orlando Magic- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)

Considering: Pondexter, Dominique Jones, Devin Ebanks, Craig Brackins

Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)

Considering: Ebanks, Darington Hobson, Solomon Alabi, Jarvis Varnado

2010 Top 5 Cs

2010-06-04T12:20:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the top 5 center prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky) - Al Jefferson

Strength: Size. Cousins is a huge basketball player. He weighed in at 292 pounds at the Combine, and although 16.4% of that was body fat, Cousins has remained surprisingly nimble. He clogs the lane and contests seemingly every shot attempted in the lane.

Weakness: Maturity. Shocker here right? An overwhelming amount of digital ink has been spilled discussing Cousins' apparent character problems, from his altercations with opposing players to cursing out his coaches at Kentucky to his recent profanity-laced tirade via Twitter. There is a difference between being of poor character and being immature, and I hope for his sake that his recent problems will one day be chalked up to "kids being kids".

Verdict: Cousins has overwhelming physical skills. He has great hands, uncommon touch around the basket, and what appears to be an above average motor. If properly motivated and developed, Cousins could certainly become a franchise player. However, that's a fairly substantial hypothetical, especially considering the risk involved with using a top five draft pick on a hit-or-miss prospect.

Best Fit: Whether in basketball or in life, Cousins needs to find a role model. Detroit would be a great fit for him because of team need, but also because of a strong "alumni" network of former players.

Cole Aldrich (Kansas) – Emeka Okafor

Strength: Defense. Aldrich is a very good rebounder and a consistent shot blocker. He is solid offensively, but his calling card at the next level will be his ability to change the game defensively.

Weakness: Athleticism. Centers aren't widely regarded as the best athletes on the floor, but Aldrich is a sub-par athlete even by big men standards. He jumped just 25" at the Combine, and his foot speed and lateral quickness are areas of concern as well.

Verdict: For whatever reason, I have injury concerns about Aldrich (his knees especially), but barring that, he should have a very productive career. I don't ever expect him to be an All Star, or average more than 15 points per game, but he'll have an impact for a team looking for a defensive-minded center and a fourth scoring option.

Best Fit: Utah and Toronto both provide nice fits in the second half of the lottery. A frontcourt of Andrea Bargnani and Aldrich is especially intriguing.

Hassan Whiteside (Marshall) - Tyrus Thomas

Strength: Shot blocking. Whiteside made a huge impact in his only season at Marshall, averaging 5.4 blocks per game. There are some holes in his game, especially offensively, but his length (7'7" wingspan) and shot-blocking instincts are very valuable at the next level.

Weakness: Maturity. Like Cousins, Whiteside has some serious red flags. Despite his freakish size and athleticism he was hardly recruited because he only played two years of high school basketball. He ended up at Marshall, where he reportedly dropped his spring coursework as soon as possible with the intention of entering the draft. There have also been media reports that several teams where less than impressed with his performance in the interview process at last month's Combine.

Verdict: I think Whiteside has bust written all over him. He has good size and shot-blocking instincts, but has very little basketball background. This all seems to reminiscent of another overvalued big man, Michael Olowokandi.

Best Fit: Whiteside needs to land with a team that will bring him along slowly and provide him with a mentor who can show him the ropes. If Whiteside slides on draft night as expected, the Timberwolves and head coach Kurt Rambis wouldn't be a bad fit at #16.

Daniel Orton (Kentucky) - Brendan Haywood (Early years)

Strength: Potential. That was a tough choice. After averaging just three points and three rebounds as a freshman at Kentucky, even the most well-informed basketball minds are still unsure about Orton.

Weakness: Weight issues. Aside from the obvious lack of experience, Orton is troubled by weight problems, much like his Kentucky teammate Cousins. He posted 13.8% body fat at the Combine, which is less than stellar.

Verdict: You might as well ask your Magic 8-Ball. Orton could develop into a solid player with a high motor, who contests every shot he comes near. He could also become more interested in his weekly commute to cash his paycheck. At this point, no one really knows for sure. Until he proves himself, I expect to remain cynical.

Best Fit: Orton is another prospect in need of some serious seasoning. Therefore, it's paramount that he finds a team which will bring him along slowly, but challenge him in practice. There are rumors swirling that the Thunder have promised to pick Orton with one of their picks in the 20's, and I think that would actually make a pretty nice fit, though I think San Antonio would be better if Greg Popovich was willing to take on a project.

Solomon Alabi (Florida State) - Nazr Mohammed

Strength: Size. As expected, Alabi measured easily over seven feet in shoes at the Combine, making him the tallest player in this draft class.

Weakness: Toughness. Alabi has developed the reputation of playing soft. He has yet to truly develop his low post game, and while he is an adequate shot blocker, a man of his size should be even better.

Verdict: Like Hasheem Thabeet last year, Alabi will benefit from the old adage that "you can't teach size". Thabeet went second overall and did nothing, and Alabi is even further from being ready to contribute. It will be a long road for him, and I wonder if he's committed enough to see the process through to the end.

Best Fit: Slipping out of the first round would actually be a blessing in disguise for Alabi because it would force him to fight for his NBA dream on a daily basis. I think a team like the Knicks or the Heat could consider him in the late 30's or early 40's.

2010 Top 10 PFs (6-10)

2010-06-03T11:29:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the number 6-10 power forward prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

6. Ekpe Udoh (Baylor) - Hakim Warrick

Strength: Mismatch ability. Udoh is undeniably a great collegiate shot blocker, but that skill doesn't always translate at the next level. What is exciting about Udoh from an NBA perspective is his ability to put the ball on the deck and use his quick first step to get by his defender. That will be tough to stop for most NBA four men.

Weakness: Upper body strength. Udoh looks like he's been on the McLovin weight lifting program for the past three years. He needs to put on a significant amount of muscle to be able to withstand the marathon that is the NBA schedule.

Verdict: As a die-hard Michigan fan, it's hard for me not to hold a grudge against Udoh, but seeing him play in the NCAA tournament was like watching an entirely different player. His improvement was tangible and admirable, which speaks of his work ethic, a trait which is often the key to a player's development and success at the next level.

Best Fit: Udoh is being projected somewhere in the 10-20 range, and I really like the idea of him in Toronto. His commitment and hustle on defense will be a welcome addition, and his versatility would be a real asset for the Raptors.

7. Larry Sanders (VCU) - Serge Ibaka

Strength: Consistency. In tracking the statistics of the top college prospects this past season, Sanders really stuck out because whenever I updated the numbers, his line saw very little deviation. Consequently, the same is true of his draft stock.

Weakness: Lack of quality experience. Although former teammate Eric Maynor had success as a rookie, I think Sanders' lack of big time collegiate experience will really hurt him in his transition to the NBA.

Verdict: Sanders certainly has what it takes to mature into an effective NBA rotation player, but I worry that his lack of physical strength and experience against the NCAA's elite will be the basis for some growing pains. Unfortunately, I see Sanders as having an Earl Clark type of rookie season, which involves a lot of time riding the bench. His mental toughness will eventually determine his fate, but it is difficult to overcome the label of 'bust', which is often attached way too soon (See: J.J. Redick).

Best Fit: Sanders would be lucky to find a fit with a high level of stability and a low level of pressure. Unfortunately, in the range he is being projected (from 18-26), only the Boston Celtics (#19) offer such a combination.

8. Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech) – Reggie Evans

Strength: Rebounding. In my opinion Lawal is the best rebounder in this class, able to leap laterally and control the ball with one or two hands. I regularly tuned into Tech's games looking to get a glimpse at Derrick Favors and walked away impressed not only by the things Lawal was able to do, but the way in which he did them.

Weakness: Skill. No one will ever confuse Lawal with Pau Gasol. He isn't a great passer and doesn't have great footwork or touch offensively.

Verdict: Don't confuse my assessment of Lawal's lack of skill as a characterization of his ability to play the game of basketball. In fact, I love Lawal as a prospect. He'll never be an All Star, and he'll likely never be a regular starter, but Lawal will perennially be one of the hardest workers in the league, and he'll be well appreciated by his teammates and coaches.

Best Fit: There are two reasons that I like Lawal as a prospect. First, there is zero risk. You know exactly what you'll get and exactly what you won't. Second, there is no such thing as a bad fit for a guy like this. He'll work hard enough to be a factor in any team's frontcourt rotation.

9. Trevor Booker (Clemson) – Jason Maxiell

Strength: Competitiveness. Booker is a four-year player who flew largely under the radar at Clemson. He is very tough, and like Lawal, competes on every trip down the floor.

Weakness: Skill. Is this starting to sound familiar? I think Booker is very similar to Lawal, in that he's somewhat of a liability offensively. Aside from the occasional lay-up or put-back, he will likely be a non-factor offensively at the next level.

Verdict: Booker was one of the biggest winners in last month's NBA Combine. Although Lawal out-measured him in each physical category (including body fat %), Booker had a wonderful performance in the athletic drills, and was consequently named by this blogger as the winner of the Joe Alexander Workout Warrior Award. However, despite his excellent track record and Combine workout, I see Booker having a less pronounced impact than Lawal at the next level.

Best Fit: I would like to see Booker slide back to the Detroit Pistons with their second round pick at #36. He is similar to Jason Maxiell, who is already on the roster, but he would benefit from the tutelage of Ben Wallace (who may or may not be back next season), and would gain favor from the hard-nosed attitude of the Pistons' front office and fan base.

10. Craig Brackins (Iowa State) - Charlie Villanueva

Strength: Shooting. Brackins is the best domestic stretch four man in this class, and his stock should benefit from teams' increasing reliance on that role. He was in fine form from 18-20 feet at the Combine, which should help his stock rebound after a disappointing junior season.

Weakness: Lack of true position. Brackins certainly has the size to play power forward in the NBA (6'9.75" with a 7' wingspan and a 9'1" standing reach), and it's not that he doesn't have the ability to do so. Rather, the issue is his willingness to get his hands dirty in the paint.

