NBA Mock Draft 2.0

Mock Draft 2.0

1. Washington Wizards – John Wall PG Kentucky
This pick doesn’t come as a surprise. As they say, this is a point guard’s league, so why not take the guy that Flip Saunders said will “revolutionize the position.”
Wall is the complete package…He’s a great athlete, he possesses the leadership skills you need in a point guard, he is willing to play hard on the defensive end, he doesn’t have character issues and he has a personality the fans will love.

2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner SG/SF Ohio St
As I have previously stated, this is my favorite player in the draft. I am 100% sure Evan Turner will go number 2 in the draft, I’m just not sold that the 76ers will be the team drafting him. The 76ers have a bigger need in the paint and Cousins would be the better long term solution. Derrick Favors would also be a better fit for the 76ers. In any case, whether the 76ers keep the pick or trade it, Evan Turner will be the second player selected in this years draft.

3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors PF/C Georgia Tech
I’m going to be honest…I’m not a fan of Derrick Favors. His stats do not impress me, when I watched him play he did not impress me, his personality is boring and he is unproven. But with all that being said, he is still the youngest player in the draft with plenty of time to develop his skills. Defensively I think he is NBA ready, but offensively he scares me. He has all the physical tools to be a very successful player in the NBA, he just has to develop his skills. His maximum jumping reach is 12’, which is scary. I’m beginning to think this guy could be a reincarnation of Dwight Howard. His defensive expertise should compliment Brook Lopez very well.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson SF Syracuse
My poor wolves, we just can’t win. Last year we were one pick away from getting Tyreke Evans and this year we didn’t win the lottery or get the second pick. All is not lost. There is plenty of talent in this draft and we have a lot of needs to address. In my last mock I had Aminu here but his interviews haven’t been going great and he did not test as well as expected at the combine. On the flip side Wesley Johnson tested great and his interviews have been going well. So until these guys start working out against each other, I have Wes Johnson going 4th.

5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins C Kentucky
DeMarcus Cousins is an interesting prospect. He completely dominated in college, almost to the point where he stole the show from John Wall. He tested great at the combine, the only worry people have is his weight in the future. He currently weighs around 290 lbs but claims he is on a strict diet and plans to lose more weight. I don’t doubt his dedication to losing the weight but it is only natural to question if he will be able to keep his weight down throughout his career. Outside of his weight, he has character issues. Even though he typically appears to be all smiles, that is only when things are going his way. Stick him on a bad team and you have to wonder, how will he react over the course of an 82 game season? Cousins has the talent to be the number 2 pick but I think his weight and attitude will cost him. If Cousins matures, I think we are looking at a future all-star.

6. Golden State Warriors – Greg Monroe PF/C Georgetown
Stephen Curry is the future of the Golden State Warriors and probably the only player that isn’t on the trading block. This is a team that is fun to watch but will never win anything with the current roster they have. The Warriors need help in the paint area but must have a guy that fits their system. Greg Monroe can play both the power forward and center positions. Scouts have tagged him as not being as athletic as you would like but no one can deny his exceptional ball handling and passing skills. Monroe would be an immediate upgrade. This is almost too good to be true.

7. Detroit Pistons – Ekpe Udoh PF/C Baylor
In my last mock I had Cole Aldrich here but after the combine, I realized guys like him don’t get drafted this high. He has too many question marks…Will his offensive game ever develop?…Was he only good because he was surrounded by great talent?...Lacking athleticism, can he still be a dominant shot blocker in the NBA?...Where is his missing front tooth?...Just too many questions. As his stock falls, others are on the rise and one is Ekpe Udoh. Ekpe like Cole, is known for his defense but he also is very athletic and isn’t missing any teeth. Udoh grabbed my attention throughout the season, posting solid numbers but after watching him in the tournament, I was sold. I think he will develop into a very good player.

