2010 NBA Mock Draft: Two Kentucky Wildcats To Go No. 1 and 2?

In under three weeks, the most important equalizing force in the NBA begins, the NBA draft. From late round studs like Carlos Boozer to early busts like Darko Milicic, it is clear that scouting is more important than draft position in order to get the best player.

Typically the best players are drafted first, the 2003 NBA draft being the best example of this where five of the top six picks would go on to be All-Stars, but in other years, this is not true. In 2000, arguably the best player in the draft was taken 43rd, and only two players in the first round made a single All-Star team.

After a somewhat weak draft, the 2010 draft is shaping up to be one of the better ones in recent history. Headlined by studs like John Wall and Evan Turner, the draft is not the one-player draft that last year's was hyped to be. That is not to say that every team will get a great player.

With so many athletic projects in the draft, there is likely to be many hits and many misses.

One can only hope that their team hits.

1. Washington Wizards: John Wall

In our sensationalist world, it is only natural that for the media to hype a player to somewhat unattainable levels. Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper of baseball have been products of this hype, both great players but unlikely to become the transcendent figures that the media labels them.

John Wall is facing the same hype in basketball. There is no doubt in any executive’s mind that he is the best prospect in the draft, but it will be difficult for him to meet anyone’s expectations, especially in his first few years.

With athleticism that is only rivaled by Derrick Rose at the point guard position in the NBA, he has the physical skills to be the league’s next great point guard. He will learn how to shoot the ball as he progresses, but already will be able to make a huge impact on the game with his incredible ability to get to the rim and create shots for himself and teammates.

For the Wizards, Wall would fill the point guard position and instantly become the franchise player that they desperately need. His presence would make Gilbert Arenas expendable, as they could either move to trade him or play him at shooting guard, perhaps his more natural position.

Despite their nightmarish season that involved losing their star guard to criminal charges and trading away their three next best players, the future is bright with financial flexibility and a cornerstone at one of the hardest positions to fill on the floor.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: DeMarcus Cousins

Conventional wisdom has the 76ers selecting the sure thing at the second pick, Evan Turner, but unfortunately it is difficult to find a role for Turner on a team full of players with very similar skill sets to him.

Jrue Holliday and Andre Iguodala, two of the team’s building blocks, each are capable slashers who struggle to shoot the ball. While Turner can shoot a bit better than those two players, he is at his best slashing to the rim, and would create a major logjam for the 76ers if drafted by them.

DeMarcus Cousins, on the other hand, would fill a need for a team that needs another big man to shore up the problems in the middle. Samuel Dalembert may be a decent stopgap measure at center, but if the team wants to become a true contender, they need a player that is capable of dominating in the middle.

Elton Brand was supposed to be that player, but has shown a complete inability to score in the paint since a debilitating Achilles injury, and is simply a good shooter and shot-blocker at this point. Thaddeus Young is a nice player, but will always be a tweener at both forward spots because of his size.

DeMarcus Cousins, despite all of his maturity issues and mistakes, may be the most talented player in the draft. According to John Hollinger’s prospect rater, which has been incredibly accurate across the years at predicting professional success in NBA prospects, Cousins is the top prospect in the draft.

While they could trade the pick in an effort to rid themselves of Elton Brand’s contract, if they keep it, getting DeMarcus Cousins would be the next step in a rebuilding process that may drag on for years if they do not make dramatic changes.

3. New Jersey Nets: Evan Turner

While the Nets may not have been the least talented team in the NBA last season, they had the worst record, and the most paramount of their problems was a complete lack of wing talent.

Veteran NBA disappointments Jarvis Hayes and Bobby Simmons each logged big minutes for the almost record-breaking bad team last year. With Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams, the Nets appear to have the basis for a decent wing tandem, but Evan Turner would inject a great player into a team that in desperation for talent.

