2010 NBA Mock Draft: Final Four Edition

To celebrate the arrival of the 2010 NCAA Final Four, I have compiled a list of the potential draft picks for the entire first round of the next NBA draft (based on current standings).

With many unexpected upsets and the teams of top prospects bowing out early, will there be a reshuffle in the order?

Will teams pick the best available player or according to need?

Let's count them down and find out!

30. Gani Lawal, PF (Washington Wizards from Cleveland)

The Wizards get the final pick of the first round thanks to the Antawn Jamison deal.

I am presuming the Wizards will go after a big body like Gani Lawal. A 6'8" power forward from Georgia Tech, Lawal should be able to contest for minutes with his hustle and athleticism on the depleted Washington squad. If nothing, at least he reportedly has great character and a strong work ethic.

29. Avery Bradley, SG (Memphis Grizzlies from LA Lakers)

The Grizzlies gave up Pau Gasol, and in return they got the 29th pick of the 2010 draft.

Who will they go with?

If he is still available, they could pick undersized shooting guard Avery Bradley. At 6'3", the freshman from Texas is blindingly quick and has decent shooting range, but lacks the requisite playmaking ability to succeed in the NBA.

28. Jeff Taylor, SF (Orlando Magic)

The Magic are already pretty stacked at most positions so I can see them going after someone like Jeff Taylor, a sophomore from Vanderbilt.

The 6'7" small forward is a solid finisher around the rim and on the break, and could be an asset playing next to Dwight Howard.

27. Devin Ebanks, SF (New Jersey Nets from Dallas)

Ebanks, a 6'8" small forward from West Virginia, has some solid physical tools that could help him adjust to the NBA.

He plays aggressively and is a solid defender. However, his improvement has stagnated and he is too inconsistent to be a higher pick.

26. Elliot Williams, SG (Minnesota Timberwolves from Utah)

The Timberwolves need help at most positions, and with this pick they received from Utah (via Philadelphia), they could go with the athletic 6'4" guard from Memphis.

The lefty is still very raw, but he has tremendous shot-making abilities and has the potential to be the type of player who can thrive in the NBA some day.

25. Daniel Orton, C (Oklahoma City Thunder from Phoenix)

The 6'10" center from Kentucky is a big body the Thunder could use in the paint to block shots and protect the rim.

Orton is incredibly strong and crafty at the college level, but unlikely to be anything more than a role player in the NBA.

24. Larry Sanders, PF (Memphis Grizzlies from Denver)

The 6'9" power forward from Virginia Commonwealth is freakishly long, athletic, and defensively minded. He has the ability to block and change shots all game long.

Sanders will never be a great offensive threat, but the Grizzlies need some defense and toughness, and he can definitely bring that to the team.

23. Damion James, SF (Boston Celtics)

The Celtics need some fresh blood, and the 6'7" Damion James would be an absolute steal if Boston can get him here.

From Texas, James is a senior who plays hard and with intensity, and is an excellent rebounder for his size. Potentially the best senior in this year's draft, James would fit in well behind Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

22. Willie Warren, SG (Atlanta Hawks)

The 6'4" sophomore from Oklahoma is on a team that underachieved badly this season, but it's hard to overlook his scoring and passing ability—and Atlanta's need for more guards that can distribute the ball.

21. Solomon Alabi, C (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The Thunder have made some terrific picks over the years (Durant, Westbrook, Harden), which has a lot to do with where they are in the standings right now.

The team could certainly use a few more big bodies, and with two picks in the draft, my guess is they will go with Solomon Alabi here.

Alabi is a 7'1" center from Florida State. While he is not expected to make the types of leaps Durant and Westbrook have been making, he could certainly help their lean front court.

20. Quincy Pondexter, SF (Portland Trailblazers)

The Blazers need a good small forward to fill up their improving roster, and if the 6'7" Washington senior is still available at this stage of the draft, he could be a potential steal.

Pondexter is a very long and athletic player who can rebound, defend, and is terrific in transition. He has made some strides in his play this season and could be snatched up a lot earlier.

19. Stanley Robinson, SF (San Antonio Spurs)

Richard Jefferson hasn't been working out as anticipated, and the Spurs need more big bodies to help take some of the pressure off an aging Tim Duncan.

Accordingly, the Spurs may decide to go with the 6'9" senior from UConn, Stanley Robinson, a solid player who averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds this season. He may not be very polished, but his athleticism and size could help the Spurs.

18. James Anderson, SG (Chicago Bulls from Milwaukee)

The Bulls would like a shooting guard to go with Derrick Rose, and the 6'6" junior from Oklahoma State could be the answer.

Anderson is a high-octane scorer who averaged 22.3 points per game and can shoot it from anywhere on the floor. He's unlikely to be a star in the league but he can be a solid addition to any team that drafts him.

17. Eric Bledsoe, PG (Miami Heat)

Could the Miami Heat use another point guard with only Carlos Arroyo and (maybe) Rafer Alston on the roster?

Absolutely.

The best point guard prospect in the draft not named John Wall is probably his Kentucky teammate Eric Bledsoe. The 6'1" freshman has a chance to slot right into the Heat next to Dwyane Wade and play some decent minutes right away.

16. Xavier Henry, SG (Minnesota Timberwolves from Charlotte)

With Jonny Flynn improving in Minnesota, the Timberwolves may decide to go with the 6'7" shooting guard from Kansas, Xavier Henry.