8. LA Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu SF/PF Wake Forest
The LA Clippers are a team to pay close attention to next season. They have the money to sign a big named free agent this summer. They have a talented roster and can go in many directions. One glaring need is a small forward. Right now I have Aminu’s stock slipping and if he doesn’t impress scouts in his workouts, he very well could still be on the board at pick number 8. If he happens to still be here the Clippers should waste no time selecting him. I am unclear about Aminu’s immediate impact but I think long term he is a sure thing. He has all the tools, a good head on his shoulders and a strong work ethic.

9. Utah Jazz – Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky
There has been speculation that the Jazz want Greg Monroe. I think he would be a good fit with them, but unfortunately for them I don’t think he will be available. The Jazz usually go with hard working, proven, mature, unselfish guys, so who better than Patrick Patterson. He is full of talent and after taking a backseat this season, he is still wowing scouts as he displays his all around game. If Boozer is what the Jazz liked, then they should love Patterson. He is strong, athletic, has a nice mid range game but doesn’t mind banging in the paint.

10. Indiana Pacers – Avery Bradley PG/SG Texas
This pick may come as a bit of a surprise and quite frankly I wasn’t really comfortable making this choice. In a lottery driven by power forwards and centers, I would think the Pacers would go after an athletic big man. Contrary to what I believe, many analysts say point guard is the Pacers biggest need. This wouldn’t be an issue if the Pacers draft either J’rue Holiday, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson or Jeff Teague last year, but instead they fell in love with Tyler Hansbourogh and now they need a point guard and still haven’t solved their issues in the paint. Way to go Larry Bird. Since point guard is the need, and besides Wall, there aren’t any lottery worthy point guards, the Pacers will have to reach again. Avery Bradley is quite a player and recently has seen his stock boom. Right now he has more of a shooting guard’s mentality but that isn’t anything that can’t be corrected in the future.

11. New Orleans Hornets – Cole Aldrich C Kansas
Last year Cole Aldrich was projected to be a top 5 pick in this draft. When you look at his numbers, you can’t really argue with that. But once you actually see him play, you wonder if his game will translate to the NBA. Don’t get me wrong, Cole still belongs in the lottery but I wouldn’t take him before pick 8. I think the Hornets would be a good situation for Aldrich. He wouldn’t be asked to start right away, giving him time to develop and polish his game. As a role player, he may be ready to contribute this year.

12. Memphis Grizzlies – Ed Davis PF UNC
The Memphis Grizzlies made tremendous strides this season and almost landed a playoff spot. It is important that they continue to build and develop their young core. If Rudy Gay decides to bail for more money this offseason, the Grizzlies will have a hole to fill on the wing. I think that hole should be filled by another veteran, so free agency is the way to go. A back up point guard would be nice but there are none worthy at this pick. If Ed Davis is still on the board at 12 the Grizzlies should grab him and prep him for life after Zach Randolph.

13. Toronto Raptors – Hassan Whiteside C Marshall
Hassan Whiteside is the most intriguing player in the draft to me. His potential is unbelievable but he still has a lot of question marks. His length (7’7” wingspan), athleticism and shot blocking ability (5.4 blks per game this season) will get him on the court but if he ever develops his offensive game he could be a future all-star. To me he is the ultimate boom or bust pick of this years draft. The Toronto Raptors will most likely lose Chris Bosh to free agency this year, so they need to start preparing for that. With Bosh gone they have no choice but to address the C/PF position. Whiteside by no means is ready to be a major contributor this season but he and Andrea Bargnani could make a nice combo in the future.

14. Houston Rockets – Luke Babbitt SF Nevada
Luke Babbitt is the winner of the 2010 NBA Combine. He recently has seen his stock rise as scouts really analyze his game. The guy is a flat out scorer and has a very polished offensive game. He is 6’8 and is much more athletic than anyone imagined, leading people to believe he could be a solid defender at the next level. Babbitt is relatively new to me, since he played at Nevada I didn’t get to watch him very much. Even with his 37” vertical, I’m not ready to jump on the bandwagon. I think Babbitt has the potential to be a solid role player for Rockets. His size and scoring ability will add much needed depth to their bench.