Verdict: Brackins is tough to project because players with his style have had a variety outcomes in the NBA. Charlie Villanueva has had a tough time making an impact, while guys like Troy Murphy have been very successful. For some reason, I like Brackins' attitude. I think he'll be willing to put in the work to be successful at the next level.

Best Fit: I would like to see a team draft Brackins for value, not need. The key to his ability to stick in the NBA will be his defensive effectiveness, and the best way to improve is to be tested by a proven veteran day in and day out.

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 2nd)

2010-06-02T16:22:00.001-05:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, so today's variety is 2 rounds with comments!!

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

Just like last year, the number one pick is a virtual no-brainer. Wall is the franchise cornerstone that the re-building Wizards simply can't do without.

Philadelphia 76ers- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)

I may be over-thinking this one, but it seems to me that if the 76ers really wanted Evan Turner, there would be no whispers over this pick. Since there is, it must be Favors here. Favors is the hands down choice to go number three if Turner lands here, so every other player would be available via a trade down to number four. If the 76ers stay at two and don't draft Turner, no one else even remotely makes sense.

New Jersey Nets- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

The Nets would love to land Favors, and they still could, because these two picks will be the pivot point of the whole draft. After the Combine, there's no doubt in my mind that Wall, Turner, and Favors will be the top three in some order or another. However, there could well be a trade here, which (especially if Minnesota is involved) would change the complexion of the whole draft.

Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

I like Cousins a lot, but not necessarily for my Timberwolves. His immaturity would be a major issue on a team without a proven leader, so Minnesota is a less than ideal fit. With that said, I think that Cousins will be the pick at #4, although the odds of Minnesota holding this pick on draft night are essentially zero. If they're not able to move up to #2 for Evan Turner (or #3 in this scenario), they should move down to #7 and add an asset (Tayshaun Prince or Jonas Jerebko).

Sacramento Kings- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)

Monroe has enough size to defend NBA centers, and the plight of his fellow big men (Hassan Whiteside and Cole Aldrich, specifically) will drastically help his standing. His passing ability also reminds some of Chris Webber, who had a great career in Sacramento.

Golden State Warriors- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)

I love Aminu's fit in Golden State. He's extremely versatile, meaning he'll be able to play the four in Don Nelson's system or the three in any sane person's system. He also loves to get up-and-down, which works well with the Warriors' current system, as well as their existing personnel.

Detroit Pistons- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)

After drafting three small forwards last year (Jerebko, Daye, and Summers), Johnson makes very little sense here. However, I like the idea of Minnesota moving back for Johnson and allowing Detroit to move up for Cousins.

Los Angeles Clippers- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)

Aminu or Johnson would be perfect for the Clippers, but with both of them off the board, the Clippers will have to choose between reaching for need (small forward or point guard) or drafting value (power forward). I think they'll opt for need, eventually choosing between Hayward and Luke Babbit.

Utah Jazz (from New York)- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

Patterson is one of the most NBA-ready big men in this draft. That makes him a perfect fit for the only playoff team in the lottery.

Indiana Pacers- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)

Without question, this is a bit of a reach. However, Indiana has a major need at the point guard, and Bledsoe is much better than the next lead guard on the board, Willie Warren. The Pacers could move back to try to grab Bledsoe, but that would be a risky move because Bledsoe's value is all over the board. Larry Bird and company would hate to move back and miss him, so I think they'll play it safe by picking him at #10.

New Orleans Hornets- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

New Orleans needs some fresh bodies up front, and Davis provides a nice balance between production and potential, which is a nice fit for a team like New Orleans who may or may not be looking to re-build.

Memphis Grizzlies- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

Babbit had a solid showing at the Combine, which should only help to cement his position in the lottery. Memphis has reportedly been very high on Babbit from the start, making his selection here even more likely.

Toronto Raptors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

I still like the idea of Udoh in a Raptors' jersey. A sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh seems more and more likely, and any potential trade would bring back a frontcourt starter (LAL- Bynum, MIA- Beasley, CHI- Gibson, NYK- Lee). Along with Bargnani and that player, Udoh would give Toronto a lot of versatility, similar to the role Lamar Odom plays in Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

The biggest need for the Rockets is still backup center, and Aldrich is a great value at #14. Paul George has potential at this spot too, but Aldrich has way too much value to pass up.

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

The Bucks could use a power forward or a shooting guard, with a big man proving to be a more immediate need. Motiejunas is the last lottery-caliber power forward on the board, and there seems to be a lot of uncertainty surrounding him at the moment. Instead, the Bucks opt for Henry, a great shooter with upside, who some worry is too one-dimensional to be effective as a pro.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)

Whiteside is a very exciting prospect, but his character concerns are well documented. Still, at #16 the risk is worth the reward, especially for an extremely young team like Minnesota.

Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)

Regardless of what you may have read on this blog, Anderson is still the best pure shooter in this draft, and that is Chicago's most pressing need.

Miami Heat- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)

Bradley is a fantastic defender and an above average outside shooter, but he doesn't seem to have lead guard skills at this point. That makes playing along with Dwyane Wade the perfect fit. Miami can trot out two lockdown perimeter defenders, let Wade handle 65-70% of the time, and use Mario Chalmers off the bench with either starting guard.

Boston Celtics- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)

Boston gets a steal at #19, and replaces free agent Ray Allen, all in one motion. George has a smooth jump shot, and his skill set is about four inches smaller than his frame, which sounds a bit like Kevin Durant.

San Antonio Spurs- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

There are reports that Motiejunas will drop out of the draft if he's not projected as a lottery pick, and he stock seems to be on the decline. If he stays in, he'll probably in the late teens or early 20's, and I really like the fit in San Antonio.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)

Orton is as much of an unknown commodity as there as in this draft, at least as far as domestic prospects go. He has tremendous upside, and should mature into a solid player if he can keep his weight issues under control.

Portland Trail Blazers- Damion James- SF (Texas)

James can rebound, score from the mid-range, and defend either forward spot. He is the opposite of Orton in that he is a very well known commodity. He didn't show huge improvement year-to-year at Texas, but he was very steady and consistent.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)

Minnesota will likely trade away at least one of its non-lottery picks, but if they hold onto all three, a foreign project like Seraphin makes a lot of sense.

Atlanta Hawks- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)

Atlanta's frontcourt reserves are very old and frankly pretty poor, so they could use a player like Sanders, who should be able to log minutes as a rookie.

Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Willie Warren- PG (Oklahoma)

Memphis is reportedly very high on Eric Bledsoe, but if they miss out on him they'll settle for Warren, who is more of a combo guard. Warren and OJ Mayo would form a nice fit down the line for the Grizzlies.

Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)

The Thunder will likely move one of these picks (I think this will be the spot the Cavaliers move in if that is, in fact, their intention.), or draft a foreign player. If they hold steady, White would be a better choice given the circumstances. He can play both guard spots, has good size (6'5"), and is a proven scorer.

New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Trevor Booker- PF (Clemson)

After missing out on Favors at the top, the Nets tap Booker to fill their power forward spot. He had a great showing at the Combine, and should garner first round consideration if his individual workouts go well.

Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)

Memphis opts for a very different kind of power forward in the perimeter-oriented Brackins. He should good range at the Combine (out to 18 or 20 feet), and should develop into a capable stretch four man in the NBA.

Orlando Magic- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)

Crawford would be an ideal replacement for Vince Carter in a couple of years. He made 20-of-25 NBA 3-pointers at the Combine, and outside shooting is clearly a skill coveted by the Magic.

Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)

Ebanks is an interesting case. I like to think that I pay pretty close attention to the rumor mills surrounding the NBA Draft, and I haven't heard a word about Ebanks since before the Combine. He missed a real opportunity to showcase his athleticism, and his status as a first rounder is in real jeopardy.

New Jersey Nets- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)
Sacramento Kings- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)
Washington Wizards- Jarvis Varnado- PF (Mississippi State)
Golden State Warriors- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
Detroit Pistons- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)
Milwaukee Bucks- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
New York Knicks- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)
New York Knicks- Darington Hobson- SF (New Mexico)
Indiana Pacers- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)
Miami Heat- Tiny Gallon- PF (Oklahoma)
Miami Heat- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)
Los Angeles Lakers- Sherron Collins- PG (Kansas)
Portland Trail Blazers- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Nemanja Bjelica- SF (Serbia)
Phoenix Suns- Mikhail Torrance- SG (Alabama)
Milwaukee Bucks- Charles Garcia- PF (Seattle)
Miami Heat- Artsiom Parakhouski- C (Radford)
San Antonio Spurs- Robin Benzing- SF (Germany)
Dallas Mavericks- Sylven Landesberg- SG (Virginia)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Lazar Hayward- SF (Marquette)
Boston Celtics- Jerome Randle- PG (California)
Atlanta Hawks- Manny Harris- SG (Michigan)
Los Angeles Clippers- Matt Bouldin- PG (Gonzaga)
Utah Jazz- Ryan Richards- C (England)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Da'Sean Butler- SF (West Virginia)
Dallas Mavericks- Paulo Prestes- PF (Brazil)
Los Angeles Lakers- Tibor Pleiss- C (Germany)
Orlando Magic- Greivis Vasquez- PG (Maryland)
Phoenix Suns- Wayne Chism- PF (Tennessee)

IN: Tiny Gallon, Lazar Hayward, Ryan Richards, Wayne Chism

OUT: A.J. Ogilvy, Aubrey Coleman, Omar Samhan, Latavious Williams

2010 Top 10 PFs (1-5)

2010-06-02T16:16:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the top 5 power forward prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech) – Amare Stoudemire

Strength: Athleticism. Favors has a unheard of combination of size and athletic ability. His Combine measurements were eerily similar to those of Dwight Howard from a few years back, and his leaping ability was on display as well, jumping 31.5" flat-footed, which was good for second best at the camp.

