Mock NBA Draft 2010: Entire Draft - 06/24/2010
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Written by Evan Jacoby
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June 24, 2010
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The 2010 NBA Draft begins tonight (Thursday, June 24th) at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN. The draft is held live in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. This year, the draft is especially important in terms of a team’s overall approach to this off-season. With so many teams in pursuit of top-level free agents, the draft becomes the best outlet to make deals to improve their roster or cap space standing to make moves. Other teams can use the draft as an opportunity to take advantage of teams who are willing to give players and picks away as a money saver. Rebuilding teams may be able to add several assets tonight at a surprisingly low price. Here is the final installment of my NBA Mock Draft for the entire 2 rounds of the draft. For this mock, I am just slotting where I think each player will get drafted. For example, just because I have DeMarcus Cousins going #5 does not necessarily mean that I have the 5th team (Kings) selecting him. But, most of my quick analysis of my picks will be focused on the team selecting in that spot. Overall, though, this becomes a lot of guessing and fun predicting, so I’ll put my deep analysis aside and just try to impress you with my full mock draft. Without further ado, here is my final 2010 Mock NBA Draft: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… LOTTERY PICKS: 1. Washington Wizards - JOHN WALL (PG, Kentucky) - This has been a lock for months. Future NBA superstar, new face of Washington's franchise. 2. Philadelphia 76ers - EVAN TURNER (SG, Ohio State) - I think Favors might be the best fit for the team. But Philadelphia is not drafting for need here. The versatile Turner is their favorite player not named Wall. 3. New Jersey Nets - DERRICK FAVORS (PF, Georgia Tech) - Most important pick of the first round. Teams are trying to trade into this spot and make New Jersey an attractive offer. I expect NJ to keep the pick in the end. The Nets have been considering going with Wesley Johnson, and pursuing a PF via free agency. If they go Johnson, then things can change after them. But I think in the end they go with their gut best player available, which is the dominant interior force with upside, Favors. 4. Minnesota Timberwolves - WESLEY JOHNSON (SF, Syracuse) - Johnson is a perfect fit for this team. Minnesota might be wheeling and dealing tonight, but this pick is here to stay and will be Johnson if he’s available. 5. Sacramento Kings - DeMARCUS COUSINS (C, Kentucky) - Sacramento is either going with Cousins or Monroe. I fully expect Cousins to be the pick. The Kings situation immediately becomes a perfect storm of young talent and attitude issues, with Evans and Cousins as the young stars. Great coaching is a must for this team. 6. Golden State Warriors - GREG MONROE (PF, Georgetown) - The Warriors’ pick has remained a mystery. They can go in any direction, but seem set on a big man. They’ll get Cousins if he’s available, but I think he’s gone. They like Udoh, Monroe, and Aminu, and I think that Monroe ends up being the pick. 7. Detroit Pistons - EKPE UDOH (PF, Baylor) - I’ve had Udoh going to the Pistons ever since I wrote 1,000 words on their situation back in May. My stance has never changed. I think that Golden State may actually grab Udoh at 6, in which case the Pistons are getting Monroe. But if Monroe is gone, I think Detroit goes with the shot-blocking machine Udoh. 8. Los Angeles Clippers - AL-FAROUQ AMINU (SF, Wake Forest) - This appears to be all but a lock. I don’t think the Clips would pass on Aminu if he’s available, so the only way that another player goes here is if Aminu is gone. I think he’s available and the selection at 8. 9. Utah Jazz - GORDON HAYWARD (G/F, Butler) - This is a pick that could go in any direction. The Jazz could trade out of this spot. If they stay, they like a number of different players. Many mocks have Ed Davis as the pick here, but I think they eventually settle on Hayward, a versatile wing and shooter who they can develop into a productive player in many areas. 10. Indiana Pacers - COLE ALDRICH (C, Kansas) - I think Aldrich is an overrated prospect if he goes in the lottery. However, he fits a need for several teams. It’s looking like the Pacers are willing to deal this pick, and someone will jump up in this spot to make a pick. Aldrich is intriguing to a team like Oklahoma City, who need productive bigs. 11. New Orleans Hornets - PATRICK PATTERSON (PF, Kentucky) - I like the fit here. Patterson should go somewhere in the late lottery, the Hornets have several needs, and I think there is a fit. 12. Memphis Grizzlies - LUKE BABBITT (SF, Nevada) - The Grizz need to cash in on this pick. Their #2 from last year, Hasheem Thabeet, gave them nothing as a rookie. Babbitt doesn’t exactly have the highest upside of any player in this draft, but he gives them a nice dimension to the team as a range shooter with size. If Rudy Gay departs via free agency, Babbitt is a nice start as a replacement. 