15. Milwaukee Bucks – Xavier Henry SG Kansas
Sleeper alert! I am guaranteeing that if Xavier Henry falls to the Bucks, he will be a future all-star. Despite statistics at Kansas, Henry can flat out play. Unlike most draft prospects, he already has a NBA ready body. He also has a high basketball IQ and is lethal from outside. If he is blessed to have Brandon Jennings as his point guard, he will be an impact player in this league.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves – James Anderson SG OK St
James Anderson is another prospect that can plain and simple score the basketball. I would argue that he is the best pure scorer in the draft. He is 6’5 and none of his measurements blow you away and neither will his athleticism but his 22 points per game, 2 three pointers made per game and 81% free throw shooting didn’t happen by accident. The Timberwolves are really lacking quality players on the wing and if they can grab Wes Johnson and then come back and grab James Anderson, consider this a successful draft.

17. Chicago Bulls – Donatas Motiejunas PF/C International
To be honest, I know very little about this prospect. I know he is about 6’11, he plays power forward, he likes to play on the wing rather than in the paint, and his stock is falling. I wonder if his stock is falling or if other people’s are just rising. I know last year scouts projected he would be a top 5 pick this year. So much for that…He sounds like he could be like most Euro big men. His ceiling is Dirk Nowitzki but he is probably closer to Andrea Bargnani. If he is doesn’t pan out at all, we can call him Darko 2.0. For his sake I hope he is like Bargnani because I already know he won’t be like Dirk. There have been so many players compared to Dirk or heralded as the next Dirk but we have yet to actually have a next Dirk. In the future, the Bulls can use his size and perimeter scoring to stretch the floor.

18. Miami Heat – Daniel Orton C Kentucky
Daniel Orton is an interesting prospect. If you look at his numbers, you might ask why was he invited to the combine, never mind be considered a first round pick. Potential, potential, potential…To be fair, Orton didn’t play very much at Kentucky and it wasn’t because he’s not capable, but because he was playing behind DeMarcus Cousins. Orton’s game is defense. He eats up space, clogs the lane and protects the basketball hoop. I think Orton is a “what you see is what you get” kind of player. I don’t ever expect him to be much on offense but his intensity and defensive awareness can be game changing one day. Thankfully for the Heat they no longer have to over pay Jermaine O’Neil, so Orton could see the floor earlier than expected.

19. Boston Celtics – Paul George SF/PF Fresno St
Paul George is an impressive prospect who has done only the right things since the draft process started. He is a 6’8 small forward with a long wingspan. Offensively he is an impressive shooter. He averaged 2 made three pointers last year while averaging 42% from the field. He is very athletic and thus far has looked very smooth in his workouts. A player like George has a high ceiling because of the unique skills he has and his ability to spread the floor. If he continues to impress in his workouts, some say he could go as early as late lottery. It is no secret that the Celtics are an aged group. It is time for them to start adding talented youth to their team so Rondo has something to play with in the future.

20. San Antonio Spurs – Gordon Hayward SF Butler
I know there is a lot of hype surrounding Gordon Hayward but I think he should be drafted in the 17-23 range. If he goes to San Antonio, I think he will go to a great situation. The Spurs need to change the makeup of their roster and add some youth. Offensively Gordon has a lot of skills any coach would like. At 6’8, he has great size to play the small forward position. His basketball IQ is off the charts and you have to love his passion for the game. He possesses the quickness to get to the lane and has an impressive mid range jump shot. His 3 points shooting percentage dropped since his freshmen year but I think that is because defenses put more of a focus on shutting him down. In the NBA he will get plenty of open shots as a role player. He is only 20 years old and has plenty of time to develop. Sitting behind Richard Jefferson for a couple years should be good for him.

21. OKC Thunder – Larry Sanders PF/C VCU
The VCU standout, Larry Sanders, has seen his stock take a slight dive since the combine. There have been reports that he is not the high leaper that many expected. Regardless of his vertical he still is 6’10 and has a long 7’5’’ wingspan. He was an effective rebounder and shot eraser in college and he is projected to do the same in the NBA. Sanders would be another athlete with solid defensive awareness the Thunder can add to their roster. His size is much need in the paint area and his shot blocking ability will put him in the rotation early.

