Looking to Next Year: 2010 NBA Lottery Mock Draft

arris is left to run the team and get them back to the playoffs.  Power forward is now the biggest hole for the Nets, and a guy like Aldrich could fill the void. 

While he is listed as a center, his game is set more for a power forward in the NBA.  He tears down rebounds and has a solid mid-range game on offense.  It would not be surprising to see him go earlier than this in next year’s draft.

 

7. Utah Jazz: Donatas Montiejunas, C, Lithuania

Montiejunas is projected to be a power forward in the NBA but will be able to play both positions.  Utah received this pick from the New York Knicks and will take the best player available at this point.  Like most foreign players in the draft, Montiejunas has a ton of upside but may slip on draft day.  Still, the Jazz will soon need a replacement for Mehmet Okur and Montiejunas gives them a lot of versatility, much like Andrei Kirilenko.

 

8. Charlotte Bobcats: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

After selecting a Dukie (Gerald Henderson) in this year’s draft, Larry Brown and Michael Jordan go back to their roots and select the next great Tar Heel.  The Bobcats are pretty much set all around at the starting positions, so going with the best player left on the board seems right for them.

Henson is the top rated freshman in this year’s high school class and has all the tools to be great.  If he can put on muscle and become more polished, he could make an argument for the top spot in the draft next year.

 

9. Detroit Pistons: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas

This is the year in which the Pistons go from constant playoff team to lottery. 

With Rasheed Wallace likely to be moved via free agency, Detroit will take a hit and begin to rebuild.  They have the core to do it with Rodney Stuckey, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, and the veterans Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

However, Henry will be the best player on the board at this spot and become the replacement for Hamilton in the future.  While he will play third fiddle to Sherron Collins and Aldrich, Henry’s potential is sky high which will make him a lottery pick.

 

10. Golden State Warriors: Solomon Alibi, C, Florida State

After drafting Stephen Curry with the seventh pick overall this year, the Warriors backcourt is pretty much set.  Monta Ellis and Curry will join Stephen Jackson to form a high scoring, fast-paced break. 

In the frontcourt, however, there is much more of a problem.

Andris Biedrins is the only sure thing and, unless a trade for Amar’e Stoudemire occurs, more talent will be needed there.  Enter Alibi who is one of the lesser known prospects in this year’s crop thus far. 

At 7′1″, he runs the floor extremely well and will give Golden State more options down low.

 

11. Washington Wizards: Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State

Obtaining Randy Foye and hopefully a healthy Gilbert Arenas will help the Wizards next year, but I believe their window of opportunity has already closed and that they are not deep enough as a team to sniff the playoffs. 

To help the rebuilding mode, the Wizards go with Evan Turner out of Ohio State.

The handful of times that I watched him play, I couldn’t help but think he will be a very solid NBA player.  He is very long for his size and goes to the hole with power and balance. 

Because of his versatility (much like Caron Butler), he can play multiple positions, and if he can work on his jump shot, he will be just fine in the Association.

 

12. Toronto Raptors: Jarvis Varnado, PF, Mississippi State

With Chris Bosh almost certain to leave after this season, the frontcourt will have a huge hole that needs filling.  Varnado is the best defensive player in the college game right now and is poised to make run in the NCAA Tournament this year.

He could be the annual player whose stock rises after an outstanding tournament (Tyreke Evans, anyone?), and he is worth the pick. 

If he can develop a more consistent post game, he will be a lottery pick.  If he does not, he will be a mid-first rounder.

 

13. Oklahoma City Thunder: Stanley Robinson, SF, Connecticut

 

14. Milwaukee Bucks: Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia

There may be a little bit of bias with this selection, having the Bucks as the ninth place team in the East, but if they stay healthy they will be in the playoff race all year. 

However, falling just short means another lottery selection.  For the second time in three years, they go with an athletic small forward Mountaineer.

Ebanks has all the potential in the world but is extremely raw in just about every aspect.  It would surprise me to see him come out to the draft next year, but on potential alone he could be a lottery pick.

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