2010 NBA Mock Draft - Version 1.1
Well, I decided to redo my mock with my official predictions. Same disclaimer as before.
I don't really know anything about many of these players yet, as I haven't followed recruiting very deeply. And we all know that's what you need to follow to be an expert for an NBA Draft. So don't take this one too seriously. We'll see during the next few months who's the real deal and who isn't. This order is based on my predictions, which I'll post a little later. I also did a lottery, the numbers in parenthesis are where the top three teams originally picked. Enjoy!
1. New Jersey Nets (4) - PG John Wall, Kentucky. If the Nets luck out and get the first pick, they'll have a dilemma. Do they go with the best player or take one of many of the big men? I put Wall here cause I think he's the cream of the crop. And from what I'm hearing about some of those New Jersey fans is they're sick of Devin Harris already. Wall will be star power that could bring a top free agent to Jersey.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (1) - PF Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech. The Bucks are in prime position. They'll get their pick of a much needed big man. I picked Favors here cause of his strength and athleticism. The Bucks haven't had a super talented big man in quite a long time.
3. Golden St. Warriors (7) - PF Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania. Who knows what the Warriors are going to do. Who knows what team will watn Motiejunas. Perfect fit!
4. Sacramento Kings - PF Ed Davis, North Carolina. Jason Thompson would be a good backup on a good team. The Kings are very far from a good team, but they will be much improved if they can land the super athletic Ed Davis.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves - SG Evan Turner, Ohio St. I like Evan Turner. I think he's the Brandon Roy of this draft. Some team is going to get a future 15-18 ppg scorer. The Timberwolves have a hole the size of the grand canyon at shooting guard just waiting for him.
6. Utah Jazz (from New York Knicks) - C Cole Aldrich, Kansas. I think Aldrich is overrated, but what a perfect spot for him to land in Utah. The Jazz are still looking for their next Greg Ostertag.
7. Charlotte Bobcats - PG/SG Willie Warren, Oklahoma. The Charlotte Bobcats could really use a guy who can create his own offense. The Cats are pretty much entirely composed of role players, so Warren could make noise pretty quicklky.
8. Memphis Grizzlies - SF Devin Ebanks, West Virginia. The Grizzlies are pretty well set with their starting lineup. So like last year they can draft for depth. Ebanks will be nice insurance should Rudy Gay be traded or resign with someone else.
9. Indiana Pacers - PG/SG Malcolm Lee, UCLA. I think Malcolm Lee is the next little used UCLA guard to shoot up the draft boards. The Pacers are stuck in a position where they can't draft great players to get better because they're not bad enough.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder - PF/C Greg Monroe, Georgetown. The Thunder are a year away from playoff contention IMO. Monroe is a versatile big man who can fill a variety of roles off the bench. A perfect backup big man who could wind up being a starter for a somewhat small team.
11. New Orleans Hornets - PF Craig Brackins, Iowa St. The Hornets backup big men are Sean Marks and Hilton Armstrong. They need to draft size in the worst way.
12. Philadelphia 76ers - SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest. The Sixers have young men backing up the 1, 4 and 5 positions, so they could just opt for wing depth.
13. Detroit Pistons - C Solomon Alabi, Florida St. The Pistons are a pretty small team now, so they would do good to draft someone who can hopefully fill Ben Wallace's role as a rebounder and shot blocker.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns) - PF Patrick Patterson, Kentucky. Patterson is undersized but tough as an ox. The Thunder will love his aggressiveness.
15. Los Angeles Clippers - SF/PF John Henson, North Carolina. It seems every year there is a super skinny big man that goes around this spot. The Clippers will hope Henson is more Anthony Randolph and less Brandan Wright.
16. Miami Heat - PF/C Larry Sanders, VCU. Like the Hornets, the Heat just really need to draft some front court depth.
17. Houston Rockets - C Jerome Jordan, Tulsa. Is Jerome Jordan good enough to be drafted this high? Probably not. But the Rockets are desperate for a 7 footer to back up (and play for) Yao Ming.