Weakness: Polish. Favors got few opportunities to showcase his offensive skills at Georgia Tech because Paul Hewitt refused to run sets through his best player. (Author's note: Hewitt is currently unemployed.) Pure God-given gifts can get you a long way, but at the NBA level, refinement is a necessity. Favors must sand down his rough edges in order to become an elite player.

Verdict: I love Derrick Favors. I think when it's all said and done, he'll be the best player from this class. His brand of size and physical skills is very rare, and his ceiling at this point is beyond the horizon. However, once all the superlatives have landed and the dust clears, it will be Favors' motor and work ethic that determine his true legacy.

Best Fit: It was a huge disappointment for the Nets to slip to #3 in the lottery, but Favors would be an amazing fit next to Brook Lopez.

Greg Monroe (Georgetown) - Pau Gasol

Strength: Basketball IQ. Monroe has a lot of things going for him. He has good size and a very promising frame, but his best asset is his understanding of the game and his passing ability.

Weakness: Killer instinct. Coaches and GMs want winners, and at this point, Monroe has never proven himself capable of being a winner. Kobe Bryant has a mantle full of accolades and four (soon to be five???) championship rings because of his work ethic and his kill-or-be-killed attitude. Monroe needs to develop such an edge if he wants to develop into a NBA starter.

Verdict: It's tough to project kids out of certain collegiate systems. Jeff Green had a solid career at Georgetown, but his numbers in the NBA have been far superior to those logged in college. Perhaps Monroe will see the same type of increase, but at this point, I see him as pretty hit-or-miss, depending on the coach and the role he inherits at the next level.

Best Fit: I would love to see the Spurs try to move up to get Monroe. I think he's the type of player who could turn into an All Star talent under the tutelage of Greg Popovich and Tim Duncan.

Patrick Patterson (Kentucky) - Udonis Haslem

Strength: Motor. Patterson was able to seamlessly handle a coaching change that alienated most of his teammates, while managing to develop a very adequate outside jumper. He strikes me as the type who is never satisfied, but more on that later.

Weakness: Upside. Patterson doesn't have nearly as much room to grow as most of the players in the lottery discussion. He has spent three years honing his craft at Kentucky, and while he has left himself some wiggle room, for the most part, he's a "what you see is what you get" prospect.

Verdict: Instead of providing an in-depth analysis here, I'm just going to through out some terms which I expect to be used to describe Patterson during his time in the NBA: Glue guy. Locker room leader. Long-time NBA veteran. Steady. Positive influence. Professional. Everybody get the idea?

Best Fit: I think Patterson is a perfect fit in Utah because he will be able to contribute immediately, and he won't be affected by playing the 6^th man role.

Ed Davis (North Carolina) - Zach Randolph

Strength: Name recognition. Davis was considered by many to be a lottery pick last year after playing sparingly off the Tar Heels' bench. He made a smart decision by returning to school only to have a wrist injury end his season, but not before he had several impressive performances, many of which were nationally televised.

Weakness: Motor. After winning the 2009 National Championship, the 2010 Tar Heels were granted the opportunity to play on national TV seemingly about three times a week. That level of exposure can be a blessing or a curse, depending on what you do with it. Personally, I watch a handful of UNC games this season with nothing in mind besides getting a read on Davis. Time after time, he floated around the perimeter offensively, looking to set a screen or perform a dribble-handoff, rather than getting his hands dirty in the paint. He would regularly disappear for stretches of time, which is fine for a role player (his 2009 role), but not for a team leader (the role he assumed in 2010).

Verdict: It has become completely impossible for me to stay impartial about Davis. I just plain don't like the way he plays. If you're lazy as a college player, you'll certainly be lazy once the paychecks start rolling in. I'd also like to use this space to point out a quote I heard once: "What do you call the best player on a bad team? A loser."

Best Fit: I would love to see Davis fall to New Orleans. Simply put, Chris Paul wouldn't stand for Davis's loping around aimlessly.

Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania) - Andrea Bargnani

Strength: Shooting. Motiejunas is a huge body with legitimate NBA 3-point range. Some have compared him to Dirk Nowitzki, but that seems optimistic at this point. Motiejunas has a lot of time to grow, but Andrea Bargnani seems like a more fitting comparison.

Weakness: Toughness. An American basketball writer criticizing a European player for being soft? That never happens, right? Well, in this case, I'll risk being cliché. Motiejunas' ability from the outside has preempted him from ever developing a true low-post game, at least at this stage in his development.

Verdict: Because he is just 19-years old and has never been immersed in the North American style of play, it's hard to say just how Motiejunas will develop. He is certainly an above average shooter, especially for a man of his size, but against the greatest players on the planet, that simply may not be enough.

Best Fit: Obviously, Motiejunas needs to find a team that will be patient with his development. There are rumors circulating that he may drop out of the draft unless he gets a promise in the lottery, which may be prudent, considering the depth of the power forward position in this draft.

NBA Combine Winners/Losers 2010

2010-06-01T12:47:00.001-05:00

The following are the biggest winners and losers from the 2010 NBA Draft Combine, which was held last week in Chicago.

WINNERS

Armon Johnson- Johnson had a strong showing in both the shooting and athletic drills, and measured out at 6'3.25" in shoes, which is more than adequate for an NBA point guard. In a draft so thin at the lead guard spot, Johnson really did himself a favor, and should be able to secure a guaranteed contract if he carries his Combine momentum into his individual workouts.

Mikhail Torrance- Torrance was somewhat polarizing coming into the Combine. Some scouts saw him as a first round talent, while others saw him possibly going undrafted. After his shooting display at the Combine, however, Torrance should find himself comfortably in position to be drafted on the 24^th.

Ryan Richards- Richards gained more than any other player from his performance at the Combine, simply because it was the first time that many scouts had seen him. A lanky British center, Richards measured out at 6'11.75" in shoes and showed good mobility in Chicago. He has likely assured himself of a second round selection if he decides to enter this year.

Paul George- George performed admirably, but unspectacularly in the athletic and shooting drills, but measured out very well. With the game of a two guard and the frame of a power forward (6'8.75" in shoes, with a 6'11.25" wingspan, and a 8'11" standing reach), George proved that he will certainly provide matchup problems at the next level.

Trevor Booker- Booker makes this list because of his selection as the Joe Alexander Workout Warrior Award winner. Booker jumped 36", completed 22 reps in the bench press, and had respectable showings in the speed and agility drills. A four year player with a reputation as a rugged rebounder, Booker has moved himself into the first round discussion.

Derrick Favors- I know, I know. Favors' stock was already through the roof, but after measuring 6'10.25" in shoes, with a 7'4" (!!!) wingspan and a 9'2" standing reach, some scouts are beginning to project him as a center at the next level.

LOSERS

James Anderson- Anderson has been lauded by myself and others as the best shooter in this class, but he really picked the wrong time to have an off day. During the Combine shooting drills, Anderson connected on just 58.1% of his unguarded attempts, including just 36% from the NBA 3-point distance. That performance will likely have less weight than his collegiate career and his individual workouts, but it will likely plant a seed of doubt in the mind of many GMs.

Hassan Whiteside- Whiteside's struggles had nothing to do with his on-court performance. In fact, Whiteside's 7'7" wingspan was one of the most eye-popping revelations from the Combine. However, it has been widely reported that Whiteside struggled mightily during the interview process, which appears to confirm the fears of many GMs and scouts.

Cole Aldrich- Aldrich has been projected as a top 10 pick since he decided to bypass the 2009 draft, but with just three weeks until the 2010 version of the Draft, his stock has never been lower. Aldrich measured just 6'9" without shoes and 6'11.25" with them (Aside: I didn't know they made platform shoes for guys who were already 6'9".), and posted a very disappointing 25" vertical jump. He'll probably still land in the lottery, but I would be surprised to see him in the top 10.

Daniel Orton/DeMarcus Cousins- The pair of Kentucky big men have a lot in common. Both are polarizing draft prospects who spent just one year with the Wildcats. The duo also measured around 6'9" barefoot, but the biggest thing that they have in common is their respective weight problems. Cousins weighed in at 292 pounds with 16.4% body fat, while Orton tipped the scales at 269 pounds with 13.8% body fat. Clearly these two have spent a lot of time discussing their similarities over Papa John's and Burger King.

NBA Combine JAWWA Results 2010

2010-06-01T12:42:00.001-05:00

And now, with no further adieu, the results of the NBA Combine's most sought after "prize", the first annual Joe Alexander Workout Warrior Award.

HONORABLE MENTION

Wesley Johnson- Johnson had the best flat-footed leap at 32" and a very impressive 37" running leap. He also did 16 reps and had good speed (3.1) and agility (11.4) drills.

Dominique Jones- Jones led all guards with 19 reps, jumped a respectable 32.5", had an average sprint (3.3), and ran a great agility drill (10.9).

JAWWA TOP 5

Terrico White- White had an up-and-down overall performance in the drills, but he gains inclusion in the JAWWA Top 5 because he produced the only 40" vertical at the entire camp. The rest of his numbers (10 bench press reps, 11.4 seconds in the agility drill, and a 3.2-second sprint) were pretty unremarkable, but White's vertical leap really came out of nowhere and should help his perception as an athlete.

Lazar Hayward- Hayward helped his stock immensely during the combine, displaying both his athleticism and his shooting ability. He was probably a fringe second rounder before the Combine, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him move into the lower 40's after his showing in Chicago. Hayward posted a 36" vertical, 15 reps, a 3.3 sprint, and tied for the best agility drill at the Combine with a 10.9-second effort.

Luke Babbit- Babbit is an outstanding scorer and a very capable rebounder, but his athleticism has never been an asset. However, Babbit shocked his doubters by posting a vertical leap of 37.5", which was one of the best at the Combine. He also ran a solid agility drill at 11 seconds flat. Assuming that things go well in his individual workouts, Babbit should land in the lottery, possibly as high as number 8 to the Clippers. (Anybody remember which pick the Bucks used on Joe Alexander two years ago??)