Turner and Lee could pair and instantly form an intriguing tandem, with Williams moving solidifying the bench along with Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Turner would add an All-Star to the quickly improving Nets, and with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez already entrenched in their positions, would help form a nucleus that could possibly compete for the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Favors

While Wesley Johnson would be an excellent fit for another wing-deprived team like the Timberwolves, if Derrick Favors fell to them, they would have to pick him.

With his incredible athleticism, Favors has the potential to be Amar'e Stoudemire-like with his impact in the paint. Still, his impact was not felt to its full fury due to the criminal job by his guards to rob him of the ball at all times.

However, with a team that is due to sign Ricky Rubio in a year, Favors would thrive, getting easy looks because of his physical tools and finishing like he did at Georgia Tech.

While the Timberwolves already two big men entrenched in the frontcourt with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, they have expressed a desire in changing the current arrangement because the two are less than complementary to each other. Both are terrific rebounders and good offensive players, but lack defensive intensity and struggle to guard bigger frontcourts.

Drafting Favors would allow them to trade either of them, potentially solving two birds with one stone-creating a more harmonious frontcourt as well as potentially gaining a wing scorer in a trade of either Jefferson or Love.

Favors was pretty darn good with the Georgia Tech guards feeding him the ball, imagine how much better he could become with Ricky Rubio at the helm.

5. Sacramento Kings: Wesley Johnson

With the Kevin Martin trade to the Rockets, the Kings turned the team over too Tyreke Evans and moved him to his more natural two guard position. While they lack depth at point guard now, they are in dear need of a small forward to pair with Evans. Because LeBron James is clearly not coming to Sacramento, Wesley Johnson would be the perfect sidekick to one of the league’s rising stars.

With a shooting range that extends well outside the three point line, Johnson would seem to be the perfect foil to the penetrator that Tyreke Evans is. He can play defense, score, and run the floor, the perfect combination for a number two player on a team.

Without Kevin Martin, the Kings really lacked a second wing scorer, and he would be even more effective than Martin was in that role because he doesn’t dominate the ball in the same fashion that Martin did.

While he is already 22 years old, he still has upside because of his impressive athleticism, and Sacramento would love to see him in a Kings’ jersey next October.

6. Golden State Warriors: Ed Davis

Golden State managed to grab one of the best fits for their franchise in the draft last year with Stephen Curry, and this year, Ed Davis would appear to be a similar good fit for a franchise in shambles.

Early on in the year projected to be a top three pick in the draft, Ed Davis’ year did not go as planned. Instead of dominating as scouts had hoped, he disappointed with unrealistic expectations and eventually fell victim to a wrist injury that ended his season and destroyed North Carolina’s hopes of making the NCAA tournament.

Still, despite his disappointing season, he is the best pick for the Warriors.

He is very active on the boards, can block shots because of his length and leaping ability, and is a good inside scorer. The Warriors desperately need a low post scorer, and Davis would provide it, whether it is now or later, and would fit in with the run-and-gun offense employed by Don Nelson.

He may have to get stronger to compete in the NBA, but give him a year or two with an NBA training staff, and he will be able to compete with anyone in the draft.

7. Detroit Pistons: Cole Aldrich

With a team full of overpaid perimeter players and unimpressive post players, the Detroit front office is clearly looking to upgrade their front line. A center like Cole Aldrich would be the right place to start.

Despite the label as an unathletic oaf because he is a white center, he is a better athlete than he is given credit for, and blocks shots because he is fairly active defensively, showing well on screens and playing smart. He is a true, old-school center in a league whose “true” centers can be counted on two hands.

He can bang inside, shoot the jump shot, pass, and rebound, making himself a versatile player who makes his impact known on both ends of the floor. He may be the next Emeka Okafor, and if he can do that, he would be a great value at number seven.

For the Pistons, he would provide some much needed production on both sides of the ball in a frontcourt that depended on offensively inept players like Wallace or defensively unaware ball hogs like Charlie Villanueva for minutes, a poor combination that led to their presence in the lottery.

