2010 NBA Mock Draft by Celtics Town: Version 1

Celtics Town 2010 NBA Mock Draft.  Click here to see all our NBA draft columns, or here to see our team-by-team draft grades.  This is only our first look at the 2010 NBA draft - there will be lots more to come.

1. Derrick Favors  6’10”  220 lbs., Georgia Tech   Derrick Favors is an absolute athletic freak in the mold of a Dwight Howard.  Look for him to be a monster in the NBA, using his world-class athleticism to dominate.  Favors is about as can’t-miss as a prospect can be, and whatever NBA team gets him will have a future superstar.

2. John Wall PG  6'3"; 175 lbs., Kentucky Wall will instantly be the most athletic guard in college basketball.  Besides being a superb athlete with long arms and explosive quickness and leaping ability, Wall possesses a tremendous basketball IQ and terrific court vision.  Similar to Derrick Rose, Wall is an outstanding athlete and polished player.  He should be a superstar in the NBA.

3. Greg Monroe PF/C  6’11” 245 lbs., Georgetown Monroe had an up-and-down freshman season at Georgetown, but even during the downs his talent shone through.  The big center is a great talent, with a face-up game abnormal for a player his size.  Monroe is also a fantastic passer and has nice post footwork, but so far lacks the aggressiveness he will need to become an NBA star.  Still, he has all the tools and is still developing.

4. Lance Stephenson SG/SF 6’5” 215 lbs., Undecided The controversial Stephenson has been looked upon as by some people as a malcontent, trouble-making player who has too big of an ego.  Still, Stephenson’s talent is undeniable.  A physical, powerful and explosive guard/forward, Stephenson can overpower his opponents or go by them.  He is a terrific penetrator, underrated passer and a wonderful scorer.  If he ever gets his head on straight, Stephenson could make an unbelievable pro.

5. Al-Farouq Aminu SF/PF 6’8” 215 lbs.,  Wake Forest The versatile Aminu is a very interesting prospect.  A Shawn Marion-type athlete, Al-Farouq’s basketball skills have not yet caught up to his athleticism, but he still manages to impact a game in many ways.  Aminu’s boundless energy and athleticism have allowed him to get by without a developed skill set, but he will need to improve his ball-handling and shooting in the NBA.  Defensively, Aminu projects to be a very versatile defender capable of guarding a wide variety of players.

6. Willie Warren SG 6’4” 210 lbs., Oklahoma   Stuck in the shadow of Blake Griffin for his freshman campaign, Willie Warren didn’t get to show his entire game.  Look for him to become Oklahoma’s go-to-guy during his sophomore season, using his advanced scoring skills to lead the Sooners near the top of the Big 12.

7. Ed Davis PF 6’9” 215 lbs., UNC Davis is slated to be a high draft pick based on his potential rather than his production.  A long, wiry 6’9”, Davis has the long arms, agile feet, and leaping ability to be a great player. However, he will need to fill out and work on his offensive repertoire.

8. Donatas Motiejunas PF/C 215 lbs., Zalgiris Kaunas A rather typical European big man, Donatas Motiejunas makes a living outside rather than inside.  Even at 7’0” tall, Motiejunas possesses great shooting range that extends to the NBA three-point arc.  The downfall to Motiejunas is that he is considered somewhat soft and may not have the “intestinal fortitude” to compete on the blocks in the NBA.  Still, he is a very skilled seven-footer.

9. Cole Aldrich C 6’11” 250 lbs., Kansas After playing behind the talented frontcourt of Sasha Kaun, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson during his freshman year at Kansas, Cole Aldrich truly came into his own during his sophomore season.  A good jump-shooter despite truly hideous form, Aldrich has a pretty developed offensive game.  He really shines on the glass, where he is an excellent rebounder, and defensively, he has the ability to block shots and play physical post defense.

Click here to read the rest of this article, which continues through the end of this first round.  This 2010 mock draft is brought to you by Celtics Town.