Armon Johnson- Johnson is the tough luck runner-up for this year's JAWWA. Like Lazar Hayward, Johnson really helped his stock in both the athletic and shooting portions of the Combine. His athletic drills were consistently above average, especially for a player of his size. Johnson posted a fantastic vertical at 38.5", and did an astounding 18 bench press reps (which was just one behind Dominique Jones, who lead all perimeter players with 19), and put up solid speed (3.2) and agility (11.3) numbers.

Trevor Booker- Booker had a fantastic all-around performance. With his 36" vertical, 22 reps, 11.2-second agility drill, and 3.1-second sprint, he moves up from a likely second round pick to a fringe first rounder, depending on his individual workouts. I would love to see a one-on-one matchup of Booker and Gani Lawal, who I've had penciled in as a first rounder all season.

NBA Combine Shooting Results 2010

2010-05-28T13:01:00.003-05:00

NBA Combine Shooting Drill Winners and Losers

Winners

Mikhail Torrance- Torrance had the third best overall shooting percentage in the drills, and was exceptional in the mid-range. He made 80% of his collegiate 3's, 56% of his NBA 3's, and made 39-of-42 shots during the timed shooting on the move drill (shots from 15-18 feet).

Andy Rautins- Rautins was always a zone-buster in his time at Syracuse, and Ed at nbadraftblog.com chose him as the best 3-point shooter in this class a few weeks back. The Combine drills proved him right, as Rautins led the group with a combined shooting percentage of 77.7%. Rautins is still a fringe second-round pick, but the Orlando Magic could see him as a J.J. Redick type with little risk at pick #59.

Willie Warren- Warren was a real surprise. I've been hammering him all season because of his poor 3-point shooting percentage (31%), but he really brought it at the Combine. Warren excelled from the mid-range, but also made 76% of his collegiate 3's and 72% of his NBA triples.

Armon Johnson- Johnson had the fifth best overall shooting percentage. Johnson made 76% of his collegiate 3's and 44% of his NBA 3's, which isn't overwhelming, but is impressive for a player who's game is built around penetration. Johnson is far from having the reputation of a dead-eye shooter, but the Combine drills showed that he is, at the very least, competent as he makes the leap to the NBA.

Losers

James Anderson- Anderson is widely considered the best long-range shooter in this class, but he really hurt that reputation with his showing at the Combine. He made a respectable 52% of his collegiate 3's, but only 36% of his NBA long balls, ending with an overall shooting percentage of just 58.1%.

Damion James- James failed to shoot above 50% in four of the six drills and ended up with an overall shooting percentage of just 47.4%, which was the worst of any player outside of Charles Garcia, who I've omitted because I still can't understand why he worked out with the threes instead of the fours.

Stanley Robinson- Robinson is a fantastic athlete, but my fears that he'll struggle in the half-court were confirmed at the Combine. Robinson shot just 47.8% overall, which was just ahead of the Combine's worst shooter, Damion James. Like James, Robinson failed to eclipse 50% from either 3-point distance, and reached that mark only twice in six drills.

Lance Stephenson/Devin Ebanks- While both players had an overall shooting percentage of over 50%, both showed a remarkable disparity between their mid-range and outside games. Ebanks tied Charles Garcia for the last with a 32% clip from the NBA 3-point line, while Stephenson did just better, at 36%.

Notes

Jordan Crawford led the group with 20 makes in 25 attempts from the NBA distance, good for 80%.

Torrance made all of his shots in the first timed shooting drill, making 13-of-13 from the right elbow to the baseline from 15-18 feet.

Lazar Hayward attempted the most shots, with 125.

Warren made the most, at 92-of-120.

NBA Combine Athletic Results 2010

2010-05-28T13:01:00.001-05:00

Solomon Alabi- About as expected. Very poor in the agility and speed drills. Unremarkable vertical jump. 10 reps.

Cole Aldrich- Up and down. Surprising speed (3.35) and agility (11.48), with acceptable vertical numbers, but a very discouraging 10 bench press reps.

Al-Farouq Aminu- As expected. 33.5" vertical is impressive, as are speed (3.3) and agility (11.3) for a man of his size. 13 reps is respectable too.

James Anderson- Very good performance outside of agility drill (11.9). After watching live on ESPN3, I can't help but wonder if Anderson had trouble understanding the format of the drill. 35.5" vertical, 14 reps, and 3.2 sprint are all positive results.

Luke Babbit- Outstanding vertical leap of 37.5", challenging for the best at the combine. Lane agility time of 11 seconds flat is also very impressive. Candidate #1 for the Joe Alexander Workout Warrior Award.

Eric Bledsoe- Only competed in bench press. 9 reps is respectable, but unspectacular.

Trevor Booker- Great all-around performance. 36" vertical, 22 reps, 11.2 agility, and 3.1 sprint are all above average for big men. Booker is also in consideration for the JAWWA.

Craig Brackins- No 40" vertical, but 35" is respectable. 11.7 and 3.4 are decent agility and speed numbers, but 6 reps from a "power" forward is disconcerting.

Avery Bradley- Up and down. Very impressive 37.5" vertical and 3.1 sprint, but 11.5 lane agility and 2 reps aren't great.

Derrick Caracter- Probably punched his ticket to Europe. Too slow to play the four in the NBA (12.8 agility and 3.6 sprint are both well below average for a power forward), and doesn't have ideal size to play center. 22 reps are very impressive, however.

Sherron Collins- A bit of an enigma. Showed good burst (3.2 sprint) and explosiveness (33" vertical), but did very poor in the agility drill (12.3). Like James Anderson, I wonder if Collins had a hard time understanding the nuances of the agility drill.

DeMarcus Cousins- About as expected. Nothing Cousins did is really eye-popping, though I find it somewhat suspicious that he chose not to lift. 27.5" vertical, 11.4 agility, and 3.5 sprint are all average among big men.

Jordan Crawford- Somewhat up and down. Crawford posted a solid 34.5" vertical and an 11.0 agility time, but only a 3.4 sprint. That shows his quick first step (ability to create a shot or stay in front), but less than ideal top-end speed (transition offense/defense).

Ed Davis- Solid showing. Davis didn't lift (presumably due to his wrist injury), but he posted a 36" vertical, which is huge for a man of his size (In comparison, Derrick Favors jumped 35.5").

Devin Ebanks- Missed an opportunity to help himself. Ebanks wasn't poor, but his athleticism should be a selling point. A 32" vertical, 6 reps, an 11.7 agility time, and a 3.4 sprint are all just average.

Derrick Favors- Freak athleticism confirmed. Favors jumped 35.5" on the run and 31.5" flat-footed. His flat-footed effort was tied for second best at the Combine, just a half an inch behind Wesley Johnson, and it shows his second leap ability (a trait that has many comparing him to Amare Stoudemire).

Tiny Gallon- So-so except agility. Gallon put on a great show on Day 1, but was only mediocre on Day 2. In fact, his agility time wouldn't even begin to qualify as mediocre. The 13.4 seconds posted by Gallon was nearly 2 seconds off of the desired time of 11.5 seconds.

Charles Garcia- One glaring weakness. Garcia put up respectable numbers in speed (3.2), agility (11.7), and vertical jump (30.5"), but he could only muster 2 reps.

Paul George- Why skip everything but the bench press if you can only put up 4 reps?

Luke Harangody- Exactly as expected. Harangody put up pedestrian numbers in the vertical jump (28.5"), and mediocre numbers in speed (3.4) and agility (11.8), but he led the Combine with 23 reps at 185 lbs.

Manny Harris- Harris only performed the bench press, where he completed a solid 11 reps.

Lazar Hayward- JAWWA nominee number 3. Hayward posted a 36" vertical, 15 reps, a 3.3 sprint, and a Combine-best 10.9 second agility drill.

Gordon Hayward- Steady in all categories. Hayward was near the mode in agility (11.7) and speed (3.2), and around the mean in the bench press (10 reps), but he impressed with his leaping ability. He notched 34.5" with a 30.5" flat-footed effort.

Xavier Henry- May have moved into the lottery. Henry had an up-and-down year, but the biggest knock was his lack of athleticism. A 36.5" vertical and an 11.1 second agility drill may quiet those doubts.

Darington Hobson- Steady. Nearly exactly the same scores as Gordon Hayward, except a little worse in the flat-footed vertical jump.

Damion James- Showed his competitiveness. James will never be confused for the best athlete in this class, but he performed very well at the Combine. A 33" vertical, 13 reps, a 10.9 agility drill, and a 3.2 sprint are all very good.

Armon Johnson- Johnson is the fourth candidate for the JAWWA. He posted a fantastic vertical at 38.5", and did an astounding 18 reps (which was just one behind Dominique Jones, who lead all perimeter players with 19), and put up solid speed (3.2) and agility (11.3) numbers.

Wesley Johnson- JAWWA honorable mention #1. Johnson had the best flat-footed leap at 32" and a very impressive 37" running leap. He also did 16 reps and had good speed (3.1) and agility (11.4) drills.

Dominique Jones- JAWWA honorable mention #2. Jones led all guards with 19 reps, jumped a respectable 32.5", had an average sprint (3.3), and ran a great agility drill (10.9).

Jerome Jordan- Didn't take part in any drills.

Sylven Landesberg- Average across the board. 32" vertical, 8 reps, 11.6 agility drill, and 3.4 sprint. There's really nothing of note there at all.

Gani Lawal- Solid showing. Lawal's numbers are very close to Landesberg's actually, aside from his 20 reps and faster sprint (3.2).

Greg Monroe- Up and down. Monroe posted solid, but unspectacular results in his vertical (29") and his bench press (15 reps), but appear to be a little out of shape, running a 12.1 agility drill and a 3.4 sprint.

Daniel Orton- Out of shape. Like Monroe, Orton struggled in the agility (12.3) and speed (3.4) drills. He did post a 30.5" vertical, and he completed 13 reps.

