Official NBA Draft Lottery/ 2010 NBA Draft Thread Vol. June 24th 7ET

[scott frost]

Now that he is going to the Wiz, +!*$ is even more real. Believe InMyMind was on the verge of giving up his fanhood.

 

[hood17]

Originally Posted by HOOD17

Philly or the Wizards will get the #1 pick

I was in shocked watching this. Timberwolves have no luck. People were going crazy at NBA City. One due reminded me of the Alonzo Mouring gif when they announce the wolves with the fourth pick.

[h1]
[/h1]

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by Scott Frost

Now that he is going to the Wiz, +!*$ is even more real. Believe InMyMind was on the verge of giving up his fanhood.

KD and Im Not You get so upset about the most careless $*!!. I promise they damn near act alike. The past few days on Twitter, Durant has just been getting upset over petty stuff.


Nas, you still in school? I've been out for 3 weeks now.

  

 

[rook]

Any sixers fans fine with turner?

 

[franchise3]

Per Woj:

Dude Tweeted that Portland and Houston will work the phone lines to get the #3-4 pick.

 

[ValarMorghulis]

My Mock
1. Wizards- Wall
2. Sixers- Turner
3. NJ- Favors
4. T-Wolves - Wes Johnson
5. Kings- Cousins

 

[zwchris]

Originally Posted by RoOk

Any sixers fans fine with turner?

Ecstatic.

 

[dtb00201]

Originally Posted by RoOk

Any sixers fans fine with turner?

I wanted Wall, but I can't be mad about Turner. I honestly can't see Iguodala getting any better so this is the perfect scenario to trade him and address some of the other team needs.

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by franchise3

Per Woj:

Dude Tweeted that Portland and Houston will work the phone lines to get the #3-4 pick.

I'll be heated if they do that.

I wonder does that mean Oden would be given up from Portland? I don't think they could throw any other good package to get up that high. Timberwolves may bite off some type of package.



  

 

[jfmartimcdandruff]

SIXERSSSS

I don't know who to get though....

Jrue Holliday being the person lol

 

[bangdak]

I dont see any teams within the top portion of the lottery trading their picks, except maybe Minny who may be willingly to part with big Al.





and moving iggy would be a bad idea. that wing of Jrue, Turner, and Iggy is so well polished. ive always felt that they've beem underachieving, and now if they can hire a guy like avery or van gundy, that team is so deep.


Jrue-Turner-Iggy-Brand-Sammy D
Lou Williams-Jodie Meeks-Young-Speights.

thats a team right there.

 

[rook]

My Mock:
1. Wizards trade pick to Nets: John Wall
2. Sixers: Evan Turner
3.Wizards: Derrick Favors
4.T-Wolves-Wes Johnson
5.Kings-Cousins

 

[rook]

My Mock:
1. Wizards trade pick to Nets: John Wall
2. Sixers: Evan Turner
3.Wizards: Derrick Favors
4.T-Wolves-Wes Johnson
5.Kings-Cousins

 

[kiddin like jason]

Jrue Holliday being the person lol
You know he was happy they didn't get the first pick. I'm sure he likes having a job.

 

[franchise3]

TWolves might end up trading the pick, simply because I think I read Kahn said somewhere, that this is a 3 man draft. Well, now they're at 4...

But maybe somebody more in tune with the TWolves can clarify if he did say that.

I can see Minny wanting back a SF in any sorta package, and the Rockets do have Battier, Ariza + Buddinger

 

[diew its james]

does anyone have a list of the whole draft and which team has which picks after tonights lottery?

 

[sjsneakerheadiii]

Originally Posted by MisterP0315

Replay of Granger?

 

[messiahchild]

Chad Ford's Mock Draft, Version 2.0

---

By Chad Ford
ESPN.com


The lottery results are in and the Washington Wizards are the bigwinners in the John Wall sweepstakes. That means it's time for oursecond full mock draft of 2010.

At this point, very little is set in stone. Expect this mock draftto fluctuate greatly over the course of the next six weeks. The NBAdraft combine in Chicago, the Reebok Eurocamp and hundreds of teamworkouts will dramatically alter the face of the draft.

But for now, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, here's ourbest stab at how the draft might play out in June. Here is the secondof my many mock drafts between now and the June 24 draft:

	Washington	John Wall	Position: PG Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 185 pounds Age: 19 School: Kentucky

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Wizards were the big winners Tuesdaynight. While choosing Wall would create a jam because the Wizardsalready have Gilbert Arenas to play point guard, there are a couple ofreasons they probably won't be deterred. First, many believe Arenas hasalways been more a 2-guard. Second, the Wizards will shop Arenas aroundthe league, especially after last season's gun incident.

