Greg Stocks Utah
Greg Stocks Utah
NBA Tickets – Post-Lottery Mock Draft
Now that the draft order is set, here is my latest mock draft for the top 14 picks:
Washington Wizards – John Wall, Point Guard, Kentucky: The Wizards must be thrilled to have won the top pick, and will almost surely draft John Wall. Wall will be able to sells tons of <a href=”http://www.stubhub.com/nba-tickets/”>NBA tickets</a> for the Wizards and gives them a real building block moving forward. The team can now shop Gilbert Arenas heavily.
Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner, Shooting Guard, Ohio State: The Sixers don’t really need Turner, and they could look to trade down as a result, but I think they’ll take him if they stay at the two spot. He would be a nice player to pair with budding point guard Jrue Holiday and could allow the team to shop Andre Iguodala.
New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors, Power Forward, Georgia Tech: I think they’ll be tempted to take DeMarcus Cousins for more immediate impact, but I’m not sure about Cousins’ ability to play with Brook Lopez and I think Favors projects as the better pro long-term. If the team’s new owner is willing to be just a little patient, Favors will be the pick here.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson, Small Forward, Syracuse: The Timberwolves really want Turner and could look to trade up to the two spot to get him. They’ve got two other first-round picks to help them get there, but I think they’ll take Johnson if they stay at four.
Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins, Power Forward/Center, Kentucky: I’m not sure if he’s a power forward or a center, but either way he’d be the best post player on the Kings. If he matures and gets his act together, he could end up being a steal at five.
Golden State Warriors – Cole Aldrich, Center, Kansas: Aldrich has limited upside, but the Warriors desperately need a center after how badly things went with Andris Biedrins this past season. Aldrich can defend the paint and rebound, which is exactly what Golden State needs.
Detroit Pistons – Ed Davis, Power Forward, North Carolina: The Pistons desperately need help inside and Davis would provide rebounding and defense from day one. His offensive game needs a lot of work, but there is some potential there. I think this would be a solid pick for Detroit.
Los Angeles Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu, Small Forward, Wake Forest: Aminu has work to do on his shooting and ball-handling, but he’s got a ton of upside. I think he’ll end up being a pretty big riser when teams get him in for workouts and see the kind of athlete he is. He’s got bust potential, but he’s got serious upside.
Utah Jazz – Greg Monroe, Power Forward, Georgetown: Monroe would be an ideal fit for the Jazz. He’s a skilled big man that can pass and has a high basketball IQ. Jerry Sloan will love him and he’d be a solid backup for Paul Millsap with Carlos Boozer’s departure seeming imminent.
Indiana Pacers – Avery Bradley, Point Guard, Texas: Bradley might not be a true point in the end, but some people are touting him as a Russell Westbrook-type. Westbrook’s success should help Bradley’s stock and the Pacers desperately need someone to run their offense. He’s already a top-tier on-ball defender and has a nice outside shot.
New Orleans Hornets – Ekpe Udoh, Power Forward, Baylor: Udoh is already a defensive presence, but has shown signs of a developing offensive game. The Hornets need size and he’s good value here.
Memphis Grizzlies – Patrick Patterson, Power Forward, Kentucky: Patterson didn’t play the biggest role for the Wildcats this past season but he’s got an NBA body, is a tough kid and can shoot the mid-range jumper. I think he’s going to end up being a very good player in this league. The Grizzlies need insurance in the event that Zach Randolph leaves after the 2010-11 season.
Toronto Raptors – Hassan Whiteside, Center, Marshall: The Raptors will likely look to rebuild if Chris Bosh leaves town. Whiteside has a ton of potential, but will need time to develop. He’s a true center and could enable Andre Bargnani to eventually slide over to his more natural position at the four.
Houston Rockets – Gordon Hayward, Small Forward, Butler: Teams are going to fall in love with Hayward as they get to know him more. He’s a good character guy and a much more impressive physical specimen that most people think. Expect him to measure somewhere around 6’8″; with his skill set and basketball IQ, teams will end up drooling over him. He might not have star potential, but I see a long career ahead of him.
TYT Hour – May 24th, 2010
