1. New Jersey Nets: John Wall PG Kentucky (6-4, 195)
Though he come back to earth some since an unbelievable start and is having some turnover problems, it does nothing to affect John Wall's status as the top prospect of the draft and one of best in the last ten years. He's the prototypical point guard size and an otherworldly athlete with remarkable speed and quickness. Offensively, he's got a decent jump shot that he can certainly improve, but his main asset is his quickness to the rim in the half-court and his speed in the open court, which is truly remarkable (Just ask UNC). He's a terrific finisher who can either throw down an explosive dunk, or contort for the layup. Perhaps most impressive is that with all his scoring ability he is a creative and willing passer (he averages 7 assists a game) which means he understand what it means to be a point guard. He does need to improve his decision making however, averaging 4 turnovers per game. Defensively he has the potential to be great, and is solid now though he's still learning and tends to coast somewhat, which was exposed in harshly when South Carolina's Devan Downey clowned on him to the tune of 30 points and a Kentucky loss. If the Nets win the lottery, they either need to figure out a way to play Wall and Devin Harris together or trade Harris; as good as he is, Wall could and probably will become a top 5 player in the league.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: DeMarcus Cousins C/PF (6-11, 280)
Based on pure talent, DeMarcus Cousins is a top 3 pick but if his bad behavior and questions about his character and conditioning persist, he could easily fall out of the top ten. Cousins has everything you'd want in the a center, he's got an NBA body with great length and strength, he's a force down low and can also step out an hit an NBA three pointer. He's got the hands and the footwork to be a dominate scorer in the paint and the strength and length to be a great rebounder and defender. He's basically got it all. However, he's got a questionable motor, a short temper, and isn't in great condition right now. He may never be a great leader or character guy, but he's won't have to be on most teams and if brought along right, he'll be a top 5 center in the league If the Timberwolves have this pick, I think it has to be Cousins. I know they are in desperate need of wings, but the bigger need is the defensive liability of playing Al Jefferson and Kevin Love together in the front court They're both terrific players (Jefferson is my favorite player in the league) but neither is a great defensive player and it's way too easy to drive straight the rim against them. On defense having a player like Cousins to patrol the paint will do wonders for the Wolves D. Also, it will allow the Wolves to limit Jefferson’s minutes at center, which isn’t his natural position. Plus Cousins’ range allows Jefferson to play down low and kick out of double teams to Cousins if necessary.
3. Golden State Warriors: Evan Turner SG/SF Ohio State (6-7, 205)
The Golden State Warriors can go several ways with this one, do they draft another athletic power-forward like Anthony Randolph/Brandan Wright? (Derrick Favors?) Do they take another combo guard like Monta Ellis/Stephen Curry? (Willie Warren?) Do they take another shot blocking, offensively raw center like Andris Biedrins? (Hassan Whiteside?) Really, the only place they don't already have a young, potential filled player is on the wings, and the number 1 wing is Evan Turner from Ohio State. He can play either guard position or SF, which fits the Warriors lineup shuffling tendencies and is stat-stuffing machine (18.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG 5.7 APG 2 SPG) who has had several triple-doubles in his career. He's a great rebounder for his position and an excellent and willing passer with a fantastic handle for his size. Offensively, he's fantastic at getting to the rim and finishing, though he's not a tremendous athlete, he has good strength and body control. His outside shot needs work, but that will come with time. He does average 4 turnovers a game, but that comes from essentially being OSU's offense. Besides that, the only other red flag with him is that he broke two vertebrae in his back (back injuries are always tricky) but he showed his toughness by coming back way ahead of schedule and returning to form almost immediately. Defensively, like all college players, he's learning but plays with a lot of effort and intensity which is a good sign. For the Warriors, he fits a need and fits their system partially. The one problem is that pairing him with Ellis and Curry you get have three ball dominant players, but if Turner can adjust like Curry has and be unselfish and make the right pass they'll be deadly together. The way he works in their system is in the open floor with their uptempo style of play, his passing ability and vision will be great on the fast break.