22. Portland Trailblazers – Damion James SF Texas
At 22, Damion James is probably one of the oldest prospects in the draft. The good news is that with his age he has plenty of experience. This year he displayed his knack for scoring and rebounding. He often displayed his heart and determination when his team was struggling but he never quit. It is safe to say he was the best player on a team that didn’t come anywhere close to living up to expectations. What that says about him, I am not sure but I do know he is very skilled and can be a solid role player at the next level.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves – Solomon Alabi C Florida St
Solomon is a very large individual. As far as his skills, he is still a major project. I say think Hasheem Thabeet, maybe even less skilled. The good news for Solomon is that he hasn’t been playing basketball very long, so he still learning the game. The only thing he really stands out at doing is shot blocking. He is a poor rebounder for his size and not much of an offensive threat. The Timberwolves have three first round picks, so if they hit on the first two they can afford to take a chance on a guy like Alabi. If anything his shot blocking ability would add a totally new dimension to the team. I don’t see Solomon being ready to play for at least three years but he has the ability to be an elite shot blocker.

24. Atlanta Hawks – Kevin Seraphin C International
This is another international prospect that I know very little about. From what I gather, Seraphin is a 6’10 French super athlete. He is only 20 years old and lacks experience. Seraphin is a strong rebounder and is one of those low risk, high reward type of picks. Many believe that with experience he will blossom into quite a player.

25. Memphis Grizzlies – Eric Bledsoe PG Kentucky
In my opinion Eric Bledsoe came out too early. I think he could have used another year of college basketball to develop his skills. Bledsoe is interesting to evaluate because even though he played a lot of minutes, he was essentially playing out off position at shooting guard, so John Wall could run the point guard position. He played the whole season in John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins shadows but you could say he was part of the glue that held that team together. As expected for a role player, his stats aren’t overly impressive but what really stands out to me is his assists to turnover ratio. He averaged 3 turnovers a game and only 2.9 assists. This could be because he is playing out of position or because the ball was typically dominated by Wall. I’m curious to know how many turnovers he would average if he was the point guard and was able to dominate the ball. Another thing that scares me about Bledsoe is his height. He is only 6’1 in shoes. On a positive note, Bledsoe is very strong for his size and athletic. Like most picks at this point in the draft, Bledsoe will be drafted off of potential. I think in the long run Bledsoe can be a solid player but it will take him a couple of years to develop.

26. OKC Thunder – Stanley Robinson SF/PF UConn
Stanley Robinson will be a super athletic role player in the NBA. Offensively Stanley isn’t going to impress anybody. His jump shot is inconsistent but it is obvious he has been working on extending his range beyond the three point line. Robinson should work on becoming a defensive specialists and he will always have a place on the court.

27. New Jersey Nets – Terrico White PG/SG Mississippi
Terrico White is an intriguing prospect. At 6’5, White can play both the point guard and shooting guard positions. If he can develop his skills and become a permanent point guard, he could create mismatch problems for many teams.

28. Memphis Grizzlies – Dominique Jones PG/SG South Florida
Dominique Jones is one of the best pure scorers in the draft. At 6’4, Jones is a little undersized for a shooting guard but his competitive nature and scoring ability will have general managers drooling.

29. Orlando Magic – Armon Johnson PG/SG Nevada
Armon Johnson is a combo guard who played under Luke Babbitt’s shadow last season. He averaged 15 points and 5 assists this past season. Thus far, he has had solid interviews and has performed well in his workouts (38.5” vertical and 18 bench reps). Johnson has seen his stock rise fast and many scouts are interested in seeing him go against more competition. The Orlando Magic are in business for a backup point guard that can score. Johnson should be able to fit in and replace Jason Williams.

30. Washington Wizards – Willie Warren PG/SG Oklahoma
Absolutely no player has seen their stock fall more than Willie Warren. Last year Warren was considered an early lock for a top-5 pick this year. After an inconsistent, injury plagued season, Warren is trying to hold on to his spot as a first rounder. I think Warren will get drafted somewhere between picks 25-30. He could potentially be the steal of the draft if he ever returns to his freshmen form.