Artsiom Parakhouski- Nothing surprising. Parakhouski isn't an athletic marvel, so his modest numbers shouldn't be a surprise. 26.5" vertical, 16 reps, 12.1 agility, 3.3 sprint.

Patrick Patterson- Very consistent. Patterson lived up to his MO by being extremely consistent. He posted a 33.5" vertical, 17 reps, and respectable times in the agility (11.1) and speed (3.3) drills.

Dexter Pittman- Didn't take part in any drills.

Andy Rautins- Decent showing, but still a fringe 2^nd rounder. Nothing spectacular about a 30.5" vertical, 8 reps, an 11.3 agility drill, or a 3.5 sprint.

Ryan Richards- Obviously still needs some work. A 28.5" vertical with 4 reps at 185 pounds is not indicative of a player ready to produce in the NBA. An 11.3 agility drill and a 3.4 sprint aren't overwhelming either.

Stanley Robinson- Somewhat disappointing. I may be the only one, but the first thing I scanned for when these numbers came out was Robinson's vertical. 37.5" is very good, but I was surprised to see him fail to get to 40".

Larry Sanders- Hurt his stock a bit. Sanders really struggled with the agility drill (12.5), failed to display his leaping ability (28"), and confirmed that he needs to add muscle (7 reps).

Jon Scheyer- Didn't take part in any drills.

Lance Stephenson- Solid showing. Stephenson impressed with a 33" vertical, and was average in everything else (10 reps, 11.4 agility, 3.4 sprint).

Mikhail Torrance- Showed that he belongs. Torrance showed that he belongs in the first round discussion, but up comparable numbers to the much better known Stephenson (32"-8 reps-11.4-3.2).

Evan Turner- About as expected. Turner showed good explosiveness, leaping 34.5". He also put up an 11-second flat agility drill, which is very good. His 9 reps and 3.3-second sprint were just average.

Ekpe Udoh- Up and down. Udoh put up nice numbers in the agility (11.2) and sprint (3.3) drills, but was very impressive in the leaping drills, where he did 31" flat-footed and 33.5" on the run.

Jarvis Varnado- Lacks strength and mobility. Varnado had a good vertical at 32.5", but did only 3 reps and struggled in the agility (11.6) and speed (3.4) drills.

Greivis Vasquez- Didn't take part in any drills.

John Wall- If you didn't have a man-crush before, you should now. 39" vertical, 10.8 agility drill, 3.1 sprint. Do I need to explain?

Willie Warren- A solid showing. A 31.5" vertical, 10 reps, and an 11.2 agility time are all very good. He did post a 3.5-second sprint, but I'll assume that's an aberration.

Terrico White- The final JAWWA nominee. White was the surprise winner of the best vertical leap at an even 40". He also posted respectable efforts in the bench press (10 reps), agility (11.4), and speed drills (3.2).

Hassan Whiteside- Up and down. Whiteside surprised me by completing 12 reps on the bench press. He also jumped 31.5", but had below average times in the agility (11.8) and speed (3.5) drills.

2010 Top 10 SFs (6-10)

2010-05-26T10:39:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the number 6-10 small forward prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

6. Quincy Pondexter (Washington) – Josh Childres

Strength: Maturity. Along with Damion James and Sherron Collins, Pondexter is one of only three seniors who have a chance of being picked in the first round. He had a very consistent four year career at Washington, where he became one of the best scorers in the country.

Weakness: Exposure. Pondexter was never a huge name, and at Washington he was overshadowed by the likes of Spencer Hawes, Jon Brockman, and more recently highly touted freshman Abdul Gaddy.

Verdict: Pondexter may not have superstar potential, but he could be a steal for someone in the late 20's or early 30's. He'll be able to come in and add eight points per game as a rookie, with an expanded role increasing his output.

Best Fit: Someone is bound to fall in love with Pondexter, and I hope that like Marcus Thornton (Hornets) and Wesley Matthews (Jazz) last year, that team lands him on draft day, because if he's given an opportunity, Pondexter will almost certainly make the most of it.

7. Gordon Hayward (Butler) – James Jones

Strength: Basketball IQ. Hayward is probably number two in this class in terms of basketball IQ, right behind Evan Turner. He understands the nuances of the game and does a great job of getting his teammates involved.

Weakness: Physicality. Despite Hayward's size and offensive skill, he'll likely be a liability early in his pro career due to his lack of strength and physicality. I won't be surprised to hear the term "soft" used to describe Hayward more than once.

Verdict: For some reason, I think of Hayward in the same light as former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Each is undeniably skilled, with a defined set of physical limitations. However, it is the intangible aspect of each player's game that is his best asset. Unfortunately, I think the speed of the NBA game will limit Hayward's ability to read and react like he did so effectively at Butler. It pains me to say, because I like the kid, but I just don't see his skills translating well to the NBA. With that said, I think Hayward would be an unbelievably perfect fit for the European style of play.

Perfect Fit: I've had Hayward slotted in with San Antonio at #20 in my mock draft, and I think that's a good fit because Greg Popovich knows better than to ask too much of Hayward athletically. As tepid as I am about Hayward's prospects, if he could make it anywhere, he could make it in San Antonio.

8. Devin Ebanks (West Virginia) – Earl Clark

Strength: Potential. Ebanks had huge hype when he entered West Virginia last year, but he really hasn't done much to live up to expectations in his two years in Morgantown. He is still an intriguing prospect because of his long arms and his athleticism, but he is far from a finished product.

Weakness: Maturity. Ebanks missed the first few games of the Mountaineers regular season with an undisclosed personal issue, which only added to the belief that Ebanks was somewhat unstable. Add to that his inconsistent play and lack of statistical improvement, and many wonder whether Ebanks will ever reach his potential.

Verdict: At this point, Ebanks is a hit-or-miss prospect at best. Personally, I see him as the type of player who will be better on his second or third team, once he realizes that his NBA dream is hanging in the balance.

Best Fit: The best thing that could happen to Ebanks is falling into the second round. Having to win a contract rather than having one guaranteed to him would be a huge motivational tool, which is not to be underestimated when dealing with 20-year old young men. A team with a promising perimeter rotation would also challenge Ebanks, so a team like New Jersey (#31) would be optimal.

9. Stanley Robinson (Connecticut) – Rodney Carney

Strength: Athleticism. Robinson will be a top five NBA athlete as soon as his name is called on draft night. He can jump out of the gym and get up and down the floor with the best of them.

Weakness: Polish. Size and athletic ability aren't the issue with Robinson. The real question is what he'll be able to do in a half-court set in the NBA. He doesn't have great ball skills or a consistent jump shot, and his ability to defend at the next level is still up in the air.

Verdict: I've been very critical of Robinson from the beginning because I believe that at the very foundation of basketball scouting is the question of whether a guy is an athlete or a basketball player. Robinson is clearly a great athlete, but when I try to determine what he'll do on the floor, I run into trouble after "get up and down in transition" and "posterize guys on a nightly basis". He just doesn't seem to have one usable basketball skill which would make it necessary to keep him on the floor.

Perfect Fit: Put simply, the Warriors.

10. Darington Hobson (New Mexico) – J.R. Giddens

Strength: Versatility. Hobson averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, and four and a half assists per game for Steve Alford's Lobo's last season. He has the size to play either wing position in the NBA and could even play some point forward if the situation dictated.

Weakness: Lack of quality experience. Hobson spent only one year in Division I, and at New Mexico of all places. While the Mountain West was relatively strong in 2010, it paled in comparison to major conferences like the ACC and the Big 12. After earning a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament, is appeared that the March Madness stage would be Hobson's coming out party, but an early exit at the hands of Pac-10 #11 seed Washington (See: #6: Quincy Pondexter) doused those hopes.

Verdict: Honestly, Hobson is one of the players in this class that I know the least about. He had a very productive season at New Mexico, but for some reason, I give a lot of the credit to the system and the players around him. Watching him at the Chicago Combine, Hobson moved well, but he seems a little awkward to me. Like I said, my knowledge of him is very limited, but I don't see him as an NBA starter.

Perfect Fit: I think Hobson would be one of the better options for the Knicks when their two second round picks come up in the late 30's. Hobson is versatile and would be a nice fit with Wilson Chandler or some unnamed free agent signee.

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 24th)

2010-05-24T16:23:00.001-05:00

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

No brainer at the top.

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

This one is also a no brainer. It may be someone else picking, but the value is too much to draft anyone else at #2.

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)

Favors is a perfect fit next to Brook Lopez. That will be a formidable frontcourt duo for the foreseeable future.

Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

There is absolutely no reason for the Timberwolves to make the pick here. The either need to trade up to get the player they really want (Turner) or trade down and still get the player they covet at #4 (Wesley Johnson).

Sacramento Kings- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)

I still think that Aminu is a better fit than Wesley Johnson because he (Aminu) provides the versatility that the Kings currently lack.

Golden State Warriors- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)

The Warriors have more than enough perimeter players already and Monroe is the best big man available at this draft slot.

Detroit Pistons- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)

If Minnesota is unable to move up and get Turner, I expect them to cut a deal with Detroit that allows the Pistons to obtain Cousins, while Minnesota moves down to pick Johnson and add another asset (perhaps Tayshaun Prince).

Los Angeles Clippers- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

The Clippers need a small forward, they aren't afraid of the public scrutiny of making a huge reach in the top 10, and Donald Sterling loves Whitey, so this pick makes a lot of sense.

Utah Jazz (from New York)- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

Speaking of teams that love Whitey, it's hard to see the Jazz passing on Cole Aldrich, but Patterson is ready to be a contributor from day one, and he may have slightly more upside than Aldrich.

Indiana Pacers- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)

The Pacers could opt for a power forward here, but they have larger needs in the backcourt, and Bradley adds toughness at both guard positions.

New Orleans Hornets- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

Aldrich is the perfect compliment to Emeka Okafor because he is proficient defensively, but much more of a weapon on the offensive end.

Memphis Grizzlies- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)

I made this pick about a month ago, and you probably thought I was crazy, but George will be a lottery pick come draft night. Take it to the bank.