4. Indiana Pacers: Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech (6-9, 245)
Though many people have been disappointed in Derrick Favors because he hasn't been fantastic, just steady, obviously don't watch Georgia Tech play and just look at the box score. Watching Tech is painful a lot of the times because Favors and Gani Lawal are extremely talented players, but they play with a bunch of out-of-control, shoot first guards with terrible vision. Instead of feeding the beasts in the post, they make crazy drives or jack up threes. Lawal does get some touches, but Favors pretty much has to live off of put backs and maybe an alley-oop or two. Favors is criticized for not having any go-to moves, but he never has a chance to develop them in-game because he never gets the ball on the block. Defensively, he shows that he has the potential to be a shot blocking force (2 BPG), as well as a great rebounder, and anchor the defense of a team for years to come. He's got great mobility and athleticism to go with incredible length (supposed 9ft+ wingspan) and he really likes to play defense. On offense, once he fills out and gets some solid post moves, he's going to be terrifying in the paint, similar to Amare Stoudemire pre-injury, as you can see from some of his high school highlights. He's not a great shooter, but that comes with time. The Pacers drafted Tyler Hansbrough last year, and I think it makes sense for them to take Favors, as they're set at the 2, 3, and 5 for now. Their biggest need is point guard, but taking a point guard here would be a HUGE reach. Pairing Favors with Roy Hibbert makes sense because Hibbert isn't very mobile and Favors is. Both are shot-blockers and this would give Indiana a very intimidating front line when they played together, or help them make up for the defensive ineptitude of their other front court guys, mixing and matching with Hibbert with Hansbrough or Troy Murphy at the 4, or Murphy playing center while Favors plays PF.
5. Detroit Pistons: Donatas Motiejunas PF Lithuania (7-0, 220)
The Pistons have some nice role players on their team, but they don't have a number 1, superstar to build around. With the free agent market of 2010 chock full of top talents, the Pistons clearly want to make a run at one of them. I just don't see a place on their roster for a rookie right now, which is why Donatas Motiejunas is a perfect fit for them because he's clearly not NBA ready and can continue to play in Europe for a year or two before joining what will presumably be a talent laden team ready to contribute. As a prospect, he's very talented but very raw at only 19 years old. He's a aggressive scorer but right now his hard to evaluate in his potential to score in the NBA because he's very thin and needs to add significant muscle to play in the Association. At 7 feet, he's got a good handle and decent shooting ability but lacks consistency. He moves very well for his size and is great running the floor. He's good down in the post as well, but his lack of bulk tends to hurt him somewhat. He blew up at the Nike Hoops Summit and performed very well. The most important thing for him to do now is bulk up and gain experience.
6. Washington Wizards: Ed Davis PF North Carolina (6-10, 225)
At the beginning of the year, the Ed Davis hype was crazy. He'd hardly played at North Carolina averaging just 6 points and 6 rebounds his freshman season, yet I'd even seen him as the number 1 overall pick in some mocks. While after getting big time minutes his sophomore season he won't be anyone's number 1 pick, he's a top ten lock despite several injuries this year. I've been very impressed with him so far this year, even on a UNC team sinking fast, and he's starting to fulfill his massive potential. Unusually for someone of his size and gifts, he's a very high effort/motor player who'll fight for everything he can get close to. He's almost like former teammate Tyler Hansbrough in his effort level, but with length and athletic gifts for him to be able to carry on successfully in the NBA. Whereas Hansbrough is struggling to finish at the next level, Davis has the length and athleticism to finish just fine against NBA forwards. Davis isn't exactly refined on the offensive end, but he shows steady improvement and certainly has the physical tools. He needs to bulk up significantly, but once he does and is able to bang down low, he'll be a force in the paint. He's a great rebounder (9.5 RPG) both offensively and defensively because of his length, effort, and understanding of body positioning under the rim. Along with rebounding, his most polished skill right now is shot blocking (2.7 BPG) which he is effect at doing without fouling. In Washington, everything has gone wrong. Gilbert Arenas... well you know. But even when he was playing they weren't winning. I think it's clear that Arenas isn't the type of player you can build a team around. It's also clear, that even though they're nice players Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison are number 2s. And in the NBA 2+2=/=1. If I were the Wizards, I'd completely blow it up and trade Butler and Jamison for expiring contracts and picks. Try to get the Jazz's number 1 maybe. I think with all the locker room problems and bad attitudes that the Wiz have had to put up with this year and years past, they'll love a humble, hard worker like Davis. Especially Flip Saunders, who built his best Pistons teams around hard working, quality guys. With Jamison ageing and likely to be traded, taking a young project big man makes sense, as Davis won’t have to step in immediately and can ease his way in.