Either way, winning the lottery provides some balm after a verytough season in Washington. The Wizards have already started to blow upthe team and rebuild. Now, in Wall, they can have a great talent as afoundation.

	Philadelphia	Evan Turner	Position: SG Height: 6-7 Weight: 205 Age: 21 School: Ohio State

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Turner wouldn't be a perfect fit in Philadelphia.He would duplicate, to a degree, what Andre Iguodala and starting pointguard-to-be Jrue Holiday bring to the table. But I think the Sixerswill take Turner anyway.

He was the best player in college basketball, can play threepositions on the floor and is ready to contribute right now. The 76erswill figure out how to get all three players on the floor or finallypull the trigger on an Andre Iguodala trade.

	New Jersey	Derrick Favors	Position: PF Height: 6-9 Weight: 215 Age: 18 College: Georgia Tech

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Nets have to be disappointed that they didn'tget Wall, but Favors was ranked No. 2 on our Big Board at the beginningof the season and he would fit a need. Actually, Favors has the rawtalent to be the best player in the draft down the road, and heresembles a young Antonio McDyess.

While he wouldn't be the immediate franchise player the Nets hope for, Favors could be a very good pick.

	Minnesota	Wesley Johnson	Position: SF Height: 6-7 Weight: 198 Age: 22 School: Syracuse

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Timberwolves have a need at small forward, andif they couldn't get Evan Turner, Johnson is the next best thing. He'san athletic swingman who can shoot, run the floor and rebound. He maynot have star potential, but I think Johnson can come in andimmediately contribute to the Wolves.

	Sacramento	DeMarcus Cousins	Position: C Height: 6-11 Weight: 260 Age: 19 School: Kentucky

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: While Cousins has the talent to be a toppick, he has scared away teams a bit with his on-court antics and amotor that sometimes moves to idle. But at No. 5, he would be a greatpick for the Kings, giving them toughness, rebounding and a legitimate,low-post scorer. Teaming him with Carl Landry, Jason Thompson andSpencer Hawes would give Sacramento a very good front line.

	Golden State	Cole Aldrich	Position: C Height: 6-11 Weight: 245 Age: 21 School: Kansas

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Analysis: The Warriors need help in the middle. Aldrich,while not flashy, can provide rebounding, shot-blocking and a decentface-up game. The Warriors should have other options like Al-FarouqAminu and Ed Davis, but I think Aldrich is the leading candidate rightnow.

	Detroit	Al-Farouq Aminu	Position: SF Height: 6-8 Weight: 205 Age: 19 School:Wake Forest

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Analysis: The last thing the Pistons need is another tweenerafter adding Austin Daye and Charlie Villanueva last summer. However,Aminu does have more upside than both of those players. Athletically,there aren't many players better than him in the draft.

	Los Angeles Clippers	Ekpe Udoh	Position: PF Height: 6-10 Weight: 240 Age: 22 School: Baylor

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Clippers could go in a lot of differentdirections with this pick, but given the loss of Marcus Camby, Udohwould be a defensive presence in the paint. Butler's Gordon Hayward isalso a real possibility here.

	Utah (via New York)	Greg Monroe	Position: PF Height: 6-11 Weight: 250 Age: 19 School: Georgetown

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Jazz are in a position to lose Carlos Boozerthis summer via free agency, but Monroe would be a solid consolationprize. He's not superathletic, but he's the most skilled big guy in thedraft and would be a perfect fit in coach Jerry Sloan's half-courtoffense.

	Indiana	Ed Davis	Position: PF Height: 6-10 Weight: 215 Age: 20 College: North Carolina

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Davis would be a nice consolation prize for thePacers if he slides this far. Davis didn't have the standout year manyhoped he would, but he's a big, athletic 4 who will crash the glass andplay hard -- the next Dale Davis?

	New Orleans	Daniel Orton	Position: C Height: 6-10 Weight: 260 Age: 19 School: Kentucky

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Orton barely made a dent in the box scores forKentucky, but NBA scouts are convinced he could be a really good NBAcenter. He is strong and physical and can dominate on the defensive end.

He needs to improve his offense, but if he does, he could be a stardown the road. The Hornets were very thin up front all season. Ortonalso would give them some insurance in the event Emeka Okafor breaksdown.