8. Los Angeles Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu

While the Clippers may be hoping that another more high profile forward will be donning a Clippers’ uniform come next season, they cannot count on that and must fill the gaping hole they have at small forward in the draft. Al-Farouq Aminu would fit in perfectly in that slot, and could slide over to the power forward position to back up Blake Griffin as well.

In his first season in college, Aminu wowed scouts with his incredible athleticism and potential, but this year, he appeared to finally put the whole package together to a certain degree. He is by no means a complete product, but showed more and more flashes of the potential he has to impact the game with his skills.

He does not handle the ball or shoot particularly well, but is so effective as a slasher and rebounder, that those talents are not completely necessary at this point. If he wants to become a star like he is capable, he will have to improve his handle and shot, but even without them, he is still a great player capable of playing multiple positions.

With Blake Griffin and Al-Farouq Aminu, few teams could even begin to rival the athleticism from their forward positions to the Clippers. They would pair with Eric Gordon and Baron Davis to run teams off the floor and would dominate the boards.

It is no longer all about potential for Aminu, as he has shown that he can be a quality player from day one with his play this year.

9. Utah Jazz: Greg Monroe

In a move that can only be described as irresponsible, the New York Knicks sent this completely unprotected pick to the Suns in the Stephon Marbury trade that would later be traded to the Jazz. With this pick, the Jazz must take advantage and select the best fit for them and the most talented player left on the board in Greg Monroe.

A perfect fit for the half-court offense instituted by Jerry Sloan, Monroe is the most skilled big man in the draft and can potentially play center in the NBA with his more than adequate 6’11” height and 7’2” wingspan. If the Jazz lose Carlos Boozer this summer in an attempt to save money, Monroe would be a good replacement.

Much like Boozer, Monroe can score from nearly anywhere inside the three point line. He can post up, can shoot a face up jumpshot, and can dunk the ball well, creating a difficult assignment for any defender.

Whether he plays with intensity or not will likely determine whether he is just another run of the mill big man or a star. Because of this, there is likely no better fit than the Jazz, who must play hard or feel the wrath of tough coach Jerry Sloan.

Still the risk of Monroe is low, as even if he stays as good as he is now, he will still be able to start in the NBA for many years strictly on talent alone.

10. Indiana Pacers: Gordon Hayward

Indiana has to pick a white guy, right? But unlike the previous draft picks in the past few years, Gordon Hayward appears to be the right pick for the Pacers at No. 10.

With great size for a wing and decent athleticism, Hayward would be a perfect complement to Danny Granger and would certainly be better than Brandon Rush. Rush, after a lottery selection propelled him into the starting lineup, struggled all year and at times appeared as ineffective as a NASCAR driver without a car.

With Roy Hibbert and Troy Murphy in the middle and Danny Granger at small forward, the Pacers appear to be set at the 3-5 positions, but are unsettled at the two guard spots.

Because of the lack of quality point guards in the draft after John Wall, they should fix the one spot they are capable of fixing, and should draft Gordon Hayward.

11. New Orleans Hornets: Ekpe Udoh

With a frontcourt so pathetic that it was forced to count on Aaron Gray and Darius Songaila big minutes, the Hornets are in need of a big man that can soak up minutes as well as keep the team close when Emeka Okafor and David West go out.

Ekpe Udoh would be the right man for that job, and would help the Hornets from falling too far behind without their starters in the game.

With a second unit comprised of shoot-first ask questions later players like Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, Udoh’s impact may be better felt on the defensive end, where his combination of length, leaping ability, and good timing makes him a dangerous shot-blocker. He can also rebound very well, and would help to give the team’s reserves more shots with his impact on the boards.

While he may never be a huge offensive contributor outside of open midrange jump shots and dunks, the Hornets crave a sparkplug off the bench who can help improve the team that has appeared to not have a decent frontcourt reserve since the Clinton administration.