18. Chicago Bulls - SG Avery Bradley, Texas. The Bulls were wise to not resign Ben Gordon for the money he wanted. But they will miss his pure scoring off the bench. The Texas freshman Bradley has similar skills.
19. Toronto Raptors - SF Kyle Singler, Duke. Singler has good size and a feel for the game. He can shoot the rock and is tougher then many think. He could team with Andrea Bargnani to cause matchup problems on the offensive end.
20. Washington Wizards - PF Jan Vesely, Czech Republic. The Wizards are extremely deep now. Whoever they draft will be purely a project.
21. Atlanta Hawks - PF DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky. Cousins is a big bull who can provide a few minutes off the bench.
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver Nuggets) - SG/SF Paul George, Fresno St. The Wolves go with best player available here. They could use a big wing player to come off the bench.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah Jazz) - PF Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi St. Varnado can do one thing well. But that thing is better then anyone in college did last year. With three first round picks, the Wolves can use one on the shot blocking specialist.
24. Portland Trail Blazers - PF Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech. Blazers are another deep team. So best player available here too.
25. New Jersey Nets (from Dallas Mavericks) - C AJ Oglivy, Vanderbilt. The Nets haven't gotten much out of Josh Boone and Sean Williams, so they could opt for another big man.
26. Boston Celtics - PG Sherron Collins, Kansas. A player limited in talent, but a smart point guard to back up Rajon Rondo.
27. San Antonio Spurs - SF Stanley Robinson, Connecticut. Played four years in college but is still a project.
28. Orlando Magic - PG/SG Terrico White, Mississippi. Another project, combo guard.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers - SF/PF Tomislav Zubcic, Croatia. The Cavaliers will want to save money to resign LeBron.
30. Memphis Grizzlies (from Los Angeles Lakers) - PG/SG Greivis Vasquez, Maryland. A tall combo guard who can back up both back court spots.
I don't really know anything about many of these players yet, as I haven't followed recruiting very deeply. And we all know that's what you need to follow to be an expert for an NBA Draft. So don't take this one too seriously. We'll see during the next few months who's the real deal and who isn't. This order is based on my predictions, which I'll post a little later. I also did a lottery, the numbers in parenthesis are where the top three teams originally picked. Enjoy!
1. New Jersey Nets (4) - PG John Wall, Kentucky. If the Nets luck out and get the first pick, they'll have a dilemma. Do they go with the best player or take one of many of the big men? I put Wall here cause I think he's the cream of the crop. And from what I'm hearing about some of those New Jersey fans is they're sick of Devin Harris already. Wall will be star power that could bring a top free agent to Jersey.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (1) - PF Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech. The Bucks are in prime position. They'll get their pick of a much needed big man. I picked Favors here cause of his strength and athleticism. The Bucks haven't had a super talented big man in quite a long time.
3. Golden St. Warriors (7) - PF Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania. Who knows what the Warriors are going to do. Who knows what team will watn Motiejunas. Perfect fit!
4. Sacramento Kings - PF Ed Davis, North Carolina. Jason Thompson would be a good backup on a good team. The Kings are very far from a good team, but they will be much improved if they can land the super athletic Ed Davis.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves - SG Evan Turner, Ohio St. I like Evan Turner. I think he's the Brandon Roy of this draft. Some team is going to get a future 15-18 ppg scorer. The Timberwolves have a hole the size of the grand canyon at shooting guard just waiting for him.
6. Utah Jazz (from New York Knicks) - C Cole Aldrich, Kansas. I think Aldrich is overrated, but what a perfect spot for him to land in Utah. The Jazz are still looking for their next Greg Ostertag.
7. Charlotte Bobcats - PG/SG Willie Warren, Oklahoma. The Charlotte Bobcats could really use a guy who can create his own offense. The Cats are pretty much entirely composed of role players, so Warren could make noise pretty quicklky.