	Memphis	Luke Babbitt	Position: SF Height: 6-9 Weight: 220 Age: 20 School:Nevada

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: This pick may seem like a bit of a reach, butsources say the Grizzlies have locked in early on Babbitt; they'reconcerned he won't be there when they pick again at No. 25. While Ihave no idea who he'll guard at the next level, the guy can reallyscore. The question: Is he the next Adam Morrison or the next ChrisMullin? The Grizzlies are banking on the latter.

	Toronto	Avery Bradley	Position: SG Height: 6-3 Weight: 180 Age: 19 School: Texas

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Raptors already have two pretty good pointguards on their roster -- Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack. However,neither is the uber-quick speed demon that coach Jay Triano would loveto have. Bradley also gives the Raptors something else that neitherCalderon and Jack provide -- the ability to play lockdown defense.

	Houston	Hassan Whiteside	Position: C Height: 6-11 Weight: 225 Age: 20 Country: Marshall

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Whiteside is the ultimate high-risk, high-rewardplayer in the draft. He was a tremendous shot-blocker in collegebasketball and runs the floor like a guard.

However, he showed major signs of immaturity as a freshman atMarshall. The Rockets are the perfect organization to bring him alongslowly and develop him into the next Marcus Camby.

	Milwaukee (via Chicago)	Gordon Hayward	Position: SF Height: 6-8 Weight: 200 Age: 20 School: Butler

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: I hesitate to put Hayward this low, knowing thatthe Chicago draft combine is coming up and that he's going to measurebetter athletically than people think.

Teams as high up as the Wizards, Clippers and Pacers are looking athim closely. But I doubt he'll slip past the Bucks, who can use Haywardat both the 2 and the 3.

He needs to gain some strength, but there's really nothing else not to love about his game.

	Minnesota (via Charlotte)	Paul George	Position: SF Height: 6-8 Weight: 185 Age: 20 School: Fresno State

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis:After Whiteside, George is one of the biggest upsideplayers in the draft. He didn't dominate at Fresno State, but as a 6-82-guard who can really shoot the basketball, he draws comparisons toeveryone from Joe Johnson to Wilson Chandler to Trevor Ariza.

The Wolves need shooting and size in their backcourt, so he should be the perfect fit.

	Chicago (via Milwaukee)	James Anderson	Position: SG Height: 6-6 Weight: 195 Age: 21 School: Oklahoma State

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Anderson was one of the best scorers in collegebasketball and could be a very good fit in the Bulls' backcourt. Hisability to stretch the defense and attack the basket would make him anice complement to Derrick Rose.

	Miami	Eric Bledsoe	Position: PG Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Age: 20 School: Kentucky

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Bledsoe is a tough, Pat Riley type of player andcould be a long-term upgrade from the Mario Chalmers-Carlos Arroyo duoat point guard.

Physically, he's ready for the NBA right now. But he still needsmore game-time experience running the point. Long term, Bledsoe couldpay off.

	Boston	Xavier Henry	Position: SG Height: 6-7 Weight: 220 Age: 19 School: Kansas

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis:If Henry falls this far, it will be a prettydramatic development since he was once considered a lottery pick. Henrydoes bring a few things to the table, however. He already has an NBAbody and he can shoot the NBA 3.

He may be a little one-dimensional, but with Paul Pierce beginningto age and Ray Allen hitting free agency, he'd be a nice fit in Boston.

	San Antonio	Damion James	Position: SF Height: 6-8 Weight: 224 Age: 22 School: Texas

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: James is one of the more underrated players in the draft. Very few players have his combination of athleticism and motor.

He doesn't have a position on offense, but he can defend multiplepositions on the floor. He should be able to step in right away withthe Spurs veterans and provide meaningful minutes.

	Oklahoma City	Donatas Motiejunas	Position: PF Height: 7-0 Weight: 220 Age: 19 Country: Lithuania

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: If Motiejunas believes he'll slip this far, he mostlikely will withdraw from the draft. But he'd be a great long-termpickup for the Thunder if they can get him this low.

He's a very skilled forward who has some Pau Gasol and Toni Kukoc inhis game. He is playing at a high level in Europe but needs to getstronger.

It would be nice to draft him and stash him in Europe next season.

	Portland	Patrick Patterson	Position: PF Height: 6-8 Weight: 245 Age: 21 School: Kentucky

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis:Patterson would be a steal for the Blazers if heslips this low. While he does little to wow you, he's the type ofunselfish, productive big man who will fit well in the Blazers' system.