12. Memphis Grizzlies: Avery Bradley

Since being drafted fifth in the 2007 NBA draft, Mike Conley has been an utter disappointment. Hailed as the next great point guard in the league after taking the Buckeyes on a deep tournament run, he has failed to do much to deserve his spot as a starter in this league.

Avery Bradley, much like George Hill or Russell Westbrook, may be undecided position-wise, but his talent is undeniable. With long arms, great leaping ability, and a deadly first step, Bradley is as good a scorer as there is in this draft. He can shoot the midrange jump shot and appeared to be better at setting up his teammates throughout the year.

For the Grizzlies, he would provide a much needed defensive presence on a team full of offensively minded, selfish shooters. He would also be able to provide some scoring in the event that Rudy Gay leaves town, and would complement OJ Mayo’s terrific shooting with his slashing ability. He may be more of a Monta Ellis type player because of his scoring instincts, but there is no reason he cannot become a true point guard as he learns in the NBA.

With a nucleus in place already, all the Grizzlies need is an adequate player to man the point guard, and Bradley is more than adequate.

13. Toronto Raptors: Donatas Motiejunas

In their effort to become the NBA team with the most internationals players in basketball history, the Raptors should select Donatas Motiejunas of Benetton Treviso of the Italian League. Despite his reputation as another soft European, Motiejunas would be an excellent fit for the rebuilding Raptors assuming they lose Chris Bosh.

Hailed by many scouts as an offensive genius, Motiejunas can score in a variety of manners. He can run the floor and score in transition, play inside and make baskets with either hand, and can shoot the jumper fairly well. His fundamentals are impeccable, and with a bit of added strength, could become a incredible player in this league.

He may never be Kukoc, but with the thirteenth pick, the Raptors would be doing themselves a favor if they drafted Motiejunas.

14. Houston Rockets: Hassan Whiteside

When looking at partners for Yao Ming, Donatas Motiejunas, Ekpe Udoh, Patrick Patterson, and Ed Davis are all intriguing, but perhaps none would fit better than Hassan Whiteside.

Invisible to the casual fan because of Marshall's lack of visibility on the national level, Whiteside has quietly moved into the top 12 on a lot of teams' draft boards. He lit up the Conference USA for three triple-doubles this season, and has captivated scouts with his shot blocking and rebounding.

Offensively, he is still miles away from being a low-post presence, but can make a living on put-backs and layups as he improves his offense.

For the Rockets, he fits so well with Yao.

He would be what the Rockets envisioned Eddie Griffin to be: A long, athletic big man who can help Yao recover if he blows a defensive move, providing much needed weak-side defense to a team that has seemingly given up more layups this year than they have the past three years combined.

While he will frustrate fans with his free throw shooting and his lack of offensive polish, there is really no better player for the Rockets to draft where they are.

15. Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago): Luke Babbitt

The Bucks embarked on an improbable run to the fifth seed despite having none of their five best players from the previous year on their active roster come playoff time. Richard Jefferson was traded away for a bag of salt, Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva were lost in free agency, and Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd had injuries that ended their seasons prematurely.

However, they still made the playoffs, in large part due to contributions from young point guard Brandon Jennings, who captivated the nation with his interesting personality and cat quick pace. To complement this up-and-coming team, Luke Babbitt would be the perfect player.

With a draft stock that has risen like Google in the 2000s, Luke Babbitt has moved from late first round consideration to a projected late lottery pick. On a team full of defensive stalwarts like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Andrew Bogut, a player who can score like Babbitt would be valuable as the Bucks threaten to move into the Eastern Conference elite. Additionally, because of the uncertainty as to his position, Mbah a Moute’s versatility in defending almost any position would make Babbitt’s even more valuable.

