2010 NBA Draft: How Will the Top 3 Picks Shape Up?

The top 3 picks in the draft always receive the most attention every year. Last year, we saw Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet, and James Harden get drafted in the first three picks.

Surprisingly, none of these guys were the most successful players of this class.

This year, the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets have a shot to select the top three picks. Who should each team pick?

No. 1 Washington Wizards Select Kentucky Point Guard John Wall

Height: 6'4"
Weight: 196 lbs.
Age: 19-years-old

Projected Wizards Starting Lineup:

Point Guard: John Wall
Shooting Guard: Gilbert Arenas or Nick Young
Small Forward: Josh Howard or Al Thornton
Power Forward: Andray Blatche
Center: JaVale McGee

Why Taking Wall Makes Sense

Wall is easily the best player available in this year’s crop. Selecting Wall would provide the Wizards with a boost in fans, a great marketable player, and an opportunity to rebuild effectively. With this gained attention, the Wizards have every reason to have future success.

As we saw at Kentucky, Wall is capable of dominating despite his lack of three-point range. If Wall develops a three-point shot, he could become one of the best players in the league.

He made teammates Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, and DeMarcus Cousins look good. Just imagine what he could do with Nick Young, JaVale McGee, and Andray Blatche. Not to mention, they will have plenty of room for a free agent in 2010 or 2011. Doesn't this team seem like the perfect place for Carmelo Anthony in the future?

Why Taking Wall Is a Questionable Pick

Everyone hates the idea of a Gilbert Arenas and John Wall backcourt. While it might not make sense on paper, there is no way of knowing if the two can play together. What is questionable about this match is Arenas' ability to defend. Synergy Sports has proven that Arenas is the worst isolation defender in the league.

Rather than forcing Wall to guard out of position, the better defensive fit would be Evan Turner. If the Wizards plan to keep Arenas, Turner can guard three positions and could help hide Arenas' defensive deficiencies.

Aside the Arenas issue, there is almost no reason not to pick John Wall.

No. 2 Philadelphia 76ers Select Ohio State Point-Forward Evan Turner

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Age: 21-years-old

Projected 76ers Starting Lineup:

Point Guard: Jrue Holiday
Shooting Guard: Evan Turner
Small Forward: Andre Iguodala
Power Forward: Thaddeus Young
Center: Samuel Dalembert

Why Taking Turner Makes Sense

How can one survive without a face? It is impossible, yet the 76ers have not had a franchise player since Allen Iverson left. This opportunity to draft a go-to-scorer would be hard to pass up.

Turner's leadership is hard to match in this draft class and he instantly fills a void at the shooting guard position.

Offensively, a Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner combination would be intriguing. Both are capable of playing both guard positions. Hopefully, Doug Collins could figure out how to have both of them be effective. Would splitting time at the point be a bad idea?

Defensively, this backcourt would be a nightmare for opposing teams. Between Holiday and Iguodala, Turner would be one more above-average defender.

Why Taking Turner Is a Questionable Pick

The lack of a true jump shooter could be a serious issue. While this team would be lethal defensively, Andre Iguodala and Turner are too similar. While Turner's shooting form shows potential to become effective from three-point range, the team would be easy to stop defensively without any threat to hit an outside shot.

There is uncertainty about whether to keep this pick or trade it. At some point, the 76ers would have to choose between Andre Iguodala and Turner.

To trade one or the other may be a big decision and if they don't the right pieces back, the team would be in trouble.

No. 3 New Jersey Nets Select Georgia Tech Power Forward Derrick Favors

Height: 6'10"
Weight: 245 lbs.
Age: 18-years-old

Projected Nets Starting Lineup:

Point Guard: Devin Harris
Shooting Guard: Courtney Lee
Small Forward: Chris Douglas-Roberts
Power Forward: Derrick Favors
Center: Brook Lopez

Why Taking Favors Makes Sense

Take a look at the Amar'e Stoudemire and Robin Lopez duo. This duo relied on each other on both ends of the floor. Stoudemire focused on scoring consistently on offense and Lopez focused on grabbing rebounds and giving opposing big men a tough time.

My point is that a Derrick Favors and Brook Lopez duo has potential to be equally lethal, if not more.

Jonathan Givony of Draftexpress.com recently responded to a question on Twitter asking whether Favors or DeMarcus Cousins is a better fit for the Nets by saying, "Clearly Favors. He compliments Lopez perfect actually."

As we have seen with the final four teams left in the NBA Conference Finals, good big men are vital for NBA success. The defensive-minded nature of both of them would be a great asset to build upon for the future.

Why Taking Favors Would Be Questionable

Every NBA team's current goal is to win right now. Unfortunately, Derrick Favors could be too raw for the Nets to have instant success.

A guy who the Nets should take a serious look at is DeMarcus Cousins. In ESPN writer John Hollinger's Draft Rater, Cousins came in first. This means that according to Hollinger, Cousins could be the best player in this class.

Putting Cousins next to Lopez would be an intriguing duo. After seeing his ability to score at will in college, Cousins would be able to come in instantly and help the Nets.

It depends on what the Nets goal is. If they want to win now, they should pick Cousins. If they want to build for the future, Favors might be the favorite.