Tuesday, February 23, 2010

2010 NBA Mock Draft (Version 16)

1)    New Jersey Nets- John Wall- PG (Kentucky)

 

Wall gets the nod again at the top of the draft.  He has perennial All-Star written all over him.

 

2)    Minnesota Timberwolves- Evan Turner- SG (Ohio State)

 

Turner has great size and ball-handling skills, but will need to hone his outside shooting and decision making in order to be an elite NBA player.

 

3)    Golden State Warriors- Derrick Favors- PF (Georgia Tech)

 

Favors has great athleticism and could develop into a fantastic player in the right situation.  Something tells me that Golden State may not be that situation, so look for Favors to do his best work in another team's uniform.

 

4)    Sacramento Kings- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

 

The Kings need a franchise point guard badly, so a trade here seems plausible, but Motiejunas is young, versatile, and very skilled.

 

5)    Utah Jazz (from New York)- DeMarcus Cousins- PF (Kentucky)

 

Utah's lottery hopes now rest squarely on the frail shoulders of Tracy McGrady, and that has to be a good feeling.  The Knicks played horribly leading up to the deadline, and they'll likely have some chemistry issues to overcome over the final stretch.  Utah's pick could easily end up in the top five, and a talent like Cousins would be a wonderful fit next to Paul Milsap and Deron Williams.

 

6)    Indiana Pacers- Wesley Johnson- SG (Syracuse)

 

Johnson is a versatile scorer with legitimate leadership qualities.  He would look great next to Danny Granger, and be a stabilizing force on both ends for Indiana.

 

7)    Detroit Pistons- Cole Aldrich- C (Kansas)

 

Aldrich has a great post game, but his limited athleticism will likely find him behind Cousins on draft day.  Still, he's happy at number seven, and Detroit is thrilled to add a back-to-the-basket big man who can really rebound.

 

8)    Washington Wizards- Xavier Henry- SG (Kansas)

 

The Wizards need a center or a guard to play along with Randy Foye, Al Thornton, and Andray Blatche.  Center is probably the more pressing need, but the value is better with Henry, who could turn into a very effective player at the next level.

 

9)    Philadelphia 76ers- Ed Davis- PF (North Carolina)

 

Philadelphia hopes that Jodie Meeks will answer their need for outside shooting, so they'll likely turn their attention to a big man on draft night.  Davis is likely done for the season with a broken wrist, but he still has the tools and potential of a top ten pick.

 

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

 

Aminu is a bit of a tweener, but he runs the floor well and would be a good fit in an athletic Clippers lineup, which is now devoid of a starting small forward next year after trading Al Thornton to Washington.

 

11) Milwaukee Bucks- Greg Monroe- PF (Georgetown)

 

Monroe is a polarizing prospect, much like Brandon Jennings was last year.  The Bucks take a risk again and will likely see huge reward as Monroe grows into all of his skills.

 

12) Houston Rockets- Solomon Alabi- C (Florida State)

 

Alabi needs some seasoning, but could develop into a very nice player down the line.  His size and surprising shooting touch will allow him to spell Yao Ming right out of the gate.

 

13) Memphis Grizzlies- Willie Warren- PG (Oklahoma)

 

Memphis would be a good fit for Stanley Robinson as well, but the addition of Ronnie Brewer gives them some flexibility on the perimeter.  Behind Mike Conley Jr., however, they are very thin.

 

14) New Orleans Hornets- Patrick Patterson- PF (Kentucky)

 

Again, Stanley Robinson would be a nice fit here, but Patterson is a much safer bet and New Orleans could use some depth up front.

 

15) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte)- Avery Bradley- SG (Texas)

 

Minnesota needs help on the perimeter, and while a small forward would be a better fit, Bradley has too much talent and upside to pass up at number 15.  Stanley Robinson and Jan Vesely are possibilities as well.