He may not look like much of a basketball player, but he is a player that teams would love to have and the Bucks are no exception.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte): Xavier Henry

While they had a most improved player candidate in Corey Brewer and an intriguing rookie in Jonny Flynn, the Timberwolves were in desperate need for more wing talent and Xavier Henry is certainly a talent. Possessing a deadly shot and an underrated ability to finish at the basket, Henry is ready to contribute now and would instantly make the Timberwolves better.

He may rely too much on his jump shot, but his sweet touch from long range allows him to be effective even when he doesn’t have the ball, as he draws defensive pressure and scores when the defense ignores him. When Ricky Rubio arrives in Minnesota in 2011, his value will skyrocket even more, as he is a perfect fit to Rubio’s game, as he will thrive with the open looks that a great point guard creates.

His ceiling may not be too high because of his lack of athleticism and dependence on his jump shot, but he will be a solid player for years to come and a particularly good fit for the Timberwolves.

17. Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee): Patrick Patterson

Despite the impressive tandem of youngsters Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, the Bulls did not go far because of a lack of a consistent scorer inside. With a developing perimeter game and a good ability to finish around the rim, Patrick Patterson would give the Bulls that scorer that they need to move up in the East.

While he only stands 6’8” (perhaps even shorter), Patterson plays bigger than that because of his explosive athleticism and long arms. He and Joakim Noah could form a deadly rebounding duo because of their noses for rebounds and he has an underrated jump shot that should continue to develop in his first few years in the league.

For a team on the cusp of greatness because of their financial flexibility in addition to a budding young cast of quality players, picking the proven college player would appear to be the right pick for the Bulls.

If he were two inches taller, he would be a potential top five pick, but at the size where he is, a top-20 selection is about what he is worth.

18. Miami Heat: Eric Bledsoe

The Heat struggled through yet another disappointing early exit from the playoffs because of their maddening inability to surround Dwyane Wade with any talent. The players are either too crazy (Michael Beasley), too washed up (Jermaine O’Neal), or just too bad (Rafer Alston).

As a result, the Heat played the “watch Dwyane shoot” game in the playoffs, and as history has shown, that strategy does not pay off.

If the Heat are serious about winning, they need a top point guard. While Mario Chalmers showed flashes in his first two years, his future appears to be as a backup, and Eric Bledsoe would be a great fit alongside Dwyane Wade.

A cat quick guard, Bledsoe’s pass-first mentality would allow Dwyane Wade not to handle the ball as often and give the Heat’s star some much needed respite from the ball dominating that he must do to carry this team. Bledsoe is a terrific defender blessed with a huge wingspan and has all the makings of a great point guard.

If it hadn’t been for a guy named Wall, this guy might be even higher on some people’s boards, and at eighteen, the Heat would be lucky to get him.

19. Boston Celtics: Paul George

The Celtics are getting to the point where their age is beginning to catch up with them.

Kevin Garnett is constantly injured, Ray Allen's sweet touch has been up and down recently, and Rasheed Wallace has shown flashes in the playoffs but his regular season disappointments are troubling.

If they want to get better, they will have to get younger quickly. Throwing money at the problem is not going to solve it.

Paul George would be a perfect first step in getting younger. He would be able to back up both Allen and Pierce, with the skills to step in if either got injured, and would help aid a second unit that depended on Tony Allen far too much this year.

He has all the makings of a tremendous role player: he can shoot the three well, is a good defender, and is very smart.

He doesn't need the ball in his hands constantly to be effective and thus would be a great fit on a second unit full of chuckers like Nate Robinson (if he's back) and Rasheed Wallace.

It's interesting, because while he would be the Celtics' youngest player at 20 or 21, he would bring an air of maturity to a team in need of it desperately.

20. San Antonio Spurs: Kevin Seraphin

The Spurs are notorious for snatching top European big men in the draft and stashing them away until they are needed, and drafting Kevin Seraphin would be another great move for a franchise that has arguably been the top drafting franchise of the last decade.