7. Philadelphia 76ers: Wes Johnson SG/SF Syracuse (6-7, 205)
As a prospect, Wes Johnson, a transfer from Iowa State really came out of no where. He went from being not even close to anyone's radar to a top 10 lock in a matter of months. It's easy to see why, he does everything: he shoots the three (42% from deep), bangs in the paint (54% FGP), scores (16 PPG), rebounds, (9 RPG) passes (3 APG), creates turnovers (2 SPG), and blocks shots (2 BPG). Offensively, he's got range to the 3 point line, is long enough to finish from the high post and freakishly athletic for finishing above the rim. His one area of weakness is his driving ability, where he can lose the handle by trying to get to fancy with his dibbling. He's a good dribbler in the open court, however. Defensively, he plays in zone 99 percent of the time so it's hard to evaluate if he'll be a lockdown defender or not, but he certainly has the physical tools and desire to become one. He's a fantastic rebounder, using his length and athleticism to sky for rebounds and he has strong hands when he get the rock. His length also helps him block shots despite playing on the wing. He just plays with great overall effort. Since the 76ers seem determined to trade their best player, Andre Igoudala, there will be a HUGE need on the wing for Philadelphia, as their other options at the 2 and 3 are Willie Green, Rodney Carney, and Jason Kapono... That's not good.
8. Sacramento Kings: Al-Farouq Aminu SF Wake Forest (6-8, 220)
Aside from John Wall and Derrick Favors, no one has more potential in this draft than Al-Farouq Aminu. He's been playing fantastic ball this year for Wake and showing why, if he left his freshman year, he'd have been a lottery pick even as raw as he was. This year, he's starting to polish up some of his game. His outside shot isn't great, but it's improving and will continue to with NBA coaching. He's also improving his handle, to the point that he can take defenders of the dribble if he gets in good position. His big improvement has been rebounding, he's bumped his average from 8 per game to 11 in roughly the same amount of minutes as last year. He's just an incredibly hard worker who's constantly trying to improve and add to his game. Like his jump shot, his post game is getting better but still a work in progress. I think with a little more teaching and practice, when not double-teamed or facing a superior defender, he'll be able to score efficiently in the post. Where he dominates even in raw stage is using his incredible length and athleticism to finish above the rim and block shots. Those are the two things he excels at along with his great speed running to floor, he's probably the best hustle guy in the draft, never giving up on a play offensively or defensively and continually getting out on fast breaks and beating his man down the floor for the dunk. He still needs to gain some muscle but he's got a great frame with a ridicules 7'4' wingspan. I don't like to make comparisons, but if Aminu fills out right, he's got the speed, length, and hops to be a physical specimen just short of LeBron James. The Kings biggest need is a true point guard (once they trade Kevin Martin I have no doubt that Tyreke Evans will move to the two) with shooting ability, so Willie Warren is a possibility, but I feel like two ball-dominant players in the backcourt, especially one with a diva attitude like Warren, might not be the best idea. I think Aminu's upside is too great for a rebuilding team that has time to let him develop, to pass over.
9. Utah Jazz (from New York Knicks): Hassan Whiteside C Marshall (6-11, 225)
The hardest prospects to evaluate are raw, super-athletic players from small schools. The reason is that they dominate weaker players using only their athletic abilities. The problem is in the NBA most everyone is super-athletic, so aside from extra special players, you need more than that to be successful night in and night out in the NBA. Let's get this out of the way: Hassan Whiteside is an incredible athlete for his size but he really has no other offensive game besides dunks. Of course, playing in Conference USA that's enough to get by for a near-7-footer. But raw as he is, Whiteside has great tools. He's got length to go with his athletic ability, is very quick in tight spaces and runs the court very well for his size, much like Dwight Howard on the break trailing for alley oops or put backs. In fact, Whiteside, while not the in the same class as Howard as far as natural ability, compares very favorably to him. He's a monster shot blocker, the best in the country at 5.5 per game, he moves like Howard, and he even looks like Howard when he dunks. Also like Howard, he's a terrible free-throw shooter (57%), doesn't have much of a jump shot (though he may actually be a better shooter than Howard, believe it or not). He needs to gain considerable muscle to play center in the NBA, but that's not a problem because he's got a great frame. Defensively, he's a nightmare with his length and leaping ability, blocking an altering anything near him. He also times his jumps well and doesn't foul much (2.5 fouls per game). I honestly believe he could step into an NBA game right now and make a difference defensively. Other than that, it's questionable. But I do believe he can develop offensively into decent scorer who affects the game defensively much like a Marcus Camby, while scoring 10-14 points per game, if only on alley-oops and put backs. In Utah, he'd fill a big need: as good of a scorer as he is, Mehmet Okur is absolutely terrible at defending the rim. It's like he doesn't even try. So Whiteside would be able to play a few minute here and there behind Okur, learning the game slowly and perhaps playing in crucial defensive situations, until he's ready to step in as a full time starter or Okur is gone from Utah.