 

16) Chicago Bulls- James Anderson- SG (Oklahoma State)

 

Anderson dropped 31 points and 12 rebounds (including 5-for-8 from 3-point range) in an upset win over Baylor on Saturday.  He is the best pure shooter in this class, and has been working hard to develop the rest of his game, as well.

 

17) Miami Heat- Hassan Whiteside- PF (Marshall)

 

Whiteside's athleticism and potential are intriguing, but he definitely has bust potential also.  I would be surprised to see him find a position in the lottery with the depth at power forward in this class, but he's worth a shot at number 17.

 

18) Portland Trail Blazers- Stanley Robinson- SF (Connecticut)

 

Portland needs an infusion of youth and energy, and Robinson has those in spades.  He is hands-down the best athlete in the class and his basketball IQ is vastly underrated.

 

19) Miami Heat (from Toronto)- Lance Stephenson- SG (Cincinnati)

 

Stephenson has huge potential and would benefit from playing with a consummate professional like Dwyane Wade.  He also has good size and length, giving Miami flexibility on their perimeter.

 

20) Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix) - Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

 

Vesely is a very promising prospect.  He is only 19-years old, but is already showing an affinity for defense and a nice outside jump shot.  Oklahoma City has 12 players under contract for next year, plus two first round picks, and adequate cap space, so drafting an international prospect makes a lot of sense here.

 

21) San Antonio Spurs- Damion James- SF (Texas)

 

James is a great rebounder with a very smooth offensive game.  He will likely be a career reserve, but a very productive one.

 

22) Oklahoma City Thunder- Larry Sanders- PF (Virginia Commonwealth)

 

Sanders needs to put on weight and refine his offensive game to stick at the next level, but he has great shot-blocking instincts, which is exactly what the Thunder could use.

 

23) New Jersey Nets (from Dallas)- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)

 

Hamilton has a long, lean frame, similar to former Longhorn Kevin Durant.  He should be able to play multiple positions in the NBA and could develop into a deadly scorer.

 

24) Atlanta Hawks- Gani Lawal- PF (Georgia Tech)

 

Lawal isn't a freak athlete or a natural shot blocker, but he's a ferocious rebounder with an underrated offensive arsenal.  He's a safe pick for the hometown Hawks, and will be a nice upgrade from Jason Collins and Othello Hunter.

 

25) Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver)- Paul George- SF (Fresno State)

 

George is a very talented player, who struggles with his decision-making.  He is clearly the number one option at Fresno State, but he takes way too many contested jump shots and will need to work on his maturity and basketball IQ to stick at the next level.

 

26) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)- Dexter Pittman- C (Texas)

 

Pittman has a wide body and pretty good shot-blocking instincts.  He is also remarkably efficient offensively, and well worth a look at the end of the first round.

 

27) Cleveland Cavaliers- Jerome Jordan- C (Tulsa)

 

Jordan may not have the upside of Ekpe Udoh and others, but the Cavs could use a true center to go along with their roster full of power forwards (Anderson Varejao, Antawn Jamison, JJ Hickson, Leon Powe, and Darnell Jackson).

 

28) Boston Celtics- Devin Ebanks- SF (West Virginia)

 

Ebanks has fallen steadily after beginning the season as a potential top five pick.  His play has been inconsistent and uninspired, and staying at West Virginia for a third season seems like his best option, unless the Mountaineers can generate a late run in March.

 

29) Orlando Magic- Sheron Collins- PG (Kansas)

 

Collins wins out over Armon Johnson, Eric Bledsoe, and Kemba Walker as the third in a very thin class at point guard.  He has a very effective crossover, a solid jump shot, and the mentality of a leader, which should translate well at the next level.

 

30) Memphis Grizzlies (from LA Lakers)- Ekpe Udoh- PF (Baylor)

 

Udoh is a freak athlete with wonderful shot-blocking instincts.  He definitely needs some seasoning, and would benefit from being brought along slowly, but could develop nicely in the right system.

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