	Minnesota (via Utah)	Kevin Seraphin	Position: PF Height: 6-10 Weight: 258 Age: 20 Country: France

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: With their third pick of this draft, you can expectthe Wolves to stash a player overseas. Seraphin hasn't really producedbig numbers in France, but he has Serge Ibaka-like physical upside.

	Atlanta	Quincy Pondexter	Position: SF Height: 6-7 Weight: 220 Age: 22 School: Washington

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: One of the best seniors in the country, Pondexteris an elite athlete who proved this season that he can really score.He's a jump shot away from being a star. Think the next Desmond Mason.

	Memphis (via Denver)	Craig Brackins	Position: PF Height: 6-10 Weight: 230 Age: 22 School: Iowa State

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Brackins is a good pick for the Grizzlies. He's ahigh-character guy who can score inside and outside and will play hard.With Zach Randolph in the last year of his contract, he could be a nicelong-term replacement.

	Oklahoma City (via Phoenix)	Solomon Alabi	Position: C Height: 7-1 Weight: 245 Age: 22 School: Florida State

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: The Thunder continue to lack a legitimate low-postthreat. They drafted B.J. Mullens last year to be that guy, but he'sstill a work in progress. Alabi will be, too, but at this point in thedraft, he has too much size and upside to pass on.

	New Jersey (via Dallas)	Terrico White	Position: SG Height: 6-5 Weight: 211 Age: 20 School: Mississippi

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: White is an elite athlete who, when he's on, is oneof the best guards in the country. The problem is, he has a tendency todisappear in games. If the Nets can get him to play with someconsistency, he would be a steal here.

	Memphis (via L.A. Lakers)	Larry Sanders	Position: SF Height: 6-10 Weight: 220 Age: 21 School: Va. Commonwealth

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis:Normally, you would expect the Grizzlies to take aninternational player here with their third pick. The problem is, therearen't a lot of international players worthy of such a high pick.

Sanders is a project, but his shot-blocking skills are coveted by the Grizzlies.

	Orlando	Willie Warren	Position: PG Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Age: 20 School: Oklahoma

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: At the beginning of the season, Warren wasconsidered a potential top-10 pick. However, a poor season and someinjuries, plus some bad chemistry with his coach, really hurt hisstock.

But he is a steal here and the type of versatile guard who could make an impact for the Magic.

	Washington (via Cleveland)	Keith Gallon	Position: PF Height: 6-9 Weight: 300 Age: 19 School: Oklahoma

[th=""]PICK[/th][th=""]TEAM[/th][th=""]PLAYER[/th][th=""]VITALS[/th]

Analysis: Not every team in the league is a Gallon fan, but afew teams have him ranked very high. I saw him work out in New York andI can see why.

He is skilled, can shoot with NBA range and has a big body. He needsto lose weight and prove that he's going to work hard, but he's abetter prospect than Glen Davis was.

Next Five In: Devin Ebanks, F, West Virginia; Stanley Robinson, F, UConn, Elliot Williams, G, Memphis; Jordan Crawford, G, Xavier; Dominique Jones, G, South Florida

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

You know he was happy they didn't get the first pick. I'm sure he likes having a job.

Thats exactly what was going through my mind as the #2 pick was being announced

BTW is anybody else here having suicidal thoughts after their teams didn't get the #1? I know i am

Please give me some positives that come with the #5 pick and who we could possibly take?

 

[TheGodFresco]

Monroe will NOT fall past the Warriors if they keep the pick, ill be PISSED IF THEY TAKE ALDRICH!

 

[kiddin like jason]

Can anybody post these two ESPN articles? Please and thank you.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insi...umns/story?columnist=gottlieb_doug&id=5188295

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog...spn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=5188254

 

[JAYxSF415]

When are we going to start the mock draft?

 

[JD617]

Ranking the NBA draft's best players

---

By Doug Gottlieb
ESPN.com


The deadline for college players to withdraw their names from the NBA draft and preserve their college eligibility was moved up to May 8 this year, meaning we already know which players are taking their chances to be among the 60 names selected on June 24. Here is what the top 30 of my Big Board would look like …

1. John Wall, Kentucky

The real deal. Incredibly fast with the ball and agile in transition. As difficult to keep out of the paint as Rajon Rondo, yet bigger and a better shooter. Only his defense and shooting behind the pick-and-roll are suspect. Best of all, Wall is a winner who isn't afraid to have the ball in his hands in key situations.

2. Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech

Long, freak athlete who played with below-average guards on an erratic team. Destroyed DeMarcus Cousins in high school and started to elevate his game late in the college season. Has every tool needed to be a star in the pros, just needs reps and polish.

3. Greg Monroe, Georgetown

Has a Chris Bosh feel to his game. He's bright, well-rounded and, though he's not a superstar, he's solid in most every aspect of his game despite playing just two years of college. Has been surrounded by average talent and his passing skills will be more pronounced with better players around him.

4. Evan Turner, Ohio State

Not a great athlete and not a shooter with range, but his basketball IQ and ability to create for himself and others make him a valuable asset.

5. Wesley Johnson, Syracuse

Very unselfish and a quality shooter. Johnson doesn't go by people, doesn't really do a great job of posting up and holding position, but he is very long, can play two positions at both ends and recovers from mistakes with his with very good speed.

6. Ekpe Udoh, Baylor

Udoh has a quick jumper with supreme timing and is an exceptionally quick learner and hard worker. He made himself an offensive player during his transfer year at Baylor, yet never lost the slightest bit of timing or intangibles defensively. While his build is fairly slight, he is strong, runs well in transition and has become a decent face-up jump shooter.

7. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest

Super-skilled wing who will be a better pro than he was a college player. Not nasty enough to be a star, but bright, easy to like and still scratching the surface on his overall game. Aminu can guard two or three positions and eventually will play two positions on offense. His perimeter jumper needs work -- he made just 23 percent of his jump shots this year -- but his form is not "broken," it is just inconsistent.

8. Luke Babbitt, Nevada

Think Chris Mullin with a smaller Toni Kukoc-type of feel. Babbitt will impress you. His array of step-backs, "Euro-steps" and range are different from anyone else in the draft. Babbitt is also a willing passer with a tremendous basketball IQ. He is the "favorite player" of at least five college recruiters I have spoken to and three scouts said the same thing.

9. Gordon Hayward, Butler

Handles like a 2, rebounds and defends like a 4 on the glass. Hayward is probably a year away in terms of strength and consistency in his shooting, but his Mike Miller-meets-Mike Dunleavy style makes him impressive, as does his ability to win. If you want a winner with upside, you want Hayward.

10. DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

A monster down low when he "plays," but he will float and shoot jumpers and will pout. There are some red flags concerning Cousins among several teams. He's a phenomenal specimen and Calipari says he simply needed to mature, but the likelihood that he can be ruled with an iron fist in the pros as he was in college is nonexistent. Still, he showed, like Tyreke Evans under Cal, major personal and professional growth at Kentucky.

11. Cole Aldrich, Kansas

A solid starting center in the NBA who needs some polish on his low-post game. While his "windup" is awkward for his jumper, his release is fine, and he makes enough shots from 17 feet to have a pick-and-pop game. An underrated athlete who has good timing to block shots or swipe down on the ball, Aldrich is average guarding ball screens laterally, which will cause him to foul more at the next level. Strong, solid, mature and without off-court issues, Aldrich is a safe and sound pick.

12. Ed Davis, North Carolina

Super long and rangy, great running in transition and like North Carolina, not quite the same in the halfcourt. Davis is somewhere in between a 4 and a 5. His hands, shot-blocking and rebounding instincts scream center, but he is only 6-foot-9 and he is light at around 215 pounds. Davis has a tireless motor and if he can continue to improve his jumper with that energy, he will be a very solid power forward in the future.

13. Larry Sanders, Virginia Commonwealth

Super long with a better face-up game than Ed Davis, Sanders has the look of a lottery pick, but his game has yet to totally match his potential.

14. James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Good solid 2-guard who can put points up in a hurry. Solid, but streaky 3-point shooter, moves well without the ball and is a willing and capable passer (more than 2.5 assists per game). Anderson is between a 2 and a 3, but a non-ballhandling 2 in the pros. Soft-spoken and from a small town, Anderson needs the right kind of mentoring at the pro level. He also needs major work on his defense.

15. Xavier Henry, Kansas

Solid and skilled, yet small for a forward but not really a guard in terms of skill outside of shooting the basketball. A Morris Peterson-type of player. While he's a better overall defender and maybe a better player than James Anderson, Henry's game is not as diverse on offense, as he relies on his jumper a bit too much. He shook the label of being soft late in the season.

16. Hassan Whiteside, Marshall

Older than you think for a freshman (21 on draft night), but big (legit 7-footer), Whiteside is rangy and still peaking. He played two years of high school, one year of postgrad and one year at Marshall, where he averaged 5.7 blocks per game. His offense is raw, but not terrible. Some baggage, but if surrounded by the right teammates, he will be fine.

17. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

Came to UK with the reputation as an animal as a rebounder, but began to float on the perimeter a bit too much this year. While his skill improved, his defensive rebounding was not nearly what it had been. Still Patterson plays hard, can post and, though he is 6-8 at best, he already has a face-up game.

18. Avery Bradley, Texas

A phenomenal on-ball defender, Bradley is a man without a position. His jumper is very much a work in progress, but he does have a high basketball IQ and is a competitor who could be this draft's Jrue Holiday (disappointing season at UCLA before becoming a mid-to-late first-round pick who blossomed late in his rookie season).

19. Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky

This year's Russell Westbrook. A freak athlete who played mostly at the 2 at Kentucky despite being highly regarded as a scoring point in high school. Has a mini "Jim Jackson" type of frame, but needs to improve his ballhandling and decision-making (1-to-1 assist-turnover ratio), as well as show he can run a team.

20. Daniel Orton, Kentucky

Hurt his knee his senior year in high school, played behind Cousins and Patterson and thus never really got to grow this year at Kentucky. Very much a "kid" mentally, but not a bad kid by any means. A face-up 4 who has gained strength, is quick off the floor and has great timing when blocking shots. Will spend time in the D-League, but has a chance to start in two years.

21. Damion James, Texas

Two years ago he would have been a lottery pick, as he was a perfect fit with D.J. Augustin. After a year without a point guard and then a year with three average point guards, James has made himself into a viable lottery-level pick yet again. He is not the caliber of defender, though he could be, of Stanley Robinson, but he is a capable scorer, with a solid midrange jumper that may never extend to the NBA 3-point line. James needs to play in an up-tempo offense.

22. Paul George, Fresno State

Reminds some of Trevor Ariza. George is unpolished, but his game should definitely transfer over to the NBA game, though it has gaping holes. His length and athleticism make up for his lack of a pure offensive arsenal and he can shoot, which allows him to space the floor away from a post or a star teammate. George has a chance to be a starter in the league in time if he works to improve all facets of his game.

23. Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania

Young and skilled around the basket, Motiejunas must add strength and toughness to his game. The Lithuanian played at a very high level in Italy this year, but despite a lot of statistical success, he is still not a great rebounder, nor does he hold position all that well. At just 19, he is a year away, but his instincts -- and his hands -- are terrific.

24. Stanley Robinson, Connecticut

Ridiculously long and athletic, "Sticks" is a jump shot away from being an athletic Bruce Bowen. He has good fundamentals defensively, great lateral quickness for his size and also has good hands around the rim on rebounds and alley-oops. He is bigger and better than Jamario Moon, though he may not be as jumpy as Moon.

25. Jordan Crawford, Xavier

His attitude was brutal for much of the year but Crawford has a confidence that, while it can rub you the wrong way, can keep him believing that the ball belongs in his hands late in games. He's not a great athlete and does seem to carry too much weight. Crawford is very good with the ball in his hands, below average without it. As a late-first to early second-round pick, he needs to expect to play without the ball and improve dramatically in his rookie season.

26. Craig Brackins, Iowa State

His numbers shrunk, and his draft spot has clearly gotten worse, but Brackins has improved as a basketball player in the past year. He played against a double-team or sagging man-to-man all year and in actuality, he is much better facing up than posting up. Brackins is big and skilled and though not a great or even really a good athlete, his pick-and-pop game, post-up game and ability to score points makes him valuable. If he were a better athlete, he might be a starter and a lottery pick this year, but his David West-type of game only helps if you have a Chris Paul alongside you.

27. Dominique Jones, South Florida

Has a Dwyane Wade-type of game and position. Not a point, not a 2, just a scoring guard that shoots it at an average level, but is unreal at getting into the paint. Jones is a good pickup for a playoff team needing offense off the bench, but he needs to shoot it better from 3. Though he has no position, he can guard a point or an averaged-sized 2 right now, which will help him get onto the court this year.

28. Solomon Alabi, Florida State

Looks the part of a starting center, but can be fairly unproductive. Alabi is a capable rebounder and shot blocker, holds decent position, but is yet to establish a polished post-up game. Still, his length, sheer size and hands make him a good big man off the bench who could grow into a starting role with some serious offensive work.

