2010 NBA Mock Draft: How Many Wildcats Go Lottery?

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Every once in a while there is a college team that is filled to the brim with NBA talent. The Tarheels had four players (Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Sean May, and Rashad McCants) all go in the lottery. Last year they had three players go in the first round (Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington). This year that team is Kentucky with five first round locks, and a chance all five could go in the lottery.

John Wall is a lock to go number one. DeMarcus Cousins is a lock to go in the top five. Patrick Patterson is currently in just about every mock's lottery. The question then becomes are Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe lottery potential.

Read on to find out.

For more coverage of the 2010 NBA Draft check out our website: The Rookie Wall!

30. Washington Wizards - Jordan Crawford

Jordan Crawford's The Rookie Wall Profile

Jordan Crawford is a dynamic athlete on the wing in a year where perimeter players are at a premium. He's proven that he's more than just "the guy who dunked on LeBron," especially after the fantastic NCAA tournament he had.

The Wizards are an absolute wreck, so getting a player as dynamic as Jordan Crawford with the last pick of the first round is a great pick.

29. Orlando Magic - Willie Warren

Willie Warren's The Rookie Wall Profile

The Magic still lack a back-up to Jameer Nelson, and Warren showed that he can play some PG in his two years at Oklahoma. Also, his ability to get to the rim would be valued since it would create drive and kick opportunities for all of the Magic's firepower from outside.

28. Memphis Grizzlies - Gani Lawal

Gani Lawal's The Rookie Wall Profile

Lawal was overshadowed by superstar freshman Derrick Favors. He was also hampered by his guards inability to feed the post, so his true potential hasn't been realized yet. With Randolph's contract expiring after next year and a solid young core, adding a PF at this spot to play with Gasol makes sense.

27. New Jersey Nets - Stanley Robinson

Stanley Robinson's The Rookie Wall Profile

Robinson is a freak athletically and will give teams a lot of different looks. He could be a big three, or a small four, depending on who the Nets decide to pair him with. A starting front court of Lopez, Robinson and Williams would be versatile and give a lot of opponents fits.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Elliot Williams

Elliot Williams' The Rookie Wall Profile

One of the guard positions is locked up by Russell Westbrook, and James Harden is probably the shooting guard of the future. Having Williams as a backup plan, or supplement to those two would really help the Thunder. The inconsistent play of Thabo and Harden in the playoffs hurt, having another viable option off the bench could remedy that.

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley's The Rookie Wall Profile

If Bradley slips this far whatever team taking him will be getting a steal. For the Grizzlies it means another scorer at guard that can pick up some of the offense when O.J. Mayo is out. Or it could mean two dynamic scoring guards on the floor at the same time, both of whom have the ability to play limited point guard. The Grizzlies know they are another year or two from contending, and Bradley could help them when the time is right.

24. Atlanta Hawks - Larry Sanders

Larry Sanders' The Rookie Wall Profile

An absolute freak athletically, with a huge wingspan and a great presence on the defensive end. He needs to improve his scoring, but the Hawks have taken athletic defenders (Josh Smith) and less refined players (Marvin Williams) in the past with a good amount of success. Sanders has all the intangibles and just needs some court time to put it all together.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Luke Babbit

Luke Babbitt's The Rookie Wall Profile

Babbitt was his teams biggest weapon, which is a role he certainly won't have with the Timberwolves. What he will bring is a player to stretch the floor and who can carry the offense in spurts. The Wolves have a wing stopper already in Corey Brewer, so taking a scoring small forward is a nice pick.

22. Portland Trailblazers - Damion James

Damion James' The Rookie Wall Profile

James could go in the lottery and would be a steal for the Trailblazers at 22. The front court for Portland was decimated by injuries this year, and James would have been able to step right in. He could play the three or the four depending on who Nate McMillian decides to pair him with. No matter his position he'll provide rebounding and hustle, two hallmarks of the Blazers.