8. Memphis Grizzlies - SF Devin Ebanks, West Virginia. The Grizzlies are pretty well set with their starting lineup. So like last year they can draft for depth. Ebanks will be nice insurance should Rudy Gay be traded or resign with someone else.
9. Indiana Pacers - PG/SG Malcolm Lee, UCLA. I think Malcolm Lee is the next little used UCLA guard to shoot up the draft boards. The Pacers are stuck in a position where they can't draft great players to get better because they're not bad enough.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder - PF/C Greg Monroe, Georgetown. The Thunder are a year away from playoff contention IMO. Monroe is a versatile big man who can fill a variety of roles off the bench. A perfect backup big man who could wind up being a starter for a somewhat small team.
11. New Orleans Hornets - PF Craig Brackins, Iowa St. The Hornets backup big men are Sean Marks and Hilton Armstrong. They need to draft size in the worst way.
12. Philadelphia 76ers - SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest. The Sixers have young men backing up the 1, 4 and 5 positions, so they could just opt for wing depth.
13. Detroit Pistons - C Solomon Alabi, Florida St. The Pistons are a pretty small team now, so they would do good to draft someone who can hopefully fill Ben Wallace's role as a rebounder and shot blocker.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns) - PF Patrick Patterson, Kentucky. Patterson is undersized but tough as an ox. The Thunder will love his aggressiveness.
15. Los Angeles Clippers - SF/PF John Henson, North Carolina. It seems every year there is a super skinny big man that goes around this spot. The Clippers will hope Henson is more Anthony Randolph and less Brandan Wright.
16. Miami Heat - PF/C Larry Sanders, VCU. Like the Hornets, the Heat just really need to draft some front court depth.
17. Houston Rockets - C Jerome Jordan, Tulsa. Is Jerome Jordan good enough to be drafted this high? Probably not. But the Rockets are desperate for a 7 footer to back up (and play for) Yao Ming.
18. Chicago Bulls - SG Avery Bradley, Texas. The Bulls were wise to not resign Ben Gordon for the money he wanted. But they will miss his pure scoring off the bench. The Texas freshman Bradley has similar skills.
19. Toronto Raptors - SF Kyle Singler, Duke. Singler has good size and a feel for the game. He can shoot the rock and is tougher then many think. He could team with Andrea Bargnani to cause matchup problems on the offensive end.
20. Washington Wizards - PF Jan Vesely, Czech Republic. The Wizards are extremely deep now. Whoever they draft will be purely a project.
21. Atlanta Hawks - PF DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky. Cousins is a big bull who can provide a few minutes off the bench.
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver Nuggets) - SG/SF Paul George, Fresno St. The Wolves go with best player available here. They could use a big wing player to come off the bench.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah Jazz) - PF Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi St. Varnado can do one thing well. But that thing is better then anyone in college did last year. With three first round picks, the Wolves can use one on the shot blocking specialist.
24. Portland Trail Blazers - PF Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech. Blazers are another deep team. So best player available here too.
25. New Jersey Nets (from Dallas Mavericks) - C AJ Oglivy, Vanderbilt. The Nets haven't gotten much out of Josh Boone and Sean Williams, so they could opt for another big man.
26. Boston Celtics - PG Sherron Collins, Kansas. A player limited in talent, but a smart point guard to back up Rajon Rondo.
27. San Antonio Spurs - SF Stanley Robinson, Connecticut. Played four years in college but is still a project.
28. Orlando Magic - PG/SG Terrico White, Mississippi. Another project, combo guard.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers - SF/PF Tomislav Zubcic, Croatia. The Cavaliers will want to save money to resign LeBron.
30. Memphis Grizzlies (from Los Angeles Lakers) - PG/SG Greivis Vasquez, Maryland. A tall combo guard who can back up both back court spots.
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