29. Quincy Pondexter, Washington

Really skilled and experienced wing. Not as big or long as Sticks Robinson, but a far better offensive player. Pondexter lacked confidence in his game until this year, but when the confidence kicked in, he became a dynamic scorer in the halfcourt and transition.

30. Willie Warren, Oklahoma

Probably only 6-2½ in bare feet, but Warren can still score. He was injured, both mentally and physically, this year as his team simply imploded both while he was in the lineup and while he was hurt. A poor man's Ben Gordon, Warren can flat-out score and is a willing passer. He must grow up in his interpersonal relationships with coaches and teammates, but make no mistake: when his head is right, he can really play.
 

Lessons learned in Las Vegas, Part II

---

I spent two days this week with trainer Joe Abunassar, of Impact Basketball in Vegas, looking at a number of first-round prospects. Abunassar has a great track record with clients like Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups, Danny Granger, Rudy Gay and many others. This year he has a whopping 20-plus prospects in his gym preparing for the draft.

Below are the final five things I learned. (You can check out the first five from Thursday's blog entry right here.)

1. Stanley Robinson and Devin Ebanks remain enigmatic.

Robinson is every bit the athlete we thought he was in college. He's super bouncy, runs the floor like a guard and finishes strong at the rim. He also showed some of that inconsistency we saw at UConn. He'd drill five shots in a row and then throw up a couple of air balls. He was clearly distracted Tuesday (more on that later). But on Day 2 he played with much more confidence.

Ebanks was very different than the scouting report I had on him. He isn't nearly as long (a 6-foot-9 wingspan) nor is he as explosive athletically as I thought he'd be. He's not a bad athlete; he's just not a freakish one. He also didn't wow me in the individual drills Tuesday.

However, once we got to the 3-on-3 portion Wednesday, he was more skilled and more effective as a scorer than what I saw at West Virginia. Ebanks showed a very good midrange game, attacked the basket and played tough defense.

I'm still trying to get a handle on where both of these guys will go. Both players have their selling points and, at one time during the year, both were ranked in the late lottery on our Big Board. I think their personalities and off-court questions will ultimately determine their fate. If teams believe that they'll work hard and stay out of trouble, both are first-round talents. If they can't convince teams that they have the maturity they need, they could both slip into the second round.

What I saw from both of them in terms of professionalism and maturity in Vegas was promising. But two days isn't enough to definitively answer the questions for NBA teams.

2. Dwayne Collins is really long.

Miami's Collins gets the award for the most extreme measurements I've ever seen. Collins measured 6-6½ in socks yet sported an incredible 7-4 wingspan. I went back and checked our database of measurements from the NBA pre-draft camp and I believe he has the largest disparity ever (9½ inches) between his height and wingspan.

Collins isn't the most skilled big man you'll find, but he's a very good athlete and tries to rip down the rim on every possession. He goes at the basket so strong that players were yelling "Watch your head, Dwayne!" when he'd go up for a dunk. They weren't kidding. A couple of times he almost dinged his forehead on the rim.

3. Jeremy Lin isn't ready for the league.

At some point during the season there was a "Jeremy Lin for the NBA" movement afoot. Lin had a great career at Harvard and put up big numbers against some credible college opponents.

I wanted to like Lin coming in. He's an interesting guy with a good basketball pedigree who chose the path less taken (it seems like it's easier to get a Supreme Court gig than an NBA one coming out of Harvard these days).

But after watching him for two days, in both drills and in 3-on-3 action, I don't think he's ready for the NBA. He's a very good basketball player, but I didn't think he measured up athletically to the other pro prospects in the gym. I think he has the potential to have a good pro career overseas, but I don't think we'll see him in the NBA -- not yet anyway.

4. Here are your combine numbers.

Everyone loves the combine info, whether it's wingspans, vertical jumps or the infamous bench pressing numbers. (For the record, I have no idea how bench pressing a 185-pound bar translates to NBA success.)

My experience over the years is that the numbers aren't great predictors of NBA success. Remember three years ago when Kevin Durant tested as the worst athlete in the draft? Exactly.

But, I know you want the info anyway and Abunassar was kind enough to supply it. Here's a table breaking down all the info we were able to get. Have fun with it.