10. Los Angeles Clippers: Willie Warren PG/SG Oklahoma (6-4, 205)
Willie Warren is the hardest player to mock right now because he's an extremely talented player, but he's clashing with his coaches, reportedly is a diva, and isn't playing that many minutes. And when he does play, he's been inconsistent. As a prospect, he's fantastic. The one caveat is that he is apparently a tweener at 6-4 because he's more of a scoring guard and not a point. Yet, isn't Dwyane Wade 6-4? In fact, of the top ten shooting guards scorers, 4 are 6-4 or under, including the Clippers very own Eric Gordon (6-3). So could Willie Warren be a 2 in the NBA? Of course he can. He could also be a score first 1. I think he'll be able to play both and will be a valuable player because of it. Warren has it all offensively, he's got a sweet jump shot, a good handle with a quick crossover, and is a strong explosive finisher at the rim. He is turnover prone and tends to force shots. He's a good passer, he just doesn't do it very much, as he can be selfish. He has the tools to be a great defensive player, but doesn't put in a lot of effort at that end. That really sums up Warren as a player, great tools, but inconsistent. He has to be careful though, if he doesn't shape up he'll fall fast despite his talent. I think the Clippers are in an ideal position to take a chance on Warren (last years number 1 overall pick Blake Griffin's former teammate) because he's a high upside player that duplicates what they already have, as Warren can back up Baron Davis at the point, or play off the ball at the two. I think where he is right now as far as skill, he's a perfect third guard who they can hopefully develop into a starter. At his worst, he's better than what the Clippers already have at the backup guard positions (Sebastian Telfair and Ricky Davis, blah). A big man to replace Marcus Camby is possible here too, but I think they're happy with DeAndre Jordan and will go with a Jordan, Griffin, and Chris Kaman rotation.
11. Milwaukee Bucks: Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky (6-8, 235)
Patrick Patterson is proof that stats don't always tell the story with draft prospects. His scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks are all down from last year, yet he's moved from a borderline first round pick into the lottery. The reason for the decline in stats is freshman John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe, who are tearing it up for UK, while Patterson has become the third option. But instead of sulking, he's thriving. Showing that he's a character guy, who can score produce even if he's not the Alpha Dog. Defense is a great way to see a players maturity and he's shown better technique and hustle on his rebounds, tougher on-ball defense, better help D, and more overall passion on that end, doing the dirty little things to help his team win. On offense, he's still developing a post game but is a very effective finisher around close to the rim, it's the getting there from the low post that he's working on. He's good at getting to the rim on cuts as well, as he's very mobile and quick, and when he gets there he knows what to do. His ideal position on the floor is the high post, where his range (he's shooting 40% on 3s and takes 1.5 per game), unselfishness, quickness and finishing ability make him a triple threat. Physically, except for being a little undersized, he's got an NBA body that can take the abuse of banging in the paint, is great at running the floor, and is an explosive leaper. Milwaukee is an ideal landing place for Patterson for a couple of reasons, First, because there's a definite need for a 4, there starter is Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (a natural 3 who is a great defensive player but averages 6.3 ppg), with Ersan Ilyasova (another natural 3 who's decent offensively but an awful defensive player, especially at the 4) and Hakim Warrick (a great energizer off the bench, but he only weighs 220 pounds and struggles rebounding and defending in the paint); Patterson would be an upgrade. Two, with Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings there, he doesn't have to be a 20 ppg scorer and can focus on being efficient and defense. Three, he fits great with those players system wise: Jennings loves to pass and is great at setting up teammates and throwing lobs, which will really help Patterson ease into the NBA as he'll be getting great looks. Also, with Bogut at center and scoring down in the low post, Patterson will be free to play out of the high post, where he excels. Boguts size and shot-blocking will also help offset Patterson's slight undersize-ness.
