1. New Jersey Nets – John Wall (Kentucky) – PG – The obvious choice. Not only is he the best basketball player in College, but the best basketball player in the world that’s not in the NBA, he’s that good. He is the only player in this draft who has the ability to turn a franchise around.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves – Evan Turner (Ohio State) – SG/SF – The right choice. Wes Johnson also fills a giant need, but I still think Turner has more potential. I realize Turner doesn’t have the greatest shooting ability at this point, and that’s a big problem for the Wolves, but is Johnson that much better of a shooter? He’s more athletic, that’s guaranteed, but the Wolves lack that certain player, besides Al Jefferson that can take over games, Turner fits that bill, I think that’s the one glaring weakness for scouts looking at Wes Johnson, whether he has the mentality and skill to take over games in the NBA.
3. Philadelphia Sixers – Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech) – PF – I could definitely see them taking Ed Davis as well. This comes down to the Sixers deciding which player would best fit with their young post player Marreese Speights and if they would rather have a player that’s more ready to contribute (Ed Davis) or a player that has more potential to be a star (Derrick Favors), are they looking to compete right now? I believe the Sixers are in store for some big changes; do you trade Andre Igoudala and start the rebuild? Who will take Elton Brand and his contract off their hands? Is there any player on their roster that’s untouchable? Speights? Jrue Holiday?
4. Indiana Pacers – Ed Davis (North Carolina) – PF – I know Larry Bird just took Tyler Hansbrough in last year’s draft, but he’s unfortunately not a starting caliber PF as evidenced by his sub 40% shooting. Also their other Power Forward Troy Murphy’s contract expires after the 2010-11 season. I’m also not sure if I see Wes Johnson as a SG, his ball handling skills are limited at this point, and he’s already 22 years old. Just imagine what their frontcourt D would look like with Ed Davis at PF and Roy Hibbert manning the C spot. Maybe Avery Bradley would work here too if his stock continues to rise, but in reality there are four to five young PGs in this next Free Agent class. Ray Felton? Will Bynum? Randy Foye? Nate Robinson? Kyle Lowry?
5. Golden State – Wes Johnson (Syracuse) – SF – I really would like to put Donatas Motiejunas here, but Warrior fans keep insisting they need a wing. Doesn’t Motiejunas seem like a Nelly guy though, a 7 foot Euro that can shoot (Nowitzki)?
6. Detroit Pistons – Cole Aldrich (Kansas) – C – I’m not sure if they would want another SF/PF tweener in Al-Farouq Aminu because they drafted three of them last year in Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko, and DaJuan Summers. I can’t imagine they feel Charlie V is the long term solution at PF either. I think Donatas Motiejunas, Greg Monroe, or Patrick Patterson would all fill a need, but will the Pistons really feel like they’re big improvements over Charlie Villanueva and Jason Maxiell? Maybe Xavier Henry would work here too, but I think they ultimately go with a rim protector like Aldrich.
7. Washington Wizards – Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania) – PF – Al-Farouq Aminu and Avery Bradley work for me here too, but I still think Aminu’s a year or two away from developing into anything that can produce on a consistent basis. Not that Motiejunas can either, but I have to believe his shooting ability puts him in a better position to succeed right away. Also, will they retain Randy Foye and/or Mike Miller? Besides Nick Young and the infamous Gilbert Arenas do they have any guards under contract for next season? The good thing for the Wiz is that there are roughly 4 to 5 young PGs in this next FA class. I could see them resigning Foye, he’s still only 26 and looked pretty decent the past couple of games, but I think they still go with Motiejunas here. He’s young, and has a lot of potential, two things they’re going to need to have more of if they ever expect to get back to playing competitive basketball. With all the problems Ricky Rubio caused the Wolves last off season, will teams shy away from Euro talents?
8. Sacramento Kings – Xavier Henry (Kansas) – SG/SF – Again, I like Al-Farouq Aminu here too, but do they really feel their current rookie SF Omri Casspi is destined to be a player off the bench? If so, Aminu is their guy, but if they are truthfully honest about potential Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans being their PG then they need a starting caliber SG. I love Beno Udrih, who is their current starting SG/PG, but honestly, he’s not starting on any playoff team. They need a physical C too.
9. Utah Jazz (from New York Knicks) – Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest) – SF – Best player available, but they probably wish Xavier Henry was still here though, they need a starting SG like nobody’s business, they’ll take another position of need though in a SF. Truth be told though, the Jazz must find a way to get rid of Andrei Kirilenko and his extremely bloated contract, his annual salary on average for the next two seasons is hovering at the $17M mark, too much for an 11 point, 5 rebound type of player.
10. Chicago Bulls – DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky) – PF – He’s not mentally ready yet, but at 6’10″ and 250 lbs he already has an NBA body. He’s definitely cocky, but the Bulls have been missing that PF/C piece that’s aggressive offensively and that can attract double teams. He’s obviously not going to have that kind of effect immediately, but I think it helps going to a team with an already established post presence in Joakim Noah, mind you a defensive presence, but still somebody that can kind of take Cousins under his wing. I’d be more scared to draft him if I was a younger team like the Minnesota Timberwolves. I think Greg Monroe would work here too, but I still think Cousins has much more long term potential than him.
11. Los Angeles Clippers – Devin Ebanks (West Virginia) – SF – I have to go with Devin Ebanks here, a starting SF is a big need for them. Otherwise, I believe Willie Warren might work here too. After Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, what kind of back court depth do they have, Sebastian Telfair? They need depth and a starting caliber SF.
12. Memphis Grizzlies – Avery Bradley (Texas) – PG/SG – How long can they stick with Mike Conley as their starting PG? I realize Bradley isn’t close to being a full-time PG, but I have to believe an Avery Bradley/OJ Mayo back court has much more long term potential than a Mike Conley/OJ Mayo back court. I think from Day One they will be much more competitive with Bradley and Mayo starting. Otherwise I can see Patrick Patterson or Greg Monroe going here too if they feel their injury prone 2008 1st Round Pick Darrell Arthur is a lost cause.
13. Utah Jazz – Willie Warren (Oklahoma) – PG/SG – They get their SG, albeit an undersized one, but the question is, is Willie Warren a Jerry Sloan type of player? Warren’s lackluster defensive play makes me unsure of this pick, but also does a Deron Williams/Willie Warren back court work defensively? I’m going to use the old Jazz duo of John Stockton/Jeff Hornacek comparison to defend this selection. They need SG/SFs that can make open shots.
14. New Orleans – Greg Monroe (Georgetown) – PF – They need everything that’s not a PG or PF, sounds a lot like the Minnesota Timberwolves. They need to take the best player available, but the majority of the players that are on the board and warrant this high of a selection are all PFs. Take your pick, Patrick Patterson of Kentucky or Greg Monroe? Or, do you reach for a player like Terrico White of Ole Miss, who this season and last showed he has the potential to play both back court positions. 7’1” Solomon Alabi of Florida State would also be available here too, but with all the veterans they have I have to think that they want to compete right now and want players that can come in and compete for playing time right away. I have to go with Monroe, but only because of his value. I have to assume with David West and Emeka Okafor still starting in the PF and C slots that this pick will be traded for perimeter help.
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