13. Toronto Raptors - ED DAVIS (PF, North Carolina) - Davis could go as high as 6, and a lot of people like him at 9. I think he falls a bit and falls into the lap of Toronto, who quickly scoops Davis up as their Chris Bosh replacement. 14. Houston Rockets - PAUL GEORGE (SF, Fresno State) - Houston can go in any direction. I think they end up trading this pick, which is certainly a possibility. Someone will trade up to grab super sleeper George. REST OF FIRST ROUND: 15. Milwaukee Bucks - XAVIER HENRY (SG, Kansas) - They just traded for Corey Maggette, but the Bucks still need all the help they can get on the wing. John Salmons is likely gone for free agency. Henry is a versatile guard that can shoot and defend, and is a great value at 15. 16. Minnesota Timberwolves - DANIEL ORTON (C, Kentucky) - The 4th Kentucky man comes off the board here. I think Orton is a risky pick and I had him as an overrated prospect. However, he has some great attributes, mainly his toughess. Minnesota needs a whole lot of that. They also are looking to move Al Jefferson via trade to get other assets and replace him via the draft. 17. Washington Wizards - STANLEY ROBINSON (SF, Connecticut) - The Bulls have this pick, but have reportedly dealt it to Washington along with Kirk Hinrich, in a move to, of course, cut major cap room. The Bulls are making this pick for the Wizards, even if this deal can’t become official until July 8th. Washington can go in any direction, and I’m going out on a limb with Robinson. He could easily fall into the second round, but he’s a major sleeper of mine. Imagine teaming up the unreal athleticism of Robinson with John Wall. I love the match; we’ll see if Washington does too. 18. Oklahoma City Thunder - LARRY SANDERS (PF, VCU) - The Miami Heat traded this pick to the Thunder along with Daequan Cook in a move to clear some more cap room for their team. So, the Thunder get yet another good first round pick. If Sanders is available here, he’s a wonderful fit for Oklahoma City. Similar skill set to Serge Ibaka, but what’s wrong with that? Ibaka was a tremendously successful pick and paid major dividends last season. 19. Boston Celtics - ERIC BLEDSOE (PG/SG, Kentucky) - With Bledsoe coming off the board here, all 5 Kentucky players are gone before pick 20! Amazing if that happens, and it’s certainly possible. The Celtics are building for a new future and like Bledsoe’s slashing ability. 20. San Antonio Spurs - JAMES ANDERSON (SG, Oklahoma State) - Typically safe selection by the Spurs, who select the physical guard Anderson that is a solid veteran for this class. 21. Oklahoma City Thunder - AVERY BRADLEY (PG/SG, Texas) - Yet another pick for the Thunder. Bradley is a great fit as a spark plug off the bench. He’s small for a 2, but could learn to use his skills like Russell Westbrook did to become a young star.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves - HASSAN WHITESIDE (C, Marshall) - This pick is likely to be traded, as Minnesota looks to package this selection and other assets to move up in the draft. If they stay put, I think Whiteside could be the pick anyway. But if it’s gone, someone will go with the great upside of Whiteside, who has top-10 potential but is the most likely bust of any player if he can’t be developed properly. 24. Atlanta Hawks - GREIVIS VAZQUEZ (PG, Maryland) - This is a shocker, but I think some team will take a chance on Vazquez in the late first. The Hawks need a fresh look, and he could be a good fit and brings some much-needed energy. 25. Memphis Grizzlies - SOLOMON ALABI (C, Florida State) - This pick is likely to be on the move. The Grizzlies might make several trades in the draft, and this could be anyone’s pick. Someone must like the 7’1” center Alabi in the late first. 26. Oklahoma City Thunder - JORDAN CRAWFORD (SF, Xavier) - Wait, the Thunder are picking again? Yes, yes they are. This pick could be packaged in a deal for them to move up to a pick like #10, but they may end up selecting here again. Crawford has always been one of my favorite sleepers, and he brings some much-needed wing scoring and shooting for the team. 27. New Jersey Nets - DOMINIQUE JONES (SG, South Florida) - I love Jones’ all-around game, and he is a nice pick up for a rebuilding franchise like New Jersey that needs quality players to contribute immediately. 28. Memphis Grizzilies - ELIOT WILLIAMS (SG, Memphis) - Again, the Grizzlies have this pick but could move it. They also could keep it up and draft one of the falling talented wings or guards. Williams drops, and Memphis gladly scoops him up. 29. Orlando Magic - QUINCY PONDEXTER (SF, Washington) - Love his game, love the fit. This would be a great pick, but there’s no indication that it’s going to happen. We’ll see if Orlando goes with this pick. 30. Washington Wizards - DEVIN EBANKS (SF, West Virginia) - The Wizards have a third first round pick as they continue to rebuild. They need a big man, but all the best centers are gone. Ebanks is a versatile forward that can play immediately and aid in several areas of the game. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SECOND ROUND: 31. New Jersey Nets - WILLIE WARREN (SG, Oklahoma)
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