With Tim Duncan likely having only three to five years left in the league at most, the Spurs are in need of great big men for the future. Tiaggo Splitter is already in Europe and looks to be another great product of the Spurs’ drafting, but drafting Seraphin would be the smart move for the Spurs.

Only beginning his basketball career fairly recently, Seraphin lacks experience and polish but makes up for it with an enormous wingspan and outrageously good leaping ability. He can block shots like few others, runs the floor well, and is very mobile for a player of his size. As of now he has no offensive game other than on put backs and open layups, but he presents an interesting prospect for a team willing to wait.

Given Serge Ibaka’s success this year, the Spurs have to take a chance on a player that can be really special with a little patience.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Daniel Orton

The number of “project” centers the Thunder/Sonics have taken is almost laughable. From Robert Swift to B.J. Mullens, the franchise has been looking unsuccessfully for a stabilizing force inside to support the up-and-coming young team.

Despite only managing three points a game, Orton is better than the other centers that the Thunder have wasted picks on in recent history. He is a good rebounder, is strong, and appears to have the necessary skills to be a quality center in this league. He may need some seasoning, but there is no reason that he couldn’t be the Thunder’s starting center in 2011 or 2012.

If there is one thing the Thunder lack, it is toughness and defense inside, and if they do not fill that hole with a player like Daniel Orton, they can never be considered a top contender.

22. Portland Trail Blazers: Damion James

Despite an absurd rash of injuries throughout the season which sidelined their two centers and their star shooting guard for most of the year, the Trail Blazers managed to make the playoffs, mostly because of their midseason acquisition of Marcus Camby and Juwan Howard’s unexpected decent play inside. Still, when healthy, they are far from a complete team, as they require a tough player to help them lose the “soft” label.

With finesse players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez, and Nicolas Batum, the Blazers are certainly not lacking in the talent department, but to be a true contender, they require an “enforcer”, a tough player that can defend, rebound, and make the gritty plays. That is where Damion James comes in.

Never wowing scouts with an incredible shooting touch or ability to break down defenses with his playmaking, Damion James’ value will be in toughness. He is a gritty defender, rebounder, and can make the tough plays for a team, a key role player that every team needs to be successful.

While he may not be the prettiest player to watch, he will be a great role player for the next decade because of all the things he does that do not show up in the box score.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves: Quincy Pondexter

While adding Xavier Henry to a quickly improving wing rotation that has Corey Brewer will likely bring hope to a franchise that has struggled for so long without Kevin Garnett, they are still in need of depth so they are not forced to play retreads like Sasha Pavlovic and Damien Wilkins such long minutes.

A player of Quincy Pondexter’s caliber would certainly help remedy this.

With a leaping ability that is lauded by scouts and a huge wingspan,
Pondexter may be more of a project than player at this point of his career. Still, the flashes of brilliance became more consistent and longer in his senior season, as he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage.

His shooting from outside was vastly improved, and he will stick as a tough rebounder and defender at worst with potential to be a Gerald Wallace type player.

If any team has the time to wait on him, the Timberwolves are the team.

24. Atlanta Hawks: James Anderson

James Anderson is thought of by many to be the best 2-guard in the entire draft class. With Joe Johnson possibly leaving, drafting a guard like Anderson will be crucial to the Hawks as they try to rebuild without Johnson.

With a good shooting touch and an NBA body, James Anderson looks a lot like Joe Johnson. He may not be Johnson, but he would help Atlanta fans forget him quickly. He would not bring the same playmaking abilities as Johnson and would struggle to prove he is more than a strong scorer as a guard, but with a few years of seasoning, could end up being the best shooting guard out of his class.

Without Joe Johnson, the climb is very much uphill for the Hawks as they struggle to stay in the elite of the Eastern Conference, but with Jamal Crawford’s success this year and James Anderson in the fold, they still look pretty scary come playoff time.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Devin Ebanks

With the potential departure of Rudy Gay this summer, the Grizzlies would do themselves a favor if they covered all their bases and found a potential successor in the draft.