Henry is a solid, multi-faceted player who averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds as a freshman, and has the potential to grow into a starter in the NBA (albeit on a weaker team).

15. Gordon Hayward, SF (Memphis Grizzlies)

Hayward's stock has been rising steadily in the NBA as Butler streaks into the Final Four.

The 6'8" small forward has shown surprising toughness and is averaging 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, even though his outside shot has been a little off this season.

14. Patrick Patterson, PF (Houston Rockets)

From Kentucky, the 6'10" Patterson is a solid, reliable big body that a team like the Rockets could use, especially with a cloud of uncertainty over Yao Ming's future.

Patterson doesn't have the tools to be a star in the NBA, but his style of play could suit the Rockets well and he could become a steady role player.

13. Donatas Motiejunas, PF (Miami Heat from Toronto)

With the draft stacked with power forwards, if Miami decides to exercise the right to Toronto's pick, they will most likely have to pick one despite already having Beasley and Haslem in the roster.

If so, then they may decide to go with Motiejunas, a 7'0" power forward from Lithuania who will be a prospect requiring a few years to accustom himself to the rigors of the physical NBA game.

12. Ekpe Udoh, PF (Milwaukee Bucks from Chicago)

The 6'10" power forward from Baylor became probably the last lottery pick to fall out of the NCAA Tournament when they lost to Duke.

Udoh is a prospect with rebounding (9.8) and blocking (3.7) skills, and his offensive game is still improving. He could be a solid sidekick for Andrew Bogut down in the post for Milwaukee in a couple of years.

11. Jan Vesely, PF (New Orleans Hornets)

The 19-year-old power forward from the Czech Republic is probably too lean to play center in the NBA, but with his shooting ability and raw athletic talent, Vesely could be a terrific complement to Chris Paul, and perhaps replace Peja Stojakovic as their main three-point threat.

10. Greg Monroe, PF (Indiana Pacers)

The Indiana Pacers are winning their way back out into middle position again for the next NBA draft. They might not have much of a choice other than to go with Greg Monroe, the 6'11" power forward from Georgetown.

Monroe is probably the best available player at this pick (16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds), even though the Pacers already have Tyler Hansborough and Troy Murphy.

9. Hassan Whiteside, C (LA Clippers)

With Blake Griffin set to return, I have a feeling the Clippers might take a gamble and go with the explosive Hassan Whiteside from Marshall.

The 6'11" center reminds scouts of Marcus Camby because of his long arms, rebounding, and shot blocking ability (5.4 per game). He's still a bit of an unknown entity at this stage, but the potential is definitely there.

8. Cole Aldrich, C (Utah Jazz from New York)

The 6'11" center from Kansas is one of the best centers in the NCAA, even though he hasn't had a great junior year.

Nonetheless, expect Aldrich to be selected in the top 10. With his variety of post moves and ability to rebound and block shots, he could fit in well under the structured system of Utah and learn from big men like Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer.

7. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF (Philadelphia 76ers)

The 76ers could really use a good small forward, and Aminu could be the answer.

The 6'8", 19-year-old averaged a double-double (15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds) for Wake Forest this year. With his versatility and improvement, Aminu could be a terrific addition—provided he isn't snatched up earlier.

6. Ed Davis, PF (Sacramento Kings)

Sacramento seems to have hit the jackpot with Tyreke Evans last year, and this year, they will hope to repeat the good fortune with the 6'10" Davis from North Carolina.

The Kings are loaded at the forward positions, but it's hard to pass up a player with as much potential as Davis, even though his performances this year have been a little mixed.

5. Wesley Johnson, SF (Detroit Pistons)

Syracuse was upset in the Sweet 16, but Wesley Johnson's stock remains high.

With his athleticism, shooting ability, and defensive prowess (averaged 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks), Johnson has the potential to be a solid back-up to Tayshaun Prince on the defensive-minded Pistons.

4. Derrick Favors, PF (Golden State Warriors)

The 6'9" Favors is a supreme raw talent for Georgia Tech that scouts compare to a young Amare Stoudemire.

He still needs to figure out the nuances of the game, but Golden State could certainly use an athletic power forward to play alongside Andris Biedrins and Anthony Randolph.

3. DeMarcus Cousins, C (Washington Wizards)

Kentucky's 6'11", 260 pound center DeMarcus Cousins played only 23.5 minutes a game this year, but still managed to average 15 points and almost 10 rebounds.

Right now, the Wizards need all the help they can get, but I feel they may go with the more reliable Cousins than Derrick Favors, who has more upside but is raw.

2. Evan Turner, SG (Minnesota Timberwolves)

At 6'7" and with the ability to play three positions, Evan Turner has a bright future in the NBA.

Though Ohio State fell in the Sweet 16 and Turner's shooting has been a little erratic, don't expect him to slip in the pecking order.

With Turner's ability to score (20.4), rebound (9.2), and pass (6.0), he is no doubt the most versatile player in this year's draft.

1. John Wall, PG (New Jersey Nets)

Despite Kentucky faltering in the Elite Eight, make no mistake: John Wall is going to be the No. 1 pick in the next NBA Draft.

Some call Wall the best point guard prospect since Chris Paul. Others say he is as good as, or better than, Derrick Rose (some say even right now). In any case, at 6'4", Wall is bigger than both, and there is no doubt that he has the potential to be a superstar in the NBA.