12. Miami Heat: Cole Aldrich C Kansas (6-11, 245)
Cole Aldrich has a polished low-post game, is a good rebounder and a great shot-blocker and plays for the number 1 college team in Division 1. So why are many scouts skeptical of him? Well there's three reasons, and ones I think are very valid. Firstly, he's not a great athlete (though better than advertised). Second, he doesn't have tremendous upside. And finally, he may be more a of system guy, as he struggled at the Nike Skills camp. I think that all these things are true, but I also think that Aldrich as the ability to learn a new system and become a quality starter in the league. Will he be a star? Probably not. But he'll give you good minutes, score a little, rebound a little, and certainly help on defense for any team that takes him. He's got decent range on his jumper and some crafty post moves that he can certainly refine. I think he can be a ten and ten guy for sure. I think workouts will be crucial for Aldrich, and unfortunately for him I think he’ll struggle and drop some in the draft. In Miami, Jermaine O'Neal will probably be gone next year, so center becomes a big need, as Joel Anthony is a great defensive player, but offers very little at the offensive end. Small forward is also a need (unless they land Lebron, obviously) but since the Heat have two first round picks and small forward is a much deeper than center, I think Aldrich is the right pick
13. Chicago Bulls: Xavier Henry SG Kansas (6-6, 220)
Though Xavier Henry has hit a wall somewhat his freshman year (he had a nice game against a good defensive team in Texas however), I think it'll be hard for NBA teams to look at the tape of when he was playing fantastic at the beginning of the season and not see the upside, as well as the distinct skills he brings to a team that will make him a great third option on a team and help him have a real impact. Plus, I think the stats don't tell the who story, because lets face it: Sherron Collins isn't doing him any favors as the score first point guard he is, and I also feel like he's having to play out of position more as a 3, when he's a natural 2 in my mind. Henry is the best catch-and-shoot guy in the draft, he has a sweet stroke and NBA range. He's not yet a guy who'll create for himself of the dribble, and he's not an elite athlete but he's got prototypical NBA 2 guard size and is a strong finisher when he gets to the rim. Chicago is a great landing place for him because there's a need (both Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons could be gone, neither are natural 2s) and because Derrick Rose is a perfect backcourt mate for him. Rose is a ball dominate point guard with great penetration skills and a willing passer off the drives, Henry is a great catch-and-shoot guy: you do the math. Also, with Rose, Luol Deng, and presumably a big name free agent playing for the Bulls next year, Henry won't have to be a go to guy and can focus on building his strengths (shooting) and improving his weaknesses (handle, penetration) in a low pressure setting. His 3 point shooting will also be a shot in the arm for a Bulls team with one player shooting over 40% from deep and is 20th in the league in that area.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte Bobcats): Stanley Robinson SF UCONN (6-9, 220)
The Timberwolves have a lot of needs, and assuming they address the defensive deficiency in the front court, there next two big areas of need are small forward and shooting guard, but I don't see a 2 worth taking here that would fit with their personnel (Avery Bradley is an option but putting a small Bradley with a smaller Jonny Flynn isn't a great idea) and Stanley Robinson is just too good of a value and has too much upside to pass up on here. First thing you need to know about Robinson is that he has amazing hops, he'll enter the league as one of the most explosive leapers in the Association. His athleticism makes him a great rebounder, and a fantastic dunker and blocker. He'll need to add some strength, but other than that he's A+ physically. He's always been, but he was a borderline first round pick last year, but this year after stepping up his game in every way possible, he's in the discussion for the lottery. The most important thing he's improved is his outside shooting (13% from deep to 41%), which was really the last question that remained about whether he could be a small forward in the NBA. He's got the athleticism and the quickness and now that he's improved his shooting ability I think he has a chance to be a very good player at the next level, and one who'll eventually be a great defensive player (watch what he did to Duke's Kyle Singler). The Timberwolves have a lot of needs, and assuming they address the defensive deficiency in the front court, there next two big areas of need are small forward and shooting guard, but I don't see a 2 worth taking here that would fit with their personnel (Avery Bradley is an option but putting a small Bradley with a smaller Jonny Flynn isn't a great idea) and there other options at the 3 are Damien Wilkins and Arando Tucker, which is not good. Plus Robinson will have a field day alley ooping with a great passer like Flynn.