Toronto Raptors- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

I still like the idea of Udoh in a Raptors' uniform, don't ask me why.

Houston Rockets- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

This is spectacular value for Darryl Morey and the Rockets at #14.

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)
Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
Miami Heat- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)
Boston Celtics- Damion James- SF (Texas)
San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Portland Trail Blazers- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)
Atlanta Hawks- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Willie Warren- PG (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)
New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)
Orlando Magic- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)
Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)

2010 Top 10 SFs (1-5)

2010-05-24T12:28:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the top 5 small forward prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest) – Lamar Odom

Strength: Athleticism. Aminu is a truly remarkable athlete. Standing 6'8.5" with a standing reach of over 9 feet, Aminu has above average small forward size. He excels in transition and demonstrates a solid dribble-drive game.

Weakness: Jump shot. Aminu really struggles with his jump shot outside of about 15 feet. In today's NBA, that is a requirement from a successful small forward.

Verdict: I'm one of a few who believes that Aminu is better suited as a power forward at the next level. He's a great rebounder, who is admittedly a little undersized for the NBA four spot, but his speed and athleticism would make him a mismatch for bigger, more stationary defenders.

Best Fit: An up-tempo system like New York or Golden State. Golden State's unique brand of run-and-gun small-ball fits Aminu like a glove. Unfortunately, Anthony Randolph already fills that role for the Warriors.

Wesley Johnson (Syracuse) – Corey Brewer

Strength: Shooting range. Johnson is a versatile athlete who performs well without excelling in any single area. He had great numbers at Syracuse in terms of steals and blocks, but a lot of that is a result of their zone system. However, Johnson's natural range and scoring ability appear to be above average for an NBA small forward.

Weakness: Shot creation. While Johnson is a more than capable shooter, scoring in the NBA requires more than that. Johnson will struggle to create air space at the next level, especially if he lands with a team who needs him to carry the offense.

Verdict: I'm not as high on Johnson as most. He had a wonderful season in his only year at Syracuse, but I worry that much of that success is a factor of the system in which he played. He is a great athlete with a nice jumper, but his dribbling, physical development, and on-ball defense will all need work at the next level. I'm not saying Johnson won't have a productive NBA career, but there is certainly still some work to be done.

Perfect Fit: I'd love to see Johnson somewhere like Philadelphia or Golden State where the existing perimeter players are athletic slashers who will look to drive-and-kick, accentuating Johnson's strength as an outside shooter.

Paul George (Fresno State) – Danny Granger

Strength: Size. George has fantastic size for a perimeter player. Like most players on this list (and frankly, most NBA small forwards) his natural position is somewhat in question. He may be more of a shooting guard, but at 6'8.75" with a 8'11" standing reach, he has power forward size!

Weakness: Lack of quality experience. George played two years at Fresno State, but rarely faced NBA-quality competition. He was also put into a situation where he seldom played a team-oriented offensive game, which may have imparted on him some selfish tendencies.

Verdict: While George is far from a "can't miss" prospect, his size and scoring ability are undeniable. Players who's bodies are larger than their skill set (See: Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, etc.) are always valuable, as are players who display the ability to score on a consistent basis. I think that when it's all said and done, George will likely be the steal of the 2010 draft.

Best Fit: George could fall anywhere between #11 and #20, with just about everyone in that range providing a respectable fit.

Damion James (Texas) – Jonas Jerebko

Strength: Consistency. James has been a solid contributor at Texas for four years, and now he'll take his smooth mid-range jumpers and tough rebounds to the NBA. He should be able to make an immediate impact on whichever team chooses him.

Weakness: Athleticism. Unlike some of the other players on this list, James won't wow you with his athletic ability. He'll never win a dunk contest and he'd be less than comfortable leading the fast break.

Verdict: Not every player in the NBA is a superstar. GMs come into the draft knowing that only a handful (if that) of the player pool will become All Stars. Therefore, the goal for most of those picking outside of the top five is to find a solid contributor. James is exactly that. He has a level-headed personality and a very reliable game on both ends of the floor. He'll likely have a very long and successful NBA career, which elicits the term "glue guy" more than once.

Best Fit: With the NBA's free agency period looming, many teams will likely have a new look next season. James would be a good fit with one such team, because his maturity and style of play will help a potentially mismatched set of pieces fit together nicely.

Luke Babbit (Nevada) - Ryan Anderson

Strength: Efficiency. Babbit was probably the most efficient scorer in college basketball this past season, posting a 50% clip from the field, 42% from 3-point range, and an incredible 92% from the free throw line.

Weakness: Athleticism. NBA scouts wonder whether Babbit has a natural position and whether he's athletic enough to guard NBA threes or strong enough to guard NBA fours.

Verdict: Babbit had a strong showing at the Chicago Combine, but his stock assures to continue to polarize NBA scouts. Memphis is reportedly very high on him, with the 12^th pick a real possibility, but falling into the 20's is also possible. Ultimately it will be Babbit's effectiveness on defense that will define his career. If his tenacity and will are enough to overcome his physical inadequacies, he'll have a long career. If he becomes blindsided by the money and the prestige of being an NBA player, and his intensity level suffers, he'll find himself in Adam Morrison territory.

Best Fit: Babbit would be a great fit with a team like the Boston Celtics, who really take pride in the defensive intensity. Learning good habits will be a great foundation to a long and successful career.

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 21st)

2010-05-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

Wall doesn't find a perfect fit in Washington, but unless there's a trade at the top, he'll find himself in a Wizards uniform next fall.

Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

There has been minimal discussion about the 76ers going a bigger direction with this pick, but the likelihood is that Turner is picked here, either by Philadelphia, or perhaps by the Timberwolves, who are reportedly very high on Turner.

New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)

Favors is and always has been the best fit for New Jersey, so slipping back to number three can't be too devastating for the re-building Nets.

Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)

Wesley Johnson is the trendy pick at this spot, but I think David Khan will realize that Cousins has too much value to pass over. Even if he never plays a game for Minnesota, Cousins has to be the pick here.

Sacramento Kings- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)

Sacramento would love to land Cousins, but if not they'll take their pick between Aminu and Wesley Johnson. I think Aminu's versatility will be the deciding factor, because Johnson isn't a clear cut upgrade over Francisco Garcia or Donte Greene at this point.

Golden State Warriors- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)

Golden State will likely undergo a culture shift when their new ownership group takes the reigns, so I expect Nelly ball to be a thing of the past. Monroe is a big man who can score on the block and get all of the Warriors' shooters involved.

Detroit Pistons- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

I think the Pistons will end up with Monroe very high on their wish list, but they'll settle for Aldrich, who is perhaps the most NBA-ready big man in this draft.

Los Angeles Clippers- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)

This is a no-brainer for the Clippers, which means they'll probably find some way to screw it up. With that said, Johnson should be the pick here because of his athleticism and ability to stretch the floor.

Utah Jazz (from New York)- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

Utah badly needs to address their lack of depth up front, even if Carlos Boozer re-signs this summer. Davis has a lot of potential, but he isn't quite as big of a risk as Hassan Whiteside.

Indiana Pacers- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

If Indiana finds themselves in position to either draft a power forward (for the second straight time in the lottery) or reach for a player of need, Udoh would make sense. His value is still high at this spot, and his skill set is very different than the players the Pacers already have on their roster (Troy Murhpy and Tyler Hansbrough, specifically).

New Orleans Hornets- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)

Like Utah, the Hornets could use some frontcourt depth at any cost. Whiteside has as much upside as anyone in this draft, but his maturity is a serious concern. Playing behind a seasoned shot blocker like Emeka Okafor would be about the best fit imaginable.

Memphis Grizzlies- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)

Memphis is reportedly very high on Babbit, who can shoot and rebound, but lacks a natural position. Some scouts feel that his intensity and hustle will make up for his physical shortcomings, but others think he could be the next Joe Alexander.

Toronto Raptors- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)

Bradley's stock is already on the rise, but I expect it to really explode once we enter the one-on-one workouts. Bradley is a stifling defender who should give most of the point and combo guards in this class a very tough time.

Houston Rockets- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)

Darryl Morey is one of the most savvy GMs around, so I expect him to make a great pick at the 14^th spot. George has undeniable scoring ability and his athleticism is certainly NBA-caliber.

Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

Milwaukee would be very pleased at this spot. They have their choice between two second tier power forwards (Patterson and Donatas Motiejunas) and two second tier shooting guards (Xavier Henry and James Anderson), which are their two biggest need positions. In the end, they choose Patterson, who has too much value to bypass at #15.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

After selecting Cousins at #4, Minnesota still has some serious needs on the perimeter. Lucky for them, Henry and James Anderson are still both on the board here. Anderson is the more polished, but Henry has the most upside, which appeals to the re-building Timberwolves.

Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)

I've been saying it for months- this is too perfect of a fit for it not to happen.

Miami Heat- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)

Miami lost confidence in Mario Chalmers in his sophomore season, and although Miami has plenty of cap space to work with, the pickings at point guard are very slim. They would be smart to add a point through the draft and focus their energy elsewhere during free agency.

Boston Celtics- Damion James- SF (Texas)

Boston needs to address their lack of scoring off their bench. James is a versatile player, who can score and rebound from either forward spot.

San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)

I've been on this one pretty regularly as well. Hayward's high basketball IQ and winner's mentality make him a perfect fit with Los Spurs.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)

Orton is a very polarizing prospect, but I really can't seem him landing in the lottery. Aside from that, Milwaukee and Boston are possibilities, but slipping to the Thunder seems more likely.

Portland Trail Blazers- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

Portland gets a top 10 talent all the way down at number 22, and Kevin Pritchard and company get another highly touted foreign prospect to boot.

Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)

Drafting Cousins likely means that Al Jefferson is on his way out of Minnesota, so drafting a power forward makes some sense. However, with five picks in this draft, selecting a foreign prospect makes even more.

Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)

This is another pick that I fell in love with months ago. Lawal is a local product and would give the Hawks bench an infusion of youth and toughness, which they badly need.

Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Willie Warren- PG (Oklahoma)

After a bit of a reach for Babbit, the Grizzlies to it again with Warren. He was a projected lottery pick, with some (myself included) projecting him in the top five early in the season, but his play didn't justify those projections. Selecting Warren at this point in the draft would be a calculated risk and a leap of faith, but he is very talented.

Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Larry Sanders- C (Virginia Commonwealth)

Oklahoma City will probably look to target a point guard at some point in this draft, and going center-center doesn't make the most sense (Unless you're David Khan. Zing!), but Sanders's value is too much to pass up at #26.

New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)

With Favors added to the roster, the Nets should have their long-term frontcourt all but figured out. Jordan Crawford is the best shooting guard option, but Williams and Dominique Jones are better suited for a combo-guard role, which the Nets could use behind Devin Harris and Courtney Lee.

Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)

Memphis will probably move on of these picks, but if not, Brackins would be a nice fit because of his ability to stretch the floor from the four spot.

Orlando Magic- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)

This is basically a dream scenario for the Magic, who get a very talented player who could eventually be a replacement for the recently over-the-hill Vince Carter.

Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)

Alabi isn't the most skilled big man, but size sells in the NBA draft, and at 7'1", Alabi has plenty of it.

2010 Top 5 SGs (Plus 1)

2010-05-20T12:19:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of the top 6 shooting guard prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

Evan Turner (Ohio State) – Brandon Roy

Strength: Versatility. Turner can play and defend all three perimeter positions. He has the vision and passing ability of a point guard with the size of a small forward. He may need to add a little bulk, but that shouldn't be a problem when basketball becomes his full-time job.

Weakness: 3-point shooting. Turner is an absolute beast in the mid-range, but he struggles to shoot consistently from distance. Adding an outside shot would make him an absolute nightmare to defend.

Verdict: Turner's commitment to the game (as displayed by his remarkably quick return from two broken vertebrae) will help him iron out the issues with his outside jump shot, but I'm not sure his game lends itself well to being a franchise cornerstone. I just think Turner is too unselfish to ever become a 20 point scorer, which makes him more valuable as a second or third option, but never as a franchise player.

Best Fit: Turner would be a great fit alongside a shoot-first point guard or on a roster with an established first offensive option.

Xavier Henry (Kansas) – Corey Maggette

Strength: Body. Henry is the type of guy who looks like an NBA player. He was worked very hard to maintain his physique, which should help him in attacking the basket at the next level.

Weakness: Athleticism. Henry is a very adequate long-range shooter and a very efficient scorer, but he failed to really wow scouts with his athleticism. In today's NBA, explosiveness is at a premium, and Henry's perceived lack thereof will likely see him fall out of the lottery.

Verdict: I've been extremely high on Henry all along. At various points during the season I've had him as high as #6 in my mock draft, and I truly believe he'll end up as one of the five best players from this draft.

Best Fit: Henry would be the most productive playing along with an effective drive-and-kick point guard like Derrick Rose or Brandon Jennings.

James Anderson (Oklahoma State) – Michael Redd

Strength: Scoring. Anderson is a volume shooter and a big time scorer. His best asset is his deadly outside shot, which is by far the best of any prospect in this draft class.

Weakness: Creating space. As adept as Anderson is at scoring the basketball, the biggest knock on him is his inability to create his own shot. He is athletic and able to finish at the basket, but his first step is below average by NBA standards.

Verdict: Like I mentioned with Sherron Collins yesterday, Anderson's outcome will be largely determined by his situation. If he has the benefit of playing with one or more true creators, he'll be a dangerous shooter, who can't be left open anywhere on the floor. However, if he's pressed with creating for himself or teammates, he'll struggle to find his rhythm and maintain his confidence.

Best Fit: Like Henry, Anderson needs to find a fit with a team with a drive-and-kick point guard.

Jordan Crawford (Xavier) – JR Smith

Strength: Athleticism. Everyone knows about Crawford's dunk over LeBron James, but the real value of his athleticism is in his ability to get to a spot. His first step is very quick, and even NBA defenders will have a tough time staying in front of him.

Weakness: Maturity. Crawford has always had the reputation of a hot-head and he did little to change that perception this season. Granted, Xavier had a good year and a great tournament run, but even in his team's NCAA tournament games, Crawford was obviously disinterested at times.

Verdict: Crawford has all the physical tools to be a lottery pick, but I still question his motor and his commitment to his teammates. After all, if a guy is dogging it in a Sweet 16 game (probably the biggest of his life to that point), how much can he really care? I would love to see Crawford blossom into an All-Star at the next level, but I think it's far more likely that his discontent over his limited early role becomes a distraction.

Best Fit: Crawford would be a great fit on a team like the Celtics, where his Alpha Dog mentality would be forcibly replaced.

Avery Bradley (Texas) – Randy Foye

Strength: Defense. Bradley is an intriguing prospect because his defensive acumen isn't typical from a player of his size. Bradley is only 6'1.5" in socks, but showed a remarkable ability to defend both guard spots in his only season at Texas.

Weakness: Lack of natural position. Bradley doesn't have the pedigree or experience to be a traditional point guard at the next level. He also doesn't have the prototypical size to play the off-guard in the NBA.

Verdict: Bradley is far from a "can't miss" prospect, but his mix of skills is very intriguing. He is an electric scorer, capable of going off at any moment, and he is likely the best perimeter defender in this draft. If Bradley were three inches taller, he would be a sure-fire top 10 pick. As is, he'll likely land somewhere in the late teens. If he can develop a point guard mentality, he'll be a great NBA player, but if he's destined to be a combo-guard, he's a career rotation player.

Best Fit: Bradley is very raw, so I think finding the right head coach is the most important factor in finding his ideal situation. A grizzled former point guard like Avery Johnson or Scott Skiles would do Bradley a world of good.

Dominique Jones (South Florida) – Tony Allen

Strength: Versatility. Jones showed his ability to be a high volume scorer in his time at South Florida, but he also showed the ability to defend and even handle the point guard responsibilities from time to time.

Weakness: 3-point shooting. Jones scored 21 points per game, but only shot 31% from the college 3-point line. If he wants to stick in the NBA, he'll need to work on his perimeter jumper.

Verdict: I love Jones's versatility. He offers a very diverse skill set, but he's not really excellent at any one thing. That makes him a poor fit as a starter, but a huge asset as a reserve. Jones will never be a huge name, but he'll have a productive career as a middle-of-the-rotation player.

Best Fit: I'd like to see Jones in a three guard rotation, where he gets a chance to handle and run the point at times, and can play alongside a point guard in other instances.

2010 Top 5 PGs

2010-05-19T14:11:00.000-05:00

The following is a list of the top 5 point guard prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with their current NBA comparison, their main strength, biggest weakness, career outlook, and ideal situation.

John Wall (Kentucky) - Russell Westbrook

Strength: Athletic ability. There are several choices here, but what separates Wall from your run-of-the-mill collegiate point guard is his ability to do everything on the floor at full speed while remaining under control.

Weakness: Decision-making. Wall was somewhat turnover prone at Kentucky, and his shot selection was less than ideal at times. Decision-making is a biggie at the next level, but Wall has adequate basketball IQ, so his inconsistencies in decision-making should iron themselves out as he matures.

Verdict: Wall is hands down the best prospect in this class. Aside from his undeniable physical tools, he has also shown real maturity during the lead-up to the lottery and combine. He will almost certainly be a franchise player and a perennial All-Star sooner rather than later.

Best Fit: Anywhere. Consider yourselves lucky Wizards' fans.

Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky) - Kyle Lowry

Strength: Physicality. Bledsoe has arguably the best frame of any point guard prospect in this class, which is the basis for much of his perceived upside. He uses his strength and quickness effectively in getting to and finishing at the rim.

Weakness: Polish. Bledsoe showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, but he was forced off of the ball so much because of Wall that he never truly demonstrated his point guard skills. At this point, Bledsoe's ability to play on the ball in a pro-style half-court set is very much in question.

Verdict: Another year at Kentucky could have sent him into the stratosphere, but at this point, I see Bledsoe more as a backup than a starter. He is a promising player, who could flourish nicely into a larger role if he receives the type of nurturing and individual attention he requires to reach his potential.

Best Fit: Backing up a veteran point guard who is willing and able to teach him the tricks of the trade.

Armon Johnson (Nevada) - Carlos Arroyo

Strength: Size. At 6'3" Johnson has ideal size to play point guard at the next level. He has the size to see over smaller defenders, along with the quickness to put a defense on its heels.

Weakness: Versatility. Johnson has great size and adequate speed, but his jump shot is very much a work in progress. Some players, such as Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo, have been able to work a jump shot into their repertoire. Others, such as Raymond Felton and Mike Conley, have been hamstrung by their inability to capitalize on perimeter openings.

Verdict: The development of Johnson's jump shot will be the defining factor in his career. If he can hone his J, he'll be a serviceable NBA backup. If he can't he'll probably find himself somewhere in Europe.

Best Fit: A team with a traditional four guard rotation, where Johnson fills the role of the backup point guard.

Willie Warren (Oklahoma) - Jerry Bayless

Strength: Scoring ability. Warren will never be confused with a traditional pass-first point guard. His effectiveness centers on his ability to get to the hole and score in the paint. Like Johnson, however, Warren struggles to shoot from distance, which makes life very difficult for a score-first player.

Weakness: Lack of a natural position. It actually puts me in physical distress to simply list Warren as a point guard for the purposes of this list. However, that is the position he will be asked to play at the next level, so I will include him anyway. The problem with Warren lies in his unwillingness (not just his inability) to get his teammates involved, and mental hurdles are much more difficult to overcome than those of the physical nature.

Verdict: I'm struck by Warren's overt immaturity. He seemed to butt heads with Jeff Capel this past season, with reports surfacing at one point that Capel didn't want his star player to return for his junior season. Warren clearly faces an uphill battle at the next level, both from a physical and mental standpoint. I would be very surprised to see any tangible impact from him as a rookie, with future returns murky as well.

