2010 NBA Mock Draft

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: April 29, 2010

Mothers sobbing hysterically in joy!! Giant teenagers in expensive suits!! Awkward handshakes with Commissioner Stern!! It can only mean one thing….the NBA Draft!!!!

With the 2010 college basketball season over, the draft takes center stage. This should be an important draft because of all the expected player movement in the “Summer of 2010” free agent extravaganza.

Individual team picks will not be set until May 15, but here is an early look at what the 2010 Draft might look like:

* has yet to declare for Draft

1. Washington- John Wall, G, Kentucky Wizards fans have been through a lot. 30-plus years of ineptitude, one of the worst name changes in sports history, and Gilbert Arenas single-handedly bringing the bullets back to Washington. If only for karmic reasons, the Wizards had to win the lottery. Now, they get to select Wall, who will be the pass-first point the Wizards have long lacked.

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2. Philadelphia- Evan Turner, G, Ohio State Turner did everything but run the JumboTron for the Buckeyes, leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists and winning the National Player of the Year award. The Sixers should take him at No. 2.

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3. New Jersey- Derrick Favors, F, Georgia Tech The putrid Nets need to take the best player available here, and Favors has as much upside as any player in the draft.

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4. Minnesota- Wesley Johnson, G, Syracuse Johnson is an unselfish guard who should help make up for the Ricky Rubio/Jonny Flynn debacle from last year’s draft.

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5. Sacramento- DeMarcus Cousins, F, Kentucky The Kings desperately need help inside, and Cousins has the size and athleticism to be the pick here in a draft loaded with frontcourt talent.

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6. Golden State–Greg Monroe*, F, Georgetown Monroe is the perfect big man for Don Nelson’s up-tempo offense.
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7. Detroit- Ekpe Udoh, F/C, Baylor The Pistons have sorely lacked an inside presence since Ben Wallace fell off the face of the Earth. Udoh may be the most NBA-ready center on the board.

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8. L.A. Clippers-Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest The Clips could use Aminu’s quickness and length at SF. If PF Blake Griffin comes back, L.A. could have a solid frontcourt.
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9. Utah- Cole Aldrich, PF, Kansas The Jazz will likely lose PF Carlos Boozer, and need help on the inside. Coach Jerry Sloan will love Aldrich’s intensity and rebounding ability.

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10. Indiana- Patrick Patterson*, PF, Kentucky Patterson fills the Pacers’ need for a skilled big man who can match up defensively against the league’s better power forwards.
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11. New Orleans-Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina The Hornets need an interior presence, and Davis falls right into their hands.
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12. Memphis-Hassan Whiteside, F/C, Marshall Whiteside is an athletic, raw 7-footer with a nice shooting touch. Kevin Garnett, anyone? Probably not, but the Grizzlies could use him inside, while Hasheem Thabeet continues to develop.
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13. Toronto-Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas Henry would be the perfect fit for the Raptors, who need to take some pressure off of G Hedo Turkoglu. Still, Toronto may likely use the pick to replace PF Chris Bosh, who they will almost likely lose to free agency.
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14. Houston- Donatas Motiejunas, F/C, Lithuania The big man from Lithuania can shoot, rebound and score. He could be a replacement for the falling-apart Yao.

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15. Milwaukee (via Chicago)- Gordon Hayward*, F, Butler The Bucks need a fearless shooter who can knock down big shots in crunch time. Sounds like Hayward.

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16. Minnesota (from Charlotte)- James Anderson*, SG, Oklahoma State Anderson is an outstanding scorer who could be the sleeper of the draft. The Wolves could sure use him at the 2-guard spot.
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17. Chicago (via Milwaukee)- Larry Sanders, F/C, Virginia Commonwealth Teams have shown in the past that they aren’t afraid to take raw big men. Sanders has the potential to be a great defensive player.

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18. Miami–Jan Vesley, F/C, Czech Republic Vesley is an athletic big man with a nice shooting touch who could develop into a good player. Then again, he could also develop into Darko Millicic.

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19. Boston-Paul George*, F, Fresno State George’s name has been skyrocketing up draft boards, and the Celtics could use his athleticism and pure scoring ability off the bench.
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20. San Antonio- Dominique Jones*, G, South Florida Jones is a terrific scorer, and proved his mettle by carrying USF to the upper division in the Big East.

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21. Oklahoma City- Daniel Orton*, F/C, Kentucky The Thunder will take a chance on Orton because they desperately need inside help if they want to compete in the West.

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22. Portland- Quincy Pondexter, F, Washington Pondexter is an up-and-coming prospect who put the Huskies on his back last season. He can help the Blazers.

23. Minnesota- Devin Ebanks*, F, West Virginia Ebanks has length, size, and a ton of ability. He would fit in well in a very important draft class for the Wolves.

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24. Atlanta- Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada Babbitt has been compared to Chris Mullin (probably a bit excessive), but he could be used as a potential replacement for free agent Joe Johnson.
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25. Memphis- Avery Bradley, G, Texas The Grizzlies need a defensive playmaker at point guard to balance out O.J. Mayo. Bradley fits the bill.

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26. Oklahoma City- Solomon Alabi, F/C, Florida State Alabi is a defensive specialist who could have helped in guarding Gasol and Odom in the post.

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27. New Jersey- Jordan Crawford*, G, Xavier Crawford is another draft sleeper with great shooting ability. He has the potential to be a big-time scorer in the NBA. The Nets roll the dice on him.

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28. Memphis-(TRADE)- Dallas-Elliot Williams, G, Memphis The Grizzlies don’t need another guard, and at this point on the board, there are not many quality big men. They move down so Dallas can pick up Williams.

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29. Orlando- Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech The Magic need more toughness inside, and Lawal has the potential to provide that.
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