Not only would they give themselves a potential fallback in the case of a Rudy Gay exodus from Memphis, but would also give themselves leverage in the negotiations.

Devin Ebanks projects a lot like Gay, and could potentially be Memphis' next great player. While off-the-court issues derailed him earlier in the season, he appeared to come back more mature and focused on his game, playing the point at times for WVU.

He's long, athletic, and can have a sweet jump shot when it is falling, all combinations for a professional player.

More importantly, he is a smart player with a motor that scouts dream about, and will surely be a great player if he can reconcile with his off-court issues.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder: Larry Sanders

While they may look better on the frontline with Daniel Orton instead of Nenad Krstic, they are still in need for some more frontcourt help. In Larry Sanders, they would find themselves with a player very similar to Serge Ibaka, with even more potential for offensive success.

With the combination of length and athleticism on his side, Sanders is already a terrific shot blocker and rebounder who has learned some rudimentary post moves, improving his offensive arsenal to the point that he looks like a player that could contribute down the road offensively. He may still need some more time to develop, but a frontline for the second unit of Ibaka and Sanders would instantly inspire fear out of any player wishing to go to the basket.

He may be raw, but he is going to be one heckuva player when he develops, and has such a high potential that it would be impossible for the Thunder to pass up on him here.

27. New Jersey Nets: Craig Brackins

With Brook Lopez entrenched at center, the Nets have at least one building block on the frontline for their team moving forward. With Yi Jianlian’s future up in the air, grabbing Craig Brackins this late in the first round would be a great pickup.

With a deep range on his jumpshot and an excellent offensive arsenal already, Brackins will make his impact felt from day one on the offensive end. If he can improve in his defense, he will make the Nets look very smart for drafting him here, because at this point he looks fairly indifferent defensively.

Given the unpredictable nature of Yi Jianlian’s career, the Nets are in desperate need for more depth inside, and Brackins would be more than adequate in that role.

28. Memphis Grizzlies: Keith "Tiny" Gallon

While they appear to be deep in the frontcourt with Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, and Hasheem Thabeet already, they still need a bit more depth for their frontline as one injury could instantly change them from “deep” to in trouble. A tough player like Tiny Gallon would be able to come in from day one and make the team around him better.

While he has the label as a bruiser because of his hulking size, he is surprisingly skilled on the perimeter. His range is outside the NBA three-point line, and he is a willing passer who excels at making tough passes in the paint.

He may have weight trouble, but no prospect this late in the draft has the potential to impact the game in the way that he can.

29. Orlando Magic: Stanley Robinson

Stanley Robinson's story is quite an inspiring one. Two summers ago, with two daughters to support and a loss of the love of basketball, he quit the game, choosing to work in a scrap metal shop instead.

In doing so, his love of basketball was rekindled, and he returned to help lead UConn to the Final Four in 2009.

Then, he was a project player just learning the game. Now, he has grown into one of the most complete players in the game. With a solid jump shot to complement an already impressive athletic figure, Robinson would fit perfectly with the Magic, who love players who can shoot the three and play defense.

While teams worry about his ideal position, he would fit so well in a Magic offense that demands good shooting because of Dwight Howard's ability to draw double teams.

30. Washington Wizards: Lance Stephenson

With Gilbert Arenas’ future up in the air and Randy Foye being a restricted free agent this summer, the Wizards are in need of a 2-guard in the worst way. Lance Stephenson would not be the best fit for the team, but at the No. 30 in the draft, he is as good as they could hope for.

He is a tough 2-guard with a good touch from midrange, and can light it up offensively. He may be selfish, but if he can learn to share the ball, could become a great player. With his stock rapidly rising up teams’ big boards, it is becoming abundantly clear that there are not thirty more talented players in the draft than Stephenson.

Demonstrating better conditioning and maturity in recent weeks, Stephenson is proving that to get into this league, hype alone will not do it, and that tough work does net results.