2010 NBA Mock Draft: Consider The Needs
With the 2010 Draft highly anticipating the number one pick being John Wall, and the number two being Evan Turner, the rest of the draft consists of mostly bigs. But when thinking about who each team will draft, you've got to consider team needs.
With that being said, here's my mock draft for 2010, (this doesn't count in the yet-to-come lottery).
New Jersey Nets - John Wall PG Kentucky
A no-brainer. It's not a problem that the team seems to be centered around Devin Harris, that can easily switch (and it has started to with Brook Lopez). And the team claims that Devin can play the two-guard off of Wall, so we'll have to see about that.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Evan Turner SG Ohio State
This one's pretty simple too. Who was the worst player in the Wolves' starting lineup? Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Damien Wilkins, Corey Brewer, or Jonny Flynn? My guess is Damien, their shooting wing. Plus, Evan Turner = Brandon Roy of the future. Yes, please.
Sacramento Kings - Wesley Johnson SF Syracuse
The Kings were the geniuses of the draft last year in selecting Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans at the number four pick. Now they have the opportunity to try something similar again. The Kings are now structured around PG Tyreke, C Hawes, PFs Landry and Thompson. The void is actually at SG/SF. Even if you count Tyreke as a SG, and Udrih as the PG, the SF slot is still where the Kings are lacking, and Wesley could fill that spot. He complements Tyreke with his athleticism, and would be a good punch next to Evans.
Golden State Warriors - Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech
The Warriors biggest hole is also at small forward, so if the Kings don't take Johnson, then the Warriors will strongly consider it. But the Warriors have a lot of veterans and players that would be good right now, but are not being put to good use. So in order to have a "start over" type of team Derrick would be a good base. He's a long term player who'll continue to improve. He has so much upside that a rebuilding team could use him, and use him well.
Washington Wizards - Greg Monroe PF Georgetown
With a rebuilding team comes a rebuilding player. Greg is a player that is able to play power forward and center, so with a team with neither he'd be a solid fit. With no player's future certain on the team, it'd be a good fit to select a player who's multitalented like Monroe.
Philadelphia 76ers - DeMarcus Cousins PF Kentucky
A team in the playoffs just one year ago is hard to make a prediction for what they'll do. They'll probably trade up or down, but if they want to keep the number six pick, they'll take the best available option seeing how no one's future is for sure in Philly. But in this case, DeMarcus would be the best option. Ranked a lot higher in other mock drafts, Cousins is a player with a lot of benefits at the 6'11'' power forward slot. Not known for his defense, he'd fit in well with Philadelphia, who plays better defense than most teams with a high draft pick.
Detroit Pistons - Ed Davis PF North Carolina
More important than who the Pistons draft may be whom they trade. Building around Rip, Tayshaun, Stuckey, Ben Gordon, Charlie V, and Jerebko doesn't seem like the Pistons have much of a gap. If anything, however, it's at small or power forward, and that would make them more apt to taking Al-Farouq Aminu. But in the end, Ed Davis seems like he'd be a better player in the long run. Picking Ed may not pay off right away, but I think it will for the Pistons.
Los Angeles Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu SF/PF Wake Forest
Small forward is the one position that LA has yet to fill. If they fill it with LeBron, then they'll run with Al at the sixth man position. But Al is a versatile player who could become very good in this league. Being drafted by the Clippers may curse that, but it could work out pretty well to this growing team.
Utah Jazz - Xavier Henry SG Kansas
The Jazz are very lucky to have this pick, and the last thing that they want to do is mess it up. But at the same time, they're not rebuilding, so they really don't need to be "swinging for the fence." I'd say fill their need, which is at shooting guard, and that brings them to Xavier. He's the best available shooting guard, and he's good. He may not be a "number nine pick," but the only players who are are power forwards, and the Jazz have got enough power forward issues on their hands to draft another.
Indiana Pacers - Cole Aldrich C Kansas
Indiana is really only set at one position: small forward. And if my predictions bring them to this point, the best available player left is Aldrich, who would be the same type of pick as Brook Lopez. Cole is a great player, and he's going to be great in this league. But the question is, is he the best available choice for any team before this point? I don't think so. He'll slip in the draft, but not in the league.
New Orleans Hornets - Hassan Whiteside C Marshall
The Hornets are perfectly okay with point guards and power forwards. They have CP3, Darren Collison, Marcus Thorton, David West, and Emeka Okafor. Since there are virtually no small forwards or shooting guards in the draft, the Hornets might as well go center, and they might as well go with Hassan Whiteside. Donatas Motiejunas may also be a liable option, but international players come with a nervousness of "how well will they play here?" The Hornets will fill their need with Whiteside, but they could be tempted by Donatas.
Memphis Grizzlies - Donatas Motiejunas C Lithuania
Once you get this low in the draft, the teams have a solid base, but slid out of the playoffs. This is where the "take a chance" players could come in handy. The Grizzlies will probably do this with Donatas if he's available, because with Thabeet questionable, the Grizzlies need a backup plan at center if they're going to have another season like last year.