15. Miami Heat (from Toronto Raptors): Avery Bradley SG Texas (6-3, 180)
Avery Bradley is another one of those players written off as too small, or a "tweener", by many scouts but I think that Bradley is one of the most underrated prospects in the draft. Look, he's lightning quick and a great athlete, making him a very good scorer, in the vein of a Monta Ellis. Unlike Ellis, however, he's a lockdown defender already and will only get better, not only because of his physical skills but also because he takes pride in his D and works constantly to improve it. He's jumpshot is developing, and when he gains more strength he'll be an even better finisher. For the Heat, his role can be two fold: along with Udonis Haslem he can be a leader of the second unit, and giving the bench a much needed scoring boost, while at the end of games, when Dwyane Wade becomes the primary ball handler, he can play along side Wade, giving them a terrific defensive backcourt and another late game scorer, something that they need. I also think Wade and Bradley can play together at other points in the game because Wade is such a great ball handler and passer. It's also not outside the realm of possibility that Bradley eventually becomes a point.
16. Memphis Grizzles: Ekpe Udoh PF Baylor (6-10, 240)
Wesley Johnson is the high profile transfer prospect in this draft, but there's another transfer that has a chance to make some serious noise in the Association. Ekpe Udoh is already a dominant defensive player, averaging 10.3 rebound and 4.2 blocks per game, he excels in using his leaping ability and great length grabbing boards (especially on the offensive end) and protecting the rim. He had a triple double of 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 blocks against Morgan State. On offense, he's developing. He doesn't have much in the low post yet, but he's improving and he's got a pretty good midrange game with range that I think will eventually extend to the 3-point line. He's got the tools to be a great defensive player at the next level (once he gains some strength) and a hustle scorer who'll eventually be a good pick and pop guy. He reminds me a lot of Serge Ibaka, though isn't nearly as raw as Ibaka was. As long as they bring back Rudy Gay, the Grizzles are set at every starting position and have good backups at the 1 (if Jamaal Tinsley stays) 2, 3, and 5. There one weakness is a back-up and heir to Zach Randolph at power forward. Udoh will fit that role well and can help protect the rim when paired with the extremely talented, but not fantastic defensively Marc Gasol. His jump shot will play off of Randolph and Gasol very well as the draw attention in the low post, because honestly if the other three guys on the floor are Gay, O.J. Mayo, and Mike Conley, who would you double off of?
17. New Orleans Hornets: Solomon Alabi C Florida State (7-1, 245)
Center is such a coveted position in the NBA that, much like quarterbacks in the NFL, they tend to be over drafted. I'm not a fan of Solomon Alabi, though he does have some likeable aspects. He's a legit 7-1, which is rare. He's also got great length and a good motor and decent mobility, making him a good shot blocker. However, he doesn't have much on offense, very raw in the low post and not much range to speak of. The biggest red flag is that even at his great height, he's not a good rebounder at all, averaging just 7 per game. I'm always wary of big men who don't rebound well in college because a) they should be good at it and b) it's not going to get any easier in the NBA. I can't see Alabi being much of a scorer in the NBA, but with his size he projects as a defensive center that could be a valuable asset to a playoff team. He's a bright, hardworking kid with a great personality so I think he'll stick in the NBA and bring tangibles and intangibles to a team for years to come. The Hornets have nothing at back up center (Sean Marks...) and as good of a player as he is Emeka Okafor is only 6-10, so having a 7 foot, long player to go against the Lakers twin towers makes a lot of sense for them.
18. Houston Rockets: Larry Sanders PF VCU (6-10, 235)
Larry Sanders has two very important things for rawer prospects to have. First, the potential: Sanders is brimming with it. He's the prototypical height for a power forward at the next level, an excellent athlete, and he's unbelievably long (7-6 1/2 wingspan). Second, the he's a really hard worker with great character. He's shown improvement every year, especially on the offensive end where he's developing some range and already has some basic post moves (this may not sound great, but trust me, most young athletic big men have almost nothing). Obviously, he's already a great rebounder and shot blocker and the sky's the limit on offense for him because he's got the quickness and athleticism. Once he adds some strength, he should become and elite defensive player. A team like Houston will love Sanders because of his work ethic and defensive ability, they also need to add some size up front because who knows when Yao Ming will be healthy and though guys like Carl Landry, Chuck Hayes and Luis Scola are very good players, they're all undersized.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder: Greg Monroe PF/C Georgetown (6-11, 250)