21 - Oklahoma City Thunder - Solomon Alabi

Solomon Alabi's The Rookie Wall Profile

Alabi was one of the last underclassmen to declare, and his draft position is difficult to peg down. He possesses incredible length and shot blocking ability, but is very raw. The Thunder are closer than we ever could have imagined to contending, but could still take a year or two to bring Alabi along, so he's an upside pick for them at 21.

20. San Antonio Spurs - Paul George

Paul George's The Rookie Wall Profile

Any player that declares for the draft on Twitter is just fine in our book. George played in a weak conference and relied a lot on his outside shot, but was highly productive at Fresno State this year. He can play either forward position and that versatility will be welcomed on an aging Spurs team.

19. Boston Celtics - James Anderson

James Anderson's The Rookie Wall Profile

There's a good chance the Celtics are rebuilding after this season. Adding a scorer to learn under Paul Pierce seems like a great place to start. Anderson is one of the most prolific scorers in the draft and going to a veteran team where he can be a role player at first can only help his NBA career.

18. Miami Heat - Devin Ebanks

Devin Ebanks' The Rookie Wall Profile

Ebanks is an all upside pick for the Heat with little risk at number 18. If the Heat can get Wade and another free agent, then this pick may be someone safer, like Anderson or Stanley Robinson, but if they're rebuilding you take the highest upside guy. Coming into the season Ebanks was widely considered a lottery pick, so getting him at 18 is great value.

17. Chicago Bulls - Ekpe Udoh

Ekpe Udoh's The Rookie Wall Profile

Udoh has the ability to play the four and five in the NBA. He showed a great ability to put the ball on the floor and scored in a variety of ways in his single year at Baylor. He may seem repetitive for the Bulls at 17, with Noah and Taj Gibson, but he's the best player available.

16. Minnesota Timberwovles - Donatas Motiejunas

Donatas Motiejunas' The Rookie Wall Profile

Some call him the next Dirk, others think he could be even better. The fact is those comparisons rarely come to fruition. What Donatas will be is a big man with range, who can stretch defenses. He can play the four next to Al Jefferson, or allow the Timberwolves to go huge with Jefferson, Love and Donatas all on the floor.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward's The Rookie Wall Profile

We haven't had Hayward in our mocks until now, and we still think he'll be going back to Butler when its all said and done. If he does stay in, he could make the lottery, or end up as low as the end of the first round. In this mock we have him going to the Bucks would could play him at the four and run an extremely athletic lineup out with Jennings, Redd, Salmons, Hayward, and Bogut. FEAR THE DEER!

14. Houston Rockets - Patrick Patterson

Patrick Patterson's The Rookie Wall Profile

The last Wildcat in the first round taken, was arguably the most productive for them this season. With that said this is about as low as Patterson could fall, where the other Kentucky grads could slide much further. He was very productive this season and showed the ability to score from the outside, which many felt was lacking in his game last year. He could go in the Top 10, but the Rockets would happily take him at 14.

13. Toronto Raptors - Daniel Orton

Daniel Orton's The Rookie Wall Profile

Three points and three rebounds per game is all it takes to be a lottery pick nowadays. The fact is Orton would have put up DeMarcus Cousin like numbers if given the opportunity. He has great size, good build, and soft hands that allow him to catch anything thrown his way. He shows an innate ability to finish around the rim and he's going to open a lot of eyes in individual workouts.

12. Memphis Grizzlies - Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe's The Rookie Wall Profile

John Wall's running-mate finds a home with the Grizzlies. Bledsoe could start today for Memphis at the point, giving them a dynamic backcourt with him and O.J. Mayo. I'm sure commenters will find this to be a reach, but after the workouts this won't seem like such an outrageous pick.

11. New Orleans Hornets - Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside's The Rookie Wall Profile

Two players had multiple triple doubles this season. One was Evan Turner, the other was the new center for the Hornets. We can already see Paul and Whiteside hooking up for alley-oops like CP3 and Chandler did during the Hornets playoff runs. Whiteside is already a defensive stopper and runs the floor well, NBA teams will be pleasantly surprised to learn he can also face up and knock down mid-range jumpers.