Toronto Raptors - Daniel Orton PF Kentucky
If Chris Bosh leaves, or if Chris Bosh stays, the Raptors have three PFish, shooterish players: Chris, Andrea, and Hedo. No matter what, they need a big, dominating player, and that's Daniel Orton. At 260 pounds, he's a tank, but the Raptors could use a bigger center to put next to their entire team of 6'10'' players.
Houston Rockets - Ekpe Udoh PF Baylor
A surprise this year, Ekpe would be going to a team set at most positions, and would just be looking to try some new options, and Ekpe is a little risk, big reward kind of player. He stepped up this year at Baylor, and would probably become a pretty solid sixth man in the NBA.
Milwaukee Bucks - Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky
Good news for the Bucks; this draft is FULL of PF for them to choose from! And in this case, the best player left would be Patrick Patterson. Patrick played some solid ball on the loaded Kentucky team. And while most people have him going higher, I think that the Bucks are willing to jump on any player that seems like he's sliding in the draft a bit (in this draft, the sliding players would probably be from team needs).
Minnesota Timberwolves - Damion James PF Texas
The Wolves don't need another PF, but they do need this kind of player. Damion struggled in this college season, but his abilities make him a huge advantage as a utility SF/PF in the triangle rotation of a rebuilding squad.
Chicago Bulls - Solomon Alabi C Florida State
The Bulls need a center after Brad Miller leaves, but all of the good ones might be gone by this point. I think they're willing to take a chance on Alabi because they've got such a promising future, but they may just look for a bench SF or SG at the 17th pick.
Miami Heat - Eric Bledsoe PG Kentucky
Just in case they do clean house this summer, the Heat will still need a starting PG, whether that be Chalmers or someone else. Bledsoe works as a good combo guard, so picking him at 18 would have a lot of upside on a squad that may feature four players in July...
Boston Celtics - James Anderson SG/SF Oklahoma State
After Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the Celtics have...Tony Allen? And Ray Allen's contract expires this season. After the Celtics advanced past the Cavs in six games, I think he'll stay, but the Celtics do need a talent upgrade at the wings. Especially a young one. This is exactly where James Anderson comes in; a solid SG from Oklahoma State, he could compliment Allen a lot with his offense.
San Antonio Spurs - Larry Sanders PF Virginia
Because the Spurs are pretty set for now and the future in the back court, it's only logical to continue to improve the front court. Larry Sanders was a high prospect last year, and he didn't do much to make his stock fall, other than be surrounded by other PFs. He's a good pick at 20.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Miroslav Raduljica C FMP Zeleznik
The Thunder will find a way to trade up and get one of the better centers in the draft, because that's where they lack. However, if they're going to take a shot at drafting one, it would be Miroslav. A tall, big guy who's still questionable to enter the draft; his status in Europe makes him a good late first round pick.
Portland Trailblazers - Elliot Williams PG Memphis
While the Blazers could use a SF upgrade, Elliot seems like a good fit in Portland. He plays a bit like Brandon Roy at the SG/PG role, but he would also play well next to him because of his skill set. He's a project, but the Trailblazers are very good at finding and refining projects.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Gordon Haywood SF Butler
They won't let this opportunity slide. With their third pick in the first round, the Wolves will probably go for Gordon, whose stock in the draft skyrocketed during the NCAA bracket. A scorer at every level, Gordon isn't completely NBA ready, but he's got the skills to make it in the big leagues.
Atlanta Hawks - Avery Bradley SG Texas
If Joe Johnson leaves the Hawks will be crushed. But they could bounce back a little higher than normal with Bradley. He scores a lot like Joe, especially in big-shot situations.
Memphis Grizzlies - Willie Warren SG Oklahoma
He's the closest thing the Grizzlies will get to drafting an improvement to Mike Conley. Period. A great SG with some personal issues, he could fit in well with a team that signed Allen Iverson and Zach Randolph...
Oklahoma City Thunder - Paul George PF Frenso State
I think that Oklahoma, with such a young team, will go for Paul because he's such a versatile player. He's just the kind of player they want on their bench, and if he doesn't go earlier, he'll definitely be swept up by the Thunder.
New Jersey Nets - Devin Ebanks SF West Virginia
New Jersey has a solid range of bigs and point guards, but they need to add a bit more to their wings. If they can't sign a player into that position, then the potential of Ebanks will draw their attention.
Memphis Grizzlies - Dominique Jones SG South Florida
Another bench player for the Grizzlies who have three first-round picks. At this point, it will just be a talent upgrade.
Orlando Magic - Luke Babbit SF Nevada
Orlando won't be filling any voids with the 29th pick, but they'll probably scoop up a player that slid a little in the draft, and Babbit may be the player that will do that. If he does, there's no reason not to take him.
Washington Wizards - Quincy Pondexter SF Washington
Once the Wizards get over the fact that they'll be drafting someone named Quincy Pondexter, they'll take him. Washington won't miss the chance to seize any player with talent they can get their hands on, and Quincy would be a good pick at 30.