Much like DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe could go anywhere from the top ten to out of the lottery. I really like him, but I think teams will shy away due to concerns about his motor, I think teams have been burned too often by super-talented players with bad motors (Tim Thomas anyone?) I think Monroe is getting a bad rap for the most part, could he take over games more often? Sure, but the Hoyas offense is guard and cut based, so unless John Thompson III decides to feed Monroe, he doesn't have much chance to. With an NBA body and legit center size and length, Monroe's skills are impressive. He's got a great back to the basket game that will only get better and he also is a great out of the high post as he can shoot the midrange, handle the ball, and is really fantastic passer. Seriously, he's a better passer than some of the point guards in this draft. Defensively, he needs to add some strength to deal with some of the bigger centers in the NBA, but he's got great length to guard the rim and quickness to switch on smaller players without losing too much. He's really improved his rebounding and while I never think he'll be a dominant rebounder, he certainly won't hurt a team on the boards. The Thunder have the best collection of young talent, with fantastic players at each position except center, so adding a player like Monroe makes sense because he fills the need, is unselfish and will do the little things, and can use his great passing to set up a Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and James Harden (now that's a scary starting 5)
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns): Gani Lawal PF Georgia Tech (6-9, 235)
Gani Lawal will be this drafts DeJuan Blair. Mark my words, despite being a great rebounder who plays with tremendous effort and continues to improve offensively, Lawal will drop because he is "undersized". Now the similarities aren't exact, Blair also had injury concerns and was a better rebounder, however Lawal is much more mobile and athletic and has better overall offensive upside. Lawal has a nose for the ball and uses his long arms and strength to rip down boards from more passive opponents, he's also very athletic and mobile and will chase down loose balls. He has some developing post moves and a decent jumper, as well. However, I could see him scoring 10 points a game off the bench purely on effort and hustle. He's the ideal energy bench player because he really cares and will be ready to go in and play his heart out in every game. The Thunder continue to add beef to their front court and would be two deep in every position of quality players, this is going to be a crazy good team in a few years, seriously if the draft goes down like this, here would be their line up PG: Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor SG: James Harden, Thabo Sefalosha SF Kevin Durant, Jeff Green PF Green, Serge Ibaka, Gani Lawal C: Greg Monroe, Nenad Krstic. Wow.
21. San Antonio Spurs: Elias Harris SF Gonzaga (6-7, 200)
Elias Harris is an intriguing prospect because he's a European player who has a NBA body and explosive athleticism, two things Euro players occasionally lack, so he's some what of an anomaly. He can really fly and throw down, but he also utilizes clever, Euro footwork to get to the rim, despite not having a great handle. He's a decent shooter, that's something he needs to improve, but he's good enough to keep defenders honest. He gets a lot of his points off rebounds and set up passes, he doesn't create his own shot that much, but is very efficient when put in the position to score by teammates or rebound. Defensively he's a very good rebounder out of the 3 and has the athleticism to be a very good defender. Right now he doesn't project as a star because he isn't great at getting his own shot, but at 21 I think the Spurs will take a quality kid who at worst will be young legs and an energy guy of the bench. While his upside is a great defender and a quality starter.
22. Portland Trail Blazers: Armon Johnson PG Nevada (6-3, 195)
The point guard class this year is really bad. Besides John Wall, there aren't any true point guards worth considering in the lottery. Armon Johnson is a solid prospect; he's more of a scorer than passer, but he can run a team adequately enough if need be. He's got good size and is a great athlete, this allows him to either run past a defender or muscle his way to the basket and finish efficiently (49% from the field). He has a nice jump shot, but needs to work on being more consistent with it. Defensively, he plays hard and has the size and speed to be a very good defensive player. The Blazers biggest need is a healthy center, but there's none to be had at this point in the draft. Behind Jerryd Bayless, they don't have any young talent at the point guard position, so Johnson make sense to them.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah Jazz): James Anderson SG Oklahoma State (6-6, 200)
James Anderson is my sleeper for the 2010 draft, I think he's a really underrated player at this point. He's got great height, and NBA body and long arms, making him the prototypical 2 guard size in the NBA. Offensively, he's a pure scorer (23 ppg). He's got a great jump shot and NBA 3 point range, add to that, that this year he's become more of a slasher to keep defenders honest, he's really tough to handle without doubling. He may never be a superstar, but he could certainly be a starter averaging 15 points on a good team. On defense, he's solid and plays hard on that end, he's also a very good rebounder for a 2 guard (6 rpg). Shooting guard in the Timberwolves last need and Anderson fits the bill perfectly. If the draft goes this way and Wolves don't do any dumb trades, they'll be set for a Thunder-esque turnaround in a year or two. There depth would be: PG: Jonny Flynn, Ramon Sessions, Ricky Rubio(?) SG: James Anderson, Wayne Ellington SF: Stanley Robinson, Corey Brewer PF: Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, C: DeMarcus Cousins, Jefferson. That's a pretty good foundation to stay the least.