10. Indiana Pacers - Ed Davis

Ed Davis' The Rookie Wall Profile

Indiana gets a star to play along with Danny Granger. Ed Davis has a frame that will add weight and ultimately make him a dominant power forward in the league. He has the ability to score in the post and showed some signs of developing an outside jumper. He's more ready than people realize to contribute in the league.

9. Utah Jazz - Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe's The Rookie Wall Profile

Monroe has everything you look for in an NBA player from a skills point of view. The question is whether or not he possesses that killer instinct that separates good from great. No one denies his ability to handle the ball like a guard, with the frame of a big power forward. The Jazz can groom him, and under coach Jerry Sloan, he'll develop the right attitude very fast. Adding him might make the Jazz the front runner in the West next season.

8. Los Angeles Clippers - Xavier Henry

Xavier Henry's The Rookie Wall Profile

Maybe a reach for the Clippers, but they are pretty much set in the front court for now, especially with the way this mock shook out. Adding another perimeter scorer to play with Baron Davis and Eric Gordon gives them a lot of pop at positions one through three. Add a healthy Blake Griffin and you might have a sleeper playoff contender.

7. Detroit Pistons - Cole Aldrich

Cole Aldrich's The Rookie Wall Profile

The big man out of Kansas is as NBA ready as anyone in this years draft. He wasn't featured in the Jayhawks offense, with the bulk of the scoring going to Sherron Collins, Tyshawn Taylor, and Henry, but he's got the goods. He can score in the post with either hands and shows a great ability to block shots and haul in rebounds. And Cole fits the toughness that Detroit has become known for.

6. Philadelphia 76ers - Al-Farouq Aminu

Al-Farouq Aminu's The Rookie Wall Profile

The 76ers actually might be closer than people think. Andre Iguodala isn't a first option for a championship level team, but can give you 20 points, five boards, and five assists a night. Elton Brand when healthy still might be good for 18 points and eight boards. Add Aminu as one of the forwards with Thaddeus Young and there's a nucleus there.

5. Washington Wizards - Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson's The Rookie Wall Profile

Very under appreciated when at Iowa State, Wesley Johnson made his presence felt in his only year at Syracuse. He can play either forward position and his ability to put the ball on the floor is only improving. The Wizards can use all the help they can get and Johnson is a piece they can build around.

4. Golden State Warriors - Derrick Favors

Derrick Favors' The Rookie Wall Profile

Favors doesn't fall out of the Top 5 and could go as high as second depending on who's picking and how individual workouts go. He has the ability to change a franchise. For the Warriors he's another athletic big that'll have to prove himself to Don Nelson. Thinking of him in a front court with Anthony Randolph, in the Warriors fast paced offense, is absolutely terrifying.

3. Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins' The Rookie Wall Profile

Cousins would probably be the number one overall pick if not for the two guys ahead of him this year. He has all the tools teams look for when selecting a franchise center. Great size, good hands, productive college career, and he really cares about the game. A lot was made of his attitude, but passion isn't always a bad thing. Cousins would join a talented front court with Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes. The Kings might be for real next season if Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans can take the next step.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves - Evan Turner

Evan Turner's The Rookie Wall Profile

College Player of the Year? Check. Multiple triple doubles? Check. Returning four weeks ahead of schedule from a broken back? Check. What isn't there to like about Evan Turner? He rebounds like a power forward, handles the ball like a point guard, and scores as well as any wing in college basketball. Not a bad consolation prize for whatever team drafts second.

1. New Jersey Nets - John Wall

John Wall's The Rookie Wall Profile

Was there any doubt? People compare him to Derrick Rose, but we think Wade is the best comparison. He gets end to end as fast as anyone in the league and can beat you scoring or finding his teammates. If he runs with Devin Harrs, Douglas-Roberts, and T-Will the Nets could see a turnaround like the Bucks did with Jennings. The best talent and a lock to go number one.