[h4]COMBINE RESULTS[/h4]

Craig Brackins	6-8 ½	6-9 ½	226	6-11 ½	9-0	8.4
Dwayne Collins	6-6 ½	6-8	230	7-4-	9-1 ½	N/A
James Anderson	6-4 ½	6-6 ½	202	6-8	8-7 ½	N/A
Stanley Robinson	6-7	6-8 ½	213	7-0	8-11	10.1
Devin Ebanks	6-8	6-9 ½	206	6-9	8-10	9.7
Lance Stephenson	6-4 ½	6-6	227	6-10 ½	8-6 ½	9.4
Manny Harris	6-3 ½	6-5	177	6-8	8-4	7.4
Avery Bradley	6-1 ½	6-3	176	6-7	8-3 ½	7.6

[th=""]Name[/th][th=""]Ht.[/th][th=""]Ht. w/shoes[/th][th=""]Wt.[/th][th=""]Wingspan[/th][th=""]Standing Reach[/th][th=""]Body Fat %[/th]

[h4]COMBINE RESULTS[/h4]

Craig Brackins	40	11.62	3.69	8
Dwayne Collins	34 ½	12.22	3.29	23
James Anderson	34 ½	11.62	3.21	15
Stanley Robinson	38 ½	12.36	3.15	10
Devin Ebanks	35	11.97	3.53	6
Lance Stephenson	35 ½	11.67	3.28	N/A
Manny Harris	36 ½	12.02	3.22	10
Avery Bradley	37 ½	11.51	3.03	N/A

[th=""]Name[/th][th=""]Vertical (inches)[/th][th=""]Lane Agility (s)[/th][th=""]3/4 Sprint (s)[/th][th=""]Bench Press (reps)[/th]

5. Stanley Robinson is good guy.

Finally, an anecdote -- one of my favorites in the past 15 years of covering the draft.

On Tuesday, Robinson really struggled. His nerves got the best of him when I walked into the gym, and in an effort to impress, he ended up pressing too hard and didn't look great.

Robinson, if you remember, lost his confidence at the end of his sophomore season at UConn. He left the team for a little bit and worked in a steel yard. Finally, coach Jim Calhoun rescued him, and Robinson went on to turn his career around during his junior season. Robinson said, "Coach Calhoun taught me how to be a man. I'll forever be grateful for that."

On Wednesday morning, Robinson grabbed me just before I was going to interview him. He stuck out his hand for a handshake and said, "Mr. Ford. I'm Stanley Robinson. I just want to apologize for yesterday. I played terribly. I was trying to impress you and, well, you saw what happened."

In all my years of doing this, I've never had a prospect apologize for a lousy performance. I found out later that Robinson had stayed up much of the night, worrying about how he had played. I was taken aback. I didn't really know what to say. But then something occurred to me.

"Did you see the Celtics-Cavs game last night?" I asked.

Robinson nodded.

"LeBron James was awful," I said. "I'm not sure why exactly. I'm not sure if it was an injury, or the pressure, or something else going on in his life. We don't know. But here's what I'm thinking. If LeBron James, the best player in the world, can have a bad night, so can you. Shake it off and show me what you've got today."

Robinson grinned from ear to ear. We sat down and talked for another 10 minutes or so. He's a super-nice kid. He was very thoughtful talking about what happened during his career. The theme was clear: When he has confidence, there isn't much he can't do on the court.

I'm happy to report Robinson put that shaky Tuesday performance behind him Wednesday. He came out and played with confidence. He shot the ball with range. He attacked the basket. His team -- Sherron Collins, Lin and himself -- went 7-1 in the 3-on-3 games. He looked like a lottery pick.

As I was pondering the experience on the way home, and in the midst of all the LeBron backlash that came after Game 5, it put things into perspective a bit for me. As a sportswriter, I've failed at times to see the humanity of the players I cover. I sometimes expect them not to have weaknesses, to perform like machines, to not make mistakes on and off the court. When they fail, I am disappointed, and on occasion overreact -- judging without having all the facts. I don't always give them the slack I'd give myself or any other normal human being I know.

Robinson reminded me Wednesday that pro athletes aren't that different from the rest of us. They have good days and bad days. They are proud when they succeed. Beat themselves up when they fail. But unlike us, they put themselves out there on a public stage for the whole world to see.

I for one, as a fan of the game, am grateful that they do. That they put themselves out there in the pursuit of greatness.

If one thing was clear from my time in Vegas it was this: Stanley Robinson is right -- Calhoun did teach him how to be a man. 

 

[Deleted member 38182]

I had no idea Greg Monroe was regarded so highly...... Who do yall think would fill the Kings need at #5? Clearly a PG would be nice, but after Wall there ain't anybody...

 

[dt43]

the Wizards are NOT trading the #1 pick. idk why i keep hearing that but its just not going to happen.