24. New Jersey Nets (from Dallas Mavericks): Jarvis Varnado PF Mississippi State (6-9, 210)
I think Jarvis Varnado is underrated at this point because people point to the rawness of his offensive game, however I think the ability he brings as an ELITE defender will be valued by a team like the Nets who struggle with everything and already got their offensive star in John Wall. Varnado is really tough in the paint, not only being one of the best shot blockers in the country (5 bpg) but also as a great on-ball defender. He can use his length and ability to get great position to shut down post players down low, and that's without having NBA strength yet. He'll be a terror when he bulks up. He's also a terrific rebounder. Like I said, he's raw on offense but that will come with time, and even if it doesn't, with the value he brings with the upside of being a top 5 post defender to guard the rim, it's worth it if he doesn't score a ton. The other option the Nets have to upgrade the 4 (something that really have to do) is Craig Brackins, however I think with all the problems that the Nets have had, a guy like Brackins may not be the best idea.
25. Boston Celtics: Craig Brackins PF Iowa State (6-10, 230)
Craig Brackins made a big mistake coming back for his junior year, he went from lottery pick to bottom of the first round due to inconsistencies, lack of effort on defense, and questions about just how talented he is and if he's already reached his ceiling. Brackins is a very skilled offensive player, and I think if he lands with the right team he could be a very productive player. However, questions about his effort level and ceiling will cause rebuilding teams to stay away with valuable picks. The Celtics are old at every position except center and point guard, so they can go anyway they want with this pick. They've also shown a history of taking chances on players that other teams shy away from for different reasons, so I think Brackins is a definite possibility. Also, I know the stats don't reflect it so much, but it seems to me watching them play that the Celtics struggle to score now that Kevin Garnett isn't giving the much scoring in the paint, so drafting a talented post scorer makes sense for them.
26. Atlanta Hawks: Quincy Pondexter SF Washington (6-7, 220)
Quincy Pondexter has the chance to do nothing in the NBA or be a huge steal. First of all, he's an elite athlete who has been producing consistently this year and plays hard on defense, however he's got a very shaky jumpshot and a poor handle. If those parts of his game improve, he's got the physical tools to be a star, if not he'll be just another athletic player who doesn't produce. The Hawks are a team that can afford to take a chance on a guy like Pondexter as they already have a very good team. Pondexter will already compete hard and play defense and if the rest of his game pans out, he'll push to replace Marvin Williams.
27. Orlando Magic: Wesley Witherspoon SF Memphis (6-8, 200)
Wes Witherspoon is another draft sleeper who I really like. He's got the perfect height-length-mobility-athleticism combination to be the ideal small forward, though he needs to add strength. Besides that, he's got a lot of things going for him: he's developing some range, rebounds well and is a terrific defensive player. The Orlando Magic could use a bigger, taller small forward to match up with the Lebron's and Carmelo's of the league, as Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus are a little undersized.
28. Memphis Grizzles (from Denver Nuggets): Trevor Booker PF Clemson (6-7, 240)
Trevor Booker is another athletic, super-productive college player who'll drop in the draft because he's undersized. He can really leap for his weight, is a great rebounder and tough defender. He's not a dominant scorer, but he's got a few inside moves and can handle the ball pretty well. Memphis is in an ideal position to take a flier on Booker, because they don't have many needs. At worst he's an low level energy guy off the bench, at best he's DeJuan Blair-lite.
29. Memphis Grizzles (from Los Angeles Lakers): Damion James SF Texas (6-7, 230)
Much like Trevor Booker and Gani Lawal, Damion James was very productive in college despite being small (17 points, 10 rebounds per game), therefore despite being a great rebounder and athlete, he'll won't be taken early in the draft. James can also score inside and is getting better and better from range (40% from three) But again, since he could be a "tweener" he'll be underdrafted. He's a tough player and can bring a toughness to a team like the Grizzles bench. Also, if Rudy Gay doesn't come back, small forward depth will be a need.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jan Vesely C Czech Republic (7-0, 240)
The Cavs don't have much roster room right now, but with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaq aging fast, a center prospect to stay in Europe and develop for a year or two makes sense. Jan Vesely is a solid prospect with great size and athleticism. He also has a nice jump shot with good range and isn't afraid to bang downlow.