Best Fit: A team with a more contemporary three guard rotation, where Warren can come off the bench to play with either starting guard.

Sherron Collins (Kansas) – Jameer Nelson

Strength: Ball handling. Collins may have the best crossover the NBA has seen since Allen Iverson. That may seem like hyperbole, but Collins is without a doubt the best ball handler in this class. He possesses a very quick first step, which makes him very hard to stay in front of, and he is an adequate outside shooter, which forces defenders to stay close.

Weakness: Humility. Collins gained a lot from his four years at Kansas, but I think that assuming and maintaining the role of team leader may have gone to his head. Collins was so valuable at the college level because of his killer instinct, but in the NBA, where everyone has that killer instinct, you have to learn to pick your spots. Collins showed in the Jayhawks' tournament exit to Northern Iowa that he has yet to learn such discretion.

Verdict: Collins has as much to gain from finding the right fit as any player in this draft. He could mature into a vocal leader, capable of making an impact off the dribble or from the perimeter, or he could toil in self-destructive behavior (See: Nate Robinson) and flame out before reaching his potential.

Best Fit: There are two options here- either a team completely devoid of point guard talent (Hello, Knicks!) where Collins can be the man running the offense, or a team with an established, vocal, veteran leader and a need at backup point guard.

2010 NBA Mock Draft v1

2010-05-18T19:45:00.001-05:00

1)Washington Wizards- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)
2)Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
3)New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
4)Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
5)Sacramento Kings- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)
6)Golden State Warriors- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)
7)Detroit Pistons- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
8)Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)
9)Utah Jazz (from New York)- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
10)Indiana Pacers- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
11)New Orleans Hornets- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)
12)Memphis Grizzlies- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
13)Toronto Raptors- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)
14)Houston Rockets- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
15)Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
16)Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
17)Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
18)Miami Heat- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)
19)Boston Celtics- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
20)San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)
21)Oklahoma City Thunder- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
22)Portland Trail Blazers- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
23)Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Damion James- SF (Texas)
24)Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
25)Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)
26)Oklahoma City Thunder- Willie Warren- SG (Oklahoma)
27)New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
28)Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)
29)Orlando Magic- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)
30)Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 18th- 2 rounds)

2010-05-18T09:55:00.001-05:00

Two rounds with no comments today. Commented mocks will resume tomorrow. Be sure to catch the NBA Draft Lottery tonight on ESPN. Coverage starts at 7:30 ET, with the Lottery unveiled at 8 ET!!

Philadelphia 76ers (6)- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)
Detroit Pistons (7)- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
New Jersey Nets (1)- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
Sacramento Kings- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)
Golden State Warriors- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)
Washington Wizards- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)
Los Angeles Clippers- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
Utah Jazz (from New York)- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
Indiana Pacers- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
New Orleans Hornets- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)
Memphis Grizzlies- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Toronto Raptors- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)
Houston Rockets- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
Miami Heat- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
Boston Celtics- Damion James- SF (Texas)
San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)
Portland Trail Blazers- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Willie Warren- SG (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)
New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
Orlando Magic- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)
Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)

New Jersey Nets- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)
Sacramento Kings- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)
Washington Wizards- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)
Golden State Warriors- Darington Hobson- SF (New Mexico)
Detroit Pistons- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)
Milwaukee Bucks- Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)
New York Knicks- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)
New York Knicks- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)
Indiana Pacers- Sherron Collins- PG (Kansas)
Miami Heat- Quincy Pondexter- SF (Washington)
Miami Heat- Jarvis Varnado- PF (Mississippi State)
Los Angeles Lakers- Da'Sean Butler- SG (West Virginia)
Portland Trail Blazers- Greivis Vasquez- PG (Maryland)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Robin Benzing- SF (Germany)
Phoenix Suns- Sylven Landesberg- SG (Virginia)
Milwaukee Bucks- Artsiom Parakhouski- C (Radford)
Miami Heat- A.J. Ogilvy- C (Vadnerbilt)
San Antonio Spurs- Tibor Pleiss- C (Germany)
Dallas Mavericks- Charles Garcia- PF (Seattle)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Nemanja Bjelica- SF (Serbia)
Boston Celtics- Matt Bouldin- PG (Gonzaga)
Atlanta Hawks- Manny Harris- SG (Michigan)
Los Angeles Clippers- Jerome Randle- PG (California)
Utah Jazz- Trevor Booker- PF (Clemson)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Paulo Prestes- PF (Brazil)
Dallas Mavericks- Aubrey Coleman- SG (Houston)
Los Angeles Lakers- Omar Samhan- C (Saint Mary's)
Orlando Magic- Mikhail Torrnace- SG (Alabama)
Phoenix Suns- Latavious Williams- SF (Tulas 66ers- NBDL)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 17th- 2 rounds)

2010-05-17T10:31:00.001-05:00

Remember to catch the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery tomorrow May 18^th at 8 ET on ESPN.

Sacramento Kings (3)- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)
New Jersey Nets (1)- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)
Golden State Warriors (4)- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)
Minnesota Timberwolves- DeMarcus Cousins- C (Kentucky)
Washington Wizards- Al-Farouq Aminu- SF (Wake Forest)
Philadelphia 76ers- Wesley Johnson- SF (Syracuse)
Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)
Los Angeles Clippers- Hassan Whiteside- C (Marshall)
Utah Jazz (from New York)- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)
Indiana Pacers- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)
New Orleans Hornets- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)
Memphis Grizzlies- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Toronto Raptors- Eric Bledsoe- PG (Kentucky)
Houston Rockets- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)
Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago)- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)
Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee)- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)
Miami Heat- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)
Boston Celtics- Luke Babbit- SF (Nevada)
San Antonio Spurs- Gordon Hayward- SF (Butler)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Daniel Orton- C (Kentucky)
Portland Trail Blazers- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Jordan Crawford- SG (Xavier)
Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Willie Warren- SG (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)- Kevin Seraphin- PF (France)
New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)
Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Damion James- SF (Texas)
Orlando Magic- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)
Washington Wizards (from Cleveland)- Craig Brackins- PF (Iowa State)

New Jersey Nets- Elliot Williams- SG (Memphis)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Armon Johnson- PG (Nevada)
Sacramento Kings- Miroslav Raduljica- C (Serbia)
Washington Wizards- Greivis Vasquez- PG (Maryland)
Golden State Warriors- Jarvis Varnado- PF (Mississippi State)
Detroit Pistons- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)
Milwaukee Bucks- Dominique Jones- SG (South Florida)
New York Knicks- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)
New York Knicks- Terrico White- SG (Mississippi)
Indiana Pacers- Sherron Collins- PG (Kansas)
Miami Heat- Darington Hobson- SF (New Mexico)
Miami Heat- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)
Los Angeles Lakers- Da'Sean Butler- SG (West Virginia)
Portland Trail Blazers- Sylven Landesberg- SG (Virginia)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Artsiom Parakhouski- C (Radford)
Phoenix Suns- Trevor Booker- PF (Clemson)
Milwaukee Bucks- Robin Benzing- SF (Germany)
Miami Heat- Matt Bouldin- PG (Gonzaga)
San Antonio Spurs- Tibor Pleiss- C (Germany)
Dallas Mavericks- Charles Garcia- PF (Seattle)
Oklahoma City Thunder- Nemanja Bjelica- SF (Serbia)
Boston Celtics- Jerome Randle- PG (California)
Atlanta Hawks- Manny Harris- SG (Michigan)
Los Angeles Clippers- J.P. Prince- SF (Tennessee)
Utah Jazz- Paulo Prestes- PF (Brazil)
Minnesota Timberwolves- Omar Samhan- C (Saint Mary's)
Dallas Mavericks- Aubrey Coleman- SG (Houston)
Los Angeles Lakers- A.J. Ogilvy- C (Vanderbilt)
Orlando Magic- Ryan Wittman- SF (Cornell)
Phoenix Suns- Latavious Williams- SF (Tulsa 66ers- NBDL)

Court Visionaries

We've Moved!!!!

2011 Top 50

2011 NBA Mock Draft v14

2011 NBA Mock Draft v13

2011 NBA Mock Draft (v12)

Official NBA Lottery Prediction

NBA Lottery Explained

2011 NBA Mock Draft (Lottery v1)

2011 YtheFnot? NFL Mock Draft

2011 NBA Mock Draft v9

Playoff projections

2011 NBA Mock Draft v8

2011 NBA Mock v7

2011 NBA Mock Draft v6

Carmelo-Knicks Reaction

2011 NBA Mock Draft: All Star Edition

2011 NBA Mock Draft v4

2011 NBA Mock Draft v3 (2 Rounds)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v2

2011 NBA Mock Draft v1

2010-2011 NBA Predictions

Reacting to LeBron's Decision

2011 "Way Too Early" Mock Draft

Draft Grade Curve

2010 NBA Draft Grades

Final 2010 NBA Mock Draft

Final 2010 Player Rankings

Top 10 Riskiest Picks

Top 10 NBA Ready Picks

Logic Behind a MIN-DET Trade

SAC-PHI Trade Reaction

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 13th)

On the Clock: New Jersey Nets

On the Clock: Philadelphia 76ers

On the Clock: Washington Wizards

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 8th)

2010 Top 5 Cs

2010 Top 10 PFs (6-10)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (June 2nd)

2010 Top 10 PFs (1-5)

NBA Combine Winners/Losers 2010

NBA Combine JAWWA Results 2010

NBA Combine Shooting Results 2010

NBA Combine Athletic Results 2010

2010 Top 10 SFs (6-10)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 24th)

2010 Top 10 SFs (1-5)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 21st)

2010 Top 5 SGs (Plus 1)

2010 Top 5 PGs

2010 NBA Mock Draft v1

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 18th- 2 rounds)

2010 NBA Mock Draft (May 17th- 2 rounds)